48 Amendments of Mario BORGHEZIO related to 2015/2220(INI)
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 a (new)
Citation 23 a (new)
having regard to the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions of 22 June 2015,
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the level of development aid was increased from EUR 750 million in 2007 - -2013 to EUR 1 028 million in 2014- 2020, i.e. by 56 %, and whereas said aid is focused on promoting education, regional security, sustainable management of natural resources, and social and economic development;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas the region is becoming the new frontier of the Islamic State;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
C b. whereas on 15 April 2015, the Council of the European Union appointed Peter Burian as the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, and whereas his mandate will expire in April 2016;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
C c. whereas the 5 countries are members of the Istanbul Process, established to encourage political cooperation between Afghanistan, its neighbours and regional partners, which aims to implement reinforcement measures to secure the borders and promote the development of Afghanistan;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
C d. whereas the five countries belong to the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), a defensive alliance signed on 15 May 1992 by six nations belonging to the Commonwealth of Independent States, which recently held a summit in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. supports EU engagement in the countries of Central Asia, provided that the differences between and uniqueness of these countries are given due consideration;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. shares the view that a differentiated and conditional approach should be applied in order to achieve better results both bilaterally and regionally; believes that regional programmes, such as those for border management, drugs and trafficking, transport and energyincluding of weapons, transport and energy, corruption, management of water resources, proliferation of Islamic terrorism, authoritarianism, slow progress in democratisation, should be tailor-made so as to target interested parties, and could therefore benefit from participation in them being confined to a limited or flexible number of countries of the region, possibly also including Afghanistan, Iran, Mongolia and Azerbaijan;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. calls on the European Commission to present a detailed draft budget showing the individual funding allocated to each country, so as to ensure optimum levels of effectiveness and transparency, with a subsequent, detailed financial report to be presented to the European Parliament;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. urges the EU and its Member States to speak with one voice fostering foreign policy coherence and coordination in this region, and to introduce joint programming of aid and projects with Member States in order to achieve a full impact and synergy; welcomes closer involvement and ownership on the part of Member States in terms of implementing the strategy;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. is concerned at the wave of legislation in the region restricting freedom of the media, expression, assembly and association, aimed against civil society funding (the ‘foreign agents laws’), and the LGBTI community (the so-called ‘LGBTI propaganda laws’);
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. calls on the authorities to make further efforts to protect ethnic and religious minorities and LGBTI persons in Central Asian societies and to end discrimination against them;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6
Subheading 6
Regional cooperation, security challenges, Islamic terrorism and border management
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. recognises that the main threats and challenges identified in the Strategy for Central Asia remain relevant; is, however, acutely aware of the additional external pressures stemming from the current security challenges in Afghanistan, as well as the opaque foreign policy of Russia aimed at reintegration of former Soviet space, triggered by the crisis in Ukraine;
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26 a. points out that Central Asia is a region affected by both national and international terrorism, and is surrounded by countries that have been deeply unsettled by extremist attacks;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26 b. points out that Central Asian governments appear to be the most aware of the imminent threat posed by ISIS, to the extent that they have all increased monitoring and repression of Islamic movements, especially in light of an international situation which risks facilitating the advance of the Jihadists;
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 c (new)
Paragraph 26 c (new)
26 c. expresses concern about the fact that radicalised groups of Islamic extremists pose a serious threat to the countries of Central Asia, and that many citizens of these nations have joined such organisations to fight in the Middle East and in Afghanistan, and could play a crucial role in internal destabilisation of the region on their return;
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 d (new)
Paragraph 26 d (new)
26 d. recalls that according to a recent report from the International Crisis Group, between 2 000 and 4 000 citizens from Central Asia are fighting for ISIS in the Middle East;
Amendment 291 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 e (new)
Paragraph 26 e (new)
26 e. stresses that the authorities in Central Asia have reacted strongly to the expansion of ISIS’ Russian-speaking propaganda channels, blocking access to social networks used by extremists and revoking the citizenship of those who have joined the ranks of ISIS;
Amendment 293 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. is concerned that poverty, population growth, stalled and uneven socio-economic development, poor governance and a weak institutional framework, lack of respect for rule of law; unresolved ethnic issues and lack of prospects, including in terms of employment, for orderly succession in the countries of Central Asia are sources of potential instability, and provide a breeding ground for terrorism, including Islamic fundamentalism;
Amendment 330 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. underlines that the following country- specific paragraphs address only prioritygeneral issues and are therefore not all- encompassing;
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. emphasises that deeper political and economic relations must be based on shared values and correspond to anmore active and concrete engagement by Kazakhstan on political and democratic reforms, stemming from its international obligations and commitments;
Amendment 338 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33 a. recalls that, by the end of 2015, Kazakhstan will have officially become the 162nd member of the WTO;
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 b (new)
Paragraph 33 b (new)
33 b. points out that Kazakhstan have bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2017 - 2018;
Amendment 340 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 c (new)
Paragraph 33 c (new)
33 c. welcomes the fact that Kazakhstan will host the next International Exposition (Expo) in 2017;
Amendment 341 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 d (new)
Paragraph 33 d (new)
33 d. recalls that Kazakhstan has previously been granted the chairmanship of the OSCE;
Amendment 342 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 e (new)
Paragraph 33 e (new)
33 e. stresses that the President of Kazakhstan recently proposed to President Putin that an international forum entitled ‘Islam against terrorism’ be established, a proposal welcomed by the Russian President;
Amendment 343 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 f (new)
Paragraph 33 f (new)
33 f. welcomes the fact that Kazakhstan has launched the most effective counter- attack against ISIS as part of the country’s new anti-terrorism strategy, namely reforming and modernising the law enforcement agencies undertaking anti-terror operations, as well as involving civil society;
Amendment 344 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 g (new)
Paragraph 33 g (new)
33 g. welcomes the fact that 19 terrorist and extremist organisations have been banned in Kazakhstan;
Amendment 345 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 h (new)
Paragraph 33 h (new)
33 h. stresses that Kazakhstan is not only focused on clamping down on terrorism, but also on effective action to prevent radicalisation and on rehabilitation programs for those who have been involved in terrorist activity;
Amendment 349 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. regrets, in this regard, the increasing deterioration in the fields of freedom of the media, freedom of expression, and freedom of association and assembly;
Amendment 362 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35 a. points out that, as regards the economy, the government and parties in Bishkek are not in agreement, either amongst themselves or with foreign investors, about how to manage the country’s most prized and only significant natural asset: the Kumtor gold mine;
Amendment 370 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. regrets the lack of genuine internal reconciliation in Tajikistan following the civil war of 1992-1997; expresses, in this regard, its deepest concern at the decision not to ban the Islamic Renaissance Party, following a worrying trend aimed at suppressing legitimate political forces and silencing critical voices; calls on the Tajik authorities to adopt the necessary measures to guarantee freedom of expression, pluralism and a free and open political environment;
Amendment 372 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36 a. calls on the Tajik authorities to adopt the necessary measures to guarantee freedom of expression, pluralism and a free and open political environment;
Amendment 375 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36 b. expresses concern at the presence of the Islamic Renaissance Party on the country’s political landscape;
Amendment 376 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36 c. notes that the next meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) will take place on 27 May 2016 in Tajikistan;
Amendment 379 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. stresses that the main international indexes give Turkmenistan a very low ranking as regards respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and list it among the most authoritarian and repressive countries in the world;
Amendment 381 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37 a. points out that in the annual report from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Turkmenistan was named among the countries which ‘have engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom’;
Amendment 382 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 b (new)
Paragraph 37 b (new)
37 b. notes that the situation relating to fundamental freedoms is characterised by the systematic persecution of dissidents, journalists and human rights defenders, the constant use of torture and generalised violation of the freedom of expression, association and assembly;
Amendment 383 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 c (new)
Paragraph 37 c (new)
37 c. deplores the fact that Turkmen government officials recently ordered thousands of families living in the Choganly district of the capital city Ashgabat to demolish their homes, which would otherwise be destroyed by the authorities, to make way for the construction of infrastructure for the upcoming Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, to be held in Ashgabat in 2017, and for a redevelopment project that aims to replace old housing with modern apartment blocks; notes that thousands of homes have already been knocked down, and estimates that if the demolition project is completed, a total of 18 000 houses will be destroyed;
Amendment 384 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 d (new)
Paragraph 37 d (new)
37 d. points out that the President of Turkmenistan owns most of the State media, and censorship of news is extensive, especially due to the fact that many websites are blocked and, in some regions, there is no access to the Internet at all;
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 e (new)
Paragraph 37 e (new)
37 e. supports reinforced controls on shared borders with Afghanistan and military support from Kyrgyzstan to help create a security system in the region to oppose Taliban militants, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and any other terrorist group;
Amendment 386 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 f (new)
Paragraph 37 f (new)
37 f. due to widespread corruption, calls on the European Commission to present a detailed draft budget showing the individual funding allocated to Turkmenistan, to ensure optimum levels of effectiveness and transparency, with a subsequent, detailed financial report to be presented to the European Parliament;
Amendment 396 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39 a. regrets that the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan continues to be a force that could collaborate with ISIS;
Amendment 403 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 b (new)
Paragraph 39 b (new)
39 b. notes that only five parties, all of which support the government, are legally recognised, while opposition groups are not permitted to participate in political processes or elections;
Amendment 405 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 c (new)
Paragraph 39 c (new)
39 c. regrets that the principal international organisations involved in the protection of human and civil rights consider Uzbekistan to be one of the most authoritarian and repressive countries in the world;
Amendment 406 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 d (new)
Paragraph 39 d (new)
39 d. points out that women are not spared from exposure to serious human rights violations such as the system of forced labour, bordering on slavery, organised by the government every year, specifically during the cotton-picking season, where citizens are forced to work in terrible conditions for little or no pay;