Activities of Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5

~~A new~~ Strategic Compass: promoting a common strategic vision and coherence, and improving EU decision-making on defence issues within the EU institutional framework

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2082(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses that geopolitical developments ~~have~~keep evolveding rapidly since the Strategic Compass that was adopted by Member States in March 2022~~; calls, therefore, for a review of the Strategic Compass based on a comprehensive joint threat assessment~~, and the adoption of the European Defence Industrial Strategy; calls, ~~fur~~thermefore, for the Commission and the VP/HR to present ~~an updated version of~~with urgency the upcoming White Paper on European Defence, which can be complemented by the Strategic Compass, and following this ~~review~~ exercise ~~and for this~~ to inform the ~~preparation of the white paper~~European Parliament on the future of European defence;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2082(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Suggests that the Council review the institutional settings of its decision- making bodies competent for defence and security, and consider setting up a new permanent decision-making body made up of ministers of defence from Member Statesconsiders setting up a new permanent decision- making body made up of ministers of defence from Member States, notwithstanding the competences of the VP/HR on CSDP and the respective distribution of competences within national ministries in this regard;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2082(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14 a. Underlines the need for the EU to count with the necessary first-hand information on global issues occurring outside its borders in the light of increasing geopolitical challenges and crisis worldwide; calls, in this regard, for strengthening the EU INTCEN, the EEAS Crisis Response Center and the SatCen by enhancing its staff and financial resources, as well as capabilities;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2082(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20 a. Underlines the security implications the escalation of the situation in Gaza and Lebanon has over the neighbouring regions; stresses that the evolving conflict also underscores wider security challenges for Europe, with implications for the future of deterrence, humanitarian law and crisis management; in this regard, urges to a diplomatic solution to the conflict, that respects international norms, with the aim of achieving peace; calls, therefore, for an immediate and permanent ceasefire;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2082(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22 a. Reiterates its call to promote the establishment of a system of automatic and continuous flow of intelligence from Member States to the EEAS on foreign and security issues occurring outside the Union; urges to improve the security protocols of the services working on intelligence and/or with sensible information;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

– having regard to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)

– having regard to the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) of 10 December 1984,

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)

– having regard to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, adopted on 13 December 2006,

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)

– having regard to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD),

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)

– having regard to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) of 13 September 2007,

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 b (new)

– having regard to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP) of 17 December 2018,

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Citation 18

– having regard to Protocols No. 6 and 13 to the Council of Europe Convention of 28 April 1983 for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the Abolition of the Death Penalty,

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, as set out in Article 2 TEU; whereas the EU’s action worldwide is guided by the universality and indivisibility of human rights and by the fact that the effective protection and defence of human rights and democracy is at the core of the EU’s external action, including trade, development, security and defence, and enlargement, among others;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the EU strongly believes in and fully supports multilateralism, a rules- based global order and the set of universal values, principles and norms that guide the UN member states; whereas a world of democracies, understood as a world of political systems that defend and protect human rights worldwide, is a safer world, as they count with significant check and balances that prevent the unpredictability of autocracies;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas in November 2024, the Convention of the Rights on the Child celebrates its 35th anniversary;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the legitimacy of the international rules-based order is dependent on compliance with the orders of international bodies, such as the United Nations Security Council resolutions and orders and decisions of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court; whereas there are increasing global threats to compliance with such orders and decisions, as well as, generally, with provisions of international law, human rights law and international humanitarian law in emerging and ongoing conflict situations;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) are crucial partners in the EU’s efforts to safeguard and advance human rights, democracy and the rule of law, as well as to prevent conflicts globally; whereas governments around the world are increasingly censoring, silencing and harassing HRDs and CSOs in their work, leading to an increasingly shrinking civil space; whereas this behaviour includes measures encompassing strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), restrictive government policies, defamation campaigns, discrimination, intimidation and violence, including extrajudicial killings, abductions, and arbitrary arrests and detention; whereas attacks on HRDs are increasingly extending to their families and communities;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

Ia. whereas gender equality is a core value of the EU; and the human rights of women and girls, including their sexual and reproductive rights, continue to be violated across the world; whereas women human rights defenders and civil society organisations working on gender equality, women’s rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights continue to experience shrinking space for their critical work, as well as threats of violence, harassment and intimidation;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Reasserts the universality and indivisibility of human rights and the inherent dignity of every human being; reaffirms the duty of the EU and its Member States to promote and protect democracy and the universality of human rights around the world; calls for the EU and its Member States to lead by example and strictly uphold human rights and ensure an enabling civil society environment;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses that the current conflict in Gaza and Lebanon has a disproportionate effect on civilians and causes a catastrophic humanitarian situation; calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and urges to address the risk of mass starvation, the worsening of health conditions and the outbreak of a health epidemic in Gaza; condemns Israel's authorities’ constant attempts to undermine and discredit the UN, its Secretary General and, especially, UNRWA, as well as the attacks on UNIFIL; deplores the legislation adopted by the Knesset banning the activities of UNRWA and ceasing its relations with Israel authorities; deplores the dire consequences this will have for the region as UNRWA is the main humanitarian assistance structure in Gaza and the West Bank, of which millions of people depend for vital services; recalls that this legislation infringes international law; welcomes the launch of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and calls for the VP/HR to continue investing heavily on a ceasefire and a peaceful solution of the conflict; welcomes the ICJ Case 192 - Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel), as well as the Advisory opinion of the ICJ on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in OPT, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in OPT;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Condemns the increasing trend of violations and abuses of human rights and democratic principles and values across the world, such as executions, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture, gender-based violence, clampdowns on civil society ~~and~~, political opponents, ~~excessive use of violence by public authorities, censorship and threats to independent media~~marginalised and vulnerable groups as well as ethnic and religious minorities, slavery and forced labour, excessive use of violence by public authorities, systematic and structural discrimination and inequality, censorship and threats to independent media, including threats in the digital sphere such as online surveillance and internet shutdowns, political attacks against international institutions, and increasing use of unlawful methods of war in grave breach of international humanitarian law and human rights law, among others; deplores the weakening of the protection of democratic institutions and processes, and the shrinking space for civil societies around the world;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Notes with deep concern the ongoing international crisis of accountability and the challenge to the pursuit of ending impunity for violations of core norms of international human rights and humanitarian law in modern conflicts around the world; underlines the serious consequences of discrediting and attacking the organizations of multilateral fora, such as the UN, which can foster a culture of impunity;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Denounces the tailor-made narratives of authoritarian and illiberal regimes attacking the universality of human rights and the rule of law, which are being spread by these regimes in international forums such as the United Nations Human Rights Council;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Notes with satisfaction that there are also ‘human rights bright spots’ within this context of major challenges to human rights worldwide; underlines the need for a more strategic communication on human rights and democracy by spreading news about positive results, policies and best practices; supports the Good Human Rights Stories initiative9 as a way of promoting positive stories about human rights; underlines the role of the EU’s public and cultural diplomacy, as well as international cultural relations, in the promotion of human rights and calls for the Strategic Communication and Foresight division of the EEAS to increase their efforts in this regard, for which they should count with the appropriate resources; _________________ 9 https://goodhumanrightsstories.net/.

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Notes with satisfaction that there are also ‘human rights bright spots’ within this context of major challenges to human rights worldwide; highlights particularly the work of civil society organizations and Human Rights Defenders; underlines the need for a more strategic communication on human rights and democracy by spreading news about positive results, policies and best practices; supports the Good Human Rights Stories initiative9 as a way of promoting positive stories about human rights; _________________ 9 https://goodhumanrightsstories.net/.

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Observes that the EU and its Member States have made substantial progress in implementing the EU action plan on human rights and democracy, although they have not reached all of its goals, in part~~icular~~ also due to the unprecedented challenges the world has experienced since its adoption; welcomes, in this sense, the extension of the action plan until 2027, with a view to maximising the synergies and complementarity between human rights and democracy at local, national and global levels;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Fully supports the work of the EUSR for Human Rights in contributing to the visibility and coherence of the EU’s human rights actions in its external relations; upholds the EUSR’s central role in the EU’s promotion and protection of human rights by engaging with non-EU countries and like-minded partners; underlines the need for close cooperation between the EUSR for Human Rights and other EUSRs and Special Envoys in order to further improve this coherence, and calls for greater visibility for the role of the EUSR for Human Rights; calls for the EUSR to be supported in his work with increased resources; insists on the need for the EUSR to report back to Parliament regularly;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Reiterates its call to include robust clauses on human rights in agreements between the EU and non-EU countries, supported by a clear set of benchmarks and procedures to be followed in the event of violations; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to actively reflect on how to ensure that the human rights clauses in current international agreements are effectively enforced; reiterates that in the face of persistent breaches of human rights clauses by its partner countries, the EU should react swiftly and decisively, including by suspending the agreements in question if other options prove ineffective; calls for the implementation of the EU Ombudsman’s recommendation concerning the creation of a complaint- handling portal, within the framework of EU trade and financial instruments, or for the adaptation of the Commission’s Single Entry Point to allow for submission of complaints regarding failure to comply with human rights clauses;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Reiterates its call to include robust clauses on human rights in agreements between the EU and non-EU countries, supported by a clear set of benchmarks and procedures to be followed in the event of violations; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to ~~actively reflect on how to~~ ensure that the human rights clauses in current international agreements are actively monitored and effectively enforced; reiterates that in the face of persistent breaches of human rights clauses by its partner countries, the EU ~~should~~must react swiftly and decisively, including by suspending the agreements in question if other options prove ineffective; calls on the Commission to ensure the creation of accessible, citizen-friendly and transparent complaint mechanism, to which also non-EU actors are able to submit complaints regarding failures of the parties to the agreement to comply with human rights clauses;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Reiterates its call to include robust clauses on human rights in agreements between the EU and non-EU countries, supported by a clear set of benchmarks for evaluating compliance and procedures to be followed in the event of violations; stresses the need to strengthen and unify monitoring processes and to make their findings more accessible; stresses also the need to foster consultations, for instance, through engagement with civil society organizations; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to actively reflect on how to ensure that the human rights clauses in current international agreements are effectively enforced; reiterates that in the face of persistent breaches of human rights clauses by its partner countries, the EU should react swiftly and decisively, including by suspending the agreements in question if other options prove ineffective;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses the important role of human rights dialogues within the EU’s human rights toolbox and as a key vehicle for the implementation of the EU action plan on human rights and democracy; highlights that these dialogues should address the overall situation of human rights and democracy with the relevant countries and ensure the meaningful participation of civil society; notes that human rights dialogues should be seen as a key element of sustained EU engagement and not as a free-standing instrument; recalls that these dialogues need to be used in conjunction and synergy with other instruments; reiterates the need to raise individual cases, in particular Sakharov Prize laureates and those highlighted by Parliament in its resolutions, and ensure adequate follow-up; calls to increase the visibility of these dialogues and their outcomes, including through the publication of a joint press statement;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Welcomes the increasing use of the EU GHRSR as a key political tool in the EU’s defence of human rights and democracy across the world; notes, however, the challenges that the requirement of unanimity poses in the adoption of sanctions and reiterates its call for the introduction of qualified majority voting for decisions on the GHRSR; ~~fully supports the possibility of imposing~~recalls, in this regard, the formal request submitted by the European Parliament to the Council, in 2023, on whether to open the EU reform convention, with the aim of evolving to more decisions by qualified majority, among others; reiterates its calls for the adoption of targeted anti-corruption sanctions within the EU framework in this regard, which has been a long-standing priority of Parliament, whether through its inclusion in the GHRSR or under a different regime; highlights the need for the complete enforcement of sanctions and calls for circumventions to be tackled;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Is extremely concerned by the continuing restriction of civil society space and rising threats to the work of HRDs, as well as their families, communities and lawyers, and finds particularly concerning the increasingly sophisticated means used to persecute them; strongly condemns their arbitrary detentions and killings; supports wholeheartedly the work of HRDs and EU action to ensure their protection worldwide; calls for the complete and consistent application of the EU Guidelines on HRDs by the EU and its Member States; calls for efforts to strengthen the visibility of EU actions and channels for the protection and support of HRDs, including the facilitation of their visa procedures, as well as increasing financial assistance to HRDs:

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Welcomes the update of the EU Visa Code Handbook in relation to human rights defenders and calls for its full and consistent use by the Member States; reiterates its call for the Commission to take a proactive role in the establishment of an EU-wide multi-entry visa scheme for HRDs at risk;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Expresses concern with the rise of transnational repression as a tool used by autocratic regimes to target human rights defenders beyond their borders; calls for the formulation of an EU strategy harmonising national responses to transnational repression;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Reaffirms that promoting the respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights around the world requires strong international cooperation at a multilateral level; underlines the particularly important role of the UN and its bodies as the main forum which must be able to effectively advance efforts for peace and security, sustainable development and respect for human rights and international law; calls for the EU and its Member States to continue supporting the work of the UN, both politically and financially; reiterates the need for the EU and its Member States to speak with one voice at the UN and in other multilateral forums and calls for progress in ensuring an EU seat in international organizations, including in the UN Security Council; calls for EU delegations to play a stronger role in multilateral forums, for which they should have appropriate resources available;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Stresses that the current multilateral order needs to fully incorporate in its architecture the new global actors, especially those focusing on democracy and human rights; calls for the EU and its Member States to guarantee a separate and permanent seat for the Union in multilateral forums, including the UN Security Council; underlines the need for the EU and its Member States to act united with a single voice and effectively in tackling global human rights and democracy challenges in multilateral fora;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)

17b. Deplores the distorted use of the organizations of multilateral fora by the hand of a number of third countries, and particularly authoritarian and totalitarian regimes, such as in some cases particular friendship groups in the UN, in order to advance an agenda that challenges human rights and the multilateral and rules-based world order; calls on the EU to develop a robust strategy along with like-minded countries in order to contain this situation and to send a united and strong message of support to these organizations when attacked or threatened

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Is deeply concerned by growing attacks against the rules-based global order ~~by author~~particularly by authoritarian and totalitarian regimes, including through the undermining of the functioning of UN bodies, namely the abuse of veto power at the UN Security Council; underlines that the diminished effectiveness of these bodies brings with it real costs in terms of conflicts, lives lost and human suffering, and seriously weakens the general ability of countries to deal with global challenges; calls on the Member States and like- minded partners to intensify their efforts to reverse this trend;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Welcomes the political and financial support the EU has given to the International Criminal Court (ICC), including the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the ICC, not least through the launch of the ‘Global initiative to fight against impunity for international crimes’ offering EUR 20 million of support to the ICC; calls for the EU and its Member States to keep supporting the ICC with the necessary means and resources and to use all instruments at its disposal to strengthen the fight against impunity worldwide; calls on all the Member States to respect and enforce the actions and decisions of all organs of the ICC, including the OTP and the Chambers, and to support their work as an independent and impartial international justice institution;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Reiterates the strong support of the EU for the International Court of Justice and the ICC amid a particularly challenging time for the international justice; notes with deep concern the worrying and rising trend to undermine the decisions of international institutions and their employees by state officials; regrets the failure of some ICC Member States to execute ICC arrest warrants, thereby undermining the Courts work;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Urges the EU to put in place preventive measures to effectively shield the ICC against the potential adoption of the pending legislation at the US House of Representatives which aims to impose targeted sanctions on judges, staff and legal experts of the ICC, mitigating its harmful consequences on the Courts work;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Notes with concern the increasing disregard for international humanitarian law and international human rights law, particularly in the form of ongoing conflicts around the world; condemns the constant attempts to undermine and discredit the UN, its Secretary General, and its agencies such as UNRWA, as well as the attacks on its peacekeeping missions; underlines that it is of the utmost importance for humanitarian aid agencies to be able to provide full, timely and unhindered assistance to all people in vulnerable situations and calls on all parties to armed conflicts to protect civilian populations and humanitarian and medical workers; calls upon all states to unconditionally and fully conform with international humanitarian law; calls upon the international community and the Member States in particular to promote accountability and the fight against impunity for grave breaches of international humanitarian law; calls for the systematic creation of humanitarian corridors in regions at war and in combat situations, whenever necessary, in order to allow civilians at risk to escape conflicts, and strongly condemns any attacks on them;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Condemns in the strongest terms the use of sexual violence against women and girls as a weapon of war and calls for more concerted efforts to end impunity for the perpetrators;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)

21b. Reiterates its call on the Member States to help contain armed conflicts and serious violations of human rights or international humanitarian law by strictly abiding by the provisions of Article 7 of the UN Arms Trade Treaty on Export and Export Assessment and Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP on Arms Exports;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Recognises the potential for stronger alignment in approaches to human rights protection and promotion between Member States’ embassies and EU delegations in non-EU countries, as well as between Member States and EU institutions; emphasises the opportunity for Member States’ embassies to take an increasingly active role in advancing and safeguarding human rights, while also supporting civil society in these countries; highlights the importance of shared responsibility between Member States and EU delegations in these efforts; calls for the EU and its Member States to intensify their collective efforts to promote the respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights and to support democracy worldwide;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Recalls that the right to food, including having physical and economic access to adequate food or the means to its procurement, is a human right; is extremely concerned about the challenges to the right to food worldwide, especially in situations of war and conflicts; notes with concern the increasing reports of the weaponisation of food in situations of armed conflict; calls for the EU and its Member States to promote mandatory guidelines on the right to food without discrimination within the UN system; recalls the importance of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas in view of attaining food security;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 18

Climate change and the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Highlights that climate change and its impact on the environment has direct effects on the effective enjoyment of all human rights; notes that communities contributing the least to climate change are the ones more likely to be affected by climate risks and natural disasters and calls, in this regard, for increasing support to the most vulnerable groups; recognises the important work of CSOs, indigenous people, land and environmental HRDs and indigenous activists for the protection of a clean, healthy and sustainable environment; deplores the risks that environmental HRDs and indigenous activists face and calls for their effective protection to be guaranteed; notes with deep concern the increasing threats to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment posed by the deployment of weapons of mass destruction and other forms of warfare that adversely and disproportionately affect the environment; reiterates the importance of the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals and cutting emissions for the protection of human rights of present and future generations;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Highlights that climate change and its impact on the environment has direct effects on the effective enjoyment of all human rights; recognises the important work of CSOs, indigenous people, traditional local communities, land and environmental HRDs and indigenous activists for the protection of a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, including access to land and water sources; deplores the risks that environmental HRDs and indigenous and local communities activists face and calls for their effective protection to be guaranteed; notes with deep concern the increasing threats to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment posed by the deployment of weapons of mass destruction and other forms of warfare that adversely and disproportionately affect the environment;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25a. Stresses the need to effectively address the displacement of people caused by environmental destruction and climate change, which increases the risk of human rights violations and vulnerabilities to different forms of exploitation;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Stresses that women’s rights and gender equality are indispensable and indivisible human rights, as well as a basis for the rule of law and inclusive resilient democracies; deplores the fact that millions of women and girls continue to experience discrimination and violence, especially in the context of conflicts, and are denied their dignity, autonomy and even life; calls for the EU, its Member States and like- minded partners to step up their efforts to ensure the full enjoyment and protection of women’s and girls’ human rights; condemns in the strongest terms the increasing attacks on sexual and reproductive health and rights around the world, as well as gender-based violence; welcomes the accession of the EU to the Istanbul Convention; calls for the EU and its international partners to strengthen their efforts to ensure that women fully enjoy human rights and are treated equally to men; underlines the need to keep opposing and condemning in the stronger terms the cruel and misogynistic anti- abortion laws that punish women and girls with decades-long jail sentences, even in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the pregnant person is at risk; stresses the need to pursue efforts to fully eradicate the practice of female genital mutilation;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Stresses that women’s rights and gender equality are indispensable and indivisible human rights, as well as a basis for the rule of law and inclusive resilient democracies; deplores the fact that millions of women and girls continue to experience discrimination and violence~~, esp~~; reciallys that in the context of conflicts~~, and~~ women are denied their dignity, autonomy and even life; strongly condemns, in this regard, the use of sexual violence against women and girls as a tool of war; calls for the EU, its Member States and like- minded partners to step up their efforts to ensure the full enjoyment and protection of women’s and girls’ human rights; condemns in the strongest terms the increasing attacks on sexual and reproductive health and rights around the world, as well as gender-based violence; welcomes the accession of the EU to the Istanbul Convention; calls for the EU and its international partners to strengthen their efforts to ensure that women fully enjoy human rights and are treated equally to men; stresses the need to pursue efforts to fully eradicate the practice of female genital mutilation;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 21

Rights of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Denounces the erosion of the human rights and the safety of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and forcibly displaced persons; reaffirms their inalienable human rights and fundamental right to seek asylum; recalls the obligation of states to protect them in accordance with international law; calls for the EU and its Member States to effectively uphold their rights in the EU’s asylum and migration policy and in the EU’s cooperation with partner countries in this regard; deplores the increasing xenophobia, racism and discrimination towards migrants, as well as the different forms of violence they face, including during their displacement and many barriers such as in access to healthcare; stresses that the EU should step up its efforts to acknowledge and develop ways to address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, building the resilience of migrants’ communities of origin and helping them offer their members the possibility to enjoy a decent life in their home country; calls for the EU and its Member States to continue and, where possible, step up their support for countries hosting the most refugees, as well as for transit countries; reiterates that close cooperation and engagement with non-EU countries remain key to preventing migrant smuggling; stresses, in this regard, that the dissemination of information and awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of smuggling are crucial; calls for EU- funded humanitarian operations to take into consideration the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children and to ensure their protection while they are displaced; underlines the importance of developing an effective framework of safe and legal pathways to the EU and welcomes, in this regard, the Commission communication on attracting skills and talent to the EU10 , including the development of talent partnerships with partner countries; _________________ 10 Commission communication of 27 April 2022 on attracting skills and talent to the EU (COM(2022)0657).

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Denounces the erosion of the human rights and the safety of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and forcibly displaced persons; reaffirms their inalienable human rights and fundamental right to seek asylum; underlines that, in order to exercise said right, the bureaucratic process should be clear and that they should receive assistance when needed; recalls the obligation of states to protect them in accordance with international law; calls for the EU and its Member States to effectively uphold their rights in the EU’s asylum and migration policy and in the EU’s cooperation with partner countries in this regard; stresses that the EU should step up its efforts to acknowledge and develop ways to address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, building the resilience of migrants’ communities of origin and helping them offer their members the possibility to enjoy a decent life in their home country; calls for the EU and its Member States to continue and, where possible, step up their support for countries hosting the most refugees, as well as for transit countries; reiterates that close cooperation and engagement with non-EU countries remain key to preventing migrant smuggling; stresses, in this regard, that the dissemination of information and awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of smuggling are crucial; calls for EU- funded humanitarian operations to take into consideration the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children and to ensure their protection while they are displaced; underlines the importance of developing an effective framework of safe and legal pathways to the EU and welcomes, in this regard, the Commission communication on attracting skills and talent to the EU10 , including the development of talent partnerships with partner countries; _________________ 10 Commission communication of 27 April 2022 on attracting skills and talent to the EU (COM(2022)0657).

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Denounces the erosion of the human rights and the safety of refugees, asylum seekers and forcibly displaced persons; reaffirms their inalienable human rights and fundamental right to seek asylum; recalls the obligation of states to protect them in accordance with international law; calls for the EU and its Member States to effectively uphold their rights in the EU’s asylum and migration policy and in the EU’s cooperation with partner countries in this regard; stresses that the EU should step up its efforts to acknowledge and develop ways to address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, building the resilience of migrants’ communities of origin and helping them offer their members the possibility to enjoy a decent life in their home country; calls for the EU and its Member States to continue and, where possible, step up their support for countries hosting the most refugees, as well as for transit countries; reiterates that close cooperation and engagement with non-EU countries, in full respect of fundamental rights, remain key to preventing migrant smuggling; stresses, in this regard, that the dissemination of information and awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of smuggling are crucial; calls for EU- funded humanitarian operations to take into consideration the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children and to ensure their protection while they are displaced; underlines the importance of developing an effective framework of safe and legal pathways to the EU and welcomes, in this regard, the Commission communication on attracting skills and talent to the EU10 , including the development of talent partnerships with partner countries; _________________ 10 Commission communication of 27 April 2022 on attracting skills and talent to the EU (COM(2022)0657).

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28a. Is deeply concerned about the practice of concluding informal arrangements with third countries in relation to migration cooperation, over which the European Parliament has no oversight; calls on the Member States to ensure transparency and allow for parliamentary scrutiny and democratic oversight, notably regarding cooperation with parties known to have committed violations of human rights; calls on the Commission and the Member States to integrate pre-assessment as well as monitoring mechanisms to evaluate the human rights impact of cooperation on migration with third countries, and to share the results with Parliament; insists on including human rights clauses in migration agreements and calls for their suspension if human rights violations occur;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Deplores the human rights violations, including discrimination, persecution, violence and killings, against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) persons around the world; is extremely concerned by the spreading of hatred and anti- LGBTIQ+ narratives and legislation that target LGBTIQ+ persons and HRDs; calls for the adoption of specific policies protecting LGBTIQ+ people and giving them the tools to safely report a violation of their rights; expresses special concern over LGBTIQ+ people living under non- democratic regimes or situations of conflict, and calls for rapid response mechanisms to protect them as well as their defenders; reiterates its calls for the full implementation of the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025 as the EU’s tool for improving the situation of LGBTIQ+ people around the world;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Is concerned by the challenges to the full enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities; reiterates its calls for the EU to assist partner countries in the development of policies in support of carers of persons with disabilities; calls to raise social awareness and combat discriminatory behaviours against persons with disabilities; calls for the EU, in its external policy, to make use of the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030 as a tool to improve the situation of persons with disabilities, particularly concerning poverty and discrimination, but also problems with access to education, healthcare and employment, and participation in political life;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Reiterates its call for the EU and its Member States to develop new avenues to strengthen the rights of elderly people, taking into account the multiple challenges they face, such as age-based discrimination, poverty, violence and a lack of social protection, healthcare and other essential services, as well as barriers to employment; underlines the work of the UN Open-ended Working Group on Ageing on a legally binding instrument to strengthen the protection of the human rights of older people and calls for the EU and its Member States to consider actively supporting that work; stresses the need for a crosscutting intergenerational approach in EU policies, in order to build and encourage solidarity between the young and the elderly;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Reiterates its condemnation of all forms of racism, intolerance, xenophobia and discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, social class, disability, caste, religion, belief, age, sexual orientation or gender identity; condemns the growing international threat of hate speech, including online; reiterates the crucial role of education and dialogue in promoting tolerance, understanding and diversity; calls for the EU and its Member States to lead the global fight against all forms of extremism and welcomes the adoption of an EU strategy to this end; calls for the adoption or the strengthening of mechanisms to report discriminatory behaviours as well as the access to effective legal remedies, ending with impunity;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Reiterates its concern regarding violations of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief; deplores the instrumentalisation of religious or belief identities for political purposes and the exclusion of persons belonging to religious and belief minorities and religious communities in certain non- EU countries; ~~recommends that the Special Envoy for the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU be granted more resources so that he can comfortably carry out his mandate;~~ highlights the necessity for the Special Envoy to continue to work closely and in a complementary manner with the EUSR for Human Rights and the Council Working Party on Human Rights; calls for the EU and its Member States to step up their efforts to protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, to raise these issues at UN human rights forums and to continue working with the relevant UN mechanisms and committees;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Reiterates its concern regarding violations of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief; deplores the instrumentalisation of religious or belief identities for political purposes and the exclusion of persons belonging to religious and belief minorities and religious communities in certain non- EU countries; ~~recommend~~considers that the Special Envoy for the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU be must be integranted ~~more resources so that he can comfortably carry out his mandate~~into the EEAS in a similar way to the other special envoys and EU special representatives; highlights the necessity for the Special Envoy to continue to work closely and in a complementary manner with the EUSR for Human Rights and the Council Working Party on Human Rights; calls for the EU and its Member States to step up their efforts to protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, to raise these issues at UN human rights forums and to continue working with the relevant UN mechanisms and committees;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 28

Right to freedom of expression, academic freedom, media freedom and the right to information

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Emphasises the critical significance of freedom of expression and access to trustworthy information for sustaining democracy and a thriving civic space; is seriously concerned about the increasing restrictions on freedom of expression in numerous countries worldwide, particularly for journalists, through censorship, enforced self-censorship, and the misuse of counter-terrorism or anti- corruption laws to suppress journalists and civil society groups; raises concerns, additionally, about the physical security of journalists and media workers and their being targeted and often killed in conflict zones;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)

35a. Reaffirms its commitment to protecting and promoting academic freedom as a key component of open and democratic societies; underlines the attacks to academic freedom not only by authoritarian and totalitarian regimes, but also by extreme and populist forces worldwide; calls to protect students and academics from censorship, persecution, and reprisal; calls to develop benchmarks for academic freedom into institutional quality assurance within academic rankings, procedures and criteria;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Calls urgently for the EU to back trustworthy media and information outlets that promote the accountability of authorities and support democratic transitions; voices concern about the extensive use of SLAPPs to silence journalists, activists, trade unionists and HRDs globally; welcomes, in this context, the directive designed to shield journalists and HRDs from abusive legal actions and SLAPPs; encourages lawmakers in non-EU countries to develop legislation with the same goal, as part of broader efforts to promote and protect media freedom and pluralism; asks the EU to take into consideration the attacks on media freedom, as well as the persistent and systematic erosion of the right to information, in the monitoring of the compliance of association and trade agreements with democracy and humans rights;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Welcomes the Commission’s plan to finance initiatives that support journalists on legal and practical matters, including beyond the EU, through the European Democracy Action Plan; calls for the EU to strengthen its efforts to aid targeted journalists globally; acknowledges the contribution to achieving this goal of programmes such as the now defunct Media4Democracy and other EU-funded activities, including those of the European Endowment for Democracy; urges the EU to help make reliable news sources available to more people living in countries that restrict press freedom;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)

38a. Notes with concern that more than half of the world's population lives within environments of completely or severely restricted levels of academic freedom, which has severe consequences for the right to education, the enjoyment of the benefits of scientific progress and the freedom of opinion and expression; urges the EU and its Member States to step up their efforts to halt censorship, threats or attacks on academic freedom, and especially the imprisonment of scholars worldwide;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 29 a (new)

Rights of Indigenous Peoples

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 29 b (new)

Notes with regret that indigenous peoples continue to face widespread and systematic discrimination and persecution worldwide, including forced displacements; condemns arbitrary arrests and the killing of human rights and land defenders who stand up for the rights of indigenous peoples; stresses that the promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples and their traditional practices are key to achieving sustainable development, combating climate change and conserving biodiversity; urges governments to pursue development and environmental policies that respect economic, social and cultural rights, and that are inclusive of indigenous peoples and local populations, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals; reiterates its call for the EU, its Member States and their partners in the international community to adopt all necessary measures for the recognition, protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples, including as regards their languages, lands, territories and resources, as set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; calls on all states, including EU Member States, to ensure that indigenous peoples and local communities are included in the deliberations and decision-making processes of international climate diplomacy; encourages the Commission to continue to promote dialogue and collaboration between indigenous peoples and the EU;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

39. Deplores that the right to participate in free and fair elections is not respected in authoritarian and illiberal regimes; highlights that these regimes conduct fake elections with the aim of entrenching their power, as they lack real political contestation and pluralism; is alarmed by current trends in electoral processes, such as the increasing decline in electoral participation and democratic performance or the growing disputes concerning the credibility of elections; underlines that distrust on the electoral process can be exacerbated not only by irregularities but also by public statements, including from participants; reminds that public perception of the electoral processes is as crucial as the process itself as its manipulation can lead to toxic polarization or targeted attacks; calls on third countries to reinforce their efforts on communicating clearly all the steps of their respective electoral processes and systems as well as the existing accountability mechanisms in case of irregularities; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to analyse and report to the Parliament the initiatives to tackle the challenges posed by the AI in electoral processes;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

39. Deplores that the right to participate in free and fair elections is not respected in authoritarian and illiberal regimes; highlights that these regimes conduct fake elections with the aim of entrenching their power, as they lack real political contestation and pluralism; underlines the universality of direct and indirect suffrage and that its limits shall not be based on discriminatory criteria; calls for stepping up the efforts to guarantee public participation of minorities; reaffirms the necessity to increase representation of women, youth and vulnerable groups; notes that the right to public participation is directly linked to the freedom to peaceful assembly and association;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Stresses the role of trade as a major instrument to promote and improve the human rights situation in the EU’s partner countries; notes, however, that there has been little to no improvement in some of the countries concerned; deplores the detrimental effects of ~~some~~ excessive and exploitative business activities on human rights and democracy; welcomes the harmonisation resulting from the adoption of the Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence with binding EU rules on responsible corporate behaviour with regard to human, labour and environmental rights; further welcomes the Regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market11 and calls for its swift implementation at Member State level; calls on the Council to adopt an ambitious mandate for the EU to engage in the ongoing negotiations on the UN legally binding instrument on business and human rights as soon as possible; _________________ 11 Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market (COM(2022)0453).

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Stresses the role of trade as a major instrument to promote and improve the human rights situation in the EU’s partner countries; notes, however, that there has been little to no improvement in some of the countries concerned; deplores the detrimental effects of some excessive and exploitative business activities on human rights and democracy; welcomes the harmonisation resulting from the adoption of the Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence with binding EU rules on responsible corporate behaviour with regard to human, labour and environmental rights; further welcomes the Regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market11 and calls for its swift implementation at Member State level; _________________ 11 Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market (COM(2022)0453).recalls the responsibility of businesses in ensuring that their operations and supply chains are not implicated in human rights abuses, including against environmental, indigenous and labour rights defenders; emphasises the need to tackle corporate human rights abuses and ensure justice and reparation for victims;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)

40a. Welcomes the harmonisation resulting from the adoption of the Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence with binding EU rules on responsible corporate behaviour with regard to human, labour and environmental rights; further welcomes the Regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market 11a and calls for its swift implementation at Member State level; _________________ 11a Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market (COM(2022)0453).

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 b (new)

40b. Reiterates its call for the Council to adopt a negotiating mandate for the UN binding instrument on business and human rights;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Is concerned by the threat that artificial intelligence (AI) can pose to democracy and human rights, especially if it is not duly regulated; highlights the need of oversight, robust transparency and appropriate safeguards for new and emergent technologies, as well as a human-rights based approach; welcomes the Council conclusions on Digital Diplomacy of 26 June 2023 to strengthen the EU’s role and leadership in global digital governance, in particular its position as a shaper of the global digital rulebook; welcomes, in this regard, the adoption of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act which aims to harmonise the rules on AI for protecting human rights, and the advantages that AI can bring to human wellbeing; welcomes the adoption of the Global Digital Compact and underlies the need for accessible and affordable data and digital technologies and services; notes with concern the adverse effects of the ‘fake content industry’ on the right to information and press freedom, including the rapid development of AI and the subsequent empowerment of the disinformation industry12 ; condemns the use of new and emerging technologies, such as facial recognition technology and digital surveillance, as coercive instruments and in the increasing harassment, intimidation and persecution to human rights defenders, activists, journalists and lawyers; _________________ 12 Reporters Without Borders, ‘2023 World Press Freedom Index – journalism threatened by fake content industry’ https://rsf.org/en/2023-world-press- freedom-index-journalism-threatened-fake- content-industry.

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Is concerned by the threat that artificial intelligence (AI) can pose to democracy and human rights, especially if it is not duly regulated; welcomes the Council conclusions on Digital Diplomacy of 26 June 2023 to strengthen the EU’s role and leadership in global digital governance, in particular its position as a shaper of the global digital rulebook; welcomes, in this regard, the adoption of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act which aims to harmonise the rules on AI for protecting human rights, and the advantages that AI can bring to human wellbeing; is deeply concerned about the harmful consequences of the misuse of AI and deepfakes, particularly for women and children; notes with concern the adverse effects of the ‘fake content industry’ on the right to information and press freedom, including the rapid development of AI and the subsequent empowerment of the disinformation industry12 ; _________________ 12 Reporters Without Borders, ‘2023 World Press Freedom Index – journalism threatened by fake content industry’ https://rsf.org/en/2023-world-press- freedom-index-journalism-threatened-fake- content-industry.

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Is concerned by the threat that artificial intelligence (AI) can pose to democracy and human rights, especially if it is not duly regulated; welcomes the Council conclusions on Digital Diplomacy of 26 June 2023 to strengthen the EU’s role and leadership in global digital governance, in particular its position as a shaper of ~~the~~a global digital rulebook based on democratic principles; welcomes, in this regard, the adoption of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act which aims to harmonise the rules on AI for protecting human rights, and the advantages that AI can bring to human wellbeing; notes with concern the adverse effects of the ‘fake content industry’ on the right to information and press freedom, including the rapid development of AI and the subsequent empowerment of the disinformation industry12 ; _________________ 12 Reporters Without Borders, ‘2023 World Press Freedom Index – journalism threatened by fake content industry’ https://rsf.org/en/2023-world-press- freedom-index-journalism-threatened-fake- content-industry.

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

43. Stresses that the internet should be a place where freedom of expression prevails; considers, nevertheless, that the rights of individuals need to be respected; is of the opinion that, where applicable, what is considered to be illegal offline, should be considered illegal online; expresses concern for the growing number of internet shutdowns; highlights that internet shutdowns are often used by authoritarian regimes, among others, to silence political dissidence and curb political freedom; calls urgently for the EU to combat this alarming phenomenon; urges the EU to take a firm stance against any attempts by tech giants to circumvent or undermine national legal systems and independent court decisions;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2081(INI)

Francisco ASSIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Hana JALLOUL MURO, Chloé RIDEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Marco TARQUINIO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)

43a. Takes the firm position that the export of spyware from the Union to third countries where such tools are used against human rights activists, journalists and government critics, is a severe violation of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter and a gross violation of Union export rules;

2024/11/07
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

D a. whereas the EU needs to keep moving forward towards an own and autonomous European Diplomacy in all areas, including public and cultural, economic, climate, digital and cyber diplomacy, among others, led by a EU diplomatic service which is determined by a common diplomatic culture from an EU perspective;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

D b. whereas the EU’s credibility and coherence is a paramount requirement for the correct implementation of its External Action as it reinforces trust towards the EU among different actors and third countries; whereas the efficiency of the EU’s actions worldwide is subjected to ensuring the highest level of coordination and coherence in the EU’s external action; whereas coordination among the Commission and the EEAS should be strengthened, particularly due to the lack of operational budget of the EEAS;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Vasile DÎNCU, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)

D c. whereas geopolitical and humanitarian global crisis demonstrate the need for the EU to provide itself with credible and first-hand information on existent and possible external threats to the EU, in order to be able to react rapidly and effectively, as well as to better protect its interests abroad;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 8

– the ongoing attempts by Armenia and Azerbaijan to normalise their relations; encourages them to sign a comprehensive peace agreement without delay and urges the Azerbaijani authorities to withdraw from all parts of the sovereign territory of Armenia and to release 23 remaining Armenian hostages;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 8 a (new)

– the ICC prosecutor application to the Court’s Pre-Trial Chamber of arrest warrants for Hamas officials and the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister of Israel and for war crimes;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 8 b (new)

– the ICJ Case 192 - Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel);

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 8 c (new)

– the Advisory opinion of the ICJ on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in OPT, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in OPT;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Thijs REUTEN, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 8 d (new)

– the latest reports of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, as well as its legal analysis and recommendations on implementation of the International Court of Justice;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Alessandra MORETTI, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4

– the brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks committed by Hamas across Israel on 7 October 2023~~, which triggered a conflict in Gaza that has a disproportionate effect on civilians and caused a catastrophic humanitarian situation~~;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 a (new)

– the current conflict in Gaza that has a disproportionate effect on civilians and caused a catastrophic humanitarian situation;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 b (new)

– Israel's authorities’ constant attempts to undermine and discredit the UN, its Secretary General and, especially, UNRWA, as well as its attacks on UNIFIL;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4 c (new)

– the legislation adopted by the Knesset banning the activities of UNRWA and ceasing its relations with Israel authorities; deplores the dire consequences this will have for the region as UNRWA is the main humanitarian assistance structure in Gaza and the West Bank, of which millions of people depend for vital services; recalls that this legislation infringes international law;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Vasile DÎNCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 4 a (new)

– calls to carefully analyse the incompatibilities between Türkiye’s candidacy to the BRICS+ and the EU’s CFSP;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Vasile DÎNCU, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 5

– the fact that the law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’, the law on ‘family values and protection of minors’, as well as the changes to the Electoral Code in Georgia, are incompatible with EU values and democratic principles; recalls that Georgia’s bid for accession to the EU will be assessed on the basis of its own merits and of the country’s success in meeting the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership; notes that citizens of Georgia have demonstrated their attachment to democratic values and their country advancing on the EU integration; stresses that the democratic backsliding in Georgia needs to be reversed and guarantee a conducive environment for media, civil society and opposition;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Urges to a diplomatic solution to the war, that respects international norms, with the aim of achieving peace; unwaveringly supports the 10-point peace plan put forward by Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy and recalls that any initiative aimed at ending the Russian war of aggression needs to be based on input provided by Ukraine and ultimately accepted by the Ukrainian people;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Affirms the right of Israel to defend itself as enshrined in and constrained by international law; calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and a subsequently imminent and permeant ceasefire to address the risk of mass starvation and the outbreak of a health epidemic in Gaza; recalls that Israel also has the obligation to protect the civilian population and that military operations must be proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law; recalls how support to UNRWA remains crucial to the EU’s strategy for promoting stability as well as support to the civilian population and development in the Middle East; calls for sustained and increased support to UNRWA in view of the unprecedented needs in Gaza and the wider region; welcomes the actions taken by the UN following serious allegations regarding the Agency’s staff and welcomes UNRWA's full commitment to implement the recommendations stemming from the ‘Colonna report', echo the European Council conclusions of 17 October 2024 and condemns the adoption of laws by the Israeli Knesset which could prevent UNRWA from continuing its essential work;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Affirms the right of Israel to defend itself as enshrined in and constrained by international law and international humanitarian law; calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and ~~a subsequently imminent and permeant ceasefire to address the risk of mass starvation and the outbreak of a health epidemic in Gaza;~~ recalls that Israel also has the obligation to protect the civilian population and that military operations must be proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Welcomes sanctions adopted against extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as violent activists, blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza; calls for the adoption of a package of sanctions against Israeli authorities and military responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the region; urges to immediately review the EU-Israel Association Agreement and consider its suspension in case of non-compliance with human rights obligations;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)

15c. Urges to address the risk of mass starvation, the worsening of health conditions and the outbreak of a health epidemic in Gaza;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Vasile DÎNCU, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Reiterates its unwavering support for a negotiated two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 borders, with two sovereign, democratic states as peaceful neighbours and with Jerusalem as their shared capital; welcomes the launch of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and calls for the VP/HR to continue investing heavily on a ceasefire and a peaceful solution of the conflict; condemns the acceleration of the illegal Israeli settlement of Palestinian land, which constitutes a violation of international law; expresses concern over the rising violence committed by Israeli forces and extremist settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem; expresses support for US President Biden’s three- phase Peace Plan and regrets the lack of will on both sides to ensure its implementation; regrets, further, that the latest rounds of peace talks did not bring any tangible results;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Thijs REUTEN, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Shares the objective of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons at all costs; points, however, to the fact that the regime in Tehran has clearly rejected a revival of the JCPOA and, at the same time, increased its nuclear weapons capability; ~~regrets the fact that there is currently no strategy in place to persuade Iran to refrain from building military nuclear capacity, nor a plan of action for the event that~~calls upon the VP/HR to put forward a strategy towards Iran that includes a plan of action in case Iran ~~does~~ crosses the nuclear threshold; ~~calls upon the VP/HR to put forward a revised strategy towards Iran;~~

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Deplores the distorted use of the organizations of multilateral fora by the hand of a number of third countries, and particularly authoritarian and totalitarian regimes, such as in some cases particular friendship groups in the UN, in order to advance an agenda that challenges human rights and the multilateral and rules-based world order; underlines the serious consequences of discrediting and attacking these multilateral organizations, such as the UN, which can foster a culture of impunity; calls on the EU to develop a robust strategy along with like- minded countries in order to contain this situation and to send a united and strong message of support to these organizations when attacked or threatened;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Recalls that the transatlantic relationship remains one of the most important and strategic relationship for the EU and its Member States, which has been emphasised by the unity and strength of the partnership demonstrated following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; underlines that a strong transatlantic relationship remains indispensable for the security of the partners on both sides of the Atlantic; calls on the Commission to foster closer ties with key partners in both the US and Canada in order to counter global challenges that affect our shared values, interests, security and prosperity;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Considers that the ~~rise of China~~China's envision to redefine the global order remains one of the primary geopolitical challenges of the 21st century and requires a multi- dimensional response through which the EU maintains its engagement with China on a number of key issues; calls on the VP/HR and the Member States to maintain diplomatic engagement while increasing the EU’s assertiveness towards China in order for it to assume its responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council; reminds the position of China as a partner for cooperation, an economic competitor and a systemic rival, particularly within the areas of digital transformation and climate transition;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Vasile DÎNCU, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Emphasises the need to continue stepping up the EU’s engagement with like-minded countries in Latin America, particularly given the growing influence of China and Russia in Latin America and the Caribbean; calls on the Member States and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to pursue proactive diplomacy in the region, with a strong emphasis on defending the multilateral global order, international law and respect for democracy and human rights; welcomes the EU-CELAC informal meeting and the implementation of initiatives under the EU-CELAC Roadmap 2023-2025 and, in this regard, underlines the need to adopt a new and ambitious roadmap at the 2025 Summit, that keeps strengthening our partnership and takes into account the best practices accomplished so far;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Believes simultaneously in the significance of building new alliances, inter alia with the countries in our neighbourhood ~~as well as in the ‘Global South’, taking into account mutual needs and interests in order to foster real and balanced partnerships~~;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)

36a. Calls for further strengthening our relations with the “Global South”, taking into account mutual needs and interests in order to foster real and balanced partnerships; underlines that the EU should reinforce these relations by fostering a pro-active and inclusive engagement in different areas with these countries as equal partners; highlights the need to analyse the geopolitical and geo- economic concerns of the Global South and jointly address them;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Highlights the role of the VP/HR as a bridge-builder between the CFSP and EU external relations to ensure the highest level of coordination and coherence in EU external action; calls on the Commission to strengthen its coordination with the EEAS in this area, including by guaranteeing full compliance of Article 3.2 and 9, which may need to be updated, of the EEAS Decision; regrets, nonetheless, that in some cases there is a lack of clarity in the external representation of the EU; stresses the need to clearly define the competences of the VP/HR, the President of the Commission and the President of the European Council with regard to the EU’s external action and representation;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. Calls for the EEAS – both its headquarters and EU delegations – to be strengthened through the provision of the appropriate financial and human resources so that the EU can be better prepared for current and emerging global challenges; calls ~~on the VP/HR to swiftly come up with proposals for the future operational structure of the EU’s external action~~for the EEAS to be able to select and recruit their permanent EU diplomatic staff and to ensure a fairer gender and geographical balance among Member States across all levels within the EEAS; calls on the VP/HR to swiftly come up with proposals for the future operational structure of the EU’s external action and to fully take into account the EP resolution on taking stock of the functioning of the EEAS and for a stronger EU in the world;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)

38a. Underlines the need to determine ways of access to the EEAS for those graduating from the European Diplomatic Academy and for them to have the possibility to become a permanent part of its staff; calls for the forenamed Academy to include Europeans who are not Member States ‘diplomats and have completed a higher education in its system of selection, recruitment and training; stresses the importance to ensure that sufficient resources, including human resources, are allocated to the Academy;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 b (new)

38b. Reiterates its call to promote the establishment of a system of automatic and continuous flow of intelligence from Member States to the EEAS on foreign and security issues occurring outside the Union; urges to improve the security protocols of the services working on intelligence and/or with sensible information;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

39. Calls on the Commission to effectively and swiftly use the Global Gateway as a sustainable alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative and as an instrument to increase the EU’s presence and visibility worldwide; stresses the need for the EU’s support to other alternatives, such as the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, the India– Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor, or the Lobito Corridor;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. Calls for the further development of the EU’s preventive diplomacy, including peace mediation and dialogue, as a proactive foreign policy tool~~; urges the EEAS to conduct ‘lessons learnt’ exercises~~, as well as to strengthening its tools and increase the EEAS resources in this regard, particularly the CSDP and crisis response Division; calls to integrate EU’s preventive diplomacy tools within structural prevention mechanisms and actions, such as for instance political agreements among different actors involved in conflicts, national dialogues for reconciliation, peacebuilding and transitional justice, as well as truth and reconciliation commissions; urges the EEAS to conduct ‘lessons learnt’ exercises, particularly regarding the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon; underlines the use of litigation through an international court or tribunal, such as the ICC or the ITLOS, as a method of preventive diplomacy;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Vasile DÎNCU, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)

41a. Calls for the Digital sovereignty of the EU to be one of its External Action priorities in the upcoming years; urges to develop a clear and ambitious EU Digital Strategy that contributes to asserting its autonomy and protecting its strategic interests in this area, which goes from securing strategic materials and commodities to the adoption of international norms; stresses that this strategy should taking into account the challenges for digital transformation and green transition within the EU; welcomes the Digital Diplomacy Network and considers the need to institutionalise its work by establishing an EU Special Representative for Digital Diplomacy; calls for the creation of “EU for AI” hubs to develop initiatives and foster co- creation in this area;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Vasile DÎNCU, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 b (new)

41b. Calls to strengthen the EU’s cultural diplomacy and international cultural relations as a relevant instrument for peace and for addressing global challenges; urges to increase EU’s support to third countries creative and artistic sectors, including assistance on capacity building; calls to promote cultural co-creation between third countries, including by fostering cultural exchanges and residences; in this regard, stresses the need to reinforce the EEAS StratCom; welcomes the upcoming participation of the EU and the Osaka World Expo and supports making this a permanent practice, as well as its presence in international book fairs;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Vasile DÎNCU, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 c (new)

41c. Underlines the need for the EU to count with the necessary first-hand information on global issues occurring outside its borders in the light of increasing geopolitical challenges and crisis worldwide; calls, in this regard, for strengthening the EU INTCEN, the EEAS Crisis Response Center and the SatCen by enhancing its staff and financial resources, as well as capabilities;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Vasile DÎNCU, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Reaffirms the role of the EU Special Representatives, who promote the EU’s policies and interests in specific regions and countries and play an important role in the development of a stronger and more effective CFSP by providing the EU with an active political presence in key countries and regions, acting as a ‘voice’ and ‘face’ for the EU and its policies; stresses the importance for EUSRs to have a broad, flexible mandate, capable of adapting to evolving geopolitical circumstances in order to promote the EU's policies and interests in specific regions and countries and play an active role in preventive diplomacy efforts;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 – indent 1 a (new)

– to prepare targeted sanctions against destabilising actors within Bosnia and Herzegovina, including those threatening its sovereignty and territorial integrity, notably Milorad Dodik; to respond every time to secessionist rhetoric with regard to Bosnia and Herzegovina and to all froms of genocide denial and glorification of convicted war criminals in the region; calls on the member states to urge Bosnia and Herzegovina to follow up on all relevant ECHR rulings on its discriminatory electoral system, including the Kovačević ruling and to implement constitutional and electoral reform; calls on Commission and member states to insist with High Representative Christian Schmidt to refrain from further interference with the court proceedings on this case;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Vasile DÎNCU, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44

44. Calls on the VP/HR to follow up on the examples of the successful evacuation actions in Sudan and of the stepped-up consular protection, and to work towards a comprehensive system of protection for EU citizens abroad; stresses that the impact of continuous crises and conflicts worldwide can entail the risk of overloading Member States’ consular protection and/or assistance and calls, in this regard, to strengthen the capabilities and resources of the EEAS Crisis Response Center and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Vasile DÎNCU, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)

44a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to bring forth sound proposals on achieving an own and permanent seat for the Union in every multilateral fora, including in the UNSC, in order to strengthen EU’s actorness, coherence and credibility in the world;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Vasile DÎNCU, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 a (new)

50a. Reminds that the EEAS is structurally underfunded and should not be subjected to the same constraints as the other institutions regarding the approach to the administrative budget; is deeply concerned by the serious and far-reaching negative consequences for the EU’s External Action, and the performance of the EU institutions in this area, of these abovementioned budgetary issues; highlights the increasing responsibilities tasked to the EEAS by EU institutions, including the Council and the Parliament; acknowledges that the lack of action to rectify the current budgetary situation of the EEAS can severely impact in the EU’s relations with third countries; recalls the lack of operational budget of the EEAS and calls to analyse its consequences and alternatives;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2080(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Sven MIKSER, Alessandra MORETTI, Yannis MANIATIS, Vasile DÎNCU, Marco TARQUINIO, Hana JALLOUL MURO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 b (new)

50b. Calls on the Commission to include in its proposal for the next MFF robust capabilities and resources for the EU External Action taking into account the increasingly challenging international arena; in this regard, reminds that is crucial to further strengthening our support to human rights, democracy and development in third countries as a world of democracies is a safer world; underlines that resources to the EU’s Digital Diplomacy should be further strengthened given the current context of rapid technological advancements and geopolitical competition; insists that “green diplomacy” and the green transition, as one of the EU's priorities, should be enhanced towards third countries through the EU's External Action;

2024/11/08
Committee: AFET

2024/2024(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Insists on the budgetary increase for CFSP actions and other appropriate peace, conflict and crisis response instruments, as well as IT and security protocols, in order to fully match EU’s activities and capabilities with current challenges and conflicts worldwide;

2024/12/12
Committee: AFET

2024/2024(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Reminds that is crucial to further strengthening our support to human rights, democracy and development in third countries through the NDICI - Global Europe, as a world of democracies is a safer world; underlines that resources to the EU’s Digital Diplomacy should be further increased given the current context of rapid technological advancements and geopolitical competition; insists that “green diplomacy” and the green transition, as one of the EU's priorities, should be enhanced towards third countries through the EU's External Action;

2024/12/12
Committee: AFET

2024/2024(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Reminds that the EEAS is structurally underfunded and should not be subjected to the same constraints as the other institutions regarding the approach to the administrative budget; is deeply concerned by the serious and far-reaching negative consequences for the EU’s External Action, and the performance of the EU institutions in this area, of these abovementioned budgetary issues; highlights the increasing responsibilities tasked to the EEAS by EU institutions, including the Council and the Parliament; acknowledges that the lack of action to rectify the current budgetary situation of the EEAS can severely impact in the EU’s relations with third countries; recalls the lack of operational budget of the EEAS and calls to analyse its consequences and alternatives;

2024/12/12
Committee: AFET

2024/2024(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Is deeply concerned by the proposal for a radical restructuring of the EU’s presence abroad through a drastic reduction in staff numbers of EU Delegations, within the context of the abovementioned budgetary constraints; notes that, if approved, the plan will negatively impact the effectiveness of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) - Global Europe;

2024/12/12
Committee: AFET

2024/2019(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Notes that the efficiency of the EU’s actions worldwide is subjected to ensuring the highest level of coordination and coherence in the EU’s external action, particularly by ascertaining the HR/VP leading role as a bridge builder between the CFSP and EU external relations; whereas coordination among the Commission and the EEAS should be strengthened, particularly due to the lack of operational budget of the EEAS, including by guaranteeing full compliance of Article 3.2 and 9 of the EEAS Decision;

2024/12/12
Committee: AFET

2024/2019(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Is deeply concerned by the proposal for a radical restructuring of the EU’s presence abroad through a drastic reduction in staff numbers of EU Delegations, within the context of the abovementioned budgetary constraints; notes that, if approved, the plan will negatively impact the effectiveness of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) - Global Europe;

2024/12/12
Committee: AFET

2024/0176(BUD)

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the efficiency of the EU’s actions worldwide is subjected to ensuring the highest level of coordination and coherence in the EU’s external action, particularly by ascertaining the HR/VP leading role as a bridge builder between the CFSP and EU external relations; whereas coordination among the Commission and the EEAS should be strengthened, particularly due to the lack of operational budget of the EEAS, including by guaranteeing full compliance of Article 3.2 and 9 of the EEAS Decision;

2024/09/11
Committee: AFET

2024/0176(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Notes with concern the reductions for the Neighbourhood East in NDICI which is underfunded by EUR 150 million for the remainder of this MFF; considers it therefore necessary for the 2025 Union budget to increase this budget line by EUR 50 million; reminds that against a backdrop of increasing violations of human rights and democratic values across the world, as well as the weakening of protection of democratic institutions and the shrinking space for civil societies, the EU needs to count with a strong budget for the NDICI;

2024/09/11
Committee: AFET

2024/0176(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Believes that further targeted reinforcements are needed in areas such as digital diplomacy and cybersecurity, the fight against disinformation, capacity development, enlargement, election observation, nuclear safety, support for civil society organisations~~, even~~ and human rights defenders; calls, ifn this ~~will require~~regard, for the use of flexibility instruments, such as the Single Margin Instrument;

2024/09/11
Committee: AFET

2024/0176(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Considers that resources and tools for digital diplomacy and the use of Artificial Intelligence in the EU's External Action and security and defence should be further strengthened; stresses that in a moment of rapid technological advancements and geopolitical competition, the EU's leadership in these areas is crucial for its relevance and resilience; highlights that it is crucial to explore new ways on how to collaborate with third countries in this regard and create platforms for the transfer of knowledge and for co-creation;

2024/09/11
Committee: AFET

2024/0176(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Insists that “green diplomacy” and the green transition, as one of the EU's priorities, should be enhanced towards third countries through the EU's External Action; stresses the need to explore new ways and resources on how to collaborate with third countries in this regard; highlights its crucial role in the respect for international obligations and multilateralism;

2024/09/11
Committee: AFET

2024/0176(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Recognises that is still necessary to increase the financial support of the EU to UNRWA in 2025, due to the agency’s critical financial situation that jeopardizes its ability to fulfil its important role effectively; reminds that UNRWA is the principal humanitarian assistance structure in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as an essential service provider in the region; stresses that the UN- commissioned "Colonna Report" highlights that UNRWA has established numerous mechanisms and procedures to ensure neutrality, which has in some cases a more developed than other similar UN or NGO entities;

2024/09/11
Committee: AFET

2024/0176(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Believ~~Stresses that the European External Action Service is structurally underfunded and should not be ~~treated like~~subjected to the same constraints as the other institutions regarding the approach to the administrative budget; is deeply concerned by the serious and far-reaching negative consequences for the EU’s External Action, and the performance of the EU institutions in this area, of these abovementioned budgetary issues; highlights the increasing responsibilities tasked to the EEAS by EU institutions, including the Council and the Parliament; notes that the requirements for an institution with 145 diplomatic missions and offices around the world is fundamentally different to institutions operating at a single location; acknowledges that the lack of action to rectify the current budgetary situation of the EEAS can severely impact in the EU’s relations with third countries;

2024/09/11
Committee: AFET

2024/0176(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Stresses that, ahead of increasing geopolitical challenges and crisis worldwide, the EU needs to count with the necessary first-hand information on global issues occurring outside its borders; calls, in this regard, for strengthening the EU INTCEN, the EEAS Crisis Response Center and the SatCen by enhancing its staff and financial resources, as well as capabilities;

2024/09/11
Committee: AFET

2024/0176(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Insists on the budgetary increase for CFSP actions and other appropriate conflict and crisis response instruments in order to fully match EU’s activities and capabilities with current challenges and conflicts worldwide;

2024/09/11
Committee: AFET

2024/0176(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)

8c. Highlights that given the increasing cyber threats/attacks from third countries and proxies, the EEAS needs to count with strong IT systems and security protocols that ensure a robust protection of the information and "intelligence" that EU Delegations and HQ deal with;

2024/09/11
Committee: AFET

2024/0176(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 d (new)

8d. Calls to guarantee that EU Delegations count with a focal point on conflict prevention and resolution, as well as peace building; ensure that EU Delegations, and particularly the abovementioned focal points, provide constant ground information to the EU conflict Early Warning System, the EU INTCEN and the EEAS Crisis Response Center;

2024/09/11
Committee: AFET

2024/0176(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 e (new)

8e. Stresses the need to allocate the necessary resources to the Strategic Communication and Foresight division of the EEAS given the necessity for the EU to increase its investment in public and cultural diplomacy and communication efforts;

2024/09/11
Committee: AFET

2023/2134(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Is deeply concerned by the budgetary constraints the EEAS is facing, which can have serious and far-reaching negative consequences for the EU’s external action overall and the performance of the EU institutions in this area; acknowledges that the lack of action to rectify the current budgetary situation of the EEAS can severely impact the EU’s relations with third countries; strongly affirms the need to provide the EEAS with the required financial and staff resources both at its headquarters and in EU Delegations;

2023/12/14
Committee: AFET

2023/2134(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Stresses that, ahead of increasing geopolitical challenges and crisis worldwide, the EU needs to be able to rely on necessary first-hand information on global issues occurring outside its borders; calls, in this regard, for strengthening the EU INTCEN, the EEAS Crisis Response Center and the SatCen by enhancing its staff and financial resources, as well as its capabilities;

2023/12/14
Committee: AFET

2023/2134(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Considers it essential for the EU to increase its investment in public and cultural diplomacy and communication efforts, particularly ahead of the active engagement of authoritarian and illiberal regimes; stresses, therefore, the need to allocate the necessary resources to the Strategic Communication and Foresight division of the EEAS;

2023/12/14
Committee: AFET

2023/2134(DEC)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Włodzimierz CIMOSZEWICZ, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Calls for the establishment of a permanent structure and the necessary resources for the European Diplomatic Academy, which can contribute to fully developing an autonomous EU diplomacy with a common diplomatic based on an EU perspective; considers that in the future this Academy should include a system of selection, recruitment and training of Europeans who have completed higher education and are not diplomats of Member States; stresses the need to explore and decide on ways of access to the EEAS for those graduating from this Academy;

2023/12/14
Committee: AFET

2023/2127(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the promotion and protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law should remain at the centre of the relationship between the EU and China, in line with the EU’s commitment to upholding these fundamental principles in all areas of its external action;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2023/2127(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g

(g) insist that China fulfils its international legal responsibilities as a global power by upholding human rights and the rule of law, and should be held accountable for human rights violations;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2023/2127(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h

(h) ensure a ~~unified~~ European ~~approach~~response when China uses its economic leverage to silence opposition against its human rights abuses; intensify the Human Rights Dialogue in view of bringing genuine human rights improvements and include Members of the European Parliament in theis Human Rights Dialogue with China ~~and work towards~~; deliver a united approach on cultural and academic cooperation with China while preventing undue influence from Chinese sources of finance;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2023/2127(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i

(i) ~~support an~~urge a proper implementation of the recommendations of the independent and impartial UN investigation into human rights violations in China, in particular in Xinjiang and Tibet, and urge the Chinese authorities to grant meaningful access to the regions concerned and immediately and unconditionally release the Uyghur scholar and 2019 Sakharov Prize Laureate Ilham Tohti; call on the EU to urge China allowing a similar investigation to take place in Tibet against repression, detention facilities, extrajudicial killings, assimilation of Tibetan children in residential schools and forced abortion and sterilisation; urge the Chinese authorities to grant meaningful access to the regions concerned and immediately and unconditionally release the Uyghur scholar and 2019 Sakharov Prize Laureate Ilham Tohti; more generally urge to terminate the systemic repression, to close all detention camps and to lift sanctions and release all political prisoners and Human Rights Defenders detained in China;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2023/2127(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Włodzimierz CIMOSZEWICZ, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i a (new)

(ia) welcome the European Commission proposal for a regulation to prohibit products made using forced labour, including child labour, on the internal market of European Union; urge the EU co-legislators to speed up the process to come to an agreement as a matter of urgency and before the end of the parliamentary term;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2023/2127(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k

(k) show solidarity with the Chinese civil society ~~in China and Hong Kong~~ and speed up the implementation of the E~~uropean h~~U Global Human rRights ~~framework with Magnitsky-style~~ sanctions Regime in close collaboration with international partners, including the freezing of foreign assets and visa restrictions against those involved in human rights abuses, including political decision makers in Hong Kong and Macao;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2023/2127(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Włodzimierz CIMOSZEWICZ, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l

(l) identify and close down any avenues that currently facilitate transnational repression efforts by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including in the European Union and in particular those targeting diaspora communities through the Chinese overseas police service stations, in cooperation and coordination with like- minded partners;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2023/2127(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l a (new)

(la) actively work to counteract foreign interference and implement the recommendations and suggested initiatives referred to in the different resolutions and reports of the European Parliament related to foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2023/2127(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Włodzimierz CIMOSZEWICZ, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n

(n) condemn attempts by the Chinese authorities to target Hong Kong diaspora communities within the EU ~~and call on Member States to suspend extradition treaties with the PRC and Hong Kong~~, through the Chinese overseas police service stations in the EU which should unconditionally be closed down, and call on Member States to suspend extradition treaties with the PRC and Hong Kong and to protect individuals who are harassed and persecuted in the EU and those at risk of extradition;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2023/2127(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n a (new)

(na) urge the EU and the Member States to actively engage and offer assistance and support to human rights and democracy activists in China; denounce that China’s responses to protests and forms of political public demonstrations go against with international human rights standards and its obligations under international human rights law;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2023/2127(INI)

Pedro MARQUES, Tonino PICULA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Isabel SANTOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point x

(x) establish a ‘Far-East StratCom Task Force’ as part of the European External Action Service, to be tasked with identifying, monitoring and countering disinformation ~~efforts and nation-specific actions by~~, information manipulation efforts, interference and nation-specific actions originating from various countries, including China;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2023/2122(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

A a. whereas Article 11 of the Treaty of the European Union (TEU) requires the EU institutions to maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society;

2023/10/05
Committee: AFET

2023/2122(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

C a. whereas interest representatives, including NGOs, should be subject to scrutiny, due diligence and transparency rules, in particular with regard to financing, with proportional criteria and non-cumbersome procedures, in particular for small NGOs;

2023/10/05
Committee: AFET

2023/2122(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

C b. whereas strengthening the transparency requirements for interest representatives and entities, including NGOs, could serve the purpose of tracing foreign interference; whereas these requirements, however, should not stigmatise legitimate foreign funding;

2023/10/05
Committee: AFET

2023/2122(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital C c (new)

C c. whereas in September 2023, the European Parliament amended its Rules of Procedures with a view to strengthening integrity, independence and accountability;

2023/10/05
Committee: AFET

2023/2122(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that NGOs and CSOs working for the promotion and protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law both within and outside the EU play an important role in our societies ~~around the world~~; highlights, in this regard, the crucial work of these organisations in ~~collecting public interest information, exploring and~~actively promoting and defending human rights and democracy, combating any form of discrimination, pro~~pos~~moting ~~new ways of promoting human rights and democracy~~intercultural dialogue, fighting for a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, informing individuals, especially the most vulnerable, about their rights and standing up for them when those rights are violated, promoting civic engagement and public participation, countering disinformation and hate speech, collecting public interest information and holding governments and elected representatives accountable to citizens, and fighting corruption and impunity for human rights abuses;

2023/10/05
Committee: AFET

2023/2122(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Is alarmed by the fact that some governments, whose aim is to shrink civil society space and silence dissenting voices, have adopted legislation based, inter alia, on security, counter-terrorism and the fight against foreign interference, that imposes discriminatory obligations on human rights NGOs, stigmatises, restricts or bans their activities, including by closing these NGOs, freezing their assets, deterring their donors from contributing funds or depriving them from access to funding; expresses its deep concern regarding the fact that similar laws have also been proposed and adopted in some EU Member States;

2023/10/05
Committee: AFET

2023/2122(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the need to make ~~more~~as transparent and accessible as possible to the public, the available information on the beneficiaries, including NGOs, of EU external action funds dedicated to human rights and democracy support and to the related EU- funded projects which are implemented worldwide; acknowledges the precarious conditions faced by some human rights defenders and NGOs in non- EU countries; believes, in this regard, that confidentiality and data protection must be ensured in order not to put them at risk; calls on the Commission to develop more flexible strategies of supporting civil society actors in repressive environments that have difficulties benefitting from assistance through traditional funding channels due to their legal status, for instance non-registered entities or individuals;

2023/10/05
Committee: AFET

2023/2122(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Commission to improve the clarity and organisation of information and data available in the Financial Transparency System on the beneficiaries of EU-funded projects to be implemented, in ~~particular,~~cluding in the field of human rights and democracy support;

2023/10/05
Committee: AFET

2023/2122(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Recommends that the legal obligations on transparency and financial accountability be applied identically to all human rights NGOs benefiting from EU funding, independently of whether they take on the role of coordinator or member of an EU-funded project consortium;deleted

2023/10/05
Committee: AFET

2023/2122(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Points out~~Notes that human rights NGOs receiving EU funding give visibility to the EU’s support in different ways, and sometimes incompletely, through various communication channels, including official websites; underlines that sometimes these differences could also depend on the fact that, under certain authoritarian and illiberal regimes, the dissemination of such information may put human rights NGOs at risk; calls for the establishment of harmonised but flexible approaches to make EU funding for human rights and democracy support more ~~transparent and~~ visible to the public, while avoiding putting at risk NGOs that operate in critical local civic space contexts;

2023/10/05
Committee: AFET

2023/2122(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. SDenounces the use of organisations sponsored by governments of non-EU countries (government- organised NGOs (GONGOs)) to spread disinformation and false narratives related, in particular, to human rights issues; stresses that the funding by non-EU countries of EU-based legal entities, including human rights NGOs, while also carrying out lobbying or advocacy activities within the EU and aiming to influence EU foreign policymaking, raises questions as to their objectives; denounces the use of organisations sponsored by non-EU country governments (government-organised NGOs (GONGOs)) to spread disinformation and false narratives related, in particular, to human rights issuesmay at times expose these NGOs to external influences; believes that transparency requirements should not, however, stigmatise legitimate foreign funding; highlights that, in the context of recent corruption allegations against some Members of the European Parliament, an NGO, not registered in the EU Transparency Register and whose stated purpose was to carry out advocacy activities on human rights, is suspected to have been used as a vector of foreign interference; considers that there is a public interest in knowing the financial sources, including non-EU funding, of ~~the~~all stakeholders active in the fields of lobbying or advocacy;

2023/10/05
Committee: AFET

2023/2122(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the progress made in the use of the EU Transparency Register and is committed to continuing its work to expand the scope of the Register and strengthen the monitoring of the data it contains; points out that, as a general rule, annual financial data on the sources of funding, including EU grants and domestic and non-EU donations, of registered legal entities are made publicly available under the EU Transparency Register; stresses that, since 12 July 2023, the participation of ‘interest representatives’ as invited active guests at Parliament’s events is conditional on their prior registration in the EU Transparency Register, except if registration is likely to endanger an individual’s life or personal safety or where other compelling reasons require confidentiality; recalls that the EU Transparency Register (Annex II) requires that NGOs provide their main sources of funding by category; stresses that the measures requiring NGOs to disclose all funding sources must take into account the situation of NGOs operating in countries under authoritarian and illiberal regimes, in particular when the disclosure of such information could put them and their work at risk because of the application of repressive legislation such as ‘foreign agents’ laws and similar;

2023/10/05
Committee: AFET

2023/2122(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Recognises, however, that the EU institutions, including Parliament, should have been more diligent in ensuring greater transparency, integrity and accountability regarding their framework for interaction with entities listed in the EU Transparency Register; also acknowledges that further resources are needed to strengthen the transparency and accountability of the lobbying or advocacy activities of legal persons or entities, including human rights NGOWelcomes the European Parliament's decision of 13 September 2023 amending Parliament’s Rules of Procedure with a view to strengthening integrity, independence and accountability; stresses that these measures should, under no circumstance, contribute directly or indirectly to endanger or put at risk any individual such as human rights defenders or journalists;

2023/10/05
Committee: AFET

2023/2122(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Recommends that legal entities 11. engaging in lobbying, including NGOs, be required to register in the EU Transparency Register as a condition for applying for EU grants and receiving EU funding; cCalls all EU institutions for far stricter implementation, enforcement and supervision of adherence to the current provisions on the EU Transparency Register; calls for the opening of interinstitutional tallks ~~on the Commission to present proposals to enhance the transparency of interest representati~~to review the Interinstitutional Agreement on the EU Transparency Register long b~~odies and to ensure that lobby~~efore the deadlinge o~~r advocacy activities, in particular on behalf of non-EU country governments, their~~f July 2025; insists that the EU Transparency Register should be strengthened by increasing its budgets and ~~their policy scope are properly disclosed under the EU Transparency Register and that false declarations are subject to sanctions.~~its staff so that it is able to offer support to all applicants and registrants, especially small entities and NGOs, throughout the registration process and verify the information they provided more thoroughly;

2023/10/05
Committee: AFET

2023/2119(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Recalls the need for enhanced intelligence sharing and information exchange among Member States and EU institutions, including Parliament, to improve situational awareness, counter security threats and better inform policy making; calls ~~on the VP/HR and the Member States to reinforce the Single Intelligence Analysis Capacity (SIAC)~~to establish a system of automatic and continuous flow of intelligence from Member States to the EEAS and EU INTCEN on foreign and security issues occurring outside the Union; stresses the need to improve the security protocols of the services working on intelligence and/or with sensible information in the EU; calls on the VP/HR and the Member States to reinforce the Single Intelligence Analysis Capacity (SIAC); calls for the strengthening of the EU INTCEN and the EEAS Crisis Response Centre by enhancing its staff and financial resources, as well as capabilities;

2023/10/02
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the European Parliament is one of the most respected parliaments or assemblies in the world, whose positions and resolutions are taken note of and often generate reactions and repercussions in third countries;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas the European Parliament develops its role in parliamentary diplomacy, among others, through its 45 delegations that maintain and deepen relations with other parliaments of non- EU countries, regions and organisations, spreading the positions the European Parliament adopts;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG) of the European Parliament, which is headed by the chairs of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Development and includes MEPs from across the political spectrum, oversee Parliament's efforts to support democracy beyond the EU, including with regard to election observation, mediation and dialogue; whereas through the Jean- Monnet Dialogue for peace and democracy, Parliament brings non-EU political leaders together to promote inter- party communication and consensus building; whereas MEPs act as special envoys and mediators for conflict prevention in situations of high tension in specific countries;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)

Cd. whereas the European Parliament assists national parliaments and international regional assemblies beyond the EU’s borders in order to reinforce their institutional capacity and it establishes an ongoing dialogue with these legislatures, exchanging best practices and supporting their participation as fully-fledged members of the democratic community;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Recital C e (new)

Ce. whereas Parliament is developing an increasing role as a normative actor worldwide, including in inter- parliamentary cooperation;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas by exercising parliamentary diplomacy Parliament engages through dialogue with elected officials ~~and diplomat~~, government representatives, diplomats, public institutions, as well as civil society representatives and other stakeholders from non-EU countries and multilateral institutions on a continuous basis, ~~in particular through the work of its delegations and committees, including through holding hearings and country visit~~promoting the EU interests in general and encouraging their partners to uphold universal values;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1

A~~n emerg~~ consolidating parliamentary diplomacy

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes Parliament’s growing role in the EU’s external action, gradually evolving ~~from a somewhat marginal~~ to a substantial one, combining its legislative, budgetary and scrutiny powers with multiple forms of engagement with countries and societies from outside the EU; underlines particularly Parliament’s budgetary powers and its consent power to EU international agreements;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Highlights the distinct role and value of parliamentary diplomacy in complementing EU's diplomacy and reinforcing the visibility and impact of EU foreign and security policy, alongside the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Commission and the diplomatic services of the Member States, while assuring the Parliament’s own autonomy; underlines, in this sense, the paramount importance of parliamentary diplomacy as a means to reach out to more diverse stakeholders in partner countries with a view to reinforcing awareness about EU legislation and positions, to better understanding perceptions, impacts and consequences of such legislation and positions in third countries and to forging alliances and solid partnerships in an increasingly complex and multipolar international context;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and Parliament’s activities in this regard to promote political pluralism and democratic parliamentary standards worldwide, as well as to contribute in the improvement of human rights in third countries; notes that MEPs can address more sensitive issues, such as human rights violations and make public statements on these, open avenues for communication or engage with local partners when the space of traditional diplomacy is more restricted;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Highlights Parliament’s specific, dynamic and public contribution to the EU’s foreign and security policy through the work of its committees working on external affairs, which contribute to relations with non-EU countries and international organisations; welcomes the visits of presidents and prime ministers, leading government officials and representatives from international and non-governmental organizations to the Committee on Foreign Affairs as an important tool for Parliament’s diplomacy;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Notes that, under the overall oversight of the Committee on Foreign Affairs,~~Stresses that the standing delegations complement the work of the committees by establishing a regular and sustained forum for political dialogue with non-EU countries, including multilateral assemblies and through joint parliamentary bodies ~~and multilateral assemblie~~which constitute the parliamentary dimension of the EU political and trade agreements;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Recognizes the positive contribution of the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (Eurolat) in strengthening and promoting bi-regional relations; appreciates the role of the Eurolat Assembly as a parliamentary institution of the bi-regional strategic partnership between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean, and underlines the need to continue supporting its work to strengthen ties between both regions;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Stresses the important work of Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG) in the fields of international election observation, reinforcement of parliamentary democracy in non-EU countries and in initiatives involving mediation, facilitation and the promotion of human rights; acknowledges its key contribution to the parliamentary diplomacy activities of the Parliament, complementing the activities of the committees and delegations; calls for the findings from DEG activities on specific countries as well as those derived from EU Election Observation Missions to be better integrated into the relevant work of committees, delegations and plenary sessions when focusing on those same countries;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Considers that Parliament’s official missions outside the EU form an integral part of EU external policy, which must therefore enjoy the full support of the EU delegations; stresses the need for these missions to count with the highest level of information and security and, in this regard, calls for the EU INTCEN and the EEAS Crisis Response Center to be provided with all necessary resources;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Underlines that parliamentarians should be fully prepared on the cultural and international cultural relations dimension of a third country when going on an official mission, thus fostering a culture of dialogue within the context of a dialogue of cultures; calls in this regard for the EEAS, and particularly its Strategic Communication and Foresight division, which should count with all necessary resources, to fully support Parliament’s official missions to third countries;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Underscores the pressing need for the European Parliament to enhance coordination and consistency among its own official parliamentary bodies - in particular with regard to the high number of missions abroad - with a view to reinforcing its visibility, efficiency and, ultimately, its credibility vis-a-vis its interlocutors;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)

8c. Suggests that Parliament's Conference of Committee Chairs (CCC) and the Conference of Delegation Chairs (CDC) take up the task of promoting this internal coordination by, among other actions, periodically setting a list of priority countries with whom to engage - based on upcoming legislative files and geopolitical or strategic priorities-, by holding joint exchanges of views on EU relations with priority countries or on horizontal geopolitical issues, and by fostering synergies among the high number of Parliament's missions abroad to avoid unnecessary multiplications, streamline resources and reinforce consistency in Parliament's messages;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Stresses the consistent dedication of Parliament to placing human rights and democracy at the heart of EU external action and providing a key forum in which to hear and amplify the voice of civil society and democratic actors from around the world; reminds, nevertheless, that the provisions set out in the Treaties, such as in Art. 21 of TEU establishing the principles that will guide the EU’s external actions are binding for all EU institutions and therefore warns against any division of roles between ones defending values and other attached only to a 'realpolitik' approach;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Highlights the great relevance of the debates and resolutions on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 144) as one of Parliament's tools with greatest impact abroad when addressing human rights situations in non-EU countries; calls, therefore, for better visibility of these debates and resolutions, including with regard to the agenda of the plenary sessions, and increased involvement during their drafting with relevant office- holders from other parliamentary bodies;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Takes note of EU tools for its relations with Member States’ national parliaments such as COSAC and IPEX and calls to explore the feasibility of their use in the relations with third countries or parliamentary assemblies worldwide; considers that creating an inter- parliamentary platform for exchange of information, such as IPEX, with parliaments outside the EU could strengthen Parliament’s diplomatic toolbox and its relation with parliamentarians from third countries;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Believes that the next parliamentary term and the establishment of the future Commission should be an opportunity to strengthen the framework of interinstitutional relations between Parliament, the EEAS and the Commission, including EU delegations, in order to enhance parliamentary diplomacy and strengthen the EU’s toolbox for external action; calls for a framework on strengthening external action cooperation between the EEAS and the European Parliament, which could enhance the EU’s own foreign policy toolbox and Parliament’s role in EU Diplomacy;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Calls for a further strengthening of Parliament’s relations with the Member States’ national parliaments, which are well-placed bodies to act as a relay towards Member States’ executive branches; highlights the importance of the inter- parliamentary conferences on CFSP/CSDP which can help to better align these policy dimensions within the EU and its Member States;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Considers that Parliament has a unique role to play in bringing EU foreign policy closer to European citizens~~, in particular~~ and in strengthening its democratic legitimacy, including by engaging with sub-state entities such as regional ~~governments and~~ parliaments;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Takes the view that, in the context of backsliding in terms of respect for human rights and democracy worldwide, Parliament has a specific role to play in helping democratically elected parliaments globally to consolidate their institutional role and internal working methods; calls for a strengthened coordination with the Commission, including DG NEAR and DG INTPA in supporting parliamentary democracy worldwide and bolstering institutional support for parliaments; suggests that the Network with National Parliaments on democracy support, established by the Parliament, could become a regular institutional venue to coordinate activities and leverage expertise;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Highlights the specific role of Parliament in helping partner countries and, in particular, enlargement countries' parliaments to strengthen their role in the EU accession process, including by accompanying them in developing their capacities throughout the enlargement process;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Highlights the need to exchange good practices on parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation from EU Member States’ parliaments, particularly in their relations with those from third countries;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2105(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)

23b. Reiterates its call to develop an autonomous EU diplomacy determined by a common diplomatic culture from an EU perspective and underlines Parliament’s role in this regard; considers that the implementation of Parliament’s Pilot Project on the creation of the European Diplomatic Academy, and specially its future and permanent structure, is a concrete step in this regards; calls to guarantee Parliament's permanent participation and active involvement in the future European Diplomatic Academy´s managing or governing bodies, as well as in its training programmes and activities;

2023/10/18
Committee: AFET

2023/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)

– having regard to the 10th Subsidiarity Conference - Active Subsidiarity: Daring more EU democracy - Creating EU added value on 11 November 2022,

2023/09/27
Committee: JURI

2023/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas the current configuration of the subsidiarity control mechanism sets in motion 41 legislative chambers in the EU, 75 regional parliaments and assemblies, and thousands of parliamentarians throughout the EU; whereas, in this regard, the current mechanism overloads the agendas of national parliament’s Committees for Union Affairs, impeding them to dedicate more time to the analysis of EU policies; whereas national parliaments do not see this mechanism as a way to stall the EU law-making process, but as a way to voice their views and participate in the debate on EU policies;

2023/09/27
Committee: JURI

2023/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas the European Committee of the Regions highlights its role as guardian of the principle of subsidiarity;

2023/09/27
Committee: JURI

2023/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. RAcknowledges the work carried out by the EU institutions in the respect of the subsidiarity and proportionality principles, taking into account that no orange card has been triggered; recalls that the principle of subsidiarity enshrined in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union aims to ensure that decisions are taken as closely as possible to citizens and that constant checks are carried out to verify that action at EU level is justified; recalls that the principle of proportionality requires that any action taken by the EU should not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objectives of the Treaties;

2023/09/27
Committee: JURI

2023/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the number of reasoned opinions received from EU national parliaments was 9 in 2020, 16 in 2021 and 34 in 2022; recalls that the “orange card” procedure has never been activated, and that the “yellow card” has been activated only three times, out of a total of 494 reasoned opinions and more than 6000 opinions in the period 2007-2022;

2023/09/27
Committee: JURI

2023/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Underlines that the trend of the number of opinions and reasoned opinions in the period 2007-2022 demonstrates that national parliaments increasingly ask for more political dialogue and a greater involvement in the debate on EU policies, thus dedicating less time to the normative analysis of EU legislative proposals;

2023/09/27
Committee: JURI

2023/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Suggests a revision of the subsidiarity control mechanism with the aim of making it more functional and agile so that local and regional authorities, and mostly national parliaments, are able to dedicate the essential time needed for a genuine debate on European politics; recommends the development of a more political approach in this regard, in order to develop a greater EU added value for citizens;

2023/09/27
Committee: JURI

2023/2079(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Considers that the European Committee of the Regions could have a more prominent role in the subsidiarity control mechanism, additionally to the right to bring an action before the CJEU for an infringement of the principle;

2023/09/27
Committee: JURI

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the multilateral, rules- based order is being ~~reshap~~challenged and some former alliances are beginning to re- emerge; whereas autocratic actors challenge the universality of human rights and undermine democratic standards worldwide; whereas a world of healthy democracies, understood as a world of strong democratic systems, is a safer world, as they count with significant check and balances that prevent the unpredictability of autocracies;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the Council has appointed nine EU special representatives for different conflict regions to act as mediators and peace facilitators, but their initiatives and the effects of their actions are not visible; whereas it is important that EUSRs have a broad, flexible mandate, capable of adapting to evolving geopolitical circumstances in order to promote the EU's policies and interests in specific regions and countries and play an active role in preventive diplomacy efforts;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the EU still does not have the necessary ~~confidence to initiate mediation~~means to develop its full mediation potential in areas of strategic importance;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

I a. whereas the EU should continue moving forward towards fully developing its own, autonomous and permanent instruments in its External Action, CFSP and CSDP;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

J a. whereas EU’s credibility is a paramount requirement for the correct implementation of its preventive diplomacy actions as it reinforces trust towards the EU among different actors involved in a conflict; whereas, in this regard, is necessary to ensure the highest level of coordination and coherence in EU’s external action, particularly by ascertaining the HR/VP leading role as a bridge builder between the CFSP and EU external relations; whereas the Commission needs to strengthen its coordination with the EEAS, including in EU’s preventive diplomacy initiatives and actions, by guaranteeing full compliance of Article 3.2 and 9 of the EEAS Decision;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)

J b. whereas regretfully the EU has demonstrated in different occasions a lack of clarity in its external representation, clearly affecting its coherence and therefore its credibility worldwide; whereas it is necessary to clearly define the competences of the HR/VP, the President of the Commission and the President of the European Council on the EU’s External Action and representation as the current regulatory framework is unclear concerning the competences of each institutional figure;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a

(a) acknowledge the strong link between EU internal and external ~~security~~policy and security dimensions and reflect this when approaching conflict prevention;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b

(b) adapt the EU’s conflict prevention tools to the changing nature of conflicts, including as a result of climate change, the rise of new technologies, the global race for raw materials and food scarcity;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c a (new)

(c a) integrate EU’s preventive diplomacy tools within structural prevention mechanisms and actions, such as for instance political agreements among different actors involved in conflicts, national dialogues for reconciliation, peacebuilding and transitional justice, as well as truth and reconciliation commissions;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c b (new)

(c b) develop a set of clear and practical rules on the EU’s External Action and representation by the HR/VP, the President of the Commission and the President of the European Council;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e

(e) ensure complementarity a~~cross~~nd collaborate closely with Parliament’s preventive diplomacy actions, as parliamentary diplomacy and Parliament’s activities in this regard, such as its official missions to third countries and to multilateral fora, contribute to promote human rights, democratic standards and political pluralism worldwide, as well as conflict prevention and peace-building;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e a (new)

(e a) bring forth to Parliament annual assessments on the EU’s activities concerning preventive diplomacy worldwide, as well as reviews on the EU’s conflict Early Warning System analysis when appropriate;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f

(f) improve the EU’s understanding of local, historical, political, geographical, social and cultural contexts ~~and~~, invest in cultivating the necessary skills among EEAS staff working on conflict prevention and develop guidance in this regard;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)

(g a) strengthen the EU’s cultural diplomacy and international cultural relations dimension and activities as a relevant instrument for peace, peace- building and conflict prevention, as well as for addressing global challenges; increase EU’s support to third countries creative and artistic sectors, including assistance on capacity building; promote cultural co-creation between third countries, including by fostering cultural exchanges and residences;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g b (new)

(g b) use the full potential of “education diplomacy” as a fundamental instrument within preventive diplomacy, particularly the EU’s Erasmus + programme; develop educational activities within this framework with third countries, including through Erasmus+; promote the adoption in third countries of students exchange and students visits to sites of historical memory with the aim of promoting intercultural dialogue;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g c (new)

(g c) step up efforts in fighting disinformation, misinformation and foreign interference operations from malicious actors seeking to foment conflicts and polarize communities, which can lead to the destabilisation of entire regions;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – subheading 2 – point h

(h) ensure that the EU’s conflict Early Warning System is sufficiently proactive, provided with the necessary resources and based on forward-looking and robust analysis of risk factors;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – subheading 2 – point j a (new)

(j a) ensure that this mechanism collaborates closely with the EU INTCEN, the EEAS Crisis Response Center and the SatCen due to the need of a pertinent flow of information in this regard; strengthen the EU INTCEN and the EEAS Crisis Response Centre by enhancing its staff and financial resources, as well as capabilities;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – subheading 2 – point j a (new)

(j a) improve constantly the security protocols of the services working on intelligence and/or with sensible information;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point v a (new)

(v a) promote the EU's participation in mediation, peacebuilding and conflict resolution such as in Colombia’s Peace Process, where the Union’s support focused on addressing the root causes of the conflict, including inequalities and human rights violations, through reconciliation efforts, economic territorial development through rural integration and multi-level political dialogue;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point v b (new)

(v b) draw from EU’s experience and third countries best practices on cross border cooperation as a highly useful instrument for sustainable peacebuilding and conflict resolution between neighbours, especially after the stabilization of conflicts;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point w

(w) strengthen partnerships and coordination with international, regional and sub-regional actors, such as the UN, the Organization for Security and Co- operation in Europe (OSCE)~~, the African Union~~ and its Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the African Union, the Organization of American States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point x

(x) ensure a coordinated and dynamic approach to early warning, conflict prevention and mediation between the EU and other international organisations, such as the UN and the OSCE; assure that EU Delegations constantly liase with UN field mechanisms such as the UN Resident Coordinator on the ground when pertinent;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point z

(z) empower ~~nation~~relevant regional, national and local actors to serve as key players in effective prevention;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ab a (new)

(ab a) guarantee that EU Delegations count with a focal point on conflict prevention and peace building; ensure that EU Delegations, and particularly the abovementioned focal points, provide constant ground information to the EU conflict Early Warning System, the EU INTCEN and the EEAS Crisis Response Center;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – subheading 6

~~From strategic autonomy to~~Enhancing the EU's preventive diplomacy toolbox

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ae a (new)

(ae a) engage with the Commission, the Council and Parliament with the aim of strengthening the EEAS financial and staff resources, both at its HQ and EU Delegations, in order for the Service to be able to reinforce its preventive diplomacy capabilities, among others, and be better prepared to tackle current and emerging global challenges and conflicts;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ae b (new)

(ae b) insist on the budgetary increase for CFSP actions and other appropriate conflict and crisis response instruments in order to fully match EU’s activities and capabilities with current challenges and conflicts worldwide;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ae c (new)

(ae c) develop a comprehensive EU strategy for preventive diplomacy that includes long-term commitment actions and initiatives for third countries in conflicts; foster the development of multi- tier governance structures for third countries in conflict, as well as their integration within regional organizations and structures, contributing to removing triggers of violence or escalation of conflict and to their sustainable solution; take stock, in this regard, on best practices worldwide and support domestic prevention actors and mechanisms by providing the necessary political, technical and financial support;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point af

(af) adopt an integrated approach to conflict prevention that combines human rights promotion and protection, humanitarian, development, peacebuilding ~~and~~, security assistance, sanctions and diplomatic engagement, fully addressing all aspects of the conflict, including in partnership with local and international partners if necessary;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point af a (new)

(af a) consider the use, notwithstanding the political dimension and solutions to conflicts, of litigation through an international court or tribunal, such as the ICC or the ITLOS, as a method of preventive diplomacy;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ag

(ag) step up its public diplomacy and communication efforts in order to ensure that the EU is seen as a key stakeholder in preventive diplomacy, including the prevention of conflicts dimension of its missions and operations, and that its actions and success stories are not undermined by false narratives spread or claimed by other global powers present in conflict regions; allocate the necessary resources to the EEAS, and particularly the Strategic Communication and Foresight division of the EEAS;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ag b (new)

(ag b) continue to professionalize preventive diplomacy by ensuring that preventive diplomacy is part of the training programme of the permanent structure of the European Parliament’s pilot project on the creation of the European Diplomatic Academy;

2023/10/26
Committee: AFET

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 8

(8) In order to establish a genuine internal market for the economic activities of non-profit associations, it is necessary to abolish any unjustified restrictions and barriers on the freedom of establishment, the free movement of services, the free movement of goods and the free movement of capital that still apply in the laws of certain Member States. These restrictions hinder non-profit associations from operating cross-border, not least because they impose on them a specific need to allocate resources to unnecessary administrative or compliance activities, which has a particularly deterrent effect in view of their non-profit nature. Therefore, Member States should not apply restrictive or disruptive meassures which can amount to excessive or costly burden on non-profit organizations.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 8

(8) In order to establish a genuine internal market for the economic activities of non-profit associations, it is necessary to abolish any unjustified restrictions and barriers on the freedom of establishment, the free movement of services, the free movement of goods and the free movement of capital that still apply in the laws of certain Member States. These restrictions hinder non-profit associations from operating cross-border, not least because they impose on them a specific need to allocate resources to unnecessary administrative or compliance activities, which has a particularly deterrent effect in view of their non-profit nature. Therefore, Member States should not apply restrictive or disruptive meassures which can amount to excessive or costly burden on non-profit organizations.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 14 a (new)

(14 a) It should be noted that the nature of cross-border activities within the EU has a wider scope that goes beyond those of associations. These activities can be understood in the sense of proximity cross-border interaction between neighbouring subnational authorities across national boundaries, as it is the case of cross-border cooperation, a successful modality of territorial cooperation (Interreg) with decades of contributions to European integration. For the purpose of this Directive, cross- border activities are circumscribed to the scope of the present legal act, notwithstanding the respective and other possible necessary regulations related to the abovementioned modality of territorial cooperation.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 14 a (new)

(14 a) It should be noted that the nature of cross-border activities within the EU has a wider scope that goes beyond those of associations. These activities can be understood in the sense of proximity cross-border interaction between neighbouring subnational authorities across national boundaries, as it is the case of cross-border cooperation, a successful modality of territorial cooperation (Interreg) with decades of contributions to European integration. For the purpose of this Directive, cross- border activities are circumscribed to the scope of the present legal act, notwithstanding the respective and other possible necessary regulations related to the abovementioned modality of territorial cooperation.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 21

(21) The cross-border and/or transnational element of an ECBA is central. Therefore, an ECBA should carry out or have in its statutes the objective to carry out at least part of its activities across borders in the Union, in at least two Member States, and have founding members with links to at least two Member States, either based on citizenship or residence in the case of natural persons, or based on the location of their registered office in the case of legal entities.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 21

(21) The cross-border and/or transnational element of an ECBA is central. Therefore, an ECBA should carry out or have in its statutes the objective to carry out at least part of its activities across borders in the Union, in at least two Member States, and have founding members with links to at least two Member States, either based on citizenship or residence in the case of natural persons, or based on the location of their registered office in the case of legal entities.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 27

(27) Articles 52, 62 and 65 TFEU and relevant case law also apply to ECBAs. These TFEU Articles provide for the justification of measures restricting the freedom of establishment, freedom to provide services and free movement of capital on grounds including public policy, public security and public health. Furthermore, the concept of ‘overriding reasons in the public interest’ to which reference is made in certain provisions of this Directive has been developed by the Court of Justice in its case law. Measures by Member States that are liable to hinder or make less attractive the exercise of those Treaty freedoms should be permitted only where they can be justified by objectives listed in the Treaty or by overriding reasons in the public interest recognised by Union law. While no exhaustive definition exists, the Court of Justice has recognised that justifications are possible on various grounds such as public policy, public security and public health, the maintenance of order in society, social policy objectives, the protection of the recipients of services, consumer protection, the protection of workers, provided that the other conditions are met. Such measures need, in any event, to be duly motivated, in accordance to Union law, to be proportional and appropriate for ensuring the attainment of the objective in question and not go beyond what is necessary to attain that objective.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 27

(27) Articles 52, 62 and 65 TFEU and relevant case law also apply to ECBAs. These TFEU Articles provide for the justification of measures restricting the freedom of establishment, freedom to provide services and free movement of capital on grounds including public policy, public security and public health. Furthermore, the concept of ‘overriding reasons in the public interest’ to which reference is made in certain provisions of this Directive has been developed by the Court of Justice in its case law. Measures by Member States that are liable to hinder or make less attractive the exercise of those Treaty freedoms should be permitted only where they can be justified by objectives listed in the Treaty or by overriding reasons in the public interest recognised by Union law. While no exhaustive definition exists, the Court of Justice has recognised that justifications are possible on various grounds such as public policy, public security and public health, the maintenance of order in society, social policy objectives, the protection of the recipients of services, consumer protection, the protection of workers, provided that the other conditions are met. Such measures need, in any event, to be duly motivated, in accordance to Union law, to be proportional and appropriate for ensuring the attainment of the objective in question and not go beyond what is necessary to attain that objective.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 31

(31) To facilitate the cooperation among Member States and between Member States and the Commission, Member States should designate a competent authority responsible for the application of the rule transposing this Directive (‘competent authority’), which shall be in close contact and inform the Committee, as refered in Article 30 of this Directive. The Commission should publish the list of competent authorities. To have a comprehensive overview of the legal treatment of ECBAs in Member States, Member States should notify the Commission of the names and tasks of relevant authorities, other than the competent authorities, established or designated for the purposes of the national rules applicable to the most similar non- profit association in national law, if applicable.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 31

(31) To facilitate the cooperation among Member States and between Member States and the Commission, Member States should designate a competent authority responsible for the application of the rule transposing this Directive (‘competent authority’), which shall be in close contact and inform the Committee, as refered in Article 30 of this Directive. The Commission should publish the list of competent authorities. To have a comprehensive overview of the legal treatment of ECBAs in Member States, Member States should notify the Commission of the names and tasks of relevant authorities, other than the competent authorities, established or designated for the purposes of the national rules applicable to the most similar non- profit association in national law, if applicable.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 38

(38) Member States should be entitled to require a registered ECBA to make a declaration, provide information, request or obtain authorisations for engaging in particular activities only where such requirements are (i) applied in a general and non-discriminatory way, (ii) prescribed by law, (iii) justified by overriding reasons in the public interest, (iv) appropriate for ensuring the attainment of the objective pursued and do not go beyond what is necessary in order for it to be attained. Such requirements may be connected, for example, to the specificities of certain sectors, like healthcare. Where Member States provide for such additional procedures, this information should be made publicly available in a clear and comprehensible manner, as well as easily accesible, in order to ensure that an ECBA is able to comply with these requirements.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 38

(38) Member States should be entitled to require a registered ECBA to make a declaration, provide information, request or obtain authorisations for engaging in particular activities only where such requirements are (i) applied in a general and non-discriminatory way, (ii) prescribed by law, (iii) justified by overriding reasons in the public interest, (iv) appropriate for ensuring the attainment of the objective pursued and do not go beyond what is necessary in order for it to be attained. Such requirements may be connected, for example, to the specificities of certain sectors, like healthcare. Where Member States provide for such additional procedures, this information should be made publicly available in a clear and comprehensible manner, as well as easily accesible, in order to ensure that an ECBA is able to comply with these requirements.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 49 a (new)

(49 a) In accordance with the principles of efficiency and effectiveness of the public adminsitrations the transposition of this Directive should foster the simplification of administrative rules and the reduction of administrative costs and burdens.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 49 a (new)

(49 a) In accordance with the principles of efficiency and effectiveness of the public adminsitrations the transposition of this Directive should foster the simplification of administrative rules and the reduction of administrative costs and burdens.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d

(d) “non-profit association” means a legal entity under national law that is membership-based, self-governed, has a non-profit purpose and has legal personality;

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d

(d) “non-profit association” means a legal entity under national law that is membership-based, self-governed, has a non-profit purpose and has legal personality;

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point e

(e) “ECBA certificate” means a certificate issued by the competent authority of the home Member State, serving as evidence of the registration of an ECBA and its legal personality and legal capacity.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point e

(e) “ECBA certificate” means a certificate issued by the competent authority of the home Member State, serving as evidence of the registration of an ECBA and its legal personality and legal capacity.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. The rules applicable to ECBAs, including its consitution, shall not undermine worker’s rights or working conditions. In line with applicable collective agreements and national and Union law, worker’s representation shall be respected and will take part in any consultation process in this regard.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. The rules applicable to ECBAs, including its consitution, shall not undermine worker’s rights or working conditions. In line with applicable collective agreements and national and Union law, worker’s representation shall be respected and will take part in any consultation process in this regard.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1

1. Member States shall ensure that an ECBA acquires legal personality and legal capacity upon registration in accordance with Article 19. Member States shall recognise automatically the legal personality and legal capacity of ECBAs registered in another Member State, without requiring any further registration.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1

1. Member States shall ensure that an ECBA acquires legal personality and legal capacity upon registration in accordance with Article 19. Member States shall recognise automatically the legal personality and legal capacity of ECBAs registered in another Member State, without requiring any further registration.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c

(c) ~~appropriate~~necessary for ensuring the attainment of the objective pursued and do not go beyond what is necessary in order for it to be attained.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c

(c) ~~appropriate~~necessary for ensuring the attainment of the objective pursued and do not go beyond what is necessary in order for it to be attained.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1

Member States shall ensure that, within the ambit of application of this Directive, ~~public authorities do not discriminate against any group or individual~~ECBAs are not discriminated on any grounds, such as birth, age, colour, sex and gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, health conditions, immigration or residency status, genetic features, language, national, ethnic or social origin, political or any other opinion, physical or mental disability, membership of a national minority, property, race, religion or belief, or other status.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1

Member States shall ensure that, within the ambit of application of this Directive, ~~public authorities do not discriminate against any group or individual~~ECBAs are not discriminated on any grounds, such as birth, age, colour, sex and gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, health conditions, immigration or residency status, genetic features, language, national, ethnic or social origin, political or any other opinion, physical or mental disability, membership of a national minority, property, race, religion or belief, or other status.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Each Member State shall ensure that national laws, regulations or administrative acts regulating ECBAs do not discriminate against any group or individual on any grounds, such as birth, age, colour, sex and gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, health conditions, immigration or residency status, genetic features, language, national, ethnic or social origin, political or any other opinion, physical or mental disability, membership of a national minority, property, race, religion or belief, or other status.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Each Member State shall ensure that national laws, regulations or administrative acts regulating ECBAs do not discriminate against any group or individual on any grounds, such as birth, age, colour, sex and gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, health conditions, immigration or residency status, genetic features, language, national, ethnic or social origin, political or any other opinion, physical or mental disability, membership of a national minority, property, race, religion or belief, or other status.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph -1 (new)

-1 Member States shall ensure the acces to effective complaint mechanisms and to effective administrative remedies.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph -1 (new)

-1 Member States shall ensure the acces to effective complaint mechanisms and to effective administrative remedies.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point c

(c) ~~appropriate~~necessary for ensuring the attainment of the objective pursued and do not go beyond what is necessary in order for it to be attained.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – point c

(c) ~~appropriate~~necessary for ensuring the attainment of the objective pursued and do not go beyond what is necessary in order for it to be attained.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point c

(c) ~~appropriate~~necessary for ensuring the attainment of the objective pursued and do not go beyond what is necessary in order for it to be attained.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 – point c

(c) ~~appropriate~~necessary for ensuring the attainment of the objective pursued and do not go beyond what is necessary in order for it to be attained.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 27 – paragraph 1

1. Each Member States shall designate ~~the~~an independent competent publlic authority (‘competent authority’) responsible for the application of this Directive.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 27 – paragraph 1

1. Each Member States shall designate ~~the~~an independent competent publlic authority (‘competent authority’) responsible for the application of this Directive.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 30 – paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. The Committee shall establish a framework for structured civil dialogue with relevant stakeholders and non-profit associations in particular.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 30 – paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. The Committee shall establish a framework for structured civil dialogue with relevant stakeholders and non-profit associations in particular.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 30 a (new)

Article30a Right to good administration Member States, notwithstanding the rights enshrined in Article 41 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, shall ensure that the administrative procedures and obligations of ECBAs may be submitted online and that their are easily accessible. Member States shall make available the necessary information and support concerning the administrative processes related to ECBAs.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 30 a (new)

Article30a Right to good administration Member States, notwithstanding the rights enshrined in Article 41 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, shall ensure that the administrative procedures and obligations of ECBAs may be submitted online and that their are easily accessible. Member States shall make available the necessary information and support concerning the administrative processes related to ECBAs.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 31 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Member States shall engage in a dialogue with nonprofit organisations established, registered or operating in their territory in a timely, transparent and meaningful manner about the transposition and implementation of the provisions of this Directive as well as the revision of relevant national provisions. Such dialogue shall take place prior to the transposition of this Directive and at least twice a year thereafter.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0315(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 31 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Member States shall engage in a dialogue with nonprofit organisations established, registered or operating in their territory in a timely, transparent and meaningful manner about the transposition and implementation of the provisions of this Directive as well as the revision of relevant national provisions. Such dialogue shall take place prior to the transposition of this Directive and at least twice a year thereafter.

2023/12/11
Committee: JURI

2023/0264(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls on the Commission to create a permanent training residential programme on the EU’s external action and CFSP for junior diplomats from EU candidate countries, which should draw from the experience and lessons learned from the pilot project on the European Diplomatic Academy and fully synergize with the future permanent structure of the forenamed Academy; stresses that, in this sense, the above-mentioned programme should foster a connection to the EEAS, European Commission, Council, and European Parliament;

2023/07/20
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE were invited to observe the 14 May elections; whereas the European Parliament was not invited, based on allegations of unfair treatment;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas the downward spiral in terms of human rights and rule of law has continued, evidenced by Türkiye ranking in 165th place in the list of 180 countries in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index, 16 places lower than in 2022;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas the positive agenda offered by the EU in 2021 is currently practically at a standstill;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the Russian war of aggression continues to cause unprecedented geopolitical shifts in Europe; whereas Türkiye’s key location allows it to play an instrumental, strategic role in the events; whereas Türkiye has been the only facilitator accepted by both Ukraine and Russia, being instrumental in agreeing on the vital Black Sea Grain Initiative; whereas Türkiye has, however, decided not to align with EU sanctions against Russia, and mainly as a result of this non-alignment, Türkiye’s foreign policy alignment with the EU CFSP statements has deteriorated from 14% to only 7% between 2021-2022, which is by far the lowest of all enlargement countries;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas after a long delay, the Turkish Grand National Assembly ratified the NATO membership of Finland in March 2023, allowing the country to join NATO; whereas the Turkish Government has repeatedly employed political delaying tactics and a transactional approach with regard to Sweden’s application for NATO membership;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas 2022 has seen substantial deepening of financial and economic integration between Türkiye and Russia, visible in many areas and markets including banking, real estate, tourism and energy;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)

Fb. whereas while economic growth in Türkiye has remained solid, inflation remains on a 20-year high and external imbalances in the economy are exacerbating;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates its profound sadness about the deadly, devastating earthquakes that shook south-eastern Türkiye and Syria on 6 February 2023 and its heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families; welcomes the international relief and recovery effort, including by the EU and its Member States; further welcomes the substantial pledges made at the donors’ conference convened by the European Commission and Swedish Council Presidency, and resolves to continue supporting the people of Türkiye and Syria in the future rehabilitation efforts;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Acknowledges the partial measures taken in recent months by the Turkish authorities to prevent the re-exportation to Russia of goods in transit covered by EU sanctions, but urges them to go further in order to ensure that Türkiye stops being a hub for entities and individuals that wish to circumvent such sanctions; further expresses concern over the fact that increasing numbers of Russian citizens, including oligarchs, take up residency in major Turkish cities and coastal regions - contributing to high prices increases on the rental and property market- from where they continue with their business and trade operations bringing large amounts of Russian capital into the Turkish system;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Considers that, in terms of human rights and the rule of law, the desolate picture painted in its resolution of 7 June 2022 on the 2021 Commission Report on Turkey remains valid, and reiterates the content of that resolution; fully endorses the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe of 12 October 2022, and the related report by its Monitoring Committee, on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Türkiye, which depict in detail the wide range of serious shortfalls in human rights, as constantly reported by local and international renown human rights organizations;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Expresses its strong concern over the continued hyper-concentration of power in the Turkish presidency, without any effective checks and balances, which has seriously eroded the democratic institutions in the country; stresses that the lack of autonomy in multiple levels of the administration due to extreme dependency for all sorts of decisions under a one-man rule can derive into a dysfunctional system as demonstrated in the slow reaction to the devastating consequences of the February earthquakes;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Takes note of the entry into Parliament of far-right Islamist parties in the last election as part of the ruling coalition; is concerned by the increasing weight of the Islamist agenda in law- making and in many spheres of the public administration, including through the raising influence of the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) in the education system;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Welcomes, after a confrontational period, Türkiye’s recent steps towards normalising relations with several countries, such as Armenia, Egypt, Israel and the Gulf states, but remains concerned by the fact that Türkiye’s foreign policy still clashes in many aspects with EU interests and, far from growing closer to the EU, it has further diverged in the last year, reaching a record low of alignment with just 7 % of common foreign and security policy decisions; is of the opinion that the government will now need to address the economic vulnerabilities and high levels of inflation; invites the government to reinstate the credibility of key institutions such as the Turkish Central Bank and the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜIK);

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Strongly reaffirms its view that the only sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue is that of a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement, including of its external aspects, within the UN framework, on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with a single international legal personality, single sovereignty, single citizenship and political equality, as set out in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in accordance with international law and on the basis of respect for the principles on which the Union is founded; deplores the fact that the Turkish Government has abandoned the agreed basis of the solution and the UN framework to defend on its own a two-state solution in Cyprus; calls on Turkey to abandon this unacceptable proposal for a two-state solution; further calls on Turkey to withdraw its troops from Cyprus and refrain from any unilateral action which would entrench the permanent division of the island and to refrain from action altering the demographic balance; urges that negotiations on the reunification of Cyprus be resumed under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General as soon as possible from where they left off at Crans- Montana in 2017;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Reiterates its call on Turkey to give the Turkish Cypriot community the necessary space to act in accordance with its role as a legitimate community of the island, a right guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus; reiterates its call on the Commission to step up its efforts to engage with the Turkish Cypriot community, recalling that its place is in the European Union; calls for all parties involved to demonstrate a more courageous approach in bringing the communities together; stresses the need for the EU acquis to be implemented across the entire island following the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem and highlights, meanwhile, that the Republic of Cyprus is responsible for stepping up its efforts to facilitate the engagement of Turkish Cypriots with the EU;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2205(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Reaffirms its support for an upgraded customs union with a broader, mutually beneficial scope, which could encompass a wide range of areas of common interest, including digitalisation and Green Deal alignment; insists that such a modernisation would need to be based on strong conditionality related to human rights and the aforementioned principles; stresses that both parties must be fully aware of this democratic conditionality from the outset of any negotiations, as Parliament will not give its consent to the final agreement if no progress is made in this field; remains ready to advance towards visa liberalisation as soon as the Turkish authorities fulfil the six outstanding benchmarks; encourages Member States to establish measures to establish a fast-track for visa procedures for Turkish Erasmus students;

2023/06/26
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the rights of citizens to ~~vote and to be elected in~~participate in the management of public affairs, including the right to vote, to stand for and to be elected in free, transparent, verifiable, periodic, and genuine democratic elections are fundamental, internationally recognised human rights;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to take part in the government of their country and that the people’s will, expressed through periodic, genuine and universal elections, must be the basis of government; whereas this message is reiterated by Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Ba. whereas Article 5(c) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination states that States Parties undertake to prohibit and to eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms and to guarantee the right of everyone, without distinction as to race, colour, or national or ethnic origin, to equally before the law enjoy political rights, in particular the right to participate in elections, to vote and to stand for election; whereas, nevertheless, some social groups such as minorities, persons with disabilities, non-residents and homeless populations face additional challenges and discrimination;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the right to participate in free and fair elections is intrinsically linked to other basic rights~~, such as the rights to freedom from discrimination, freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly and association;~~ ; whereas for the right to vote and to be elected to be genuinely exercised, a climate must prevail in which civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights are respected and enjoyed by all, including the rights to equality and non-discrimination, education, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, freedom of religion and belief, security, and an effective remedy; whereas ensuring the participation of women is key for guaranteeing free and fair elections; Ca. whereas long-established liberal democracies all around the world are witnessing worrisome trends of deterioration in their democratic structures, leading to democratic backsliding and autocratisation, as exemplified by the rise in illiberalism, decreasing levels of participation in elections, growing disillusionment with mainstream political parties and leadership, and the growth of extremist parties; whereas the increasing hate speech promoted by these extremist parties and targeting vulnerable communities, including ethnic minorities and migrants, creates a climate of violence and prevents the conditions needed for people to exercise their right to political participation; whereas worrying trends of erosion of the fundamental principles of the rules-based international order are currently being seriously aggravated by Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas over 75 % of people live in non-democratic countries, which limits their basic human rights; whereas shrinking space for civil society negatively influences the right to participate in genuine elections, according to Freedom House, 80 % of people live in countries that are not free or are partly free, which limits their basic human rights; whereas more than one third of the global population lives under authoritarian rule;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the right to participate in genuine elections is ~~not respe~~obstructed in autocratic and illiberal regimes~~, which conduct sham~~ by, among other things, the creation of legal and administrative barriers preventing the will of the people from being reflected, shrinking space for civil society, voter intimidation and the conducting of fake elections with the goal of entrenching their regimes’ power; whereas such elections are not free, transparent, verifiable, pluralistic and fair, lack real political contestation and place undue restrictions on the right to ~~both vote and be elected~~vote, stand for election and be elected; whereas arbitrary and politically fabricated disqualifications of opposition candidates are also tools traditionally used by autocratic regimes to interfere in electoral processes;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the weakening of judicial independence and the rule of law and the overall democratic backsliding in autocratic and illiberal regimes enable these regimes’ legitimisation strategies, including by removing effective checks on the enforcement of repressive laws, control of the media and malign interference in digital communication channels; Ha. whereas media freedom and pluralism are crucial components of the right to freedom of expression and information, as well as enablers of democratic, free and participative societies; whereas transparency of media ownership and funding and safeguards to ensure media pluralism and avoid the risk of a concentration of power in media, platform operators and internet intermediaries are essential for the media to fulfil its role; whereas it is crucial that citizens have access to independent and reliable information; whereas the spread of false information, propaganda and disinformation creates a climate of global scepticism that threatens freedom of information and democratic debate;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. Ia. whereas autocratic and illiberal regimes have developed new ways and mock-compliance strategies to overcome the costs of fully complying with international election observation standards without overtly denouncing them; whereas ~~they are becoming increasingly well organised in their efforts to provide international legitimacy to each other’s fake election~~such strategies include undertaking domestic and international observation activities that do not comply with the international standards, such as deploying fake election observers who help to steer the post-electoral discourse in support of autocratic and illiberal regimes; whereas citizens in such regimes have limited opportunities to observe elections, and if they do, the regimes do everything in their power to discredit observers or sideline their efforts; Ib. whereas autocratic and illiberal regimes are becoming increasingly well organised in their efforts to provide international legitimacy to each other’s fake elections through fake international observation activities; whereas these regimes contribute to the erosion of global trust in democratic institutions by copying, developing and spreading fraudulent practices unchallenged; whereas autocratic and illiberal regimes also use international institutions for their own benefit, including for the promotion of rival norms within global governance institutions and the legitimisation of fraudulent elections; Ic. whereas EU Election Observation Missions aim to strengthen confidence in elections, deter fraud and provide an informed and factual assessment of election processes;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas tensions between democracies and authoritarian regimes are becoming more geopolitical; whereas this trend requires the EU to raise its democratic concerns to the highest political level, including by building more strategic alliances for democracy ~~and~~, by considering the promotion and defence of democracy as a strategic interest and as a key part of its geo- economic and trade strategies and by finding innovative ways to support civic voices speaking out against autocracies and their legitimisation strategies;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas the EU should adopt a systematic approach concerning the right to participate, including by demonstrating its strong link with human rights, democracy and the rule of law; and by addressing electoral shortcomings in a consistent manner, including when they occur in close partner countries; whereas, in doing so, the EU should focus not only on the electoral processes themselves, but also on the surrounding context and the underlying causes of authoritarian legitimisation; whereas European actors should not contribute to legitimising elections in illiberal and autocratic regimes;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a

(a) design and implement more decisive and effective EU actions to promote and protect the right to participate, which is a universal human right, as part of a much broader strategy on human rights and democracy support; ensure that these actions mainstream gender perspectives and the inclusion of groups in vulnerable situations;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b a (new)

(b a) address in a systematic and robust manner the attempts by non-EU countries to restrict the enjoyment of the right to participate of minorities, including ethnic and religious minorities, and of youth, women, indigenous groups and other social groups; call, in particular, on the authorities of non-EU countries to monitor hate speech by public authorities and elected officials and to adopt strong and concrete measures and sanctions against it in order to advance towards a zero-tolerance approach to racism and discrimination; (bb) engage with non-EU countries to ensure an accessible and enabling environment for persons with disabilities, which allows them to participate in the political and public life of their communities; highlights, in particular, the need to address legal and administrative barriers to political participation by making voting procedures, facilities and election materials more accessible, by expanding opportunities for participation in political and public life and by raising awareness of the right to political participation of persons with disabilities and collecting data to measure this political participation;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c

(c) streamline the right to participate in the EU’s external action toolbox, which needs to be implemented by the European Union’s delegations in non-EU countries in very close cooperation with the embassies of the Member States; (ca) acknowledge and address shortcomings in the enjoyment of the right to participate within the EU with a view to strengthening the legitimacy and credibility of the EU’s external action in this area;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d

(d) acknowledge the severity of the difficulties that people living under autocratic and illiberal regimes have in accessing ~~unbias~~factual, uncensored election- related information and discerning it from among regime-sponsored propaganda, including reliable information on candidates, voting preferences and the conduct of the election process, which ~~inhibi~~restricts their ~~ability to understand~~resources to assess whether elections are truly competitive and whether citizens’ preferences are reflected in the results, and work to prevent the misuse of public resources and vote-buying; take into consideration the erosion to the morale of the civil population caused by manipulated, non-transparent and illegitimate elections, as they create mistrust in both national and international government institutions; (da) acknowledge the importance of access to universal and free education that empowers people to make free choices in elections;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e

(e) counter the narrative promoted by autocratic and illiberal regimes that they have mandates from their citizens as a result of genuine elections; formulate, in this regard, a comprehensive EU global strategy to counter the tools that these regimes use to legitimise elections, such as fake observers and shadow election observation groups ~~in the place of standardised international mission~~, including from EU Members States and EU institutions, such as some Members of the European Parliament, in the place of standardised international missions; ensure that this strategy goes beyond dialogue and statements of concern by the EU, and is geared towards improving the standards of democracy and the rule of law in the countries concerned; work with democratic countries to strengthen international institutions in order to prevent autocratic and illiberal regimes from infiltrating them and using them for their own ends;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f

(f) strengthen the link between election observation work and the EU’s wider support for human rights and democracy using ~~both~~ political, commercial and cooperation tools; consider authoritarian electoral legitimisation strategies as early symptoms of underlying non-democratic trends and react accordingly; counter authoritarian narratives that put security and democracy in contrast, thus limiting fundamental liberties under the pretext of state security, and the attempts of autocratic and illiberal regimes to exploit policy areas such as climate, sport and international development to falsely reinforce their legitimacy;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g

(g) counter autocratic and illiberal regimes’ efforts to create false internal perceptions of the genuineness of their fake elections; pay particular attention to autocratic and illiberal regimes’ ~~election- related~~ abuses of information and communication technology and artificial intelligence in relation with election manipulation, which they are increasingly carrying out in order to negatively affect participation by disseminating propaganda and disinformation and by implementing restrictions on access to information about the opposition’s ideas and candidates; (ga) monitor and denounce the role of private companies that specialise in disinformation campaigns and offer to covertly meddle in elections and manipulate public opinion in non-EU countries; take effective action to ensure that EU-based public affairs, media and online companies do not engage in such behaviour and instead strictly respect the right to privacy and uphold the same level of data protection in partner countries as they are required to uphold in the EU under the General Data Protection Regulation1a, particularly during election campaigns; ensure that these companies abide by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and are held accountable when they fail to do so; (gb) address the use of biased election observers to attempt to discredit the work of genuine international and EU election observation missions; __________________ 1a Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1).

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h

(h) recognise the crucial role of civil society in de~~legitimis~~nouncing fake elections and delegitimising them in the eyes of local populations; support independent civil society organisations, democratic opposition forces, human rights defenders and the media, including through capacity building and communications strategies, and by gathering data on violations of the right to participate in genuine elections; ~~support, in particular~~highlight that transparency regarding media financing and truly free and independent media are key for preventing undue influence; (ha) support, throughout the electoral cycle, local elections observers, whose activities increase people’s belief that their right to participate in genuine elections will be respected, and condemn in the strongest terms attacks against them; support regional and global networks of citizen observers that provide solidarity, capacity building and exchanges of experience with local groups, which can help counter efforts by autocratic and illiberal regimes to legitimise each other’s elections;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i

(i) mainstream information about genuine elections and people’s right to participate in them, including about the right of all minorities to vote, in the context of support for human rights and democratisation in the projects under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe and the Instrument for Pre- Accession Assistance, including support for election observers as human rights defenders; support the Global Campus of Human Rights to that end; support programmes aiming to improve the legislative and administrative framework for elections in non-EU countries, including through support to national election commissions;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j

(j) make use of the EU’s cultural diplomacy and international cultural relations toolbox to strengthen the right to participate, to counter autocratic and illiberal regimes’ narratives attempting to legitimise fake elections and to strengthen a universal democratic culture ~~in non-EU countrie~~; build such cooperation on genuine partnerships, especially given that ensuring electoral transparency, stopping foreign interference and improving democracies is a work in progress, requiring bold, innovative and joint solutions;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k

(k) ~~giv~~provide more support to initiatives related to election observation training and knowledge building at local, regional and international level and to engagement with local media and civil society organisations; highlight the importance of support and capacity building for local election observers in ensuring a more sustainable approach to democracy- building;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l

(l) explore the possibility of introducing a standing invitation for election observation within the democratic clause in EU agreements, the Generalised Scheme of Preferences and equivalent mechanisms, given the current reluctance of many countries to send election observation invitations to the EU; support Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group and its work, especially in the framework of election observation; assess how to address the increasingly frequent scenario of countries refusing to invite the EU to observe their elections;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point m

(m) ~~include the outcomes of the EU’s~~closely monitor the adoption and implementation of the recommendations of EU and OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) election observation missions and include them as an essential part of the overall framework for relations between the EU and the country concerned; adequately follow up on the recommendations of EU election observation missions, with greater involvement of Parliament; ensure that EU public statements related to elections in non-EU countries are strictly in line with the EU’s values in the fields of democracy, human rights and elections and are consistent with the findings of EU election observation missions;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point n

(n) address the right to participate ~~in non-EU countries through EU human rights dialogue~~and all other aspects related to electoral integrity in non-EU countries through EU human rights dialogues; ensure that those dialogues are complemented by a segment involving independent civil society organisations;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o

(o) use the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (the EU Magnitsky Act) for persons responsible for serious breaches of the right to participate and of democratic election standards, and make further use of the EU’s restrictive measures to sanction those who gradually and covertly undermine democracy and the rule of law in non-EU countries; ensure that the suspension of these restrictive measures is conditional on a real improvement in human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the country concerned; consider developing effective and dissuasive measures against persons involved in fake election observation missions, including members of parliament and politicians from EU Member States and Members of the European Parliament;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p

(p) recognise the role of ~~the EU’s~~EU and OSCE ODIHR election observation missions – including the role of Parliament – in providing evidence on whether elections are genuine and further improve this tool, including by strengthening its visibility, condemning fake election observation missions and bolstering the communications strategy both before and after elections; increase support for long-term election observation missions, as some of the most serious violations of electoral processes take place before polling day; equip EU election observation missions with appropriate and up-to-date technical expertise and resources for the adequate monitoring of aspects related to the new risks involved in the use of new electoral information and communication technologies;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q

(q) ~~forge a coalition of~~promote close cooperation and coordination between democratic countries ~~and~~, multilateral institutions, such as the OSCE O~~ffice for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Council of Europe,~~DIHR and the Council of Europe, and the organisations that endorsed the UN Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation as a means to counter the legitimisation of fake elections and fake observers more effectively in international forums, in particular the UN;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2154(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t

(t) lead the efforts to give more visibility to the UN Declaration Oof Principles Ffor International Election Observation and the work of those organisations that ~~sign~~endorsed it and are active in election observation; consider calling for the list of ~~signatorie~~endorsing organisations to the UN Declaration Oof Principles Ffor International Election Observation to be updated, with a view to reinforcing its credibility and establishing a clear-cut way of differentiating between genuine observation groups and fake observers; take a similar approach to the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors; explore ways to undermine the legitimacy of shadow organisations and fake observers;

2023/10/09
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas recent years have shown a growing pattern of intimidation aimed at silencing journalists, in particular war correspondents and investigative journalists working to expose corruption; whereas this is a situation that requires urgent action to uphold the essential role of the independent media in ensuring transparency and accountability;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, in 2022, 66 journalists were killed and 64 were reported missing; whereas, in line with the data published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), 1,668 journalists have been killed worldwide in connection with their work between 2003 and 2022 and a total of 533 journalists are detained in accordance with RSF’s 2022 annual round-up of violence and abuses against journalists;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital R

R. whereas transparency of media ownership and funding is an absolute precondition for ensuring media pluralism and independent journalism;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital S

S. whereas female journalists face gender-specific forms of violence, such as sexual and online harassment; whereas online harassment and abuse are often highly sexualised, based not on the content of victims’ work, but on their physical traits, cultural backgrounds or private lives; whereas these threats may lead female journalists to self-censor and have a chilling effect on press freedom and freedom of expression; whereas experts have consistently found evidence that women are in the minority across media sectors, particularly in creative roles, and are severely underrepresented at senior decision-making levels; whereas misogyny behaviour and gender-based violence against women journalists online cannot be tolerated or normalised; whereas sexist hate speech is stigmatising, generates fear and shame, as well as psychological, professional and reputational damage, it also raises concerns related to digital privacy and security threats; whereas in extreme cases, online threats that are not criminalised can escalate to physical violence, harassment and abuse in offline contexts;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital T

T. whereas in several countries, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) are used by political and financial actors for the purpose of silencing critical voices or scaring journalists into halting investigations into corruption and other matters of public interest; whereas this is especially common in countries with defamation or libel laws that are easier to abuse, as well in countries ruled by authoritarian regimes;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital U

U. whereas the spread of misinformation, fake news, propaganda and disinformation creates a climate of global scepticism among the population with regard to information in general, which exposes journalists to distrust and poses a threat to freedom of information, democratic debate and the independence of the media, and has increased the need for high-quality media sources; whereas the public online space of journalistic information needs to be distinguished from other online environments that don’t follow the same legislation, rules and ethics of journalism; whereas the online space should be regulated in order to protect journalists and citizens from propaganda, fake news and disinformation;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Reiterates its concern about the lack of specific legal or policy frameworks protecting journalists and media workers from violence, threats and intimidation at global scale; calls on public figures and authority representatives to refrain from denigrating journalists in public, as this undermines trust in the media across society; underlines the important role of journalists in reporting on protests and demonstrations and calls for them to be protected so that they can carry out their jobs without fear; calls on third countries to enact legislation and policies with the objective of preventing, protecting and prosecuting cases of repression of journalists, as well as to involve them in these processes so their experiences and knowledge can be reflected in the outcome;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Deplores the fact that journalists and media workers often work in precarious conditions, as well as temporary and unstable contracts, which compromises their ability to work in a safe and enabling environment; underlines the precarity of employment conditions for journalists, specially in times of conflict, where they are underpaid, overexploited and sent without the necessary protection; stresses that adequate working conditions for journalists and media workers are crucial to fostering high-quality journalism, allowing journalists to fulfil their missions and upholding the right to information and the right to be informed;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Recalls that media organizations worldwide have a duty of care towards journalists employed by them or producing the content these organizations acquire; underlines that journalists should receive the necessary training, particularly safety and first aid, from media organizations; stresses that special attention should be given to freelance and young journalists as this category is particularly increasing and many endure precarious labour and safety conditions;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6 b. Calls on media companies operating in third countries to respect due diligence and labour obligations regarding employed journalists, as well as those from which they acquire journalistic content; further stresses the importance of these companies respecting the rights and freedoms of their employees as well as ensuring minimum and dignified working conditions; recalls the importance of the EU corporate sustainability due diligence mechanism and its application to media companies in order to ensure human rights protection in this sector;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Recalls the need to pay particular attention to satire and humour, which are used by press cartoonists to inform, promote democratic values, defend human rights and fundamental freedoms and protest against crime, corruption and abuses of power, and which are used in evidencing and combating censorship;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the attempts by public authorities to silence independent media or undermine their freedom and pluralism; warns against practices that indirectly subdue such media by means of financial patronage and condemns, in particular, attempts to control media public service; deplores the adoption by third countries of so-called foreign agents laws which are being used to silence and repress journalism; stresses that the EU must uphold the protection of journalist and freedom of opinion and expression as one of its main priorities, and to this end, lead a pact and work in alliance with other democracies and like- minded partners;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Condemns the use of SLAPPs to silence or intimidate journalists and outlets and to create a climate of fear to suppress their reporting; welcomes, in this regard, the Commission proposal for a directive against SLAPPs targeting journalists in the EU, and asks the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to encourage third countries, principally like-minded partners who have not yet done so, to take similar initiative at national level and to engage on this matter at international level; calls for additional support in legal assistance for journalists being the target of SLAPPs, and for the EU to develop comprehensive guidelines for prosecutors tackling SLAPPs and to provide them and judges with training on the matter;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

~~12.~~ Welcomes actions aiming to raise ~~12.~~ awareness about the full range of EU and other international protection mechanisms and tools that can be urgently deployed in support of journalists in danger that are already available to EU/UN staff, organisations devoted to the protection of journalists and civil society organisations (CSOs); recalls the Member States that the humanitarian visas can be used as a mechanism of protection and safety of journalists in danger under circumstances of war or conflict;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Urges the EU, Member States and international organisations to further promote already-existing protection mechanisms and to ensure that they are known and accessible to journalists and relevant civil society organisations in third countries, paying special attention to those in remote areas;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12 b. Welcomes and encourages further projects resembling Reporters Without Borders’ digital vest app, which should be available in other EU languages besides Spanish, or the Hannah Arendt Initiative aiming at protecting journalists in situations of danger by setting-up an emergency program for averting immediate threats to media workers in their countries of origin in a targeted and rapid manner; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to support these sorts of initiatives and develop an early warning mechanism with tailor-made guidelines for journalists to follow when they are at risk;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Insists on enhancing collaboration between online platforms, governments and law enforcement authorities so as to effectively address the spread of messages that incite hatred or instigate violence towards journalists and media workers, taking into account the fact that women are particularly targeted; calls on the need to implement measures to protect journalists from online and gender-based violence on social media and other digital platforms; stresses the importance of promptly removing online comments or reactions that undermine the safety of journalists in order to curb their uncontrolled spread;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Insists on enhancing collaboration between online platforms and law enforcement authorities so as to effectively address the spread of messages that incite hatred or instigate violence towards journalists and media workers, taking into account the fact that women are particularly targeted; stresses the importance of promptly removing online comments or reactions that undermine the safety of journalists in order to curb their uncontrolled spread; urges third countries authorities to investigate and prosecute cases of online harassment and abuse;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Calls on the EU delegations and EU Member States’ diplomatic missions to apply the EU human rights guidelines on freedom of expression online and offline in a uniform and consistent manner as they pertain to protecting journalists and defending press freedom; strongly encourage the EEAS and Member States to undertake all efforts to promote, harness and share examples of good practices, especially with EU officials prior to assignments in third countries;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to always weigh the option of voiced public action against silent diplomacy; highlights the importance of building civil society’s understanding of the EU delegations’ modus operandi; encourages, in this regard, the EU delegations to make, to the extent possible, more public statements, both pre-emptively and in response to serious violations of or restrictions on the right to the freedom of opinion and expression; recalls the importance of the EU Delegations in this regard as those implementing the EU mechanism for protection of Human Rights Defenders, which includes journalists, as well as EU dedicated programmes to support independent media and journalists’ safety; highlights the need for the EEAS and the EU Delegations to count with the appropiate financial and personnel resources in order to better tackle the challenges that journalists face worldwide;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17 a. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to further stregnhten their capacity building suppport by assisting third countries in developing and enacting legal frameworks favourable to the protection of journalists, freedom of expression and freedom of information;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on EU delegations, EU Member State diplomatic missions and like-minded partners to engage in proactive outreach to and support for journalist communities in third countries with a view to supporting their work and working conditions, to make regular assessments of the press freedom environment in each respective third country, including ongoing or emerging risks to journalists, and to seek ways to put in place either measures that could prevent abuses from occurring or protection measures, including providing demonstrable and visible moral support to journalists at risk; calls on both EU Delegations and Member States to provide additional financial and human resources to the protection of journalists;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22 a. Urges Member States to lead by example regarding the protection of journalists when performing their duties, and the concomitant observance of the human rights to freedom of expression and information that integrate the basis of democracy;

2023/02/02
Committee: AFET

2022/2051(INL)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Stresses the necessity to strengthen the Union’s External Action with own and permanent EU instruments and resources in this dimension in order for the Union to be a fully-fledged and credible global player; calls for an autonomous European Diplomacy with EU diplomats trained in a European Diplomatic Academy, on the basis of this Parliament’s Pilot Project in this regard, which is determined by a common diplomatic culture from an EU perspective; calls for the strengthening of the EU’s International Cultural Relations by developing a EU instrument that can embody a cultural face of the Union worldwide;

2022/09/30
Committee: AFET

2022/2051(INL)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4 b. Highlights the necessity to clearly define the competences of the Vice- President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council as the current regulatory framework provided by the Treaties and the inter-institutional agreements on the external representation of the EU abroad is unclear concerning the competences of each institutional figure; considers that this lack of clarity can lead to some duplication in the EU's external action or mislead EU's counterparts and/or interlocutors worldwide in their relations with the Union;

2022/09/30
Committee: AFET

2022/2051(INL)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Requests the strengthening of the role of Union delegations in the implementation of foreign policy by amending the wording of Article 221 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU); calls for the strengthening of the EEAS’ capacities, resources and personnel, including by updating the “Council Decision of 26 July 2010”, so it can better fulfil EU´s objectives and interests worldwide;

2022/09/30
Committee: AFET

2022/2051(INL)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Calls to move forward towards an own and permanent seat for the Union in every multilateral fora, including in the UNSC, which would strengthen EU’s actorness, coherence and credibility in the world;

2022/09/30
Committee: AFET

2022/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Stresses that geopolitical and humanitarian global crisis demonstrate the need for the EU to provide itself with credible and first-hand information on existent and possible external threats to the EU, in order to be able to react rapidly and effectively, as well as to better protect its interests abroad; calls for the establishment of a system of automatic and continuous flow of intelligence from Member States to the EU on foreign and security issues occurring outside the Union; calls for the strengthening of the EU INTCEN and the EEAS Crisis Response Centre by enhancing its resources and capabilities;

2022/10/10
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

— having regard to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)

— having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its entry into force in the EU on 21 January 2011 in accordance with Council Decision 2010/48/EC of 26 November 2009 concerning the conclusion, by the European Community, of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 a (new)

— having regard to the EU Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 37 a (new)

— having regard to the European Parliamentary Research Service European Implementation Assessment of 24 August 2022 of the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 39 a (new)

— having regard to the Commission proposal of 14 September 2022 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 41 a (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 3 July 2018 on violation of the rights of indigenous peoples in the world, including land grabbing,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 43 a (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 10 March 2021 with recommendations to the Commission on corporate due diligence and corporate accountability,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 50 a (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 9 June 2022 on global threats to abortion rights: the possible overturning of abortion rights in the US by the Supreme Court,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 50 b (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 7 July 2022 on the US Supreme Court decision to overturn abortion rights in the United States and the need to safeguard abortion rights and Women’s health in the EU,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 50 c (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 9 June 2022 on a new trade instrument to ban products made by forced labour,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 50 d (new)

— having regard to its resolution of 6 July 2022 on intersectional discrimination in the European Union: the socio- economic situation of women of African, Middle-Eastern, Latin-American and Asian descent,

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

E a. whereas environmental emergencies, including climate change and deforestation give rise to human rights violations not only against the people directly affected, but also against humanity as a whole; whereas it is important to recognise the link between human rights and environmental protection;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Insists that the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms must be the cornerstone of the Union’s external policy; recalls that the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 should be used as a roadmap of the EU’s priorities concerning human rights and therefore be at the centre of all EU external policies; strongly encourages the Union, to that end, to strive for a continued ambitious commitment to make the protection of human rights a central part of all EU policies in a streamlined manner and to enhance the consistency between the EU’s internal and external policies in this field;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine; expresses, in this regard, its deep grief at the human suffering and serious human rights violations caused by th~~e Russian armed forces at the EU’s borders~~is conflict; welcomes the joint efforts of the EU and its Member States in response to the war; welcomes, moreover, the solidarity shown by a great number of countries ~~towards Ukraine~~, as highlighted by their stance during the sessions and votes of the UN General Assembly ~~on the crisis in Ukraine~~; calls for the EU and its Member States to give the Ukrainian people the support they need to defend democracy, human rights and international law; welcomes the unprecedented ambition of the sanctions imposed in the context of the war and calls for the EU and its Member States to continue to use all of the instruments at their disposal to support the ~~Ukrainian people in their~~ fight to free Ukraine from its occupiers;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine; expresses, in this regard, its deep grief at the human suffering and serious human rights violations caused by the Russian armed forces at the EU’s borders; welcomes the joint efforts of the EU ~~and~~, its Member States and civil society in response to the war; welcomes, moreover, the solidarity shown by a great number of countries towards Ukraine, as highlighted by their stance during the sessions and votes of the UN General Assembly on the crisis in Ukraine; calls for the EU and its Member States to give the Ukrainian people the support they need to defend democracy, human rights and international law; welcomes the unprecedented ambition of the sanctions imposed in the context of the war and calls for the EU and its Member States to continue to use all of the instruments at their disposal to support the Ukrainian people in their fight to free Ukraine from its occupiers, and the people seeking support in EU Member States;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Urges the EU and its Member States to intensify their efforts all over the world to support democracy and human rights; calls on the EU and its Member States, in this regard, both individually and in cooperation with like-minded international partners, to thwart unacceptable attempts to weaken democratic institutions and universal human rights, especially those that present authoritarian regimes as superior to democracies and diminish the space for and role of civil society; calls on the EU institutions, including the European External Action Service, to ensure EU and Member States human rights obligations are consistently implemented in the EU’s foreign policy; in this regard, encourages the EU to make use of all diplomatic tools, both privately and publicly, and both bilaterally and in multilateral fora, to raise human rights issues with partner country counterparts, including individual human rights defender cases;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls for the EU to reflect on how to promote a human rights-based approach in all EU instruments and strategies in order to strengthen the EU’s human rights foreign policy; underlines that the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI – Global Europe), including its thematic programme on human rights and democracy, is one of the main tools at the EU’s disposal to improve the human rights situation around the world and help foster resilient, inclusive and democratic societies; stresses that the engagement of local civil society actors is vital to protect human rights and democracy in their countries and reiterates its call to fully engage them in all of the EU’s relevant external activities; highlights the importance that NDICI – Global Europe attaches to the promotion of human rights and democracy with strategic international and local partners; underlines Parliament’s role in the instrument’s programming process and calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to share all the relevant information in a timely manner in order to enable Parliament to play its role accordingly, in particular during high-level geopolitical dialogues with the Commission; notes the importance of the project to create an European Diplomatic Academy that would prepare current and future EU diplomats to converge and be prepared to uphold common EU values including the foreign policies for human rights and democracy;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Fully supports the work of the EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights in defending and advancing human rights in the world through engagement with third countries and cooperation with like-minded partners, and his important role in enhancing the effectiveness of the EU’s human rights policies through efforts to increase their coherence; underlines the need for close cooperation between the EUSR for Human Rights and other EUSRs on countries and regions in order to further improve this consistency, and calls for greater visibility for the role of the EUSR for Human Rights; stresses the importance of placing human rights concerns at the heart of diplomatic relations with all counterparts, in particular with countries considered as strategic partners;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Stresses that, although the European Parliament upholds a degree of informal cooperation with the EEAS enhanced by Council Decision of 26 July 2010 and the “VP/HR's declaration of political accountability of 2010”, is necessary to further strengthen the framework of inter-institutional relations between this Parliament and the EEAS, including its delegations, on human rights issues; calls for a “Framework Agreement on the promotion and defence of human rights and democracy worldwide ”between the European Parliament and the EEAS; highlights the need for the European Parliament and the EEAS to develop together guidance notes for the implementation of EU Human Rights’ instruments, such as the EU Human Rights Guidelines or EU mechanisms on due diligence, fight against corruption, among others, in third countries;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Notes with regret that the post of the EU Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU has remained vacant for more than a year; reiterates its call for the Council and the Commission to carry out a prompt, transparent and comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness and added value of the position of the Special Envoy as part of renewing and reinforcing its mandate, to provide the Special Envoy with adequate resources, and to adequately support the Special Envoy’s institutional mandate, capacity and duties; notes the challenges involved in the positioning of an EU human rights envoy outside the immediate authority of the EEAS, and therefore calls on the EU to consider repositioning the role to fit under the EEAS or, failing that, for an exceptionally close working relationship between the envoy and the EEAS; recalls that the Special Envoy’s duties should focus on promoting freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, and the rights to non-belief, apostasy and the espousal of atheistic views;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6

EU human rights dialogues and other bilateral contacts with third countries

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines that human rights dialogues with third countries represent a unique opportunity to focus on human rights challenges and calls for them to be harnessed to their full potential; reiterates its call for the human rights dialogues to be based from the outset on a clear set of benchmarks enabling their effectiveness to be monitored; calls for the EEAS to systematically carry out evaluations of the outcomes of the dialogues and to follow up on them accordingly; stresses that in order to be effective, the dialogues must not be used as a standalone tool, but should instead be integrated within the EU’s comprehensive set of activities with the third countries concerned, which would streamline the human rights dimension and reinforce the messages conveyed in the dialogues; is alarmed by reports that open civil society consultations are not always organised ahead of such meetings, or that consultations are held very late in the process, when the EU position is already formed, and without giving proper notice to civil society organisations; draws attention to the importance of raising individual cases, in particular those highlighted by Parliament in its resolutions, in the context of human rights dialogues and of ensuring adequate follow- up to and transparency of these cases;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines that human rights dialogues with third countries represent a unique opportunity to focus on human rights challenges and calls for them to be harnessed to their full potential; reiterates its call for the human rights dialogues to be based from the outset on a clear set of benchmarks enabling their effectiveness to be monitored; calls for the EEAS to systematically carry out evaluations of the outcomes of the dialogues and to follow up on them accordingly; stresses that in order to be effective, the dialogues must not be used as a standalone tool, but should instead be integrated within the EU’s comprehensive set of activities, including trade policy, with the third countries concerned, which would streamline the human rights dimension and reinforce the messages conveyed in the dialogues; draws attention to the importance of raising individual cases, in particular those highlighted by Parliament in its resolutions, in the context of human rights dialogues and of ensuring adequate follow- up to and transparency of these cases;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines that human rights dialogues with third countries represent a unique opportunity to focus on human rights challenges and calls for them to be harnessed to their full potential; reiterates its call for the human rights dialogues to be based from the outset on a clear set of benchmarks enabling their effectiveness to be monitored; calls for the EEAS to systematically carry out evaluations of the outcomes of the dialogues and to follow up on them accordingly; stresses that in order to be effective, the dialogues must not be used as a standalone tool, but should instead be integrated within the EU’s comprehensive set of activities with the third countries concerned, which would streamline the human rights dimension and reinforce the messages conveyed in the dialogues; draws attention to the importance of raising individual cases, in particular those highlighted by Parliament in its resolutions, in the context of human rights dialogues and of ensuring adequate follow-up to and transparency of these cases; urges all EU Delegations to ensure proper implementation of the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), and systematically raise individual cases with authorities, request visits to detained HRDs, monitor trials, and go out to visit HRDs and their communities when they are based in remote areas outside of the capital city;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Calls on the EU to ensure that human rights obligations are consistently implemented in the EU’s foreign policy; in this regard, encourages the EU to make use of all diplomatic tools, both privately and publicly, and both bilaterally and in multilateral fora, to raise human rights issues with partner country counterparts, including individual human rights defender cases; stresses the importance of placing human rights concerns at the heart of the EU parliamentary activity, including by upgrading the Subcommittee on Human Rights to a stand-alone committee;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6 a (new)

EU Delegations’ promotion and defence of human rights worldwide

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11 a. Calls to update the EU’s Human Rights Guidelines in order to provide them with more concrete requirements for action and detailed and concrete steps to protect human rights in the world, as well as more transparency in their implementation; calls to involve the European Parliament in every step of the update of the EU’s Human Rights Guidelines; considers of utmost importance to take every possible action to raise the profile of the abovementioned EU Guidelines in EU Delegations and missions;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11 b. Regrets the cases of different approaches between EU Member States' embassies and EU Delegations on human rights protection and promotion in third countries, which is a shared commitment among EU Member States; underlines that EU Member States´ embassies should have as a priority to play an increasing role in promoting and protecting human rights, as well as supporting civil society in third countries, which should not be conducted only by EU Delegations in general;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)

11 c. Calls for EU Delegations to establish permanent human rights working groups that brings together Member States’ embassies and EU Delegations, incorporating as well representatives from other international and regional human rights actors in the respective third country;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Welcomes the fact that the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime has been increasingly used as an essential tool that strengthens the EU’s role as a global human rights actor through the use of targeted sanctions by the Council; calls for the restrictive measures that have already been adopted to be implemented effectively and in full, and for the adoption of additional measures if necessary; reiterates its request for a legislative proposal to extend the scope of the GHRSR to include acts of corruption or, alternatively, for a proposal for a new thematic sanctions regime against serious acts of corruption in order to effectively target the economic and financial enablers of human rights abusers; reiterates its call for the introduction of qualified majority voting for the Council’s decisions and implementation of sanctions under the GHRSR; reiterates its call on the Commission and the Council to strive to incorporate Parliament’s recommendations for future targeted sanctions, as stipulated in its resolutions and elsewhere; welcomes the listings made in 2021 under the new GHRSR; calls on the European External Action Service and Member States to develop a strategy to improve the interplay between the GHRSR and geographical sanction regimes, in particular through prioritising the use of the global regime to tackle violations that cannot directly be linked to a state;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Welcomes the fact that the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime has been increasingly used as an essential tool that strengthens the EU’s role as a global human rights actor through the use of targeted sanctions by the Council; calls for the restrictive measures that have already been adopted to be implemented effectively and in full, and for the adoption of additional measures if necessary; reiterates its request for a legislative proposal to extend the scope of the GHRSR to include acts of corruption or, alternatively, for a proposal for a new thematic sanctions regime against serious acts of corruption in order to effectively target the economic and financial enablers of human rights abusers; reiterates its call for the introduction of qualified majority voting for the Council’s decisions and implementation of sanctions under the GHRSR; reiterates its call on the Commission and the Council to strive to incorporate Parliament’s recommendations for future targeted sanctions, as stipulated in its resolutions and elsewhere; calls for the creation of an International Anti- Corruption Court;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14 b. Calls for the substantial enhancement of the quality of ex-ante and ex-post sustainability impacts assessments (SIA), when deploying impact assessments on human rights, the objective should be to ensure that the agreement being negotiated, in its detailed worded clauses, provides sufficient tools to avoid negative impacts on human rights; civil society organisations should be part of the Steering Committees; assessments should be conducted by human and labour rights experts, with a proven track record, and inputs from civil society should be taken into account;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Highlights that 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of Parliament’s decision to exert political leadership in committing to a major advancement in its democracy support activities, which it has implemented through a Comprehensive Democracy Support Approach since 2014; welcomes, in particular, its support for capacity-building for partner parliaments, mediation and fostering a culture of dialogue and compromise, including among young political leaders, as well as for empowering women parliamentarians, human rights defenders and representatives from civil society organisations and the free media; calls on the Commission to continue to pursue and step up its activities in these areas and to bolster funding and assistance for EU bodies and agencies, as well as other grant-based organisations; underlines that in the current context of heightened global tensions and repression in an increasing number of countries, direct support for civil society and people who express critical and dissenting opinions is of the utmost importance; stresses the importance of EU election observation missions and Parliament’s contribution to developing and enhancing their methodology; calls on the Commission, in this regard, to consider updating the election observation methodology to reflect the developments of the last two decades; stresses the importance of providing the highest level of protection for local electoral observers and calls for enquiring about possible EU action in this respect; reiterates its call for the EU to closely collaborate with domestic and international organizations such as the OSCE, the Council of Europe and the endorsing organizations of the Declaration of Principles for international election observations;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Reaffirms that the effective protection of human rights around the world requires strong international cooperation at a multilateral level; underlines the particularly important role of the UN and its bodies as the main forum which must be able to effectively advance the efforts for peace and security, sustainable development and respect for human rights and international law; calls for the EU and its Member States to continue supporting the work of the UN, both politically and financially; underlines the need for the EU and its Member States to strive to speak with one voice both at the UN and in other multilateral forums promoting this way the highest standards on human rights; recalls the obligations of all UN member states to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as enshrined in the Founding Charter of the United Nations and UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251, and to refrain from backwards steps that weaken human rights protections; stresses the responsibility of the UN Human Rights Council to address all the grave violations of human rights around the world;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Reaffirms that the effective protection of human rights around the world requires strong international cooperation at a multilateral level; underlines the particularly important role of the UN and its bodies as the main forum which must be able to effectively advance the efforts for peace and security, sustainable development and respect for human rights and international law; calls for the EU and its Member States to continue supporting the work of the UN, both politically and financially; highlights in this regard the need for adequate funding for all UN human rights bodies, notably the treaty bodies and special procedures; calls on the UN Secretary- General, to this end, to provide appropriate resources from the UN budget and urges the EU Member States to increase their voluntary contributions; underlines the need for the EU and its Member States to strive to speak with one voice both at the UN and in other multilateral forums; recalls the obligations of all UN member states to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as enshrined in the Founding Charter of the United Nations and UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251; stresses the responsibility of the UN Human Rights Council to address all the grave violations of human rights around the world;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Reaffirms that the effective protection of human rights around the world requires strong international cooperation at a multilateral level; underlines the particularly important role of the UN and its bodies as the main forum which must be able to effectively advance the efforts for peace and security, sustainable development and respect for human rights and international law; calls for the EU and its Member States to continue supporting the work of the UN, both politically and financially; underlines the need for the EU and its Member States to strive to speak with one voice both at the UN and in other multilateral forums; recalls the obligations of all UN member states to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, as enshrined in the Founding Charter of the United Nations and UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251; stresses the responsibility of the UN Human Rights Council to address all the grave violations of human rights around the world; considers that several human rights actors are not properly accounted in nowadays’ architecture of international organizations and multilateral fora; calls to move forward towards an own and permanent seat for the Union in every multilateral fora, including in the UNSC, which would strengthen EU’s actorness, coherence and credibility in the world;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Is deeply concerned by growing attacks against the rules-based global order by authoritarian regimes, including undermining the functioning of UN bodies; underlines that the diminished effectiveness of these bodies brings with it real costs in terms of conflicts, lives lost and human suffering, and seriously weakens the general ability of countries to deal with global challenges; calls on the EU Member States and like-minded partners to intensify their efforts to reverse this trend; underlines the need to carry out an impartial, fair and transparent review of the applications for consultative status on the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) by non-governmental organisations (NGOs); urges the EU and Member States to participate in the General Debate and urge the ECOSOC members to continue to address the unjustified obstacles for NGOs to obtain their ECOSOC accreditation, in particular those whose applications have been pending for a very long time; Or.

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17 a. Strongly condemns authoritarian and illiberal regimes attempts to challenge the universality of human rights; highlights that these regimes seek to undermine human rights by relativize them and claiming them to be a weapon of cultural hegemony deployed by Western countries; stresses that the EU must uphold the defence of the universality of human rights as a main priority, and work in alliance with like- minded partners and human rights defenders worldwide;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

~~19. Strongly condemns and is deeply concerned by the serious violations of international humanitarian law by Russian armed forces in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine;~~deleted

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Strongly welcomes the continuous contribution of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the fight against impunity; calls for the EU and its Member States to provide the ICC with sufficient support to enable it to carry out its work; reiterates its condemnation of continuous efforts to undermine the legitimacy and work of the ICC by authoritarian and illiberal regimes and calls for the EU and its Member States to continue their efforts to counter them; welcomes the ~~fact that the EU has provided support for the very first time to the ICC’s investigation capacities~~EU and EU Member States unprecedented support for the role of the ICC and calls on EU member states to match this commitment to the~~lp it scale up its investigations into war crimes committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine~~ sustainable funding needed to deliver justice in all situations that come before the Court;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Strongly welcomes the continuous contribution of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to the fight against impunity; calls for the EU and its Member States to provide the ICC with sufficient support to enable it to carry out its work; reiterates its condemnation of continuous efforts to undermine the legitimacy and work of the ICC by authoritarian and illiberal regimes and calls for the EU and its Member States to continue their efforts to counter them, and respond to threats and sanctions against human rights defenders cooperating with the Court; welcomes the fact that the EU has provided support for the very first time to the ICC’s investigation capacities to help it scale up its investigations into war crimes committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Reiterates its call on the Commission to develop a comprehensive EU action plan on fighting impunity, which, among others, should include a chapter on ~~Ukraine~~the important role of civil society organisations in the struggle against impunity and the need for their protection, on all situations that require it and on measures to fight impunity for gender-based and sexual and reproductive rights violations in conflict settings; calls for the EU and its international partners to make full use of all relevant instruments to fight impunity, including support for universal jurisdiction at national level, special tribunals at a national and international level including for the crime of aggression, as well as establishing flexible cooperation and funding mechanisms to swiftly collect and analyse evidence of crimes; calls on the Commission to ensure that these instruments are applied in a coordinated and complementary manner with other relevant EU and Member State instruments; reiterates its commitment to providing all possible assistance to ensure accountability for atrocities committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine and provide effective remedies for the damages suffered by Ukrainian civilians;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Reiterates its call on the Commission to develop a comprehensive EU action plan on fighting impunity, which should include a chapter on Ukraine; notes in this regard the adoption by Parliament and the Council of the pilot project on the European Observatory on the Fight against Impunity; calls for the EU and its international partners to make full use of all relevant instruments to fight impunity, including support for universal jurisdiction at national level, special tribunals at a national and international level including for the crime of aggression, as well as establishing flexible cooperation and funding mechanisms to swiftly collect and analyse evidence of crimes; calls on the Commission to ensure that these instruments are applied in a coordinated and complementary manner with other relevant EU and Member State instruments; reiterates its commitment to providing all possible assistance to ensure accountability for atrocities committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine and provide effective remedies for the damages suffered by Ukrainian civilians;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Reiterates its principled opposition to the death penalty, which is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and is irreversible; stresses that the EU must be relentless in its pursuit of the universal abolition of the death penalty as a major objective of its human rights foreign policy; calls on all countries that have not yet done so to abolish the death penalty or establish an immediate moratorium as a first step towards its abolition; condemns in strong terms enforcement of blasphemy laws across the globe that carry the possibility of death penalty to the convicted; reiterates that the freedom to choose one’s religion, to believe or not to believe at all remains a fundamental human right that cannot be punished by death or any degrading treatment; condemns any incidents of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment and deplores the fact that they continue to be common in many countries; notes with great concern the trend of increasing instances of torture worldwide and widespread impunity of its perpetrators;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Reiterates its principled opposition to the death penalty, which is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and is irreversible; stresses that the EU must be relentless in its pursuit of the universal abolition of the death penalty as a major objective of its human rights foreign policy; calls on all countries that have not yet done so to abolish the death penalty or establish an immediate moratorium as a first step towards its abolition; urges the EU and its Member States to defend abolition in all international forums and advocate for the widest possible support for this position; condemns any incidents of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment and deplores the fact that they continue to be common in many countries; notes with great concern the trend of increasing instances of torture worldwide and widespread impunity of its perpetrators;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Reiterates its principled opposition to the death penalty, which is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and is irreversible; stresses that the EU must be relentless in its pursuit of the universal abolition of the death penalty as a major objective of its human rights foreign policy; calls on all countries that have not yet done so to abolish the death penalty or establish an immediate moratorium as a first step towards its abolition; calls for transparency around death sentences and executions in countries which do not disclose these statistics; condemns any incidents of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment and deplores the fact that they continue to be common in many countries; notes with great concern the trend of increasing instances of torture worldwide and widespread impunity of its perpetrators;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Reiterates its principled opposition to the death penalty, which is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and is irreversible; stresses that the EU must be relentless in its pursuit of the universal abolition of the death penalty as a major objective of its human rights foreign policy; calls on all countries that have not yet done so to abolish the death penalty or establish an immediate moratorium as a first step towards its abolition; condemns any incidents of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment and deplores the fact that they continue to be common in many countries; notes with great concern the trend of increasing instances of torture worldwide and widespread impunity of its perpetrators; recognises the importance of civil society organisations and human rights defenders in the fight against torture and other forms of ill-treatment;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Is deeply concerned about the long- term negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on both the general state of democracy and human rights worldwide; highlights the disproportionate adverse impact on groups in most vulnerable situations, including women, children, persons with disabilities, elderly, LGBTIQ persons, impoverished people, persons belonging to ethnic, belief and religious minorities, refugees and migrants and persons in prison or detention; is further concerned about delays and barriers in access to health services, among them, sexual and reproductive health services and the consequent increase in unintended pregnancies, sexual and gender-based violence, unsafe abortions, and maternal and neonatal deaths; praises the role that human rights defenders and journalists have played, sometimes even risking their lives, in reporting or attempting to prevent human rights violations during the pandemic;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Is deeply concerned about the long- term negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on both the general state of democracy and human rights worldwide; highlights the disproportionate adverse impact on groups in most vulnerable situations, including women, children, persons with disabilities, elderly, LGBTIQ persons, impoverished people, persons belonging to ethnic, belief and religious minorities, refugees and migrants and persons in prison or detention; praises the role that human rights defenders and journalists have played, sometimes even risking their lives, in reporting or attempting to prevent human rights violations during the pandemic; regrets the use of the COVID-19 prevention measures as an excuse to deny visits of family members or lawyers to detention facilities and to violate the rights of the detainees;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Reiterates that personal liberty and freedom of assembly are cornerstones of democracy; is deeply concerned by the growing use of mass surveillance technologies ~~by authoritarian regimes~~ to curtail these freedoms, which increased further under the guise of COVID-19 prevention measures; calls for a strict and effective ban on sales of mass surveillance technologies ~~to authoritarian regimes~~; calls for a greater response to the mass infiltration of disinformation and conspiracy theories within the digital sphere, perpetuated largely but not exclusively by authoritarian regimes;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Calls for the EU and its international partners to strengthen their efforts to ensure full enjoyment of human rights by women and their equal treatment with men, including the right to education, movement and freedom of expression, thought and religion; underlines that women continue to be the main victims in violent crises and that sexual ~~and~~, gender-based and reproductive violence has continued in many places around the world, notably being used in armed conflicts as a weapon of war; calls for more concerted efforts to eliminate the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and fight impunity of the perpetrators of such violence; stresses the need to pursue efforts to fully eradicate the practice of female genital mutilation; stresses that women human rights defenders, activists, journalists and lawyers have been particularly targeted, with online harassment and intimidation increasing rapidly jointly with ongoing threats and attacks; highlights the increase in domestic violence and setbacks to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in both developing and developed countries and calls for the EU and its Member States to fully support the right of women to bodily integrity, dignity and autonomous decision-making;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Calls for the EU and its international partners to strengthen their efforts to ensure full enjoyment of human rights by women and their equal treatment with men; underlines that women continue to be the main victims in violent crises and that sexual and gender-based violence has continued in many places around the world, notably being used in armed conflicts as a weapon of war; calls for more concerted efforts to eliminate the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and fight impunity of the perpetrators of such violence; stresses the need to pursue efforts to fully eradicate the practice of female genital mutilation; stresses that women human rights defenders, activists, journalists and lawyers have been particularly targeted, with online harassment and intimidation increasing rapidly; highlights the increase in domestic violence and setbacks to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in both developing and developed countries and calls for the EU and its Member States to fully support the right of women to bodily integrity, dignity and autonomous decision-making; reiterates the need for robust action to ensure the full implementation of GAP III and recalls that GAP III specify that 85% of official development assistance (ODA) should go to programmes that have gender equality as a significant or principal objective;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 17 a (new)

Sexual and reproductive health and rights

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25 a. Regrets that the realisation of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and compliance with international human rights obligations and commitments under the UN Sustainable Development Goals remains lacking; recalls the need for States to guarantee access to comprehensive SRHR services, including modern contraceptive methods, safe and legal abortion, maternal, prenatal and postnatal healthcare, assisted reproduction, and access to SRHR information and education, including comprehensive sexuality education, without any form of discrimination; acknowledges important progress on SRHR including legislation of access to abortion, victories defeating attempts to pass retrogressive legislation, and praises the important work of civil society and human rights defenders in that regard; strongly condemns roll backs of existing SRHR entitlements in both developing and developed countries, which are contrary to human rights obligations under the principle of non- retrogression; expresses concern regarding laws, policies and practices that continue to deny or restrict SRHR in many countries worldwide; calls for further strengthening of legal rights and protections and removal of barriers to access SRHR globally and in the EU and its Member States and reiterates its call to include the right to safe and legal abortion in the Charter of Fundamental Rights; stresses the European Parliamentary Research Service European Implementation Assessment of the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders which affirms that women human rights defenders working on SRHR represent one of the most dramatically repressed strands of global activism, and as such calls on the EU and its Member States to publicly and privately condemn attacks and threats against human rights defenders working in this area, proactively ensure adequate representation of SRHR defenders in consultations, and financially support their work; calls for the EU and its Member States to fully support and promote SRHR, including access to abortion, in multilateral and bilateral relations in accordance with international human rights law and standards;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Calls for a systematic and consistent approach to promoting and defending children’s rights throughout the EU’s external policies; calls for more concerted efforts to protect children’s rights in crisis or emergency situations and welcomes the Council conclusions on this subject; expresses concern that the growing number of such crisis situations around the world, coupled with the long-lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to increasing violations of child rights around the world, including violence, early and forced marriage, sexual abuse including genital mutilation, trafficking, child labour, child forced labour, recruitment as child soldiers, a lack of access to education and healthcare, malnutrition and extreme poverty; highlights the need to create paths of reintegration and reparation to children that have been victims of violations of their rights and that the UN Agenda on Children and Armed Conflict must be streamlined into all of the EU’s external policies; stresses the disproportionate and long-term effects of food insecurity on children, which directly affects not only their health and development but also their education, as well as increasing the outrageous practice of child marriage; stresses that 2021 was the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour and recalls the EU’s zero tolerance policy on this practice;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Stresses that the right to education has suffered particular setbacks, with unparalleled disruptions to education due to COVID-19 but also to religious extremism and gender discrimination against girls; recalls that every child has the right to comprehensive sexuality education that is non-discriminatory, evidence-based, scientifically accurate and age-appropriate; calls for the EU to step up its work to provide access to education, including innovative ways to circumvent the obstacles imposed by national authorities; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to step up their support for third countries to help them adapt to the challenges they have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic in the field of education; stresses that support could take the form of an increased funding allocation through NDICI – Global Europe, but could also include providing capacity- building and best practices based on the lessons learned through the EU delegations worldwide;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. ~~Welcomes the adop~~Calls for a systematic implementation of the EU strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021- 2030 ~~as a tool~~ to improve the ~~situation~~rights of persons with disabilities worldwide, particularly poverty and discrimination, but also problems with access to education, healthcare and employment and participation in political life; underlines th~~at the duty of caring for p~~e need for a structured dialogue with Organisations of Persons with dDisabilities ~~is commonly borne by their families and calls for the EU to assist third countries in the development of policies in support of carers for persons with disabilities;~~ (OPDs) in partner countries to ensure a meaningful participation and successful involvement in planning, implementation and monitoring of EU programmes; calls for investment, training, and capacity building of EU delegations to implement the articles 11 (humanitarian action) and 32 (international cooperation) of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) which the EU ratified in 2011; calls on the Member States to implement legislative measures that safeguard physical integrity, freedom of choice and self-determination with regard to the sexual and reproductive life of persons with disabilities, as directed by the European Parliament in its resolution of 24 June 2021 on the situation of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the EU, in the frame of women’s health;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

30. Underlines its opposition to and condemnation of intolerance, xenophobia and discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, social class, disability, caste, religion, belief, age, sexual orientation or gender identity, which in many of the world’s regions leads to killings and persecution; stresses that racism, discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance continue to be a major problem worldwide ~~and have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic~~, leading to rights violations in all spheres of life including access to education, healthcare, work, access to justice, and that these issues have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic; in particular reiterates its call on Member States to adopt and implement strategies, policies and programmes to advance the rights of marginalised groups of women and to eradicate the systemic, financial, legal, practical and social barriers they face and to ensure their rights are protected and respected in all Member States; calls for the EU and its Member States to lead the global fight against antisemitism and welcomes the adoption of the EU strategy to this end;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Underlines its opposition to and condemnation of intolerance, xenophobia and discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, social class, disability, caste, religion, belief, age, sexual orientation or gender identity, which in many of the world’s regions leads to killings and persecution; stresses that racism, discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance continue to be a major problem worldwide and have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic; calls for the EU and its Member States to lead the global fight against antisemitism and welcomes the adoption of the EU strategy to this end; calls on the EEAS to develop, in collaboration with Member States, specific local strategies to help fight caste-based discrimination in the countries most affected by it, in dialogue with local representatives and civil society organisations, and to invite these to consultations deriving from EU agreements or instruments;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 21 a (new)

National, ethnic and linguistic minorities

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)

30 a. Recalls the obligations of states to protect the rights of their national, ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic minorities within their respective territories; calls on the Commission to support the protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities worldwide, including within its human rights and democracy thematic programme; calls on the governments of the EU’s partner countries to respect the fundamental human rights of national, ethnic and linguistic minorities, including their culture, language, religion, traditions and history, in order to preserve their cultures and diversity; reiterates the need for those governments to fulfil the obligations and commitments they have assumed under international treaties and agreements; deplores any attempts to disregard the fundamental and human rights of ethnic and linguistic minorities through their forced assimilation;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Calls for the EU to step up its efforts to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex and queer persons (LGBTIQ); stresses that LGBTIQ persons and their defenders around the world continue to face human rights violations, including discrimination, persecution, violence and killings; calls for the full implementation of the LGBTIQ equality strategy 2020- 2025 as the EU’s tool for improving the situation of LGBTIQ people around the world;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Underlines the utmost importance of freedom of expression and access to reliable information for democracy and flourishing civic space; expresses deep concern about the growing limitations to freedom of expression in many countries around the world, particularly for journalists, through censorship or the need for self-censorship and the abuse of counter-terrorism ~~laws~~, anti-money laundering, defamation or anti-corruption laws to silence journalists ~~and civil society organisations~~, civil society organisations and human rights defenders, including numerous violations of the rights to privacy, freedom of expression, freedom of information and freedom of association and assembly; expresses concern, moreover, about the physical safety of journalists and their being targeted in conflicts;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Underlines the utmost importance of freedom of expression and access to reliable information for democracy and flourishing civic space; expresses deep concern about the growing limitations to freedom of expression in many countries around the world, particularly for journalists, through censorship or the need for self-censorship and the abuse of counter-terrorism laws or anti-corruption laws to silence journalists and civil society organisations; denounces the use of overly-broad terminology allowing authorities to outlaw countless acts and criminalise legitimate human rights work, and the lack of sufficient human rights safeguards in many of these legislations, in particular regarding the right to a fair trial; expresses concern, moreover, about the physical safety of journalists and their being targeted in conflicts;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Calls for the EU to support credible media and information sources which contribute to accountability of the authorities and to democratic transitions; expresses concern over the widespread use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) to silence journalists, activists, trade unionists and human rights defenders, including environmental rights defenders worldwide; welcomes, in this regard, the Commission’s proposal for a directive aimed at protecting journalists and human rights defenders from abusive court proceedings and SLAPPs; encourages legislators from third countries to draft laws with the same objective, as part of general initiatives aimed at supporting and safeguarding freedom of expression, including media freedom and pluralism;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Calls for the EU to support credible media and information sources which contribute to accountability of the authorities and to democratic transitions; expresses concern over the widespread use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) to silence journalists, activists, trade unionists and human rights defenders worldwide; underlines that this practice further restricts space for civil society and human rights defenders across the globe, in a context where civic space has been continuously shrinking for several years, with increasing attacks against the rights to freedom of expression, and freedom of association and assembly perpetrated by public authorities as well as by private actors; welcomes, in this regard, the Commission’s proposal for a directive aimed at protecting journalists and human rights defenders from abusive court proceedings and SLAPPs; encourages legislators from third countries to draft laws with the same objective, as part of general initiatives aimed at supporting and safeguarding media freedom and pluralism;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Calls for the EU to support credible media and information sources which contribute to accountability of the authorities and to democratic transitions; expresses concern over the widespread use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) to silence journalists, activists, trade unionists and human rights defenders worldwide; welcomes, in this regard, the Commission’s proposal for a directive aimed at protecting journalists and human rights defenders from abusive court proceedings and SLAPPs; encourages legislators from third countries to draft laws with the same objective, as part of general initiatives aimed at supporting and safeguarding media freedom and pluralism; underlines that SLAPPs against journalists, activists, trade unionists and human rights defenders should be documented and included in the monitoring, reporting and assessing activities of EU Delegations;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Notes that 2021 marked the 40th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief; ~~notes with grave concern that the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, to hold a belief, or not to believ~~recalls that freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief is a fundamental right of every human being and applies to all persons equally; notes with grave concern that the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, to hold a belief, or not to believe, to identify as a humanist or atheist, and to manifest non-religious convictions through expression, teaching and practice is still violated in many countries around the world; stresses the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as some governments still use it as a pretext for further discriminatory practices including violence against and scapegoating religious minorities; calls for the EU and its Member States to step up their efforts to protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, to raise these issues at UN human rights forums and to work with the relevant UN mechanisms and committees;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Notes that 2021 marked the 40th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief; notes with grave concern that the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, to hold a belief, or not to believe is still violated in many countries around the world; stresses the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as some governments still use it as a pretext for further discriminatory practices including violence against and scapegoating religious minorities; calls for the EU and its Member States to step up their efforts to protect the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, to raise these issues at UN human rights forums and to work with the relevant UN mechanisms and committees; stresses the importance of the separation of religion and State, and of secular spaces, for the full implementation of freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief and all other human rights;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)

35 a. Calls on the Commission and the Council to implement ambitious programmes to defend freedom of religion or belief worldwide, including encouraging and supporting international efforts to collect evidence of crimes of atrocity, bringing the perpetrators to court, rendering criminal sentences effective, and compensating the victims; calls on the Council, the Commission, the EEAS and the Member States to work with third countries to adopt measures to prevent and fight hate crime;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Strongly supports the work of human rights defenders and highlights the risks they face in their endeavours to protect human rights, including threats against them and their families, harassment and violence; condemns the fact that hundreds of human rights defenders have been killed for their work, the majority of whom were environmental defenders; welcomes the EU’s efforts to support human rights defenders in their work, including the ProtectDefenders.eu mechanism; calls for such efforts to be intensified in order to mitigate the growing risks faced by human rights defenders around the world~~; calls for the EU and its Member States~~ including arbitrary detention and imprisonment, verbal and physical attacks, legal harassment and restrictions; calls for the EU and its Member States to address actively legislative or administrative attempts to close down the space for the defence of human rights; calls for the EU and its Member States to actively promote and support, in particular the EUSR for Human Rights and EU ambassadors, ~~to be more active in~~ the publication of public statements in support of human rights defenders and activists at risk and those imprisoned for long periods, as well as helping to conduct prison visits for the latter and facilitating external visits to their families;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)

36 a. Deplores the widespread adoption of so-called “foreign agents” laws, which include provisions contrary to international law that force individuals and entities receiving funding from abroad to register them selves as foreign agents, in many countries; expresses particular concern over the use of these laws to stigmatise and restrict the work of civil society and human rights defenders (HRDs), including through restrictions of the right to access funding; calls on the EU institutions, in particular the European External Action Service in coordination with the Commission, to develop a coordinated strategy to challenge restrictive legislations such as foreign agents laws in all their bilateral contacts with partner countries;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)

36 b. Calls on the EU and its Member States, to fully implement their political commitments on the protection of at-risk HRDs, such as those included in the EU Action Plan for Democracy and Human Rights 2020-2024 and in the EU Guidelines on HRDs, and develop a more predictable, coordinated and consistent policy on visas for HRDs, allowing for flexible and reactive protocols in critical situations; specifically urges the EU and its Member States to i) propose a specific facilitated procedure for HRDs within the EU visa code, setting common criteria and defining elements of a facilitated procedure, ii) include instructions in the EU Visa Handbook on granting facilitations to HRDs and their family members, iii) work towards amending the legal instruments on visas, particularly the Visa Code, and iv)introduce amendments to the Temporary Protection Directive that allow temporary protection status in the EU to be granted to defenders at risk;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)

36 c. Expresses concern over the obstacles encountered by human rights defenders (HRDs) worldwide to access EU visas; recalls the importance of this essential security and protection tool, that allows HRDs to access safe haven when necessary, as well as engaging in existing opportunities for rest and respite and temporary relocation programmes, or carrying out essential international advocacy, mobilisation or networking activities in the EU territory; calls for the harmonisation, coordination and effort- sharing among both the Member States and the EU in this regard;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Reaffirms the inalienable human rights of migrants, refugees and forcibly displaced persons, which must be reflected in the EU’s migration and asylum policy and in its cooperation with third countries in this area; stresses that the EU should step up its efforts to acknowledge and develop ways to address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, particularly focusing on displaced women, children, ethnic, religious and belief minorities and persons with disabilities, who are among the most vulnerable, building the resilience of migrants’ communities of origin and helping them offer their members the possibility to enjoy a decent life in their home country; calls for the EU and its Member States to continue and where possible step up their support for countries hosting most refugees, as well as transit countries; reiterates that close cooperation and engagement with third countries remain key to preventing migrant smuggling; stresses, in this regard, that the dissemination of information and awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of smuggling is crucial; calls for EU- funded humanitarian operations to take into consideration the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children and to ensure their protection while they are displaced; underlines the importance of developing an effective framework of safe and legal pathways to the EU and welcomes, in this regard, the Commission communication on attracting skills and talent to the EU13 , including the development of Talent Partnerships with partner countries; _________________ 13 Commission communication of 27 April 2022 on attracting skills and talent to the EU (COM(2022)0657).

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Reaffirms the inalienable human rights of migrants, refugees and forcibly displaced persons, which must be reflected in the EU’s migration policy and in its cooperation with third countries in this area; stresses that the EU should step up its efforts to acknowledge and develop ways to address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, building the resilience of migrants’ communities of origin and helping them offer their members the possibility to enjoy a decent life in their home country; calls for the EU and its Member States to continue and where possible step up their support for countries hosting most refugees, as well as transit countries; reiterates that close cooperation and engagement with third countries remain key to preventing migrant smuggling; recalls that the EU and its Member States, in their external and extraterritorial actions, agreements and cooperation in the areas of migration, borders and asylum, shall respect and protect human rights, notably those enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights, including the right to life, liberty, and the right to asylum, notably the individual assessment of asylum applications and the principle of non-refoulement; stresses, in this regard, that the dissemination of information and awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of smuggling is crucial; calls for EU- funded humanitarian operations to take into consideration the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children and to ensure their protection while they are displaced; underlines the importance of developing an effective framework of safe and legal pathways to the EU and welcomes, in this regard, the Commission communication on attracting skills and talent to the EU13 , including the development of Talent Partnerships with partner countries; _________________ 13 Commission communication of 27 April 2022 on attracting skills and talent to the EU (COM(2022)0657).

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Reaffirms the inalienable human rights of migrants, refugees and forcibly displaced persons, which must be reflected in the EU’s migration policy and in its cooperation with third countries in this area; stresses that the EU should step up its efforts to acknowledge and develop ways to address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, building the resilience of migrants’ communities of origin and helping them offer their members the possibility to enjoy a decent life in their home country; calls for the EU and its Member States to continue and where possible step up their support for countries hosting most refugees, as well as transit countries; reiterates that close cooperation and engagement with third countries remain key to preventing migrant smuggling; stresses, in this regard, that the dissemination of information and awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of smuggling is crucial; calls for EU- funded humanitarian operations to take into consideration the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children and to ensure their protection while they are displaced; underlines the importance of developing an effective framework of safe and legal pathways to the EU and welcomes, in this regard, the Commission communication on attracting skills and talent to the EU13 , including the development of Talent Partnerships with partner countries; reiterates its call on the Commission to ensure transparent ex-ante risk assessments performed by independent EU bodies and experts on the impact of any formal, informal or financial EU cooperation with third countries on the rights of migrants, refugees, and forcibly displaced persons; _________________ 13 Commission communication of 27 April 2022 on attracting skills and talent to the EU (COM(2022)0657).

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. Recalls its commitment to the rights of refugees, as provided by international human rights and refugee laws, in particular the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol thereto; recalls the obligations of states to protect refugees and respect their rights in accordance with the relevant international law; notes with concern that the number of people forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or events seriously disturbing public order reached an unprecedented 89 million by the end of 2021, 36.5 million of whom are children; recalls that refugees and migrants, especially undocumented migrants, face barriers in access to healthcare around the world, that sexual and gender-based violence is a frequent occurrence during displacements, and that in many settings survivors of sexual and gender-based violence do not receive the essential sexual and reproductive healthcare they need; stresses, in this context, that international action and cooperation is more essential than ever to ensure protection for refugees;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

39. ~~Notes that 5.3 million Ukrainians have entered the EU since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; underlines the importance of~~Underlines the importance of a shift from temporary to long term protection for refugees from frozen or prolonged conflicts, accompanied by a proper and realistic assessment of the time that ~~Ukrainians~~people who have fled ~~the~~ wars will probably need to stay outside their country, as long-term stays require different kinds of responses and funding from the host countries, including a greater focus on access to education, economic opportunities, housing, healthcare and integration in the host societies;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 26 a (new)

Indigenous People

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)

39 a. Regrets the fact that indigenous peoples continue to face widespread and systematic discrimination and persecution worldwide, including forced displacements, arbitrary arrests and the killing of human rights and land defenders; recommends that the EU and its Member States include references to indigenous peoples and the rights contained in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the relevant and emerging frameworks for due diligence, and ensure that multinational companies be held to account in the event of a breach of their obligations; reiterates the call for the EU, its Member States and their partners in the international community to adopt all necessary measures for the recognition, protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples, including to their language, lands, territories and resources; welcomes the work that civil society and NGOs are doing on these issues; reaffirms the need to create a grievance mechanism to lodge complaints regarding violations and abuses of indigenous peoples’ rights resulting from the activities of multinational businesses; recalls its decision to appoint a standing rapporteur on indigenous peoples within Parliament, with the objective of monitoring the human rights-related situation of indigenous peoples; calls on countries to ratify the provisions of ILO Convention 169 of 27 June 1989 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples; Urges governments to pursue development and environmental policies that respect economic, social and cultural rights, and are inclusive of indigenous people and local populations, in line with the UNSDGs;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Stresses the multitude of threats to human rights caused by modern warfare and conflicts around the world today; underlines that in addition to the states parties themselves, such conflicts often involve non-state agents including private military and security companies as well as terrorist organisations; stresses the disastrous humanitarian consequences of these conflicts and their devastating impact on civilians, who are directly targeted, have to endure grave human rights violations, and often have no or limited access to justice or legal remedies; calls for the EU to continue developing and implementing tools to enable it to respond swiftly and efficiently to such conflicts, to help put an end to the perpetration of human rights violations, and to provide assistance to the victims; reiterates that humanitarian crises intensify healthcare- related challenges and recalls that in crisis zones, particularly among vulnerable groups such as refugees and migrants, women and girls are particularly exposed to sexual violence, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual exploitation, rape as a weapon of war and unwanted pregnancies; calls on the Commission and Member States to give high priority to gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights in their humanitarian aid response, as well as accountability and access to justice and redress for sexual and reproductive rights violations and gender- based violence, including in terms of training for humanitarian actors and future funding;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Stresses the multitude of threats to human rights caused by modern warfare and conflicts around the world today; underlines that in addition to the states parties themselves, such conflicts often involve non-state agents including private military and security companies as well as terrorist organisations; stresses the disastrous humanitarian consequences of these conflicts and their devastating impact on civilians, who are directly targeted, have to endure grave human rights violations, and often have no or limited access to justice or legal remedies; calls for the EU to continue developing and implementing tools to enable it to respond swiftly and efficiently to such conflicts, addressing their root causes, investing in conflict prevention and mediation efforts, seeking and maintaining space for political solutions, creating alliances with like-minded countries and regional organisations, providing further financial and technical support and personnel to peacekeeping civilian missions and military operations missions, and promoting trust-building initiatives between belligerents, to help put an end to the perpetration of human rights violations, and to provide assistance to the victims;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. Strongly condemns ~~the grave violations of human rights committed by the Russian armed forces~~and is deeply concerned by the serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by Russian armed forces in the war of aggression against Ukraine; underlines the utmost importance of ensuring accountability for these violations and calls for the EU and its Member States to continue to offer their full support for the actors, measures and mechanisms to this end, including the Ukrainian prosecutors, investigators and judiciary, the ICC, the Commission of Inquiry of the UN Human Rights Council, and national investigations under the principle of universal jurisdiction; stresses the importance of swiftly gathering and preserving evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity and welcomes the efforts of independent civil society to this end; calls on the Commission to provide all the necessary assistance in this process, including additional funding from the NDICI – Global Europe, and urges the Member States to engage in this process themselves whenever they are in a position to do so; welcomes the amended mandate of the EU Advisory Mission to Ukraine and the Commission’s proposal to extend the mandate of Eurojust to support the fight against impunity in all situations; calls for an informed decision to be made about the most appropriate solution to hold to account the individuals and entities responsible for enabling Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the war crimes committed on ~~Ukrainian~~its territory, which could include the creation of a special international court or enabling the ICC to deliberate on these crimes; notes that 7.3 million Ukrainians have entered the EU since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, out of which 4 million are registered for Temporary Protection or similar national protection schemes in Europe;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Reiterates that the right to be free from hunger is a human right; underlines its grave concerns about the challenges to the right to food and food security and the affordability of food in many countries around the world; calls for the EU, the Member States and the international community to immediately step up their efforts to halt the trend of emerging serious food shortages; underlines that while the parlous food security situation has several causes, it has been aggravated by ~~Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the fifth-largest grain exporter in the world~~the many conflicts occurring around the globe; strongly condemns the use of food insecurity as a political instrument of war;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

43. Underlines that human rights, a healthy environment and combating climate change are dependent on one another; calls for progress towards the recognition of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, as laid out in Resolution 48/13 of the UN Human Rights Council, and stresses its appreciation for the ~~peacefu~~critical work undertaken by environmental human rights defenders including land defenders, journalists, whistle-blowers and their lawyers, as well as indigenous activists, to preserve and safeguard ~~such an~~the environment despite the threat of violence against them and the risk to their lives; recognises, moreover, the important role of civil society organisations, including environmental ~~faith-based~~ organisations, as well as indigenous peoples for their invaluable work in the preservation and protection of the environment;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44

44. Calls for the EU and its Member States to step up their contribution to the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss globally, in particular by ensuring that goods imported by the EU are produced in accordance with human rights protected under international law, including the rights of indigenous people, ~~and do not contribute to deforestation or damage to natural ecosystems~~ethnic minorities and environmental rights defenders, and do not contribute to the destruction or damage of natural ecosystems with actions such as deforestation, pollution or waste spillages; highlights that least developed countries are the most vulnerable to climate change, as they find it hardest to withstand its devastating impacts, despite producing fewer greenhouse gases than richer countries, which are less likely to be as impacted by climate change;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45

45. Underlines that trade agreements often offer the possibility for the EU to work with third countries to address their domestic situation by providing some conditions that would serve to enhance living standards, as well as allow for some conditionality to improve the human rights situation in those countries; notes, however, that in some cases there has been little to no improvement in the countries concerned; notes that excessive and exploitative business activities often have detrimental effects on human rights in third countries; calls for the substantive clauses of the trade agreements to recognize that States Parties must respect, protect and realise human rights as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, customary law and the international conventions to which they are part; condemns in the strongest terms the arbitrary arrest and detention of human rights and environmental defenders in countries with which the EU has concluded Free Trade Agreements (FTAs); highlights that these crackdowns are illustrations of the way these countries’ authorities maintain civil society under threat, in blatant violation of both their human rights international obligations and essential elements of the FTAs and Partnership and Cooperation Agreements (PCAs) concluded with the EU;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46

46. Calls for the EU to use the full potential of conditionality on human rights to grant preferential access to its market to third countries; calls, in particular, for a closer link between preferential treatment and progress on human rights in the updated Regulation on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) and for greater transparency throughout all steps of the procedure for granting GSP+ status, including following up on any possible violations; ~~calls for a standing invitation for the EU to observe national elections in third countries to be established as a condition for granting those countries GSP+ status;~~ reiterates its calls for the Commission to systematically carry out human rights impact assessments focused on the risks of human rights violations prior to granting any preferential regime to a country and to swiftly respond to any violations, including the revocation of GSP+ status if warranted;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46

46. Calls for the EU to use the full potential of conditionality on human rights to grant preferential access to its market to third countries; calls, in particular, for a closer link between preferential treatment and progress on human rights in the updated Regulation on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) and for greater transparency throughout all steps of the procedure for granting GSP+ status, including following up on any possible violations, including caste-based discrimination in relevant countries; calls for a standing invitation for the EU to observe national elections in third countries to be established as a condition for granting those countries GSP+ status; reiterates its calls for the Commission to systematically carry out human rights impact assessments focused on the risks of human rights violations prior to granting any preferential regime to a country and to swiftly investigate and respond to any violations, including the revocation of GSP+ status if warranted;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46

46. Calls for the EU to use the full potential of conditionality on human rights to grant preferential access to its market to third countries; calls, in particular, for a closer link between preferential treatment and progress on human rights in the updated Regulation on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) and for greater transparency throughout all steps of the procedure for granting GSP+ status, including following up on any possible violations; calls for a standing invitation for the EU to observe national elections in third countries to be established as a condition for granting those countries GSP+ status; reiterates its calls for the Commission to systematically carry out human rights impact assessments focused on the risks of human rights violations prior to granting any preferential regime to a country and to swiftly respond to any violations, including the revocation of GSP+ status if warranted; stresses the importance of all countries fully implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and calls on the EU Member States that have not yet adopted national action plans on business rights to do so as soon as possible; encourages the EU and its Member States to participate constructively in the work of the UN Intergovernmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Respect to Human Rights;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)

46 a. Calls for the parties involved in the negotiations of EU agreements, establishing or strengthening EU relations with a third country, as well as in the Generalised Scheme of Preferences, to examine the inclusion of a conditionality in these agreements concerning the possibility of a bilateral standing invitation to observe their respective elections; stresses that this electoral observation conditionality should be addressed as well in already existing agreements, including the Generalised Scheme of Preferences, in case of their revision by means of a possible Protocol;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47

47. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a directive on corporate sustainability due diligence as a step towards fostering responsible corporate behaviour with regard to human, labour and environmental rights; emphasises that the directive’s requirements as regards reporting on the sustainability and due diligence strategies should apply to all publicly listed undertakings and to small and medium-sized undertakings operating in high-risk economic sectors; calls on the Commission to draw up a strong and coherent strategy on forced labour as an accompaniment to its proposal, notably with a view to implementing a complete ban on EU imports of goods produced through forced labour; highlights the importance of holding companies accountable through judicial mechanisms including civil liability; calls for companies’ due diligence strategies to be defined and implemented through meaningful and regular consultation with stakeholders, including workers, workers representatives, trade unions, human rights defenders, local communities including vulnerable ones such as Dalits, indigenous groups, migrant workers, informal workers and home workers; calls on the Commission to draw up a strong and coherent strategy on forced labour as an accompaniment to its proposal, notably with a view to implementing a complete ban on EU imports of goods produced through forced labour; calls on the EU to include caste-based forced, bonded and child labour in the categories used in the upcoming EU Forced Labour Instrument, using a positive, resolution-based approach that avoids further damage to victims in fighting these problems;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47

47. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a directive on corporate sustainability due diligence as a step towards fostering responsible corporate behaviour and accountability with regard to human, labour and environmental rights; emphasises that the directive’s requirements as regards reporting on the sustainability and due diligence strategies should apply to all ~~publicly listed~~large undertakings and to small and medium-sized undertakings publicly listed or operating in high-risk economic sectors;; calls on the Commission to draw up a strong and coherent strategy on forced labour as an accompaniment to its proposal, notably with a view to implementing a complete ban on EU imports of goods produced through forced labour;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2049(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48

48. Stresses that human rights must fully encompass the digital sphere and must be protected from the improper use of technology; underlines the risks posed by digital technologies to personal liberty and democracy at large and condemns the role of digital technologies in human rights violations, including through surveillance, monitoring, harassment and limitations to freedom of expression for persecuted minorities; calls for more intensive efforts to establish a comprehensive legal framework on digital technologies, which should balance the need to protect human rights with taking advantage of the possible gains such technologies can offer for human well-being;

2022/10/11
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)

— having regard to the Versailles Declaration of 11 March 2022,

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)

— having regard to the European Council conclusions of 23 and 24 June 2022,

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)

— having regard to the report on the final outcome of the Conference on the Future of Europe of 9 May 2022,

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)

— having regard to its resolution on the follow-up to the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe of 2 May 2022,

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the unprovoked and unjustified military aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine has brought war back to the European continent, has seriously undermined European and global security, has created economic uncertainty, has led to a spike in energy prices, has considerable potential to further destabilise many EU and non-EU countries and has therefore significantly changed the geopolitical context of the EU’s common foreign and security policy (CFSP);

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine wais a wake-up call for the European Union, presenting a ~~real~~n immediate threat to the European security ~~and creating~~order and to the security of the European Union and its Member States; whereas Russia’s invasion of Ukraine galvanises momentum towards achieveing a geopolitical redefinition of the CFSP; whereas ~~it is also an opportunity~~Russia’s invasion also highlights the necessity, underlined by the citizen- driven outcomes of the Conference on the Future of Europe, for the Member States to ~~show the~~demonstrate the necessary political will to transform the CFSP into a fully -fledged European policy;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the global consequences of the Russian Federation’s unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine are compounded by the impact of the ongoing unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic; whereas the return of full-scale war to the European continent, economic instability, and the Russian Federation’s deliberate instrumentalisation of energy volatility result in immediate geopolitical uncertainty for citizens of the European Union, candidate Member States, and prospective candidate Member States, as well as for partners around the world;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas achieving strategic autonomy requires the Union to be able to pursue all matters of strategic significance to the EU without undue reliance on the capabilities of third states and non-EU actors, including through the elimination of vulnerabilities that leave the Union open to internal division and enforced concessions to authoritarian actors; whereas achieving strategic autonomy will allow the Union to further enhance its external action from a basis of strength, more effectively pursue and project its values-based interests, and strengthen its contribution to global multilateralism, the peaceful resolution of conflict, and the development of democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights worldwide;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)

Bc. whereas the voluntary accession of European states to the European Union remains the Union’s most successful foreign policy instrument; whereas Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova were granted candidate status for EU Membership, and Georgia granted a European perspective, on 23 June 2022; whereas the European Commission recommended the Council grant Bosnia and Herzegovina candidate status for EU Membership on 12 October 2022;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Recital B d (new)

Bd. whereas the Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy is guided by the values of democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law; whereas the Union’s values, as enshrined in Article 2, Article 3 (5), and Article 21 TEU, are in its immediate interest; whereas autocratic pressure on these democratic values continues to mount, eroding checks on abuse of power, increasing the incidence and severity of human rights violations, and constricting space for civil society, independent media, and democratic opposition movements; whereas, according to Freedom House, 2021 witnessed the 16th consecutive year of global democratic decline;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Recital B e (new)

Be. whereas the rules-based international order, founded on international law and the institutions of multilateralism, is under ever-increasing risk, both from within and from without; whereas autocratic states, working alone and through concerted action, attempt to undermine multilateral organisations and agencies as well as international humanitarian and human rights law, subvert its meaning through co-optation, or circumvent or thwart its implementation, while promoting the further development of autocratic norms in the European Union and in third states, including through the use of diplomatic, economic, or military incentives and coercion, and through disinformation campaigns; whereas Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its deliberate war crimes form an attack on the foundations of the multilateral rules- based global order;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Points out that the EU’s swift, unified, and sustained response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is a test ofament to the effectiveness of the EU’s foreign, security and defence policy ~~and of~~when faced with immediate pressure; underlines that, in order to enhance its role as a credible values-based foreign policy player, a reliable international partner, and a credible security and defence actor, the Union must adopt and, in areas in which these are presently available, implement decision-making procedures conducive to this objective;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underscores that the tectonic shift in the geopolitical landscape caused by the war in Ukraine and other international challenges calls for a swifter and more resolute implementation of the concept of strategic sovereignty and for a geopolitical awakening of the EU; stresses in this view that the direct or indirect support of a third country to the illegal positions of Russia -i.e. in votes at the UN General Assembly on relevant resolutions or by helping Russia circumvent EU sanctions- should bring clear, swift and specific consequences in our political and trade relations with that country;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underscores that the tectonic shift in the geopolitical landscape caused by ~~the war in~~Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and other international challenges, including the continued rise of global authoritarianism, the PRC’s assertive foreign policy, the climate emergency, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, calls for a swifter and more resolute implementation of the concept of strategic sovereignty and for a geopolitical awakening of the EU;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls that the Strategic Compass, adopted by the Council in March 2022, gives the EU the tools to be both an effective security provider in a ~~hostile~~n increasingly adversarial global and regional environment and a more assertive global actor for peace and human security, and therefore calls ~~for its swift implementation~~on the HR/VP, the Commission, and the Member States to prioritise its swift implementation in cooperation with like-minded partners and in full complementarity with NATO;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 2

- ~~putting the concept of strategic sovereignty into practice~~operationalising strategic autonomy,

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 3

- leading the reinforcement of multilateralism and building partnerships for a better world,

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the Union's remarkable level of unity and resolve in responding swiftly and forcefully to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; urges the Member States to maintain and, where necessary, increase this high and coherent level of support for Ukraine and its citizens in full accordance with Ukraine’s evolving needs and the EU’s commitment to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point a

(a) switching progressively to qualified majority voting for decisions in all areas of the CFSP that do not have military or defence implications, as well as for other EU external policy tools such as the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, by using the passerelle clauses provided for in the Treaties;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point a a (new)

(a a) encouraging, pending the full application of qualified majority voting to decisions without military or defence implications, the use of constructive abstention in line with Article 31 (1) TEU;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point a b (new)

(a b) convening a Convention by activating the procedure for the revision of the Treaties provided for in Article 48 of the Treaty on European Union, with the objective of, inter alia, enshrining qualified majority voting for all matters relating to the EU’s CFSP in the Treaties;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point c

(c) establishing new formats of cooperation, such as the European Security Council, comprised of the Member States’ Foreign Affairs Ministers, which could be responsible for responding swiftly in emergency situations, in order to develop an integrated approach to conflict and crisis, as well as a Council of Defence Ministers;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point d

(d) making full use of the ‘Team Europe’ approach to coordinate and avoid duplication in the EU’s foreign and security policy while projecting unity;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point e

(e) providing sufficient funding, institutional capacity, and technical support at EU and Member State level to prepare for, and respond without delay to, current, emerging, and future challenges;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Reiterates its support for the adoption and implementation of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, enabling the EU to swiftly impose targeted restrictive measures against individuals, entities, and bodies responsible for, involved in, or associated with serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide; welcomes the Commission’s intention, as requested by Parliament and announced in the President’s 2022 State of the Union, to introduce a legislative proposal extending the scope of the EU GHRSR to include corruption; urges the Commission to augment this legislative proposal with avenues enabling an enhanced role for the European Parliament in proposing cases of serious human rights violations; reiterates its call on the Council to introduce qualified majority voting for the adoption of restrictive measures imposed under the EU GHRSR;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Highlights that the enforcement of sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation is paramount to limiting its ability to pursue its war of aggression against Ukraine and must therefore be of the highest priority; urges the Council to impose restrictive measures on third countries enabling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, whether through the facilitation of sanctions circumvention or through the provision of direct military assistance; welcomes restrictive measures imposed on the regime in Belarus; calls on the Council to impose similar measures on the Islamic Republic of Iran in view of its delivery of unmanned aerial vehicles and planned provision of surface-to-surface missiles to the Russian Federation for use against Ukraine, notably against civilian targets;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Expresses concern over the exacerbated frequency and intensity of climate disasters, which have particularly dire consequences for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable individuals and communities; recalls that the direct and indirect impacts of climate change undermine global peace and security while deepening existing vulnerabilities and inequalities and posing risks to the realisation of human rights; underlines the fundamental role which the Commission and the Member States, in a joint Team Europe approach, must play in the advancement of climate diplomacy globally, notably through increased bilateral and multilateral engagement with international partners, the full implementation of the Paris Agreement and further commitments made, in particular to developing partners, and the mainstreaming of climate action across all dimensions of its external action;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Reiterates the necessity to strengthen the Union’s External Action with own and permanent EU instruments and resources in foreign affairs, human rights protection and promotion, and security and defence in order for the Union to be a fully-fledged and credible global player, as well as to be able to better pursue and achieve its objectives and defend its values;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Calls for the strengthening of the EEAS and EU Delegations’ capacities and resources, including by updating the “Council Decision of 26July 2010”, in order for them to be able to better fulfil EU´s objectives and interests worldwide;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Georgios KYRTSOS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Loucas FOURLAS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Calls for an own and autonomous European Diplomacy in all areas, including public and cultural, economic, climate, digital and cyber diplomacy, among others, determined by a common diplomatic culture from an EU perspective; calls for the full implementation, including its one year extension, of the Pilot Project “Towards a European Diplomatic Academy”, which should also focus on target groups of a future academy, including the possibility for those who are not Member States’ diplomats to become EU diplomats in the future;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Underlines the strategic role the international cultural cooperation and cultural diplomacy play in the context of EU foreign policy in strengthening relations with partner countries, in promoting EU’s democratic values, in conflict prevention, in countering disinformation and foreign interferences in third countries and in the fight against illicit trafficking, looting and destruction of cultural property; calls on the Council, EEAS and Commission to mainstream culture as a strategic pillar through all EU’s external action policy areas; supports the inclusion of culture in all existing and future bilateral and multilateral agreements, with due respect for the commitments made under the UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 d (new)

6d. Calls for the strengthening of the EU’s International Cultural Relations and cultural diplomacy by developing a EU instrument that embodies a cultural face of the Union worldwide through a cultural diplomacy action and International Cultural Relations based on a frame of cultural cooperation and co- creation, actively involving civil society and cultural sectors of third countries; stresses that this instrument could aim to promote European culture and way of life, provide EU capacity building and financial assistance to cultural, creative and innovative sectors of third countries’ civil society; underlines that this instrument should include the protection of cultural heritage abroad in EU external action, the promotion of intercultural dialogue, mobility of artists and cultural professionals between the EU and third countries, and the fight against disinformation; highlights that this toolbox should collaborate closely and draw experience from EUNIC, as well as alike-minded partners and international organizations such as UNESCO;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 e (new)

6e. Stresses that geopolitical and humanitarian global crisis demonstrate the need for the EU to provide itself with credible and first-hand information on existent and possible external threats to the EU, in order to be able to react rapidly and effectively, as well as to better protect its interests abroad; calls for the establishment of a system of automatic and continuous flow of intelligence from Member States to the EU on foreign and security issues occurring outside the Union; calls for the strengthening of the EU INTCEN and the EEAS Crisis Response Centre by enhancing its resources and capabilities;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 f (new)

6f. Highlights the necessity to clearly define the competences of the HR/VP, the President of the Commission and the President of the European Council as the current regulatory framework provided both by the Treaties and the inter- institutional agreements on the external representation of the EU abroad is unclear concerning the competences of each institutional figure; considers that this lack of clarity can lead to some duplication in the EU's external action or mislead EU's counterparts and/or interlocutors worldwide in their relations with the Union;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 g(new)

6g. Underlines that the current design of multilateralism does not fully reflect the current world’s order as not all global actors are properly accounted in its architecture; calls on the Commission, the Council, the EEAS and EU Member States to bring forth sound proposals on how to achieve and guarantee an own and permanent seat for the Union in every multilateral fora, including in the UNSC, in order to strengthen EU’s actorness, coherence and credibility in the world;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

~~Putting the concept of strategic sovereignty into practice~~Operationalising strategic autonomy

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Underlines that the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the Russian Federation’s grave ~~and~~, massive, and deliberate violations of human rights and the fundamental norms of international law have highlighted the need for stronger, more ambitious, credible, strategic and unified EU presence and action on the world stage~~, and accentuated~~; emphasises the necessity for the EU to autonomously set its own strategic objectives, as set out in the Strategic Compass, and develop the capabilities to pursue themse, both autonomously and in cooperation with like-minded partners;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Welcomes the shift in the Member States’ approaches, ~~moving towards creating more~~signifying a move towards enhanced EU strategic ~~sovereignt~~autonomy by adopting the Versailles Declaration of 11 March 2022 and the Strategic Compass on 21 March 2022, which highlight the need to strengthen EU defence capabilities and to contribute positively to global and transatlantic security, in close collaboration with NATO;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Considers that the Strategic Compass ensures a holistic approach to the EU’s foreign, security and defence policy, and must form the foundation for the development of a common strategic culture at the level of both the Union and its Member States; calls for the EU and the Member States to show the necessary unity and political will to swiftly implement the ambitious measures to which they have committed to in the Strategic Compass, including the timely operationalisation of the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the swift and repeated use of the European Peace Facility to ~~support Ukraine, improve it~~provide the necessary support to enable Ukraine to defend and regain effective control over its entire territory within its internationally recognised borders; highlights the necessity to improve the Union’s ability to act ~~and~~by building on the European Peace Facility support already delivered to Ukraine, including through the Clearing House Cell, and to use the lessons learnt in the Union’s support for Ukraine to enhance its readiness for future scenarios; supports the establishment of the Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM) to train the Ukrainian Armed Forces on EU soil and urges its swift deployment; reiterates its call on the HR/VP, the Member States and international partners to prepare a swift and decisive response should Russia deploy chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons against Ukraine;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Calls for the significant enhancement of the European Peace Facility in order to ensure its full alignment with Ukraine’s present and future needs, the Union’s resolve to continue providing assistance to Ukraine for as long as it takes, and the evolving needs of other partners, including on the African continent;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Underlines the importance of stepping up the EU’s efforts, in cooperation with NATO and other international partners, to address and foster resilience against hybrid threats, cyberattacks, and disinformation and propaganda campaigns, both within the Union and in third countries; calls on the Commission and the Member States, in close cooperation with NATO and non- NATO partners, to treat the protection of critical European infrastructure, including offshore pipelines and submarine communications and power cables, as a matter of highest priority; calls for further development of the Union’s strategic communications capabilities through the StratCom Task Forces, including those directed at third countries and with a particular focus on the populations of Russia and Belarus, as well as for the allocation of adequate financial resources to this end;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Welcomes the resolve displayed by the Union and most Member States in the pursuit of full energy independence from the Russian Federation; reiterates its call for an immediate and full embargo on Russian imports of fossil fuels and uranium, and for the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines to remain closed and be completely abandoned; emphasises that short-term diversification of energy sources may not come at the expense of meaningful human rights dialogue with alternative energy providers and highlights the essential nature of speeding up the green transition;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Urges the Commission to conduct regular comprehensive stress test exercises of strategic supply chains, including in the areas of health, energy, foodstuffs, semiconductors, and critical raw materials, with an eye to preventing supply chain disruptions, preparing for the consequences of severe disruptions, and reducing EU dependencies on third states, in particular those which do not share the Union’s values or with which the Union finds itself in a state of systemic rivalry, to non-critical levels while enhancing its own capabilities, in cooperation with like-minded partners;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls for an increased EU commitment to developing a comprehensive international space regulation, ~~in order to prevent the weaponisation of spa~~building upon, updating, and reinforcing the existing UN Treaties, Declarations and Legal Principles underpinning space governance, taking account of rapid technological advancements, in order to further the sustainable peaceful development of space while preventing its weaponization and militarisation; welcomes the announcement that the Commission will present a Space Strategy for Security and Defence;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3

BLeading the reinforcement of multilateralism and building partnerships for a better world

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Emphasises that the Union must continue to take the lead in the promotion of a more relevant, resilient, and effective multilateralism which forms the basis for inclusive policy dialogue, cooperation, and convergence aimed at furthering human security, sustainable development, and the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflict in full respect of international law and human rights; urges the Union and its Member States to speak with one voice in multilateral fora, to strengthen ties with like-minded partners around the world and intensify outreach to other third countries and their populations, and to pursue pragmatic sectoral multilateral solutions in areas in which doing so is in accordance with its values-based interests;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Underlines the importance of continued diplomatic efforts to maintain the strongest possible unity within the international community in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and defending and promoting international law and the multilateral rules-based international order, with the United Nations at its core;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Underlines that, as NATO remains fundamental to the European security order, the EU and the Member States must commit to strengthening its European pillar, inter alia ,for those Member States which are also Member States of NATO, by consistently meeting the NATO defence spending benchmark of 2% of GDP as of 2024 while preventing duplication, reducing fragmentation, and enhancing interoperability; urges the two remaining NATO Member States which have not yet done so to ratify Sweden’s and Finland’s accession to NATO without delay;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Emphasises that the achievement of a geopolitical EU must start on the European continent; welcomes, therefore, the establishment and launching summit of the European Political Community (EPC) in Prague in October 2022 as an essential forum to strengthen relations between European states, including those outside the EU or wishing to join in the future, to develop a shared understanding of current challenges, and to pursue political and security cooperation based on shared interests; underlines that, for the future success and coherence of this format, some level of alignment on democratic values and principles is essential; reiterates that the EPC may under no circumstance precipitate, or form a pretext for, delays to the EU accession of enlargement countries;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Highlights the need to intensify the dialogue with the UK on possible avenues for future cooperation and coordination in the area of foreign and security policy, in line with the provisions of the Political Declaration, and including in the framework of the EU- NATO partnership, the United Nations ~~and other international forums~~, the European Political Community, and other international forums; urges the UK to ensure the full implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland, and pursue practical, flexible and durable common solutions within the Protocol’s legal framework;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Underlines the importance of strong transatlantic cooperation, again highlighted in the context of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, based on shared values and objectives, and on the principle of partnership in leadership and responsibility, while respecting the other part~~y’s~~ies’ autonomy, interests and aspirations;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Takes note of the outcome of the EU-China Summit; reiterates its requests for a renewed EU-China strategy which reflects the PRC’s increasingly assertive foreign policy, including towards the Union and towards candidate and potential candidate-Member States; underscores the necessity of ensuring that any support to Russia’s war in Ukraine and any circumvention of the effects of the sanctions against Russia by China must have consequences for its relations with the EU; reiterates its condemnation of the PRC’s crimes against humanity in Xinjiang UAR, which represent a serious risk of genocide, of its undermining of democracy in the Hong Kong SAR, and of its persistent threats issued against Taiwan;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls on the Commission and the VP/HR to establish strategic cooperation with Taiwan; reiterates its advocacy for Taiwan’s meaningful participation as an observer in meetings, mechanisms and activities of international and multilateral bodies and organisations; calls on the Commission to launch, without delay, preparatory measures for negotiations on a bilateral investment agreement with Taiwan;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Strongly condemns authoritarian and illiberal regimes’ attacks against human rights and their universal character, as well as the corresponding erosion on their protection; calls on mature democracies and alike-minded partners to adopt a defiant and public attitude reaffirming our commitment to defend the universality of human rights and the Rule of Law; calls on mature democracies and international and regional organisations to join forces by uniting under a global human rights framework in order to address threats and promote human rights worldwide;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Acknowledges that the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is having a negative impact on the Eastern Partnership countries first and foremost; calls for the EU institutions and the Member States to engage in a thorough reflection on a reform of the Eastern Partnership policy; welcomes the Union’s enhanced engagement with the countries of the Southern Caucasus, notably the swift adoption of an EU monitoring mission to the Armenian side of the Armenia- Azerbaijan border;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Reiterates its support for the Belarusian democratic opposition, which continues to resist the regime of the illegitimate leader and the regime’s complicity in the Russian invasion of Ukraine in spite of ongoing crackdowns; insists that all sanctions applied to the Russian Federation must be mirrored for the Belarusian regime while avoiding adverse consequences, notably relating to the provision of visas, for the Belarusian people; recognises the aspirations of the majority of the people of Belarus to live in a free, sovereign, and democratic county and urges the Commission and the Member States to make adequate preparations, in cooperation with the formal representatives of the democratic opposition, to assist in the country’s future democratic transition;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)

22b. Highlights the hesitation and, in certain cases, unwillingness of Central Asian states to lend their support to the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a sign of Russia’s decreasing regional influence; notes the PRC’s and Türkiye’s increasing engagement with the region, notably through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Belt and Road Initiative; calls for enhanced EU involvement in Central Asia, based on respect for fundamental rights and the Union’s values-based interests, including through the Global Gateway;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. ~~Underlines that the war in~~Welcomes the fact that the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine has prompted the EU to reprioritise its enlargement policy; emphasises that, while the widening and deepening of the Union must go hand-in-hand, the necessity for EU internal reform may not form a pretext for slowing the merit-based accession process; welcomes the granting of candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, and calls for it to be granted to Georgia, provided that the priorities specified in the Commission’s opinion have been addressed; underscores that, while enlargement has proven to be ~~an effective foreign policy tool~~the Union’s most effective foreign policy tool, its implementation should be reassessed to allow for the accelerated integration of accession countries that demonstrate strategic orientation towards the EU and unwavering commitment to EU-related reforms, democratic consolidation, and foreign policy alignment, including through their phase-in into specific Union policies and initiatives; highlights the need for sufficient and sustained support for the energy security of EU accession countries, with particular focus on those countries which remain substantially exposed to Russian manipulation of supply, as well as for the establishment of security compacts with accession countries vulnerable to Russian aggression;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Reiterates its strong support for the European future and EU accession of all countries of the Western Balkans; calls on the Member States to renew their commitment to enlargement by delivering on the EU’s commitments towards the Western Balkan countries, in particular by immediately lifting visa requirements for Kosovo citizens; welcomes the start of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia; welcomes the European Council’s readiness to grant candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and urges the country’s political actors to show commitment and make significant steps towards EU membership by advancing on the 14 key priorities and implementing the substantial set of reformemphasises the necessity for the EU to reinforce the credibility of the enlargement process by safeguarding its merit-based nature, including through the fundamental nature of democracy, fundamental rights, and the rule of law under chapters 23 and 24 of the acquis in the revised enlargement methodology, while avoiding the politicisation of the enlargement process through bilateral disputes; regrets Serbia’s continued low alignment with the CFSP, notably in regard to the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and reiterates its position that further negotiating chapters should be opened only when Serbia strengthens its commitment to reform in the areas of democracy and rule of law and demonstrates progressive alignment with the CFSP; welcomes the start of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia and urges all relevant parties to pursue the necessary steps to enable North Macedonia’s and Albania’s swift progress; denounces the detrimental role played by regional actors and Russian foreign interference across the countries of the Western Balkans;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Welcomes the Commission’s recommendation, and the European Council’s readiness, to grant candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina; calls on the European Council to swiftly grant candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the understanding that a number of steps are taken to strengthen the country’s readiness for accession negotiations; urges the country’s political actors to show commitment and make significant steps towards EU membership by advancing on the eight steps in the Commission recommendation, as well as on the 14 key priorities, and implementing the substantial set of reforms; reiterates its call for the adoption of targeted sanctions against destabilising actors in BiH, including those threatening its sovereignty and territorial integrity, notably Milorad Dodik, and calls on all Member States to ensure that such sanctions can be adopted by the Council; expresses concern over the timing, content, and manner of introduction of changes to the BiH election law and to the FBiH constitution by the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, made on election day, which risk undermining democratic legitimacy and consolidating ethno-nationalism; commends the work of EUFOR Operation Althea and urges the HR/VP and the Member States to work towards the extension of its mandate beyond November while providing for adequate preparation for alternative scenarios;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Reiterates its appreciation for Turkey’s condemnation of the unjustified Russian invasion and military aggression against Ukraine and for its role as facilitator between Ukraine and Russia, including through its vital contribution to bring about the important deal to export the Ukrainian grain; expresses however serious concern by the continuing lack of alignment with EU sanctions against Russia, particularly in the framework of the free movement of goods derived from the existing custom union and against the backdrop of recently strengthened trade and financial relations with Russia; calls on Turkey to reverse the constant deterioration in its alignment with the EU CFSP (which currently stands at a meagre 7%); stresses that Turkey’s geopolitical role does not override the serious shortcomings with regard to human rights situation in the country, which remain the main obstacle for the advancement of EU-Turkey relations;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)

24b. Remains deeply concerned about reports that the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement deliberately seeks to circumvent and undermine the centrality of democratic and rule-of-law reforms in EU accession countries; urges the Commission to instigate an independent and impartial investigation into whether the conduct displayed and policies furthered by the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement constitute a breach of the Code of Conduct for the Members of the European Commission and of the Commissioner’s obligations under the Treaties;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Calls on the Commission to support the countries of the Southern Neighbourhood in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and to cushion the adverse effects on these countries of the supply shocks and price increases resulting from ~~the war in Ukraine~~Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in particular in the domain of food security; welcomes the UN-brokered Black Sea grain initiative; urges Russia to end the renewed weaponization of food exports, which irresponsibly risks galvanising further food insecurity in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, and to abide by the terms of the agreement in full;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25a. Expresses its deep concern about the humanitarian and human rights crisis in Afghanistan following the violent Taliban takeover, with particularly adverse effects on women and girls, ethnic and religious minorities, human rights defenders, independent media representatives, and individuals who provided assistance to the EU and its Member States; urges the Commission and the High Representative to ensure the full and timely evacuation of all members of staff of the EU Special Representative in Afghanistan and EUPOL Afghanistan, other particularly vulnerable persons, and their dependent spouses, children, parents, and unmarried sisters, in accordance with Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/151; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure enhanced funding for humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan; reiterates its non- recognition of the Taliban regime;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)

25b. Fully supports the aspirations of the Iranian people, who want to live in a free, stable, inclusive and democratic country that respects its national and international commitments on human rights and fundamental freedoms; welcomes, in this regard, the restrictive measures imposed on Iranian individuals and entities, including the so-called “morality police”, for their role in the repression of the ongoing, women-led protests in Iran demanding equal rights and ending the systematic discrimination of women and broader violations of human rights in the Islamic Republic; calls for the establishment of an international investigative and accountability mechanism for human rights violations perpetrated by the Iranian government;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Welcomes the ambition to strengthen~~ing of~~ the EU’s relations with the Gulf countries, as underlined in the Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council of 18 May 2022 on a strategic partnership with the Gulf (JOIN(2022)0013); notes that there is a common interest in engaging more strategically with the Gulf partners; calls on the EU and the Member States to continue to emphasise respect for human rights and gender equality as well as the progressive alignment of values, notably related to countering the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its consequences; deeply deplores, in this respect, the OPEC+ decision, notably driven by Saudi Arabia, to reduce oil production, which risks undermining efforts to counter Russia’s aggression and exacerbating the global energy crisis;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27a. Welcomes the adoption of the Union’s multiannual contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA),ensuring predictable support for Palestine refugees in line with the EU- UNRWA Joint Declaration 2021-2024, as well as the Union’s additional contribution to the Agency under the Food and Resilience Facility to address food insecurity; emphasises that continued support to the Agency remains fundamental to regional stability and development with an eye to a sustainable peace and a two-state solution on the basis of 1967 borders;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Condemns in the strongest possible terms the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and calls on the Russian leadership to end it immediately and withdraw unconditionally from Ukraine and any other country whose territory, or parts thereof, it ~~has~~ unlawfully occupieds; urges the international community to hold Russia accountable for the countless war crimes and human rights violations its armed forces have perpetrated in Ukraine and elsewhere, and reaffirms that Russia will have to pay compensation for all of the damage and destruction it has caused in Ukraine; calls on the Commission and the Member States to take the lead in the preparation of a multilateral mechanism overseeing, enforcing, and disbursing the payment of reparations to Ukraine;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28a. Takes note of the prevalence of support for Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine across many countries, notably due to the effective nature of Russian and Chinese disinformation campaigns; encourages the HR/VP, the Commission and the Member States to enhance diplomatic outreach to these countries, to increase bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and to intensify strategic communications; highlights the central role to be played by the Global Gateway in tackling shared challenges based on democratic values, equal partnerships, and environmental sustainability;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Stresses the importance of strengthening relations with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) by updating the EU-LAC strategy, with a strong emphasis on joint efforts to strengthen the multilateral global order, international law, and respect for democracy and human rights, in particular against the backdrop of the increasing and disproportionate influence of China and Russia in the region in comparison with the EU; stresses, in this context, the importance of concluding balanced and modernised agreements with Chile, Mexico, and Mercosur with a binding and enforceable chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) that includes a strong human rights dimension and alignedment with the goals of the European Green Deal, provided that, in the case of Mercosur, agreement is reached on the additional instrument;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Calls on the Commission and the VP/HR to implement the commitments agreed on at the AU-EU Summit, to swiftly implement the Global Gateway projects in Africa and to strengthen partnerships with countries on the African continent, in line with the Strategic Compass; and on the basis of equality, particularly with the aim of promoting the Sustainable Development Goals, digital and green transformations, human rights and the peaceful resolution of conflict, in accordance with the principles of international law; underlines that EU engagement with Africa, including through development and trade cooperation, must prioritise contributing to strong and resilient societies, enhancing social equality and security, and supporting democratic structures on the ground; welcomes the allocation of funding under the European Development Fund towards mitigating growing food insecurity resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and calls for further similar measures to betaken as necessary;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)

31a. Calls to enhance EU agreements establishing or strengthening EU relations with a third country, as well as the Generalised Scheme of Preferences, by including, during the negotiations of these agreements, a conditionality concerning the possibility of a bilateral standing invitation to observe the respective elections of the Parties involved; stresses that this electoral observation conditionality should be addressed as well in already existing agreements, including the Generalised Scheme of Preferences, in case of their revision by means of a possible Protocol;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Thijs REUTEN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to enable and strengthen parliamentary oversight of EU external action, including by continuing regular consultations with the VP/HR and the Commission, and by involving Parliament in the proper further implementation and scrutiny of the European Peace Facility and the Strategic Compass; recalls that the European Parliament upholds a degree of informal cooperation with the EEAS enhanced by Council Decision of 26 July 2010 and the “High Representative’s declaration of political accountability of 2010”; highlights that is necessary to further strengthen the framework of inter- institutional relations between this Parliament and the EEAS, including its delegations; calls for a “Framework Agreement on strengthening External Action cooperation between the EEAS and the European Parliament", which could move forward towards enhancing EU’s own toolbox for External Action;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2048(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Affirms that Parliament should make full use of its oversight and budgetary powers in relation to the decisions of the Union in the international arena; highlights the importance of Parliament’s democracy support programmes, which have great potential to reinforce the EU’s role around the world by engaging key political stakeholders and facilitating sustainable democratic governance in non-EU and EU accession countries;

2022/10/24
Committee: AFET

2022/2047(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas culture is a key vector for addressing major global challenges and, if conceived as a bottom-up and free flow of ideas and creations, is also a fundamental tool for peace and conflict prevention and a resource for stability and regeneration in any fragile context;

2022/09/21
Committee: AFET

2022/2047(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas third countries’ diaspora in the EU and European diaspora in third countries can be important actors in strengthening cultural relations between the EU and other countries;

2022/09/21
Committee: AFET

2022/2047(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital D

D. whereas illiberal and authoritarian regimes attempt to redefine international rules and values by challenging their universality and claiming them to be a weapon of cultural hegemony deployed by the EU; whereas these above-mentioned regimes attempt to identify the EU as a neo-colonial actor in their discourse worldwide; highlights that these regimes actions are far-reaching globally and attempt to re-define international rules and multilateralism;

2022/09/21
Committee: AFET

2022/2047(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges the efforts of the Commission and the European External Action Service to implement the Joint Communication “Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations", demonstrating the EU’s added value and advancing cultural cooperation with partner countries; , as well as to develop a closer model for cooperation with Member States, national institutes for culture (EUNIC), private and public operators from the EU and its partner countries;

2022/09/21
Committee: AFET

2022/2047(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Welcomes the creation of focal points in EU Delegations, the development of the Cultural Relations Platform and the joint implementation of programmes allowing cultural actors and public stakeholders to develop innovative ideas and concrete projects, finance cultural relations and facilitate networks;

2022/09/21
Committee: AFET

2022/2047(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Recognizes the efforts of the European Commission and EEAS in the protection of cultural heritage sites and the fight against illegal trafficking in cultural property; stresses the importance to integrate cultural heritage protection to the various phases of the conflict cycle;

2022/09/21
Committee: AFET

2022/2047(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Urges the Council, the European Commission and EEAS to enhance the protection of the cultural heritage in conflict zones; considers that an introduction of targeted sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for destruction or purposeful damaging of the cultural heritage would be an important step in establishing deterrence and ensuring accountability for such acts;

2022/09/21
Committee: AFET

2022/2047(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Highlights that European culture could be best represented and identified by means of a common and consolidated embodiment of the EU worldwide, which goes beyond the image of different particular or aggregated EU Member States’ cultures;

2022/09/21
Committee: AFET

2022/2047(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)

2d. Emphasises the potential of EU International Cultural Relations to counter disinformation in third countries and foreign interferences towards the EU, and the hostile narratives against the EU in illiberal and authoritarian regimes;

2022/09/21
Committee: AFET

2022/2047(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)

2e. Stresses the need for the EU to be fully present in cultural events worldwide, especially those that are global, such has the World Fair; calls for the possibility for the EU to host a World Fair, which could take place in different EU Member States;

2022/09/21
Committee: AFET

2022/2047(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 f (new)

2f. Underlines that is necessary to strengthen International Cultural Relations cooperation between the European Commission and EEAS with EUNIC, as well as with alike-minded partners and international organizations such as UNESCO; stresses the need to put a special focus, without disregarding other partners, on EU-Africa and EU- Latin America and the Caribbean international cultural relations;

2022/09/21
Committee: AFET

2022/2047(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls to strengthen the role of EU Delegations in EU International Cultural Relations and its focal points, including by the allocation of the necessary resources and by developing a tailor-made International Cultural Relations list of activities and programmes for EU Delegations to implement with the appropriate resources; calls for the development of strategies based on international cultural relations for EU delegations and other EU actors in their relations with third countries;

2022/09/21
Committee: AFET

2022/2047(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for the allocation of the necessary budgetary and personnel resources to the EU’s international cultural relations and cultural diplomacy in order to strengthen EU's action in this regard and facilitate cultural cooperation with local actors and academia in third countries; considers that the EEAS and the European Commission should be able to pull resources when needed from geographical envelopes in the Global Europe instrument;

2022/09/21
Committee: AFET

2022/2047(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for an update to the 2016 Joint Communication “Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations" with a view to establishing a permanent structural and institutional EU dimension and developing and implementing a long- term strategy to be integrated permanently and horizontally within the EU’s external action toolbox.

2022/09/21
Committee: AFET

2022/2047(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls to develop an own and autonomous toolbox for EU International Cultural Relations and Cultural Diplomacy, that draw from the experience and collaborate in partnership with EUNIC and Member States’ cultural institutes abroad, with a cultural diplomacy action and International Cultural Relations based on events to be developed in a frame of cultural cooperation and co-creation, actively involving civil society and the cultural sectors of third countries societies; Stresses that this toolbox could aim to promote European culture and way of life, and to provide EU assistance on capacity building, technical and material, as well as financial, to cultural, creative and innovative sectors of third countries’ civil society;

2022/09/21
Committee: AFET

2022/0212(BUD)

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas the growing instability and the rise of unprecedented challenges in the international environment increases the demands on the Union to act and pursue a feminist foreign policy with a budget fit for purpose;

2022/07/27
Committee: AFET

2022/0212(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Is concerned about the mounting challenges to our multilateral systems and reminds of their importance, as they constitute the vehicle to ensure peace and stability globally;

2022/07/27
Committee: AFET

2022/0212(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Welcomes stronger conditionality related to democracy, human rights and rule of law under the modernised IPA III; reminds of the importance to support civil society organisations and people to people contacts;

2022/07/27
Committee: AFET

2022/0212(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Welcomes the additional contribution provided to UNRWA in 2022, and encourages the Commission to increase EU's financial support to the Agency also in 2023 to meet urgent needs; welcomes the resumption of financial support to al-Haq and other Palestinian NGOs, after the accusations of terrorism moved by Israel resulted to be unsubstantiated;

2022/07/27
Committee: AFET

2022/0212(BUD)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Evin INCIR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Asks to strengthen the budget for election observation missions, given their role in consolidating democratic institutions and bringing stability in fragile countries, as well as to reinforce the budgets for the preservation of human rights, including by supporting women activists, and the assistance to civil society organisations, including the ones committed to women's empowerment;

2022/07/27
Committee: AFET

2022/0212(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls for the extension of the Pilot Project ‘Towards a European Diplomatic Academy’ by one year in order to provide a more solid basis, thereby ensuring the sustainability of the project, through the extension of the study for the creation of a European Diplomatic Academy, which should also focus on target groups of a future academy, including the possibility of those interested in becoming EU Diplomats in the future who are not Member States’ diplomats, as well as by organising a second pilot academic year;

2022/07/27
Committee: AFET

2022/0068(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4

(4) The Union and the United Kingdom may conclude other bilateral agreements between them that constitute supplementing agreements to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and such supplementing agreements are an integral part of the overall bilateral relations as governed by this Agreement and form part of the overall framework. The applicability of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, or any of its effects, is ruled out for the territory of Gibraltar by virtue of article 774(3) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, given that the future EU- Gibraltar relation will be detailed out in a future EU-UK agreement.

2022/09/12
Committee: AFET INTA AFCO

2022/0000(INI)

Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1 – point i

(i) improve intelligence sharing among the Member States and engage in a systematic, regular and frequent updates of the threat analysis included in the Strategic Compass; establish a system of automatic and continuous flow of intelligence from Member States to the EU on foreign and security issues occurring outside the Union; strengthen the EU INTCEN by enhancing its resources and capabilities;

2022/05/06
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

A a. whereas economic integration with the EU remained high and Turkey positioned as the EU’s sixth largest trading partner in 2020, while the EU remains by far Turkey’s largest trading partner and its largest source of foreign direct investment(FDI); whereas Turkey is currently undergoing economic and financial difficulties which exacerbates the economic impact of the pandemic;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

A b. whereas Turkey hosts the largest refugee population in the world, with almost 4 million registered refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, and whereas the EU-funding to these communities has proven its value for assisting Turkey in swiftly responding to the humanitarian and development needs of refugees and their host communities;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas over the past year, EU- Turkey relations have on average remained stable, as enhanced cooperation and dialogue on a number of issues have coexisted with regular conflicts; whereas this report reflects this situation by welcoming positive developments and pointing to further potential in the relationship, while signalling remaining problems, in particular as regards the rule of law and fundamental rights; whereas if this report is to assess Turkey’s progress or lack of progress in terms of human rights and rule of law, as the core of the accession process, it is important to describe the concrete mechanisms of erosion of freedoms that, taken together, lead to this general backsliding with regard to European standards; whereas this approach means going beyond a long list of citizens and groups who are suffering as a result of these decisions to identifying the operators and bodies of the public authorities responsible of this worrying situation in their particular area of action; whereas generic criticism must be replaced by targeted criticism;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Reiterates its concern about the persistent distance between the EU and Turkey, despite it being a candidate country, in terms of values and standards, and the continuing lack of political will to carry out the necessary reforms to address, in particular, the serious concerns about the rule of law and fundamental rights that continue to negatively affect the accession process; considers that without clear progress in this field, Parliament cannot envisage any resumption of accession negotiations with Turkey, which have effectively been at a standstill since 2018; notes that it does not find arguments at this stage to modify its conditional position concerning the formal suspension of the accession negotiations with Turkey;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes, however, that there has been a slight improvement over the past year in overall EU-Turkey relations, which have on average remained stable, as enhanced cooperation and dialogue on a number of issues have coexisted with regular conflicts; expresses its hope that this pattern of ‘conflictual cooperation’ can be overcome and replaced with a more positive dynamic; welcomes the recent high-level dialogues between EU-Turkey on climate change on 16 September 2021, Turkey formulating its own Green Deal and putting in place ambitious domestic climate policies as well as Turkey ratifying the Paris Agreement on 6 October 2021; welcomes the high-level dialogue on migration and security on 12 October 2021 focused on strengthening cooperation on managing migration, combating human trafficking and organised crime, and preventing terrorist attacks; welcomes the high-level dialogue on public health of 1 December 2021 discussing enhanced cooperation on cross-border health threats, including in the short-term in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic; commends, in this context, the mutual recognition of COVID-19 certificates in August 2021;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Notes that, while accession talks remain at a standstill, Turkey updated its National Action Plan for the EU Accession (NAP)to cover the years 2021- 2023; further notes progress made by Turkey in closer alignment with the EU acquis in areas such as competition legislation, the national qualifications system as well as in further aligning with the European Research Area (ERA) and a related better performance of Turkey in Horizon 2020;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Reiterates its firm conviction that Turkey is a country of strategic relevance in political, economic and foreign policy terms, a partner that is key for the stability of the wider region, and an ally with which the EU wishes to pursue the best possible relations; welcomes, in this view, the recent statements expressed at the highest level by the Turkish authorities about the recommitment of the Turkish Government to the EU path, but urges the Turkish authorities to put their words into action and demonstrate this commitment with specific facts and decisions; believes that, if conditions allow, dialogue with Turkish authorities and counterparts at all levels should be further reinforced as a means to contribute to the rebuilding of trust and diminish the possibilities of future confrontations, in line with the European Council’s position to engage with Turkey in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner; calls in this view on the Council to unblock the suspended high level political dialogue, the high level sectoral dialogues on economy, energy and transport, as well as the EU-Turkey Association Council while bearing in mind that further progress in any field should also be closely linked to improvements in the situation of fundamental freedoms and rule of law;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Expresses concern over the current economic situation in Turkey, which through soaring inflation and a constantly rising cost of living is pushing a high and increasing number of people into hardship and poverty; notes that while the current situation has been developing over a number of years, it turned into a currency crisis in December 2021, exacerbating existing pandemic-related impacts in the economy; is concerned by the lack of confidence in purportedly independent bodies such as the Central Bank and the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜIK); notes in this regard that the operational independence of both institutions is a key criterion for EU accession; further highlights that the poor performance of Turkey with regard to the respect to the rule of law has also a severe impact on the reputational image of the country and that the lack of legal certainty has the potential to seriously affect the ability of the country to attract foreign investments;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Notes that in October 2021 the Financial Action Task Force added Turkey to the list of jurisdictions deemed incapable of tackling money laundering terrorist financing, and proliferation financing; expresses its hope that Turkey can rapidly display the necessary progress on improving the implementation of relevant AML/CFT measures;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Deplores the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in Turkey, including backsliding on fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law; considers that the current repressive form of rule, whose main pillars are abuse of the legal framework - particularly through the application of terrorism charges and by restriction of freedom of expression- and a lack of independence of the judiciary, is a deliberate, relentless and systematic state policy developed to suppress any critical activities either-directly or through a chilling effect; is appalled by the fact that in order to pursue this policy, the Turkish state authorities are ready to blatantly and persistently disregard their international and domestic legal obligations, such as those derived from Turkey’s membership of the Council of Europe;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Reiterates its strong condemnation of Turkey’s withdrawal, by presidential decree, from the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention); a decision that is particularly alarming against the background of continuing high number of femicides in the country and that represents a major setback to efforts to promote women’s rights in the country; reiterates its call on Turkey’s Government to reverse this incomprehensible decision and, in the meantime, to prevent and combat violence against all women and girls, support survivors, and hold abusers to account by fully implementing Turkey’s own Law no. 6284 and all measures identified in the relevant ECtHR jurisprudence;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Notes the importance of upholding the freedom of assembly in Turkey, which is enshrined in its constitution; is deeply worried by the routine use and continued extension of bans on protests and demonstration by provincial governors, and particularly by the Governor’s ban that has been in place for over five years in Van Province; deplores the targeting of journalists at public protests by Turkish police forces including through the April 2021 directive by Turkey’s Security General Directorate (EGM), instructing Turkish police forces to prevent press recordings of protests and demonstrations that was subsequently suspended by the Council of State citing a restriction of fundamental rights; regrets the recurrent use of excessive force to suppress peaceful demonstrations amidst an overall general impunity of law enforcement officials; deplores the ongoing trial against the Cumartesi Anneleri (Saturday Mothers) at the Istanbul 21st Criminal Court of First Instance in relation to the violent dispersal of their 700th vigil on 25 August 2018; reiterates its call on the authorities to drop charges against the students of Boğaziçi University prosecuted for exercising their right to peaceful assembly, and highlights the relevance of ensuring academic freedom and the autonomy of universities; is concerned in this regard by the recent decision to remove three elected deans in Boğaziçi University, whose current rector was appointed by Presidential decree in August 2021;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Reiterates its serious concern about the disproportionate and arbitrary measures curtailing freedom of expression; welcomes the further decrease in the number of journalists in prison in Turkey; and the increase in the number of acquittals in cases against journalists observed in the last period of 2021; welcomes the recent rulings of the Council of State halting the execution of some articles of the Press Card Regulations and the police circular that had banned audio-visual recordings at public demonstrations; notes however that the practice of investigating and prosecuting people on charges such as insulting the President or on broadly- worded and vague terrorism charges continues; is appalled by the gross abuse of Article 299 of Turkish Penal Code on insulting the President which can carry a jail sentence of between one and four years; finds completely disproportionate that since 2014, the first year of President Erdoğan’s term in office, more than 160,000 investigations have been launched, more than 35,500 cases were filed and there were more than12,800 convictions over insulting the president; calls on Turkey’s authorities to apply the rulings by the European Court on Human Rights and to follow the Venice Commission recommendations in order to bring Turkish law on this matter in line with the Convention; is particularly worried by the case of journalist Sedef Kabaş, who after being publicly targeted by senior government officials was arrested during a midnight raid on January 22nd, by the order of Istanbul10th Criminal Court of Peace judge, and is kept in pre-trial detention at the Bakırköy Women's Prison in İstanbul for having allegedly insulted the President on a live broadcast on TELE1 TV on 14 January 2022; is appalled by the fact that the Istanbul 36th Criminal Court of First Instance of the indictment has recently accepted the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for which Ms Kabaş will face up to 12 years and 10 months in prison on the offenses charged; finds this case a clear example of the abusive use of Article 299 with an aim of having a chilling effect on any journalist or citizen who could express criticism towards the President or government; expresses concerns about the Presidential circular on "Press and Broadcasting Activities" published on 28 January 2022 as it could imply unlawful restrictions to fundamental rights and freedoms;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Asserts that the continued prosecution, censorship and harassment of journalists and independent media remains an issue of concern; calls on the chair of the Turkish Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) to discontinue the excessive imposition of fines and broadcasting bans restricting the legitimate freedom of expression of Turkish journalists and broadcasters; is concerned by the RTÜK’s decision to expand government control over international press outlets by applying broadcasting requirements to Deutsche Welle, Euronews and Voice of America; calls on the chair of the Press Advertising Agency (BIK) to ensure that bans on public advertising do not serve to suppress independent media reporting; calls on the Director of Communications at the Turkish Presidency, to ensure the timely processing of press card applications and to discontinue the use of criminal complaints and belligerent rhetoric targeting journalists; calls on the Turkish Grand National Assembly to follow-up on the Turkish Constitutional Court’s judgement of January 2022 requesting to reformulate Article 9 of the Internet Law to protect the freedoms of expression and the press;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Takes note of the adoption of the fourth and fifth judicial packages in Turkey during 2021 which contain steps in the right direction although modest and not addressing the main concerns; asserts, however, that the current problems stem not only from problematic legislation, but are often caused by a failure to implement existing adequate provisions; remains concerned about the erosion of the rule of law and judicial independence in Turkey; notes in this regard the appointment to the Turkish Constitutional Court in January 2021 of a judge who had served just twenty days on the Court of Cassation and who had previously acted as Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor, being involved in the controversial cases brought against Osman Kavala, the Gezi Park protestors, and journalists Can Dündar and Erdem Gül, among others; points out the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK), as the main element of concern with regard to the lack of judicial independence; reiterates its call for the shortcomings in the structure and process for the selection of the members of this Council to be addressed with a view to ensuring its independence and putting an end to its arbitrary decisions;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Expresses concern about the high and growing number of applications lodged at the Constitutional Court concerning violations of constitutional rights and the lack of changes implemented when such violations are revealed; notes the recent statements by the President of the Constitutional Court, recognizing that over 73% of the more than 66.000 applications received in 2021 concerned the right for a fair trial, describing this as a “dire situation”; questions the changes in the procedural rules of the court allowing to defer decisions by a year;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Notes the adoption of a new human rights action plan by the Turkish authorities in March 2021 as welcome in principle, even though it leaves a number of underlying issues unaddressed; calls on the Turkish government to make the action plan real by inter alia discontinuing the selective interpretation of the Treaty of Lausanne’s provisions on minority rights, including by granting legal personality and education rights to any religious minority whether Muslim, Christian or other; calls on Turkey’s government to step up ongoing efforts related, among others, to the public recognition of the Alevi identity, the legal status of cemevis and their funding, in compliance with relevant ECtHR judgments on compulsory religion and ethics classes and Alevi worship places; urges Turkey’s authorities to increase their efforts to effectively address the dire situation of Roma, in particular with regard to housing and education, as they continue to suffer severe levels of poverty, unemployment, discrimination and exclusion;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12 b. Calls on the full implementation of ECtHR judgments regarding conscientious objection; notes in this regard the action plan submitted by Turkish authorities to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and encourages them to develop further measures to ensure, through the necessary legislation, a fair and accessible exercise of the right to conscientious objection to military service;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Regrets the sustained pressure on civil society and human rights defenders and the continuously shrinking space to operate freely in Turkey; denounces the intimidation, harassment and violence exerted against human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, academics, doctors who have provided assistance to the victims of torture, and other activists, especially those in the Kurdish community, and the arbitrary closure of civil society organisations, including prominent human rights non- governmental organisations and media; reiterates its call on Turkey’s government to review the Law on Preventing Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction of December 2020, which grants the Turkish Interior Ministry and the president extensive authority to restrict the activities of non- governmental organisations, business partnerships, independent groups and associations and appears to be aimed at further limiting, restricting and controlling civil society; calls on the EU and its Member States to exert greater pressure on the Turkish Government and to step up their support for human rights defenders and independent civil society in Turkey, including through relevant financial instruments; calls on the Commission to provide, through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) III and relevant programmes of the NDICI-Global Europe instrument, sufficient funding for civil society, non- state actors and people-to-people contacts in order to prioritise the pro-democracy efforts; calls on the Commission to explore the funding of local governments concerning projects of mutual interest;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Continues to urge the Turkish Government to release Osman Kavala after more than four years of detention; ~~reiterates its call on the Turkish authorities to abide by the final judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in this case;~~ believes that he is unlawfully held in prison on unjustified charges, for the purpose of silencing and deterring critical voices in Turkey; reiterates its call on the Turkish authorities to abide by the final judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in this case; deplores the continued efforts to extend Mr Kavala’s imprisonment through a series of complex evasive judicial tactics; points out as one of many irregularities the irrational merging of his case, known as the Gezi trial, with that of other defendants that saw their acquittals overturned over the course of 2021 which was signed off by the same judge who had requested it, from the 30th Heavy Penal Court, through a temporary appointment from one court to the other; condemns the repeated decisions by the Istanbul 30th Heavy Penal Court and the Istanbul13th Heavy Penal Court, newly responsible after merging of the cases, to prolong the detention of Mr Kavala in violation of his right to freedom and security, most recently on 21 February 2022, when the court also ruled to split once again both cases, in the last example of an incomprehensible judiciary process; is appalled by the recent final opinion by Istanbul Public Prosecutor requesting aggravated life sentence for Mr Kavala under article 312 of the Turkish Criminal Code (attempting to overthrow the Government by force and violence) even if the ECtHR has already and specifically dismissed this accusation in its rulings; takes note of the recurrent decisions by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe urging Mr Kavala’s release, which culminated in the historical launching of infringement proceedings through interim-resolutions in December 2021 and February 2022 over Turkey’s refusal to abide by the ECtHR’s final judgement;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Expresses deep concern about the deterioration in the human rights situation for LGBTI people, in particular with regard to physical attacks – especially against transgender persons – the protracted bans on Pride marches across the country, restrictions on the freedoms of assembly, association and expression, and censorship in the media; deplores the increasingly homophobic stance of Turkey’s government and the use of hate speech against LGBTI people by high-level officials, that aims at stigmatizing and criminalizing the LGBTI community and can serve as breeding ground for hate crimes; follows with grave concern the ongoing trial against the Ankara Bar Association’s executive board and president, in which the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, seeks up to two years of prison for allegedly “insulting a public officer” when criticizing the head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), for the openly homophobic statements he made in 14 April 2020 stating that "Islam curses homosexuality (...) because it brings about disease and rots generations"; urges Turkey’s authorities to put in place the necessary legal measures to end any discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in line with article 21 of the EU Charter of fundamental rights;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Notes with great concern that the HDP and its party organisations have been specifically and continuously targeted by the Turkish authorities, leading to a situation where over 4 000 HDP members are currently in prison; continues to strongly condemn the continued detention since November 2016 of Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, the former co-chairs of the HDP and calls for their immediate release; is appalled by the Turkish authorities’ continuous disregard for and failure to apply the rulings of the ECtHR that oblige Turkey to immediately release Mr Demirtaş; condemns the indictment in pursuit of the HDP party’s closure and the banning from political life of 471 individuals including most of HDP’s current leadership, that was filed by the Chief Public Prosecutor of Turkey’s Court of Cassation, and accepted by unanimity by Turkey’s Constitutional Court in June 2021; notes with grave concern that the HDP dissolution case is the culmination of a crackdown on the party that has been going on for several years, and reiterates that banning the party would be a serious political mistake as an irreversible blow to pluralism and democratic principles; further highlights the role of the Ankara 22nd Heavy Penal Court in the so-called ‘Kobane case’ against 108 individuals including numerous HDP politicians, and points to the special role of the public prosecutor, and in particular demands clarity over the alleged political interference documented among the file; further questions how the court managed to examine and accept a 3530-page document in a week, without hearing defendants;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

17 a. Is concerned by the ongoing case against CHP Vice chair Gökçe Gökçen, in the framework of an investigation against the whole Executive Board of the party for the publication and distribution of a booklet; is shocked by the fact that, among the three lawsuits filed against her, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, charged her with the crime of physically assaulting the president, which comes with a minimum five year prison sentence, related to this brochure’s publication; notes that, while this lawsuit has been dismissed by the Ankara 18th High Criminal Court, the other two lawsuits for slander, incitement towards hatred and defamation against the President still continue; remains seriously concerned about the continuous political and judicial harassment of Canan Kaftancıoğlu, Istanbul provincial chair of the CHP, through a growing number of lawsuits against her;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Condemns the recurrent use of revocation of the parliamentary status of opposition MPs, which seriously damages the Turkish Parliament’s image as a democratic institution; recalls in this regard the recent judgement by the ECtHR of 1 February 2022 that ruled that the lifting in 2016 of the immunities of 40 MPs of the HDP infringed their right of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly; follows with concern the ongoing summaries of proceedings seeking to lift the legislative immunity of HDP Diyarbakır MP Semra Güzel for alleged "membership of a terrorist organization" related to pictures taken 5years ago;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18 a. Reiterates its condemnation of the decision made by the Turkish authorities to remove democratically elected mayors from office on the basis of questionable evidence and replace them with unelected trustees, which undermines local democracy; notes the political, legislative and administrative measures taken by the Turkish Government to paralyse municipalities run by the mayors of opposition parties in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Recognises that Turkey has legitimate security concerns and the right to fight terrorism; stresses, nevertheless, that this must be done with full respect for the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms; reiterates its firm and unambiguous condemnation of the violent terrorist attacks by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been on the EU list of terrorist organisations since 2002; regrets the overly broad anti- terrorism provisions and the abuse of the anti-terror measures that continue to be used as the means for the repression of human rights and of any critical voice in the country, including journalists, activists and political opponents; is deeply concerned by the decision of the Minister of Interior to open a special investigation into the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality affecting over 550 of its employees for alleged terror links, and by the renewed judicial harassment against Mr. Öztürk Türkdoğan, a prominent human rights lawyer and Co-Chairperson of the Human Rights Association (İHD) who is being tried by the Ankara 19th Heavy Penal Court under the accusation of “membership to an illegal armed organisation” following his indictment by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on Turkey to abide by a zero- tolerance policy on torture and to duly investigate persistent and credible reports of torture, ill-treatment and inhumane or degrading treatment in custody, in order to put an end to impunity and hold those responsible to account; welcomes the recent amendment in the regulation on prisons to replace “strip search” by “detailed search” and calls on the director of the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses to ensure its full implementation “in respect for human dignity and honour”, as stated in the amended regulation, as there are still credible allegations on the continuation of this practice, including on minors visiting prisons; is deeply worried by the situation in Turkey’s prisons, particularly with regard to ill prisoners; deplores the continuation of the incarceration of former MP Aysel Tuğluk, despite her dire health condition, which has been determined by medical reports that are subsequently dismissed by the state-run Forensic Medicine Institution (ATE); is concerned by the harassment against HDP MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, recently prevented from travelling abroad and who was subject of an investigation by the Kandıra Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on charges of “insulting the state and its organs” for calling for the release of Aysel Tuğluk, that has recently been dropped;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20 a. Is appalled by the deafening silence of the Ombudsman in the face of the grave situation of fundamental rights in the country described above; calls on the Chief Ombudsman of Turkey, to ensure that his institution becomes a useful tool for Turkey’s citizens and active in strengthening the culture of seeking legal remedies as the institution has set out in its aims; regrets that neither the Ombudsman nor the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey (HREI), as the two main human rights institutions in the country, are operationally, structurally or financially independent; urges Turkey’s authorities to take the appropriate measures in order for these institutions to comply, as relevant, with the Paris Principles and the Commission’s Recommendation on Standards for Equality Bodies; deplores that certain members of the HREI demonstrated a negative attitude towards basic human rights, including gender equality, women's rights, LGBTIQ rights, and expressed support for Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention; invites the Human Rights Inquiry Committee at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey to fully exert its extensive powers to investigate and seek accountability concerning violations of human rights in the country and to propose legislative amendments to ensure the alignment of the national legislation with the international conventions on human rights to which Turkey is party;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20 b. Expresses its strong appreciation for the clear support of the Turkish authorities for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and in condemning the unjustified Russian invasion and military aggression against Ukraine; stresses the vital importance of strong EU-Turkey cooperation in foreign and security policy in the current challenging times and welcomes in this view Turkey’s firm alignment with NATO and the EU; encourages Turkey to continue acting accordingly in light of its important role in regulating transit and navigation in the Straits of the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara and the Bosporus in application of the Montreux Convention; welcomes the open disposition of Turkey’s government to act as a mediator among the parties in conflict; invites Turkey to reconsider, in light of the graveness of the situation, its principled position concerning the non-application of sanctions;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Commends the efforts made by Turkey to continue hosting the largest refugee population in the world; welcomes, in this regard, the continued provision of EU funding for refugees and host communities in Turkey, and expresses its commitment to sustain this support in the future; insists on the need for both parties to comply with their respective commitments under the EU-Turkey Statement, including the resumption of the readmission of returnees from the Greek islands interrupted in March 2020 or the activation of the Voluntary Humanitarian Admission Scheme, and with fundamental rights as part of its implementation process; is concerned by continued reports of summary push-backs of Afghans and others apprehended attempting to cross the border, and arbitrary deportations to Syria, by signs of a rise in racist and xenophobic attacks against foreigners, as well as by the use of anti-refugee narrative by some politicians; insists that returns of refugees should only happen on a voluntary basis and in safety;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21 a. Believes that strengthening trade relations could bring concrete benefits to citizens in Turkey and the EU, and therefore,supports the Commission’s proposal to start negotiations on the upgrading of the Customs Union; warns, however, that such modernization of the Customs Union would need to be based on strong conditionality related to human rights and fundamental freedoms and that it can only be envisaged upon Turkey’s fully implementation of the Additional Protocol to extend the Ankara Agreement towards all Member States without reserve and in a non-discriminatory fashion; stresses that both parties must be fully aware of this democratic conditionality from the very onset of any negotiations, as the Parliament will not give its consent to the final agreement without results in this field;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)

21 b. Notes that visa liberalisation would constitute an important step towards facilitating people-to-people contacts and is of great importance for Turkish citizens, particularly for students, academics, business representatives and people with family ties in EU Member States; continues its support for the visa liberalisation process once the set conditions have been met and encourages the Turkish Government to fully comply with the 72 criteria identified in the visa liberalisation roadmap in a non- discriminatory manner; stresses that there has been very little real progress on the six outstanding benchmarks still to be fulfilled by Turkey; notes that the new Action Plan on Human Rights foresees the acceleration of the fulfilment of the remaining benchmarks; stresses that the revision of Turkey’s anti-terrorism legislation and Data Protection Law are key conditions for ensuring fundamental rights and freedoms;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Acknowledges that Turkey can pursue its own foreign policy in line with its interests and goals, but expects this policy to be defended through diplomacy and dialogue based on international law and, as a candidate country, to be increasingly aligned with that of the EU; is of the opinion that EU-Turkey cooperation in foreign and security policy is of fundamental importance and that future EU security structures, particularly in the neighbourhood, require strategic cooperation and improved communication with Turkey in order to be effective; regrets, against this background, the lowest level (14%) of alignment of Turkey with CFSP and CSDP among candidates countries, given the great potential that a joint action could play with regard to different challenges in the region and globally;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22 a. Commends the recent rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia with regard to the decision to start bilateral contacts, the appointment of Special Representatives and the resumption of flights between the two countries; considers this attempt a very positive development and encourages both sides to pursue these efforts with a view to fully normalize their relations; expresses hope that this may lead to a dynamic of normalization of relations in the South Caucasus;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Welcomes the decrease in tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean during the past year, but remains fully aware that these positive dynamics could be reversed at any moment while the underlying issues remain unresolved; deplores in this view the recent statements by Turkish authorities disputing Greece’s sovereignty over some of its islands as counterproductive and in contradiction to de-escalation efforts; continues to urge Turkey and all stakeholders involved to engage in a bona fide peaceful settlement of disputes and to refrain from any unilateral action or threats; continues, in particular, to call on all sides for a genuine collective engagement to negotiate the delimitation of EEZs and the continental shelf in good faith and in line with international rules and principles; reiterates its support to the proposal of the European Council for a multilateral conference on the Eastern Mediterranean and underscores that the Green Deal and the energy transition could provide for important opportunities for reaching cooperative and inclusive energy solutions in the Eastern Mediterranean;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Deplores the fact that the unresolved conflict in Cyprus is a major obstacle to EU-Turkey relations; reaffirms its view that the only sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue is that of a fair, comprehensive and viable settlement on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with a single international legal personality and political equality, in accordance with international law and on the basis of respect for the principles on which the Union is founded; deeply regrets that Turkey has abandoned this UN framework; to defend on its own a two state solution in Cyprus and that it continues to violate UN Security Council resolutions by supporting the opening of Varosha to the public; calls on Turkey and other stakeholders to give the Turkish Cypriot community the necessary space in this regard to act inconformity to their role as a legitimate community of the island, a right guaranteed by the constitution of the Republic of Cyprus; calls on the Commission to step up its efforts to engage with the Turkish Cypriot community reminding that its place is in the European Union; calls for a more courageous approach by all parties involved in terms of bringing the communities together;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24 a. Regrets the recent reshuffle by Commissioner Várhelyi of the structure of DG NEAR that has integrated the unit in charge of Turkey together with the units dealing with the “Neighbourhood South”; considers this move, made allegedly for efficiency and coherence of internal organization, a serious political mistake that has been highly criticized not only by Turkey’s government but among all pro- European Turkish actors;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Insists that democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights should remain at the heart of EU-Turkey relations under any framework; reaffirms its support for keeping the accession process and its value-based approach as the main framework for EU-Turkey relations, as it is still the most powerful tool to exercise normative pressure on and constructive dialogue with the Government of Turkey and the best framework to sustain the democratic and pro-European aspirations of Turkish society and promote convergence with the EU; nevertheless remains open to the possibility of both sides reviewing, in a realistic manner, the appropriateness of this framework and its ability to function, or, if necessary, exploring other possible models for future relations;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Notes that the varying priorities of the EU institutions set out in the existing frameworks governing EU-Turkey relations make it very difficult to find an effective way to move forward; deplores the lack of a long-term strategy, a coherent policy and consistent leadership towards Turkey in the EU and among all its institutions; calls for a stronger, strategic and value-based leadership by the Presidents of both institutions and the High Representative, with appropriate accountability towards Parliament;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27 a. Calls to further integrate Turkey into EU’s forward looking long term policy agendas on the crucial green and digital transitions as well as in health, and calls on the Commission to remain open to which other policy areas could be considered of interest for both sides and such as ways in which Turkey could be further integrated in EU value chains; is encouraged by Turkey’s continued strong participation in EU programmes, in particular in the fields of education, innovation, youth, and sports as they forge closer people to people partnerships and help synchronizing the green and digital transitions between the EU and Turkey; calls on the Commission to set up a Turkey investment platform (TIP) in full alignment with EU policy priorities and conditionality within the newly established European Fund for Sustainable Development plus (EFSD+) through which appropriate investment opportunities on national and local level contributing to the green and digital transitions can be coordinated and identified among European and International Finance Institutions; emphasizes that Parliament’s close involvement in the EFSD+ strategic board, responsible for steering investments and approve the creation of EFSD+ investment windows, is of key importance to ensure democratic oversight of this process;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)

27 b. Welcomes that the Grand National Assembly of Turkey has finally agreed to hold an EU-Turkey Joint Parliament Committee (JPC) meeting in March 2022, the first such meeting since December 2018; upholds the view that parliamentary dialogue is a crucial part of EU-Turkey relations;

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2250(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the ~~Council and the Commission~~President of the European Council, the Council, the Commission as well as to the President, Government and Parliament of the Republic of Turkey, and asks the Commission and the European External Action Service to translate the Commission’s Turkey 2021 Report and this resolution into Turkish and to send a copy to Parliament..

2022/03/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)

— having regard to the joint staff working document of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 10 August 2022 on the Association Implementation Report on Georgia (SWD(2022)215),

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)

— having regard to the Association Agenda between the European Union and Georgia for 2021-2027, adopted on 16 August 2022,

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8

— having regard to the outcome of the sixeventh Association Council meeting between the EU and Georgia of 16 ~~March~~September 20212,

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the Russian Federation continues illegal occupation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia in violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia as well as the EU- mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas Georgia continues to participate in civil and military crisis management operations under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and provides 32 troops to the EU military training mission in the Central African Republic and an officer to the EU Training Mission in Mali;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the Russian Federation and its occupation regimes are deliberately hampering the safe and dignified return of IDPs and refugees, forcibly expelled as a result of ethnic cleansing from the Russian-occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Georgian authorities to uphold the highest standards of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms and to determinedly pursue the priorities for reform set out in the Commission’s opinion in order to unambiguously demonstrate their political determination to implement the nation’s ambitious European aspirations, as expressed by the application for EU membership that Georgia submitted on 3 March 2022; ~~calls on the Georgian authorities to initiate and lead the work on these priorities in an inclusive manner before the Commission reports on their implementation by the end of 2022~~welcomes the immediate steps made by Georgia to initiate the working process addressing these priorities and encourages the Georgian authorities to lead this process in an inclusive and transparent manner; calls on all Georgian political forces to constructively participate in and contribute to these efforts; stresses that Georgia’s bid for accession to the EU will continue to be assessed based on its own merits and its success in meeting the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Encourages Georgia to continue its enhanced cooperation with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova as the ‘Associated Trio’ and to use this forum for exchanging best practices on preparations to fulfil the EU membership criteria and for the future accession process;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Reiterates its steadfast support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders; calls for the continuation of efforts to achieve a negotiated peaceful resolution of the conflict, including through the Geneva International Discussions, the ongoing activities of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia and the efforts of the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia; notes with concern the continuation of illegal ‘borderisation’ activities in the occupied regions; calls on the Council to extend the mandate of EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia beyond 14 December 2022 and to provide it with a budget that is commensurate with its tasks to stabilise and normalise the situation and build confidence between the parties in the conflict in an increasingly tense security environment; calls on the EU to continue to pursue all available means and instruments, including the Special Representative (EUSR) for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, the Geneva International Discussions (GID), the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms (IPRMs), the EUMM in Georgia, as well as the policy of non- recognition and engagement in order to achieve a peaceful and durable solution to the Russia - Georgia conflict;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Condemns the illegal occupation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia by the Russian Federation; expresses concern over the dire security, humanitarian and human rights situation in Georgia’s occupied territories, and strongly denounces the violation of right of IDPs and refugees forcibly expelled from Georgia’s occupied territories to return to their homes in safety and dignity;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Calls on the Russian Federation to fulfil its international obligations under the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement, notably to withdraw all its military and security personnel from Georgia’s occupied territories and allow establishment of international security mechanisms therein, to allow the EUMM unhindered access to the whole territory of Georgia pursuant to its mandate;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Welcomes Georgia's continued efforts to strengthen its international law enforcement cooperation with Europol and the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), including the signature of a new working arrangement between CEPOL and Georgia on 22 June 2022, which will enhance sharing of knowledge, expertise, best practices and coordinated approaches to learning;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Calls on the Georgian authorities to allow the convicted former president Mikheil Saakashvili to seek medical treatment abroad on humanitarian grounds and as a means of reducing political polarisation;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls on the Georgian authorities to effectively investigate the massive illegal wiretapping revealed in September 2021; is concerned about the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia that increase the number of crimes for which covert investigative actions are permitted and the duration of these actions, which were adopted by the Georgian Parliament on 7 June 2022 and vetoed by the President on 22 June 2022; calls on the ~~Parliament of Georgia to ask the Venice Commission to issue an opinion and to implement its recommendations~~authorities to implement the recommendations of the Venice Commission once the opinion is issued;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Encourages the authorities to take steps to strengthen gender equality and to effectively implement legislation against gender-based and domestic violence;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Deplores the fact that the human rights situation in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia remain dire, with ongoing restrictions to the right to freedom of movement, arbitrary detentions, abductions and deprivation of the right to residence, the right to property and the right of access to education in mother tongue; underlines the importance of people-to-people contacts and confidence- building measures between the communities divided by the conflict;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Encourages the Georgian authorities to boost the participation of SMEs in the DCFTA, notably by increasing communication about the opportunities offered by the DCFTA, by enhancing access to export facilities and by making the best possible use of the existing Commission programs ENPARD Georgia and EU4Business;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14b. Calls on the Commission to support the full implementation of the DCFTA through coordinated assistance, with a focus on support for SMEs and structural reforms, including development of quality infrastructure to facilitate efficient implementation of the approximated legislation;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)

14c. Encourages the intention and efforts of Georgia aimed at joining the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA);

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Welcomes the adoption of the national cybersecurity strategy and action plan 2021-2024; calls on Georgian authorities to work with the EU on strengthening the country’s cyber resilience in line with the EU's best practices and legislation, notably the EU Directive on security of network and information systems;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Welcomes Georgia’s association to Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme for 2021-2027, which opens up new opportunities for the Georgian scientific and innovation community, and Georgia’s commitment to starting the process of becoming the Third Country Associated to Erasmus+ Programme;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)

16c. Calls on the Commission to support the efforts of Georgia to position the country as a regional hub for digital connectivity and digital services and promote its digital sovereignty by developing strategic international connectivity and digital services corridors between Europe and various parts of Asia via Georgia;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2236(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 d (new)

16d. Calls on the Commission to support the creation of a common roaming space between Georgia and the EU through coordinated assistance with a focus on gradual reduction of international roaming tariffs between Georgia and the EU in line with the EU regulations thus protecting consumers’ rights, as well as assisting gradual approximation of Georgia to the EU acquis and contributing to Georgia’s European integration process;

2022/09/09
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)

— having regard to its previous resolutions on Azerbaijan, in particular of 20 May 2021on prisoners of war in the aftermath of the most recent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan 1 and of 10 March 2022 on the destruction of cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh 2,[1] OJ C 15, 12.1.2022, p. 156. [2] OJ C 347, 9.9.2022, p. 198.

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

— having regard to the Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy between the EU and Azerbaijan signed in Baku on 18 July 2022,

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)

— having regard to the United Nations resolutions on the ongoing war in Ukraine, namely the ES-11/1 and ES-11/2 of March 2022, ES-11/3 of April 2022 and ES-11/4 of October 2022,

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)

— having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights, ratified by Azerbaijan in 2002,

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the ~~conflict~~Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan hasve resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, immense destruction and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people while the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has not been resolved yet;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas ~~deadly military confrontations between Azerbaijan and Armenia~~the trilateral statement of 9 November 2020 has not been fully implemented and the ceasefire continues to ~~erupt periodically~~be repeatedly violated;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas ~~the~~ high-level meetings were held in Brussels between President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan, mediated by President Charles Michel~~, resulted in encouraging developments~~;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas a sustainable normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan requires that all violence cease and that all the root causes of conflict be addressed in particular guaranteeing the rights and security of all the population of Nagorno-Karabakh;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas Azerbaijan is a ~~reliable and trustworthy~~ supplier of fossil fuels to the EU and whereas it is becoming increasingly important in this role;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas Azerbaijan’s record in terms of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is still ~~unsatisfactory~~very negative;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

Ha. whereas, in defiance of the First Article of the Azerbaijani Constitution and the law on freedom of assembly, the Azerbaijani authorities have imposed a ban on street protests by opposition and civil groups; whereas the citizens’ rights to free assembly are severely suppressed by the police and routinely end with the arrests of activists, in particular, those belonging to the political opposition;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)

Hb. whereas Russia´s war of aggression against Ukraine has had implications for the South Caucasus and has further complicated the security situation in the region;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers that the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict which over the years has caused immense suffering and destruction has significantly hampered the development and stability of the whole South Caucasus region; is convinced that a sustainable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot be achieved through military means but requires a comprehensive political settlement in accordance with international law, including the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, the 1975 OSCE Helsinki Final Act and the OSCE Minsk Group’s 2009 Basic Principles; recalls that the root cause of the conflict, which is the situation and security of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh and the status of the formerly autonomous region, remains unresolved;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Strongly condemns the ~~clashes that erupted on 12 September~~latest large- scale military aggression by Azerbaijan in September 2022 against multiple targets in the sovereign territory of Armenia which constituted a serious breach of the ceasefire and contradicted earlier commitments, including those made in the framework of EU-mediated talks; Condemns military incursions over non- delimited border since May 2021, urges the return of all forces to positions held before 12 May 20221 and ~~their consequences for the peace process~~stresses that the latest September aggression has no link to the long-lasting conflict over Nagorno- Karabakh; denounces any attempts at undermining the peace process and urges all conflict parties to refrain from further use of force; reiterates that the territorial integrity of Armenia and Azerbaijan must be fully respected and underlines the EU’s readiness to be more actively involved in settling the region’s protracted conflicts;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to fully implement the tripartite ceasefire agreement of 9 November 2020; ~~calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to avoid using inflammatory rhetoric and to implement measures to prepare their respective populations for peaceful coexisten~~insists on the urgent need to refrain from any hostile rhetoric or actions that may be perceived as inciting hatred or outright violence or as supporting impunity, or that risk undermining the efforts to establish and promote an atmosphere conducive to trust and reconciliation, cooperation and sustainable peace;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Urges the governments of both countries to fully engage in the drafting of a peace treaty that should address the security of all the population in Nagorno- Karabakh, the return of internally displaced persons and refugees and the protection of cultural, religious and historical heritage; welcomes in this regard the meetings of the foreign affairs ministers of both countries;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Stresses that the legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh should be determined and accepted by both Armenia and Azerbaijan in order to secure the lasting settlement of the conflict; in this context underlines the need for such negotiations to take place under the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group with active participation of its co-chairs and in close cooperation with the EU;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recalls that the EU’s passive stance during and immediately after the 2020 war gave other regional actors, such as Russia and Turkey, the opportunity to gain influence; strongly supports, therefore, the initiative taken by the President of the European Council Charles Michel to convene and mediate bilateral meetings of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Brussels and encourages the work of the EU’s special representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia; urges the governments of both countries to fully engage in the drafting of a peace treaty and welcomes in this regard the meeting of the foreign affairs ministers of both countries on 30 September in Geneva;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Takes note of the initial progress made on the process of border delimitation and encourages both sides to continue the work; welcomes the agreement to deploy a civilian EU mission to ~~build trust and contribute to the border commissions;~~ monitor the situation in the border regions of Armenia and Azerbaijan, to support confidence- building by monitoring adherence to the ceasefire and to support the work of the border commissions; welcomes Armenia’s willingness to facilitate the mission on their territory and calls on Azerbaijan to allow the presence of EU monitors on its side of the border as well; calls on the EU to consider prolonging and strengthening the mission as it contributes to increase security in the region while at the same time increases visibility of the EU in the region;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the humanitarian assistance provided by the EU for the conflict-affected population in and around Nagorno-Karabakh and its assistance for humanitarian demining in the areas affected by the conflict; calls on the Commission to increase EU assistance to people in need, including in Nagorno- Karabakh, facilitate the implementation of more ambitious confidence-building measures and enhance people-to-people contacts between citizens on both sides of the border;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Continues to be concerned about the fate of Armenian prisoners, both military and civilian, detained during and after the conflict and still held by Azerbaijan and welcomes the release of some of them; calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all the remaining detaineesWelcomes the release of some of the Armenian prisoners taken by Azerbaijan and demands the immediate and unconditional release of all the remaining prisoners, both military and civilian, detained during and after the conflict, including those captured during the recent military confrontations, and for them to be treated in accordance with international humanitarian law;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Condemns the footage that has appeared depicting the torture, mutilation and killing of an Armenian servicewoman and unarmed Armenian prisoners of war by Azerbaijani armed forces; calls for a full and impartial investigation of the videos to identify those responsible and hold them accountable for their actions;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Strongly insists that~~Urges Azerbaijan and Armenia to refrain from destroying cultural, religious or historical heritage~~; calls for the~~ and calls for accountability regarding such actions; calls for the preservation and restoration of damaged sites in accordance with UNESCO standards and indications; calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to ~~quick~~urgently allow and facilitate a UNESCO mission to visit both countries without preconditions;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Encourages increased bilateral contacts between the political authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan; as well as between their civil societies and therefore calls on the Commission to support civil society organisations in Armenia and Azerbaijan that genuinely contribute to reconciliation;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Recognises the strategic role played by Azerbaijan as a provider of fossil fuels to the EU and welcomes its willingness to contribute even more to the EU’s objectives in terms of security and diversification of energy supply and climate neutrality; regrets that Azerbaijan’s ambition to be a strategic partner in the field of energy is not matched by its efforts on democratic reforms and respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Notes that the unblocking of regional transport and communication links will present a significant opportunity for socio-economic development in the entire South Caucasus region; stresses that this needs to be done in full respect of the sovereignty of both countries and based on the principle of reciprocity; underlines that, as part of the trilateral ceasefire agreement, both countries agrees to unblock connections between Nakhitchevan and Azerbaijan and to secure connections between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. ~~Welcom~~Notes the new mMemorandum of uUnderstanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy between the EU and Azerbaijan signed by President Aliyev and Commission President von der Leyen in Baku on 18 July 2022, which lays the groundwork for future cooperation on green energy; regrets, however, that the Memorandum was signed without any conditionality based on the respect of fundamental freedoms, democracy and human rights and contributes to the EU dependence for energy supply, again, on a country that does not fully respect the European values and principles it has itself subscribed to, inter alia, as a member of the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the Eastern Partnership;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Emphasises Azerbaijan’s potential as a producer and provider of renewable energy, noting that further deepening of cooperation should also be subject to the respect of European values;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Takes note of the progress made on the negotiation of a new bilateral cooperation agreement and calls on the negotiating parties to envisage enhanced cooperation outside the energy sector in the new agreement, particularly with regard to rule of law, democracy and human rights;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on EU institutions to ensure that any deepening of relations between the EU and Azerbaijan ~~remains~~must be conditional on the country making substantial , effective and tangible progress on respect for the core values and principles of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Is strongly concerned about the pressure put upon citizens exercising their constitutional rights in Azerbaijan; calls on the government of Azerbaijan to respect the rights of its citizens, including the right to peaceful assembly;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Deeply regrets the current state of press freedom in Azerbaijan; expresses its concern at the new law on media adopted in December 2021; calls for a swift review of that law in accordance with the recommendations included in the opinion of the Venice Commission of 17-18 June 2022; urges Azerbaijan to stop persecuting bloggers ~~and journalist~~, journalists and media organisations;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. ~~Strongly insists that~~Urges Azerbaijan to cease all persecution and repression of political opposition activists, students, human rights defenders and civil society organisations and representatives; reiterates its position that the release of all political prisoners is an indispensable condition for a new Partnership Agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Notes with regret the fact that Azerbaijan has not fully complied with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Underlines the importance of gender equality and the representation of women at all levels of ~~government~~social and political life;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Deeply regrets Azerbaijan’s failure to fully implement the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on the Protection of the National Minorities, ratified by Azerbaijan, which violates Azerbaijan’s commitment to protect the rights of the ethnic minorities such as Lezgins, Talysh, Armenians, Kurds and others;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Is strongly concerned that the draft Law On Political Parties may further limit the freedom of association of Azerbaijanis by making it more difficult to register political parties; urges the Azerbaijani authorities to consult with international experts, including the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, and take into account their feedback on the draft law;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Condemns the censorship on the access to information in Azerbaijan and calls on the authorities to improve access to the internet and communications coverage;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Expresses its concern at the persistent lack of independence, impartiality and effectiveness of the judiciary as well as transparency of its decisions;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. ~~Takes good note of~~Regrets the limited progress made by Azerbaijan on the prevention ofand fight against corruption; calls on Azerbaijan to address the lack of an effective system of asset disclosure for members of parliament, judges and prosecutors;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Condemns the persecution of political opponents and calls for elections in accordance with international standards and in respect of Azerbaijan’s commitments as an OSCE participating state;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)

22b. Emphasizes the need to make any further cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan, conditional on the country´s respect for international standards and its international commitments, in particular related to democracy, human rights and the rule of law;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 c (new)

22c. Underlines that good governance and respect for international law and standards are paramount to achieve long- lasting peace with Azerbaijan´s neighbours and in the wider region;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Costas MAVRIDES, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. ~~Strongly welcomes Azerbaijan’s repeated~~Notes the lack of support, shown by Azerbaijan to the resolutions voted in the UN General Assembly on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and in support ofor the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine ~~as well as~~; welcomes however the humanitarian aid provided to Ukraine ~~during the ongoing war~~by Azerbaijan;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2231(INI)

Isabel SANTOS, Pedro MARQUES, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Recalls the important coordination role played by Azerbaijan in multilateral organizations in relation to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic;

2022/11/17
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Robert HAJŠEL, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Isabel SANTOS

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Nagorno-Karabakh ~~war~~conflict and the ~~conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan have~~Azerbaijan incursion into sovereign territory of Armenia and resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, immense destruction and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people while the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has not been resolved yet;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Robert HAJŠEL, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Isabel SANTOS

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas ~~periodical deadly military confrontations between Azerbaijan and Armenia continue~~the trilateral statement of 9 November 2020 has not been fully implemented and the ceasefire continues to be repeatedly violated; whereas the 9 November 2020 ceasefire agreement, introduced after the 44-day war triggered by Azerbaijan in 2020, has been violated several times resulting in more casualties;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Robert HAJŠEL, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas a sustainable normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan requires that all violence cease and that all the root causes of conflict be addressed, in particular guaranteeing the rights and security of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Robert HAJŠEL, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Isabel SANTOS

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas Russia’s ~~military~~war of aggression against Ukraine has had implications for the South Caucasus and has further complicated the security situation in the region;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Robert HAJŠEL, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Isabel SANTOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers that the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict, which over the years has caused immense suffering and destruction, has significantly hampered the socio-economic development and stability of the whole South Caucasus region; is convinced that a durable and sustainable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot be achieved through military means but requires a comprehensive political settlement in accordance with international law, including the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, the 1975 OSCE Helsinki Final Act and the OSCE Minsk Group’s 2009 Basic Principles; recalls that the root cause of the conflict, which is the situation and security of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh and the status of the formerly autonomous region, remains unresolved;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Robert HAJŠEL, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Isabel SANTOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Strongly condemns the large-scale military a~~ttack~~ggression by Azerbaijan in September 2022 against multiple targets in the sovereign territory of Armenia ~~and its consequences for the peace process~~which constituted a serious breach of the ceasefire and contradicted earlier commitments, including those made in the framework of EU-mediated talks; condemns military incursions over non- delimited border since May 2021, urges the return of all forces to positions held before 12 May 2021 and stresses that the latest September aggression has no direct link to the long-lasting conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh; reiterates that the territorial integrity of Armenia and Azerbaijan must be fully respected and underlines the EU’s readiness to be more actively involved in settling the region’s protracted conflicts;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2021/2230(INI)

Robert HAJŠEL, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Isabel SANTOS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to fully implement the tripartite ceasefire agreement of 9 November 2020 and to urgently implement measures to prepare their respective populations for peaceful coexistence; ~~call~~insists on the ~~Azerbaijani authorities to avoid using inflammatory rhetoric which threatens to undermine the peace process~~urgent need to refrain from any hostile rhetoric or actions that may be perceived as inciting hatred or outright violence or as supporting impunity, or that risk undermining the efforts to establish and promote an atmosphere conducive to trust and reconciliation, cooperation and sustainable peace;

2022/11/24
Committee: AFET

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)

— having regard to the Special report no 14/2019: ‘Have your say!’: Commission’s public consultations engage citizens, but fall short of outreach activities, of the European Court of Auditors,

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 b (new)

— having regard to the Opinions and Resolutions of the European Committee of the Regions, namely the Resolution of the CoR on changing the ESI funds Common Provisions Regulation to support structural reforms(2018/C 176/02), the Opinion of the CoR “Reflecting on Europe: the voice of local and regional authorities to rebuild trust in the European Union of 09 October 2018 (CDR 1230/2018), and the Resolution of the European Committee of the Regions on the 2021 Work Programme of the European Commission (2021/C 37/01); having regard to the European Committee of the Regions’ priorities for 2020-2025 “Europe closer to the people though its villages, cities and regions” of 30 June - 2 July 2020,

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 c (new)

— having regard to 9th Subsidiarity Conference - Active Subsidiarity: Creating EU added value together, co- organised by the Committee of the Regions and the Italian Conference of the Presidents of regional Parliaments, in Rome on 22 November 2019,

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

D a. Whereas the ‘Have Your Say’ web portal has proven a useful point of access for citizens and stakeholders to participate in preparing Commission policy; whereas the European Court of Auditors, however, published a special report in 2019 with a set of recommendations in order to improve this portal, especially when it comes to the use of translation;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the Commission received 52 reasoned opinions from national parliaments on the principle of subsidiarity in 2017, 37 in 2018 and none in 2019; whereas in 2020 (not covered in this report) the Commission received a total of only 9 reasoned opinions;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

F a. whereas the current configuration of this mechanism sets in motion 40 legislative chambers in the EU, 75 regional parliaments and assemblies, and thousands of parliamentarians throughout the EU, and which is enormously time-consuming for the agendas of national parliament’s Committees for Union Affairs, overloading them when analysing the legislation sent by the EU Institutions, making it difficult for them to dedicate more time to the analysis of Union policies as a result;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)

F b. whereas the involvement of national parliaments in the subsidiarity process is elective as enshrined in Article 6 of the Protocol No 2 on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality; whereas the current figures demonstrates that national parliaments are increasingly desisting to send reasoned opinions to the EU institutions, thus ceasing to use its elective power in this process; whereas national parliaments do not see the mechanism of subsidiarity control as a way to stall the EU law-making process, but as a way to voice their views and participate in the debate on EU policies;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F c (new)

F c. whereas, under the framework of political dialogue in the relations of the institutions of the Union with national parliaments, national Parliaments can issue opinions on documents or policy areas where the institutions have power to act, with the aim to transmit their views on a much broader range of issues beyond subsidiarity; whereas this forenamed opinions from national parliaments are called “opinions” by the Commission and “contributions” by the European Parliament; whereas contrary to the falling amount of reasoned opinions, opinions have followed the opposite trend since they have been increasing significantly over the years;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F d (new)

F d. whereas the European Committee of the Regions highlights its role as guardian of the principle of subsidiarity and believes this principle should be seen as a dynamic political and legal concept in policymaking and implementation;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F e (new)

F e. whereas the European Committee of the Regions recently introduced in March 2021 the Regional Hubs 2.0; whereas this project is an own initiative of the Committee to monitor how EU policies work on the ground;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the current crisis has strengthened the need to ~~alleviate~~identify unnecessary regulatory burdens to make sure that EU laws deliver their intended benefits while reducing unnecessary costs, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the constant consideration of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, which are guiding principles for the European Union ~~when it chooses to act~~; recalls the concerns raised in previous reports about the somewhat perfunctory character of the annual reports on subsidiarity and proportionality prepared by the Commission, which often fail to pay detailed consideration to how these principles are observed in EU policy- making; acknowledges the growing comprehensiveness of the annual reports on subsidiarity and proportionality of the Commission, within the current legal format, which are increasingly detailed and exhaustive;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls that the principle of subsidiarity enshrined in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union aims to ensure that decisions are taken as closely as possible to citizens and that ~~constant checks are carried out to verify~~this is constantly respected, and that action at EU level is justified in the light of the possibilities available at national, regional or local level and to guarantee that the EU does not take action, except in the areas that fall within its exclusive competence, unless it is more effective than action taken at national, regional or local level; recalls, too, that the principle of proportionality requires that any action taken by the EU should not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objectives of the Treaties;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Acknowledges the work carried out by the EU institutions in the respect of the subsidiarity and proportionality principles as demonstrated in the fact that in more than 5000 analysis of EU legislation no orange card has been triggered; regrets however that the current structure of the subsidiarity process overburdens the agendas of national parliament’s Committees for Union Affairs compelling them to dedicate excessive time to technical and legal assessments with short deadlines, thus not enabling them to have a more political approach in their agendas and for debating on Union policies;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. Emphasises that EU institutions must be attentive to counteract misemployment of the subsidiarity and proportionality principles for anti- integration policies, thus not to be used as a mechanism to slow the integration of the Union, and therefore defending the correct use of the forenamed principles;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Underlines that the use of directives as legislative instruments allows for better compliance with and respect for the principle of subsidiarity~~Stresses that in no case should the subsidiarity process lead to a dilemma between regulations and directives, this choice corresponds to another framework, since the subsidiarity analysis concerns "who does what better and closer” and not who prescribes norms or policies, thus it is not a necessarily legal analysis;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Notes the conclusions of the Task Force on Subsidiarity, Proportionality and ‘Doing Less More Efficiently’; draws attention to the fact that Parliament declined the invitation to participate by appointing members to the Task Force, with full respect for its institutional role as the only directly elected body of the European Union and of ensuring democratic scrutiny of the activity of European Union; welcomes the results and recommendations of the Report of the Task Force stating that there is EU value added in all existing areas of activity and the task force did not, therefore, identify any treaty competences or policy areas that should be re-delegated definitively, in whole or in part, to the member states;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Recalls that the “orange card” procedure has never been activated, and that the “yellow card” has been activated only three times, out of a total of 435 reasoned opinions and 5227 opinions in the period 2007-2019; Emphasises the importance of the participation of national parliaments in the process of ~~law-~~policy- making at EU level; ~~regret~~Emphasises the fact that in 2017 the Commission received 20 % fewer reasoned opinions than in 2016 (52 reasoned opinions in 2017 compared to 65 reasoned opinions in 2016), and that in 2018 it received only 37 reasoned opinions; stresses that in 2019, 0 reasoned opinions were submitted; observes that no proposals received more than four reasoned opinions;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Underlines that, on the contrary, and in comparison with reasoned opinions, the trend of opinions (“contributions” in the terms of the vocabulary of the European Parliament) demonstrates a consolidation of the substantial interest of national parliaments for political dialogue by means of the opinions, given that the Commission received 524 opinions in 2017 from national parliaments, 532 opinions in 2018, 159 opinions in 2019 and 246 opinions in 2020; identifies that this trend deepens with the abovementioned figures in 2020 despite this last figures not falling within the scope of this report;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Underlines that the trend of the number of opinions and reasoned opinions in the period 2007-2019 demonstrates that national parliaments increasingly ask for more political dialogue and a greater involvement in the debate on EU policies, thus dedicating less time to the normative analysis of EU legislative proposals;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Suggests that the European Commission give due consideration to the recommendations of the European Court of auditors on the “have your say portal”, in particular by increasing the linguistic accessibility of consultations, in order to allow citizens and stakeholders to decide what they consider to be of “broad public interest”;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Supports the consolidation of responses if seven or more national parliaments issue reasoned opinions on one of the Commission’s legislative proposals, despite the threshold for initiating the ‘yellow card’ procedure not having been reached; considers that this gives the views of national parliaments greater visibility;deleted

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Welcome the ‘one-in, one-out’ approach based on stakeholder involvement, through which the Commission aims to offset newly introduced burdens, not to be used as a deregulatory measure, by relieving people and businesses of equivalent burdens at EU level in the same policy area; emphasises, however, that the implementation of this approach should not lead to mechanical decisions to repeal legislation or lower standards; and that its aim should be to modernize and reform EU legislation to face new societal challenges, while taking into account the added value of existing measures for society as a whole;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Welcomes, in this regard, the establishment by the Commission of the Fit for Future Platform, a high-level expert group with the participation of various stakeholders, Member State experts, and representatives of the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee, which advises the Commission on how to make EU legislation more efficient, by identifying potentially unnecessarily burdensome existing ~~EU legislation~~measures and how to simplify and modernise ithem, including through digitalisation;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15 a. Strongly suggests a revision of the subsidiarity control mechanism with the aim of making it more functional and agile so that local and regional authorities, and mostly national parliaments, are able to dedicate the essential time needed fora genuine debate on European politics, without being encompassed in a less efficient process with hardly any political substance, and therefore not appropriate to the character of national parliaments; recommends the development of a more political approach in this regard, in order to develop a greater added value for citizens;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15 b. Highlights that in the views of a future assessment of the “Better Law Making”, national governments could be considered as the institution who carries out the examination of “who does what better and closer” in regard to the subsidiarity process, since they are legally and administratively equipped and qualified to better analyse it and to determine the feasibility of EU legislation at all levels, and could therefore amount to more of an “active subsidiarity” approach;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)

15 c. Proposes a further involvement of the European Committee of the Regions in the subsidiarity control mechanism, which have the role of the guardian of the principle of subsidiarity representing regional and local authorities, and which has a right to bring an action before the CJEU for an infringement of the principle;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2262(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)

15 d. Calls on EU institutions to begin to address a complete reassessment of the subsidiarity process ahead of an eventual reform of the control mechanism, which may take place within the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe;

2021/03/26
Committee: JURI

2020/2257(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Underlines that a European Union with greater strategic autonomy is concomitant with revitalised EU-NATO relations; emphasises that a European Union with strategic autonomy will act as a cornerstone for the transatlantic alliance and facilitate a more efficient and effective approach to a number of the global challenges arising today and in the immediate future;

2021/04/27
Committee: AFET

2020/2257(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Underlines the importance of stepping up EU/NATO dialogue and cooperation with allied states in Latin America and the Caribbean when it comes to facing security challenges in given areas of shared interest; points out that Colombia is the only partner country of the alliance in Latin America and stresses the need to seek additional partners in the region.

2021/04/27
Committee: AFET

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recognises the importance of a functioning digital single market and the ethical use of AI, robotics and related technologies for EU citizens, since they have the potential to tackle the challenges societies face~~, in particular during the COVID-19 pandemic~~ in line with our social and democratic values, as it was demonstrated in particular during the COVID-19 pandemic; considers however, socio- economic, legal and ethical impacts have to be carefully addressed;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Maintains that SMEs and start-ups need to be supported in their digital transformation due to their limited resources; invites, therefore, the Commission to pursue a fitness check for SMEs before publishing legislation and to keep administrative burdens to a minimum by, inter alia, developing standards; as they are the backbone of Europe's economy; invites, therefore, the Commission to assess a proportionate approach to enable them to develop and innovate, including specific measures for the digitalisation of SMEs and start-ups in future legislation and to keep administrative burdens to a minimum by, inter alia, taking into account their position in every step of the digital transformation;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Acknowledges that market imbalances exist in relation to digital businesses that enjoy a significant market power, enabling them to impose their business practices on consumers and customers, and makes it increasingly difficult for other players, especially SMEs and start-ups, to compete and for new businesses to even enter the market;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Welcomes the launching of a new financing instrument, in the form of a co- investment facility of up to €150 million, to support artificial intelligence companies across Europe and asks to pay special attention to support SMEs and start-ups;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Points out that the digital single market and AI are diverse and subject to quick and dynamic developments; urges the Commission to ~~base~~ propos~~als and initiatives on the right balance avoiding on the one hand an one-size-fits-all approach and on the other hand a fragmentation of the market through national approaches on the other~~e an harmonised and future-proof regulatory framework that is inspired by a humanistic and human-centric approach in technological development;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Evelyne GEBHARDT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Highlights that a new regulatory framework for AI is needed focusing o~~rder to deal with~~n guaranteeing fundamental rights and establishing clear ethical principles, legal safeguards and liability in order to harness the potential risks of autonomous behaviour and to maximise the trust of and the benefit for users~~; invites~~, while safeguarding the best interests of EU citizens; invites, therefore, the Commission to propose a risk-based and innovation-friendly robust legislative framework for AI that focuses on identifying and closing gaps within existing legislation and ~~being coherent with the~~without prejudice to existing sector- specific legislation;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Is of the firm view that harmonised future-proof definitions of ‘AI’ and ‘high- risk’ ~~should be future- proof to~~ ensure legal clarity for consumers and businesses ~~and should consider human oversight for high-risk AI applications;~~ ; recalls that the risk based approach should take into account the potential that these technologies entail to breach fundamental rights and to cause any prejudice or harm to individuals or society at a whole; reminds that the development, deployment and use of any high-risk AI applications should guarantee full human oversight at any time and must include principles of transparency, safety, accessibility and accountability, non-discrimination and fairness, protection of privacy and personal data, good governance and be socially and environmentally sustainable;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Is convinced that existing legislation needs to be adapted to new technologies; ~~ask~~urges the Commission to ~~adjust~~update inter alia the Product Liability Directive1 , in particular by redefining the terms ‘product’ ~~and~~, ‘damage’, ‘defect’ and ~~consid~~reversing ~~adjustments to the concept of~~the ‘burden of proof’, which should mirror the modifications to the General Product Safety Directive~~2 ; _________________ 1 2~~; OJ L 210, 7.8.1985, p.29. OJ L 11, 15.1.2002, p. 4.

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on the Commission to make a proposal for the introduction of a liability regime that is based on the proportion of control the party holds over the risk of the operation taking into account the development and the deployment phase and ensure compensation for non-material damages caused by AI;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Outlines that society, including consumers, should benefit from the responsible development ~~and~~, deployment ~~of AI which~~and use of AI technologies that benefit citizens, generate opportunities for businesses and serves the good of society; asks the Commission, therefore, to define ethical rules for the development, deployment and use of AI, robotics and related technologies t~~aking into account the principles of better regulation~~hat respect fundamental rights guaranteeing human dignity, autonomy and safety taking into account the principles of better regulation, emphasising on evidence and transparent processes involving citizens and stakeholders, including trade unions and consumers’ associations;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Underlines that, for the training of AI, the free flow of data within the common data spaces of the digital single market is essential and this should be underpinned by ~~the~~a solid underlying legal framework which promotes trust among businesses and includes, where necessary, appropriate and fair contractual rules addressing existing power or market imbalances, and ensuring a consumer- friendly approach to data access and control;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. ~~Calls on the Commission to support the development of international standards to govern the~~Recalls the global dimension of the opportunities and risks implicit in AI technologies; calls on the Commission to promote consistent international cooperation that contributes to create synergies on AI between European entities as well as other multilateral fora to align efforts and to better coordinate the development of AI; urges the Commission to support multilateral efforts to discuss in relevant fora an effective international regulatory framework to guide the development, deployment and use of AI;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Highlights that citizens, as users and consumers, are already benefiting from strong data protection rules such as the GDPR3 and ePrivacy Directive4 ; appreciates that the Commission foresees measures ensuring full coordination and avoiding duplication of the data protection existing legislations to empower individuals to exercise their rights, which must at least partly be based on civil law; ~~_________________ 3 4~~OJ L 119 4.5.2016, p. 1. OJ L 201, 31.7.2002, p.37.

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Asks the Commission to ensure that ~~users~~citizens, as users and consumers, are properly informed and that their rights are effectively guaranteed when ~~they interact with automated decision-making systems and that~~a system uses AI, when AI systems personalise a product or service for its users, and when they interact with automaticed decision- making systems ~~do not generate unfairly biased output~~or are subjected to autonomous processes for ~~consumers in the single market~~decisions that influence their experience with digital products and services;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Recalls that bias in and discrimination by software, algorithms and data is unlawful; urges the Commission to propose measures to assure that automatic decision-making systems do not generate subjective, unjustifiable, unreasonable or illegitimate biased outputs for consumers in the single market;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12

12. Urges the Commission to ensure a strong protection for fundamental rights and users’ civil law rights in the ~~forth-coming~~ proposal for a Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Market Act (DMA), particularly in order to protect, inter alia, the freedom of expression and information and the freedom to provide services, and to protect users from ~~harmful micro-targeting~~illegal content and harmful business practices based on targeting or the exploitation of data;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 13

13. Outlines that it is unacceptable that users and consumers are exposed to ~~unsafe~~illegal content as well as unsafe and counterfeit products ~~and~~; therefore, increased responsibilities for ~~online marketplaces are needed~~content hosting platforms and online marketplaces are needed to reinforce the digital single market; asks the Commission to set up clear rules for the responsibility of content hosting platforms, for the illegal content and for the goods sold or advertised on them in the DSA proposal in order to consider the consumer safeguards in place, which should be observed at all times, and the concomitant redress measures for retailers and consumers by inter alia close the legal gap in which the buyers failed to obtain the satisfaction to which he or she is entitled according to the law or the contract for the supply of goods, for example because of the inability to identify the primary seller (know your customer business principle);

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 14

14. C~~onsiders that the use of smart contracts in the digital single market must be firmly founde~~alls on the Commission to assess the development and use of distributed ledger technologies including blockchain, namely smart contracts in the digital single market, provide guidance to ensure legal certainty for businesses and con ~~civil and contract law in order to ensure the rights of businesses and consumers~~sumers, in particular the question of legality, enforcement of smart contracts in cross border situations, and notarisation requirements where applicable, and make proposals for the appropriate legal framework;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2216(INI)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Evelyne GEBHARDT, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 15

15. Notes that large platforms with significant network effects could act as de facto ‘online gatekeepers’ of the digital economy and urges the Commission to analyse the impact that the power of these large platforms have on the rights of users, consumers, start-ups and SMEs.;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)

— having regard to the Council conclusions on the UN-EU strategic partnership on peace operations and crisis management - priorities for 2022-2024

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the present multilateral order stems from a post-1945 global order, not necessarily fully reflecting today’s World, given that not all of the current global actors are properly accounted in the design of the multilateral architecture,

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas there is a gap between the current global challenges and the capacity of the current multilateral system to deliver effective and inclusive solutions

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas multilateralism is in need of swift revitalisation to tackle this multidimensional crisis; whereas peace and security, climate change and environmental degradation, disaster risk management, global public health and the deepening of poverty and inequalities at the global level are some of the pressing challenges that the world is facing right now; whereas only through a reinforced multilateral order will the international community be able to find lasting and sustainable answers to these challenges;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the UN Secretary- General’s report entitled ‘Our Common Agenda’, which was presented to the UN General Assembly in September 2021 and drafted through a wide-ranging consultation process including UN member states, thought leaders, young people, civil society, relevant stakeholders and citizens, as well as the UN system and its many partners, attests to the need for a more effective, inclusive and networked multilateralism for the future; whereas this will be essential for the UN system and other multilateral fora in order to continue being an effective venue for global consultation and decision-making; whereas, in this context, the EU is uniquely positioned to support the UN and other relevant international organisations in pursuing a process of reform and in revitalising their delivery capacity and their ability to connect to relevant stakeholders, such as young people or the communities most impacted by climate change; whereas in doing so the EU should seize the opportunity to engage constructively and effectively with rival powers, while maintaining a firm stance on fundamental rights and pursuing closer cooperation with like-minded countries to reinforce the primacy of universal values and fundamental rights and to advance effective solutions to global challenges; whereas parliamentary diplomacy will be a key component of reinforcing rules-based, inclusive, networked and effective multilateralism; whereas the EU and the UN continue to work closely in over 170 countries to improve the protection of human rights for all, reduce hunger and malnutrition, prevent and overcome crises, build democratic and inclusive societies, deliver essential services, promote green growth and decent jobs, and ensure the sustainable management of natural resources;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the UN Secretary- General’s report entitled ‘Our Common Agenda’, which was presented to the UN General Assembly in September 2021 and welcomed by the General Assembly in November 2021, and drafted through a wide-ranging consultation process including UN member states, thought leaders, young people, civil society, relevant stakeholders and citizens, as well as the UN system and its many partners, attests to the need for a more effective, inclusive and networked multilateralism for the future; whereas this will be essential for the UN system and other multilateral fora in order to continue being an effective venue for global consultation and decision- making; whereas, in this context, the EU is uniquely positioned to support the UN and other relevant international organisations in pursuing a process of reform and in revitalising their delivery capacity and their ability to connect to relevant stakeholders, such as young people or the communities most impacted by climate change; whereas in doing so the EU should seize the opportunity to engage constructively and effectively with rival powers, while maintaining a firm stance on fundamental rights and pursuing closer cooperation with like-minded countries to reinforce the primacy of universal values and fundamental rights and to advance effective solutions to global challenges; whereas parliamentary diplomacy will be a key component of reinforcing rules-based, inclusive, networked and effective multilateralism;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the new ‘Global Europe – Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument’ (Global Europe financial instrument), combined with the ‘Team Europe’ approach confers on the EU and its Member States an ability to pull resources together in a synergic way and to better coordinate assistance and create positive impact in the external action of the EU, including with a continued and strengthened cooperation with the UN on the ground; whereas the new Global Europe financial instrument provides for high-level political dialogue between the Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and Parliament on programming priorities with the opportunity for Parliament to reconnect this policy and programming dialogue to its political outreach and consultations with third countries, thus reinforcing, through its parliamentary diplomacy activities and outreach, the ability of the EU to assist and positively impact relevant third countries;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 (new)

Rebuilding a multilateralism enshrined in the core of the EU values

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Recalls that the best strategy to defend multilateralism is to rebuild it by making it more inclusive and representative of today’s global order

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the joint communication by the Commission and the VP/HR to Parliament and the Council on strengthening the EU’s contribution to rules-based multilateralism; considers that this communication contributes very directly to and further advances the reflection on the direction of the EU’s foreign policy from its important, but more general commitment to effective multilateralism as defined in the 2003 European security strategy to the realisation of the need to combine the value and objective of effective multilateralism with principled pragmatism and the need to promote and preserve the EU’s interests and values, as laid out in the 2016 global strategy for the EU’s foreign and security policy; concurs with the Commission and the VP/HR on the need for the EU to be more assertive in pursuing its interests and in advancing the universal values in which it believes and, therefore, concurs on the need for the EU to defend and strengthen multilateralism as a means to ensuring a level playing field for the international community, providing a platform for inclusive policy dialogue, cooperation and convergence and achieving policy responses supported by the international community at large and which can truly deliver; highlights the paramount importance for the EU to strengthen its external action and diplomacy toolbox with its own autonomous instruments, increasing its capacity to be a global actor and “speak with one voice” in order to better defend multilateralism, including the creation of an European Diplomatic Academy as the European Parliament has recently called for; reiterates its call to include the “New European Bauhaus” as a new instrument in the EU’s external action toolbox and as a useful cultural and public diplomatic tool, which are fundamental to promote a values-based multilateral order and the strengthening of international partnerships; points to the EU’s ability to devise very efficient and inclusive regulatory standards for its single market and takes the view that the EU should also seek to promote such standards in the framework of its external action as a paradigm and contribution to the discussion on effective global regulatory standards;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 a (new)

Strengthening the United Nations and the participation of the European Union in its system

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates its strongest support for the programme of reforms introduced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres; stresses the importance of a UN system that can continue to deliver effectively; points to the value of the ‘One UN’ vision of the UN Secretary-General for the UN system, where the various agencies and components of the UN can truly be interlinked and function together on the basis of a single budgetary and managerial structure and can reinforce the attainment of the UN’s objectives; points, in particular, to the enhanced role of the UN Resident Coordinators provided for by the reform of the UN development system and considers that these UN Resident Coordinators should not only take the lead in coordinating the implementation of UN programmes on the ground to reinforce the unity of UN action, but should also liaise and consult closely with EU delegations in the relevant UN member state to pursue synergies and mutual reinforcement with the EU’s thematic and geographic programmes for that country; recalls that the EU can greatly reinforce the outreach and impact of UN programmes in third countries and can define its programming and assistance in synergic and reinforcing fashion in conjunction with the objectives of the UN; stresses, therefore, the value of close EU-UN consultation and cooperation and invites the UN to regularly consult with the EU at UN headquarters, but also on the ground in third countries; takes the view that the EU and the UN should hold annual summits with the possibility for the UN Secretary-General to confer with Council, Commission, EEAS and Parliament; calls on the UN to ensure a steady presence of high-level UN interlocutors at the European Parliament to further policy dialogue and give enhanced visibility to UN efforts; highlights the need to improve the political functioning of the UN, calling for a stronger interface between UN and regional organisations as underlined by United Nations Secretary-General Guterres; highlights the need to strengthen the coordination of UN Agencies with International Financial Institutions through the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC); supports UN Secretary- General Guterres’ proposals to give young people and civil society stronger voices within the UN system;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates its strongest support for the programme of reforms introduced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres; stresses the importance of a UN system that can continue to deliver effectively; points to the value of the ‘One UN’ vision of the UN Secretary-General for the UN system, where the various agencies and components of the UN can truly be interlinked and function together on the basis of a single budgetary and managerial structure and can reinforce the attainment of the UN’s objectives; points, in particular, to the enhanced role of the UN Resident Coordinators provided for by the reform of the UN development system and considers that these UN Resident Coordinators should not only take the lead in coordinating the implementation of UN programmes on the ground to reinforce the unity of UN action, but should also liaise and consult closely with EU delegations in the relevant UN member state to pursue synergies and mutual reinforcement with the EU’s thematic and geographic programmes for that country; recalls that the EU can greatly reinforce the outreach and impact of UN programmes in third countries and can define its programming and assistance in synergic and reinforcing fashion in conjunction with the objectives of the UN; stresses, therefore, the value of close EU-UN consultation and cooperation and invites the Commission and the EEAS as well as EU Delegations in third countries to actively reach out and consult the UN regarding EU policy and programmatic activities for 2021-2027 and beyond, and the UN to regularly consult with the EU at UN headquarters, but also on the ground in third countries; takes the view that the EU and the UN should hold annual summits with the possibility for the UN Secretary-General to confer with Council, Commission, EEAS and Parliament; calls on the UN to ensure a steady presence of high-level UN interlocutors at the European Parliament to further policy dialogue and give enhanced visibility to UN efforts;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates its strongest support for the programme of reforms introduced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres; stresses the importance of a UN system that can continue to deliver effectively; points to the value of the ‘One UN’ vision of the UN Secretary-General for the UN system, where the various agencies and components of the UN can truly be interlinked and function together on the basis of a single budgetary and managerial structure and can reinforce the attainment of the UN’s objectives; points, in particular, to the enhanced role of the UN Resident Coordinators provided for by the reform of the UN development system and considers that these UN Resident Coordinators should not only take the lead in coordinating the implementation of UN programmes on the ground to reinforce the unity of UN action, but should also liaise and consult closely with EU delegations in the relevant UN member state to pursue synergies and mutual reinforcement with the EU’s thematic and geographic programmes for that country; reaffirms that the EU and the UN should work closely at HQ level and in the regions and countries to exchange analysis, and align policy and programmatic planning to maximise impact on the wellbeing of people and planet; recalls that the EU can greatly reinforce the outreach and impact of UN programmes in third countries and can define its programming and assistance in synergic and reinforcing fashion in conjunction with the objectives of the UN; stresses, therefore, the value of close EU- UN consultation and cooperation and invites the UN to regularly consult with the EU at UN headquarters, but also on the ground in third countries; takes the view that the EU and the UN should hold annual summits with the possibility for the UN Secretary-General to confer with Council, Commission, EEAS and Parliament; calls on the UN to ensure a steady presence of high-level UN interlocutors at the European Parliament to further policy dialogue and give enhanced visibility to UN efforts;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates its strongest support for the programme of reforms introduced by UN Secretary-General António Guterres; stresses the importance of a UN system that can continue to deliver effectively; points to the value of the ‘One UN’ vision of the UN Secretary-General for the UN system, where the various agencies and components of the UN can truly be interlinked and function together on the basis of a single budgetary and managerial structure and can reinforce the attainment of the UN’s objectives; points, in particular, to the enhanced role of the UN Resident Coordinators, currently operating in more than 130 countries, provided for by the reform of the UN development system and considers that these UN Resident Coordinators should not only take the lead in coordinating the implementation of UN programmes on the ground to reinforce the unity of UN action, but should also liaise and consult closely with EU delegations in the relevant UN member state to pursue synergies and mutual reinforcement with the EU’s thematic and geographic programmes for that country; recalls that the EU can greatly reinforce the outreach and impact of UN programmes in third countries and can define its programming and assistance in synergic and reinforcing fashion in conjunction with the objectives of the UN; stresses, therefore, the value of close EU-UN consultation and cooperation and invites the UN to regularly consult with the EU at UN headquarters, but also on the ground in third countries; takes the view that the EU and the UN should hold annual summits with the possibility for the UN Secretary- General to confer with Council, Commission, EEAS and Parliament; calls on the UN to ensure a steady presence of high-level UN interlocutors at the European Parliament to further policy dialogue and give enhanced visibility to UN efforts;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Believes that the new Global Europe financial instrument and the ‘Team Europe’ approach to geographic and thematic assistance and programming provide a unique opportunity to define a common inter-institutional agenda that duly reflects and values the contributions of the EU Member States and reinforces the leveraging ability of the EU and its Member States; warns that the quest by some illiberal countries to attain and consolidate leverage through financing international organisations raises the issue of financial antagonism in multilateral fora and prompts the need for a reflection at EU level on how to secure the independence and effectiveness of relevant international organisations and multilateral fora through adequate EU funding; recalls that EU humanitarian aid and development assistance to third countries is very often channelled through the UN system; supports this partnership between the EU and the UN, but calls on the EU to ensure that the UN gives more visibility to the EU’s specific role and contributions; underlines, in this regard, the importance of carrying out, at EU level, an in-depth evaluation of both existing and envisaged EU-UN partnerships to assess whether there is adequate visibility for the EU’s contribution and whether the leadership roles conferred on the EU and its Member States are commensurate with the EU’s strong commitment and dedication to the UN system; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to carry out this review and to confer with Parliament on their findings and on the way forward to ensure that adequate value is given to the EU’s contributions, financial apportionment, commitment and dedication to the UN system;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Commands the work of the “Alliance for Multilateralism” as an informal network of countries united in their conviction that a rules-based multilateral order is the only reliable guarantee for international stability and peace, and that our common challenges can only be solved through cooperation;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 (new)

Rebuilding multilateralism through enhanced global partnerships to pursue common goals

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the need to work towards an effective, results-oriented and inclusive multilateralism, where governments, civil society, the private sector, academia and other relevant stakeholders can effectively work together to serve and achieve global goals, values and interests; acknowledges the importance of reconciling the two critical EU goals of enhancing the EU’s visibility as a global actor and supporting the role of multilateral fora; recalls the need to address and manage these tensions and to articulate a balanced position between these two goals, in line with the EU’s core values, ideas and interests; points out that despite the apparent tensions between these two critical European goals, they also provide new opportunities, as an enhanced EU strategic autonomy can allow the EU to make alliances with its bilateral partners within multilateral negotiations, and also promote and defend multilateral commitments when enduring bilateral negotiations;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses the importance of continuing to reach out to allies and like- minded partners in international organisations and multilateral fora to consolidate a coalition of like-minded countries committed to common values and objectives and to policy dialogue and effective cooperation globally; points, in this regard, to the particular relevance, not only of traditional transatlantic partners such as the US and Canada, as well as the UK, but also to countries in Latin America; recalls that the EU, the UK, the US, Canada and the countries of Latin America can create, in partnership together, a broader transatlantic area of common values and standards and a commitment to advancing global responses to global challenges; underlines, in this regard, that this broad transatlantic coalition could expand dialogue and cooperation to African countries and support the latter in their quest for political and economic stability; notes that cooperation between the EU and its northern and southern Atlantic partners would empower the political voices that want to build a future for Africa premised on democracy, inclusion and prosperity, while being mindful of the need to protect the African continent from the ravages and security threats stemming from climate change; highlights that the EU relations with the African Union and with Latin America and the Caribbean have an intrinsic value in themselves and are of crucial importance under the optics of a renewed multilateralism; supports, in this regard, efforts by the VP/HR, the Council and the Commission to further strengthen the EU’s partnership with the African Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States; points to the importance of furthering a convergence of positions at the UN and other multilateral fora between the EU and both accession and partner countries; calls on the EU to expand its ability to assist partner and like-minded countries, including through capacity building, knowledge-sharing, training and twinning, so that they can engage more effectively in the multilateral system; reiterates the importance of reinforcing the existing multilateral fora with like-minded partners, especially the EU-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summits;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Supports the EU’s tireless advocacy for and defence of universal human rights, its staunch support for the universalisation of international human rights law, its active support to and use of UN human rights fora to address pressing human rights issues, its steadfast support for strengthening accountability and international justice mechanisms and its fight against impunity; supports the VP/HR and the Commission in their quest to ensure that the UN Human Rights Council acts more efficiently, addresses all human rights issues and country situations effectively, credibly and without bias and ensures synergies with other multilateral human rights fora; pays tribute to the work of the current UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and takes the view that her tenure provides a unique opportunity to engage on effective dialogue and cooperation on how to streamline and reinforce the delivery capacity of the UN human rights system, including through increased public scrutiny of Human Rights Council membership, responsibilities and mandatory pledging events at the UN General Assembly with candidates to the Human Rights Council, as proposed by the VP/HR and the Commission in their joint communication; notes that the financial resources allocated to the work of the UN Human Rights Commissioner is notably insufficient, with many countries seeking to reduce them, while it has been a longstanding demand of the EU to increase its financing; welcomes the launch on 12 October 2021 of an annual strategic dialogue with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; welcomes the EU’s initiatives and activities pertaining to human rights in the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee and the UN Security Council, as well as the cooperation between the EU and the UN on multiple thematic and country-based human rights issues;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 a (new)

An improved involvement of the European Parliament

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Recalls Parliament’s important role as a democratic, convening institution that can provide a unique public forum to promote multilateralism; considers that Parliament should regularly invite high- level leaders from relevant international organisations to discuss shared interests and priorities; believes that to reinforce the parliamentary dimension of multilateral fora, Parliament should host on its premises, on an annual basis, a conference of speakers from G7 and G20 countries; calls for the reinforcement of structured dialogue between Parliament and the UN system; stresses, in this regard, the importance of holding regular meetings to exchange views between the Committee on Foreign Affairs and other relevant committees and the heads of the EU delegations to the UN in New York and Geneva and between the committee and the Heads of Mission of the EU Member States that are either permanent or rotating members of the UN Security Council; highlights the positive contributions of the annual delegations from the Committee on Foreign Affairs and its sub-committees to the UN headquarters in New York; calls for the formalisation of some of the informal sessions between the EU and the UN Security Council; encourages the setting up of a formal association between Parliament and the UN General Assembly;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 b (new)

Multilateralism as a driver to address urgent global challenges

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Highlights the crucial contribution of the multilateral system in addressing the climate emergency; calls for the further enhancement, reinforcement and institutionalisation of the existing multilateral frameworks that seek to combat climate change, such as the UN Climate Change Conferences and the Paris Agreement, which have almost universal membership, through the establishment of accountability mechanisms and concrete principles to ensure the effectiveness of their mandates; stresses the need to reinforce global action against climate change, as only through collective, immediate and ambitious global action may the world be able to limit the temperature increase to 1,5 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels; believes that in the fight against global warming industrialised countries should support developing countries in the shift from fossil fuels to green energy, by transferring not only funding but also expertise and technology; recalls the importance of focusing on the implementation at the national level by adopting and implementing nationally determined contributions (NDCs), while at the same time ensuring that the international community is collectively on track to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement at the multilateral level; recalls the importance of working closely with major emitters, climate-vulnerable countries and transatlantic partners to deliver progress on the 2030 target at the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Highlights the crucial contribution of the multilateral system in addressing the climate emergency; calls for the further enhancement, reinforcement and institutionalisation of the existing multilateral frameworks that seek to combat climate change, such as the UN Climate Change Conferences and the Paris Agreement, which have almost universal membership, through the establishment of accountability mechanisms and concrete principles to ensure the effectiveness of their mandates; stresses the need to reinforce global action against climate change, as only through collective, immediate and ambitious global action may the world be able to limit the temperature increase to 1,5 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels; recalls the importance of focusing on the implementation at the national level by adopting and implementing nationally determined contributions (NDCs), while at the same time ensuring that the international community is collectively on track to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement at the multilateral level; recalls the importance of working closely with major emitters, climate-vulnerable countries and transatlantic partners to deliver progress on the 2030 target at the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference; calls for continuing multilateral efforts to mobilise finance for the SDGs and climate, including dedicating 50% of climate finance to adaptation;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Recalls the key role of multilateral fora in addressing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights this as an example of their importance in promoting and protecting global public health; celebrates the development of the Covax initiative, which constitutes an unprecedented exercise of international solidarity, and thanks its donors and contributors, while stressing the need to continue donating and increasing resources in order to make vaccines and treatments available for free to all countries; commends the work of the World Health Organization in combating the pandemic through its decisions based on scientific knowledge and evidence and stresses the need to enhance its mandate and executive capacity, especially with regard to data sharing and resource mobilisation, as well as reform the decision-making process of its Emergency Committee and establish enforcement mechanisms for its decisions and precepts; Welcomes the start of the works on a new international Treaty on pandemics, following the adoption of a decision on May 31st 2021 by the totality of the 194 WHO members;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Stresses the need for further multilateral action in economic governance, especially in regards to taxation; celebrates the direction set up by the G20/Inclusive Framework in their latest proposal for establishing a minimum corporate tax rate of 15 %; encourages the international community to further integration in this area in order to avoid disloyal practices and abuses; calls for the enlargement of international standards and norms in this policy area% and the future Pillar allowing for a fairer reallocation of taxation rights; supports the Commission’s intention to propose an own resource equivalent to 15% of the share of the residual profits of the largest and most profitable multinational enterprises that are reallocated to EU Member States under this agreement; encourages the international community to further integration in this area in order to avoid disloyal practices and abuses; calls for the enlargement of international standards and norms in this policy area; welcomes the fact that more than 130 countries are members of the Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting, whose work is managed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development; reminds, however, that the UN would be a more inclusive forum for discussions and negotiations on international taxation; recalls the key importance of the World Trade Organization in regulating and facilitating world trade;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Calls for extending multilateralism to new challenges and realities such as biodiversity, cybersecurity, biotechnology and artificial intelligence, which need to be developed alongside experts and scientists who should be party to multilateral, multi- stakeholder arrangements; welcomes the efforts of the UN Secretary General to enhance and coordinate the digitalisation of the United Nations, so that the internet serves the pillars of the UN: peace and security, human rights and development;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Highlights that a renewed multilateralism can have a positive impact in pushing forward the digital transformation, not only as powerful leverage to implement the SDGs, but also on the urgent need to set basic standards and norms and addressing its risks and challenges. Points out that the digital world should also be addressed as a very important new source of taxation;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2114(INI)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Highlights the two key-strategic ideas of United Nations’ Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ proposal “Our Common Agenda” which are the need of a Global New Deal and of New Social Contract; points that those could be translated into very concrete measures such a stronger Global Green Fund and a mechanism of financial support to highly- indebted countries, provided they implement SDGs and act against poverty;

2022/02/14
Committee: AFET

2020/2073(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)

- having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and in particular Articles 7, 8, 11, 16, 17(2), 47 and 52 thereof,

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas sport plays a key role in the social, cultural and economic prosperity of the Union and promotes common values of solidarity, diversity and social inclusion;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas fan culture, built upon the freedom to share and live the sports experience both in real time and preceding or following live sports events, is an essential element of the role that sport plays in European society;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)

Ac. whereas the meaning and scope of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter are to be determined in accordance with the corresponding case law by the European Court of Human Rights;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the illegal transmission of sport events not only causes significant economic harm to the sector, which results in losses in subscription and advertising revenue, but is also harmful for fans and consumers often as part of the activities of criminal organisations~~, that are also harmful for consumers~~;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas action should focus on the root cause of illegal content streams, namely illegal website enablers and not on individuals, including fans and consumers, who unwillingly and unknowingly are involved in illegal streaming;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the professional illegal transmission of a whole sport event should be distinguished from short sequences shared among and by fans ~~and~~that pertain~~ing~~ to a fan culture and from content shared by journalists and news reporters for the purpose of informing the general public as set out in the Audiovisual Media Services Directive and in the exercise of their right to freedom of expression;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas certain major sports events are of general public interest and access to real-time information about them should therefore be guaranteed for all citizens and not be subject to undue or illegal restrictions; whereas this also concerns the journalists and news reporters who may provide such real-time information;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas, however, the current legal framework does not allow for the immediate action needed to remedy the illegal broadcast of live sport events; whereas, moreover, some Member States have adopted different rules on notice and action mechanisms that are not harmonised at Union level;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Requests that the Commission ~~submit without undue delay~~, after carrying out the necessary impact assessments and stakeholder consultations, submit a proposal for legislative acts, following the recommendations set out in the Annex hereto;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Acknowledges that intellectual property rights are important for sport events’ organisers, as their exploitation represents a source of income, in particular in relation to the licensing of broadcasting rights for the sport events they organise; emphasizes the importance of this income for the funding and investment in grass roots sport, or amateur sports, and its contribution to society as an equalizer of people from different socio-economic backgrounds, with different physical abilities and of different genders.

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Considers that tackling online piracy of sport events that are broadcast “live” and wh~~ich~~ose economic value lies in the “live” broadcast is the ~~main~~only challenge that sport events’ organisers face which may require a legislative response at Union level;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that, given the specific nature of live sport events broadcast and the fact that their value is mainly limited to the duration of the sport event in question, enforcement procedures need to be as swift as possible and to allow for ~~immediate~~the timely and efficient removal of illegal content;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Considers, however, that the current legal framework for injunction and for notice and take down mechanisms does not al~~low~~ways guarantee for an effective and timely enforcement of rights to remedy the illegal broadcast of live sport events; considers, therefore, that concrete measures, specific for live sport event broadcasts, should be adopted to adapt the current legal framework to fit these specific challenges and to allow for the ~~promp~~timely and efficient removal of illegal sport events broadcasts online; is of the view that real-time take down, provided that there are no doubts about the ownership of the right concerned and the fact that the transmission was not authorised should be the sole objective to pursue;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Underlines, also, that the general framework provided for by Union law is not applied in a similar way in national legislation and that civil procedure and notice and take down mechanisms differ from one Member State to another; is of the view that there is a lack of efficiency of enforcement tools in the cross-border context; ~~calls for further~~welcomes efforts to harmonis~~ation of~~e the procedures and remedies in the Union in th~~is specific context~~e context of the Digital Services Act package;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Recalls that the Directive on electronic commerce provides that certain online service providers are to act expeditiously to remove or disable access to illegal information they store, upon obtaining actual knowledge or awareness thereof, through notices submitted to them; maintains that the notice and action procedure should form the basis for measures addressing illegal content in the Union; considers, however, that the current notice and take down procedure does not al~~low for~~ways guarantee swift enforcement in a way that provides effective remedies, considering the specific characteristic of “live” sport events; underlines that all provisions to be taken must be in line with the future Digital Services Act;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the Commission to propose concrete measures specifically adapteding notice and action procedures to live sport events allowing for ~~immediate~~the timely and efficient removal of, or the disabling of access to, ~~content, including a real-time take down procedure~~illegal broadcasts, where there are no doubts about the ownership of the right concerned and the fact that the transmission was not authorised; stresses, nevertheless, that the core provisions of the Directive on electronic commerce, such as the prohibition of general monitoring obligations and the limited liability regime, must be upheld;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Notes that injunction procedures are relatively long and do not cope with the specific issue of illegal broadcasting of sport events; stresses the existence of practices developed at national level, such as live injunctions and dynamic injunctions, that have proved to be solutions to tackle piracy of sport events broadcasts more efficiently; calls fon the Commission to explore the possible introduction in Union law of injunction procedures aimed at a~~llowing real-time blocking of access to or removal of~~ddressing illegal online live sport content in real time, based on the model of “live” blocking orders and “dynamic injunctions”, including an evaluation of the efficiency of such measures and their impact on fundamental rights online;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Recognises that injunction procedures to remove illegal sport events broadcast online, irrespective of the manner of their implementation, must ensure that the measures strictly target the illegal content and do not lead to the arbitrary and excessive blocking of legal content;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Emphasises the need for safeguards to ensure that the legal framework strikes the right balance between the need for efficiency of enforcement measures and the need to protect third party rights, including access to effective judicial remedy, appropriate information about the alleged infringement for the affected service providers and internet users, and adequate safeguards in relation to the protection of personal data;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Stresses that the responsibility for the illegal broadcasting of sports events does not lie with fans and consumers;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part 1 – paragraph 1 – indent 3

- to further assess the need to harmonise, without prejudice to the general Union framework to be defined in a Digital Services Act, procedures and remedies in the Union to boost the efficiency of enforcement tools, including in the cross- border context;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part 1 – paragraph 1 – indent 4

- to ~~improve enforcement tools to allow for real-time take down of~~evaluate the efficiency of enforcement tools addressing illegal live sport content, considering their need for effective notice and take down mechanisms which imply ~~immediate~~timely and efficient measures to be taken;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part 1 – paragraph 1 – indent 7 a (new)

- to clarify that the responsibility for the illegal broadcasting of sports events does not lie with fans and consumers;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part 2 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

Without prejudice to the modification, in the framework of a future Digital Services Act, of the general rules regarding the manner in which illegal online content is tackled by online intermediaries ~~, Directive 2000/31/EC (the Directive on electronic commerce) should be amended or~~, specific provisions regarding the rights of sport events organisers should be introduced in Union legislation, in order to:

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 1

- clarify the concept behind the phrase “acts expeditiously” set out in Article 14 of the Directive on electronic commerce in relation to an online intermediary, such that “expeditiously” is considered to mean “immediately from the notification of the infringement by rightholders and by no later than ~~30 minutes after the start~~half-time of the sport event”. in question;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tiemo WÖLKEN

Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part 2 – paragraph 2 – indent 3

- harmonise legislation allowing, where live sport events are concerned, for the use of injunctions that should have the effect of blocking the access not only to the infringing website, but to any other website that contains the same infringement, regardless of the domain name or IP address used, and without the need for a new injunction to be issued;deleted

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2073(INL)

Marcos ROS SEMPERE, Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part 2 – paragraph 2 – indent 4

- specify that the removal of the illegal content should take place immediately after reception of the notice and by no later than ~~30 minutes after the event started~~half-time of the sport event in question, provided that there is no doubt about who owns the content and whether any direct or indirect consent was given by the rightholders to make the content available to the public; ~~strong indication should be put on the rightholders to~~rightholders should also be held responsible for preventing any removal of legal content; to that end, blocking access to or removing illegal content should in principle not require blocking the access to a server that hosts legal services and content;

2020/12/15
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)

— having regard to the EESC Opinion on “European Philanthropy: an untapped potential (Exploratory opinion at the request of the Romanian Presidency)”,

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas European democracy depends on civil society being able to function freely and across borders; whereas the existence of NPOs is essential in our free and participative democracies, as well as in defending the rights of minorities; whereas NPOs also function as schools of democracy contributing to the thriving of civil society, and to closing the gaps in services and economic activities;

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas today many associations and NPOs play a full part in the economic life and in the development of the internal market, by engaging in some economic activity on a regular basis; whereas the volume of cross-border financial flows between NPOs has increased considerably in the last decade;

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

Ja. whereas nowadays the awareness among policymakers and civil society about the potential of NPOs in terms of provision of services, citizen engagement and social innovation has increased; whereas their potential is probably untapped in a wide range of areas such as education, culture, health care, social services, research, development aid, humanitarian assistance and disaster preparedness;

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas cross-border associations and NPOs in particular contribute greatly to the achievement of the Union'’s objectives and develop many and various activities of general interest with a transnational relevance; whereas NPOs provide services in often unprofitable areas of the social sector and encourage participation in many social activities and could contribute to strengthen the social cohesion between EU societies, especially in cross-border regions;

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Observes that legal, cultural, political and economic differences between Member States continue to make the cross-border activities of NPOs very complex, and that the current administrative and fiscal treatment of the cross-border activities of these organisations results in higher transaction costs than at national level;

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Considers that, due to their particular character, the proposed legal instruments are to refrain from regulating political parties; furthermore, recalls that the Union respects the status of churches, religious organisations or communities, as well as philosophical or non-confessional organisations under national law; underlines that this does not preclude organisations that only draw from a religious, philosophical or non- confessional inspiration such as faith-based charitable NPOs, from benefitting from the scope of these proposals; points out that trade unions in several Member States are given a special beneficial status ~~and~~, they should therefore be excluded from the proposed instruments but however should be given a choice to make use of the provisions under the proposed instruments, if they so wish; Points out to the fact that NPOs are likewise free to choose to make use of the provisions under the proposed regulation whereas for NPOs, the directive automatically applies;

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – recital 10

(10) Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council5 provides for the creation of European groupings of territorial cooperation (EGTC). Such groupings are formed mostly by state or local authorities or other entities governed by public law. Thus, ~~non-governmental~~ civil society actors and citizens are not covered. __________________ 5 Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 on a European grouping of territorial cooperation (EGTC) (OJ L 210, 31.7.2006, p. 19).

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – recital 12

(12) It is therefore necessary to establish at Union level appropriate and rules which will permit the creation of European associations with their own legal personality.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – recital 12 a (new)

(12a) Trade unions, organisations which are associations of trade unions and foundations, associations or other non- profit bodies with a trade union aim shall be excluded from the scope of this Regulation. However, it shall be possible for organisations which are associations of trade unions or foundations, associations or other non-profit bodies with a trade union aim to decide to fall under the application of parts of the Regulation or of the Regulation as a whole, if they so wish.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – Article 1 – paragraph 4

4. A European Association’s objectives shall respect and support the promotion of the objectives and values on which the Union is founded as laid down in Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty on European Union, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – Article 4 – title

National ~~supervisory~~associations authority

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – Article 5 – title

European Associations ~~Authorit~~Body

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b

(b) as the result of a conversion into a European Association of an existing entity formed under the law of a Member State, which is composed of founding Members from at least two Member States and which has its registered office within the Union; or

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – Article 6 – paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Neither the formation of a European Association nor any restructuring processes shall result in the undermining of workers’ or trade union rights or working conditions. Employers’ obligations shall be maintained, including any obligations established in collective agreements. The preferential status of workers with regard to outstanding wages, including in case of dissolution and insolvency, shall be ensured and outstanding wages shall be paid before any other creditors. Trade unions and workers’ representatives shall be informed and consulted before the formation of an European Association and any restructuring processes. Workers’ information, consultation and board-level representation rights shall be maintained.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b

(b) a precise statement of the European Association’s objectives and its non-profit purpose;

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point k a (new)

(ka) whether or not it disposes of founding social capital and, if so, the amount of such capital;

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – Article 13 – paragraph 1

1. A European Association shall be free to determine its internal management structures and governance in its statutes, which in any case must be in accordance with the democratic principles and fundamental values of the EU, subject to the other provisions of this Regulation.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – Article 15 – paragraph 5

5. TExcept in the case where a majority of the members of the Association objects, the meetings of the General Assembly may be held online without that affecting their validity, or the validity of the decisions adopted.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – Article 23 – paragraph 5

5. European Associations shall not be required to disclose information on their members, in particular with regards to the objectives and activities of the association. Disclosing information on members shall not be required unless necessary for the purpose of a criminal investigation concerning criminal offences punishable by a maximum custodial sentence of ~~a maximum of~~ at least onthree years.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – Chapter 5 – title

~~Supervision~~Cooperation between the national and EU level and liability

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – Article 24 – title

~~Supervision~~Cooperation between the national and EU level

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – Article 24 – paragraph 1

1. The supervisory authority of the registering Member State shall consult in a timely manner the supervisory authorities of other Member States within the framework of the European Associations Authority on any substantial issues regarding the lawfulness and liability of a given European Associations ~~registered in the Member State’s territory~~.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point b

(b) by decision of the General Assembly, w~~ith~~hich has a possibility to annul such decision before any dissolution or liquidation of a European Association.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – Article 26 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. The European Association shall inform the supervisory authority of its dissolution pursuant to paragraph 1 no later than 15 calendar days after the decision has been made.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part I – Article 27 – paragraph 1 – introductory part

1. A European Association may be dissolved by a binding decision of the European Associations Authority which is, subject to judicial review, taken on its own initiative or at the request of the supervisory authority of the Member State in which the European Association has its registered office, if:

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – recital 2

(2) Non-profit organizations enjoy protection of certain rights, including fundamental rights, in their own capacity, as it derives from relevant case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union and of the European Court of Human Rights. Several Member States recognise specifically the right of association in their respective constitutions as a right of citizens to contribute with private resources to the common good.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – recital 7 a (new)

(7a) The EESC has called on the Member States to establish an enabling environment for philanthropy in line with EU freedoms and fundamental rights, which encourage philanthropic and citizen action, private giving to public benefit causes and the creation of philanthropic organisations1a. __________________ 1a SOC/611, European philanthropy: an untapped potential OPINION. European Economic and Social Committee.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – recital 11

(11) It is necessary at Union level to build on existing standards and guidance to establish minimum standards for non-profit organisations in line with Freedom of Association and free flow of capital, aimed at ensuring a uniform level of protection and a level playing field for all non-profit organisations established in the Union, in order to secure an enabling environment in which these organisations can contribute without hindrances to the functioning of the internal market.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – recital 17

(17) Trade unions, organisations which are associations of trade unions and foundations, associations or other non- profit bodies with a trade union aim should be excluded from the application. This exclusion should not in any way be used by Member States to justify a limitation of Trade Union prerogatives and rights recognised in national, EU, European or international law or human rights instruments;, in particular the Council of Europe European Social Charter and the relevant Conventions and Recommendations of the International Labour Organisation and their related case law and jurisprudence. However, organisations which are associations of trade unions or foundations, associations or other non-profit bodies with a trade union aim, may decide to fall under the application of parts of the Directive or of the Directive as a whole, if they so wish.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – recital 22

(22) The implementation of rules concerning non-profit organisations should be undertaken by regulatory authorities that act in an impartial, independent and timely manner in line with the right to good administration. Decisions and acts affecting the exercise by non-profit organisations of their rights and obligations should be open to independent review, including by a court or tribunal.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – recital 23

(23) Simplifying and easing bureaucracy and regulatory requirements, ensuring that those requirements are not unduly burdensome, streamlining rules on formation, registration and de-registration, and modernising related procedures and systems is necessary to ensure a conducive environment for the operations of non- profit organisations across the Union and to enhance transparency and trust in the sector. Supervising competences, where applicable, need to be proportionate, respect the autonomy and self- government of NPOs and avoid unjustified burdens. To that effect, general obligations as regards the simplification of administrative rules as well as specific obligations as regards certain aspects of the regulatory framework should be established in this Directive.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – recital 27

(27) Non-profit organisations should have the freedom to seek, receive and use financial, material and human resources, whether domestic, foreign or international, for the pursuit of their activities. Non-profit organisations across the Union have reported increasingly difficult access to resources including public funding and there are concerns in an increasing number of Member States as regards the proportionality of strict rules being adopted on non-profit organisations’ access to foreign funding. Philanthropic organisations have also reported about difficulties to donate and grant to other NPOs in some cases. It is therefore necessary to establish principles and standards on non- profit organisations’ financing, including as regards access to and use of private resources and public funding, the pursuit of economic activities and the obligation not to unduly restrict cross-border financing in line with Treaty rules on free movement of capital.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – Article 2 – paragraph 5

5. Trade unions, organisations that are associations of trade unions and foundations, associations or other non- profit bodies with a trade union aim, shall be excluded from the scope of this Directive. However, when implementing this Directive, Member States shall ensure that organisations which are associations of trade unions or foundations, associations or other non- profit bodies with a trade union aim, may decide to fall under the application of parts of the Directive or of the Directive as a whole, if they so wish.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – Article 7 – paragraph 4

4. Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that oversight and supervision of non-profit organisations is undertaken by designated independent supervisory authorities whose powers and functions shall be clearly defined by law and exercised in accordance with the right principle to good administration, including as regards the grounds for possible inspections and audits, the procedures, duration and scope of inspections and audits and the powers of inspecting and auditing officers.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – Article 8 – paragraph 1

1. Member States shall ensure that non-profit organisations, their founders, directors, staff, members, beneficiaries of the activities of the NPOs and all persons seeking to exercise rights related to the formation, registration, operations, financing and cross-border activities of non-profit organisations established, registered or operating in its territory have access to effective complaint mechanisms before a competent independent authority such as an ombudsperson or the national human rights institution in order to seek assistance to assert their rights.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – Article 10 – paragraph 1

1. Member States shall ensure that any natural or legal person may apply for membership, where applicable according to the legal form, of a non-profit organisation established, registered or operating in its territory according to that organisation’s statutes and constitutions, and to freely exercise membership rights subject to the organisation’s statutory conditions and regulatory limitations.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – Article 11 – paragraph 3

3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, non- profit organisations may be required to disclose and make public, in their statutes or by other means, further information on their operations, functioning or financing, insofar as this is necessary to genuinely meet an objective of general interest, subject to the principle of proportionality in particular with regards to the objectives and activities of the organisation. Disclosing the members lists of membership-based non-profit organizations shall not be required by state authorities, unless required for the purpose of a criminal investigation concerning criminal offences punishable by a maximum custodial sentence of ~~a maximum of~~ at least onthree years.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – Article 13 – paragraph 8

8. Member States shall maintain a database of registered ~~association~~NPOs that is accessible to the public, including statistical information on the number of accepted and rejected applications with due consideration for data protection principles and the right to privacy.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – Article 17 – paragraph 2

2. For the purpose of paragraph 1, Member States ~~may~~shall not require non-profit organisations operating in their jurisdiction other proof than the evidence of establishment or registration as a non-profit organisation in another Member State.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – Article 19 – paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Member States shall ensure that neither cross-border conversions nor mergers have the effect to undermine workers’ or trade union rights or working conditions. They shall ensure that the employers’ obligations shall be maintained, including any obligations established in collective agreements. The preferential status of workers with regard to outstanding wages, including in case of dissolution and insolvency, shall be ensured and outstanding wages shall be paid before any other creditors. Workers’ information, consultation and board-level representation rights shall be maintained, and trade unions and workers’ representatives shall be informed and consulted before any conversion or merger.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – Article 24

Member States shall ensure that non-profit organisations established, registered or operating in their territory be free to engage in any lawful economic, business or commercial activities provided that such activities support their non-profit objectives or are mission related, subject to the licensing or regulatory requirements generally applicable to the activities concerned pursuant to national laws, regulations and administrative practices.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2026(INL)

Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Annex – Part II – Article 27 – paragraph 2

2. Member States shall ensure that information concerning membership of a non-profit organisation may only be accessed by a competent authority where such information is necessary for the purpose of the investigation of criminal offences punishable by a maximum custodial sentence ~~of a maximum~~ of at least 3 years.

2021/10/12
Committee: JURI

2020/2023(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point ii

(ii) protection of the full integrity and proper functioning of the single market and customs union, the indivisibility of the four freedoms; in particular, the degree of cooperation in the economic ~~pillar should be commensurate with the freedom of movement of people~~association pillar must be in accordance with the commitments that are acquired to facilitate the mobility of people, in areas, among others, such as the non- requirement of visas to travel, the mobility of researchers and students, the cooperation in the field of social security, and of temporary service providers and business travellers;

2020/05/28
Committee: AFET INTA

2020/2023(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Javi LÓPEZ, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Reiterates its support to the negotiating directives, which set out that Gibraltar will not be included in the territorial scope of the agreements to be concluded between the EU and the UK, and that any separate agreement will require the prior agreement of the Kingdom of Spain;

2020/05/28
Committee: AFET INTA

2020/2023(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Javi LÓPEZ, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Recalls that the Withdrawal Agreement is the instrument for implementing the arrangements for the UK’s withdrawal and that ~~the only~~one of the main purposes of the EU-UK Joint Committee is to oversee its application; underlines the importance of the effective implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement as a litmus test for the good faith that the UK has committed to brings to the negotiating process and recalls that the outcome of the negotiations would be linked to it;

2020/05/28
Committee: AFET INTA

2020/2023(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Javi LÓPEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that under the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, after the end of the transition period the UK, while being a third country, will have the task of implementing parts of the Union Customs Code, which will require unprecedented structures to be set up even before the end of the transition period, necessitating due consideration for the issue of proper implementation and enforcement; calls on the Commission to carry out periodical and efficient checks and controls; notes that the term goods ‘at risk of subsequently being moved into the Union’ used in Article 5 of that Protocol is unclear and depends on subsequent decisions of the Joint Committee which are exempt from formal European Parliament scrutiny; requests to be ~~kept fully~~ informed oin ~~the application of that Article and~~advance and in detail on any proposals for decisions of the Joint Committee ~~in that regard~~with regard to the application of that Article, such as the establishment of the specific criteria for a good to be considered 'at risk', or on the amendment of any of its previous decisions;

2020/05/28
Committee: AFET INTA

2020/2023(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Javi LÓPEZ, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Recalls that until 31 December 2020, the United Kingdom is obliged to contribute, inter alia, to the financing of the European Defence Agency, the European Union Institute for Security Studies, and the European Union Satellite Centre, and to the costs of Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations;

2020/05/28
Committee: AFET INTA

2020/2023(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Javi LÓPEZ, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Strongly believes that the UK should adhere to the evolving standards on taxation and anti-money laundering legislation within the EU acquis, including tax transparency, the exchange of information on tax matters and anti-tax avoidance measures, and should address the respective situations of its Overseas Territories, its Sovereign Base Areas and its Crown Dependencies and their non- compliance with EU good governance criteria and transparency requirements; reminds, with regard to the territory of Gibraltar, the negotiating directives and the provisions set out in the draft legal text of the EU;

2020/05/28
Committee: AFET INTA

2020/2023(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Javi LÓPEZ, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Regrets the fact that the UK negotiating objectives published on 27 February stated that foreign policy will be determined within a framework of broader friendly dialogue and cooperation between the UK and the EU, demoting this key area to a non-institutionalised relationship to be agreed upon at a later stage;

2020/05/28
Committee: AFET INTA

2020/2023(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Javi LÓPEZ, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Recalls that both the EU and the UK share principles, values and interests and a commitment to promoting global prosperity, security and effective multilateralism; stresses that it is in both sides’ interest to maintain an ambitious, close and lasting cooperation that, respecting the autonomy of the Union, serves the security of Europe and it citizens and contributes to global stability, the protection of human rights and peace in line with the objectives and principles we share and which, for the EU, are set out in Article 21 of the TEU;

2020/05/28
Committee: AFET INTA

2020/2023(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Javi LÓPEZ, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Underlines the fact that the EU isand the UK are to each other an important partner ~~for the UK~~ in foreign and security policy, as the need for common responses to address foreign, security and defence policy challenges is crucial to both sides; encourages the exchange of information and intelligence as well as close cooperation in the areas of counter- terrorism, space policy, cyberwarfare and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defence;

2020/05/28
Committee: AFET INTA

2020/2023(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Javi LÓPEZ, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Emphasises that as of 1 January 2021, if there is no agreement on cooperation in foreign and security policy, the UK will be considered a third country without any specific framework of relations, which will have an impact on existing cooperation in foreign and security policy;

2020/05/28
Committee: AFET INTA

2020/2023(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Javi LÓPEZ, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Considers that it is in the common interest of the UK and the EU to cooperate on the development of effective and genuinely interoperable defence capabilities, including within the European Defence Agency~~, and~~ under the necessary administrative agreement that will have to be negotiated, in order to be able to continue the highly valuable partnerships within NATO and EU programmes on defence and external security, such as the European Defence Fund, Galileo and cyber-security programmes;

2020/05/28
Committee: AFET INTA

2020/2023(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Javi LÓPEZ, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Recalls that effective international arms control, disarmament and non- proliferation regimes are a cornerstone of global and European security; recalls the importance of a coherent and credible European strategy for multilateral negotiations at global level and on regional de-escalation and confidence-building measures; calls on the UK to commit to continuing to remain compliant ~~with~~ in the future withe criteria ofequivalent to those laid down by Common Position 2008/944/CFSPP12; _________________ 12 OJ L 335, 13.12.2008, p. 99.

2020/05/28
Committee: AFET INTA

2020/2023(INI)

Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Inma RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO, Javi LÓPEZ, Javier MORENO SÁNCHEZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Insists on the absolute necessity for this governance system, while respecting the autonomy of both sides, to fully preserve ~~the autonomy of~~ the EU’s decision-making and legal and judicial order, including the role of the CJEU as the sole interpreter of EU law and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights; considers that, for provisions based on EU law concepts, the governance arrangements must provide for referral to the CJEU;

2020/05/28
Committee: AFET INTA

2020/2018(INL)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

Aa. Whereas the aim of a review of the DSA is to update the civil and commercial laws governing responsibility for online platforms and hosting service providers to provide certainty and safety for companies, users and society as a whole.

2020/06/24
Committee: JURI

2020/2018(INL)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses that wherever it is technically and legally possible and reasonable, intermediaries should be required to enable the anonymous use of their services and payment for them, since anonymity effectively prevents unauthorised data disclosure and identity theft; notes that where ~~the Directive on Consumer Rights~~Union law requires commercial traders to communicate their identity, providers of ~~major~~online market places could be obliged to verify their identity of the traders acting in a professional or non-professional capacity, while in other cases the right to use digital services anonymously shcould be upheld;

2020/06/24
Committee: JURI

2020/2018(INL)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that since the online activities of individuals allow for deep insights into their personality and make it possible to manipulate them, the collection and use of personal data notably by systemic platforms and social networks concerning the use of digital services, should be subjected to a specific privacy framework and limited to the extent necessary to provide and bill the use of the service;

2020/06/24
Committee: JURI

2020/2018(INL)

Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Marcos ROS SEMPERE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that automated tools are unable to differentiate illegal content from content that is legal in a given context; highlights that human review of automated reports by service providers does not solve this problem as private staff lack the independence, qualification and accountability of public authorities; stresses, therefore,could improve the functioning of content recognition technologies to differentiate illegal content from content that is legal where it is legally provided and could enhance existing practices if use in combination with human review and an increased transparency on their functioning; underlines that to ensure the well-being and independence of the personnel, the staff should receive proper training and adequate psychological support to develop skills that help them and to discern on the need to collaborate with public authorities where needed; stresses that the Digital Services Act should explicitly prohibit any obligation on hosting service providers or other technical intermediaries to use automated tools for content moderation, ~~and refrain from imposing notice-and- stay-down mechanisms~~unless otherwise specified in existing legal text; insists that content moderation procedures used by providers should not lead to a~~ny ex-ante control measures based on automated tools or upload-filtering of~~ general monitoring of uploaded content;

2020/06/24
Committee: JURI

Juozas OLEKAS, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Andreas SCHIEDER

9a. Calls for the establishment of a European Agency for Artificial Intelligence, which mandate would cover common standards, certification and monitoring frameworks, as well as strong bilateral cooperation with NATO when it comes to the deployment, development and us of AI in the military field;

2020/06/04
Committee: AFET

2020/2013(INI)

Juozas OLEKAS, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Andreas SCHIEDER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. CRecalls the European Parliament position on autonomous weapons systems enabling strikes to be carried out without meaningful human intervention; calls on the HR/VP, the Member States and the European Council to adopt a common position on autonomous weapons system, that ensures meaningful human control over the critical functions of weapons systems, including during deployment; calls on the HR/VP, in the framework of the ongoing discussions on the international regulation of lethal autonomous weapon systems by states parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), to help ~~streamline the global debate on core issues and definitions where consensus has not been reached, in particular as regards~~advance the effort to develop a new global normative framework and a legally binding instrument, focused on definitions, concepts and characteristics of ~~AI- enabled~~ lethal autonomous weapons ~~and their~~systems, specifically their critical functions in the identification, selection and engagement of a target, application of the concept of human responsibility in the use of AI- enabled systems in defence, ~~and the~~to consider the necessary degree of human/machine interaction, including the concept of human control and judgment, to ensure compliance with international humanitarian and Human Rights law as well as with ethical concerns, during the different stages of the lifecycle of an AI- enabled weapon.

2020/06/04
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Sven MIKSER, Javi LÓPEZ, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Eva KAILI, Claudiu MANDA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel SANTOS, Tonino PICULA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Highlights that the security and defence policies of the European Union and its Member States are guided by the principles enshrined in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and those of the United Nations Charter, and by a common understanding of the universal values of the inviolable and inalienable rights of the human person, of freedom, of democracy, of equality and of the rule of law; highlights that all defence- related efforts within the Union framework must respect these universal values whilst promoting peace, security and progress in Europe and in the world;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Eva KAILI, Claudiu MANDA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel SANTOS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that a Union framework regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled systems in defence must respect all applicable legal regimes, in particular the international humanitarian law and the international human rights law, and be in compliance with Union law, principles and values; stresses that the EU should play a global role in leading the way towards a credible and binding AI regulatory agenda rooted in democratic values; calls on the Union to assess the inherent AI-related risks with regard to the application of Union law, and foresee necessary adjustment and enforcement where needed; underlines that emerging technologies not covered by international law should be judged by the principle of humanity and the dictates of public conscience; underlines that the ethics of AI-enabled systems in defence must be assessed from the point of view of Human rights, and notably human safety, health and security, freedom, privacy, integrity and dignity;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Eva KAILI, Claudiu MANDA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel SANTOS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Emphasises that the geographical scope of such a framework should cover all the components of artificial intelligence, robotics and related technologies developed, deployed or used in the Union, including in cases where part of the technologies might be located outside the Union or not have a specific location;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Eva KAILI, Claudiu MANDA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel SANTOS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Highlights that, based on a human- centric approach, ~~the Union~~whereby technology fully respects Human Rights and humans retain authority over automated decision- making systems, the Union needs a robust AI regulatory framework focused on security and defence, followsing a path of responsibility, of protecting our citizens, and of defending our values, that its policies aim at preserving peace, preventing conflicts and strengthening international security, whilst seizing the opportunities that those technologies offer;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Eva KAILI, Claudiu MANDA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel SANTOS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Underlines that the Union must be at the forefront of mastering those technologies by establishing well defined processes for their use, for understanding the related ethical aspects and for fostering an effective international regulatory framework that contains the inherent risks of these technologies and prevents use for malicious purposes; the Union working together with the Member States must determine the appropriate liability regimes applicable to innovations in AI and other immersive technologies in the field of security and defence thus establishing a legal basis for accountability and traceability mechanisms, those include in particular unintended harm to persons, be it material or immaterial, such as breach of fundamental rights;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Eva KAILI, Claudiu MANDA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel SANTOS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that for any defence application of AI enabled systems, the Union should set technical and organisational standards to ensure their resilience against cyber-attacks and digital influence, as well as their compliance with the highest possible ~~trustworthiness standards as regards the collection and exploitation of operational data~~reliability standards, active monitoring and supervision as regards the collection and exploitation of operational data; AI systems and applications intended to extract and synthesise data, and extrapolate results therefrom to inform decisions for matters relating to defence and national security, must be specific in scope and comply with the provisions set out in the current regulatory framework in terms of gathering and processing data; stresses that AI applications designed to process data for intelligence purposes in defence related activities should comply with data processing standards to avoid risks of unintended surveillance or infringement of individual rights; believes that for high-risk applications of AI-enabled technologies like facial recognition which lack a definitive regulatory framework at the EU level, the Union must ensure that their development and deployment is rightful, proportional and respects the rights of individuals; stresses the importance of monitoring competent national law enforcement authorities which develop and deploy AI-enabled systems and technologies to maintain public order so as to mitigate the disproportional risks of predictive policing;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Eva KAILI, Claudiu MANDA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel SANTOS, Tonino PICULA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Highlights the need to adopt clear safety and security provisions and requirements, with proper certifications, for AI-systems in defence, and carry ourt constant monitoring, regular tests and verifications across the entire life cycle; underlines the necessity of ensuring compliance with applicable standards and obtained certifications where AI modifies e.g. through machine learning the functionality and behaviour of systems in which it is integrated, in order to ensure full traceability of decisions made with involvement of AI;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Eva KAILI, Claudiu MANDA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel SANTOS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Stresseds that all AI-systems in defence must have a concrete and well- defined domain of use ~~and must be endowed with~~whereby humans retain the a~~bilit~~gency to detect ~~and~~, disengage or diseactivate deployed systems should they move from their domain of use or engage in any escalatory or unintended action;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Eva KAILI, Claudiu MANDA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel SANTOS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Underlines that the entire responsibility for the decision to design, develop, deploy and use AI-systems must rest on human operators ~~and~~, as there must be meaningful human control over any weapons system and human intent in the decision to use force; underlines that the human-in- the-loop principle must also be applied to the command and control of AI- enabled systems; stresses that AI-enabled systems must allow the military leadership to assume its full responsibility and ~~exercise the necessary level of judgment~~accountability for the use of lethal force and exercise the necessary level of judgment, which cannot be endowed to machines as it must be based on distinction, proportionality and precaution, for taking lethal or large-scale destructive action bey means of such systems; recalls in this respect its position on a ban on the development, production and use of fully autonomous weapons systems enabling strikes to be carried out without meaningful human intervention;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Eva KAILI, Claudiu MANDA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel SANTOS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Stresses that the EU must take the lead in promoting the establishment of international norms regarding the ethical and legal parameters of the development and use of fully autonomous, semi- autonomous and remotely operated lethal weapons systems; Member States should develop national strategies for the definition, status and use of lethal autonomous weapons (LAWs) towards a comprehensive strategy on the EU level;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Eva KAILI, Claudiu MANDA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel SANTOS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Underlines that the Union must promote understanding of the military implications of AI, of robotics and of autonomy; considers that the Union needs to promote the acquisition of the necessary skills and knowledge on technology development processes and operational methods throughout the supply chain and over the full lifecycle of AI-enabled military capabilities;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Eva KAILI, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel SANTOS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Claudiu MANDA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11

11. Stresses the need to overcome the current fragmentation within the Union as regards national AI-related law, research, innovation and expertise in the area of AI, which ~~puts in jeopardy~~endangers the functioning of the internal market and the objective to ensure ~~trustworthy~~reliable and secure development of AI in Europe; in this respect welcomes the inclusion of AI- related projects under the European Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP); believes that the future European Defence Fund (EDF) and the Permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) also offer well adapted frameworks for future AI- related projects that would help to better streamline Union efforts in this field; stresses that AI-related projects should be synchronized with the wider EU civilian programmes devoted to AI; notes that in line with the European Commission’s White Paper on AI (COM2020/65final) excellence and testing centres concentrating on research and development of AI in the field of security and defence should be established with vigorous specifications underpinning the participation of and investment from private stakeholders;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Eva KAILI, Claudiu MANDA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel SANTOS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Emphasises that the development of AI that respects fundamental rights and supports the public interest requires the strategic pooling and sharing of data in the EU between private and public entities, as well as the strengthening of an EU AI ecosystem, which involves public, private, and civil society stakeholders; calls on the European Commission to foster dialogue among Member States, researchers, academics, civil society actors and the private sector so as to have inclusive policymaking processes when it comes to defence-related AI regulations;

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2012(INL)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Javi LÓPEZ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Eva KAILI, Claudiu MANDA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Juozas OLEKAS, Isabel SANTOS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the European Commission and on the VP/HR to present, also as part of an overall approach, a sectoral AI strategy for defence-related activities within the Union framework, that ensures both respect for citizens’ rights and EU’s strategic interests that should propose a consistent regulatory approach spanning from the inception of AI-enabled systems to their military uses; calls on these regulatory efforts to be supported by meaningful monitoring schemes, so that normative frameworks are not outplaced by technological development and new methods of warfare; calls on the Council, the European Commission and on the VP/HR to enter in a structured dialogue with the European Parliament to that end.

2020/05/11
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

- having regard to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and with special attention to SDG 16, aiming at the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 b (new)

- having regard to the United Nations Secretary General’s appeal for a global ceasefire in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic,

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas security is a precondition for development; whereas human security is a precondition for lasting peace and stability; whereas a strong nexus between security, development, and humanitarian intervention is essential for the sustainable development of the Sahel, West Africa and Horn of Africa regions; whereas without development and poverty eradication, there will be no sustainable peace; whereas in order to ensure its security and sustainable development, each country must have or acquire adequate capacities in all ~~essential~~key sectors, including security and defence and whereas this will not only stabilise that country, but will also enable it to contribute constructively to peace, stability and crisis prevention in its region;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean in the east, Africa is struggling to contend with challenges, such as ~~historical underdevelopment compounded by~~ the dest~~ruc~~abilisation of the traditional agro- pastoral economy as a result of climate change, population growth and pressure on the natural and environmental resources such as deforestation; whereas another major challenge is the emergence of new forms of mafia economy, including human and drug trafficking and the uncontrolled export of gold deposits, which, combined with ~~the abandonment, inefficiency and corruption of the~~weak governance, rising inequalities and lack of trust in governments and public administration, is producing a hybridisation between terrorist groups, traffickers and traditional community and regional conflicts, with the phenomenon of jihadist religious extremism appearing as a false response for the societies concerned;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas poverty and insecurity ~~feed off each other and push young people to migrate to Europe in search of a better life, impoverishing states by depriving them of their best human resources~~combined with other factors such as bad governance, corruption and lack of employment opportunities, particularly affect young people and the possibilities given to them, thus pushing many to migrate;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the EU is also supporting the ~~establishment and~~ operationalisation of the G5 Sahel Joint Force;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas after years of training, the above-mentioned EU missions have been hampered in their sustainability and effectiveness due to restrictions on their mandate, training programmes, and a lack of basic equipment, ~~including weapons, ammunition and vehicles~~sustainability plans and local ownership;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas ~~these restrictions have allowed~~ third countries, notably Russia, China and Turkey~~, to fill the void left by the European Union by supplying such equipment~~ have increased their supply of weapons and ammunitions to countries of the region;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas ~~neither~~ the Somali army, ~~nor~~ the Malian army ~~nor~~and the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) ~~have been able to contribute effectively to the fight against jihadist~~are struggling to fight effectively against terrorists and armed groups or hold and secure the ground cleared with the aid of friendly international forces, the result being that the local populations feel abandoned and fear being accused of collaborating with the government by the jihadists or the armed groups in the CAR once they return and reoccupy the space from which they were expelled;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas after years of involvement in the above-mentioned civil and military missions, the general situation has ~~become worse and worse~~not improved significantly and a new and comprehensive strategy therefore needs to be implemented;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers that the European Union must coordinate the development ~~and~~, security and humanitarian initiatives in which it is involved as part of an integrated strategy; considers that the African Union and African States from the region are key partners with which the EU is meaningfully engaged in order to jointly achieve sustainable development and human security; considers that the EU- Africa security cooperation must be based on human rights and humanitarian law and must respect the do-no-harm principle; considers that a security strategy for the Sahel, West Africa and Horn of Africa regions must first and foremost lie on addressing the root causes of the conflicts in the region, and notably the deep inequalities;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for the revision of Article 3a(4)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) No 230/2014 in the light of the grave and profound degradation in the security conditions in the region and in order to fill any gaps in EU missions and projects with a view to supporting the capacity- building of partners in the security sector, including through funding for military spending and the provision of weapons, ammunition or lethal equipment, transport and training essential for improving the combat capability of African armed forces fighting against jihadism; supports the Joint Communication of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 28 April 2015 entitled ‘Capacity building in support of security and development – Enabling partners to prevent and manage crises’4 ; _________________ 4 JOIN(2015)0017.Welcomes the proposal for a new Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the VP/HR to propose a Council decision on the establishment of a specific service to oversee the supply and use of such equipment and training; calls for funding from the EU budget to be provided for the administrative expenditure arising from that Council decision, including for personnel; calls on the Council to charge the Member States for the expenditure arising from the supply and use of such equipment and training; ~~calls on the Member States that do not participate in funding the supply and use of such material to abstain from the vote in the Council;~~

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – introductory part

5. Considers that the sustainability and effectiveness of EU civilian and military missions in Africa have been hampered by the lack of of local ownership, sustainability plans and basic equipment in the countries affected and that it is therefore necessary:

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point a

a) for the EU budget be large enough to effectively address the current challenges relating to training and ~~military equipment (including weapons, munitions and transport)~~equipment;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b

b) to ~~adapt the APF in order to overcome the current limitations on the acquisition of arms and munitions~~put in place the proposed European Peace Facility, with full respect for the Common Position, for Human rights and humanitarian law, and with effective transparency provisions such as the publication of a detailed list of military equipment provided to partner countries under the Facility;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Recommends that the EU considers contributing to the operational and logistical costs of the operations against ~~jihadist~~ terrorism conducted by the national armed forces of Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, within the framework of peacekeeping operations in the Sahel- Saharan area and by taking a similar approach to the one it takes to financing the G5 Joint Forces and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISON);

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recommends that any financing of capacity-building operations for African countries is conditional on an action plan, which includes training on security sector reform, human rights, international humanitarian law, and the rule of law, with reasonable deadlines with the possibility of further adjustments depending on the evolution of the situation;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – point d a (new)

d a) putting in place a Human Rights monitoring mechanism to prevent Human Rights violations;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Believes that the EU must conduct a comprehensive evaluation, and put in place proper monitoring systems and oversight, of the EUCAP Sahel Mali, EUCAP Sahel Niger, EUCAP Somalia and EUAM CAR civilian missions, ~~adapting them to real needs~~ in order to make them fully operational and effective;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Jytte GUTELAND, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Considers that the Government of Somalia is unable to perform its duties and that the Somali army is also unable to counter al-Shabab’s terrorist activities and is not yet ready to take over from AMISOM; recalls that the Somali army waRecalls that the Somali army is supposed to take over from AMISOM in December 2021; underlines that the achievement of that objective requires a new and comprehensive assistance programme to the government and the army of Somalia;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Calls for the EU to help the joint forces of the G5 Sahel to become operational ~~through the direct provision of financial assistance for the acquisition of adequate weapons and military equipment~~; calls on the partners who made pledges at the Brussels Donors’ Conference on 22 February 2018 to implement them expeditiously;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Supports the African Union request to the United Nations Security Council for the G5 Sahel joint force and AMISON to be placed under Chapter VII of the UN Charter in order to benefit from sustainable funding;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Stresses that coordination with the countries of North Africa is desirable as well as an effective contribution to peace and reconciliation in Libya in order to prevent it from becoming a hotspot for the spread of ~~jihadism~~terrorist, criminal and armed groups, arms and human trafficking;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Welcomes the efforts of Mauritania to take a social and development approach to its military and security response; expresses its solidarity with Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, countries that are deeply affected by terrorism; compliments the efforts and sacrifices of the international community, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, the Multinational Joint Task Force, the G5 and the French Armed Forces (Operation Barkhane), and EUTM Mali ~~and the Chadian Army~~, which is the essential force in the central and east sectors of the G5 requiring special support for its battalions;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2

Good governance and sustainable development

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. States that there can be no security strategy without joint ~~development~~sustainable development and humanitarian action;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Believes that the European Union should ensure that sustainable development plans are multi-sectoral and provide a global solution to the challenges of the region concerned; stresses that an integrated approach to peace, security and sustainable development requires the meaningful involvement of local civil society actors, and especially of women and young people; is of the opinion that these plans must be adopted by the administration in agreement with the local beneficiary communities and implemented with the participation of humanitarian organisations and local civil society organisations to ensure effective coordination and ownership;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – introductory part

25. Considers that ~~the development of Africa should be~~a meaningful security cooperation between the EU and Africa must be built upon sustainable development, and especially focused on:

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – point a

a) consolidating democracy ~~by ensuring a real parliamentary system~~, its institutions and the rule of law, guaranteeing all civil society liberties;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – point a a (new)

a a) ending conflicts and preventing their recurrence while addressing their root causes in order to achieve long lasting peace and security;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – point b

b) empowering women by recognising them as agents of change and their role as the centre of gravity ofin African ~~families and~~households and communities, promoting their participation in local and national institutions; and decision-making, and fostering their role in peace-building, conflict prevention and mediation;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – point c

c) providing basic services such as food security, health, a~~nd education to increase people’s confidence in the state~~ccess to basic hygiene, social protection and education;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – point d

d) ensuring administrative and legal stability ~~and fighting poverty and corruption~~;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – point d b (new)

d a) fighting poverty and corruption;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Expresses its deep concern that the current security crisis in Africa could lead to a massive displacement of the population~~, undermining North African states and affecting Europe~~;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Considers it essential to provide extraordinary assistance to the regions concerned in view of the extraordinary challenge presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and to adapt current programmes and projects to this new challenge by demonstrating flexibility and adaptability to the situation;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/2002(INI)

Javi LÓPEZ, Tonino PICULA, Giuliano PISAPIA, Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Jytte GUTELAND, Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Andrea COZZOLINO, Joachim SCHUSTER, Dietmar KÖSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Recommends that the EU, together with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, intervenes on a financial level to help control debt and the payment of interest; calls for all possibilities to be explored, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, for debt relief, debt suspension and debt sustainability for African countries;

2020/05/07
Committee: AFET

2020/1998(BUD)

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Regrets that the new nomenclature for the external action part as proposed by the Commission is much less detailed than the previous one, reducing transparency, predictability, accountability, scrutiny, and limiting the budgetary authority’s capacity to make budgetary choices reflecting political priorities; insists, therefore, that a more differentiated budget structure, with dedicated lines for the most important beneficiaries and sub- regions, is needed; notes that the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Development have proposed a revised nomenclature that is adapted to the new instruments, but introduces a higher level of detail by creating new budget lines within the extremely broad geographic and thematic lines proposed by the Commission; emphasises that the revised nomenclature enjoys strong support in both committees;

2020/09/23
Committee: AFET

2020/1998(BUD)

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Rejects the deep cuts to heading 6 in the European Council agreement on the MFF of 21 July 2020, which would leave the NDICI at a lower level than its predecessor instruments during the current financial programming period, at a time when EU leadership is needed more desperately than ever; regrets the European Council's decision to discard the external pillar of Next Generation EU, namely the top-up of EUR 10,5 billion for the NDICI proposed by the Commission; calls for significant reinforcements for the NDICI as one of the EU's flagship programmes;

2020/09/23
Committee: AFET

2020/1998(BUD)

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for increased funding levels for all geographic and thematic programmes under the NDICI, in line with its first-reading position on the latter; reiterates its position that the thematic programmes within the NDICI, including on human rights and democracy and on EU elections observation missions, should be reinforced in order to allow the Union to maintain its strong role in these priority areas; underlines that its position on the allocations for the NDICI is fully aligned with the amounts laid down in Parliament's first-reading position on the NDICI;

2020/09/23
Committee: AFET

2020/1998(BUD)

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Rejects the introduction of an “emerging challenges and priorities cushion” budget line, with no substantial information on the intended use of the funds under this line provided by the Commission; insists that such a blank cheque is not compatible with the principles of transparency and democratic accountability and undermines the budgetary authority's prerogatives;

2020/09/23
Committee: AFET

2020/1998(BUD)

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Believes that it is important to continue confidence building with the Eastern Partnership countries and especially with the associated ones; underlines the importance of promoting fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law; therefore calls for the allocations to Azerbaijan and Belarus to be limited to support to civil society and non-state actors, as well as people-to- people contacts;

2020/09/23
Committee: AFET

2020/1998(BUD)

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Recalls the challenges the countries of South Neighbourhood are facing especially due to the tumultuous developments in the region, including but not limited to the COVID-19 emergency and the security environment; is of the opinion that, especially following the dramatic events in Lebanon, an increased support should be foreseen;

2020/09/23
Committee: AFET

2020/1998(BUD)

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. In order to support a peaceful resolution to the Libyan conflict proposes the creation of a dedicated budget line for "the support to the political process in Libya";

2020/09/23
Committee: AFET

2020/1998(BUD)

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Calls for an increased financial support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in recognition of the essential role played by UNRWA as unique provider of vital services for millions of Palestine refugees and as an investment towards security, stability and development in the region;

2020/09/23
Committee: AFET

2020/1998(BUD)

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Points out that the revised nomenclature proposed by the Committee on Foreign Affairs envisages separate budget lines for the Western Balkans and Turkey; insists on the need for dedicated budget lines for Turkey in view of the highly sensitive nature of EU funding for Turkey; underlines that due to the lack of progress on democracy, the rule of law and the protection of human rights, the allocations for Turkey should be limited to the so called fundamentals, be directly managed by the EU and focus exclusively on support for civil society and people-to- people contacts with the objective of protecting and promoting democratic values and principles, human rights and the rule of law;

2020/09/23
Committee: AFET

2020/1998(BUD)

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Costas MAVRIDES, Juozas OLEKAS, Sven MIKSER, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Demetris PAPADAKIS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Regrets the low level of funding for heading 5, and in particular for the European Defence Fund and for military mobility; calls for a significant increase of funding so as to meet the ambition of the EU in the defence area;

2020/09/23
Committee: AFET

2020/1998(BUD)

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Following the recent worrying developments in Belarus, calls for an increase in the allocations for the Special Representatives and for the creation of a new Special Representative for Belarus, to support the process for a peaceful transition of power in accordance with the will of the Belarusian people.;

2020/09/23
Committee: AFET

2020/1998(BUD)

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)

6d. Calls for the increase of budget lines on Foreign Policy Needs and Priorities, Crisis Response and Civilian CSDP emergency measures in order to deal with the dramatic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic;

2020/09/23
Committee: AFET

2020/1998(BUD)

Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Tonino PICULA, Robert BIEDROŃ, Maria ARENA, Tanja FAJON, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Juozas OLEKAS, Demetris PAPADAKIS, Costas MAVRIDES

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 e (new)

6e. Recalls that the respect of human rights worldwide continues to be a core business for EU external action and enough financing should be available to face the multiple human rights crises throughout the world; reiterates its strong support to human rights defenders, including environmental defenders, in particular those most at risk, and calls for adequate funds to support the project Protect Defenders EU in order to extend and reinforce its protection;

2020/09/23
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tonino PICULA, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Evin INCIR

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas cooperation between the EU and ~~all~~the EaP countries is not a linear process by all means, and cooperation can be achieved and maintained only in so far as those core values and principles are respected, moreover, in serious cases it can be reversed;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tonino PICULA, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Evin INCIR

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas to improve economic and political stabilization of the region the EU should strengthen the political and economic cooperation with the EaP countries, moreover the EU should verify whether the principles of democracy and the rule of law are adhered to;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tonino PICULA, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Evin INCIR

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the EaP the European Council emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership with the EaP countries and called upon the Commission and the Vice President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to make long-term policy proposals in order to prepare the June 2020 Summit;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Andreas SCHIEDER, Costas MAVRIDES, Juozas OLEKAS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tonino PICULA, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Evin INCIR

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the EU’s Eastern European Partners are still imperilled by unresolved regional conflicts, the Eastern Partnership pursues the common goals of good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation as well as peaceful resolution of all ongoing conflicts within existing agreed negotiating formats and principles based on the norms and principles of international law, the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tonino PICULA, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Evin INCIR

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas the European Parliament backs the EU’s continued support of the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co- Chairs to achieve progress in the search for a political, equitable and lasting settlement of the conflict in Nagorno- Karabakh; whereas this process continues to be based on the principles of territorial integrity, non-use of force, and equal rights and self-determination as enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Tonino PICULA, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Evin INCIR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a a (new)

(aa) consider that the EaP process must be based on the principle of differentiation and that the scope and depth of cooperation between the EU and the EaP countries must be determined by the ambitions of the parties, as well as by the implementation of reforms, notably regarding respect for democracy, human rights, fundamental freedoms, the rule of law and good governance;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tonino PICULA, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Evin INCIR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a b (new)

(ab) reiterate that the Eastern Partnership is based on shared fundamental values such as democracy, human rights, rule of law and good governance, common principles as well as joint commitments taken at previous Eastern Partnership summits which should be carried forward;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tonino PICULA, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Evin INCIR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b

(b) acknowledge that those countries that are undertaking comprehensive reforms and taking action to meet the criteria of Article 49 of the TEU may be eligible for EU membership, through a process of gradual integration; consider that for an eventual accession process both the EU and the partner country must be well prepared;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tonino PICULA, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Evin INCIR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e

(e) embark on a process to create a common economic space that facilitates deeper political and economic integration with the EU and closer economic and trade relations among the EaP countries;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tonino PICULA, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Evin INCIR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g

(g) provide greater financial assistance, including in the context of the external financial instruments that are currently under legislative negotiation; such assistance should be tailored to the specific needs of the individual partners and used to implement activities under the EaP programme; consider that EU’s financial assistance is also an investment into the future, since it supports reforms that increase the economic and social stability of partner states, and lays down the basis for a successful future cooperation;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tonino PICULA, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Evin INCIR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point m

(m) ~~acknowledge that the implementation of the DCFTAs has been sufficiently successful that it may gradually lead to the~~encourage continuous and effective implementation of the DCFTAs in order to gradually create the conditions for opening up of the EU single market in line with the implemented EU standards and requirements;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point v a (new)

(va) reiterate the EU’s commitment to supporting the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of all EaP countries; reaffirm the EU’s support to the inviolability of internationally recognised borders of all EaP countries; emphasise the need for the earliest peaceful settlement of the frozen conflicts on the basis of the norms and principles of international law;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point v b (new)

(vb) reaffirm support to the OSCE Minsk Group co-Chairs’ efforts to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and to their 2009 Basic Principles which reflect a reasonable compromise based on the Helsinki Final Act principles of non-use of force, territorial integrity, and the equal rights and self-determination of peoples; call on Armenia and Azerbaijan to continue negotiations in good faith with a view to implementing these principles to solve the conflict, which cannot be solved using military force; call on the Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan to continue high-level talks and commit to genuine confidence- building measures and dialogue between Armenian and Azerbaijani civil society;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tonino PICULA, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Evin INCIR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point x

(x) acknowledge the contribution of EaP civil society actors and organisations to democratisation and reform processes in their countries and the whole EaP region; continue supporting their activities and safeguarding their working environment; moreover continue a wide-ranging dialogue with them;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2209(INI)

Attila ARA-KOVÁCS, Juozas OLEKAS, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR, Tonino PICULA, Robert HAJŠEL, Robert BIEDROŃ, Nikos ANDROULAKIS, Evin INCIR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point z

(z) increase the visibility of the support provided by the EU in the recipient EaP countries and boost EU citizens’ awareness about the EaP, moreover to effectively counteract anti-EU propaganda;

2020/03/25
Committee: AFET

2019/2201(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas in June 11, 2019 the European Court of Human Rights(in the case of Ozdil and Others v. the Republic of Moldova) found that Moldova had violated the rights to liberty, security, privacy and family life when in September 2018 its Intelligence and Security Service (SIS) detained and forcibly returned to Turkey five Turkish citizens who had been seeking asylum; whereas this disguised extradition is just one example of a systematic pattern of enforced and involuntary disappearance, illegal detention and deportation to Turkey of Turkish nationals in dozens of countries around the world;

2020/07/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2201(INI)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Reiterates its call to the Moldovan authorities to ensure that any extradition requests coming from third countries are processed in a transparent manner while following judicial procedures fully in line with European principles and standards;

2020/07/22
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas Georgia has remained committed to the implementation of the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and continues alignment to the EU acquis as well as to the EU standards, which is bringing increasing benefits;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas attempts at destabilising Georgia continue, inter alia via the implementation of so-called "treaties" between the Russian Federation and the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/ South Ossetia, the closure of crossing points near the Administrative Boundary Line in Tskhinvali region/ South Ossetia since August 2019, increased "borderisation" along the Administrative Boundary Line and the holding of so-called ‘presidential elections’ in Abkhazia in March 2020;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Commends the response of the Georgian people and public authorities to the COVID-19 outbreak and emphasises the effective preventive measures taken by medical workers, the Lugar Laboratory and governmental authorities, resulting in lessening the burden on Georgia’s healthcare system and mitigating the negative effect on the economy; congratulates the Georgian citizens for having abided to these measures in the face of economic and social hardship; welcomes that the EU has lined up over EUR 250 million in grants for Georgia to respond to COVID-19 and EUR 150 million in loans for enhancing macroeconomic stability and allowing resources to be channelled towards protecting the citizens and mitigating the pandemic’s severely negative socio- economic consequences;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Commends ~~the Georgian authorities for completing the constitutional reform process and the~~all major political parties for signing the Memorandum of Understanding and Joint Statement of 8 March 2020, which established the key features of the electoral system and enabled it to be used for the upcoming parliamentary elections; calls on all parties to ~~ensure that the agreement is translated into~~honour both the letter and spirit of the agreement, to fully implement all aspects of the agreement and to ensure that all elements of electoral reform are translated into the Constitution and the law and ~~fully~~ implemented as soon as possible;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Sven MIKSER, Kati PIRI, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Expresses its concern about recent court cases against opposition politicians, which ~~contributed to a climate of increased mistrust and heightened tensions between the ruling party and the opposition, and led to a~~have undermined trust between the ruling party and the opposition; welcomes the Presidential pardon of convicted opposition politicians, which paves the way for reducing polarisation of politics and the society; calls on Georgia to respect the highest standards of judicial independence and fair trial as committed to under the AA;.

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Sven MIKSER, Kati PIRI, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Deplores the constant violations by the Russian Federation, ~~which~~ exercis~~es de facto control~~ing effective control over the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia ~~regions~~, of the fundamental rights of the people in these occupied regions, who are being deprived of the freedom of movement and residence, the right to property and the right of access to education in the native language, and reiterates its full support for the right of return of internally displaced persons; expresses its concern over the continuous illegal process of installation of barbed wire fences and other artificial obstacles along the occupation line (‘borderisation’), which has particularly detrimental effects on people living in and around these regions in the context of the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Sven MIKSER, Kati PIRI, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Underlines the importance of reducing antagonism and ~~the~~ polarisation of politics and of ensuring constructive cooperation in the country’s democratic institutions, in particular the pParliament of Georgia; therefore profoundly regrets that the ninth meeting of the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee ofn 12 ~~and~~ -13 February 2020 in Strasbourg enconcluded without an agreement on a final statement and recommendations ~~being reached~~; calls on the Parliament of Georgia to resume its work on the electoral reform and adopt the necessary constitutional amendments on the new electoral system in line with the 8 March agreement as well as with ODIHR recommendations, as soon as the situation related to the pandemic and the working conditions allow and calls on all political parties and parliamentarians to contribute to this crucial goal in good faith;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Notes with satisfaction that the EU is one of Georgia’s largest trading partners; welcomes the continued approximation of Georgia’s legislation in trade-related areas; emphasises the need to increase Georgian exports to the EU and to attract investments from the EU in Georgia in order to provide more jobs and improve Georgia’s trade balance with the EU and its macro-financial stability, first and foremost by strengthening the rule of law, by fighting corruption, money laundering and tax evasion and by supporting the approximation to the EU standards;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Calls on the Commission to support full implementation of the DCFTA through coordinated assistance, with a focus on sustainable economic development in line with the European Green Deal as well as on support to SMEs and structural reforms in cooperation with business and civil society;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2200(INI)

Sven MIKSER, Raphaël GLUCKSMANN, Nacho SÁNCHEZ AMOR

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Encourages the government of Georgia to continue the extensive reform of labour legislation so as to ensure better regulation of working conditions including continued improvements in labour inspections and social dialogue; highlights in particular the need to amend the Labour Safety Law in order to set up a fully-fledged inspection system and proper anti-discrimination mechanism to explicitly monitor labour rights and systematically verify any workplace hazards, to include a modern anti- corruption mechanism and to ratify all respective ILO Conventions; encourages the involvement of civil society organisations and trade unions in these reforms, in light of their importance for workers’ and social rights in Georgia;

2020/05/26
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas, since 1999,Turkey enjoys the most ambitious and mutually demanding model of relations the EU can offer to a third state, that is the candidate status for becoming a member; whereas being a candidate country presumes a willingness to progressively approach in all aspects the values, interests, standards and policies of the EU;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas as a candidate country and in the framework of the accession process, Turkey undertook a series of important reforms which for a period of time provided hope for the achievement of the membership; whereas during all these years, the accession process was strongly supported by the EU both politically and financially;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the critical assessment of a general backsliding in Turkey has also been shared by other relevant institutions such as the Council of Europe, and by international human rights organizations; whereas it has also been reflected by the increasing number of cases and critical rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR);

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas this backsliding has been observed as affecting three main areas: the deterioration in the rule of law and fundamental rights, the institutional framework and related reforms, and a foreign policy that is increasingly conflictual and inclined to military options instead of dialogue and diplomacy; whereas in all these three areas there has been a clear divergence with EU standards, policies and interests;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas in its previous annual report, in view of the consolidation of this serious backsliding, Parliament called on the Commission and the Member States, in accordance with the Negotiating Framework, to formally suspend accession negotiations with Turkey;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that Turkey’s lack of commitment to carrying out the reforms assumed in the accession process has made the latter inadequate to frame a complex relationship that has progressively become more transactional and driven by circumstances, with little to do with the logic of the original format of gradual alignment to predetermined benchmarks;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Is deeply concerned that, over the years, the lack of progress in Turkey’s convergence has now transformed into a full withdrawal, marked by a stark regression in three main areas: backsliding on the rule of law and fundamental rights, adopting regressive institutional reforms and pursuing a confrontational foreign policy; is further concerned by the fact that this regression has increasingly been accompanied by an explicit anti-EU narrative, amplified in the country by the pro-government media outlets; calls, in this context, on Turkey to reassess the sincerity of its commitment to the EU path, as an indispensable component of the viability of the entire accession process;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recognizes that the lack of results in an increasingly stagnant accession process has contributed to a fatigue felt on both sides and a progressive detachment and mounting disregarding by the Turkish authorities for the results of the Commission’s progress monitoring procedure and Parliament’s resolutions; takes the view that the accession process has become an end in itself

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that, since Parliament’s last report, the situation, far from improving, has deteriorated even further with regard to the domestic, institutional and foreign policies; firmly insists, therefore, on the formal suspension of accession negotiations with Turkey, in order for both sides to review in a realistic manner the appropriateness of the current framework and its ability to function, or, if necessary, to explore possible new models for future relations;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Regrets the current lack of understanding between the EU and Turkey, but reaffirms its firm conviction that Turkey is a strategic neighbour and ally with which the EU wishes to have the best possible relations; reaffirms its interest in having a strategic alignment and constructive cooperation based on shared values and interests in areas such as foreign policy and security, economy, trade, migration, climate change or digitalization; believes that, the if current negative trends were to be reversed, strengthened relations could provide great potential and be mutually beneficial, particularly in multilateral fora and with regard to geostrategic challenges;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Acknowledges in this sense that, if the accession progress were to be continued, the EU should be coherent with the path offered to Turkey excluding any possibility that, in the event of a successful alignment, a final veto could thwart the whole process on the grounds of political, cultural or religious motives;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on Turkey to cooperate with the EU and the Council of Europe on deep and urgent reforms in these areas, as the country is still at very early stages of the alignment with the EU acquis and remains far from meeting its international commitments in full;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. NBelieves that the deterioration of the fundamental freedoms in Turkey predates the period of the State of Emergency installed after the coup attempt of 2016; considers that extraordinary measures can be expected in front of an existential threat such as a coup attempt but that they need to be proportional and remain limited in time and scope; notes with deep concern that, despite the formal lifting of the state of emergency in July 2018, its impact on democracy and fundamental rights continues to be strongly felt, despite that existential threat having long ago and fortunately disappeared;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Regrets that the current overly broad anti-terrorism provisions and the abuse of the anti-terror measures have become the backbone of this state policy~~; reiterates its firm condemnation of the violence by the Kurdistan W~~ of repression of human rights and of any critical voice in the country, with the complicit cooperation of a judiciary branch unable or unwilling to rein in any abuses to the constitutional orkder~~s’ Party (PKK), which has been on the EU list of terrorist organisations since 2002~~; regrets that this broad concept of terrorism contravenes the basic principle of individual responsibility through collective generic accusations;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Is deeply worried about the disregard by the Turkish judiciary of European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) rulings and the increasing non-compliance of lower courts with the judgments of the Constitutional Court; is deeply concerned about the recent targeting by the executive on the latter, including the public statements considering the institutional overhaul of the Court;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Notes the adoption of the Judicial Reform Strategy and the two subsequent legislative packages but considers they remain symbolic and fall short of the declared objectives; stresses that these alleged reforms will not be enough on their own to restore the rule of law, especially if they do not translate into actual changes in the behaviour of public prosecutors and if court resolutions continue to contravene international standards;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)

14b. Stresses that a serious reform of the legislative and judicial branches of power is needed in order to improve access to the justice system, increase its effectiveness and provide better protection for the right to trial within a reasonable time;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)

14c. Condemns the dismissal and large- scale transfers and the forced removal of approximately 30% of Turkish judges and prosecutors, causing a worrying decline in the overall quality of judicial decisions, intimidation and self-censorship; expresses serious concern about the recruitment and promotion of judges and prosecutors in the absence of objective, uniform, merit-based criteria and about the use of ad-hoc appointments; calls for addressing the shortcomings in the structure and process for the selection of the members of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) with a view to ensuring its independence and putting an end to its arbitrary decisions;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)

14d. Is deeply concerned about the situation of lawyers in Turkey, as for the last years hundreds have been and continue to be harassed, arrested, prosecuted, and convicted in relation to their professional activities; deeply regrets the recent amendment to the Law on Lawyers as a further blow to the functioning of the judiciary and as an attempt to disempower existing bar associations and eradicate remaining critical voices; urges the Turkish authorities to respect the independence of the legal profession and to allow lawyers to conduct their work freely in line with international human rights standards; calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all lawyers who are detained solely for exercising the legal profession;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 e (new)

14e. Deplores the death of the lawyer Ebru Timtik, after238 days of hunger strike in demand for a fair trial after her conviction for alleged membership of a terrorist organisation and while her appeal was pending before the Court of Cassation; reminds that she is the fourth prisoner to die this year as a result of a hunger strike to demand a fair trial, following the deaths of Helin Bölek and Ibrahim Gökçek, two musicians from the Grup Yorum band, and Mustafa Koçak; expects that the ongoing trial against three police officers charged with the killing of the Kurdish human rights lawyer, Tahir Elçi, will finally reveal the full circumstances around his death and bring justice to his case;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 f (new)

14f. Notes with concern the lack of remedy for the large-scale dismissals affecting 30 percent of its judges and prosecutors and over 150,000 public sector workers that took place during the state of emergency, including the inefficiency of the Inquiry Commission on the State of Emergency; calls on Turkish authorities to respect the rights of defence of those dismissed and to ensure an assessment procedure in line with international standards;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 g (new)

14g. Urges Turkey to align its anti- terrorism legislation with international standards in order to ensure an effective protection of fundamental rights and freedoms and proportionality and equality before the law; recognizes that Turkey has legitimate security concerns and the right to fight terrorism; stresses nevertheless that this must be done in accordance with the rule of la w, human rights and fundamental freedoms; reiterates its firm and unambiguous condemnation of the violent terrorist attacks on the part of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been on the EU list of terrorist organisations since 2002;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 h (new)

14h. Is appalled by the statements by top representatives of the executive and the ruling coalition on the possible reinstatement of the death penalty that Turkey abolished in 2004; warns that such regrettable move would not only contravene Turkey’s existing international commitments but would be incompatible with the EU accession process;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. EReiterates the importance of media freedom and independence as one of the core values of the EU and a cornerstone of any democracy; expresses serious concern about the disproportionate and arbitrary measures curtailing freedom of expression, media freedom and access to information~~; urges Turkey to guarantee media freedom as a matter of priority~~, amid a suffocating lack of pluralism in media outlets, frequently misusing anti-terror legislation with the aim of muzzling criticism; urges Turkey to guarantee media freedom as a matter of priority and to immediately release and acquit all unlawfully detained journalists, writers and social media users for exercising their profession and civil rights; notes that, even if in the last year the number of journalists in prison has decreased from 160 to over 70, this number remains very high and continues to be a cause of serious concern;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Calls on the Turkish authorities to demonstrate zero tolerance towards all incidents of physical and verbal abuse or threats against journalists, and to allow media outlets which have been arbitrarily closed to reopen;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Is deeply concerned about the lack of independence and impartiality of public entities such as the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) and the Press Advertising Agency (BİK) which are being used as a tool to arbitrarily suspend, ban, fine or financially strangle media outlets considered to be critical to the Government; regrets the cancellation in 2019 of more than 700 press cards by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications and the difficulties that local and international journalists encounter to do their job;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)

15c. Expresses its serious concern about the new law on the “Arrangement of Internet Publication and Combatting Crimes Committed Through These Publications” of July 2020 which places new draconian obligations on social media providers and is highly likely to mark another blow to the freedom of expression as it gives the government sweeping powers to censor online content and prosecute social media users; notes the lifting on the ban on Wikipedia but stresses that over 400.000 websites remain blocked and several restrictions on the use of social media continue to be in force;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)

15d. Deplores the massive deterioration of academic freedom in Turkey, in particular the continuous breaches of the rights of Peace Academics despite the Constitutional Court decision of July 2019, and the amendments to the Turkish Higher Education Council Law, which add additional restrictive measures to the ones already in force;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Notes with great concern the way that the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) has been specifically and continuously targeted by the Turkish authorities; strongly condemns the continued detention since November 2016 of former HDP co- chair ~~Selahattin Demirtaş~~s Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş, opposition leader and former presidential candidate; recalls the ruling by the European Court on Human Rights on his case, which calls on the Turkish authorities to immediately release him;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Condemns the revocation of the parliamentary status of HDP and CHP MPs, which seriously damages the parliament’s image as a democratic institution; strongly regrets the rejection by two lower courts to retrial the case of one of these MPs, Enis Berberoğlu, as ruled by the Constitutional Court, thus putting into serious question the judicial hierarchy in Turkey; recalls its condemnation of the politically motivated sentence of Canan Kaftancıoğlu, Istanbul Provincial chair of the CHP, to almost 10 years of prison and demands its reversal;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Calls on Turkey to release all imprisoned human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, academics and others who have been detained on unsubstantiated charges and to enable them to carry out their work without threat or impediment in all circumstances; ~~strongly condemns the re-arrest and continued de~~calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase their protenction of ~~Osman Kavala, a prominent civil society figure~~and support for human rights defenders at risk in Turkey, including through emergency grants;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Strongly condemns the re-arrest of Osman Kavala, a prominent and respected leading civil society figure, only hours after his acquittal in February 2020, and his continued detention for over three years on spurious charges and in a blatant refusal to abide by the final judgement of the ECtHR and the subsequent call by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers; considers the new case and indictment against him and US academic Henry Barkey -for allegedly spying and attempting to overthrow Turkey’s constitutional order- unfounded, devoid of any evidence and therefore politically motivated; is appalled by the decision of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) to investigate the three judges of the Istanbul 30th Heavy Penal Court who last February acquitted Kavala and the rest of the defendants in the Gezi Park trial due to the lack of evidence; is appalled to see how, on the other hand, the former Istanbul Deputy Public Prosecutor Hasan Yılmaz, responsible for the second indictment against Kavala, has been subsequently appointed Deputy Minister of Justice;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)

18b. Condemns the heavy prison sentences on terrorism related charges despite the absence of any evidence of criminal activity received by 4 of the human rights defenders affected by the Büyükada case last July, whose convictions were uphold in November by the Istanbul Regional Court of Appeal, while the rest of the defendants have been acquitted; considers this case as another example of the hostile environment against civil society organizations and the recurrent influence of virulent political discourse leading to biased judiciary decisions; condemns the re-arrest of writer Ahmet Altan in November 2019 just a week after he was released from jail following more than three years in pre- trial detention;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)

18c. Calls on Turkey to effectively implement a new Human Rights Action Plan in a participatory and transparent manner, addressing all issues and proposing real and credible remedies; urges the Commission to support the implementation of such an Action Plan only if conditions are in place for reaching results;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 d (new)

18d. Deeply regrets the unjust and discriminatory nature of the penal reform adopted in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic since it excludes those imprisoned for their political activities from early release; regrets that the freedoms of expression, assembly and association have further deteriorated as a result of the government’s reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic; regrets the unfounded attacks from the government and top political leaders towards the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) for having publicly questioned the official government statistics;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Commends the existence of a vibrant, plural, engaged and heterogeneous civil society in Turkey, in spite of the massive political crackdown, as it represents one of the few remaining checks on the Turkish Government and with the potential to help the country confront its deep political and social challenges;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Expresses serious concerns about the further backsliding affecting freedoms of assembly and association in light of recurrent bans, disproportionate interventions in peaceful demonstrations, investigations, administrative fines and prosecutions against demonstrators on charges of ‘terrorism-related activities’;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)

19b. Reiterates the commitment to maintain strong support for Turkey’s civil society; emphasises that the allocation of funds under the future Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) should continue to focus on support for Turkey’s democratic civil society and increased opportunities for people-to- people contacts;

2020/12/15
Committee: AFET

2019/2176(INI)