Activities of Sven MIKSER
Plenary speeches (3)
The need for the EU's continuous support for Ukraine (debate)
Continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States (debate)
The democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia (debate)
Institutional motions (6)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on strengthening Moldova’s resilience against Russian interference ahead of the upcoming presidential elections and a constitutional referendum on EU integration
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on strengthening Moldova’s resilience against Russian interference ahead of the upcoming presidential elections and a constitutional referendum on EU integration
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia
Amendments (884)
Amendment 2 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2019/452 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2019 establishing a framework for the screening of foreign direct investments into the Union,
Amendment 3 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 b (new)
Citation 8 b (new)
– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2023/1525 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 July 2023 on supporting ammunition production (ASAP),
Amendment 6 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2023/2418 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023 on establishing an instrument for the reinforcement of the European defence industry through common procurement (EDIRPA),
Amendment 9 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 c (new)
Citation 8 c (new)
– having regard to the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down measures to strengthen solidarity and capacities in the Union to detect, prepare for and respond to cybersecurity threats and incidents (COM(2023/0209) - C9 0136/2023 - 2023/0109(COD)),
Amendment 10 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 d (new)
Citation 8 d (new)
– having regard to the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply fo critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020 (COM(2023)0160),
Amendment 11 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 e (new)
Citation 8 e (new)
– having regard to the proposal for a regulation to the European Parliament and the Council: European Union Space Strategy for Security and Defence, published on 10 March 2023 (JOIN(2023)0009),
Amendment 12 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
Citation 9 a (new)
– having regard to the Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/1968 of 17 October 2022 establishing the Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine),
Amendment 13 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 b (new)
Citation 9 b (new)
– having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/1970 of 17 October 2022 amending Decision 2010/452/CFSP on the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia, EUMM Georgia,
Amendment 14 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 c (new)
Citation 9 c (new)
– having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2507 of 19 December 2022 amending Decision 2010/452/CFSP on the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia, EUMM, Georgia,
Amendment 15 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 d (new)
Citation 9 d (new)
– having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/162 of 23 January 2023 on a European Union mission in Armenia (EUMA),
Amendment 16 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
– having regard to the Council conclusions of 21 February 2022 extending and enhancing the implementation of the Coordinated Maritime Presences Concept in the Gulf of Guinea,
Amendment 17 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 21 and 22 March 2024, concerning the decision to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Amendment 18 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
– having regard to the Joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 18 May 2022 on the Defence Investment Gaps Analysis and Way Forward (JOIN(2022)0024),
Amendment 25 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 b (new)
Citation 18 b (new)
– having regard to the Charter of the United Nations, in particular its Article 2.4 prohibiting the use of force and Article 51 on the inherent right to individual and collective self-defence,
Amendment 26 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
– having regard to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),
Amendment 28 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 a (new)
Citation 21 a (new)
– having regard to the three Joint Declarations on EU-NATO cooperation signed on 8 July 2016, 10 July 2018 and 10 January 2023,
Amendment 30 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 d (new)
Citation 21 d (new)
– having regard to the Madrid Summit Declaration adopted by the NATO Atlantic Council meeting in Madrid on 29 June 2022,
Amendment 31 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 b (new)
Citation 21 b (new)
– having regard to the NATO 2022 Strategic Concept and the NATO 2023 Vilnius Summit Communiqué,
Amendment 34 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 c (new)
Citation 21 c (new)
– having regard to the ninth progress report on the implementation of the common set of proposals endorsed by EU and NATO Councils on 6 December 2016 and 5 December 2017, submitted jointly by the Vice-President of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs (VP/HR) and the NATO Secretary General to the EU and NATO Councils on 13 June 2024,
Amendment 35 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)
Citation 22 a (new)
– having regard to its recommendation of 8 June 2022 to the Council and the VP/HR on the EU's Foreign, Security and Defence Policy after the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine,
Amendment 40 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 26 b (new)
Citation 26 b (new)
26 b having regard to its resolution of 17 January 2024 on the security and defence implications of China's influence on critical infrastructure in the European Union,
Amendment 41 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 26 a (new)
Citation 26 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 22 October 2024 establishing the Ukraine Loan Mechanism and providing macro- financial assistance to Ukraine,
Amendment 43 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 26 c (new)
Citation 26 c (new)
26 c having regard to Russia's unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, its illegal invasion and annexation of Crimea and the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as the occupation of Georgia's regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and the Republic of Moldova's region of Transnistria,
Amendment 50 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
A c. whereas the European Union continues to face the most diverse range of threats since its creation, accentuated by Russia's unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, the rise of multipolarity and opposition to the established rules-based order, and the development of new kinds of threats and technologies across domains; whereas in response to these threats the EU urgently needs to enhance the effectiveness of its foreign, security and defence policy to defend its interests, values and citizens, both within and outside its borders, and first and foremost in its neighbourhood, to deliver peace, human security, sustainable development and democracy, and to support its partners;
Amendment 55 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A f (new)
Recital A f (new)
A f. whereas Ukraine needs to be provided with the necessary military capabilities for as long as it takes for Ukraine to have a decisive military victory to end Russia's illegal war of aggression, restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and deter any future aggression; whereas Ukraine, in defending itself, is also protecting and fighting for European values and core security interests; whereas EU-NATO cooperation has been fundamental in coordinating weapons deliveries to Ukraine;
Amendment 57 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A m (new)
Recital A m (new)
A m. whereas China's increasingly aggressive behaviour, in particular in its own neighbourhood, such as the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, poses a risk to regional and global security; whereas China has for many years promoted an alternative narrative, challenging democratic values, open markets and the rules-based international order; whereas China's increasing influence in international organisations has impeded positive progress and further excluded Taiwan from rightful and meaningful participation;
Amendment 60 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A k (new)
Recital A k (new)
A k. whereas the terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel and the attacks against the Hezbollah on Lebanese territory have highlighted the volatile and dynamic security situation in the Middle East and the need for the EU and other international actors to assume greater responsibility and assist governments and civil society organisations of the region with reaching durable and sustainable peace, in particular by continuing to support a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, as well as by countering terrorism and radicalisation in the region;
Amendment 61 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A l (new)
Recital A l (new)
A l. whereas the ongoing attacks in the Red Sea launched from the Houthi- controlled areas of Yemen, with the support of Iran, pose a significant threat to freedom of navigation, maritime security and international trade; whereas additional attacks by various Iran-backed militia in Iraq and Syria are further increasing the risk of regional escalation; whereas the risk of escalation in the region is the highest in decades; whereas the EU has launched an its own military operation EUNAVFOR ASPIDES to improve the security situation in the area;
Amendment 63 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A r (new)
Recital A r (new)
A r. whereas the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans face increasingly diverse threats to their security and stability and required increased cooperation with the EU in the field of security; whereas security in these regions is negatively affected by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine; whereas the future of the Western Balkans and the countries in the Eastern Neighbourhood lies in the EU;
Amendment 66 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)
Recital A e (new)
A e. whereas Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as the increased assertiveness of other regional and global actors, such as China, Iran and certain Gulf countries, are destabilizing the immediate neighbourhood of the EU, including through strategic investments and disinformation campaigns, but also, in some cases, through the provision of political, financial, operational and logistical support to hostile entities in the region; whereas the EU needs to ensure greater support, especially for candidate countries, in order to preserve stability and security and increase defence cooperation, especially in terms of the fight against disinformation and hybrid warfare;
Amendment 67 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A p (new)
Recital A p (new)
A p. whereas Kosovo and the EU- facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue are facing threats of destabilisation;
Amendment 68 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A u (new)
Recital A u (new)
A u. whereas the Arctic region is becoming increasingly important for geopolitics, economic development and transport, while at the same time it is facing challenges linked to climate change, militarisation and migration;
Amendment 73 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the United States is the EU's most important ally; whereas joint EU-US cooperation, partnership and friendship, mirrored, among other things, through our joint cooperation within NATO, are the backbone of our shared freedom, prosperity, democracy and security;
Amendment 74 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A g (new)
Recital A g (new)
A g. whereas the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has reaffirmed the role of NATO as the cornerstone of the collective defence of its members and the indispensability of a strong transatlantic bond; whereas the war has also underlined the lack of investment in security and defence in numerous EU and NATO member states; whereas the decision of NATO leaders to commit a minimum of 2% of GDP to defence spending has only been implemented by a few NATO member states; whereas the 2% spending goal should represent a minimum for EU NATO countries and not a ceiling for defence spending;
Amendment 78 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A w (new)
Recital A w (new)
A w. whereas, as outlined in the Strategic Compass, the EU must move further in its ambition to achieve an open strategic autonomy and technological sovereignty, while also reinforcing its partnerships with like-minded partners in order to safeguard its values and interests, as well as those of its allies and neighbours;
Amendment 79 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A x (new)
Recital A x (new)
A x. whereas the European Commission has published its proposals for a European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS) and a European Defence Industrial Programme (EDIP) in 2024; whereas the legislative negotiations in the European Parliament and the Council are still ongoing and the negotiations between the institutions are pending;
Amendment 81 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A aa (new)
Recital A aa (new)
A aa. whereas building capabilities and adapting them to military needs requires a common strategic culture, threat perception and solutions to be developed and combined in doctrine and concepts;
Amendment 82 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A ab (new)
Recital A ab (new)
A ab. whereas maximising the EU's and Member States' defence capabilities requires smarter spending and greater joint procurement;
Amendment 84 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A y (new)
Recital A y (new)
A y. whereas in 2023 the Parliament and the Council concluded agreements on the European defence industry reinforcement through a common procurement act (EDIRPA) and the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP), which aim to encourage the joint procurement of defence products, ramp up the European defence industry's production capacity, replenish depleted stocks and reduce fragmentation in the defence-procurement sector; whereas the implementation of both initiatives is still pending;
Amendment 85 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A z (new)
Recital A z (new)
A z. whereas substantial budgetary efforts will be necessary for EDIP to have a significant effect on the military support for Ukraine or the development of a genuine European defence capability and a competitive EU defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB); whereas during the upcoming revision of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) spending for defence must not compete with investments in the EU's future and in meeting social needs; whereas only by pursuing a holistic concept of security which combines external, internal and social security the support of defence efforts and social resilience can be maintained throughout the EU in the long-term;
Amendment 92 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A x (new)
Recital A x (new)
A x. whereas the Commission and Parliament are committed to reinforcing the EU as an external actor that is able to act more strategically and autonomously;
Amendment 94 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A v (new)
Recital A v (new)
A v. whereas the CSDP has military and civilian missions with over 4000 personnel; whereas CSDP missions and operations often lack rapid decision- making; whereas Member States are deploying less personnel to the missions and operations; whereas such obstacles limit the overall effectiveness of CSDP missions and operations; whereas one of the objectives of the Strategic Compass is to reinforce EU civilian and military CSDP missions and operations by providing them with more robust and flexible mandates, promoting rapid and more flexible decision-making processes and ensuring greater financial solidarity; whereas the Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine has demonstrated the positive impact CSDP missions and operations have with the necessary resources and contributions from Member States; whereas EU CSDP missions and operations are often targeted by hybrid threats, including FIMI campaigns, putting at risk their effectiveness in stabilising the country in which they are deployed;
Amendment 95 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A j (new)
Recital A j (new)
A j. whereas the EU has launched its own military operation EUNAVFOR ASPIDES to improve the security situation in the area;
Amendment 97 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A s (new)
Recital A s (new)
A s. whereas the EU assistance to the Libyan Coast Guard is provided through the European Union Border Assistance Mission Libya (EUBAM Libya) and EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI; whereas the main goal of EUNAVFOR MED IRINI is to support the implementation of the UNSC's arms embargo in Libya; whereas the Council extended the mandate of the operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI until 31 March 2025, including with the task of training the Libyan coast guard and navy; whereas people intercepted by the Libyan coast guard are transferred to inhumane detention centres where systematic torture, rape and even killings are reported;
Amendment 98 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A t (new)
Recital A t (new)
A t. whereas the UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya (FFM) has indicated it possesses substantial evidence to believe that the EU and its Member States provided direct or indirect financial and technical support and equipment, such as boats, to Libyan authorities who colluded with militia groups, committing ongoing and systematic inhumane acts against migrants in Libya, which could classify as crimes against humanity;
Amendment 101 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
A d. whereas these non-military threats include disinformation, cyberattacks, economic pressure, food and energy blackmailing, the instrumentalisation of migration, and subversive political influence to seek support for Russia's illegitimate military operations;
Amendment 102 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A h (new)
Recital A h (new)
A h. whereas the rise in use of hybrid attacks and threats, as demonstrated by Russia's activities in the EU, in Ukraine, in Africa and elsewhere necessitate the development of comprehensive instruments to detect, prevent and react to such incidents and protect the Union's citizens and assets, through transforming traditional military capacities, improving the security of critical infrastructure, countering foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) and further developing a common high level of cybersecurity; whereas China has also demonstrated increased use of hybrid tools aimed at undermining the stability of the EU, including in the Indo-Pacific and South China Sea such as Taiwan, aimed at undermining the stability and security of the EU;
Amendment 104 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A n (new)
Recital A n (new)
A n. whereas hybrid threats in the years to come will see increased use of the systematic combination of information warfare, agile force manoeuvre, mass cyber warfare and emerging and disruptive technologies, from seabed to space, with the deployments of advanced space-based surveillance and strike systems, all of which will be enabled by advanced artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, increasingly 'intelligent' drone swarm technologies, offensive cyber capabilities, hypersonic missile systems, and nano-tech and bio- warfare;
Amendment 105 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A i (new)
Recital A i (new)
A i. whereas the Russian Federation makes use of private military companies (PMCs), such as the Africa Corps and the Wagner Group as part of a hybrid warfare toolbox to maintain plausible deniability while exerting influence in various regions and gaining access to natural resources and critical infrastructures; whereas the Africa Corps and Wagner Group have reportedly committed atrocities in Ukraine, Mali, Libya, Syria and the CAR; whereas it has reinforced anti-European sentiments, especially in countries with strong European presence or hosting CSDP missions;
Amendment 108 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A o (new)
Recital A o (new)
A o. whereas the report on “Safer Together – Strengthening Europe’s Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness”, presented by Sauli Niinistö, Special Adviser to the European Commission, provides strategic recommendations for enhancing Europe’s civilian and military preparedness in light of escalating and complex security threats;
Amendment 109 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas security and defence cooperation with partners and allies are crucial to the EU's ambition to become an international security provider; whereas cooperation with UN, NATO, African Union, OSCE, ASEAN as well as numerous allies and like-minded partners such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ukraine, Moldova, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Latin American countries amongst others are crucial to the successful implementation of the CSDP;
Amendment 110 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A q (new)
Recital A q (new)
A q. whereas the EU will dedicate EUR 1.5 billion for the period of 2021-2027 to support Conflict prevention, Peace and Security initiatives at national and regional level in Sub-Saharan Africa; whereas additional support is also provided in Africa under the European Peace Facility (EPF), which enables the EU to provide all types of equipment and infrastructure to the armed forces of EU partners;
Amendment 122 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the seriousness of the threats to the security of the European continent, which have reached a level unprecedented since the Second World War; expresses deep concerns at the rise of geopolitical fractures, new imperialist ambitions for domination by authoritarian powers, systemic rivalry of great powers, nationalist unilateralism and the primary and growing use of force, blackmail and violence by certain states and non-state actors to promote their political and economic objectives and interests or to resolve disputes; believes that this trend amounts to a paradigm shift, as it reverses the logic of building international security on the basis of respect for international law, a rules-based international order and multilateralism;
Amendment 126 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Emphasises that this paradigm shift has led to a global and coordinated attack on democratic values and structures; that this offensive has been particularly clear during election processes, the goal being to weaken the adhesion to a value based society and the rule of law; stresses that the European Union and its Member States cannot develop coherent foreign and defence policies without a strong support for democratic- structures and decision making processes;
Amendment 132 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Recognizes the evolving nature of global security threats and emphasizes the crucial role that diplomacy and development cooperation play alongside military efforts in ensuring long-term international security; underscores that sustainable peace cannot be achieved through military measures alone, but requires comprehensive strategies that address the root causes of instability, such as poverty, inequality, governance failures, and climate change; stress that the EU’s Global Gateway initiative and other development programs should be aligned with security objectives, fostering resilient societies by promoting inclusive economic growth, good governance, and human rights;
Amendment 139 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises the absolute need for the EU to meet the challenges posed by the multiple and constantly evolving threats to its security, and for this purpose, to engage in new policies and actions that enable the EU and its Member States to collectivelystrengthen together and coherently strengthen their defence in Europe, and theirenhancing its ability to act at the global level; stresses the need for the EU to develop the capacity to become more autonomous within the NATO framework;
Amendment 167 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes, in this regard, the objective of the Commission President to usher in a new era for European defence and security, by building a true European defence union; welcomes the designation on 17 September 2024 of the first-ever Commissioner for Defence and Space, tasked with working jointly with the Vice- President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) on a white paper on the future of European defence within the first hundred days of their mandate; regrets, however, the unclear repartition of portfolios among commissioners which could lead to competences overlap and a lack of efficiency in the policy making processes, especially in the field of security and defence; and therefore calls on the commission to clearly delineate the competences of the commissioners;
Amendment 175 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for the EU and its Member States to accelerate their commitments made in the Versailles Declaration, adopted on 11 March 2022, to assume greater responsibility for their defence and security, including and by achieving greater strategic autonomy; stresses that NATO and the transatlantic partnership with the United States remain the cornerstones of European collective defence; stresses the need for EU Member States to step up their efforts by increasing their spending and procuringthrough targeted spending, increased joint procurement of defence products and the development of more joint capabilities, thereby strengthening their armed forces whether for national, NATO or EU operational purposes;
Amendment 197 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Concurs with the ambition of building a European pillar within NATO and stresses that the development of a European dDefence uUnion canshould go hand- in- hand with the deepening of EU-NATO cooperation;
Amendment 207 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Emphasises the importance of continuing to operationalise Article 42(7) TEU on mutual assistance and to clarify the coherence between this and Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, considering that not all EU Member States are NATO members;
Amendment 227 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reaffirms its unwavering support for the EU and its Member States to stand in solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russia’s war of aggression, and to provide it with the necessary military means to defend itself, end the conflict and restore its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders; welcomes the joint security commitments between the EU and Ukraine, and the bilateral security agreements concluded by Ukraine with severalEU Member States; reiterates its call for Member States to accelerate their delivery by EU Member States of weapons, air defence systems and ammunitions to Ukraine, including air-launched cruise missiles; calls foralso calls for the lifting by EU Member States to liftof all restrictions hindering Ukraine from using Western weapons systems against military targets withininside Russia, as allowed by international law; stresses that concrete steps should be taken towards Ukraine’s integration in EU defence policies and programmes during the EU accession process; welcomes the opening of the EU Defence Innovation Office in Kyiv to identify Ukrainian needs and capacities on defence innovation and facilitate joint initiatives and cooperation between defence industry stakeholders of the EU and Ukraine;
Amendment 257 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Warns of the dangerous risk of escalation the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DRPK) support to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine poses against international security through the provision of weapons, ammunition and the deployment of DRPK troops in support of Russia; underlines the need to continue sanctions policies against DRPK as the country has intensified its aggressive policies towards the EU’s partners and allies and enhanced its commitment to support Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine;
Amendment 274 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses the importance of the European Peace Facility (EPF), which has been instrumental in supporting the provision of military capabilities and training tofor the Ukrainian Aarmed Fforces, while providing coordination for all stakeholders through the cClearing hHouse mMechanism hosted by the EU Military Staff ; welcomes the setting up of the dedicated Ukraine Assistance Fund under the EPF and calls for financial resources for military assistance to Ukraine to be increased through this instrument; urges Hungary to lift its veto on EPF military support to Ukraine, including the agreed reimbursements to Member States that delivered military aid to Ukrainewhich has prevented the release of 6.6 billion euros in partial reimbursements to Member States providing military support to Ukraine; emphasises that all military assistance and weapons deliveries by the EPF must fully comply with the EU Common Position on arms exports, international human rights law an humanitarian law, as well as providing adequate transparency and accountability;
Amendment 284 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Welcomes the agreement with the Council on macro-financial assistance for Ukraine of up to €35 billion making use of frozen Russian assets as well as the new G7 loan mechanism; calls for the swift implementation of both tools in order to allow Ukraine to benefit as quickly as possible from these new funding possibilities;
Amendment 291 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Welcomes the continued support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, through the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine, so they can defend their territorial integrity within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and allow the country to effectively exercise its sovereignty and protection of civilians; further welcomes the completion of training of more than 60 000 Ukrainian troops and calls on the mission to continue training as many troops as possible; stresses the importance of specific training modules aimed at developing the capacities of existing and future officers of the Ukrainian armed forces across all levels and in accordance with their needs; congratulates Member States’ strong participation in EUMAM Ukraine which can be described as a template for future military training missions, and calls on them to demonstrate similar ambition and contributions to other current and future CSDP missions and operations; emphasizes that the Mission should also act as a platform for an exchange of best practices that would ensure that European forces also benefit from the lessons learnt on the battlefield from the Ukrainian armed forces;
Amendment 316 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the vision set out in the European Defence Industrial Strategy accompanied by the Commission’s proposal for establishing the European defence industry programme; supports the objective of strengthening EU defence industrial preparedness to further enable Member States to identify and discuss joint defence programming and procurement, as well as European defence projects of common interest; emphasises in this regard the need for an effective regulatory framework aimed at encouraging innovation, boosting production and ensuring smarter and more efficient public investments; calls on the Commission to draw on the EU Military Committee’s expertise in the definition of defence industries’ priorities and the formulation of defence initiatives in order to ensure military coherence at the industrial level;
Amendment 326 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Underlines again the importance of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) for improving and harmonising the EU’s defence capabilities; reiterates its regret that Member States continue to not make full use of the PESCO framework; reiterates its call on the VP/HR and the Member States to continuously and thoroughly review the projects and their prospects with a view to streamlining the current set of projects to a small set of priority projects; deplores that the European Parliament is not in a situation to properly scrutinize PESCO projects; reiterates its call to the Member States to provide at least twice a year an implementation report of the projects to the European Parliament;
Amendment 339 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Highlights the needcessity to overcome the national fragmentation of the EU’s internal market for defence products between EU Member States, as it leads to unnecessary duplications and the multiplication of inefficiencies in defence spending; calls on the Commission to present proposals to complete the EU internal market for defence, based, in particular, on an assessment of EU rules for defence procurement and transfer of defence-related products, and on the identification and analysis of limitations and loopholes in the current legal framework and use; underlines at the same time the importance to maintain fruitful competition between different competitors and to avoid oligopolies in which individual providers can freely determine prices and availability of defence goods;
Amendment 348 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Calls on the Commission to present proposals to complete the EU internal market for defence, based in particular on an assessment of EU rules for defence procurement and transfer of defence-related products, and on the identification and analysis of limitations and loopholes in the current legal framework and including suggestions for an interpretation of Art. 346 TFEU in line with the reality of an interdependent security architecture in the EU;
Amendment 350 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Urges Member States to implement their collective agreement to dedicate 35% of total defence equipment spending to European collaborative equipment procurement and 20% of total defence research and development spending to collaborative research and development;
Amendment 356 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses the importance of ensuring a balanced effort between strengthening existing EU armament industrial capabilities in the short and medium-term, and supporting research and development for new and innovative military equipment and armament tailored to the needs of the armed forces of the Member States and relevant EU defence capabilities, such as those required by CSDP missions and operations and the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity; emphasizes the necessity to especially provide support to SMEs and start-ups in the defence and dual-use sector;
Amendment 368 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Recalls that dependencies on high- risk suppliers of critical products with digital elements pose a strategic risk that should be addressed at Union level; stresses the need to further strengthen the FDI-screening procedures with due- diligence standards to identify leverage by governments of states which would contravene the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States as established in the framework of the CFSP pursuant to Title V of the TEU over investors in EU critical infrastructure, such as European ports and in undersea cables in the Baltic, Mediterranean as well as in the Arctic seas; underlines that this approach should apply equally to candidate and potential candidate countries; believes additional legislation is needed to effectively protect the European ICT supply chain security from risky vendors and protect against cyber-enabled intellectual property theft; calls for the creation of European framework aiming to closely regulate and set minimum standards and conditions relating to the export of intellectual property and technologies which are critical to the security and defence of the Union, including amongst others dual-use goods;
Amendment 390 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5
Subheading 5
A newn updated Strategic Compass: promoting a common strategic vision and coherence, and improving EU decision-making on defence issues within the EU institutional framework
Amendment 400 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that geopolitical developments have evolved rapidly since the Strategic Compass was adopted by Member States in March 2022; calls, therefore, for a review of the Strategic Compass based on a comprehensive joint threat assessment; calls, furthermore, for the Commission and the VP/HR to present an updated version of the Strategic Compass, following this review exercise, if necessary, and for this to inform the preparation of the white paper on the future of European defence;
Amendment 403 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Reiterates that the Strategic Compass’ ambitious aims and milestones can only be achieved with corresponding political willingness and action on behalf of Member States and the EU institutions as well as the necessary financial contributions and openness to cooperation where necessary;
Amendment 406 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12 b. Further reiterates its call on the EEAS to regularly and comprehensively report on the implementation of the Strategic Compass and other security and defence initiatives and programs to the Subcommittee on Security and Defence;
Amendment 416 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Recalls that the EU treaty framework already allows a number of different institutional forms of cooperation in the field of defence policy; underlines that further institutional reflexions related to the lifting of the unanimity requirement in order to facilitate such cooperation should be considered; calls the Council to consider a limited evolution of the Treaty framework on these issues;
Amendment 418 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)
Paragraph 13 d (new)
13 d. Urges maximum consistency and coordination between various initiatives in the field of security and defence, following the creation of Commissioner for Defence and Space, the certain overlap of this position with the role of the HR/VP, and the various current and future initiatives, such as the Coordinate Annual Review on Defence, the Capability Development Plan, EDF, PESCO, EDIRPA, ASAP, EDIS, EDIP and Military Mobility amongst others; stresses the need to prevent overlaps, guarantee efficient public investments and address the critical capabilities gap; invites the Commission and the Member States to explore the necessity for an internal review of its various structures and mandates, including the European Defence Agency and DG DEFIS, to ensure complementarity and efficient administration of current and future initiatives; underlines the Parliament’s role in this regard;
Amendment 419 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13 c. Welcomes the appointment of a Commissioner for the Mediterranean working under the guidance and political steering of the VP/HR; stresses the need for the VP/HR, in cooperation with the Commissioner for the Mediterranean where necessary and in consultation with Member States, to develop a coherent security strategy towards the Mediterranean region and its neighbouring countries, including in north Africa, the Levant and, when appropriate, the Sahel region ; calls therefore for a swift revision of the strategic compass assessing actual and future threats in the region;
Amendment 420 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to dedicate further financial and human resources to EEAS to ensure it can effectively conduct its role as the EU’s diplomatic service in light of the highly contested geopolitical context and the increased demands on its limited capacities in recent years;
Amendment 427 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates its call to strengthen the EU military planning and conduct capability (MPCC), establishing it as the preferred command and control structure for EU military operations, and to achieve full operational capability, including through the provision of adequate premises, staff, enhanced command and control, and effective communication and information systems for all CSDP missions and operations; reiterates its full support for the Rapid Deployment Capacity to achieve full operational capability in 2025, with at least 5 000 troops available for rescue and evacuation tasks, initial entry and stabilisation operations or temporary reinforcement of missions; reiterates its call to the Member States to consider the practical aspects of implementing Article 44 TEU during the operationalisation of the Rapid Deployment Capacity (RDC), as well as in other relevant CSDP missions, to enable a group of willing and capable Member States to plan and carry out a mission or operation within the EU framework, thereby facilitating the swift activation of the RDC; calls on the Commissioner for Defence and Space to consider in his proposed European Defence Projects of Common Interest initiatives aimed at providing the necessary strategic enablers that would facilitate CSDP missions and operations, and the RDC, such as strategic airlift and secure communications and information systems;
Amendment 452 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the increased budgets and investment in defence by Member States and the increase, albeit modest, in the EU budget for CSDP in 2024; calls on the EU NATO Member States that have not yet reached the minimum threshold of 2 % of their GDP devoted to defence expenditure to resolutely commit to gradually increasing their military budgets; recommends that, on the basis of continuous analysis of capability needs, EU NATO Member States further increase this threshold, if necessary, in particular for joint procurement of defence capabilities;
Amendment 463 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to initiate an open discussion based on the recommendations presented in Mr Draghi’s report on the future of European competiveness, including increasing the resources allocated to security and defence in the next multiannual financial framework and exploring all funding options to this end; recalls that financing orientations should be anchored in a whole-of-society approach to resilience and therefore need to be broadly supported by European citizens and that this support needs be sustainable in the long term; stresses that therefore the financial burden must be shared fairly, especially by profitable companies who are already benefiting from public participation or state-aids; in that perspective, calls the Commission to reflect upon possible fiscal avenues allowing a fairer financial burden repartition and limiting competition disturbances of the European defence industrial and technological base induced by state-aids and market-distorting tendering processes; recalls that increases in defence funding must not come at the expense of budget cuts for important social, cohesion, welfare and infrastructure investments which will set the EU on a path for a prosperous future; invites Member States to bring forward the re-assessment of the scope and definition of common costs to enhance solidarity and stimulate participate in military missions and operations, as well as exercise-related costs in line with the Strategic Compass; further calls on Member States to amend the EPF financing process to ensure adequate and sustainable support for partners and allies, while also aligning with CSDP missions and operations;
Amendment 488 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. EDeplores the “no limits” partnership between Russia and China; expresses grave concerns about the renewed Chinese and Russian commitment to further strengthen their military ties; expresses deep and increasing concern over China’s support to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine, in particular through the exportation of dual- use goods to Russia, and the ongoing involvement of China-based companies in sanctions evasion and circumvention; is also deeply concerned over the increasing number of hostile acts being conducted by China against Taiwan, including cyberattacks, influencwelcomes the Council’s decision to impose sanctions on Chinese caompaigns, Chinese warplanes entering Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone and the severing of subsea cablesnies for their support to Russia's war in Ukraine;
Amendment 490 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Is deeply concerned with China’s increasing investments in military capabilities and its increasing number of hostile acts conducted by China against Taiwan, including cyberattacks, influence campaigns, the overflying by Chinese warplanes of Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone and the median line and the severing of subsea cables; calls for a stronger cooperation between the EU and Taiwan on countering disinformation and foreign interference;
Amendment 493 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17 b. Reaffirms the necessity to preserve the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, to oppose any unilateral actions by force or coercion and to call all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any actions that may further escalate cross-strait tensions;
Amendment 502 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. CReiterates its strong interest and support for freedom of navigation and maritime security everywhere and notably in the Red Sea and China South Sea; calls on the Chinese authorities to put an end to all aggressive actions, in particular air and maritime operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, that endanger the stability in the Indo- Pacific region and thereby undermine international security, the sovereignty of regional countries, the safety of life at sea and freedom of navigation in full compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;
Amendment 508 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Remains concerned about Russian and Chinese pressure exerted in Central Asia and stresses the need to scale up the EU’s presence in the region in response; underlines the EU’s interest in increasing security cooperation, economic relations and political ties with the countries of Central Asia, in part to address the circumvention of sanctions against Russia and Belarus;
Amendment 522 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19 b. Unequivocally condemns the Iranian government for aiding and abetting terrorist organisations and networks that have perpetrated or attempted attacks within the European Union, posing a direct threat to European security, sovereignty and stability; urges the EU and Member States to enhance intelligence sharing and counter- terrorism measures to prevent any future attacks; reiterates its long-standing call to include Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the EU list of terrorist organisations;
Amendment 525 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Welcomes the EU’s decision to expand its current sanctions regime against Iran, including by sanctioning the country’s supply and production of drones and missiles to Russia and to the Middle East region;
Amendment 531 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Reiterates its condemnation of the despicable terrorist attacks perpetrated by the terrorist organisation Hamas against Israel on 7 October 2023, which contributed to further destabilisation in the Middle East, intensified by aggressions against Israel by Iranian proxies (such as terrorist organisations including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen) and the Iranian regime itself and express its strongest concern about the ongoing military action by the Israeli Defence Forces in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank; calls for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all remaining hostages;
Amendment 539 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Deplores all acts of violence which contributed to further destabilisation in the Middle East, intensified by aggressions against Israel by Iranian proxies (such as terrorist organisations including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen) and the Iranian regime itself;
Amendment 540 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20 b. Expresses its strongest concern regarding the military escalation in Lebanon, and deplores the unacceptable number of civilian casualties, the forced displacement caused by the escalating violence and the persistent use of military force; calls for an immediate ceasefire across the Blue Line and for full and symmetrical implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701; expresses particularly grave concern regarding the reported attacks by the Israeli Defence Forces against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL); recalls that any attacks against UN peacekeepers constitute a grave violation of international law and are totally unacceptable;
Amendment 560 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 l (new)
Paragraph 20 l (new)
20 l. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to put a moratorium on the implementation of the EU agreement with Libya aiming at intercepting and returning migrants until the Commission has demonstrated the EU funding is not used for violations of migrants’ fundamental rights as detailed in numerous reports including from the United Nations; stresses the need to examine the role of EUBAM Libya and EUNAVFOR IRINI in this regard;
Amendment 565 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 d (new)
Paragraph 20 d (new)
20 d. Strongly condemns constant and coordinated attempts by the Russian Federation, pro-Russian oligarchs and Russian-sponsored local proxies to destabilise the Republic of Moldova, sow divisions within Moldovan society and derail the country’s pro-European direction through hybrid attacks, the weaponisation of energy supplies, disinformation, bomb threats and staged protests as well as the threat or use of violence; welcomes the outcomes of the EU referendum and the Moldovan citizen’s historic choice to anchor their future within the EU despite massive interference and hybrid attacks by Russia and its proxies to undermine the democratic vote in Moldova; commends the establishment and operations of the EU Partnership Mission in Moldova (EUPM Moldova) which have enhanced the Moldovan authorities’ capabilities to address Russian interference; calls on the Council, Commission and EEAS to provide additional resources, including human and financial, equipment and civilian experts necessary to continue implementing the mission’s mandate beyond May 2025; further calls on the Member States to examine how similar missions can be created in other candidate countries, if necessary, and in close cooperation with their national authorities;
Amendment 569 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)
Paragraph 20 c (new)
20 c. Shows growing concerns about the continuing attempts of Russia to destabilize neighbouring countries like Georgia and Moldova; condemns with the strongest terms the use of, FIMI, political assassination, terror’s acts and territorial occupation; underlines the need for reinforcing capacities of the EU to defend and develop democratic and value-based societies in the neighbouring countries;
Amendment 582 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 h (new)
Paragraph 20 h (new)
20 h. Condemns the presence of private military companies and/or state sponsored proxies such as the Africa Corps (formerly Wagner Group) which have played a destabilising role in the Sahel region and have supported various repressive regimes in an attempt to further the Russian Federation’s influence in Africa;
Amendment 583 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 i (new)
Paragraph 20 i (new)
20 i. Emphasises that the EU should urgently review its regional strategy for the Sahel, following the various coups in the region and the overall failure of its presence and missions; in this respect, strongly deplores the forced departure of French troops and UN peacekeeping forces, which have been replaced by Africa Corps (formerly Wagner Group) mercenaries, Russia and Türkiye whose industries supply arms to Sahelian capitals; urges the EU Special Representative for the Sahel and the Member States to maintain diplomatic engagement and continue supporting civil society and spending on development and humanitarian aid;
Amendment 584 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 j (new)
Paragraph 20 j (new)
20 j. Calls on the Council to reassess its strategies for the Great Lakes Region; expresses concerns on the lack of coherence in the EU response to the region’s crises and questions the sincerity of the EU’s commitment to peace in the region following the Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda on strategic minerals and Poland’s agreement to supply arms to Rwanda in case of an external attack; calls the EU Member States and the Council to condition military aid support to the Rwandan army and to urgently appoint an EU Special Representative in the region;
Amendment 585 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 k (new)
Paragraph 20 k (new)
20 k. Calls on the review of EU strategy on the Horn of Africa; urges the Commission and the Council to play a major role as a geopolitical actor in the Horn of Africa in view of achieving its goals of promoting peace, stability, and inclusive, sustainable economic development in the region; calls on the Council and EEAS to consider how to best utilize EUCAP Somalia, EUTM Somalia and EUNAVFOR ATALANTA in this regard to further these goals and enhance the EU’s activities; is concerned by the growing engagement of other foreign actors and the reduced role the EU has in the region;
Amendment 586 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 e (new)
Paragraph 20 e (new)
20 e. Recognizes that the Arctic region carries significant strategic and geopolitical importance due to its emerging maritime routes, rich natural resources and opportunities for economic development unlocked by global warming, while being increasingly contested; considers alarming the growing activities and interest by authoritarian regimes, including Russia and China, in the Arctic;
Amendment 588 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 f (new)
Paragraph 20 f (new)
20 f. Underlines the importance of preserving security, stability and cooperation in the Artic; stresses that the region must remain free from military tensions and natural resource exploitation, while respecting the rights of indigenous peoples; reiterates the need to include the Union’s Arctic policy in the CSDP and engage in effective cooperation with NATO calls for the Artic to be addressed regularly within the Political and Security Committee and Council meetings;
Amendment 589 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 g (new)
Paragraph 20 g (new)
20 g. Recalls that mainstreaming and operationalising gender perspectives in external relations and implementing the Women, Peace and Security agenda are long-standing priorities for the EU; therefore, insists on the importance of delivering on all commitments made, including those in the EU’s Gender Action Plan (GAP) III (2020-2024) and in the Strategic Compass, including by promoting gender equality and by systematically mainstreaming a gender perspective, based on gender analysis, in all civilian and military CSDP planning and actions; welcomes, in this context, the appointment of Gender Advisors in all CSDP Missions and Operations and the establishment of a network of gender focal points; calls for the full implementation of the commitments made in the new Civilian CSDP Compact, which includes significantly increasing women’s participation in civilian CSDP among international staff while striving for gender parity; underlines nevertheless that more needs to be done to ensure gender equality and the full and meaningful participation of women in CSDP, especially in military missions;
Amendment 599 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls on the VP/HR and the Member States to continue to innovate CSDP missions and operations, including with robust, flexible and modular mandates, in order to adapt to the changing security context and needs of host countries, and to build on the synergies and complementarities of the civilian and military dimensions of the CSDP; underlines the importance of clear and achievable goals as well as the equipment with the necessary financial, logistical and human resources for each of these missions; stresses that each mission and operation has to be effectively tailored to the needs and wants of each host country, ensuring the creation of the necessary conditions for the mission to achieve its said goals over the long-term and to maintain a strong partnership with the local population and national authorities;
Amendment 600 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Reiterates its call for detailed and regular impact assessments as well as ex- post assessments for all missions and operations, which will help to understand the short-, medium and long-term effects on the host country; reiterates its call that these assessments must be shared with the European Parliament; stresses the particular need for all mission and operations to have sunset provisions to allow a sustainable termination if necessary;
Amendment 604 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21 b. Reiterates its calls on the Member States and the EEAS to systematically include financial and human resources, tools and training aimed at countering FIMI-related threats in all CSDP missions and operations as part of their broader mandate in host countries, increasing their resilience against hybrid threats and improving their strategic communications;
Amendment 620 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21 c. Welcomes the European Council’s decision of March 2024 to open accession negotiations with BiH, emphasizing that this represents both an opportunity and a responsibility for the country’s elected officials to improve BiH citizens' life; strongly condemns in this regard any divisive or secessionist rhetoric that exacerbates the country’s vulnerabilities; underscores its support for EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), as a vital peacekeeping mission that significantly contributes to the stability of both the country and the region; welcomes in this regard the renewal of its mandate beyond 2025; further welcomes the mission’s positive response to the request from BiH Ministry of Security’s Civil Protection Agency, offering assistance to national authorities in addressing the impact of the recent flooding;
Amendment 625 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 f (new)
Paragraph 21 f (new)
21 f. Reiterates its support for the activities of the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) mandated to observe developments at the international border with Azerbaijan and expresses its concern at the repeated acts of disinformation and smear campaigns originating from Azerbaijan against EUMA; calls on the EU and its Member States to strengthen EUMA’s mandate, increase its size and extend its duration;
Amendment 631 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 e (new)
Paragraph 21 e (new)
21 e. Supports the recent Council decision to prolong until 30 June 2025 the mandates of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah) and the European Union Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS; recalls the essential role of EUBAM Rafah in providing technical assistance on integrated border management to the Palestinian Authority as well as on trade facilitation; considers that the EUPOL COPPS and EUBAM Rafah can play an essential role in support of Palestinian state-building efforts;
Amendment 633 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 g (new)
Paragraph 21 g (new)
21 g. Calls on EEAS and the Member States to examine closely the mandate of all CSDP missions in Africa, including their potential termination if necessary, with the aim of providing achievable goals and milestones for each mission given the current political context, as well as exploring whether these missions could be amended to more effectively serve a new multi-dimensional and tailored EU strategy in the Sahel and Africa, as part of its integrated approach; takes note of the de facto closure of the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Niger (EUCAP Sahel Niger) and the non- renewal of the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM);
Amendment 640 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 d (new)
Paragraph 21 d (new)
21 d. Welcomes the launch of the EUNAVFOR ASPIDES as an EU military operation contributing to the protection of freedom of navigation and safeguarding maritime security, especially for merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf;
Amendment 658 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses the importance of enhanced intelligence sharing and information exchange among Member States and EU institutions, including Parliament, to improve situational awareness and to be able to better anticipate and counter threats to collective security and define common lines of actions under the CSDP, particularly in the area of crisis management; calls on Member States to utilise the EU Intelligence and Analysis Centre (EU INTCEN) as an effective intelligence- sharing body to share intelligence safely, formulate a common strategic culture and provide strategic information to better anticipate and respond to crises within and outside the EU; reiterates its call for the deployment of intelligence-gathering capacities in all CSDP missions and operations which would provide information to the EU INTCEN, EU Military Staff, MPCC and the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability;
Amendment 671 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Expresses serious concern over the growing security challenges posed by cyber and hybrid attacks, and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), which are aimed, inter alia, at undermining the stability of democratic societies, especially in the run-up to elections; callswelcomes especially the work onf the Commission and the European External Action ServiceEEAS during the past European Election campaign to prevent a massive use of FIMI by malicious third state and non-state actors; calls on the Commission to strengthen their EEAS' capabilities to address these challenges and increase resilience against disinformation to maintain a free and vibrant public sphere; underlines that the coordination with relevant authorities at Member States level must be significantly increased in order to develop coherent and efficient strategies against FIMI; supports the EEAS in its public diplomacy actions and invites all EU institutions to work hand in hand with the EEAS to strengthen Europe’s visibility and positive perception in third countries;
Amendment 680 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Reiterates its call on Member States, the EEAS and the European Commission to consider the creation of a well-resourced and independent structure tasked with identifying, analysing and documenting FIMI threats against the EU as a whole to increase situational awareness and threat intelligence sharing, and develop attribution capabilities and countermeasures in relation to FIMI; considers that this structure would serve as a reference point and specialised knowledge hub to facilitate and foster operational exchange between Member States’ authorities, EU institutions and EU agencies, as well as enabling the exchange of best practices with like- minded partners across the globe; stresses that the structure should clarify and enhance the role of the EEAS Strategic Communications division and its taskforces as the strategic body of the EU’s diplomatic service and prevent the overlap of activities;
Amendment 683 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 c (new)
Paragraph 23 c (new)
23 c. Stresses the need for the EU to strengthen the security and integrity of its critical infrastructures, de-risking and promoting EU’s technological edge in critical sectors, including measures to restrict or exclude high-risk suppliers; expresses serious concerns about the danger artificial intelligence (AI) driven disinformation and information manipulation campaigns, including through the creation of fake websites and generation of fake images, poses to democratic processes; calls on the Commission and EEAS to closely cooperate with the private sector, civil society as well as the academic and technical community in countering these malign influence campaigns and addressing the weaponisation of new technologies;
Amendment 687 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 d (new)
Paragraph 23 d (new)
23 d. Demands that the European Union takes effective measures to protect European critical infrastructure, valuable supply chains and democratic institutions from hybrid threats; calls on the EU to put in place effective monitoring and surveillance systems for critical infrastructure such as pipelines and fibre optics cables to ensure the prevention and rapid detection of attacks; stresses the importance of stepping up the EU’s activities at sea, cooperating with partners, leading in maritime domain awareness, and protecting critical infrastructure; stresses the importance of the Coordinated Maritime Presence (CMPs) concept, enhancing the role of the EU as a global maritime security provider and its visibility in key maritime regions and looks forward to its expansion to other key areas across the globe;
Amendment 691 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23 b. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to increase its cooperation and coordination with other missions and operations from like-minded partners and organisations, including the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, in countering FIMI operations in the field;
Amendment 725 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Regrets, during these unstable geopolitical times, the weakening of non- proliferation and arms control regimes, and calls for the redoubling of efforts to reverse this trend; in this regard, emphasizes the critical and substantial need for an increase in investment in regional and global arms control, non-proliferation, and disarmament, with a particular focus on multilateral strategies;
Amendment 728 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25 b. Expresses its unwavering support for the EU and its Member States' commitment to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), recognizing it as the foundation of the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament framework; underlines the importance of ensuring the EU takes an active and constructive role in advancing and strengthening the international rules- based efforts on non-proliferation, arms control, and disarmament architecture;
Amendment 731 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Stresses the need for greater transparency and convergence at the national and European level on arms exports; points to the need for the Member States to respect the EU Common Position on Arms Exports and acknowledge their competences in their defence acquisition policies; calls on the Member States to fully comply with Common Position 2008/944/CFSP of 8 December 2008 defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment as amended by Council Decision (CFSP)2019/1560; acknowledges the Member States’ competences in their defence procurement policies;
Amendment 732 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25 c. Highlights the importance of enhanced transparency and alignment at both national and European levels regarding arms exports; urges Member States to fully adhere to Common Position 2008/944/CFSP of 8 December 2008, which establishes common rules for the control of military technology and equipment exports, as amended by Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/1560; recognizes the Member States' authority over their defence procurement policies;
Amendment 739 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Highlights the need for EU citizens to have a broader understanding of security threats and risks in order for a consciousness on European defence to emergamong EU citizens to enhance a shared understanding and alignment of threat perceptions across Europe; calls foron the EU and its Member States to develop awareness-raising and educational programmes especially for the youth, aimed at improving knowledge on defence among citizens, especially young people, and atand facilitating more informed and holistic debates on security, defence and resilience in order to strengthening the resilience and preparedness of societies to face security challenges while allowing for greater public and democratic control and scrutiny of the defence sector;
Amendment 744 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26 a. Stresses to that extent that a coherent and efficient security and defence strategy at European and national level can only be developed if its democratic institutions and consequently its population support it; underlines that securing democratic support, in the face of targeted campaigns by political forces supported by foreign powers, is a key to a successful and coherent long term European defence strategy; stresses that an informed debate and democratic scrutiny are a precondition in this regard;
Amendment 745 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 c (new)
Paragraph 26 c (new)
26 c. Welcomes the Niinistö Report and its recommendations for strengthening Europe’s civilian and military preparedness and resilience; supports the adoption of a whole-of-society approach to resilience, involving the active engagement of EU institutions, Member States, civil society, and individual citizens in strengthening the Union’s security framework; calls on Member States, the Commission and EEAS to closely examine the report’s conclusions and recommendations and dedicate the necessary political willingness and financial and human resources to implement the proposed actions which would enhance the Union’s role as a decisive security actor on the European and global stage;
Amendment 752 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26 b. Reiterates the important role of young people and youth organisations in maintaining and promoting peace and security and calls on the EEAS to commit to more systematically integrating young people into its youth, peace and security (YPS) agenda;
Amendment 760 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Underlines the importance of the partnership dimension of the Strategic Compass in reinforcing cooperation between the EU and its allies and partners around the world on the basis of common values, in respect of human rights and democracy, in order to counter foreign strategies aimed at undermining the EU and its partners, and destabilising the rules- based international order;
Amendment 763 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Reiterates the call for deeper cooperation with international organisations, such as, but not limited to, the UN, the African Union, and their peacekeeping missions in joint theatres, and the OSCE on security;
Amendment 764 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27 b. Reaffirms that the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) must consistently develop in strict observance of international law and of the multilateral decisions taken deriving from international institutions such as the United Nations and the OSCE; recognizes the need to reform the multilateral system to make it more effective, inclusive, and democratic in its decision-making processes, notably by ensuring greater representation of developing nations, improved transparency, and better mechanisms for enforcing international decisions;
Amendment 765 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 d (new)
Paragraph 27 d (new)
27 d. Welcomes the adoption of European Union’s human rights and international humanitarian law due diligence policy on security sector support to third parties (EU HRDDP), which can serve as a basis for a more human-rights- and International Humanitarian Law (IHL)-compliant security and military cooperation with third countries; calls for its thorough implementation;
Amendment 766 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 c (new)
Paragraph 27 c (new)
27 c. Welcomes the Joint Declaration of the G7 Defence Ministers of 19 October 2024 and their declaration of intent to increase cooperation in the defence sector, underlines that international partnerships with like-minded partners in this area are of the outmost interest of the EU; reiterates in this regard its call for increased collaboration between EU and partners in the Indo-Pacific, underlines that similar agreements could for instance be concluded with South Korea or other like-minded partners like New Zealand and Australia;
Amendment 779 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses the importance of NATO and the EU playing complementary, coherent and mutually reinforcing roles in supporting international security and thus avoiding the duplication of defence efforts; welcomes the accession of Sweden to NATO in 2024, following Finland in 2023, representing a historic step forward in strengthening security in Europe; stresses the constant need of alignment among European Partners of NATO and the obligation under article 1 and 3 of the NATO charter for cooperation and mutual self-aid; calls on the EU to step up its efforts on common security and defence initiatives where there is no NATO equivalent, such as the European Defence Agency’s Multinational Helicopter Training Centre, to increase standardisation, improve interoperability and develop common operating procedures between Member States’ and the EU’s defence capabilities;
Amendment 809 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Considers it essential to further develop the EU’s close relationship with the United States, which is based on the shared values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law; values the United States’ commitment to and involvement in the territorial defence of Europe, especially in the light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; notes the importance of greater collaboration in defence product production and procurement, including through equal market access for both defence industries; welcomes in this regard, efforts made by the EU to improve its own defence capabilities, taking greater responsibility for its own defence and reducing its dependency on one of its closest allies;
Amendment 822 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Considers it essential to formalise a security and defence partnership with the United Kingdom as a means of strengthening European security and the European pillar of NATO, in particular in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; underlines in this regard the importance of closer cooperation on information and intelligence sharing, military mobility, security and defence initiatives, crisis management, cyber defence, hybrid threats, FIMI and in jointly addressing shared threats;
Amendment 835 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31 a. Welcomes the high levels of alignment with the CFSP by most of the countries of the Western Balkans, with the exception of Serbia; welcomes the continued presence of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX); calls on all parties involved to adhere to international law requirements, restrain and prevent any disruptive actions from destabilising the northern region of Kosovo; urges the parties involved to engage in the structured dialogue mediated by the EU; condemns in the strongest possible terms the hideous and cowardly terrorist attack on Kosovan police officers by well- organised Serbian paramilitaries in Banjska/Banjskë in the north of Kosovo, which took place on 24 September 2023 and resulted in the murder of the Kosovan police officer Afrim Bunjaku and the injuring of two more Kosovan police officers; stresses that the perpetrators of this deplorable attack must be held accountable and face justice without delay;
Amendment 844 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 22 a (new)
Subheading 22 a (new)
Partnership with the African Union and African countries.
Amendment 845 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 b (new)
Paragraph 31 b (new)
31 b. Stresses the importance of the EU- Africa relationship for European security; considers it essential to significantly step up our partnerships with African countries in order to limit the increasing threat authoritarian regimes are posing by destabilising African societies through the use of hybrid weapons such as forcibly pushing large numbers of migrants against the EU external borders;
Amendment 6 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
– having regard to the report on the final outcome of the Conference on the Future of Europe of 9 May 2022,
Amendment 9 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 9 October 2024 on strengthening Moldova’s resilience against Russian interference ahead of the upcoming presidential elections and a constitutional referendum on EU integration,
Amendment 14 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 b (new)
Citation 7 b (new)
– having regard to UN Resolution 70/1 entitled ‘Transforming our World – the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ (Agenda 2030), adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit on 25 September 2015 in New York and establishing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
Amendment 58 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the geopolitical context in which the EU is operating has accentuated the need for more ambitious, credible, decisive and unified EU action and a full- fledged European foreign policy on the world stage and has highlighted the necessity for Member States to demonstrate the required political will to redefine the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) into a fully fledged EU policy; whereas the EU should be guided in its external action by the values and principles enshrined in Article 2, Article 3 (5) and Article 21 TEU, which have inspired the EU’s own creation, development and enlargement; whereas the EU should correspondingly stand up for freedom and democratic standards worldwide, as well as the universality of human rights;
Amendment 77 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas the EU needs to keep moving forward towards an own and autonomous European Diplomacy in all areas, including public and cultural, economic, climate, digital and cyber diplomacy, among others, led by a EU diplomatic service which is determined by a common diplomatic culture from an EU perspective;
Amendment 78 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas all UN agencies embody the rules-based international order as they uphold and implement both the letter and the spirit of the UN Charter, to which all UN Member States must abide;
Amendment 79 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
D b. whereas the EU’s credibility and coherence is a paramount requirement for the correct implementation of its External Action as it reinforces trust towards the EU among different actors and third countries; whereas the efficiency of the EU’s actions worldwide is subjected to ensuring the highest level of coordination and coherence in the EU’s external action; whereas coordination among the Commission and the EEAS should be strengthened, particularly due to the lack of operational budget of the EEAS;
Amendment 82 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
D b. whereas the future of the Balkans and the countries in the Eastern Neighbourhood lies in the EU;
Amendment 83 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
D c. whereas geopolitical and humanitarian global crisis demonstrate the need for the EU to provide itself with credible and first-hand information on existent and possible external threats to the EU, in order to be able to react rapidly and effectively, as well as to better protect its interests abroad;
Amendment 85 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
D c. whereas Kosovo and the EU- facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue are facing threats of destabilisation;
Amendment 86 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)
Recital D d (new)
D d. whereas the report on “Safer Together – Strengthening Europe’s Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness”, presented by Sauli Niinistö, Special Adviser to the European Commission, provides strategic recommendations for enhancing Europe’s civilian and military preparedness in light of escalating and complex security threats;
Amendment 88 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D e (new)
Recital D e (new)
D e. whereas the consequences of climate change will have an ever- increasing effect on the spheres of human life, including the geopolitical order and world stability; whereas it is of crucial importance that fighting climate change, necessitating climate action, and aiding those that are hardest hit by its repercussions becomes a cornerstone of that European foreign policy; underlines the fundamental role which the Commission and the Member States, in a joint approach, must play in the advancement of climate diplomacy globally;
Amendment 90 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to dedicate further financial and human resources to EEAS to ensure it can effectively conduct its role as the EU’s diplomatic service in light of the highly contested geopolitical context and the increased demands on its limited capacities in recent years;
Amendment 91 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Recognises the evolving nature of global security threats and recalls the crucial role that diplomacy and development play alongside military defence cooperation in ensuring long- term international security; underscores that sustainable peace cannot be achieved through military measures, but requires comprehensive strategies that address the root causes of instability, such as poverty, inequality, and climate change; stresses that the EU’s Global Gateway initiative and other development programs should be aligned with CFSP objectives, by fostering EU resilience, inclusive economic growth, and human rights;
Amendment 92 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Underlines the critical importance of gender empowerment within the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) as a means to promote peace, stability, and sustainable development; stresses that the inclusion of women in conflict prevention, resolution, and peacebuilding efforts enhances the effectiveness and resilience of these processes; calls on the EU to prioritize gender equality in its external actions, support women-led initiatives in conflict- affected regions, and ensure women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in all aspects of the CFSP;
Amendment 93 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Welcomes the Niinistö Report and its recommendations for strengthening Europe’s civilian and military preparedness and resilience; supports the adoption of a whole-of-society approach to resilience, involving the active engagement of EU institutions, Member States, civil society, and individual citizens in strengthening the Union’s security framework; calls on Member States, the Commission and EEAS to closely examine the report’s conclusions and recommendations and dedicate the necessary political willingness and financial and human resources to implement the proposed actions which would enhance the Union’s role as a decisive security actor on the European and global stage;
Amendment 94 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Paragraph 1 e (new)
1e. Urges member states to establish a council of Defence Ministers;
Amendment 95 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 f (new)
Paragraph 1 f (new)
1f. Encourages, pending the full application of qualified majority voting to decisions without military or defence implications, the full use of all currently existing possibilities to enhance decisiveness in this regard including the use of constructive abstention in line with Article 31 (1) TEU;
Amendment 96 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 g (new)
Paragraph 1 g (new)
1g. Welcomes the proposal of the High Representative on anti-corruption sanctions regime, which would allow the EU to target serious acts of corruption worldwide; calls for its swift adoption by the Council;
Amendment 97 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 h (new)
Paragraph 1 h (new)
1h. Welcomes the resolve displayed by the Union and most Member States in the pursuit of full energy independence from the Russian Federation; reiterates its call for an immediate and full embargo on Russian imports of fossil fuels, including LNG, uranium, and products produced with crude Russian imports; urges the Commission and Council to enhance its monitoring capacity of fossil fuels, in order prevent re-export; highlights the essential nature and geopolitical importance in this regard of speeding up the green transition;
Amendment 98 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 i (new)
Paragraph 1 i (new)
1i. Reiterates its support for the European Political Community as a platform for discussion, dialogue and cooperation with European partners on the foreign policy and security challenges we are facing, with the aim of strengthening security and stability in Europe and pursuing political and security cooperation based on shared interests; calls for the close involvement of Parliament in the clarification of the scope and the future work of this Community; underlines that, for the future success and coherence of this format, some level of alignment on democratic values and principles is essential; reiterates that the European Political Community may under no circumstances become a pretext for delays to the EU accession of enlargement countries;
Amendment 99 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 j (new)
Paragraph 1 j (new)
1j. Strongly believes that the EU CFSP should contribute to the implementation and delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which are the core pillars in the construction of a stable and peaceful global order;
Amendment 112 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 1
Paragraph 2 – indent 1
– the successful finalisation of the screening process for Albania at the end of 2023; reiterates the call for entering into the next phase of negotiations without further delaywelcomes the opening of the accession negotiations on the first cluster; highlights the need to further intensify reforms to address deficiencies that persist regarding the ‘fundamentals’;
Amendment 163 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 7 a (new)
Paragraph 2 – indent 7 a (new)
– welcomes the high levels of alignment with the CFSP by most of the countries of the Western Balkans, with the exception of Serbia;
Amendment 168 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 8
Paragraph 2 – indent 8
– the ongoing attempts by Armenia and Azerbaijan to normalise their relations; encourages them to sign a comprehensive peace agreement without delay; recalls in this context its position that any partnership agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan – including on energy – must have strong conditions attached on the respect of international law, fundamental rights and international obligations, in particular on Azerbaijan making substantial progress towards a comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement with Armenia;
Amendment 220 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 3 a (new)
– Russian gas laundering through Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani authorities’ facilitation of Russia’s circumvention of EU sanctions;
Amendment 221 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 3 b (new)
– the attack on Kosovan police officers by well-organised Serbian paramilitaries in Banjska/Banjskë in the north of Kosovo, which took place on 24 September 2023 and resulted in the murder of the Kosovan police officer Afrim Bunjaku and the injuring of two more Kosovan police officers; stresses that the perpetrators of this deplorable attack must be held accountable and face justice without delay;
Amendment 227 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4
Paragraph 3 – indent 4
– the brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks committed by Hamas across Israel on 7 October 2023, which triggered a conflict in Gaza that has a disproportionate effect on civilians and caused a catastrophic humanitarian situation;
Amendment 232 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4
Paragraph 3 – indent 4
– the brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks committed by Hamas across Israel on 7 October 2023, which triggered a conflict in Gaza that has a disproportionate effect on civilians andand the disproportionate retaliatory action by the Israeli Defence Forces in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank, which caused a catastrophic humanitarian situation;
Amendment 238 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 a (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 a (new)
– the legislation approved by the Israeli Parliament, forbidding contact between Israeli state entities and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), in disrespect to international law and fundamental humanitarian principles;
Amendment 241 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 a (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 a (new)
– the current conflict in Gaza that has a disproportionate effect on civilians and caused a catastrophic humanitarian situation;
Amendment 244 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 b (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 b (new)
– Israel's authorities’ constant attempts to undermine and discredit the UN, its Secretary General and, especially, UNRWA, as well as its attacks on UNIFIL;
Amendment 245 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 b (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 b (new)
– the declaration by the Israeli government to consider U.N. Secretary- General Antonio Guterres as “persona non grata”;
Amendment 247 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 c (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 c (new)
– the legislation adopted by the Knesset banning the activities of UNRWA and ceasing its relations with Israel authorities; deplores the dire consequences this will have for the region as UNRWA is the main humanitarian assistance structure in Gaza and the West Bank, of which millions of people depend for vital services; recalls that this legislation infringes international law;
Amendment 248 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 c (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 c (new)
– the actions taken by some members of the Israeli government to deny the West Bank access to financial resources, as stated on 25 October in a letter by the US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, ministers from G7 countries and EU Commissioner for Financial Services addressed to Israeli PM Netanyahu;
Amendment 249 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 d (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 d (new)
– the military escalation in Lebanon, and the unacceptable number of civilian casualties, the forced displacement caused by the escalating violence and the persistent use of military force;
Amendment 254 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 5
Paragraph 3 – indent 5
– Iran’s persistent non-compliance with its legal safeguard obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the advancement of its nuclear programme beyond all credible civilian justification; the attacks perpetrated or attempted within the European Union by terrorist organisations and networks affiliated to Iran;
Amendment 262 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 6 a (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 6 a (new)
– the signature of the memorandum of understanding on a strategic and global partnership between the European Union and Tunisia, without proper democratic oversight of the European Parliament; further deplores the whole process of the European Commission to disburse the €105 million financial support for Tunisia on migration, which final aim is to outsource the EU migration policy without proper human rights guarantees for migrants;
Amendment 271 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 7 a (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 7 a (new)
– the continued PRC’s violations of human rights in mainland China, against people in Tibet, Hong Kong and Macau and the transnational repression of Chinese dissidents as well as the persistent presence of Chinese police office on the EU territory;
Amendment 273 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 7 b (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 7 b (new)
– the PRC for not implementing the recommendations of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); calls on the PRC to allow the OHCHR independent access to XUAR and invites the OHCHR to issue a comprehensive situational update and an action plan for holding the PRC accountable;
Amendment 281 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 8
Paragraph 3 – indent 8
– the increasing breadth and intensity of operations of Chinese Government vessels and aircraft intimidating China’s neighbours; denounces the government- led system of forced labour and China’s crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and more particularly Taiwan; recalls in this last respect the necessity to preserve the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, to oppose any unilateral actions by force or coercion and to call all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any actions that may further escalate cross-strait tensions;
Amendment 297 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 9
Paragraph 3 – indent 9
– the coups in Burkina Faso and in Niger with President Bazoum being detained and the constitution suspended; further condemns the decision of the central Sahel military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), thus plunging ECOWAS into a deep political crisis; takes note of the de facto closure of the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Niger (EUCAP Sahel Niger) and the non-renewal of the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM); deplores that the French troops and UN peacekeepers have departed and been replaced by Wagner Group mercenaries, Russian and Turkish military, whose industries supply arms to Sahelian capitals;
Amendment 301 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 9 a (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 9 a (new)
– the civil war in Sudan between the military government of Sudan, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the devastating consequences for the civil population and the atrocities committed against them; emphasises that the EU should urgently review its regional strategy for the Sahel;
Amendment 304 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 9 b (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 9 b (new)
– the last minute tactical and technical constraints put by the authorities of RDC which prevented the EU EOM to monitor the presidential elections; condemns the continuing severe clashes between the military and the M23 rebel movement destabilising the eastern DRC; calls on the review of the EU strategy for the Great Lakes Region;
Amendment 337 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 1
Paragraph 4 – indent 1
– the need to improve relations with Türkiye; welcomes the partial de- escalation of tensions in the east Mediterranean and the Aegean; reiterates its concern that Türkiye’s foreign policy continues to be at oddsnot aligned with EU priorities under the CFSP;
Amendment 378 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 – indent 4 a (new)
– calls to carefully analyse the incompatibilities between Türkiye’s candidacy to the BRICS+ and the EU’s CFSP;
Amendment 383 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 5
Paragraph 4 – indent 5
– the fact that the law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’, the law on ‘family values and protection of minors’, as well as the changes to the Electoral Code in Georgia, are incompatible with EU values and democratic principles; recalls that Georgia’s bid for accession to the EU will be assessed on the basis of its own merits and of the country’s success in meeting the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership; notes that citizens of Georgia have demonstrated their attachment to democratic values and their country advancing on the EU integration; stresses that the democratic backsliding in Georgia needs to be reversed and guarantee a conducive environment for media, civil society and opposition;
Amendment 402 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 6
Paragraph 4 – indent 6
– the concern about Russian and Chinese pressure exerted in Central Asia and stresses the need to scale up the EU’s presence in Central Asia in response, given its geostrategic importance; underlines the EU’s interest in increasing economic relations and intensifying political ties with the countries of Central Asia, in part to address the circumvention of sanctions against Russia and Belarus;
Amendment 414 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 7 a (new)
Paragraph 4 – indent 7 a (new)
– the need to fight impunity and strengthen accountability efforts globally, including through the International Criminal Court (ICC), and to stand up for International Law and International Humanitarian Law; remains strongly concerned regarding the trend of undermining the decisions of international institutions and their employees by state officials; regrets the failure of some ICC Member States to execute ICC arrest warrants, thereby undermining the Courts work;
Amendment 443 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on Ukraine to continue its progress towards EU membership using all the resources made available to it under the Ukraine Facility and to ensure the meaningful involvement of its civil society in the implementation and monitoring phases thereof; recalls that a successful de-oligarchisation shall remain an absolute priority;
Amendment 490 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Urges to a diplomatic solution to the war, that respects international norms, with the aim of achieving peace; unwaveringly supports the 10-point peace plan put forward by Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy and recalls that any initiative aimed at ending the Russian war of aggression needs to be based on input provided by Ukraine and ultimately accepted by the Ukrainian people;
Amendment 510 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Deplores the “no limits” partnership between Russia and China; expresses grave concern about the renewed Chinese and Russian commitment to further strengthen their military ties; expresses deep and increasing concern at China’s support to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine, in particular through exportation of dual-use goods and through the deployment of its own soldiers to Russia, as well as China-based companies’ continued involvement in sanctions evasion and circumvention; welcome the Council’s decision to impose sanctions on Chinese companies for their support to Russia's war in Ukraine;
Amendment 512 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Expresses deep concern over the increasing cooperation between Russian Federation and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), particularly in the areas of military and defence; condemns any support that DPRK provides Russia in its war against Ukraine, including arms supplies or other military assistance; calls on the EU and international partners to closely monitor and respond to these developments to uphold international security and stability;
Amendment 513 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Shows growing concern at the continuing attempts of Russia to destabilize neighbouring countries like Georgia and Moldova; condemns with the strongest terms the use of weaponized migration, FIMI, political assassination, terror’s acts and territorial occupation; underlines the need for reinforcing capacities of the EU to defend and develop democratic and value-based societies in the neighbouring countries;
Amendment 514 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)
Paragraph 11 d (new)
11d. Urges the Council to impose restrictive measures on third countries enabling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, whether through the facilitation of sanctions circumvention or through the provision of direct military assistance; calls, in particular, on the Council to impose similar measures on the Islamic Republic of Iran, DPRK and other countries in view of its delivery among other strategic military goods, unmanned aerial vehicles and provision of surface- to-surface missiles to the Russian Federation for use against Ukraine, notably against civilian targets;
Amendment 515 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 e (new)
Paragraph 11 e (new)
11e. Calls on all third countries, and in particular EU candidate countries to show unambiguous commitment to international law and EU values and to align with the EU’s restrictive measures against Russia;
Amendment 516 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 f (new)
Paragraph 11 f (new)
11f. Notes the effect the Russian war of aggression is having on the Southern Caucasus and Central Asian states; welcomes the Union’s enhanced engagement with these countries and encourages an enhanced mission capacity to help foster a more stable and peaceful environment in these regions; highlights the hesitation of Central Asian states to lend support to Russia's war of aggression of Ukraine as a sign of Russia’s decreasing regional influence; notes that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has encouraged Central Asia to pursue cooperation with other actors, and that these actors have stepped up their cooperation with Central Asia; expresses deep concern about Central Asian states’ circumvention of EU sanctions against Russia, which are intended to stop the war in Ukraine; calls on the authorities of the Central Asian states, particularly Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, to cooperate closely with the EU, in particular its Sanctions Envoy; encourages the EU to continue promoting political and economic reforms that strengthen the rule of law, democracy, good governance and respect for human rights;
Amendment 517 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 g (new)
Paragraph 11 g (new)
11g. Emphasises the urgent need for the mirroring of all sanctions between Belarus and Russia, with Lukashenka's regime being fully complicit to the war of aggression against Ukraine and war crimes such as the abduction of thousands of Ukrainian children;
Amendment 518 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 h (new)
Paragraph 11 h (new)
11h. Reiterates its support for the Belarusian democratic opposition, all political prisoners and the brave activists and journalists in Belarus who continue to defy the illegitimate Belarusian regime in spite of ongoing crackdowns and nasty bullying tactics, notably the refusal of passport prolongation for Belarussians abroad; recognises the democratic aspirations of the people of Belarus;
Amendment 519 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 i (new)
Paragraph 11 i (new)
11i. Invites to use the lessons learned in the Union’s support for Ukraine to enhance its readiness for future scenarios; calls for a swift and fundamental reform of the EU treaties establishing a full-fledged, decisive, effective and coherent EU CFSP;
Amendment 544 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Strongly condemns constant and coordinated attempts by the Russian Federation, pro-Russian oligarchs and Russian-sponsored local proxies to destabilise the Republic of Moldova, sow divisions within Moldovan society and derail the country’s pro-European direction through hybrid attacks, the weaponisation of energy supplies, disinformation, bomb threats and staged protests as well as the threat or use of violence; welcomes the outcomes of the EU referendum and the Moldovan citizen’s historic choice to anchor their future within the EU despite massive interference and hybrid attacks by Russia and its proxies to undermine the democratic vote in Moldova; commends the establishment and operations of the EU Partnership Mission in Moldova (EUPM Moldova) which have enhanced the Moldovan authorities’ capabilities to address Russian interference; calls on the Council, Commission and EEAS to provide additional resources, including human and financial, equipment and civilian experts necessary to continue implementing the mission’s mandate beyond May 2025; further calls on the Member States to examine how similar missions can be created in other candidate countries, if necessary, and in close cooperation with their national authorities;
Amendment 553 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Praises the Moldovan people for running the presidential election professionally and with an extraordinary sense of duty and dedication, despite the continued massive interference from Russia and its proxies; encourages the authorities to continue these efforts in view of next year‘s parliamentary elections; reiterates its support to Moldova in defending its democracy;
Amendment 562 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Affirms the right of Israel to defend itself as enshrined in and constrained by international law; express its strongest concern for the disproportionate military action by the Israeli Defence Forces in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank; calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and a subsequently imminent and permeant ceasefire to address the risk of mass starvation and the outbreak of a health epidemic in Gaza; recalls that Israel also has the obligation to protect the civilian population and that military operations must be proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law; expresses its gravest concern over the legislation approved by the Israeli Parliament forbidding contact between Israeli state entities and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), highlights that the legislation goes against international law and breaches fundamental humanitarian principles of humanity, and will only exacerbate an already severe humanitarian crisis, potentially halting essential services such as food, shelter, education and healthcare for millions of Palestinian refugees in these territories; urgently calls on EU institutions and Member States to remain committed to supporting UNRWA and its mission;
Amendment 569 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Affirms the right of Israel to defend itself as enshrined in and constrained by international law and international humanitarian law; calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and a subsequently imminent and permeant ceasefire to address the risk of mass starvation and the outbreak of a health epidemic in Gaza; recalls that Israel also has the obligation to protect the civilian population and that military operations must be proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law;
Amendment 574 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Welcomes sanctions adopted against extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as violent activists, blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza; calls for the adoption of a package of sanctions against Israeli authorities and military responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the region; urges to immediately review the EU-Israel Association Agreement and consider its suspension in case of non-compliance with human rights obligations;
Amendment 581 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire;
Amendment 583 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Urges to address the risk of mass starvation, the worsening of health conditions and the outbreak of a health epidemic in Gaza;
Amendment 591 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Reiterates its unwavering support for a negotiated two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 borders, with two sovereign, democratic states as peaceful neighbours and with Jerusalem as their shared capital; condemns the acceleration of the illegal Israeli settlement of Palestinian land, which constitutes a violation of international law; expresses concern over the rising violence committed by Israeli forces and extremist settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalemalls on the EU to continue its strong support to the Palestinian state building and institutions and their capacity in preparation for future statehood, as a vital tool to restore a political horizon towards a two-state solution; recalls that on 28 May 2024, Norway, Ireland and Spain recognized the State of Palestine, followed on 4 June 2024 by the decision of Slovenia’s parliament; calls on the High Representative to continue its efforts in creating the conditions for the recognition of the Palestinian State by all EU Member States; condemns the acceleration of the illegal Israeli settlement of Palestinian land, which constitutes a violation of international law; expresses concern over the rising violence committed by Israeli forces and extremist settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem; supports the procedure initiated by the High Representative to ask Member States to include in the list of sanctions those Israeli ministers who have expressed hate messages and declarations against international law and threatening the status quo over Temple Mount/Haram al- Sharif; considers that following the disproportionate military reaction and the continuous violations of humanitarian and international law the EU should immediately review the EU-Israel Association Agreement and consider its suspension in case of non-compliance with human rights obligations; expresses support for US President Biden’s three- phase Peace Plan and regrets the lack of will on both sides to ensure its implementation; regrets, further, that the latest rounds of peace talks did not bring any tangible results; expresses its utmost concern regarding the military escalation in Lebanon, and deplores the unacceptable number of civilian casualties, the forced displacement caused by the escalating violence and the persistent use of military force; calls for an immediate ceasefire across the Blue Line and for a full and symmetrical implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701; expresses particularly grave concern regarding the attacks by the Israeli Defence Forces against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL); recalls that attacks against UN peacekeepers constitute a grave violation of international law and are totally unacceptable;
Amendment 598 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Reiterates its unwavering support for a negotiated two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 borders, with two sovereign, democratic states as peaceful neighbours and with Jerusalem as their shared capital; welcomes the launch of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and calls for the VP/HR to continue investing heavily on a ceasefire and a peaceful solution of the conflict; condemns the acceleration of the illegal Israeli settlement of Palestinian land, which constitutes a violation of international law; expresses concern over the rising violence committed by Israeli forces and extremist settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem; expresses support for US President Biden’s three- phase Peace Plan and regrets the lack of will on both sides to ensure its implementation; regrets, further, that the latest rounds of peace talks did not bring any tangible results;
Amendment 655 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Shares the objective of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons at all costs; points, however, to the fact that the regime in Tehran has clearly rejected a revival of the JCPOA and, at the same time, increased its nuclear weapons capability; regrets the fact that there is currently no strategy in place to persuade Iran to refrain from building military nuclear capacity, nor a plan of action for the event thatcalls upon the VP/HR to put forward a strategy towards Iran that includes a plan of action in case Iran does crosses the nuclear threshold; calls upon the VP/HR to put forward a revised strategy towards Iran;
Amendment 698 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Highlights that the world is becoming more multipolar and less multilateral; emphasises that multilateral forums, chief among them the United Nations and its agencies, should be considered the EU’s format of cooperation of choice; condemns therefore all unjustified attacks, both verbal and physical, against the UN, including its agencies and missions; expresses concern, in this respect, about the increasing relevance of exclusive formats of cooperation, which experience increasing competition; observes, at the same time, that international institutions and norms are increasingly being instrumentalised; stresses that this trend puts the EU in a delicate position, which balances the need to appeal for a broad and inclusive concept of multilateralism while prioritising cooperation with selected, like-minded partners at the same time;
Amendment 703 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Highlights that the world is becoming more multipolar and less multilateral; emphasises that multilateral forums, chief among them the United Nations and its agencies, should be considered the EU’s format of cooperation of choice; expresses concern, in this respect, about the increasing relevance of exclusive formats of cooperation, which experience increasing competition; observes, at the same time, that international institutions and norms are increasingly being instrumentalised; stresses that this trend puts the EU in a delicate position, which balances the need to appeal for a broad and inclusive concept of multilateralism while prioritisreinforcing cooperation with selected, like-minded partners at the same time;
Amendment 707 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Emphasises that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine destabilises and threatens the security and stability of the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans, which in turn jeopardises the security of the EU itself; welcomes the fact that the EU enlargement policy has been reprioritised following the Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; considers that the EU should therefore also prioritise the reform of its neighbourhood policy and accelerate the enlargement process in parallel with the institutional and decision-making reforms necessary to safeguard the Union’s integration capacity; calls to ensure that pending reform of the treaties will not be used as an excuse to delay accession process;
Amendment 708 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Deplores the distorted use of the organizations of multilateral fora by the hand of a number of third countries, and particularly authoritarian and totalitarian regimes, such as in some cases particular friendship groups in the UN, in order to advance an agenda that challenges human rights and the multilateral and rules-based world order; underlines the serious consequences of discrediting and attacking these multilateral organizations, such as the UN, which can foster a culture of impunity; calls on the EU to develop a robust strategy along with like- minded countries in order to contain this situation and to send a united and strong message of support to these organizations when attacked or threatened;
Amendment 712 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Welcomes recent signals regarding the accelerated timeline for candidate countries; calls for it to be ensured that ongoing and future accession negotiations will not be delayed because of particular national interests or the need to reform the Treaties; reaffirms that the pace of the enlargement process remains linked to the individual countries’ capacity to meet the criteria for accession, but that it also depends on the commitment of the political leaders in Western Balkan countries and the EU Member States;
Amendment 713 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 c (new)
Paragraph 22 c (new)
22c. Underlines the importance of financial instruments, such as the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance III, in order to strengthen the partnership between the EU and candidate countries; calls for the development of a coherent strategy for the gradual integration of all candidate countries, including into sectoral policies and as observers in the various institutions of the Union;
Amendment 714 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 d (new)
Paragraph 22 d (new)
22d. Welcomes the 2024 enlargement package, despite the delay, and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which includes a facility of EUR 6 billion in grants and loans to accelerate socio- economic convergence with the EU between 2024 and 2027; calls on the Council to demonstrate genuine political commitment to the EU membership perspective of the countries in Western Balkans; notes that this should include advancing accession negotiations with Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia; supports efforts to achieve, as a matter of priority, the relevant constitutional changes in North Macedonia and calls on all political forces to play a constructive role in this regard; asks, in particular, the governments of the Member States that set this additional requirement for North Macedonia to do their utmost to support these efforts; regrets the unjustified delays in the accession process of North Macedonia and recalls that candidate countries should be assessed on the basis of their own merit in complying with the objective criteria for accession, including their implementation of EU-related reforms and their policy alignment with the CFSP, such as the positions and restrictive measures adopted in response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine; welcomes the fact that the majority of countries in the Western Balkans are aligned with the CFSP, while calling on Belgrade to urgently do the same, particularly considering that Serbia is one of the very few European countries not yet in line with the sanctions adopted in response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine; recalls that accession can only proceed once the country in question aligns with EU sanctions against Russia and makes significant progress on EU-related reforms; remains very concerned about the destabilising influence on the whole region of the Serbian authorities;
Amendment 715 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 e (new)
Paragraph 22 e (new)
22e. Deplores the fact that the Serbian parliamentary elections held on 17 December 2023 and local elections held on 2 June 2024 deviated from international standards and Serbia’s commitments to free and fair elections, owing to the dominance of the ruling party and the fragmentation of the opposition reduced their competitiveness, and concerns remained about pressure on public sector employees and misuse of public resources; considers that these elections cannot be deemed to have been held in just conditions; is alarmed by reports of the widespread and systematic scale of fraud that compromised the integrity of the elections in Serbia; expresses its serious concern over these irregularities and the overall election environment, which fell below the standards expected of an EU candidate country; reminds the Serbian authorities that the proper functioning of Serbia’s democratic institutions is at the core of Serbia’s EU accession process and the EU accession methodology calls on the competent authorities to investigate properly and follow up on the I-EOM’s recommendations; encourages Serbia’s political leadership to ensure constructive, inclusive dialogue across the political spectrum and to deliver on the necessary reforms for Serbia to progress on the path to EU accession;
Amendment 716 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 f (new)
Paragraph 22 f (new)
22f. Supports the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia and the development of the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina; calls on Kosovo and Serbia to engage in the Dialogue in good faith and in the spirit of compromise to achieve a comprehensive, legally binding agreement on the normalisation of their relations, based on mutual recognition, in accordance with international law and without further delay; recalls that failure to advance on the normalisation of relations would negatively impact the EU integration of both countries; regrets the restrictive measures imposed by the Council against Kosovo and calls for their immediate lifting, as proposed by HR/VP; calls for the EU to adopt a balanced approach to the mediation between the parties in order to overcome the current stalemate; recalls that the failure of the Dialogue would also have consequences for the EU’s role as a credible foreign policy player;
Amendment 717 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 g (new)
Paragraph 22 g (new)
22g. Welcomes Kosovo’s application for EU membership and asks the Commission to respond to it; recalls that Kosovo’s bid to be considered a candidate country will be assessed on the basis of its own merits and of its success in meeting the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership; welcomes, however, the lifting of visa requirements for Kosovo citizens;
Amendment 718 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 h (new)
Paragraph 22 h (new)
22h. Regrets the fact that high political tensions and polarisation in Montenegro have delayed progress on EU-related reforms; welcomes the formation of a stable and pro-EU majority; stresses the importance of the new government being able and committed to take forward the EU-related reforms and keep Montenegro firmly on the EU strategic path; expects the country to start closing chapters/clusters in the accession negotiations and to be ready to join the EU by 2028;
Amendment 719 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 i (new)
Paragraph 22 i (new)
22i. Calls on the Commission to explore possible formats for a mutually appealing framework with Türkiye through a comprehensive and inclusive process, such as a modernised association agreement; remains concerned by the fact that Türkiye’s foreign policy continues to clash in many aspects with EU interests;
Amendment 720 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 j (new)
Paragraph 22 j (new)
22j. Regrets recent developments in Republika Srpska hampering the positive momentum on EU enlargement, notably the adoption of separate entity laws on election, referenda and immunity, the continued non-recognition of the Constitutional Court’s authority and decisions, as well as continued secessionist rhetoric; Reiterates its call for targeted EU sanctions against destabilising political actors in BiH, including those threatening its sovereignty and territorial integrity, notably Milorad Dodik and his allies;
Amendment 721 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 k (new)
Paragraph 22 k (new)
22k. Welcomes Albania’s ambition of closing accession negotiations by the end of 2027; calls in this regard for increased efforts to accelerate reforms, especially on rule of law, fighting corruption and organised crime, and promotion of fundamental rights including media freedom; welcomes the progress Albania has achieved in the implementation of the justice reform; cautions against undermining the work of independent institutions such as the Special Anti- Corruption and Organised Crime Structure (SPAK); encourages a return to orderly parliamentary conduct, emphasizing that constructive political debate is essential for democratic governance;
Amendment 728 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Calls for the promotion of comprehensive reforms of the United Nations Security Council and international financial institutions to enhance their effectiveness, transparency, and democratic representation, ensuring equitable participation for all regions, particularly underrepresented countries from the Global South; stresses that such reforms are essential to strengthen multilateralism, improve global governance, value-based decision-making and address international challenges more inclusively and responsively;
Amendment 730 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Recalls the importance of a strong and constructive partnership with the UK; welcomes the renewed impetus from the new UK Government to reflect with the EU on possibilities for closer foreign policy and security cooperation, which would be of added value for both the EU and the UK; calls to explore avenues for more permanent forms of coordination with UK in regard to foreign and security policy and our shared interests and collective responsibilities in regions such as the Western Balkans; demands that Parliament be duly involved and informed in such reflections;
Amendment 745 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Recalls that the transatlantic relationship remains one of the most important and strategic relationship for the EU and its Member States, which has been emphasised by the unity and strength of the partnership demonstrated following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; underlines that a strong transatlantic relationship remains indispensable for the security of the partners on both sides of the Atlantic; calls on the Commission to foster closer ties with key partners in both the US and Canada in order to counter global challenges that affect our shared values, interests, security and prosperity;
Amendment 758 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Reiterates that a peaceful, stable and rules-based Indo-Pacific is of vital European interest; encourages, to this end, closerIs of the view that the centre of gravity in the global order is shifting towards the Indo-Pacific and that the EU must strengthen its active role and presence in this region to safeguard its interests, promote stability and uphold a rules-based international order; encourages closer diplomatic and economic cooperation with the countries in this region; calls for enhanced foreign, security and defence policy ties with like- minded partners and increased cooperation with others in the region in line with the EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific; encourages the VP/HR to promote the visibility and effect of the EU’s external action together with our Indo-Pacific partners, particularly Australia, India, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan;
Amendment 775 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Considers that the rise of ChinaChina's envision to redefine the global order remains one of the primary geopolitical challenges of the 21st century and requires a multi- dimensional response through which the EU maintains its engagement with China on a number of key issues; calls on the VP/HR and the Member States to maintain diplomatic engagement while increasing the EU’s assertiveness towards China in order for it to assume its responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council; reminds the position of China as a partner for cooperation, an economic competitor and a systemic rival, particularly within the areas of digital transformation and climate transition;
Amendment 785 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Considers that the rise of China remains one of the primary geopolitical challenges of the 21st century and requires a multi-dimensional response through which the EU maintains its engagement with China on a number of key issues; calls on the VP/HR and the Member States to review its strategy towards China while maintaining diplomatic engagement whileand increasing the EU’s assertiveness towards China in order for it to assume its responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council;
Amendment 805 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Reiterates that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a crucial partner in reinforcing rules-based multilateralism; supports ASEAN’s efforts to finalise negotiations with China on an effective and substantive code of conduct in the South China Sea; encourages enhanced EU political engagement and cooperation with ASEAN and working towards a comprehensive strategic partnership, not only economical, but also with regards to human rights, democracy and sustainable growth; calls for increased support to the Myanmar’s National Unity Government and to put pressure on ASEAN countries to align on international sanctions against Myanmar’s military junta;
Amendment 812 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Notes that geopolitical challenges have strengthened the shared interest of the EU and India in ensuring security, prosperity and sustainable development; considers India an important democratic partner and encourages the EU to strictly engage with the Indian Government on the respect of human rights and rule of law, both internally and worldwide; calls for an India-EU summit to keep bilateral relations high on the agenda;
Amendment 821 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Urges the VP/HR and the Member States to focus on bilateral relations with like-minded partners in Africa, among others Ghana, Kenya and Senegal, taking into account mutual needs and interests in order to foster real and balanced partnerships; believes that the ‘more for more’ principle should be integrated fully into relations with non-EU countries, whereby the EU develops stronger partnerships with those countries that uphold the principles of the CFSP and the common security and defence policy (CSDP), and the fundamental values of the EU; calls for the EU to respond to partner countries’ expectations and to deliver quickly on political agreements with them in order to show that the EU is a key and strategic partner and demonstrate that the international rules-based system can meet contemporary challenges; stresses the importance of establishing these political agreements with third countries, based on common European values and fundamental rights;
Amendment 837 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Emphasises the need to continue stepping up the EU’s engagement with like-minded countries in Latin America, particularly given the growing influence of China and Russia in Latin America and the Caribbean; calls on the Member States and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to pursue proactive diplomacy in the region, with a strong emphasis on defending the multilateral global order, international law and respect for democracy and human rights; welcomes the EU-CELAC informal meeting and the implementation of initiatives under the EU-CELAC Roadmap 2023-2025 and, in this regard, underlines the need to adopt a new and ambitious roadmap at the 2025 Summit, that keeps strengthening our partnership and takes into account the best practices accomplished so far;
Amendment 840 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Emphasises the need to continue stepping up the EU’s engagement with like-minded countries in Latin America, particularly given the growing influence of China and Russia in Latin America and the Caribbean; calls on the Member States and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to pursue proactive diplomacy in the region, with a strong emphasis on defending the multilateral global order, international law and respect for democracy and human rights; underlines the need for a tougher approach to address violence against environmental defenders and to step up the EU’s efforts to assist in the preservation of biodiversity and in the adaptation to the climate emergency; suggests to further strengthen cooperation against drug trafficking;
Amendment 843 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Emphasises the need to continue stepping up the EU’s engagement with like-minded countries in Latin America, particularly given the growing influence of China and Russia in Latin America and the Caribbean; calls on the Member States and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to pursue proactive diplomacy in the region, with a strong emphasis on defending the multilateral global order, international law and respect for democracy and human rights; urges to promote a multilateral initiative to address the political instability in Haiti and the uncontrolled violence against the local population;
Amendment 864 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Believes simultaneously in the significance of building new alliances, inter alia with the countries in our neighbourhood as well as in the ‘Global South’, taking into account mutual needs and interests in order to foster real and balanced partnerships;
Amendment 865 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Believes simultaneously in the significance of building new alliances, inter alia with the countries in our neighbourhood as well as in the ‘Global South’, based on the respect for human rights, taking into account mutual needs and interests in order to foster real and balanced partnerships;
Amendment 869 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Calls for further strengthening our relations with the “Global South”, taking into account mutual needs and interests in order to foster real and balanced partnerships; underlines that the EU should reinforce these relations by fostering a pro-active and inclusive engagement in different areas with these countries as equal partners; highlights the need to analyse the geopolitical and geo- economic concerns of the Global South and jointly address them;
Amendment 870 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Calls on the DPRK to abandon its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner; urges the DPRK authorities to cease their ongoing crimes against humanity and to undertake a process of reform whereby all human rights are respected and protected;
Amendment 885 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Highlights the role of the VP/HR as a bridge-builder between the CFSP and EU external relations to ensure the highest level of coordination and coherence in EU external action; calls on the Commission to strengthen its coordination with the EEAS in this area, including by guaranteeing full compliance of Article 3.2 and 9, which may need to be updated, of the EEAS Decision; regrets, nonetheless, that in some cases there is a lack of clarity in the external representation of the EU; stresses the need to clearly define the competences of the VP/HR, the President of the Commission and the President of the European Council with regard to the EU’s external action and representation;
Amendment 892 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Stresses the need for the EU to foster the visibility and effectiveness of its external action and development cooperation efforts, also to counteract the post-colonial narrative of a North-South divide; emphasizes, however, that one of the primary challenges to the EU’s credibility and influence abroad is a lack of unity and consistency within its external policies, which frequently leads to perceived double standards; calls on the EU and its Member States to foster greater coherence and alignment in their international actions to project a more reliable and principled stance globally;
Amendment 902 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Calls for the EEAS – both its headquarters and EU delegations – to be strengthened through the provision of the appropriate financial and human resources so that the EU can be better prepared for current and emerging global challenges; calls on the VP/HR to swiftly come up with proposals for the future operational structure of the EU’s external actionfor the EEAS to be able to select and recruit their permanent EU diplomatic staff and to ensure a fairer gender and geographical balance among Member States across all levels within the EEAS; calls on the VP/HR to swiftly come up with proposals for the future operational structure of the EU’s external action and to fully take into account the EP resolution on taking stock of the functioning of the EEAS and for a stronger EU in the world;
Amendment 912 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Underlines the need to determine ways of access to the EEAS for those graduating from the European Diplomatic Academy and for them to have the possibility to become a permanent part of its staff; calls for the forenamed Academy to include Europeans who are not Member States ‘diplomats and have completed a higher education in its system of selection, recruitment and training; stresses the importance to ensure that sufficient resources, including human resources, are allocated to the Academy;
Amendment 916 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 b (new)
Paragraph 38 b (new)
38b. Reiterates its call to promote the establishment of a system of automatic and continuous flow of intelligence from Member States to the EEAS on foreign and security issues occurring outside the Union; urges to improve the security protocols of the services working on intelligence and/or with sensible information;
Amendment 922 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to effectively and swiftly use the Global Gateway as a sustainable alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative and as an instrument to increase the EU’s presence and visibility worldwide without prejudice to the primary objective of EU development policy, namely the eradication of poverty, as enshrined in Article 208 of the TFEU, and ensuring that all NDICI-GE money is used according to the rules set out in the Regulation and with the aim to promote the achievement of the SDGs;
Amendment 923 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to effectively and swiftly use the Global Gateway as a sustainable alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative and as an instrument to increase the EU’s presence and visibility worldwide; stresses the need for the EU’s support to other alternatives, such as the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, the India– Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor, or the Lobito Corridor;
Amendment 938 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Calls for the further development of the EU’s preventive diplomacy, including peace mediation and dialogue, as a proactive foreign policy tool; urges the EEAS to conduct ‘lessons learnt’ exercises, as well as to strengthening its tools and increase the EEAS resources in this regard, particularly the CSDP and crisis response Division; calls to integrate EU’s preventive diplomacy tools within structural prevention mechanisms and actions, such as for instance political agreements among different actors involved in conflicts, national dialogues for reconciliation, peacebuilding and transitional justice, as well as truth and reconciliation commissions; urges the EEAS to conduct ‘lessons learnt’ exercises, particularly regarding the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon; underlines the use of litigation through an international court or tribunal, such as the ICC or the ITLOS, as a method of preventive diplomacy;
Amendment 944 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)
Paragraph 41 a (new)
41a. Calls for the Digital sovereignty of the EU to be one of its External Action priorities in the upcoming years; urges to develop a clear and ambitious EU Digital Strategy that contributes to asserting its autonomy and protecting its strategic interests in this area, which goes from securing strategic materials and commodities to the adoption of international norms; stresses that this strategy should taking into account the challenges for digital transformation and green transition within the EU; welcomes the Digital Diplomacy Network and considers the need to institutionalise its work by establishing an EU Special Representative for Digital Diplomacy; calls for the creation of “EU for AI” hubs to develop initiatives and foster co- creation in this area;
Amendment 946 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 b (new)
Paragraph 41 b (new)
41b. Calls to strengthen the EU’s cultural diplomacy and international cultural relations as a relevant instrument for peace and for addressing global challenges; urges to increase EU’s support to third countries creative and artistic sectors, including assistance on capacity building; calls to promote cultural co-creation between third countries, including by fostering cultural exchanges and residences; in this regard, stresses the need to reinforce the EEAS StratCom; welcomes the upcoming participation of the EU and the Osaka World Expo and supports making this a permanent practice, as well as its presence in international book fairs;
Amendment 947 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 c (new)
Paragraph 41 c (new)
41c. Underlines the need for the EU to count with the necessary first-hand information on global issues occurring outside its borders in the light of increasing geopolitical challenges and crisis worldwide; calls, in this regard, for strengthening the EU INTCEN, the EEAS Crisis Response Center and the SatCen by enhancing its staff and financial resources, as well as capabilities;
Amendment 950 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Reaffirms the role of the EU Special Representatives, who promote the EU’s policies and interests in specific regions and countries and play an important role in the development of a stronger and more effective CFSP by providing the EU with an active political presence in key countries and regions, acting as a ‘voice’ and ‘face’ for the EU and its policies; stresses the importance for EUSRs to have a broad, flexible mandate, capable of adapting to evolving geopolitical circumstances in order to promote the EU's policies and interests in specific regions and countries and play an active role in preventive diplomacy efforts;
Amendment 953 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Reaffirms the role of the EU Special Representatives, who promote the EU’s policies and interests in specific regions and countries and play an important role in the development of a stronger and more effective CFSP by providing the EU with an active political presence in key countries and regions, acting as a ‘voice’ and ‘face’ for the EU and its policies; insists that the appointment of new EUSRs should take place only after a hearing in the European Parliament;
Amendment 983 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Calls on the VP/HR to follow up on the examples of the successful evacuation actions in Sudan and of the stepped-up consular protection, and to work towards a comprehensive system of protection for EU citizens abroad; stresses that the impact of continuous crises and conflicts worldwide can entail the risk of overloading Member States’ consular protection and/or assistance and calls, in this regard, to strengthen the capabilities and resources of the EEAS Crisis Response Center and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism;
Amendment 989 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)
Paragraph 44 a (new)
44a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to bring forth sound proposals on achieving an own and permanent seat for the Union in every multilateral fora, including in the UNSC, in order to strengthen EU’s actorness, coherence and credibility in the world;
Amendment 991 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)
Paragraph 44 a (new)
44a. Calls on the European Commission and EEAS to pursue a feminist foreign and security policy with our partners, in accordance with the European Parliament report on the EU Gender Action Plan III;
Amendment 993 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 b (new)
Paragraph 44 b (new)
44b. Recognizes that the Arctic region carries significant strategic and geopolitical importance due to its emerging maritime routes, rich natural resources and opportunities for economic development unlocked by global warming, while being increasingly contested; considers alarming the growing activities and interest by authoritarian regimes, including Russia and China, in the Arctic; Underlines the importance of preserving security, stability and cooperation in the Arctic; stresses that the region must remain free from military tensions and natural resource exploitation, while respecting the rights of indigenous peoples; reiterates the need to include the Union’s Arctic policy in the CFSP and engage in effective cooperation with NATO; calls for the Arctic to be addressed regularly within the Political and Security Committee and Council meetings;
Amendment 995 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 c (new)
Paragraph 44 c (new)
44c. Welcomes the first EU-Gulf Cooperation Council summit held on 16 October 2024; regrets however, that the human rights issues were only lightly covered in the joint statement of the summit; calls on the EU and the Member States to continue to emphasise the respect for human rights and gender equality as well as the progressive alignment of values, in particular for countering Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its consequences;
Amendment 997 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 d (new)
Paragraph 44 d (new)
44d. Calls on the EU to step up its support of civil society and human rights defenders in our partner countries in light of shrinking space for civil society around the world;
Amendment 998 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 e (new)
Paragraph 44 e (new)
44e. Expresses its serious concern about the increasing attacks on LGBTIQ rights worldwide, as LGBTIQ persons continue to suffer discrimination and violence, including in countries where despite some progress, these hard fought rights now face backsliding, such as hostile rhetoric from elected politicians, surges in homophobic violence and the proclamation of so-called LGBTIQ-free zones;
Amendment 1015 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 a (new)
Paragraph 50 a (new)
50a. Reminds that the EEAS is structurally underfunded and should not be subjected to the same constraints as the other institutions regarding the approach to the administrative budget; is deeply concerned by the serious and far-reaching negative consequences for the EU’s External Action, and the performance of the EU institutions in this area, of these abovementioned budgetary issues; highlights the increasing responsibilities tasked to the EEAS by EU institutions, including the Council and the Parliament; acknowledges that the lack of action to rectify the current budgetary situation of the EEAS can severely impact in the EU’s relations with third countries; recalls the lack of operational budget of the EEAS and calls to analyse its consequences and alternatives;
Amendment 1017 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 b (new)
Paragraph 50 b (new)
50b. Calls on the Commission to include in its proposal for the next MFF robust capabilities and resources for the EU External Action taking into account the increasingly challenging international arena; in this regard, reminds that is crucial to further strengthening our support to human rights, democracy and development in third countries as a world of democracies is a safer world; underlines that resources to the EU’s Digital Diplomacy should be further strengthened given the current context of rapid technological advancements and geopolitical competition; insists that “green diplomacy” and the green transition, as one of the EU's priorities, should be enhanced towards third countries through the EU's External Action;
Amendment 1018 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. Underlines that each matter raised above requires an appropriate response by the executive; calls on the VP/HR to respond to Parliament’s calls, requests and concerns swiftly and in writing; considers that oral statements in committee or plenary can only constitute a sufficient response in exceptional or urgent cases; stresses that in the current challenging geopolitical context, close cooperation and partnership between the European Parliament and the VP/HR are of strategic importance; expects more systematic exchanges prior to the adoption of mandates and CFSP strategies and an improved flow of information on negotiations and the implementation of international agreements, as well as memoranda of understanding; expects, in addition, Parliament to be effectively incorporated throughout EU external policies and action as an integral player of ‘Team Europe’, thereby mobilising parliamentary diplomacy in support of the VP/HR’s efforts;
Amendment 3 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
– having regard to the North Atlantic Treaty,
Amendment 27 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
– having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 of 22 March 2021 establishing a European Peace Facility (EPF),
Amendment 29 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 b (new)
Citation 14 b (new)
– having regard to the Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/1968 of 17 October 2022 establishing the Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine),
Amendment 30 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 c (new)
Citation 14 c (new)
– having regard to the Council conclusions of 22 January 2018 on the integrated approach to external conflicts and crises, and 24 January 2022 on the European security situation,
Amendment 32 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 d (new)
Citation 14 d (new)
– having regard to the Council conclusions of 21 February 2022 extending and enhancing the implementation of the Coordinated Maritime Presences Concept in the Gulf of Guinea,
Amendment 34 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 e (new)
Citation 14 e (new)
– having regard to the ‘Strategic Compass for Security and Defence – For a European Union that protects its citizens, values and interests and contributes to international peace and security’, which was approved by the Council on 21 March 2022 and endorsed by the European Council on 25 March 2022,
Amendment 36 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 f (new)
Citation 14 f (new)
– having regard to the Joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 18 May 2022 entitled ‘Defence Investment Gaps Analysis and Way Forward’ (JOIN(2022)0024),
Amendment 38 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 g (new)
Citation 14 g (new)
– having regard to the Joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 10 November 2022 entitled ‘Action plan on military mobility 2.0’ (JOIN(2022)0048),
Amendment 41 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 h (new)
Citation 14 h (new)
– having regard to the three Joint Declarations on EU-NATO cooperation signed on 8 July 2016, 10 July 2018 and 10 January 2023,
Amendment 42 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 i (new)
Citation 14 i (new)
– having regard to Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, its illegal invasion and annexation of Crimea and the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as the occupation of Georgia’s regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and the Republic of Moldova’s region of Transnistria,
Amendment 43 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 j (new)
Citation 14 j (new)
– having regard to the Charter of the United Nations,
Amendment 44 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 k (new)
Citation 14 k (new)
– having regard to the Charter of the United Nations, in particular its Article 2.4 prohibiting the use of force and Article 51 on the inherent right to individual and collective self-defence,
Amendment 45 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 l (new)
Citation 14 l (new)
– having regard to UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 (2000), 1889 (2013), 2122 (2013), 2242 (2015) and 2493 (2019) on Women, Peace and Security and Resolutions 2250 (2015), 2419 (2018) and 2535 (2020) on Youth, Peace and Security,
Amendment 46 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 m (new)
Citation 14 m (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 18 January 2023 on the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy – annual report 2022,
Amendment 47 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 n (new)
Citation 14 n (new)
– having regard to its recommendation of 8 June 2022 to the Council and the VP/HR on the EU’s Foreign, Security and Defence Policy after the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine,
Amendment 48 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 o (new)
Citation 14 o (new)
– having regard to the joint communication to the European Parliament and the Council: European Union Space Strategy for Security and Defence, published on 10 March 2023 (JOIN(2023)0009),
Amendment 49 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 p (new)
Citation 14 p (new)
– having regard to the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down measures to strengthen solidarity and capacities in the Union to detect, prepare for and respond to cybersecurity threats and incidents (COM(2023/0209) – C9 0136/2023 – 2023/0109(COD)),
Amendment 75 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the European Union is facing the most diverse range of threats since its creation, accentuated by Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, the rise of multipolarity and opposition to the established rules-based order, and the development of new kinds of threats and technologies across domains; whereas in response to these threats the EU urgently needs to enhance the effectiveness of its foreign, security and defence policy to defend its interests, values and citizens, both within and outside its borders, and first and foremost in its neighbourhood, to deliver peace, human security, sustainable development and democracy, and to support its partners;
Amendment 92 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas the rise in use of hybrid attacks and threats, as demonstrated by Russia’s activities the EU, in Ukraine, in Africa and elsewhere necessitate the development of comprehensive instruments to detect, prevent and react to such incidents and protect the Union’s citizens and assets, through transforming traditional military capacities, improving the security of critical infrastructure, countering foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) and further developing a common high level of cybersecurity; whereas China has also demonstrated increased use of hybrid tools aimed at undermining the stability of the EU;
Amendment 99 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas in 2023 the Parliament and the Council concluded agreements on the European defence industry reinforcement through common procurement act (EDIRPA) and the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) which aim to encourage the joint procurement of defence products, ramp up the European defence industry’s production capacity, replenish depleted stocks and reduce fragmentation in the defence-procurement sector; whereas further initiatives are needed to establish genuine European defence integration, including a European Defence Investment Program (EDIP);
Amendment 110 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B d (new)
Recital B d (new)
Bd. whereas building capabilities and adapting them to military needs requires a common strategic culture, threat perception and solutions to be developed and combined in doctrine and concepts;
Amendment 115 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B e (new)
Recital B e (new)
Be. whereas maximising the EU’s and Member States’ defence capabilities requires smarter spending and greater joint procurement;
Amendment 119 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B f (new)
Recital B f (new)
Bf. whereas the EU’s integrated approach to external conflicts and crises provides for a coherent use of the EU’s different capacities, within which its security and defence policy should complement and be complemented by other civilian tools to contribute to human security and sustainable peace in Europe and the wider world;
Amendment 127 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B g (new)
Recital B g (new)
Bg. whereas the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans face increasingly diverse threats to their security and stability and required increased cooperation with the EU in the field of security; whereas security in these regions is negatively affected by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine;
Amendment 129 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B h (new)
Recital B h (new)
Bh. whereas the CSDP has 9 military missions and 13 civilian missions with over 4000 personnel; whereas CSDP missions and operations often lack rapid- decision making and suffer from excessive micro-management from the Council, as well as limited financial, logistical and human resources; whereas Member States are deploying less personnel to the missions and operations; whereas such obstacles limit the overall effectiveness of CSDP missions and operations; whereas one of the objectives of the Strategic Compass is to reinforce EU civilian and military CSDP missions and operations by providing them with more robust and flexible mandates, promoting rapid and more flexible decision-making processes and ensuring greater financial solidarity; whereas the Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine has demonstrated the positive impact CSDP missions and operations have with the necessary resources and contributions from Member States; whereas EU CSDP missions and operations are often targeted by hybrid threats, including FIMI campaigns, putting at risk their effectiveness in stabilising the country in which they are deployed;
Amendment 132 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B i (new)
Recital B i (new)
Bi. whereas security and defence cooperation with partners and allies are crucial to the EU’s ambition to become an international security provider; whereas cooperation with UN, NATO, African Union, OSCE, ASEAN as well as numerous allies and like-minded partners such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ukraine, Moldova, Japan, South Korea, Australia amongst others are crucial to the successful implementation of the CSDP;
Amendment 136 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B j (new)
Recital B j (new)
Bj. whereas the Arctic region is becoming increasingly important for geopolitics, economic development and transport, while at the same time it is facing challenges linked to climate change, militarisation and migration;
Amendment 137 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B k (new)
Recital B k (new)
Bk. whereas the Russian Federation makes use of private military companies (PMCs), such as the Wagner Group as part of a hybrid warfare toolbox to maintain plausible deniability while exerting influence in various regions and gaining access to natural resources and critical infrastructures; whereas Wagner Group has reportedly committed atrocities in Ukraine, Mali, Libya, Syria and the CAR; whereas it has reinforced anti- European sentiments, especially in countries with strong European presence or hosting CSDP missions;
Amendment 140 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B l (new)
Recital B l (new)
Bl. whereas conflicts disproportionately affect women and girls and, among other things, intensify gender-based violence as also demonstrated by Russia’s unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine; whereas the participation of women in peacekeeping and military operations should be encouraged and strengthened;
Amendment 167 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the importance of the European Peace Facility (EPF) which has supported the Ukrainian armed forces by financing and delivering military equipment and training, while providing coordination for all stakeholders through the Clearing House Mechanism hosted by the EU Military Staff; calls for the financial sustainability and durability of the EPF to be ensured in order to provide Ukraine and other EU partners around the world with the support they request; welcomes in this regard VP/HR Borrell’s proposal, building on Parliament’s previous call, for the creation of a 20 billion euros assistance fund within the EPF, dedicated to supporting the Ukrainian armed forces with up to 5 billion euros per year between 2023-2027, and calls on Member States to rapidly approve it; strongly condemns efforts made by Hungary to block recent attempts to top-up the EPF as well as the VP/HR’s proposal on the special assistance fund for Ukraine; emphasises that all military assistance and weapons deliveries by the EPF must fully comply with the EU Common Position on arms exports, international human rights law and humanitarian law, as well as providing adequate transparency and accountability;
Amendment 179 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the setting up of the Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) and its role in enhancing the military effectiveness of Ukraine’s armed forces so they can defend their territorial integrity within Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders and allow the country to effectively exercise its sovereignty and protection of civilians; congratulates the EEAS and Member States for the projected successful training of up to 30 000 troops before the end of 2023 and further calls on them to extend the number of trained troops beyond the original goal; stresses the importance of specific training modules aimed at developing the capacities of existing and future officers of the Ukrainian armed forces across all levels and in accordance with their needs; further welcomes the rapid conclusion of deliberations and strong participation by Member States in launching EUMAM Ukraine, which can be described as a template for future military training missions, and calls on them to demonstrate similar ambition and contributions to other current and future CSDP missions and operations;
Amendment 194 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines the EU’s concrete support to Ukraine through the ‘three ammunition tracks’; urges faster delivery of ammunition from Member States’ existing stocks through the EPF; calls for the joint procurement of ammunition for Ukraine to be sped up and stresses the need to ramp up the third track and ensure themanufacturing capacities of the European industry by ensuring rapid and effective implementation of the Act in Support of Ammunition Production; further stresses that concrete steps should be taken towards Ukraine’s integration in EU defence policies and programmes during the EU membership process, building on the existing agreement with the European Defence Agency (EDA) and as a beneficiary ofthe possibility for Member States to procure on behalf of Ukraine as a recipient of additional quantities within the European defence industry reinforcement through common procurement act (EDIRPA); calls on the European External Action Service to come forward with a plan for a sustainable and long-term package of security commitments for Ukraine;
Amendment 217 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines the commitment of the EU’s heads of state and government, made in the Versailles Declaration, to provide all the necessary support needed by Ukraine and to take greater responsibility for European security by bolstering European defence capabilities; calls on the EU and its Member States to deliver on this commitment by accelerating the full implementation of the Strategic Compass in order to make the European Union a stronger and more capable security provider; stresses that the Strategic Compass’ ambitious aims and milestones can only be achieved with corresponding political willingness and action on behalf of Member States and the EU institutions, as well as the necessary financial contributions where necessary;
Amendment 241 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Reminds the Member States of their commitment to strengthening the mMilitary pPlanning and cConduct cCapacity (MPCC) and achieving full operational capability, including through the provision of adequate premises, staff, and reorganisation of the EU Military Staff; demands that its Full Operational Capability should be reached by 2025, as stated in the Strategic Compass, and despite Council conclusions of 19 November 2018, which envisaged a 2020 deadline; further demands that the MPCC’s staffing level should be increased considerably up to 250 personnel; emphasises the urgent need to establish the MPCC as the preferred command and control structure for EU military operations, in particular with regard to the use of the future Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC);
Amendment 244 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Emphasises the importance of continuing to operationalise Article 42(7) TEU on mutual assistance and to clarify the coherence between this and Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, considering that not all EU Member States are NATO members;
Amendment 248 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Reiterates its full support for the rapid deployment capacity (EU RDC) with at least 5 000 troops available for crisis situations, such as rescue and evacuation tasks, initial entry and stabilisation operations or temporary reinforcement of missions; calls on the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) to set Member States to take into account the practical modalities for implementing Article 44 TEU during the operationalisation of the EU RDC as well as in other CSDP operational engagements, as relevant, in order to allow a group of willing and able Member States to plan and conduct a mission or operation within the EU framework and, thereby, ensure the swift activation of the RDC; welcomes the first ever live exercise for the RDC, taking place in October 2023 in Spain and looks forward to further live exercises in the future aimed at improving its capabilities, increasing interoperability between Member States and effectively testing the utilisation of the RDC in various scenarios; calls on Member States and EEAS to ensure that such training and certification exercises are covered by the common costs mechanism to ensure adequate participation in the future;
Amendment 264 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 272 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the VP/HR and Member States to deliver more robust, flexible and modular CSDP missions and operations, that can adapt to the changing security context and, taking into account the Integrated Approach principle, that build on the synergies and complementarities of civilian and military dimensions of CSDP; welcomes the adoption of the new Civilian CSDP Compact and the commitment to increase the effectiveness, flexibility and responsiveness of civilian missions, including through speeding up decision making, strengthening operational planning, improving selection and recruitment of personnel, emphasising greater gender equality and improving responsiveness tools;
Amendment 275 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Strongly condemns the rising number of coup d’états in Africa in the last 3 years, namely in Burkina Faso, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Sudan; strongly supports the decisions made by ECOWAS and the African Union in response to the coups and calls on Member States the EEAS to explore how to effectively assist them in their efforts where possible; deeply regrets the apparent failure of the overall EU strategy in the African continent as well as regional strategies, and especially the Sahel region, in upholding and promoting democratic principles, enhancing socio- economic development and ensuring security and stability; condemns the presence of private military companies and/or state sponsored proxies such as the Wagner Group which has played a destabilising role in the Sahel region and has supported various repressive regimes in an attempt to further the Russian Federation’s influence in Africa; considers that all coup d’états are the result of various, multi-dimensional causes which are not identical in each country and thus require careful considerations; is nevertheless appalled by expressions of strong anti-European sentiments in certain countries and calls on Member States and EEAS to consider increasing people to people through closer exchanges with the local populations and national authorities, more targeted strategic communications in local languages to counter-balance adverse effects and through honestly addressing their colonial past where necessary; call on the EEAS and the Member States to reconsider their overall policy towards Africa and to revise the EU’s strategy in the Sahel region, through an honest review of its approach in recent years, aimed at effectively counteracting post- colonial approaches to the region, introducing truly holistic approaches, addressing the long-term socio-economic development, security and climate needs of each country, and following close exchanges with the local population, civil society and democratically elected authorities and regional organisations where possible, adhering to the principle of “African solutions to African problems”; further calls on EEAS and the Member States to examine closely the mandate of all CSDP missions in Africa, including their potential termination if necessary, with the aim of providing achievable goals and milestones for each mission given the current political context, as well as exploring whether these missions could be amended in order to more effectively serve a new multi- dimensional and tailored EU strategy in the Sahel and Africa, as part of its integrated approach; deplores the continued lack of support from an important number of African countries in favour of a UN general assembly resolution condemning Russia, supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity, and calling for peace; takes note of the recent accession of Ethiopia to the BRICS;
Amendment 280 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Strongly condemns the recent pre- planned and unjustified attack of Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh which further exacerbates the major humanitarian crisis caused by Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin Corridor, in violation of Azerbaijan’s commitments under the trilateral statement of 9 November 2022 and the corresponding ceasefire and of the legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice; deplores the loss of life and forcible evacuation of citizens and calls on Azerbaijan to protect the lives and respect the rights of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh; criticizes the fact that Azerbaijan’s offensive seriously undermines the ongoing peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and urges Azerbaijan to return to a constructive participation at the negotiating table; calls on the Council to reconsider the EU’s relations with Azerbaijan, and consider imposing sanctions against responsible Azerbaijani authorities; welcomes the efforts made by the European Union Mission to Armenia to provide real-time, on the ground information on the situation and effectively contribute to the peace negotiations through confidence building-measures and impartial observations and analysis of incidents along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border; calls on Azerbaijan to agree to have such a civilian mission on their side of the border, including allowing access to EUMA to the Lachin Corridor;
Amendment 283 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12c. Commends and underlines the importance of the work of the European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Operation ALTHEA) in training and supporting the armed forces of BiH, contributing to a safe and secure environment and ensuring compliance with the Dayton Agreement; strongly condemns any divisive and/or secessionist rhetoric which further contribute to the vulnerability of the country and emphasizes that candidate country status is an opportunity and an obligation for BiH elected representatives to fulfil citizens’ expectations and concretely improve the daily life of ordinary people; calls for the further strengthening of EUFOR ALTHEA, particularly through the deployment of further troops and assets as well as the creation of a credible presence in the Brčko District;
Amendment 285 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)
Paragraph 12 d (new)
12d. Welcomes the Joint Communication of June 2023 on a New Outlook on the Climate and Security nexus, which outlines concrete actions to address the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation on security and European defence, including CSDP; stresses the need to move forward with its comprehensive implementation with a view to enhance operational effectiveness, including to deploy environmental advisors to all CSDP missions and operations by 2025 and to support Member States in addressing any gaps, barriers and incentives to prepare their armed forces for climate change, as called for in the Strategic Compass;
Amendment 287 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 e (new)
Paragraph 12 e (new)
Amendment 290 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Emphasises the importance of adequate, flexible and sustainable funding for all security and defence programs and initiatives, including the CFSP budget and the EPF; calls for a substantive increase of funding for the CFSP budget, including a dedicated CFSP budget line establishing a civilian support facility to provide partner countries with equipment and services to enhance their civilian capabilities; calls on the Member States to increase the resources allocated to security and defence in the next multiannua l financial framework review, in view of the depletion of Heading 5 and in light of the growing security needs of the Union which will require further initiatives such as EDIP and further funding for the EDF as proposed in STEP; invites the Member States to bring forward the re-assessment of the scope and definition of common costs to enhance solidarity and stimulate participation in military missions and operations, as well as exercise-related costs in line with the Strategic Compass; further calls on Member States to amend the EPF financing process to ensure adequate and sustainable support for partners, allies and CSDP operations;
Amendment 305 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the increased budgets and investment in defence by EU Member States and institutions, and calls for their impact to be maximised in order to deliver the needed capabilities to Europe’s armed forces through increased joint procurement and joint investment in defence research and development; deplores the fact that in order to finance EDIRPA and ASAP, the Commission resorted to cannibalising existing resources dedicated to other security and defence initiatives or other programmes, thereby undermining other existing initiatives and emphasising the need to dedicate further resources to Heading 5 of the Multiannual Financial Framework; calls on the Member States and the Commission to dedicate further financial and human resources to EEAS to ensure it can effectively conduct its role as the EU’s diplomatic service in light of the highly contested geopolitical context and the increased demands on its limited capacities in recent years;
Amendment 315 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Considers that the European Defence Fund, regrettably still underfinanced, shows the added-value of EU-level action in European defence and recommends the extension of Commission proposals in all defence-related fields of EU policy in coordination with Member States and the VP/HR; ; calls for a further 1 billion euro budget increase to the EDF, in addition to the Commission’s suggested 1.5 billion euros, as part of the proposal for Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP); urges maximum consistency and coordination between various initiatives in the field of security and defence, such as CARD, EDIRPA, ASAP, PESCO and Military Mobility amongst others, to prevent overlaps, guarantee efficient public investments and address the critical capabilities gap;
Amendment 322 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses that EDIRPA and ASAP can only be a first step towards improving the European technological and industrial base’s capacities to supply Member States with the products and quantities needed and should be complemented with further initiatives, including the envisaged long- term European Defence Investment Program (EDIP) for which adequate funding needs to be ensured as well as an effective regulatory framework aimed at encouraging innovation, boosting production and ensuring smarter and more efficient public investments; regrets that EDIP has still not been proposed by the Commission; calls on the Commission to draw on the EUMC's expertise in the definition of defence industries' priorities and the formulation of defence initiatives in order to ensure military coherence at industrial level;
Amendment 329 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Underlines the need to better coordinate the defence policies of Member States, activities falling under the CSDP, and the Union’s cooperation with NATO; considers, in this regard, that the establishment of a permanent Council of Defence Ministers within the framework of the Council of the European Union could be envisaged;
Amendment 341 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Welcomes the commitment by the EEAS and the Member States, in close consultation with Commission services, to set up a regular and structured civilian capability development process in 2024;
Amendment 342 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Highlights the importance of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in improving the EU’s defence capabilities and welcomes the progress achieved so far through the PESCO initiative projects, such as in areas such as cyber defence, unmanned systems, medical services, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) surveillance, as well as the further progress achieved across projects in all military domains, as recorded by the PESCO Secretariat’s Annual Projects Progress Report; regrets, however, the fact that Member States are still not making full use of the PESCO framework and that progress on implementation still falls far short of expectations; calls on the VP/HR and the Member States to conduct continuous thorough review of the projects and their prospects, which should also include the possibility of merging, regrouping and even closing projects that lack sufficient progress and redirecting efforts towards a small number of priority projects intended to lead to concrete actions as stated in the Strategic Compass; strongly regrets that Parliament is not in a situation to exercise proper scrutiny of PESCO projects;
Amendment 347 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Highlights that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is part of a wider strategy to undermine the rules-based international order; calls for the EU to enhance its capacities for responding to hybrid warfare, including the detection and response to Russia, and other state and non-state actors carrying out foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) campaigns which challenge our interests, and values and security, including by spreading false-narratives about the EU or by targeting CSDP missions and operations in strategic areas;
Amendment 349 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Welcomes Türkiye’s vote in favour of condemning the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine in the UN General Assembly and its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine but deplores, at the same time, the fact that circumvention of EU sanctions by Türkiye undermines their effectiveness and calls on the Commission to examine this; reiterates its call on Türkiye to align with the EU sanctions against Russia;
Amendment 355 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Highlights that China has established a ‘no-limits friendship’ with Russia, that includes significant transfer of technology and military capabilities, and poses an increasing number of security challenges to the EU, especially in the fields of cyber and FIMI; stresses the need for the EU to strengthen the security and integrity of its critical infrastructures, supply chains and technology base, including through close monitoring of their ownership and control by actors linked to the Chinese governmentde- risking and promoting EU’s technological edge in critical sectors, including measures to restrict or exclude high-risk suppliers, especially actors linked to the Chinese government; expresses serious concerns about the danger artificial intelligence (AI) driven disinformation and information manipulation campaigns, including through the creation of fake websites and generation of fake images, poses to democratic processes, especially in the lead up to elections; calls on the Commission and EEAS to closely cooperate with the private sector, civil society as well as the academic and technical community in countering these malign influence campaigns and addressing the weaponisation of new technologies;
Amendment 360 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Recalls that dependencies on high- risk suppliers of critical products with digital elements pose a strategic risk that should be addressed at Union level; stresses the need to further strengthen the FDI-screening procedures with due- diligence standards to identify leverage by governments of states which would contravene the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States as established in the framework of the CFSP pursuant to Title V of the TEU over investors in EU critical infrastructure, such as European ports and in undersea cables in the Baltic, Mediterranean as well as in the Arctic seas; underlines that this approach should apply equally to candidate and potential candidate countries; believes additional legislation is needed to effectively protect the European ICT supply chain security from risky vendors and protect against cyber-enabled intellectual property theft; calls for the creation of European framework aiming to closely regulate and set minimum standards and conditions relating to the export of intellectual property and technologies which are critical to the security and defence of the Union, including amongst others dual-use goods;
Amendment 373 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for supplementary progress on further improving the EU Hybrid Toolbox, specifically addressing activities involving cyber-attacks and FIMI, and the revision of the implementing guidelines of the EU’s cyber diplomacy toolbox; welcomes the commitment set out in the Strategic Compass and new Civilian Compact to provide the necessary capabilities to enable civilian CSDP missions and operations to respond to hybrid attacks, including FIMI and cyber, by 2024, as well as develop a coherent and clear communication strategy; reiterates the need for ensuring the existence of the expertise and capacity for secure information and communications technologies for all CSDP missions and operations to communicate securely in theatre and with all EU institutions; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to increase its cooperation and coordination with other missions and operations from like-minded partners and organisations, including the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, in countering FIMI operations in the field;
Amendment 386 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the deployment of the EU CSDP Partnership Mission in the Republic of Moldova, the first ever CSDP civilian mission dedicated to strengthening the resilience of Moldova’s security sector in crisis management and countering hybrid threats; Underlines the importance of this innovative CSDP Mission and calls on the Member States to provide the expertise and capabilities necessary for the mission to support Moldova in the face of Russia’s use of hybrid warfare; calls on the EEAS to explore the creation of similar missions to other candidate and associate countries to the EU, aimed at increasing their resilience against hybrid threats, including cyber threats and FIMI;
Amendment 403 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Is concerned by the hybrid warfare activities of private military companies (PMCs) and state-sponsored proxies, such as the Wagner Group and other armed groups, militias and proxies to exert influence in several countries across the world; calls on the EEAS to create an initiative with like-minded partners to counter malign non-state and state- sponsored actor groups, such as Wagner; emphasises that the existing EU toolboxes should include responses, such as sanctions, to non-EU states financing or cooperating with private military companies in vulnerable regions;
Amendment 406 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. Welcomes the findings and high level of ambition in the recommendations proposed in the EU space strategy in the area of security and defence; considers the safe, secure and autonomous access to space as a critical aspect of the EU’s security and defence, as demonstrated by its importance in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine;
Amendment 407 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 c (new)
Paragraph 23 c (new)
23c. Demands that the Union takes effective measures to protect European critical infrastructure, valuable supply chains and democratic institutions from hybrid threats; calls on the EU to put in place effective monitoring and surveillance systems for critical infrastructure such as pipelines and fibre optics cables to ensure the prevention and rapid detection of attacks; welcomes the update of the EU Maritime Security Strategy, announced on 10 March 2023, and stresses the importance of stepping up the EU’s activities at sea, cooperating with partners, leading in maritime domain awareness, and protecting critical infrastructure; stresses the importance of the Coordinated Maritime Presence (CMPs) concept, enhancing the role of the EU as a global maritime security provider and its visibility in key maritime regions and looks forward to its expansion to other key areas across the globe;
Amendment 408 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 d (new)
Paragraph 23 d (new)
23d. Further calls on the Member States and the EEAS to systematically include financial and human resources, tools and training aimed at countering FIMI-related threats in all CSDP missions and operations as part of their broader mandate in host countries and their resilience against hybrid threats;
Amendment 409 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 e (new)
Paragraph 23 e (new)
23e. Calls on Member States, the EEAS and the European Commission to consider the creation of a well-resourced and independent structure tasked with identifying, analysing and documenting FIMI threats against the EU as a whole to increase situational awareness and threat intelligence sharing, and develop attribution capabilities and countermeasures in relation to FIMI; considers that this structure would serve as a reference point and specialised knowledge hub to facilitate and foster operational exchange between Member States’ authorities, EU institutions and EU agencies, as well as enabling the exchange of best practices with like- minded partners across the globe; stresses that the structure should clarify and enhance the role of the EEAS StratCom division and its taskforces as the strategic body of the EU’s diplomatic service and prevent the overlap of activities;
Amendment 410 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Recalls the need for enhanced intelligence sharing and information exchange among Member States and EU institutions, including Parliament, to improve situational awareness, counter security threats and better inform policy making; calls on the VP/HR and the Member States to reinforce the Single Intelligence Analysis Capacity (SIAC); reiterates the call for the deployment of intelligence capacities in all CSDP missions and operations which would provide information to the EU Intelligence and Analysis Centre (EU INTCEN), EUMS and Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC); underlines the importance of secure communications for reliable intelligence and welcomes efforts to streamline security rules and regulations in this respect to better protect information, infrastructure and communication systems from foreign interference and attacks; calls on Member States to utilise the EU INTCEN as an effective intelligence-sharing body to share intelligence safely, formulate a common strategic culture and provide strategic information to better anticipate and respond to crises within and outside the EU;
Amendment 416 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Stresses the urgent need to significantly increase investment in regional and global arms control, non- proliferation and disarmament, particularly in multilateral approaches; stresses the need for greater transparency and convergence at the national and European level on arms exports; points to the need for the Member States to respect the EU Common Position on Arms Exports and acknowledge their competences in their defence acquisition policies; calls on the Member States to fully comply with Common Position 2008/944/CFSP of 8 December 2008 defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment as amended by Council Decision (CFSP)2019/1560; acknowledges the Member States’ competences in their defence procurement policies;
Amendment 424 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b. Reaffirms its full support for the EU and its Member States’ commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of the nuclear non- proliferation and disarmament regime; insists on the need to ensure that the EU plays a strong and constructive role in developing and reinforcing global rules- based non-proliferation efforts and arms control and disarmament architecture;
Amendment 427 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)
Paragraph 24 c (new)
24c. Calls for the EU to play a significant role in the Mediterranean, having become an actor with the ability to guarantee the stability of the region, including in relation to energy security; calls for enhanced cooperation with partner countries in the Mediterranean to combat extremism, terrorism, the illicit trade in weapons and human trafficking;
Amendment 458 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Recalls that mainstreaming and operationalising gender perspectives in external relations and implementing the Women, Peace and Security agenda are long-standing priorities for the EU; therefore, insists on the importance of delivering on all commitments made, including those in the EU’s Gender Action Plan (GAP) III (2020-2024) and in the Strategic Compass, including by promoting gender equality and by systematically mainstreaming a gender perspective, based on gender analysis, in all civilian and military CSDP planning and actions; welcomes, in this context, the appointment of Gender Advisors in all CSDP Missions and Operations and the establishment of a network of gender focal points; calls for the full implementation of the commitments made in the new Civilian CSDP Compact, which includes significantly increasing women’s participation in civilian CSDP among international staff, with the aim to reach at least 40 percent representation while striving for gender parity; underlines nevertheless that more needs to be done to ensure gender equality and the full and meaningful participation of women in CSDP, especially in military missions;
Amendment 463 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Amendment 469 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 c (new)
Paragraph 26 c (new)
26c. Welcomes the Joint Communication on an Action Plan on Military Mobility 2.0, as a key contribution to strengthening European security, as recognised in the Strategic Compass; highlights the accelerated adoption of dual-use transport infrastructure projects following Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; and recalls the importance to ensure sufficient availability of financial resources to continue the project pipeline in the coming years;
Amendment 472 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 d (new)
Paragraph 26 d (new)
26d. Welcomes the increasingly closer cooperation between the EU and the United States in the field of security and cooperation, as demonstrated by their joint efforts to support Ukraine as well as cooperation in international fora; notes the importance of greater collaboration in defence product production and procurement, including through equal market access for both defence industries; welcomes in this regard, efforts made by the EU to improve its own defence capabilities, taking greater responsibility for its own defence and reducing its dependency on one of its closest allies;
Amendment 474 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 e (new)
Paragraph 26 e (new)
26e. Reiterates its calls for institutionalised security and defence cooperation with the United Kingdom, including through closer collaboration on information sharing, military mobility, mutual security and defence initiatives, crisis management, cybersecurity, hybrid threats, FIMI and our relationship with common strategic competitors;
Amendment 485 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Underlines the importance of developing security and defence dialogues with partners around the world, in particular in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership but also with key partners in strategic maritime areas such as those stretching from the Red Sea and Horn of Africa to the Indo-Pacific; reiterates the call for deeper cooperation with international organisations, such as, but not limited to, the UN, the African Union, and its peacekeeping missions in joint theatres, and the OSCE on security;
Amendment 494 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Recognises that the Arctic region carries significant strategic and geopolitical importance due to its emerging maritime routes, rich natural resources and opportunities for economic development unlocked by global warming, while being increasingly contested; considers alarming the growing activities and interest by authoritarian regimes, including Russia and China, in the Arctic;
Amendment 499 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27b. Underlines the importance of preserving security, stability and cooperation in the Arctic; stresses that the region must remain free from military tensions and natural resource exploitation, while respecting the rights of indigenous peoples; reiterates the need to include the Union’s Arctic policy in the CSDP and engage in effective cooperation with NATO; calls for the Arctic to be addressed regularly within the Political and Security Committee and Council meetings;
Amendment 502 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 c (new)
Paragraph 27 c (new)
27c. Reiterates the important role of young people and youth organisations in maintaining and promoting peace and security and calls on the EEAS to commit to more systematically integrating young people into its youth, peace and security (YPS) agenda;
Amendment 519 #
2023/2119(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Calls on the EEAS to regularly and comprehensively report on the implementation of the Strategic Compass to the Subcommittee on Security and Defence;
Amendment 229 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the interest and the political will to join the EU shown by so many countries, and acknowledges the serious efforts made by candidate countries to meet the requirements for membership; calls for the Council to support the recommendations of the Commission 2023 Enlargement package and to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, to grants Georgia the status of a candidate country and to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved;
Amendment 229 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the interest and the political will to join the EU shown by so many countries, and acknowledges the serious efforts made by candidate countries to meet the requirements for membership; calls for the Council to support the recommendations of the Commission 2023 Enlargement package and to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, to grants Georgia the status of a candidate country and to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved;
Amendment 279 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Acknowledges the historic challenge facing the EU of meeting its commitments to the countries in the Western Balkans and to Ukraine and, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia;
Amendment 279 #
2023/2114(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Acknowledges the historic challenge facing the EU of meeting its commitments to the countries in the Western Balkans and to Ukraine and, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia;
Amendment 130 #
2023/0200(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) Reconstruction from the damage caused by the war of Russian aggression cannot be limited to rebuilding what was destroyed as it was before the war. The reconstruction offers an opportunity to support Ukraine in its process of integration into the Single Market and in accelerating its sustainable green and digital transitions, in line with Union policies. The Facility should promote reconstruction in a way that modernises and improves Ukraine’s economy and society, building on Union rules and standards, by investing in the transition of Ukraine towards a green, digital and inclusive economy and in the recovery, reconstruction and, modernisation and protection of its critical infrastructure, productive capacity and human capital in a resilient way, taking into account the growing cybersecurity risks and an overall complex threat landscape.
Amendment 145 #
2023/0200(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 35
Recital 35
(35) Strengthening the rule of law, including the independence of the judiciary, the fight against corruption, money laundering and organised crime, as well as transparency, good governance at all levels, safeguarding the free and pluralistic media and fighting disinformation, foreign information manipulation and interference, strengthening public administration reform, including in the fields of public procurement, competition and State aid, remain key challenges and are essential for Ukraine to come closer to the Union and to prepare to fully assume the obligations of Union membership. In view of the longer- term nature of the reforms pursued in those areas and the need to build up track records, support under the Ukraine Facility should address those issues as early as possible.
Amendment 193 #
2023/0200(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 66
Recital 66
(66) Ukraine should prepare the Plan as a coherent, comprehensive and adequately balanced response to rebuilding and modernising Ukraine, supporting its economic, social and environmental recovery and its progress towards accession to the Union. In view of the increasing risks coming from economic dependencies, the Plan should minimise the exposure to high-risk suppliers of critical products from countries designated as strategic rivals of the Union, in particular whenever a country engages in economic espionage or economic coercion and its legislation obliges arbitrary access to any kind of company operations or data, especially when the critical products are intended for the use by critical entities. As such, the Ukraine Plan would also provide a basis for other donors to identify the priority funding areas for the reconstruction of Ukraine and foster ownership, coherence and additional contributions to that end. For that purpose, Ukraine should ensure that the Plan as prepared covers its recovery, reconstruction and modernisation needs in an integrated manner, identifying to what extent the measures of the Plan are expected to be financed by the Union through the Facility. In preparing the Plan, Ukraine should take into account support provided under other Union programmes. Ukraine should develop its Plan ensuring that other donors are able to contribute to supporting the measures of the Plan, including by increasing the funding available under the Facility.
Amendment 246 #
2023/0200(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 95
Recital 95
(95) The communication capacities of Ukraine should be enhanced in order to ensure existence of strong and free pluralistic media and public support for and understanding of Union values and the benefits and obligations of potential Union membership, while addressing disinformation, foreign information manipulation and interference. Visibility of the Union funding should also be ensured.
Amendment 269 #
2023/0200(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) rebuild and modernise infrastructure damaged by the war, such as energy infrastructure, water systems, internal and cross-border transport networks including rail, roads and bridges and border crossing points, and foster modern, improved and resilient infrastructures, equip digital and other critical infrastructures with state-of-the- art and highly-secure tools, excluding high-risk suppliers of critical products; restore food production capacities; help address social challenges stemming from the war, including for specific groups such as war veterans, Internally Displaced Persons, single parents, disabled people, minorities and other vulnerable persons; contribute to the demining effort; strengthen cyber security and defence as well as resilience against disinformation, foreign information manipulation and interference;
Amendment 288 #
2023/0200(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) further strengthen the rule of law, democracy, the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including through promoting an independent judiciary, reinforced security, the fight against fraud, corruption, organised crime, illicit firearms trafficking and money laundering, tax evasion and tax fraud; compliance with international law; strengthen freedom of media and academic freedom and an enabling environment for civil society; foster social dialogue; promote non- discrimination and tolerance, to ensure and strengthen respect for the rights of persons belonging to minorities and the promotion of gender equality; reinforce the effectiveness of public administration and support transparency, structural reforms and good governance at all levels, including in the areas of public financial management and public procurement and State aid; support initiatives and bodie, bodies and organisations involved in supporting and enforcing democracy, international justice and anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine;
Amendment 365 #
2023/0200(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 7 – point b
Article 11 – paragraph 7 – point b
(b) where the action or specific award procedures affect security or public order, in particular concerning strategic assets and interests of the Union, its Member States, or Ukraine, including the protection of the integrity of digital infrastructure, communication and information systems, and related supply chains, especially where there is a risk of influence by governments of states classified as systemic rivals of the Union.
Amendment 1 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
Citation 9 a (new)
— having regard to the Council conclusions on women, peace and security of 14 November 2022,
Amendment 2 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
— having regard to the fourth and final Annual Review Conference of the Civilian CSDP Compact on 16 November 2022,
Amendment 33 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas Member States are responsible for providing missions’ capability requirements, pursuant to art 42 TEU;
Amendment 34 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
D b. whereas EU CSDP missions and operations are often targeted by hybrid threats, including disinformation, putting at risk their effectiveness in stabilising the country in which they are deployed;
Amendment 47 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Calls on EU Member States to agree on an ambitious new Civilian CSDP Compact by mid 2023, as stipulated in the Strategic Compass, in order to renew their commitment to strengthening civilian CSDP, their shared political ownership of it and their commitment to reinforce and bridge the gaps in civilian CSDP missions;
Amendment 52 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Calls on EU member states to renew their commitment to increase national contributions to civilian CSDP missions, especially in terms of human resources;
Amendment 67 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point g
Paragraph 4 – point g
g) the security-climate nexus, by mainstreaming climate change and environmental degradation, as it relates to security challenges, while taking concrete steps to reduce the footprint of the missions with the aim to achieve climate- neutrality by 2050 in line with the goals set out under the European Green Deal,
Amendment 69 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point h
Paragraph 4 – point h
h) civil-military cooperation, by promoting the rule of law and accountability, including by strengthening the justice chain and capabilities to respond effectively to security challenges;
Amendment 81 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Emphasises that all EU engagements must be credible in the eyes of local and regional populations and authorities, building on close and honest cooperation with host nations, and must maintain frequent communication between mission personnel, national authorities and the broader population;
Amendment 86 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Recalls that civilian missions must pay special attention to conflict dynamics, robust risk assessment and mitigation processes, and must include more impact- based monitoring and evaluation of CSDP interventions as well as more consultation and feedback mechanisms;
Amendment 92 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for the new Civilian CSDP Compact to be used to strive for the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in civilian CSDP, including, as a first step, to increase the participation of women to at least 40 % across missions and at all levels by 2024; highlights women’s significant contribution in CSDP missions and operations success and as a driver of the EU’s credibility as a proponent of equal rights for men and women worldwide; recalls the EU’s Gender Action Plan (GAP) III (2020- 2024), which requires systematic integration of a gender perspective in all EU policies and external actions including the CSDP; urges the Member States and EEAS to promote an increase in the number of women in CSDP operations, including, as a first step, to increase the participation of women to at least 40 % across missions and at all levels by 2024; calls on EU Member States to commit to gradually achieve gender parity in the appointments of heads of mission and other senior leadership positions; encourages their close cooperation with local civil society actors in promoting gender equality and gender mainstreaming where possible;
Amendment 115 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Calls for the implementation of sustainable, long-term capacity building and training as part of civilian CSDP missions, where possible and required, such as “train-the-trainer” programs, in order to ensure the long-term viability and success of the missions;
Amendment 121 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for clear exit strategies for civilian missions, allowing for swifter closure of missions when operational and political objectives are met, and also when those are not met;
Amendment 124 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Further welcomes the proposed creation of the Rapid Deployment Capacity (RDC); underlines the RDC’s main tasks, which will include amongst others, rescue and evacuation operations, temporary reinforcement of other missions and acting as a reserve force to secure exit; stresses in this regard the need to create contingency plans for each Civilian CSDP mission in coordination with the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), the CPCC and the RDC in anticipation of potential emergency situations where the RDC may be required;
Amendment 134 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Calls on EU member states to maintaining a commitment in the new compact to develop the full range of capabilities needed to undertake and sustain civilian crisis management missions, including mission support and generic capabilities, and commit to specific measures to enhance their availability for civilian CSDP missions;
Amendment 143 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses the need to reform the human resources policy and management system, and to ensure that the working conditions in civilian CSDP missions contribute to a safer and more inclusive environment; welcomes the EEAS’s efforts to address weaknesses in the support provided to staff in missions, including the revision of the Code of Conduct, with a particular focus on human rights principles; calls on the EEAS to examine ways aimed at reducing staff turnover and vacancy rates, including amongst others, extending deployment time;
Amendment 158 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Emphasises the significance of coordinated action on a Union level to effectively prevent and counter hybrid threats faced by civilian CSDP missions; welcomes the joint communication on an EU cyber defence policy, noting the importance of cyber resilience for CSDP missions and the decision to develop an EU hybrid toolbox for a coordinated response to hybrid campaigns; stresses the need to further develop the EU’s cyber- defence policy and capabilities, including the setting up of cyber rapid response teams and their expansion towards supporting civilian CSDP missions; reiterates the urgent need to develop their strategic communication capabilities including secure communication systems drawing on the EU’s secure connectivity programme;
Amendment 162 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19 b. Stresses the importance of fighting adverse disinformation aimed at Civilian CSDP missions by malicious state and non-state actors; calls on the EEAS to take concrete steps to support CSDP missions through strengthening the capacities of the StratCom division and ensuring the provision of well-trained personnel at each mission, responsible for monitoring, reporting and countering disinformation where possible;
Amendment 164 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19 c. Welcomes the proposal, enshrined in the Strategic Compass, to enable a more rapid deployment of Civilian CSDP missions; underlines in this regard the stated aim to deploy up to 200 experts within 30 days; stresses therefore the need to modify decision-making procedures, including examining a shift towards qualified majority voting for certain aspects of the missions;
Amendment 165 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)
Paragraph 19 d (new)
19 d. Calls on the EEAS to develop, together with Commission services and Member States, a structured and regular civilian capability development process by 2024;
Amendment 176 #
2022/2196(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Highlights the need of ensuring a more robust and realistic CFSP budget that matches the needs of new and ongoing civilian CSDP missions and its rapid, flexible and cost-efficient use to support them, ensuring sound financial management and careful prioritisation of existing resources;
Amendment 6 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5
Citation 5
— having regard to the action plan entitled ‘Strategic Compass for Security and Defence – For a European Union that protects its citizens, values and interests and contributes to international peace and security’, which was approvdopted by the Council on 21 March 2022 and endorsed by the European Council on 25 March 2022,
Amendment 10 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8
Citation 8
— having regard to the Response Force of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Response Force (NRF),
Amendment 24 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Union has extensive experience in deploying multinational missions abroad in order to promote peace, security and progress in Europe and in the world; whereas these common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions regularly operate alongside and complement missions of the Member States, United Nations, NATO, international organisations and third countries;
Amendment 25 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Union has extensive experience in deploying multinational mississions and operations abroad in order to promote peace, security and progress in Europe and in the world; whereas these common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions regularly operate alongside and complement missions of the Member States, United Nations, international organisations and third countries;
Amendment 27 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Union has extensive experience in deploying multinational missions abroad in order to promote peace, security and progress in Europe and in the world; whereas these common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions regularly operate alongside and complement missions of the Member States, United Nations, and other international organisations and third countries;
Amendment 54 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas candidate and association countries have also contributed to CSDP missions;
Amendment 66 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the Strategic Compass sets out EU-level action in many of these areas; whereas the European Defence Fund and the European Peace Facility are EU instruments which have already been deployed and that are designed to improve military capabilities and foster operational cooperation and burden- sharing abroad;
Amendment 72 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas the European Defence Fund is an EU instrument which has already been deployed and is designed to improve military capabilities including regarding the industrial base;
Amendment 74 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
Amendment 77 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the Battlegroup Concept has helped develop multinational defence cooperation and interoperability, as well as transformation for rapid deployment and force modernisation, yet, despite these benefits, the non-use of this asset over a period of 15 years has been politically embarrassing given the EU’s aspirations in this area, and raises questions over the justifiability of its costs;
Amendment 82 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas problems related to decision making and political will have structurally hampered the deployment of the EU Battlegroups since their creation in 2007;
Amendment 89 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas there has been confusion about the list of tasks for the Battlegroups;
Amendment 93 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J e (new)
Recital J e (new)
Je. whereas whenever Member States were unwilling to authorise the use of their Battlegroups despite a clear need, opportunity and feasibility to do so, they were not publicly called out and were allowed to save face; whereas this meant that each time the use of Battlegroups was discussed but did not materialise, a negative precedent was created that undermined the spirit of solidarity and cooperation; whereas instead of creating a virtuous circle whereby the successful use of the Battlegroup in one case would create political incentives and mutual obligations for their future use, a vicious circle emerged that eroded political willingness to use such asset;
Amendment 94 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J f (new)
Recital J f (new)
Jf. whereas the early years of the Battlegroups’ existence were marked by declining momentum for EU CSDP, particularly due to defence cuts after the 2008 financial crisis;
Amendment 95 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J g (new)
Recital J g (new)
Jg. whereas actual convergence among Member States in terms of threat priorities faced by the European Union and the need to be able to rapidly respond to them remained relatively limited; whereas the Strategic Compass considerably advances in this area through the common threat analysis, significantly addressing this issue;
Amendment 119 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas the Strategic Compass sets out a clear roadmap for implementing EU- level actions, in particular for transforming the EU battlegroup system,by establishing a rRapid dDeployment cCapacity (RDC) building on substantially modified EU Battlegroups and paving the way towards entrusting the implementation of specific CSDP tasks to a group of Member States within the Union framework in accordance with Articles 42(5) and 44 of the TEU;
Amendment 158 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the VP/HR’s proposal, enshrined in the Strategic Compass, to establish anthe EU RDC; stresses the importance of the EU having the necessary capabilities and structures to take action rapidly and decisively during crises in order to serve and protect the Union’s citizens, interests and values across the world;
Amendment 160 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 a (new)
Subheading 1 a (new)
Highlights that the RDC is a key element for the European Union's strategic autonomy and will represent a significant improvement of our capacities in security and defence; Highlights that the establishment of the RDC will create new security synergies and strengthen collective defence also in the relations with our partners;
Amendment 172 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – introductory part
Paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Strongly encourages the VP/HR to propose a Council Decision onthe establishing an EU RDC to protect the Union’s values and serve its interests along the following lines:
Amendment 179 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
Paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
(aa) The conceptual planning for the RDC should be focused, but not limited to, on crisis management tasks laid in TEU Article 43, but precepts of Article 42 and Solidarity Clause 222 should not be excluded;
Amendment 181 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point b
Paragraph 2 – point b
(b) The RDC’s tasks should include, but not be limited to, rescue and evacuation operations, initial entry and initial phase of stabilisation operations, temporary reinforcement of other missions, and acting as a reserve force to secure exit; the Council could assign further tasks as referred to under Article 44 of the TEU, and the duration and scope of the assignments should be consistent with resources allocated to the RDC; notes that flexibility should be introduced in task and scenario planning in order to be prepared to address all possible crisis situations;
Amendment 192 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point c
Paragraph 2 – point c
(c) The RDC should number at least 5 000 troops, excluding strategic enablers such as air and sea lift personnel, intelligence assets, special operations forces and medical evacuation and care units; the target number for the RDC should be at least between 7 000 and 10 000 troops in total; notes that an exact number of minimum troops can only be given after conceptual planners have analysed the potential scenarios;
Amendment 202 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point d
Paragraph 2 – point d
(d) The RDC should frequently simulate scenarios and hold joint exercises following uniform training and certification standards such as those in NATO; further notes that the term ‘non- permissive environment’ can refer to a terrorist or a conventional threat, but could also include all kinds of hybrid threats, such as cyber-attacks, information warfare or even weapons of mass destruction; notes that the RDC is not limited to use in such environment but also in so-called permissive environments if decided to;
Amendment 203 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point d
Paragraph 2 – point d
(d) The RDC should frequently simulate scenarios and hold joint exercises following uniform training and certification standards such as those in NATO; notes that the scenarios should cover, among others, two guidelines in the Strategic Compass: a) operations in a ‘non-permissive environment’, and b) the suggested role division with NATO and the related most likely geographical areas for the RDC to focus on;
Amendment 208 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point d
Paragraph 2 – point d
(d) The RDC should frequently simulate scenarios and hold joint exercises at the strategic, joint forces and tactical level, to be scheduled by the HR/VP, following uniform training and certification standards such as those in NATO;
Amendment 245 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 256 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Notes that the increase in ambition of the RDC compared to Battlegroups is primarily in quality because it solves the shortfall of the Battlegroups, which lacked high readiness air and sea components and strategic enablers; considers that the RDC has great potential to substantially improve on the Battlegroups, strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy, and positively contribute to the EU’s integrated approach to security and peace;
Amendment 257 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Considers that the EU Battlegroup Concept suffers from structural design flaws as Battlegroup contributor nations on standby are supposed to act in relation to needs on the ground, and to protect the Union’s values and serve its interests as laid down in the EU’s Treaties, EU strategic documents and concrete policies, while in practice, Battlegroup contributor states still undertook national cost-benefit calculations each time a request for deployment was made, and did not hesitate to cast their veto even if they preferred to provide alternative justifications; calls on the Member States to transform the EU Battlegroup System to match the needs of the Capacity; considers that the EU Battlegroups should be funded from the Union budget during their stand-up, stand-by and stand-down phases;
Amendment 260 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 e (new)
Paragraph 3 e (new)
3e. Points out that more than 50% of the seven years budget of the EPF has already been spent towards assisting Ukraine counter the Russian invasion, with five more years to go, which can significantly frustrate the development and use of the RDC; notes therefore that decisions need to be taken on how to increase the budget in order to come back to the agreed levels for the remaining years while maintaining the necessary assistance to Ukraine;
Amendment 261 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 f (new)
Paragraph 3 f (new)
3f. Calls on the Member States and EEAS to urgently address structural gaps in strategic enablers through utilising the EU Military Committee’s, European Defence Agency’s and EDF’s expertise and capacities in combination with coordinated efforts through the Permanent Structured Cooperation framework; stresses that these strategic enablers need to be tailor-made for the RDC’s needs and will be prioritised for its use; calls on the Commission and the HR/VP to also identify the financial needs to address those gaps;
Amendment 269 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers that the bulk of the RDC modules should need to stay at a standard readiness level, except those for high urgency tasks; notes that, depending on the security situation, the MPCC could decide to increase the readiness of modules which might be necessary for a specific mission;
Amendment 274 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Notes that the EU RDC should also serve as a driver for capability development, in particular with regard to solving European shortfalls in the area of strategic enablers;
Amendment 275 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Points out that the EU should interact and coordinate with NATO in order to create synergies between the readiness categories of the EU RDC and the NATO Response Force;
Amendment 276 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4d. Notes that given that the EU RDC deployment depends on the short notice availability of Communication and Information Structures (CIS), development of integrated CIS structures at the European level is advisable, including drawing on the EU's secure connectivity programme;
Amendment 277 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4e. Considers that the EU Satellite Centre should provide their services and expertise to the EU RDC and calls for the future necessary arrangements to be made, including ensuring that adequate funding is made available to EUSatCen under the relevant headings of the Multiannual Financial Framework;
Amendment 279 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 g (new)
Paragraph 4 g (new)
4g. Highlights that the aspirations expressed in the SC will only be met if Member States are able to increase their national defence capabilities;
Amendment 299 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for the EU RDC to have the possibility tof being deployed and act ing in case of emergenciesy, natural disasters such as floods or wildfires, or other significant civil- protection criseis inside EU territory, where possible, at the proposal of the VP/HRHR/VP, in close coordination with the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and following the pertinent authorisation procedures;
Amendment 309 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Highlights the potential of the EU RDC to positively contribute to the Commission's RESCEU approach, especially in matters such as forest fire fighting inside EU territory;
Amendment 310 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Highlights the positive contribution of the European aerospace industry to our defence and civil protection capabilities, and in particular Airbus’ success in equipping the A400M as a firefighter tank plane, and the future FCAS system led by France, Germany and Spain;
Amendment 314 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 – introductory part
Paragraph 7 – introductory part
7. Calls on the Member States participating in the RDC to agree to act in the name of the European Union as mandated by the Council under Article 44 of the TEU and to thereby use all the tools in the Treaty to increase credibility, flexibility, and efficiency of the EU’s crisis management:
Amendment 334 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Highlights that the use of Article 44 offers significant benefits compared to Member States acting outside the EU framework in situations where troop deployment needs to be rapid to prevent further escalation and where the risks to combat troops are at the higher end;
Amendment 337 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Highlights that the use of Article 44 offers significant benefits such as speed, flexibility and freedom of action, whilst preserving joint EU action compared to Member States acting outside the EU framework;
Amendment 339 #
2022/2145(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Member States and the RDC to follow the EU’s integrated approach to ensure effective coordination of an EU response throughout the different phases of a crisis or conflict, combining defence and security activities with development and diplomatic actions;
Amendment 10 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. UnderlineRegrets that the EU’s defence sector is fragmented, which creates strategic vulnerabilities for the Union, Member States and industry; is concerned about the lack of coordination and calls for more strategic cohesion in security and defence policies at Union level; welcomes, in this context, the Commission’s launch of the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA) and encourages the Commission and Member States to take this initiative a step further and strive towards a de facto military ugenuine European Defence Union supported by a strongly articulated common market for defence equipment, followed by a review of the Treaties for more EU competences on critical technologies for defence,and innovation in defence, and security and defence affairs;
Amendment 18 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the relevant EU bodies to consolidate EU cooperative frameworks for developing cutting-edge military capabilities and for EU-level legislation to coordinate Member States’ strategies for critical technologies and to reduce dependencies; underlines, in this regard, the need to collaboratively invest in the research and development of emerging and disruptive technologies;
Amendment 25 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 26 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Calls on the Commission to assess the coherence and complementarity of existing EU programmes with a view to identifying support gaps and promoting synergies; calls for this assessment to be taken into account when preparing the next multiannual financial framework (MFF); calls, likewise, for increased funding opportunities for defence to be considered within the context of the upcoming MFF review;
Amendment 30 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to encourage Member States to review all defence programmes and policy tools, check if they are still fit for purpose, and summarise findings; suggestconsiders that the European Defence Agency can provide light touch(EDA) is well placed to ensure the coherence of innovation activities among European actors in the defence sector; calls, in this regard, for the strengthening of its role in providing support and coordination suggestions, includ for Member States, following a strategic assessment of the findings;
Amendment 41 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for a more pragmatic and business-orientneeds-based approach to military research in order to provide incentives for innovation in military technology, including by reducing or removing barriers to entry into the defence market; further calls for increased support for European companies in emerging technologies to ensure they remain competitive in international markets by relaxing the rules on compliance documentation and by providing tax incentives andwith a view to stimulating investments;
Amendment 42 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Underlines the need to direct investments in ways which least distort competition on the Single Market and maintain fair, open and efficient competition in defence procurement; calls, in this regard, on the Commission to ensure the full enforcement of the Procurement Directive in all Member States;
Amendment 43 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Stresses the need to ensure and increase the participation of start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in defence initiatives; recognises the importance of support for overcoming technological, financial, administrative, regulatory and other barriers for entry to the market; calls for measures to raise awareness about EU programmes and funding opportunities and to provide support and training for facilitating market entry;
Amendment 44 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the needRecognises that the lack of skills constitutes a significant challenge for sustaining and strengthening the European security and defence industries; underlines the need to take an inclusive and accessible approach in reaching out to all available workforce with a view to ensuring a continuous and sustainable supply of skills and human capital; encourages, in this regard, measures to stimulate the development of skills for innovation, research and development (R&D), and fundamental research in critical areas related to emerging technologies; calls on the Commission to encourage Member States to establish and fund defence innovation hubs;
Amendment 52 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Underlines that many critical technologies for security and defence increasingly originate in the civilian sector and use dual-use components; stresses, in this regard, the need to strengthen synergies between civilian and defence research and innovation with a view to reducing strategic dependencies, facilitating the sharing of knowledge, enhancing the use of dual-use products and broadening funding opportunities;
Amendment 56 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Notes that the adoption of common standards across sectors has the potential to contribute to cost savings, innovation and increased interoperability; calls, in this regard, on the Commission to accelerate work on the harmonisation of standards between civil, defence and space industries;
Amendment 58 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Underlines the need for increased resource efficiency, promotion of recycling of materials, and uptake of sustainable technology solutions; calls on the Commission to accelerate work on the development and application of sustainable security and defence technologies;
Amendment 59 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5 d. Recognises that a secure supply of critical materials, such as rare earth materials, components, and technologies is crucial for the European security and defence industries and the EU’s ability to safeguard its interests; underlines the importance of diversifying supply chains as a means of reducing dependencies on individual third countries;
Amendment 62 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concerned about the EU’s dependence on individual third countries, such as China, for raw materials and calls on Member States to reduce their vulnerabilities resulting from dependence on non-democratic suppliers of critical technologies and materials, to avoid the emergence of new dependencies which risk weakening security of supply, and to enhance defence production chains in Europe by localising or near-shoring production;
Amendment 67 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Expresses its support for the Observatory of Critical Technologies; calls on Member States to commit and strengthen collaboration within the framework of the Observatory and for it to be further developed and for its analysis capabilities, including on reducing strategic dependencies, to be enhanced; recognises that the Observatory deals with highly sensitive and classified information; calls, in this regard, for setting up safeguards and building trust among stakeholders with a view to enabling the sharing of information and appropriate handling of data; calls on the Commission to implement a project to continuously map the need for critical materials, evaluate the EU’s strategic dependencies, monitor supply and demand and changes in the behaviour or strategy of competitors, and engage in foresight exercises to predict new needs in critical materials; urges the EU to take an active role in international cooperation forums in order to accelerate the diversification of production chains; considers that these efforts should be made jointly with our strategic partners in NATO and included in, such as those in NATO and within the framework of a Trade and Technology Council (TTC) working group in order to coordinate diplomatic efforts to secure supplies and ensure alternative sources;
Amendment 79 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for military and strategic interoperability and strategic alignment between the EU and like- minded partners as well as with the United States and NATO, and among Member States, to be ensured, given that the risk of fragmentation is exacerbated by different national requirements and national public spending and, investment and procurement schemes;
Amendment 80 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Amendment 81 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Underlines the importance of a strong transatlantic bond as reflected in the EU Strategic Compass and in the NATO Strategic Concept; welcomes the signing of the Joint Declaration on EU- NATO Cooperation on 9 January 2023; calls on the EU and NATO to maintain global technological leadership in military capabilities; welcomes the commitment of the Commission and High Representative to explore possibilities for mutually beneficial cooperation on initiatives in the field of critical technologies;
Amendment 82 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8 c. Considers that the EU is well placed to promote responsible activities as well as good governance and technologies globally, including through its partnerships; urges the Commission and Member States to take global leadership in developing standards that reflect and promote the Union’s interests and values;
Amendment 84 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. CEmphasises the need to secure and protect critical European infrastructure and ensure sufficient monitoring and surveillance; calls on the Commission to work on a plan and investment scheme in cooperation with Member States to update critical infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants, electricity grids and telecommunications infrastructure (undersea cables), for the digital age, including by adapting it to AI-assisted drone supervision and maintenance and in line with the new Directive on the resilience of critical infrastructure (CER Directive) and the Revised Directive on security of network and information systems (NIS2 Directive); subsequently calls for the elaboration of an EU R&D and manufacturing strategy for advanced drones;
Amendment 90 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Calls for measures to mitigate risks for companies that produce critical technologies and face acquisition by entities established in third countries; urges Member States to put in place national screening mechanisms for foreign direct investment (FDI) with potential implications for security;
Amendment 91 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9 b. Reiterates its call on the Commission to develop a stronger regulatory framework to the FDI Screening Regulation, including provisions on monitoring and review of takeovers of companies in sectors vital for security and defence technologies by entities under direct or indirect control of non-partner third countries;
Amendment 100 #
2022/2079(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Urges the Commission and Member States to strengthen cooperation betweenamong the European Union's Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS), the EDA’s defence innovation hub and NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) by supporting joint projects, joint research and joint investment in cutting-edge defence technologies.;
Amendment 41 #
2022/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Europe is facing the most complex combination of both military and non-military threats since the end of the Cold War accentuated by Russia’s unjustified and illegal war against Ukraine; whereas this requires the EU to enhance the effectiveness of its security and defence policy to defend its citizens, interests and values and to deliver peace, human security, sustainable development and democracy; whereas the Strategic Compass aims to equip the EU with the necessary tools to make it an effective security provider and an assertive global actor; whereas there is a new urgency to boosting EU security and defence capabilities, including building on the unprecedented support for Ukraine and including the use of the EPF; whereas energy security is an important component in achieving strategic autonomy;
Amendment 160 #
2022/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the new ambition in the Strategic Compass to enhance the CSDP to build resilience and make it more capable and responsive, so it can act rapidly to defend our interests and values and protect the EU and its citizens; considers the Strategic Compass a major step towards a genuine European Defence Union enabling the EU to act as a credible partner; calls for the timely and sound implementation of the approximately 80 concrete actions and for them to be updated in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine as well as regularly along with the EU Threat Analysis; calls for the sustained political will of all Member States and EU institutions in this process; calls on the EEAS to regularly and comprehensively report on the implementation of the Strategic Compass to the Subcommittee on Security and Defence;
Amendment 170 #
2022/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the need to substantially strengthen the society-wide focus on resilience and the response to hybrid warfare; welcomes the decision to develop an EU Hybrid Toolbox for a coordinated response to hybrid threats; encourages further development of the EU’s cyber- defence policy and capabilities; emphasises the need to assist partner countries in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership to effectively combat cyber-attacks and hybrid warfare;
Amendment 191 #
2022/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls onNotes that Member States tomay assess the reform of the decision-making process with a view to realising untapped potential within the Treaties, in particular by activating Article 31 TEU extending qualified majority voting (QMV) to areas relating to the CSDP and pursuing full use of the ‘passerelle clauses’ and scope of articles that enhance EU solidarity and mutual assistance in the event of crises; proposes changes to the Treaties in the CSDP, to be discussed and decided upon within a convention following up on the Conference on the Future of Europe, primarily focusing on switching from unanimity to QMV for Council decisions with military implications and on defence matters for situations where passerelle clauses do not appl and secure EU sovereignty;
Amendment 386 #
2022/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 i (new)
Paragraph 17 i (new)
17 i. Welcomes the importance of situational awareness and strategic foresight rooted in intelligence-based capacities within the Strategic Compass; stresses the significance of accurate and timely intelligence for effective decision- making and crisis management by EU agencies, bodies and institutions; calls for the institution of intelligence units in all CSDP missions and operations which would provide information to the EU Intelligence and Analysis Centre (EU IntCen), EUMS and Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC); underlines the importance of secure communications for reliable intelligence and welcomes efforts to streamline security rules and regulations in this respect to better protect information, infrastructure and communication systems from foreign interference and attacks; calls on Member States to utilise the EU IntCen as an effective intelligence-sharing body to share intelligence safely, formulate a common strategic culture and provide strategic information to better anticipate and respond to crises within and outside the EU;
Amendment 401 #
2022/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18 b. Expresses grave concern over China’s continued military belligerence, pressure, assault exercises, airspace violations and other grey-zone military actions including cyber and disinformation campaigns against Taiwan; urges China to stop all these actions, restore the full respect of the Taiwan Strait’s median line; reiterates any change to cross-strait relations must be neither unilateral nor against the will of the Taiwanese people; stresses that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait has a direct impact on European security and prosperity;
Amendment 424 #
2022/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20 b. Stresses the importance of Finland’s and Sweden’s applications to join NATO and their rapid ratification by NATO Allies in order to enhance European security and defence; underscores the significance of close cooperation with NATO allies; emphasises the need to maintain focus on improving common defence capabilities and strategic culture within the EU and addressing the security and defence concerns of Member States which are not part of NATO;
Amendment 439 #
2022/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the participation of the US, Canada and Norway in the PESCO project on military mobility as important to increase coherence between EU and NATO capability development efforts; welcomes the EU-NATO Structured Dialogue on Military Mobility; calls for the strengthening of the Connecting Europe Facility regarding projects in military mobility;
Amendment 481 #
2022/2050(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 e (new)
Paragraph 26 e (new)
26 e. Condemns the suspected sabotage on the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea on 26 September and demands that the Union takes effective measures to protect European critical infrastructure, valuable supply chains and democratic institutions from hybrid threats; calls on the EU to put in place effective monitoring and surveillance systems for critical infrastructure such as pipelines and fibre optics cables to ensure the prevention and rapid detection of attacks; welcomes the proposed update of the EU Maritime Security Strategy in the Strategic Compass and stresses the importance of including the protection of undersea infrastructure, such as pipelines and fibre optics cables, as a priority;
Amendment 482 #
2022/2050(INI)
26 f. Reaffirms its full support for the EU and its Member States’ commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of the nuclear non- proliferation and disarmament regime; insists on the need to ensure that the EU plays a strong and constructive role in developing and reinforcing global rules- based non-proliferation efforts and arms control and disarmament architecture; expresses deep concern that no outcome was reached at the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the NPT due to Russia's unwillingness to join the consensus; considers this as yet another example of Russia’s blatant disregard for the multilateral nuclear non-proliferation order; strongly condemns unlawful and reckless actions of the Russian military forces at and around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant;
Amendment 14 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) A dedicated short-term instrument, designed in a spirit of solidarity, was indicated as a tool to incentivise Member States, on a voluntary basis, to pursue common procurement to fill the most urgent and critical gaps, especially those created by the response to the current Russia’s aggression, in a collaborative way, and allow and incentivise further military assistance to Ukraine.
Amendment 15 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Such a new instrument will contribute to reinforce common defence procurement, in particular, achieving the 35% aim of total defence equipment spending for procurement in cooperation with other Member States and, through the associated Union financing, to strengthen EU defence industrial capabilities in a cost-efficient manner that utilises economies of scale.
Amendment 24 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) As the instrument aims to enhance the competitiveness and efficiency of the Union’s defence industry, to benefit from the instrument, common procurement contracts will need to be placed with legal entitiecontractors or subcontractors which are established in the Union or in associated countries and are not subject to control by non-associated third countries or by non- associated third- country entities. In that context, control should be understood to be the ability to exercise a decisive influence on a legal entitycontractors or subcontractors directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediate legal entities. Additionally, in order to ensure the protection of essential security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States, the infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources of the contractors and subcontractors involved in the common procurement which are used for the purposes of the common procurement shall be located on the territory of a Member State or of an associated third country.
Amendment 33 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) In certain circumstances, it should be possible to derogate from the principle that contractors and subcontractors involved in a common procurement supported by the Instrument are not subject to control by non-associated third countries or non associated third-country entities. In that context, a legal entitycontractor or subcontractor established in the Union or in an associated third country and controlled by a non- associated third country or a non- associated third country entity may participate as contractor andor subcontractor involved in the common procurement if strict conditions relating to the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States, as established in the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy pursuant to Title V of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), including in terms of strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, are fulfilled.
Amendment 37 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Furthermore, the common procurement procedures and contracts shall also include a requirement for the defence product to not be subject to controls or restrictions by a non-associated third country or a non-associated third country entity, in particular those that contravene the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States and limit Member States’ ability to use it.
Amendment 40 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 a (new)
Recital 18 a (new)
Amendment 42 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The EU Heads of State or Government, meeting in Versailles on 11 March, committed to “bolster European defence capabilities” in light of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine. They agreed to increase defence expenditures, step up cooperation through joint projects, and common procurement of defence capabilities, close shortfalls, boost innovation and strengthen and develop the EU defence industry, which is a key player that should positively contribute to the security of Member States by providing effective new capabilities in a timely manner.
Amendment 43 #
2022/0219(COD)
(21) To generate the incentive effect, the level of Union contribution may be differentiated based on factors such as (a) the complexity of the common procurement, for which a proportion of the anticipated size of the procurement contract, based on experience gained in similar actions, may serve as an initial proxy, (b) the characteristics of the cooperation, such as joint usage, stockpiling, ownership or maintenance, which are likely to induce stronger interoperability outcomes and long-term investment signals to industry, and (c) the number of participating Member States or associated countries or the inclusion of additional Member States or associated countries to existing cooperations.
Amendment 45 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) Member States should appoint a procurement agent to conduct a common procurement on their behalf. The procurement agent should be a contracting authority established in a Member State or an associated third country, including Union bodies or international organisations, such as the Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'ARmement (OCCAR)institutions, bodies and agencies or international organisations.
Amendment 48 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The unjustified invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation on 24 February 2022 and the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine has made it clear that it is critical to act now to address the existing shortfalls It has led to the return of high-intensity warfare and territorial conflict in Europe, requiring to the detriment of All European citizens and Member States. As a result the situation requires a significant increase in the capacity of Member States to fill the most urgent and critical gaps, especially those exacerbated by the transfer of defence products to Ukraine.
Amendment 53 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the actions shall involve cooperation for common procurement of the most urgent and critical defence products between eligible entities, as referred to in Article 9, implementing the objectives referred to in Article 3 paragraph 2;
Amendment 58 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The Commission and the High Representative presented a Joint Communication on “The Defence Investment Gaps Analysis and Way Forward” on 18 May 2022. The Communication highlighted the existence, within the EU, of defence financial, industrial and capability gaps, caused by years of defence underspending, reduced industrial production capacity and limited joint procurement and collaboration.
Amendment 64 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Such a new instrument will contribute to reinforce common defence procurement in alignment with Member States' goal of 35% collaborative procurement for defence equipment and, through the associated Union financing, to strengthen EU defence industrial capabilities.
Amendment 66 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. Member States or associated third countries shall appoint a procurement agent to act on their behalf for the purpose of the common procurement. The procurement agent shall carry out the procurement procedures and conclude the resulting agreements with contractors on behalf of the participating Member States and associated third countries.
Amendment 67 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) This new instrument will be an important step towards to the creation of the EU Defence Union and shall contribute to enhance the Union’s open strategic autonomy, to strengthen its ability to protect its citizens and to reinforce the EU’s global position in the context of increasing security threats at the international level.
Amendment 68 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 b (new)
Recital 5 b (new)
(5b) The Instrument should also contribute to drive transformational change in the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, simultaneous to improving security in the European Union. These changes include building more resilient supply chains, growing the advanced manufacturing sector and exports, and enhancing technological innovation.
Amendment 72 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 4
Article 8 – paragraph 4
4. Contractors and subcontractors involved in the common procurement shall be established and have their executive management structures in the Union, in an associated third country or transatlantic partnership countries. They shall not be subject to control by a non- associated third country or by a non- associated third country entity, or alternatively shall have been subject to screening within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2019/452 and, where necessary, mitigation measures, taking into account the objectives referred to in Article 3.
Amendment 77 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) National regulations and increasing administrative burden in the defence sector of the Member States contributed to hindering competition and reducing economies of scale in the European defence industrial base.
Amendment 80 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 5
Article 8 – paragraph 5
5. By way of derogation from paragraph 4, a legal entity established in the Union or in an associated third country and controlled by a non-associated third country or a non-associated third country entity may participate as contractor and subcontractor involved in the common procurement only if it provides guarantees approved by the Member State or associated third country in which the contractor or subcontractor is established.
Amendment 85 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 8
Article 8 – paragraph 8
8. The infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources of the contractors and subcontractors involved in the common procurement which are used for the purposes of the common procurement shall be located on the territory of a Member State or of an associated third country. Where no competitive substitutes are readilyrelevant infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources are available in the Union or in an associated third country, contractors and subcontractors involved in the common procurement may use their assets, infrastructure, facilities and resources located or held outside the territory of the Member States or of the associated third countries, provided that such use does not contravene the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States and is consistent with the objectives set out in Article 3.
Amendment 86 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) In the light of the above challenges and the related structural changes in the EU Defence industry, it appears necessary to speed up the adjustment of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, enhance its competitiveness and efficiency, encourage close cooperation and coordination and thereby contribute to strengthening and reforming Member States’ defence industrial capabilities. Addressing industrial shortfalls should include promptly tackling the most urgent gaps.
Amendment 93 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 9
Article 8 – paragraph 9
9. Common procurement procedures and contracts shall also include a requirement for the defence product to not be subject to a restriction by a non- associated third country or a non- associated third country entity directly or indirectly through one or more intermediary legal entities, that limits Member States’ ability to use it.
Amendment 97 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The Short Term Instrument should offset the complexity and risks associated with such joint actions while allowing economies of scale in the actions undertaken by Member States to reinforce and modernise the European Technological and Industrial Base, increasing thereby the Union’s capacity resilience and security of supply. Incentivizing common procurement would also result into diminished costs in terms of exploitation, maintenance and withdrawal of the systems. Efforts to utilise economies of scale must be accompanied by measures aimed at ensuring a level-playing field for suppliers form all Member States.
Amendment 98 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The Short Term Instrument should offset the complexity and risks associated with such joint actions, including common procurement, while allowing economies of scale in the actions undertaken by Member States to reinforce and modernise the European Technological and Industrial Base, increasing thereby the Union’s capacity resilience and security of supply. Incentivizing common procurement would also result into diminished costs in terms of administrative burdens, exploitation, maintenance and withdrawal of the systems.
Amendment 99 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 9 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 9 a (new)
Amendment 100 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 a (new)
Recital 13 a (new)
(13a) The instrument should be accompanied by measures aimed strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base European defence industry ensuring a level playing field for suppliers of all Member States and with particular attention to the involvement of SMEs, start-ups and mid-caps in the value chain.
Amendment 101 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 10 – introductory part
Article 8 – paragraph 10 – introductory part
10. For the purposes of this Article, ‘subcontractors involved in the common procurement’ means all of the following:ny entity which provides critical inputs that possess unique attributes essential for the functioning of a product and is allocated at least 20% of the value of the contract.
Amendment 102 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 10 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 10 – point a
Amendment 104 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 10 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 10 – point b
Amendment 106 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) This Instrument will build on and take into account the work of the Defence Joint Procurement Task Force established by the Commission and the High Representative/Head of the European Defence Agency, in line with the Joint Communication ‘Defence Investment Gaps Analysis and Way Forward”, to coordinate very short-term defence procurement needs and engage with Member States and EU defence manufacturers to support joint procurement to replenish stocks, notably in light of the support provided to Ukraine.
Amendment 107 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 10 – point c
Article 8 – paragraph 10 – point c
Amendment 112 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 10 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. No components shall be sourced from non-associated third countries that contravene the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States, including respect for the principle of good neighbourly relations.
Amendment 113 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The Instrument ishould be consistent coherent with existing collaborative EU defence-related initiatives such as in the European Defence Fund as well as the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), and generates synergies with other EU programmes. The Instrument is fully coherent with the ambition of the Strategic Compass.
Amendment 114 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) public contracting authorities or contracting entities as defined in Directives 2014/24/EU9 and 2014/25/EU10 of the European Parliament and of the Council; _________________ 9 Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement and repealing Directive 2004/18/EC (OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 65). 10 Directive 2014/25/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors and repealing Directive 2004/17/EC (OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 243).f Member States recognised as such by national law;
Amendment 119 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Amendment 128 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 4
4. the number of Member States or associated countries participating in the common procurement, the value of defence product transfers to Ukraine, proportional to population and GDP and decrease in defence product stockpiles since 24 February 2022;
Amendment 128 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) In certain circumstances, it should be possible to derogate from the principle that contractors and subcontractors involved in a common procurement supported by the Instrument are not subject to control by non-associated third countries or non -associated third-country entities. In that context, a legal entity established in the Union or in an associated third country and controlled by a non-associated third country or a non-associated third country entity may participate as contractor and subcontractor involved in the common procurement if strict conditions relating to the due diligence framework to identify, prevent, mitigate environmental and social risks, to the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States, as established in the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy pursuant to Title V of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), including in terms of strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, are fulfilled.
Amendment 132 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 5
5. the estimated sizvalue of the common procurement and any declaration by the participants that they will jointly use, stockpile, own or maintain the procured defence products;
Amendment 134 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point 6
6. catalytic effect of Union financial support through demonstration of how the Union contribution can overcome obstacles to common procurementthe action’s contribution to the creation of new cross-border cooperation between contractors and subcontractors and the enhancement of existing as well as the creation of new durable supply chains throughout the Union;
Amendment 141 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
the participation of SMEs, start-ups and mid-caps;
Amendment 142 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 1 b (new)
the impact on the defence sector R&D and the innovation capability.
Amendment 160 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
This Regulation establishes the short-term instrument for the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (the ‘Instrument’).
Amendment 180 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) to foster the competitiveness and efficiency of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), and opening the supply chains throughout the Union, including SMEs and mid-caps, for a more resilient Union, in particular by speeding up, in a collaborative manner, the adjustment of industry to structural changes, including ramp-up of its manufacturing capacities; , also through technological innovations;
Amendment 184 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) to foster the competitiveness and efficiency of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), including SMEs, start-ups and mid-caps, for a more resilient and secure Union, in particular by speeding up, in a collaborative manner, the adjustment of industry to structural changes, including ramp-up of its manufacturing capacities;
Amendment 189 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) to foster cooperation in defence procurement process between participating Member States contributing to solidarity, closer collaboration, interoperability, prevention of crowding- out effects, avoidreducing fragmentation and, increasing the effectiveness of public spending, and expanding cross-border supply chains within the European Union.
Amendment 194 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) to replenish stocks, in particular the most urgent and critical defence products needs by the Union, mainly those created by the disruption caused by the urgent transfer of defence products to Ukraine, taking into account the work of the Defence Joint Procurement Task Force.
Amendment 200 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. The objectives shall be pursued with an emphasis on strengthening and developing the Union defence industrial base to allow it to address in particular the most urgent and critical defence products needs, especially those revealed or exacerbated by the response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, taking into account the work of the Defence Joint Procurement Task Force, increasing the strategic autonomy of the Union and strengthen its ability to protect its citizens.
Amendment 208 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The financial envelope for the implementation of the Instrument for the period from the entry into force of this Regulation to 31 December 2024 shall be EUR 500 m1.5 billion in current prices.
Amendment 229 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – point 1 (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – point 1 (new)
(1) The financial contribution to each approved action must not exceed 20% of the amount referred to in Article 4(1).
Amendment 253 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 6
Article 8 – paragraph 6
6. The participating Member States shall provide to the Commission a notification from the procurement agent on the guarantees provided by a contractor or subcontractor involved in the common procurement that is established in the Union or an associated third country and controlled by a non-associated third country or a non-associated third country entity. The guarantees and related provisions in the procurement contract shall be made available to the Commission upon request. The guarantees shall provide assurances that the involvement of the contractor or subcontractor involved in the common procurement fulfil strict conditions relating to the due diligence framework to identify, prevent, mitigate environmental and social risks and does not contravene the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States as established in the framework of the CFSP pursuant to Title V of the TEU, or the objectives set out in Article 3.
Amendment 264 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 8 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. When contractors and subcontractors involved in the common procurement use their assets, infrastructure, facilities and resources located or held outside the territory of the Member States or of the associated third countries, the commonly procured product shall meet the Union’s environmental, social, governance and ethics rules, as they are applied to the defence products manufactured in the European Union.
Amendment 315 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – point 1 (new)
(1) Furthermore, the report should in cooperation with the European Defence Agency, incorporate findings and recommendations pertaining to the use of raw materials, components and production capacities from third countries within the various actions for which there was no European substitute.
Amendment 317 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. The report shall build on consultations of Member States and key stakeholders and shall, in particular, assess the progress made towards the achievement of the objectives set out in Article 3 and evaluate the Instrument contribution to the following: a) participation of SMEs, start-ups and mid-caps in the action as contractors and subcontractors involved in the common procurement; b) reinforcement of the EDTIB throughout the Union; c) identification of the involvement of each Member States.
Amendment 319 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. The report shall build on consultations of Member States and key stakeholders and shall, in particular, assess the progress made towards the achievement of the objectives set out in Article 3. and evaluate the Instrument's success:
Amendment 320 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point a (new)
(a) creating new cross-border cooperation between Member States;
Amendment 321 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point b (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point b (new)
(b) developing new industrial synergies within the European Defence Industry;
Amendment 322 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point c (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point c (new)
(c) Offering a level-playing field for existing companies and SMEs in the EDTIB;
Amendment 323 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point d (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point d (new)
(d) incorporating a broad share of companies from across the EU;
Amendment 331 #
2022/0219(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Commission shall provide, in particular, SMEs and mid-caps the information needed to allow and facilitate their participation in the common procurement process, including supporting instruments to reduce administrative burdens.
Amendment 24 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the Russian invasion of Ukraine constitutes not only a military attack against a European country but also an attack against the European peace order itself and thereby threatens the foundations on which the EU’s foreign, security and defence policy was built;
Amendment 38 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Recital F
Recital F
Amendment 47 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Recital G
Recital G
Amendment 54 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Recital J
Recital J
Amendment 60 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas there is an urgent need to end the humanitarian and security crises Europe is encountering and better prepare for the full spectrum of crises to comeincrease preparedness in order to be better able to cope with the full spectrum of crises, notably humanitarian and security crises; whereas the Union needs to utilise all the instruments at its disposal, with an emphasis on timely engagement, to protect the Union and its residents and its values and interests, and to contribute to international peace and security;
Amendment 80 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Recital S
Recital S
S. whereas Parliament is the only institution that can legitimately exercise the function of political controloversight over the executive at Union level;
Amendment 83 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Recital T
Recital T
T. whereas deepening defence cooperation among Member States at Union level should go hand in hand with the strengthening of parliamentary oversight and controlscrutiny by both the European Parliament and national parliaments;
Amendment 84 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Recital X
Recital X
X. whereas the Union aims, in particular, to strive to establish new EUengthen the European peace and security architectureorder providing the continent and its residents with the peace and security they deservand must therefore be able to contribute as actively and effectively as possible to the work of the institutions established for cooperation and security in Europe;
Amendment 88 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Recital X a (new)
Recital X a (new)
Xa. whereas the Strategic Compass was adopted by the Council in March 2022; whereas the Strategic Compass aims to give the Union the tools to be an effective security provider in a hostile environment and a more assertive global actor for peace and human security;
Amendment 89 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point a
Paragraph 1 – point a
(a) urgently demonstrate their political will tobuild upon the resolve and unity demonstrated at the surge of the war against Ukraine and urgently deliver on their joint Level of Ambition, make genuine progress in foreign policy and defence cooperation at the EU level, as expressed in the Versailles Declaration and the Council’s conclusions of 24 and 25 March;
Amendment 102 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) agree that the VP/HR should will be present ex officio in some negotiating formats in whichitiated or led by EU Member States participate;
Amendment 128 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point e
Paragraph 1 – point e
(e) work together withintensify cooperation with Allies and like-minded partners around the globe, in order to defendmaintain the strongest possible unity in defence of the rules-based international order, thus promoting and defending peace, human security, sustainable prosperity, democratic principles and respect for human rights, multilateralism and international law;
Amendment 146 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
Amendment 163 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point g
Paragraph 1 – point g
(g) fight and counter propaganda and disinformation campaigns in Europe, its neighbourhood and around the world; boost cooperation with partners in the field of proactive strategic communication and countering malign foreign interferences; strengthen the capacities of the EEAS StratCom Task Force; have a pro-active, multilingual, strategic communication policy;
Amendment 186 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point i
Paragraph 1 – point i
(i) improve intelligence sharing and cooperation among the Member States and; improve the financial and technical resources of EU IntCen and EUMS INT; explore the possibilities to set up an EU intelligence agency; engage in a systematic, regular and frequent updates of the threat analysis included in the Strategic Compass;
Amendment 194 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)
(ia) make the EU Satellite Center (EU SatCen) benefit from permanent Union funding to be able to maintain its contributions to the Union’s actions in the fields of space imagery and intelligence- gathering, including in support of CSDP missions and operations;
Amendment 199 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point j
Paragraph 1 – point j
(j) work swiftly on the implementation of the most urgent aspects of the sStrategic cCompass, including the operationalisation of Article 42(7), concrete steps to strengthen the resilience of our critical infrastructure, precise and firm commitments from Member States as regards defence spending, enhanced efforts to promoteboost strategic communication, a strengthened toolbox to tackle hybrid and cyber threats and to fight disinformation and the establishment of rRapid dDeployment cCapacity by 2025;
Amendment 208 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point k
Paragraph 1 – point k
(k) immediately present and agree on a detailed plan on how to operationalise the mutual defence provisions contained in Article 42(7) TEU, taking into account the special position on non-NATO EUfic constitutional framework and security arrangements of all Member States;
Amendment 212 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point k a (new)
(ka) further develop the EU cyber defence policy; work on establishing collective attribution for malicious cyber- attacks; make full use of the EU cyber sanctions regimes against individuals, entities and bodies responsible or involved in the various cyber-attacks targeting Ukraine; enhance the protection and security of our own institutions from cyber-attacks, at EU and member states level; urgently reinforce cyber defence capacities of bodies playing a strategic role in the immediate conflict response;
Amendment 213 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point k b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point k b (new)
(kb) support the crucial work of the IAIE (International Atomic Energy Agency) in securing the safety of the Ukrainian nuclear facilities; strengthen the global WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control architecture; further strengthen its CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) preparedness;
Amendment 214 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point k c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point k c (new)
(kc) in order to foster the creation of a joint strategic culture and to have skilled top-level experts, enhance joint training programmes, such as those conducted by the European Security and Defence College, which should benefit from permanent Union funding;
Amendment 226 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
(l) review, without delay, the mandate of the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine and the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) to Moldova and Ukraine, in line with the needs expressed by the Ukrainian and Moldovan authorities; acknowledge and commend the adaptability shown by the EUAM Ukraine and EUBAM Moldova/Ukraine in promptly and efficiently redefining its support to the Ukrainian and Moldovan authorities in their most pressing needs;
Amendment 228 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point m
Paragraph 1 – point m
(m) improve force generation and strengthen the staffing, resources and strategic communication of all CSDP missions in Bosnia Herzegovina and Georgia and reinforce the EU’s diplomatic presence in the Eastern Partnership countries and in the Western Balkansand operations, particularly those affected by a deteriorated threat landscape, notably Operation Althea in Bosnia Herzegovina and the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia;
Amendment 232 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point m a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point m a (new)
(ma) reinforce the EU’s diplomatic presence and engagement in countries that show their interest in enhanced cooperation with the EU, in particular in the Eastern Partnership countries and in the Western Balkans, and in countries where Russian interference threatens their stability, security or democratic path;
Amendment 238 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – point n
(n) improve intelligence capacity for CSDP operations on the ground and reinforce situational awareness; set up the Joint Situational Awareness Center, a crucial tool to improve strategic foresight and the EU strategic autonomy;
Amendment 243 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point o
Paragraph 1 – point o
(o) make full use of EU capability development initiatives, notably the EDF and PESCO, to enhance air and missile defence capacities, especially for vulnerable regions in the European Union;
Amendment 249 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point o a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point o a (new)
(oa) new work on ensuring the renewal of UNSCR enabling EU CSDP operations to perform critical tasks for global security;
Amendment 250 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point o b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point o b (new)
(ob) demand countries in which EU CSDP mission and operations are deployed to support their capacity- building to terminate their contract with PMSCs allegedly involved in Human Rights violations;
Amendment 256 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point p
Paragraph 1 – point p
(p) work on a substantial third EU- NATO jJoint dDeclaration and ensure that the objectives and priorities of the Strategic Compass are duly taken into account when the NATO sStrategic cConcept is drafted and adopted at the Madrid Summit;
Amendment 267 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point r
Paragraph 1 – point r
(r) engage within the EU, and togethenr with NATO, on a reflection on the nature of possible security guarantees that can be provided toincreased security cooperation with neighbouring countries, notably Ukraine;
Amendment 279 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point s a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point s a (new)
(sa) encourage the further strengthening of NATO enhanced Forward Presence in the EU Member States geographically closest to the Russian aggressor and to the conflict;
Amendment 280 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point s b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point s b (new)
(sb) make full use of the joint EU defence capabilities development efforts, notably the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and the European Defence Fund, which will increase the security of NATO Allies and Member States alike
Amendment 283 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point t
Paragraph 1 – point t
(t) involve Parliament and national parliaments in the proper further implementation and scrutiny of the European Peace Facility and key aspect, which is an off- budget instrument; ensure Parliament is meaningfully involved in the scrutiny, implementation and regular reviews of the Strategic Compass;
Amendment 295 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point y
Paragraph 1 – point y
(y) ensure that the budget proposal for 2023 includes appropriate funding for the European Defence Agency, the Permanent Structured Cooperation, the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity and NATO support capacities under the CFSP budget and, under that same title and under other titles as appropriate, funding for the initiatives referred to above;
Amendment 302 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point z
Paragraph 1 – point z
(z) strengthen the European Defence Fund and increase the number and relevance of collective defence industry projects, making sure they match gaps identified by CARD;
Amendment 306 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point aa
Paragraph 1 – point aa
(aa) streamline and coordinate the Member States’ announced efforts to increase defence spending, in order to reach the best level of consistency and impact for Europe’s collective security and avoid duplication and fragmentation; bearing in mind the single-set-of-force principle and complementarity with NATO, in full respect of the security arrangements of all EU Member States;
Amendment 314 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point ab
Paragraph 1 – point ab
(ab) provide, without delay, weapons in line with the needs expressed by the Ukrainian authorities, through the clearing house mechanism, using the European Peace Facility and under the bilateral agreements of Member States with Ukraine;
Amendment 323 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point ad
Paragraph 1 – point ad
(ad) reinforce that Ukraine, like any other country, has the sovereign right to make decisions about its political and economic alliances and seconomic integrationurity arrangements on its own, without interference from other countries;
Amendment 324 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point ad a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point ad a (new)
(ada) support the investigation of war crimes committed in Ukraine, including by calling for a special UN tribunal for the crimes in Ukraine to be set up, as an example for the EU’s efforts to strengthen transnational justice;
Amendment 325 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point ad b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point ad b (new)
(adb) give the Union the means to fulfil its ambition to be a global actor for peace; strengthen the EU internal policies and cohesion to make it a more credible, more effective and more relevant global player in the increasingly confrontational strategic environment it is in; engage into a strategic discussion over the long-term objectives of the EU’s foreign, neighbourhood and enlargement policies, including their interlinkage, instruments and resources;
Amendment 326 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point ad c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point ad c (new)
(adc) review the European Neighbourhood Policy with the aim to thoroughly assess the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine on cooperation within the Eastern Partnership and develop proposals on how to continue strengthening ties with the Eastern Partnership countries in a context marked by outright military aggression and other tangible security threats, targeted disinformation campaigns, as well as economic and social consequences of the confrontation with Russia;
Amendment 327 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point ad d (new)
Paragraph 1 – point ad d (new)
(add) advance enlargement policy with a view to giving a credible accession perspective to the Western Balkans and sincerely responding to the European aspirations of the EU’s Eastern neighbours while ensuring that enlargement policy, accession prospects and the accession process contribute to strengthening security and stability, democracy and rule of law, economic and social prosperity as well as internal cohesion and effectiveness of EU action;
Amendment 328 #
2022/0000(INI)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point ad e (new)
Paragraph 1 – point ad e (new)
(ade) develop stronger partnerships with and improve the capacity-building of our closest partners, notably in the Western Balkans and Eastern Neighbourhood, notably in the field of CBRN, cyber security and resilience of critical entities;
Amendment 3 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
Amendment 4 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
— having regard to the Association Agenda between the European Union and Georgia for 2021-2027, adopted on 16 August 2022,
Amendment 5 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8
Citation 8
— having regard to the outcome of the sixeventh Association Council meeting between the EU and Georgia of 16 MarchSeptember 20212,
Amendment 15 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the Russian Federation continues illegal occupation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia in violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia as well as the EU- mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement;
Amendment 16 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas Georgia continues to participate in civil and military crisis management operations under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and provides 32 troops to the EU military training mission in the Central African Republic and an officer to the EU Training Mission in Mali;
Amendment 23 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the Russian Federation and its occupation regimes are deliberately hampering the safe and dignified return of IDPs and refugees, forcibly expelled as a result of ethnic cleansing from the Russian-occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia;
Amendment 55 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Georgian authorities to uphold the highest standards of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms and to determinedly pursue the priorities for reform set out in the Commission’s opinion in order to unambiguously demonstrate their political determination to implement the nation’s ambitious European aspirations, as expressed by the application for EU membership that Georgia submitted on 3 March 2022; calls on the Georgian authorities to initiate and lead the work on these priorities in an inclusive manner before the Commission reports on their implementation by the end of 2022welcomes the immediate steps made by Georgia to initiate the working process addressing these priorities and encourages the Georgian authorities to lead this process in an inclusive and transparent manner; calls on all Georgian political forces to constructively participate in and contribute to these efforts; stresses that Georgia’s bid for accession to the EU will continue to be assessed based on its own merits and its success in meeting the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership;
Amendment 59 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Encourages Georgia to continue its enhanced cooperation with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova as the ‘Associated Trio’ and to use this forum for exchanging best practices on preparations to fulfil the EU membership criteria and for the future accession process;
Amendment 75 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates its steadfast support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders; calls for the continuation of efforts to achieve a negotiated peaceful resolution of the conflict, including through the Geneva International Discussions, the ongoing activities of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia and the efforts of the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia; notes with concern the continuation of illegal ‘borderisation’ activities in the occupied regions; calls on the Council to extend the mandate of EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia beyond 14 December 2022 and to provide it with a budget that is commensurate with its tasks to stabilise and normalise the situation and build confidence between the parties in the conflict in an increasingly tense security environment; calls on the EU to continue to pursue all available means and instruments, including the Special Representative (EUSR) for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, the Geneva International Discussions (GID), the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms (IPRMs), the EUMM in Georgia, as well as the policy of non- recognition and engagement in order to achieve a peaceful and durable solution to the Russia - Georgia conflict;
Amendment 82 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Condemns the illegal occupation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia by the Russian Federation; expresses concern over the dire security, humanitarian and human rights situation in Georgia’s occupied territories, and strongly denounces the violation of right of IDPs and refugees forcibly expelled from Georgia’s occupied territories to return to their homes in safety and dignity;
Amendment 85 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Amendment 88 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Welcomes Georgia's continued efforts to strengthen its international law enforcement cooperation with Europol and the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), including the signature of a new working arrangement between CEPOL and Georgia on 22 June 2022, which will enhance sharing of knowledge, expertise, best practices and coordinated approaches to learning;
Amendment 114 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the Georgian authorities to allow the convicted former president Mikheil Saakashvili to seek medical treatment abroad on humanitarian grounds and as a means of reducing political polarisation;
Amendment 130 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Georgian authorities to effectively investigate the massive illegal wiretapping revealed in September 2021; is concerned about the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia that increase the number of crimes for which covert investigative actions are permitted and the duration of these actions, which were adopted by the Georgian Parliament on 7 June 2022 and vetoed by the President on 22 June 2022; calls on the Parliament of Georgia to ask the Venice Commission to issue an opinion and to implement its recommendationsauthorities to implement the recommendations of the Venice Commission once the opinion is issued;
Amendment 158 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Encourages the authorities to take steps to strengthen gender equality and to effectively implement legislation against gender-based and domestic violence;
Amendment 167 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Deplores the fact that the human rights situation in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia remain dire, with ongoing restrictions to the right to freedom of movement, arbitrary detentions, abductions and deprivation of the right to residence, the right to property and the right of access to education in mother tongue; underlines the importance of people-to-people contacts and confidence- building measures between the communities divided by the conflict;
Amendment 179 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Encourages the Georgian authorities to boost the participation of SMEs in the DCFTA, notably by increasing communication about the opportunities offered by the DCFTA, by enhancing access to export facilities and by making the best possible use of the existing Commission programs ENPARD Georgia and EU4Business;
Amendment 185 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Calls on the Commission to support the full implementation of the DCFTA through coordinated assistance, with a focus on support for SMEs and structural reforms, including development of quality infrastructure to facilitate efficient implementation of the approximated legislation;
Amendment 191 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Encourages the intention and efforts of Georgia aimed at joining the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA);
Amendment 208 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Welcomes the adoption of the national cybersecurity strategy and action plan 2021-2024; calls on Georgian authorities to work with the EU on strengthening the country’s cyber resilience in line with the EU's best practices and legislation, notably the EU Directive on security of network and information systems;
Amendment 211 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Welcomes Georgia’s association to Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme for 2021-2027, which opens up new opportunities for the Georgian scientific and innovation community, and Georgia’s commitment to starting the process of becoming the Third Country Associated to Erasmus+ Programme;
Amendment 212 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Calls on the Commission to support the efforts of Georgia to position the country as a regional hub for digital connectivity and digital services and promote its digital sovereignty by developing strategic international connectivity and digital services corridors between Europe and various parts of Asia via Georgia;
Amendment 214 #
2021/2236(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 d (new)
Paragraph 16 d (new)
16d. Calls on the Commission to support the creation of a common roaming space between Georgia and the EU through coordinated assistance with a focus on gradual reduction of international roaming tariffs between Georgia and the EU in line with the EU regulations thus protecting consumers’ rights, as well as assisting gradual approximation of Georgia to the EU acquis and contributing to Georgia’s European integration process;
Amendment 7 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)
Citation 3 b (new)
— having regard to its Report on Challenges and Prospects for multilateral WMD arms control and disarmament regime of 15 December 2021;
Amendment 8 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 c (new)
Citation 3 c (new)
— having regard to its Report on the State of EU cyber defence capabilities of 7 October 2021;
Amendment 9 #
2021/2232(INI)
— having regard to the EU Action Plan against Disinformation;
Amendment 20 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
— having regard to the Partnership Agreement on Relations and Cooperation between New Zealand and the European Union of 5 October 2016;
Amendment 21 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 b (new)
Citation 17 b (new)
— having regard to the EU- Singapore Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), signed in Brussels on 19 October 2018,
Amendment 23 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)
Citation 20 a (new)
Amendment 24 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 b (new)
Citation 20 b (new)
— having regard to the AUKUS security pact of 15 September 2021,
Amendment 25 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 c (new)
Citation 20 c (new)
— having regard the Global Gateway Strategy launched on 01 December 2021,
Amendment 54 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas China’s rapid military build-up, coupled with its increasingly assertive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region and its military activities in the East and South China Seas, as well as its deliberate and repetitive violations of Taiwan’s air defence identification zone and its increasingly aggressive rhetoric, disinformation and media campaigns, are leading to rising tensions in the Indo- Pacific;
Amendment 72 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)
Recital E d (new)
Amendment 73 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E e (new)
Recital E e (new)
E e. whereas the first and most important way of ensuring peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region is deepening cooperation, as well as stepping up assistance in eradicating poverty, social injustice, infectious diseases, human rights violations, environmental degradation and other roots causes to instability, insecurity and violence;
Amendment 82 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Underlines that the Indo-Pacific region is very diverse, and that no one- size-fits-all approach can be applied; appreciates the holistic approach and positive agenda presented in the EU Strategy, and invites the EU to as well pursue fruitful bilateral relations with partners in the region;
Amendment 129 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Deplores the lack of unity in the Council of the European Union over the adoption of measures to address China’s anti-democratic policy and aggressive behaviour, which endangers the sovereignty of its neighbours and the stability of the Indo-Pacific region; calls on the EU and it’s Member States to act in a unified manner regarding the policy on China; highlights the importance of taking the necessary steps to introduce qualified majority voting in the Council in the field of the common security and defence policy and the common foreign and security policy;
Amendment 181 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls for the EU toWelcomes the strengthening of its dialogue with NATO’between NATO and its four Asia- Pacific partners, namely Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand, with a view to addressing cross-cutting security issues and global challenges and enhancing mutual situational awareness on security developments in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions, notably in the NAC+4 format; calls for the EU to develop a similar dialogue with the four Asia-Pacific partners; appreciates the focus of this cooperation on cyber defence, non-proliferation, civil preparedness and the UN’s Women, Peace and Security agenda; invites NATO to use its 2030 reflection process to enhance cooperation with its partners in order to defend shared values, bolster resilience and uphold the international rules-based order, while ensuring greater consistency between policies on Chinain addressing China’s growing influence;
Amendment 224 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Welcomes the positive role played by New Zealand in regional peace and security; appreciates that a strong focus in the Partnership Agreement on Relations and Cooperation between the EU and New Zealand on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and combating illicit trade of small arms and light weapons;
Amendment 236 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22 b. Recalls the importance of trade agreements as first steps toward a stronger cooperation with democratic countries; reminds that these agreements should include strong human rights, democracy and sustainability chapters;
Amendment 307 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 c (new)
Paragraph 32 c (new)
32 c. Calls on the states outside of the NPT framework in possession of nuclear weapons - including India and Pakistan- to refrain from the proliferation of any military-related nuclear technology and to become party to the NPT;
Amendment 308 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 d (new)
Paragraph 32 d (new)
32 d. Calls on the EU to assist efforts of universalising existing WMD disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and instruments; asks the EEAS to also work on strengthening the training and capacity-building of our partners; praises the EU chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence initiative, funded under the NDICI, in this respect, and underlines the work done in the South East Asia one;
Amendment 318 #
2021/2232(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 d (new)
Paragraph 33 d (new)
33 d. Welcomes the increased EU focus on protecting its critical infrastructures; calls for stronger cooperation between the EU and democratic Indo-Pacific partners in this field, notably in the exchange of best practices;
Amendment 22 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 50 a (new)
Citation 50 a (new)
— having regard to the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and the Charter of Paris for a New Europe of 1990,
Amendment 28 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EaP is part of the EU’s comprehensive approach to securitneighbourhood policy, specifically designed to bolster relationships with the six EaP countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, to help promote peace and stabil, stability, resilience, shared prosperity, sustainable development and reforms and human security oin the EU’s eastern flankneighbours, in a spirit of shared ownership and responsibility;
Amendment 36 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the EaP has been facing serious violations of international law, security threats and conflicts in the recent years;
Amendment 37 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas the destabilisation of the EaP region poses a significant threat to the EU peace, stability and security;
Amendment 38 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas between 2021-2027, the EU aims also to invest in a range of security stabilisation initiativesthe EU and EaP partners jointly decided to deepen their cooperation in the area of security such as enhancing the ability of EaP countries to meet hybrid and cyber threats;
Amendment 71 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the 2014 invasion and illegal annexation of Crimea demonstrated that Russia rejects EU or NATO aspirations in former Soviet territories and is determined to contend and contest any attempts to aid democratic development in a region which it considers its ‘near abroad’is a clear violation by Russia of the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine; whereas the EU has strongly condemned it and firmly sustained determination not to recognize it and has taken restrictive measures in this respect;
Amendment 83 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the latest Normandy Format and Minsk I & II Agreements have failed to end hostilities between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk and LuhanskSummit in Paris on 9 December 2019 agreed several measures, notably concerning a renewed cease fire and disengagement of forces, that not only remain to be implemented, but are also obstructed and evidently contradicted by the latest actions of the Russian Federation; whereas the implementation of the Minsk I & II Agreements has suffered serious setbacks, in particular due to unilateral measures taken by the Russian Federation in contradiction with its commitments under the agreements; whereas the conflict in the Donbas region has killed more than 14 000 people and displaced around 1.5 million people;
Amendment 98 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas Russia, against the backdrop of a crisis on the EU-Belar is threatening Ukraine with over 120 thousian border, has amassed over 100 000 troopsds of troops amassed on the border of Ukraine in an offensive formation while increasing its hybrid warfare tactics targeting the elected government in Kyiv, creating widespread concern about a potential second invasion of Ukraine;
Amendment 107 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
I a. whereas Russia has demanded a revision of the European security order, involving the commitment not to further enlarge NATO and the withdrawal of NATO troops from some EU Member States, thereby disrespecting core principles of European security as agreed among European countries, including Russia;
Amendment 111 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
I b. whereas the EU has expressed its preparedness to counter any military aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine with the strongest possible sanctions;
Amendment 112 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I c (new)
Recital I c (new)
I c. whereas talks took place in various bilateral and multilateral formats including the NATO-Russia Council and the OSCE; whereas there can be no discussion on European security without European countries; whereas the OSCE is the only European organisation that brings together all European countries including Russia, Central Asia, and the transatlantic partners; whereas the OSCE therefore remains the most suitable framework for discussing how to strengthen the common European security architecture in the interest of all;
Amendment 135 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the Russian Federation is continuing to further reinforce its illegal military presence in Georgia’s occupied territories and, to intensify its military build-up and military exercises, seriously destabilising the security situation on the groundand to increase ‘borderisation’ along the Administrative Boundary Line, seriously destabilising the security situation on the ground and endangering the livelihood of the population in the conflict-affected areas;
Amendment 146 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas the threats posed to the EU’s east not only concern friction with Russia but also and its eastern partners’ security also comprise climate change, cyber attacks, proliferation of WMDs, terrorism, organised crime, human trafficking, corruption, massinstrumentalisation of irregular migration and a host of other threats to the cohesion of societies both within and outside the EU;
Amendment 187 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital V a (new)
Recital V a (new)
V a. whereas the Council is currently discussing options to increase the CSDP presence in Ukraine;
Amendment 188 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital W
Recital W
W. whereas in its 13 years of existence, the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) is a civilian mission launched in 2008, following the EU-mediated Six Point Agreement which ended the war between Georgia and Russia; whereas in its 13 years of existence the EUMM) has represented the strong political commitment of the EU in the region by providing stability and security to conflict- affected communities, normalisation and confidence-building amongst the parties in conflict;
Amendment 198 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital AA
Recital AA
AA. whereas flagrant violations of the six-point agreement and ceasefire by occupying forces are often met with limited responses or calls to action by Member States, or no response at all, which risks emthere have been illegal arrests across the Administrative Boundary Lines and illegal “bolrdening the occupying forces to carry out more such actionrisation” activities;
Amendment 217 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital AF
Recital AF
AF. whereas the EUMM’s role in securing the release of detained border guardmonitors, as well as its efforts to assist sick people from the territories in getting treatment in Georgia, adds tremendous value to the important role the EUMM plays in both conflict management and confidence building;
Amendment 219 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital AG
Recital AG
AG. whereas the EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) is a civilian mission launched in 2005; whereas it has a non-executive mandate to enhance the border management capacities of border guards, customs authorities and law enforcement in Ukraine and Moldova with an annual budget of EUR 12 million and a staff of over 200 personnel, with a mandate up for renewal in November 2023;
Amendment 248 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Welcomes the conclusions of the 2021 EaP Summit, promoting security as an important field of cooperation und underlining the EU’s readiness to enhance security dialogue with EaP partners; considers that such dialogue could further promote alignment and gradual convergence of the EU and the EaP countries foreign and security policy, in line with partners’ commitments with the EU.
Amendment 252 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 a (new)
Subheading 1 a (new)
Underlines that sustainable peace and human security in the EaP region is essential for the EU; stresses that the peaceful resolution of ongoing or frozen conflicts in the region, based on international law, and good neighbourly relations are key to building and strengthening resilient and sustainable democracies in the EaP, with strong ties to the EU;
Amendment 253 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1 a. Reminds that peace and security require strong and publicly accountable institutions, good governance and respect for the rule of law; strongly encourages EaP partners to further engage in the relevant reforms as only internal resilience based on strong and democratic institutions will allow to achieve the necessary resilience towards external threats;
Amendment 256 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 b (new)
Paragraph -1 b (new)
-1 b. Condemns the threatening large- scale military build-up by the Russian Federation along the border with Ukraine, related actions in the non- government-controlled areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions, in illegally annexed Crimea and in Belarus; calls on the Russian Federation to immediately and fully withdraw its military forces, cease its threat against the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and contribute tod e- escalating tensions in the region by fully abiding to its commitments as an OSCE participating state;
Amendment 285 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Encourages the EU and Member States to ensure that any provision of equipment support via the EPF to EaP countries is in line with the needs of the EaP country and with full respect of international humanitarian law and international Human Rights law, of the Common Position on Arms Export and with the necessary transparency provision, and is carried out in collaboration with NATO strategic planning in order to avoid duplication;
Amendment 297 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Encourages the Member States each to deploy personnel to CSDP missions in EaP countries to ensure all Member States are represented in missions throughout the region and to encourage greater participation by non-EU countries in these missions, particularly former communist countries that have hosted successfully completed CSDP missions;; endorses Member State’s’ cooperation with EaP partners in area of security such as Lithuanian- Polish-Ukrainian Brigade.
Amendment 385 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Welcomes the valuable contribution of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine in EU CSDP missions and operations;
Amendment 438 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Underlines the crucial need to boost cooperation between the EU and EaP partners in the fields of strategic communication, fighting disinformation and information manipulation, as well as any malign foreign interferences; welcomes the work of the EEAS East Stratcom Task Force in this respect;
Amendment 441 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25 b. Stresses the need for the EU to boost its institutional capacities for conflict prevention, mediation, dialogue and de-escalation in the EaP region; underlines that the EU could play a stronger role in setting confidence- building measures and could further take part in reconciliation efforts;
Amendment 443 #
2021/2199(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25 c. Underlines the importance for the EU to promote the role of women and young people in peace building in the EaP region and to advance the Women, Peace and Security and the Youth, Peace and Security Agendas in the EaP region;
Amendment 10 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
— having regard to its resolution of 7 October 2021 on the State of EU cyber defence capabilities,
Amendment 29 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 a (new)
Citation 29 a (new)
— - having regard to the SOTEU 2020 and 2021 addresses and letters of intent,
Amendment 31 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 b (new)
Citation 29 b (new)
— having regard to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, paying special attention to SDG 16 that aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,
Amendment 52 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the EU is facing new threats, including hybrid threats, and has entered an age of “unpeace” characterized by hostile competition through hybrid warfare means such as cyber attacks, disinformation and foreign interferences, which have blurred the lines between war and peace, as well as increased militarisation around the world and a still unstable neighbourhood, both in the East and in the South;
Amendment 82 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 88 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the launch of the work on the Strategic Compass, which should be completed in March 2022; stresses that it is a beginning, not an end, and that it constitutes a major step towards a European Defence Union; stresses that a robust EU defence policy is needed for the EU to have the means to effectively work towards peace, human security, sustainable development and democracy;
Amendment 125 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that the Strategic Compass must make it possible to strengthen the Union’s capacity to act as an increasingly credible strategic partner and a global actor for peace; stresses that this exercise must be regularly updated, must set out an ambitious and operational course – with a timetable for the implementation of decisions and monitoring mechanisms – and must enable the Union to have a coherent defence policy, a common strategic culture, a capacity to anticipate threats and provide a rapid and coordinated reaction and a capacity for autonomous resilience, to be able to mobilise resources on the basis of solidarity when a Member State is threatened and requests them, and ultimately to play a part inensure the protection of European citizens, interests and values;
Amendment 131 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Underlines the crucial need to boost intelligence support for EU security and defence policy; underlines that the work of EU IntCen and EUMS INT is dependent on the willingness of Member States to share information: calls to increase its financial and technical resources; agrees with the analysis made by EC President SOTEU 2021 address that the EU needs to improve intelligence cooperation; welcomes the proposal to consider setting up an EU Joint Situational Awareness Centre, a crucial tool to improve strategic foresight and the EU strategic autonomy; calls for exploring the possibilities to set up an EU intelligence agency;
Amendment 139 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls that the Union is currently deploying 11 civilian missions and six military missions and operations; recalls that only three of the military missions are executive missions; notes that these missions and operations are suffering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has limited their effectiveness; suggests that the budget, planning and equipment of EU CSDP missions and operations be assessed in the light of the lessons learnt from COVID-19;
Amendment 146 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses the need for strategic reform in the Sahel considering the cyclical nature of the conflicts in the region, emphasises on a more political engagement with the governments supported by the EU to ensure more transparency, combat corruption, cultivate inclusivity and engage with citizens in an effort to curb the explosion of armed and ethnic conflicts;
Amendment 162 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Deplores the actions of the coup leaders in Mali; is deeply concerned at the lack of essential state services in Mali and in the Sahel in general; expresses its deep concern at the deteriorating security in the region; notes the announcement of the reorganisation of French military action in the Sahel, in conjunction with ouwhich will have implications for international, European and African partners; welcomes the increasing involvement of European Member States’ armed forces in the Takuba Task Force; welcomes the adaptation of the new extended mandate of the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) to the regionalisation process; calls on the Member States to make a significant contribution to EUTM Mali’s advisory activities;
Amendment 170 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses that EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, EUCAP and EUTM Somalia form a coherent whole supporting the Union’s Strategic Framework for the Horn of Africa; welcomes the crucial role played by Operation ATALANTA in the fight against piracy and trafficking in the Horn of Africa, thereby successfully protecting World Programme Vessels; underlines the importance of the security- development-humanitarian nexus; calls on Member States to provide EUNAVFOR with the necessary assets to perform its crucial mandate;
Amendment 189 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Underlines the importance for the Union of sustainable stability, human security and prosperity in its neighbourhood;
Amendment 194 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the renewal of the Althea mission in 2020 and the refocusing of its mandate in support of the Bosnia- Herzegovina authorities in an effort to maintain a safe and secure environment; and the stability of the country; Recognises the important cooperation between the EU and NATO in the Western Balkans, notably through EUFOR Althea mission, which operation HQ is located at SHAPE thanks to the Berlin Plus Arrangement;
Amendment 202 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes with satisfaction the results of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia); approves its extension for a period of two years; stresses the need for further reflection on CSDP commitments in the area; is concerned about the deteriorating security situation in the regionoccupied territories of Georgia; denounces illegal detentions and kidnappings of Georgian citizens and the increased ‘borderisation’ activities along the Administrative Boundary Line;
Amendment 204 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes with satisfaction the results of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia); approves its extension for a period of two years; stresses the need for further reflection on CSDP commitments in the area; is concerned about the deteriorating security situation in the region; denounces the increased ‘borderisation’ activities along the Administrative Boundary Line;
Amendment 206 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Strongly condemns Russia’s illegal occupation and militarization of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, that pose a serious threat to the EaP region and the entire Europe; urges the EU to keep demanding Russia to engage constructively in the Geneva International Discussions and to fulfil its obligations under the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, notably to withdraw all its military forces from Georgia’s occupied territories and allow the EU Monitoring Mission unhindered access to the whole territory of Georgia;
Amendment 207 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Notes that the Russian Federation military forces are still occupying large parts of Ukraine and Georgia in violation of international law; express concerns about Russia’s role in destabilising peace and security in the Eastern Partnership region; denounces the presence of Russian private military and security companies in African countries;
Amendment 208 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Encourages the EU to strengthen its engagement in peaceful conflict resolution throughout the EaP region; reiterates its call for the EU to ensure that the security dimension of the EaP countries is properly reflected in the EU Strategic Compass and consider launching a series of security compacts – frameworks for increased investment and assistance in security, military, intelligence and cyber cooperation – with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine as Associated countries, in order to strengthen their resilience and security;
Amendment 220 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the launch of the CSDP operation in the Mediterranean, EUNAVFOR MED IRINI; stresses its key role whose core task ins the implementation of the arms embargo on Libya in accordance with UNSCR 2526 (2020); deplores the fact that, in 2020, it encountered many refusals to allow inspections; calls for a transparent communication from the European External Action Service (EEAS) on this issue; laments the fact that NATO, which is active in the area through Operation Sea Guardian, is unwilling to cooperateunderlines the need for effective collaboration, increased cohesion and sharing of information and resources with NATO's Operation Sea Guardian;
Amendment 252 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Is deeply concerned about the low force generation for operations and missions, and urges the Member States to address this matter as soon as possible and give CSDP missions and operations the necessary personnel and capabilities to fulfil their mandates; considers that third- country participation in CSDP operations and missions must always be in line with European interests and values; calls on the EU to provide staff in missions and operations with appropriate equipment and training to become more alert and more resilient under less permissive conditions;
Amendment 271 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Stresses the need for all the missions and in particular the military missions to have sunset provisions working with locals to build capacity within reasonable time with a view to allow a sustainable exit;
Amendment 273 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Calls for a more systematic implementation of UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security(WPS) and of UNSCR 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS), and for a strengthening of the EU’s WPS and YPS agenda; calls for meaningful gender mainstreaming in the formulation of the EU CSDP, notably via a better gender balance in the personnel and leadership of CSDP missions and operations and specific training of the personnel deployed;
Amendment 274 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Amendment 305 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Supports the ambitionHR/VP proposal of creating a ‘rapid entry force’; recalls the existence of battlegroups and the need to make them credible by conducting regular field exercises; deplores the Member States’ lack of commitment to the battlegroups; criticises the fact that only one, led by Italy, is operational in 2021; laments thereof the weakness of the planning for 2022 and 2023;
Amendment 321 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the establishment of the European Peace Facility (EPF) in 2020 and calls for it to be made operational swiftly with full respect for the Common Position, for Human rights and humanitarian law, and with effective transparency provisions; stresses that the requisite equipment and training must be delivered in the relevant theatres of operation; undertakes to ensure coherence and complementarity between CSDP missions and operations, the Union’s financial instruments (NDICI) and the EPF;
Amendment 330 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Welcomes the Climate Change and Defence Roadmap which sets concrete actions addressing the growingly relevant climate/security nexus;
Amendment 364 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Condemns the malicious acts committed against Member States; insists that the Union and the Member States react firmly and in coordination against any new malicious, illegal or destabilising activity; calls on the Union to work towards the creation of a legal instrument to respond to hybrid threats and to develop a comprehensive cyber capacity; calls for a revision of the cyber-defence policy framework in order to increase the prevention and deterrence capacity of the Union and its Member States; welcomes therefore the 2021 SOTEU announcement to set up a European cyber defence policy; welcomes the increased cooperation among Member States in the domain of cyber defence in the framework of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), including Cyber Rapid Response Teams; recalls that the successful implementation of EU missions and operations is increasingly dependent on uninterrupted access to a secure cyberspace, and thus requires robust and resilient cyber operational capabilities, as well as adequate responses to attacks against military installations, missions and operations; calls for increased EU coordination as regards establishing collective attribution for malicious cyber incidents;
Amendment 375 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Amendment 381 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26b. considers large-scale disinformation campaigns as a form of hybrid warfare; calls to have a wide-range EU disinformation toolbox, which would not only focus on enhancing Member States’ and stakeholders’ resilience to disinformation, put mandatary requirements onto social platforms and allow citizens’ to make informed decisions, but would also improve the EU’s ability to source and attribute massive disinformation and to sanction State and non-State actors launching it ;
Amendment 396 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls on the Union to develop a space defence strategy, which is essential for its strategic autonomy in space, in the areas of communication, navigation and intelligence; encourages the Union to improve its situational awareness and geo- intelligence support; stresses the importance of the Union having its own launchers; insists that the Union should lead the way in strengthening the increasingly contested area of international space law and to strive to prevent the weaponisation of space;
Amendment 404 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Notes the important work conducted by EU SatCen and underlines that the Union must have adequate resources in the fields of space imagery and intelligence-gathering, stresses that EU SatCen should benefit from structural Union funding to be able to maintain its contributions to the Union’s actions, notably in order to provide high- resolution satellite imaging in support of CSDP missions and operations;
Amendment 419 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls for existing Union instruments to be made operational so that they can contribute more effectively to preventing and countering hybrid threats and to protecting critical infrastructure and the functioning of our democratic institutions, as well as securing our supply chains;
Amendment 430 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Notes that the pandemic has exposed our vulnerabilities and; Notes that the EU did not have the full capacities and capabilities to ensure the safe and coordinated evacuation of its citizens from Afghanistan; calls, therefore, for a reduction in Europe’s strategic dependencies;
Amendment 448 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. LUnderlines that adequate levels of financial resources, personnel and assets are essential in order to ensure that the Union has the strength and the ability to promote peace and security within its borders and in the World; laments the reduction in the amount of the EDF under the MFF, which makes coherence between Union defence initiatives even more necessary; stresses, in this regard, the role of the European Defence Agency (EDA);
Amendment 469 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Recalls that third-country participation in individual PESCO projects must be decided on a case-by-case basis, when in the strategic interest of the Union, particularly when it comes to the provision of technical expertise or additional capabilities; welcomes the initial stages of military mobility and calls for subsequent stages to be implemented swiftly; approvwelcomes the participation of the United States, Norway and Canada in the military mobility project;
Amendment 485 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Stresses that the EDF must promote the build-up of European industrial sectors and European champions, and foster the competitiveness of SMEs, with multiannual programming, and take advantage of civilian-defence synergies;
Amendment 492 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 – introductory part
Paragraph 38 – introductory part
38. Welcomes the fact that the PESCO strategic review has led to a reduction and more focus in the number of projects and an increase in its political monitoring; laments the fact that Parliament has been excluded from the monitoring of its implementation; considers that the Strategic Compass should aim to:
Amendment 509 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 – indent 4
Paragraph 38 – indent 4
- focus on a small number of projects which are consistent with CSDP objectives, are operational and provide European added value, while respecting the inclusiveness nature of PESCO;
Amendment 515 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Stresses that the digital sector is an area of opportunity but also of significant threat of malicious action against our security and democracies (by state and non-state actors, and erasing the lines laid down in the law of armed conflict), and that it transcends borders; calls for particular attention to be paid to the impact of emerging technologies so as to ensure that they are applied and used throughout the Union, facilitate research and innovation and enhance the Union’s resilience, keeping in mind the need to control their use; calls for the EU to take the lead in global efforts to set up a comprehensive regulatory framework for the development and use of AI- enabled weapons; calls on the VP/HR, the Member States and the European Council to adopt a joint position on autonomous weapons systems that ensures meaningful human control over the critical functions of weapons systems; insists on the start of international negotiations on a legally binding instrument that would prohibit fully autonomous weapons;
Amendment 536 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 10
Subheading 10
Building stronger defence partnerships and supporting the autonomyresilience of partner countries
Amendment 537 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 11
Subheading 11
Defending multilateralism on arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation
Amendment 539 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Calls for support to be given to strengthening and preserving the conventional arms control architecture in Europe, in a context of gradual erosion marked by Russia’s withdrawal from the Treaty on Open Skies; calls for disarmament regimes and forums to be actively supported and strengthened in every aspect: universalisation, support for implementation, political and institutional support, and financial support; calls on the Union to pay particular attention to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) risk, with particular emphasis on the prohibition regime and conventional obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the fight against impunity; welcomes the extension of the New START Treaty and laments the end of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF); reaffirms its full support for the EU and its Member States’ commitment to the NPT as the cornerstone of the nuclear non- proliferation and disarmament regime; reiterates its calls for the adoption of concrete and effective measures during the 10thNPT Review Conference; insists on the need to ensure that the EU plays a strong and constructive role in developing and reinforcing the global rules-based non-proliferation efforts and arms control and disarmament architecture;
Amendment 551 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 12
Subheading 12
Strengthening dialogue, partnerships and cooperation on security and defence
Amendment 561 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Stresses that the Union should adopt a strategic approach to its partnerships based, in particular, on the defence of its interests and, strategic autonomy and values;
Amendment 579 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)
Paragraph 42 a (new)
42a. Regrets the little consultation and information of EU Allies on the Afghanistan withdrawal and on the AUKUS trilateral security pact; underlines these remind the EU once more of the urgent need to deliver on EU defence in order to ensure the EU ability to be a global player for peace;
Amendment 594 #
2021/2183(INI)
43. Calls for a stronger NATO supported by a stronger European Union, and wishes to see very tangible development in the EU-NATO partnership; calls, in this context, for NATO’s new strategic concept to be coherent with the EU’s Strategic Compass; expects the new EU-NATO Joint Declaration by the end of 2021;
Amendment 607 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Calls for even deeper cooperation with international organisations and in particular with the UN, including between CSDP missions and peacekeeping operations, especially on joint theatres; stresses the importance of cooperation with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the area of security;
Amendment 613 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Calls for closer relations with non- traditional partners in the Indo-Pacific region (India, Japan, Australia), and in specific policy sectors (cybersecurity, hybrid, maritime, arms control, etc.), and with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and with Latin American countries;
Amendment 635 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Laments the absence of a security and defence cooperation partnership between the UK and the EU on account of the British Government’s lack of interest, despite the assurances given in the political declaration; calls for a stronger partnership to be built with relevant African organisations, such as the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and G5 SahelSouthern African Development Committee (SADC) and G5 Sahel also promoting a strengthened Parliamentary role in Africa through the Pan-African Parliament;
Amendment 645 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Calls for cooperation on training and capacity building with third countries weakened by conflicts or regional threats or targeted by malicious foreign interferences, especially in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions;
Amendment 652 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47a. urges the EU to enhance its institutional capacities for conflict prevention and mediation;
Amendment 653 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 b (new)
Paragraph 47 b (new)
47b. Recognises the role of increased flow of illicit finances in tax havens and the risk they pose on increased militarisation and financing terrorist activities, worsening global instability; calls for more actions in curbing money laundering, and capacitating partners, especially in Africa and Latin America, with mechanisms to curb murky financial transactions including engagement of authorities in tax havens;
Amendment 661 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Calls on citizens to express their expectations as regards the CSDP architecture, peace, defence, security agenda and the role of the EU in the World in the course of the Conference on the Future of Europe; calls for the establishment of a fully-fledged Security and Defence Committee in the European Parliament and for the formalisation of an EU Council of Defence Ministers;
Amendment 668 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
49. Points out that Parliament should be consulted in advance and duly informed on the planning, modification and possibility of ending CSDP missions; is determined to play its full role in scrutinising the Global Europe instrument, in particular its peace and security dimension, and in the implementation of the EDF;
Amendment 675 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 a (new)
Paragraph 51 a (new)
51a. Stresses the need to develop ever- closer cooperation on CSDP matters with national parliaments in order to reinforce accountability and scrutiny and defence diplomacy;
Amendment 676 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 b (new)
Paragraph 51 b (new)
51b. Underlines the importance of improving the tools available to civil society in order to ensure its meaningful involvement in the formulation and oversight of defence policy;
Amendment 677 #
2021/2183(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 c (new)
Paragraph 51 c (new)
51c. Commends the vision and proposals the HR/VP put forward for EU defence and demands EU Member States to show the necessary political will to deliver on our joint level of ambition;
Amendment 4 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
— having regard to the Council conclusions of 10 December 2018 on women, peace and security,
Amendment 7 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
— having regard to the Council conclusions of 10 May 2021 on security and defence,
Amendment 8 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 b (new)
Citation 10 b (new)
— having regard to the Commission's Joint Communication of 7 June 2017 titled "A Strategic Approach to Resilience in the EU's external action",
Amendment 9 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
— having regard to the Commission's communication of 24 February 2021 titled "Forging a climate-resilient Europe - the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change",
Amendment 10 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
— having regard to the UN Sustainable Development Goals,
Amendment 11 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)
Citation 19 a (new)
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 7 July 2021 on EU-NATO cooperation in the context of transatlantic relations,
Amendment 12 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 b (new)
Citation 19 b (new)
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 26 June 2018 on climate diplomacy,
Amendment 14 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas environmental factors can influence human and state security in various direct and indirect ways, while particularly affecting economically disadvantaged populations and having socio-economic effects; whereas climate change has negative effects on cultural and natural heritage of the areas affected;
Amendment 20 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas climate change and climate-related impacts, including environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, deforestation, desertification, extreme weather, water and food scarcity, air pollution and natural disasters are already threatening local, regional and international security, stability and peace; whereas climate change, which is predicted to accelerate in the medium and long term, has become an increasingly dominant risk multiplier and must be viewed as a new security challenge that requires adequate resources, together with hybrid and cyber threats;
Amendment 21 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas climate change and climate-related impacts, including environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, deforestation and natural disasters are already threatening local, regional and international security, stability and peace; whereas climate change, which isthe consequences of which are already evident and are predicted to accelerate in the medium and long term, has become an increasingly dominant risk multiplier and must be viewed as a new security challenge, together with hybrid and cyber threats;
Amendment 31 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
C b. whereas according to the World Bank’s updated 2021 Groundswell report, climate change could force 216 million people to move within their countries by 2050; whereas the report also states that immediate and concrete action can significantly reduce the scale of climate migration;
Amendment 32 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
C c. whereas rising sea levels have already caused flooding and salinization, posing a major security and existential risk to low-lying coastal areas and islands;
Amendment 33 #
2021/2102(INI)
C d. whereas water scarcity has a multifaceted impact on human security and socio-political stability; whereas, due to climate change, water supplies will be affected, especially in development countries, while global water demand will rise; whereas climate change is increasing risks of droughts and floods;
Amendment 34 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C e (new)
Recital C e (new)
C e. whereas environmental crime is a very frequent criminal activity in the world and a significant security concern; calls for stronger cooperation on this issue between the EU and partner countries, by supporting states developing their capabilities to tackle environmental crime;
Amendment 35 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C f (new)
Recital C f (new)
Amendment 38 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the US armed forces have lost more military hardware and infrastructure due to natural disasters than due to the armed conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq combined; whereas the Biden administration has made positive efforts to combat climate change, including by re-joining the Paris Agreement and incorporating climate change in its Interim National Security Strategic Guidance;
Amendment 70 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Reminds that in the European Defence Fund (EDF) Regulation, research and development actions can be directed at solutions to improve efficiency, reduce carbon footprint and bring sustainable best practices;
Amendment 71 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Underlines the need to invest in smart, integrated, "whole of society” solutions as an urgency to achieve significant emissions reduction, to avoid the worst effects of climate change and also to invest heavily in the climate resilience of nations that need it in order to avoid instability, conflict and major humanitarian disasters;
Amendment 72 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. CWelcomes the EEAS intention that civilian and military CSDP missions and operations will develop and incorporate a set of actions to effectively implement environmental aspects into its work; calls on the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) to make sure that climate change is mainstreamed in the Union’s external action; calls for climate-specific strategies, policies, procedures, measures and capabilities to be developedhat aim to address all aspects of EU common security and defence policy; calls on the VP/HR to make sure that the development of a Union policy on climate security and defence entails the implementation of a human security approach; supports strengthening member state capabilities by incorporating environmental aspects into civilian and military missions' training programmes, by exchanging best practices and expertise;
Amendment 82 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls for an unprecedented, globally coordinated action to both rapidly reduce the scale and scope of climate change by dramatically reducing emissions, to avoid significant, severe or catastrophic global security consequences in the future, highlights the need to climate-proof all elements of security – including infrastructure, institutions and policies, and to rapidly adapt to its effects;
Amendment 87 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Calls for increased support for efforts aiming to tackle climate change and enhancing climate-neutral alternatives in the immediate EU neighbourhood, namely Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership and Southern Neighbourhood, in order to prevent possible security challenges;
Amendment 93 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the light-touch reporting process based on indicators of progress related to the environmental footprint, including energy, water, waste management, etc., of CSDP missions and operations; stresses the necessity to generate more detailed assessments by 2022; acknowledges that many CSDP missions are conducted in areas which are severely affected by climate change, which multiplies challenges to these missions;
Amendment 122 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls for international cooperation to address challenges related to environmental migration, in order to develop common solutions; reminds that areas and regions strongly affected by climate change have a large percentage of young population, due to which a special focus needs to be put on children and youth;
Amendment 135 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Welcomes the increased focus on climate-security nexus, participation of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Glasgow, and calls for concrete EU- NATO cooperation in this regard;
Amendment 141 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Stresses that the effects of climate change in the Arctic are creating a geopolitical challenge for the EU; stresses that the Arctic must remain an area of peaceful cooperation and calls for measures to avoid steps leading towards increased militarisation; reminds that EU countries Finland, Sweden and Denmark are members of the Arctic Council;
Amendment 168 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Calls for a securitization agenda of climate change by recognizing climate change as a critical factor that militaries will have to deal with, not only because of its impacts on military operations, but also anticipating increasing climate-induced internal displacement which is already higher than conflict displacement; notes however, the under preparedness of armed forces for the security implications of the world’s changing climate;
Amendment 175 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Underlines that an increase in defence expenditure should not lead to an increase in emissions, and that part of defence spending should be dedicated to investments in instruments that significantly reduce emissions; recalls that EU and NATO military strategists and planners have been working on the question of how armed forces can reduce their carbon footprint for more than a decade; welcomes, in this respect, the EDA’s activities, in particular the Go Green policy it launched in 2012, its Military Green concept and, the Consultation Forum for Sustainable Energy, its working group on the circular economy, and calls for an acceleration and broadening of such projects and for an independent external evaluation thereof;
Amendment 203 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29 a. Highlights the important role of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening international ties to combat climate change, including through the work of EP committees and delegations, and calls for increased focus on the climate-security nexus;
Amendment 204 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 b (new)
Paragraph 29 b (new)
Amendment 206 #
2021/2102(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 c (new)
Paragraph 29 c (new)
29 c. Highlights that climate security policies must not only focus on adapting to turbulence, resource constraints, and higher levels of unpredictability, but also on fostering the deeper change needed to restore ecological stability and balance at a global level;
Amendment 9 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 a (new)
Citation 23 a (new)
— having regard to the judgement of the Court in Case C-135/08 Rottmann [2010] and in particular paragraph 39 emphasising the competence of Member States in relation to acquisition and loss of nationality,
Amendment 14 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas freedom of movement, which allows any EU citizen to live, work or study or access to their right to healthcare in any Member State, is one of the foundations of the EU;
Amendment 26 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. Whereas Article 21 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights explicitly prohibits non-discrimination based on any grounds such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientations as the primary expression of EU Citizenship; whereas it forms at the same time a crucial component of the successful exercise of the freedom of movement, as evidenced in the petitions;
Amendment 28 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas the acquisition and loss of citizenship remains a competence of the Member States;
Amendment 29 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas petitions have shown that mobile EU citizens and residents still face difficulties in exercising their electoral rights, owing to administrative burdens and bureaucracy, language barrier in Member States, and misinformation or a lack of cooperation by Member State authorities;
Amendment 30 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote further cooperation in situations where workers receive benefits and pay contributions in different EU Member States, by reinforcing the cross-border exchange of information between the different social security authorities, so that all of the contributions can be duly taken into account in calculating pension rights;
Amendment 31 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
F b. Calls on Member States to better inform EU citizens as to their rights and duties, and to facilitate entitlement to these rights being respected equally both in their country of origin and in any other Member State;
Amendment 32 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F c (new)
Recital F c (new)
F c. Recalls that access to health services, coordination of social security schemes and recognition of professional qualifications in other Member States are the areas where EU citizens are often facing difficulties and calls for a vigorous enforcement by the Commission in order to redress those situations ;
Amendment 34 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. Supports the development of a mutually recognized EU disability card to ensure equal access within the EU to certain benefits and urges all Member States to participate in the system in order to guarantee the freedom of movement for persons with disabilities;
Amendment 35 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
G b. Urges all Member States to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and to sign the Protocol; In the context of the ratification of this Convention, urges the Commission to take the necessary measures to enable persons with disabilities to exercise their full right as a European citizen, without any form of discrimination;
Amendment 37 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
H a. Encourages Member States to give more space to political education on EU affairs, inter alia on EU citizens’ rights, in their school curricula and to adapt teacher training accordingly; considers that Member States should promote school visits to EU institutions in their educational systems; emphasises that accessible education plays a vital role in informing future citizens;
Amendment 61 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Regrets that the options for redress open to parents and children in the event of separation or divorce are not the same in each Member State, with the result that hundreds of parents in Europe have contacted the Committee on Petitions to support them in their cross-border family disputes and parental child abduction.;
Amendment 64 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that freedom of movement is not only challenged by major global events; notes with regret that, as revealed by the EU Citizenship Report 2020 and the many petitions received in this field, EU citizens and long-term residents still encounter legal, administrative or practical obstacles when moving to another Member State, in particular as regards social benefits, health, education, insurance and tax regimes, as well as the recognition of professional qualifications; highlights that these obstacles often include discriminatory administrative requirements which only can be fulfilled by citizens, such as possession of a national identity document that is only issued to citizens, or arbitrary requirements for documents which are not usually issued in other Member States; calls on the Commission to investigate discriminatory administrative practices in Member States, in particular at local level;
Amendment 67 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Regrets the existence of cross- border obstacles in civil or social matters, such as family law or pensions, that prevent many citizens from enjoying full EU citizenship;
Amendment 68 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Calls on the Member States to put in place coordination and cooperation measures in order to efficiently tackle the issues of double taxation in car registration, tax discrimination and double taxation in any cross-border context and to take better account of the realities of cross-border worker mobility; considers that double taxation issues are insufficiently addressed through existing bilateral tax conventions or unilateral action by a Member State and would need concerted, timely action at EU level;
Amendment 69 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Calls for the adoption of an effective legislative framework and coordination measures at EU and Member States level to ensure high levels of social protection and equitable, properly paid jobs; considers this approach to be vital in order to empowering citizens and protecting their rights arising from EU Citizenship;
Amendment 71 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that statelessness is a barrier to enjoying EU citizenship rights; regrets the lack of rights conferred through EU long-term resident status and the possibility for Member States to impose limits on free movement; is deeply concerned that only EU citizens are protected from discrimination under the acquis; stresses that as a result, stateless persons with long-term residency statustresses that stateless persons cannot enjoy free movement of persons or services, are not covered by Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas18 (the Visa Code), and do not enjoy rights equal to those in, for example, Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 of 27 November 2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility19 (the Brussels IIa Regulation); calls on the Commission to revise Council Directive 2003/109/EC concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents20 and to introduce opportunities to approximate EU long-term resident status to EU citizen status; _________________ 18 OJ L 243, 15.9.2009, p. 1. 19 OJ L 338, 23.12.2003, p. 1. 20 OJ L 16, 23.1.2004, p. 44.
Amendment 74 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the announcement of the Commission to review the rules on consular protection; urges the Commission to ensure assistance for EU citizens of unrepresented Member States; stresses that Member States also issue travel documents to persons who are not their citizens such as stateless persons; deplores the fact that consular protection is in some cases only guaranteed to citizens and leaves stateless persons completely unprotected; urges the Commission and the Member States to include the right to consular protection for persons who are issued a travel document by a Member State even if they are not a citizen of that state;
Amendment 89 #
2021/2099(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls for the establishment of an online one-stop-shop in all 24 EU official languages centralising all EU participatory instruments, providing information, advice and support on engaging with the EU, thereby helping users to identify and use the most appropriate channel, in order to bringing the citizens closer to the EU and by strengthening their democratic participation; trusts that such a one- stop- shop would streamline the use of the different participatory instruments while fully unlocking their potential;
Amendment 6 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the SME strategy and shares the Commission’s view that SMEs are essential to the European economy as they play a central role for the economic recovery and for the digital and sustainable transition of the EU; stresses that it must go hand in hand with the Industrial Strategy; notes that it was adopted before the COVID-19 crisis; calls therefore the Commission to reassess the Strategy in light of the lessons learnt from the crisis and of the Recovery Package, and to swiftly revise it where needed;
Amendment 11 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. SUnderlines that the COVID-19 crisis has delivered a shock to many SMEs and their role in the everyday life of Europeans, jeopardizing their very existence in several cases; stresses that the implementation of the SME strategy should focus not only on supporting SMEs to help them maintain their existence, as the COVID-19 crisis has delivered a shock to many SMEs and their role in the everyday life of Europeanmicro and SMEs to prevent shutdowns, to help them preserve their existence and business continuity, to promote their resilience, but also to assess and restore disrupted supply chains so as to incentivise their integration in industrial ecosystems, to help them seize opportunities to grow; recalls that SMEs were already facing difficulties prior to the crisis, in particular as regards access to finance, information and markets; stresses therefore the importance of adopting an ambitious strategy to ensure SMEs can recover and scale up their activities;
Amendment 20 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that micro and SMEs should be burdened as little as possible and encourages the Commission to use strong enforcement action to ensure that the single market benefits all businesses and consumers and to counter gold-face proportionate obligations taking into account their specificities and sectorial characteristics; recalls that the SME test can be a useful tool in that regard; encourages the Commission to use strong enforcement action to limit market fragmentation, address social and fiscal dumping, remove unjustified market barriers and ensure a level platying and other regulatory restrictions; field, for a fair single market that benefits all businesses and consumers;
Amendment 40 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights the crucial role of data as the lifeblood of the digital economy; supports the Commission in establishing European data spaces for trusted and secure data sharing to ramp up data flows between businesses and with governmenpoints out to the existence of market power imbalances and obstacles to access to data that affect SMEs’ development; welcomes the Data Strategy in this regard; supports the Commission in promoting interoperability and establishing European data spaces for trusted and secure data sharing to ramp up data flows between businesses and with governments; considers that all products and services developed with public funding should be published under open- source licenses and be accessible to micro and SMEs; emphasises the strategic importance of ensuring SMEs’ digital transition and suggests therefore that the future common European data spaces should be developed in an SME-friendly way so that they can access large datasets;
Amendment 47 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Underlines the opportunities offered by e-commerce to reach new customers and markets in supporting economic recovery for micro and SMEs; highlights the added value of legislation such as the Platform to Business Regulation in this regard and calls for its swift implementation and enforcement; warns that a persistent risk of unfair competition exists in e-commerce, also due to the presence of non-compliant, illegal or unsafe products in online marketplaces targeting EU consumers; underlines that the future Digital Services Act will play a key role in this regard;
Amendment 52 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Encourages Member States to implement the single digital gateway in an SME-friendly way by cooperating closely with regional and local authorities and by providing easy digital access to information, procedures, and services linked to doing business across borders, including advice on public procurement and funding sources; welcomes the SME Envoy system to better take into account the end-user into future legislation; suggests however a critical assessment of its appointment process and functioning in order to redress potential weaknesses and ensure it works efficiently in all Member States, in constant coordination with the relevant business associations and stakeholders;
Amendment 60 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Member States to simplify procurement tendering processes by using the flexibility of the EU’s new procurement framework and to enhance opportunities for SMEs, such as the possibility of subdividing procurement in smaller lots and the streamlining of administrative procedures, as well as by using digital tools and platforms to expand cross-border procurement; stresses that green public procurement can make an important contribution to building a sustainable economy;
Amendment 71 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines the fact that late payments account for a quarter of all SME bankruptcies in the EU; urges the Commission to swiftly equip the Late Payment Directive1 with strong monitoring and enforcement tools so as to ensure and promote prompt payments as a norm, in particular for government-to-business transactions, across the single market. _______________________________ 1 Directive 2011/7/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 on combating late payment in commercial transactions, OJ L 48, 23.2.2011, p. 1.
Amendment 75 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Underlines that a sustainable and innovative Single Market can only be achieved if micro and SMEs can carry out their transition to digital and environmental sustainability; highlights the importance of efficiently providing financial and non-financial support to micro and SMEs across all Member States; welcomes in this regard the development of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH) as well as the Enterprise Europe Networks (EEN); recommends on the latter increased coordination between national and European level, as well as a stronger involvement of local SME associations; calls on the Commission to help micro and SMEs benefit from the various initiatives provided for in the Green New Deal, the Industrial Strategy and the Communication on Shaping Europe’s Digital Future, as digitalisation and sustainability represent important opportunities for them to grow; points out to the need of mainstreaming SMEs in all EU policies.
Amendment 81 #
2020/2131(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7b (new)
Paragraph 7b (new)
7b. Welcomes the definition of SMEs as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC in the version of 6 May 2003, and calls therefore to maintain this definition in EU legislation and to ensure its consistent interpretation across Member State.
Amendment 9 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the broader Middle East region referred to in this report encompasses the area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf; whereas this region is strategic for the European Union given its geographical position and common ties; whereas the stability and security of Europe and the broader Middle East region are interdependent, and whereas the situation in the region is currently characterised by ongoing conflicts with a strong regional and extra-regional dimensions;
Amendment 45 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the summit of 27 to 28 March 2022 between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Morocco aiming to create a security alliance, which was also attended by the US Secretary of State, paved the way for a new regional approach to security and confirmed these countries’ intention to divide the regforge a closer relationship based on shared threat perceptions into blocks the region;
Amendment 58 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas EU Member States continue to export of arms to countries in the region despite ongoing conflicts and reports of internal repressiono not always follow the EU Common Position 2008/944/CFSP, which defines common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment;
Amendment 62 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas countries in the region are key trading partners for the EU and there are important economic ties between the two sides; whereas the ongoing global energy crisis, exacerbated by the Russian aggression in Ukraine, has led to increased contact with Qatarthe Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and other countries in the region on the import of energy resources into the EU; whereas there is potential for stronger cooperation in other areas such as the green transition, better governance and human rights; whereas the Joint Communication on Strategic Partnership with the Gulf outlined multiple areas of common interests between the EU, GCC and other Gulf countries;
Amendment 75 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas problems associated with governance and breaches of the rule of law in the region are a significant source of instability; whereas the imprisonment or torture of political opposition figures and social activists across the region is paving the way for further conflict; whereas the use of death penalty remains prolific in the region, particularly in countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran;
Amendment 85 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
H a. whereas the financial situation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is worsening, and where is an overwhelming political support for the Agency, it is not adequately matched by sufficient funding from the international community;
Amendment 101 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that the current situation in the broader Middle East region is characterised by ongoing conflicts with a regional dimension; stresses that the presence of foreign forces in these conflicts is contributing to maintaining them and to further regional inany involvement of the EU Member State or other external parties must be aimed at resolving the conflicts and increasing security and stability; notes that as well as ongoing conflicts, there are latent ones which the EU must take into consideration when defining its long-term strategy to tackle the underlying causes of instability in the region;
Amendment 112 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that the EU has its own interests in the region, as; highlights that EU security is interdependent with security in the Middle East; highlights that and EU funding instruments directed at the region should make an important contribution to stability and prosperity;
Amendment 125 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights the important role the EU could play in facilitating dialogue between regional stakeholders, which is key to fostering stability; commends, in this sense, the efforts of regional actors, such as Iraq, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar, to promote constructive intra-regional diplomatic engagement, including through such initiatives as Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership of 2021 and normalization talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia facilitated by Iraq; calls for deepened engagement with Qatar particularly on the situation in Afghanistan, leveraging the contacts it forged with the de-facto Taliban authorities in Afghanistan, notably with the aim to reverse some of the draconian restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women, such as denial of their right to education and introduction of highly restrictive compulsory dress code; calls, therefore, for cooperation with the regional supranational organisations to be enhanced;
Amendment 135 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Welcomes the ambition of the Joint Communication on Strategic Partnership with the Gulf to promote wide-ranging cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in green transition, digitalization, regional security, gender equality, trade, human rights, people-to-people contacts and other areas; regrets, however, that the scope of the Communication was limited to the GCC countries, excluding Iran and Iraq, and thus failing to develop policies aimed at overcoming the existing lack of trust between different stakeholders in the Gulf; considers that the EU should support the issue-oriented cooperation between regional actors on common challenges, such as climate change, natural disasters, trade, Sustainable Development Goals, among others, as means of confidence-building in the region;
Amendment 159 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Recognizes the essential and stabilizing role played by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in a difficult context of growing humanitarian and development needs; asks to increase and promote worldwide support towards the Agency in order to ensure the fulfilment of its mandate;
Amendment 164 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Member States to align their arms export policies with the provisions of Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP and to adopt a strict application of all criteria, , including by halting arms exports when these criteria are not met;
Amendment 179 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the countries in the region to refrain from exporting arms or combatants or intervening militarily in other countries, as such interventions are some of the main causes of regional destabilisation; firmly opposes the use of drones inexpress serious concern over extrajudicial and extraterritorial killings of terror suspects and demands a ban on the use of drones for this purpose; highlights in particular the dangers associated with the use of autonomous and remotely operated systems for such operations;
Amendment 185 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Takes note of an UN-mediated truce announcement in Yemen between the Saudi Arabia-led coalition and Houthi rebels; insists that the truce should be the first step to prepare the ground for credible peace talks between the Yemeni parties that should lead to an end of the war and one of the world’s greatest humanitarian disasters through an inclusive, Yemeni-led political settlement; stresses that the conflict cannot be truly solved without the accountability for the alleged war crimes committed by Saudi Arabia, UAE and their allies, and Houthi rebels;
Amendment 191 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. EWelcomes the EU’s commitment establishing a WMD-free zone in the Middle East, in accordance with the resolution on the Middle East of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and the EU’s promotion of confidence- building measures in support of this process in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner; expresses deep concern about a potential nuclear race in the region and calls on the EU to activate all diplomatic efforts to avoid it; calls on Israel to ratifynotes that Israel, as a non-party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, has long maintained ambiguity regarding its nuclear status;
Amendment 202 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the negotiations on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as a necessary step towards achieving regional stability and creating conditions for further talks on a new, inclusive regional security architecture; calls on the US and Iran to pursue meaningful negotiations with a view to returning to compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as the only viable way of solving the remaining safeguards issues related to Iran’s nuclear activities; stresses that the restoration of the JCPOA would provide a foundation for the EU’s renewed engagement with Iran, to complement the existing EU’s partnerships and relations in the region;
Amendment 217 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines the need to diversify the EU’s sources of energy and calls foron the EEAS and the Commission to conduct an assessment of the security implications of any agreement to import oil, gas or hydrogen into the EU;
Amendment 223 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Highlights the need to combat the funding of terrorist organisations and activities; stresses that the EU must help to stop money laundering and stem illicit financial flows by adopting a clear strategy to address the shortcomings in controlling these kind of funds by several states in the region; notes that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were recently added to the list of countries under increased monitoring (grey list) of the Financial Action Task Force, as a "jurisdiction with strategic deficiencies" in preventing money laundering and financing of terrorism; highlights that, in line with previous practice and the Commission's methodology, all countries that are under this list are subsequently listed by the EU through a delegated act under Article 9 of the Anti-Money Laundering Directive; notes with concern that, as reported by the press, several Russian oligarchs have flocked to the UAE following the targeted sanctions in the EU; calls on the Commission to propose a delegated act to list the UAE as a high risk third country without further delay;
Amendment 234 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Highlights that people-to-people contacts and cooperation in fields such as education, science or culture play an important role in the region and can make a key contribution to regional stability and the bridging of divides both with the EU and among the different states; welcomes, in this context, the proposal presented by the Commission for the visa exemption for the citizens of Kuwait and Qatar; calls on the Commission to swiftly engage in technical discussions to ensure fulfilment of relevant criteria in view of ultimately achieving visa exemption for the citizens of Kuwait, Qatar and Oman;
Amendment 255 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Is deeply concerned about the steady deterioration of the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia, expressing itself in the execution of 81 men in March 2022, the largest mass execution in years, apparent war crimes in Yemen, continued imprisonment of peaceful dissidents and human rights activists, persistence of the male guardianship over women and discriminatory laws and policies against women, lack of meaningful accountability for the murder of the Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in which a U.S. intelligence report released in 2021 implicated the Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman personally; reiterates its call to use the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime to introduce targeted sanctions against the Saudi officials involved in grave human rights violations;
Amendment 265 #
2020/2113(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the authorities in the region to uphold the ban on torture as enshrined in particular in the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which most of them have signed and ratified; calls for the abolition of the death penalty throughout the region; regrets that the Joint Communication on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf failed to introduce any human rights safeguards to counter-terrorist cooperation with the Gulf states and insists that any cooperation in this field with the Gulf and Middle East countries be submitted to strict application of such safeguards; notes with deep concern the persistent pattern in the countries of the region to adopt vaguely drafted “anti- terrorism” laws the implementation of which in practice leads to criminalization of legitimate, peaceful dissent;
Amendment 84 #
2020/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Warns that the crisis has highlighted EU vulnerabilities including in the field of security and defence and in particular in preparedness and responsiveness to CBRN, cyberattacks and disinformation;
Amendment 415 #
2020/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines the important role of the armed forces during the COVID-19 pandemic and bwelcomes military assistance to civil support operations, notably for the deployment of field hospitals, patient transport, equipment delivery and distribution; Believes that a more in-depth joint operation and coordination of member states’ armed forces within existing frameworks - such as the European Medical Command - or within new frameworks - such as military hospital trains - could lead to greater efficiency and contribute to the EU’s preparedness to fight pandemics; recencourages the setting up of European mechanisms aimed at facilitating the cross-border use of military lognises the need to review the EU’s security and defence strategies to developtical capabilities to face such emergencies, in order to allow for greater coordination, synergy, solidarity and support; supports the EU’s security and defence new initiatives, aiming inter alia at developing the Union’s strategic autonomy, to become better prepared and more resilient to the new and hybrid threats and technologies that have made the nature of warfare less conventional and challenge the traditional role of the military, as well as for a future in which Russia and China and other players, are becoming more assertive; stresses that the future Strategic Compass on security and defence which will present a joint threat assessment should reflect these developments and take account of the broader potential geopolitical implications of COVID-19; believes that, given the new political balance and a potential worsening of the int the budget allocated to EU defence initiatives, notably military mobility, which focus on increasing interoperability would be of great added value in case of future crisis, and the European Defence Fund must meet the EU ambition in the defence area; stresses the need to increase the EU CBRN preparedness ; commands the continuity of the CSDP missions and opernational security environment following COVID-19, the EU defence budgets must not be cus despite the very challenging environment ; suggests to assess the budget, planning and equipment of EU CSDP missions and operations in the light of the COVID-19 lessons learnt;
Amendment 433 #
2020/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the emerging Strategic Compass on European Defence needs to take account of the broader geopolitical implications of COVID-19 and to address the full spectrum of threats such as a new pandemic, CBRN, foreign interference, including disinformation or cyber-attacks that are not deterred by borders; urges the EEAS to work on the resilience and sustainability of CSDP missions and operations during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic; insists on the importance of maintaining the continuity of CSDP missions and operations in such context; Calls for a full review of the impact of COVID-19 on the preparedness, readiness, force generation, safety of personnel and continuity of CSDP Operations and Missions, in order to ensure the EU’s operational presence and effectiveness is not affected by the crisis or future similar scenarios;
Amendment 440 #
2020/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Underlines that closer cooperation in preventing and countering cyberattacks is also essential in these particularly vulnerable times; calls for strong coordination with and support from the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) in this respect;
Amendment 452 #
2020/2111(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for the expansion and modernisation of EU strategic communication strategies, based on the promotion of facts about the EU responses and scientific evidence, so that EU action is sufficiently visible both within and beyond the EU; urges the European External Action Service (EEAS) to further strengthen its capacities to proactively counter disinformation, including the creation of a dedicated far- East Strat Com Task Force focused on the disinformation emanating from China, and imposing costs on countries that deliberately spread disinformation to divide and harm the EU and its Member States;
Amendment 47 #
2020/2023(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that the UK has submitted various draft texts to the EU which – unlike the EU’s text – are not public and cover, inter alia, a trade agreement including annexes, an air transport agreement, an aviation safety agreement and an agreement on civil nuclear energy cooperation via Euratom; notes that the UK, in contradiction with the Political Declaration, has denied any interest in reaching an agreement on security and defence matters;
Amendment 150 #
2020/2023(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls that until 31 December 2020, the United Kingdom is obliged to contribute to the financing of the European Defence Agency, the European Union Institute for Security Studies, and the European Union Satellite Centre, and to the costs of Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations in which it participates;
Amendment 288 #
2020/2023(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. RegretNotes the fact that the UK negotiating objectives published on 27 February stated that foreign policy will be determined only within a framework of broader friendly dialogue and cooperation between the UK and the EU; that the UK is showing no ambition for relations with the EU in the field of foreign policy, security and defence as these were explicitly not covered by the UK mandate and therefore do not form part of the negotiations on future relations;
Amendment 297 #
2020/2023(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Recalls the EU’s position that foreign policy, security and defence should be part of a comprehensive agreement governing the future EU-UK relationship; underlines the importance of protecting the decision-making autonomy of the EU as a general principle of particular value in the field of security and defence;
Amendment 323 #
2020/2023(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Underlines the fact that the EU is an important partner for the UK in foreign and security policy, as the need for common responses to address foreign, security and defence policy challenges is crucial toare necessary for both sides; encourages the exchange of information and intelligence as well as close cooperation in the areas of counter- terrorism, space policy, cyberwarfare and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defence; recalls that exchanges of classified information must be organized within a specific framework;
Amendment 359 #
2020/2023(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Amendment 2 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that the security and defence policies of the European Union and its Member States are guided by the principles enshrined in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and those of the United Nations Charter, and by a common understanding of the universal values of the inviolable and inalienable rights of the human person, of freedom, of democracy, of equality and of the rule of law; highlights that all defence- related efforts within the Union framework must respect these universal values whilst promoting peace, security and progress in Europe and in the world;
Amendment 7 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that a Union framework regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled systems in defence must respect all applicable legal regimes, in particular the international humanitarian law and the international human rights law, and be in compliance with Union law, principles and values; stresses that the EU should play a global role in leading the way towards a credible and binding AI regulatory agenda rooted in democratic values; calls on the Union to assess the inherent AI-related risks with regard to the application of Union law, and foresee necessary adjustment and enforcement where needed; underlines that emerging technologies not covered by international law should be judged by the principle of humanity and the dictates of public conscience; underlines that the ethics of AI-enabled systems in defence must be assessed from the point of view of Human rights, and notably human safety, health and security, freedom, privacy, integrity and dignity;
Amendment 9 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that a Union framework regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled systems in defence must respect all applicable legal regimes, in particular the international humanitarian law and the international human rights law, and be in compliance with Union law, principles and values; the framework must therefore indicate the likeliness of errors and inaccuracies to deployers for the deployment of AI technology; calls on the Union to assess the inherent AI-related risks with regard to the application of Union law, and foresee necessary adjustment and enforcement where needed;
Amendment 14 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Emphasises that the geographical scope of such a framework should cover all the components of artificial intelligence, robotics and related technologies developed, deployed or used in the Union, including in cases where part of the technologies might be located outside the Union or not have a specific location;
Amendment 15 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Underlines the need of constant monitoring of the use of AI; especially from the point of view of its advantages and disadvantages, as well as, its impact on the protection of Universal Human Rights;
Amendment 16 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Recalls that the impact of AI systems should be considered not only from an individual perspective but also from the perspective of a society as a whole; calls to fully incorporate in a new framework, the human-centric approach based on the Communication on Building Trust in Human-Centric AI and the input obtained in the Ethics Guidelines prepared by the High-Level Expert Group on AI;
Amendment 24 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls for establishing of synergies and networks between the various European research centres on AI as well as other multilateral fora, such as: Council of Europe, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD),the World Trade Organisation and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), in order to align their efforts and to better coordinate the developments of the AI technology;
Amendment 36 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights that, based on a human- centric approach, the Unionwhereby technology fully respects Human Rights and humans retain authority over automated decision- making systems, the Union needs a robust AI regulatory framework focused on security and defence, followsing a path of responsibility, of protecting our citizens, and of defending our values, that its policies aim at preserving peace, preventing conflicts and strengthening international security, whilst seizing the opportunities that those technologies offer;
Amendment 43 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Member States and the European Commission to ensure that the algorithms used in defence systems, while keeping the necessary confidentiality, are governed by the principle of transparency, including a clear liability regime for the results of AI use; underlines that these algorithms must be constantly adjusted to the progress in AI technologies;
Amendment 47 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines that the Union must be at the forefront of mastering those technologies by establishing well defined processes for their use, for understanding the related ethical aspects and for fostering an effective international regulatory framework that contains the inherent risks of these technologies and prevents use for malicious purposes; the Union working together with the Member States must determine the appropriate liability regimes applicable to innovations in AI and other immersive technologies in the field of security and defence thus establishing a legal basis for accountability and traceability mechanisms, those include in particular unintended harm to persons, be it material or immaterial, such as breach of fundamental rights;
Amendment 57 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that for any defence application of AI enabled systems, the Union should set technical and organisational standards to ensure their resilience against cyber-attacks and digital influence, as well as their compliance with the highest possible trustworthiness standards as regards the collection and exploitation of operational datareliability standards, active monitoring and supervision as regards the collection and exploitation of operational data; AI systems and applications intended to extract and synthesise data, and extrapolate results therefrom to inform decisions for matters relating to defence and national security, must be specific in scope and comply with the provisions set out in the current regulatory framework in terms of gathering and processing data; stresses that AI applications designed to process data for intelligence purposes in defence related activities should comply with data processing standards to avoid risks of unintended surveillance or infringement of individual rights; believes that for high-risk applications of AI-enabled technologies like facial recognition which lack a definitive regulatory framework at the EU level, the Union must ensure that their development and deployment is rightful, proportional and respects the rights of individuals; stresses the importance of monitoring competent national law enforcement authorities which develop and deploy AI-enabled systems and technologies to maintain public order so as to mitigate the disproportional risks of predictive policing;
Amendment 59 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that for any defence application of AI enabled systems, the Union should set technical and organisational standards to ensure their resilience against cyber-attacks and digital influence, as well as their compliance with the highest possible trustworthiness standards as regards the collection and exploitation of operational data; draws attention to the need of careful analysis of the algorithms on which AI makes its decisions; emphasises the importance for transparency and accountability of AI algorithms; notes the important distinction between transparency of algorithms and transparency of the use of algorithms;
Amendment 65 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Notices the great risk of AI in the area of disinformation; underlines that, if not regulated, AI technologies might have ethically adverse effects by exploiting bias in data and algorithms that may lead to disinformation, creating information bubbles and exploiting biases incorporated into AI algorithms;
Amendment 66 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to work together in establishing a framework to prohibit the activation of AI-enabled systems in the field of security and defence using advanced data to carry out lethal or destructive actions without a human-in- the-loop-principle;
Amendment 68 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Highlights the need to adopt clear safety and security provisions and requirements, with proper certifications, for AI-systems in defence, and carry ourt constant monitoring, regular tests and verifications across the entire life cycle; underlines the necessity of ensuring compliance with applicable standards and obtained certifications where AI modifies e.g. through machine learning the functionality and behaviour of systems in which it is integrated, in order to ensure full traceability of decisions made with involvement of AI;
Amendment 70 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the Commission to embed cybersecurity capacity-building in its industrial policy in order to ensure the development and deployment of safe, resilient and robust AI-enabled and robotic systems; calls on the Commission to explore the use of blockchain-based cybersecurity protocols and applications to improve the resilience, trust and robustness of AI infrastructures through disintermediated models of data encryption; encourages European stakeholders to research and engineer advanced features that would facilitate the detection of corrupt and malicious AI- enabled &robotics systems which could undermine the security of the Union and of citizens;
Amendment 72 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Highlights the fact that AI framework in defence and security should develop benchmarks for ethically responsible and accepted uses of AI technologies; underlines that these criteria must be constantly adjusted to the progress in AI technologies;
Amendment 74 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Emphasises the need for an embedded option to reduce an AI-enabled system’s computations to a form comprehensible by humans throughout a given system’s lifecycle; considers that AI-enabled systems, products and technology purposed for military use should be equipped with a ‘black box’ to record every data transaction carried out by the machine, including the logic that contributed to its decisions, as well as with a 'switch-off' button which would instantly enable humans to deactivate the AI-enabled system;
Amendment 81 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresseds that all AI-systems in defence must have a concrete and well- defined domain of use and must be endowed withwhereby humans retain the abilitgency to detect and, disengage or diseactivate deployed systems should they move from their domain of use or engage in any escalatory or unintended action;
Amendment 85 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines that the entire responsibility for the decision to design, develop, deploy and use AI-systems must rest on human operators and, as there must be meaningful human control over any weapons system and human intent in the decision to use force; underlines that the human-in- the-loop principle must also be applied to the command and control of AI- enabled systems; stresses that AI-enabled systems must allow the military leadership to assume its full responsibility and exercise the necessary level of judgmentaccountability for the use of lethal force and exercise the necessary level of judgment, which cannot be endowed to machines as it must be based on distinction, proportionality and precaution, for taking lethal or large-scale destructive action bey means of such systems; recalls in this respect its position on a ban on the development, production and use of fully autonomous weapons systems enabling strikes to be carried out without meaningful human intervention;
Amendment 94 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Stresses that the EU must take the lead in promoting the establishment of international norms regarding the ethical and legal parameters of the development and use of fully autonomous, semi- autonomous and remotely operated lethal weapons systems; Member States should develop national strategies for the definition, status and use of lethal autonomous weapons (LAWs) towards a comprehensive strategy on the EU level;
Amendment 98 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Calls on the Commission to work together with Member States’ national competent authorities and other stakeholders participating in the development and deployment of AI- enabled systems, products and technologies to establish a safe, secure and resilient framework whereby the source code of AI-enabled systems is shared, monitored and verified to mitigate potential deviations from the governing principles and ethical framework underpinning AI technology in the field of security and defence; suggests to the Commission that the EU must retain ownership of the intellectual property of EU-funded research on AI-enabled systems, products and technologies in security and defence;
Amendment 103 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines that the Union must promote understanding of the military implications of AI, of robotics and of autonomy; considers that the Union needs to promote the acquisition of the necessary skills and knowledge on technology development processes and operational methods throughout the supply chain and over the full lifecycle of AI-enabled military capabilities;
Amendment 105 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Believes that enhanced cooperation between Member States and the Commission is necessary to guarantee coherent cross-border rules in the Union to encourage the collaboration between European industries and allow the development and deployment of AI- enabled technologies consistent with the prescribed safety and security standards, and the ethical framework governing the development and deployment of AI technology;
Amendment 108 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Underlines, that despite its added value, AI comes with a number of weaknesses, one of them relating to all sorts of different types of biases; emphasises that AI technologies should clearly be void of any sort of profiling, especially regarding gender;
Amendment 116 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses the need to overcome the current fragmentation within the Union as regards national AI-related law, research, innovation and expertise in the area of AI, which puts in jeopardyendangers the functioning of the internal market and the objective to ensure trustworthyreliable and secure development of AI in Europe; in this respect welcomes the inclusion of AI- related projects under the European Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP); believes that the future European Defence Fund (EDF) and the Permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) also offer well adapted frameworks for future AI- related projects that would help to better streamline Union efforts in this field; stresses that AI-related projects should be synchronized with the wider EU civilian programmes devoted to AI; notes that in line with the European Commission’s White Paper on AI (COM2020/65final) excellence and testing centres concentrating on research and development of AI in the field of security and defence should be established with vigorous specifications underpinning the participation of and investment from private stakeholders;
Amendment 121 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Emphasises that the development of AI that respects fundamental rights and supports the public interest requires the strategic pooling and sharing of data in the EU between private and public entities, as well as the strengthening of an EU AI ecosystem, which involves public, private, and civil society stakeholders; calls on the European Commission to foster dialogue among Member States, researchers, academics, civil society actors and the private sector so as to have inclusive policymaking processes when it comes to defence-related AI regulations;
Amendment 126 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Commission to present their "Reinforcement of the Skills Agenda", announced in the White Paper on Artificial Intelligence on the 19th February2020, as soon as possible - in order to ensure that everyone in Europe can benefit from the digital transformations of the EU economy;
Amendment 129 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Stresses the importance of the creation of an ethical code of conduct underpinning the deployment of weaponised AI-enabled systems in military operations, similar to the existing regulatory framework prohibiting the deployment of chemical and biological weapons; is of the opinion that the Commission should initiate the creation of standards on the use of AI-enabled weapons systems in warfare according to international humanitarian law;
Amendment 133 #
2020/2012(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the European Commission and on the VP/HR to present, also as part of an overall approach, a sectoral AI strategy for defence-related activities within the Union framework, that ensures both respect for citizens’ rights and EU’s strategic interests that should propose a consistent regulatory approach spanning from the inception of AI-enabled systems to their military uses; calls on these regulatory efforts to be supported by meaningful monitoring schemes, so that normative frameworks are not outplaced by technological development and new methods of warfare; calls on the Council, the European Commission and on the VP/HR to enter in a structured dialogue with the European Parliament to that end.
Amendment 11 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
- having regard to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 16, aiming at the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development 14a _________________ 14a https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg 16
Amendment 22 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas a new arms race in the world is growing and the major military powers no longer rely on arms control and disarmament to reduce international tensions and improve the global security environment;
Amendment 27 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas in an increasingly unstable multipolar world, where nationalist, xenophobic and anti- democratic forces are on the rise, it is vital for the European Union to become an influential player on the world stage and to keep its leading role as a global “soft power” committed to the disarmament of conventional and nuclear weapons, investing in conflict prevention, crisis management and mediation before military options are considered;
Amendment 36 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Ad. whereas military transparency measures such as reporting on arms export contributes to cross-border trust- building;
Amendment 65 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Deplores the fact that Member States use very different information in order to generate data on the value of licences, which renders the annual report considerably less consistent and usable as a comparative data set and serves to diminish its transparency and accountability before citizens and parliaments; urges France, in particular, to refrain from submitting data on the value of licences at pre-contract stage and broad values for global licences, which undermines the comparability of the report;
Amendment 86 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Condemns the increasing arms race in the world and calls on the world major military powers, largest producers and exporters of weapons to foster dialogue, multilateralism and disarmament of conventional and nuclear weapons;
Amendment 88 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Amendment 127 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses that the ambition to increase the competitiveness of the European defence sector must not undermine the application of the Common Position’s eight criteria as they take precedence over any economic social, commercial or industrial interests of Member States;
Amendment 141 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Welcomes the EU activities aiming at supporting the universalisation of the Arms Trade Treaty(ATT), in particular the assistance to third countries in improving and implementing effective arms control systems in line with the Common Position; calls the major arms exporting countries, such as the USA, China and Russia, to sign and ratify the Treaty;
Amendment 185 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that under the EPF, Member States and the European External Action Service (EEAS) will work on creating an EU-level system for arms transfers to third countries; asks for a detailed list of equipment transferred to third countries under the Facility to be published;
Amendment 216 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – point a
Paragraph 19 – point a
a) to add the following additional categories in a revised reporting template in order to implement the recent September 2019 Council conclusions: the exact type of weapon and the quantity exported, denomination of the munitions, the lot size and the specific end-user, revoked licences, and the value and duration of contracts regarding post-delivery services such as training and maintenance; to align the EU definition of small arms with the broader UN definition so that, for example, pistols and sniper rifles are also included in this category;
Amendment 222 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – point c
Paragraph 19 – point c
c) to clarify definitions such as licensed value and actual exports so as to facilitate the comparability of data between Member States; Licences for production in third countries should no longer be granted if this would allow the eight criteria of the Common Position or other EU arms export directives to be circumvented;
Amendment 225 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – point c a (new)
Paragraph 19 – point c a (new)
c a) to extend the post-shipment controls to all arms exports, including large military equipment; Member States are to submit a regular post-shipment report;
Amendment 248 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 – point b
Paragraph 21 – point b
b) to follow the example of the UK in this regard by publishing risk assessments in the annual reports; and to publish all final arms export licences on the Internet; the validity of export licences should be limited to two years in order to be able to react to changing political situations;
Amendment 253 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 – point c
Paragraph 21 – point c
c) to undertake a joint assessment of country situations or potential export recipients in the light of the principles and criteria of the Common Position within the framework of the CFSP and in consultation with external stakeholders, including Parliament; to regularly update list of third countries complying with the criteria as led down in the Common Position;
Amendment 260 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Believes that the EU institutions should organise peer reviews with a view to encouraging authorities to share best practices on the collection and processing of data, fostering a better understanding of different national approaches, identifying differences as regards the interpretation of the eight criteria, and discussing ways to improve harmonisation and consistency;
Amendment 266 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Strongly believes that a more consistent implementation of the EU Common Position is essential for the EU credibility as a value-based global actor and that much higher level of convergence as regards the strict application of the criteria will strengthen human rights, international law and the CFSP, and bolster the EU’s strategic security interests and strategic autonomy;
Amendment 276 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses that effective end-use controls are crucial for a responsible export policy and for lowering the risk of diversion in particular; calls on the Council, the Member States, the EEAS and the Commission to set up a large-scale training and capacity-building programme for national and EU officials on arms export controls; stresses the need to use EU funding to ensure that sufficient staff resources are available at national and EU levels and at delegations and embassies in importing countries for the purposes of implementing viable end-use controlrisk assessments, end-use controls and post-shipment verifications; calls on the EEAS and COARM to report on iTrace any identified diversion of EU- origin goods as part of the annual report;
Amendment 298 #
2020/2003(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Considers that regular consultations with the European Parliament, national parliaments, arms export control authorities, industry associations and civil society are central to meaningful transparency; calls on national parliaments to exchange best reporting and oversight practices in order to enhance the scrutinising role of all national parliaments in the decisions on arms control exports; calls on COARM to enhance dialogue with civil society and consultations with Parliament and arms export control authorities; encourages civil society and academia to exercise independent scrutiny of the arms trade and calls on the Member States and the EEAS to support such activities, including by financial means;
Amendment 12 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)
Citation 19 a (new)
— having regard to the Joint Comprehensive Planof Action (JCPOA),
Amendment 13 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 b (new)
Citation 19 b (new)
— having regard to the E3 statement on the JCPOA of 19 August 2021,
Amendment 20 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas in the current tense geopolitical context, key arms control treaties that came into force at the end of the Cold War have recently been dismantled; whereas in a world of global interdependence, the EU's security cannot be achieved without renewed global arms control and disarmament efforts;
Amendment 23 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the EU aims to be a global actor for peace and supports the rules-based international order; whereas arms control and nuclear non- proliferation were at the very root of the start of the EU project, notably with EURATOM; whereas the EU, through its Strategy against Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), is proactively contributing to the prevention of the use and proliferation of WMDs;
Amendment 27 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas in more than fifty years of its existence, the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) with its three mutually reinforcing pillars has proven to be a cornerstone of global nuclear arms control architecture and an effective tool to uphold international peace and security, by ensuring the compliance by the vast majority of signatory states with their non-proliferation obligations through implementation of stringent safeguards and norms against the acquisition of nuclear weapons;
Amendment 29 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been playing an instrumental role in the implementation of the NPT; whereas the Additional Protocol (AP), substantially expands the IAEA’s ability to check for clandestine nuclear facilities;
Amendment 30 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas tensions and dislack of trust among NPT parties have been increasing in the recent years; , exacerbated by growing deterioration of bilateral US-Russian relations and subsequent steps taken to reassess the nuclear factor in military doctrines; whereas the NPT Review Conference has been postpones due to the COVID-19 pandemic; whereas the US and the Russian Federation committed to an integrated Strategic Stability Dialogue on 16 June 2021;
Amendment 41 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) washad been an achievement of multilateral diplomacy led by the EU; whereas the US and Iran have begun indirect negotiations with a view tof their return to the JCPOA, which have been interrupted by Iran; whereas Iran has ceased the application of the aAdditional pProtocol;
Amendment 42 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) has not yet been universally ratified; whereas the EU has been consistently promoting the contribution of the CTBT Treaty to peace, security, disarmament and non- proliferation;
Amendment 46 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas following the collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, the US and Russia are now no longer prohibited from building and deploying this category of weapons and from engaging in a new arms race; whereas Russia recently moved several nuclear-capable, ballistic missile systems believed to be capable of exceeding the range of 500 km;
Amendment 50 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
L a. whereas the voluntary unilateral measures, the Presidential Nuclear Initiatives (PNIs), have led to substantial reductions of both the US and Russian deployed arsenal;
Amendment 51 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L b (new)
Recital L b (new)
Amendment 57 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas since the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, France is now the only nuclear Member StateFrance and the UK both share the view that minimum, credible nuclear deterrence is essential to Europe’s and NATO's collective security; whereas since the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, France is now the only Member State being a nuclear State; whereas France offered to launch a strategic dialogue with willing EU partners on the role played by France’s nuclear deterrence in the EU collective security and to associate those Member States to French exercises;
Amendment 63 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
O. whereas a number of middle powers have acquired the scientific, technological and industrial capabilities required to produce ballistic and cruise missiles; whereas India and Pakistan, states outside the NPT framework, have declared themselves to be in possession of nuclear weapons;
Amendment 67 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Recital Q
Q. whereas the Open Skies Treaty, in force since 2002, was intended to build trust, confidence and mutual understanding between Russia and the US and its European allies; whereas Russia has failed for many years to comply with its obligations under the Open Skies Treaty; whereas the US and Russia have successively withdrawn from the treaty;
Amendment 70 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
Recital R
R. whereas the Chemical Weapons Convention is the world’s first multilateral disarmament agreement to provide for the elimination of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction; whereas in the past decade, the ethical norm against the use of chemical weapons has begun to show alarming signs of erosion; whereas the CWC needs to adapt to the new industrial production processes, innovative chemical industry and the emergency of new actors;
Amendment 73 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S
Recital S
S. whereas the EU has been fully engaged in international efforts to improve bio-safety and bio-diversity through the implementation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention; whereas 13 countries are not yet parties to the Convention; whereas the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) was agreed without on- site verification mechanisms to ensure compliance;
Amendment 79 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital T a (new)
Recital T a (new)
T a. whereas the emergence of humanitarian disarmament has positively challenged the traditional disarmament practices inherited from the Cold War;
Amendment 80 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital T b (new)
Recital T b (new)
T b. whereas the number of women involved in efforts aimed at eliminating WMD remains alarmingly low, including in the areas of non-proliferation and disarmament (NPD) diplomacy;
Amendment 82 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital U
Recital U
U. whereas climate-related risks could negatively affect our strategic security environment; whereas WMD disarmament and non-proliferation efforts can contribute to sustainable development; and to the protection of livelihoods and of the environment;
Amendment 86 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital V
Recital V
V. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the need to increase EU chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence (CBRN) preparedness, to build a CBRN pool of expertise and to foster the link between health and security;
Amendment 97 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Is deeply concerned about the decision taken by several states amid ongoing growing tensions among major powers to reassess the nuclear factor in their national doctrines and modernise and diversify their arsenal; welcomes the intention of the US to assess, in the framework of the ongoing Nuclear Posture Review, possible ways to reduce the salience of nuclear weapons in its national security strategy;
Amendment 98 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reaffirms its full support to the NPT; expects nuclear-weapon states to take steps to demonstrate their genuine commitment to nuclear disarmament; exhorts States Parties to do their utmost to contribute to a successful and ambitious outcome of the upcoming 10th Review Conference; and its three mutually reinforcing pillars as one of the most universally accepted legally binding instruments and a cornerstone of nuclear non- proliferation regime; recalls that the Treaty contributed to uphold a broad set of norms related to disarmament and peaceful use of nuclear energy, while enforcing the nuclear non-proliferation norm; expects nuclear-weapon states to take steps to demonstrate their genuine commitment to nuclear disarmament, including via setting realistic goals under the Art. VI of the Treaty, and well as by strengthening the non-proliferation norm and expanding the IAEA’s safeguards capacity; warns that the future of the NPT should not be taken for granted and exhorts States Parties to do their utmost to contribute to a successful and ambitious outcome of the upcoming 10th Review Conference by agreeing on a substantive final declaration that would contribute to further strengthening the Treaty and would be a key element in preserving strategic stability and containing a new arms race; calls on all States to sign, accede to and remain committed to the NPT;
Amendment 104 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Insists on the need to ensure that the EU plays a strong and constructive role in developing and reinforcing the global rules-based non-proliferation efforts and arms control and disarmament architecture; welcomes the work of the Special Envoy for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in this respect; calls on the Council to strive towards the EU speaking with one voice in international disarmament, non- proliferation and arms control forums; underlines the need to use the work undertaken in the framework of the Strategic Compass to fully take the questions of WMD proliferation into the joint understanding of threats and achieve a common strategic culture on this issue;
Amendment 109 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Amendment 111 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. CUnderlines the crucial importance of training and awareness raising, therefore calls for the available expertise in non-proliferation and arms control in the EU to be strengthened and the training of EU and Member State personnel to be improved; welcomes continued financial support to the European Nuclear Education Network (ENEN), the EU non- proliferation and disarmament consortium and the European Nuclear Security Training Centre (EUSECTRA); underlines the potential for synergies in training and education projects with the European Security and Defence College; calls on further investing in disarmament education and on facilitating youth engagement;
Amendment 116 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on EU Delegations to put the question of disarmament, non- proliferation and arms control high on the agenda of Political Dialogue with third countries, in order for the EU to assist efforts to universalise existing treaties and instruments; asks the European External Action Service to also work on strengthening the training and capacity- building of our partnersclosest partners, notably the Neighbourhood and Enlargement countries, in the areas of disarmament, non proliferation and arms control; praises the EU CBRN risk mitigation Centres of Excellence initiative, funded under the NDICI, in this respect;
Amendment 121 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. UWelcomes NATO’s commitment to the goal of creating the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons, and its support and facilitation of dialogue among Allies and partners to implement their non-proliferation obligations; underlines that NATO Allies remain committed to creating the conditions for the further reduction of the nuclear arsenal on the basis of reciprocity and calls for constructive and trustworthy dialogue in this respect in the relevant international and bilateral forums;
Amendment 124 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses its full support for the work of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, for the UN Secretary-General’s ambitious Agenda for Disarmament and for the multilateral deliberative processes and negotiations under the auspices of the UN; underlines the need to ensure the involvement of all stakeholders, civil society and academia and the meaningful and diverse participation of citizens in disarmament and non-proliferation debates; supports the confidence-building measures set out by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe as important contributions to limiting misunderstanding or miscalculation and ensuring greater openness and transparency;
Amendment 128 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the EU’s commitment to establishing a WMD-free zone in the Middle East, and the promotion of confidence-building measures in support of this process;
Amendment 139 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recalls the central role played by the IAEA as a guarantor of the compliance by the participating States with the provisions of the NPT Treaty; highlights that the Agency’s verification activities are instrumental in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons; calls on the states that have not yet done so to ratify the IAEA additional protocol without delay;
Amendment 142 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Highlights the IAEA’s crucial role in monitoring and verifying Iran’s compliance with the safeguard agreement, and praises in particular the key role it has been playing since 23 February 2021, by implementing a temporary bilateral technical understanding reached with Iran, allowing for the IEAE to continue with its necessary verification and monitoring activities;
Amendment 143 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Reaffirms its full support for the JCPOA as a key element of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture, stressing that a full implementation of the agreement is crucial for European security, as well as for the stability and security in the Middle East and worldwide; welcomes the EU’s continued engagement with Iran on issues related to civil nuclear cooperation, and the measures taken to implement projects to improve nuclear safety under the Annex III of the JOPOA; exhorts Iran to immediately cease its nuclear activities violating the JCPOA, which should go hand-in-hand with the lifting of all nuclear-related sanctions; calls on all parties to return to the negotiations with a view to returning to full and effective compliance with the agreement;
Amendment 146 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Confirms that the entry into force and ratification of the CTBT as a strong trust and confidence-building instrument continues to be an important objective of the EU’s Strategy against Proliferation of WMD; welcomes EU’s diplomatic efforts to reach out to non-signatory countries in view of soliciting their commitment for the ratification of the Treaty and universal adherence to it; welcomes the Union’s support, including via financial contribution, for the activities of the Preparatory Commission for the CTBT Organisation aimed at strengthening its verification and monitoring capabilities;
Amendment 150 #
2020/2001(INI)
14. Reiterates its longstanding support for the launch of negotiations on the FMCT, and calls on all nuclear-weapon states that have not yet done so to adopt an immediate moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices; welcomes the financial support provided by the EU to the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) to facilitate the participation of African, Asian and Latin American and Caribbean countries to the FMCT related activities;
Amendment 152 #
2020/2001(INI)
15. Reiterates its deep regret at the withdrawal from the INF Treaty by the US and the Russian Federation following Russia’s persistent failure to comply with the treaty, which led to its termination; is particularly concerned about possible re- emergence of ground-based intermediate- range missiles in the European theatre of operations in the post-INF context; underlines its strong opposition to a new arms race and re-militarisation on European soil; welcomes the commitment made by the US and Russia to continue working towards the achievement of their stated common goal of ensuring predictability in the strategic domain and reducing the risks of armed conflict and the threat of nuclear war; urges both sides to use this momentum to set realistic basis for re-launching negotiations about new arms control architecture and risk reduction measures that would take into account the changing geo-political context and emergence of new powers; calls on all other countries, notably China, in possession or in the process of the development of missile systems to engage in efforts to multilateralise and universalise the successor treaty to the INF;
Amendment 160 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Warmly welcomes the decision taken by the US and the Russian Federation to extend the New START Treaty; as an important contribution to the upcoming 10th NPT review conference, and to the implementation of the Article VI of the Treaty; highlights that the extension of the New START might provide a foundation for a negotiation of a new arms control agreement that would encompass both deployed and non- deployed, as well as strategic and non- strategic weapons; invites both signatories to thoroughly assess all options in relation with the scope, deployment and category of weapons to be covered, and advocates the involvement of other nuclear-armed countries, notably China, in negotiations on any new arms control agreement;
Amendment 166 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. NHighlights the importance of the Presidential Nuclear Initiatives (PNIs) with the aim of reducing deployed short- range “tactical” nuclear weapons; notes with concern the ongoing Russian modernisation programmes which raise questions about Russian compliance with the objectives of the Presidential Nuclear Initiatives; recalls that the PNI’s, despite their non-binding nature, have played an instrumental role in arms control architecture and calls on both the US and the Russian Federation to stick to their commitments in relation to non-strategic nuclear weapons and to ensure transparency on arsenals, deployments and the status of their respective weapons;
Amendment 176 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Highlights that the international community must work on active measures to counter the adverse strategic implications of cruise-missile proliferation; calls on states possessing significant numbers of cruise missiles to focus, as a first step, on confidence and transparency measures, including i.a. negotiation and adoption of codes of conduct for deployment and use of cruise missiles; calls on the VP/HR to engage in dialogue with exporting states in view of fully adhering to and coordinating efforts through the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the only existing multilateral arrangement that covers the transfer of missiles and missile-related equipment;
Amendment 180 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the efforts made by the Vice President of the European Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to promote the universalisation of the HCoC, the only multilateral transparency and confidence-building instrument in the area of proliferation of ballistic missiles, in view of further contributing to efforts to contain the proliferation of ballistic missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction; calls on VP/HR to lead efforts towards greater cooperation between the HCoC and other arms control instruments;
Amendment 183 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses the crucial role played by the Open Skies Treaty in transatlantic relations and its valuable contribution to global arms control architecture, trust- building and transparency about military activities carried out by signatory states; highlights that the US withdrawal has hindered smaller European states’ capacity to monitor their neighbours and hold them accountable for their military activities; regrets the recent adoption, by the Russian State Duma, of a bill of withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty; calls on the remaining signatories to continue implementing the treaty; urges the US and the Russian Federation to resume talks with a view to returning to the treaty and to its full, effective and verifiable implementation;
Amendment 186 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Is alarmed at the threat posed by chemical warfare following the most significant and sustained use of chemical weapons in decades is particularly worried by the increased capability of some State and non-State actors to produce forbidden chemical agent more rapidly, and with limited indicators for detection; insists on the need to uphold the global ethical norm against chemical weapons by preventing impunity for their use; calls to make effective use of the newly adopted EU Global Human Rights sanction regime in this respect; welcomes the adoption by the Council of a horizontal sanctions regime to address the growing use and proliferation of chemical weapons; reiterates its grave concern at the attempted assassination of Alexei Navalny using a banned nerve agent, considered as use of a chemical weapons under the CWC; welcomes the sanctions imposed on Russian officials on 14 October 2020 in response to this blatant violation of international norms;
Amendment 193 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Praises the instrumental role the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has been playing in the verified destruction of chemical agents; strongly condemns the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian Arab Republic; welcomes the decision taken at the twenty- Fifth Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) to suspend certain rights and privileges of Syria under the OPCW;
Amendment 198 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Reiterates its full support for the BWC; welcomes the financial contribution provided by the EU directly to the BTWC and in support of strengthening bio-safety outside the EU; calls on the VP/HR to continue his efforts to promote the universalisation of the convention; points to the need to step up efforts to put in place a legally binding mechanism to verify compliance with the BWC;
Amendment 200 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Underlines the important work carried out by EU SatCen in using space assets, satellite imagery and geospatial intelligence to monitor compliance to WMD disarmament and non-proliferation commitments;
Amendment 201 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. RIs concerned about DPRK’s continued nuclear and ballistic activities in violation of numerous UNSC Resolutions, and DPKR’s development of new capabilities; reiterates its will to work towards achieving a complete, irreversible and verifiable denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula; urges the DPRK to immediately abandon its nuclear and missile activities, fully comply with all relevant UNSC Resolutions, swiftly sign and ratify the CTBT and return to compliance with the NPT;
Amendment 205 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Points to the rapid advances in the development of artificial intelligence- enabled systems in the military domain; reiterates therefore its call on the EU to take the lead on international regulatory efforts to ensure that the development and application of AI for military uses stay within the strict limits set by international law, including international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law, and to pave the way to global negotiations with a view to updating all existing arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation instruments so as to take AI-enabled systems used in warfare into account; underlines that emerging technologies not covered by international law should be judged by the principle of humanity and the dictates of public conscience; calls on the VP/HR, the Member States and the European Council to adopt a joint position on autonomous weapons systems that ensures meaningful human control over the critical functions of weapons systems; insists on the launch of international negotiations on a legally binding instrument that would prohibit fully autonomous weapons;
Amendment 209 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls for the equal, full and meaningful participation of women in NPT forums to be ensured, including disarmament diplomacy and in all decision-making processes related to disarmament;
Amendment 213 #
2020/2001(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Points to the need to take additional measures to fight the financing of the proliferation of WMD to disrupt technological and knowledge transfer to non-State hostile actors, as well as to the threat that CBRN terrorism could represent for our collective security; points to the need for the EU to foster responsible science, in order to prevent misuse of scientific research and experiment ;underlines the need to combat CBRN material smuggling and illicit trafficking and to prevent diversion risks; invites the EEAS and the Commission to tackle this issue in the expected Joint communication on a strategic approach to support the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants (DDR);
Amendment 54 #
2020/1998(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Regrets the low level of funding for heading 5, and in particular for the European Defence Fund and for military mobility; calls for a significant increase of funding so as to meet the ambition of the EU in the defence area;
Amendment 17 #
2019/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes some of the positive trends witnessed in the progressive implementation of the Defence Procurement Directive, namely the increasing number of contract notices and contract-award notices issued by Member States, and the increasing proportion of procurement that has been tendered competitively through Tenders Electronic Daily (TED); stresses, however, that a very high volume of procurement expenditure is still incurred outside the directive and an overwhelming percentage of contracts are still awarded nationally;
Amendment 25 #
2019/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. BCalls for a reduction in the use of exemptions and offset requirements in defence acquisitions; believes, in this regard, that the Commission should take a more proactive role in monitoring the necessity and proportionality of exclusions usinvoked by the Member States in their awarding of contracts outside the scope of the Defence Procurement Directive, and should not be mainly reliant on received complaints filed by the industry;
Amendment 32 #
2019/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that there is still a strong need to focus on the effective implementation and enforcement of the Defence Procurement Directive, considers that, for that to happen, the Member States should focus on ensuring equal treatment, transparency and competition and that the Commission should focus on implementing common reporting standards and providing the Member States with further guidelines on the application of the provisions laid down in the directive;
Amendment 38 #
2019/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that some aspects of the implementation of the Defence Procurement Directive could be improved, such as the Member States’ use of the open procedure as provided for in Directive 2014/24/EC9 and how consistently they apply that directive whenever possible; believes, however, that no revision of the Defence Procurement Directive is needed at this point, since the existing regulatory framework is sufficient if correctly implemented and properly usenforced; __________________ 9 OJ L 094 28.3.2014, p. 65. 9
Amendment 42 #
2019/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls, therefore, on the Commission to cmontinue monitoringitor the implementation, improve transparency and providinge guidance to the Member States in order to ensure consistent use of the directiveand fully enforce the directive to prevent backsliding of implementation, reduce usage of exemptions and therefore fully achieve its objectives;
Amendment 52 #
2019/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Member States to take due account of the Commission recommendations on the scope of application and conditions of GTLs and to avoid adding conditions for transfers under GTLs, which would contradict or undermine the conditions listed in the recommendations; underlines the need to provide translations of national transfer licences regulations;
Amendment 53 #
2019/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. CObserves that a number of SMEs active in the defence markets are involved in dual-use, while many remain specialised specifically in defence-related activities and are therefore particularly dependant on military and defence-related businesses; calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase efforts in raising awareness of the directive’s tools and benefits, in particular among SMEs to help increase their participation in the field;
Amendment 55 #
2019/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Commission and Member States to improve the quality and availability of data, such as TED data,Highlights the disparities in publication rates of contract notices between Member States on TED; stresses the importance of ensuring the accessibility and usability of the Register of the Certified Defence-related Enterprises (CERTIDER) online database; emphasises the need to make data systematically available on intra-EU transfers, including quantitative data as well as a breakdown by categories of licences, to better take into account defence and armament activities; notes that such disparities contribute to the lack of reliable data and could cause a disruption to the internal market and that the lack of reciprocity could disincentive Member States with a higher degree of implementation; calls on the Commission and Member States to improve the quality, consistency and availability of data in order to facilitate the monitoring on implementation of these two directives; and provide meaningful scrutiny;
Amendment 62 #
2019/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Highlights that certification processes are regarded as costly, lengthy and burdensome, hence neither accessible nor attractive for SMEs;
Amendment 67 #
2019/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Commission to continue its work and thoroughly examine the causes behind the lack of SME participation, and consider creating an updated map of data on relevant SMEs, outlining their industrial and technological capabilities, which can be publicly accessed by prime contractors from other Member States in order to identify SMEs with relevant capabilities needed for a project;
Amendment 74 #
2019/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls on the Commission to work towards increasing the uptake of the legislative framework on transfers of defence-related products, improving the availability of GTLs throughout the EU and addressing the limited application of the certification scheme, which shouldcan boost the development of the EDEM and thereby improve the functioning of the internal market for defence products;
Amendment 75 #
2019/2204(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. CallsWelcomes the launch onf the Member States to boost the EDEM through cooperation on projects under the Permanent Structured Cooperation and the European Defence FundPermanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), the Coordinated Annual Review of Defence (CARD), the European Defence Fund (EDF) and the revised Capability Development Plan (CDP) which altogether can boost collaborative defence capability planning, development, procurement and operation; calls on the Member States to boost the EDEM through cooperation on projects under PESCO and the EDF; notes in this regard that lessons learnt and best practices stemming so far from the implementation of the Defence Package should be shared among the Member States in order to remedy an uneven level of their implementation;
Amendment 10 #
2019/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas Georgia has remained committed to the implementation of the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and continues alignment to the EU acquis as well as to the EU standards, which is bringing increasing benefits;
Amendment 11 #
2019/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Amendment 26 #
2019/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Commends the response of the Georgian people and public authorities to the COVID-19 outbreak and emphasises the effective preventive measures taken by medical workers, the Lugar Laboratory and governmental authorities, resulting in lessening the burden on Georgia’s healthcare system and mitigating the negative effect on the economy; congratulates the Georgian citizens for having abided to these measures in the face of economic and social hardship; welcomes that the EU has lined up over EUR 250 million in grants for Georgia to respond to COVID-19 and EUR 150 million in loans for enhancing macroeconomic stability and allowing resources to be channelled towards protecting the citizens and mitigating the pandemic’s severely negative socio- economic consequences;
Amendment 51 #
2019/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Commends the Georgian authorities for completing the constitutional reform process and theall major political parties for signing the Memorandum of Understanding and Joint Statement of 8 March 2020, which established the key features of the electoral system and enabled it to be used for the upcoming parliamentary elections; calls on all parties to ensure that the agreement is translated intohonour both the letter and spirit of the agreement, to fully implement all aspects of the agreement and to ensure that all elements of electoral reform are translated into the Constitution and the law and fully implemented as soon as possible;
Amendment 85 #
2019/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Expresses its concern about recent court cases against opposition politicians, which contributed to a climate of increased mistrust and heightened tensions between the ruling party and the opposition, and led to ahave undermined trust between the ruling party and the opposition; welcomes the Presidential pardon of convicted opposition politicians, which paves the way for reducing polarisation of politics and the society; calls on Georgia to respect the highest standards of judicial independence and fair trial as committed to under the AA;.
Amendment 111 #
2019/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Deplores the constant violations by the Russian Federation, which exercises de facto controling effective control over the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia regions, of the fundamental rights of the people in these occupied regions, who are being deprived of the freedom of movement and residence, the right to property and the right of access to education in the native language, and reiterates its full support for the right of return of internally displaced persons; expresses its concern over the continuous illegal process of installation of barbed wire fences and other artificial obstacles along the occupation line (‘borderisation’), which has particularly detrimental effects on people living in and around these regions in the context of the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic;
Amendment 132 #
2019/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Underlines the importance of reducing antagonism and the polarisation of politics and of ensuring constructive cooperation in the country’s democratic institutions, in particular the pParliament of Georgia; therefore profoundly regrets that the ninth meeting of the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee ofn 12 and -13 February 2020 in Strasbourg enconcluded without an agreement on a final statement and recommendations being reached; calls on the Parliament of Georgia to resume its work on the electoral reform and adopt the necessary constitutional amendments on the new electoral system in line with the 8 March agreement as well as with ODIHR recommendations, as soon as the situation related to the pandemic and the working conditions allow and calls on all political parties and parliamentarians to contribute to this crucial goal in good faith;
Amendment 143 #
2019/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes with satisfaction that the EU is one of Georgia’s largest trading partners; welcomes the continued approximation of Georgia’s legislation in trade-related areas; emphasises the need to increase Georgian exports to the EU and to attract investments from the EU in Georgia in order to provide more jobs and improve Georgia’s trade balance with the EU and its macro-financial stability, first and foremost by strengthening the rule of law, by fighting corruption, money laundering and tax evasion and by supporting the approximation to the EU standards;
Amendment 149 #
2019/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the Commission to support full implementation of the DCFTA through coordinated assistance, with a focus on sustainable economic development in line with the European Green Deal as well as on support to SMEs and structural reforms in cooperation with business and civil society;
Amendment 151 #
2019/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Encourages the government of Georgia to continue the extensive reform of labour legislation so as to ensure better regulation of working conditions including continued improvements in labour inspections and social dialogue; highlights in particular the need to amend the Labour Safety Law in order to set up a fully-fledged inspection system and proper anti-discrimination mechanism to explicitly monitor labour rights and systematically verify any workplace hazards, to include a modern anti- corruption mechanism and to ratify all respective ILO Conventions; encourages the involvement of civil society organisations and trade unions in these reforms, in light of their importance for workers’ and social rights in Georgia;