1464 Amendments of Caroline ROOSE
Amendment 5 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 3 May 2022 titled 'Toward a sustainable blue economy in the EU: the role of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors'1a, _________________ 1a Texts adopted, P9_TA(2022)0135.
Amendment 6 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)
Citation 4 b (new)
– having regard its resolution of 21 January 2021 titled 'More fish in the seas? Measures to promote stock recovery above the maximum sustainable yield (MSY), including fish recovery areas and marine protected areas'1a _________________ 1a Texts adopted, P9_TA(2021)0017.
Amendment 9 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 c (new)
Citation 4 c (new)
– having regard to the IPBES 2019 report titled 'Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services',
Amendment 11 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 d (new)
Citation 4 d (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 9 June 2021 on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives 1a, _________________ 1a Texts adopted, P9_TA(2021)0277.
Amendment 12 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 e (new)
Citation 4 e (new)
– having regard to the 2021 ICES report entitled 'EU request on how management scenarios to reduce mobile bottom fishing disturbance on seafloor habitats affect fisheries landing and value. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2021',
Amendment 14 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 f (new)
Citation 4 f (new)
– having regard to the report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the Technical Measures Regulation (COM(2021)583),
Amendment 16 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 g (new)
Citation 4 g (new)
– having regard to the 2023 ICES report entitled 'EU additional request on mitigation measures to reduce by-catches of common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in the Bay of Biscay. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2023',
Amendment 18 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 h (new)
Citation 4 h (new)
– having regard to Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) 1d , _________________ 1d OJ L 164, 25.6.2008, p. 19.
Amendment 21 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 i (new)
Citation 4 i (new)
– having regard to the IUCN Guidelines for Applying Protected Area Management Categories, which sets out 6 categories of protected areas,
Amendment 22 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 j (new)
Citation 4 j (new)
– having regard to Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 which requires Member States to use transparent and objective criteria, including those of an environmental, social and economic nature, when allocating fishing opportunities and to endeavour to provide incentives to fishing vessels deploying selective gear or using techniques with a reduced environmental impact,
Amendment 23 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 k (new)
Citation 4 k (new)
– having regard to the New Economics Foundation (NEF) report of March 2021 titled 'Valuing the impacts of potential ban on bottom-contact fishing in EU marine protected areas',
Amendment 24 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 l (new)
Citation 4 l (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 9 May 2023 on Co-Management of Fisheries in the EU and the contribution of the fisheries sector for the implementation of management measures1d, _________________ 1d Texts adopted, P9_TA(2023)0132.
Amendment 25 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 m (new)
Citation 4 m (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 7 June 2022 on the implementation of Article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation 1a, _________________ 1a Texts adopted, P9_TA(2022)0226.
Amendment 26 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 n (new)
Citation 4 n (new)
– having regard to the CNRS studies entitled “Underprotected Marine Protected Areas in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot” by Claudet et al., 2020 and “Critical gaps in the protection of the second largest exclusive economic zone in the world” by Claudet et al., 2021,
Amendment 27 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 o (new)
Citation 4 o (new)
– having regard to the Special Report No 26/2020 of the European Court of Auditors entitled ‘EU protection is wide but not deep’,
Amendment 28 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 p (new)
Citation 4 p (new)
– having regard to the August Climate Bulletin by the EU Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) published on 5 September 2023,
Amendment 29 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 q (new)
Citation 4 q (new)
– having regard to the 2022 Commission Staff Working Document on Criteria and guidance for protected areas designations (SWD(2022) 23);
Amendment 32 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7
Citation 7
Amendment 40 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11
Citation 11
Amendment 44 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15
Citation 15
Amendment 73 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas there are currently up to 23 EU legislative texts on nature restoration and over 40 texts taking into account communications, strategies and regulations, and numerous legislative texts on the environment and fisheries; whereas in the last 10 years alone 26 legal acts and international agreements on the socio- economic dimension of fisheries and 80 communications, strategies and preparatory documents on the socio- economic dimension of fisheries have been adopted;
Amendment 87 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas in 2022 more than 200 scientists signed an open letter calling for a ban on bottom trawling and other industrial extractive activities in EU MPAs;
Amendment 92 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas the future of food security will depend on our capacity to tackle nature loss and the growing impacts of climate change;
Amendment 93 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas there is a strong scientific consensus that MPAs can be beneficial to fisheries because of their spillover effect and their positive effects on recruitment, for example through the protection of reproduction sites, juveniles and big mother fish with high reproductive capacities, as shown in various MPAs across the EU;
Amendment 97 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
Cd. whereas the 2023 European- average temperature for summer was the fifth warmest for the summer seasons; whereas in summer 2023 there have been record-breaking high sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the North Atlantic and for the global ocean including marine heatwaves in several areas around Europe; whereas August 2023 is estimated to have been around 1.5°C warmer than the preindustrial average for 1850-1900; whereas North Atlantic sea surface temperatures broke the previous daily record on 5 August 2023 and almost every day in August since has remained above this level, reaching a new record of 25.19°C on 31 August;
Amendment 107 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Deplores the fact that, despite the EU fisheries sector’s great efforts and progresefforts towards protecting marine ecosystems and making them sustainable, the oceans are still subject to overfishing, climate change, acidification and pollution through pollutants such as nitrites, plastics and other marine litter or waste from land- based activities, which areseveral of those drivers being beyond the control of fishers and poseing a significant threat to their livelihoods and marine ecosystems;
Amendment 109 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recalls that, according to IPBES, overfishing is the main driver of marine biodiversity loss worldwide; recalls that the fisheries sector is highly dependent on thriving marine ecosystems, considers therefore that reducing the impact of fisheries on the marine environment is key for the survival of the fisheries sector in the long term;
Amendment 121 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that the Commissioner Sinkevičius’s action plan lacks a coherent approachcould further build coherence with the other Commission priorities and strategies, such as ensuring food security, in line with the objectives of the farm to fork strategy, decarbonisation, the strategic autonomy of the EU and a level playing field with non-EU countries, as well as the fight against rising prices, enhancing the social dimension of the common fisheries policy (CFP) and strengthening economic growth and employment;
Amendment 137 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. RecallWelcomes that the action plan ishould be coherent with the objectives of the CFP that ensure that fishing and aquaculture activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term and are managed in an ecosystem-based approach in a way that is consistent with the objectives of ensuring economic, social and employment benefits, and of contributing to the availability of food supplies;
Amendment 144 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
Amendment 149 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Regrets the lack of coherence between the title ofWelcomes that the action plan and the proposals presented therein, which mainly focus on altering thenot only propose a reduction of fishing practices that affect species and seabed habitats withoutbut also addressinges the potential for alignment between fishing techniques and practintroducing additional measures to boost selectivity, including innovations to improve the selectivity of fishing gear and devices, and the protection or restoration of ecosystems well as measures to reduce the catches of juveniles and bycatch of sensitive species;
Amendment 152 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses, for example, that scientific studies show that increasing the mesh sizes and minimum landing sizes would enable to leave the youngest fish in the water, and therefore increase the chances for fish populations to reproduce, leading to higher yields for fishers and higher landings per unit effort;
Amendment 157 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Insists on the fact that incidental catches of sensitive marine species, including those listed under Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC, that are a result of fishing, have to be reduced and, where possible, eliminated so that they do not represent a threat to the conservation status of these species;
Amendment 158 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Welcomes the Commission’s calls to reduce bycatch of sensitive species; highlights in particular the urgent need to act to reduce bycatch of common dolphins and porpoises in the Bay of Biscay, by establishing short-term closures of certain fishing areas combined with acoustic deterrent devices and the improvement of monitoring systems, in line with scientific advice; recalls that financial compensations and incentives are available under the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of those measures;
Amendment 163 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Insists on the fact that MPAs are diverse in terms of size, species, habitats and ecosystems targeted and should not be seen as uniform areas; considers, therefore, that the action plan supports an oversimplified approach, in particular by proposing a blanket ban on certain fishing gear, thus giving the impression that all MPAs should be treated in the same way;welcomes that, while acknowledging the diversity of MPAs and conservation measures, the Action Plan recognises that some fishing techniques are incompatible with Marine Protected Areas , calls for a balance to be struck between the proposal to increase closures of traditional fishing areas, on the one hand, and maintaining fishing activity, on the other;
Amendment 168 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses the current lack of compliance with the Habitats Directive notably its Article 6; recalls that MPAs are required to have management measures in line with the conservation objectives of those sites and that the Commission has opened procedures against certain Member States for not fulfilling their obligations under the Habitats Directive;
Amendment 175 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that MPAs and all strictly protected areas are not an end in themselves and that their designation as protected areas will notshould be accompanied by management plans as well as resources for their monitoring, control and surveillance; stresses that MPAs designation should not prevent EU and third countries from adopting ecosystem- based and effective fisheries management measures around them, notably to prevent bad practices, including by foreign fleets, such as the Chinese fleet around the Galápagos sanctuary;
Amendment 180 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Recalls its resolution expressing strong support for the EU targets of protecting at least 30 % of the EU’s marine and terrestrial areas, covering a diverse range of ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, peatlands, grasslands and coastal ecosystems, and of strictly protecting at least 10 % of the EU’s marine and terrestrial areas; stresses that these protected areas should create an ecologically coherent and representative network, building on existing protected areas; underlines that in addition to increasing protected areas, the quality of protected areas must be ensured, including through sufficient funding and the implementation of clear and effective conservation;
Amendment 184 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Stresses that Marine Protected Areas can contribute to deliver benefits for marine ecosystems and local economic activities; recalls that effectively managed and sufficiently protected areas minimise incidental catches of sensitive species, protect fish spawning and nursery areas and juveniles, and reduce impacts on sensitive habitats, in particular the seabed;
Amendment 186 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Regrets that many Member States have designated an important number of MPAs over the past decades without paying sufficient attention to their level of protection and effective management; calls on the EU and its Member States to consider redesigning their map of MPAs based on quality criteria, including declassifying potentially irrelevant MPAs that only exist on paper where needed, and to build science-based ecological networks of effective and sufficiently protected areas, including no takes zones, that deliver for ocean, fisher and the society as a whole;
Amendment 187 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 d (new)
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7d. Deplores the fact that some Member States have come forward with an ambiguous definition of what strict protection in MPAs should be, thus opening the door to economic activities that are not compatible with the science- based objectives of strict protection; welcomes and supports the definition of 'strictly protected areas' as 'those fully and legally protected areas designated to conserve and/or restore the integrity of biodiversity-rich natural areas with their underlying ecological structure and supporting natural environmental processes; considers that natural processes are therefore left essentially undisturbed from human pressures and threats to the area’s overall ecological structure and functioning, independently of whether those pressures and threats are located inside or outside the 'strictly protected area';
Amendment 188 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 e (new)
Paragraph 7 e (new)
7e. Recalls that MPAs have been initially developed for conservation objectives and not as fish management tools; emphasises that when a certain type of fishing gear is prohibited in a Marine Protected Area it immediately benefits fishers that use low-impact fishing techniques;
Amendment 189 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 f (new)
Paragraph 7 f (new)
7f. Highlights that Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) should be designed with coastal communities, fishers, scientists and civil society; calls on Member States to involve them at each stage of the process, from the designation to the management of the areas, and to implement co-management approaches;
Amendment 190 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 g (new)
Paragraph 7 g (new)
7g. Notes that scientific studies are showing that MPAs are delivering environmental and socio-economic benefits, that these benefits increase in the medium and long-term; considers that fishing restrictions should be accompanied by incentives for the transition to low impact fishing in order to accompany some segments that are impacted;
Amendment 191 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 h (new)
Paragraph 7 h (new)
7h. Recalls the need to prohibit environmentally damaging industrial extractive activities in marine protected areas, including mining, oil, gas and harmful industrial fishing techniques, in line with the IUCN guidelines, in order to protect ecosystems and traditional activities of local communities;
Amendment 192 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 i (new)
Paragraph 7 i (new)
7i. Invites the EU and its Member States to expand the network of fish stock recovery areas under the CFP and under the GFCM, especially where there is clear evidence of heavy concentrations of fish below minimum conservation reference size or of spawning grounds and to increase their level of protection where needed; calls on the GFCM to draw on the successful example of the ‘Jabuka/Pomo Pit’ fish stock recovery area and on the GFCM minimum standards for fisheries restricted areas;
Amendment 195 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 j (new)
Paragraph 7 j (new)
7j. Recalls that bottom trawling is considered as one of the fishing techniques that has the highest negative impact on the environment, mostly due to the high rate of bycatches, the high rate of juvenile catches and its impact on seabed ecosystems and marine productivity;
Amendment 196 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 k (new)
Paragraph 7 k (new)
7k. Notes that bottom trawling is one of the most used fishing techniques in the EU, that a large share of the fish consumed in the EU is fished using this technique and that reducing the impact of bottom trawling should be done carefully, be properly planned by governments and based on the best available scientific advice;
Amendment 199 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Is of the opinion that closing fishing zones to bottom trawlers, and other high impacting fishing practices, is not simply a matter of moving fishing vessels so that they can continue to fish elsewhere, as this approach fails to take into accou but needs to be accompanied with a comprehensive and coherent approach and policies in terms of maritime spatial planning, fishing effort management, among other things, the fishers’ understanding of the seabed and the presence of othernd science-based TACs; considers that this approach should be part of a just transition process for impacted coastal communities and take account of fishing vessels in adjacent areas which could cause an overlap and lead to a localised overexploitation of resources and the deterioration of working conditions;
Amendment 202 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Welcomes the fact that the Action Plan calls on Member States to progressively phase out bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas and to mitigate the effects of bottom trawling on seabed ecosystems; stresses that long-term visibility and financial support is needed to ensure a just transition that leaves no fisher behind, considers that the same objectives should be defended at international level; recalls that Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal agreement mentions that any sustainable use within protected areas must be fully consistent with conservation objectives;
Amendment 205 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Calls for the EU to launch and fund scientific research programmes to map carbon-rich marine habitats in EU waters to serve as a basis for designating such areas as strictly protected marine protected areas, in order to protect and restore marine carbon sinks in line with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and to protect and restore ecosystems, in particular those on the seabed, in line with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, thereby protecting them from human activities that could disturb and release carbon into the water column, such as bottom-contacting fishing operations;
Amendment 206 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Considers that the ban on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas should not only be seen as an objective but also as a tool to support the reduction of the use of bottom trawling and its replacement by low impact fishing techniques, as closing areas to bottom trawling would allow low impact fisheries to fish there more easily or would allow experimentation to take place;
Amendment 207 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 d (new)
Paragraph 8 d (new)
8d. Calls for the EU to urgently tackle the detrimental impacts on the climate, seabed integrity, fish populations and sensitive species (as bycatch) of fishing techniques such as demersal seine, bottom-contacting gear, drift nets, or fish aggregating devices (FAD), including by limiting their use;
Amendment 208 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 e (new)
Paragraph 8 e (new)
8e. Recalls its position on the Access to Waters Regulation, calling for a ban on demersal seine (Danish and Scottish Seine) in French waters, as demanded by regional fisheries organisations; calls on Members States and the EU to prohibit the use of demersal seine in all EU waters;
Amendment 209 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 f (new)
Paragraph 8 f (new)
8f. Calls for fishing vessels above 25 metres in length to be prohibited from fishing in the EU waters up to 12 nautical miles from the coast, measured from the baselines of the territorial waters;
Amendment 210 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 g (new)
Paragraph 8 g (new)
8g. Recalls that Member States must fully implement Article 17 of the Common Fishery Policy when allocating fishing opportunities; calls on Member States to allocate fishing quotas on the basis of transparent and objective criteria based on the social and environmental performance of fishing fleets and to implement Article 17 as a tool to incentivise low impact responsible fishing practices in order to replace high impacting fishing practices;
Amendment 211 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 215 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 219 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 232 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 238 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 250 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. NoteRegrets the numerous declarations and clear statements by Member State representatives criticising the action plan and the associated uncertainties and rejecting the ban on bottom trawling in EU MPAs; stresses that the Action Plan represents an opportunity for Member States to prepare a well-planned, organised, medium- and long-term transition to low impact fishing;
Amendment 254 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Takes into accountnote of the legal procedures taken by Member States or regional authorities, such as the Xunta de Galicia, at the Court of Justice of the European Union against measures linked to the action plan, underlining the lack of proportionthe implementation of the Deep Sea Fisheries Regulation regarding the closure of certain areas between 400 and 800 m of depth where vulnerable ecosystems are located; recalls that this legislation was elaborated by the co- legislators and adopted through the EU’s legislative procedure; highlights that the European Parliament has joined the Commission in defending the validity of certain measuresthe Deep Sea fisheries regulation;
Amendment 259 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8
Subheading 8
The Commisslegal implication’s lack of clarity on the legal interpretation of itof the Commission’s action plan
Amendment 262 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that, although the action plan is not legally binding, its implementation will entail significant socio-economic costs for Member States and their fleets, as it contains 90 measures in the form of regulations, guidance, analyses, roadmaps, studies, reports and initiatives; recalls that the Action Plan mainly foresees a better implementation of existing and adopted legislation;
Amendment 264 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Regrets that Member States, stakeholders and parliamentarians created confusion regarding the legally- binding nature of the action plan, pretending that the Commission wanted to unilaterally impose a ban on bottom trawling in EU waters; notes that this confusion led to tensions;
Amendment 270 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 276 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 282 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. SupportRecalls the Commission President’s proposal, in her 2023 State of the Union address, stating that for every new piece of legislation should undergo a competitiveness check; requests that the action plan and fisheries-related proposals and other initiatives include a competitiveness check on their socio- economic impact and their effect on coastal communities is conducted;
Amendment 290 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Regrets the factWelcomes that the aAction pPlan is not accompanied by a socio-economic study, impact assessment or intermediary report and that it does not propose any kind of additional financing measures for the green and energy transitionswas preceded by an open targeted consultation as well as by independent scientific advice including specific trade-off analyses between fisheries value and the seafloor impact;
Amendment 291 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for an action plan that, along with the CFP, contributes to productivity growth, a decent standard of living in the fisheries sector, including the small-scale fisheries sector, and stable markets, and that ensures the availability of food without compromising food security or the sovereignty gapand food sovereignty; recalls, in this regard, that the future of food security will depend on healthy ecosystems as well as on our capacity to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts; urges the Commission and Member States to improve the resilience of marine ecosystems and use all available legislative and administrative tools to mitigate the climate crisis and its impact;
Amendment 299 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Recalls that the objectives of the Action Plan and the CFP should also be pursued outside of EU waters where the EU fleet is active; calls on the EU to fully implement the external dimension of the CFP and the principle of Policy Coherence for Development (PCD);
Amendment 303 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Considers it essential that any restrictions, whether based on the action plan or not, should be automatically mirrored in the case of products imported from non-EU countries, especially given that the EU imports 70 % of the fish it consumes, to ensure consistency between internal and external policies, and a level playing field between EU and non-EU operators; calls on the EU, for example, to introduce bans on imports from tropical shrimp trawlers fleets which do not use turtle excluder devices;
Amendment 307 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. StressNotes that mobile bottom-fishing gear catches account for 25 % of total European catches and; recalls that reducing fishing effort and implementing effective conservation measures does not lead to a reduction of economic profitability, as it leads to significant increases in fish biomass and abundance, as well as a reduction in fuel use and costs reductions; is of the opinion that effective measures on bottom trawling at EU level should not lead to an increase in imports, especially if foreign fleets use bottom trawling gear; considers that the same objectives should be defended at international level and that the EU should lead by example;
Amendment 314 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Welcomes the measures proposed in the Action Plan to improve regional cooperation; calls on the Commission to come forward with ambitious mandates in Regional Sea Conventions and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), notably to ensure the conservation of endangered species, vulnerable marine ecosystems, and the protection of juveniles;
Amendment 315 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b. Calls for a phase out of the use of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs); calls on the Commission to promote the reduction of the total number of FADs used by EU tuna fleets and support spatial closures in Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs);
Amendment 316 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)
Paragraph 24 c (new)
24c. Welcomes the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies which marks a major step forward for ocean sustainability by prohibiting harmful fisheries subsidies for fisheries targeting overfished resources and responsible for IUU fishing; as a next step, urges action addressing equally harmful subsidies that encourage overcapacity which lead to ocean depletion worldwide;
Amendment 317 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 10 a (new)
Subheading 10 a (new)
Tackling other pressures to marine biodiversity
Amendment 318 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 d (new)
Paragraph 24 d (new)
24d. Welcomes the Commission’s approach for a sustainable blue economy and its strategy to implement the ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP); calls on the Commission to revise the strategy to extend the ecosystem-based approach beyond fisheries management to all sectors of the blue economy and to remain within planetary boundaries, including renewable energy and extractive industries, as part of an overarching legal and strategic framework;
Amendment 319 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 e (new)
Paragraph 24 e (new)
24e. Expresses its deep concern regarding the impact of oil and gas extraction on the marine environment and on traditional activities such as fisheries; reiterates its call to phase out oil and gas extraction to achieve international climate commitments;
Amendment 320 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 f (new)
Paragraph 24 f (new)
24f. Reiterates its support for a moratorium, including at the International Seabed Authority, on deep- seabed mining until such time as the effects of deep-sea mining on the marine environment, biodiversity and human activities at sea have been studied and researched sufficiently and deep-seabed mining can be managed to ensure no marine biodiversity loss nor degradation of marine ecosystems; calls on the EU and its Member States to commit not to source minerals from the deep-seabed, to exclude such minerals from the EU supply chains, and not to finance deep- seabed mining activities;
Amendment 321 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 11
Subheading 11
Amendment 327 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Supports the fisheries sector’s ongoing efforts to improve fishing techniques and reduce its environmental impact without waiting for the Commission’s action plans; highlights the positive examples of restoring species stocks in protected areas while maintaining fishing activities such as low-impact fisheries, thanks to the major role played by fisheries stakeholders in MPAs management;
Amendment 331 #
Amendment 334 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Welcomes the creation of a special dialogue group between the Commission services, Member States representatives, administrations, representatives of the fisheries sectors and civil society in order to facilitate knowledge sharing, cooperation, technical discussions on implementing current legislation and a transparent dialogue on drafting and implementing Member States’ roadmaps;
Amendment 335 #
2023/2124(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
Amendment 4 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
– having regard to the UN IPCC report on Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change,
Amendment 5 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 b (new)
Citation 11 b (new)
– having regard to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) special report on global warming of 1,5 °C, its special report on climate change and land, and its special report on the ocean and cryosphere in a changing climate;
Amendment 6 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 c (new)
Citation 11 c (new)
– having regard to the agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris on 12 December 2015 (the Paris Agreement),
Amendment 9 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 13 June 2018 on cohesion policy and the circular economy (2017/2211(INI)),
Amendment 13 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)
Citation 19 a (new)
– having regard to the report on the role of Cohesion Policy in addressing multidimensional environmental challenges in the Mediterranean basin (2022/2059(INI)),
Amendment 15 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)
Citation 22 a (new)
– having regard to the study “EU lagging regions: state of play and future challenges” of September 2020 (PE 652.215),
Amendment 16 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the outcomes of the 2014- 2020 programming period prove the indispensable role of cohesion policy as the only regional development instrument that is geared to local needs and addressing negative effects of climate change; whereas because of cohesion policy’s positive local impact, no other EU investment policy could replace it;
Amendment 20 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the implications of climate change can have the biggest impact on all European regions, bringing more drastic changes to the life of people and livelihood of regions especially in less developed regions, mainly located in the southern and eastern parts of Europe; whereas climate change thus is the biggest external threat to Europe’s cohesion in the future;
Amendment 25 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas it is of utmost importance to formulate any future cohesion policy with a strategic impetus that is being followed during the whole funding period, which should however be reassessed and adjusted in the midterm of the funding period;
Amendment 27 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
A c. whereas the ‘do no significant harm’ criteria must prevent environmentally harmful measures, as box-ticking of existing EU legislation is not sufficient to ensure environmental protection;
Amendment 29 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
A d. whereas cohesion policy can effectively support an emergency response to asymmetric shocks such as the refugee crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine or the negative economic and social impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic; whereas this emergency help should however not undermine or threaten the strategic approach of the whole funding period;
Amendment 33 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)
Recital A e (new)
A e. whereas brain drain disproportionately affects less developed regions and if left unaddressed, it will have long-term and permanent effects on the future of the European Union;
Amendment 34 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A f (new)
Recital A f (new)
A f. whereas the goal of a carbon- neutral Europe by 2050 at the latest should be coupled with the goal of a fair and just transition;
Amendment 35 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A g (new)
Recital A g (new)
A g. whereas cohesion policy funding should comply with the Charter of Fundamental rights, the principles of Rule of Law, and the European code of conduct on partnership;
Amendment 36 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A h (new)
Recital A h (new)
A h. whereas the pandemic and the current geopolitical tensions have confirmed the need to work towards a renewed Economic Governance Framework, including the Stability and Growth Pact, and to introduce a golden rule for cohesion policy investments that do not deviate from the respect of the Paris Agreement’s objectives, including the co-funding of the Structural and Investment Funds;
Amendment 37 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas despite the regulatory improvements introduced in the 2014-2020 programming period and the improvements in the 2021-2027 regulatory framework, a number of challenges still remain;
Amendment 85 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Insists that due to its regional focus, strategic planning and effective implementation model , cohesion policy should remain the EU’s main instrument for reducing disparities and stimulating regional sustainable growth and continue to be a key contributor toin supporting recovery from symmetric and asymmetric shocksfight against climate change, socially just transition and recovery from symmetric and asymmetric shocks, but guided with the strategic approach overall; stresses that all European regions should remain eligible for funding; calls for a clear demarcation between cohesion policy and other instruments in order to avoid overlaps and competition between EU instruments; believes that there must be an increase in the overall cohesion budget and in the MFF’s share of the policy compared to the 2021-2027 programming period; calls for 50% of climate related spending within the new framework in order to achieve climate objectives set by the Paris Agreement, and in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal;
Amendment 94 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Emphasises the fast and full support from cohesion policy towards Ukrainian refugees as well towards regions affected hardly by the pandemic; however, underlines that extended flexibility provided by the Commission previously with the CRII and CRII+ regulations and through the CARE and CARE+ proposals on the ESI funds 2014- 2020, together with the RRF funds, undermines the strategic approach of cohesion policy that aims to tackle regional disparities across the EU in a long-run, with dedicated budget for climate and thematic concentration for specific policy objectives; underlines that other EU funds than cohesion policy should be mobilised to respond to unprecedented crisis in an emergency manner, that cohesion policy should not face budgetary cuts in order to respond to crisis and that cohesion policy should be invested to avoid unpreparedness of regions for any challenges that may occur and that way build up resilient and future- proof regions overall in the EU;
Amendment 101 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that cohesion investments should remain under shared management for programming and implementation in order to cater for local needs of regions, urban, rural and remote areas, and in line with the "do no harm to cohesion" principle; acknowledges that co-programming, co-financing, co- responsibility and co- ownership are the most effective and sustainable methods for successful implementation of any EU investment policy and any EU-financed project; furthermore, stresses the crucial role that investments in high quality public services have on building social resilience and coping with economic, health and social crises;
Amendment 103 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Recalls that the climate change effects underdeveloped regions disproportionally; therefore highlights the need to increase efforts to fight climate change and enhance climate mitigation particularly in those regions; emphasises that cohesion policy must support a strong climate mainstreaming in all sectors and ensure that all EU funding programmes and projects are embedded in strategies that support ambitious climate objectives; highlights the importance that regional environmental strategies are linked with ambitious climate targets that go beyond the overall target of achieving a climate neutral EU by 2050;
Amendment 106 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Highlights the impact that climate change related phenomena have on less developed regions and their economies, on working conditions particularly in the most exposed sectors and professions; believes that green collective bargaining is essential for both the workers and the employers to address the impact of the green transition on territorial and social cohesion, health and safety at work, the training and reskilling of workers and the creation of new quality jobs within the current changing labour market;
Amendment 107 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2 c. Considers that climate mainstreaming and climate proofing mechanisms should be an integral part of programming and implementation, in particular project selection;
Amendment 108 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2 d. Recalls that in the 21-27 cohesion policy framework gender equality and a gender perspective must be included and promoted throughout all stages of the process to prepare, implement, monitor and evaluate cohesion programmes;
Amendment 109 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 e (new)
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2 e. Highlights that in the event of EU enlargement, average GDP per capita may fall in the EU, therefore calls the Commission to carry out a detailed assessment before proposing new framework for cohesion policy post-2027, in order to continue the assistance to all regions and that any unfavourable consequence on cohesion policy eligibility can be duly addressed;
Amendment 112 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underscores that the cohesion policy budget should not be used for new non-cohesion policy instruments and programmes, either within or outside the MFF; stresses that flexibility in the repurposing of cohesion funding should be a bottom-up driven process, initiated either by a Member State or by its regional or local level, and civil society organisations on the ground;
Amendment 116 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Underlines that cohesion policy must not contribute to misuse of EU funds or further deterioration of the Rule of Law and democracy in Member States; expects therefore that the Commission takes fully into consideration the aspects of the Rule of Law throughout the ongoing negotiations regarding the Partnership Agreements and cohesion policy programmes; requires that the Commission analyses whether the draft documents already submitted or expected to be sent in the future are in full compliance with the enabling conditions on the effective application and implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights as outlined in the Annex III of the Common Provisions Regulation, and not to approve any Partnership Agreement or programme before this in depth analysis on these specific aspects leads to a high level of assurance of no risks;
Amendment 152 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for disaster prevention and preparedness investments to be guaranteed either through a dedicated policy objective, thematic concentration or a specific enabling condition to ensure sustainable investments in local infrastructure and risk management in less developed urban and rural areas, including border regions; believes that targeted financing should focus on climate change adaptation and mitigation by tackling the side effects of climate change locally (slow onset events as well as extreme weather events), including wildfires, strong winds, floods, landslides, heatwaves, rise of sea levels, coastal erosion and other events;
Amendment 164 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for the creation of a technical assistance programme specifically designed for smaller municipalities and cross-border, remote and rural areas that face new challenges such as the green transition and climate change; believes that the support should be in the form of 100 % EU financing for administrative capacity- building, project design and strategic planning capabilities (including planning instruments), while the allocation criteria should include the number of inhabitants and the needs and challenges of these areas;
Amendment 167 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Calls for a better access to funding to enable investments in the local energy transition, including energy efficiency, decentralised distribution of energy and a strong focus on renewable energy and sustainable circular economy; furthermore, calls to strengthen the polluter-pays principle and promote decarbonisation both in mobility infrastructure and economy to contribute to the EU Green Deal and Fitfor55 Package;
Amendment 169 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Believes that cities and urban authorities must have direct access to EU funding; reiterates the importance of safeguards that would avoid an unfair penalization of the regional and local authorities situated in countries that may be subject to the activation of the Rule of Law mechanism; calls in the same time for a regional budget with direct access for regions;
Amendment 174 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for cohesion policy to include a stronger urban dimension through designated investments in urban areas as well as stronger links between urban and rural projects and sustainable investments; calls for the proportion of national ERDF allocations for urban development to be increased from 8 % to 12 %; calls for this funding to be co-programmed with local authorities and for their benefit; underlines in this context that administrative capacity is essential for ensuring that managing bodies and local authorities acquire technical knowledge on climate change which they can use for urban planning and urban management; is convinced that this will lead to better design and evaluation of project proposals, more effective allocation of resources and satisfactory budgetary implementation without significant risk of decommitments; acknowledges that integrated territorial investments have a fundamental role in quality implementation and absorption of resources;
Amendment 177 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Calls on the Commission and the Council to promote earmarked funding for TA2030 programmes in rural areas and regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps in the same way as 8% of the cohesion policy funds are earmarked for the development of programmes under the Urban Agenda; these funds shall be predominantly used via integrated territorial development tools; recalls the importance of strong rural-urban linkages as well as a particular support of women in rural areas;
Amendment 179 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Recalls that the European agricultural fund for rural development (EAFRD) should be linked to the cohesion policy framework, and be associated again with the Common Provisions Regulation, which is needed to fully develop rural regions;
Amendment 180 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Calls for conventional macro- economic indicators and the GDP to be complemented with new indicators (such as the EU Social Progress Index and the Climate Change Vulnerability Index) in order to address the new European priorities such as the European Green Deal or the European Pillar of Social Rights and to better reflect the ecological and digital transitions and the wellbeing of people; calls for an impact assessment and a territorial dimension to be considered to allocate cohesion budget in order to take into account the diverse economic, social and territorial situation in the different Member States;
Amendment 183 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for the reductionat least 40% of thematic concentration requirements in order to allow for more flexibility to cater for local needs, following the principle of place- based policy in the EU’s territorial investments; underscores that thematic concentrations should be adapted to the way regions and cities operate in practical terms, from programming and reprogramming to implementation and closure from the ERDF to be allocated to the Policy Objective 2; is certain that the key principle should be a tailor-made investment approach geared to specific needs on the ground;
Amendment 190 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Calls the Commission to introduce strict criteria in the forthcoming cohesion policy post-2027 legal framework that aim to improve the application of the “do no harm” principle;
Amendment 195 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for initial allocations and co- financing rates to be assessed on the basis of NUTS 3 (nomenclature of territorial units for statistics) in order for funding to be directed to where it is most needed and to avoid pockets of poverty and underdevelopment from arising ; underlines that such a shift should take into account possible negative effects on EU financing for larger urban areas; stresses that this is necessary in order not to stall the development trajectory of metropolitan areas that were previously supported more intensively by cohesion policy;
Amendment 204 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that for the allocation of funds for local projects, the focus should be on a smaller number of higher budget, common benefit projects, instead of scattering the limited resources across a high number of low budget projects; calls for guidance and planning support to avoid decommitments and repurposing;
Amendment 206 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Emphasize the importance of small-scale and cross-border projects in bringing people together and in that way opening new potentials for sustainable local development and cross-border cooperation;
Amendment 207 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Calls for a better access to funding for cross-border regions to enable investments in the local energy transition, including energy efficiency, decentralised distribution of energy and a strong focus on renewable energy and sustainable circular economy;
Amendment 208 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10 c. Believes that future funding should be even more tailor-made and holistic; demands that local and regional authorities as well as citizens and NGOs shall be more included in the decision making and funding process to ensure that real needs are addressed properly; notes the potential that exists at local level could be better mobilised and investments in regional development could be more efficient by strengthening and facilitating citizens participation and community-led local development (CLLD) and similar bottom-up tools; takes the view that CLLD shall be mandatory for Member States to integrate in their programmes;
Amendment 210 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for the creation of local cohesion boards in the managing authorities and monitoring committees, which should have decision-making powers, including on co-programming and co-reprogramming with local authorities; reiterates that these boards should include representatives of urban and rural administrations, including mayors; highlights that quality of governance structures can determine the optimal mix of investment priorities in order to achieve the necessary multi-level vertical and horizontal coordination to design and deliver integrated development strategies;
Amendment 219 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Underlines the particular importance of youth mainstreaming in cohesion policy;
Amendment 220 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12 b. Recalls the importance of a stronger gender mainstreaming in cohesion policy and highlights the specific role of women, in particular in remote areas, as they play a major role in civil society and sustainable economic growth and at the same time face difficulties in accessing the labour market, as well as equal pay, public services such as health and childcare; emphasizes the role of young women in particular in rural areas and the tendency of their precarious role in rural societies;
Amendment 223 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls for paths for the decentralisationstrengthening of cohesion policy management to be explored in order to bring management closer to the local level; stresses that preparatory work should ensure that adequate capacity and institutional backing is available in order to ensure effectiveness, reduce the number of irregularities and frauds, as well as no additional administrative burden for contractors and for final beneficiaries;
Amendment 227 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Encourages multi-city projects and collaboration agreements in order to harness pooled capacities and economies of scale in EU investments in infrastructure, climate change and the green and digital transition; believes that this process should lead to a greater sense of ownership of projects and the consolidation of sustainable investments, instead of fragmentation and lack of synergies;
Amendment 229 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Stresses the importance of more sustainable mobility solutions throughout the EU territories, including the TEN-T policy; calls on the Commission to promote smart and green mobility; is of the position that smart and sustainable mobility solutions should be prioritized for EU funding;
Amendment 230 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14 b. Calls on the Commission to exclude the national co-financing of the investments funded by the ERDF, JTF, ESF+, INTERREG that do not deviate from the respect of the Paris Agreement’s objectives from the assessment of the Member States’ fiscal position in the context of the Stability and Growth Pact;
Amendment 231 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14 c. Calls for the discontinuation of the macro-economic conditionality in the new funding period since the link between the EU economic governance framework and cohesion policy must not be based on a punitive approach holding ESI Funds hostage to national decisions;
Amendment 233 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls for the further involvement of the EIB Group in cohesion policy investments, especially in less developed regions through the provision of support to sustainable cities, sustainable energy, circular economy, green jobs and local innovation projects; calls for the expansion of the local project assistance and financial instruments that complement and leverage EU grants;
Amendment 235 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Calls for more greener spending in post-2027 cohesion policy which is geared towards sustainable investment and for more items of harmful spending to be excluded from support from the outset compared to previous periods, such as landfills, waste incinerators, airports, etc.; calls on the Commission to promote further biodiversity and climate-related spending, a wider exclusion list to strengthen the “do no harm” principle and fully phase out fossil fuels, the gender dimension in cohesion policy and EU- wide citizen participation;
Amendment 236 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Reiterates the need to urgently strengthen EU policy regarding mitigation and adaptation to climate change, also in the light of the growing trends of extreme weather events occurred in these last years and months in the EU; highlights, in this context, the need to step up ambition and quantity of the present and future pilot projects within the objective “Greener Europe” and its first priority “Healthier environment”, taking into account that the signatories of the Territorial Agenda have already set out, inter alia, the development of new crisis management tools to increase places' safety and resilience, the respect the natural limits of Europe's common livelihoods and the increase in the resilience of all places impacted by climate change, and the need for strengthening awareness and empowering local and regional communities to protect, rehabilitate, utilise and reutilise their (built) environments;
Amendment 237 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15 c. Highlights the relevance of the territorial tools in terms of increased and inclusive participation from civil society and local governments; calls on the Commission to explore new ways to raise further awareness on their rationale and to substantially increase the use of ITI and CLLDs, also by potentially earmarking a mandatory percentage to be used in the post-27 cohesion policy framework;
Amendment 238 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15 d. Supports the creation of new macro-regional strategies that can strengthen partnerships and help to address common challenges, in order to promote sustainable economic development, social cohesion and environmental protection;
Amendment 241 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Insists on a critical review of Commission’s ad hoc initiatives and the thorough screening of new initiatives; demands that this process is managed jointly and in partnership, with guaranteed representation of the local level, both of cities and rural areas; calls for limiting the number of Commission ad hoc initi, and civil society organisativeons, some of which prove to be of less use to the local level and mightin order not to undermine the effectiveness of overall cohesion appropriations planned in advance by scattering them; insists that every new Commission initiative must be accompanied by a corresponding budgetary top-up;
Amendment 244 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to ensure and strengthen further, in the new funding period, environmental protection requirements, resource efficiency, better water and waste management, energy efficiency first principle, climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity, disaster resilience, and risk prevention and management in the preparation and implementation of Partnership Agreements and programmes;
Amendment 245 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16 b. Highlights the importance of upholding the Partnership Principle in all programming, implementation and monitoring of EU cohesion policy and to set up a strong cooperation between regional and local authorities, NGOs and stakeholders, including environmental NGOs; stresses that this process should take into account the gender perspective as well;
Amendment 246 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16 c. Calls for a mandatory participation of Member States in the work of the European Public Prosecutor Office in order to enhance the fight against corruption and misuse of EU funds;
Amendment 247 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 d (new)
Paragraph 16 d (new)
16 d. Calls on the Commission and Member States to make further efforts of utilizing the cohesion policy in order to support actions promoting effective interventions that contribute to the realisation of children’s rights;
Amendment 248 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 e (new)
Paragraph 16 e (new)
16 e. Calls for further strengthening the communication and visibility of the programmes and EU funded projects across the Member States, through defining its objectives, target audiences, communication channels, social media outreach, planned budget and relevant indicators for monitoring and evaluation;
Amendment 249 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 f (new)
Paragraph 16 f (new)
16 f. Calls on the Council to unblock and start its work on the European Cross- border Mechanism file;
Amendment 251 #
2023/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for the creation of a dedicated mechanism for the early detection of red tape and actions in breach of or not effectively applying the multi-level governance principle; calls for the inclusion of the pPartnership pPrinciple in the European Semester; is convinced that the Commission and the ECA should have the right to follow-up, perform checks and make corrective recommendations;
Amendment 1 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas SDG 7 stipulates the aim to achieve sustainable access to affordable and clean energy by 203012; energy is at the heart of all SDGs, but The Sustainable Development Goals Report 202312 concludes that the world is still not on track to achieve universal energy access; whereas energy is an enabling factor in development, particularly the development of agriculture, business, communication, education, healthcare and transportation, and in the functioning of the state; whereas SDG 7 stipulates the aim to achieve sustainable access to affordable and clean energy by 2030, notably by calling for greater international cooperation to facilitate access to clean and renewable energy research, infrastructure and technology and to promote investment to these ends; whereas it is essential to strengthen diplomatic efforts to foster greater political ambition in order to effectively address and end energy poverty; __________________ 12 UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, ‘The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023: Special Edition – July 2023’, New York, USA, 2023.
Amendment 2 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, according to the UN, as of mid-2023, approximately 733 million people worldwide, 80 % of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa, still do not have access to affordable, reliable, clean, high-quality energy13; Ba. whereas access to energy varies greatly across developing countries; whereas 52 % of the population of sub- Saharan Africa lives without access to electricity and it is the only region in the world where the proportion of people without electricity is increasing; whereas this figure conceals deep disparities, with only 30.4 % of the region’s rural population, compared to 80.7 % of its urban population, having regular access to energy; whereas education is recognised as one of the most essential components of poverty reduction; whereas access to electricity also supports quality education, but only 47 % of schools in sub-Saharan Africa have electricity; Bb. whereas the lack of access to electricity in urban or peri-urban environments affects the populations of large irregular settlements, as well as forcibly displaced people and refugees; whereas even when there is access to electricity, the quality of services is often poor; whereas access to affordable, reliable, clean, high-quality energy is even more difficult in countries affected by conflicts and natural disasters; whereas even in regions that have better access to energy, such as Asia and the Pacific or Latin America and the Caribbean, there are great inequalities between countries and among populations; whereas current projections suggest that in 2030, about 660 million people worldwide will not have access to electricity and around one billion will lack access to clean cooking unless appropriate action is taken; Bc. whereas access to energy is essential for humanitarian and development organisations to deliver efficient humanitarian aid, particularly medical and emergency care; Bd. whereas the energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to take a heavy toll, with high energy prices hitting the most vulnerable the hardest, in particular in developing economies; __________________ 13 The International Renewable Energy Agency, ‘Basic Energy Access Lags Amid Renewable Opportunities New Report Shows’, 6 June 2023.
Amendment 3 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas energy poverty, defined as the lack of sustainable, clean and safe energy sources, is, among other things, a gender issue, with women and girls spending, on average, up to 18 hours a dayweek collecting cooking fuels14; Ca. whereas women are greatly under- represented in the energy sector workforce worldwide, particularly in management roles; whereas engaging women as active agents in renewable energy solutions, in line with the EU’s Gender Action Plan III, will improve sustainability and increase positive gender outcomes; Cb. whereas better access to affordable and clean energy will unlock sustainable economic growth, attract businesses and entrepreneurship and improve human health, well-being and security; __________________ 14 UN Development Programme, ‘Energy and Gender Equality’.
Amendment 4 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas traditional cooking fuels (solid biomass, kerosene and coal) are the main contributors to carbon emissions, deforestation and climate change and represent a threat to people’s health; whereas EU funding for clean cooking fuels is marginal2.4 billion people worldwide rely on these fuels, resulting in around 3.7 million premature deaths a year, with women and children being the most affected; whereas in 2019, Africa alone recorded 700 000 deaths from household air pollution; whereas EU funding for clean cooking fuels is marginal; whereas even when clean cooking strategies exist, implementation is weak and little finance is available, so even modest gains are hard to obtain, and the adoption and sustained use of improved cookstoves remains low; whereas less than 10 % of people who lack access to clean cooking live in countries that have effective policies and sufficient funding to achieve universal access by 2030; Da. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy price increase have slowed progress on expanding access to clean cooking; whereas in developing countries that rely heavily on biomass for cooking, the EU should support alternatives to the consumption of wood and promote solutions such as solar cookers; Db. whereas the lack of access to clean cooking increases the time women and girls spend cooking; whereas this reinforces the unequal distribution of domestic work between men and women; whereas it is estimated that access to clean cooking would give women and girls an average of 1.5 more hours per day, which they could dedicate to leisure and/or education;
Amendment 5 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas developing countries have an abundance of renewable energy sources, but often lack an enabling policy and regulatory framework for sustainable energy development and useand the necessary industrial and technological conditions for sustainable energy development and use; whereas they also face multiple challenges, such as climate change, over- indebtedness and rapid demographic growth, which all affect energy demand and consumption; whereas countries such as Namibia and Angola are involved in ambitious renewable energy projects; whereas some developing countries have made notable progress in the field of energy access, such as Senegal, Rwanda and Kenya; whereas the different contexts in each country need to be taken into account in order to achieve breakthroughs on energy access, with appropriate levels of political will and EU support;
Amendment 6 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the EU has a long tradition of energy cooperation in Africa; whereas the EU together with its Member States provided the vast majority of Official Development Assistance financing for SDG 7 projects in Africa, amounting to EUR 13.8 billion between 2014 and 2020; whereas an estimated 53 % of the disbursements were in the form of loansthis is still not enough and more effort needs to be made; whereas an estimated 53 % of the disbursements were in the form of loans, but this additional debt reduces these countries’ ability to invest in the SDGs, including SDG 7; whereas in 2023, 21 low-income countries in Africa are in, or are at risk of, debt distress; Fa. whereas financial flows for energy remain concentrated in a small group of countries, often leaving least developed countries behind; whereas in terms of geographical targeting, only three of the top ten beneficiaries are least developed countries, which shows that resources for expanding energy access and fighting energy poverty have not been allocated by order of priority;
Amendment 7 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation – a (new)
Citation – a (new)
– having regard to the African leaders Nairobi Declaration on climate change 2023,
Amendment 7 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the energy transition is severely and persistently underfunded in developing regions, in particular in the least developed countries; whereas the Natural Resource Governance Institute defines the resource curse as the failure of many resource-rich countries to benefit fully from their natural resource wealth, and for governments in these countries to respond effectively to public welfare needs1a; whereas excessive reliance on exports of fossil fuels entails a risk of low economic diversification; Ga. whereas the EU should increase the financing of renewable energies in developing countries, particularly in the new geopolitical context created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while addressing corruption and weak institutions, which exacerbate the problems of underfunding, particularly in least developed countries; Gb. whereas the energy autonomy of Small Island Developing States, building on their high renewable energy potential, should remain a clear objective; __________________ 1a Natural Resource Governance Institute, ‘The Resource Curse – The Political and Economic Challenges of Natural Resource Wealth’, NRGI Reader, March 2015.
Amendment 8 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation – b (new)
Citation – b (new)
– having regard to the African People’s Climate and Development Declaration 2023,
Amendment 8 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas most EU-funded projects aim to promote electricity generation, yet the distribution segment is the weakest, despite being essential in achieving SDG 7; whereas many developing countries continue to rely on coal as the primary energy source for electricity generation; Ha. whereas the countries most affected by the negative consequences of climate change bear the least responsibility for emissions; whereas Africa is home to almost 18 % of the world’s population but accounts for less than 6 % of global energy use; whereas Africa is responsible for only 3 % of the world’s energy-related CO2 emissions; whereas the countries that make up the G20 account for 80 % of global emissions;
Amendment 9 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the Africa-EU Energy Partnership was renewed in February 2022 with explicit objectives to promote renewable energy generation;to reflect the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the EU’s priorities on climate change, energy security, REPowerEU and the Global Gateway, which have as their objective the promotion of renewable energy generation and distribution, including for export to Europe; whereas an investment package of approximately EUR 150 billion was announced to support the continents’ common ambitions, as set out in the 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, with the aim, among others, of ensuring an energy transition that is cost-effective, modern, efficient, reliable, fair, just and equitable; Ia. whereas what is labelled ‘low-carbon hydrogen’ may also include hydrogen produced using nuclear power and natural gas, meaning it is not necessarily emission-free; whereas green hydrogen from renewable sources is the only type of hydrogen that can truly contribute to climate neutrality in the long term; whereas REPowerEU sets a target of importing 10 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030; whereas to this end, the Commission signed memorandums of understanding for strategic renewable hydrogen partnerships with Namibia and Egypt in November 2022, among other initiatives; Ib. whereas according to the International Energy Agency’s Global Hydrogen Review 20231a, 99 % of the hydrogen produced worldwide is made from fossil fuels; __________________ 1a International Energy Agency, ‘Global Hydrogen Review 2023’, 2023, and International Energy Agency, ‘Hydrogen’, 2023.
Amendment 10 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas green hydrogen has the potential to accelerate the path to the decarbonisation, provided that it is part of a broader strategy to reduce the overall consumption of energy of industrial production in partner countries, provided that it does not slow down the local energy transition and is part of a broader strategy to reduce the overall consumption of energy in developed countries in order to respect planetary boundaries; whereas at the same time, however, due account must be taken of the fact that the necessary infrastructure for green hydrogen is capital- and technology-intensive, that the long-distance transport and storage of hydrogen is energy-intensive and expensive, and that the large-scale production of green hydrogen requires vast amounts of land and water; Ja. whereas the 2030 and 2050 climate objectives will not be achieved without the decarbonisation of key hard-to-abate sectors; whereas importing green hydrogen from non-EU countries is an important part of new EU strategic partnerships; whereas according to the International Energy Agency’s Global Hydrogen Review 2023, cost challenges are threatening the long-term profitability of the deployment of hydrogen production; whereas the deployment of hydrogen production could entail the risk of extending fossil fuel use and extractivist practices, including the possible large-scale appropriation of land, water and energy in developing producer countries; Jb. whereas critical raw materials play a pivotal role in ensuring the accessibility and affordability of clean energy technologies for all, whereas the EU is in the process of establishing a coherent framework to ensure their continuous, secure and responsible supply, while upholding human rights and supporting local development;
Amendment 11 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas decentralised mini-grid and off-grid renewable energy offers good solutions for remote communities, particularly in terms of job creation, education and health, but need to be accompanied by public support to create a viable and responsible business model;
Amendment 12 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the expansion of renewables based on solar and wind power, the production of renewable hydrogen and the construction of hydroelectric dams also raises challenges as they require large areas of land, thus possibly interfering with existing land use and local needs, in particular regarding access to water, and may cause the displacement of local and indigenous communities, as well as harming ecosystems and natural habitats; whereas land and sea areas that could be used for renewable energy generation need to be identified while taking into account respect for biodiversity, the local economy and the consent of indigenous populations; La. whereas the transition to renewables is projected to create more employment in the renewables sector; whereas new renewable technologies have the potential to generate economic opportunities, which in turn have the ability to support the achievement of the right to livelihood and decent work; whereas Africa has a promising future in renewable energy systems, having 60 % of the world’s best solar resources yet only 1 % of installed solar capacity; whereas Latin America is one of the world’s leading regions for renewable energy use and generation; Lb. whereas according to the International Energy Agency, global hydropower capacity is set to increase by 17 % between 2021 and 2030; whereas most untapped hydropower potential lies in developing economies across Africa, Asia and Latin America; whereas, however, large-scale hydropower projects are associated with negative social and environmental impacts ranging from the displacement of vulnerable human populations to the destruction of unique biodiversity; whereas hydropower raises new challenges in the context of climate change, which will dramatically increase the frequency of floods and droughts on the rivers where hydropower projects operate, increasing risks to both the projects’ safety and their capacity to generate electricity;
Amendment 13 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas the EU and partner countries share a common but differentiated responsibility to achieve a sustainable energy transition; whereas EU support for renewable energy projects must, in the first place, meet the local population’s needs before supporting export; whereas the stated desire of certain developing countries to exploit their hydrocarbon resources should also be analysed in the light of the EU’s push for a global pledge at COP28 to phase out fossil fuels; whereas the usage of natural resources for energy generation has the potential to create economic opportunities, however, by prioritising the export of renewable energy, developing countries could potentially jeopardise their domestic energy transition and increase the share of fossil fuel consumption in their own electricity mix; Ma. whereas according to the World Resources Institute, 25 % of the world’s population faces extremely high water stress each year; whereas water is central to growing crops and raising livestock, generating electricity, maintaining human health, fostering equitable societies and meeting the world’s climate goals; Mb. whereas agri-food systems consume about 30 % of the world’s energy and a third of the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions come from energy use; whereas the energy transition and the transformation of agri-food systems are intertwined;
Amendment 14 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that access to energy is a basic human rightuniversal, affordable and sustainable energy is a basic human right and a precondition for achieving the SDGs and attaining the objective of leaving no one behind; recognises, to this end, the role of public and private financing; stresses that a net- zero carbon future and the development of renewables must go hand in hand with economic diversification, green industrialisation, decarbonisation, poverty reduction and a human rights- based approach;
Amendment 15 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that ensuring a stable energy supply is not only an economic and logistical issue, but also a geopolitical one; recalls that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has had a severe impact on global energy markets, particularly in developing countries, and that coordinated action is still needed to ensure stable energy supplies and affordable prices; calls for the EU to foster access to renewable energy in developing countries through policy, regulatory and administrative support, including capacity-building and transfers of technology; encourages partnerships that move away from the exploitation of fossil resources and focus on clean energy use; stresses the need to make sure that green investments contribute to socio- economic development and greater participation by developing countries in the new net-zero energy geopolitical landscape; highlights the need to develop solutions to help deliver renewable energy deployment in developing countries, including marine and river energy, while protecting biodiversity; stresses the significant potential for the installation of offshore renewable energy generation facilities in developing countries; emphasises the need for holistic management of maritime areas, involving all relevant stakeholders and respecting the consent of local communities;
Amendment 16 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. UrStrongly encourages developing countries to commit to energy justice through their regulatory frameworks, which should ensure local acceptance and community participation, community participation, land rights protection and adherence to internationally recognised human rights standards, with the aim of securing access and affordable energy for all; underlines the necessity of linking energy partnerships to the adoption of regulatory frameworks and of providing technical assistance for their enactment;
Amendment 17 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that energy security requires a gender-specific approach; stresses that energy poverty disproportionately affects women and girls; highlights their daily involvement in collecting firewood and charcoal far from their homes; calls for the inclusion of women as active agents in the energy transition process, including in marine conservation areas; calls for the EU to step up its technical support in mainstreaming gender in the energy transition, including by prioritising gender-responsive energy projects that involve women-led energy organisations and businesses and also ensure local ownership, paying particular attention to least developed countries and middle- income countries that suffer from significant intra-country inequalities in terms of access to energy and clean cooking; stresses the importance of gathering gender-disaggregated data on access to energy to guide the EU’s external action regarding energy; points out that energy poverty also affects minorities and marginalised communities;
Amendment 18 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is worried about the health and environmental consequences of household fuelwood emissions, such as respiratory diseases, forest degradation and biodiversity lossand cardiovascular diseases and cancer, forest degradation, greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss; draws attention to the risk associated with the increasing use of unclean cooking fuels to serve the energy needs of the growing population, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa; stresses that in many places, people living in extreme poverty no longer have access to firewood and that, consequently, they heat and cook using other materials found around the home or nearby, such as tyres and other substances that are harmful to health; highlights, against this backdrop, that women and girls are disproportionately affected by household air pollution;
Amendment 19 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Urges the EU to incorporate access to clean cooking as a priority within its energy partnerships with developing countriePoints out that the pace at which access to clean cooking fuels is currently being expanded in many developing countries is not fast enough to meet the related targets under SDG 7 by 2030; acknowledges the multifaceted challenges related to the adoption of clean cooking and appropriate cookstoves that are in line with WHO standards; calls for awareness to be raised of the health risks linked to household air pollution from traditional cooking practices and of the benefits of alternatives; urges the EU to support financially, advocate for and encourage national action in partner countries; further calls for the EU to incorporate access to clean cooking as a priority within its energy partnerships and its multiannual indicative programmes with developing countries and in the programming of cooperation at local, regional and national levels; stresses the importance of consultation with civil society on the ground, particularly with women-led organisations, with a view to achieving gender equality and promoting a more equal division of domestic and care work between men and women in line with the concept of a care society; points out the opportunities presented by Global Gateway initiatives such as the Modern Cooking Facility for Africa and Strengthening the Entrepreneurial Environment for Clean Cooking initiatives; 5a. Calls, furthermore, for the EU to pay particular attention to infrastructure and utilities, including construction of and access to sewage systems, and household or community access to wells or water purification systems;
Amendment 20 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Regrets the devastating impact of the lack of access to electricity on the basic needs of populations; calls for the EU and its Member States to make electrification a priority in their cooperation and partnerships with developing countries; stresses, in particular, the need to invest in generation capacity, especially in sub- Saharan Africa, in order to achieve the objective of universal access to energy; draws attention to opportunities for access to alternative energies, such as unexploited geothermal energy resources; points out that support with the affordability of energy costs is crucial for expanding access to electricity, particularly in Africa, where 30 % of the population cannot afford an essential bundle of electricity services;
Amendment 21 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Expresses concern over the increasing energy needs among refugees and internally displaced persons living in camps; regrets the fact that in isolated areas and humanitarian settings, energy insecurity prevents local health clinics and schools from operating fully; stresses the need to increase the humanitarian aid budget line in the context of the revision of the multiannual financial framework in order to meet humanitarian needs, including by stepping up financial assistance for ensuring energy provision in camps, including through green off- grid, mini-grid and renewable energy projects, so as to guarantee that humanitarian organisations on the ground can provide basic humanitarian aid, particularly medical and urgent care;
Amendment 22 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Reiterates its commitment towards energy justice; calls for the EU to support developing countries in implementing rights-based renewable energy regimes that effectively contribute to their sustainable development; believes that the principle of free, prior and informed consent for affected communities is a pre-condition for a successful green and just energy transition; highlights the importance of promoting energy efficiency and local skills and of encouraging technology innovation, technology transfer and technical cooperation in such energy transition projects;
Amendment 23 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses the need for the EU to support developing countries, where required, in establishing or reinforcing regulatory frameworks that guarantee energy distribution and universal service across their territories, as well as good governance capacity and transparency in any energy transition projects; calls for the EU to enhance technical assistance to reform electricity systems; calls, furthermore, on the Commission to report on progress achieved in improving energy access and energy sector regulation through dedicated EU projects and investments in partner developing countries;
Amendment 24 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – introductory part
Paragraph 9 – introductory part
9. Highlights the potential risks of land-use and water-use conflicts – forced resettlement and expropriation for large- scale renewable energy installations; urges the EU, through its partnerships, to support governments of developing countries to: a) conduct independent and unbiased mapping of traditional land and water use, including for temporal grazing, indigenous cultural heritage and high-value biodiversity systems, prior to the development of renewable energy projects; , with a view to encouraging sustainable land-use planning and assessing the environmental and social impact; b) seek free, prior and informed consent from the local communities, while guaranteeing their right to say no, and their rights to justice, redress and compensation or remuneration; c) define environmental and social criteria and ensure compliance through mechanisms for oversight and grievanceresponsible business practices in line with international regulatory frameworks and ensure their compliance through mechanisms for oversight and grievance; ca) ensure the protection of climate activists; cb) facilitate the sharing of knowledge and best practices between developing countries and regions that have successfully managed land-use conflicts related to energy projects;
Amendment 25 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes, with concern, that that for some large- scale green energy projects (such as wind and solar power) ar, like those being set up in dryland areas, for example, without adequate consultation with the customary land users (such as pastoralists) is essential; recalls that traditional communal rights have a rather weak legal status, thereby increasing the risk of land grabbing and are often not implemented, which can potentially increase the risk of land grabbing; calls, against this backdrop, for the EU and its partner countries to recognise and protect indigenous people’s rights to customary ownership and control of their lands and natural resources, as set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and International Labour Organization Convention 169, and to comply with the principle of free, prior and informed consent;
Amendment 26 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Is worried aboutAcknowledges the impact that water-intensive energy conversion practices, such as hydropower plants, and hydrogen production, can have on agricultural communities; highlights the adverse effects of hydropower dams on rivers and biodiversity, particularly in estuaries, as outlined in the report of the World Commission on Dams of 16 November 2000, among others; stresses, however, the potential to develop osmotic power, particularly in estuaries and deltas, to provide solutions for the generation of renewable energy;
Amendment 27 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas access to energy largely varies across developing countries; whereas in sub-Saharan Africa 52 % of the population lives without access to electricity and it is the only region where the proportion of people without electricity is increasing;
Amendment 27 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Recalls that large hydropower projects in developing countries often face a range of challenges, including prohibitive upfront costs, major cost overruns and delays, difficulties in attracting finance, social and environmental footprints, vulnerability to climate change and some poor track records when it comes to delivering the promised power; stresses the importance of promoting sustainable hydropower projects by conducting comprehensive environmental and social impact assessments and ensuring meaningful community participation; is of the opinion that, where possible, priority should be given to other small-scale and different types of renewable energy projects;
Amendment 28 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses that according to the recommendations of the report of the World Commission on Dams of 16 November 2000, any planning of dams should be evaluated according to five values: equity, efficiency, participatory decision-making, sustainability and accountability; highlights, more broadly, that the decision-making process with regard to dams should fully take into account the notion of human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and the related covenants adopted thereafter, so as to resolve complex issues surrounding water, dams and development; underlines that the EU should work within the remit of its partnerships with developing countries to ensure that the communities affected by dam projects are adequately compensated and provided with appropriate livelihood restoration measures;
Amendment 29 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes, with concern, that Africa hosts an increasing number of fossil fuel projects, which risks preventing it from making a timely leap to renewable energy; further notes that although Africa is home to 18 % of the world’s population, it only accounts for 6 % of global energy consumption; recalls that a major portion of current oil, gas and coal production in Africa is destined for export, while the continent continues to be plagued by energy poverty; insists that it is necessary to prioritise investment in sustainable renewable energy infrastructure in Africa, particularly in rural and marginalised communities, through the establishment of decentralised energy systems and microgrid networks; 14a. Calls for the EU to encourage the development of energy systems that do not involve or rely on the expansion of existing or new fossil fuel projects, in line with the recommendations of the International Energy Agency; stresses the importance of win-win partnerships that also benefit exporting countries and their populations in terms of renewable energy;
Amendment 30 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Recalls that renewables-based alternatives can increasingly provide a cheaper, more accessible, inclusive and reliable source of energy; stresses the role of renewable energy in increasing the adaptation and efficiency of agri-food systems; calls for the EU and its Member States to make the use of renewables in agri-food systems a priority in their partnership agreements with non-EU countries; recommends carrying out a joint energy transition planning exercise within the framework of the partnership between the EU and the African Union, drawing on the African, Caribbean and Pacific-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and African civil societies, while respecting the sovereignty of African nations; recommends drawing up guidelines on the fair sharing of investments, revenues, technologies and skills; calls for the EU and its Member States to include education and training programmes for the local population in their energy partnerships with non-EU countries in order to support the energy transition on the ground and create employment opportunities for local communities; likewise calls for the EU to step up scientific cooperation with developing countries on access to research and renewable energy technologies; believes that the generation matrix of renewable energies should be changed in order to move away from a purely extractivist perspective;
Amendment 31 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. WStresses the crucial role of green hydrogen as a tool to decarbonise the energy system, achieve net-zero emissions worldwide by 2050 and attain the Paris Agreement goals, but recalls the importance of life cycle assessments that take into account the production and transport modes used; warns against the potential risk of a new ‘green hydrogen curse’ that would foster developing countries’ reliance on exports and could crowd out investments in the development of local energy markets; is concerned about the lack of required infrastructurestates that the green hydrogen industry can play a crucial role in the development of resource-rich developing countries if certain factors are present, such as good governance, the implementation and monitoring of a sound legal framework, corruption prevention, functioning rule of law, and transparency with regard to financial flows; highlights the need to address global infrastructure related to the production, storage, transport, distribution and consumption of green hydrogen, the long-distance transport costs and climate impact, the limited investments and financial capacities and the risks linked to weak institutions and corruption; calls for the EU to support the development of a green hydrogen value chain only when it can guarantee that it equally benefits exporting countries and their populations in some developing countries; calls for the EU to support, notably through the Global Gateway initiative, win-win partnerships that benefit both importing and exporting countries and their populations; calls, to this end, for the EU to support the development of a green hydrogen value chain when it brings equal social and economic benefits to exporting countries, notably in terms of the training and re-skilling of the local population, job creation, the decarbonisation of hard-to- abate industrial activities and access to cleaner mobility and energy; calls for the EU to support economic diversification and domestic access to electricity and water, with full respect for ecosystems and with a view to reducing excessive reliance on exports of fossil fuels; emphasises that enhanced collaboration between EU and partner country businesses and SMEs, combining the expertise of different like- minded partners, can create a pathway to sound entrepreneurship in the green hydrogen sector;
Amendment 32 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas, as a result of the rural- urban divide, energy insecurity rates also vary within countries; whereas in SSA only 30.4 % of the rural population, compared to 80.7 % of the urban population, have regular access to energy;
Amendment 32 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Acknowledges that the expansion of green hydrogen alsocan hasve negative social and environmental impacts in the Global South, in particular as it relies on mining and the use of raw materials and rare earths, which require large quantities of fresh water and engender water pollution; stresses the need toimportance of developing a global resource governance system that prioritises sustainability, efficiency and circularity, with a view to reducing global demand for virgin materials, while also recognising the challenges in achieving this; emphasises the need for a systemic approach to assessing the local opportunities and consequences of green hydrogen production for European needs in developing countries; stresses that the EU should ensure the sustainability of the extracted, processed and recycled critical raw materials that are fundamental for hydrogen and the other net-zero technologies;
Amendment 33 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas most people without access to electricity live in rural areas; while in urban or peri-urban environments, it concerns populations of large irregular settlements as well as forcibly displaced people or refugees; whereas even when there is access, the quality of services is often poor;
Amendment 33 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes the proliferation of desalination plants to deal with water scarcity; acknowledges that desalination plants can benefit local communities and the domestic economy, but points out that seawater desalination can have major environmental impacts, in particular on marine biodiversity; calls for the promotion of a sustainable approach to water desalination and of solutions that have no impact on coastal areas, such as deep sea desalination; highlights that reducing water use and recycling or reusing treated wastewater is often less expensive than desalination;
Amendment 34 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses that EU financing for renewable energy should be in line with the principles of equity, sustainability and climate justice, which could comprise, among other things, debt assistance, debt relief and cancellation, debt restructuring and the Loss and Damage Fund; 23a. Stresses that investments in renewable hydrogen produced by non-EU countries should be based on international due diligence principles, including but not limited to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct;
Amendment 35 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls for the EU and its Member States to increase the amount of oOfficial dDevelopment aAssistance it devotesd to the energy sector, especially under Heading 6 of the next multiannual financial framework, and particularly in Africa, while prioritising grants over loans and reorienting financing towards countries with lower rates of access to electricity towith the aim of supporting their clean and renewable energy transitions and to develop programmes for facilitating the transfer of knowledge and green technologiesin line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; encourages the development of public and private partnerships as well as programmes for facilitating the transfer of knowledge and green technologies; highlights that many African countries’ electricity sectors have specific characteristics (such as sharp growth in demand, small grids, fragile national utilities and customers’ limited ability to pay) that have to be taken into account; 24a. Stresses that access to financing for a just energy transition must be simplified and accelerated for developing countries; highlights that the EU can offer innovative solutions to speed up the green transition and increase the global share of renewables; calls, to this end, for the EU and its Member States to consider debt- for-climate swaps so that debtor developing countries can use the owed money to finance climate change adaptation and mitigation projects; calls, more broadly, for a long-term debt-for- climate swap mechanism to be made operational within the framework of the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative and for IMF Special Drawing Rights to be rechannelled;
Amendment 36 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Calls for the EU and its Member States to increase the funding devoted to helping developing countries to adapt to climate change, making energy systems more resilient against climate risks; underlines the relevance of green energy in agroforestry and climate change adaptation projects, such as the Great Green Wall; urges the Commission to increase the number of programmes under the Global Gateway initiative that prioritise basic access to electricity and clean cooking, particularly in the countries most in need; stresses the importance of the private sector in scaling up funding for basic access to energy and clean cooking while guaranteeing public access and strengthening national public energy suppliers; calls, to this end, on the Commission to use the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus as an instrument to support private-sector investments in developing countries in order to strengthen the energy infrastructure and provide better access to energy and clean cooking for domestic use;
Amendment 37 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – introductory part
Paragraph 26 – introductory part
26. Calls for the EU and European development finance institutions to: a) direct investments into the distribution segment, in particular rural electrification, and to prioritise decentralised, small-scale and off-grid renewable energy systems; b) ensure that when such solutions are more appropriate than grid extension for enabling rural populations to access electricity; aa) coordinate investments among different institutions to maximise the impact and avoid the duplication of efforts; b) ensure that independent and unbiased human rights impact assessments are carried out and that all required governance, social and environmental safeguards and remedies are duly implemented and monitored, including the human rights and land tenure guidelines; ba) ensure that local communities are included and properly informed throughout the entire project planning and delivery phases; c) implement and strictly apply the rights- based approach, providing effective complaint and redress mechanisms, notablyin compliance with international standards of responsible business practices, and requiring impact studies for projects, particularly with regard to climate change, inequalities and the displacement of local populations, including in projects under the Global Gateway initiative; d) ensure that any dam projects with approved financing respect the World Commission on Dams’ guidelines; da) support local and regional electricity interconnection projects; db) offer technical support and capacity- building initiatives to empower developing countries to implement clean energy projects effectively;
Amendment 46 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas traditional cooking fuels (solid biomass, kerosene and coal) are the main contributors to carbon emissions and represent a threat to people’s health; whereas 2.4 billion people worldwide rely on these fuels; whereas in 2019 alone Africa recorded 700,000 deaths from household air pollution; whereas EU funding for clean cooking fuels is marginal;
Amendment 52 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas developing countries have an abundance of renewable energy sources, but often lack an enabling policy and regulatory framework for sustainable energy development and use, while they also face multiple challenges such as climate change, over-indebtedness and a rapid demographic growth, which all affect energy demand and consumption;
Amendment 58 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the EU has a long tradition of energy cooperation in Africa; whereas the EU together with its Member States provided the vast majority of Official Development Assistance financing for SDG 7 projects in Africa amounting to EUR 13.8 billion between 2014 and 2020; whereas an estimated 53 % of the disbursements were in the form of loans; whereas in 2023, 21 low-income countries in Africa are in, or at risk of, debt distress;
Amendment 69 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Amendment 73 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the Africa-EU Energy Partnership was renewed in February 2022 with explicitto reflect upon the African Union’s Agenda 2063 as well as the EU’s priorities on climate change, energy security, REPowerEU and the Global Gateway, with the objectives to promote renewable energy generation, including for export to Europe;
Amendment 76 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Amendment 78 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
Ib. whereas according to the International Energy Agency, 99 per cent of globally produced hydrogen is made from fossil fuels;
Amendment 80 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas green hydrogen has the potential to accelerate the path to decarbonisation, provided that it does not slow down local energy transition and it is part of a broader strategy to reduce the overall consumption of energy in developed countries to respect planetary boundaries; at the same time, however, the necessary infrastructure is highly intensive on capital and technology, the long distance transport and storage of hydrogen is energy intensive, expensive and inefficient, while the production of green hydrogen on a large scale requires vast amounts of land and water;
Amendment 84 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas according to the Global Hydrogen Review 2023 of the International Energy Agency (IEA), costs challenges are threatening the long-term profitability of the deployment of hydrogen production; whereas the deployment of hydrogen production risks extending fossil fuel use and extractivist practices, including the large-scale appropriation of land, water, and energy in developing producing countries; which can lead to the displacement of communities and human rights violations notably of indigenous people;
Amendment 87 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas decentralised mini-grid and off-grid renewable energy offer good solutions for remote communities, notably in terms of job creation, education and health, but need to be accompanied by public support to create a viable business model;
Amendment 95 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas by prioritising the export of renewable energy, developing countries could potentially jeopardise their domestic energy transition and boost fossil fuel consumption in their own electricity mix;
Amendment 98 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
Ma. whereas according to the World Resources Institute, 25% of the world’s population face extremely high water stress each year;
Amendment 99 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M b (new)
Recital M b (new)
Mb. whereas water is central to growing crops and raising livestock, producing electricity, maintaining human health, fostering equitable societies and meeting the world’s climate goals;
Amendment 100 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M c (new)
Recital M c (new)
Mc. whereas according to the International Energy Agency, global hydropower capacity is set to increase by 17% between 2021 and 2030; whereas most untapped hydropower potential lies in developing economies across Africa, Asia and Latin America; but whereas large-scale hydropower projects are associated with negative social and environmental impact, from the displacement of vulnerable human populations to the destruction of unique biodiversity;
Amendment 101 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M d (new)
Recital M d (new)
Md. whereas hydropower raises new challenges in the context of climate change, which will dramatically increase the frequency of floods and droughts on the rivers where hydropower projects operate, increasing risks both to their safety and capacity to generate electricity;
Amendment 122 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is worried about the health and environmental consequences of household fuelwood emissions, such as respiratory diseases, forest degradation and biodiversity loss; draws attention to the risk of a return to emission fuels to serve energy needs of the growing population especially in SSA;
Amendment 131 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Expresses concern over the increasing energy needs among refugees and internally displaced persons living in camps; regrets that in isolated areas and humanitarian settings energy insecurity prevents local health clinics and schools to fully operate;
Amendment 141 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the EU to enhance technical assistance to reform the electricity systems and establish regulatory frameworks that guarantee energy distribution and universal service across territories; furthermore calls on the Commission to report on progress achieved in improving energy access and the regulation of the energy sector;
Amendment 144 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – introductory part
Paragraph 9 – introductory part
9. Highlights the risks of land-use and water-use conflicts – forced resettlement and expropriation for large-scale renewable energy installations; urges the EU to support governments of developing countries to:
Amendment 147 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point a
Paragraph 9 – point a
a) conduct independent and unbiased mapping of traditional land and water use, including for temporal grazing, indigenous cultural heritage and high-value biodiversity systems, prior to the development of renewable energy projects;
Amendment 156 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes, with concern, that large- scale green energy projects (such as wind and solar power) are being set up in dryland areas, for example, without adequate consultation with the customary land users (such as pastoralists); recalls that traditional communal rights have a weak legal status and are often not implemented, thereby increasing the risk of land grabbing; against this background, urges the EU and its partner countries to recognise and protect indigenous people’s rights to customary ownership and control of their lands and natural resources as set out in the UNDRIP and ILO Convention 169 and to comply with the principle of Free, Prior and Informed consent;
Amendment 159 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Recalls that large hydropower projects face a range of challenges, including often prohibitive upfront costs, major cost overruns and delays, difficulties in attracting finance, enormous social and environmental footprints, vulnerability to climate change, and poor track records of delivering promised power;
Amendment 166 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses that any planning of dams should be evaluated according to five values: equity, efficiency, participatory decision-making, sustainability and accountability, in line with the recommendations of the report of the World Commission on Dams of 16 November 2000; more broadly, urges that the decision-making process on dams takes fully into account the notion of human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and the related covenants adopted thereafter, so as to resolve complex issues surrounding water, dams and development;
Amendment 174 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls on the EU to ensure that the energy systems to be developed do not involve or rely on the expansion of existing or new fossil fuel projects, in line with the recommendations of the International Energy Agency (IEA);
Amendment 182 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Recalls that the Glasgow Statement on International Public Support for the Clean Energy Transition of 2021 commits signatories to end new direct public support for the fossil fuel energy sector; calls on the EU and its Member States to lead by example and to stop financing fossil fuel projects;
Amendment 185 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Recalls that renewable-based alternatives can increasingly provide a cheaper, more accessible, inclusive and reliable source of energy than fossil fuels;
Amendment 198 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Acknowledges that the expansion of green hydrogen also has negative social and environmental impacts in the Global South, in particular as it relies on mining and the use of raw materials and rare earths, which require large quantities of fresh water and engender water pollution; stresses the need to develop a global resource governance system that prioritises sustainability, efficiency and circularity, with a view to reducing global demand for virgin materials;
Amendment 202 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Stresses the need to regulate water as a resource for green hydrogen production in a sustainable way, notably in arid regions, so that it does not jeopardise local populations’ access to water or result in rising water costs;
Amendment 206 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Highlights the potential risks of water grabbing and water pollution associated to foreign direct investments in large-scale land acquisitions for renewable energy; calls on the EU and its Member States to enact water-related mandatory due diligence and reporting standards for corporations;
Amendment 208 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Insists that green hydrogen strategies must follow strong social and sustainability standards; calls for the EU to establish appropriate monitoring frameworks in its partnership agreements that allow for assessing their broader impact on SDG performance, notably through the definition of environmental, social and governance indicators and measurable targets; calls for mandatory environmental impact studies to be conducted, including for desalination, and for biodiversity hotspots to be excluded as sites for green hydrogen facilities; believes that green hydrogen production should demonstrate reliance on materials sourced under environmental and human rights standards for extractive activities (for instance, from countries that are signatories to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative);
Amendment 213 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses that EU financing for renewable energy should be in line with the principles of equity and climate justice, which should comprise, inter alia, financial support, debt assistance, debt relief and cancellation, as well as the fund for Loss and Damage;
Amendment 216 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Highlights that many African countries’ electricity sectors present particularities (sharp growth in demand, small grids, fragile national utilities and customers’ limited ability to pay) which call into question the development model that prioritizes the private sector for production;
Amendment 234 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Amendment 235 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26b. Welcomes the 2023 COP28 Presidency programme priorities to fast track the energy transition to phase out GHG emissions by 2030 and to globally promote a people-centred approach to climate finance and energy infrastructural projects;
Amendment 236 #
2023/2073(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 c (new)
Paragraph 26 c (new)
26c. Calls on the EU to play a key role in negotiations on mitigation measures for developing countries in order to combat the harmful effects of the use of polluting fuels, while promoting sustainable and clean energy development;
Amendment 4 #
2023/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
– having regard to the 2020 report by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) on criteria and indicators to incorporate sustainability aspects for seafood products (STECF-20-05),
Amendment 6 #
2023/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
– having regard to the 2021 Special Eurobarometer Report 515 titled 'EU Consumer Habits Regarding Fishery and Aquaculture Products',
Amendment 14 #
2023/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas more than three-quarter of respondents to the 2021 Special Eurobarometer 515 consider that the date of catch or production should be mentioned on the label for all fishery and aquaculture products;
Amendment 26 #
2023/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is of the opinion that POs have a key role in helping to achieve the objectives of the CFP, which is why they need to be further supported; notes that more must be done to promote the set-up, consolidation and financing of POs across the EU, particularly in Member States where primary production has largely remained fragmented (aquaculture, small- scale fisheries); considers that strong PO presence is crucial for enhancing the prosperity of coastal communities and, for the protection of the marine environment, and for strengthening the position of fishers in the supply chain;
Amendment 36 #
2023/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Urges Member States to provide the appropriate administrative and financial support to set up and operate small-scale coastal fisheries POs, and provide specific criteria for their recognition;
Amendment 45 #
2023/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on Member States to verify the democratic functioning and governance structure of POs as well as checking the rules on admission of new members or withdrawal of membership, as required by the CMO regulation;
Amendment 50 #
2023/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Urges Member States to improve consistency in the support for POs by national authorities and reduce to the greatest extent possible existing gaps and differences across the EU; asks the Commission to continue its support to Member States in this regard;
Amendment 73 #
2023/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Amendment 74 #
2023/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Highlights that the STECF proposed to improve consumer information through the CMO by including more detailed information on the catch area and fishing gear for fishery products and on the production system for aquaculture products;
Amendment 75 #
2023/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12c. Calls for providing mandatory information on the date of catch for all fishery products and the production method for all aquaculture products;
Amendment 80 #
2023/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Notes that there are no data indicating that consumers confuse fisheries and aquaculture products, on one hand, and plant-based alternatives to fisheries products on the other; notes that producers of plant-based alternatives clearly label their products as 'vegetarian' or 'vegan'; considers that there is no need to put in place restrictions to the use of fisheries-related terms for plant-based alternatives, as long as they are clearly labelled as such;
Amendment 82 #
2023/2049(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Notes that EU consumers consume more fisheries products than what the European Waters can sustainably provide, notes that it leads to a dependance of the EU to imports from third countries, considers that the EU should aim at reducing the consumption of imported fisheries products and encourage the consumption of EU sustainable fisheries products;
Amendment 1 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
– having regard to the ILO Convention 169 related to Indigenous and Tribal Peoples,
Amendment 3 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
– having regard to the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact,
Amendment 4 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 c (new)
Citation 5 c (new)
– having regard to the Eight fundamental ILO Conventions as defined under the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work,
Amendment 5 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 d (new)
Citation 5 d (new)
– having regard to the Minamata Convention on Mercury,
Amendment 6 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 e (new)
Citation 5 e (new)
– having regard to the Convention on Biological Diversity, in particular Decision COP VIII/28 - Voluntary guidelines on biodiversity-inclusive impact assessment,
Amendment 7 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 f (new)
Citation 5 f (new)
– having regard to the UNEP Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment of Products,
Amendment 8 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 g (new)
Citation 5 g (new)
– having regard to EIB Eligibility, Excluded Activities and Excluded sectors list,
Amendment 17 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas according to the UNEP, the Artisanal and Small-scale Mining in Protected Areas and Critical Ecosystems (ASM-PACE) project estimates that ASM produces approximately 10 per cent of the word’s gold, 15-20 per cent of its diamonds, 20 to 25 per cent of its tin and tantalum and 80 per cent of coloured gemstones1a; _________________ 1a UNEP, ‘Mineral Resource Governance in the 21st Century. Gearing Extractive Industries Towards Sustainable Development’, p.81.
Amendment 18 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas informal, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is a poverty- driven activity, which generally distinguished from large-scale or industrial mining by its relatively low levels of capital investment, mechanisation, recovery of minerals, high degree of labour intensity, informality, poor occupational health, safety and environmental standards;
Amendment 19 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas ASM often involves women, thereby increasing their vulnerability, due to the lack of access to, use of and control over resource-rich land and other productive resources and finance;
Amendment 25 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the extractive industries can potentially play a crucial role in the development of many resource-rich developing countries, by providing public revenues from mining and mining-related operations, employment opportunities and infrastructure; yet extractive industry can be disruptive and lead to severe environmental degradation and disruption of social fabric, and in some cases, even unleashing political dynamics that result in the deterioration of governance and serious conflicts;
Amendment 32 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the extractive industries can have severe negative social, economic, environmental and institutional impacts at local, national and global level; in particular, whereas it creates freshwater competition, especially for agriculture, and water contamination, which has severe and far-reaching impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services, notably fish habitats and populations located downstream of mines and the marine environment, on which people depend for their livelihoods;
Amendment 35 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Amendment 37 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas the negative social and environmental impact of extractive industries risk to become more severe in the future, given the trend towards mining lower grade ores, which will lead to larger amounts of waste, as well as higher energy and water demands; whereas this is particularly worrying for marginalised and vulnerable people in developing countries, where the impacts of climate change already increases water scarcity; furthermore, as easily accessible reserves become depleted, exploration is moving to remote and often fragile areas, as in the case of deep-sea mining;
Amendment 39 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Recital E c (new)
Ec. whereas an analysis of the World Bank states that 44% of all operational mines are located in forests, inducing a significant impact on deforestation, as well as on indigenous people and local communities that depend on forests for their livelihoods;
Amendment 40 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)
Recital E d (new)
Ed. whereas the right to information, participation and remedy are internationally protected human rights enshrined in multilateral agreements, addressing environmental decision- making in particular, which are of particular importance in the case of mining;
Amendment 49 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas accelerating the efforts to address climate change and dealing with the rapidly rising demand for the raw materials indispensable to achieving the green and digital transitions should beraise both challenges and opportunityies for the extractive industries sector to become sustainable, considering that mining activities can lead to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, resulting from air, water and soil pollution, and waste mining, and for resource-rich developing countries to capitalise on this demand and attain economic and social development, while reducing their GHG emissions; , given that realising the full potential of the mining sector is fraught with many challenges, which includes among others: the “enclave” nature of the extractive industry, with few links to the local economy; the volatility in commodity prices; corruption and conflicting stakeholders interests;
Amendment 58 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas minerals are unevenly distributed across the globe, which has a huge impact on the Global South; whereas an analysis1a found that in 2019, 79% of global metal ore extraction originated from five of the six most species-rich biomes; _________________ 1a Luckeneder, S., Giljum, S., Schaffartzik, A., Maus, V., & Tost, M., ‘Surge in global metal mining threatens vulnerable ecosystems’. Global Environmental Change, V. 69, 2021.
Amendment 59 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
Hb. whereas the Treaty of the High Seas adopted in June 2023 provides for a framework to protect the High Sea from the impacts of extractive industries and establishes the sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources between developed and developing countries; whereas the EU has pledged €40 million as part of a Global Ocean Programme in order to help developing countries in the implementation of the treaty;
Amendment 60 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the EU is the largest donor of development aid in the world; stresses, therefore, the importance of mainstreaming sustainable development principles across all EU external action, in particular in policies related to the extractive industries, in line with the EU’s legal obligation to ensure policy coherence for development; to this effect, stresses that the definition of mutually beneficial strategic partnership with third countries entails, in particular for low-income resource-rich countries, to breaking away from the enclave nature and extractivist model of the mining sector and to afford developing countries sufficient policy space to do so, including through the reform of the international trade and investment regime that constraints the use of the full range of policy instruments to achieve resource-based industrialisation at the local level;
Amendment 68 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. IPoints out that mining increases the risk of land grabbing, in a context where governments of developing countries often fail to recognise indigenous peoples and communities customary rights to the lands they inhabit; invites the Commission to strengthen its dialogue and cooperation with civil society organisations, local communities and indigenous peoples in developing countries affected by extractive industries, in order to promote their rights and ensure their meaningful and active participation in decision-making processes, particularly with regard to Global Gateway flagship projects; underlines that civil society actors should have formal representation on the governance board of the Global Gateway;
Amendment 77 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Notes the growing threat to food security resulting from Small-Scale Mining (ASM), which tend to coexist in rural areas, where both agriculture and artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) are key means of improving rural livelihoods; highlights equally the environmental and health risks associated with unregulated ASM activities and the fact that according to the UNEP, many ASM activities occur on global commons of forested lands in critical ecosystems that were not previously used; recalls that the “no-harm rule” is a duty imposed upon States, which requires to implement measures to prevent or otherwise minimise risks of environmental harm;
Amendment 80 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Recalls that artisanal, informal and small-scale mining is a highly gendered activity; calls on the EU to support developing countries through financial support and capacity building programmes to formalize and regulate ASM activities, particularly those involving women; and to encourage the formation of women’s mining cooperatives and associations to improve women’s participation, bargaining power, work conditions and economic independence;
Amendment 83 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – introductory part
Paragraph 4 – introductory part
4. Calls for the Commission to put forward an EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Investment in Extractive Industries in Developing Countries for businesses and development finance institutions, in compliance with inter alia due diligence processes as defined by EU legislation, including OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the UN Global Compact and the ISO 26000 standards, drafted with inputs from industry, as well as from civil society in developing countries and from representatives of indigenous communities; considers that the code should articulate clear commitments and tailored guiding principles for investment in developing countries; stresses that local consultation, local consent and local sustainable development should be the overarching objective of the code; believes that the code should cover, at a minimum, commitments on:
Amendment 86 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point a
Paragraph 4 – point a
a) stakeholder involvement; considers that where a third country has not legislated for mandatory CDAs, European businesses should implement them as a prerequisite for doing business; considers that the agreements should be negotiated with local communitieswith indigenous people and local communities, comply effectively with the principles of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) of Indigenous peoples and local communities, in line with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, and should be made publicly accessible;
Amendment 103 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. UNotes with concern that for a majority of resource-rich developing countries, mining, oil or gas exploitation has not translated into broader-based economic, human and social development; underlines that addressing the ‘resource curse’ involves not only economic diversification, but also increasing third countries’ fiscal space to facilitate sustainable development; stresses that the EU should proactively encourage domestic resource mobilisation in partner countries, such as direct taxation, and enable the possibility to use export taxes on commodities, insofar as it is WTO- compatible; calls on the Commission and the Member States to commit to scaling up concessional finance in parallel to the Critical Raw Materials Act8 ; reiterates that the ceilings in Heading 6 of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) must be increased accordingly in the context of the upcoming MFF review; _________________ 8 Proposal of 16 March 2023 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020 (COM(2023)0160).
Amendment 106 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls that the impacts of mining can extend for years beyond closure of the mine itself, considering that mine waste are toxic, and therefore disruptive for the environment, biodiversity services and associated livelihoods;accordingly, calls for effective mineral resource governance throughout the life cycle of mining operations, which requires among others: - recognition of the rights of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPCI) of Indigenous People and Local Communities;their access to information for effective public participation in decision-making, and the insurance that persons exercising their rights are not penalised, persecuted or harassed; - full transparency of the mining sector in relation to revenues and contracts, in line with Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) requirements, including regarding environmental transparency; - to addressing social impacts of mining and mitigating these, through an approach driven by an Avoid, Mitigate, Restore principle;
Amendment 111 #
2023/2031(INI)
6a. Notes with deep concern that if not managed and mitigated properly, increased demand for critical raw materials will lead to negative environmental and social impacts, particularly for sectors that show a strong dependence on ecosystem services (such as agriculture, nature-based tourism and fisheries); stresses the need to prioritise sustainability, efficiency and circularity at multilateral level and to reduce demand for virgin materials, notably to address the challenges of climate change, water stress and pollution and loss of biodiversity;
Amendment 115 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. CStresses the need to move away from a culture of extractivism to a resource governance system that takes into account i.e. the rate of depletion, the availability of substitutes, efficiency, recycling and the sustainability of consumption; calls for the EU to promote multi- stakeholder partnerships at regional and international level on this line;
Amendment 122 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Reaffirms the urgent need for a UN binding treaty on business and human rights to regulate the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises, in line with with the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework; asks, therefore, the Commission and the Member States to play an active role in the current negotiations on the instrument;
Amendment 129 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Recalls that land use conflicts can arise from the deployment of critical raw material projects, notably in developing countries, where forced eviction or relocation are common features of mining operations, which is a serious human rights violation, especially for indigenous people whose livelihoods are closely intertwined with the land and who derive much of their livelihoods from biodiversity services; calls for the compliance with FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests, to avoid land-grabbing resulting from extractive industries;
Amendment 133 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Underlines that deep-sea mining is likely to cause many adverse impacts on deep-sea ecosystems by increasing release of toxic substances and the agitation of sediments, which is a major concern for governments of small island developing countries that depend on marine life;
Amendment 134 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Recalls the need to prohibit environmentally damaging industrial extractive activities in marine protected areas, including mining, oil and gas and harmful industrial fishing techniques in line with the IUCN guidelines and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, in order to protect ecosystems and traditional activities of local communities;
Amendment 135 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)
Paragraph 11 d (new)
11d. Reiterates its support for a moratorium, including at the International Seabed Authority on deep- seabed mining until such time as the effects of deep-sea mining on the marine environment, biodiversity and human activities at sea have been studied and researched sufficiently and deep-seabed mining can be managed to ensure no marine biodiversity loss nor degradation of marine ecosystems; calls on the EU and its Member States to commit not to source minerals from the deep-seabed, to exclude such minerals from the EU supply chains, and not to finance deep- seabed mining activities;
Amendment 136 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 e (new)
Paragraph 11 e (new)
11e. Calls on the EU to provide developing countries financial support and technical assistance to developing countries to help them in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and The United Nations High Seas Treaty;
Amendment 138 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Asks the Commission to use the 2023 review process of the Conflict Minerals Regulation as an opportunity to assess the impact of the regulation on the ground and the possibility to include further mandatory measures and cover other mineralsenlarge its scope to cover other minerals; notes that the conflict mineral regulation does not foresee any sanction and that this gap can be filled by the upcoming Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD);
Amendment 142 #
2023/2031(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Urges the Council to sign the new Partnership Agreement between the EU and the members of the OACPS, as it provides a strengthened and modernised framework for cooperation with ACP countries, which contains specific references to the extractive industries; recalls, in this context, that sustainability entails compliance with due diligence processes, as defined by EU legislation and OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, as well as the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests, where land tenure rights are concerned;
Amendment 28 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas innovative structural solutions are needed to address global humanitarian challenges; whereas these solutions should focus on ensuring sufficient funding, implementing the commitments on localisation and the humanitarian-development-peace nexus (triple nexus) approach and creating an enabling humanitarian environment in line with the principles of humanitarian aid; whereas efforts to address current and future humanitarian challenges must be guided by a conflict sensitive and people- centred approach driven by affected communities;
Amendment 41 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls urgently on the Commission and the Member States to substantially increase their humanitarian aid budgets to respond to humanitarian needs, which are at a record high; reiterates its call on the Member States to allocate a fixed share of their gross national incomes to humanitarian aid; supports, in this regard, the Council conclusions of 22 May 2023 encouraging the Member States to devote 10 % of their official development assistance to humanitarian action and calls for their swift implementation in close consultation and cooperation with humanitarian partners – especially NGOs and frontline responders;
Amendment 47 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Underlines the concerns over development additionality of blending- guarantee mechanisms as assessed by the European Court of Auditors in the case of EFSD; calls on the Commission and financial institutions, including the EIB, to ensure that all humanitarian operations undertaken through blending are compliant with the external action goals of the EU as defined in Article 21 TEU, including respect and promotion of human rights, eradication of poverty, and the management of environmental risks; calls on the Commission to provide the European Parliament with a written assessment on the implementation of the pilot project for blending for humanitarian action, defined in the Commission communication of 10 March 2021, to evaluate the alignment of this financial mechanisms with external action objectives;
Amendment 48 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Underlines that the increased role of private sector partnerships, including support to the “Global Gateway” strategy make access to support for local actors more complex and limit their access to equitable partnerships to leave no one behind; insists that transparency and accountability across EU external actions, and related financial instruments should be fully guaranteed, including for Team Europe Initiatives aimed to provide humanitarian support;
Amendment 49 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Insists on the importance to preserve expertise and non interference into the neutrality principle of humanitarian actors; stresses that further engagement with the private sector requires: prior analysis of results achieved so far through this collaboration, and to promote exclusively partnerships which comply with international humanitarian principles, environment, social and human rights standards, and accountability to affected populations;
Amendment 50 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. Calls for an expansion of the circle of donor countries which contribute to humanitarian aid on a voluntary basis, to include the 100 countries that the World Bank identifies as high-income and richest countries in the world; underlines that a contribution of these countries counting for 0.03% of their GNI should be compulsory and would allow to raise the $30 billion needed to address international humanitarian crises; stresses that the involvement of new countries would not only solve the question of the volume of aid, but contribute to depoliticising humanitarian aid and making it less exposed to divisions between major state powers;
Amendment 54 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls for the EU to provide a robust annual budget for EU humanitarian aid to ensure timely, predictable and flexible funding for humanitarian aid at the beginning of each financial year and to keep a ring- fenced envelope within the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve (SEAR) for humanitarian crises outside the Union and maintaining the existing capacity to rapidly mobilise additional funds in the case of emerging, escalating or sudden onset emergencies;
Amendment 70 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Commission to assess past experiences in humanitarian support in the field of gender equality, as well as to introduce more concrete elements of gender mainstreaming in future humanitarian action, including specific expenditure, programmes, tracking and assessment methods oriented towards gender related activities;
Amendment 83 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the triple nexus is key to addressing context-specific needs in complex and protracted crises, in line with humanitarian principles; insists on more transparency, visibility and knowledge- sharing among stakeholders when applying the triple nexus approach, including through better involvement of local actors;
Amendment 87 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Points out the potential risk of instrumentalisation of humanitarian aid via the EU humanitarian-development- peace nexus approach which may imply that the promotion of humanitarian principles and International Humanitarian Law will not necessarily prevail for humanitarian action but be side-lined by joint-up and coherent action between the 3 axes of the nexus in line with policy objectives set by the EU agenda; in this regard, stresses in particular that humanitarian action must urgently be dissociated from the security or stability agendas;
Amendment 91 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Amendment 99 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for climate funding to be scaled up in order to prevent, mitigate and respond to the alarming impact of climate change on humanitarian crises; is concerned that NDICI-GE expenditure with a climate objective falls far short of the commitment that such expenditure should represent 30 % of NDICI-GE’s overall financial envelope; calls on the Commission to scale this up without delay, focusing in particular on climate adaptation in least developed countriand disaster risk reduction in least developed countries in particular through locally-led adaptation measures;
Amendment 104 #
2023/2000(INI)
10. Stresses the need to localise climate preparedness, adaptation and response, build the capacities of local actors and ensure the climate resilience of the most vulnerable groupsto limit the adverse effects of the humanitarian impacts of climate change and ensure the climate resilience of the most vulnerable groups; underlines the importance of involving indigenous people and local communities in this process of localisation;
Amendment 112 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Encourages multi-stakeholder efforts to implement a greener and digitalised humanitarian response; highlights the cost-effectiveness of anticipatory action; calls on a human- centred approach to digitalisation and the responsible use of sensible digital tools; calls for the further enhancement of digital tools’ potential to manage huge volumes of complex humanitarian data and accelerate the detection and prediction of climate disasters;
Amendment 116 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses the importance of building human resilience by supportensuring access to education and essential health services; emphasises the need to involve the affected people and local communities in implementing early warning systems, guaranteeing their ability to take action in advance of disasters, conducting needs assessments and determining and monitoring the humanitarian response;
Amendment 125 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Asks the Commission to better address the needs of vulnerable groups in humanitarian responses, including minorities, children, women, the elderly, local communities, indegenous people and particularly persons with disabilities; encourages the use of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s disability marker to track the progress made in humanitarian action; calls on the Commission to update the EU guidelines on children and armed conflict and ensure their implementation;
Amendment 128 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that the number of forcibly displaced persons worldwide is at a record high; calls for the EU and the global community to support refugees, internally displaced people and their host communities and to work for durable soluand ensure equal and effective access to essential services and humanitarian assistance for displaced people, irrespective of their legal status as required by Inernational Humanitarian Law, including hard-to-reach groups and in remote locations, in particular in forgotten crises;
Amendment 169 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on enhancing local and sustainable agricultural and food production by investing in agroecological methods and sustainable fisheries to increase food availability and prevent dependence on external supplies in times of humanitarian crises;
Amendment 171 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Underlines the widespread violations of the right to food during conflicts, with recurring use of starvation as a method of warfare, and denial of humanitarian access; calls on the European Commission and the Member States to duly enforce international humanitarian law and vigorously prosecute and sanction those who use starvation as a weapon of war;
Amendment 179 #
2023/2000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that women’s equal participation and empowerment is integrated explicitly into any new mechanisms to strengthen the role of local actors in humanitarian action; recalls the prominent role of women as victims of conflicts and disasters;
Amendment 19 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Access to raw materials is essential for the Union economy and the functioning of the internal market. There is a set of non-energy, non-agricultural raw materials that, due to their high economic importance and their exposure to high supply risk, often caused by a high concentration of supply from a few third countries, are considered critical. Given the key role of many such critical raw materials in realising the green and digital transitions, and in light of their use for defence and space applications, demand will increase exponentially in the coming decades if no measure is implemented to mitigate the growth and shield the EU from the rising gap between demand and suply at the global level. At the same time, the risk of supply disruptions is increasing against the background of rising geopolitical tensions and resource competition. Furthermore, if not managed and mitigated properly, increased demand for critical raw materials could lead to negative environmental and social impacts, particularly for sectors that show a strong dependance on ecosystem services (such as agriculture, nature- based tourism and fisheries). In addition, the negative social and environmental impact of extractive industries risk to become more severe in the future, given the trend towards mining lower grade ores, which will lead to larger amounts of waste, as well as higher energy and water demands. Equally, as easily accessible reserves become depleted, exploration is moving to remote and often fragile areas, as is the case of deep-sea mining. Considering these trends, while it is necessary to take measures to ensure access to a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials to safeguard the Union's economic resilience and open strategic autonomy, greater resource efficiency and circularity need to be prioritised around the globe to reduce demand for virgin materials, as current trends of resource extraction and processing cause environmental impacts that would exceed the planetary boundaries.
Amendment 24 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) For some raw materials, the Union is almost fully dependent on a single country for its supply. Such dependencies entail a high risk of supply disruptions. Likewise, while well-managed income from extractive resources presents opportunities for supporting inclusive development for resource-rich developing countries, yet extractive industry can be disruptive and lead to severe environmental degradation and disruption of social fabric, and in some cases, even unleashing political dynamics that result in the deterioration of governance and serious conflicts. To limit such potential risk and increase the Union’s economic resilience, efforts should be undertaken to ensure that, by 2030, it is not overly dependent on a single third country for more than 65% of its supply of any strategic raw material, unprocessed and at any stage of processing, giving however special consideration to countries with whom the Union has established a Strategic Partnership on raw materials giving rise to greater assurances regarding supply risks.
Amendment 25 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) In order to diversify the Union's supply of strategic raw materials, the Commission should, with the support of the Board, identify Strategic Projects in third countries that intend to become active in the extraction, processing or recycling of strategic raw materials. To ensure that such Strategic Projects are effectively implemented, they should benefit from improved access to finance. In order to ensure their added value, projects should be assessed against a set of criteria, taking into account that for a majority of resource-rich developing countries, mining, oil or gas exploitation has not translated into broader-based economic, human and social development. Like projects in the Union, Strategic Projects in third countries should strengthen the Union's security of supply for strategic raw materials, show sufficient technical feasibility and be implemented sustainably. For projects in emerging markets and developing economies, the project should be mutually beneficial for the Union and the third country involved and add value in that country, taking into account also its, in compliance with due diligence processes as defined by EU legislation and OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, addressing adverse impacts on human rights and environmental, rule of law and good governance, as well as the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests, where land tenure rights are concerned. For projects in emerging markets and developing economies, the project should be mutually beneficial for the Union and the third country involved, taking into account that for mineral-rich developing countries, realising the full potential of the mining sector as a catalyst for sustainable development is fraught with many challenges, which includes among others: the finite nature of mineral deposits; the “enclave” nature of the extractive industry, with few links to the local economy; the volatility in commodity prices; limited national capacities, which leaves ill-equiped national administrations vulnerable to large multinational companies; corruption and conflicting stakeholders interests. A project should add value in that country, taking into account the principle of Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) as laid down in Article 208 TFEU and be consistencyt with the Union’s common commercial policy and WTO regime in the field of export taxes on commodities. Such value may be derived from the project’s contribution to more than one stage of the whole value chain, including raw material processing, as well as from creating through the project wider economic and social benefits, including the creation of employment in compliance with international standards, notably the core labour standards of the International Labour Organisation, as well as the right to the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples and local communities, in line with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples. Where the Commission assesses these criteria to be fulfilled, it should publish the recognition as a Strategic Project in a decision.
Amendment 33 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) The definition of mutually beneficial partnership with third countries entails, in particular for low-income resource-rich countries, to move away from the enclave nature and extractivist model of the mining sector and to provide developing countries with sufficient policy space to do so, including through the reform of the international trade and investment regime that constraints the use of the full range of policy instruments to achieve resource-based industrialisation at the local level.
Amendment 35 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In order to ensure the sustainability of increased raw material production, new raw materials projects should be implemented sustainably. To that end, taking into account that the impacts of mining can extend beyond the operations of the mine. This is particularly relevant for low- income resource-rich countries, notably concerning mine waste that are toxic in nature, and therefore disruptive for the environment, biodiversity services and associated livelihoods. Against this background, the potential impacts throughout the whole life cycle of a project, and for years beyond closure of the mine itself, need to be considered. Workers’ rights constitute another important issue to address in the extractive industry, taking into account that the denial of civil liberties, undue restrictions on the right to strike; interference by governments in the functioning of workers’organisations and restrictive legislation are common challenges in developing countries. In addition, special attention should be paid to the role of women in artisanal and small-scale mining and the adverse environmental and social impacts of mining that can disproportionately affect women. To these ends, the Strategic Projects receiving support under this Regulation should be assessed taking into account international instruments covering notably all aspects of sustainability highlighted in the EU principles for sustainable raw materials31[1], including ensuring environmental protection, including the protection of marine and coastal environment, good governance, socially responsible practices, including respect for human and social rights such as the rights of women, and transparent business practices. Projects should also ensure engagement in good faith as well as comprehensive and meaningful consultations with local communities, including with and indigenous peoples. To provide project promoters with a clear and efficient way of complying with this criterion,compliance with relevant Union legislation, international standards, guidelines andprinciples or participation in a certification scheme recognised under this Regulation should be considered sufficient. _________________ 31, in full compliance with the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). [1] European Commission, Directorate- General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, EU principles for sustainable raw materials, Publications Office, 2021, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2873/27875
Amendment 41 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Any promoter of a strategic raw materials project should be able to apply to the Commission for the recognition of their project as a Strategic Project. The application should include several documents and evidence related to the criteria. To better assess the social, environmental and economic viability, the feasibility of the project as well as the level of confidence in the estimates, the project promoter should also provide a classification of the project according to the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources, and to allow for objective validation, they should support this classification with relevant evidence. A timetable for the project should also be attached to an application, in order to estimate when the project would be able to contribute towards the benchmarks for domestic capacity or for diversification. As public acceptance of mining projects is crucial for their effective implementation, the promoter should also provide a plan containing measures to facilitate public accepensure public participation. This is also valid for projects in third countries, where the respect of the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of local communities and indigenous people is of primary importance. Special attention should be paid to social partners, civil society and other oversight actors. The promoter should also provide a business plan providing information regarding the project’s financial viability and giving an overview of funding and off- take agreements already secured as well as estimates for potential job creation and for the project’s needs in terms of skilled workforce, including upskilling and reskilling.
Amendment 43 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) As the cooperation of the Member State on whose territory a Strategic Project will be implemented is necessary to ensure its effective implementation, that Member State should have the right to object to and thereby prevent that a project is granted the status of Strategic Project against its will. If it does so, the relevant Member State should provide a reasoned justification for its refusal referring to the applicable criteria. Similarly, the Union should not grant the status of Strategic Project to projects that will be implemented by a third country against the will of its government and should therefore refrain from doing so where a third country government objects, taking into account that environmental and social impacts are the main factors leading to a lack of public acceptance in the extractive sector.
Amendment 46 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) Land use conflicts can create barriers toarise from the deployment of critical raw material projects, notably in developing countries, where forced eviction or relocation are common features of mining operations. This is a serious human rights violation, especially for indigenous people whose livelihoods are closely intertwined with the land and who derive much of their livelihoods from biodiversity services. Well-designed plans, including spatial plans and zoning, that take into account the potential for implementing critical raw material projects and whose potential environmental impacts are assessed, have the potential to help balance public goods and interests, decreasing the risk of conflict and accelerating the sustainable deployment of raw materials projects in the Union. Responsible national, regional and local authorities should therefore consider including provisions for raw materials projects when developing relevant plans.
Amendment 49 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) Partnership of the key stakeholders in the extractive value chain entails to meet the twin goals of sustainable development for exporting countries and security of supply for importer countries. In order to overcome the limitations of the currently often fragmented public and private investments efforts, facilitate integration and return on investment, the Commission, Member States and promotional banks should better coordinate and create synergies between the existing funding programmes at Union and national level as well as ensure better coordination and collaboration with industry and key private sector stakeholders. To that end, a dedicated sub- group of the Board bringing together experts from the Member States and the Commission as well as relevant public financial institutions should be set up. This sub-group should discuss the individual financing needs of Strategic Projects and their existing funding possibilities in order to provide project promoters with a suggestion on how to best access existing financing possibilities. When discussing and making recommendations for the financing of Strategic Projects in third countries, the Board should in particular take into account the Global Gateway strategy42 . _________________ 42 Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank The Global Gateway (JOIN/2021/30 final)[1], which should comply with the objectives and general principles set in NDICI - Global Europe regulation and the international guidelines and Conventions on investiment, including the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, ILO conventions, international human rights law and the development effectiveness principles.
Amendment 63 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 53 a (new)
Recital 53 a (new)
(53a) Agenda 2030 has given a new impetus to deliver improved livelihoods from extractive resources, provided that careful consideration is paid to the views and expectations of all the key actors in home and host countries, to reconcile issues of sustainable development and security of supply, such as the Africa Mining Vision and the EU Raw Materials Initiative. At the local level, inclusive business models should be implemented in which local communities participate in decision-making, their rights are protected and they benefit from extractive industries.
Amendment 64 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 54
Recital 54
(54) The Union has concluded Strategic Partnerships covering raw materials with third countries in order to implement the 2020 Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials. In order to diversify supply, these efforts should continue. Nevertheless, the Union should fully take into account that extractive industries in developing countries often operate in complex social environments surrounded by communities living in extreme poverty. In addition, mining can become a “threat multiplier” in third developing countries, notably in terms of serious human rights violations, especially if the State is weak and corrupt. To develop and ensure a coherent framework for the conclusion of future partnerships, the Member States and the Commission should, as part of their interaction on the Board and with full involvement of the European Parliament, discuss and ensure coordination on, inter alia, whether existing partnerships achieve the intended aims, the prioritisation of third countries for new partnerships, the content of such partnerships and their coherence and potential synergies between Member States' bilateral cooperation with relevant third countries. The Union should seek mutually beneficial partnerships with emerging market and developing economies notably in terms of rent extraction, getting a fair deal and share of profits, transparency, accountability, tackling illicit financial flows, improving regulation of the activities of trans- national corporations and financial regulation, in coherence with Agenda 2030 and its Global Gateway strategy, which should contribute to the diversification of its raw materials supply chain as well as add value in the production in these countries.
Amendment 74 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of this Regulation is to improve the functioning of the internal market by establishing a framework to ensure the Union's access to a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materialsimprove the resilience of the Union regarding the supply of critical raw materials, by prioritising sustainability, efficiency and circularity, with the view to reduce global demand for virgin materials to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, notably to address the challenges of climate change, water stress and pollution and loss of biodiversity.
Amendment 82 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. For Strategic projects in third countries, the Commission shall follow a sustainable development approach based on the following principles: - The strength of the economic outcome, to support development goals and in particular, the shift from an enclave production mining model to a model tied to local industry through local participation and local content; - Sound environmental management; - The respect for social values and aspirations of a diverse group of stakeholders resulting from credible multi-stakeholder consultative process; - The observance of the highest governance and transparency standard; - These principles shall be applicable to governments, companies and stakeholders involved in the mining sector.
Amendment 87 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 62
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 62
(62) ‘Strategic Partnership’ means a commitment between the Union and a third country to increase cooperation related to the raw materials value chain that is established throughseeks to address both the goals of sustainable development for exporting countries and the security of supply for importer countries, while addressing the externalities of mineral resource extraction (economic, social and environmental damage) and mitigating its impact, through the establishment of a non-binding instrument setting out concrete actions of mutual interest.
Amendment 94 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) for projects in third countries that are emerging markets or developing economies, the project would be mutually beneficial for the Union and the third country concerned by adding local value in that country, notably through contributing to the formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining sector and inclusive business models in which local communities participate in decision- making, their rights are protected and they benefit from extractive activities; and which ties both home and host countries in a shared responsibility to comply with high social, environmental and human rights standards.
Amendment 130 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii a (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii a (new)
(iiia) contributing to economic and social developments in partner countries, in particular for emerging markets and developing economies, through a governance framework that prioritises human rights, while also promoting the uptake of environmentally sustainable and circular economy practices and decent working conditions;
Amendment 132 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii b (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iii b (new)
(iiib) addressing effective mineral resource governance throughout the life cycle of mining operations, which requires among others: - The recognition of the rights of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPCI) of Indigenous People and Local Communities;their access to information for effective public participation in decision-making, and ensuring that persons exercising their rights are not penalised, persecuted or harassed; - Full transparency of the mining sector in relation to revenues and contracts, in line with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) requirements, including regarding environmental transparency; - To address social impacts of mining and mitigating these, through an approach driven by an Avoid, Mitigate, Restore principle.
Amendment 138 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – introductory part
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – introductory part
(c) which third countries should be prioritised for the conclusion of Strategic Partnerships, taking into account the following cumulative criteria:
Amendment 140 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point i a (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point i a (new)
(ia) whether strategic environmental impact assessments and integrated spatial planning are implemented;
Amendment 141 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point i b (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point i b (new)
(ib) whether the principle of prevention and the precautionary principle are respected;
Amendment 142 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point i c (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point i c (new)
(ic) whether the need to protect the local environment and mitigate the negative impact of mining activities is in line with national and international guidelines, especially those of Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs);
Amendment 143 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point i d (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point i d (new)
(id) whether mine closure and the rehabilitation of mine sites (post-mining) policies are in place from the onset in full consultation with the local communities;
Amendment 144 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
(ii) whether a third country's regulatory framework and its effective implementation ensures the monitoring, prevention and, minimisation ofand compensation of adverse social and environmental impacts of mining, the use of socially responsible practices including respect of human and labour rights and meaningful engagement with local communitiesand active participation of affected local communities and indigenous people, the use of transparent and responsible business practices, in compliance with due diligence processes as defined by EU legislation, including the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the UN Global Compact and the ISO 26000 standards and the prevention of adverse impacts on the proper functioning of public administration and the rule of law;
Amendment 150 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iii
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iii
(iii) whether there are existing cooperation agreements between a third country and the Union and, for emerging markets and developing economies, and whether the potential for the deployment of Global Gateway investment projects respond to shared visions such as the Country Mining Visions of the Africa Mining Vision and are fully aligned with national development plans such as industrial and trade policies; respect human rights and contribute to the decoupling of natural resource use.
Amendment 159 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv a (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv a (new)
(iva) whether partnerships address the capture of a fair share of mineral resource rents, equitable distribution in the rents, tackle illicit financial flows and commodity price volatility;
Amendment 160 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv b (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv b (new)
(ivb) whether partnerships make international investment laws fairer, including through increased recognition of local laws in handling disputes between investors and host countries; technology transfer and the possibility to use export taxes on commodities, insofar as it is WTO compatible;
Amendment 161 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv c (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv c (new)
(ivc) whether partnerships contribute to the formalization of the mining sector, especially the artisanal and small-scale mining sector, notably through developing conducive and comprehensive legal frameworks, ensuring access to capital, providing access to geological data and appropriate equipment and enabling a dialogue between artisanal small-scale mining stakeholders.
Amendment 162 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 2
Article 33 – paragraph 2
2. The Board shall, in the context of paragraph 1 and in so far as relates to emerging market and developing economies, ensure cooperation and policy coherence for sustainable development, as enshrined in the UN 2030 Agenda, with other relevant coordination fora, including those established as part of the Global Gateway strategy.
Amendment 173 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – introductory part
Annex III – point 4 – introductory part
4. Whether a project fulfils the criterion referred to in Article 5(1), point (c), shall be assessed taking into account a project’s compliance with the following Union legislation or international instruments and on the basis of the risk categories presented in paragraph 4a:
Amendment 174 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – point i a (new)
Annex III – point 4 – point i a (new)
(ia) The principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) as established in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007;
Amendment 177 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – point i k (new)
Annex III – point 4 – point i k (new)
(ik) EIB Eligibility, Excluded Activities and Excluded sectors list;
Amendment 178 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – point i b (new)
Annex III – point 4 – point i b (new)
(ib) The International Bill of Human Rights, including the international covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;
Amendment 179 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – point i c (new)
Annex III – point 4 – point i c (new)
(ic) ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work;
Amendment 181 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – point i f (new)
Annex III – point 4 – point i f (new)
(if) UNEP Guidelines for Social Life Cycle Assessment of Products;
Amendment 182 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – point i d (new)
Annex III – point 4 – point i d (new)
(id) The eight fundamental ILO Conventions as defined under the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at work;
Amendment 183 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – point i e (new)
Annex III – point 4 – point i e (new)
(ie) The ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact;
Amendment 184 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – point i g (new)
Annex III – point 4 – point i g (new)
(ig) Convention on Biological Diversity, in particular Decision COP VIII/28- Voluntary guidelines on Biodiversity-Inclusive impact assessment;
Amendment 185 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – point i h (new)
Annex III – point 4 – point i h (new)
(ih) UN Paris Agreement;
Amendment 186 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – point i i (new)
Annex III – point 4 – point i i (new)
(ii) ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples;
Amendment 187 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – point i j (new)
Annex III – point 4 – point i j (new)
(ij) The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI);
Amendment 189 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Annex III – point 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Project promoters may also attescomplement compliance with the criterion referred to in Article 5(1), point (c) by:
Amendment 192 #
2023/0079(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 4 a (new)
Annex III – point 4 a (new)
Amendment 328 #
2023/0077(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 43 a (new)
Recital 43 a (new)
(43a) Electricity should be considered as an essential service, a Common that no one should be deprived of to live with dignity. A basic amount of energy, allowing the basic needs of households linked to health and dignity should be considered as a right and must be allowed freely or through an affordable price. This amount should guarantee adequate warmth, cooling, lighting, and energy to power appliances, that are essential services that underpin a decent standard of living and health1a _________________ 1a https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32 020H1563 Commission Recommendation EU 2020/1563 of 14/10/2020 on energy poverty
Amendment 347 #
2023/0077(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 52 a (new)
Recital 52 a (new)
(52a) Electricity disconnections should be banned all year long, to protect households' dignity and take into account future heat waves or meteorologic events. It should also be banned and for all types of customers, not only the “vulnerables”, as not being able to pay an energy bill should be a vulnerability criterion in itself. A consumer who is in default of payment and whose energy is cut off is not a bad payer but is a vulnerable consumer who, before being cut off, has reduced his budget for food, leisure or health.
Amendment 348 #
2023/0077(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 52 b (new)
Recital 52 b (new)
(52b) Power limitation, allowing essential services, should be an alternative to disconnections.
Amendment 1083 #
2023/0077(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Directive (EU) 2019/944
Article 10 – paragraph 11
Article 10 – paragraph 11
(2a) Article 10 paragraph 11 is replaced by the following : Suppliers shall inform the competent authorities and inform residential customers of the existing support measures before any power reduction. These measures may refer to energy audits, energy consultancy services, alternative payment plans, debt management advice, and do not constitute an extra cost to the customers facing a reduction in power.
Amendment 17 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
— having regard to the 8th Environment Action Programme (EAP) and the concepts set out therein,
Amendment 28 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the ORs represent major assets, but also face permanent difficulties as a result of their insularity (except for French Guiana), geographical dispersion, remoteness, small size, a low-density permanent population which has to cope with seasonal demographic pressure, rough terrain and harsh climate, and economic dependence on a few products;
Amendment 40 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas young people are a vital asset for the recovery and development of all EU regions, notably the outermost regions; whereas in Mayotte, half of the population is under the age of 18, while in French Guiana, one inhabitant out of two is under 25; whereas these regions have high levels of young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs) and early school leavers, higher than the EU and national averages7 ; _________________ 7 https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/source s/policy/themes/outermost-regions/pdf/rup- 2022/comm-rup-2022-glance_en.pdf
Amendment 64 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas islands have exceptionally rich biodiversity and ecosystems; whereas island ecosystems are particularly threatened by the impact of climate change and must be protected;
Amendment 67 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
G b. whereas islands’ marine and terrestrial biodiversity is largely endemic, and therefore more fragile; whereas marine and coastal pollution, as well as overfishing, have an increased impact on the islands’ environment, with very serious consequences for employment, the small-scale fisheries sector and local communities;
Amendment 86 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the visible progress achieved by the EU strategies for the ORs, which is a sign of the fruitful cooperation between the Commission, Parliament and the Council, the ORs’ regional and local authorities, NGOs, and civil society; regrets, nevertheless, the lack of commitment shown by the Commission in this new strategy in essential areas for the ORs, ignoring successive demands from both regional authorities and Parliament;
Amendment 91 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reaffirms the need to maintain and strengthen coordinated action at EU, national, regional and local level; supports the greater involvement of regional and local authorities in the ORs in the design of EU policies;
Amendment 106 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to expand the POSEI model to other sectors; calls on the Commission to improve complementarity and transparency between POSEI and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development;
Amendment 109 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Calls on the Commission to contribute to the overall simplification of the POSEI scheme through Article 50 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 793/2006 of 12 April 2006, which provides for the financing of studies, demonstration projects, training and technical assistance;
Amendment 111 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Amendment 114 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to stepping up dialogue with the ORs and providing them with individualised support; regrets that the Commission's communication only partially addresses some of the concerns of these regions; calls on the Commission to adopt a tailor-made approach, defining an individual action plan for each OR in the context of a multi- level governance framework, with a timetable and common and specific measures and targets;
Amendment 121 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 133 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the Commission’'s focus on ‘putting people first’; underlines the importance of implementing the European Ppillar of Ssocial Rrights in the ORs, in order to ensure greater solidarity between the generations, promote social protection and inclusion, and create new job opportunitieshigh-quality jobs in line with the green and digital transitions by setting up apprenticeship programmes and vocational guidance services for young people using EU funds, in particular the ESF+; welcomes the Commission's commitment to using the ESF+ to improve the education, training, mobility and employment of young people;
Amendment 137 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Demands new sustainable employment opportunities in the context of the green and digital transitions, and to achieve the Porto 2030 summit goals;
Amendment 138 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Calls on the Commission and Council to make full and optimal use of the funding available under the multiannual financial framework 2021- 2027 without prejudice to the programmes already established under the ESF+, following structural problems related to youth unemployment and poverty; recalls that the outermost regions are particularly affected by these issues and therefore need specific support;
Amendment 140 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8 c. Welcomes, in this respect, the availability of funds under the RRF for measures dedicated to children and young people and expects this to lead to significant opportunities being created for young people in Europe; calls for social partners and youth organisations to be involved in the monitoring and evaluation of the national recovery and resilience plans; calls on the Member States to ensure that the just transition fund and the ESF+ support integrated plans at local level to help upskilling and reskilling, in particular for the most vulnerable groups affected by the transition;
Amendment 141 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines the importance of young people for the revitalisation of traditional sectors in the ORs; calls for measures to attract young people into the primary sector; stresses the importance of green skills development and sustainable employment opportunities in a climate- neutral, energy efficient and circular economy, especially in the regions most impacted by the green transition, such as those which are heavily dependent on the agricultural sector and those involved in combating climate change, the production of energy from renewable sources, reducing carbon emissions, increasing energy efficiency, waste and water management, improving air quality and restoring and preserving biodiversity;
Amendment 148 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Recalls that the particular vulnerability of its regions is delaying the recovery from the health crisis, including the implementation of projects funded by REACT EU; calls on the Commission and the Member States to provide for measures to simplify and make more flexible the 2021-2027 programmes, to the benefit of citizens;
Amendment 151 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Defends the creation of Blue Erasmus to enable young people to take advantage of the opportunities of the blue economy; welcomes the fact that the Commission will use Interreg to further develop regional learning mobility programmes in synergy with Erasmus+;
Amendment 156 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Commission to launch a pilot project, as soon as possible, aimed at combating early schools in the ORs focusing on the blue economy and training, in order to give these regions a leavding in the ORsposition in ocean governance, and to support innovation and research;
Amendment 165 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the Commission to develop specific actions aimed at the ORs as part of the European Year of Skills in 2023; calls on employers to enhance the provision of more effective apprenticeships in line with the European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships;
Amendment 173 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Underlines the need to define strategies to retain young people in the ORs and to combat the brain draincombat the brain drain and increase attractiveness of the ORs for young people;
Amendment 176 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises the importance of having a well-coordinated, humanitarian, effective and safe EU Migration Policy, which takes into account the specific realities of the ORs, particularly those dealing with high mixed migration flowmovements, including of people in a vulnerable situation such as unaccompanied children; insists on the need to provide appropriate and tailored funding and actions to manage the specific migration challenges in the outermost regions and enable better reception of migrants;
Amendment 178 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Urges national, regional and community authorities in charge of education and lifelong learning, as well as social partners, to put in place a legal framework to encourage companies to invest in programmes and measures that aim to guarantee professional integration and to promote gender balance, diversity and inclusion, for a successful transition to an ecologically sustainable, socially responsible and zero-emission economy, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups that may need additional targeted measures, people with disabilities who often suffer from double discrimination and those affected by transitions in the labour market;
Amendment 183 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls that the ORs’' fishing fleet is old and obsolete; regrets the fact; recalls that the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) still does not support the renovation of fleets by covering the purchase of new vcomprises provisions for Member States’ Action plans for the outermost regions including structural support to the fishery and aquaculture sector; recalls that the EMFAF allows for the support on the acquisition of fishing vessels for young fishers; calls on the EU and the Member States to support the transition of the OR fisheries selctor to low-impact fishing techniques;
Amendment 206 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses the role that the ORs could play in combating illegal fishing and, ocean pollution, and marine conservation;
Amendment 208 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to provide funding to combat the massive proliferation of Sargassum seaweed, which is particularly affecting these regions, with serious environmental and socio-economic consequences;
Amendment 213 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Recalls that the budget allocation for the POSEI agriculture scheme has neither been increased since 2009, nor has it been updated for inflation, which has resulted in chronic underfunding; advocates a fair increase in the current allocations for the POSEI agriculture scheme, dedicated to supporting production for local consumption, as the largest part of the POSEI agricultural scheme is currently supporting production of commodities intended for continental EU;
Amendment 223 #
2022/2147(INI)
24. Recalls the importance of animal maritime transport for the ORs’ economies, with small and distant islands very dependent on agricultureInsists on developing alternatives to the transport of live animals;
Amendment 224 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Highlights the lack of sustainable solutions for transporting agricultural products between most islands and the mainland and for exporting and importing agricultural products from and towards islands, and calls on the Commission and the Member States to support innovative projects for greener connections into their development plans for the islands;
Amendment 228 #
2022/2147(INI)
24 b. Stresses the need to support remunerative and environmentally friendly short supply chains and the development of a farming sector that prioritises high value-added traditional products, local consumption and green solutions;
Amendment 238 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Recalls that stability in the transport sector and infrastructure in the ORs is fundamental for their key sectors such as tourism, agriculture and fisheries; recalls that infrastructure for cycling or electric charging ports will help ORs reduce GHG emissions and air pollution and support them in their sustainable transition;
Amendment 249 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Stresses the crucial role of sustainable tourism for the development of the ORs, which are highly exposed to externalities; urges the Commission to develop a truly European and sustainable tourism policy and to launch further measures to promote the recovery of the sector;
Amendment 250 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Therefore calls on the Commission to follow up on the Transition Pathway for Tourism and present a set of binding and concrete actions and interim targets, including in the area of R&I, infrastructure, technology development and skills to ultimately allow the sector to reach the goal of climate neutrality as well as supporting the development of sustainable and soft tourism throughout European destinations for both tourists and local populations whilst ensuring consistency and synergy among EU policies and objectives, funding and regulatory instruments that support industries through their sustainable transitions;
Amendment 259 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
Amendment 291 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Calls on the Commission to promote the expansion of the fibre optic network and the modernisation of the entire mobile network across all of the ORs, even in the most remote zoneaccess to digital communications across all of the ORs, even in the most remote zones, using the latest technologies and taking utmost care of ensuring sustainability and compliance of the digital communications and their infrastructure with the Green Transition goals;
Amendment 292 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to create a regular in-person European forum on digital and inclusive education, involving the participation of the ORs’ authorities, ensuring the promotion of education in the digital field across all age groups, particularly focusing on underrepresented groups in the digital and AI sector; setting targets and monitoring the efficacy of digital skills programs to ensure that the funding is used efficiently;
Amendment 303 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Regrets the fact that the Commission has not yet involved the ORs’ authorities in the definition of the annual EU4Health work programmes and expects the Commission to do so without further delay, and to involve the ORs in discussions about policy initiatives of specific interest, such as on vaccination, cancer, mental health, climate change and long-term care;
Amendment 304 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38 a. Asks the Commission to encourage concerned Member States and ORs to: support health system development and access to care (including health promotion and preventive care, and long- term care), develop and adopt/uptake e- health solutions to help address shortages in health professionals and health system digitalisation, while investing in digital skills, competences and literacy, in particular of the most vulnerable population groups and health professionals; participate in actions under the EU4Health programme (including in the Joint Actions) in particular on bridging health inequalities, crisis preparedness and response, including climate change emergency, e-health, health promotion and disease prevention, access to healthcare, including mental health and long-term care, and tropical diseases;
Amendment 305 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 b (new)
Paragraph 38 b (new)
38 b. Encourages OR's participation in actions under the Horizon Europe programme, as well as cooperation with the Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority to secure provision of critical medical supplies and health workforce during a crisis, and with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on preparedness and response to health threats, including to those of mental health nature and climate change emergency;
Amendment 306 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 c (new)
Paragraph 38 c (new)
38 c. Suggests to improve the accessibility, quality and sustainability of healthcare through ESF+ (including the European Child Guarantee), ERDF, and TSI, supported with the RRF and the European Semester cycles;
Amendment 309 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Calls for a new European fund exclusively dedicated to EU Space policy, with the capacity to improve the space ecosystems that are being developed around the infrastructures in French Guiana and the Azorecoordination between EU funds dedicated to EU Space policy and those for regional development, aiming at increasing the local contribution and the local return on the space ecosystems that are being developed around the infrastructures in French Guiana and the Azores; underlines the need to ensure skilling and upskilling opportunities to the people living in the regions targeted by the ground segments of the space infrastructure and improve their living conditions;
Amendment 311 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)
Paragraph 41 a (new)
41 a. Calls for enhanced environmental impact assessments on the space related activities taking place in the OR and the development of appropriate sustainability measures that will ensure that the negative impact is prevented as much as possible, and compensated where prevention is not possible;
Amendment 317 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Recognises the relevance of the Recovery and Resilience Facility for effective recovery in the ORs; points out, however, the importance of reconsidering the execution deadlines, taking into account the current context of war, inflation and labour and raw material shortages;
Amendment 329 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Amendment 332 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 b (new)
Paragraph 43 b (new)
43 b. Reminds the Commission of the importance of developing a local waste management strategy that takes account of the priority issues of the ecological and energy transition and the protection of local biodiversity, and that can reinforce the implementation of a circular economy in the ORs;
Amendment 335 #
2022/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 c (new)
Paragraph 43 c (new)
43 c. On EU trade, stresses that the European Union's trade policy has a major economic impact in these regions; recalls that imported goods under free trade agreements and economic partnership agreements with third countries compete with the export production of the ORs on the Community market or even with local production on its own regional market;
Amendment 1 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A (new)
Recital A (new)
A. whereas parties to the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development committed to enhance revenue administration through modernized, progressive tax systems, more efficient tax collection, as well as to scale up international tax cooperation;
Amendment 2 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B (new)
Recital B (new)
B. whereas global tax competition has resulted in a shift of the tax burden to workers and low-income households; has impinged upon the possibility of developing countries to enhance domestic resource mobilisation and has forced damaging cutbacks in public services in poor countries;
Amendment 3 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital C (new)
Recital C (new)
C. whereas Corporate Income Tax represents a higher share of tax revenues and GDP in developing countries than in rich countries; whereas in developing countries, losses due to global corporate taxation are estimated to range from 6 to 13 per cent of total tax revenue, versus 2 to 3 per cent in OECD countries[1]; [1] UNCTAD report (p.12) https://unctad.org/system/files/official- document/aldcafrica2020_en.pdf
Amendment 4 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital D (new)
Recital D (new)
D. whereas automatic exchange of information is an effective tool to tackle tax evasion and other IFFs;
Amendment 5 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital E (new)
Recital E (new)
E. whereas in October 2021, the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (IF) agreed a two-pillar solution to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy; but whereas some developing countries expressed concerns, or even refused to endorse this global corporate tax deal (as in the case Kenya and Nigeria);
Amendment 6 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital F (new)
Recital F (new)
F. whereas according to the report “Tax Transparency in Africa 2022. Africa Initiative Progress report”[1], illicit financial flows are estimated to be in the range of USD 50-80 billion (EUR 48-77 billion) annually for the continent; [1] The report is a joint publication by the African Union Commission, the African Tax Administration Forum and the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of information for Tax Purposes (Global Forum).
Amendment 7 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital G (new)
Recital G (new)
G. whereas in 2019, the Africa Group at the United Nations called for a UN Convention on Tax, as an important tool to tackle illicit financial flows; and whereas in February 2021, the High Level Panel on International Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity for Achieving the 2030 Agenda (the FACTI Panel) also included the proposal for a UN Tax Convention as a key recommendation in its final report;
Amendment 8 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital H (new)
Recital H (new)
H. whereas the potential offered by the taxation of extractive industries to boost fiscal revenues is by and large not well exploited in developing countries due to the inadequacy of tax rules or to difficulties in enforcing them, since transnational companies frequently resort to tax avoidance techniques; whereas this challenge is all the more acute for low- income countries that are heavily dependent on natural resources for their initial development drive;
Amendment 10 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1a. Emphasises that Illicit Financial Flows is a matter of global governance; urges the EU to show strong political will and determination against tax avoidance and evasion, in line with the principle of Policy Coherence for Development, as enshrined in article 208 of the Lisbon Treaty;
Amendment 13 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Denounces the existence of a shadowy offshore financial system with offices all over the world, which is allowing enrichment at the public’s expense; stresses that the lack of transparency, including international information sharing, is a key underlying cause of tax-related illicit financial flows;
Amendment 17 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that the practices brought to light by the Pandora Papers revelations have a severe impact on the fiscal space of developing countries; recalls that tax avoidance by wealthy individuals and corporations shifts the tax burden from larger businesses to smaller and medium-sized businesses that do not have the resources to access similar sophisticated tax planning arrangements. It also shifts the tax burden onto consumption through personal income tax and value-added tax, which is particularly problematic in LDCs where small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) and informal traders make up the bulk of economic activity and are more vulnerable to significantly reduced income and insecurity;
Amendment 23 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Highlights the international commitment to significantly reduce illicit financial flows by 2030, as contained in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
Amendment 31 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. CReminds that globalisation has affected the ability of countries to generate domestic government revenues and to choose their taxation structure; considers that tax avoidance by multinationals and the existence of tax havens offering no or extremely low effective tax rates are heavily detrimental to the fair collection of tax in countries in the Global South; stresses that multinational corporations should pay taxes in the countries where economic activity occurs and value is created;
Amendment 33 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that the digitalization of the economy has exacerbated existing problems relating to corporate tax avoidance and evasion, and the importance of ensuring fair and effective taxation of digital services;
Amendment 40 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises the structural implications of the tax avoidance practices of both multinationals and individuals for developing countries’ fiscal capacities and mid to long-term growth prospects; highlights the increase in inequality and poverty caused by the lack of fiscal space as a result of tax avoidance; recalls that the fight against cross-border tax evasion is crucial as a means to expand the tax base; increase tax revenue and to protect the integrity and fairness of tax systems;
Amendment 47 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that the upcoming global corporate minimum tax will define a fixed baseline for corporate taxation, thereby combating corporate tax avoidance, and calls for the resulting fiscal capacities to be used to build resilient, sustainable and equal societies; calls for international cooperation on the corporate minimum tax to be utilised in such a way as to introduce better transparency measures for the prosecution of tax avoiders; recalls that the distribution of taxing rights between countries must be fair, equitable and in line with the goal of reducing inequalities among countries;
Amendment 50 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that tax transparency and exchange of information are essential to stem illicit financial flows and increase domestic resource mobilisation, which is of particular importance to fulfil Sustainable Development Goals, including the African Union Agenda 2063, especially in the current context, marked by rising debt, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequences of the war in Ukraine on African economies;
Amendment 54 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. CRecalls that transparency of ownership and control of companies, trusts and other legal entities is critical to combat illicit financial flows; in this regards calls on Member States to ensure a full implementation of Directive (EU) 2018/843 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 amending Directive (EU)2015/849 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing; calls for full international transparency on the real owners of letterbox companies and real estate; considers that the international exchange of information needs to be expanded to identify tax evaders and calls for greater efforts to tackle financial secrecy, including supporting capacity-building for tax administrations and tax investigations in developing countries.
Amendment 56 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recalls the two-pillar solution of October 2021, agreed by the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS 2.0) to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy, and the critics expressed by developing countries, including the African Tax Administration Forum, for side-lining their interests and for not sufficiently addressing the specific loopholes that limit the taxation rights of African countries;
Amendment 60 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Stresses that international cooperation is vital for achieving fair and effective domestic tax systems;
Amendment 61 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Calls on the EU to support the setting-up of a UN Framework Convention on Tax, with the aim to strengthening international cooperation and governance on tax and trade-related illicit financial flows; highlights the need to introducing transparent and inclusive decision-making where all countries can negotiate as equals;
Amendment 63 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6d. Recalls that the EU and its Member States have recognised that fair, progressive and effective tax systems are vital for the achievement of other UN goals and commitments; stresses that the proposal for a UN Convention on Tax aims to build on these agreements, to increase economic justice at the global level, and respond to the urgent need for new and additional public resources to combat the major global challenges of our time;
Amendment 64 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 e (new)
Paragraph 6 e (new)
6e. Recalls that most developing countries struggle to fully realise the expected revenues from the mining sector due to a range of challenges, both external, such as aggressive tax planning by multinationals, and internal, including weak enforcement of tax laws and overly generous tax incentives to transnational companies; stresses the need to achieve a fair balance between national and investor interests in the design of mining fiscal regime; deems that the fiscal conditions and regulations under which extractive industries operate shall be revised;
Amendment 65 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 f (new)
Paragraph 6 f (new)
6f. Urges the EU to ensuring a fair distribution of taxing rights while negotiating tax and investment treaties with developing countries; and calls on the EU to increase its technical assistance and funding to strengthen their tax administration;
Amendment 66 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 g (new)
Paragraph 6 g (new)
6g. Acknowledges that the extractive sector is particularly prone to illicit outflows in Africa; believes that the review of tax treaties should aim to strengthening the bargaining position of host governments to obtain better returns from their natural resources base and stimulate diversification of their economy; in addition, takes the view that the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) should be made mandatory and extended: they should not focus only on governments but also on producing firms and commodity trading companies;
Amendment 67 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 h (new)
Paragraph 6 h (new)
6h. Stresses that multinational companies should report tax information in each country where they operate; encourages developing countries to enact mandatory country-by-country and project-by-project reporting requirements, notably in the mining sector;
Amendment 68 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 i (new)
Paragraph 6 i (new)
6i. Calls on governments of developing countries to intensify the fight against corruption and money laundering, as a means to contribute to tackling illicit financial flows;
Amendment 69 #
2022/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 j (new)
Paragraph 6 j (new)
6j. Encourages developing countries to develop regional integration arrangements on tax incentives to prevent harmful competition in the effort to attract foreign direct investment;
Amendment 41 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
— having regard to the European Court of Auditor’s special report 26/2020 entitled 'Marine environment: EU protection is wide but not deep',
Amendment 42 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)
Citation 19 a (new)
— Having regard to the global launch of the Inner Development Goals Alliance in March 2022 with Costa Rica as its first partner country,
Amendment 57 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic is not yet fully known, but has already led to a significant degree of SDG backsliding globally, including in the EU where the SDG index score declined for the first time; whereas according to the United Nations “Financing for Sustainable Development Report” (2021), the Covid-19 pandemic could lead to a “lost decade” for sustainable development; whereas LDCs have been hit particularly hard because of their dependence on trade as a driver of economic growth, their small domestic markets and low levels of diversification, all of which increase their vulnerability to external shocks;
Amendment 68 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the European Parliament as well the Council of the European Union and the European Council have, on repeated occasions since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015, called on the European Commission to adopt an overarching strategy to fully implement the SDGs;
Amendment 74 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Amendment 80 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas the European Parliament as well as national Parliaments also have a responsibility to ensure that sustainable development is mainstreamed within their procedures, in order to break down silos;
Amendment 83 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B d (new)
Recital B d (new)
Bd. whereas the EU high-level multi- stakeholder platform on the implementation of the SDGs, which ran from 2017 to 2019, was set up to support and advise the European Commission and provided a forum for exchange of experience and best practice across sectors and at local, regional, national and EU level, bringing together stakeholders from civil society, non- governmental organisations, the private and corporate sector;
Amendment 86 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B e (new)
Recital B e (new)
Be. whereas the transition to a wellbeing economy, where growth is regenerative, is embedded in the EU’s 8th Environment Action Programme and enshrined in its 2030 and 2050 priority objectives; whereas this transition will require the Union to develop a more holistic approach to policymaking through, inter alia, the use of a summary dashboard that measures economic, social and environmental progress ‘beyond GDP’;
Amendment 89 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B f (new)
Recital B f (new)
Bf. whereas the climate and biodiversity crises are intertwined and need to be addressed in tandem and coherently, taking into account that policies to protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change are not always mutually supportive;
Amendment 90 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B g (new)
Recital B g (new)
Bg. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly exacerbated the existing debt problems of developing countries, further endangering their efforts at mobilizing sufficient resources to achieve the SDGs; whereas, accordingly, additional efforts in terms of debt relief are urgently needed to avoid widespread defaults in developing countries and to facilitate investments in recovery and the SDGs;
Amendment 92 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B h (new)
Recital B h (new)
Bh. whereas according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Report of 2022, climate change has reduced food and water security, hindering efforts to meet the SDGs;
Amendment 94 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B i (new)
Recital B i (new)
Bi. whereas oceans are huge reservoirs of biodiversity and the primary regulator of the global climate; whereas their conservation is critical to sustainable development and contributes to poverty eradication, providing sustainable livelihoods and food security for billions of people;
Amendment 122 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reaffirms its commitment to the 2030 Agenda and the 17 SDGs; stresses that, in the light of the pandemic, the SDGs provide a unique pathway to both ensure a recovery that woulda wellbeing economy, that leaves no one behind and, building back better a more equitable and resilient world;
Amendment 148 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the commitment by the President of the Commission to pursue a ‘whole-of-government’ approach towards the EU’s SDG implementation and to mainstream the SDGs across each Commissioner’s portfolio; asserts, however, that such an approach can only be effective with leadership at the highest level; calls therefore on the European Commission and the Commission President to further detail how the ‘whole of government’ approach to the SDGs is being implemented at EU level;
Amendment 157 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates that to achieve the SDGs, the 2030 Agenda requires a strong level of societal legitimacy and a genuine political reset; recalls that the importance of structured stakeholder engagement and multi-stakeholder partnerships is at the heart of the SDGs; emphasises the immense value of civil society organisations in this regard; deeply regrets that the mandate of the multi-stakeholder platform was not renewed in 2019 and calls for its urgent reinstatement;
Amendment 180 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Is highly concerned that the key provisions of policy coherence for development are acutely lacking in the landmark ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package7 and the Commission’s work in general; _________________ 7 COM(2021)0550.regrets that the lack of an SDG implementation strategy makes it more challenging to achieve policy coherence, due to the lack of clear, measurable and time-bound EU-wide targets for all SDGs to report on; calls for sustainable development to be prioritised and mainstreamed throughout the project cycle (design, implementation, evaluation), through robust impact assessment and for all its dimensions to be systematically considered in impact assessments, disclosure and external reporting requirements;
Amendment 188 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for the Commission to adopt a new, high-level EU SDG implementation strategy given that there are only eight years left to achieve the 2030 Agenda and, hence, urgent implementation is required through the definition of specific, quantitative, measurable and time-bound targets and indicators;
Amendment 197 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is of the view that the adoption of the new comprehensive implementation strategy should be preceded by a broad public participatory consultation process; calls on the EU Commission to anticipate the next UN Agenda after 2030 with a roadmap of targets and measures to plan the next sustainable developments goals;
Amendment 208 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Highlights that the European and national Parliaments also have a role to play to ensure that sustainable development is mainstreamed in procedures and that silos are broken down; emphasises the importance of the Parliament’s participation and contribution to the annual HLPF, and the role that an annual SDG implementation report could play in this regard;
Amendment 248 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recognises the importance of voluntary local reviews and voluntary subnational reviews for the implementation of the SDGs; calls on the Commission to present an inclusive EU voluntary regional review ahead of the 2023 SDG Summit, and every four years thereafter; recalls the importance of national reviews as a way to identify tensions and trade-offs between SDGs and to generate an iterative process of adjusting policies in the light of progress towards targets;
Amendment 257 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Amendment 266 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Underlines that the EU budget is a pivotal tool for implementing the SDGs, due to its size of EUR 1.8 trillion, long- term reach and multinational dimension9 ; urges donors to rapidly scale up ODA to meet commitments which have not yet been delivered on; _________________ 9 Policy Department for Budgetary Affairs, Directorate-General for Internal Policies, for the Committee on Budgetary Control, 'The Sustainable Development Goals in the EU budget', 2021.
Amendment 267 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Underlines the structural challenges of developing countries in terms of domestic resource mobilisation linked to, inter alia, illicit financial flows, unsustainable debt burdens, unbalanced trade agreements as well as tax evasion and aggressive tax planning by multinationals; takes the view that the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda requires an ambitious plan at international level to increase domestic resource mobilisation to address those issues;
Amendment 269 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. calls on the EU to scale up its cooperation with developing countries on tax matters to enable them to enhance mobilisation of public resources; to this end, calls equally on the EU to, inter alia, take the lead to clamp down on tax evasion and tax avoidance practices, to ensure a fair distribution of taxing rights while negotiating tax and investment treaties, to allow developing countries to tax exports of raw materials insofar as it is WTO-compatible, with a view to enable developing countries to expand their fiscal space to deliver on the SDGs;
Amendment 270 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Notes with concern that public indebtedness in the global south was already at unprecedented levels before Covid-19, which resulted in an increasing portion of public budget being used to service external debts, thereby affecting the capacity of governments to adequately fund and deliver basic public services; is alarmed that the current crisis has exacerbated these pre-existing debt vulnerabilities; calls for the creation of a multilateral debt handling mechanism, under UN auspices, to address the debt crisis in developing countries and the financing requirements of the 2030 Agenda;
Amendment 271 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)
Paragraph 14 d (new)
14d. Notes with concern that over the past few years, the level of concessionality of ODA has gradually decreased for developing countries in general and for LDCs in particular, although concessionality is of particular importance for LDCs to prevent unsustainable debt burdens; stresses the need for donors to prioritize grant-based financing, especially to LDCs;
Amendment 275 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the Commission’s efforts to track EU budget expenditure on climate, biodiversity, clean air, migration and gender equality10 ; regrets, however, that no progress has been made to track SGDs-related expenditure in its entirety, or to track inconsistencies among expenditures which hinder the EU and third countries’ achievement of the SDGs, notably in the area of agriculture; urgently calls on Member States and the EU to identify and phase out all environmentally harmful subsidies by 2027, including a phase-out of all fossil fuel subsidies by 2025 at the latest; _________________ 10 Policy Department for Budgetary Affairs, Directorate-General for Internal Policies, for the Committee on Budgetary Control, 'Budgetary control of the Sustainable Development Goals in the EU budget – What measures are in place to ensure effective implementation?', 2021.
Amendment 288 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes efforts made to integrate the SDGs into the European Semester; regrets however that the integration of biodiversity indicators in the European semester is not yet implemented;
Amendment 293 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Notes the prominent role attributed to blending mechanisms in EU development policy and the financing of the SDGs at the expense of other aid modalities; stresses that, while blended finance has grown rapidly, there is little evidence of its development impact, as most blended finance currently goes to middle-income countries, with only a small portion going to LDCs; recalls equally that blending raises concerns in terms of debt sustainability; calls, accordingly, on the EU and its Member States to adopt a cautious approach to blended finance and ensure that all finance mobilised through blending meets development effectiveness principles;
Amendment 295 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Underlines that public and private financing must be aligned with the SDGs; urges the Commission to embed the 2030 Agenda in economic and financial policies and legislation; Recalls that the private sector can guarantee neither universal access to, nor replace public investments in, critical services, such as health, education and social protection, which provide crucial long-term prospects for the graduation from poverty; Underlines that public and private financing must be aligned with the SDGs; urges the Commission to embed the 2030 Agenda in economic and financial policies and legislation; calls on the EU and its Member States, in a context where ODA remains a scarce resource, to limit blending operations to those areas where they can add value to the local economy, but to exclude blending finance from essential public services, particularly health, education and social protection, as the monetisation of those sectors could widen already existing inequalities and jeopardise universal access to those services; more broadly, urges the Commission and the Member States to prioritise partnerships with LDC domestic enterprises that pursue sustainable and inclusive business models;
Amendment 322 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5 a (new)
Subheading 5 a (new)
2022 High Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development
Amendment 325 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Amendment 326 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Regrets that three of the four 2020 SDG 14 targets ('Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development') have not been met by the EU; regrets furthermore that in 2020 the ECA found that, while a framework was in place to protect the marine environment, the EU’s actions had not restored seas to good environmental status, nor fishing to sustainable levels in all seas; calls on the Commission to implement the findings and recommendations of the ECA report in its upcoming 'Action Plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems' , as well as in upcoming actions under the Biodiversity Strategy;
Amendment 327 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21c. Recalls that the climate and biodiversity crises are intertwined and need to be addressed in tandem and coherently; emphasises that legally binding nature restoration targets are urgently needed to address the drastic decline of biodiversity in the EU and achieve SDGs 14 and 15, to help mitigate the climate crisis and to build resilience; regrets, in this regard, the delay of the proposal for an EU nature restoration law and calls for its swift publication;
Amendment 328 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 d (new)
Paragraph 21 d (new)
21d. Underlines the importance of SDG 17 ('strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development'); notes, in the framework of global partnerships and capacity building, the innovative role of open source initiatives such as the Inner Development Goals (IDGs)1a, which aim to educate, inspire and empower people to be a positive force for change in society, thereby accelerating progress towards achievement of the SDGs; _________________ 1a http://www.innerdevelopmentgoals.org/
Amendment 332 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Insists that a global political resetsystemic change and intensified multilateral cooperation will be necessary in order for the EU and its partners to make meaningful progress in the coming eight years; recalls that, as the world’s most successful integration project with a track record of successfully championing multilateralism, the EU is uniquely placed to accelerate progress on all SDGs, and notably SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals); calls, therefore, on the EU to assume a leadership role at the 2022 HLPF and the 2023 SDG Summit in defining this political resettaking forward this systemic change;
Amendment 335 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Is alarmed at the fact that the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services will undermine progress in approximately 80 % of the assessed targets for the SDGs; recalls that ecological restoration is critical for the implementation of the ‘One Health’ approach; calls on the EU to address the root causes of biodiversity loss and to mainstream obligations on conservation, restoration and the sustainable use of resources into broader development policies;
Amendment 339 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Underlines that international law has evolved to embrace new concepts such as “the Common heritage of humanity”, “Sustainable Development”, “Future Generations” but stresses that there is no permanent international mechanism to monitor and address environmental damage and destruction that alters the global commons or ecosystem services;
Amendment 340 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 c (new)
Paragraph 22 c (new)
22c. Calls on the EU and the Member States to support, at the 2022 HLPF and the 2023 SDG Summit, a paradigm shift to include ecocide and the right of future generations in international environmental law;
Amendment 341 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 d (new)
Paragraph 22 d (new)
22d. Recalls that developing countries are historically vulnerable to external shocks owing to narrow export bases and less diversified economies; stresses, therefore, that one of the main challenges for developing countries is to climb up the global value chain through economic diversification and to shift from an a export-oriented production model towards development based on domestic and regional markets; to this end, emphasises the crucial role of multilateral fora and institutions to advance those objectives, with the view to harness resilience and to increase national or regional autonomy in the production of essential goods and services;
Amendment 349 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses the fact that Europe faces its greatest SDG challenges in the areas of sustainable dietfood systems and agriculture, climate and biodiversity (SDGs 2, 12, 13, 14 and 15); calls on the Commission to develop a robust comparative analysis of SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG 14 (life below water), as trends cannot be calculated due to insufficient comparable data over the past five years;
Amendment 351 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Amendment 354 #
2022/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. Stresses the fact that at least 85% of all new external actions implemented through the Global Europe - NDICI instrument will be required to incorporate gender as a significant or principal objective as defined by the gender equality policy marker of the OECD Development Assistance Committee, and at least 5 % of these actions should have gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights and empowerment as a principal objective; reiterates that the European External Action Service and the Member States should consider Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights as a priority in the EU programming process, including in joint programming; insists on swift and full implementation of the requirement in the EU's Environment Action Programme to 2030 ('the 8th EAP') that gender is mainstreamed throughout climate and environmental policies, including by incorporating a gender perspective at all stages of the policy-making process;
Amendment 77 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The use of forced labour is widespread in the world. It is estimated that about 27.6 million people were in forced labour in 2021.18Vulnerable and marginalised groups in a society are particularly susceptible to be pressured into performingMost forced labour occurs in the private economy and has a strong gender dimension.Forced labour touches, in particular, services, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and domestic work, and to a smaller extent, mining and fishers aboard fishing vessels.Vulnerable and marginalised groups in a society, including the poor and socially excluded, workers in the informal economy, irregular or otherwise unprotected migrant workers, and people subject to discrimination, are the most affected byforced labour. Even when it is not state imposed, forced labour is often a consequence of a lack of good governance of certain economic operators. _________________ 18 The 2021 Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public /---ed_norm/--- ipec/documents/publication/wcms_854733. pdf.
Amendment 82 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The eradication of forced labour is a priority for the Union. This Regulation aims to ban from the EU market products that have been produced, extracted or harvested using forced labour and, as ultimate objective, to eradicate forced labour by addressing its root causes. Respect for human dignity and the universality and indivisibility of human rights are firmly enshrined in Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union. Article 5(2) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights provide that no one is to be required to perform forced or compulsory labour. The European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly interpreted Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights as requiring Member States to penalise and effectively prosecute any act maintaining a person in the situations described set out in Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights.19 _________________ 19 For instance paras. 89 and 102 in Siliadin v. France or para. 105 in Chowdury and Others v. Greece.
Amendment 86 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Through its policies and legislative initiatives the Union seeks to eradicate the use of forced labour and to address its root causes. To these effects, corporate sustainability due diligence, along with the ediction of accompanying measures, represents important tools. The Union promotes due diligence in accordance with international guidelines and principles established by international organisations, including the ILO, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (hereinafter “OECD”) and the United Nations (hereinafter “UN”), to ensure that forced labour does not find a place in the value chains of undertakings established in the Union.
Amendment 97 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
(8 a) Throughout, effective due diligence requires the meaningful engagement of stakeholders, including workers, their representative organisations, and community members, as they are best positioned to identify local risks and help formulate the most appropriate mitigation strategies. Attention should focus on identifying, prioritizing, and acting on “hotspots” where the risk of forced labour and other human rights abuses is highest in terms of both severity and scale. Particularly important in this context are the informal micro- and small enterprises operating at the lower links of supply chains in high- risk sectors and locations, often in raw materials extraction and production, where forced labour and other human rights abuses are often most pronounced.
Amendment 100 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12 a) Businesses can also contribute to addressing some of the more structural root causes of forced labour in high-risk locations linked to their business operations and supply chains. Examples of ongoing business efforts targeting root causes include measures to advance the fair recruitment of migrant workers, measures to help tackle poverty of workers in their supply chains through the adoption of living income programmes and measures to ban unfair trading practices in design or lead times.
Amendment 105 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14 a) In addition, import control mechanisms are essential to capture contexts where human rights due diligence to credibly identify, prevent, mitigate, and remediate forced labour at the affected supplier are impossible. This is particularly relevant in cases of state- imposed forced labour affecting all supply chains in an entire country or region, which thereby require the establishment of region-wide bans.
Amendment 110 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 a (new)
Recital 18 a (new)
(18 a) Remedy is a crucial part of the human rights due diligence process under the UNGPs and is critical to ensuring that a Forced Labour Instrument has a positive impact for workers and holds corporations to account. Remedy will encourage workers to come forward and report abuse. Accordingly, the Regulation must ensure the provision of effective remedy to affected rightholders.
Amendment 111 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 b (new)
Recital 18 b (new)
(18 b) In particular, remediation processes and remedial action should be based on, and be aligned with, international standards of best practice, including through consultation with trade unions. Remedy may, for example, include apologies, restitution, rehabilitation and financial or non- financial compensation.
Amendment 112 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 c (new)
Recital 18 c (new)
(18 c) In particular, the responsibility of importers to provide adequate remedy should also include an examination of their contribution through their bad purchasing practices, including predatory pricing, which may be pushing producing companies to resort to forced labour.
Amendment 117 #
2022/0269(COD)
(20) In order to increase the effectiveness of the prohibition, competent authorities should grant reasonable time to economic operators to identify, prevent, mitigate, preventmediate and bring to an end the risk of forced labour.
Amendment 122 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) Before initiating an investigation, competent authorities should request from the economic operators under assessment information on actions taken to mitigate, prevent or bring to an end risks of forced labour in their operations and value chains with respect to the products under assessment. Carrying out such due diligence in relation to forced labour should help the economic operator to be at a lower risk of having forced labour in its operations and value chains. Appropriate due diligence means that forced labour issues in the value chain have been identified and addressed in accordance with relevant Union legislation and international standards. That implies that where the competent authority considers that there is no substantiated concern of a violation of the prohibition, for instance due to, but not limited to the applicable legislation, guidelines, recommendations or any other due diligence in relation to forced labour being applied in a way that mitigates, prevents and brings to an end the risk of forced labour, no investigation should be initiated. However, implementing due diligence procedures should never act as (i) a safe haven against investigations, (ii) as proof no forced labour was used and (iii) as sole condition for the lifting of restrictions.
Amendment 163 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation lays down rules prohibiting economic operators from placing and making available on the Union market or exporting from the Union market products made with forced labour, including state-imposed forced labour.
Amendment 168 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) ‘due diligence in relation to forced labour’ means the efforts by economic operator to implement mandatory requiremendue diligence requirements, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human rights, voluntary guidelines, recommendations or practices to identify, prevent, mitigate, remediate or bring to an end the use of forced labour in their operation and value chain with respect to products that are to be made available on the Union market or to be exported;
Amendment 171 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(c a) ‘bring to an end the use of forced labour’ means effective measures to address the root causes of forced labour that supplies the economic operator that places or makes the product available in the EU market. It shall not mean disengagement as first resort;
Amendment 174 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c b (new)
(c b) 'root causes of forced labour' means the multi-faceted fundamental reasons for the occurrence of forced labour; this shall particularly look into exploitation, poverty, migration, prices below cost of production, lack of living incomes and living wages and unfair purchasing practices;
Amendment 194 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 a (new)
Article 3 a (new)
Article 3 a Prohibition of products made with state- imposed forced labour Economic operators shall not place or make available on the Union market products that are made with state-imposed forced labour, nor shall they export such products. In case of systematic state-imposed forced labour, and where appropriate, the establishment of region-wide bans over specific groups of products, and, where relevant, shall be enacted, in alignment with the EU global human rights sanctions regime.
Amendment 227 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 6
Article 6 – paragraph 6
6. Where economic operators provide evidence to the competent authorities that they have complied with the decision referred to in paragraph 4, and that they have eliminated forced labour from their operations or supply chain with respect to the products concerned, provided the proof of effective remediation for workers victims of forced labour, the competent authorities shall withdraw their decision for the future and inform the economic operators.
Amendment 228 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. To eliminate forced labour, the Commission’s Guidance on Due Diligence for EU businesses shall enable disengagement from a business relationship as a last resort solution only, in consistency with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).
Amendment 229 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 6 b (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. If an economic operator determines that disengagement is the most appropriate action, it must strictly comply with national laws, international labour standards and the terms of collective bargaining agreements.
Amendment 258 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 6
Article 12 – paragraph 6
6. Member States shall confer on their competent authorities the power to impose penalties in accordance with Article 30, including with respect to the provision of remediation.
Amendment 291 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Article 26 – paragraph 1
1. In order to facilitate effective implementation and enforcement of this Regulation, the Commission may as appropriateshall cooperate, engage and exchange information with, amongst others, authorities of third countries, international organisations, civil society representatives and business organisations. International cooperation with authorities of third countries shall take place in a structured way as part of the existing dialogue structures with third countries or, if necessary, specific ones that will be created on an ad hoc basis.
Amendment 297 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 2
Article 26 – paragraph 2
2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, cooperation with, amongst others, international organisations, civil society representatives, business organisations and competent authorities of third countries mayshall result in the Union developing accompanying measures to support the efforts of companies and partner countries efforts and locally available capacities in tackling forced labourworkers, trade unions, civil society, human rights defenders, smallholders and local communities, wherever forced labour occurs, as well as the efforts of companies, in particular small and medium enterprises, and partner countries efforts and locally available capacities in tackling forced labour. This could include, among others, capacity strengthening and funding to support communities and workers to address the root causes of abuses such as discrimination, power imbalances, unfair purchasing practices and production delays, lack of livelihood opportunities, the absence of a living wage, land rights and the transition from informal economy to the formal economy.
Amendment 301 #
2022/0269(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 26 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. The following accompanying measures are notably foreseen: (a) supportive development policies to governments in producer countries to guarantee, protect and fultfil their international human rights obligations to implement decent labour conditions, inter alia by: (i) removing barriers to freedom of expression and association, and increased recognition of land rights; (ii) building national social protection floor, in order to reduce vulnerability to forced or compulsory labour; (iii) providing social and economic assistance, including access to educational and training opportunities and access to decent work, notably for at- risk population groups to increase their employability and income-earning opportunities and capacity; (iv) developing coherent policies, such as employment and labour migration policies, which take into account the risks faced by specific groups of migrants, including those in an irregular situation, and address circumstances that could result in forced labour situations. (b) supporting partner countries to develop encompassing National Action Plans on Forced Labour, with the aim to: (i) address the root causes of workers’ vulnerability to forced or compulsory labour; (ii) adopt and strengthen legislation on forced labour, covering the employment relationship of all sectors of the economy; (iii) provide effective protective measures to meet the needs of all victims, irrespective of their status (age, gender, ethnicity, migration status or any other ground for discrimination), for both immediate assistance and long-term recovery and rehabilitation; (iv) strengthen the enforcement of laws and prosecution; (v) raise awareness and engagement, especially for those who are most at risk of becoming victims of forced or compulsory labour, including migrants, to inform them, inter alia, about how to protect themselves against fraudulent or abusive recruitment and employment practices, their rights and responsibilities at work, how to gain access to assistance in case of need and about the sanctions for violating the prohibition on forced or compulsory labour.
Amendment 318 #
Amendment 319 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 9 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 9 – point b
Amendment 325 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 9 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 9 – subparagraph 1 (new)
These derogations cannot account for more than 5% of the areas covered by the targets in Article 5(1), (2) and (3).
Amendment 336 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 10 – point b a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 10 – point b a (new)
(ba) an increased connectivity between the existing protected areas and between habitat types listed in Annex II.
Amendment 396 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 11 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Member States shall promote campaigns to raise public awareness of the importance of biodiversity and nature restoration and engage especially with young people through programmes and concrete projects and through education and general information.
Amendment 410 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(ca) a description, when necessary, of the restoration measures to ensure improved connectivity between existing protected areas and connectivity between the habitat types listed in Annex I and II, in accordance with Articles 4(5) and 5(5);
Amendment 478 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 25 a (new)
Annex III – point 25 a (new)
(25a) Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias)
Amendment 480 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 25 b (new)
Annex III – point 25 b (new)
(25b) Common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus)
Amendment 483 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 25 c (new)
Annex III – point 25 c (new)
(25c) Leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus)
Amendment 487 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 25 d (new)
Annex III – point 25 d (new)
(25d) Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis)
Amendment 489 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 25 e (new)
Annex III – point 25 e (new)
(25e) flapper skate (Dipturus intermedia)
Amendment 493 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 25 f (new)
Annex III – point 25 f (new)
(25f) tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus)
Amendment 495 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 25 g (new)
Annex III – point 25 g (new)
(25g) thornback ray (Raja clavata)
Amendment 500 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 25 h (new)
Annex III – point 25 h (new)
(25h) undulate ray (Raja undulata)
Amendment 501 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 25 i (new)
Annex III – point 25 i (new)
(25i) Long-snouted Seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus/ramulosus)
Amendment 504 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 25 j (new)
Annex III – point 25 j (new)
(25j) Short-snouted Seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus)
Amendment 506 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 25 k (new)
Annex III – point 25 k (new)
(25k) Roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris)
Amendment 509 #
2022/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex III – point 25 l (new)
Annex III – point 25 l (new)
(25l) Beaked Redfish (Sebastes mentella)
Amendment 13 #
2022/0142M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that sustainable and inclusive forest management and governance is essential to achieve the objectives set in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement; recalls the importance of mining as a major driver of tropical deforestation, resulting in substantial soil erosion and contamination, increased forest fragmentation and mercury pollution of rivers and streams; calls on the government of Guyana to take further steps in curbing illegal mining; underlines the risks posed by Guyana’s expanding oil, gas and mining industries; notes with concern the lack of coherence between regulation in the forest sector and that in the mining sector;
Amendment 18 #
2022/0142M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Insists upon the full implementation of the principles of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of Indigenous People and Local Communities, notably in the context of mining; recalls that it shall be obtained as a condition of the purchase or the use of customary forest lands, in compliance with international human rights laws, namely the ILO Convention N°169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples and the standards set out in the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests;
Amendment 26 #
2022/0142M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Reiterates its call on the Union to comply with the principle of policy coherence for development and to ensure consistency between its development, trade, agriculture, energy and climate policies;
Amendment 105 #
2022/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Regulation (EU) 2017/2107
Article 33 – title
Article 33 – title
North Atlantic Shortfin mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus)
Amendment 106 #
2022/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Regulation (EU) 2017/2107
Article 33 – paragraph 1
Article 33 – paragraph 1
1. Union fishing vessels shall promptly release North Atlantic shortfin mako sharks in a manner that causes the least harmNorth Atlantic shortfin mako sharks caught in Union fishing vessels shall not be harmed and shall be promptly released into the sea, while giving due consideration to the safety of crew members.
Amendment 108 #
2022/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Regulation (EU) 2017/2107
Article 33 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 33 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, Member States may authorise their vessels to fish and retain on board, transship or land North Atlantic shortfin mako, provided that:Member States shall make sure that their vessels apply the minimum standards for safe handling and release procedures of North Atlantic shortfin mako shark as set out in Annex IX”.
Amendment 112 #
2022/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Regulation (EU) 2017/2107
Article 33 – paragraph 2 – point i
Article 33 – paragraph 2 – point i
Amendment 114 #
2022/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Regulation (EU) 2017/2107
Article 33 – paragraph 2 – point ii
Article 33 – paragraph 2 – point ii
Amendment 115 #
2022/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Regulation (EU) 2017/2107
Article 33 – paragraph 3
Article 33 – paragraph 3
Amendment 120 #
2022/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Regulation (EU) 2017/2107
Article 33 – paragraph 4
Article 33 – paragraph 4
Amendment 121 #
2022/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24
Regulation (EU) 2017/2107
Article 33 – paragraph 5
Article 33 – paragraph 5
Amendment 122 #
2022/0111(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 24 a (new)
Regulation (EU) 2017/2107
Article 33a (new)
Article 33a (new)
(24a) The following Article is inserted "Article 33a South Atlantic Shortfin mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus) 1.Member States shall make sure that their vessels apply the minimum standards for safe handling and release procedures of South Atlantic shortfin mako shark as set out in Annex IX. 2.Member States shall report on a monthly basis to the Commission all permissible landings of vessels flying their flag, which are authorised to catch South Atlantic shortfin mako.That report shall be sent to the Commission within 15 days of the end of the calendar month in which the catches were made.In addition, Member States shall report to the Commission every year the dead discards, live releases and total catches of vessels flying their flag. 3.By 30 June every year, Member States whose vessels have caught (landings and dead discards) South Atlantic shortfin mako sharks shall communicate to the Commission the statistical methodology used to estimate dead discards and live releases.Member States with artisanal and small-scale fisheries shall also provide information about their data collection programs. 4.As part of their annual Task 1 and 2 data submissions, Member States shall provide to the Commission all relevant data for South Atlantic shortfin mako, including estimates of dead discards and live releases using the methods approved by the SCRS. 5. Fishing vessels that retain South Atlantic shortfin mako are prohibited to transship, whole or in part, South Atlantic shortfin mako caught in association with ICCAT fisheries."
Amendment 1 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Whereas nearly one billion people, largely in developing countries, rely on fish and seafood as their primary source of animal protein; whereas small-scale fisheries account for more than 90% of the world’s capture fishers and fish workers;
Amendment 2 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1 a. Whereas blue growth is focused on highly capital-intensive projects, with limited benefits for most coastal communities in developing countries;
Amendment 3 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 b (new)
Paragraph -1 b (new)
-1 b. Whereas the reliance on private finance and the expansion of international financialisation for blue growth and related marine conservation projects sometimes push democratic decision making on natural resources away from the local level;
Amendment 4 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 c (new)
Paragraph -1 c (new)
-1 c. Whereas increased competition for maritime space between blue economy sectors can undermine livelihoods of coastal communities and Small-Scale Fisheries, notably women; whereas the blue economy should respond to a human rights-based approach;
Amendment 5 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 d (new)
Paragraph -1 d (new)
-1 d. Whereas over-exploitation, pollution and climate change are causing a serious loss of marine biodiversity which is key for fisheries and coastal communities;
Amendment 6 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 e (new)
Paragraph -1 e (new)
-1 e. Whereas Sustainable Fisheries Policy Agreements (SFPA) must guarantee appropriate and effective use, access and control of fisheries stocks management by small-scale fishers ;
Amendment 7 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 f (new)
Paragraph -1 f (new)
-1 f. Whereas the overexploitation of fish stocks, which leads to a lack of available resources for local people, including young people, can contribute to migration;
Amendment 8 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 g (new)
Paragraph -1 g (new)
Amendment 9 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 h (new)
Paragraph -1 h (new)
-1 h. Whereas climate change increasingly changes the distribution and migratory patterns of various fish species and affects small-scale fisheries in developing countries that are more vulnerable to its effects;
Amendment 10 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 i (new)
Paragraph -1 i (new)
-1 i. Whereas the IPCC Special report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate gives evidence of the benefits of combining scientific with local and indigenous knowledge to enforce resilience;
Amendment 11 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 j (new)
Paragraph -1 j (new)
-1 j. Whereas the illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing is a one of the greatest threats to sustainable exploitation of fish population; whereas tax evasion and corruption facilitate IUU fishing which often coincides with human rights abuses, including human trafficking and modern slavery;
Amendment 12 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 k (new)
Paragraph -1 k (new)
-1 k. Whereas the EU is a major market for West African Fish Meal and Fish Oil (FMFO);
Amendment 18 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls the critical role of small- scale fisheries in food security and nutrition; notes the potential conflicts between fisheries and other emerging sectors of the blue economy; urges the EU to address them through transparent conflict resolution mechanisms; to this end, stresses the need to promote participatory maritime spatial planning, the creation of stakeholders’ forums of dialogue, the strict implementation of the precautionary approach, not limited to deep-see mining, but expanded to the development of new blue sectors;
Amendment 23 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the need to implement an integrated ecosystem-based approach to all sectors of the blue economy, including extractive industries; in particular, urges the EU and partner countries to adopt science-based Maximum Sustainable Yield-based targets for management of all stocks; to enforce effective monitoring, control and surveillance;
Amendment 31 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls the EU’s responsibility in global fisheries governance, which should prioritise the rights of small-scale fishers and protect their access to, use of and control over fishing resources; to this end, urges the EU to scale up its financial support for the development of the entire value chain in small-scale fisheries, and to ensure greater participation of women in decision- making, considering their crucial role in small-scale fishing, including pre- and post- harvest activities, aquaculture and inland fishing;
Amendment 39 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls the EU’s commitment to the principle of policy coherence for development; stresses that sustainable fisheries partnership agreements must be in line with best available scientific advice and must neither undermine local food security nor threaten small-scale fisheries in non-EU countries by putting them in direct competition with EU vessels; calls for the agreements to be aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and with the EU environmental obligations and Common Fisheries Policy objectives by increasing sectoral support and sustainability provisions on surpluses, discards and the precautionary approach;
Amendment 42 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Urges the EU to increase transparency, data collection and reporting requirements of SFPAs; to increase the engagement of civil society prior to the negotiations and during the implementation period;
Amendment 43 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Is worried that sectoral support within SFPAs often doesn’t benefit directly small-scale fishers; calls on the Commission to link SFPAs closely with EU development aid with the aim of improving value-added for coastal communities; in addition, calls on the Commission to proactively make public annual reports on the concrete realizations of sectoral support to better track the use EU public money;
Amendment 44 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Calls on the European Commission to come forward with ambitious mandates in Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (RFMOs) in order to protect fisheries resources in developing countries and international waters, notably in relation to improving stock management for species such as tropical tunas, reducing discard and applying the precautionary approach to protect the conservation of endangered species, vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) as well as, improving data available, compliance and transparent decision-making;
Amendment 45 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4 d. Calls the Commission to push for the integration of climate adaptation and mitigation goals in its SFPAs and in Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) decision- making;
Amendment 46 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4 e. Calls on the EU and its Member States to step up its efforts to improve global fisheries governance, notably through mechanisms such as the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI);
Amendment 51 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that the production of fishmeal and fish oil contributes to overfishing in developing countries; notably in West Africa; calls for mandatory due diligence measures to ensure that the whole seafood-industry supply chain is fair, fully traceable and, free of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and production linked with human trafficking and slavery;
Amendment 53 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Recalls that all states involved in fisheries in West Africa should establish a RFMO – particularly for the exploitation of shared stocks, such as small pelagic fish – as required under international law, relevant national laws, pan-African and regional fisheries policies, and other instruments. This management regime should comply with a precautionary and ecosystem-based approach, ensuring the total allowable catch is within safe biological limits;
Amendment 56 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Underlines that the business model of aquaculture involves similar risks than industrial farming, including strong impacts on surrounding ecosystems coupled with occasional diseases outbreak; calls for the development of sustainable aquaculture, through sustainable fisheries management and best aquaculture practises by strongly reducing EU industry’s dependence on fish meal and by promoting non- carnivorous species to this effect, calls equally on the EU to provide technical assistance to developing country producers, especially small producers;
Amendment 57 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Urges the EU to effectively promote and protect small-scale fisheries in Africa, that is the main provider of oceans livelihoods, as a cornerstone of the future “EU-Africa blue task force”, i.e. by funding the implementation of the FAO international guidelines on sustainable small-scale fisheries ;
Amendment 58 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5 d. Expresses its deep concern about privatisation of commons, including coastal lands and access to coastal marine areas, without prior, informed consent of local communities;
Amendment 62 #
2021/2188(INI)
6. Urges the EU to develop a human rights-based approach towards ocean governance and the blue economy by supporting food sovereignty and economic development for local fishing communities;
Amendment 67 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the objective of protecting 30 % of the world’s oceans by 2030, but warns that it should not be done at the expense of indigenous peoples and local communities whose tenure, access and resource rights to ocean should be protected, as embedded in FAO Voluntary Guidelines of Tenure, Land and Forests and for Securing Sustainable Small Scale Fisheries, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and Free, Prior and Informed Consent; as set out in the ILO Convention 169; to this end, calls for the creation of robust human rights safeguards, accountability and grievance mechanism;
Amendment 69 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that a growing body of research, notably IPCC Special report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, shows that objectives on biodiversity and climate change mitigation and adaptation are better achieved when local communities have direct control over the management of the resources on which they rely; highlights the risks of ocean grabbing linked to maritime spatial planning; accordingly, stresses the need to securing Small-Scale Fisheries and the responsible governance of tenure; as well as to hold accountable EU “blue businesses” beneficiaries if their activities violate human rights;
Amendment 72 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Calls on the EU and partner countries to rely on indigenous know-how in its climate mitigation strategies and to promote actively participate management, which has proved to be effective in increasing the resilience of coastal communities;
Amendment 74 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Calls on the EU to promote and protect women in the seafood supply chain; notably by ensuring greater participation of women in decision- making;
Amendment 75 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, facilitated by the practice of flying a flag of convenience, damages food security and the livelihoods of people in coastal countries; stresses the need to limit flags of convenience and re-flagging and to address transshipment at seawhile creating fertile ground for piracy; calls for a strong system, of deterrent sanctions and a multi-pronged approach to fight IUU fishing; stresses the need to limit flags of convenience and re-flagging and to address transshipment at sea, as important tools to close IUU loopholes; more broadly, calls on the EU to strengthen anti-corruption capacity building; fostering national interagency cooperation and increasing international cooperation; improving oversight of fishery agents; and supporting regional monitoring, control and surveillance centres and task forces;
Amendment 76 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Stresses that the governance of land-based activities is critical to achieving a sustainable blue economy, as living coastal resources are most threatened by land-based activities, with agriculture, ports and harbours, and aquaculture being particularly impactful; urges the EU and its Member States to take all necessary measures to address holistically the root causes of marine pollution and fish depletion, and to reform accordingly its sectoral policies;
Amendment 78 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9 b. Takes note that extractive industry is a growing sector of the blue oceans economy; emphasises the duty of states to refrain from taking measures, including large-scale development projects, that may adversely affect the livelihoods of inland and marine small-scale fishers, their territories or access rights; and to conduct ex-ante assessments of extractive industry projects, operated by private entities in order to evaluate the possible negative human rights impacts on local fishing communities;
Amendment 82 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls for the EU to act on the detrimental impacts of fishing techniques such as bottom-contacting gears or fish aggregating devices by limiting their use.on climate, seabeds and bycatch by limiting their use; in particular, calls on the EU to prohibit the use of bottom-trawling in all marine protected areas;
Amendment 85 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Calls on the EU to encourage developing countries to develop national inshore exclusion zones reserved for local and artisanal fishers;
Amendment 86 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Stresses the importance of applying the precautionary principle in deep-sea mining; in particular, reiterates its support an international moratorium on commercial deep-sea mining exploitation licences until such time as the effects of deep-sea mining on the marine environment, biodiversity and human activities at sea have been studied and researched sufficiently and all possible risks are understood;
Amendment 87 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Amendment 88 #
2021/2188(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 d (new)
Paragraph 10 d (new)
10 d. Recognizes that coastal tourism can have positive impacts on developing countries, but can be detrimental when mass tourism strategies are developed, leading to reduced food access and consumption for local consumers and to the destruction of the marine environment and cultural identities, calls on the EU to promote fair and low-impact models for tourism;
Amendment 1 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Whereas according to the United Nations, there are about 2.2 billion people who do not have access to safe drinking water and 4.2 billion people who lack sanitation services[1]; [1] UN Water, 2021.
Amendment 2 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1 a. Whereas it is estimated that by 2050, 25% of the world’s population will live in countries where the lack of freshwater is chronic and recurrent[1]; [1] The UN global water Conventions: Fostering sustainable development and peace, UN Water, 1 Dec. 20, p.6.
Amendment 3 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 b (new)
Paragraph -1 b (new)
-1 b. Whereas water stress in developing countries may occur in case of rainfall deficits; the presence of weak institutions around irrigation and water markets; sudden population growth resulting i.e. from forced displacement;
Amendment 4 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 c (new)
Paragraph -1 c (new)
-1 c. Whereas water insecurity (resulting from limitations in water availability, access, use, quality and reliability) threatens food security and generates waterborne disease such as cholera or diarrheal, which is the second- leading cause of death in children under the age of five globally[1]; [1] Sources: UN Water 2019.
Amendment 5 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 d (new)
Paragraph -1 d (new)
-1 d. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need to accelerate progress on WASH in schools;
Amendment 6 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 e (new)
Paragraph -1 e (new)
-1 e. Whereas the ongoing global boom of dams, linked to energy production and irrigation water provision, raises concerns in terms of access to water, including through the evaporation of water storage;
Amendment 7 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 f (new)
Paragraph -1 f (new)
-1 f. Whereas the surge of energy crops, such as rapeseed, palm oil, soybean, corn, maize, etc., which are produced for biodiesel and ethanol, compete with water use linked to food crops;
Amendment 8 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 g (new)
Paragraph -1 g (new)
-1 g. Whereas cities across Africa are particularly facing escalating water challenges due to poor urban planning, unaffordable, unreliable and unsafe access to water and sanitation and environmental degradation and water pollution;
Amendment 9 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 h (new)
Paragraph -1 h (new)
-1 h. Whereas deforestation and forest degradation in watersheds jeopardise water availability by altering local hydrology and reducing the interseasonal stability of water supplies;
Amendment 10 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 i (new)
Paragraph -1 i (new)
-1 i. Whereas healthy ecosystems enable to improve water quantity and quality, while increasing resilience to climate change;
Amendment 12 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reaffirms that access to water and sanitation is a vital imperative and a fundamental right that needs to be addressed in a context of competing water uses between agriculture, energy, extractive and other industrial activities relying on a large quantity of water resources;
Amendment 21 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Notes with concern that while climate change will exacerbate water- related challenges, including increasing the magnitude and frequency of floods, water quality is also deteriorating due to increasing pollution, resulting i.e. from agricultural run-off and untreated industrial and municipal wastewater;
Amendment 27 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Notes with concern that the EU is the largest virtual water “importer” in the world, notably through its imports of agricultural products and its biofuel policy, which impact upon local water availability[1]; [1] Sources: DROI Study entitled “The Human Right to Drinking Water: Impact of Large-Scale Agriculture and Industry” (2021).
Amendment 28 #
2021/2187(INI)
1 c. Highlights that some of the proposed climate response to address climate change may impact negatively on the universal right to water, as in the case of large-scale dams and the cultivation of food and feed crops used for biofuels; accordingly, highlights the importance to implement fully-fledged Human Right Impact Assessment related to the EU biofuel policy and to any agricultural and energy investment projects financed by the European Fund for Sustainable Development; in particular, calls for the inclusion, in the remit of the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive, of water provisions in the definition of the sustainability criteria on biofuel crops;
Amendment 30 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1 d. Recalls the state obligations to fulfil the human right to drinking water entails i.e. to ensuring the setting-up of participation mechanism, including the implementation of the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of Indigenous People and Local Communities in relation to large-scale energy infrastructure (such as dams) and extractive industries, the systematic recognition of customary rights to drinking water and the provision of justiciable remedies (through complaint mechanism) in case of human rights violations;
Amendment 37 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the European Union to promote a rights-based approach to access to water and sanitation in its external action in accordance with the UN-declared Water Action Decade 2018-2028, and in keeping with Sustainable Development Goal 6, which entails to anchor the water-energy- food security nexus into its development aid and water diplomacy;
Amendment 51 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is concerned that easy access to drinking water is severely restricted in developing countries (only one person in two enjoys such access) and extremely limited in sub-Saharan Africa (only one person in eight in rural areas); stresses that access to water is intrinsically linked to health and education;
Amendment 54 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Notes with concern that according to the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, 2 out of 5 children without a basic drinking water service at school lived in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2019[1];emphasises the importance of providing basic water, sanitation and waste management facilities in schools for eradicating waterborne diseases and reducing the transmission of infectious diseases and protecting global health; [1] WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, “Special Focus on Covid- 19”, 2020, p. 7.
Amendment 59 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Recalls that agriculture mobilizes 70% of water resources; calls for a coordinated and coherent water management in developing countries. In view of the large-scale consumption of water for industrial purposes; considers that it is necessary to promote systems and methods of use that take account of the sustainability of aquifers and, in particular, agricultural systems that incorporate improved irrigation techniques adapted to resource-poor environments;
Amendment 61 #
2021/2187(INI)
3 c. Calls on the EU and its Member States to fully integrate water into its external food security policy; insists that EU funding for agriculture must be in line with Agenda 2030, the Paris Climate Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity and prioritise investments in agroecology, whose practises can buffer rural livelihoods from climate change and increasing rainfall variability while minimising the environmental footprint;
Amendment 62 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3 d. Recognises the central role of healthy ecosystems in achieving water security; in particular, highlights the benefits of nature assets for water management, such as forest conservation to regulate the water supply, mangroves, wetland restoration/conservation to reduce potential flood damage, etc.; therefore, believes that the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems should be a central pillar of water resources management, especially to mitigate and adapt to climate change;
Amendment 63 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 e (new)
Paragraph 3 e (new)
3 e. Highlights the potential risks of water grabbing and water pollution associated to foreign direct investments in large-scale land acquisitions for agriculture and extractive industries; calls on the EU and its Member States to enact water-related mandatory due diligence and reporting standards for corporations;
Amendment 67 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls urgently, following the COVID-19 pandemic and given the increasing number of climate change- related natural disasters, for access to water and sanitation to be made a priority in developing countries, in particular in the least developed countries and small island developing states and in humanitarian context;
Amendment 71 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Highlights the need to link life- saving humanitarian responses to the development of sustainable water and sanitation systems for all; to this effect, calls on the EU to support the public authorities in developing countries in targeting policies to increase water connections, affordability and availability for the most socially vulnerable;
Amendment 73 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that the Commission mobilised almost EUR 2.6 billion over the period 2014-2020 for water-related issues, and calls for steady efforts to be pursued in the context of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument that go beyond 20% of spending on human development, while ensuring that a consistent part of the 30% dedicated to fight climate change is allocated to strengthen water and sanitation infrastructures; highlights the need to tailor infrastructure investments to local and historical contexts, while investing in the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems (including forests, floodplains, wetlands, etc.), which often provide more cost-effective and sustainable water management solutions than conventional infrastructure remedies, in terms of water storage, water treatment, erosion control, moderate extreme events;
Amendment 78 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Highlights the role of EU trade policy to achieving the fundamental human right to water; to this end, calls for the inclusion of water-related provisions in EU trade agreements as “essential elements” clauses; to harness the Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) chapter of FTAs through the definition of binding and mandatory commitments and standards related to multilateral environmental agreements and to develop safeguards in investment and trade agreements to prevent the privatisation of water, which may jeopardise the achievement of universal access to drinking water;
Amendment 81 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Recalls that climate variability, and its impact on water availability, affect existing patterns of migration; in particular, notes that a recent World Bank report estimates that climate change could lead up to 216 million people to become internal migrants; while the vast majority of these migrants are expected to end up in urban areas, notes with concern that most cities in developing countries are not prepared for efficient and sustainable expansion, notably regarding the provision of critical public services, such as water management and water supply; calls on the EU to step up its support to contribute to making cities in developing countries more resilient to water shocks, including through sustainable urban planning, while providing better integration of rural migrants into urban settings;
Amendment 82 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Stresses that Africa’s rapidly changing urban context necessitates particularly urgent action to build water resilience; highlights the deep inequalities in access to basic infrastructure which place disproportionate water-related burdens on the urban poor, while urban construction, agriculture and extractive industries often lead to pollution of surface water, exploitation of groundwater sources and forests; notes with deep concern that water security has been limited by poor governance, aging water delivery systems, depleted groundwater supplies, rising water costs and widespread chemical and microbial contamination;
Amendment 83 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5 d. Calls on the EU to step up its technical and financial support to build up urban water resilience in Africa; more broadly, stresses the need to develop a holistic water and sanitation management approach, notably through the involvement of key players across sectors and industries that impact directly or indirectly the water system, such as land development and management, planning, construction, mining, roads and drainage, transport, farmers and forestry;
Amendment 87 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Draws attention to the major geostrategic dimension of water, which can give rise to sudden conflict and forced displacement; notes with concern that in many parts of the world, cooperative arrangements for transboundary rivers, lakes and aquifers are lacking or are too weak to deal with growing water-related challenges; stresses the benefits of transboundary water cooperation to providing for equitable benefit sharing, avoiding conflicts, fostering the energy- food-water ecosystem nexus, safeguarding sustainable water management and ecosystem protection; calls on the Commission to promote regional cooperation on the shared management of water resources around the 286 transboundary river basins;
Amendment 90 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Encourages developing countries to join and to strive for the full implementation of the two United Nations global water Conventions (UN Water Convention and the UN Watercourse Convention), as important tools to support water diplomacy, peace and conflict prevention through transboundary water cooperation;
Amendment 97 #
2021/2187(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for coordinated and coherent water management in developing countries with regard to its various uses (agriculture, energy production, industry, etc.),Stresses the need to address the complexity of competing and increasing demands of water resources; recalls that fragmented governance and the lack of coordination between institutions and sectoral agencies are major barriers to building resilience into water systems; accordingly, urges for coordinated and coherent water management in developing countries with regard to its various uses (agriculture, energy production, industry, etc.); reminds that an integrated water resources management policy should be transparent, inclusive, and should encourage multi-stakeholder planning and participation across all sectors and at all levels; and calls on the European Union to provide better support to developing countries for water resource conversation and sustainable water management;
Amendment 111 #
2021/2187(INI)
8. Stresses the need to support smallReminds that solutions that are co- designed with local knowledge and community participation will be the most effective in achieving social and community resilience towards water- related shocks; stresses the need to diversify water supply sources as well as management and conservation options, to increase funding for policies and programmes that improve locally led adaptation, to support small-scale, off-grid and decentralised projects, including those in rural areas, and to pay particular attention to women, children and the most vulnerable communities as regards access to water and sanitation.;
Amendment 1 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Whereas African economies remain by and large heavily concentrated on natural resources-based products and commodities;
Amendment 4 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the positive shiftchange in EU- Africa relations towards a partnership on an equal footing, allowing both sides to pursue their own interests but also to identify common areas of cooperation; stresses that free, fair, and sustainable trade facilitates inclusive economic growth and, sustainable development, and contributes to poverty reduction; highlights, in this regard, highlights the importance of the new pPartnership aAgreement between the EU and the members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, the upcoming summitneed to ensure coherence between theits African Union and the EU, and Protocol and the upcoming AU-EU Summit, as well as innovative initiatives such as the EU mMulti- stakeholder dDialogue for sSustainable cocoaCocoa; in this respect, calls on the EU to actively support policies to develop cocoa processing at the local, national and regional level;
Amendment 10 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls that the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of the global supply chain, while giving a new impetus to the need to build regional markets in Africa, fostering intra-African trade, investment and value chains, for greater economic autonomy of the continent;
Amendment 16 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the EU to actively support the new African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which presents a major opportunity for African countries to boost inclusive growth, enable sustainable development, and reduce poverty and improve living standards; notes that the AfCFTA pavrovides the way for aability to fundamentally transformation of the continent’s development prospects; takes the view that EU support to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) be parallel to the development of regulative frameworks, to prevent a “race to the bottom” of social and environmental norms resulting from the removal of trade barriers;
Amendment 22 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Recalls the statement of the UN Economic Commission for Africa indicating that it believes the economic partnership agreements between the EU and African countries could have negative consequences for intra-African trade; points out that none of the EPAs in place today correspond to the existing 8 Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa, thereby undermining their integration dynamics; stresses that a partnership of equals entails to take into account the concerns of African countries in terms of economic diversification, industrialisation, loss of government revenues and regional integration;
Amendment 26 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Urges the EU to acknowledge diverging views on EPAs, to find concrete solutions to respond to African countries concerns and to refrain from launching or broadening EPA negotiations, including through the “rendez-vous” clauses unless ACP countries proactively make such demand; more broadly, reiterates its request to have an in-depth analysis on the impact of EPAs, and its compliance with the SDGs and the principle of Policy Coherence for Development;
Amendment 30 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that eEconomic pPartnership aAgreements (EPAs) need to support the various regional trade communities in Africa and the further development of the AfCFTA, and contribute to the building of resilient, and sustainable local and regional value chains, and help to boosting and diversifying intra- African trade; calls for chapters ensuring consistunderlines that the interim EPAs do not have a specific trade and sustainable development chapter; and accordingly, calls for the systematic and consistent inclusion and implementation of Trade and Sustainable Development chapters on human rights, labour and environmental standards in all currently negotiated and future EPAs, ensuring coherencye with development needs and policies and the UN sustainable development goals to always be included and implSDGs, especially with regard to their impact on deforestation, climate change and biodiversity loss and the ILO Decent work agenda; in addition, stresses the importance of including the objective of combating forced labour and child labour in TSD chapters of Union trade agreementeds;
Amendment 42 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the reform of the EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) as one of the EU’s key trade instruments for supporting developing countries in their efforts to promote sustainable development and economic diversification, reduce poverty and ensure respect for human rights; welcomes, in particular, the aim to facilitate increased economic growth and job creation in developing countries on the African continent; stresses that enhanced social and environmental conditionality to benefit from preferential trade preferences should be embedded into the technical and financial assistance projects under the NDICI-Global Europe instrument. targeting notably those benefiting from the special arrangements given their vulnerability and lack of economic diversification; calls on the EU to make sure that European tTrade policy does not contradict efforts byfrom African partners to establish viable economic structures.; calls, accordingly, for the removal of the provisions in the GSP Regulation which are linked to EU interests only, namely those conditionalities linked to migration and access to raw materials; recalls that the GSP regime should support the regional integration process of the African continent;
Amendment 53 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Recalls that the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) on financing for development highlighted the need to mobilise more domestic resources for achieving SDGs; recalls that one of the main objectives for African countries is to climb up the global value chain through economic diversification; but recalls that commodity dependence remains one of the main development challenges for poorer African economies, which failed by and large to diversify their export;
Amendment 55 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Amendment 58 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Stresses the key role attributed to the EU External Investment Plan (EIP), and notably the European Fund for Sustainable Development as its first pillar, for shaping EU trade and investment policy towards Africa, in parallel with the EPAs; recalls its emphasis put on improving the investment climate in partner countries; stresses that the EU’s commitment to boost private sector investment for achieving the SDGs shall be tantamount to the definition of mandatory human rights, social rights and environmental due diligence obligations, based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human rights, which shall apply to the whole value chain and include provisions on access to justice;
Amendment 62 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4 d. Urges the EU to better anchor its trade and investment engagement with Africa on African priorities and initiatives, notably the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, and supporting African institutions and trade stakeholders; more broadly, calls on the EU to fully commit to the principle of Policy Coherence for Development, especially in a context where the design of the EU External Investment Plan results in integrating EU aid with EU trade interests and private sector promotion to support geostrategic ambitions;
Amendment 65 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Amendment 68 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)
Paragraph 4 f (new)
4 f. Stresses the need to shift the focus away from a system that prioritizes investor protection to one that emphasizes the advancement of national and global development goals through sustainable investment;
Amendment 70 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 g (new)
Paragraph 4 g (new)
4 g. Urges the EU to review its investment treaties, to ensure a fair balance between rights and obligations for investors to respect human rights, the environment, and refrain from illegal action, such as corruption and fraud; stresses the need to include obligations on home states to support sustainable investment and allow victims to seek justice in the home state of the investor;
Amendment 72 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 h (new)
Paragraph 4 h (new)
4 h. Calls on the Commission to promote sustainable investments to advance towards a carbon-free economy, in line with its pledge in the Glasgow Climate Pact, while ensuring a responsible and sustainable sourcing and management of natural resources and raw materials, as well as sustainable waste management in line with its Green Deal objectives;
Amendment 73 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 i (new)
Paragraph 4 i (new)
4 i. Encourages African countries, at a time when UNICA reports that many of the investments treaties concluded in the 1990s-early 2000s have recently expired or are about to expire, to review and reform its investment and double taxation treaties according to their development needs; to this effect, believes that the African Continental Free Trade Area and the ongoing regional integration efforts provide a good opportunity to rebalance the international investment regime so that it becomes responsible, equitable and conducive to sustainable development;
Amendment 76 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 j (new)
Paragraph 4 j (new)
4 j. Underlines that the disruptions triggered by COVID-19 have shone a spotlight on the vulnerabilities of the global food system; urges the Commission to develop a strategy to gradually shift away from trade-oriented agricultural policies to local and regional markets, which hold major potential to address current food system failures;
Amendment 77 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 k (new)
Paragraph 4 k (new)
4 k. Is worried about the high dependence of African states on food imports from the EU, particularly subsidised products that represent harmful competition for small-scale local agriculture; calls on the EU to ensure that its trade and investment policy respects inter alia the 2018 UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas; the FAO Voluntary Guidelines of Tenure, Land and Forests and for Securing Sustainable Small Scale Fisheries, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and Free, Prior and Informed Consent, as set out in the ILO Convention 169;
Amendment 79 #
2021/2178(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 l (new)
Paragraph 4 l (new)
4 l. Underlines the trade-related impact of the digitisation of economic activities and its associated trade-in- services dynamics; reminds that African countries need to preserve and expand their policy space to undertake digital industrialisation; urges the EU to take on board African priorities and to refrain from negotiating digital clauses in investment agreements that would restrict their ability to regulate, redistribute the profits, improve their public services or hinder their local technological development strategy;
Amendment 7 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
— having regard to the 2021 report of STECF on criteria and indicators to incorporate sustainability aspects for seafood products in the marketing standards under the Common Market Organisation (STECF-20-05),
Amendment 8 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
— having regard to the 2020 study by Said et al. titled ‘Small-scale fisheries access to fishing opportunities in the European Union: Is the Common Fisheries Policy the right step to SDG14b?’,
Amendment 17 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
— having regard to Article 6.18 of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries concerning the protection of the rights of artisanal and small-scale fishers and their preferential access, where appropriate, to traditional fishing grounds and resources,
Amendment 48 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. Whereas the EU committed itself to delivering on the UN 2030 Agenda which includes SDG14: to "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development";
Amendment 50 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas ‘small-scale coastal fishing’ is defined in the EMFAF regulation as fishing activities carried out by marine and inland fishing vessels of an overall length of less than 12 metres and not using towed gear, or by fishers on foot, including shellfish gatherers;
Amendment 51 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. Whereas objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy include the reduction of by-catch of species to a level that allows their recovery and conservation;
Amendment 53 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. Whereas the EMFAF provides financial support for young fishers starting up fishing activities, while there is no subsequent guarantee for acquiring fishing opportunities;
Amendment 55 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L b (new)
Recital L b (new)
Lb. Whereas there is a large scientific consensus regarding the strong impacts of mobile bottom-contact gears on the seabed, according to STECF;
Amendment 56 #
2021/2168(INI)
Lc. Whereas fishing creates jobs both at sea and on land, whereas some regions rely on landings happening locally to ensure the viability of many businesses and maintain lively coastal communities;
Amendment 65 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital P
Recital P
P. whereas some stocks are mainly targeted by differentparticular fleet types, but many others are targeted by both small-scale and large-scale fleets;
Amendment 71 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q a (new)
Recital Q a (new)
Qa. Whereas introducing social and environmental criteria in the allocation of fishing opportunities is likely to take more time in countries where transferable fishing concessions have been introduced;
Amendment 92 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Commission to start infringement procedures against Member States who are not respecting their obligations in terms of transparency on the allocation of fishing opportunities;
Amendment 104 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Commission to propose measures to improve transparency in the fishing sector, for example by establishing an EU fleet register that would list vessels, their owners and the fishing opportunities allocated to them.
Amendment 107 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that producer organisations play an essential role in distributing fishing opportunities among the different vessels; notes that relatively few small-scale fishers belong to Producer Organisations, and that even fewer small-scale fishers belong to Producer Organisations dedicated to small-scales fisheries;
Amendment 117 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on Member States to ensure a level playing field and equal opportunities for all fishers to allow for fair access to marine resources;
Amendment 127 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls that the use of transparent and objective criteria of an environmental, social or economic nature is an obligation for Member States under Article 17 of the CFP;
Amendment 131 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Considers that, where Member States are not using environmental and social criteria, it creates legal risks and legal uncertainty as quota allocations systems are more likely to be challenged in courts;
Amendment 151 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Deplores that the Commission has not started infringement procedures against Member States who are not using criteria of an environmental nature to allocate fishing opportunities;
Amendment 154 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Recalls that recreational fisheries are not excluded from the scope of Article 17 and that Member States may allocate fishing opportunities to recreational fisheries;
Amendment 157 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Considers that new criteria of an environmental and social nature could be introduced in priority for the distribution of fishing quotas for those stocks for which the TACs are increasing;
Amendment 158 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Considers that Member States could introduce criteria of social and economic nature for the distribution of fishing opportunities for those stocks for which the TACs are decreasing, in order to mitigate the impact of the quota reduction on the fishing fleet by protecting those whose viability is at risk or those who have the most positive impact on the local economy;
Amendment 162 #
2021/2168(INI)
16a. Recalls that Member States shall endeavour to provide incentives to fishing vessels deploying selective fishing gear or using fishing techniques with reduced environmental impact; notes that some Member States are providing such incentives; calls on other Member States to provide such incentives;
Amendment 163 #
2021/2168(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Recalls that, when calculating the carbon footprint of fishing activities, one should take into account the direct emissions due to fuel consumption but also the climate impact of the fishing techniques used as well the emissions along the supply chain;
Amendment 6 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
— having regard to the UNSC Resolution 2286 on the protection of medical missions,
Amendment 19 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing fragilities and inequalities, amplified humanitarian needs – notably a sharp increase in hunger and lack of food supply, with almost 300 million people at risk of becoming acutely food insecure and over 40 million facing emergency levels of food insecurity – and hampered the humanitarian response owing to border closures and other restrictions such as those attempted by parties to armed conflicts;
Amendment 21 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas in 2018, approximately 108 million people required international humanitarian assistance as a result of storms, floods, droughts and wildfires, whereas by 2050, over 200 million people could need humanitarian assistance every year as a result of climate-related disasters and the socioeconomic impact of climate change;
Amendment 22 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas women and girls are the hardest hit by emergencies. whereas adolescent girls in conflict zones are 90% more likely to be out of school, 70 % of women in humanitarian settings are more likely to experience Gender-Based Violence and as women represent more than 70% of people facing chronic hunger;
Amendment 25 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the EU Humanitarian Air Bridge, which was set up in response to the transport constraints caused by the pandemic, has greatly helped to plug critical gaps in the humanitarian response by facilitating the transport of aid, emergency assistance and humanitarian staff;
Amendment 39 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas this funding gap makes it imperative to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the humanitarian system and to ensure that more countries contribute to the humanitarian effort so that aid meets the needs of the populations affected, as highlighted most recently by Grand Bargain 2.0, which focuses on localisation and quality financing as key enabling priorities;
Amendment 49 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas the Commission proposes to launch a pilot project on blending to significantly increase the resource base for humanitarian action and thus calls for further involvement of the private sector;
Amendment 52 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
Hb. whereas consortium organisation is encouraged by donors in development cooperation and humanitarian aid; whereas, compared to other modalities, it is characterised by an often larger scale of objectives and means made available;
Amendment 56 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas addressing humanitarian crises requires not only more funding but also decisive political efforts to reduce needs by preventing and ending conflicts, countering climate change protecting basic human rights, promoting sustainable development and reducing risks and vulnerabilities;
Amendment 61 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas attacks against humanitarian personnel have dramatically increased in recent years;
Amendment 65 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission communication on the EU’s humanitarian action: new challenges, same principles and its concrete proposals to improve the provision of humanitarian aid, and calls for the swift implementation of these proposals in close consultation and cooperation with humanitarian partners – especially NGOs and frontline responders; reiterates that in accordance with the European Consensus, the EU’s humanitarian aid must always be provided solely on the basis of need, must be fully in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and must pay particular attention to vulnerable groups;
Amendment 77 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls for the EU to provide a robust annual budget for EU humanitarian aid to guarantee timely, predictable and flexible funding for humanitarian aid from the start of each financial year and to keep a ring-fenced envelope within the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve (SEAR) for humanitarian crises outside the Union and maintaining the existing capacity to rapidly mobilise additional funds in the case of emerging, escalating or sudden onset emergencies;
Amendment 79 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls for an expansion of the circle of donor countries which contribute to humanitarian aid on a voluntary basis, to include the 100 countries that the World Bank identifies as high-income and richest countries in the world amounting to a gross national income (GNI) of $80 trillion in 2018; underlines that a contribution of these countries counting for 0.03% of their GNI should be compulsory and would allow to raise the $30 billion needed to address international humanitarian crises; stresses that the involvement of new countries would not only solve the question of the volume of aid, but contribute to depoliticising humanitarian aid and making it less exposed to divisions between major state powers as was the case over funding for the WHO during the Covid-19 crisis;
Amendment 80 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Calls on modalities for the distribution of the financial envelope for humanitarian aid to be entrusted to an independent body that is non-aligned in conflicts, in particular with regard to the members of the UN Security Council, and composed of representatives of the United Nations, the ICRC and international NGOs;
Amendment 82 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is alarmed at the growing number of serious violations of international humanitarian law and calls for the establishment of an EU coordination mechanism in order to develop an EU coherent approach towards international humanitarian law, as well as monitor violations and advocate for ensuring that international humanitarian law is respected, including by using the relevant political, development aid, trade and economic levers in the EU’s external action;
Amendment 85 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Is concerned about the risk of instrumentalisation of humanitarian aid via the EU humanitarian-development- peace nexus approach which may imply that the promotion of humanitarian principles and International Humanitarian Law will not necessarily prevail for humanitarian action but be side-lined by joint-up and coherent action between the 3 axes of the nexus in line with policy objectives set by the EU agenda; in this regard, stresses in particular that humanitarian action must urgently be dissociated from the security or stability agendas;
Amendment 89 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to closely monitor, notably through existing mechanisms such as the International Humanitarian Fact Finding Commission, and include international humanitarian law violations as a criterion for listing individuals or entities in the relevant EU sanctions regimes; notes that sanctions and restrictive measures must comply with international humanitarian law and must not hinder the provision of humanitarian assistance; underlines the need to consistently include humanitarian excemptions in regimes of restrictive measures and to provide the necessary support and guidance to partners to apply these excemptions effectively; recalls that protracted crises are still humanitarian contexts, and that a substantial part of ‘nexus funding’ is channelled through development envelopes which cannot provide the same flexibility as humanitarian support in the allocation of funding; calls on the EU and its Member States to envisage concrete solutions for effective allocation of funding for partners operating in these contexts;
Amendment 96 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Given widespread violations of the right to food during conflicts, the recurring use of starvation as a method of warfare, and denial of humanitarian access, calls on the European Commission and the Member States to strengthen international humanitarian law and vigorously prosecute and sanction those who use starvation as a weapon of war;
Amendment 100 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for the EU and its Member States to swiftly fulfil the commitments made at the World Humanitarian Summit and as part of the Grand Bargain; highlights the importance of making humanitarian aid more efficient and effective by increasing multiannual and multi-country fundingflexible funding through unearmarked, softly earmarked, and multi-year funding, and by enhancing harmonisation and simplification of donor proposal and reporting requirements, reducing the administrative burden for humanitarian partners and promoting innovative solutions, among other endeavours;
Amendment 106 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Given the concerns over development additionally of blending- guarantee mechanisms as assessed by the European Court of Auditors in the case of EFSD, calls on the Commission and financial institutions, including the EIB, to ensure that all humanitarian operations undertaken through blending are compliant with the external action goals of the EU as defined in Article 21 TEU, including respect and promotion of human rights, eradication of poverty, and the management of environmental risks; calls on the Commission to provide the European Parliament with more information as well as a written assessment on the implementation of the pilot project for blending for humanitarian action, assessing the alignment with external action objectives;
Amendment 109 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Insists on the importance to preserve expertise and non interference into the neutrality principle of humanitarian actors; stresses that further engagement with the private sector requires: prior analysis of results achieved so far through this collaboration, and to promote exclusively partnerships which comply with international humanitarian principles, environment, social and human rights standards, and accountability to affected populations;
Amendment 110 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Stresses that encouraging consortia is a concern for smaller NGOs which so far are left behind in a process which fits more the capacities of larger organisations; encourages the Commission to report on the advantages and risks of this mode of collaboration on partner country structures, local organisations and small-scale projects, but also for the donor organisations;
Amendment 111 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the particular importance of supporting local actors and urges the Commission to develop a localisation policy outlining how to provide more and better support for local respondents to enable them to make use of all the instruments available; calls on further development of a solid localisation policy, relying further on DG ECHO’s partners’ expertise and experience in strengthening local actors’ capacities as concrete elements for the EU to further implement its Grand Bargain commitments linked to localisation; calls on the Commission to ensure that women’s equal participation and empowerment is integrated explicitly into any new mechanisms to strengthen the role of local actors in humanitarian action;
Amendment 119 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, localisation allows a health response adapted to the context of developing countries in order to avoid, European biases, particularly with regard to containment protocols and prevention campaigns; calls on the prevalence of an eurocentric perspective over emergency situations to be adequately challenged through further localisation of humanitarian action;
Amendment 125 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. NotStresses the challenges posed by climate change and welcomes the commitments to further mainstream climate change impacts and environmental factors into humanitarian action and build resilience of vulnerable communities over climate change; insists on the importance of involving indigenous people and local communities in this process; welcomes also the commitments to strengthen the climate resilience of vulnerable regions through disaster preparedness and anticipatory action via a nexus approach; welcomes, in addition, the commitments to green the EU’s humanitarian aid and track climate- related spending; calls on the Commission to provide the necessary resources for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction through the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe, among other tools, and to accelerate the implementation of the Sendai commitments in the EU’s external action;
Amendment 129 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Regrets that the Communication of the Commission on humanitarian action presents the issue of gender equality as a tried and tested principle of humanitarian aid but not as a growing need to address; given the prominent role of women as victims of conflicts and disasters, calls on to assess on past experiences in humanitarian support in this field as well as to more concrete elements of gender mainstreaming in future humanitarian action, including specific expenditure, programmes, tracking and assessment methods oriented towards gender related activities;
Amendment 131 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the concrete achievements of the EU Humanitarian Air Bridge and the idea of creating a European Humanitarian Response Capacity to plug the gaps in the EU’s humanitarian response; calls for the Member States and humanitarian partners to be consulted on any new Commission initiatives, which should build on – not duplicate – existing EU mechanisms such as the civil protection mechanism; stresses the importance to maintain a clear separation between the civil protection and humanitarian response in humanitarian contexts; is concerned with any considerations about combining the civil protection and humanitarian responses or using the same funding instruments for civil protection and humanitarian response as it mixes the mandates and presents an increased risk for principled humanitarian action;
Amendment 147 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls for a more dedicated focus on health, access to public health services and efforts to reduce mortality and morbidity, as well as the need to strengthen epidemics/pandemic preparedness;
Amendment 149 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Requires significant emphasis to be devoted to nutrition, as fundamental right for all, in order to ensure food security and allow greater resilience of food systems to economic, climatic and human shocks; calls on the EU to revise the EU Action Plan on Nutrition, to address all forms of malnutrition in humanitarian and development contexts, in line with the Council Conclusion of November 2018;
Amendment 152 #
2021/2163(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the announcement on the first ever EU Humanitarian Forum, which is to be held in January 2022; stresses that the forum should be inclusive of humanitarian implementing partners and seek to increase the visibility of the EU’s humanitarian aid and the work of its partners in particular local ones, promote a strategic dialogue on the EU’s humanitarian policy, raising political support and awareness about the nature of principled and needs-based EU humanitarian assistance and advance the implementation of the key actions set out in the Commission communication;
Amendment 3 #
2021/2158(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Draws attention to the context in which official development assistance (ODA) is now provided, marked by a recurrent funding gap, the COVID pandemic, the aggravating climate and biodiversity crisis, the relentless growth of the needs of humanitarian aid, developing countries’ and lack of means to address them properly, developing countries’, notably the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) woefully inadequate financial and othertechnical resources to respond to the challenges they face, the reversal of the progress towards key Sustainable Development Goals, including those to eradicate poverty and hunger, and the continued global failure to scale up climate action to the urgent need of reaching the objectives of the Paris Agreement with a pathway compatible with the objective of limiting global warming to under 1,5°C as well as improving resilience to adverse climate change impacts;
Amendment 9 #
2021/2158(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists that the Union and its Member States scale up their ODA and climate finance so as to honour their commitments, that maximum efficiency of the spending be sought according to the principle of aid effectiveness and partner country ownership, that policy coherence for development (PCD) be practiced in a more convincingefficient and systematic way and that new efforts to create an enabling international environment for domestic resource mobilisation (DRM) be made; takes the view that well-functioning PCD and support for DRM should be considered part and parcel of sound financial management as these are means to increase the efficiency of EU action which do not need to imply significant additional costs to the Union budgetimply concrete initiatives, such as supporting the fight against corruption and the development of progressive tax systems, tackling tax avoidance and evasion;
Amendment 16 #
2021/2158(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Expresses disappointment about the continued absence of major action by the Commission on the recommendations of the external evaluation of the Union’s PCD1 , ordered by the Commission and received in 2018; _________________ 1 https://ec.europa.eu/international- partnerships/system/files/pcd-main- report_en.pdfstresses that more efforts must be undertaken to comply with PCD principles, especially for the Union trade, agricultural, fisheries, environment, climate, migration, foreign and security policies, in order to achieve aid effectiveness objectives; reiterates that PCD must be an important objective of the joined-up approach designed in NDICI-Global Europe; reiterates its call for an in-depth analysis on the impact of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) on local economies and intra- regional trade to address concerns about their implementation in terms of regional integration and industrialisation;
Amendment 22 #
2021/2158(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the budgetary implementation of the EDF is now limited to payments on commitments made before the 31 December 2020 end date and that Global Europe - NDICI and general Union budget rules now apply; calls for strict implementation of the human rights based approach, with human rights being at the centre of all actions, in accordance with the Commission’s toolbox on this approach. ; in this regard, is particularly concerned about the possible misuse of development funds for mobility restriction and border control purposes, including those of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), and the reported human rights violations linked to the EUTF in Libya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Niger;
Amendment 24 #
2021/2158(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Reiterates its calls for proper implementation of and reporting on all horizontal spending targets set in NDICI, in particular the biodiversity related target which is not a stand-alone target in the regulation but concerns contributing to the overall MFF biodiversity target of 7.5% of annual spending to biodiversity objectives in 2024 and 10% from 2026 onwards; expects the Commission to adopt as soon as possible an effective, transparent and comprehensive methodology for biodiversity tracking, developed with the full involvement of the European Parliament, and about which the European Parliament should be consulted before the publication of the 2023 draft budget;
Amendment 28 #
2021/2158(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Stresses that projects financed via NDICI-Global Europe shall be screened to determine if they have an environmental, climate or social impact and if so, shall be subject to climate, environmental and social sustainability proofing with a view to minimise detrimental impacts and maximise benefits on climate, environment and social dimensions; recalls that the Union and the Member States committed under Article2.1(c) of the Paris Agreement to align both public and private financial flows to a pathway compatible with the objective of limiting global warming to 1.5°C; stresses that this requires a phase out of all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies as soon as possible and by 2025 at the very latest;
Amendment 31 #
2021/2158(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Regrets the reported case of lack of transparency for the work contracts signed by the Commission to strengthen food security in Cameroon, for which the evaluation criteria used for the award differed from those published in the tender notice and therefore made the tender ineligible; calls on the Commission to prevent any lack of transparency in public procurement procedures;
Amendment 33 #
2021/2158(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4 d. Regrets that expenditures with international organisations recorded in 2020 under the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th EDFs is particularly affected by errors; highlights that errors occur predominantly in transactions related to grants and to contribution and delegation agreements implemented by international organisations and that in the examined transactions of this type, 40.3 % contained quantifiable errors, which is substantial; underlines that the ECA1a indicated that for 13 of these cases with errors, the Commission had sufficient information to prevent, or to detect the error before accepting the expenditure; urges the Commission to produce detailed explanations in response to these findings and to submit a clear plan to European Parliament outlining the necessary steps in order to correct this seriously worrying situation; _________________ 1a https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADoc uments/annualreports- 2020/annualreports-2020_EN.pdf
Amendment 35 #
2021/2158(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4 e. Calls on the Commission to take the necessary measures to ensure that international organisations provide the Court of Auditors with complete, unlimited and timely access to documents necessary to carry out its task in accordance with the TFEU1a, and not just in read-only format; _________________ 1a Article 287 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: ‘Any natural or legal person in receipt of payments from the budget, shall forward to the Court of Auditors, at its request, any document or information necessary to carry out its task'.
Amendment 37 #
2021/2158(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)
Paragraph 4 f (new)
4 f. Stresses the importance for donors to prioritise grant-based financing as the default option, especially to LDCs, and not favour blending, guarantee or any loans over grants, that could increase the burden of debt; is concerned therefore that the Commission has proposed more means and geographical expansion for blended finance for the future financing period 2021-2027 via EFSD+ in NDICI- Global Europe, and through the Global Gateway strategy, which makes of the blending-guarantee mechanism the main financial tool for mobilising investments; urges the Union and its Member States to develop, as a first step, and in addition to its pledges on debt moratorium, a new debt relief initiative regarding the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries; more broadly, calls for the creation of a multilateral debt workout mechanism to address both the impact of the crisis and the financing requirements of the Agenda 2030;
Amendment 3 #
2021/2106(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the replacement of the Development Cooperation Instrument with the Global Europe Instrument coincides with a dramatic reversal of the progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and with rapid aggravation of the global climate and biodiversity crisies; insists that in the implementation of the Global Europe Instrument, maximum efficiency in the response to these incomparably important challenges must be sought; reiterates the importance of properly implementing the horizontal targets set in the Global Europe Regulation; expects to see the program- level targets published together with the draft budget 2023 as well as any legislative changes required in the programs effected to ensure the targets will be met;
Amendment 14 #
2021/2106(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 15 #
2021/2106(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Notes that the possibilities of mainstreaming migration policy in EU external policy are significantly broadened by the inclusion of migration in the thematic, geographical and rapid response component and the migration budgetary target of the Global Europe Regulation; notes with concern, however, that through the ‘rapid response’ component, cooperation with third countries on migration management can be funded without the need for the Commission to publish any programming documents or consult civil society actors, and without the involvement of Parliament; insists in this regard on the need to ensure that the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and related financial instruments including Global Europe, is accompanied by a robust human rights framework for the identification, implementation and monitoring of future migration cooperation programmes;
Amendment 22 #
2021/2106(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Amendment 28 #
2021/2106(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that choices of aid modalities should always be based on realistic and independent assessments of the likely efficiency of possible options, supported by evidence and made public; points to the salience of this in the rapidly expanding area of private sector cooperation, ,where the evidence base is limited and should carefully be broadened and deepened in order to facilitate optimal use of official development assistance (ODA);
Amendment 29 #
2021/2106(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Recalls that the Union and the Member States committed under Article 2.1(c) of the Paris Agreement to align both public and private financial flows to a pathway compatible with the objective of limiting global warming to 1.5°C; stresses that this requires a phase out of all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies as soon as possible and by 2025 at the very latest;
Amendment 33 #
2021/2106(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Stresses that, given the shortcomings recently reported on blending and guarantee mechanisms to facilitate optimal use of ODA, contribute to SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement and to demonstrate development additionality, widening the geographical scope and budget share of blending finance via EFSD+ in NDICI-GE, and through the Global Gateway strategy, making the blending-guarantee mechanism the main financial tool for mobilising investments is premature and unjustified; insists on the importance of the scrutiny of the European Parliament on the implementation of EFSD+, including its deployment through the Global Gateway and urges the Commission to provide all the necessary means to ensure the Global Gateway Strategy is aligned with the programming exercise;
Amendment 37 #
2021/2106(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Recalls that the EIB intends to strengthen its role in the implementation of European external policies and development role by creating a dedicated branch (‘EIB Global’) for this purpose, reiterates longstanding EP demands that the European Court of Auditors be empowered to audit all EIB operations, and that these audits be made public;
Amendment 10 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
— having regard to Regulation (EU) 2917/2403 on the sustainable management of external fishing fleets,
Amendment 11 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
— having regard to the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, set out in the Commission communication of 20 May 2020 entitled ‘EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 – Bringing nature back into our lives’ (COM(2020)0380),
Amendment 12 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 c (new)
Citation 5 c (new)
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 9 June 2021 on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives,
Amendment 25 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas in the past years, fish stocks that were solely managed by the EU were managed more sustainably than shared stocks, whereas a number of stocks that used to be managed solely by the EU will now be shared stocks with the UK;
Amendment 28 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the Trade and Cooperation Agreement sets out principles for fisheries management and long-term environmental,the objective of exploiting shared stocial and economic sustainability for thks at rates intended to maintain and progressively restore poptimum exploitulations of shared stocksvested fish stocks above biomass levels that can produce the maximum sustainable yield, on the basis of the best available scientific knowledge, primarily that provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES);
Amendment 34 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
H a. whereas fishers have suffered from the delays and uncertainties around the issue of licences to access waters;
Amendment 36 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
H b. whereas Brexit and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement is leading to the displacement of fishing effort to different areas, whereas this creates a risk to concentrate fishing effort in sensitive areas and risks having negative consequences in specific areas;
Amendment 38 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H c (new)
Recital H c (new)
H c. Whereas the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU has caused significant supply chain disruptions on the island of Ireland and has interrupted long-standing connections between the island of Ireland and continental Europe;
Amendment 40 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H d (new)
Recital H d (new)
H d. Whereas issues remain unresolved concerning access of EU vessels to waters surrounding uninhabited islands in the North Atlantic, such as Rockall, causing uncertainty and risk for fishers;
Amendment 42 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises the need to deliver sound international ocean governance by promoting the sustainable use and exploitation of ocean resources and encouraging the protection and restoration of sensitive areas on the basis of the best and most up-to-date scientific knowledge;
Amendment 43 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Stresses that the sustainable management of fish stocks and the achievement of the objective to restore populations of harvested fish stocks above biomass levels that can produce the maximum sustainable yield is key to ensure the long term existence and viability of fisheries in the region.
Amendment 52 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Notes that the reduction of fishing opportunities foreseen in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement will affect all fleet segments, including small-scale fishers who were not fishing in the UK waters;
Amendment 53 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Amendment 63 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Calls for a permanent solution to be found on fishing in the Granville Bay, following the termination of the treaty of the Bay of Granville;
Amendment 72 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Emphasises the need for Member States to allocate sufficient funds for small-scale fisheries impacted by Brexit and by the reduction of fishing opportunities foreseen in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement;
Amendment 77 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Points out that, aside from the direct effects, other adverse effects are being felt as a result of there being another country involved in bilateral negotiations with other third countries in the region; highlights that unilateral decisions with significant adverse effects on the EU’s fishing fleet have already been taken by third countries and will need to be taken into account; emphasises the need for other funds to be set up to support the sector andrecalls the existence of other funds that can be used to address the adverse effects that are not directly covered by the Brexit Adjustment Reserve;
Amendment 85 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Is opposed to all unilateral decisions of any kind that establish fishing opportunities that contravene international law or go against the advice based on the best and most up-to-date scientific knowledge;
Amendment 94 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Points out that both Parties are interested in exploiting not only the areas under the jurisdiction of the European Union, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland but also adjacent international waters; points out, too, that existingmarine biological resources know no borders, and so management of these resources has direct repercussions on the waters under the jurisdiction of each Party;
Amendment 96 #
2021/2016(INI)
11 a. Reminds the Commission on its call to produce a definition of super trawlers and to consider measures restricting their activities in EU waters, in particular prohibiting their activities in protected areas;
Amendment 97 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Calls on the Commission to monitor the potential reflagging of fishing vessels, especially of vessels bearing the flag of an EU country and reflagging to the UK;
Amendment 98 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Amendment 100 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Emphasises the need for the Commission to ensure that the most recent decisions of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) are adhered to by all contracting parties and cooperating non-contracting parties, and are fully integrated into Union law;
Amendment 116 #
2021/2016(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Notes that the situation of fisheries after 2026 is still widely uncertain and not entirely foreseen by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement; considers that a multiannual post-2026 agreement would offer more stability and more economic visibility; calls on the Commission to engage in negotiations with that objective in mind;
Amendment 1 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. WelcomesTakes note of the communication on an intellectual property action plan to support the EU’s recovery and resilience, but regrets that the focus on international cooperation and assistance to developing countries is poorly addressedonly addressed through the lens of technical cooperation programmes, with a view to promoting better generation and management of intellectual property (IP); deplores that it fails to address explicitly the need to promote technology transfer, notably to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, which is of primary importance for developing countries, notably LDCs and low and middle-income countries;
Amendment 3 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Highlights that, according to UNCTAD, while developed countries have been able to mobilise massively their monetary and fiscal resources to prop up their economy (estimated at between 20 and 25% of their GDP), the poorest countries have mobilised just 1% to mitigate the socio-economic damage caused by the pandemic crisis[1];emphasises that a diversified economy is a prerequisite for resilience to future shocks;underlines that the main barriers to the industrial upgrading of developing countries are production capacity constraints such as access to technology; [1] “Reforming the International Trading System for Recovery, Resilience and Inclusive Development”, UNCTAD Research Paper (n°65) of April 2021, p. 3.
Amendment 4 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. CRecalls onthat the Commission to continue strengthening intellectual property rights (post-pandemic global recovery should be aligned with international commitments on climate change and Agenda 2030; accordingly, believes that the global green transition requires a balance between the rules on IPR) protection and enforcement in non-EU countries through EU-funded technical cooperation programmes; welcomes in particular the intention to promote better generation and management of intellectual property (IP) on the African continent as part of a joint partnership building on the current four- year cooperation programme for Africatechnology transfer; recalls the previous efforts in UNCTAD to develop a Cod eof Conduct on Technology Transfer;calls on the EU and its Member States to take initiatives to reinvigorate it; but urges the Commission to refrain from harnessing IP chapters in the context of FTA (FTAs), without addressing the concerns of LDCs and low and middle income countries in terms of technology transfer;
Amendment 12 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Recalls that one of the main challenges for developing countries is to climb up the global value chain through economic diversification, which necessitates fair and pro-development global trade rules;
Amendment 14 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Recalls that, while the Special and Differentiated Treatment of the WTO is meant to safeguard the policy space of developing countries to better align their trade policy with their developmental priorities, it has been insufficient to enable their economic diversification;
Amendment 15 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2 c. Points out that developing countries’ obligations under TRIPS are enforceable and can be challenged under the dispute settlement mechanism, while their rights to technology transfer are not enforceable; underlines that such asymmetry of rules is not coherent with the fulfilment of the Agenda 2030;
Amendment 18 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Strongly encourages the Commission to assist producers and their associations as well as local authorities in developing countries in unlocking the potential of IP and reaping the economic value of local innovations, geographical indications and traditional knowledge; reiterates its call, in this regard, to respect the progress achieved in the international protection of indigenous peoples’ rights over their genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge; more broadly, calls on the EU and its Member States to support regional projects such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which should favour products of local enterprises and in this way support regional industrialisation processes;
Amendment 30 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Stresses that a more equitable distribution of vaccines around the globe is essential to combat effectively the spread of COVID-19 and its mutations; recalls that, while COVAX, the vaccine pillar of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Access to Covid-19 Tools (ACT) is aiming to have two billion vaccine doses available by the end of 2021, it will neither be enough to respond to the vaccination needs of the poorest countries to reach herd immunity, nor does it constitute an appropriate integrated global approach for scaling up production capacities worldwide;
Amendment 32 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Recalls that the current multilateral framework protecting intellectual property rights has represented an obstacle for addressing the COVID-19 crisis and that the existing WTO-TRIPS flexibilities which are based on procedurally complex, country-by- country, product-by-product and prior negotiations with patent holders, were not fit for purpose for tackling previous global health emergencies and are not up to the challenge of the current one;
Amendment 33 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Points out, furthermore, that past experience regarding the implementation of existing TRIPS flexibilities shows that individual countries often felt fearful of either retaliatory action by developed countries or the reputational costs of issuing compulsory licenses; underlines that compulsory licensing only applies to patents as one category of intellectual property rights (IPR), but that other IPR categories, such as data protection and trade secrets, which represent potential hurdles to the scaling-up of production of needed medical products, are beyond the scope of compulsory licences;
Amendment 35 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes, as a positive step, the recently announced US support for a proposal the declarations of WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala at the meeting of Parliament’s Committee on International Trade of 20 May 2021, according to which the existing TRIPS flexibilities are too temporarily waive certain provburdensome and more flexibility is needed; welcomes, in this context, the decisions of the Agreement on Trade- Related AspectsBiden- Harris Administration in the US to support the waiving of Iintellectual Pproperty Rights for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19; urges the Commission, therefore, to follow through on its promise to engage in aprotections for COVID-19 vaccines; recalls the declaration of President Von Der Leyen according to which COVID-19 vaccines should be considered a global public good; accordingly, urges the EU to constructively and constructiveproactively engage in text-based negotiations at World Trade Organization level.for a temporary TRIPS waiver for all products and technologies including vaccines, treatments and diagnostics needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and to issue, with that purpose, a negotiation mandate;
Amendment 42 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Urges the EU to forswear any recourse to legal proceedings in the WTO or under free trade and investment agreements against countries that infringe TRIPS provisions when adopting policy measures to expand access to COVID-19 related medical products; requests the Commission, therefore, to propose, as an interim measure before agreeing on a COVID-19 related TRIPS waiver, an immediate WTO political declaration on a ‘standstill’ regarding any action relating to vaccines and other essential medical products to tackle the pandemic;
Amendment 46 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Insists upon the need to support global open access to COVID-19 vaccines to scale up global production through technology transfer; underlines that the Commission has so far solely focused on encouraging Western vaccine manufacturers to share technology and licences on a purely voluntary basis; notes with concern that there is evidence that current producers of authorised COVID- 19 vaccines have refused offers to expand production from several potential generic pharmaceutical producers in the EU and abroad;
Amendment 48 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Calls for binding technology transfers to scale up vaccine production; urges the Commission to take initiatives along this line and to proactively undertake efforts to make sure that vaccine manufacturers share IP and technology through the WHO C-TAP multilateral mechanism, particularly in low and middle-income countries;
Amendment 50 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5 d. Is of the opinion that the EU should urgently foster multilateral arrangements at WTO level, including a treaty on pandemics, as recently proposed by the President of the European Council, as part of the ‘Health and Trade Initiative’ to be adopted in November 2021 during the twelfth Ministerial Conference, as well as at the next WHO general assembly; underlines that this initiative is a complement to and not a substitute for a TRIPS waiver;
Amendment 52 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5 e. Encourages developing countries to strengthen regional value chains and intra-regional trade and investments in health and health related areas, notably through collective R&D efforts in medical research and regional pooling of resources;notes with concern that, according to the Global Trade Alert, as of 21 March 2021, 54 governments introduced export curbs on key medical supplies since the beginning of the year[1];stresses that regional trade pacts should be used to prevent export bans on key products in times of global and regional shortages, as in the case of the ongoing pandemic crisis; [1] “Reforming the International Trading System for Recovery, Resilience and Inclusive Development”, UNCTAD Research Paper (n°65) of April 2021, p. 20.
Amendment 53 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)
Paragraph 5 f (new)
5 f. Takes note of the Commission’s intention to evaluate and revise the Community Plant Variety Rights (CPRV); recalls the EU’s commitments to implement the Agenda 2030 and its objective to leave no one behind; stresses that Small-scale farmers (SSF)and agricultural biodiversity are critical to achieving the SDGs; accordingly, stresses the need to support a rights-based approach to implement the Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at its 73rd Session in December 2018;
Amendment 54 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 g (new)
Paragraph 5 g (new)
5 g. Highlights that small-scale farmers (SSF) and agricultural biodiversity have a critical role in healthy, nutritious diets and ensuring the resilience of agricultural production systems to cope with climate change; recalls equally that seed diversity is vital in building the resilience of farming to climate change; notes with concern that trade and Intellectual Property rules protecting plants, genetic information and biological process in the remit of TRIPS and the Union for Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV 1991) have a detrimental effect on SSF innovation and agricultural biodiversity, although being critical to supporting food and nutrition security;
Amendment 55 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 h (new)
Paragraph 5 h (new)
5 h. Recalls that farm-saved seeds are estimated to account for over 80% of farmers’ total seed requirements in some African countries; calls for the EU to support intellectual property rights regimes that enhance the development of locally adapted seed varieties and farmer- saved seeds, in line with the provisions of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), which safeguards the rights of farmers to maintain genetic resources for purposes of food security and climate change adaptation, and Article 19 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas, according to which peasants have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their own seeds and traditional knowledge;
Amendment 56 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 i (new)
Paragraph 5 i (new)
5 i. Stresses that, while green technologies are predominantly held and protected by corporations of developed countries, the TRIPS Agreement and TRIPS Plus hamper the green technological upgrading in developing countries that must accompany any climate-friendly industrialisation process;
Amendment 57 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 j (new)
Paragraph 5 j (new)
5 j. Stresses the need for coherence between the special and differential treatment (SDT) of the WTO and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”;
Amendment 58 #
2021/2007(INI)
5 k. Calls on the EU to take the lead in the identification of the salient barriers to the dissemination of technologies in developing countries to address climate change and to strive to promote the adoption of a Declaration on “IPR and Climate Change” comparable to the Doha Declaration of 2001 on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, to foster the legal transfer of climate-friendly technology in developing countries, in compliance with the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), notably the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR);along this line, takes the view that EU FTAs with developing countries should include provisions that promote technology transfer and enable Local Content Requirements in their public procurement and investment policies;
Amendment 59 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 l (new)
Paragraph 5 l (new)
5 l. Stresses the need to account for the carbon “embodied” in imported goods and services; acknowledges, however, the adverse impact of Border Carbon Adjustment (BCA) on developing countries locked into carbon-intensive and extractive industrialisation;
Amendment 60 #
2021/2007(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 m (new)
Paragraph 5 m (new)
5 m. Stresses that Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States should be given special treatment in order to take account of their specificities and the potential negative impact of the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) on their development; in light of this, insists that such initiative should be in line with the special and differential treatment (SDT) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” and accompanied by measures facilitating technology transfer both for climate adaptation and mitigation, to accommodate the needs of developing countries; to this end, stresses the need to develop are distributive mechanism that redirects new tariff revenue to ringfence financing for green transitions in developing countries, additional to ODA, to undergo an industrialisation process based on clean and decarbonised technologies;
Amendment 1 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recitals 1 a, 1 b and 1 c (new)
Recitals 1 a, 1 b and 1 c (new)
(1 a) In accordance with Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the Union is to take account of the objectives of development cooperation in the policies that it implements which are likely to affect developing countries. (1 b) According to Article 3 (5) TEU, the Union in its relations with the wider world shall uphold and promote its values and contribute to the protection of all human rights, in particular, the rights of the child as well as the strict observance and development of international law. (1 c) The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union recognizes fundamental rights as they result from the constitutional traditions common to the Member States and affirms that it should not be interpreted as restricting or adversely affecting human rights and fundamental freedoms as recognized in their respective fields of application by Union law, International Law and by international agreements to which the Union and all Member States are party, including the European Convention for the Protection of Human rights and Fundamental Freedoms and by the Member States constitutions.
Amendment 2 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The Union continues to be concerned with the rise in environmental criminal offences and their effects, which undermine the effectiveness of Union environmental legislation. These offences are moreover increasingly extending beyond the borders of the Member States in which the offences are committed. Such offences pose a threat to the environment and therefore call for an appropriate and effective responseIn just a few decades, environmental crime has become the fourth largest criminal sector in the world, growing two to three times faster than the global economy, and represents one to twice the size of the global official development assistance (ODA) and is now as lucrative as drug trafficking. Such offences pose a threat to the environment and fundamental rights, entail habitat damage and biodiversity loss, amplify climate change, threaten the sustainable livelihood of vulnerable populations in developing countries, and create public health risks and therefore call for an appropriate and effective response. Environmental crime can also involve or take place in developing countries where shortcomings as regards to environmental rule of law have been identified (lack of adequate legal framework and governance structures, lack of information, implementation and enforcement). The Union has a particular responsibility in preventing and combating environmental offences in developing countries in cases in which the action can be linked to the Union. Such offences are not compatible with EU development policy and objectives and the UN Sustainable development goals.
Amendment 3 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recitals 6 and 6 a (new)
Recitals 6 and 6 a (new)
(6) Member States should provide for criminal penalties in their national legislation in respect of serious infringements of provisions of Union law concerning protection of the environment. In the framework of the common fisheries policy, Union law provides for comprehensive set of rules for control and enforcement under Regulation (EC) No 1224/200921 and Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 in case of serious infringements, including those that cause damage to the marine environment. Under this system the Member States have the choice between administrative and/or criminal sanctioning systems. In line with the Communication from the Commission on the European Green Deal22 and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 203023 , certain intentional unlawful conduct coveredall conducts deemed to be serious infringements under Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and Regulation (EC) 1005/200824 should be established as criminal offences. (6 a) Over recent years, the European Union has taken a leadership role to ensure international supply chains of minerals are transparent and responsible. The adoption in 2017 of the regulation EU 2017/821 laying down supply chain due diligence obligations for Union importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating from conflict-affected and high-risk areas has sent a clear international message that companies are expected to assess risks in their supply chains, and take the necessary measures to mitigate them. EU Regulation 2017/821 currently focuses on risks of conflict financing, serious abuses of human rights and serious economic crimes. EU Regulation 2017/821 is based on the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for responsible supply chains of minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas which emphasizes the need for companies to identify and mitigate risks in their supply chains to uphold human rights in producing countries and foster inclusion of legitimate artisanal and small-scale miners. __________________ 21 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 of 8 April 2011 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (OJ L 112, 30.4.2011, p. 1–153). 22 COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS The European Green Deal, COM/2019/640 final. 23 COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 Bringing nature back into our lives, COM/2020/380 final 24 Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 of 29 September 2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, amending Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1936/2001 and (EC) No 601/2004 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1093/94 and (EC) No 1447/1999, (OJ L 286, 29.10.2008, p. 1– 32).
Amendment 4 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11 a) Environmental crimes can be perpetrated by a range of state and non- state actors, from individuals, small groups, companies, government individuals, to organised criminal networks, and often a combination thereof. Transnational companies could be the perpetrators among others by exploiting and damage the environment in order to generate more profit or reduce their costs, in particular in developing countries where the legal and institutional frameworks are usually weaker. In relation to transnational companies, the fault can also be attributed to other actors and the responsibility is, therefore, to be shared and accompanied with penalties accordingly.
Amendment 5 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In criminal proceedings and trials, due account should be taken of the involvement of organised criminal groups operating in ways that negatively impact the environment. Criminal proceedings should address corruption, money laundering, cyber-crime and document fraud and – in relation to business activities – the intention of the offender to maximise profits or save expenses, where these occur in the context of environmental crime. These crime forms are often interconnected with serious environmental crime forms and should therefore not be dealt with in isolation. In this respect, iGiven the importance of corporate environmental crime, improving transparency in the corporate supply and value chains is necessary. Especially, transparency on beneficial ownership of companies is key to prosecuting environmental crime, for example in IUU fishing or illegal wildlife trafficking. Therefore, Member States should in parallel ensure a full implementation of Directive (EU) 2018/843 of the European Parliament and of the Council1a. It is of particular concern that some environmental crimes are committed with the tolerance or active support of the competent administrations or officials performing his/her public duty. In certain cases this can eve which can take the form of corruption. Examples of such behaviours are turning a blind eye or remaining silent on the infringement of laws protecting the environment following inspections, deliberately omitting inspections or controls for example with regard to whether the conditions of a permit are being respected by the permit- holder, resolutions or votes in favour of granting illegal licences or issuing falsified or untrue favourable reports. or, especially in developing countries, promoting prosecution of environmental defenders who act against environmental crime. __________________ 1a Directive (EU) 2018/843 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 amending Directive (EU) 2015/849 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing, and amending Directives 2009/138/EC and 2013/36/EU (OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 43–74).
Amendment 6 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recitals 14 and 14 a (new)
Recitals 14 and 14 a (new)
(14) Sanctions for the offences should be effective, dissuasive and proportionate. To this end, minimum levels for the maximum term of imprisonment should be set for natural persons. Accessory sanctions are often seen as being more effective than financial sanctions especially for legal persons. Additional sanctions or measures should be therefore available in criminal proceedings. These should include the obligation to reinstate the environment, compensation for the damage caused, exclusion from access to public funding, including tender procedures, grants and concessions and withdrawal of permits and authorisations. This is without prejudice to the discretion of judges or courts in criminal proceedings to impose appropriate sanctions in the individual cases. Sanctions that seek guarantees of non-repetition are very important. Effective remedies, including redress, mitigation and adaptation measures and injunctions among others should also be provided. This is without prejudice to the discretion of judges or courts in criminal proceedings to impose appropriate sanctions in the individual cases. (14 a) The condition of the effectiveness of the sanctions recommends introducing in this Directive also the environmental restorative justice approach, so demanded by civil society and specialised organisations. The restorative model has a preventive approach, aimed at repairing the damage caused and creating the environmental awareness necessary to avoid it in the future. It can be done through, among others, recovery environmental funds, environmental social projects or community services in benefit of the environment. Environmental restorative justice also aspires to allow the participation of victims in the process, in the determination of the sanction and in the future of the environmental management of the sanctioned corporations.
Amendment 7 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) Given, in particular, the mobility of perpetrators of illegal conduct covered by this Directive, together with the cross- border nature of offences and the possibility of cross-border investigations, including conducts carried out in developing countries, Member States should establish jurisdiction in order to counter such conduct effectively. Member States should thus extend their jurisdiction where an offence creates a risk for the environment on their territories, where the offence is committed for the benefit of a legal person established on their territories, or where it is committed against their residents, or where it is committed in the third countries by EU citizen or a legal person established in the EU.
Amendment 8 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
This Directive establishes minimum rules concerning the definition of environmental criminal offences and sanctions in order to protect the environment more effectively, prevent and combat environmental crime more effectively, and thereby prevent human rights violations and abuses resulting from environmental criminal offences.
Amendment 9 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 and Recital 26 a (new)
Article 2 and Recital 26 a (new)
Definitions For the purpose of this Directive, the following definitions apply: (1) ‘unlawful’ means a conduct infringing one of the following: (a) Union legislation, which irrespective of its legal basis contributes to the pursuit of the objectives of Union policy of protecting the environment as set out in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; (b) a law, an administrative regulation of a Member State or a decision taken by a competent authority of a Member State that gives effect to the Union legislation referred to in point (a). The conduct shall be deemed unlawful even if carried out under an authorisation by a competent authority in a Member State when the authorisation was obtained fraudulently or by corruption, extortion or coercion; (2) ‘habitat within a protected site’ means any habitat of species for which an area is classified as a special protection area pursuant to Article 4(1) or (2) of Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council30, or any natural habitat or a habitat of species for which a site is designated as a special area of conservation pursuant to Article 4(4) of Council Directive 92/43/EEC31; (3) ‘legal person’ means any legal entity having such status under the applicable national law, except for States or public bodies exercising State authority and for public international organisations; (4) ‘public concerned’ means the persons affected or likely to be affected by the offences referred to in Articles 3 or 4. For the purposes of this definition, persons having a sufficient interest or maintaining the impairment of a right as well as non- governmental organisations promoting the protection of the environment and meeting any proportionate requirements under national law shall be deemed to have an interest; (5) ‘victim’ has the meaning attributed to it in Article 2(1) point (a) of Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council32. _________________ 30 Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7). 31 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7). 32 Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA, (OJ L 315, 14.11.2012, p. 57–73). Recital 26 a (new) which will substitute AM 28 on the rights of the nature will be created if compromise amendment 9 is adopted.referred to in point (a). The conduct shall be deemed unlawful even if carried out under an authorisation by a competent authority in a Member State, or in a third country where the conduct was carried out by an EU citizen or a legal person established in the EU, when the authorisation was obtained fraudulently or by corruption, extortion or coercion; (1 a) ‘environment’ means the earth, its biosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere, as well as outer space, including the integrity of all the biotic and abiotic elements of an ecosystem, their functions, services and mutual interactions and the planetary boundaries; (1 b) ‘severe damage’ means damage, which involves very serious adverse changes, disruption or harm to any element of the environment, including grave impacts on human life, or natural, cultural or economic resources; (1 c) ‘widespread damage’ means damage which extends beyond a limited geographic area, crosses state boundaries, or is suffered by an entire ecosystem or species or a large number of human beings; (1 d) ‘long-term damage’ means damage which is irreversible or which cannot be redressed through natural recovery within a reasonable period of time; (1 e) ‘wanton’ means with reckless disregard for damage which would be clearly excessive in relation to the social and economic benefits anticipated; (1 f) ‘planetary boundaries’ mean the nine planetary life-support systems identified as part of the planetary boundaries framework: climate change, biosphere integrity (covering functional and genetic diversity), land system changes, freshwater use, biogeochemical flows (nitrogen and phosphorus), ocean acidification, atmospheric aerosol pollution, stratospheric ozone depletion and novel entities; (2) ‘habitat within a protected site’ means any habitat of species for which an area is classified as a special protection area pursuant to Article 4(1) or (2) of Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council30, or any natural habitat or a habitat of species for which a site is designated as a special area of conservation pursuant to Article 4(4) of Council Directive 92/43/EEC31; (3) ‘legal person’ means any legal entity having such status under the applicable national law, including for States or public bodies exercising State authority and for public international organisations; (4) ‘public concerned’ means the persons or groups of persons including local communities affected or likely to be affected by the offences referred to in Articles 3 or 4. For the purposes of this definition, persons having a sufficient interest or maintaining the impairment of a right as well as non-governmental organisations promoting the protection of the environment and of the human rights and meeting any proportionate requirements under national law shall be deemed to have an interest; (5) ‘victim’ means: (i) natural persons, including future generations, who, individually or collectively, have suffered or are likely to suffer harm, including physical, mental or emotional harm, economic loss, loss of culture, traditions, traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, or substantial impairment or abuse of their human rights which was directly caused by the environmental criminal offences; (ii) relatives of a person whose death was directly caused by an environmental criminal offence and who have suffered harm as a result of that person’s death; (iii) legal persons who have suffered or are likely to suffer loss, including economic loss. (26 a) Nature can be considered the victim of the damage caused by environmental crimes. Some countries have already granted legal personality to ecosystems even at the constitutional level (as in Ecuador or Bolivia). In Colombia the Constitutional Court granted those rights in the Atrato River ruling T-622- 16- Canada and New Zealand are two other countries where nature has been granted legal personality. In the Union, some Member States are in the process of constitutional reforms to incorporate the rights of nature at the highest level. Spain for instance recognised legal personality to the Mar Menor Lagoon and its Basin through the recent law 19/2022, of September 30. The Union can take into account the existing legal framework in developing countries and in Member States as well as ongoing reform process within the Union and provide a sound legislation that incorporate a long-term vision by taking into account future legal developments that have begun in the Union. __________________ 30 Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7). 31 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7). Or. enJustification
Amendment 10 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Articles 3 and 3 a (new)
Articles 3 and 3 a (new)
Amendment 11 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4
Article 4
1. Member States shall ensure that inciting, and aiding and abetting the commission of any of the criminal offences referred to in Article 3(-1), (-1a) and (1) or Article 3a are punishable as criminal offences. 2. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that an attempt to commit any of the criminal offences referred to in Article 3 (-1) points (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (h), (i), (j), (k), (m), (n), (p) (ii), (q), (r), (-1a), Article 3 (1) and 3a when committed intentionally is punishable as a criminal offence.
Amendment 12 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 5
Article 5 – paragraph 5
5. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that natural persons who have committed the offences referred to in Articles 3, 3a and 4 may be subject to additional sanctions or measures which shall include: (a) obligation to reinstate the environment within a given time period; (b) fines; which shall be proportional to the damage caused by the offence; (c) temporary or permanent exclusions from access to public funding, including tender procedures, grants and concessions and licenses; (d) disqualification from directing establishments of the type used for committing the offence; (e) withdrawal of permits and authorisations to pursue activities which have resulted in committing the offence; (f) temporary bans on running for elected or public office; (g) national or Union-wide publication of the judicial decision relating to the conviction or any sanctions or measures applied.
Amendment 13 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraphs 2 and 3
Article 6 – paragraphs 2 and 3
2. Member States shall also ensure that legal persons can be held liable where the lack of supervision or control of its supply chain by a person referred to in paragraph 1 has made possible the commission of an offence referred to in Articles 3, 3a and 4 for the benefit of the legal person by a person under its authority. 3. Liability of legal persons under paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not exclude criminal proceedings against natural persons who are perpetrators, inciters or accessories in the offences referred to in Articles 3, 3a and 4.
Amendment 14 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7
Article 7
1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that a legal person held liable pursuant to Article 6(1) is punishable by effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions. 2. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that sanctions or measures for legal persons liable pursuant to Article 6(1) for the offences referred to in Articles 3 and 4 shall include: (a) criminal or non-criminal fines; (b) the obligation to reinstate the environment within a given period and to compensate for the damage caused; (c) exclusion from entitlement to public benefits or aid; (d) temporary exclusion from access to public funding, including tender procedures, grants and concessions and licenses; (e) temporary or permanent disqualification from the practice of business activities; (f) withdrawal of permits and authorisations to pursue activities which have resulted in committing the offence; (g) placing under judicial supervision; (h) judicial winding-up; (i) temporary or permanent closure of establishments used for committing the offence; (j) obligation of companies to install due diligence schemes for enhancing compliance with environmental standards; and human rights standards and obligations; (k) publication of the judicial decision relating to the conviction or any sanctions or measures applied; (k a) community services in favour of the environment; (k b) financial contributions to environmental or human rights organisations, especially in developing countries; (k c) attribution of shares or social capital to the victims in the developing countries. 3. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that a legal person held liable pursuant to Article 6(2) is punishable by sanctions or measures, which are effective, proportionate and dissuasive. 4. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that offences referred to in Article 3(1) points (a) to (j), (n), (q), (-1), (-1a) and (r1) are punishable by fines, the maximum limit of which shall be not less than 15% of the total worldwide turnover of the legal person [/undertaking] in the business year preceding the fining decision. 5. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that offences referred to in Article 3(1) points (k), (l), (m), (o), (p) are punishable by fines, the maximum limit ofdeleted 6. Member States shall take measures to ensure that the illegal profits generated from the offence and the annual turnover of the legal person are taken into account when a decision is made on the appropriate level of a fine pursuant to paragraph 1. 6 a. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that offences referred to in Article 3a are punishable by fines, paid by the legal person committing the environmental offences, the minimum amount which shall be not less thbetween 15 and 30 % of the total worldwide turnover of the legal person [/undertaking] in the business year preceding the fining decision. 6. Member States shall take measures to ensure that the illegal profits generated from the offence and the annual turnover of the legal person are taken into account when a decision is made on the appropria and the maximum being the total restoration of the damage to the environment and compensation and damages to affected level of a fine pursuant to paragraph 1. gal and natural persons.
Amendment 15 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8
Article 8
In so far as the following circumstances do not already form part of the constituent elements of the criminal offences referred to in Article 3, Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that, in relation to the relevant offences referred to in Articles 3 and 4, the following circumstances may be regarded as aggravating circumstances: (a) the offence caused the death of, or serious injury to, a person; or groups of persons; (a a) the offence caused severe impacts on the human rights or substantial economic loss or loss of culture and tradition of the population or local communities of a developing country where the environmental damage has occurred; (a b) the offence affected or is likely to affect vulnerable groups such as children, youth, women, people with disabilities, elderly or indigenous communities; (a c) the offence has caused or will cause serious damage to future generations; (a d) the offence was committed by abusing existing weaknesses in the rule of law and governance systems of developing countries and, in particular, by mediating corruption, intimidation or violence; (a e) the offence was committed in gross violation of the existing due diligence systems or with non-compliance with the related decisions of the competent authorities; (b) the offence caused destruction or irreversible or long-lasting substantial damage to an ecosystem; (b a) the offence damaged a legally protected area in a third country; (c) the offence was committed in the framework of a criminal organisation within the meaning of Council Framework Decision 2008/841/JHA ; (d) the offence involved the use of false or forged documents; (e) the offence was committed by a public official when performing his/her dutie or serious violation of Directive (EU) xxx/xxx [Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive]; (e) the offence was committed by a public official when performing his/her duties; (e a) the offender holds a political position or have been entrusted with prominent public functions; (f) the offender committed similar previous infringements of environmental law; (f a) the offense converges with other crimes; (g) the offence generated or was expected to generate substantial financial benefits, or avoided substantial expenses, directly or indirectly; (h) the offender's conduct gives rise to liability for environmental damage but the offender does not fulfil their obligations to take remedial action under Article 6 of Directive 2004/35/EC57; (i) the offender does not provide assistance to inspection and other enforcement authorities when legally required; (j) the offender actively obstructs inspection, custom controls or investigation activities, or intimidates or interferes with witnesses or complainants; (j a) the offence has caused serious injuries or the death of human rights or environmental defenders, journalists, members of NGOs or persons reporting criminal offences or it entails coercing or attacking these groups. __________________ 57 Directive 2004/35/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage (OJ L 143, 30.4.2004, p. 56–75).
Amendment 16 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraphs 1, 1 a (new) and 3
Article 11 – paragraphs 1, 1 a (new) and 3
1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to provide for a limitation period that enables the investigation, prosecution, trial and judicial adjudication of criminal offences referred to in Articles 3 and 4 for a sufficient period of time after the commission of those criminal offences, or the date on which the environmental damage or human rights violation was known or revealed in order for those criminal offences to be tackled effectively. 3. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, Member States may establish a limit, in particular, when the environmental crime presents a transnational nature, has been committed in a developing country and involved organised crimes. For the investigation, period that is shorter than ten years, but not shorter than four years, provided that the period may be interrupted or suspended in the event of specified acts.rosecution, trial and adjudication of criminal offences referred in Article 3a there shall not be limitation period. 1 a. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the limitation period of criminal offences referred to in Articles 3 and 4 does not commence until the concrete scope of the damage to the environment has been fully established by appropriate scientific means. deleted
Amendment 17 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraphs 1 and 2
Article 12 – paragraphs 1 and 2
1. Each Member State shall take the necessary measures to establish its jurisdiction over the offences referred to in Articles 3 , 3a and 4 where: (a) the offence was committed in whole or in part on its territory; (b) the offence was committed on board a ship or an aircraft registered in it or flying its flag; (c) the damage occurred on its territory; (d) the offender is one of its nationals or habitual residents. 2. A Member State shall inform the Commission where it decid, regardless of whether the offence takes place in an EU Member State or a third country; (d a) the offence was committed for the benefit of a legal person established on its territory. 2. A Member State shall take the necessary measures to extend its jurisdiction to offences referred to in Articles 3, 3a and 4 which have been committed outside its territory, where: (a) the offence is committed for the benefit of a legal person established on its territory; (b) the offence is committed against one of its nationals or its habitual residents; (c) the offence has created a severe risk for the environment or for the biodiversity on its territory. Where an offence referred to in Articles 3 and 4 falls within the jurisdiction of more than one Member State, these Member States shall cooperate to determine which Member State shall conduct criminal proceedings. The matter shall, where appropriate and in accordance with Article 12 of Council Framework Decision 2009/948/JHA59, be referred to Eurojust. __________________ 59 Council Framework Decision 2009/948/JHA of 30 November 2009 on prevention and settlement of conflicts of exercise of jurisdiction in criminal proceedings (OJ L 328, 15.12.2009, p. 42).
Amendment 18 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Without prejudice to judicial independence and differences in the organisation of the judiciary across the Union, Member States shall request those responsible for the training of judges, prosecutors, police, judicial staff and competent authorities’ staff involved in criminal proceedings and investigations, including environmental experts, to provide at regular intervals specialised training, especially in the case of environmental crime committed within the framework of criminal organisations with respect to the objectives of this Directive and appropriate to the functions of the involved staff and authorities. Specialised trainings on the investigation and prosecution of transnational environmental crimes shall receive a particular attention.
Amendment 19 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
2. The statistical data referred to in paragraph 1 shall include at least the following: (a) the number of environmental crime cases reported; (b) the number of environmental crime cases investigated; (c) the average length of court proceedings from the beginning of the criminal investigations of environmental crimes to the issuance of the judicial sentence and, including its execution; (d) the number of convictions for environmental crime; (e) the number of natural persons convicted and sanctioned for environmental crime; (f) the number of legal persons sanctioned for environmental crime or equivalent offences and whether the perpetrator was or acted within an organised crime group; (g) the number of dismissed court cases for environmental crime; (h) the types and levels of sanctions imposed for environmental crime, including per categories of environmental offences according to Article 3; (h a) the number of transnational environmental crime cases with disaggregation of countries where the environmental offence was committed; (h b) figures on proceeds from environmental crimes that were provisionally seized or frozen and finally confiscated; (h c) whether the environmental crime constitutes a predicate offence for money laundering; (h d) the number of victims, including groups of victims or local communities, disaggregated inter alia by sex, age, ethnicity, country of origin; (h e) type of impact on the environment and on people and local communities.
Amendment 100 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) Over recent years, the European Union has taken a leadership role to ensure international supply chains of minerals are transparent and responsible. The adoption in 2017 of the regulation EU 2017/821 laying down supply chain due diligence obligations for Union importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating from conflict-affected and high-risk areas has sent a clear international message that companies are expected to assess risks in their supply chains, and take the necessary measures to mitigate them. EU Regulation 2017/821 currently focuses on risks of conflict financing, serious abuses of human rights and serious economic crimes. EU Regulation 2017/821 is based on the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for responsible supply chains of minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas, which emphasizes the need for companies to identify and mitigate risks in their supply chains to uphold human rights in producing countries and foster inclusion of legitimate artisanal and small-scale miners.
Amendment 112 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23 a (new)
Recital 23 a (new)
(23a) In order to ensure the effective investigation and prosecution of environmental offences committed in developing countries the principle of dual criminality should not apply.
Amendment 157 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to provide for a limitation period that enables the investigation, prosecution, trial and judicial adjudication of criminal offences referred to in Articles 3 and 4 for a sufficient period of time after the commission of those criminal offences, in order for those criminal offences to be tackled effectively the date on which the environmental damage or human rights violation was known or revealed in order for those criminal offences to be tackled effectively. in particular, when the environmental crime presents a transnational nature, has been committed in a developing country, and involved organised crime groups.
Amendment 168 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. For the investigation and prosecution of environmental criminal offences referred to in Article 3, 3 a, and 4 committed in a developing country each Member State shall adopt the necessary measures to ensure that its jurisdiction is not subject to either of the following conditions: (a) the conduct is a criminal offence in the developing country where it was performed; (b) the prosecution can be initiated only following a report made by the victim or a denunciation from the developing country where the offence was committed.
Amendment 169 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 3 b (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Member States shall introduce universal jurisdiction of their courts for the prosecution and judgement of an offence referred to in Article 3a, in order to avoid the externalisation of environmental damage, where it was not committed on its territory, was committed by a foreign person, against a foreign victim, and without that State being the victim of the offence.
Amendment 170 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that protection is applicable to natural persons, as granted under Article 4 of Directive (EU) 2019/1937, and legal persons is applicable to persons reporting criminal offences referred to in Articles 3 and 4 of this Directive.
Amendment 171 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 2
Article 13 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that natural and legal persons reporting offences referred to in Articles 3 and 4 of this Directive and providing evidence or otherwise cooperating with the investigation, prosecution or adjudication of such offences are provided the necessary support and assistance in the context of criminal proceedings.
Amendment 173 #
2021/0422(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Member States shall ensure that, the following information is considered in the public interest and made available to the public concerned: (a) any final judgement in a trial; (b) information enabling the public concerned to know about the state of the proceedings, unless in exceptional cases the proper handling of the case may be adversely affected by such sharing of information.
Amendment 1 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. whereas the EU is a major market for fishmeal and fish oil produced in Mauritania;
Amendment 1 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 20 October 2021 on a farm to fork strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system (2020/2260(INI)),
Amendment 2 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1 a. whereas Mauritania committed in 2017 to reduce and to gradually phase out fishmeal and fish oil production by 2020; whereas, since 2010, the production tripled;
Amendment 2 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
— Having regard to the Opinion of the Committee on Development for the Committee on Fisheries 'Toward a sustainable blue economy in the EU: the role of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors' (2021/2188(INI));
Amendment 3 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 b (new)
Paragraph -1 b (new)
-1 b. whereas robust scientific data, efficient monitoring and control systems as well as transparency on catches and fishing licences are necessary for coastal states to determine the available surplus of shared stocks of small pelagic that are currently harvested above scientific limits;
Amendment 3 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
— having regard to the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries,
Amendment 4 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 c (new)
Paragraph -1 c (new)
-1 c. whereas the Commission’s assessment of the previous protocol called for the establishment of a regional management framework for the exploitation of shared stocks of small pelagic and shared stocks of black hake as it is required following Article 63 of the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea;
Amendment 4 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9
Citation 9
— having regard to the common fisheries policy, and especially to its external dimension,
Amendment 5 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 d (new)
Paragraph -1 d (new)
-1 d. whereas shared stocks of small pelagic - on which artisanal fishers rely on for their livelihoods and food security - are overexploited; whereas the demand for those fish is growing with the expansion of foreign-owned fishmeal factories in Mauritania and neighbouring countries, which are putting at risk food security and raising concerns about environmental pollution such as from untreated waste at the local level;
Amendment 5 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
— having regard to the EU’s commitment to Policy coherence for development enshrined in Article 208 TFEU,
Amendment 6 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11
Citation 11
— having regard to the Commission’s Ex-ante and Ex-post assessments of the previous agreement and protocol,
Amendment 7 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the new direction taken in the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) and their Implementing Protocols, which duly reflect EU priorities and external policy lines; recalls the EU’s commitment to the principle of policy coherence for development and the need for the SFPAs and their implementing protocols to be in line with best scientific advice available, the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; , and the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy;
Amendment 7 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
— having regard to the Report of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Joint Scientific Committee (JSC) on the Fisheries Agreement signed between the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the European Union on 10-12 February 2021,
Amendment 8 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements must be in line with the best scientific advice available and must neither threaten the small-scale fisheries sector in non-EU countries nor undermine local food security;
Amendment 9 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recognises the role of the SFPAsat SFPAs can play a role in improving fisheries management, scientific research, data collection, transparency on fishing activities, and enhancing sustainability and good governance in the EU’s partner countries and globally; recalls, in this regard, that SFPAs must neither threaten the small- scale fisheries sector in non-EU countries nor undermine local food security;
Amendment 9 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the EU is a major market for fishmeal and fish oil produced in Mauritania;
Amendment 12 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas robust scientific data, efficient monitoring and control systems as well as transparency on catches and fishing licences are necessary for coastal states to determine the available surplus of shared stocks of small pelagics that are currently harvested above scientific limits;
Amendment 14 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas the Commission’s assessment of the previous protocol called for the establishment of a regional management framework for the exploitation of shared stocks of small pelagics and shared stocks of black hake as is required following Article 63 of the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea;
Amendment 15 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
K a. whereas Mauritania committed in 2017 to reduce and to gradually phase out fishmeal and fish oil production by 2020; whereas, since 2010, the production tripled;
Amendment 16 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that fishing, notably small scale fisheries, is an important sector for Mauritania’s economy and is essential to the country’s economic development, employment opportunities and food security;
Amendment 16 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K b (new)
Recital K b (new)
K b. whereas shared stocks of small pelagics - on which artisanal fishers rely on for their livelihoods and food security - are overexploited; whereas the demand for those fish is growing with the expansion of foreign-owned fishmeal factories in Mauritania and neighbouring countries, which are putting at risk food security and raising concerns about environmental pollution such as from untreated waste at the local level;
Amendment 17 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K c (new)
Recital K c (new)
K c. whereas regarding the management of small pelagics, the 2021 Report of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Joint Scientific Committee supported additional measures to reduce fishing effort in the 15 nautical miles fishing zone in Mauritania, such as prohibiting the use of the two sardinella species for producing fish meal, reducing the size of fishing gear of coastal vessels and the introduction of quotas to limit catches of the various fleets operating in the fishing zone;
Amendment 18 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Underlines that the Partnership must offer guarantees and protect Mauritanian small-scale fishers from unfair competition, including from EU fishers, and must not undermine local communities;
Amendment 21 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Welcomes the fact that in the new protocol, the reference tonnage for octopus was maintained at zero, in order to reserve octopus for national artisanal fishers which is key for their local development; is worried however that upcoming scientific programmes and/or assessments could open the possibility to revise catch limits of cephalopods; underlines that this fishery should be reserved for artisanal fishers considering its high value added on the artisanal fisheries sector;
Amendment 23 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Recalls that the EU can contribute to ending overfishing of small pelagic and to ending the situation caused by the negative impacts of fishmeal and fish oil industry in Mauritania on which the EU aquaculture and agriculture industries rely;
Amendment 24 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Welcomes the requirement in the new protocol for Mauritania to publish a plan for the sustainable management of small pelagic that will apply to all vessels fishing in Mauritanian waters; urges Mauritania, when drafting such a plan, to adopt ambitious measures in line with scientific advice in order to protect those fisheries resources on which local communities rely;
Amendment 25 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Calls on the EU to step up its efforts by supporting the implementation of a regional management framework for the exploitation of shared stocks of small pelagic, the setup of a regional fisheries management organisation for those stocks and by initiating an international dialogue with concerned countries;
Amendment 25 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Underlines that the Partnership must offer guaranties and protect Mauritanian small-scale fishers from unfair competition, including from EU fishers, and must not undermine local communities;
Amendment 26 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
4 d. Welcomes the requirements on transparency in the new Protocol regarding the publication for Mauritania of all public and private agreements with foreign vessels in its fishing zone and regarding fishing activities in Mauritania; calls on Mauritania to make this information publicly available and to publish the most recent data as possible in the framework of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI); Expresses concerns that some Fisheries Agreements concluded with third countries were so far not published by Mauritania;
Amendment 26 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Welcomes the fact that in the new protocol, the reference tonnage for octopus was maintained at zero, in order to reserve octopus for national artisanal fishers which is key for their local development; is worried however that upcoming scientific programmes and/or assessments could open the possibility to revise catch limits of cephalopods; underlines that this fishery should be reserved for artisanal fishers considering its high value added for the artisanal fisheries sector;
Amendment 27 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the amount allocated to the sectoral support component in the new Protocol; considers that its amount could have been further increased and encourages thits allocation to be used to improve research, surveillance and control of fishing activity and the sustainable development of Mauritania’s small scale fisheries sector; believes that sectoral support should be used to improve scientific data on fish stocks, especially on shared stocks of small pelagic such as sardinella species and horse mackerel, which is key to calculate the surplus; calls on the Joint Committee to promote infrastructure projects that will lead to increased local consumption of fish products and to finance projects benefiting directly to the whole value chain in Mauritanian small-scale fisheries; in addition, calls on the Commission and on Mauritania to proactively publish annual reports on the ways sectoral support is utilised;
Amendment 27 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3 c. Recalls that the EU can contribute to ending overfishing of small pelagics and to ending the situation caused by the negative impacts of fishmeal and fish oil industry in Mauritania on which the EU aquaculture and agriculture industries rely;
Amendment 28 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3 d. Welcomes the requirement in the new protocol for Mauritania to publish a plan for the sustainable management of small pelagics that will apply to all vessels fishing in Mauritanian waters; urges Mauritania to draw on the conclusions of the 2021 Report of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Joint Scientific Committee when drafting such a plan;
Amendment 29 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 e (new)
Paragraph 3 e (new)
3 e. Expresses concerns however about the potential impacts of expanding the fishing zone for EU trawlers targeting small pelagics by reducing the exclusion zone from 20 to 15 nautical miles; calls on the Commission and Mauritania to follow a strict precautionary approach in regards to modifying the zoning;
Amendment 30 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 f (new)
Paragraph 3 f (new)
3 f. Calls on the EU to step up its efforts by supporting the implementation of a regional management framework for the exploitation of shared stocks of small pelagics, the setup of a regional fisheries management organisation for those stocks and by initiating an international dialogue with concerned countries;
Amendment 31 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 g (new)
Paragraph 3 g (new)
3 g. Welcomes the publication by Mauritania of the first report to the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI), notes that the report is based on information for calendar year 2018, calls on Mauritania to publish more recent data;
Amendment 32 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Demands that Mauritania inform the Commission on all public or private agreements with foreign vessels in its fishing zone and that this information be included in the annual report to be sent by the Commission to the European Parliament; expresses concerns that, so far, some Fisheries Agreements with third countries were not published by Mauritania;
Amendment 35 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Welcomes the requirement for Union shipowners of pelagic freezer trawlers and shrimp vessels fishing under the Protocol to contribute to the policy of distributing fish to needy populations, by reserving 2% of their pelagic catches transhipped or landed at the end of a trip for the "Société nationale de distribution de poisson"; notes that local fish consumption is increasing in Mauritania;
Amendment 35 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Welcomes the requirements in the new Protocol to increase and improve coverage by scientific observers in order to improve data collection;
Amendment 36 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes the exchange of information required by the Protocol with regard to reports on the activities of foreign fleets and foreign-owned domestic fleets operating in Mauritanian waters; calls on Mauritania to provide full information on all vessels fishing in its waters in a user- friendly format that allows observers to form an overall picture of the total fishing effort, catches per species and status of stocks and calls on Mauritania to make them publicly available; notes that this is a condition for calculating the ‘surplus’ in the spirit of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea;
Amendment 39 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to ensure that small-scale artisanal fishers and small- scale processors of fish are able to make a living by promoting a sustainable local blue economy, acknowledging the role of women in fish processing by supporting them through projects funded by sectoral support;
Amendment 41 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Welcomes the employment of qualified Mauritanian seafarers on EU vessels on contract that comply with ILO standards and include social cover; welcomes projects funded by EU development aid in Mauritania such as “Promopeche” which aims at creating jobs and training young people in the field of artisanal fisheries;
Amendment 41 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Expresses concerns regarding the practice of reflagging in Mauritanian waters in particular and in the region in general;
Amendment 42 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Notes that the Ex-post evaluation of the previous protocol concludes that overall, Mauritania and the EU captured a similar share of value added of around 40-45% each; but that it states, however, that the value added induced for Mauritania by the activities of EU vessels is relatively low in the absence of economic interactions on land; in this regards calls on the EU to explore ways to improve this aspect under the new protocol;
Amendment 44 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Highlights the need to work to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing to ensure that fish stocks are maintained at sustainable levels.; expresses concerns regarding the practice of reflagging in Mauritanian waters in particular and in the region in general;
Amendment 44 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Welcomes sectoral support under axes 6 and 7; calls on the Joint Committee to promote infrastructure projects that will lead to increased local consumption of fish products and to finance projects benefiting directly to the whole value chain in Mauritanian small- scale fisheries;
Amendment 45 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 46 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Stresses the need to limit the use of flags of convenience and reflagging and to address trans-shipment at sea, as these are important tools for closing IUU loopholes;
Amendment 47 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Expresses concerns about reported human rights abuses such as human trafficking and forced labour on fishing vessels conducting illegal fishing activities in West Africa;
Amendment 47 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
11. Points out that there is a need for better data collection on stocks in Mauritanian waters and that the agreement must be based on the best available scientific advice; believes that sectoral support should be used to improve scientific data on fish stocks, especially on shared stocks of small pelagics such as sardinella species and horse mackerel, on control and surveillance activities and to help artisanal fisheries;
Amendment 48 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8 c. Calls on the European Commission in regards to article 21 of the Agreement and article 14 of the new implementing protocol, to pay specific attention to human rights in Mauritania including in the fisheries sector; warns that, while being officially illegal in Mauritania, the practice of slavery persists in the country and was condemned at several occasions in previous years by the European Parliament;
Amendment 51 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes the fact that the new protocol allows an adjustment of the EU’s financial contribution and of fishing opportunities in its third year of application; urgescalls on the Commission to make use of this flexibility if necessary;
Amendment 52 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Welcomes the increase of fees paid by ship owners compared to the last protocol; calls on the Commission to further increase the share of the total cost of SFPAs that is paid by ship owners by increasing the fee per tonne of fish caught, with the aim of reducing the share of access rights that is paid for from the EU budget;
Amendment 53 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14 b. Welcomes the requirement for Union shipowners of pelagic freezer trawlers and shrimp vessels fishing under the Protocol to contribute to the policy of distributing fish to needy populations, by reserving 2% of their pelagic catches transhipped or landed at the end of a trip for the "Société nationale de distribution de poisson"; notes that local fish consumption is increasing in Mauritania;
Amendment 54 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Calls on the European Commission in regards to article 21 of the Agreement and article 14 of the new implementing Protocol, to pay specific attention to human rights in Mauritania including in the fisheries sector; warns that, while being officially illegal in Mauritania, the practice of slavery persists in the country and was condemned on several occasions in previous years by the European Parliament;
Amendment 57 #
2021/0300M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16 b. Welcomes projects funded by EU development aid in Mauritania such as “Promopeche” which aims at creating jobs and training young people in the field of artisanal fisheries; calls on the Commission to improve synergies and coherence between the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals;
Amendment 63 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council9 sets a binding Union target to reach a share of at least 32 % of energy from renewable sources in the Union's gross final consumption of energy by 2030. Under the Climate Target PlanTo achieve the objective of the 8th Environment Action Programme and the European Green Deal and to make the legislation fit for 1.5°C, the share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption would need to increase to 40at least 51% by 2030 in order to achieve the Union’s greenhouse egas emissions reduction target10 . as enshrined in the EU climate law10.Therefore, the target set out in Article 3 of that Directive needs to be increased and accompanied by national binding targets given their proven effectiveness in providing certainty for investors and to encourage continuous development of technologies which generate energy from all types of renewable sources. _________________ 9 Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 82–209 10 Point 3 of the Communication from the Commission COM(2020) 562 final of 17.9.2020, Stepping up Europe’s 2030 climate ambition Investing in a climate- neutral future for the benefit of our people
Amendment 67 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3 a) Continuous scientific evidence shows that energy savings, energy efficiency and renewable energy represent key drivers for reaching a net-zero GHG emission economy. In line with the Commission recommendation of 28 September 2021 entitled "On Energy Efficiency First: from principles to practice. Guidelines and examples for its implementation in decision-making in the energy sector and beyond", this Directive should take an integrated approach by promoting the most energy efficient renewable source for any given sector and application as well as by promoting system efficiency, so that the least energy would be required for various economic activities.
Amendment 77 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4 a) Scientific studies from the IPCC and others show that wood-burning power plants pump more CO2 into the atmosphere per unit of energy than coal plants. Harvesting trees to burn wood for bioenergy also leads to a reduction in the carbon sinks of forests. These two reasons highlight why the burning of forest biomass for energy is detrimental to efforts to tackle the climate emergency. Whilst planting new trees absorbs emissions over time, the time period for the carbon debt to be paid back is too long (burning of wood will increase warming for decades to centuries. That is true even when the wood replaces coal, oil or natural gas). Furthermore, whilst a tree can be grown and harvested, complex eco- systems such as forests are not easily replaced. Accordingly, Member States should not be provided anymore with financial support for the burning of wood for energy, nor for it to count towards the EU's renewable energy targets.
Amendment 85 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7 a) Each Member State should put in place a process ensuring coordination among all the relevant national, regional and local authorities in the upstream planning of the short-, medium- and long- term renewable energy deployment scenarios. In order to ensure a bottom-up approach, Member States should require regional and local authorities to conduct integrated local renewable energy mapping and planning at least in municipalities, having a total population higher than10.000 and encourage smaller local municipalities to do the same on a voluntary basis.
Amendment 95 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy introduces an ambitious objective of 300 GW of offshore wind and 40 GW of ocean energy across all the Union’s sea basins by 2050. To ensure this step change, Member States will need to work together across borders at sea-basin level. Member States should therefore jointly define and allocate adequate space in their maritime spatial plan for the amount of offshore renewable generation and related infrastructure to be deployed within each sea basin by 2050, with intermediate steps in 2030 and 204030,2040 and 2050. Where the cumulated objective does not amount to at least 79 GW and 340 GW of installed capacity by 2030 and2050 respectively, or where intermediate steps are not in line with the 2030 and 2050 objectives, the Commission shall take additional measures to facilitate the roll-out of offshore renewable energy. These objectives should be reflected in the updated national energy and climate plans that will be submitted in 2023 and 2024 pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. In defining the amount, Member States should take into account the offshore renewable energy potential of each sea basin, environmental protection and biodiversity, climate adaptation and other uses of the sea, as well as the Union’s decarbonisation targets. In addition, Member States should increasingly consider the possibility of combining offshore renewable energy generation with transmission lines interconnecting several Member States, in the form of hybrid projects or, at a later stage, a more meshed grid. This would allow electricity to flow in different directions, thus maximising socio- economic welfare, optimising infrastructure expenditure and enabling a more sustainable usage of the seaGHG emission reduction targets. Accordingly, when installing new wind parks Member States should avoid placing them in the routes of migratory birds and apply best practices to reduce bird fatalities such as by increasing rotorblade visibility through visual cues by applying contrast painting to singleblades, as well by requiring the installation of automated curtailment system whereby turbines are slowed or stopped when wildlife are considered at increased risk of collision.
Amendment 98 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
(8 a) In order to enhance broad public acceptance, Member States shall ensure the possibility of including renewable energy communities in joint cooperation projects on offshore renewable energy. In addition, Member States should increasingly consider the possibility of combining offshore renewable energy generation with transmission lines interconnecting several Member States, in the form of hybrid projects or, at a later stage, a more meshed grid. This would allow electricity to flow in different directions, thus maximising socio- economic welfare, optimising infrastructure expenditure and enabling amore sustainable usage of the sea.
Amendment 104 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Buildings have a large untapped potential to contribute effectively to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions inand to the achievement of the renewable and energy efficiency targets of the Union. The decarbonisation of heating and cooling in this sector through an increased share in productionthe phase out of fossil based solution and the uptake of the most energy efficient and suse oftainable renewable energy solution for the given local context will be needed to meet the ambition set in the Climate Target PlanLaw to achieve the Union objective of climate neutrality. However, progress on the use of renewables for heating and cooling has been stagnant in the last decade, largely relying on increased use of biomass. Without the establishment of targets to increase the production and use of renewable energy in buildings in accordance with the energy efficiency first principle, there will be no ability to track progress and identify bottlenecks in the uptake of renewables. Furthermore, the creation of targets will provide a long-term signal to investors, including for the period immediately after 2030. This will complement obligations related to energy efficiency and the energy performance of buildings. Therefore, bindicativeng targets for the use of renewable energy in buildings should be set to guide and incentivise Member States’ efforts to exploit the potential of using and producing renewable energy on -site or nearby in buildings, encourage the development of and integrationuptake of technologies which produce renewable energy and help their efficient integration in the energy system, while providing certainty for investors and local level engagement as well as contributing to system efficiency.
Amendment 106 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
Amendment 107 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Member States should ensure that well-trained and qualified installers of renewable heating and cooling systems, including thermal storage systems, of renewable electricity, such as photovoltaics, domestic batteries and electric vehicles’ charging stations, are available in sufficient numbers for the relevant technologies to service the growth of renewable energy required to contribute the targets for renewable energy enshrined in this Directive. Insufficient numbers of skilled workers, in particular installers and designers of renewable heating and cooling systems, slow down the replacement of fossil fuel heating systemtechnologies by renewable energy based systems and is a major barrier to integrating renewables in buildings, industry and agriculture and the energy system overall. Member States should cooperate with social partners and renewable energy communities to anticipate the skills that will be needed. A sufficient number of high-quality and effective upskilling and reskilling strategies and inclusive training programmes and certification possibilities should ensuringe proper installation and reliable operation of a wide range of renewable heating and cooling systemand storage technologies as well as electric vehicles charging points should be made available and designed in a way to attract participation for all workers in such training programmes and certification systems. Member States should consider what actions should be taken to attract groups currently under- represented in the occupational areas in question. The list of trained and certified installers should be made public and widely promoted to ensure consumer trust and easy access to tailored designer and installer skills guaranteeing proper installation and operation of renewable heating and coolingand storage technologies and for electric vehicles charging points. Such lists may be used as a prerequisite for grants or support schemes.
Amendment 111 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Infrastructure development for district heating and cooling networks should be stepped up and steered towards harnessing a wider range of renewable heat and cold sources in an efficient and flexible way in order to increase the deployment of renewable energy and deepen energy system integration. It is therefore appropriate toindispensable for Member States to support the renovation of existing and the development of highly efficient 4th and 5th generation renewable district heating and cooling networks fuelled exclusively by renewable energy sources and unavoidable waste heat or cold, and update the list of renewable energy sources that district heating and cooling networks should increasingly accommodate and require the integration of thermal energy storage as a source of flexibility, greater energy efficiency and more cost-effective operation.
Amendment 112 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) Decentralised energy resources such as distributed renewable generation, demand response, smart heating and cooling devices, hot water tanks, thermal energy storage, distributed storage assets, such as domestic batteries and batteries of electric vehicles have the potential to offer considerable flexibility and balancing services to the grid and the energy system through aggregation. In order to facilitate the development of such devices and related services, the regulatory provisions concerning connection and operation of the storage assetdecentralised energy resources, such as tariffs, commitment times and connection specifications, should be designed in a way that does not hamper the potential of all storagthese assets, including small and mobile ones, to offer flexibility and balancing services to the system and to contribute to the further penetration of renewable electricity, in comparison with larger, stationary storage assetsnergy, in particular in comparison with larger assets. Member States should also provide a level playing field for smaller market actors, in particular renewable energy communities, so that they are able to participate in the market without facing disproportionate administrative or regulatory burden.
Amendment 115 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) Increasing ambition in the heating and cooling sector is key to delivering the overall renewable energy target given that heating and cooling constitutes around half of the Union's energy consumption, covering a wide range of end uses and technologies in buildings, industry and district heating and cooling. To accelerate the increase of renewables in heating and cooling, an annual 1.1at least 4.2 percentage point increase at Member State level should be made binding as a minimum for all Member States. For those Member States, which already have renewable shares above 50% in the heating and cooling sector, it should remain possible to only apply half of the binding annual increase rate and Member States with 60% or above may count any such share as fulfilling the average annual increase rate in accordance with points b) and c) of paragraph 2 of Article 23. In addition, Member State- specific top-ups should be set, redistributing the additional efforts to the desired level of renewables in 2030 among Member States based on GDP and cost- effectivenessorder to better exploit local renewable heating and cooling resources Member States shall carry out with the involvement of local and regional authorities, an assessment of their potential of energy from renewable sources in the heating and cooling sector and of the use of unavoidable waste heat and cold in full compliance with the energy efficiency first principle. A longer list of different measures should also be included in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 to facilitate increasing the share of renewables in heating and cooling. Member States may implement one or more measures from the list of measures.
Amendment 144 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall collectively ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources in the Union’s gross final consumption of energy in 2030 is at least 40%.51%;
Amendment 146 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 3– paragraph 3
Article 3– paragraph 3
3. Member States shall take measures to ensure that energy from biomass is produced in a way that minimiseprevents undue distortive effects on the biomass raw material market and harmful impacts on biodiversity or the climate. To that end , they shall take into accouimplement the waste hierarchy as set out in Article 4 of Directive 2008/98/EC and the cascading principle referred to in the third subparagraph.
Amendment 150 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Directive 2018/2001
Article 3– paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point (a) – point (i)
Article 3– paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point (a) – point (i)
(i) the use of saw logs, veneer logs, stumps and rootwoody biomass to produce energy.
Amendment 154 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point (a) – point (–i) (new)Article 3
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point (a) – point (–i) (new)Article 3
(a a) (-i) The following point is added: (-i) the use of woody biomass to produce electricity;
Amendment 155 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparahraph 2 – point (b)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparahraph 2 – point (b)
Amendment 180 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 3 – paragraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 3
7a. Member States bordering a sea basin shall cooperate to jointly define and allocate adequate space in their maritime spatial plan for the amount of offshore renewable energy and related infrastructure they plan to produce in that sea basin by 2050, with intermediate steps in 2030 and 2040. They shall take into account the specificities and development in each region, the offshore renewable potential of the sea basin and the importance of ensuring the associated integrated grid planning30, 2040 and 2050. Where the cumulated objective does not amount to at least 79 GW and 340 GW of installed capacity by 2030 and 2050 respectively, or where intermediate steps are not in line with the 2030 and 2050 objectives, the Commission shall take additional measures to facilitate the roll-out of offshore renewable energy. Member States shall facilitate coexistence with maritime activities and take into account the specificities and development in each region, the offshore renewable potential of the sea basin and the importance of ensuring the associated integrated grid planning, including needed on-and offshore infrastructure, potential complementary usages, off-shore renewable hybrid assets and renewable hybrid plants and installations, and to respect EU environmental legislation. Member States shall notify that amount and grid planned in the updated integrated national energy and climate plans submitted pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.; At least two years after entry into force of this Directive, Member States will ensure their Maritime Spatial Plans pursuant to Directive(EU) 2014/89 will be aligned with the provisions in this paragraph;
Amendment 183 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b a (new)
(b a) In order to ensure the sustainable management of maritime space and coasts and unlock the potential of offshore renewables, Member States shall make use of Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) process accompanied by a solid approach to public participation enabling stakeholders’ and coastal communities' views are taken into consideration at an early stage. In order to enhance broad public acceptance, Member States shall ensure the possibility of including renewable energy communities in joint cooperation projects on offshore renewable energy
Amendment 184 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b b (new)
(b b) In order to reduce complexity, increase efficiency and transparency and help enhance cooperation among Member States there should be a unique point of contact (‘one stop shop’)per priority offshore grid corridor, facilitating the permit granting process for offshore renewable energy projects of common interest.
Amendment 187 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point d
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point d
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 15 – paragraph 9
Article 15 – paragraph 9
9. No later than six month after the entry into force of this amending Directive [xxx], the Commission shall publish guidelines on permit granting to shorten and simplify processes for new, the repowering and upgrade of renewable projects, including: a) recommendations on implementing and applying the rules on administrative procedures set out in Articles 15, 16 and 17, together with comparable key performance indicators for both progress and effectiveness; b) streamlining procedures and providing administrative support to renewables self- consumers and renewable energy communities; c) compliance with EU environmental legislation and areas protected under EU law; d) court proceedings; e) civil resolution and mediation; f) factoring in of technology development and innovation in permitting processes; g) areas occupied by military and civil aviation constraints; h) effective single contact points. Member States shall describe their current permitting practices and the corrective measures to be taken to align with the EC’s guidelines in their integrated national energy and climate plans referred to in Articles 3 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and progress reports submitted pursuant to Article 17 of that Regulation. The EC shall assess the corrective measures in the plans and scoring of each Member state in the key performance indicators. The EC’s assessment shall be made public. I n case of lack of progress the Commission may take additional measures to support Member States in their implementation assisting them in reforming and streamlining their permitting procedures. By one year after the entry into force of this amending Directive, the Commission shall review, and where appropriate, propose modifications to, the rules on administrative procedures set out in Articles 15, 16 and 17 and their application, and may take additional measures to support Member States in their implementation.;
Amendment 194 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
Amendment 195 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 b (new)
Amendment 197 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 15a (new) – paragraph 2
Article 15a (new) – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall introduce measures in their building regulations and codes and, where applicable, in their support schemes, to increase the share of electricity and heating and cooling from renewable sources in the building stock, including national measures relating to substantial increases in renewables self- consumption, renewable energy communities, local renewable energy sharing and local energy storage, in combination with energy efficiency improvements relatdemand side flexibility measures and energy efficiency improvements, i.e. one-step deep renovations leading to cogenerationgy plus and passive, nearly zero-energy and zero- energymission buildings.
Amendment 209 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 20a (new) – paragraph 4
Article 20a (new) – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall ensure that the national regulatory framework does not discriminate against participation in the electricity markets, including congestion management and the provision of flexibility and balancing services, of district heating and cooling networks, of small or mobile systems such as domestic batteries and electric vehicles, both directly and through aggregation.; , electric vehicles, thermal energy storage units and smart electric heating and cooling appliances and systems, and other smart devices facilitating consumers’ flexible renewable electricity consumption both directly and through aggregation. Member States shall provide a level playing field for smaller market actors, in particular renewable energy communities, sot hat they are able to participate in the market without facing disproportionate administrative or regulatory burden
Amendment 221 #
2021/0218(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 – point a
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 23 – paragraph 1
Article 23 – paragraph 1
1. In order to promote the use of renewable energy in the heating and cooling sector, each Member State shall, increase the share of renewable energy in that sector by at least 1.14.2 percentage points as an annual average calculated for the periods 2021 to 2025 and 2026 to 2030, starting from the share of renewable energy in the heating and cooling sector in 2020, expressed in terms of national share of gross final energy consumption and calculated in accordance with the methodology set out in Article 7.
Amendment 16 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) While the objective of the CBAM is to prevent thelower global carbon emissions and support the implementation of the goals of the Paris Agreement, including by preventing any risk of carbon leakage, this Regulation would also encourage the use of more GHG emissions-efficient technologies by producers from third countries, so that less emissions per unit of output are generated.
Amendment 21 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 a (new)
Recital 13 a (new)
(13 a) Least developed countries (LDCs) are accountable for only 1.1% of the world CO2 emissions from fossil-fuels combustion and industrial processes[1].While LDCs and Small Islands Developing States bear the least historical responsibility for climate change, they are on the front lines of the climate crisis, worsening existing inequalities and creating extreme poverty.To avoid such negative effects, they should be given a special treatment concerning carbon pricing in the frame of the CBAM.LDCs, as defined by the UN, are granted an exemption period from CBAM to avoid any additional burden that would prevent them from efficiently and swiftly achieve their climate transition towards climate neutrality.This exemption should be carefully monitored through market surveillance by the Commission to avoid circumvention. [1] “Smallest footprints, largest impacts: Least developed countries need a just sustainable transition”, UNCTAD, 2019, https://unctad.org/fr/node/34943
Amendment 22 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) This Regulation should apply to goods imported into the customs territory of the Union from third countries, except where their production has already been subject to the EU ETS, whereby it applies to third countries or territories, or to a carbon pricing system fully linked with the EU ETS. This Regulation should also not apply to third countries classified as “least-developed” by the United Nations.
Amendment 32 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 55
Recital 55
(55) As the CBAM aims to encourage cleaner production processes, the EU stands ready to work with low and middle- income countries towards the de- carbonisation of their manufacturing industries. Moreover, the Union should support less developed countries with the necessary technical assistance in order to facilitate their adaptation to the new obligations established by this regulation and provide them. with the necessary technical assistance and with the sharing or GHG-abating technology in order to facilitate their adaptation to the new obligations established by this regulation. Least Developed Countries have limited capacity to decarbonise their industries, and compliance with the CBAM obligations would be highly demanding for them. Moreover, manufacturing capacities and associated emissions in those countries are negligible on a global scale. In order not to place a disproportionate burden on those countries, and in line with the ‘common but differentiated responsibility’ principle, as stated in Art 2. 2. of the Paris agreement, the CBAM will not apply to them. However, to prevent risks of circumvention, the Commission will set up a market surveillance monitoring system and will take measures, where appropriate.
Amendment 37 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 55 a (new)
Recital 55 a (new)
(55 a) Revenues from the CBAM should flow into the general budget of the Union and should constitute internal assigned revenue for the purpose of Article 21(3) of the Financial Regulation. To further ensure that the aim of the CBAM is solely to reduce global carbon emission, those new resources should contribute to supporting the implementation of the Green Deal by stepping up the Union’s contribution to international climate finance and help to Least Developed Countries.
Amendment 43 #
2021/0214(COD)
1. This Regulation establishes a carbon border adjustment mechanism (the ‘CBAM’) for addressing greenhouse gas emissions embedded in the goods referred to in Annex I, upon their importation into the customs territory of the Union, in order to prevent thereduce global carbon emissions and support the implementation of the goals of the Paris Agreement by preventing any risk of carbon leakage.
Amendment 47 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Article 2 – paragraph 3
3. By way of derogation from paragraphs 1 and 2, this Regulation does not apply to goods originating in countries and territories listed in Annex II, Section A and in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as designated by the United Nations.
Amendment 48 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 24 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 52 #
2021/0214(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 5
Article 27 – paragraph 5
5. Where the Commission, taking into account the relevant data, reports and statistics, including when provided by the customs authorities of Member States, has sufficient reasons to believe that the circumstances referred to in paragraph 32 are occurring in one or more Member States, it can proceed according to the following options: (a) it is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 28 to supplement the scope of this Regulation as necessary in order to include slightly modified products for anti-circumvention purposes. additional products for anti-circumvention purposes and if necessary it may adopt a new legislative proposal; (b) if in particular the practices of circumvention referred to in point (c) of paragraph 2 materialise in a Least Developed Country, the Commission may, if appropriate, temporarily remove the relevant exemption from the CBAM referred to in paragraph 3 of Article 2; (c) in particular for the practices of circumvention referred to in point (d) of paragraph 2, the Commission shall introduce a tariff-rate quota based on export levels during the three preceding years. Beyond the level set by the tariff- rate quota, the exemption from the CBAM for the country in question shall cease to apply.
Amendment 19 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9 a) Low income, lower-middle income and Least Developed Countries are the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Although their shares to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are very small or even negligible, they tend to be heavier exposed to impacts of climate change, notably in view of the state of their infrastructure and their peoples’ living conditions. Those countries are now in a calamitous situation by the combination of the global failure to curb GHG emissions, which raises their adaptation needs and costs ever higher, and the public finance crises caused by the COVID-pandemic and the associated ‘debt pandemic’.
Amendment 20 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 b (new)
Recital 9 b (new)
(9 b) Significant financial resources are needed to implement the Paris Agreement. The EU remains committed to contributing towards the developed countries’ goal of jointly mobilising from different sources USD 100 billion per year by 2020 to support developing countries. The goal was extended until 2025 before a new collective goal is set.The funding will come from a wide variety of sources – public and private, bilateral and multilateral, and alternative sources of finance. However, this goal remains unmet. The EU should step up its support for these countries including through the ETS in order to strengthen their ability to adapt and their resilience to climate change.
Amendment 21 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 c (new)
Recital 9 c (new)
(9 c) LDCs are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change and are responsible only for a very low level of greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, particular priority should be given to addressing the needs of LDCs through the use of EU ETS allowances to fund climate action, in particular adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Collective pledging by the EU would increase EU influence in the UNFCCC negotiations while contribution through the Green Climate Fund would also encourage others to contribute a portion of their own carbon pricing schemes to the Fund.
Amendment 22 #
2021/0211(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 d (new)
Recital 9 d (new)
(9 d) All revenues (or the equivalent in financial value) from EU ETS should be earmarked for climate action and 50% should be dedicated to EU’s collective contribution to international climate finance.
Amendment 31 #
2021/0211(COD)
(11) Article 10 is amended as follows: All revenues (or the equivalent in financial value) from EU ETS should be earmarked for climate action and 50% should be dedicated to EU’s collective contribution to international climate finance, to support in priority adaptation to climate change, in particular for Least Developed Countries and Small Islands Developing States, as well as in low income and lower-income countries, and loss and damage, which are of peculiar importance for vulnerable developing countries.
Amendment 6 #
2021/0176(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
(8 a) Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 should be amended to take into account the social, economic and environmental consequences of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the Union on Union fisheries, as well as the evolutions of the Union fleet in recent years.
Amendment 8 #
2021/0176(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex
Annex
Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013
Annex 1 – point 5 – row 3
Annex 1 – point 5 – row 3
Belgian/French frontier to east of Belgium Demersal Unlimited (with the Departement Manche (Vire- Grandcamp les Bains estuary 49° 23' 30'' N-1° 2' WNNE) exception of vessels using Grandcamp les Bains estuary 49° Danish seine or Scottish 23' 30'' N-1° 2' WNNE) seine)
Amendment 9 #
2021/0176(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex
Annex
Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013
Annex 1 – point 5 – row 5
Annex 1 – point 5 – row 5
Amendment 1 #
2021/0127(NLE)
Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. GRefuses to gives its consent to the conclusion of the protocol;
Amendment 85 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) In its resolution on sustainable finance of 29 May 201843 , the European Parliament called for the further development of non-financial reporting requirements in the framework of Directive 2013/34/EU. In its resolution on sustainable corporate governance of 17 December 202044 , the European Parliament welcomed the Commission’s commitment to review Directive 2013/34/EU and expressed the need to set up a comprehensive Union framework on non-financial reporting that contains mandatory Union non-financial reporting standards. The European Parliament called for the expansion of the scope of the reporting requirements to additional categories of undertakings for the identification of high-risk sectors of economic activity with a significant impact on sustainability matters that could justify the inclusion of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), and for the introduction of an audit requirement. _________________ 43 2018/2007(INI). 44 A9-0240/2020 (INI).
Amendment 86 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4 a) The list of high risk sector included in Annex IIa of Directive 2013/34/EU is based on and inspired by the NACE Codes and build on four types of sources and evidence, namely: (1) existing Union legislation, (2) scientific evidence and data about sectors that can create particularly high levels of environmental or social harm, (3) sectors that are already considered“high-risk” under international standards and (4) sectors that are already considered “high- risk” under market or business initiatives.
Amendment 89 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The ultimate beneficiaries of better sustainability reporting by undertakings are individual citizens and savers. Savers who want to invest sustainably will have the opportunity to do so, while all citizens should benefit from a stable, sustainable and inclusive economic system. To realise these benefits, the sustainability information disclosed in undertaking’s annual reports first has to reach two primary groups (‘users’). The first group of users consists of investors, including asset managers, who want to better understand the risks and opportunities that sustainability issues pose to their investments and the impacts of those investments on people and the environment. The second group of users consists of organisationcivil society actors, including non- governmental organisations and, social partners, indigenous people and local communities that wish to better hold undertakings to account for their impacts on people and the environment. Other stakeholders may also make use of sustainability information disclosed in annual reports to foster the comparability across market sectors on the basis of environmental merits, corporate entities should disclose the degree to which they contribute to economic activities that qualify as environmentally sustainable pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 on Sustainable Finance Taxonomy and fully respect the ‘do no significant harm principle pursuant to Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852. The business partners of undertakings, including customers, may rely on this information to understand, and where necessary report on, the sustainability risks and impacts through their own supply and value chains. PExperts, policy makers and environmental agencies may use such information, in particular on an aggregate basis, to monitor, verify and compare environmental, climate and social data and trends, to contribute to environmental accounts, and to inform public policy. Few individual citizens and consumers directly consult undertaking’s reports, but they may use such information indirectly such as when considering the advice or opinions of financial advisers or non-governmental organisations. Many investors and asset managers purchase sustainability information from third party data providers, who collect information from various sources, including public corporate reports.
Amendment 92 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) There has been a very significant increase in demand for corporate sustainability information in recent years, especially on the part of the investment community and civil society. That increase in demand is driven by the changing nature of risks to undertakings and growing investor awareness of the financial implications of these risks. That is especially the case for climate-related financial risks. Awareness of the risks to undertakings and to investments resulting from other environmental issues, in particular related to climate and biodiversity, and from social issues, including health issues, is also growing. The increase in demand for sustainability information is also driven by the growth in investment products that explicitly seek to meet certain sustainability standards or achieve certain sustainability objectives, in line with international Union commitments, notably regarding the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Part of that increase is the logical consequence of previously adopted Union legislation, notably Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 and Regulation (EU) 2020/852. Some of the increase would have happened in any case, due to fast-changing citizen awareness, consumer preferences and market practices. The COVID-19 pandemic will further accelerate the increase in users’ information needs, in particular as it has exposed the vulnerabilities of workers and of undertaking’s due diligence along the whole supply and value chains. Information on environmental impacts is also relevant in the context of mitigating future pandemics with human disturbance of ecosystems increasingly linked to the occurrence and spread of diseases.
Amendment 95 #
2021/0104(COD)
(11) The report on the review clause of the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (Directive 2014/95/EU), and its accompanying fitness check on corporate reporting, identified problems as to the effectiveness of that Directive48 . There is significant evidence that many undertakings do not disclose material information on all major sustainability- related topics, in particular regarding most exposed sectors to environmental criminality, such as timber, fishing and mining, including in their activities in third countries. The report also identified as significant problems the limited comparability and reliability of sustainability information. Additionally, many undertakings from which users need sustainability information are not obliged to report such information, which underlines the need for a robust and affordable monitoring, reporting and verification framework and effective auditing within corporate sustainability reporting to ensure the reliability of data and avoid off-setting, greenwashing and/or double accounting. _________________ 48 Publication office: please insert reference to Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee on the review clauses in Directives 2013/34/EU, 2014/95/EU, and 2013/50/EU, and accompanying SWD- Fitness Check.
Amendment 97 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In the absence of policy action, the gap between users’ information needs and the sustainability information reported by undertakings is expected to grow. This gap has significant negative consequences. Investors are unable to take sufficient account of sustainability-related risks and opportunities in their investment decisions. The aggregation of multiple investment decisions that do not take adequate account of sustainability-related risks has the potential to create systemic risks that threaten financial stability. The European Central Bank and international organisations such as the Financial Stability Board have drawn attention to those systemic risks, in particular in the case of climate. Investors are also less able to channel financial resources to undertakings and economic activities that address and do not exacerbate social and environmental problems, which undermines the objectives of the European Green Deal and, the Action Plan on Financing Sustainable Growth, the objectives of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Non- governmental organisations, social partners, communities affected by undertakings’ activities, and other stakeholders are less able to hold undertakings accountable for their impacts on people and the environment, including in their activities in third countries. This creates an accountability deficit, and may contribute to lower levels of citizen trust in businesses, which in turn may have negative impacts on the efficient functioning of the social market economy. The lack of generally accepted metrics and methods for measuring, valuing, and managing sustainability-related risks is also an obstacle to the efforts of undertakings to ensure that their business models and activities are sustainable. The lack of sustainability information also limits the ability of stakeholders, including civil society actors, trade unions, indigenous people and local communities, to enter into dialogue with undertakings on sustainability matters.
Amendment 130 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) Articles 19a(1) and 29a(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU require undertakings to disclose information about five reporting areas: business model, policies (including due diligence processes implemented), the outcome of those policies, risks and risk management, and key performance indicators relevant to the business. Article 19a(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU does not contain explicit references to other reporting areas that users of information consider relevant, some of which align with disclosures included in international frameworks, including the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. Disclosure requirements should be specified in sufficient detail to ensure that undertakings report information on their resilience to risks related to sustainability matters. In addition to the reporting areas identified in Articles 19a(1) and 29a(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU, undertakings should therefore be required to disclose information about their business strategy and the resilience of the business model and strategy to risks related to sustainability matters, any plans they may have to ensure that their business model and strategy are compatible with the transition to a sustainable and climate- neutral economy; whether and how their business model and strategy take account of the interests of stakeholders and the preservation of biodiversity, in particular by delivering information in sectors causing most environmental impact, such as agriculture, fishing, logging, mining and large-scale infrastructure; whether and how their business model and strategy respect and safeguard the rights and the interests of stakeholders, including workers, indigenous people and local communities and the principle of prior and informed consent; any opportunities for the undertaking arising from sustainability matters; the implementation of the aspects of the business strategy which affect, or are affected by sustainability matters; any sustainability targets set by the undertaking and the progress made towards achieving them; the role of the board and management with regard to sustainability matters; the principal actual and potential adverse impacts connected with the undertaking’s activities; and how the undertaking has identified the information that they report on. Once the disclosure of elements such as targets and the progress towards achieving them is required, the separate requirement to disclose the outcomes of policies is no longer necessary.
Amendment 134 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) To ensure consistency with international instruments such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct, the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational enterprises and Social Policy (ILO Tripartite Declaration), the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and its principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent, the due diligence disclosure requirements should be specified in greater detail than is the case in Article 19a(1), point (b), and Article 29a(1), point (b) of Directive 2013/34/EU. Due diligence is the process that undertakings carry out to identify, prevent, mitigate and remediate the principal actual and potential adverse impacts connected with their activities and identifies how they address those adverse impacts. Impacts connected with an undertaking’s activities include impacts directly caused by the undertaking, impacts to which the undertaking contributes, and impacts which are otherwise linked to the undertaking’s value chain. The due diligence process concerns the whole value chain of the undertaking including its own operations, its products and services, its business relationships and its supply chains. In alignment with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, an actual or potential adverse impact is to be considered principal where it measures among the greatest impacts connected with the undertaking’s activities based on: the gravity of the impact on people or the environment; the number of individuals that are or could be affected, or the scale of damage to the environment; and the ease with which the harm could be remediated, restoring the environment or affected people to their prior state.
Amendment 147 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 36
Recital 36
(36) Sustainability reporting standards should take account of the Commission guidelines on non-financial reporting60 and the Commission guidelines on reporting climate-related information61 . They should also take account of other reporting requirements in Directive 2013/34/EU, including reporting on payments to governments by undertakings active i.e. in the extractive and logging industries, agriculture and fisheries, as well as other reporting requirements not directly related to sustainability, with the aim of providing the users of the reported information with a better understanding of the development, performance, position and environmental and social impact of the undertaking, by maximising the links between the sustainability information and other information reported in accordance with Directive 2013/34/EU. _________________ 60 2017/C 215/01. 61 2019/C 209/01.
Amendment 153 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 39
Recital 39
(39) Sustainability reporting standards should also take account of internationally recognised principles and frameworks on responsible business conduct, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable development, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct and related sectoral guidelines, the UN Global Compact, the Tripartite Declaration of Principles of the International Labour Organisation concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, the ISO 26000 standard on social responsibility, and the UN Principles for Responsible Investment. Other frameworks such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and its principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent should equally be taken into account.
Amendment 161 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 44
Recital 44
(44) Users need information about governance factors, including information on the role of an undertaking’s administrative, management and supervisory bodies, including with regard to sustainability matters, the composition of such bodies, and an undertaking’s internal control and risk management systems, including in relation to the reporting process. Users also need information about undertakings’ corporate culture and approach to business ethics, including anti-corruption and anti-bribery, and about their political engagements, including lobbying activities. The disclosure of these data aims at enabling investors to make better-informed decisions, improving corporate governance and accountability and contributing to containing tax evasion. Information about the management of the undertaking and the quality of relationships with business partners, including payment practices relating to the date or period for payment, the rate of interest for late payment or the compensation for recovery costs referred to in Directive 2011/7/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council62 on late payment in commercial transactions, helps users to understand an undertaking’s risks as well as its impacts on sustainability matters. Every year, thousands of businesses, especially SMEs, suffer administrative and financial burdens because they are paid late, or not at all. Ultimately, late payments lead to insolvency and bankruptcy, with destructive effects on entire value chains. Increasing information about payment practices should empower other undertakings to identify prompt and reliable payers, detect unfair payment practices, access information about the businesses they trade with, and negotiate fairer payment terms. _________________ 62Directive 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 163 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 46
Recital 46
(46) Undertakings in the same sector are often exposed to similar sustainability- related risks, and they often have similar impacts on society and the environment. Comparisons between undertakings in the same sector are especially valuable to investors and other users of sustainability information. Sustainability reporting standards adopted by the Commission should therefore specify both information that undertakings in all sectors should disclose and information that undertakings should disclose depending on their sector of activity. Standards applicable to undertakings active, e.g. in the extractive industry and the logging of forests, should be consistent with reporting requirements of Chapter 10 of Directive 2013/34/EU and require sustainability disclosures to be made at project-level. Project-level disclosures are crucial for investors who need consistent and detailed information on projects to fully understand the impact of climate-related financial risk in the fossil fuels sector and regarding the supply of critical transition minerals. Project-level disclosure is equally crucial for communities affected by the extractive and logging industries and civil society organisations of resource-rich countries, to understand and scrutinize the benefits of the oil, gas, mining and logging industries and their environmental, social and governance impacts. Standards should also take account of the difficulties that undertakings may encounter in gathering information from actors throughout their value chain, especially from SME suppliers and from suppliers in emerging markets and economies.
Amendment 168 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 47
Recital 47
(47) To meet the information needs from users in a timely manner, and in particular given the urgency to meet the information needs of financial market participants subject to the requirements laid down in the delegated acts adopted pursuant to Article 4, paragraphs 6 and 7 of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088, the Commission should adopt a first set of reporting standards by 31 October 2022. That set of reporting standards should specify the information that undertakings should disclose with regard to all reporting areas and sustainability matters, and that financial market participants need to comply with the disclosure obligations laid down in Regulation (EU) 2019/2088. The Commission should adopt a second set of reporting standards at the latest by 31 October 2023, specifying complementary information that undertakings should disclose about sustainability matters and reporting areas where necessary, and information that is specific to the sector in which an undertaking operates. Standards for high-impact undertakings active in sectors where sustainability risks are the most severe should be developed as a priority, in particular undertakings active in the extractive industry, the manufacture of wearing apparel, large- scale crop, animal production and seafood industry. The Commission should review the standards every 3 years to take account of relevant developments, including the development of international standards.
Amendment 171 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 47 a (new)
Recital 47 a (new)
(47 a) Undertakings in high-carbon sectors such as extractive and fossil fuel industry, should take into account the relevant sectoral guidance from the IPCC and the International Energy Agency. Undertakings active in the extractive industry as defined in Article 41(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU should thus be subject to additional sustainability disclosure requirements. Those undertakings have high market capitalization, drive economic growth across the world and are an important source of government revenues in many countries. They also have a huge ecological footprint in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, biodiversity loss and human health. Extractive activities can also fuel corruption, conflict and threaten human rights when safeguards are not met or if projects are poorly managed. While the fossil fuel industry is a major cause of climate change, the energy transition brings new environmental challenges in a global context of growing demand for raw materials due to population growth, industrialisation, decarbonisation of transport, energy systems and other industrial sectors, increasing demand from developing countries and new technological applications. Without addressing the resource implications of low-carbon technologies, there is a risk that shifting the burden of curbing emissions to other parts of the economic chain may simply cause new environmental and social problems, such as heavy metal pollution, habitat destruction, or resource depletion in third countries. European capital markets are particularly exposed to these climate- related risks, which will significantly impact upon extractive industry stakeholders in producing countries. While Union's future demand of primary critical raw materials will continue to be largely met by imports also in the medium to long term, the Union has a responsability to promote responsible and sustainable mining practices.
Amendment 173 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 47 b (new)
Recital 47 b (new)
(47 b) Undertakings active in the extractive industry should be required to publish the contracts and other documents upon which these projects are based. Given the changes that will be brought by the energy transition, availability of the terms governing resource extraction will be key to understanding how risks and benefits will be shared between companies, communities and governments. According to the International Monetary Fund, contract transparency in the extractive industries has become a global norm, and the practice was made a requirement under the 2019 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative standard—the main global standard for transparency in the extractive industries. There are already over 49 countries around the world that have disclosed contracts and at least 30 with laws requiring them to do so. Contract disclosure is supported by leading extractives industry companies and has been endorsed by private sector forums including the International Council on Mining and Metals. Leading development finance institutions including the World Bank’s IFC and MIGA already require private sector clients developing extractive resources to publish contracts. The EBRD has the same requirements for hydrocarbons development. The IMF, the UN, the International Bar Association and the OECD have endorsed the practice.
Amendment 184 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 70 a (new)
Recital 70 a (new)
(70 a) Undertakings should be required to consistently report on projects which are based on ‘substantially interconnected’ legal agreements to address weaknesses, including identification of governments, project definition and joint ventures, identified by the Commission in its report on the review clause in Article 48 of Directive 2013/34/EU[1]. Reporting on each project varies across companies, making it difficult to have a complete and consistent overview of projects involving several companies. Investors managing risk and citizens holding governments to account require consistency in the identification of projects involving substantially interconnected legal agreements in order to progress sustainability objectives. Improved reporting on joint ventures is needed given the prevalence of such structures in the oil, gas and mining industry. Without improved joint venture reporting, major payments to governments risk being hidden from view. Payments to governments for the purchase of oil, gas and minerals by undertakings active in physical trading are now a commonly recognized payment stream within the EITI framework and should be added as a payment category. [1] REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE on the review clauses in Directives 2013/34/EU, 2014/95/EU, and 2013/50/EU, COM/2021/199 final, 21 April 2021.
Amendment 192 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Directive 2013/34/EU
Article 1 – paragraph 3 (a) – new
Article 1 – paragraph 3 (a) – new
3 a. A list of high-risk sectors is included in Annex IIa which shall be reviewed and modified by the Commission, as appropriate, through a delegated act every three years. This review shall take into account existing Union sector-specific legislation and sector-specific disclosures in recognised international reporting frameworks.
Amendment 197 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2013/34/EU
Article 2 – point 20a (new)
Article 2 – point 20a (new)
(20 a) ‘high risk sectors’ are those sectors of economic activity likely to have severe impacts on the environment, human rights and the rule of law and good governance systems of countries, regions and territories where the undertaking or its supply chains operate and is listed in Annex IIa;
Amendment 199 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2013/34/EU
Article 2 – point 20 b (new)
Article 2 – point 20 b (new)
(20 b) 'high-risk undertaking' means an undertaking active in one or more of the high-impact sectors listed in Annex IIa;
Amendment 203 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Directive 2013/34/EU
Article 2 – point 20 c (new)
Article 2 – point 20 c (new)
(20 b) (20 c) 'severe impacts' are adverse impacts on people, their fundamental human rights and the environment connected to the undertaking's value chain by its own operations, its products and services, its business relationships, its subsidiaries, and its supply chain, based on the gravity of the impact on the sustainability matter, the number of individuals that are or could be affected, or the scale of the damage to the environment; the ease with which the harm could be remediated, restoring the environment or affected people to their prior state; and which cause the greatest harm relative to other impacts the undertaking has identified.
Amendment 223 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive 2013/34/EU
Article 19(a) – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 19(a) – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) a description of the time-bound, short, medium and long-term targets related to sustainability matters set by the undertaking and of the progress the undertaking has made towards achieving those targets; with respect to the undertaking’s principle risks and opportunities, whether such targets are science-based alongside corresponding evidence, and of the progress the undertaking has made towards achieving those targets including: (i) a clearly defined path to reach the targets and corresponding timeframes; (ii) the methods, main data and rationale used in setting these targets which must uphold the principle of ‘do no significant harm’ within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation(EU) 2020/852; (iii) targets to be reviewed by independent scientific reviewers, and made available to the general public including information on how and to what extent the undertaking is aligned with the broader strategy that qualify as 'environmentally sustainable' pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2020/852; (iv) the reasons explaining the impossibility or failure to reach intermediary and final targets;
Amendment 227 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive 2013/34/EU
Article 19(a) – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 19(a) – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) a description of the role of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies with regard to sustainability matters;sustainability matters, including: (i) the extent to which these bodies shall take into consideration sustainability matters and, where appropriate, the resources at their disposal in order to do so; (ii) the consistency of the remuneration schemes of their members with the company's sustainability strategy; (iii) discussions on the results of the due diligence process implemented with regard to sustainability matters and on adverse effects, as well as involvement and exchanges with the different stakeholders affected by the identified impacts; (iv) discussions on the principal risks to the undertaking and opportunities for the undertaking with regard to sustainability matters; (v) the process set up to oversee the implementation of the undertaking’s strategy related to sustainability matters; (vi) expertise on sustainability matters of the members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies; (vi) the matters addressed by these bodies during the reporting period
Amendment 236 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive 2013/34/EU
Article 19a – paragraph 2 – point e – sub–point ii
Article 19a – paragraph 2 – point e – sub–point ii
(ii) the principal actual or potential adverse impacts connected with the undertaking’s supply and value chain, in particular as identified through the due diligence process, including its own operations, its products and services, its business relationships and its supply chain, including with regard to: - all people affected by those impacts with particular attention to persons who frequently face discrimination or are in a vulnerable situation, such as women, children, minorities, indigenous people, persons experiencing poverty or social exclusion, LGBTIQ persons, persons with disabilities ; - the effect of the undertaking’s business policies, practices and decisions on the identified issues, including of the undertaking’s purchasing policies and practices ;
Amendment 249 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Directive 2013/34/EU
Article 19(a) – point 3
Article 19(a) – point 3
Amendment 295 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2013/34/EU
Article 19b – paragraph 2
Article 19b – paragraph 2
(iii) waterthe sustainable use and protection of water, soil and marine resources;
Amendment 310 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Directive 2013/34/EU
Article 19 b – point 2
Article 19 b – point 2
(iii) respect for the human rights, fundamental freedoms, democratic principles and standards established in the International Bill of Human Rights and other core UN human rights conventions, the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the ILO fundamental conventions and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights and its additional protocols, the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNRIP ) and its principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent, the ILO Indigenous and Tribal People Convention, 1989, and Resolution 48/13 adopted by the Human Rights Council on the 8 October 2021 on the human right to a clean, healthy environment.
Amendment 361 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
(i) the due diligence process implemented with regard to sustainability matters including with regard to: - identification, assessment and prioritisation of actual and potential adverse impacts; - policies and measures for the prevention, cessation, mitigation or remediation of actual or potential adverse impacts; - tracking of the implementation of the process and its results; - identification and involvement of all adversely affected people; - alert mechanisms as well as complaints and grievances, including how they are received and used by different stakeholders and affected people; - the different actors involved in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the process at different stages, and the human, informational and financial resources available to them; - how the due diligence process complies with international standards and duty of care of the company concerning all matter related to sustainability;
Amendment 365 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Directive 2013/34/EU
Article 29(a) – point 2
Article 29(a) – point 2
(ii) the principal actual or potential adverse impacts connected with the group’s value chain, including its own operations, its products and services, its business relationships and its supply chain; including with regard to: - all people affected by those impacts with particular attention to persons who frequently face discrimination or are in a vulnerable situation, such as women, children, minorities, indigenous people, persons experiencing poverty or social exclusion, LGBTIQ persons or persons with disabilities; - the effect of the undertaking’s business policies, practices and decisions on the identified issues, including of the undertaking’s purchasing policies and practices;
Amendment 390 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10 b (new) Directive 2013/34/EU
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10 b (new) Directive 2013/34/EU
(10 b) Article 41 is amended as follows: (a) point (1) is replaced by the following: (1) ‘undertaking active in the extractive industry’ means an undertaking with any activity involving the exploration, prospection,discovery, development, extraction, or the physical trading of minerals, oil, natural gas, or other materials, within the economic activities listed in Section B, Divisions 05 to 08 and Section G, Divisions46.71 and 46.72 of Annex I to Regulation (EC)No 1893/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006establishing the statistical classification of economic activities NACE Revision 2.
Amendment 412 #
2021/0104(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 a (new) Directive 2013/34/EU
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12 a (new) Directive 2013/34/EU
(12 a) the following Annex is inserted: Annex II a: LIST OF SECTORS REFERRED TO IN POINT (21) OF ARTICLE 2 A- Agriculture B- Fishing C- Forestry D- Food E- Construction F- Mining and Quarrying G- Manufacturing and industrial production H- Logistics, Transportation and Storing I- Electricity, Gas, Steam, and Air Conditioning Supply J- Water supply, Sewerage and Waste Management K- Employment Activities L- Garment and Retail M- Health Care, Social Care and Elder Care N- Cleaning and Household Services 0-Hospitality P- Financial and Insurance Activities Q- Technology, Digital Activities and Online Platforms
Amendment 54 #
2021/0058(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
(6 a) ‘IUU fishing’ means fishing activities which are illegal, unreported or unregulated, as defined in Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008;
Amendment 70 #
2021/0058(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Union fishing vessels shall endeavour to use biodegradable FADs in accordance with the guidelines in the Annex with a view to transitioning to the use of biodegradable FADs, with the exception of materials used for the instrumented buoys, from 1 January 2022.
Amendment 71 #
2021/0058(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Union fishing vessels shall endeavour from 1 January 2022 to remove from the water, retain onboard and only dispose of in port, all traditional FADs encountered, such as those made of entangling materials or designs.
Amendment 72 #
2021/0058(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Member States shall endeavour to conduct trials using biodegradable materials to facilitate the transition to the use of only biodegradable material for drifting FADs construction by their fleets.
Amendment 87 #
2021/0058(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Article 21 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Union fishing vessels shall endeavour to adopt FAD designs that reduce the incidence of entanglement of marine turtles according to international standards.
Amendment 1 #
2021/0037M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
— having regard to Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2017 on the sustainable management of external fishing fleets,
Amendment 7 #
2021/0037M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is concerned, however, about the paucity of scientific data, as a result of which it is impossible to accurately estimate stock levelsNotes that the agreement is based on the best available scientific advice, welcomes any steps that can lead to improved assessments of stock levels in the future;
Amendment 8 #
2021/0037M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Takes note of the complexity of the negotiations and of the circumstances in which they took place, as negotiations were being held in parallel on the agreement with the United Kingdom, creating uncertainty, and Greenland was facing some internal political challenges; recalls that Greenland’s starting position in these negotiations was to slash quotas for EU vessels by 30%; notes that this proposal for a reduction of fishing opportunities was motivated by Greenland’s desire to further develop its fisheries sector;
Amendment 10 #
2021/0037M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that fishing opportunities for Atlantic mackerel are dependent upon Greenland’sthe participation of coastal states as a signatoryies to the coastal states agreement on the management of Atlantic mackerel;
Amendment 11 #
2021/0037M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that the protocol provides for 6700 tonnes of by-catch, a major reduction in comparison with the previous protocol such as redfish, cod, and roundnose and rough-head grenadier, a major reduction in comparison with the previous protocol; highlights that all catches, including by- catches and discards, must be recorded and reported by species in accordance with applicable Greenlandic legislation;
Amendment 14 #
2021/0037M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point a
Paragraph 15 – point a
(a) to keep the European Parliament informed about the implementation of the agreement and the protocol;
Amendment 15 #
2021/0037M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point b
Paragraph 15 – point b
(b) to ensure that the implementation of the agreement and the protocol thereto help to combmitigate global warming and to adapt to its growing effects, to preserve and restore biodiversity and to achieve the sustainability goals set in the European Green Deal, and is aligned with the objectives of the CFP;
Amendment 16 #
2021/0037M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point b a (new)
Paragraph 15 – point b a (new)
(b a) to ensure the application of the precautionary approach on currently exploited and on targeted stocks such as cod, redfish and Greenland halibut;
Amendment 17 #
2021/0037M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point c
Paragraph 15 – point c
(c) to improve arrangements for data collection and analysis and for updating oversight of use of the EU’s financial contribution to sectoral support, with a view to ensuring that stocks fished by the EU are managed soundustainably and that the quotas allocated to EU vessels are in fact for surplus stocks;
Amendment 18 #
2021/0037M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point c a (new)
Paragraph 15 – point c a (new)
(c a) to ensure improvement of the available data on the fleet size and fishing effort of Greenland's subsistence and small-scale fishing fleets;
Amendment 19 #
2021/0037M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point f
Paragraph 15 – point f
(f) to carry over to the allocation for 2022 all or part of the quotas left unused owing to the delay in the provisional application of the agreement, in line with the best scientific advice;
Amendment 20 #
2021/0037M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point h
Paragraph 15 – point h
(h) to ensure that special attention is paid to lost fishing nets, to the passive collection of marine litter, to marine ecosystems and vulnerable species, to the identification of habitats and to bird by- catches, particularly in the context of support for the sector;
Amendment 21 #
2021/0037M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point j
Paragraph 15 – point j
(j) to improve clarity and transparency as regards the international instruments for managing fish stocks in the region, such as RFMOs and coastal state agreements for the management of certain stocks; highlights in this respect the importance of following scientific recommendations including also the effects of climate change, as well improving decision- making processes in RFMOs including harvest control rules;
Amendment 2 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 20 May 2020 entitled ‘EU Biodiversity-Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives’ (COM(2020)0380);
Amendment 6 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 28 November 2019 on the climate and environment emergency;
Amendment 10 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)
Citation 20 a (new)
— having regard to directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive);
Amendment 11 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 b (new)
Citation 20 b (new)
— having regard to Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks;
Amendment 20 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the new EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 and the blue economy are key elements in the transition to clean energy, and whereas the oceans are playing a fundamental role in blue economy can play an important role in the energy transition to a highly energy-efficient and fully renewable-based economy and that this should be done in line with the objectives of the EU biodiversity strategy; whereas healthy oceans and the preservation and restoration of their ecosystems are essential for humankind as climate regulators, as producers of at least half the oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere, as hosts of biodiversity, as a source for global food security and human healthe, area of adaptation to climate changend as a source of economic activities including fisheries, transport, trade, tourism, renewable energy and health products, which should be based on the principle of sustainability;
Amendment 22 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas ports and transport as a whole play a major role in sustainable development and the transition to a carbon- free and fully renewable-based economy;
Amendment 24 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
I a. whereas the European maritime sector should also contribute to tackling biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, and to the objectives of the new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030;
Amendment 30 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Notes with concern the effects of Brexit and of COVID-19 pandemic, especially in Atlantic maritime and coastal areas; observes that, in these territories, economic, social and territorial cohesion are particularly jeopardized, with a risk of a further increase of depopulation trends;
Amendment 38 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the review of the action plan and applauds the progress made in its governance but suggests that specific roadmaps or milestones are included for each goal in order to make the actions defined more specific and easier to evaluate;
Amendment 47 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Deplores the fact that the EU budget contains no appropriations for the Atlantic action plan and advocates then that the existing funding opportunities in the framework of 2021-2027 MFF. such as INTERREG, the European Regional Development Fund, Connecting Europe Facility and Horizon Europe, promote calls for projects to deal with the multidimensional challenges and opportunities of the Atlantic Region;
Amendment 55 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that greater synergies are needed to support a sustainable, robust and competitive blue economy in the Atlantic region; highlights the importance of dedicated ERDF/Interreg programmes especially aimed at climate mitigation and adaptation, and at the assessment and prevention of hydrogeological risks in coastal areas and wetlands;
Amendment 57 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for the development of enhanced prevention and risk-management capabilities to deal with accidents on land and at sea and natural disasters, the establishment of a common system for preventing and combating oil spills and the designation of large protected maritime areas, and emphasises the importance of protecting all marine species; calls on the Commission to work closely with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to support Member States in mitigating shipping-related environmental risks and in improving the overall sustainability and safety of the maritime sector;
Amendment 61 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses the importance of ending the Atlantic regions’ isolation, linking up transport, energy and information networks, and developing rural and urban areas; highlights also in this regard the geostrategic position of the Outermost Regions and the importance that they have in the implementation of this strategy;
Amendment 64 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. URegrets the fact that the the strategy makes no mention of fisheries and aquaculture; underscores the importance of sustainable fisheries and warns against the harmful long-term effects of overfishing;
Amendment 67 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Welcomes the reference in the Action Plan to the mapping and preservation of coastal wetlands as part of Goal 6 on achieving stronger coastal resilience; calls on the Commission to ensure that these areas have effective management plans;
Amendment 68 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14 b. Underscores that marine protected areas are not only protect marine ecosystems but also play a role in climate mitigation and adaptation and contributing to healthy and resilient oceans; reiterates the call of the Commission, in its 2030 biodiversity strategy, to have at least 30 % of sea area in the EU protected, including through fish stock recovery areas as provided for under the Common Fisheries Policy, and a high level of protection for at least 10 % of EU waters1a; _________________ 1a The EU 2030 Biodiversity Strategy sets the legal protection of a minimum of 30% of the EU’s land areas and 30% of the EU sea area and integrate ecological corridors (which means an extra of 4% of land and 19% for seas areas as compared to today). Moreover, it requires that 10% of EU land and 10% of EU sea should be under strictly Protected Areas (Today, only 3% of land and less than 1% of marine areas are under strict protection).
Amendment 69 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14 c. Stresses the importance of aligning Commission and Member States efforts to improve ocean health and stewardship and the promotion of the sustainable management of its resources, as outlined in the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation in 2013 and Belém Statement on Atlantic Research and Innovation Cooperation in 2017;
Amendment 70 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses the need to develop high- quality, sustainable tourism; calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop new forms of maritime and coastal tourism to preserve marine and coastal habitats; highlights the importance of the circular economy in the tourism sector, which should be the guiding principle alongside zero pollution, energy efficiency and biodiversity preservation, also in order to to develop more sustainable practices that benefit local development and local employment all over the year;
Amendment 78 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Hopes that the strategy will encourage joint planning and development of the sectors of the blue economy in the Atlantic area, with environmental and climate policies as central pillars, thus contributing towards the achievement of the Union's decarbonisation objectives and following the best practices of collaborative, inclusive and cross- sectoral Maritime Spatial Planning, with environmental, biodiversity and climate concerns at its core, thus contributing towards the achievement of the Union's climate and energy objectives; in this context, considers the promotingon of renewable offshore power generation technologiescapacity as an important element;
Amendment 82 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Advocates the development of an sustainable industrial strategy with a strong maritime component at Atlantic level and hopes that the strategy will provide impetus for the development of flagship industries;
Amendment 85 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for innovation to be fostered in the Atlantic maritime sectors, in and around ports, all along the Atlantic shoreline and in the maritime territories; regrets that the Action Plan 2.0 and its pillars make no mention of the implementation of the ecosystem approach to marine management as required by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive1a and that it should apply to all activities that are part of the Blue Economy; _________________ 1aIn its article 1, the Directive provides that the ecosystem approach has to be applied in a manner that ensures that ‘the collective pressure of such activities is kept within levels compatible with the achievement of good environmental status and that the capacity of marine ecosystems to respond to human-induced changes is not compromised, while enabling the sustainable use of marine goods and services by present and future generations'.
Amendment 92 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the initiatives to speed up adaptation to climate change, not least the Atlantic Skills Alliance; stresses the importance of cooperation among Atlantic coastal States on research and development in emerging areas of renewable energy such as wave, tidal and floating offshore wind energy;
Amendment 96 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for the strategy to focus squarely on the creation of quality jobs; wishes to see an ambitious social component to promote job creation and, in particular, training for and access to maritime professions for young people; stresses that specific education and training on blue economy, including through ESF+, would contribute to raising awareness of marine ecosystems and of the need to protecting them by tackling the problem of marine litter;
Amendment 105 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls for steps to be taken to eliminate rail bottlenecks, draw up plans for multimodal transfer to sustainable modes of transport, support the development of the Atlantic rail motorway, enhance rail-port connections and link the major TEN-T corridors with the other Atlantic Arc lines, taking into account the objectives of the European Green Deal and of the EU Biodiversity strategy;
Amendment 120 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Calls for an increase in the number of specific calls for projects as part of the Atlantic strategy; in this context, recalls the importance of the full respect of the Partnership Principle, that is of the proper and actual involvement of social and economic partners in the drawing up of the Cohesion Policy programmes in the regions of the Atlantic, also in order to ensure a better planning and implementation of the final projects on the ground;
Amendment 135 #
2020/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Advocates that the Atlantic strategy be developed intoCalls on the European Council for a mandate to the European Commission to develop an Atlantic macro-regional strategy and; strongly believes that an Atlantic macro-region should be created with a view to improving coordination between measures addressing issues on land and at sea, provideing multi-level governance and rationaliseing the sources of funding;
Amendment 21 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the benefits that humans derive from ecosystems include i.e. purification of water and air, pest and disease control, crop pollination, soil fertility, genetic diversity, freshwater provisioning, flood protection and carbon sequestration and resilience to climate change;
Amendment 23 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas biodiversity continues to remain a critical source for medicinal development;
Amendment 24 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
A c. whereas the most comprehensive global estimate suggests that ecosystem services provide benefits of USD 125-140 trillion (US dollars) per year i.e. more than one and a half times the size of global GDP[1]; Sources: Biodiversity: Finance and the Economic and Business Case for Action. Executive Summary and Synthesis, OECD 2019 (p. 7).
Amendment 25 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
A d. whereas biodiversity is both affected by climate change and an important contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation, through the ecosystems services it support;
Amendment 26 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)
Recital A e (new)
A e. whereas biodiversity and ecosystem services are projected to decline over coming decades, while the supply and demand material of natural resources with current market value (food, feed, timber and bioenergy) are projected to increase;
Amendment 27 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A f (new)
Recital A f (new)
A f. whereas key pressures on terrestrial, marine and other aquatic biodiversity include habitat loss and fragmentation (particularly from agricultural expansion and intensification), over-exploitation of natural resources (e.g. fish), pollution, invasive alien species and climate change;
Amendment 29 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2020 identified environmental risks as the greatest systemic risks to our global economy;
Amendment 30 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas the OECD estimates at USD 500 billion per year the financial flows potentially harmful to biodiversity (based on fossil-fuel and agricultural subsidies), an order of magnitude ten times higher than global finance flows for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use; and whereas the costs of inaction on biodiversity loss are high and are anticipated to increase[1]; Sources: Biodiversity: Finance and the Economic and Business Case for Action. Executive Summary and Synthesis, OECD 2019.
Amendment 32 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas recent studies show that between 1.65 and 1.87 billion Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and Afro- descendants live in the world’s important biodiversity conservation areas; whereas another finding shows that 56 percent of the people living in important biodiversity conservation areas are in low- and middle-income countries; whereas only 9 percent live in high-income countries. This underscores the disproportionate impact of conservation on the Global South (RRI);
Amendment 39 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas traditional indigenous territories encompass around 22 per cent of the world ’s land surface and they coincide with areas that hold 80 per cent of the planet’s biodiversity;
Amendment 43 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas indigenous people remain amongst the poorest of the poor; and whereas one of the major difficulty that indigenous peoples face globally is to gain legal recognition of collective ownership over their ancestral lands, especially when these were declared protected territories;
Amendment 44 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
E b. whereas it is estimated that 50 per cent of protected areas worldwide has been established on lands traditionally occupied and used by indigenous peoples and that this proportion is highest in the Americas, where it may exceed 90 per cent in Central America;
Amendment 45 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Recital E c (new)
E c. whereas the lack of recognition of indigenous people’s and communities’ customary land rights generates risks of landgrabbing, thereby jeopardising their livelihoods and their ability to respond to climate change or biodiversity loss;
Amendment 46 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)
Recital E d (new)
E d. whereas the UN Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples has identified the extractive industries as a main source of conflict and violence on indigenous peoples’ territories;
Amendment 47 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E e (new)
Recital E e (new)
E e. whereas according to Front Line Defenders’ Global Analysis 2020, at least 331 human rights defenders were murdered in 2020, two-thirds of whom worked to protect environmental, land and indigenous peoples’ rights;
Amendment 49 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E f (new)
Recital E f (new)
E f. whereas the EU aims to push for a target of at least 30% biodiversity protection under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD);
Amendment 52 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land (2019) demonstrates that indigenous peoples have a long record of adapting to climate variability, drawing on their traditional knowledge, which enhances their resilience;
Amendment 54 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
F b. whereas the IPCC Special report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate gives equally evidence of the benefits of combining scientific with local and indigenous knowledge to enforce resilience;
Amendment 55 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F c (new)
Recital F c (new)
F c. whereas Article 8 (j) of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) commits States parties to respect and maintain the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities which are relevant for conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; but whereas the Convention, however, fails to contain explicit recognition of the human rights of indigenous peoples;
Amendment 59 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas the loss of genetic diversity, especially replacement of local, well-adapted breeds increases the vulnerability to pests, diseases and environmental changes, including climate change; whereas the market globalisation of agriculture has been a reinforcing driver of such agricultural biodiversity erosion, which means less capacity to innovate and adapt to climate change;
Amendment 61 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
G b. whereas farmers’ rights were established under the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in 2004, but whereas intellectual property rules have often worked in contradiction to them, putting local, traditional and indigenous seed systems at risk;
Amendment 62 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G c (new)
Recital G c (new)
G c. whereas trade liberalisation triggers off the destruction of habitats, through infrastructure (such as mines, pipelines, roads, ports), which arise from exports of mineral and fossil products;
Amendment 65 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
H a. whereas the EU plays a significant role in biodiversity loss in third countries because of its imports of minerals, biomass and some agricultural products such as soybean and palm oil, whose crops constitute an important driver of tropical deforestation;
Amendment 66 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
H b. whereas current WTO rules limits the possibility of EU Member States of raising tariffs on products that have a negative impact on biodiversity;
Amendment 67 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H c (new)
Recital H c (new)
H c. whereas dispute settlement systems covering biodiversity and trade provisions in Multilateral Environment Agreements are not binding, unlike the WTO enforcement system, which de facto embodies the supremacy of commercial law over biodiversity;
Amendment 71 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
I b. whereas environmental crimes, whose value has been estimated by the UN Environment and INTERPOL up to twice the global aid budget, accelerates and biodiversity loss and climate change, notably through forestry crimes;
Amendment 74 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
I b. whereas the Republic of Maldives called, in its statement of 3 December 2019, to amend the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to recognise criminal acts that would amount to Ecocide;
Amendment 75 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I c (new)
Recital I c (new)
I c. whereas the IPBES reports that the international legal wildlife trade has increased 500% in value since 2005, and 2,000% since the 1980s[1]; Sources: IPBES workshop on biodiversity and pandemics. Workshop report (2020), p. 23
Amendment 76 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I d (new)
Recital I d (new)
I d. whereas the EU is one of the largest importers of wildlife and wildlife- related products globally;
Amendment 77 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I e (new)
Recital I e (new)
I e. whereas global wildlife trafficking is one of the most profitable forms of organised cross-border criminal activity;
Amendment 78 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I f (new)
Recital I f (new)
I f. whereas oceans are huge reservoirs of biodiversity and the primary regulator of the global climate; and whereas their conservation is critical to sustainable development and contributes to poverty eradication, providing sustainable livelihoods and food security for billions of people;
Amendment 79 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I g (new)
Recital I g (new)
I g. whereas in a business-as-usual scenario, climate change is expected to reduce fish biomass by 30 to 40% in some tropical regions by 2100 and has a strong impact on marine biodiversity; whereas countries in these zones are highly dependent on fisheries, but lack social and financial resources to adapt and prepare for the future;
Amendment 80 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I h (new)
Recital I h (new)
I h. whereas the IUCN advocates for the transformation of at least 30% of all marine habitats by 2020 into a network of highly protected marines protected areas (MPAs);
Amendment 81 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I i (new)
Recital I i (new)
I i. whereas Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing threatens the sustainability of global marine resources by contributing to their overexploitation;
Amendment 83 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Is alarmed at the fact that the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services will undermine progress in approximately 80 % of the assessed targets for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); calls for the EU to reduce its biodiversity footprint worldwide and to bring it within the ecological limits of ecosystems;
Amendment 87 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for the EU to address the root causes of biodiversity loss and to mainstream obligations on conservation, restoration and the sustainable use of resources into broader development policies;
Amendment 93 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that the conservation, sustainable use and restoration of biodiversity is vital to achieve many other policy objectives, including human health, climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and water and food security; and recalls that the harmful effects of ecosystem degradation are being borne disproportionately by the poor, notably women, as well as indigenous people and other natural resource- dependent communities;
Amendment 97 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises the duty of states to protect and sustainably manage natural and biodiversity-rich ecosystems and safeguard the human and land rights of IPLC and Afro-descendants who depend on these ecosystems for their survival;
Amendment 102 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Is deeply concerned by the major gap in data, indicators and the finance needed to halt biodiversity loss and inconsistencies in biodiversity finance reporting and tracking; recalls that establishing specific, measurable and quantitative targets and indicators for the post-2020 framework is essential to improving the ability to monitor progress;
Amendment 111 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines the fact that planning, scrutinising and monitoring the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) are key to the pursuit of the EU’s global biodiversity goals; calls for harnessing the reporting and monitoring framework of EU external biodiversity policy, through i.e. detailed provisions on biodiversity objectives and indicators;
Amendment 114 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Regrets the fact that the EU budget for supporting external biodiversity policy remains considerably low in comparison with that earmarked for climate change policies; highlights the need for new investments tools to support resource mobilisation for protecting the biodiversity (such as biodiversity-relevant taxes, fees and charges); in addition, stresses the need to track, report and reform harmful subsidies to channel them towards biodiversity-friendly activities;
Amendment 120 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for the EU to pass a mandatory due diligence law to make companies and their financiers directly responsible for ensuring that their imports are not tainted by land grabs and deforestation; human rights abuses, such as land grabs and environmental degradation (including deforestation, biodiversity loss); more broadly, calls on the EU to require business and financial institutions to scale up their commitment to biodiversity i.e. through robust and mandatory provisions on impact assessment, risk management; disclosure and external reporting requirements; invites the OECD to develop a set of practical actions on due diligence and biodiversity to support efforts by business;
Amendment 125 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Notes that the IPBES’ 2019 GA report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services shows the limits of the approach of the protection of biodiversity through the spatial extent of terrestrial and marine protected area, which account among the few Aichi Biodiversity Targets partially achieved;
Amendment 135 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes with deep concern that EU consumption accounts for around 10 % of the global share of deforestation, through its high import dependency of agricultural commodities such as palm oil, meat, soy, cocoa, maize, timber, rubber; reiterates its call for the Commission to submit a proposal in 2021 for an EU legal framework to halt and reverse EU-driven global deforestation, by ensuring that EU market and consumption patterns do not detrimentally affect forests and biodiversity;
Amendment 136 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recalls that the EU’s growing demand for wood for use in materials, energy and the bioeconomy is exceeding the limits of its supply, which increases the risk of import-embodied deforestation, land grabbing, forced displacement and violations of indigenous peoples’ rightsIPLC’ rights; reiterates that EU bioenergy policy should respond to strict environmental and social criteria;
Amendment 138 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls on the EU to step up the implementation of its FLEGT Action Plan in particular the Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) so as to reduce the demand for illegal timber and the associated trade and to strengthen the rights of communities and Indigenous Peoples living affected by logging;
Amendment 145 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Underlines that protecting biodiversity and mitigating climate change are not automatically mutually supportive; calls for the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive to make it consistent with EU’s international commitments on Agenda 2030, the Paris Agreement and the Convention of Biological Diversity, which entails i.e.: to introduce social sustainability criteria taking into account the risks of land- grabbing; to this end, RED II should comply with international tenure rights standards, i.e. ILO Convention No 169 and FAO Voluntary Guidelines on Land Tenures and Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems;
Amendment 148 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls that agricultural production both depends and has an impact on biodiversity; highlights that effective mainstreaming of biodiversity in agriculture requires i.e. to identify and phase out environmentally harmful subsidies; to enshrine the “polluter pays” principle within the regulatory framework (e.g. taxes on synthetic fertiliser and pesticide use) and to make ex-ante and ex- post Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) mandatory;
Amendment 155 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. IRecalls that agroecology’s unique capacity to reconcile the economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability has been recognised by landmark reports from IPCC and IPBES and the World Bank and FAO-led global agricultural assessment (IAASTD); insists that EU external funding for agriculture should be in line with the transformative nature of the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN CBD; considers that investment in agro- ecology, agroforestry and crop diversification should be prioritised accordingly;
Amendment 165 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Recalls that seed diversity is vital in building the resilience of farming to climate change; against this backdrop, notes with concern that EU FTAs require Parties to ensure the protection of plant varieties in accordance with the revised 1991 International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), which is incompatible with the provisions of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA);
Amendment 167 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. CRecalls that TRIPS provision which request some form of protection for plant varieties don't force developing countries to adopt UPOV regime; calls for the EU to support intellectual property rights regimes that enhance the development of locally adapted seed varieties and farmer-saved seeds; and to ensure that the EU commitments made to farmers’ rights under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture are reflected in all technical assistance and financial support for seed policy development;
Amendment 173 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for the EU to put an end to the double standards towards pesticides whereby hazardous substances banned in the EU can be exported from the Union, in line with EU’s commitments towards PCD, the Green Deal, the “do-not-harm principle” and the Rotterdam Convention of 1998;
Amendment 176 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for the EU to advocate at COP 15 of the UN CBD a global moratorium on gene drive research linked to the development of applications and on releases of gene drive organisms into nature, including field trials, and to uphold the precautionary principle, ass enshrined in the TFUE as well as the CBD;
Amendment 177 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. Recalls that conservation, restoration and sustainable management of marine ecosystems is crucial for climate mitigation strategies while ensuring that the rights and livelihoods of small-scale fishers and coastal communities are respected; emphasises that the IPCC Special report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate gives evidence of the benefits of combining scientific with local and indigenous knowledge to enforce resilience; urges the EU to develop a Human Rights -based approach towards ocean governance;
Amendment 181 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21 b. Underlines that the excessive fishing capacity within the framework of international fish trade is threatening food security of coastal communities and marine ecosystems in developing countries; recalls EU’s commitment towards the Principle of Policy Coherence for Development; takes the view that progress still needs to be made for Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements to become truly sustainable, highlights that these agreements must be in line with best available scientific advice and must neither undermine local food security nor threaten the small-scale fisheries sector in third countries by putting it in direct competition with EU vessels; more broadly, calls on the EU and its Member States to push for ambitious measures and financial resources to tackle the global issue of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and the trade of illegal seafood products;
Amendment 183 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21 c. Emphasises that creating a sustainable maritime environment requires to tackle i.a. land-based pollution reaching the seas and oceans, marine pollution and eutrophication; urges the EU and its Member States to take all necessary measures to address holistically the root causes of marine pollution and fish depletion, and to reform accordingly its sectoral policy, notably its agricultural policy, to respond effectively to its international commitments on biodiversity and climate change;
Amendment 184 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 d (new)
Paragraph 21 d (new)
21 d. Stresses the need to implement an integrated approach to all sectors of the Blue Economy based on science and an Ecosystem-based approach, which implies an understanding of the relationships between human society and the ecosystems that support it; emphasises accordingly the duty of states to refrain from taking measures, including large- scale development projects, that may adversely affect the livelihoods of inland and marine smallscale fishers, their territories or access rights, unless their free, prior and informed consent is obtained, and ensure that courts protect such rights; and conduct ex-ante assessments of extractive industry projects, operated by private entities in order to evaluate the possible negative human rights impacts on local fishing communities;
Amendment 194 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. SDeplores that Trade and Sustainable Development chapter of EU FTAs are poorly effective in the implementation of biodiversity-related provisions; stresses that in order to be enforceable, the environmental objectives of the EU’s free trade agreements (FTAs) must be clear, quantifiable, verifiable and include sanctions for non-compliance;
Amendment 199 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Highlights that the biodiversity of cultivated crops and farmed animals has fallen as a result of international trade, in particular, recalls that specialisation in agriculture, resulting from trade liberalisation, has a downside negative effect for ecosystem, that are less diverse, and therefore less functional and less resilient; calls for a full assessment of the direct and indirect impact of EU FTAs on biodiversity;
Amendment 205 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Recalls that the risk of pandemics is driven by anthropogenic changes, such as land-use change, agricultural expansion and intensification, the rise of global trade and consumption as well as demographic pressure, that brings wildlife, livestock and people into closer contact; in this context, recalls that ecological restoration is critical for the implementation of the ‘One Health’ approach;
Amendment 208 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Recalls that the majority of drugs used for healthcare and the prevention of diseases are derived from biodiversity, while many important therapeutics are derived from indigenous knowledge and traditional medicine;
Amendment 211 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Stresses the need to ensure that the benefits of nature’s genetic resources are shared fairly and equitably; underlines that regulations taken to protect GR and their associated TK must comply with international commitments taken on the promotion and respect of the rights of indigenous peoples as enshrined in the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the 1989 ILO Convention on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (No 169); in particular, insists that the WTO Agreement on Trade- Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) should be compatible with the Nagoya Protocol to the UN CBD; accordingly, considers it crucial to establish mandatory requirements on disclosing the origin of genetic resources during patent proceedings;
Amendment 213 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Underlines the fact that the IPBES global assessment demonstrated the importance of IPLC to global biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management; regrets that, in spite of this great potential, indigenous knowledge has not been effectively used, while the explicit recognition of indigenous or tribal peoples, and of their rights, remains absent from the legal, policy and institutional frameworks of many countries, and its implementation remains a major issue;
Amendment 217 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Highlights the numerous allegations of large-scale violations of the rights of indigenous peoples reported by the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, resulting i.e. from increased mineral extraction, the development of renewable energy projects, agribusiness expansion, mega- infrastructure development and conservation measures;
Amendment 218 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31 a. Recalls the legal duties of the State to recognise and protect the rights of indigenous people to own, develop, control and use their communal lands and to participate in the management and conservation of the natural resources;
Amendment 221 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Calls for the EU to enhance the scrutiny of EU-funded projects in terms of human rights abuses, notably for the creation or expansion of existing protected areas and, where necessary, to terminate projects which violate human rights and evict IPLC from their homeland;
Amendment 225 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Urges the EU to ensure that a rights-based approach is applied to all projects funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA), with particular regard to the rights of pastoralists and IPLC, including full recognition of the right to self- determination and land rights as enshrined in human rights treaties, notably the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP); compliance with the principle of Free, Prior and Informed consent as set out in the ILO Convention 169 in relation to decision-making of all aspects of protected areas; and the establishment of accountability, complaint and redress mechanisms for infringements on indigenous rights in the context of conservation activities;
Amendment 229 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Urges the EU to ensure that the NaturAfrica Initiative promotes a rights- based approach to conservation and is developed in consultation withwith the free, prior and informed consent of the IPLC concerned, together with the civil society groups who support them and asks the EU to provide technical and financial assistance to this effect;
Amendment 234 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Stresses that securing tenure rights is a prerequisite for effective biodiversity mainstreaming; notes, however, that the lack of collective land rights for indigenous peoples is a primary obstacle to ensuring that rights-based conservation becomes effective; reminds that frameworks such as the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT) can help to provide legal certainty; accordingly, urges the EU to make the effective implementation of these guidelines a pre-condition of investment in the remit of NDICI; more broadly, urges Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity to recognise the rights of indigenous peoples as a matter of priority, in a context where protected areas are to be expanded; and calls on the EU to undertake all necessary measures for the effective implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and ratification of the ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention No. 169;
Amendment 235 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35 a. Recalls that the transition to a green and digital economy has huge implications for the mining sector and that there are growing concerns that mining will spread into sensitive forest landscapes, contributing to deforestation and forest degradation; reminds that 80% of forests worldwide constitute traditional lands and territories of indigenous people; calls on the EU and its Member States to step up its efforts to foster responsible and sustainable mining practices, while accelerating its transition towards a circular economy; in particular, calls on the EU to develop a region-wide framework for extractive industries which would sanction companies violating human rights and provide legal redress to indigenous peoples whose rights have been violated; and stresses the need to ban mineral exploration and exploitation in all protected areas including national parks and World Heritage Sites;
Amendment 236 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)
Paragraph 35 b (new)
35 b. Regrets the serious shortcomings of the UN “Protect, Respect, Remedy” framework and the Guiding Principles on business and human rights with regard to both indigenous peoples’ rights and land rights; calls once again on the EU to engage constructively in the work of the UN Human Rights Council on an international legally binding instrument to regulate, in international human rights law, the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises, which should include specific standards for the protection of indigenous people;
Amendment 239 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Stresses that wildlife trafficking should be classified as a serious crime in accordance with the UN Convention on Transnational Organised Crime in an effort to facilitate international cooperation, notably in a context where trade and consumption of wildlife represents an important risk for future pandemics;
Amendment 240 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37 a. Urges supply, transit and demand countries to deepen their levels of cooperation to combat illegal wildlife trade along the entire chain; in particular, urges governments of the supply countries to: i) improve the rule of law and create effective deterrents by strengthening criminal investigation, prosecution and sentencing; ii) enact stronger laws treating illicit wildlife trafficking as a "serious crime" deserving the same level of attention and gravity as other forms of transnational organised crime; iii) allocate more resources to combating wildlife crime, particularly to strengthen wildlife law enforcement, trade controls, monitoring, and customs detection and seizure; iv) to commit to a zero-tolerance policy on corruption;
Amendment 243 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Urges the EU to make the fight against environmental crime an overriding strategic political priority in international judicial cooperation and at COP meetings, notably by promoting compliance with MEAs through the adoption of criminal sanctions, exchanges of best practices and by promoting the enlargement of the scope of the International Criminal Court to cover criminal acts that amount to ecocide; calls on the Commission and the Member States to allocate appropriate financial and human resources to preventing, investigating and prosecuting environmental crimes;
Amendment 248 #
2020/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. SUnderlines that international law has evolved to embrace new concepts such as “the Common heritage of humanity”, “Sustainable Development”, “Future Generations”; but stresses that there is no permanent international mechanism to monitor and address environmental damage and destruction that alters the global commons or ecosystem services; calls for the EU and the Member States, to this end, to support a paradigm shift to include ecocide and the right of future generations in international environmental law;
Amendment 1 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Whereas FAO estimates that about 75 % of plant genetic diversity has been lost worldwide; whereas wide-scale genetic erosion increases our vulnerability to climate change and to the appearance of new pests and diseases;
Amendment 2 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1 a. Whereas industrial agriculture and breeding are driving habitat loss and creating conditions for viruses, such as Covid-19, to emerge and spread;
Amendment 3 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 b (new)
Paragraph -1 b (new)
-1 b. Whereas consolidation of the food sector, including through patenting, is driving a reduction in seed and livestock genetic diversity;
Amendment 4 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 c (new)
Paragraph -1 c (new)
-1 c. Whereas farmers’ rights were established under the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in 2004, but whereas Intellectual Property rules have often worked in contradiction to them, putting local, traditional and indigenous seed systems at risk;
Amendment 11 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that the disruptions triggered by COVID-19 have shone a spotlight on the vulnerabilities of the global food system; but recalls that family farmers and smallholders have demonstrated their ability to provide diversified products and to increase food production sustainably; accordingly, urges a shift away from trade- oriented agricultural policies and towards support for food sovereignty and local and regional markets; recalls that agroecology’s capacity to reconcile the economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability has been widely recognised in landmark reports, notably from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the World Bank and FAO-led global International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD);
Amendment 25 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists that EU funding for agriculture must be in line with Agenda 2030Stresses that short supply chains hold major potential to address current food system failures; and recalls that climate-friendly agriculture entails i.e. to reducing dependence on fossil fuel energy, including the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers; but notes with concern that most agricultural development funding in Sub-Sahara Africa still supports Green Revolution approaches, where the use of public finances to unlock private investment opportunities (e.g. PPPs, blended finance models) mostly target export commodity production and agropoles, and is increasingly conductive to food system industrialisation, while smallholders, and particularly women, struggle in the meantime to access the credit and financial support[1]; insists that EU funding for agriculture must be in line with Agenda 2030, the Paris Climate Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity and prioritise investments in agroecology, agroforestry and crop diversification; stresses the importance of preserving agricultural biodiversity, local animal and plant breeds and local varieties;recalls that agricultural expansion and unsustainable agricultural intensification practises are major causes of biodiversity degradation worldwide, including genetic erosion of crop and livestock varieties; therefore, stresses the importance of preserving agricultural biodiversity, local animal and plant breeds and local varieties to secure nutritious, safe, affordable and high quality food throughout the year, preserve biodiversity and increase climate resilience; [1] Sources: International Panel of Experts on SustainableFood Systems - IPES Food, « The added value(s) of agroecology : Unlocking the potential for transition in West Africa”, July 2020.
Amendment 36 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Recalls that the majority of smallholder farmers in developing countries are women, and that the promotion of a long term strategy of conservation, improvement and management of genetic resources diversity for food and agriculture requires the recognition of their role and knowledge as food providers and producers; urges the EU and its Member States to strive, notably through development aid, for their active participation as decision makers, and to help addressing the discriminations they face, notably regarding access of women farmers to land, productive resources and financial services;
Amendment 44 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Regrets that increasing vertical and horizontal concentration in the agri-food sector, reinforces the industrial food and farming model; believes that the Green New Deal requires the creation of a new anti-trust environment; , at the expense of small farmers and breeders in Europe and abroad; highlights that industry consolidation enhances the risks of human rights abuses along their supply chains; reminds equally that while the livestock industry experiences further vertical integration, zoonotic and food- borne disease risks to proliferate; in contrast, stresses that development and dissemination of livestock species are maintained by small-scale producers and pastoralists; against this backdrop, believes that the Green New Deal requires the creation of a new anti-trust environment, where the impacts of concentration on production and processing activities are assessed and monitored, including on social, environmental and public health;
Amendment 50 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Recalls that seed diversity is vital in building resilience of farming to climate change; calls for the EU to support intellectual property rights regimes that enhance the development of locally adapted seed varieties and farmer- saved seeds;
Amendment 51 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Notes with concern that EU free trade agreements (FTAs) require Parties to ensure the protection of plant varieties in accordance with the revised 1991 International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), which is incompatible with the provisions of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), which safeguards the rights of farmers to maintain genetic resources for purposes of food security and climate change adaptation; reminds that farm-saved seeds are estimated to account for over 80% of farmers’ total seed requirements in some African countries; therefore, urges the EU to refrain from influencing seed law reform, notably in Africa, through the adoption of 1991 UPOV provisions;
Amendment 53 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3 c. Calls on the EU to support developing countries to adopt appropriate national legislation with the view to protect threatened genetic resources for food and agriculture, guarantee their continued use and management by local communities, indigenous peoples, men and women, and ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from their use;
Amendment 54 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3 d. Highlights the risks relating to the development of genome editing on small farmers and breeders; calls for a global moratorium on gene drive research linked to the development of applications and on releases of gene drive organisms into nature, including field trials, and to uphold the precautionary principle, as enshrined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) as well as the Convention on Biological Diversity;
Amendment 55 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 e (new)
Paragraph 3 e (new)
3 e. Recalls Europe’s dependence on overseas land for its livestock and aquaculture production; acknowledges the devastating environmental impact of genetically modified (GM) soya for animal feed; stresses that transgenic crops are not compatible with agro-ecological and organic agriculture, as they are, almost without exception, either herbicide tolerant (including to glyphosate) or produce their own toxic insecticides, or both; but recalls that more diverse farming systems based on agro-ecology provide a natural defence against pests; calls on the Commission to no longer authorise Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) crops that are either herbicide tolerant or which produce their own pesticides, either for import or cultivation in the EU, due to biodiversity damage and health risks;
Amendment 56 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 f (new)
Paragraph 3 f (new)
3 f. Urges the Commission to set up a European vegetable protein production and supply strategy, with the view to become less dependent on genetically modified (GM) feed imports and to create shorter food chains and regional markets;
Amendment 60 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the EU-Mercosur Agreement is inconsistent with the Farm to Fork Strategy, in particular its objectives of reduction of dependence on animal feed (including soybeans grown on deforested land), and the shift to a more plant-based diet and shorter supply chains and to become global standard for sustainability; deplores, in particular, that it boosts embodied deforestation; facilitates the importation of genetically modified foods containing residues pesticides, the production and/or use of which is prohibited on European soil and provides for the removal of barriers to trade in chemical pesticides;
Amendment 69 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that EU free trade agreements (FTAs) should not disrupt local agriculture, damage small producers or exacerbate dependency on food imports; calls into question international trade rules which allow dumping through the WTO green box; welcomes the Commission’s commitment to compliance of EU trade agreements with the Paris Agreement,more specifically, calls on the EU to embark on a modification of the current WTO definition of dumping, with the aim to cover cases where subsidies enable export sales to take place at below the costs of production; welcomes the Commission’s commitment to compliance of EU trade agreements with the Paris Agreement by turning it into an “essential clause”; stresses that to be enforceable, environmental objectives set in EU FTAs must be clear, measurable, verifiable and include sanctions for non-compliance; and calls for market access in FTAs to be conditional on compliance with process and production methods criteria, with reference to environmental sustainability and climate change;
Amendment 74 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Highlights that trade agreements can have a negative impact on food security in developing countries; recalls as well that EU consumption represents around 10% of the global share of deforestation, through its high import dependency of agricultural commodities such as palm oil, meat, soy, cocoa, maize, timber, rubber; in addition, notes with concern that biodiversity of cultivated crops and farmed animals has decreased because of international trade, while specialisation in agriculture has a downside negative effect for ecosystem, that are less diverse, and therefore less functional and less resilient;
Amendment 77 #
2020/2260(INI)
5 b. Urges the EU to guarantee the coherence of European agricultural and trade policies in line with the commitments to Policy Coherence for Development (PCD); calls for a fully- fledged sustainability ex ante and ex post impact assessment of EU free trade agreements (FTAs); more broadly, calls for the EU to support developing countries’ demands to protect their food production and to safeguard their population from the potentially destructive effects of cheap imports, notably through the revision of their common external tariffs within the remit of revised economic partnership agreements (EPAs); which shall support effectively the integration of regional market;
Amendment 81 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Denounces the EU’s double standards on pesticides, which allow the export from the EU of hazardous substances banned in the EU.Recalls that “Farm to Fork” strategy aims to gradually ban hazardous pesticides from agriculture and promote alternative practises; denounces the EU’s double standards on pesticides, which allow the export from the EU of hazardous substances banned in the EU. recalls EU’s commitments towards the “do-not-harm principle”; demands the modification of the current EU rules to eliminate this legal incoherence, in line with the Rotterdam Convention of 1998 and the Green Deal;
Amendment 88 #
2020/2260(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Recalls that progress still needs to be made for Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements to become truly sustainable, highlights that these agreements must be in line with best available scientific advice and must neither threaten the small-scale fisheries sector in third countries nor undermine local food security;
Amendment 146 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 36 a (new)
Citation 36 a (new)
- having regard to the 2020 report commissioned by the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions, entitled “Ending the Cage Age: Looking for Alternatives”,
Amendment 245 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas European citizens are increasingly concerned about the welfare of animals in the agricultural sector and expect the EU to transition away from intensive farming practices, like caged farming; whereas the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “End the Cage Age”, which calls on the EU to phase-out the use of cages in animal farming, has collected nearly 1.4 million certified signatures, qualifying as one of the few successful ECIs; whereas the European Committee of the Regions committed to the objective of ending caged farming and many EU member states already adopted national legislation which goes beyond the minimum EU standards, increasing the urgency for legislative action, at the EU level, to end this inhumane practice and ensuring a level-playing field for farmers across the EU;
Amendment 289 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the European model of a multifunctional agricultural sector, driven by family farms, continues to ensure quality food production, local supply chains, good agriculture practices, high environmental standards and vibrant rural areas throughout the EU; whereas this agricultural model is endangered by the ongoing takeover of production capacities by industrial and multinational companies that rely on large-scale, automated and cage-based production methods;
Amendment 1039 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls that each years, in the EU alone, over 300 million farmed animals spend all, or a significant part, of their lives imprisoned in cages; stresses that this practice causes tremendous suffering, as these sentient beings cannot perform most of their natural behaviours, resulting in physical and psychological illness; calls on the Commission to put forward, without delay, a legislative proposal to phase-out the use of cages for all farmed animals, while ensuring, together with Member States, appropriate measures to assist farmers in this transition;
Amendment 1440 #
2020/2260(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for primary producers to be supported in making the transition to greater sustainability, including cage-free animal farming, through the encouragement of cooperation and collective actions as well as through competition rules and the enhancement of possibilities for cooperation within the common market organisations for agricultural, fishery and aquaculture products, and thus for farmers’ and fishers’ position in the supply chain to be strengthened in order to enable them to capture a fair share of the added value of sustainable production;
Amendment 27 #
2020/2215(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for the elimination of harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and early and forced child marriage; is extremely concerned that more than 200 million girls and women worldwide have been forced to undergo FGM; calls for full access to physical and psychological care by interculturally sensitive and trained personnel; calls on the Commission to examine the synergies between the internal and external EU programmes to ensure a coherent long- term approach to stop FGM both within and outside the EU, given that the issue is inherently linked to other parts of the world;
Amendment 42 #
2020/2215(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Insists that CSE programmes are important as they provide age-appropriate information about puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and childbirth in particular contraception, prevention of HIV and STIs; recalls the role of non- governmental organisations as service providers and advocates for SRHR; underlines that CSE programmes help prevent early pregnancy and marriage, which lead to girls dropping out of school; calls on CSE programmes to also focus on interpersonal relationships, sexual orientation, gender equality, consent and the prevention of gender-based violence;
Amendment 63 #
2020/2215(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for the Gender Action Plan III to give more prominence to its SRHR thematic policy area given the tremendous impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and girls in developing countries; underlines the importance of strengthening the promotion of the right of every individual to have full control over, and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality and sexual and reproductive health;
Amendment 75 #
2020/2215(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the EU to secure adequate and well-targeted funding for SRHR in its development cooperation policy; reiterates its call for at least 85% of ODA funded programmes, in the NDICI, to have gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights and empowerment as a significant objective, as defined by the OECD-DAC;
Amendment 78 #
2020/2215(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the EU to facilitate the integration of comprehensive programmes on SRHR into national strategies and policies of partner countries as recommended by the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action and SDG 5;
Amendment 84 #
2020/2215(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that SRHR services should be gender-responsive, rights-based, youth-friendly and available to all, regardless of age or marital status, including during conflicts and disasters; calls on the Commission and Member States to reinforce its gender equality perspective in its humanitarian actions; recalls with concern that most unmet needs for sexual and reproductive health services are among adolescents, unmarried people, LGBTIQ people, persons with disabilities, minority ethnic groups, and the rural and urban poor;
Amendment 98 #
2020/2215(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Stresses the need to ensure access to adequate WASH infrastructure in schools to ensure sexual and reproductive health, whether in relation to contraception, pregnancy, childbirth, abortion, sexually transmitted diseases or menstrual hygiene.
Amendment 6 #
2020/2134(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that developing countries are the most exposed to climate change, and that their human rights activists and environmental defenders are particularly subjected to threats, repression and judicial persecution for defending their land, heritage and environment from the consequences of the exploitation of natural resources; highlights that while attacks and threats happen everywhere in the world, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders outlines that it is particularly dramatic in Latin America and Asia where many international investors, companies and local governments ignore the legitimate concerns of the population; stresses that a number of environmental conflicts could be avoided by prior consultation and active participation of local communities, indigenous peoples and environmental activists;
Amendment 11 #
2020/2134(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recalls that the continuing destruction and degradation of biodiversity will undermine the enjoyment of a wide range of human rights; deplores that States have utterly failed to meet the aim of reducing the rate of biodiversity loss; recalls that the harmful effects of ecosystem degradation are being borne disproportionately by the poor and are sometimes the principal factor causing poverty and social conflicts; reiterates the duty of the States to effectively address the drivers of biodiversity loss, including by mainstreaming obligations of conservation and sustainable use of resources into broader development policies; more broadly, emphasises that States have obligations not only to protect environmental defenders, but also to protect the ecosystems on which the human rights of so many people depend;
Amendment 14 #
2020/2134(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Calls on the Union and the Member States to support, at the next UN General Assembly, the global recognition of the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment;
Amendment 17 #
2020/2134(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is deeply concerned about the increased criminalisation and persecution of environmental activists in developing countries by governments and multinational companies that are investing in the exploitation of natural, non- renewable resources, thus contributing to deforestation, loss of biodiversity and human rights violations, mostly affecting indigenous peoples; and local communities; in this respect, reminds that they play a vital role for sustainable management of natural resources and conservation of biodiversity, while the lack of recognition of their customary land rights generates risks of landgrabbing, thereby jeopardising their livelihoods and their ability to respond to climate change or biodiversity loss; calls the EU to put an end to conservation projects which evict indigenous peoples from their homelands; recommends that EU Member States which have not done so to ratify International Labour Organisation Convention 169 on Indigenous and tribal peoples; in particular, urges the EU and its partner countries to recognise and protect indigenous people’s rights to customary ownership and control of their lands and natural resources as set out in the UNDRIP and ILO Convention 169 and to comply with the principle of Free, Prior and Informed consent, i.e. by enabling collective registration of land;
Amendment 24 #
2020/2134(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Commission to secure the independence of impact assessment studies prior to the conclusion of trade and cooperation agreements and the implementation of development projects, with a specific focus on measuring and preventing their effects on the rights of local populations; insists that the impact assessment be conducted with the significant participation of civil society and local communities and that the findings are duly be taken into account in economic agreements and development projects; calls on the Commission to reassess the execution of projects in the event of human rights violations;
Amendment 36 #
2020/2134(INI)
3. Believes that in the next few years climate change will create more environmental migrants from developing countries, and that in order to better protect their human rights, environmental refugee status needs international recognition; welcomes, in this respect, the landmark decision of the UN Human Rights Committee in the case of Teitiota v. New Zealand recognising that that people fleeing climate-related and natural disasters have a valid claim for international protection under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; urges the Commission and the Member States to take stock of this ruling and take all the necessary measures to ensure full protection of environmentally displaced persons under EU law and to provide appropriate asylum for climate refugees, while creating channels for safe and regular migration; in particular, proposes that a climate pass is issued to persons coming from a country, territory or island which will be inhabitable due to climate change as a way to offer protection from vulnerability and statelessness and that change in the environment due to climate change be added as one of the eligibility criteria for humanitarian protection; calls on the Commission and Member States to put forward such solutions in international fora, in parallel to other EU initiatives; recalls that ODA must keep its purposes of eradicating poverty, reducing inequality, meeting humanitarian needs and respect human rights, never be conditional on migration control;
Amendment 52 #
2020/2134(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Deems that the introduction of binding EU legislation on binding and mandatory business due diligence can help improve the defence of human rights and compliance with environmental standards in the fight against climate change in developing countries; calls on the Commission to continue working towards the approval of the UN binding treaty for transnational corporations on human rightsin particular, reiterates that EU investment and trade agreements should include binding and enforceable provisions to address climate change, deforestation, biodiversity loss and the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, through an effective monitoring and sanctions mechanism; calls on the Commission to continue working towards the approval of the UN binding treaty for transnational corporations on human rights, which ensures access to justice for victims of human rights violations and provide mechanisms for redress and accountability for the communities affected;
Amendment 56 #
2020/2134(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recalls that the Special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples indicated, in its 2017 report, to have received an increasing number of allegations concerning situations where climate change mitigation projects have negatively affected the rights of indigenous peoples, notably renewable energy projects such as biofuel production and the construction of hydroelectric dam; recalls the EU’s commitment to follow a Rights-Based Approach (RBA) to development, on this line, urges partner countries to adopt measures to effectively engage indigenous peoples in climate change adaptation and mitigation measures and to provide, to this effect, technical and financial assistance that directly reaches indigenous peoples to support self-government, territorial control and management;
Amendment 58 #
2020/2134(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Recalls that the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous people has identified the extractive industries as a main source of conflict and violence on indigenous peoples’ territories; stresses that frameworks such as the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT) can help to provide legal certainty; accordingly, urges the EU to make the effective implementation of these guidelines a pre-condition of investment in the remit of the European External Investment Plan;
Amendment 59 #
2020/2134(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to check carefully that the infrastructure and energy projects financed through the various development cooperation and external policy instruments, including through the European Investment Bank, do not jeopardise human rights, the Sustainable Development Goals, the objectives of the Paris agreement to combat climate change or the European Green Deal; more broadly, recalls that a rights-based approach should be operationalised and strictly applied and respected in all ODA funded projects, particularly regarding the rights of pastoralists and indigenous people, which implies to provide i.e. effective complaint and redress mechanisms, in accordance with Commission Recommendation 2013/396/EU of 11 June 2013, notably in case climate actions violate their rights;
Amendment 63 #
2020/2134(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Invites the Commission to do more to protect human rights defenders, environmental activists and organisations engaged in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss in developing countries.; urges the States to recognize that defenders of biodiversity, that aim to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable development, are also human rights defenders; in addition, calls on the EU and its Member States to examine the case for giving legal personality to nature, thereby strengthening the legal protection of the environment;
Amendment 10 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
- having regard to the UN Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage “Universal health coverage: moving together to build a healthier world” 2019,
Amendment 13 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
- having regard to the World Health Assembly’s resolution on Water, sanitation and hygiene in health care facilities of 28 May 2019,
Amendment 15 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 b (new)
Citation 18 b (new)
- having regard to the UNCTAD Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development (2015),
Amendment 17 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 c (new)
Citation 18 c (new)
- having regard to the UNCTAD Report “Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Trade and Development. Transitioning to a New Normal (2020),
Amendment 20 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas, according to the UNCTAD special report of 2020 “Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on trade and development: transitioning to a new normal”, the disruption caused by Covid- 19 has had real and disproportionate consequences on vulnerable and disadvantaged low-income households, migrants, workers in the informal sector, and often women, notably in developing countries, where populations are not covered by social safety nets and yet are particularly affected by soaring unemployment;
Amendment 21 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A a (new)
Recital -A a (new)
-Aa. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has increased gender-based violence, child marriages and existing inequalities, in particular in terms of access to health services, including SRHR services, and has already reversed some of the progress made on gender equality over the last decades;
Amendment 24 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas development and humanitarian aid isare severely underfunded, which makes it difficult to adequately address the consequences of the COVID- 19 pandemic in developing countries, in particular in countries affected by pre- existing crises;
Amendment 34 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has massively impacted access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), in particular for women and young people due to the de-prioritization and disruption in the provision of SRHR services as well as mobility restrictions and changes in health-seeking behaviours; whereas an additional 49 million women have had an unmet need for modern contraceptives because of COVID-19;
Amendment 38 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly exacerbated the existing debt problems of developing countries, further endangering their efforts at mobilizing sufficient resources to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals;
Amendment 47 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas development finance is characterised by declining level of concessionality;
Amendment 48 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas for many developing countries, the economic effects of the pandemic include huge capital outflows, commodity price drops, falls in tourism income and remittances and escalating debt service costs; whereas most African countries lack the fiscal space to respond adequately to the crisis due to low domestic saving rates, low levels of domestic resource mobilisation, high illicit financial outflows, volatile commodity prices, high fiscal deficits and stagnating official development assistance; whereas, accordingly, additional efforts in terms of debt relief is urgently needed to avoid widespread defaults in developing countries and to facilitate investments in recovery and the SDGs;
Amendment 56 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas globally, two out of five people do not have access to basic handwashing at home[1]; and whereas the lack of access to water, which is essential to reduce the spread of COVID- 19, has made containing the disease in developing countries much more challenging; [1] Sources: UNCTAD report « The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Trade and Development : Transitioning to a New Normal” (2020), p. 27.
Amendment 65 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of the global supply chain, notably in food and health, and the need to build regional value chains and boost regional integration;
Amendment 67 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
Dc. whereas local markets and short supply chains are crucial to ensure the continuity of accessible, safe, affordable, nutritious and healthy food for all;
Amendment 72 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas official development assistance continues to represent a critical source of external finance for some developing countries, particularly those unable to attract large foreign direct investment inflows or lacking large diaspora communities; in particular, whereas Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States are extremely reliant on official development assistance and, to a lesser extent, on remittances, to finance their capital accumulation;
Amendment 77 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas developing countries are particularly vulnerable to public revenue leakages arising from tax-motivated illicit financial flows; whereas recent estimates of those revenue losses in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean account for 2.3% of their GDPs; whereas, moreover, tax-motivated illicit financial flows affect revenue raising capacity most strongly in low-income and lower middle-income countries, due to the higher proportion of corporate tax in their total revenues[1]; [1] Sources: UNCTAD report « The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Trade and Development : Transitioning to a New Normal” (2020), p. 56.
Amendment 81 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Recital E c (new)
Ec. whereas UNCTAD estimates a 20% fall in remittances in 2020 compared with 2019[1], which indicates that remittances will not provide a cushion against the downturn in international financial flows to developing countries; [1] Sources: UNCTAD report « The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Trade and Development : Transitioning to a New Normal” (2020), p. 57.
Amendment 90 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the EU’s global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which demonstrates its ambition to lead and show solidarity with all partner countries; points out, however, that current funds are essentially reallocated from other budget lines and that the challenge of aid front-loading has to be tackled; calls, therefore, for substantial new funds to be mobilised to assist developing countries worldwide in fighting the direct and indirect consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic; urges donors to rapidly scale up official development assistance to achieve levels already committed in the past but never delivered; stresses that making safe vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics available globally in a fast and affordable manner must be one of the first steps;
Amendment 98 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists that the momentum gained from the common Team Europe approach in terms of joint analysis, joint programming and joint implementation must translate into a new standard for cooperation in the fields of humanitarian aid and development policy, both in law and in practice; highlights the importance of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) to ensure funding for human development, including the health sector, and calls on EU Delegations and Member States' embassies to prioritise human development and health in their joint programming;
Amendment 128 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. EUnderlines that the disruptions triggered by COVID-19 have shone a spotlight on the vulnerabilities of the global food system; in particular, highlights that countries that are both dependent on food imports and tourism revenues are expected to be among the most severely affected with regard to food security; emphasises the need to support i.e. the actions of the FAO and the WFP, as well as actions of local and international NGOs, aimed at mitigating hunger and loss of livelihood and building up resilient food systems, such as those to set up a global data facility for the provision of swift information on humanitarian needs, to provide food production assistance and access to food, to organise cash transfers and in-kind food distribution, to stabilise food systems, and to ensure the functioning of local food markets, value chains and systems while focusing on smallholder farmers by implementing sanitary measures in order to prevent the transmission of COVID-19;
Amendment 139 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for food systems transformation, notably the crucial need to develop local agriculture for local consumption; calls on the EU to promote sustainability across all aspects of food supply chains, from production to consumption, in line with the Farm to Fork strategy;
Amendment 143 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Recalls agro-ecology’s unique capacity to reconcile the economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability, which has been recognised by landmark reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and the World Bank and FAO- led International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development(IAASTD); against this backdrop, reiterates that agroecology and family farming can be positioned as a systemic solution to prevent and build resilience to future shocks; urges the EU to boost investment in agro-ecology and agro-forestry, and to gradually shift away from trade-oriented agricultural policies to local and regional markets, in line with the Green Deal and its international commitments on climate change and biodiversity;
Amendment 146 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Highlights that the “One Health” approach, which combines animal, human, and environmental health, is particularly relevant to tackle threats like COVID-19, and is critical for preventing another devastating pandemic; stresses that sustainable food systems are a core element of the One Health approach, notably since healthier diets, a key outcome of sustainable food systems, would support stronger immune systems, and thereby reduce the impact of crises like Covid-19; but notes with concern that most agricultural development funding in Sub-Saharan Africa still supports Green Revolution approaches, where the use of public finances to unlock private investment opportunities (e.g. PPPs, blended finance models) mostly target export commodity production and agropoles, and is increasingly conducive to food system industrialisation, while smallholders, and particularly women, struggle in the meantime to access credit;
Amendment 148 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Urges the European Union to renew its financial and political commitments to end malnutrition in all its forms at the 2021 Nutrition for Growth summit as its current financial commitment ended at the end of 2020;
Amendment 149 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5e. Stresses that the COVID-19 crisis has amplified profound fault lines in the functioning of global value chains (GVCs) and exposed the fragility of a model characterized by high interdependencies between leading firms and suppliers located across several continents; in light of this, stresses the need to support endogenous development, based on domestic production (rather than an export-led growth model); and considers that economic diversification is key for developing countries to move towards a more sustainable and resilient economic model;
Amendment 153 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines that global extreme poverty is expected to rise dramatically in 2020 for the first time in over 20 years, with the COVID-19 pandemic compounding the forces of conflict and climate change and having a particularly hard impact on informal and migrant workers (who represent one quarter of the global workforce), the tourism sector and Latin American and Caribbean economies, Caribbean and African economies; notes with concern that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) indicates that globally about 50% of countries have had no social protection responses to the crisis[1]; highlights, against the backdrop of this extreme crisis, the importance of universal social protection, labour programmes and social dialogue; asks the Commission to work out strategies with partner countries for the economic recovery and job creation and for improving social security systems; [1] Sources: UNCTAD report « The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Trade and Development : Transitioning to a New Normal” (2020), p. 27.
Amendment 165 #
Amendment 168 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Emphasises that refugees and forcibly displaced people are among the most vulnerable people in the world and, due to the massive and complex emergency they were already facing before Covid-19, they are disproportionately affected by the impact of the pandemic crises;
Amendment 170 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the Commission to address the specific needs of refugees, migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) upholding the guiding principle of public health networks of leaving no-one behind and refraining from blockingcontributing to facilitating access to front-line humanitarian workers from havingto ensure direct contact with the migrants, IDPs and refugees they serve; recalls with concern that refugees, migrants and IDPs are among the most vulnerable populations facing this health crisis, as they are often confronted with precarious living conditions and may face more difficult access to basic health services than local populations; stresses the absolute need for equal access to COVID-19 treatment, and other health services and safety net programmes for all affected people, regardless of nationality, migrant/refugee/IDP status, origin, sex, gender identity or any other characteristic in order to avoid them being disproportionately affected by the pandemic and to avoid their further stigmatisation;
Amendment 184 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. CUnderlines that development aid should primary be dedicated to deliver - “horizontal” - universal health care system coverage through a holistic and rights-based approach, which entails i.a. to fully address the multidimensional nature of health (with close links to gender, food security and nutrition, water and sanitation, education and poverty), along the line of “One Health” approach; in particular, calls for the revision of proposed or existing strategies and partnerships with the aim of further strengthening health systems in partner countries, in particular as regards preparedness for pandemics and the organisation and management of health systems, including the provision of universal healthcare (including mental health), health monitoring and information, training of medical staff, diagnostic capacity and medicine supply;
Amendment 220 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Recalls that traditional medicine is culturally entrenched, accessible, and affordable, and serves as a primary source of healthcare for more than 80% of the population across the African continent; stresses the need to harness the potential contribution of traditional and complementary medicines to provide traditional medical therapies that are affordable and safe for public health, including to face important sanitary crises such as COVID-19; encourages African governments to give formal recognition to traditional medicine to create an enabling environment for its practice in its health systems;
Amendment 223 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Stresses that a more equitable distribution of vaccines around the globe is essential to combat effectively the spread of the COVID-19 and its mutation; recalls equally that COVID-19 medical tools should be affordable, safe, effective, easily administered and universally available for everyone and everywhere to be considered a “global public goods”;
Amendment 224 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Reaffirms that the Human Right to Health takes precedence over the rules of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS); recalls the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the flexibility provisions in the TRIPS Agreement to protect public health and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all; urges the EU to support third countries, in particular LDCs, in the effective implementation of flexibilities for the protection of public health provided for in the TRIPS agreements, such as compulsory licencing and parallel imports, in order to remedy abusive use of intellectual property protections that lead to monopolistic positions of patent holders; in addition, calls on the EU and its Member States to support the call for a waiver by India, South Africa, Kenya and Eswatini on the implementation of some provisions of the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement, namely covering copyright, industrial designs and undisclosed information, for combating the COVID-19 pandemic, with a view to facilitating an effective technology transfer for COVID-19 related vaccines, therapeutics or diagnostic tests and ensure global access to these products;
Amendment 228 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Highlights the especially severe consequences of COVID-19 lockdowns and quarantine measures and the collateral damage that has been suffered by women, girls and children, in particular the rise in gender-based violence and limited access to health services, including SRHR services, but also the exposure of women to COVID-19 due to their disproportionately high representation in the global health workforce and the informal working sector which is prominent in developing countries; highlights that, also within the EU, in particular women from diaspora communities tackle negative effects on their own livelihood and context-sensitive investments via remittances towards developing countries; calls for action to counterbalance the disproportionate care burden borne by women and any potential roll-backs in safety, health, emancipation, economic independence and empowerment, and education, through specific programmes such as the spotlight initiative and by re- focusing European support; calls on stepping up efforts to better prevent and address domestic violence through relevant services such as the provision of lifesaving medical treatment, social and psychological support, access to sexual and reproductive health services and legal representation for the victims; calls for meaningful participation of women in the decisions that impact their health and working lives; underlines the need to include the gender perspective in the EU’s COVID-19 response, to advocate for inclusive decision-making bodies and collect sex- and age-disaggregated data for gender analysis;
Amendment 237 #
2020/2118(INI)
6a. Reminds that the economic and social effects of the pandemic are proving to disproportionately affect women and risk reversing decades of progress on gender equality and women’s empowerment; to address this challenge and ensure a sustained recovery, urges the EU and its Member States to upgrade its external support to i.e. enhancing the voice and participation of women in decision-making processes; improving education and training for women; removing discrimination in access to credit and enacting laws against gender- based violence;
Amendment 240 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Is concerned that, since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, many governments have used the emergency to justify placing restrictions on democratic processes and the civil space and to oppress minorities; in particular, condemns censorship, arrests and intimidation of journalists, opposition figures, healthcare workers and other individuals for criticizing governments including their crisis management; more broadly, draws attention to the growing negative impact of COVID-19 on all human rights, democracy and the rule of law and calls, therefore, for the strengthening of aid, political dialogue and support for institution-building in all these fields, with particular attention to human rights defenders and civil society activists;
Amendment 247 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Underlines that the consequences of a combined health pandemic and a global recession will seriously undermine the capability of developing countries to achieve the SDGs, notably by least developed countries (LDCs); reminds the UN’s call for a $2,5 trillion coronavirus crisis package for developing countries which face unprecedented economic damage from the COVID-19 crisis; calls for a far-reaching policy response based on the core Agenda 2030 principle of ‘leaving no one behind’;
Amendment 251 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Notes with concern that public indebtedness in the global south was already at unprecedented levels before COVID-19, which resulted in an increasing portion of public budget being used to service external debts, thereby affecting the capacity of governments to adequately fund and deliver basic public services; is alarmed that the current crisis has exacerbated these pre-existing debt vulnerabilities, notably in a context where financial support for developing countries to tackle the pandemic is being provided principally in the form of new loans; reminds that developing countries have relatively greater health and social protection expenditure requirements due to their weaker health systems and response mechanisms; consequently, they require greater external liquidity support in foreign currencies to pay for vital imports, while also servicing their outstanding debt obligations; accordingly, stresses the need to raise IMF Special Drawing Rights to provide liquidity to developing countries;
Amendment 253 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes, as a first step, the temporary suspension of debt service payments for the poorest countries announced by the G20 and joins the call on private creditors to follow suit; underlines that the magnitude of the economic and social crisis in the developing world requires more profound and far-reaching measures and encourages the Commission to support international efforts in this regard; considers that interest saved thanks to this suspension should instead be invested in the health sector, which is often severely underfunded in developing countries; ; believes, however, that the G 20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) falls short of the effort needed to respond to the magnitude of the economic and social crisis in a context where multilateral and commercial debt are excluded from debt service suspension for all countries, while many middle- income countries at risk are entirely excluded from the initiative; stresses the need to secure the participation of all creditors, including the World Bank and other multilateral development banks, as well as private creditors, in the DSSI and any further debt relief offers; and encourages the Commission to support international efforts in this regard; considers that interest saved thanks to this suspension should instead be invested in the health sector, which is often severely underfunded in developing countries; in addition, calls for an urgent upscaling of ODA as part of a more comprehensive systemic multilateral response, considering that short-term measures will not suffice to avoid defaults and to facilitate investments in recovery and the SDGs; more broadly, calls for the creation of a multilateral debt workout mechanism, under UN auspices, to address both the impact of the crisis and the financing requirements of the Agenda 2030; believes that steps should also be taken towards agreement on binding rules on responsible sovereign lending and borrowing in order to support improved debt crisis prevention;
Amendment 259 #
2020/2118(INI)
14. Points out that the budgets of many developing countries were already out of balance before the crisis and that too little funding was allocated to crisis prevention, health systems and social protection; calls on the Commission to take new initiatives to tackle the problems of illicit financial flows, tax evasion and tax fraud in order to improve the tax bases of developing countr (notably tax-motivated illicit financial flows originating from cross- border operations by multinational enterprises), tax evasion and tax fraud in order to improve the tax bases of developing countries; to this end, urges the EU to ensure that its trade, double taxation and investment agreements are consistent with the objective of domestic resource mobilisation of ACP countries and translate into tangible and sustainable development outcomes, in line with the principle of Policy Coherence for Development, as enshrined in Article 208 of the Lisbon Treaty; more broadly, calls for the setting-up of a global tax body at the UN level to help coordinating tax policies; calls, furthermore, for budget support to be directed towards universal basic services, notably access to basic health, water and sanitation services, and resilience;
Amendment 263 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Notes with concern that over the past few years, the level of concessionality of ODA has gradually decreased for developing countries in general and for LDCs in particular, although concessionality is of particular importance for LDCs to prevent an unsustainable debt burdens; stresses the need for donors to prioritize grant-based financing, especially to LDCs;
Amendment 265 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Notes that the Commission still foresees a prominent role for blending mechanisms in EU development policy, at the expense of other aid modalities; stresses that while blended finance has grown rapidly, there is little evidence of its development impact, as most blended finance currently goes to middle-income countries, with only a small portion going to LDCs; recalls equally that blending raises concerns in terms of debt sustainability; accordingly, calls on the EU and its Member States to adopt a cautious approach to blended finance and ensure that all finance mobilised through blending meets development effectiveness principles;
Amendment 266 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Highlights that reduced inflows of remittances in developing countries will worsen the living conditions of households that rely on this source of income to finance the consumption of goods and services such as food, health care and education; therefore, urges the EU and the donor community to take decisive action to fulfil their promise to contribute to reducing the cost of remittance fees to close to zero, and at minimum to the 3%, as called for in SDG 10;
Amendment 272 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Underlines the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented numbers of pupils missing out on months of schooling, constituting a major set-back to efforts in the education sector especially with regard to girls’ and women’s education; urges governments to use school closures only as a measure of last resort in the fight against the pandemic; presses for education to be kept as a spending priority in EU development policy and for due consideration to be given to the social function of schools; urges governments, in this context, to prioritise support for the most marginalised children and their families; stresses that the most at-risk children, especially those with disabilities and living in conflict- affected areas, are those hardest hit by this pandemic; underlines that the pandemic leads to a heightened risk of violence, exploitation and abuse, as well as to dramatic consequences on children’s health and protection; recommends that EU countries share their approaches to keeping up teaching even in times of crisis and asks the EU and its Member States to exploit the potential of remote and digital learning in their international support programmes;
Amendment 294 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Stresses that global recovery can only occur if immediate responses are planned with perspectives towards mid to long-term solutions that include preventive measures and better prepare communities for future crises;
Amendment 295 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Reminds that resilience is ultimately about both general preparedness and the ability to adapt to new circumstances; recalls, in this context, that communities that lead their own solutions tailored to their particular context are more engaged throughout recovery, ultimately rebuilding stronger; stresses that overcoming this crisis in solidarity with our partners will strengthen and render more resilient the relations between the EU and developing countries;
Amendment 297 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Emphasises the crucial role of humanitarian NGOs in supporting communities to sustain themselves both during and beyond the pandemic in order to prevent an increasing erosion of livelihoods, to protect social cohesion, and to mitigate the worst consequences of the crises;
Amendment 303 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Points out that pandemics are often of zoonotic origin; underlines, therefore, the need to support education programmes regarding the dangers of hunting and trading in wild animals as well as the stricter protection of ecosystems and habitats and to address challenges posed by industrial farming;
Amendment 312 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Recalls that developing countries are historically vulnerable to external shocks owing to narrow export bases and less diversified economies; therefore, stresses that one of the main challenges for developing countries is to climb up the global value chain through economic diversification and to shift from an a export-oriented production model towards development based on domestic and regional markets; to this end, emphasises the crucial role of regional economic cooperation, industrial domestic policy and investment promotion to increase national or regional autonomy in the production of essential goods and services; against this background, finds it essential to harness financing and business practises, with a view to promote the integration of sustainability standards along the entire investment chain; reiterates that corporate human rights and environmental mandatory due diligence is a necessary condition in order to prevent and mitigate future crises and ensure sustainable value chains;
Amendment 317 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Stresses the need to safeguard sufficient regulatory space in international investment agreements to protect public health and to minimize the risk of investor-State dispute settlement proceedings, with regard to claims related to government measures targeting the health-related, economic and social dimensions of the pandemic and its effects;
Amendment 318 #
2020/2118(INI)
18c. Underlines that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for medical goods and personal protective equipment, which led to a surge of export- restricting measures taken up by global suppliers of medical and other essential goods; points out that small and lower- income countries, with their high dependence on open trade, had to bear the brunt of export restrictions on essential goods and some abusive business practices; against this background, insists that the EU refrains from adopting a trade policy that prohibits, as a general rule, ACP countries from levying export taxes on raw material insofar as it is WTO-compatible, notably for industrial development and environmental protection purposes;
Amendment 322 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines that implementation of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus has to be a priority in the programming of the NDICI in fragile countries; calls on the Commission’s DG ECHO and DG DEVCO to implement complementary programmes suited to local contexts and local opportunities, whenever possible, in order to mutually reinforce the different aspects of the nexus taking full consideration of each actors mandate and obligations, including humanitarian principles and International Humanitarian Law;
Amendment 327 #
2020/2118(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Underlines the need to work alongside local communities and local civil societies in the definition and implementation of the response; emphasises the role of the European Solidarity Corps in supporting CSOs on the ground to provide assistance to people in need;
Amendment 1 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. whereas the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of the global supply chain, notably in food and health, and the need to build regional value chains and boost regional integration;
Amendment 2 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1a. Welcomes the commitment made by the Commission in its Communication “Trade Policy Review - An Open, Sustainable and Assertive Trade Policy “ of 18 February 2021 to make its trade policy coherent with its overarching objective of green transformation of the economy, towards a climate neutral, environmentally sustainable, resource efficient and resilient economy by 2050;
Amendment 7 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that COVID-19 has caused an unprecedented health, economic, social and humanitarian crisis on a global scale, with asymmetric effects for least developed countries (LDCs) whose high vulnerability is linked to poor economic diversification and high dependency on export of raw materials; calls for the EU to tailor its commitments and approach to developing countries and LDCs accordingly;
Amendment 13 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. CRecalls that one of the main challenges for developing countries is to climb up the global value chain through economic diversification, which necessitates fair and pro-development global trade rules; calls on the Commission to mount an assertive and coordinated international trade policy response geared towards a multilateral, resilient and sustainable recovery in developing countries; calls on the Commission to deepen EU-Africa trade relations through economic p, with a view to contributing to the fulfilment of the SDGs and their regional integration process; in this context, highlights limited progress regarding the economic diversification of developing countries covered by Economic Partnership aAgreements, while making the most of the EU’s Aid for Trade Strateg; urges once more the EU and its Member States to acknowledge the difficulties encountered by developing countries related to EPAs, especially in terms of regional integration, industrialisation and economic diversification and to revise EPAs accordingly;
Amendment 26 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Encourages the EU and the Member States to help developing countries and regions to keep their borders open and to set up ‘green corridor mechanisms’ to allow the unhindered flow of essential goods, agri-food products and humanitarian aid across borders, while taking, at the same time, decisive action to mitigate and adapt to climate change, protect the environment and strong social and labour policies;
Amendment 32 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. IStresses that the Covid-19 pandemic has shown the vulnerability of the global value chain systems, in particular the need to diversify production and supply chains; invites the Commission to adapt its trade policy in order to help developing countries to boost the resilience and diversification of their value chains at a global, regional and local level, including reshoring and nearshoring; to this effect, calls on the EU and its Member States not to systematically oppose local content clauses in its partner’s climate policies, as it may be useful in promoting the production and consumption of locally produced goods; recalls equally that trade rules should encourage the sustainable use of resources; to this end, calls on the EU to refrain from adopting a trade policy that prohibits, as a general rule, ACP countries from levying export taxes on raw material insofar as it is WTO- compatible, notably for industrial development and environmental protection purposes;
Amendment 42 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the commitment shown by the EU and its Member States in tackling the wider impact of COVID-19, in particular through the Coronavirus Global Response and COVAX initiatives;Stresses that a more equitable distribution of vaccines around the globe is essential to combat effectively the spread of the covid-19 and its mutation; recalls equally that COVID-19 medical tools should be affordable, safe, effective, easily administered and universally available for everyone and everywhere; welcomes, as a first step, the commitment shown by the EU and its Member States in tackling the wider impact of COVID-19, in particular through the Coronavirus Global Response and COVAX initiatives; but recalls that vaccines should be declared a global public good; accordingly, urges the Commission and the Member States not to block the TRIPS waiver at the WTO and to support global open access to Covid-19 vaccines to scale up global production, notably through technology transfer; to this end, urges the EU to support developing countries, in particular LDCs, in the effective implementation of flexibilities for the protection of public health provided for in TRIPs agreements, notably compulsory licencing and parallel import; in the meantime, calls on the Commission to coordinate with the World Health Organization and the African Union in order to scale up vaccine production for developing countries;
Amendment 56 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Urges the Commission to identify the appropriate measures to ensure that this pandemic does not precipitate a food crisis in the developing world; supports actions to facilitate tradein this context, recalls the commitment made by the Commission in its Farm to Fork Strategy to support the global transition to sustainable agri-food system, notably by striving to obtain ambitious commitments from third countries in key areas such as animal welfare, the use of pesticides and the fight against antimicrobial resistance; recalls equally its pledge to support small- scale farmers, short-supply chains, agro- ecology and conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; notes, however, that EU trade agreements can have a negative impact on food security in developing countries; calls for the EU to support developing countries’ demands to protect their food production and to safeguard their population from the potentially destructive effects of cheap imports, notably within the remit of revised economic partnership agreements (EPAs); and to supports actions with a view to promoting food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary measures in response to COVID-19, in line with its “Green Deal” commitments, notably its “Farm to Fork Strategy”; stresses that EU FTAs should include specific references to Parties’ rights to invoke the precautionary principle, ass enshrined in the TFEU as well as the Convention on Biological Diversity, with regard to SPS measures;
Amendment 61 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recalls that seed diversity is vital in building the resilience of farming to climate change; recalls that farm-saved seeds are estimated to account for over 80% of farmers’ total seed requirements in some African countries; calls for the EU to support intellectual property rights regimes that enhance the development of locally adapted seed varieties and farmer- saved seeds, in line with the provisions of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), which safeguards the rights of farmers to maintain genetic resources for purposes of food security and climate change adaptation;
Amendment 63 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Recalls that the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services will undermine progress in approximately 80 % of the assessed targets for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); regrets that dispute settlement systems covering biodiversity and trade provisions in Multilateral Environment Agreements are not binding, unlike the WTO enforcement system, which de facto embodies the supremacy of commercial law over biodiversity; in particular, recalls that current WTO rules limit the possibility of EU Member States of raising tariffs on products that have a negative impact on biodiversity; against this backdrop, welcomes the commitment of the Commission to prioritise effective implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity in trade and investment agreements; and calls on the Commission to advocate reform of the WTO along this line;
Amendment 67 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to collaborate with developing partner countries in order to facilitate digital infrastructure, establish policy strategies and harmonise regulatory frameworks forto seek robust digital standards and regulatory approaches, in full compliance with the EU’s data protection framework, including on provisions on e- commerce., with the aim to ensure a high level of consumer protection;
Amendment 72 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Welcomes the commitment of the Commission to reinforce the sustainability dimension of existing and future trade agreements; accordingly, calls for a fully- fledged sustainability ex-ante and ex-post impact assessment of EU FTAs;
Amendment 73 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to make compliance with the Paris Agreement an “essential clause” of the EU trade agreements; stresses that, in order to be enforceable, the environmental objectives of the EU’s free trade agreements (FTAs) must be clear, quantifiable, verifiable, based on robust, transparent and inclusive ex-ante sustainable impact assessments and include sanctions for non-compliance;
Amendment 76 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Welcomes the Commission's commitment to engage the EU to pursue a strong environmental agenda at the WTO, notably by taking initiatives that promote climate and sustainability considerations in the remit of the WTO; recalls that the objective of sustainable development should become the overriding principle guiding the work of the WTO, whose rules and operations should be designed accordingly, using the Agenda 2030 and Paris Agreement commitments as a minimum benchmark;
Amendment 79 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 d (new)
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7d. Believes that parties to the Paris Agreement should have policy space to implement climate response measures in fulfilment of current and future National Determined Contributions (NDC), without risking trade retaliation measures from trading partners; however, stresses the need to take into account the adverse impact of climate-related trade restrictions on developing countries and to take appropriate actions to mitigate them, such as climate funding, insurance, technology transfer and capacity building, in line with UNFCC related commitments and the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” (CBDR);
Amendment 81 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 e (new)
Paragraph 7 e (new)
7e. Stresses the need to account for the carbon “embodied” in imported goods and services; along this line, calls on the EU to take steps to re-launch discussions within the WTO on process and production methods to enable products to be differentiated in terms of their carbon footprint, energy footprint or technological standards; insists that such initiative should be accompanied by measures facilitating technology transfer both for climate adaptation and mitigation to accommodate the needs of developing countries;
Amendment 83 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 f (new)
Paragraph 7 f (new)
7f. Underlines that Intellectual Property Rights may hinder transfer of cleaner technologies; recalls that WTO- TRIPS flexibilities could contribute significantly to the transfer of climate- friendly technologies; calls on the EU to take the lead in the identification of the salient barriers to the dissemination of technologies in developing countries to address climate change and to strive to promote the adoption of a Declaration on “IPR and Climate Change” comparable to the Doha Declaration of 2001 on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, to foster the legal transfer of climate- friendly technology to developing countries, in compliance with the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC, notably the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR);along this line, takes the view that EU FTAs with developing countries should include provisions that promote technology transfer and enable local content requirements in their public procurement and investment policies;
Amendment 85 #
2020/2117(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 g (new)
Paragraph 7 g (new)
7g. Calls on the Commission to actively work within the WTO in order to promote multilateral rules for sustainable management of Global Value Chains, including mandatory supply chain due diligence.
Amendment 1 #
2020/2116(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reaffirms that the right to migrate is a human right; regrets that the current external dimension of EU migration policies, through measures aiming primarily at strengthening securitisation and border controls at EU external borders and in partner countries, contributes to human rights violations of partner country citizens and transit migrants; calls on the Commission to promote development and humanitarian policies thatand related legal instruments, to address the challenge of protecting the human and social rights of all migrants, with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of our development cooperation wherever EU action is deployed and irrespective of their legal status;
Amendment 5 #
2020/2116(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that EU development cooperation must have as its main objective the reduction and eradication of poverty, tackling inequality and exclusion, promoting democratic governance and human rights, and enhancing sustainable and inclusive development, as fixed in the EU Treaty (Articles 21 and 208), and that it must be based on partner countries’ development agendas, following a needs and rights- based approachlong-term approach towards migration, and not on EU domestic interests;
Amendment 14 #
2020/2116(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Recalls that the European Consensus for Development provides for a coordinated, holistic and structured approach to migration, due to its cross- cutting nature and considers it as one of the key areas to which Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) applies; in this regard, calls for PCD compliant and regularly assessed external migration policies which contribute to human rights, gender equality and empowerment, poverty eradication and human development;
Amendment 21 #
2020/2116(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Takes note of the EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum; expresses its regret that the proposed measures for the internal and external dimension of migration policies are insufficient to ensure respect for migrants and displaced persons’ human rights, and is especially worried about the externalisation of EU border management and migration control;
Amendment 26 #
2020/2116(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Recalls that as most migrants move within their region and continent of origin, intra-regional and intra- continental mobility should be facilitated; calls on the EU- Africa partnership and the future OACP-EU agreement to support intra-regional and intra- continental mobility of persons in accordance with the African Charter of Human rights and the African Union Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment;
Amendment 27 #
2020/2116(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Expresses strong concern regarding readmission clauses included in legally binding partnership and cooperation agreements with third countries, in particular in the absence of provisions in line with international human right law; calls on the negotiating parties to the new OACP-EU partnership to exclude such measures from the agreement, including in its annexes, especially as most ACP countries do not support EU Readmission Agreements and are not signatories to them;
Amendment 31 #
2020/2116(INI)
4. Insists on the need forto establish humanitarian corridors and further develop safe and legal migration pathways from neighbouring and developing countries into the EU in accordance with international commitments on human rights, to avoid human rights abuses and exploitation during the dangerous journey migrants have to undertake, and related trauma; underlines that women and children should benefit from specific protection and care throughout their journey and upon arrival in Europe; recalls that prioritisation and intensification of securitisation measures, such as Integrated Border Management often result in the deviation of usual migration routes and thus favour trafficking of human beings and smuggling of migrants;
Amendment 41 #
2020/2116(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates that neither the allocation of development assistance nor bilateral or multilateral partnerships with developing countries must be conditional on assistance and cooperation on migration policies,; insists that a more coordinated, structured and holistic approach to migration must still be defined and implemented in full respect of human rights, including the right of every individual to leave his or her country of origin;
Amendment 48 #
2020/2116(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Expresses its deep concern about the possibleility to misuse of development funds for mobility restriction and border control purposes, including those of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), and the suspecreported human rights violations linked to the EUTF in Libya, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Niger; calls on the creation of strong mechanisms to monitor the human rights impacts of the EUTF as well as an accountability system to prevent and deal with breaches of international law; deplores that the report of the Commission on the extension of the EUTF does not envisage any improvement in this field;
Amendment 52 #
2020/2116(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Deplores the lack of transparency of the EUTF and, the fact that Parliament is not involved in its scrutiny; calls on and that partner countries are not formally involved in its management; urges the Commission to present its final comprehensively review on the implementation of the EUTF to ensure that it falls in line with development, human right and humanitarian objectives; stresses that no extension of the EUTF should be envisaged in the absence of such review and if these objectives are not properly assessed and achieved;
Amendment 60 #
2020/2116(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Reiterates that the NDICI budget dedicated to migration should be usedprogrammed and used exclusively to address the root causes of migration and forced displacement and not to control migratory flows or fund external border management., support return and readmission policies or fund external border management; calls on the Commission and Member States to commit to a maximum of 10% of the NDICI’s financial envelope to addressing the root causes of migration and forced displacement and to supporting strengthened engagement to facilitate safe, orderly, regular and responsible migration and the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies and governance, including the protection of refugees and migrants’ rights based on international and Union law;
Amendment 10 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
- having regard to the report of the Committee on Regional Development on Cohesion policy and the circular economy (2017/2211(INI)),
Amendment 66 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas regional environmental strategies should be linked with ambitious climate targets that go beyond the overall target of achieving climate neutral EU by 2050 and should exclude any kind of support for fossil fuels and gas infrastructure projects, and support renewable energy, resource efficiency and sustainable development instead;
Amendment 67 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K b (new)
Recital K b (new)
Kb. whereas waste-management plans should follow the circular economy principles and be part of regional environmental strategies;
Amendment 68 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K c (new)
Recital K c (new)
Kc. whereas EU macro-regional strategies can help identify key sectors and areas of cooperation between different regions facing common challenges such as climate change, climate adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity, transport, waste- management, cross-border projects, sustainable tourism;
Amendment 74 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas community and citizens initiatives can strongly support the ecological transition and fight against climate change;
Amendment 79 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union’s commitments undertaken under the European Green Deal to implementing the Paris Agreement and the SDGs with full respect for the EU taxonomy, taking into consideration social and economic aspects to ensure a fair transition for all territories and their citizens;
Amendment 90 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises the need for local and regional authorities to make a clear political commitment to achieving the climate targets; Furthermore, believes that regional and local authorities have a key role to play in all stages of projects planning, preparation and implementation;
Amendment 113 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that sustainability and the transition to an economy that is safe, climate neutral, climate resilient, more resource efficient and circular are crucial to ensuring the long-term competitiveness of the Union economy, therefore, the regional environmental strategies should cover and include waste-management plans;
Amendment 123 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Points out that it is paramount to fully uphold multi-level governance and partnership principles under Cohesion Policy, that includes gender perspective, as local and regional authorities have direct competencies on the environment and climate change;
Amendment 128 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Emphasises the importance of upholding the Partnership Principle in all programming, implementation and monitoring of EU cohesion policy and to set up a strong cooperation between regional and local authorities, citizens, NGOs and stakeholders;
Amendment 133 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Believes that Cohesion Policy should focus on the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the fight against climate change through an effective methodology for monitoring climate spending and its performance, including its negative effects for EU regions; strongly calls for regional environmental strategies to include a "do no harm principle" and support achieving the SDGs and Paris Agreement in full respect for the EU taxonomy;
Amendment 141 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines the key role of local and regional authorities, as well as of community and citizens initiatives, in achieving a fair transition to a climate- neutral economy for all, with social and economic cohesion at its core;
Amendment 145 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses that community and citizens initiatives can strongly support the ecological transition, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation, and that Local Action Groups and the LEADER program can be primary tools to achieve this; therefore, encourages Member States and regional authorities to coordinate these programmes with their regional environmental strategies;
Amendment 147 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Points out that EU macro-regional strategies should contribute to building cooperation aimed at solving regional issues linked to climate mitigation and adaptation, therefore, Operational programmes should be aligned with the EU macro-regional strategies as integrated approach and strategic planning is of utmost importance;
Amendment 165 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Believes that while providing financial support from the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds, the main priority should be taking into account and addressing the specific needs of the regions and the Member States;
Amendment 177 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises that islands, in particular small islands with limited governing autonomy, should be able to access sufficient economic resources in order to deliver integrated, sector-coupled and innovative interventions for sustainable infrastructure and local economic development;
Amendment 184 #
2020/2074(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Highlights the need to capitalisebenefit on the outcome of initiatives such as New Energy Solutions Optimised for Islands (NESOI), Smart Islands Initiative and Clean Energy for EU Islands (CE4EUI) to ensure a functional transition between the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 programming periods; welcomes the Memorandum of Split, which recognises the leading role for island communities in the energy transition;
Amendment 6 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3
Citation 3
— having regard to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement of 2015, the Copenhagen Accord of 2009, the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM) of 2013 and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction of 2015,
Amendment 7 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
— having regard to the FAO report “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2018: Building climate resilience for food security and nutrition”;
Amendment 11 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)
Citation 3 b (new)
— having regard to the 2020 scientific report “Small-scale fisheries in a warming ocean: exploring adaptation to climate change;”
Amendment 14 #
2020/2042(INI)
— having regard to the EU Adaptation Strategy of 2013, the Evaluation of the EU Adaptation Strategy of 2018 and the Blueprint for a new, more ambitious EU Strategy on the Adaptation to climate change;
Amendment 17 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
— having regard to the ILO Convention 169 on indigenous and tribal peoples (1989);
Amendment 18 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 c (new)
Citation 5 c (new)
— having regard to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) of 2007;
Amendment 20 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 d (new)
Citation 5 d (new)
— having regard to the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land (2019);
Amendment 21 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 e (new)
Citation 5 e (new)
— having regard to the IPCC Special report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (2019);
Amendment 22 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 f (new)
Citation 5 f (new)
— having regard to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) of 6 May 2019;
Amendment 40 #
2020/2042(INI)
Ca. whereas according to a recent study by the International Organization for Migration, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small-Island Developing States (SIDS) – which are collectively home to about 1.1 billion people – are among the most vulnerable groups of countries in the world, and are disproportionately affected by the negative impacts of climate change owing to structural constraints and geographical disadvantages;
Amendment 48 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the shift to a low-carbon future that includes clean technology such as solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles and batteries will require a lot of minerals, the extraction of which may finance armed conflict, lead to forced labour, and generate deforestation and land grabbing;
Amendment 53 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas 80 % of forests worldwide constitute traditional lands and territories of indigenous peoples; whereas indigenous peoples play a vital role for sustainable management of natural resources and conservation of biodiversity;
Amendment 54 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas indigenous reservations constitute an important barrier against deforestation; whereas the tropical forests inhabited by indigenous peoples and local communities contribute to storing carbon across the tropical forest biome, making them valuable in any strategy to address climate change;
Amendment 55 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F c (new)
Recital F c (new)
Fc. whereas indigenous peoples remain among the poorest of the poor and are disproportionately vulnerable to climate change, as they strongly dependent on lands and natural resources and ecosystems for their basic needs and livelihoods; whereas at the same time, a growing body of research suggests that indigenous peoples have a long record of adapting to climate variability, drawing on their traditional knowledge, which enhances their resilience;
Amendment 56 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F d (new)
Recital F d (new)
Fd. whereas the Special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples indicated, in her 2017 report, to have received an increasing number of allegations concerning situations where climate change mitigation projects have negatively affected the rights of indigenous peoples, notably renewable energy projects such as biofuel production and the construction of hydroelectric dams;
Amendment 57 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F e (new)
Recital F e (new)
Fe. whereas the lack of recognition of indigenous peoples’ and communities’ customary land rights generates risks of land grabbing, thereby jeopardising their livelihoods and their ability to respond to climate change or biodiversity loss;
Amendment 58 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F f (new)
Recital F f (new)
Ff. whereas in its Special Report on Climate Change and Land (2019), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recognises the importance of securing community land for climate change;
Amendment 59 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F g (new)
Recital F g (new)
Fg. whereas the UN Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples has identified the extractive industries as a main source of conflict and violence on indigenous peoples’ territories;
Amendment 60 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F h (new)
Recital F h (new)
Fh. whereas the destruction of wildlife habitats, such as forests, facilitates the spread of viruses; whereas the FAO confirms that the increase in emerging infectious diseases coincides with the accelerated growth of tropical deforestation, linked in particular to the cultivation of oil palm or soybean;
Amendment 61 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F i (new)
Recital F i (new)
Fi. whereas climate change is having a serious impact on the global ocean (acidification; more intense, longer and frequent marine heatwaves, destruction of coral reefs, etc.); whereas in a business- as-usual scenario, climate change is expected to reduce fish biomass by 30 to 40% in some tropical regions by 2100; whereas countries in these zones are highly dependent on fisheries, but lack social and financial resources to adapt and prepare for the future;
Amendment 62 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F j (new)
Recital F j (new)
Fj. whereas climate change has growing impacts on fish populations in developing countries, thus having implications in the short and medium run for the livelihood of coastal communities who lack social and financial resources to adapt and prepare for the future;
Amendment 63 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F k (new)
Recital F k (new)
Fk. whereas small-scale fisheries in developing countries are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, although they are by far the ocean’s largest employer;
Amendment 64 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F l (new)
Recital F l (new)
Fl. whereas the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate provides equally evidence of the benefits of combining scientific with local and indigenous knowledge to enforce resilience;
Amendment 87 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the governments of developing countries must lead efforts to reduce vulnerabilities, increase resilience and strengthen support capacities, but the EU, its Member States and other developed and emerging countries must radically scale up their actions, given that the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that are causing climate change were emitted almost exclusively by them, their emissions remain totally dominant, they possess badly needed resources for effective climate action, and they have made important commitments in this respect; whereas, for all these reasons, the EU, its Member States and other developed and emerging countries have a moral obligation to do much more, in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities;
Amendment 97 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas Africa primarily needs investments in climate crisis adaptation, while the European Commission’s Communication “Towards a comprehensive Strategy with Africa” of 9 March 2020 focuses on climate change mitigation;
Amendment 112 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
Ma. whereas according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, 17.2 million people had to leave their homes last year, because of disasters that negatively affected their lives;
Amendment 114 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M b (new)
Recital M b (new)
Mb. whereas climate-induced displacements are expected to increase as extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, sea levels rise and many countries start to experience the limits of their adaptation and disaster risk reduction action and measures;
Amendment 121 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)
Recital N a (new)
Na. whereas 200 to 500 million people worldwide practise pastoralism and pastoralism is central to livelihood strategies in the drylands and mountainous regions of East Africa;
Amendment 123 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N b (new)
Recital N b (new)
Nb. whereas agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate change, notably for small-scale family farming, which constitutes the predominant form of agriculture worldwide;
Amendment 125 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N c (new)
Recital N c (new)
Nc. whereas on 20 December 2017, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a project through which it declared 2019- 2028 as the United Nations Decade of Family Farming;
Amendment 126 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N d (new)
Recital N d (new)
Nd. whereas food systems are responsible for up to one-third of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, with these emissions including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N20) and therefore being a major driver of climate change;
Amendment 129 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N e (new)
Recital N e (new)
Ne. whereas according to the FAO, over the past two decades, commercial agriculture has become the most important driver of deforestation in Low Income and Low Middle Income countries, especially in tropical areas;
Amendment 131 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N f (new)
Recital N f (new)
Nf. whereas economic globalisation has often led to an agricultural model based on export crop monocultures which favours unsustainable farming practices in many developing countries and reinforces a dual agricultural model, where small-scale farming is impoverished and, consequently, even more vulnerable to climate change;
Amendment 133 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N g (new)
Recital N g (new)
Ng. whereas the globalisation of agricultural markets is reinforcing biodiversity erosion, resulting in less capacity to innovate and adapt to climate change;
Amendment 135 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N h (new)
Recital N h (new)
Nh. whereas there is scientific evidence that organic farming practises can achieve higher levels of CO2 sequestration, which makes them an important solution in mitigating climate change;
Amendment 136 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N i (new)
Recital N i (new)
Ni. whereas environmental crimes, the cost of which has been estimated by the UN Environment programme and INTERPOL to be up to twice as high as the global aid budget, accelerate climate change, notably through forestry crimes;
Amendment 137 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N j (new)
Recital N j (new)
Nj. whereas the Republic of Maldives called, in its statement of 3 December 2019, to amend the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to recognise criminal acts that amount to ecocide;
Amendment 154 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 1
Paragraph 2 – indent 1
- the pursuit of rapid, radical curbing and reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions, including through own emission cuts, of at least 65% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels;
Amendment 160 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 2
Paragraph 2 – indent 2
- the reduction of general vulnerability through poverty and inequality reduction, as well as addressing specific vulnerabilities to impacts of climate change resulting, for example, from the locations of dwellings and the bases of livelihoods, tenure insecurity and forced displacement,
Amendment 175 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 4
Paragraph 2 – indent 4
- affirming and seeking widespread, binding recognition that migration is becoming ever more necessary as part of the response to the impacts of climate change, and proposing international arrangements for managing climate- induced migration, including through the establishment and promotion of safe, legal migration channels;
Amendment 183 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 4 a (new)
Paragraph 2 – indent 4 a (new)
- foreseeing the establishment of a regulatory framework to ensure that future investment and trade include mandatory human rights impact assessment and mandatory due diligence requirements;
Amendment 184 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 4 b (new)
Paragraph 2 – indent 4 b (new)
- implementing a “nexus” approach that bridges emergency response and mid/long-term objectives to address the impact of climate change through a concerted, multi-facetted approach to reduce people’s vulnerabilities and identify and implement sustainable solutions;
Amendment 198 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recalls its support for the establishment of a dedicated and automatic EU public finance mechanism helping to deliver the Union’s fair share of the pledged USD 100 billion per year from 2020 in new and additional climate finance from developed to developing countries; urges all EU Member States to rapidly scale up climate finance, prioritising grants-based finance, in particular for LDCs and SIDS, and to further increase financial support during the 2020-2025 period; believes new sources of finances should be mobilised, such as taxation on kerosene and maritime fuel, a financial transaction tax, or a tax on fossil fuel extraction;
Amendment 201 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. CRecalls for a specificits positions to devote 45% of the budget line under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument for actions to limit and manage the impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations in developing countrieto climate and environmental protection objectives and to increase the allocation to the thematic programmes, with the aim to scale up actions to limit and manage the impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations in developing countries; in particular, stresses that the NDICI should support initiatives which build resilience and adaptation, disaster risk reduction and preparedness, while prioritising nature- based solutions, and improves coherence between climate and migration programmes; calls for the inclusion of earmarked funding to support civil society organisations and local actors to strengthen their resilience and climate change adaptation mechanisms;
Amendment 205 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Highlights the role of the EIB to help developing countries to tackle the global climate crisis; recalls that the EIB must prioritise sustainable investments, which entails excluding the financing of high-carbon activities in the transport, energy and heavy industry sectors, as well as significantly increasing financial grants to developing countries;
Amendment 208 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Recalls that the consequences of climate change, including droughts, floods, plummeting biodiversity and the loss of human lives, are deeply undermining low-income and fragile African countries’ development prospects; calls for European support for African countries’ and local authorities’ implementation of the Paris Agreement to be stepped up, through adequate funding for mitigation, adaptation and compensation for loss and damage, with promotion of inclusive stakeholder participation in the elaboration and implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and National Agricultural Investment Plans; calls, more broadly, on the EU to develop a strong new EU Strategy on Adaptation which commits to making adaptation to climate change a priority in EU external relations;
Amendment 210 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that the strategy must include reducing poverty and inequality and strengthening human rights in general as a means to reduce risks and harm caused by climate change;
Amendment 214 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Underlines that the consequences of the combination of a health pandemic and a global recession will seriously undermine the capability of developing countries to achieve the SDGs, notably by least developed countries (LDCs); emphasises that short-term crisis responses aimed at protecting jobs and boosting economic recovery need to be coupled with longer-term strategic goals of mitigating climate change and shoring up climate change adaptation and resilience;
Amendment 217 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Amendment 219 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Stresses that additional debt relief efforts will only be effective if they translate into additional fiscal space to finance policies that are centred on human rights and enable a transition to climate-resilient and sustainable economies; accordingly, stresses the need to link debt relief measures with additional mobilisation of ODA; recalls donors’ commitment to spend 0.7% of their GNI as ODA; notes that in 2019, DAC members did, however, collectively spend only 0.3%, with only five members meeting or exceeding the spending target (United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Luxembourg, and Norway); urges donors to rapidly scale up ODA to levels committed to but never delivered; more broadly, calls for the creation of a multilateral debt workout mechanism, under UN auspices, to address both the impact of the crisis and the financing requirements of the Agenda 2030;
Amendment 225 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reiterates its call for a commitment by the EU and its Member States to significantly increase the adaptation finance they provide andcalls that adaptation to climate change is a particularly pressing issue for developing countries, which face significant challenges to fund their adaptation activities; reiterates, on this ground, its call for a commitment by the EU and its Member States to significantly increase the adaptation finance to meet their fair share; believes that climate finance should strictly respond to the principle of country ownership to ensure that funded activities respond to the needs and priorities of developing countries, and are additional to existing aid and finance commitments; stresses, in particular, the need to ensure access to finance for regional and local authorities to ensure it reaches the most vulnerable, including women and particularly indigenous women; points once more to the need for progress on the issue of loss and damage, for which additional resources should be raised;
Amendment 243 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls on the EU and its Members States to support an ambitious level of finance for the new UNFCCC 2025 climate finance goal, by demanding to establish clear criteria for international climate finance in order to improve the Rio markers methodology, notably to ensure that there is no double counting or overestimation of EU climate finance, with sub-goals for adaptation, loss and damage, and grant-based finance from the European Commission and the European Development Fund;
Amendment 248 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Recalls that climate change acts as a risk multiplier for conflict, drought, famine and migration; stresses the importance of addressing environmental drivers of migration and of implementing the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) with the aim to protect people displaced by the consequences of climate change; welcomes the landmark decision of the UN Human Rights Committee in the case of Teitiota v. New Zealand, recognising that people fleeing climate-related and natural disasters have a valid claim for international protection under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; urges the Commission and the Member States to take stock of this ruling and take all the necessary measures to ensure full protection of environmentally displaced persons under the EU law and to provide appropriate asylum for climate refugees, while creating channels for safe and regular migration; proposes, in particular, that a climate pass is issued to persons coming from a country, territory or island which will be inhabitable due to climate change as a way to offer protection from vulnerability and statelessness, and that change in the environment due to climate change be added as one of the eligibility criteria for humanitarian protection; calls on the Commission and Member States to put forward such solutions in international fora, in parallel to other EU initiatives; recalls that ODA must keep its purposes of eradicating poverty, reducing inequality, meeting humanitarian needs and respecting human rights, and must never be conditional on migration control;
Amendment 265 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the EU to encourage the IPCC to draft a special report on the issue of climate-induced displacement;
Amendment 266 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Amendment 267 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Recalls the EU’s commitment to follow a Rights-Based Approach (RBA) to development; urges, in line with this commitment, partner countries to adopt measures to effectively involve indigenous peoples in climate change adaptation and mitigation measures and to provide, to this effect, technical and financial assistance that directly reaches indigenous peoples to support self- government, territorial control and management; recalls, more broadly, that a rights-based approach should be operationalised and strictly applied and respected in all ODA funded projects, particularly regarding the rights of pastoralists and indigenous peoples, which implies providing i.e. effective complaint and redress mechanisms in case climate actions violate their rights;
Amendment 268 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 d (new)
Paragraph 9 d (new)
9d. Highlights that the IPCC report on “Climate Change and Land” calls for securing indigenous and community land rights to fight climate change; stresses that frameworks such as the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT) can help to provide legal certainty; urges, accordingly, the EU to make the effective implementation of these guidelines a pre-condition of investment in the remit of the European External Investment Plan; stresses that compliance with VGGT requires the existence of effective independent monitoring and enforcement, including affordable and culturally accessible grievance mechanisms through which indigenous peoples can address allegations of European corporate violation of their rights;
Amendment 269 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 e (new)
Paragraph 9 e (new)
9e. Recalls that the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) calls upon its states parties to respect the knowledge and rights of indigenous peoples as safeguards in implementing the REDD+ programme; calls on all states, particularly the EU and its Member States, to include indigenous peoples and rural communities in the decision-making process with regard to strategies for tackling climate change, which should also cover irreparable damage resulting from climate change forcing them to migrate and resulting in a double discrimination as environmentally displaced persons and indigenous peoples;
Amendment 270 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 f (new)
Paragraph 9 f (new)
9f. Recommends that EU Member States which have not yet done so ratify International Labour Organisation Convention 169 on Indigenous and tribal peoples; urges, in particular, the EU and its partner countries to recognise and protect indigenous peoples’ rights to customary ownership and control of their lands and natural resources as set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and in ILO Convention 169 and to comply with the principle of Free, Prior and Informed consent, i.e. by enabling collective registration of land use and by putting in place policies aimed at ensuring more equitable access to land;
Amendment 271 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 g (new)
Paragraph 9 g (new)
9g. Regrets the serious shortcomings of the UN “Protect, Respect, Remedy” framework and the Guiding Principles on business and human rights with regard to both indigenous peoples’ rights and land rights; calls once again on the EU to engage constructively in the work of the UN Human Rights Council on an international legally binding instrument to regulate, in international human rights law, the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises, which should include specific standards for the protection of indigenous peoples;
Amendment 272 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 h (new)
Paragraph 9 h (new)
9h. Stresses the need to foster sustainable pastoralism in order to achieve the SDGs; encourages the EU and its Member States to support the African Governance Architecture (AGA), and in particular the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights, in order to implement the African Union Policy Framework on Pastoralism in Africa and, more broadly, to recognise pastoralists’ and indigenous peoples’ rights related to communal ownership of ancestral land, their right to freely dispose of their natural resources and their rights to culture and religion;
Amendment 273 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 i (new)
Paragraph 9 i (new)
9i. Recalls that according to the IPCC Climate Change and Land report, the largest potential for reducing emissions from the land sector is from curbing deforestation and forest degradation; stresses that voluntary measures and certification schemes have largely failed to achieve significant results at a global level; calls on the private sector to be pro- active in the fight against deforestation and human rights violations embodied in their supply chains and investments, to fulfil without delay their zero deforestation commitments, and to ensure full transparency on the compliance with their commitments;
Amendment 274 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 j (new)
Paragraph 9 j (new)
9j. Recalls that the EU, as both a major importer and exporter of agricultural commodities and food products, is an important driver of land use change abroad; recalls that approximately 80% of global deforestation is caused by the expansion of land used for agriculture; notes with deep concern that EU consumption represents around 10% of the global share of deforestation, through its high import dependency on agricultural commodities such as palm oil, meat, soy, cocoa, maize, timber and rubber;
Amendment 275 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 k (new)
Paragraph 9 k (new)
9k. Reiterates its calls to adopt without delay a legislative act requiring companies to conduct mandatory due diligence throughout their entire supply chains to ensure that forest risk commodities placed on the Union market are sustainable, deforestation-free, and comply with human rights obligations, including the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities; stresses that such legislation should follow a cross- commodity approach, apply to all economic actors, including financial actors, both upstream and downstream the supply chain, and be accompanied by a robust enforcement mechanism, including effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties for non-compliance;
Amendment 276 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 l (new)
Paragraph 9 l (new)
9l. Calls for the Union to strengthen its standards in terms of mandatory disclosure of information by undertakings related to the production or processing of forest risk commodities in the remit of the revision of Directive 2014/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council and calls for the establishment of an alert mechanism for corporate imports from areas presenting a risk of deforestation;
Amendment 277 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 m (new)
Paragraph 9 m (new)
9m. Recalls that the increasing EU demand of wood for materials, energy and bioeconomy exceeds the limits of EU supply, which therefore increases the risks of import-embodied deforestation, land grabbing, forced displacement and violation of indigenous peoples’ rights; reiterates that EU bioenergy policy should respond to strict environmental and social criteria, in compliance with ILO Convention No 169 and the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests and the Committee on Food Security´s Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems;
Amendment 278 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 n (new)
Paragraph 9 n (new)
9n. Calls on the EU to integrate forest diplomacy into its climate policy, with the aim to encourage countries which process and/or import significant quantities of tropical timber to adopt effective legislation banning the importation of illegally harvested timber and requiring operators to conduct due diligence (similar to the EU Timber Regulation);
Amendment 279 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 o (new)
Paragraph 9 o (new)
9o. Reiterates that the EU trade policy should be consistent with, and contribute to, its international environmental commitments; welcomes, in particular, the Commission’s commitment to make compliance with the Paris Agreement an “essential clause” of the EU trade agreements; calls, accordingly, on the Commission to: i. ensure that the impact of trade on the state of forests, natural ecosystems and human rights is systematically evaluated in the framework of sustainability impact assessments; ii. include ambitious forest-specific provisions and sustainability benchmarks for agricultural commodities in all Union trade and investment agreements, including provisions to guarantee Free, Prior and Informed consent of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities and the recognition of land tenure rights of forest-dependent communities and of indigenous people; iii. make these provisions binding and enforceable through an effective monitoring and sanctions mechanism.
Amendment 280 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 p (new)
Paragraph 9 p (new)
9p. Stresses that several scientific studies show the interlinkages between biodiversity loss and the rise of pandemics, notably zoonotic diseases linked to climate change, deforestation, and damage to the livelihoods of forest dwellers´;
Amendment 281 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 q (new)
Paragraph 9 q (new)
9q. Recalls that the transition to a green and digital economy has huge implications for the mining sector, which continues to grow in response to rising demand for minerals and metals and a proliferation in their use; reminds that there are growing concerns that mining will spread into sensitive forest landscapes, contributing to deforestation and forest degradation, thereby jeopardising the objective of protecting and restoring forests as a key leverage for mitigating global climate change; urges, against this background, the EU and its Member States to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy; calls, in addition, on the EU and its Member States to step up their efforts to foster responsible and sustainable mining practices, notably through the provision of financial, technical and capacity- building support to developing countries and by enabling stakeholders, including local and indigenous communities and women, to play an active role in minerals, metals and mining development throughout the life cycles;
Amendment 282 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 r (new)
Paragraph 9 r (new)
9r. Calls for the EU to develop a region-wide framework for extractive industries which sanctions companies violating human rights and provides legal redress to indigenous peoples whose rights have been violated; stresses the need to ban mineral exploration and exploitation in all protected areas including national parks and World Heritage Sites;
Amendment 283 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 s (new)
Paragraph 9 s (new)
9s. Highlights that the digital economy, accounts for an increasing share of global energy use and greenhouse gas emissions (digital CO2 emissions are estimated to represent2-5% of the total emissions) and uses rare metals with low recyclability and limited accessible deposits, while increasing e- waste generation worldwide, poses challenges for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, notably regarding health and the environment; reasserts the need to shift patterns of production and consumption to combat climate change;
Amendment 284 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 t (new)
Paragraph 9 t (new)
9t. Stresses the need for green global trade rules to face the climate change crisis; recalls that the objective of sustainable development should become the overriding principle guiding the work of the WTO, whose rules and operations should be designed accordingly, using the Agenda 2030 and Paris Agreement commitments as a minimum benchmark; calls, to this effect, among others for the revision of WTO fossil fuel subsidies, renewable energy subsidies as well as industrial subsidy rules, which should include waivers or peace clauses on climate-relevant products;
Amendment 285 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 u (new)
Paragraph 9 u (new)
9u. Calls on the EU to take steps to re- launch discussions within the WTO on Process and Production Methods to enable products to be differentiated in terms of their carbon footprint, energy footprint or technological standards; takes the view such initiative should be accompanied by measures facilitating technology transfer both for climate adaptation and mitigation to accommodate the needs of developing countries;
Amendment 286 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 v (new)
Paragraph 9 v (new)
9v. Recalls that WTO-TRIPS flexibilities could contribute significantly to the transfer of climate-friendly technologies; calls on the EU to take the lead in identifying barriers to the dissemination of technologies in developing countries to address climate change, and to strive to promote the adoption of a Declaration on “IPR and Climate Change” comparable to the Doha Declaration of 2001 on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, to foster the legal transfer of climate-friendly technologies in developing countries;
Amendment 287 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 w (new)
Paragraph 9 w (new)
9w. Underlines that the ongoing rise of CO2 emissions related to transport and international trade undermines the effectiveness of the EU climate change strategy; takes the view that the climate costs of free trade agreements make for a strong case for shifting the path of export- led development strategy towards endogenous development based on local consumption and production in developing countries;
Amendment 288 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 x (new)
Paragraph 9 x (new)
9x. Calls on the EU and its Member States not to systematically oppose local content clauses in the climate policies of their partners, as they may be useful in promoting the production and consumption of locally produced goods; recalls that trade rules should encourage the sustainable use of resources, and that export taxes on natural resources should accordingly not be prohibited in Economic Partnership Agreements as a general rule, given that they are WTO-compatible and can serve the objective of environmental protection (e.g. export of woods) and, more broadly, the sustainable use of resources;
Amendment 289 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 y (new)
Paragraph 9 y (new)
9y. Expresses its support for the mechanism of Carbon border tax adjustments as an important tool to guarantee fair competition for companies taking action to reduce their climate impact;
Amendment 290 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 z (new)
Paragraph 9 z (new)
9z. Stresses that the environmental costs of international transport linked to trade should be fully reflected in its price; calls, to this effect, for the review of the Energy Taxation Directive to put an end to the unjust and environmentally damaging tax exemption currently applied to aviation and maritime fuels, and to deliver effective and fair carbon pricing for all sectors not covered by the EU ETS;
Amendment 291 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a a (new)
Paragraph 9 a a (new)
9aa. Recalls the EU’s commitments towards PCD and the “do no harm” principle; believes that TSD chapters in trade agreements should be one of the drivers of the external dimension of the European Green Deal; warns, against this background, that the Energy Charter Treaty is a major impediment to the achievements of climate goals; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the presently ongoing reform of the Energy Charter Treaty will eliminate its potentially adverse effects on the European Green Deal;
Amendment 292 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a b (new)
Paragraph 9 a b (new)
9ab. Notes that while the FTA’s preliminary chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) of the EU-Mercosur agreement makes reference to the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, the chapter does not include legal enforcement mechanisms or the possibility of sanctions; stresses that the EU-Mercosur agreement should include binding and enforceable provisions to address climate change, deforestation, biodiversity loss and the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities;
Amendment 293 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a c (new)
Paragraph 9 a c (new)
9ac. Stresses the need to develop mitigation and adaptation agricultural practises tailored to the needs of developing countries; reminds that most of the efforts in Low Income (LI) and Low Middle Income (LMI) countries shall target adaptation strategies;
Amendment 294 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a d (new)
Paragraph 9 a d (new)
9ad. Recalls that agroecology’s unique capacity to reconcile the economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability has been recognised by landmark reports by the IPCC and IPBES, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, the World Bank and FAO- led global agricultural assessment (IAASTD); takes the view that agroecology and family farming must be placed at the heart of climate mitigation and adaptation strategies in both EU and ACP countries;
Amendment 295 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a e (new)
Paragraph 9 a e (new)
9ae. Recalls that climate-friendly agriculture entails reducing dependence on fossil fuel energy, including the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers; highlights that a recent Greenpeace investigation finds that more than 81,600 tonnes of agricultural chemicals banned in Europe, due to health and environmental concerns, were shipped to developing countries in 2018; urges the EU, against this background, to: i. be consistent with its commitment under the European Green Deal, notably the “Farm to Fork” strategy whereby it aims to gradually ban hazardous pesticides from agriculture and promote alternative practises; ii. respect the “do no harm” principle and to take action to prohibit imports and exports of banned pesticides;
Amendment 296 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a f (new)
Paragraph 9 a f (new)
9af. Urges the EU to be a frontrunner in implementing the Paris Agreement; stresses, to this end, the need to create a level playing field for sustainable agriculture at the global level, which entails abolishing distorting subsidies (e.g. synthetic fertilisers), and to internalise external costs of agricultural production; notes that the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has negative social, environmental and climate impacts on the agricultural systems of developing countries, thus threatening food security and climate resilience; calls for an ambitious reform of the CAP that takes into account the impacts of direct payments on farmers’ competitivity in developing countries;
Amendment 297 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a g (new)
Paragraph 9 a g (new)
9ag. Underlines that the disruptions triggered by COVID-19 have shone a spotlight on the vulnerabilities of the global food system, highlighting the big potential of short supply chains and of local initiatives that increase local food self-sufficiency to reduce vulnerability to disruptions on international markets and to mitigate climate change; stresses that short supply chains are a key component of agroecological systems; emphasises, therefore, the importance of rural transformation and strengthening local and regional value chains in order to create sustainable jobs, while mitigating climate change;
Amendment 298 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a h (new)
Paragraph 9 a h (new)
9ah. Underlines that agriculture adaptation strategies should include the reform of global agricultural trade rules, giving greater policy space for assuring national food sovereignty, while reflecting adequately the needs of smallholder farmers and rural communities; urges, in this regard, the Commission to develop a strategy to gradually shift away from trade-oriented agricultural policies toward local and regional markets;
Amendment 299 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a i (new)
Paragraph 9 a i (new)
9ai. Recalls that the UN Economic Commission for Africa has reported that close to 40% of children under 5 years of age in Africa are undernourished; notes with concern that the accumulation of debt, notably in Africa, has reinforced the trend of replacing a diversity of food crops with a limited number of cash crops for export (in order to obtain the foreign currencies needed to repay public debts), thereby supporting a production model that is not conductive to agroecology and a healthy diverse diet;
Amendment 300 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a j (new)
Paragraph 9 a j (new)
9aj. Notes with concern that most agricultural development funding in sub- Saharan Africa still supports Green Revolution approaches, with the use of public finances to unlock private investment opportunities (e.g. PPPs, blended finance models) mostly targeting export commodity production and agropoles, and is increasingly conductive to food system industrialisation, while smallholders, and particularly women, struggle to access credit, and financial support for agroecological alternatives remains negligible; insists that EU funding for agriculture should be in line with the transformative nature of Agenda 2030, the Paris Climate Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity, and should prioritise, accordingly, investments in agroecology, agroforestry and crop diversification;
Amendment 301 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a k (new)
Paragraph 9 a k (new)
9ak. Recalls that sustainable management of marine ecosystems is crucial for climate mitigation strategies, which entails tackling inter alia overfishing, land-based pollution reaching the seas and oceans, marine pollution, and eutrophication; underlines that the business model of aquaculture, which now accounts for roughly half of all seafood consumed at a global scale, involves similar risks as industrial farming in terms of the ecosystem degradation and the outbreak of diseases; stresses that the catch of fish for production of animal feed contributes to overfishing in developing countries, most notably in West Africa;
Amendment 302 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a l (new)
Paragraph 9 a l (new)
9al. Stresses that the excessive fishing capacity within the framework of international fish trade has strong implications for the climate resilience of coastal communities and marine ecosystems in developing countries; calls on the European Commission to push for the integration of climate adaptation and mitigation goals in Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements and in the governance of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations’ to which the EU is contracting party; calls for the EU to push for ambitious measures and financial resources to tackle the global issue of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and the trade of illegal seafood products;
Amendment 303 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a m (new)
Paragraph 9 a m (new)
9am. Recalls the critical role of small- scale fisheries in food security and nutrition, especially for those living in poverty; recalls that fish stock sustainability is a global matter; urges the EU and partner countries to adopt science-based, Maximum Sustainable Yield-based targets for the management of all stocks; to enforce effective monitoring, control and surveillance; to ensure that their supply chains are fully traceable and free from illegal fishing; and to prioritise an ecosystem-based approach to ocean governance;
Amendment 304 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a n (new)
Paragraph 9 a n (new)
9an. Emphasises that the IPCC Special report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate gives evidence of the benefits of combining scientific with local and indigenous knowledge to implement resilience; calls on the EU and partner countries to rely on indigenous know-how in their climate mitigation strategies and to actively promote participatory management, which has proved to be effective in increasing the resilience of coastal communities;
Amendment 305 #
2020/2042(INI)
9ao. Stresses that the resilience of coastal communities depending on fisheries relies on sustainable management of fish stocks and improved livelihoods;
Amendment 306 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a p (new)
Paragraph 9 a p (new)
9ap. Urges the EU to develop a human rights-based approach towards ocean governance aiming to support local economic development, and to secure food sovereignty and dignity for small-scale fishers and fishing communities; urges the EU, to this end, to provide financial and technical support, notably for SIDS and LDCs, in the development of the entire value chain in small-scale fisheries, including funding schemes for training, organisational capacity-building and infrastructure;
Amendment 307 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a q (new)
Paragraph 9 a q (new)
9aq. Highlights the importance of women in the seafood industry, including pre- and post-harvest activities; calls for the EU to promote and protect women in fisheries activities and fish-related industries, notably by ensuring greater participation of women in decision- making;
Amendment 308 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a r (new)
Paragraph 9 a r (new)
9ar. Urges the EU and its Member States to make the fight against environmental crime an overriding strategic political priority in international judicial cooperation and institutions and COPs, notably by promoting compliance with MEAs through the adoption of criminal sanctions and the exchange of best practises, and by promoting the enlargement of the scope of the International Criminal Court to cover criminal acts amounting to ecocide;
Amendment 309 #
2020/2042(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a s (new)
Paragraph 9 a s (new)
9as. Calls for the EU and its Member States to examine the case for granting nature legal personality, thereby strengthening the legal protection of the environment;
Amendment 1 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas in recent years the European Parliament has adopted a proactive role in pushing for environmental liability regime for environmental and human right harms occurring in third countries; notably with the adoption of its resolution of 25 October 2016 on corporate liability for serious human rights abuses in third countries;
Amendment 2 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas Principle 21 of the Stockholm Declaration and Principle 2 of the Rio Declaration recognise the sovereign right of states to exploit their own natural resources, but equally the responsibility, or obligation, not to cause damage to the environment of other states or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction;
Amendment 3 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas human rights abuses and environmental harms have been observed in many developing countries, including expropriation of land from indigenous people and local communities, modern slavery, ecosystems destruction, water pollution or overexploitation of natural resources;
Amendment 4 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Ad. whereas there is an increasing number of cases where victims of pollution caused by subsidiaries of European companies try to bring environmental liability lawsuits against parent companies before courts in the EU;
Amendment 5 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A e (new)
Recital A e (new)
Ae. whereas human rights abuses and environmental harms are often deeply linked and need accordingly be tackled through an holistic approach;
Amendment 11 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the global rise in environmental criminality is a growing threat to the achievement of the UN’s 2030 Agenda; calls for the recognition of the right to a healthy and sustainable environment at the UN level, which shall subsequently entail the corresponding duty to prosecute those who violate those rights;
Amendment 18 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. UPoints out that, while international environment law has evolved through the adoption of treaties and conventions, criminal law remain insufficient to prevent significant ecological harm; urges the EU to make the fight against environmental crime an overriding strategic political priority in international judicial cooperation and for the EU institutions and COPs, notably by promoting compliance with MEAs through the adoption of criminal sanctions, through exchanges of best practices and by promoting the enlargement of the scope of the International Criminal Court to cover criminal acts that amount to ecocide; calls on the Commission and the Member States to allocate appropriate financial and human resources to preventing, investigating and prosecuting environmental crimes;
Amendment 25 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that the EU environmental liability regime shall respect policy coherence for development (PCD) and the do-no-harm principle;
Amendment 34 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls that ex-post liability rules should complement ex-ante safety regulation and market-based instrument (such as environmental taxation) aiming at the reduction of environmental harm to fulfil the objectives of prevention and compensation;
Amendment 36 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Reiterates the need to strengthen standards in terms of mandatory disclosure of information by undertakings in the remit of the revision of Directive 2014/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on non-financial reporting, notably by including an enforcement and sanctioning mechanism to support the reporting requirements;
Amendment 37 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights the barriers to holding companies liable for environmental harm, such as the regime of limited liability, insolvency, barriers to access to justice, latency and causal uncertainty; in particular, reminds that the liability mechanism often remains ineffective as “limited liability” enables de facto companies not to pay for the harm they have caused through their activities due to insolvency;
Amendment 42 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Amendment 44 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Recalls that the regulatory framework of Multinational Corporations (MNCs) is flawed, as the rules enshrined in Multilateral Environmental Agreements do not bind multinational corporations under international law; recalls that there is no EU legal instrument addressing the possibility of prosecuting European companies abroad for environmental crimes or activities causing environmental damage; therefore, stresses that the current system of reliance on national laws is likely to underestimate the gravity of corporate environmental damage; on this ground, calls on the EU and its Member States to provide for access to justice by allowing victims to take the parent company to Court in the EU, notably in a context where many host state legal systems are inadequate;
Amendment 47 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. NotesRecalls that under the current ELD, there is no room for imposing parent company liability; points out, however, that companies may abuse their limited liability to invest in hazardous industries through separate legal entities in order to externalise environmental costs; recalls the governance gap in global value chains; calls for the scope of strict liability to be extended to parent companies to avoid the risk of moral hazard, in line with/and in complement to the principle that EU undertakings have a duty of care and due diligence to prevent environmental harm caused by its subsidiaries active outside of the EU;
Amendment 53 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. CRecalls that insolvency seriously undermines the deterrent effect of the ELD to prevent environmental harm; reminds that so far, there is no formal duty to provide financial guarantees under the ELD; against this background, calls for the development of mandatory solvency guarantees to cover the ELD liabilities of companies in the event of insolvency and to search for an optimal mix between future EU legislation on mandatory environmental due diligence, and administrative, civil and criminal enforcement regimes aiming to address environmental harm;
Amendment 58 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recalls that a major problem with violations of environmental regulations is that the probability of detection is low; against this background, calls for the introduction of punitive damage for environmental liability under the ELD; believes that corporate liability should be combined with individual liability to fight corporate crime effectively;
Amendment 59 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Recalls that a system of corporate liability for human rights abuses is currently being negotiated in the UN, within the UNHRC’s open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises concerning human rights (OEIGWG); but deplores that the Commission has no mandate from the Council to conduct negotiations on behalf of the EU concerning its participation in the OEIGWG; urges once more the EU and its Member States to engage actively and constructively in the process, with the view to adopt a binding and enforceable UN Treaty on business and human rights;
Amendment 60 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 68 #
2020/2027(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Underlines that international law has evolved to embrace new concepts such as “the Common heritage of humanity”, “Sustainable Development”, “Future Generations”; but stresses that there is no permanent international mechanism to monitor and address environmental damage/destruction that significantly and durably alter the global commons or ecosystem services; to this end, calls on the EU and its Member States to support a paradigm shift to include ecocide and the right of future generations in international environmental law;.
Amendment 61 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) Achieving climate neutrality should require a contribution from all economic sectors. The polluter pays principle and the "do no harm principle" should be a key factors in that regard. In light of the importance of energy production and consumption on greenhouse gas emissions, the transition to a sustainable, affordable, decentralised, and secure energy system relying on a well-functioning internal energy market is essential. The digital transformation, technological innovation, and research and development are also important drivers for achieving the climate- neutrality objective.
Amendment 86 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) The Union should aim to achieve a balance between anthropogenic economy- wide emissions and removals, through predominantly natural sinks and technological solutions, provided compliance with the climate and environmental impact assessment, of greenhouse gases domestically within the Union by 20540. The Union-wide 20540 climate-neutrality objective should be pursued by all Member States collectively, and the Member States, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission should take the necessary measures to enable its achievement, including climate proofing of all policies. Measures at Union level will constitute an important part of the measures needed to achieve the objective.
Amendment 139 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) As citizens and communities have a powerful role to play in driving the transformation towards climate neutrality forward, strong public and social engagement on climate action should be facilitated. The Commission should therefore engage with all parts of society to enable and empower them to take action towards a climate-neutral and climate- resilient society, including through launching a European Climate Pact. with the objective to engage Union citizens and stakeholders in the elaboration of Union- level climate policies through a process of deliberative democracy. The Climate Pact shall also serve as a vehicle for sharing best practice, fostering social innovation and supporting financially local or community initiatives with the potential to have broader impact if scaled up and/or replicated elsewhere.
Amendment 165 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
1. Union-wide emissions and removals of greenhouse gases regulated in Union law shall be balanced at the latest by 2050, thus reducing emissions to net zero by that date. By June 2021 each member state shall set a binding national objective on reaching zero net emissions within its territory consistent with the date for collective achievement of the Union objective set out in paragraph 1. The Commission shall assess by September 2023 whether these national objectives are sufficient and where they are not shall take the necessary measures in accordance with the treaties.
Amendment 173 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2
2. The relevant Union institutions and the Member States shall take the necessary measures at Union and national level respectively, including climate proofing of all policies, to enable the collective achievement of the climate-neutrality objective set out in paragraph 1, taking into account the importance of promoting fairness and solidarity among Member States as well as economic, social and territorial cohesion and the link between climate and biodiversity to restore carbon rich ecosystems.
Amendment 192 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Article 2 – paragraph 3
3. By September 2020 at the latest, the Commission shall review the Union’s 2030 target for climate referred to in Article 2(11) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 in light of the climate-neutrality objective set out in Article 2(1), and explore options for a new 2030 target of 50 to 55% emission reductions compared to 1990. Where the Commission considers that it is necessary to amend that target, it shall make proposals to the European Parliament and to the Council as appropriate.
Amendment 274 #
2020/0036(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall develop and implement adaptation strategies and plans that include comprehensive risk management frameworks, based on robust climate and vulnerability baselines and progress assessments. By 30 June 2021, Member States shall prepare national strategies to phase out support for fossil fuels, including indirect subsidies and capacity mechanisms, by 2025 at the latest. Member States should set plans to restore and enhance natural carbon sinks such as forests, moors and seas by end of 2023 and complete the delivery by 2030. The relevant Union institutions and Member States shall ensure a legal instrument to include a binding target (in hectares) for the Member States to restore and protect 30% of their territories and of their sea areas, with 10% strictly protected.
Amendment 1 #
2020/0002M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union on Policy Coherence for Development,
Amendment 2 #
2020/0002M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
- having regard to the Seychelles’ Blue Economy Strategic Policy Framework and Roadmap: Charting the Future (2018-2030),
Amendment 3 #
2020/0002M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
- having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Development,
Amendment 24 #
2020/0002M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the fishing fleet of the Seychelles, including its artisanal component, is targeting tuna species, meaning that the international fleet present in the Seychelles waters in in direct competition with the local fleet;
Amendment 33 #
2020/0002M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas climate change is expected to have a negative impact on the different populations of tuna in the Indian Ocean;
Amendment 36 #
2020/0002M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas the Seychelles 2018-2030 Blue Economy Strategic Policy Framework highlights the Seychelles priorities on food security, professional training, marine protected areas and strengthening regional partnerships;
Amendment 38 #
2020/0002M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
Hb. whereas, according to the 2014 FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular No. 1093 on “The value of African Fisheries”, the added value of fisheries agreements for local economies is a lot smaller than the added value of marines catches if they were done by vessels from these African countries;
Amendment 50 #
2020/0002M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the fact that Seychelles and the EU intend to strengthen their cooperation in the IOTC and encourages the Commission to put forward joint proposals on strengthening monitoring and controls, as well as on the impact of climate change on tuna populations in the Indian Ocean;
Amendment 89 #
2020/0002M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses that sectoral support should be targeted more precisely so as to finance only those measures that actually help the local fishing sector to develop and contribute to efficient fisheries management, with a special attention to crew safety training and, the improvement of Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS), trainings for women and for young people; calls for the publication of the detailed list of projects being funded by the sectoral support provided under this SFPA;
Amendment 94 #
2020/0002M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the Commission to ensure the necessary oversight of the contribution made by EU ship-owners to the Fund created by the Seychelles authorities, for the purpose of environmental management and observation of marine ecosystems in their waters, including in the Joint Committee;
Amendment 7 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
— having regard to Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive),
Amendment 8 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 b (new)
Citation 10 b (new)
— having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 of 21 December 2006 concerning management measures for the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea,
Amendment 9 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11
Citation 11
Amendment 10 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14
Citation 14
— having regard to GoalSustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, ‘Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development’, of the resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2015,
Amendment 11 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15
Citation 15
— having regard to the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollutioarine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention) and the related European Union protocols and decisions,
Amendment 12 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
— having regard to the Sofia Ministerial Declaration signed on 7th June 2018,
Amendment 14 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19
Citation 19
— having regard to the EU Bbiodiversity Sstrategy tofor 20230, and in particular to Target 4, ‘Make fishing more sustainable and seas healthier’, in which the EU pledges, among other things, to eliminate adverse impacts on fish stocks, species, habitats and ecosystems, ‘including through providing financial incentives through the future financial instruments for fisheries and mset out in the Commission communication of 20 May 2020 entitled ‘EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 – Bringing nature back into our lives’ (COM(2020)0380), in paritime policy for marine protected areas (including Natura 2000 areas and those established by international or regional agreements)’,cular, to its point 2.2.6 “Restoring the good environmental status of marine ecosystems” (...);
Amendment 16 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)
Citation 20 a (new)
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 21 January 2021 on 'More fish in the seas? Measures to promote stock recovery above the maximum sustainable yield (MSY), including fish recovery areas and marine protected areas' (2019/2162(INI)),
Amendment 17 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21
Citation 21
Amendment 18 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 a (new)
Citation 21 a (new)
Amendment 19 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 b (new)
Citation 21 b (new)
— having regard to the 2019 special report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate,
Amendment 20 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 c (new)
Citation 21 c (new)
— having regard to The First Mediterranean Assessment Report (MAR1) prepared by the independent network of Mediterranean Experts on Climate and environmental Change (MedECC),
Amendment 21 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22
Citation 22
— having regard to the FAO - GFCM report entitled ‘The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries 20202 ’, _________________ 2FAO. 2020. The State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries 2020. General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean. Rome.
Amendment 22 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22 a (new)
Citation 22 a (new)
— having regard to the 2020 report of the Commission’s Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) on monitoring the performance of the common fisheries policy (STECF- Adhoc-20-01),
Amendment 23 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 a (new)
Citation 23 a (new)
— having regard to the European Court of Auditors’ Special Report 26/2020 titled 'Marine environment: EU protection is wide but not deep',
Amendment 24 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 b (new)
Citation 23 b (new)
— having regard to the 2016 retrospective evaluation study of the Mediterranean Sea Regulation of the European Commission,
Amendment 25 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 c (new)
Citation 23 c (new)
— having regard to the CNRS 2020 Study titled 'Underprotected Marine Protected Areas in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot' by Claudet et al.,
Amendment 26 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 d (new)
Citation 23 d (new)
— having regard to the Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions titled 'Renewed partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood - A new Agenda for the Mediterranean' {SWD(2021) 23 final},
Amendment 27 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 e (new)
Citation 23 e (new)
— having regard to the European Environmental Agency report No 17/2019 titled 'Marine messages II',
Amendment 28 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 f (new)
Citation 23 f (new)
— having regard to the report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (Directive 2008/56/EC) COM/2020/259 final,
Amendment 31 #
2019/2178(INI)
A. whereas the Mediterranean Sea is a common good to be protected, and whereas its current environmental status is worrying, partmainly as a result of overfishing, and is having negative repercussions for the industry and the marine environment as a whole;
Amendment 34 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas fish stocks do not have unlimited reproductive capacity, their depletion in the region is linked to overcapacity in the fishing fleet, and whereas demand for and consumption of fish is constantly increasing;
Amendment 38 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas, more than 80 % of stocks that are scientifically assessed in the Mediterranean and Black Seas are overexploited, meaning exploited above maximum sustainable yield (MSY) levels, according to the STECF, whereas according to the 201820 GFCM report on the state of Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries, in the Mediterranean the proportion of overfished stocks decreased from 88% in 2014 to 785% in 2016; 8;
Amendment 42 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas 19 out of 22 demersal fish stocks remain overfished in the EU Member States of the Mediterranean Sea;
Amendment 46 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas stocks depletion and marine biodiversity erosion is threatening food security of coastal communities, jobs and incomes throughout the artisanal fisheries value chain;
Amendment 51 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the majority of the Mediterranean fishing fleet consists of small-scale artisanal fishing vessels, and whereas some fleets have shrunk significantly decreased in size which represent 83% of the total number of vessels in the region; whereas the EU fleet in the Mediterranean has increased since 2008;
Amendment 57 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas, in addition to fishing, the factors exerting pressure on Mediterranean fish stocks include polluand marine biodiversity include pollution and plastic pollution, oil and gas exploitation, habitat loss, maritime traffic, competition for space and climate change;
Amendment 62 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas the 2030 EU biodiversity strategy calls for a legally binding objective to protect at least 30 % of the EU’s sea area, and for 10 % of the EU’s sea area to be strictly protected;
Amendment 75 #
2019/2178(INI)
J a. whereas the Mediterranean Sea is warming up to 20 percent faster than the rest of the world, whereas climate change could lead to the local extinction of up to 50% of commercial fish and marine invertebrates by 2050 according to MedECC;
Amendment 77 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)
Recital J b (new)
J b. whereas according to CNRS only 0.23% of the Mediterranean Basin benefit from an effective level of protection;
Amendment 78 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Commission, after consulting the Regional Advisory Council for the Mediterranean (MED-AC), to identifytackle the obstacles to the process of rebuilding fish stocks with a view to revisapplying and fully implementing the current EU legislation and GFCM recommendations and taking practical steps to rebuild fish stocks in the Mediterranean Sea;
Amendment 85 #
2019/2178(INI)
1 a. Recalls the objective of the CFP to achieve the maximum sustainable yield exploitation rate at the latest by 2020 for all stocks;
Amendment 87 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Recalls the objective of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status in the marine environment by the year 2020 at the latest;
Amendment 88 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Calls on EU Member States to fully implement the Multiannual Plan for the fisheries exploiting demersal stocks in the western Mediterranean Sea and reduce the maximum allowable fishing effort by the full 30% during the foreseen period;
Amendment 89 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1 d. Expresses its concern over the weak implementation and infringements by Member States to the Council Regulation (EC) No 1967/2006 of 21 December 2006 concerning management measures for the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea, especially its articles 4, 6 and 7; calls on the European Commission to publish a new evaluation of the regulation and, where needed, to launch infringement procedures;
Amendment 90 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Paragraph 1 e (new)
1 e. Expresses its concern over recent recorded bottom fishing activities in protected habitats under the Habitats Directive such as in posidonia oceanica meadows, maërl seabeds, and coralligenous habitats; stresses the lack of available scientific data on these habitats;
Amendment 91 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 f (new)
Paragraph 1 f (new)
1 f. Calls on the Commission to continue to support plans to improve selectivity in the Mediterranean Region, notably considering the regulatory difference in terms of minimum mesh size with the Atlantic Ocean, and to take into account the results of studies showing the detrimental impacts of fishing techniques such as bottom-contacting gear or fish aggregating devices (FADs) by strongly limiting their use;
Amendment 92 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 g (new)
Paragraph 1 g (new)
1 g. Calls on the EU Commission to draw on the successful example of bluefin tuna by studying the introduction of TACs in the long term for some species including hake and to come forward with a proposal during the evaluation of the multiannual plan in 2024;
Amendment 93 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 h (new)
Paragraph 1 h (new)
1 h. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal, in its 2030 biodiversity strategy, to have at least 30 % of sea area in the EU protected, including through fish stock recovery areas as provided for under the CFP, and areas where the most destructive fishing techniques and economic activities are restricted;
Amendment 94 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 i (new)
Paragraph 1 i (new)
1 i. recalls that the success of MPAs and other protected areas lies in them being embraced by fishers, coastal communities and other stakeholders; calls on the Commission to consider the need to facilitate the active participation of the fisheries sector, including its artisanal component, the local communities and all relevant stakeholders in the design, management and monitoring of respective MPAs;
Amendment 95 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 j (new)
Paragraph 1 j (new)
1 j. Calls on the EU and its Member States to act to end “paper parks” in the Mediterranean Sea and to establish MPAs as part of a coherent network of effectively managed and connected areas, including offshore and deep-sea areas; recalls the requirement to cease fishing with bottom-contacting gear below 400 m in areas where vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) are known to exist or are likely to occur;
Amendment 96 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 k (new)
Paragraph 1 k (new)
1 k. Invites the EU and its Member States to expand the network of fish stock recovery areas under the CFP and under the GFCM, especially where there is clear evidence of heavy concentrations of fish below minimum conservation reference size or of spawning grounds; emphasises the need to include the evaluation of the designation and success of such areas in the upcoming report on the functioning of the CFP; calls on the GFCM to draw on the successful example of the ‘Jabuka/Pomo Pit’ fish stock recovery area;
Amendment 97 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 l (new)
Paragraph 1 l (new)
1 l. Regrets the lack of scientific data on recreational fisheries; calls on the EU Member States and the GFCM to fully assess the impacts and contribution of recreational fisheries on the management of fisheries resources and to include them in their management plans;
Amendment 98 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 m (new)
Paragraph 1 m (new)
1 m. Stresses the importance of monitoring and control and effective regional cooperation on the management of marine biological resources;
Amendment 99 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 n (new)
Paragraph 1 n (new)
1 n. Calls on the GFCM to propose an ambitious and holistic new common strategy for fisheries and aquaculture in the Mediterranean and Black Sea for 2021-2025, which must include effective and sustainable management measures at regional and national level, following the MSY approach; calls on the GFCM to tackle issues such as global warming, IUU fishing and recreational fishing, and to establish new fish stock recovery areas and fisheries closures;
Amendment 100 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 o (new)
Paragraph 1 o (new)
1 o. Calls on the European Commission to promote the objectives of the European Green Deal at the GFCM level and to support sustainable ocean governance and fish stocks management through adequate funding;
Amendment 102 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to ensure thatstrengthen every legislative proposal to restrictaimed at managing fishing activities takes account of itsby taking into account environmental and socioeconomic impacts and isby supported by scientific data are kept up to date and shared with fishers’ associationing each decision with the best available scientific advise, and to share and and discuss the proposals with all relevant stakeholders such as through the Advisory Councils;
Amendment 112 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the need to legislate on the basis of and to strengthen the implementation of the eco-system-based approach, including by increasingly applying multi-species approaches, which can be used to identify and analyse all interactions that have an impact on fish stocks in order to minimise the negative impacts of fishing activities and other factors such as global warming on marine ecosystems, fish populations and society and to ensure ocean resilience to global warming;
Amendment 131 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission to urgently carry out an analysis of socioeconomic data for the Mediterranean fisheries sector as soon as possible in order to assess the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the industry; environmental and socio-economic analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis to support decisions to the new context; calls on the Commission to focus that analysis on the entire Mediterranean, including both EU and non-EU riparian countries, to assess and avoid potential disputes among fleets targeting the same marine biological resources, located in sensitive areas of international waters;
Amendment 136 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Urges EU Member States to make correct use of EMFAF resources to compensate small-scale fisheries having to temporarily suspend their activity due to conservation measures, in line with the rules and provisions of the EMFAF;
Amendment 138 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 a (new)
Subheading 1 a (new)
Tackling the impacts of other economic activities and pressures to fish stocks recovery
Amendment 139 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Welcomes the work carried out at the GFCM level since 2017 to develop and adopt strategies to cope with the potential effects of climate change on fisheries;
Amendment 140 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Highlights that ending overfishing, as required by the Common Fishery Policy, would also help mitigating climate change and help EU fleets to better adapt to its growing effects;
Amendment 141 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6 d. Calls on the EU Member States to adopt rules to put a ban on anchoring and mooring of large private vessels within 300 m of the coastline and in protected habitats, on this 300 m limit and in roadsteads, given their strong impacts on fragile ecosystems such as posidonia oceanica meadows;
Amendment 142 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 e (new)
Paragraph 6 e (new)
6 e. Calls on the European Commission to publish a study on the impact of the diverse human activities and sources of pollution, both terrestrial and marine, on fish stocks and on marine ecosystems;
Amendment 143 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 f (new)
Paragraph 6 f (new)
6 f. Expresses its concern regarding the fact that many commercial and non- commercial fish stocks are not assessed in the region;
Amendment 144 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 g (new)
Paragraph 6 g (new)
6 g. Highlights the lack of resources to conduct scientific research and stocks assessment in the Mediterranean Sea, especially human resources;
Amendment 145 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 h (new)
Paragraph 6 h (new)
6 h. Calls on the EU Member States to finance the training of new scientific experts;
Amendment 146 #
Amendment 147 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 i (new)
Paragraph 6 i (new)
6 i. Stresses the need to promote small- scale coastal fisheries and low-impact fishing techniques in the Mediterranean, including making it mandatory for Member States to allocate to these fisheries a bigger share of the fishing opportunities for the two fisheries where TACs have been introduced, in line with Article 17 of Regulation EU 1380/2013;
Amendment 149 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to carry out an economic analysis of the social and employment effects of the decline in fishery resources in the Mediterranean, with a view to identifying appropriate stock recovery measures, support measures to guarantee the sustainability of the industry and support the transition to low- impact fishing techniques;
Amendment 154 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls foron local opauthorities to establish co-managed local multi-annual management plans in ordera tors to be more closely involved in the collection of data on selective fishing involve all relevant fisheries stakeholders including fishers, NGOs and scientists in the decision-making process at local level, and for local operators and fisheries stakeholders to be closely involved in the collection of data on catches and landings, the effectiveness of selectivity measures, ion close cooperation with the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (by-caught species, and in testing and implementing more selective and sustainable fishing practices in close cooperation and under the supervision of the GFCM and the STECF);
Amendment 161 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission to improve andco-management and to step up cooperation and dialogue with the aAdvisory cCouncils, taking due account of their views and acknowledging the importance of fishers for coastal communities and the need to involve fishers, relevant professional organisations and civil society organisations in decision- making processes;
Amendment 165 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Welcomes the adoption of the 2018 Plan of Action to ensure a sustainable future for small-scale fisheries and the marine environment in the region as well as the launch of the 'Friends of Small- Scale Fisheries' platform;
Amendment 176 #
2019/2178(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission, through its agenci and Member States, to step up its efforts to monitor EU territorial waters in order to make the conditions in which EU fishers work safer and, where necessary, to provide these agencies with adequate funding;
Amendment 3 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1241/2019 on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures,
Amendment 5 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
- having regard to Directive 2014/89/EU of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning (Maritime Spatial Planning Directive),
Amendment 6 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)
Citation 4 b (new)
- having regard to the Council Directive of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources (91/676/EEC), with regard to fertilizer run-off,
Amendment 7 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 c (new)
Citation 4 c (new)
- having regard to the Regulation (EC) 1049/2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents and Regulation (EC) 1367/2006 on the application of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters to Community institutions and bodies,
Amendment 10 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to the Farm to Fork Strategy (COM(2020) 381 final),
Amendment 12 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
- having regard to its Resolution (2017/2055(INI)) on international ocean governance: an agenda for the future of our oceans in the context of the 2030 SDGs,
Amendment 13 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 c (new)
Citation 5 c (new)
- having regard to the 2002 Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and to the report “The Future we Want” of the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20),
Amendment 15 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 d (new)
Citation 5 d (new)
- having regard to target 11 of the Aichi Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020,
Amendment 17 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
- having regard to the 2019 IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate,
Amendment 18 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
- having regard to the Sustainable Development Goal 14 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, on the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources,
Amendment 20 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
- having regard to the 2020 STECF report on monitoring the performance of the CFP,
Amendment 21 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
Citation 9 a (new)
- having regard to the 2017 Special report of the European Court of Auditors “More efforts needed to implement the Natura 2000 network to its full potential” (No 1/2017),
Amendment 23 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 b (new)
Citation 9 b (new)
- having regard to the Ombudsman’s case 640/2019/FP,
Amendment 24 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 c (new)
Citation 9 c (new)
- having regard to the EEA report No 3/2015 “Marine protected areas in Europe’s seas: An overview and perspective for the future”,
Amendment 26 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
- having regard to the European Commission Report assessing Member States’ programmes of measures under the MSFD (COM/2018/562),
Amendment 43 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas overcapacity is one of the key drivers of overfishing in Europe and worldwide, and efforts to reduce capacity have been broadly offset by technological progress in fishing efficiency;
Amendment 53 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas the CFP is not fully implemented yet and some of its measures such as the establishment of Fish Stock Recovery Areas haven’t been used;
Amendment 54 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
E b. whereas globally 66% of the marine environment has been altered by human pressure according to IPBES and 34,2% of fish stocks are fished at biologically unsustainable levels according to FAO;
Amendment 61 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
H a. whereas healthy habitats, including sandbanks, seagrass meadows and coral reefs, are essential to the restoration of marine ecosystem functioning and to the replenishment of fish stocks and to providing carbon sinks to mitigate climate change;
Amendment 62 #
2019/2162(INI)
H b. whereas well-managed Marine Protected Areas are essential to enhance biodiversity and to preserve natural habitats of other species such as birds.
Amendment 64 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas there is a strong scientific consensus that MPAs are beneficial to fisheries because of their spillover effect and their positive effects on recruitment, for example through the protection of reproduction sites, protection of juveniles and big mother fishes with high reproductive capacities;
Amendment 65 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
Amendment 67 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
I a. whereas pollution originating from the land, especially in partially enclosed sea basins, and from other marine activities also have an impact on fish stock recovery;
Amendment 71 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
I b. whereas the Ombudsman’s recommendation to proactively make public documents related to the adoption of the TAC regulations was so far not followed by the Council of the EU;
Amendment 86 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Urges the Commission to strengthen the implementation of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management in order to minimise the negative impacts on marine ecosystems, fish stocks and societyf fishing activities and other factors such as climate change on marine ecosystems, fish stocks and society, including by increasingly applying multi- species approaches;
Amendment 101 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that the EU should go beyond current fisheries management practices and promote a transition towards low-impact fisheries in order, not only to preserve fish stocks at current levels but, more importantly, to rebuild fish stocks and restore marine ecosystems;
Amendment 127 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 130 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Considers that this approach should also be applied to the external dimension of the CFP.;
Amendment 131 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Urges the Commission to tackle the problem of overcapacity, including by requesting the STECF to implement a methodology that takes into account the ‘technological creep’ (i.e. gradual increase in fishing power) when assessing trends in fishing fleet capacity;
Amendment 132 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8 c. Demands that the Council proactively makes public all documents related to the adoption of TAC Regulations in line with the Ombudsman’s recommendation and comply with Regulation (EC) 1049/2001 and Regulation (EC) 1367/2006;
Amendment 137 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Highlights that successful MPAs offer large socio-economic benefits, especially for coastal communities, the fisheries and tourism sector;
Amendment 158 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 164 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls for MPAs to be established as part of a coherent network of connected areas, including offshore and deep-sea areas, and with a view to ensure balanced geographic distribution and ecological representativity; recalls the requirement to cease fishing with bottom-contacting gear below 400 m in areas where vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) are known to exist or are likely to occur;
Amendment 172 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Urges Member States to set stronger and more effective management plans for the existing MPAs and to put in place stronger control measures to ensure that MPAs are respected, including by involving the fisheries sector, expanding the scope of the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) such as by transmitting vessel position data close to real-time and strengthening of on-the-spot controls;
Amendment 178 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Calls on the Commission to start infringement procedures against Member States that are not respecting their obligations regarding the effectiveness of the protection of MPAs;
Amendment 179 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Calls on the Commission to take action when Member States fail to agree, within one year of ongoing negotiations (informal and formal), on the adoption of joint recommendations for fisheries management measures in offshore MPAs in line with Article 11 of the CFP, including by proposing its own measures or by taking emergency measures to protect the site as long as an agreement has not been reached;
Amendment 180 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15 c. Stresses that greater scrutiny over fisheries management measures within Natura 2000 sites, submitted by EU Member States, is necessary in order to ensure that conservation objectives are achieved in line with Article 11 of the Common Fisheries Policy,
Amendment 181 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15 d. Emphasises that the designation of areas and development of management measures should be based on the best available scientific advice;
Amendment 194 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Expresses serious concern that 59% of northern Europe's Marine Protected Areas are commercially trawled1a, with average trawling intensity 38% higher than in non-protected areas, suggesting that MPAs do not reduce fishing pressure under current management _________________ 1a"Elevated trawling inside protected areas undermines conservation outcomes in a global fishing hot spot" By Manuel Dureuil, Kristina Boerder, Kirsti A. Burnett, Rainer Froese, Boris Worm, Published in Science 21 Dec 2018 : 1403- 1407
Amendment 196 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Invites the Member States to expand the network of fish stock recovery areas under the CFP, emphasises the need to include the evaluation of designation and success of such areas in the upcoming report on the functioning of the CFP;
Amendment 200 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Calls on the European Commission and Member States to take a proactive role in the creation of new effectively-managed MPAs in the high seas, both in the framework of RFMOs and the upcoming international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction;
Amendment 213 #
2019/2162(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Calls on the European Commission to publish a study on the impact of those diverse sources of pollution on the rebuilding fish stocks and on marine ecosystems;
Amendment 13 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15
Citation 15
— having regard to the 201920 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet (STECF 1920-06)3a , _________________ 3aScientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) –- The 201920 Annual Economic Report on the EU Fishing Fleet (STECF-19 20-06)., EUR 28359 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2019, JRC1129420, ISBN 978-92-79-79390-56-27164-2, doi:10.2760/56158) 00525, JRC123089
Amendment 23 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the common fisheries policy (CFP) aims toshall ensure that fishing and aquaculture arectivities are environmentally sustainable in the long -term and are managed in a way that this sustainability is based on three pillars – environmental, social and economicconsistent with the objectives of achieving economic, social and employment benefits;
Amendment 33 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas fishing, including aquaculture, globally provides food to billions of people, and whereas this sector is an important source of employment and income for the livelihoods of 10-12% of the world’s population, according to the FAO; whereas, in addition, an estimated 140 million further jobs are related to the rest of the fisheries value chain, in particular in the processing and sale of fisheries products;
Amendment 68 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the results of the economic performance of the EU fleet generally indicate improvements in income and an annual increase in profits and average earnings for fishers since 2013 for both the small-scale and large-scale fleet, but when analysed in detail by Member State, sea basin and fishing fleet, these trends are not universal and, in particular, are not reflected in trends among the EU’s small-scale coastal fleet;
Amendment 76 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
Ma. whereas young people who want to start their business as fishers face important barriers, especially related to the system of allocation of fishing possibilities and the impact it has on the price of fishing vessels;
Amendment 112 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Recalls the right for fishers to unionise and use collective bargaining as a way to improve their working conditions;
Amendment 127 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Stresses the need to take into account the arduousness of the work of fishers when designing welfare mechanisms, for example by guaranteeing the right to retire earlier than the average worker without being penalised for it;
Amendment 132 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Insists on the need to ensureWelcomes that the new European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) will makes a significant contribution to improving the working, living and safety conditions on EU vessels, finding ways to improve those conditions without increasing fishing capacity, with particular attention paid to small-scale coastal fishing vessels;
Amendment 138 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Suggests that the Commission look, in this context, into recastexpanding EMSA’s mission, giving it the additional capacity to carry out this monitoring and to regularly present information on it;
Amendment 164 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Stresses the need to guarantee that fishers have access to training and certification, particularly for seasonal and part-time employment;
Amendment 172 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Points out that, despite the dangers of fishing activity, there is no reason to exclude or hamper access for women to this profession, as demonstrated by the increasing number of female crew members and skippers on working fishing vessels; observes that there are fortunately a number of particularly active associations representing women employed in the fisheries sector, especially in the regional advisory councils;
Amendment 202 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Stresses the significant contribution of fishermen to the advancement of scientific knowledge, through both their direct involvement in the collection of fishing data and the provision of additional information regarding the state of the marine environment, species and habitats and the conservation thereof for scientific purposes;
Amendment 219 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)
Paragraph 40 a (new)
40a. Notes that the protection of the environment is a growing concern for young people in Europe; stresses the importance of the sustainable management of fisheries to attract young fishers; calls for the promotion of low- impact fishing not only as a way to reduce the impact of fisheries on the marine environment but also to attract new generations of fishers;
Amendment 221 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 b (new)
Paragraph 40 b (new)
40b. Stresses the importance of the inclusion of fishers in collaborative and community-based Maritime Spatial Planning, for the sustainable development and protection of the marine environment;
Amendment 227 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Stresses the importance of ocean literacy, which must inot exclude digital literacy and digitisation of fishing activity; despite improved skills among older users, software applications are easier and more intuitive for younger generations when it comes to collecting and registering data under the new Fisheries Control Regulation, which is currently under review, or utilising new applications and equipment to improve the safety, working conditions and wellbeing of fishermen at sea;
Amendment 234 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)
Paragraph 42 a (new)
42a. Stresses that the sustainable management of fish stocks and the setting of fishing quotas in line with the objective of restoring and maintaining populations of fish stocks above biomass levels capable of producing maximum sustainable yield is key to creating an economic environment in which young people are confident enough to make the required investments to become fishers;
Amendment 236 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 b (new)
Paragraph 42 b (new)
42b. Calls on Member States to undertake actions to remove obstacles to starting a career in the fishing sector, such as the high initial cost of starting a business, income instability and methods for allocating fishing opportunities;
Amendment 237 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 c (new)
Paragraph 42 c (new)
42c. Calls on Members States, in line with Article 17 of Regulation EU 1380/2013 (the CFP basic regulation), to also use criteria related to age when allocating the fishing opportunities available to them;
Amendment 240 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Welcomes the proposals under discussion in connection with theat the new 2021- 2027 EMFAF towill provide assistance and support for young fishermen engaged in the first purchase of a vessel or fishing enterprise; stresses the need to attract young people to not only sea fishing activities, but also fishing enterprise management, thereby ensuring generational renewal across the entire sector;
Amendment 253 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 a (new)
Paragraph 45 a (new)
45a. Notes that small-scale coastal fisheries are likely to enable a better work-life balance for fishers, therefore stresses the importance to promote regulatory framework that protect small- scale fisheries;
Amendment 254 #
2019/2161(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 b (new)
Paragraph 45 b (new)
45b. Calls for the deployment of new social cohesion programs; welcomes basic income pilot projects in EU’s coastal areas with the lowest GDP per capita, including in the outermost regions;
Amendment 34 #
2019/0246(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
(2a) Those high nutrient inputs result inter alia from insufficiently implemented directives such as Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources and Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy.
Amendment 36 #
2019/0246(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The declining condition of Eastern Baltic cod (Gadus morhua) has been linked to that situation. According to ICES, the stock suffers from an unsustainably low biomass due to a combination of declining recruitment, environmental factors, low availability of prey species, and changes in the ecosystem leading to a high natural mortality (about three times the fishing mortality), and an excessive fishing mortality given the status of the stock. The biomass of commercial sized cod is presently at the lowest level observed since the 1950s. Moreover, ICES estimates that the spawning stock biomass will remain below the sustainability reference point in the medium-term (2024) even with no fishing at all. In its stock advice for 2020 ICES therefore advises zero catches.
Amendment 37 #
2019/0246(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) Fisheries management in the Baltic Sea also suffers from an imbalance between active fleet segments and available fishing opportunities as set out in the Commission Communication of 7 June 2019 on the State of Play of the Common Fisheries Policy and Consultation on the Fishing Opportunities for 2020.
Amendment 41 #
2019/0246(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The fishing fleets so far dependent on Eastern Baltic cod do not have the possibility to fish for other stocks as an alternative. It is estimated that offsetting the economic losses caused by the Eastern Baltic cod closure would require additional catches of around 20,000 tonnes in alternative species. However, the Council also agreed severe reductions for other stocks, and notably a reduction of 65% for Western Baltic herring, 60% for Western Baltic cod, 32% for plaice, 27% for herring in the Gulf of Bothnia and 22% for sprat, while not completely following the scientific recommendations.
Amendment 44 #
2019/0246(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Given the serious condition of the Eastern Baltic cod stock additional measures to control the fisheries catching Eastern Baltic cod should be introduced. The threshold quantity as of which a fishing vessel is required to land its catch in a specific place should be reduced to 2500kg. Moreover, masters of fishing vessels having quotas for cod and fishing in areas where Eastern Baltic cod is present are to ensure that their fishing activity can be monitored at any time by the national competent authorities.
Amendment 46 #
2019/0246(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) ICES issued an analytical assessment of Eastern Baltic cod but was not in a position to provide fishing mortality ranges and various reference points because of a lack of required data. Therefore, data collection is to be improved by ensuring that the observer coverage at sea of vessels catching Eastern Baltic cod is at least 230%.
Amendment 50 #
2019/0246(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Given the fragile ecosystem in the Baltic Sea, support for the permanent cessation of fishing activities should not be granted for the retrofitting of fishing vessels for any other activitiesy than commercial fishing, such as recreational fishing, whicht could have a detrimental impact on the ecosystem. Therefore, such support should only be granted for the scrapping of fishing vessels.
Amendment 55 #
2019/0246(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) 2016/1139
Article 14 – point a
Article 14 – point a
(a) 2500 kilograms of cod;.
Amendment 56 #
2019/0246(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Regulation (EU) 2016/1139
Article 14b – paragraph 1
Article 14b – paragraph 1
Union vessels with an allocation of fishing opportunities for cod in ICES subdivisions 22-24 and 24-32 shall be subject to at least 230 % observer coverage at sea..
Amendment 1 #
2019/0226M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
- having regard to the protocols on the implementation of the Agreements on a Sustainable Fisheries Partnership between the European Union and Morocoo, Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau,
Amendment 2 #
2019/0226M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recommends the establishment of regional management rules on the stock of small pelagics that is shared by Senegal and neighbouring countries;
Amendment 2 #
2019/0226M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 b (new)
Citation 6 b (new)
- having regard to Article 31.4 of the Common Fisheries Policy EU 1380/2013,
Amendment 3 #
2019/0226M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 c (new)
Citation 6 c (new)
- having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 12 April 2016 on common rules in respect of application of the external dimension of the CFP, including fisheries agreements (2015/2091(INI)),
Amendment 5 #
2019/0226M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – indent 2
Paragraph 3 – indent 2
– promoting a sustainable blue economy that develops within ecological limits by supporting small-scale local fisheries and strengthening the position of women, who play an important part in marketing and processing;
Amendment 10 #
2019/0226M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – indent 4
Paragraph 3 – indent 4
– improving scientific knowledge in the region through training of scientific observers and by enabling local scientists to travel on board vessels operating in this area;
Amendment 11 #
2019/0226M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the fisheries agreements between the European Union and Mauritania, Morocco and Guinea-Bissau, respectively, give access to the stock of small pelagics that is shared with Senegal;
Amendment 16 #
2019/0226M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for transparency regarding the use of EU sectoral funding in order to allow for better monitoring and improved linkages with other EU and donor activities financed in the fisheries sector; urges in this regard the Commission to provide regular public reports on the use of the sectoral support.
Amendment 25 #
2019/0226M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Supports the EU strategy of being able to maintain a network of agreements in the region in order to complement actions to promote the sustainability of stocks within regional fisheries organisations (RFOs); underlines the necessity of binding regional rules on the management of small pelagic stocks that are vital to the Senegalese fisheries;
Amendment 29 #
2019/0226M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes the reduction in the fishing opportunities for deep-sea trawlers (black hake) in line with the scientific opinion of the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF) in order to reduce mortality; underlines that there is still a possibility for European vessels to overfish black hake by paying a 95€ fee per ton; recommends to modify this provision by replacing it by a quota reduction in order to fight efficiently against illegal fishing;
Amendment 30 #
2019/0226M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Welcomes that the Protocol takes into account sensitive species that are caught as by-catch; stresses the need to further enhance measures to protect the marine ecosystem; emphasises the central role of trained scientific observers in the monitoring of the by-catches;
Amendment 40 #
2019/0226M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – indent 1
Paragraph 10 – indent 1
- improving monitoring, control and surveillance through the rapid modernisation of the Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC) and the training of scientific observers;
Amendment 58 #
2019/0226M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses the need to increase transparency and participation in the management of the sectoral support; urges the Commission to provide regular public reports on the use of the sectoral support; recommends that artisanal fishery representatives to be associated to the work of the Joint Commission and any other forum reporting or evaluating on the impacts of the Protocol;
Amendment 1 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
- Having regard to Article 31.4 of the Common Fisheries Policy EU 1380/2013,
Amendment 2 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 b (new)
Citation 7 b (new)
- - having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 12 April 2016 on common rules in respect of application of the external dimension of the CFP, including fisheries agreements (2015/2091(INI)),
Amendment 4 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Expresses concern at the lack of reliable scientific data to accurately determine fish stocks; highlights, in this context, the importance of the joint scientific groups responsible for giving scientific opinions on the state of fish stocks in order to avoid overfishing; calls for those groups to be allocated appropriate financial, technical and human resources to enable them to carry out their tasks and work together with the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs); strongly recommends stepping up regional cooperation in fisheries research and development;
Amendment 5 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Calls on the Commission to ensure that the authorities of Guinea-Bissau communicate in a transparent manner information on the signing of other agreements allowing access to their exclusive economic zone for foreign fleets;
Amendment 7 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that sectoral support should sustainably assist the development of the artisanal and local fisheries sector and should benefit women and young people in particular; recommends that part of the multiannual sectoral programme be dedicated to activities to step up monitoring, control and surveillance so as to do more to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; recommends also that local fishing communities be consulted regarding the measures to be taken with sectoral support;
Amendment 10 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Advocates the development of infrastructures for the in situ landing and exploitation of fishery products to ensure that the agreement produces tangible results for local and artisanal fisheries; stresses the importance of making local communities aware of the management, protection and conservation of natural resources in order to achieve the objectives of sustainable development and combating poverty;
Amendment 11 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Recalls the essential role of women in non-industrial fishing, particularly in the marketing and processing of products; recalls the importance of developing support in the form of training or small infrastructure for the cold chain;
Amendment 11 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas, in order for the Guinea- Bissau fisheries sector to develop, basic infrastructure needs to be installed, such as ports, landing sites, storage facilities and processing plants, which are still missing, with the aim to attract landings of fish caught in waters of Guinea-Bissau;
Amendment 14 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 1 (new)
Amendment 16 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 2 (new)
2. Points out that, according to the IUCN's report, the long-term conservation of the natural resources of Guinea-Bissau's coastal zone makes a major contribution to conserving global biodiversity, inter alia by providing egg- laying areas for the largest colonies of sea turtles on the Atlantic coast of Africa, by receiving a million migratory birds per annum from Europe and by providing nutrition, refuges and spawning grounds for fish and crustaceans;
Amendment 17 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 3 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 3 (new)
3. Stresses the importance of the programme of conservation and sustainable use of the renewable natural resources of Guinea-Bissau’s coastal zone; calls on Guinea-Bissau’s political and administrative authorities to step up measures to protect and conserve marine and coastal ecosystems, with a view to ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and exploitation of fishery resources compatible with the Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030 and with a view to sharing best practices in this area;
Amendment 18 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 4 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 4 (new)
4. Recalls that Guinea-Bissau, whose mangroves forests cover 8% of the country’s territory, serves as a climatic buffer and acts as a brake on the expansion of desertification towards the southern countries and coastal erosion; reiterates the importance of prioritising the conservation of mangroves and resources dependent on them; more generally, recalls the importance of integrated management of the coastal zone, which should be seen as an instrument for the conservation and rational use of natural resources in the context of sustainable development and in order to contribute to the conservation of ecosystems and species;
Amendment 19 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 5 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 5 (new)
5. Notes that in Southwest Africa, according to the FAO report, it has been estimated that nine fish stocks, including those of Galeoides decatactylus and Pomadasys, are overfished; considers it essential to reduce the overall fishing effort in order to avoid more serious exhaustion; recommends stepping up regional cooperation in key research areas in order to support management, particularly with regard to shared stocks, to safeguard sustainable non-industrial fishing;
Amendment 20 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 – point 6 (new)
Paragraph 7 – point 6 (new)
6. Stresses the importance of developing fisheries agreements aimed at preventing looting by industrial fishing fleets; calls on the governments of the West African States to set up information systems for this purpose; recalls the need to develop appropriate certification procedures for the export of fishery products to the EU;
Amendment 31 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that aWelcomes the transition in the management of fishing opportunities (from fishing effort management to total allowable catch management) poses a challenge to this Protocol; calls on the Commission to; calls on the Commission to facilitate this challenge and promote, without delay, an appropriate and effective transition, which safeguards the necessary reliability and effectiveness of the ERS and the processing of catch data;
Amendment 39 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b
Paragraph 5 – point b
b. construction of key infrastructure for fisheries and related activities, such as ports (both industrial and artisanal), sites for landing, storing and processing fish, markets, distribution and marketing structures, quality analysis laboratories, with the aim to attract landings of the fish caught in waters of Guinea-Bissau;
Amendment 60 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Urges the publication of reports on the actions that have been supported by the sectoral support for greater transparency;
Amendment 63 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Emphasises the importance of the surplus requirement for Union vessels fishing in third country waters;
Amendment 65 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Urges the inclusion of transparency provisions to publish all agreements with states or private entities granting foreign vessels access to Guinea Bissau’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ);
Amendment 67 #
2019/0090M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Emphasises the importance that the landings of fish in Guinea Bissau ports contribute to local processing activities and food security, both in terms of species and quality;
Amendment 1 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
- having regard to Article 31.4 of the Common Fisheries Policy EU 1380/2013,
Amendment 2 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls for the use of measures to reduce bycatches to be obligatory for the EU's long-distance fleet and explicitly stated in all fisheries partnership agreements;
Amendment 2 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)
Citation 4 b (new)
- having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 12 April 2016 on common rules in respect of application of the external dimension of the CFP, including fisheries agreements (2015/2091(INI)),
Amendment 3 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 c (new)
Citation 4 c (new)
- having regard to the February 2018 Ex-post and Ex-ante evaluation study of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cabo Verde,
Amendment 5 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas 20% of catches are made up of sharks, for which there is a lack of scientific data;
Amendment 6 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the EU-Cape Verde SFPA should promote more effective sustainable development of the Cape Verdean fishing communities and of related industries and activities; whereas the support to be provided under the Protocol has to be consistent with the national development plans and the Blue Growth Action Plan that develops within ecological limits, devised with the United Nations to increase production in, and professionalise, the sector in order to meet the population’s food and employment needs;
Amendment 8 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – indent 1 a (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 1 a (new)
- Recalls that the facilities at Cape Verde are not optimal and do not allow for formal landings, which can generate significant economic activity for both the port and processing plants; encourages Cape Verde to offer substantial discounts to boat owners for docking permits;
Amendment 9 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – indent 1 b (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 1 b (new)
- Underlines the importance of supporting artisanal fishing and points out that local fishing communities must be more involved in identifying initiatives to be carried out with sectoral support, for example by providing support in the form of training;
Amendment 10 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – indent 1 c (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 1 c (new)
Amendment 14 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – indent 4
Paragraph 3 – indent 4
- stepping up monitoring,Underlines the importance, in the context of support for the sector, of continuing to allocate some funds to monitoring, surveillance and control, and surveillance of fisheries, thus preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishingespecially to the effective implementation of satellite-based vessel monitoring systems, particularly on small islands which have to manage fishing activities within the 200 miles that make up their exclusive economic zone;
Amendment 17 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 a (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 a (new)
- Recalls that the objective of the Protocol is to enable the Union and the Republic of Cape Verde to work more closely on promoting a sustainable fisheries policy and on the responsible exploitation of fisheries resources in Cape Verde waters, preventing all forms of overexploitation in Cape Verde's exclusive economic zone;
Amendment 18 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recalls that transparent scientific data should always form the basis for any decisions made at EU level concerning the Protocol's renewal in order for the EU to be able to fulfil its environmental commitments;
Amendment 19 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – introductory part
Paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. Maintains that the EU-Cape Verde SFPA and the Protocol thereto have to be aligned with the national development plans and the Blue Growth Plan for the development of the Cape Verdean fisheries sector that develops within ecological limits, and specifically should:
Amendment 20 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Amendment 24 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 2
Paragraph 3 – indent 2
- tighten up monitoring, control and surveillance in the Cape Verde EEZ;
Amendment 29 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 5
Paragraph 3 – indent 5
- enable landing quays and ports to be constructed and/or renovated, in particular for the local fisheries, at the port of Mindelo (São Vicente island) for instance;
Amendment 35 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 7 a (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 7 a (new)
- limit bycatches of sensitive species, such as marine turtles,
Amendment 42 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Expresses its content that the Agreement does not concern small pelagics that are of great importance for the local population and for which there is no surplus;
Amendment 43 #
2019/0078M(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Expresses its concern about the possibility of detrimental impacts of fishing activities on the shark population in the Cape Verde EEZ;
Amendment 4 #
2018/0356M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas Vietnam was issued a yellow card in 2017 under the Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; whereas this unsustainable practice represents a breach of Article 13.9 of the Trade and Sustainable Development chapter; whereas Vietnam is currently cooperating with the EU on the matter on the basis of 9 recommendations that go with the yellow card and has recently adopted a new framework fishery law together with its implementing decrees;
Amendment 53 #
2018/0356M(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. requests the Commission to conduct regular impact assessments with regard to environmental and climate impacts after three years of implementation of the FTA in order to ensure full compatibility between trade liberalisation and EU’s climate targets; calls for the immediate activation of the amendment procedure in case of incompatibilities with sustainable development and the SDGs; stresses that Vietnam is currently in violation of the specific measures provided by the Agreement under the TSD chapter to fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IUU) and that the Commission has issued a yellow card in 2017 in the framework of the EU IUU Regulation; requests that preferential tariffs on fishery products be applied only once the conditions for lifting the yellow cards are met; deplores that while an article of the TSD chapter recalls the importance of responsible and sustainable aquaculture, there is no such an article on responsible and sustainable agriculture, a sector that should benefit strongly from the FTA;