32 Amendments of Salvatore DE MEO related to 2024/2082(INI)
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
– having regard to the report by Enrico Letta of April 2024 entitled “Much more than a market” and in particular its section on “Promoting peace and enhancing security: towards a Common Market for the defence industry”,
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)
Citation 19 a (new)
– having regard to the UN General Assembly Resolution of the 25 of September 2015 (70/1) “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” and in particular the sustainable development goal n. 16 “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”,
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas NATO remains essential for keeping Europe free and safe and for the collective security of EU citizens as well;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas there is the need to ensure complementarity with NATO and to avoid unnecessary duplication of capabilities;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
A c. whereas EU Member States have agreed on more, better and smarter defence spending; whereas lately most EU NATO Member States have surpassed the NATO guideline to spend at least 2 % of their GDP on defence;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the seriousness of the threats to the security of the European continent, which have reached a level unprecedented since the Second World War; expresses deep concern at the rise of geopolitical fractures, new imperialist ambitions for domination by authoritarian powers, systemic rivalry of great powers, nationalist unilateralism and the primary and growing use of force and violence by certain states and non-state actors to promote their political objectives and interests or to resolve disputes; notes the limited impact, in recent times, of diplomatic relations aimed at building defence; believes that this trend amounts to a paradigm shift, as it reverses the logic of building international security on the basis of respect for international law, a rules- based international order and multilateralism;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises the absolute need for the EU to meet the challenges posed by the multiple and constantly evolving threats to its security, and for this purpose, to engage in new policies and actions that enable the EU and its Member States to collectively and coherently strengthen their defence in Europe and their ability to act at the global level, increasing diplomatic capacity and deterrence, and showing the EU as a strong, united international actor capable of defending itself against potential enemy attacks; in this view, careful consideration shall be given to the obligation stated in the art. 42.7 of the Treaty of the European Union, the only defence clause protecting the non NATO EU Members, i.e. Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, and Malta;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes, in this regard, the objective of the Commission President to usher in a new era for European defence and security, by building a true European defence union that leverages the concept of “Dual Use,” meaning that it is not designed as a mere war defence tool but also addresses civilian and humanitarian needs (such as boosting enhanced cooperation in civil protection - UCPM), which are fundamental to the enhancement of defence policy implementation; welcomes the designation on 17 September 2024 of the first-ever Commissioner for Defence and Space, tasked with working jointly with the Vice- President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) on a white paper on the future of European defence within the first hundred days of their mandate;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for the EU and its Member States to accelerate their commitments made in the Versailles Declaration, adopted on 11 March 2022, to assume greater responsibility for their defence and security, including by achieving greater strategic autonomy; stresses that NATO and the transatlantic partnership with the United States remain the cornerstones of European collective defence; stresses the need for EU Member States and the EU as a whole to step up their efforts by increasing their spendinginvestments and procuring more joint capabilities, thereby strengthening their armed forces whether for national, NATO or EU operational purposes; EU in particular should create its own common assets to be employed for immediate/rapid reactions, overseas missions and power projection;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Concurs with the ambition of building a European pillar within NATO and stresses that the developmentstrengthening of a European defence union can go hand-in- hand with the deepening of EU-NATO cooperation and the diplomatic route, which remains the priority for international dispute prevention and settlement, and the construction of a comprehensive defence concept that integrates war capability, international relations, negotiation avenues and all fields of operations, training, and capabilities development; in the short term, specific efforts should be made in the field of the Integrated Air and Missile Defence organisation and systems;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
Enhancing European security: supporting Ukraine by providing military capabilities without restrictions on their use in order to end Russia’s war of aggression
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reaffirms its unwavering support for the EU and its Member States to stand in solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russia’s war of aggression and to provide it with the necessary military means to defend itself, end the conflict and restore its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders; welcomes the joint security commitments between the EU and Ukraine, and the bilateral security agreements concluded by Ukraine with several Member States; reiterates its call for Member States to accelerate their delivery of weapons, air defence systems and ammunition to Ukraine, including air-launched cruise missiles; calls for Member Stonsiders that it is currently inappropriates to lift all restrictions hinderpreventing Ukraine from using Western weapons systems against military targets within Russia, as allowpermitted by international law, as such lifting remains a highly divisive element, which risks altering the diplomatic path to peace;
Amendment 359 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses the importance of ensuring a balanced effort between strengthening existing EU armament industrial capabilities in the short and medium-term, and supporting research and development for new and innovative military equipment and armament tailored to the needs of the armed forces of the Member States; priority should be given to keep and enhance the technological advantage as key for deterrence against our adversaries and competitors;
Amendment 375 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Supports a significant increase in investments in defence research and development (R&D), with particular emphasis on collaborative initiatives, thereby strengthening the EU’s technological leadership and competitiveness in defence; in this regard notes that, in 2022, EU Member States invested approximately €10.7 billion in defence R&D; underlines that technological advancement in critical domains—air, land, maritime, space, and cyber—requires stable, long-term investment across EU Member States to keep pace with rapid global innovation;
Amendment 412 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
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 States, with a mandate to ensure swift, coordinated responses to security challenges;
Amendment 445 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the increased budgets and investment in defence by Member States and the increase, albeit modest, in the EU budget for CSDP in 2024; calls on the Member States that have not yet reached the minimum threshold of 2 % of their GDP devoted to defence expenditure to resolutely commit to gradually increasing their military budgets; recommends that, on the basis of continuous analysis of capability needs, Member States further increase this threshold, in particular for joint procurement of defence capabilities;
Amendment 453 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Acknowledges that out of the 32 NATO members some 23, including 16 EU NATO members, are expected to meet NATO’s spending target by the end of 2024; points out that this shows a six-fold increase since 2014 when the target was set; hopes that those EU NATO Member States which do not yet meet this target will increase their defence budgets in line with NATO guidelines;
Amendment 477 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Notes with concern the limited access to public and private financing for the EU defence industry, particularly affecting SMEs and mid-caps, which hinders the scaling-up and innovation essential for a robust defence ecosystem; further notes that the restrictive policies of the European Investment Bank negatively impact the sector’s access to financial instruments; calls for a comprehensive EU industrial strategy aimed at reducing fragmentation within the European defence market, dominated by national players with limited cross- border consolidation due to Member States' sovereignty considerations;
Amendment 548 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20 b. Strongly condemns the Israeli Defense Forces firing on the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) in Southern Lebanon that represents a very serious violation of international military law;
Amendment 559 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Notes and confirms the need for EU-led actions to ensure free trade, building on successful prompt decision of Member States to launch EU Naval Force Operation ASPIDES, in response to Houti's attacks in Yemen against vessels in the Red Sea; in this regard, calls on Member States to increase the operation's capabilities to counter the growing influence of the authoritarian axis, including Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, whose coordinated actions empower proxy groups like the Houthis to destabilise regions critical to the European Union and its global interests;
Amendment 702 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Welcomes the findings and recommendations proposed by Mr Draghi in his report on the future of European competitiveness, which encourage Member States to update governance and investment rules in the space domain, in particular for defence-related areas; calls on the Commission and the Member States to invest appropriately in this domain in the context of the next Multiannual Financial Framework but also by considering any other innovative tool which could provide funding;
Amendment 719 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Regrets, dDuring these unstable geopolitical times, the weakening ofnew impetus should be devoted to revive non- proliferation and arms control regimes, and calls for the redoubling of efforts to reverse this trend;
Amendment 741 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Highlights the need for EU citizens to have a broader understanding of security threats and risks in order for a consciousness on European defence to emerge, to be understood as initiatives aimed at strengthening ‘defence’ instruments, in its broader conception of the term, which is not limited only to the construction of armaments; calls for the EU and its Member States to develop awareness-raising and educational programmes aimed at improving knowledge on defence and military values among citizens, especially young people, and at strengthening the resilience and preparedness of societies to face security challenges; suggests to develop train-the- trainers programmes and cooperation between defence institutions and universities, such as military courses, exercises and role playing training activities for civilian students; stresses, however, that such awareness-raising programmes should highlight that the concept of defence is not primarily linked to the war aspect in the pure sense, but involves a wide range of diplomatic and dialogue actions to be included in this concept;
Amendment 761 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Underlines the importance of the partnership dimension of the Strategic Compass in reinforcing cooperation between the EU and its allies and partners around the world in order to strengthen the perception of the deterrence principle and counter foreign strategies aimed at undermining the EU and its partners, and destabilising the rules-based international order;
Amendment 776 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. SCalls for maintaining and further strengthening transatlantic unity and determination in responding to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; stresses the importance of NATO and the EU playing complementary, coherent and mutually reinforcing roles in supporting international peace and security and thus avoiding the duplication of defence efforts; welcomes the accession of Sweden to NATO in 2024, following Finland in 2023, representing a historic step forward innew NATO Allies in line with the fundamental interest of the Union to include in due time all European countries, in order to strengthening security in Eourope continent;
Amendment 786 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Underlines the importance of further deepening EU-NATO cooperation also by building on the EU’s Strategic Compass and NATO’s new Strategic Concept especially in the fields of military mobility, conflict prevention and crisis management, military-security cooperation with partners in the East and in the South, countering malicious foreign interference from third countries, a coordinated approach in the Indo- Pacific as well as increasing common action on the international stage to protect democracy;
Amendment 788 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)
Paragraph 28 b (new)
28 b. Emphasises the importance of developing coherent, complementary and interoperable defence capabilities to boost the security of the Euro-Atlantic area in line with the principle of the single set of forces; stresses the need to ensure coherence of output between respective EU and NATO capability development planning processes; calls for all EPF support for the provision of equipment to be carried out in coordination with NATO to increase efficiency and avoid unnecessary duplication;
Amendment 794 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 c (new)
Paragraph 28 c (new)
28 c. Reiterates its calls on EU Member States to simplify and harmonise procedures for military mobility and to enable faster action; underlines the need for additional funding for this flagship EU-NATO cooperation initiative;
Amendment 795 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 d (new)
Paragraph 28 d (new)
28 d. Continues to strongly support NATO’s Open Door Policy; invites the EU and NATO to reinforce cooperation on supporting the capacity-building of our partners;
Amendment 796 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 e (new)
Paragraph 28 e (new)
28 e. Stresses the need to continue supporting the establishment of the NATO Centre for Democratic Resilience aimed at monitoring and identifying challenges to democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and facilitating democracy and governance assistance to member and partner states;
Amendment 821 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Considers it essential to formalise a security and defence partnership with the United Kingdom as a means of strengthening European security and the European pillar of NATO, in particular in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to face the challenges posed by common strategic competitors, such as China; considers also the cooperation with UK in the common war against terrorism, to counter proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and other main common threats;
Amendment 854 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32 a. Welcomes the proposal from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) to enhance Parliament’s status to “partner” under the ongoing reform of partnerships; invites its Delegation for relations with the NATO PA (DNAT) to make full use of the EP’s current and future privileges; considers DNAT an important instrument of EP parliamentary diplomacy under an enhanced EU-NATO partnership aimed at strengthening the European pillar of NATO and contributing to reaching the Alliance’s overall objectives; is of the view that DNAT can play a pivotal role in reinforcing EU-NATO cooperation, strengthening the democratic resilience of accession countries and key partners, as well as, overall, enhancing the parliamentary dimension of this essential partnership;