392 Amendments of Lucia YAR
Amendment 119 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the seriousness of the threats to the security of the European continent, which have reached a level unprecedented since the Second World War; expresses deep concern at the rise of geopolitical fractures, new imperialist ambitions for domination by authoritarian powers and their increased coordination, 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; believes that the geopolitical theatres in Ukraine, Middle East and Taiwan are increasingly interconnected as Russia, China and Iran are deepening their ties, and 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 158 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Acknowledges that geopolitical theatres in Ukraine, the Middle East and Taiwan are interconnected as Russia, China and Iran are deepening their ties and want to challenge the liberal world order; therefore calls for a much-needed paradigm shift in the EU’s CSDP and deepened cooperation with its allies;
Amendment 182 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for the EU and its Member States to accelerate their commitments made in the Versailles Declaration, adopted on 11 March 2022, to assume greater responsibility for their defence and security, including by achieving greater strategic autonomy; stresses that NATO and the transatlantic partnership with the United States remain the cornerstones of European collective defence; stresses the need for EU Member States to step up their efforts by increasing their spending and procuring more joint capabilities, thereby strengthening their armed forces whether for national, NATO or EU operational purposes; calls upon the EU to enhance its conventional deterrence capabilities on its eastern border;
Amendment 203 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Concurs with the ambition of building a European pillar within NATO and stresses that the development of a European defence union can go hand-in- hand with the deepening of EU-NATO cooperation; stresses that a European pillar within NATO consists of jointly acquiring strategic enablers or strategic weapon systems that are often too expensive for a single member state, such as air-to-air refueling capability, command & control capability, hypersonic weapons, layered air defence, electronic warfare capabilities; believes that the European added value lies in jointly developing or buying those enablers and systems that we severely lack as individual Member States;
Amendment 225 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reaffirms its unwavering support for the EU and its Member States to stand in solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russia’s war of aggression, and to provide it with theall necessary military means and in time it needs 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 States to lift all restrictions hindering Ukraine from using Western weapons systems against military targets within Russia, as allowed by international law;
Amendment 228 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reaffirms its unwavering support for the EU and its Member States to stand in solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russia’s war of aggression and to provide it with the necessary military means to defend itself, end the conflict and restore its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders; welcomes the joint security commitments between the EU and Ukraine, and the bilateral security agreements concluded by Ukraine with several Member States; reiterates its call for Member States to accelerate their delivery of weapons, fighter aircrafts, drones, air defence systems and above all ammunition to Ukraine, including air-launched cruise missiles; is deeply concerned that the EU failed to deliver the shells it has promised, with a significant delay; calls on the Council to commit to transferring all confiscated military equipment or ammunition from EU operations and missions inside and outside of the EU, to Ukraine, and to promote this idea globally; calls for Member States to lift all restrictions hindering Ukraine from using Western weapons systems against military targets within Russia, as allowed by international law;
Amendment 249 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for the EU and its Member States to support Ukraine in expanding the international coalition in support of its Victory Plan presented by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as the only viable route to restore Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity on the basis of international law, thereby holding Russia and its accomplices, in particular Belarus, to account for itstheir war crimes, including the crime of aggression, and ensuring Russian reparations and other payments for the massive damage caused in Ukraine;
Amendment 251 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for the EU and its Member States to support Ukraine in expanding the international coalition in support of its Victory Plan presented by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as the only viable route to restore Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity on the basis of international law, thereby holding Russia to account for its war crimes, including the crime of aggression, and ensuring Russian reparations and other payments for the massive damage caused in Ukraine; calls on the HRVP to mobilize more diplomatic support for Ukraine and for the sanctions imposed on Russia, using the full spectrum of the diplomatic toolbox, including secondary sanctions;
Amendment 261 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Strongly condemns the deployment and training of thousands of North Korean troops in Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine, and views such action as an attempt to further escalate the conflict;
Amendment 285 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Welcomes the G7 loan of €45 billion in financial support to Ukraine from the mobilization of interest from frozen Russian assets, and welcomes the swift approval by the Council and Parliament of the EU’s share of that loan, amounting to €35 billion; but strongly disapproves Hungary’s veto of the recent attempts to extend the EU sanctions renewal period, which would secure more long-term stability and support for this loan structure;
Amendment 302 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Welcomes the ongoing initiatives of several EU Member States to deepen cooperation with Ukraine in the field of defence industrial production and urges further use of Ukraine’s innovative defence potential to develop weapons and ammunition and to accelerate their production in close cooperation with the EU and other Western partners, using available support mechanisms;
Amendment 304 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8 c. Deplores the fact that some components of Western origin are found in weapons and their systems used by Russia against Ukraine, and calls on the EU and Member States to implement sanctions more thoroughly;
Amendment 309 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the vision set out in the European Defence Industrial Strategy accompanied by the Commission’s proposal for establishing the European defence industry programme; supports the objective of strengthening EU defence industrial preparedness to further enable Member States to identify and discussaccelerate joint defence programming and procurement, as well as European defence projects of common interest, and to secure supply lines to deal with shortages in defence production, such as for gunpowder and explosives;
Amendment 387 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Recognizes that military logistics can contribute to deterrence by signalling Europe's overall military preparedness; calls on the Commissioner for Defence and Space to develop an integrated approach to military mobility and logistics that ensures that the Council's pledge to remove all remaining barriers by 2026 is upheld, and coincides with much higher EU investments in key aspects of military mobility;
Amendment 388 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Emphasizes the importance of developing, maintaining and protecting the infrastructure necessary to ensure rapid and efficient military mobility and calls for the appropriate EU funding for ongoing and necessary military mobility projects to be secured in the next MFF;
Amendment 456 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to initiate an open discussion based onstart implementing the recommendations presented in Mr Draghi’s report on the future of European competiveness, including that concern the increasing thee of resources allocated to security and defence in the next multiannual financial framework and exploringe all funding options to this end; further calls on Member States to amend the EPF financing process to ensure adequate and sustainable support for partners and allies, while also aligning with CSDP missions and operations;
Amendment 487 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Expresses deep and increasing concern over China’s support to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine, in particular through the exportation of dual- use goods to Russiafeed the Russian war machine, and the ongoing involvement of China- based companies in sanctions evasion and circumvention and calls upon the VP/HR to consider secondary sanctions and other tools to close the sanction evasion loop; is concerned that China weaponizes supply chains to bolster its industry and support Russia; is also deeply concerned over the increasing number of escalatory and hostile acts being conducted by China against Taiwan, including cyberattacks, influence campaigns, Chinese warplanes entering Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone and the severing of subsea cables;
Amendment 496 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Expresses deep concerns about the effect that European dependencies on China have on the credibility of the Member States’ ability to safeguard their national security and the EU as a whole to effectively criticize and counter China’s economic coercion, escalation with Taiwan, and support to Russia; calls on the Commission and EU Member States to de-risk from risky Chinese vendors in its critical infrastructure, and to not direct any EU funds or subsidies to advance the position of those vendors in Europe;
Amendment 504 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Chinese authorities to put an end to all aggressive actions, in particular air and maritime operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, that endanger the stability in the Indo- Pacific region and thereby undermine international security, the sovereignty of regional countries, the safety of life at sea and freedom of navigation; stresses that further escalation in the Taiwan Strait would have detrimental effects on the European economy and therefore urges the Commission to start with the development of contingency planning and mitigation measures based on likely scenarios of escalation such as an economic blockade of Taiwan by the People's Republic of China (PRC);
Amendment 514 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Condemns Iran, in the strongest terms, for its destabilising activities in the Middle East region and for its continued support for terrorist groups, which pose a direct threat to regional and global security; expresses concern at the growing military cooperation between Iran and Russia, in particular the intention to sign a treaty on a comprehensive strategic partnership, and strongly condemns Iran's provision of drones and ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine and its people; expresses, however, full support for and solidarity with Iran’s civil society and democratic forces;
Amendment 518 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Condemns Iran, in the strongest terms, for its destabilising activities in the Middle East region and for its continued support for terrorist groups, which pose a direct threat to regional and global security; expresses, however, full support for and solidarity with Iran’s civil society and democratic forces; calls on the VP/HR to put the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the EU-terror list;
Amendment 591 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Emphasises the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflicts on women and girls, especially in terms of conflict-related sexual violence; highlights the imperative need to ensure the provision and accessibility of appropriate related healthcare in armed conflicts, including sexual and reproductive health and rights; calls in this regards on the Member States to guarantee the respect for sexual and reproductive health and rights of refugees in their territory; calls on the EU and Member States to ensure that armed conflicts are considered through the lens of gender;
Amendment 592 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Recalls that mainstreaming and operationalising gender perspectives in external relations and implementing the women, peace and security agenda are long-standing priorities for the EU; insists that the update of the Strategic Compass propose further measures to ensure gender equality and the full and meaningful participation of women in CSDP, especially in military missions;
Amendment 656 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses the importance of enhanced intelligence sharing and information exchange among Member States and EU institutions, including Parliament, to combat foreign interference, improve situational awareness and to be able to better anticipate and counter threats to collective security and define common lines of actions under the CSDP, particularly in the area of crisis management; therefore calls for the creation of a European equivalent of the Five Eyes intelligence cooperation for foreign intelligence collection, attribution of digital operations and sanction evasion;
Amendment 666 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Expresses serious concern over the growing security challenges posed by cyber and hybrid attacks, andwhich are aimed at critical infrastructure or supply chains, as well as foreign information manipulation and interference, which are aimed, inter alia, at festering polarisation and undermining the stability of democratic societies, especially in the run- up to elections; calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service to strengthen their capabilities to address these challenges and increase resilience against disinformation;
Amendment 673 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Expresses serious concern over the growing security challenges posed by cyber and hybrid attacks, and foreign information manipulation and interference, which are aimed, inter alia, at undermining the stability of democratic societies, especially in the run-up to elections; calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service to strengthen their capabilities to address these challenges and increase resilience against disinformation; is concerned by the delay of many Member States in implementing the Directive on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union (NIS2 Directive) and calls for a swift implementation to secure European critical infrastructure; calls on the VP/HR to better synchronize and more actively use the cyber, hybrid and FIMI sanction toolboxes, and explore how sectoral sanctions may be carried out;
Amendment 697 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Calls for European solidarity and support for building a defence infrastructure system along the EU’s external border with Russia and Belarus to protect the EU from military and hybrid threats, in particular artificially facilitated waves of illegal migrants;
Amendment 703 #
2024/2082(INI)
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 Council to prioritize the fully operationally capable European IRIS2 space communication capabilities and to grant access to Taiwan and Ukraine as soon as possible;
Amendment 717 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Expresses serious concerns over Russian surveillance and sabotage of offshore communication cables and energy infrastructure, and calls on the Member States to fully abide to the commitments of the New York declaration on the Security and Resilience of Undersea Cables, including to procure submarine cable networks only from companies in allied countries; also calls for regional coastguard cooperation to counter, mitigate and repair threats to our subsea and maritime infrastructure;
Amendment 742 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. HWelcomes the report by Mr Sauli Niinistö to strengthen Europe’s civil and military preparedness and readiness, and urges the Commission to implement the recommendations with high ambition, including by developing a EU risk assessment, preparedness Union strategy, joint exercises, a coherent vision and stronger EU-NATO interface in view of crisis situations; 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; calls for the EU and its Member States to develop awareness- raising and educational programmes aimed at improving knowledge on defence among citizens, especially young people, and at strengthening the resilience and preparedness of societies to face security challenges;
Amendment 777 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses the importance of NATO and the EU playing complementary, coherent and mutually reinforcing roles in supporting international security and thus avoiding the duplication of defence efforts while maintaining a strong mutual cooperation; welcomes the accession of Sweden to NATO in 2024, following Finland in 2023, representing a historic step forward in strengthening security in Europe;
Amendment 782 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses the importance of NATO and the EU playing complementary, coherent and mutually reinforcing roles in supporting international security and thus avoiding the duplication of defence efforts; welcomes the accession of Sweden to NATO in 2024, following Finland in 2023, representing a historic step forward in strengthening security in Europe; calls on the VP/HR to operate in close coordination and unity with the NATO Secretary-General;
Amendment 783 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses the importance of NATO and the EU playing complementary, coherent and mutually reinforcing roles in supporting international security and thus avoiding the duplication of defence efforts; welcomes the accession of Sweden to NATO in 2024, following Finland in 2023, representing a historic step forward in strengthening security in Europe; reiterates its belief that Ukraine is on an irreversible path to NATO membership;
Amendment 827 #
2024/2082(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 22
Subheading 22
Partnership with the Eastern Partners and Western Balkan countries
Amendment 5 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
– having regards to the Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War,
Amendment 29 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas sexual and reproductive rights (SRR) are protected as human rights in international and European human rights law such as in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, CEDAW and the European Convention on Human Rights, and constitute an essential element of comprehensive healthcare provision; whereas health rights, in particular sexual and reproductive health rights, are fundamental women’s rights which should be enhanced and cannot in any way be watered down or withdrawn; whereas the realisation of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is an essential element of human dignity and is intrinsically linked to combating gender-based violence and the achievement of a wide range of other human rights such as a person’s right to life, health, privacy, security of the person, non-discrimination, equality before the law and freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
Amendment 72 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas liberal democratic systems are the most suitable to guarantee that every person has the ability to enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms; whereas rules-based multilateralism is the best organisational system to defend democracies;
Amendment 98 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the legitimacy of the international rules-based order is dependent on compliance with the orders of and respect for international bodies, such as the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council resolutions and orders and decisions of the International Court of Justice and 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; whereas international institutions, their officials, and those cooperating with them such as the International Criminal Court are the subject of attacks and threats;
Amendment 104 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Condemns any action or attempt to legalise, instigate, authorise, consent or acquiesce to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment methods under any circumstances; emphasizes in this context that preventing conflict refugees who are victims of sexual violence from accessing abortion care constitutes a grave violation of their human rights and amounts to torture and inhuman or degrading treatment; condemns the increasing reports of the use of torture by state actors in conflict situations around the world, and reiterates the non-derogable nature of the right to be free from torture or other forms of inhuman or degrading treatment;
Amendment 109 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
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 CSOamong others HRDs, CSOs, journalists and opposition leaders in their work; 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 including those living in exile;
Amendment 122 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas the past year has been marked by a further proliferation of so- called “foreign agent” or foreign influence style laws, including in EU candidate countries, targeting civil society organizations and media outlets, and attempts to prevent them from receiving financial support from abroad, including from the EU and its Member States, fostering a climate of fear and self- censorship;
Amendment 124 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
Ib. whereas in 2024 more than half the world’s population went to the polls, and many of these elections were marked by manipulation, disinformation and attempts at interference from inside or outside the country; whereas the 2024 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was awarded to Venezuela’s democratic forces, disqualified opposition’s presidential candidate María Corina Machado and President-elect Edmundo González;
Amendment 125 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I c (new)
Recital I c (new)
Ic. whereas the 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warns of a decline in the intent of states and other political forces to protect press freedom; whereas, according to RSF, 47 journalists and media workers were killed, most of them in conflict zones, and 573 were imprisoned since 1st of January 2024;
Amendment 126 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I d (new)
Recital I d (new)
Id. whereas at least one million people are unjustly imprisoned for political reasons in countries such as China, Belarus, Russia, Azerbaijan, Venezuela, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Cambodia and Vietnam; whereas among them are numerous finalists of the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, in particular, Gubad Ibadoghlu, Ilham Tohti, Mikalai Statkevich, Maryia Kalesnikava, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, and Ales Bialiatski;
Amendment 127 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I e (new)
Recital I e (new)
Ie. whereas 251 million children and youth are deprived of their fundamental right to education and remain out of school, according to the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2024; whereas, in addition to poverty, girls and women are affected by cultural norms, gender bias, child marriage, violence and, in countries such as Afghanistan, by official discriminatory policies that prevent them from accessing education and the labour market and attempt to erase them from public life;
Amendment 127 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
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, voice, agency 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 and calls on the Member States and members of the Council of Europe that have not done so, to ratify the Convention; emphasizes the need for its full and swift implementation; calls for the EU and its international partners to strengthen their efforts to spread the standards of the Istanbul Convention across the globe and 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, child and forced marriage;
Amendment 136 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Stresses that SRHR education and information is one of the main instruments for achieving the commitments on the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25); emphasises that SRHR education and information can significantly contribute to reducing gender-based violence and sexual harassment; stresses that comprehensive and age-appropriate sexual and relationship education and sexuality information is key to building children’s and young peoples’ skills to form healthy, equal and safe relationships, notably by addressing gender norms, gender equality, power dynamics in relationships, consent and respect for boundaries, and contributes to achieving gender equality; calls for the EU and its international partners to pursue efforts to ensure access to age- appropriate and comprehensive SRHR education and information to girls and boys around the world;
Amendment 138 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
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 as well as upholding and promoting international justice;
Amendment 139 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 c (new)
Paragraph 27 c (new)
27c. Notes that sexual and reproductive health and rights are fundamental to the well-being and empowerment of all individuals, yet they have traditionally been seen as women’s issues; point out that this limited perspective undermines progress and perpetuates gender inequalities; calls on the EU and Member States to develop strategies aimed at engaging men as active allies in promoting SRHR, challenging harmful gender norms, promoting shared responsibility in family planning and supporting women’s rights and well- being;
Amendment 140 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 d (new)
Paragraph 27 d (new)
27d. Points out that equal pay is a recognized human right; recalls that ensuring that the work done by women and men is valued fairly and ending pay discrimination, is essential to achieving gender equality; calls on the Member States to swiftly implement the Pay Transparency Directive and to promote the principle of equal pay for equal work at international level;
Amendment 144 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists that respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights and fundamental freedoms must be the cornerstone of the EU’s external policy; strongly encourages the EU and its Member States, to that end, to strive for a continued ambitious commitment to make 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, including through all of its international agreements, including Memorandums of Understanding, development cooperation policy and Global Gateway strategy projects;
Amendment 148 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27b. Expresses concerns over the rise of anti-gender movements in Europe and beyond; emphasizes the need to uncover and understand the mechanisms by which these groups organize, fundraise, mobilize, and exert influence across borders and globally; calls on the EU to commit to increased and sustained funding for women´s rights movements, including in the framework of the post- 2027 Gender Action Plan;
Amendment 153 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
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 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 women 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).
Amendment 161 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
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 both in and outside the EU; 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;
Amendment 171 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Reiterates its condemnation of all forms of racism, intolerance, xenophobia and discrimination on the basis of racesex, race, colour, ethnicity, nationality, social class, disability, caste, religion, belieforigin, genetic features, language, disability, religion, belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, 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;
Amendment 173 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Condemns the increasing trend of violations and abuses of human rights and democratic principles and values across the world, such as arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture, clampdowns on civil society and political opponents, excessive use of violence by public authorities, instrumentalisation of the judiciary, censorship and threats to independent media, 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;
Amendment 192 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. NReaffirms the neutrality and importance of humanitarian aid in all conflicts and crises; 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;
Amendment 193 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
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; points out the risk of perpetuating gender inequalities and biases present in our societies through AI, if no adequate action is taken; in this context, calls on the EU, Member States and international partners to intensify global efforts aimed at enabling and increasing girls’ and women’s access to and leadership in STEM and ICT education and careers; emphasizes that gender equality needs to be a priority in the process of conceptualising and building AI systems; 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; 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.
Amendment 210 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes with concern the increasing divide worldwide; stresses the responsibility of the EU to continue defending democratic values and principles and human rights, international justice, peace and dignity around the world, which are even more important to defend in the current volatile state of global politics; calls upon the EU to keep communication channels open with different stakeholders and to continue to develop a comprehensive toolbox to strengthen human rights and democracy globally;
Amendment 217 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
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; regrets, despite continuous calls, the lack of Parliament’s involvement in the election of the EUSR
Amendment 240 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Reiterates its call to integrate human rights assessments and 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 and to improve the communication towards the Parliament concerning considerations and decisions regarding this enforcement; 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;
Amendment 242 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Stresses that genuine civil society organizations must not be impeded in participating in human rights dialogues and that any dialogue must include all genuine civil society organisations without any limitations;
Amendment 261 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8
Subheading 8
EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (GHRSR – EU Magnitsky Act)
Amendment 274 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes the increasing use of the EU GHRSR - EU Magnitsky Act - 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 - EU Magnitsky Act; fully supports the possibility of imposing 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 - EU Magnitsky Act or under a different regime; highlights the need for the complete enforcement of sanctions and calls for circumventions to be tackled;
Amendment 278 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates its concern regarding the increasing attacks by authoritarian and illiberal regimes on democratic principles and values; stresses that the defence and support of democracy around the world is increasingly becoming of geopolitical and strategic interest; emphasises the importance of Parliament’s efforts in capacity-building for partner parliaments, promoting mediation and encouraging a culture of dialogue and compromise, especially among young political leaders, and empowering women parliamentarians, HRDs and representatives from civil society and independent media; reiterates its call on the Commission to continue and expand its activities in these areas by increasing funding and support for EU bodies, agencies and other grant-based organisations; stresses the critical importance of directly supporting civil society and persons expressing dissenting views, particularly in the current climate of growing global tensions and repression in increasing numbers of countries; reiterates the importance of EU election observation missions and Parliament’s contribution to developing and enhancing their methodology; calls for the development of an EU toolbox to be used in cases of disputed or intransparent election results in order to prevent political and military crises in the post-election environment; calls for enhanced EU action to counter manipulative and false messages against the EU in election campaigns, in particular in countries that receive significant EU humanitarian and development assistance and in countries that are candidates for EU membership; calls for enhanced collaboration between Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group, the relevant Commission directorates-general and the EEAS;
Amendment 291 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Is extremely concerned by the continuing restriction of civil society space and rising threats to the work of HRDs and civil society organisations (CSOs), as well as their families, communities and lawyers, and finds particularly concerning the increasingly sophisticated means used to persecute them, including through transnational repression; 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:
Amendment 292 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
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, such as the so-called “foreign agent” laws; 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:
Amendment 314 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Insists on the need for the EU to take clear steps to recognise the close link between corruption and human rights violations in order to target economic and financial enablers of human rights abusers;
Amendment 326 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
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 and all its agencies, 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; calls for EU delegations to play a stronger role in multilateral forums, for which they should have appropriate resources available;
Amendment 356 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
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 implement 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;
Amendment 364 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
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; calls on the EU institutions and all the Member States to respect and implement the actions and decisions of all organs of the ICJ; notes with deep concern the worrying and rising trend to undermine the decisions of international institutions and their employees by state officials; calls for the EU and its Member States to protect the International Court of Justice, its officials, and those cooperating with it from threats and attacks
Amendment 374 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
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; 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 and journalists and media 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; demands unhindered access to humanitarian organizations monitoring and assisting the prisoners of war as provided for in the Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War; expresses its concern at the reported abuses and shortcomings of the Russian Red Cross in assisting Ukrainian prisoners of war and informing their families of their place of detention, and expects the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (IFRC) to take prompt action in accordance with its constitution; calls for international cooperation and assistance in the return of forcibly deported and illegally adopted Ukrainian children from the Russian Federation;
Amendment 380 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
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; 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 on all parties to armed conflicts to respect the legitimacy and inviolability of the UN peacekeeping missions; 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;
Amendment 382 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
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; underlines that it is of the utmost importance for all UN and 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;
Amendment 399 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
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, particularly in encouraging those countries to comply with their international obligations and to refrain from harassment and persecution of critical voices; 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; calls on the EU and its Member States to use all possible means to encourage countries to release political prisoners; 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;
Amendment 401 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
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; 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; calls for the EU to ensure human rights promotion and protection through its Global Gateway investments and projects to ensure that they do no harm;
Amendment 416 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Condemns any action or attempt to legalise, instigate, authorise, consent or acquiesce to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment methods under any circumstances; condemns the increasing reports of the use of torture by state actors in conflict situations around the world, notably violation of the Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War, as well as the killing of prisoners of war amounting to a crime of war, and reiterates the non-derogable nature of the right to be free from torture or other forms of inhuman or degrading treatment;
Amendment 441 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
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, 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; welcomes the adoption of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive in this regard;
Amendment 453 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Stresses the importance of closing the financing gap that would enable countries to meet their SDG 4 targets on quality education and ensure access to education for all children and youth; reiterates its calls to address cultural norms and gender bias that prevent girls and women from receiving an education and urges the creation of gender- responsive education systems worldwide;
Amendment 462 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
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; urges the remaining EU Member States to ratify the Istanbul Convention without further delay; 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; strongly condemns the Taliban's policies towards women and girls, which amount to gender apartheid, and calls for continued and increased EU support to provide Afghan girls and women with the means to access education and the labour market;
Amendment 474 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
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; regrets that a number of EU Member States have failed to ratify it thus far; 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;
Amendment 524 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to conduct a human rights assessment before any agreement relating to migration is concluded with partner countries; reaffirms that Parliament should be included in this process, ensuring parliamentary scrutiny and democratic oversight.
Amendment 546 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
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; 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; calls to reject the use of the death penalty under any circumstances, including any legislation that would impose the death penalty for homosexuality; calls on the EU and its Member States to further engage the countries in reconsidering their position on the death penalty; notes, further, that the imposition of the death penalty based on such legislation is arbitrary killing per se and a breach of Article 6 of the ICCPR;
Amendment 626 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
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, so- called “foreign agent” laws 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 in conflict zones;
Amendment 656 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
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 concernedurges the Commission to prioritise and promote the development of human rights through our trade policies, notably GSP+; notes, however, that there has been little to no improvement in some of the countries concerned; stresses the essential obligations and responsibilities of states and other actors such as corporations and enterprises, to mitigate the effects of climate change, prevent their negative impact on human rights and promote appropriate policies in compliance with human rights obligations; 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; regrets the failure to name human rights defenders as affected stakeholders, and highlights that they are crucial to the success of the CSDDD given their role of monitoring irresponsible business conduct and denouncing human rights violations; stresses the importance of remediation and access to justice measures that are in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, including financial and nonfinancial measures in consultation with the victims; _________________ 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).
Amendment 670 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Highlights that in many regions of the world, micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are often the driving force of local economies with an increasing number of women running them; underlines that MSMEs account for 90 % of businesses, 60 to 70 % of employment and 50 % of gross domestic product worldwide; highlights the importance of MSMEs in their contribution to the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the sustainable development goals, namely those on the eradication of poverty and decent work for all;
Amendment 681 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)
Paragraph 42 a (new)
42a. While stressing the crucial importance of media freedom and freedom of expression as a pillar of human rights protection, notes with concern the prevalence of the practice of disinformation, propaganda and fake news originating from and disseminated by illiberal regimes and malign foreign actors as an example of hybrid threats and foreign information manipulation;
Amendment 687 #
2024/2081(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Paragraph 43 a (new)
43a. Calls on online platforms and tech giants, within their capacity as information gatekeepers, to protect democratic principles and implement measures to maintain integrity of elections, as well as to protect the right to information, especially during electoral period;
Amendment 101 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent -1 (new)
Paragraph 2 – indent -1 (new)
– achievements of the EU enlargement policy, particularly 20th anniversary of the “big bang” enlargement when ten countries joined the EU; reiterates that enlargement is of the utmost strategic importance for the EU as it represents a geostrategic investment in long-term peace, democracy, stability, security, climate protection and prosperity across the continent and all the more so in the face of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and other common geopolitical challenges; stresses that preparation for enlargement requires reforms on the EU side and calls on the EU Institutions and Member States to undertake the necessary reforms to ensure that their absence does not delay the accession of new Member States;
Amendment 121 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 2
Paragraph 2 – indent 2
– the opening of accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina; encourages the authorities to take all of the relevant steps set out in the Commission’s recommendation of 12 October 2022; deplores the recurring inflammatory rhetoric and secessionist laws and policies of the leadership of the entity ‘Republika Srpska’ and, recalls in this context the importance of EUFOR Althea being visibly present and the need for an effective strategic communication to fight against information manipulation;
Amendment 152 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 6
Paragraph 2 – indent 6
– the successful resumption of the CFSP dialogue between the EU and its partners in the Western Balkans and the importance of these partnerships for peace and security; recalls that EU enlargement is a geostrategic investment, which requires commitment from both the EU and the enlargement countries on their pathways to accession; recalls in this context it is a merit-based and reversible process, entailing the continued need for reforms regarding the rule of law, fundamental rights and public administration, and for alignment with the CFSP, including on sanctions;
Amendment 159 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – indent 7
Paragraph 2 – indent 7
– the decision to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova; commends the fact that the CFSP alignment rate of Moldova has substantially increased from 54 % in 2022 to 86 % in 2024; welcomes the results of the constitutional referendum in Moldova, expressing the will of the people to join the EU; calls for the acceleration of the screening process and the timely organisation of the subsequent intergovernmental conferences;
Amendment 202 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 2
Paragraph 3 – indent 2
– the role of the illegitimate regime of Aliaksandr Lukashenka in effectively surrendering national sovereignty to the Kremlin in order to maintain its grip on Belarus and its active support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; reiterates its call for EU sanctions against Belarus to be extended by mirroring EU sanctions against Russia; calls for continued support from the EU and Member States for Belarusian democratic forces, political prisoners and their families; given the repressive environment in Belarus, does not believe that the announced presidential election to be held in January 2025 will be free or fair;
Amendment 210 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 2 a (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 2 a (new)
– North Korean interference in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine by sending military equipment and ammunition to Russia as well as by sending thousands of soldiers to train in eastern Russia and join the fight against Ukraine;
Amendment 215 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 3
Paragraph 3 – indent 3
– the increasing malicious activities, interference and hybrid warfare deployed by the Russian Federation, its institutions and proxies in undermining and subverting the democratic stability and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova, including the recent interference in the constitutional referendum on EU accession and the presidential elections;
Amendment 222 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 4
Paragraph 3 – indent 4
– the brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks committed by Hamas across Israel on 7 October 2023, which triggered a conflict in Gaza that has a disproportionate effect on civilians and caused a catastrophic humanitarian situationand Israel’s disproportionate response in Gaza that caused civilian casualties to an excessive extent and a catastrophic humanitarian situation with reasons to suspect large-scale and major violations of international law; the deliberate and malignant fuelling of an exceptionally tense situation, through repeated attacks targeting Israel since 7 October 2023, by State and non-State actors in the region with Iran being the main instigator as well as the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon acting as some of its proxies; the decision by Israel to proceed with a large scale military operation in Lebanon on 30 September 2024 in retaliation to Hezbollah’s attacks, further escalating the conflict;
Amendment 251 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 5
Paragraph 3 – indent 5
– Iran’s persistent non-compliance with its legal safeguard obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the advancement of its nuclear programme beyond all credible civilian justification; expresses concern at the growing military cooperation between Iran and Russia, in particular the intention to sign a treaty on a comprehensive strategic partnership, and strongly condemns Iran’s provision of drones and ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine and its people;
Amendment 260 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 6
Paragraph 3 – indent 6
– the wrongful detention of European citizens in Iran and the recent resort to the death penalty against a European citizen; urges the VP/HR to do the utmost to free these citizens and to put an end to the practice of Iranian hostage diplomacy;
Amendment 267 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 7
Paragraph 3 – indent 7
– the recent adoption of the law on the ‘promotion of virtue and prevention of vice’ in Afghanistan, as well as the systematic violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular the extreme interpretation of sharia which erases women from public life, bars them from working, hinders their access to healthcare without being chaperoned by a male relative and to education beyond the sixth grade amounting to gender apartheid; demands from the de facto authorities of Afghanistan that all gender- based restrictions on women be lifted and stresses that this must be a key condition for any engagement of the international community with the Taliban; insists on maintaining strict, conditional engagement with the Taliban based on the five benchmarks set by the Council for engaging with the de facto authorities and by holding the perpetrators of these grave violations of girls’ and women’s rights accountable, including through restrictive measures;
Amendment 284 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 8
Paragraph 3 – indent 8
– the increasing breadth and intensity of operations of Chinese Government vessels and aircraft, FIMI and cyber- attacks intimidating China’s neighbours; denounces the government-led system of forced labour and China’s crimes against humanity in Xinjiang;
Amendment 287 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 8 a (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 8 a (new)
– North Korea’s continued weapons testing and development of its nuclear programme, further escalating tensions in the region, and the recent deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to Russia to support its war effort against Ukraine;
Amendment 298 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 9
Paragraph 3 – indent 9
– the decision of the central Sahel military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), thus plunging ECOWAS into a deep political crisis; takes note of the de facto closure of the European Union Capacity Building Mission in Niger (EUCAP Sahel Niger) and the non-renewal of the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM); deplores the rise of terrorist attacks and heavy civilian losses in the region as well as the presence and predation activities of Russian paramilitaries;
Amendment 302 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 9 a (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 9 a (new)
– the despicable large-scale use of rape as a weapon of war and drastic worsening of the humanitarian situation in Sudan;
Amendment 305 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – indent 9 b (new)
Paragraph 3 – indent 9 b (new)
– the risk of collapse of the state structures and difficult humanitarian situation in Haiti due to rampant gang violence;
Amendment 335 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 1
Paragraph 4 – indent 1
– uncertainties related to Türkiye’s foreign policy priorities; the need to improve relations with Türkiye; welcomes the partial de- escalation of tensions in the east Mediterranean and the Aegean; reiterates its concern that Türkiye’s foreign policy continues to be at odds with EU priorities under the CFSP;
Amendment 360 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 3
Paragraph 4 – indent 3
– the fact that Türkiye is making an inadequate effort in aligning with the EU’s CFSP, including on sanctions and the anti- circumvention of sanctions, as well as with the need for Türkiye to cooperate closely with the EU’s Sanctions Envoy; deplores the unacceptable nature of the solidarity and support that the President of Türkiye has publicly provided to the terrorist organisation Hamas; reiterates its concerns about the ongoing deterioration of democratic standards in Türkiye; recalls that Türkiye also targets the EU with foreign information manipulation and interference and that its government is considering introducing a Russian-style Foreign Agents Law;
Amendment 380 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 5
Paragraph 4 – indent 5
– the continued backsliding of democratic standards in Georgia, in spite of and in parallel to the granting of EU candidate status on 14 December 2023, as made evident by the intimidations and irregularities observed during the 26 October 2024 parliamentary elections; 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; concurs with the European Council’s conclusions of 27 June 2024 that failure to reverse the current course of action jeopardises Georgia’s EU path, de facto leading to a halt of the accession process; calls on the EU to react meaningfully to the watershed implications of the recent unfair elections for democracy and rule of law in Georgia;
Amendment 381 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 5
Paragraph 4 – indent 5
– the fact that the law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’, the law on ‘family values and protection of minors’, as well as the changes to the Electoral Code in Georgia, are incompatible with EU values and democratic principles; recalls that Georgia’s bid for accession to the EU will be assessed on the basis of its own merits and of the country’s success in meeting the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership; deeply regrets the uneven playing field in the recent parliamentary elections, the divisive campaign rhetoric that further polarised the population, and the reported irregularities that raise concerns about the ability of some voters to cast their ballot without fear of retribution; calls on the Georgian authorities to heed the will of the Georgian people to join the EU and therefore to ensure free and fair elections, to stop democratic backsliding, to abandon the laws that jeopardise Georgia’s European future and to pursue pro-European democratic reforms;
Amendment 384 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 5
Paragraph 4 – indent 5
– the fact that the law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’, the law on ‘family values and protection of minors’, as well as the changes to the Electoral Code in Georgia, are incompatible with EU values and democratic principles; recalls that Georgia’s bid for accession to the EU will be assessed on the basis of its own merits and of the country’s success in meeting the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership; considers it extremely unfortunate that the Georgian authorities did not allow its citizens to choose freely in the parliamentary elections between returning to the path of joining the European Union and deepening authoritarianism;
Amendment 458 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for the EU and its Member States to provide continuous and timely humanitarian assistance, military support, economic and financial aid and political support in every possible way until Ukraine’s victory in order to ultimately stop Russia’s war of aggression and allow Ukraine to liberate all its people and re- establish full control within its internationally recognised borders; underlines in particular the urgent need to provide Ukraine with increased air defence capacities to defend its critical energy infrastructure ahead of the forthcoming winter, and calls on the Member States to immediately lift restrictions on the use of Western weapons systems delivered to Ukraine against legitimate military targets on Russian territory;
Amendment 459 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls for action by the EU and the Member States to address Russian violations of the Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War, in particular denial of access to humanitarian organisations, medical treatment of prisoners and executions of prisoners; reiterates its call for the necessary measures to be taken to return forcibly deported and illegally adopted Ukrainian children from Russia or occupied Ukrainian territory; deplores Russian actions, also involving the Belarusian regime, to re-educate Ukrainian children and erase their national Ukrainian identity;
Amendment 461 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Denounces the abusive use by Hungary of its veto power to delay or effectively block EU essential aid from being granted to Ukraine; condemns Viktor Orban’s so called “peace-mission” visit to the Russian Federation on 5 July 2024 and stresses he did not in any degree or capacity represent the EU;
Amendment 469 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for the EU and the Member States to reinforce the effectiveness of its 14 sanction packages adopted so far and adopt new ones as soon as the need arises; calls for effective cooperation with like- minded partners across the globe to increase the pressure on Russia; urges the EU and the Member States to review development assistance to governments of countries that openly support Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, particularly in their votes on relevant UN resolutions;
Amendment 476 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for the EU and the Member States to reinforce the effectiveness of its 14 sanction packages adopted so far and adopt new ones as soon as the need arises; calls for effective cooperation with like- minded partners across the globe to increase the pressure on Russia; fully supports the announcement of a forthcoming roadmap towards ending Russian energy imports;
Amendment 481 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Recalls that Russia is benefitting from help and resources, including military, provided by a network of allies including Iran, China and North Korea, enabling it to sustain its war of aggression against Ukraine, with the probable goal of transforming it into a war of attrition; voices its strongest concern regarding confirmed reports that North Korean troops have been deployed in the Kursk region; stresses that this represents an unacceptable extension of the conflict which must be met by meaningful retaliatory consequences by Ukraine’s allies;
Amendment 506 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Reiterates that Ukraine, as a victim of aggression, has the legitimate right to self-defence in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter; calls on the VP/HR, the Commission the Council and the Member States concerned to enable effective Ukrainian countermeasures against Russia; recalls that Russia has violated international law and that the full seizure of the frozen Russian assets is an appropriate and feasible step towards enforcing Russia’s obligation to abide by international law, and to compensate Ukraine and other injured parties for the losses caused by Russia’s war of aggression;
Amendment 531 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Commends the Commission’s proposal approved by the European Parliament to establish the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism, worth an estimated EUR 35 billion, which responds to Parliament’s call and builds upon the decision of the Council to direct extraordinary revenues stemming from immobilised Russian state assets to the Ukraine Assistance Fund and the Ukraine Facility, as well as upon the G7’s decision to offer Ukraine a USD 50 billion loan secured through immobilised Russian state assets;
Amendment 534 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls for more targeted sanctions on the shadow fleet in the next sanctions package against Russia, such as designating all possible individual shadow fleet vessels, as well as their owners, operators, managers, etc.; Recommends banning tanker sales to countries facilitating trade with Russia; notes that the flag states contributing to the Russian shadow fleet are thereby also helping the Russian war effort; emphasizes that in case the classical diplomatic efforts fail, the European Commission should seriously reassess its cooperation, such as development cooperation, Everything but Arms (EBA) scheme etc. with such third countries that work against the EU’s foreign policy;
Amendment 540 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls the fact that the security of the Republic of Moldova is inextricably linked to the security of Ukraine and deems the Republic of Moldova the second line of defence of the European way of life; believes that both Ukraine’s and Moldova’s accession to the EU would be a geostrategic investment in a united and strong Europe; welcomes the outcome of the referendum of Moldova on the changes to its constitution and commitment to joining the EU; encourages the VP/HR to enhance the CFSP partnership with Ukraine and Moldova through concrete measures and, in particular, through measures ensuring the inviolability of the state borders of and between both countries;
Amendment 546 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Condemns the constitution by Russia, as a workaround to EU sanctions and EU/G7+ price caps and thus significantly reducing their efficiency, of a shadow fleet composed of older tankers with opaque ownership posing an environmental hazard; calls on the Commission to urgently take action, within the framework of the EU’s cooperation with the International Maritime Organisation, to prevent and limit the activities of Russia’s shadow fleet;
Amendment 551 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Reiterates its call for the Council to gradually switch to qualified majority voting for decisions in areas of the CFSP that do not have military or defence implications;
Amendment 552 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Denounces the fact that Russia attempts to make countries in its former sphere of influence pay a heavy price for choosing to pursue the path of democracy, such as Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova but also Armenia; welcomes Armenia’s decision to suspend its participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization and cease all payments to its budget in 2024, following Russia’s failure to assist Armenia against Azerbaijan's military aggression, and to seek a more reliable security architecture; supports Armenia’s official request for the Russian Federation to withdraw its Federal Security Service border guards from its international airport and the Armenia- Iran border; commends the decision to adopt the assistance measures under the European Peace Facility in support of Moldovan and Armenian armed forces respectively on 13 June and 22 July 2024;
Amendment 554 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Stresses that in the highly unstable geopolitical situation and international environment around the Union significant financial and budgetary increase is needed for the European defence to be able to meet the challenges in the short and long term; calls on the European Commission to pay particular attention to the EU’s external borders neighbouring Russia and Belarus;
Amendment 557 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Stresses the need to increase the EU’s efforts, in cooperation with NATO and other international partners, to address and foster resilience against hybrid threats, cyberattacks, disinformation and propaganda campaigns, both within the Union and in third countries;
Amendment 558 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Deplores that Russia and its supporters appear to have so far succeeded in engineering the betrayal of the aspirations of the large majority of the Georgian people to live in a democratic society;
Amendment 571 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Affirms the right of Israel to defend itself as enshrined in and constrained by international law; calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and a subsequently imminentn immediate and permeant ceasefire, notably to address the risk of mass starvation and the outbreak of a health epidemic in Gaza; recalls that Israel also has the obligation to protect the civilian population and that military operations must be proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law;
Amendment 595 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Reiterates its unwavering support for a negotiated two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 borders, with two sovereign, democratic states as peaceful neighbours and with Jerusalem as their shared capital; condemns the acceleration of the illegal Israeli settlement of Palestinian land, which constitutes a violation of international law; expresses concern over the rising violence committed by Israeli forces and extremist settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem; supports the decision by the Council to impose sanctions on several violent extremist settlers; 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; applauds the announcement of a forthcoming EU- Middle East Strategy and stresses it must be fleshed out within the first months of the new College’s mandate for it to have any tangible impact on a rapidly deteriorating situation;
Amendment 604 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Condemns the Israeli Parliament’s decision to ban UNRWA’s operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which is contrary to international law and risks further deteriorating the humanitarian situation in the region, and urges for it to be reversed; emphasises once more UNRWA’s irreplaceable role as a provider of basic and lifesaving services in the region; welcomes the new commitments made by UNRWA to the European Commission in March 2024 to strengthen neutrality and oversight in light of the extremely serious allegations that employees might have participated in the October 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel; stresses that additional measures may be needed in the future to strive for ever greater transparency and neutrality monitoring;
Amendment 611 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Expresses concern about rising tensions in the Middle East and the destabilising role that the Iranian regime and its network of non-state actors play in the region; urges all parties to show maximum restraint, commit to de- escalation and refrain from any further escalation, as a regional conflict must be avoided at all costs; notes that Iran struck Israel’s territory directly and openly twice this year, with Israel retaliating both times, which represents an unprecedented scaling up of the conflict; calls upon the VP/HR and the Member States to continue and step up their diplomatic efforts with international partners, including with the Gulf countries, in order to encourage urgent de-escalation and meaningful dialogue;
Amendment 633 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Highlights the strong links between Iran and the IRGC, its proxies such as the Houthis, militias operating in Iraqi and Syrian militias,, Bashar el-Assad's bloody regime in Syria and organisations on the EU terrorist list, namely Hamas and Hezbollah’s military wing; calls on the Council and the VP/HR to add Hezbollah in its entirety to the EU list of terrorist organisations; deplores Hezbollah’s attacks against Israel which have resulted in an Israeli ground invasion in Lebanon; is deeply concerned about the situation in Lebanon and recalls the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities as soon as possible to create space for a diplomatic solution along the Blue Line, consistent with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, as the only path to de- escalate tensions and stabilise the Israel- Lebanon border in a durable manner; condemns the Israeli Defence Forces' and Hezbollah’s intentional attacks on UNIFIL, which are contrary to international law; reaffirms the essential stabilizing role played by UNIFIL, to which 16 Member States contribute, in southern Lebanon and calls for an immediate end to these attacks;
Amendment 661 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Expresses concern regarding the inflammatory rhetoric, fuelled by mis- and disinformation, that surrounds this conflict, and its instrumentalisation by malicious actors to sow distrust and hatred including within European societies, as illustrated notably, but not solely, by the worrying rise of antisemitism; warns that it should be a primary focus of the EU fight against disinformation and calls for a coordinated approach by the Commission taking into account the external and internal dimensions of its policies, including but not limited to the forthcoming strategic communication plan to promote the EU’s role in the Southern Neighbourhood;
Amendment 663 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Reiterates its unwavering support to the women of Iran, who are still subjected to the inhumane curtailing of their fundamental rights two years after the Women, Life, Freedom movement was brutally repressed;
Amendment 664 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)
Paragraph 20 c (new)
20c. Considers that normalisation with the Syrian regime cannot take place unless and until Bachar el-Assad demonstrates his will and his capacity to allow for a political transition in Syria; recalls the Assad regime is an essential ally of Iran in the region and allows it to use Syria as a playground for region- destabilising purposes, including the trafficking of weapons and drugs; stresses that the Syrian political process is deadlocked and that the living conditions of Syrians are worsening considerably; reiterates the EU's position that the conditions are not met for the voluntary and dignified return of Syrian refugees to Syria;
Amendment 740 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Recalls that the transatlantic relationship remains 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; takes note of the result of the presidential and congressional elections in the United States which once again confirm the urgent necessity to fully operationalise EU strategic autonomy and mainstream it across all policy areas; further 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; recalls that such cooperation is in no way contradictory with the construction of a strong European defence union;
Amendment 756 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Welcomes the new momentum in bilateral relations between the EU and Armenia, which is strongly supported by the authorities in Yerevan; calls on the Commission and the Council to actively support Armenia’s desire for increased cooperation with the EU; expresses full support to the prospect of a new EU- Armenia Partnership Agenda;
Amendment 784 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Considers that the rise of China remains one of the primary geopolitical challenges of the 21st century and requires a multi-dimensional response through which the EU maintains its engagement with China on a number of key issues; calls on the VP/HR and the Member States to 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; stresses that the EU needs to be more unified in their approach to China;
Amendment 802 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Expresses concern at the growing membership of the BRICS group, which currently includes 45 percent of the world’s population and presents itself as an alternative to the countries of North America and Europe; stresses that such cooperation provides Russia with means of overcoming the sanctions imposed following its invasion of Ukraine and enables China to further extend its influence through its modus operandi of financing infrastructure projects;
Amendment 815 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Notes that geopolitical challenges have strengthened the shared interest of the EU and India in ensuring security, prosperity and sustainable development; calls for an India-EU summit to keep bilateral relations high on the agenda; welcomes the announcement of a forthcoming Strategic EU-India Agenda;
Amendment 826 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Urges the VP/HR and the Member States to focus on bilateral relations with like-minded partners in Africa, among others Ghana, Morocco, Kenya and Senegal, taking into account mutual needs and interests in order to foster real and balanced partnerships; believes that the ‘more for more’ principle should be integrated fully into relations with non-EU countries, whereby the EU develops stronger partnerships with those countries that uphold the principles of the CFSP and the common security and defence policy (CSDP), and the fundamental values of the EU; calls for the EU to respond to partner countries’ expectations and to deliver quickly on political agreements with them in order to show that the EU is a key and strategic partner and demonstrate that the international rules-based system can meet contemporary challenges;
Amendment 848 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Calls on the HR/VP to place democracy promotion at the forefront of the CFSP and to ensure the EU’s proactive role in this regard, building on lessons learned from previous democracy support actions, in particular in support of civil society, human rights defenders, critical voices, democratic opposition and media;
Amendment 861 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Calls on the VP/HR to make the work with like-minded democracies a priority of his term and to systematise cooperation and consultation with democratic like-minded partners in order to promote democracy, improve common preparedness and access to crisis response resources;
Amendment 888 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Highlights the role of the VP/HR as a bridge-builder between the CFSP and EU external relations to ensure the highest level of coordination and coherence in EU external action; regrets, nonetheless, that in some cases there is a lack of clarity in the external representation of the EU; regrets further that this lack of clarity hinders EU’s strategic communication abroad; stresses the need to clearly define the competences of the VP/HR, the President of the Commission and the President of the European Council with regard to the EU’s external action and representation;
Amendment 913 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Recalls that any activities of the Union undertaken in its Eastern and Southern Neighbourhoods, and most particularly in Ukraine and Moldova, should be communicated adequately to bring visibility to EU’s actions and to prevent malicious rhetoric emanating from foreign actors to spread an illegitimate anti-EU narrative;
Amendment 974 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 – indent 2 a (new)
Paragraph 43 – indent 2 a (new)
– to further increase the number of observers deployed as part of the EU civilian mission in Armenia (EUMA) on the Armenian side of the international border with Azerbaijan and reiterate calls for Azerbaijan to cooperate with the mission and cease its smear campaign against it;
Amendment 977 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 – indent 3
Paragraph 43 – indent 3
– to reiterate his support for the ongoing work by the EU Police and Rule of Law Mission for the occupied Palestinian territory (EUPOL COPPS) and the EU Border Assistance Mission (support an increased role of the two EU civilian CSDP missions EUPOL COPPS and EUBAM Rafah, in line with European Council conclusions of 21 and 22 March 2024 recalling they can play an important role based on the principle of the two-state solution and the viability of a future Palestinian state, to participate in the facilitation of the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Gaza strip, to improve the efficiency of the Palestinian authority in the West Bank, and to prepare for its return to the Gaza strip; stresses in particular the need to create the necessary conditions for the full reactivation of EU BAM) in Rafah in assisting Rafah to allow it to act as a neutral third party at the Rafah crossing point, in coordination with the Palestinian aAuthorities’ security and justice sectory as well as the Israeli and Egyptian authorities; expects the reinform and integrated border managementcement of the scope and mandates of EUPOL COPPS and EUBAM Rafah on the ground to be included as key priorities of the forthcoming EU-Middle East Strategy;
Amendment 28 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas a 2024 UN study3 on the evaluation of SDG 5 highlights that social norms still exist that legitimise violence against women and girls, reduce access to healthcare services, including sexual and reproductive health, assign unpaid care and domestic work solely to women and restrict leadership opportunities; _________________ 3 UN, Are we getting there? A synthesis of UN system evaluations of SDG 5, March 2024, https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital- library/publications/2024/03/are-we- getting-there-a-synthesis-of-un-system- evaluations-of-sdg-5.
Amendment 41 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a
Paragraph 1 – point a
(a) re-confirm its commitment to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and to the range of actions for women’s human rights and gender equality outlined therein; confirm its commitment to women’s human rights, through gender mainstreaming in all policy areas and cycles, to the implementation of specific and targeted actions for women’s human rights and gender equality, and to ensuring proper gender budgeting;
Amendment 47 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) ensure that gender equality and women’s rights are fully and proudly implemented in all aspects of EU external action through an adequately funded, gender-transformative, inclusive and intersectional approach, particularly as the funding of anti-gender movements globally is on the rise ;
Amendment 113 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
(l) take the lead in the global fight against the backlash against gender equality and women’s rights, including ensuring that Women's Rights Movements are adequately funded at EU and National levels;
Amendment 182 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t
Paragraph 1 – point t
(t) remove the legal, financial, social and practical barriers and restrictions on abortion in all Member States; ensure that women in all their diversity have access to health services, including for sexual rights and reproductive health, including age- appropriate sexuality and relationship education, contraception, safe and legal abortion, maternal healthcare and care- based health services;
Amendment 189 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point t – point i (new)
Paragraph 1 – point t – point i (new)
i) take note of and implement the recommendations of the European Parliament's resolution of 11 April 2024 on including the right to abortion in the EU Fundamental Rights Charter;
Amendment 204 #
2024/2057(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point v
Paragraph 1 – point v
(v) advocate for and strengthen civil society organisations supporting women’s rights inside and outside of the EU, actively work against initiatives aimed at diminishing the civic space in several Member States;
Amendment 2 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Article 8 TFEU mandates the Union to aim to eliminate inequalities and to promote equality between men and women in all its activities; whereas equality is a fundamental right under the Treaty of Lisbon and a priority for the Union with the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) supporting Union institutions and Member States in achieving that aim; whereas it is EIGE's objective to contribute to and strengthen the promotion of gender equality, including gender mainstreaming in all EU policies, a task in which it has proven to be vital and effective; whereas it is therefore underlined that EIGE needs to be provided with sufficient and stable financial and human resources to fulfil its tasks;
Amendment 10 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas in 2023 EIGE’s work focused on two thematic priorities: the European Green Deal and gender-based violence; whereas crises exacerbate women’s vulnerability and exposure to violence, intensifying existing structural inequalities and aggravating all types of gender-based violence, including physical, sexual and psychological; whereas the effectiveness of EIGE’s actions on the European Gwomen are underrepresen Deal, which needs to be revised and updated to set achievable targets in general to achieve equality and support women, especially in the Union, is questionableted in leading roles in climate policy, as men still fill 67% of climate-related decision making roles, and women being disproportionately affected by climate disasters as they often face more barriers to leave climate-disaster prone areas;
Amendment 22 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Has serious concerns that EIGE’s mission was diverted from improving equality by its focus on the European Green Dealabout the lack of gender mainstreaming within climate policies and welcomes EIGE's initiatives shed light on this phenomenom; points out that EIGE achieved 92,76 % of its work programme objectives;
Amendment 26 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Welcomes the ongoing cooperation between EIGE and the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality; stresses the valuable contribution that EIGE can make to all Parliament committees, in order to better integrate the gender perspective in all EU policies;
Amendment 28 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the 8,5 % increase in EIGE’s staff costs can be attributed to the continued high inflation rate as well as a 2,7% indexation of salaries, and that the average number of staff remained at 45; notes that two contract agents were engaged and funded by the IPA contribution agreement with the Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations; acknowledges the persisting understaffing of EIGE and suggests that EIGE focus its work programme on violence against women and girls while deprioritizing actions related to the European Green Deal where necessary in light of current staff capacities; notes that Regulation (EC) No 1922/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on establishing a European Institute for Gender Equality, states in article 6 that EIGE should function independently in the public interest; acknowledges that EIGE thus produces independent research and as such is capable of dealing with the prioritization of their work independently as well; encourages the European Commission to prioritise gender mainstreaming in all its policies and ensure that EIGE has sufficient capacity to research this topic;
Amendment 32 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises FRA’s guidance and engagement in the area of asylum and migration, including cooperation with the European Union Asylum Agency (EUAA) to enhancing the understanding of the importance of guardians and legal representatives assisting unaccompanied children seeking international protection within the Union and the training provided to staff of Europol enhancing awareness and understanding of fundamental rights considerations in relevant operational contexts; welcomes FRA’s timely input on the temporary protection directive implementation in the context of refugees fleeing from Ukraine, as well as on identifying the challenges with regard to the implementation of Union law on long- term residence, and the list of actions the Union and its Member States can take to reduce fatalities at sea;
Amendment 41 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes with satisfaction that FRA provided fundamental rights analysis and expertise to support the activities and work of other EU justice and home affairs (JHA) agencies, including the EUAA, Frontex, Europol, the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large- Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA), and European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL); calls on FRA to determine the extent to which the rule of law and fundamental rights are intrinsically linked, and how its work could be incorporated or developed in synergy with that of the European Commission in the framework of the annual Rule of Law Report;
Amendment 67 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes the new Interoperability roadmap; regrets that the new timeline for the roll-out and interoperability of EU information systems was necessary due to delays in development of the Entry/Exit System (EES), European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and European Criminal Records Information System on third-country nationals (ECRIS-TCN); calls on eu-LISA to prioritise the swift implementation of those information systems and set a new specific operational start date; underlines that swift, effective, and reliable information exchange is critical for sustaining and strengthening the Union’s area of freedom, security, and justice;
Amendment 87 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights the positive progress in implementing Fundamental Rights targets, including the ongoing execution of the Fundamental Rights Action Plan and the independent evaluation of the Agency’s compliance with the Fundamental Rights Framework, in line with the EBCG Regulation; welcomes the proactive follow-up by Frontex on complaints related to fundamental rights, with the majority being dismissed for non-admissibility; highlights the importance of close cooperation with national authorities to ensure the appropriate follow-up on allegations of fundamental rights violations in line with national fundamental rights mechanisms; stresses that Frontex officers must avoid involvement in any actions that could directly or indirectly violate fundamental rights; welcomes Frontex's reinforced commitment to transparency and accountability; stresses the need for more detailed post-operation information;
Amendment 98 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes with appreciation that most Fundamental Rights targets were met in 2023, contributing to a more robust and rights-based approach to Frontex operations; regrets, despite official replies by the Executive Director of Frontex, the lack of concrete action on some of the opinions issued by the FRO and thus calls for continued focus on implementing concretesuch actions based on the recommendations of the FRO and for further strengthening Frontex’s human rights framework;
Amendment 101 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Acknowledges the reception of 217 reported incidents of alleged violations of fundamental rights, the submission of 104 serious incident reports in 2023, 48 of which were related to fundamental rights, which also highlightsthe reception of 64 complaints via the Frontex Complaints Mechanism, the launch of 55 serious incident investigations in 2023, and the closure of 39 serious incidents, with fundamental rights violations found to have likely happened in nearly 50 % of the closed cases; acknowledges that the conducted investigations also highlight Frontex's commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement;
Amendment 118 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the Commission, in light of the challenging migration crisiincrease in irregular arrivals, to follow up on Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s statement of July 2024 declaring that Frontex is well-positioned to further increase its staff to up to 30 000 agents; underlines that this expansion would significantly enhance Frontex’s capacity to manage migration flows and ensure security and the respect for fundamental rights at the Union’s external borders, reinforcing its vital role in the Union’s broader migration strategy.
Amendment 154 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Further acknowledges the Commission's efforts towards a stronger and more secure Europe, as outlined by President Ursula von der Leyen in her statement of 2024; calls on the Commission to double Europol's staff and increase its funding, and recognise Europol’s central role in ensuring security across the Union and its capacity to respond to emerging threats; further underlines that this expansion will further enhance Europol's ability to support Member States in combating serious and organised crime, both online and offline, thereby contributing to a safer and more secure Europe for all.
Amendment 6 #
2024/2029(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the increase in appropriations for the EPPO’s budget in 2023, amounting to EUR 64,6 million in total, which allowed for an 11 % increase in staff in that year; acknowledges that the acceleration of the disbursement of NextGenerationEU funding and the increase in the EPPO’s membership are projected to put further strain on the EPPO’s resources; underlines the importance of additional funding for the EPPO’s budget in order for it to have the necessary means to carry out its tasks; regrets that the Commission's proposal for EPPO's budget for 2025 was not sufficient to achieve this and that the Council was not ready to give the EPPO the budget that it requested in order to fulfill its mandate properly; expects the Commission to dedicate sufficient funding for EPPO within the proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034; stresses in this regard that in 2023, the EPPO requested more than €1.53 billion to be seized, and the seizure of €1.5 billion was granted, of which final confiscations of more than €60 million were ordered by courts in definitively resolved cases, which demonstrates that the EPPO actually generates more money than it costs and therefore should receive significantly more funding to allow for more confiscations from criminals;
Amendment 8 #
2024/2029(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the increase in appropriations for the EPPO’s budget in 2023, amounting to EUR 64,6 million in total, which allowed for an 11 % increase in staff in that year; acknowledges that the acceleration of the disbursement of NextGenerationEU funding and the increase in the EPPO’s membership are projected to put further strain on the EPPO’s resources as the agency is understaffed; underlines the importance of additional funding for the EPPO’s budget in order for it to have the necessary means to carry out its tasks as the fight against organised crime, the protection of EU financial interests and the strenghtening of the rule of law are EU priorities;
Amendment 12 #
2024/2029(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the increase in appropriations for the EPPO’s budget in 2023, amounting to EUR 64,6 million in total, which allowed for an 11 % increase in staff in that year; acknowledges that the acceleration of the disbursement of NextGenerationEU funding and the increase in the EPPO’s membership are projected to put further strain on the EPPO’s resources; underlines the importance of additional funding for the EPPO’s budget and of strengthening its human resources in order for it to have the necessary means to carry out its tasks;
Amendment 14 #
2024/2029(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Acknowledges the importance of taking a holistic approach to combating white-collar crime, such as fraud and corruption, and more conventional types of crime, such as drug trafficking and human trafficking, as they are often linked; recalls the fact that, in its upcoming evaluation report, the Commission should carefully analyse whether and to which categories of crimes the EPPO’s mandate needs to be extended in order for it to be best equipped to fulfil its role, and analyse how EPPO's operations and investigations can become more efficient and effective, and present a legislative proposal to accompany the evaluation; recalls in that regard the plans of Commissioner McGrath to accelerate the evaluation;
Amendment 17 #
2024/2029(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Acknowledges the importance of taking a holistic approach to combating white-collar crime, such as fraud and corruption, and more conventional types of crime, such as drug trafficking and human trafficking, as they are often linked; recalls the fact that, in its upcoming evaluation report, the Commission should carefully analyse whether and to which categories of crimes the EPPO’s mandate needs to be revised or extended in order for it to be best equipped to fulfil its role as well as how to increase cooperation with Europol to properly address thoses objectives;
Amendment 22 #
2024/2029(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises the important role of the EPPO in the Union approach to combating corruption and the misuse of Union funds; expresses its satisfaction that 24 Member States participate in the EPPO and encourages the remaining Member States to do so as well, or be denied the possibility to manage EU funds indirectly; calls on the Commission to continue engaging in an active dialogue with non- participating Member States to effectively facilitate the EPPO in carrying out its tasks; emphasises the fact that such a dialogue could also be of value tomust be ongoing with the Member States that already participate in the EPPO as regards tackling difficulties in fighting rule of law violations and corruption and support them in the practical implementation of the recommendations in this regard in the annual rule of law reports;
Amendment 3 #
2024/2024(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that recent events, notably Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have brought EU foreign policy and its implementation to the forefront of concerns among the EU Member States and institutions; underlines the central role played by the European External Action Service (EEAS) and its delegations in conducting the Union’s external policy and in fighting foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI); stresses the importance of the EEAS for the EU’s relations with the 25 to 30 million EU citizens living outside the Union;
Amendment 26 #
2024/2024(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that that the EEAS is committed to make itself more cost- effective while continuing to face significant budgetary constraints in 2023; acknowledgeregrets that the EAAS has substantially cut mission and representation budget, reducing non- compulsory expenditure and freezing and postponing building maintenance, infrastructure and IT projects; expresses concern that, in these times of global challenges, such budgetary constraints could lead to excessive closures of EU embassies, which are crucial for defending EU values and interests around the world;
Amendment 32 #
2024/2024(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Underlines the extremely vulnerable situation of children in the world, specifically in armed conflict; expresses serious concern about the tens of thousands of children that were affected by armed conflict across the globe and suffered abhorrent abuses and violations of their most basic rights in 2023; calls on the EEAS to put children's rights at the centre of their efforts;
Amendment 39 #
2024/2024(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. 6. Recalls the dire situation of women’s rights and LGBTQI+ rights in many parts of the world; stresses the urgent need to better protect these rights; highlights the central role of the EEAS in advancing human rights around the world; calls on the EEAS to enhance their efforts in this regard;
Amendment 2 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out to the unprecedented challenges in the global environment, peace and geopolitical instability in the current year of audit; recalls that since Russian’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU has provided economic, humanitarian and military support for Ukraine worth over €88 billion; emphasizes, in light of President Zelenskyy's mention of a potential peace process in 2025, the continued importance of providing military support to Ukraine and preparing to assist with the reconstruction of the country;
Amendment 7 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
Amendment 8 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the Commission’s timely proposal to increase the ceilings of Headings 4 and 6 as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework mid- term revision with a view to ensuring sufficient funding for the implementation of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum; stresses the need to ensure adequate and timely Union funding for Member States and Union agencies to facilitate the smooth implementation of Union law in the areas of asylum and migration; calls on the Commission to monitor and, assist in and scrutinise the timely progress of the administrative, operational and legal steps required by Member States and Union agencies for the full implementation of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum by Summer 2026 in line with the deadlines set out by the Common Implementation Plan published by the European Commission on 12 June 2024;
Amendment 12 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes with concern that the number of migrants arriving irregularly in the Union increased again in 2023 as compared to previous years; furtherTakes note of the Commission effort to strenghten and developp all aspects of the common European asylum system, including its external dimension; acknowledges the Commision's role in supporting legal migration to the Members States including by contributing to the integration of third countries nationals; notes the Commission’s ongoing efforts to assist Member States in addressing irregular arrivals and in successfully integrating legally residing third-country nationals; notes that the number of migrants arriving irregularly in the Union increased in 2023 as compared to previous years; recalls that, while the Commission should continue to take action on migration and asylum within the framework of external action, the functioning of the ‘Team Europe’ approach must be clarified while safeguarding the role of Parliament; calls on the Commission to increase the transparency and accountability of the programming and implementation of the Union home affairs funds in third countries; welcomes the Commission's effort to enhance solidarity and responsability sharing between Member States, in particular towards those most affected by migration and asylum challenges; renews its call on the Commission to support the Union agencies and the Member States in coordinating effective search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean, ensuring that such actions are carried out in accordance with international and Union law;
Amendment 13 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the European Parliament has repeatedly asked the European Commission to promote and implement the use of gender mainstreaming, gender budgeting and gender impact assessments in all Union policy areas;
Amendment 14 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas the anti-gender and anti- abortion movements in Europe are becoming more vocal and influential, partly because of funding from religious extremist organisations based outside of Europe; whereas these movements negatively impact the public discourse on abortion rights and gender equality; whereas they are well funded and well organised, and are likely to put more pressure on women’s rights in the future, especially sexual and reproductive health and rights;
Amendment 16 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes with concern that the number of migrants arriving irregularly in the Union increased again in 2023 as compared to previous years; further notes the Commission’s ongoing efforts to assist Member States in addressing irregular arrivals and legal pathways and in successfully integrating legally residing third-country nationals; recalls that, while the Commission should continue to take action on migration and asylum within the framework of external action, the functioning of the ‘Team Europe’ approach must be clarified while safeguarding the role of Parliamentrole of Parliament in any partnership agreements with third countries must be ensured as set out by the Treaties and the 2010 framework agreement on relations between Parliament and Commission; calls on the Commission to increase the transparency and accountability of the programming and implementation of the Union home affairs funds in third countries; renews its call on the Commission to support the Union agencies and the Member States in coordinating effective search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean, ensuring that such actions are carried out in accordance with international and Union law;
Amendment 19 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes with concern that the number of migrants arriving irregularly in the Union increased again in 2023 as compared to previous years; further notes the Commission’s ongoing efforts to assist Member States in addressing irregular arrivals and in successfully integrating legally residing third-country nationals; recalls that, while the Commission should continue to take action on migration and asylum within the framework of external action, the functioning of the ‘Team Europe’ approach must be clarified while safeguarding the role of Parliament; calls on the Commission to increase the transparency and accountability of the programming and implementation of the Union home affairs funds in third countries; renews its call onfor the Commission to support the Union agencies and the Member States in coordinating effective search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterraneanestablishment of a comprehensive EU SAR mission implemented by the Member States’ competent authorities and Frontex, ensuring that such actions are carried out in accordance with international and Union law;
Amendment 23 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Acknowledges the Commission’s continuous monitoring of rule of law benchmarks through the rule of law toolbox, including the annual rule of law report, while remaining concerned that, by adopting an overly diplomatic approach and, failing to distinguish between individual and systemic issues and not basing its analysis on specific indicators, the annual rule of law report risks trivialising some of the most serious and/or persistent breaches of the rule of law; supports the link established between the release of funds under the European recovery plan and the achievement of super milestones, and calls on the Commission to apply more generally this link between financial instruments and respect for the rule of law; reiterates its regret and serious concern with respect to the lawfulness of the Commission’s decision concluding that, in Hungary, the horizontal enabling condition of the Charter had been fulfilled in relation to judicial independence which decision enabled the Hungarian authorities to start claiming reimbursements of up to approximately EUR 10,2 billion from Union funds; calls on the Commission to take steps towards the full implementationdevelop a more systematic, predictable and reasoned approach to the objective reasons for freezing or unfreezing funds; calls on the Commission to take steps towards the full implementation – taking into account developments that have taken place in the meantime – of Parliament’s recommendations on the establishment of an EU mechanism for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, contained in its resolution of 25 October 20161, and to ensure that assessments of rule of law benchmarks are more precise and qualitative than is presently the case, relying not only on legislative changes, but also on precise indicators and on real and independent evidence of their implementation in practice; _________________ 1 European Parliament resolution of 25 October 2016 with recommendations to the Commission on the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (2015/2254(INL)) (OJ C 215, 19.6.2018, p. 162).
Amendment 26 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. AcknowledgWelcomes the Commission’s continuous monitoring of rule of law benchmarks through the rule of law toolbox, including the annual rule of law report, whilose remaining concerned that, by adopting an overly diplomatic approach and failing to distinguish between individual and systemic issues, the annual rule of law report risks triviigourous chapters detail individual and systemic issues regarding the rule of law in the different Member States and allow for a comprehensive analiysing somes of the most serious breaches of the rule of lawsituation and its evolution in each Member State; reiterates its regret and serious concern with respect to the lawfulness of the Commission’s decision concluding that, in Hungary, the horizontal enabling condition of the Charter had been fulfilled in relation to judicial independence which decision enabled the Hungarian authorities to start claiming reimbursements of up to approximately EUR 10,2 billion from Union funds; calls on the Commission to take steps towards the full implementation of Parliament’s recommendations on the establishment of an EU mechanism for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, contained in its resolution of 25 October 20161 , and to ensure that assessments of rule of law benchmarks are more precise and qualitative than is presently the case, relying not only on legislative changes, but also on real and independent evidence of their implementation in practice; _________________ 1 European Parliament resolution of 25 October 2016 with recommendations to the Commission on the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (2015/2254(INL)) (OJ C 215, 19.6.2018, p. 162).
Amendment 28 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Acknowledges the Union’s commitment to gender mainstreaming and the need to further focus on combating violence against women and girls in policymaking; stresses the need to urgently establish a common approach to rape based on consent based legislation with common minimum sanctions in national laws;
Amendment 31 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. 4. Underlines the extremely vulnerable situation of children in the world, specifically in armed conflict; expresses serious concern about the tens of thousands of children that were affected by armed conflict across the globe and suffered abhorrent abuses and violations of their most basic rights in 2023; urges the Commission to put children's rights at the top of the foreign affairs agenda;
Amendment 34 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is concerned about the growing financial risks due to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its impact on gender equality policies; highlights the need to prioritise policies that protect children, women and familiesrecognize the vulnerable position of women in conflict zones and to prioritise policies that protect children, women and families especially in providing aid in conflict situations and access to healthcare services including emergency contraception, testing for sexually transmitted infections, post- exposure prophylaxis treatment and access to safe and legal abortion care;
Amendment 36 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. 5. Recalls the dire situation of women’s rights and LGBTQI+ rights in many parts of the world; stresses the urgent need to better protect these rights and to ensure that EU funds and policies actively promote, gender equality, combat discrimination, and uphold the rights of LGBTQI+ individuals;
Amendment 39 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Calls for a strong European effort to protect our fundamental values such as equal rights and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights including safe and legal abortion;
Amendment 43 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Supports the United Nations’ Spotlight Initiative’s goal of ending violence against women and girls and addressing the needs of vulnerable groups, such as victims of harmful practices like female genital mutilation or child marriage; urges the Commission to stop funding movementorganisations in and outside the Union that proactively contribute to the oppression of women in all forms, including campaigning against SRHR rights;
Amendment 60 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Regrets the lack of specific budget lines for measures dedicated to gender equality, especially within the Daphne programme, leading to a lack of transparency and accountability;
Amendment 4 #
2024/0274(COD)
Recital G
G. whereas the legislative amendment is meant to provide more budgetary flexibility to reallocate funding for new measures under the EAFRD to provide 1 OJ L, 2024/2509, 26.9.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2509/oj additional targeted assistance and flexibility to Member States affected by natural disasters, which occurred as of 1 January 2024;
Amendment 6 #
2024/0274(COD)
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that the EP has repeatedly criticised the use of cohesionalready programed funding as emergency response tool and maintains that this approach risks undermining its longer-term policy and investment objectives as set out in the EARDF; acknowledges, however, that the present proposal offers a pragmatic solution to deal with insufficient budgetary flexibility and crisis response capacity in the EU budget, in order to provide a fast response to the needs of the affected populations;
Amendment 11 #
2024/0274(COD)
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the tangible financial support to farmers, foresters and SMEs that are victims of natural disasters such as severe floods and wildfires, as a concrete expression of European solidarity; acknowledges the need to swiftly address the income losses that European farmers, foresters as well as small and medium businesses active in processing, marketing or development of agricultural and forestry products are facing due to recent devastating climate-related disasters; welcomes the fact that the financial support provided through the present proposal should prioritise support measures based on the ‘build back better’ principle, paving the way for a more comprehensive and preventive EU support to foster preparedness and resilience in the EU’s rural areas;
Amendment 17 #
2024/0274(COD)
Paragraph 11
11. Considers that, in the longer term, a more developed and genuine budgetary flexibility should allow, in comparable cases, to make budgetary transfers in order to use the money under an dedicated expenditure instrument with a budget line, legal base and governance framework which are better suited for emergency response and liquidity support.;
Amendment 11 #
2024/0252(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes the increase in appropriations for European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) to cover rising costs and is concerned about the corresponding decrease in appropriations for the European Union Asylum Agency (EUAA); recalls that the EUAA was reinforced as part of the mid- term revision of the MFF in order to enable it to carry out new tasks in accordance with the implementation of the new Pact on Migration and Asylum; calls on the Commission to work closely with bothe agencyies to ensure that it isthey are equipped to perform those new tasks and absorb the additional appropriations from 2025;
Amendment 14 #
2024/0252(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the additional appropriations for the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) in 2024 in the wake of the June 2024 cyber-attack on the agency; insists on the need for lessons to be learnt and for further technical support to be provided to other agencies by the Cybersecurity Service for the Union entities (CERT-EU), in view of the high cybersecurity threat and to ensure another attack does not compromise any Union agencies or institutions;
Amendment 1 #
2024/0234(COD)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas there is a need for greater sustained budgetary support to Ukraine; whereas the needs of Ukraine are greater than foreseen in previous IMF estimates, making the available amounts in the previous MFAs, the Ukraine Facility and the current MFA insufficient to ensure the required level of support, particularly for the years 2026 and 2027.
Amendment 8 #
2024/0234(COD)
Paragraph 2
2. Takes note ofWelcomes the conditions and obligations of Ukraine to receive and use the non-repayable financial support provided by the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism, particularly the obligation for the repayment of the principal, interest and any other costs of the MFA Loan or eligible bilateral loans.
Amendment 11 #
2024/0234(COD)
Paragraph 3
3. Takes note ofWelcomes the proposal for the creation of a new macro-financial assistance instrument to the benefit of Ukraine, providing support of up to 35 billion, pendinga maximum of 35 billion euros, depending on the size of other contributions in the framework of the G7 agreement on “Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loans for Ukraine”, and with a duration of 45 years.
Amendment 14 #
2024/0234(COD)
Paragraph 6
6. Takes note of the precondition for support, as effective democratic mechanisms and institutions, including a multi-parliamentary system, the rule of law, respect for human rights, including minorities and the consequences of not meeting, or no longer meeting, this precondition.
Amendment 17 #
2024/0234(COD)
Paragraph 7
7. Takes note of the future negotiation between the European Commission and Ukraine on the Memorandum of Understanding, containing the guidelines which vertebrate all the future disbursement to Ukraine and which shall be consistent with the qualitative and quantitative steps contained in the Annex to the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1447 on the approval of the assessment of th eUkrain ePlan and any amendments thereof.
Amendment 20 #
2024/0234(COD)
Paragraph 8
8. Takes note on the derogation of Article 31(3), second sentence, of Regulation (EU) 2021/947, which implies that the External Action Guarantee will note be used to guarantee the borrowing of the amounts to be lent in the framework of this MFA, and consequently provisioning ofthat therefore the guarantees for this MFA fromwill be provisioned by the headroom.
Amendment 23 #
2024/0234(COD)
Paragraph 10
10. Takes noteReminds of all the mandatory provisions to be included in the MFA Loan Agreement, particularly those related to the early repayment of the amounts borrowed should it be recognised that Ukraine has engaged in any act of fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity detrimental to the financial interests of the Union.
Amendment 27 #
2024/0234(COD)
Paragraph 12
12. Takes note of the provisions on the transmission of information to the European Parliament and Council, as laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement on good interinsitutional cooperation and governance and specifically within the framework of the annual budgetary procedure.
Amendment 33 #
2024/0234(COD)
Paragraph 13
13. Regrets the lack of clarity of the proposal on the final liability of the Union’s budget particularly in the framework of a loan guaranteed solely by the headroom, independently of the Ukraine Loan Mechanism support, or lack ofabsence thereof.
Amendment 37 #
2024/0234(COD)
Paragraph 14
14. Requests the European Commission to clarify, identify and eliminate the potential overlaps in the complementary funding provided by the Ukraine Facility and the MFA.
Amendment 38 #
2024/0234(COD)
Paragraph 15
15. Requests the European Commission to provide the budgetary authority with details on the aggregation of liabilities to the headroom contingent on borrowing and lending operations. Acknowledges that the needs of Ukraine are greater than foreseen in previous IMF estimates, implying the need for greater sustained budgetary support to Ukraine, making the amounts available in the previous MFAs, the Ukraine Facility and the current MFA insufficient to ensure the required level of support, particularly for the years 2026 and 2027.
Amendment 42 #
2024/0234(COD)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Requests the European Commission to explore in the framework of the long-term architecture of the Ukraine Facility and the current MFA how to ensure the required level of support, in particular for the years 2026 and 2027.
Amendment 44 #
2024/0234(COD)
Paragraph 17
17. Regrets the urgency of this Regulation stemming from the lack of flexibility from the European Commission proposal on the amendment of the Multiannual Financial Framework , in order to be co-preventing the budgetary authority once more from decideding by the European Parliament and CouncilOrdinary Legislative Procedure within the legal deadline..
Amendment 12 #
2024/0185(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. UStrongly urges the Council to adopt swiftly the Commission proposals on own resources in order to increase the own resources available to the Union budget; highlights that the Union budget has been considerably stretched to respond to various crises these past few years; recalls its long-standing position that fines and fees should be used as supplementary revenue for the Union budget;
Amendment 16 #
2024/0185(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes the series of adjustments to the budgets of decentralised agencies, primarily in accordance with tasks assigned to them under recently adopted legislation; underlinesrecalls its long-standing position that agencies should have the necessary staff and budget to be able to properly fulfil their mandates; deplores, however, that, in several cases, additional resources for a decentralised agency entail a corresponding reduction in the programme envelope;
Amendment 1 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
– having regard to Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, whereby gender equality is a core value of the Union;
Amendment 2 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)
Citation 2 b (new)
– having regard to Article 8 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, whereby ‘in all its activities, the Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities and to promote equality’; whereas this applies including to all levels of the budgetary process;
Amendment 3 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
– Having regard to articles 135 and 136 of the Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union ;
Amendment 26 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and itshas brought further substantial economic and societal consequences continue to put a severe strain on the everyday lives offor the people acrossof Europe and frontline countries; acknowledges that a confluence of political, security, socio- economic, climate and environmental challenges demand a resolute response from the Union, including by exploiting to the fullest possible extent the crisis response capacity of the EU budget; considers it crucial for the Union to be able to act swiftly and adequately in emergency situations caused by major natural disasters, humanitarian emergencies or public health crises in Member States and accession countries and to support third countries suffering from conflicts, refugee crises or natural disasters;
Amendment 38 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights that the Budget 2025 procedure takes place in a context of institutional changeover where the next Commission’s policy priorities, strategic focus and legislative initiatives and their budgetary implications are not yet know in any detail; stresses that most expenditure programmes of the 2021-2027 financial programming period are finally being executed according to plan and that the obligation to implement multiannual programmes in a reliable and predictable manner must be squared with the necessity to swiftly respond to new developments and unforeseen events and crises; highlights that, given the new institutional cycle, cooperation across the institutional settings is crucial as investments and political decisions taken today will shape the EU’s agenda for the next decades and beyond;
Amendment 39 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is particularly concerned about the approach taken in the MFF revision to only have a net increase of Heading 6 of EUR 3,1 billion whereas the other EUR 4,5 billion shall be covered through redeployments within this heading; is not convinced that these redeployments will actually materialise to that extent; highlights that sufficient funding is key to the EU’s credibility as a stronger, more assertive, and more strategic actor on the world stage;
Amendment 42 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underscores that the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework has been partly successful and partly unsatisfactory; acknowledges that the revision has resulted in providing additional resources for Ukraine, the Western Balkan and several other budget lines of strategic importance, the implementation of the new Asylum and Migration Pact, the European Defence Fund as well as replenished flexibility mechanism; welcomes that the Commission has proceeded with translating the outcome of the MFF revision into the Financial Programming as well as amending budgets 2024 and the draft general budget for 2025 (the “DB”); underlines once again that the higher than foreseen repayment costs of the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI) should have been placed fully in a EURI special instrument over and above the MFF ceilings with a view to restoring some margin within Heading 2b and protecting budgetary space in the Flexibility and Single Margin Instruments; recalls the Interinstitutional Agreement adopted as part of the 2020 MFF agreement, according to which expenditure to cover NGEU financing costs “shall aim at not reducing programmes and funds”;
Amendment 45 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the Commission presented a budget proposal of EUR 16 258 million, close to MFF ceiling in Heading 6 with a remaining available margin of EUR 44,8 million; notes furthermore that Council increased the budget for humanitarian aid by EUR 30 million, believes however that this amount will not be sufficient to be able to respond to emerging crises; recalls that the Parliament from the outset considered the MFF ceiling in Heading 6 as insufficient given the geopolitical necessities;
Amendment 46 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. StressNotes that the 2025 Budget will be the first full annual budgetary procedure under the revised MFF ceilings and rules; insists that the spirit and letter of the MFF revision be respected and the additional appropriations resulting from the revision be fully authorised and committed; reminds that a certain level of redeployments, in particular under headings 1 and 6 was part of the MFF revision package; wishes to not see such reductions repeated or made worse in the annual procedure;
Amendment 48 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Recalls its long-standing position that new policy priorities or tasks should be accompanied by fresh money and that Union institutions, bodies and decentralised agencies must be properly staffed and adequately resourced to fulfil their mandate; regrets that the current budgetary situation has led the Commission to redeploy significant funds over the MFF period; emphasises that all spending through the Union budget must be subject to parliamentary scrutiny
Amendment 53 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
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; emphasizes that additional support related to emerging threats should not come at the expense of ongoing and long-term geopolitical challenges worldwide, particularly in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean; highlights that a well-funded Global Europe Instrument is essential for the EU to be seen as a trustworthy partner and counteract the influence of other global powers;
Amendment 75 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Urges a review of EU financial assistance to countries which support and do not condemn Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which do not respect their international obligations, including obligations to the International Criminal Court, and which help Russia to evade EU sanctions;
Amendment 77 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses the need to increase allocations for military mobility in 2025 budget;
Amendment 77 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Highlights that the Commission’s DB estimates the EURI ‘overrun’ costs to amount to EUR 2,5 billion and applies a 50:50 approach to the cascade mechanism; notes that the Commission proposes, therefore, to cover an amount of EUR 1.24 billion from the budget - i.e. 50% of the costs overruns - stemming by the unallocated margin under sub-heading 2b for an amount of EUR 46.2 million and by the Flexibility Instrument for an amount of EUR 1 192.8 million, with the remaining half to be mobilised through the new EURI instrument over and above the ceiling, covered by de-commitments made since 2021; acknowledgeregrets that no recourse to the ‘back- stop’ is required even if the budget is under stressed needs;
Amendment 78 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Highlights the importance of an increase in funding for additional permanent staff for including and streamlining the fight against malicious interference and disinformation and an effective institutional set-up within the EU such as for the implementation of those structures identified in the recently adopted INGE report, including a dedicated EEAS Strat Com Far East team, a Commission taskforce and a European Centre for Interference Threats and Information Integrity;
Amendment 83 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Regrets the Council’s approach to opt for what it calls “prudent” budgeting, creating artificial margins under the MFF ceilings; notes that the Council, in its position on the 2025 budget, and similar to 2024, reduces appropriations dedicated for EURI borrowing costs; points out that the Council’s position to cover only around 35% of the overrun costs by the EURI Special Instrument runs counter to the 50:50 benchmark that the Council itself insisted on during the MFF negotiations; alerts that in order to finance the difference and create additional unallocated margin (mostly in H2b but also in other headings, presumably in view of using it in future years through the SMI), sizeable reductions to a number of flagship programme envelopes have been proposed that have repercussions in 2025 as well as in 2026 and 2027; recalls that the most affected programmes, Horizon Europe, CEF digital and Erasmus, are well-established priorities for the European Parliament and flagship programmes of the Union; highlights and deplores that the Council targets for reductions are across several headings and even touch some programmes that were already subject to the MFF redeployments, such as Horizon, reduced by 400 million; or lines that were topped up in previous years, such as Erasmus+, reduced by 295 million, EU4Health or LIFE;
Amendment 85 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
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; reiterates the importance of providing assistance to UNRWA as a central component of the EU’s strategy to promote security, stability, and development in the Middle East; calls therefore for an increase of EUR 60 million in the EU’s financial support to UNRWA in 2025 to ensure the continuation of vital services provided to millions of Palestinian refugees;
Amendment 95 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Underlines, once again, that repayment of the EURI borrowing costs is a legal obligation for the Union and a non- discretionary expenditure item in the EU budget; is adamant, therefore to cater fully and timely for the NGEU repayment costs that will fall due in 2025; agrees to apply, in this regard, the newly established EURI cascade mechanism, in the letter and the spirit of the recently revised MFF Regulation; proposes to finance 65% of the overrun costs by the de- commitment compartment of the EURI Special Instrument, in line with the numerous budgetary needs that weigh on the EU budget and the need to keep some flexibility ; deems the margin of EUR 46.2 million, which was programmed before the DB was submitted, to be available for reinforcing programmes under the ceiling of Heading 2b; intends to revisit the amendments linked to the cascade mechanism once the Amending Letter provides updated estimations of the actual needs for the EURI line in 2025;
Amendment 99 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Underscores that the 2025 budget must be aligned with the Union's objectives and international commitments; stresses the need for continuous work to achieve the climate and biodiversity mainstreaming targets for Union budget spending laid down in the IIA, as part of the broader aim of making the Union climate-neutral by 2050 at the latest; reminds the Commission of its obligation under the IIA to regularly take stock of the progress towards climate mainstreaming targets; calls on the Commission to monitor the implementation of the ‘do no significant harm’ principle and to take necessary corrective measures if and when needed;
Amendment 100 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16 b. Reiterates that all Union programmes, policies and activities should be implemented in a way that promotes gender equality in the delivery of their objectives; welcomes, in this regard, the Commission’s work, in accordance with the IIA, to track gender equality-related spending, in particular through an ex- post gender impact assessment and reporting on volumes; calls on the Commission to apply this methodology to all MFF programmes in order to demonstrate results for the 2025 budget accompanied by the systematic collection, reporting and evaluation of gender- disaggregated data;
Amendment 101 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 105 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Notes that increases in external action spending need to be accompanied by a strengthened monitoring and anti- corruption framework; calls on the Commission, following recommendations from the European Court of Auditors, to make external action spending more standardised and transparent;
Amendment 106 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Emphasises the need for coherence, accountability and efficiency of financing the EU external action; calls for increased transparency and democratic scrutiny of EFIs’ funding through strategic steering by the Parliament and an enhanced geopolitical dialogue between the Parliament and the Commission;
Amendment 108 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Reminds that the EU’s Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III) foresees a strong conditionality and funding must be modulated or even suspended in the case of significant regression or persistent lack of progress regarding the rule of law and fundamental rights;
Amendment 114 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Strongly believes that a considerable reinforcement of humanitarian aid, accompanied by clear objectives in terms of the rule of law and governance, is needed for the Union to be able to respond to emerging crises. and to meet the unprecedented global humanitarian needs, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and its global economic repercussions, particularly in terms of food insecurity;
Amendment 114 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recalls that the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is key to boosting investment in high-performance, sustainable trans-European networks and to decarbonising the Union economy, and thereby accelerating the green transition and promoting interconnectivity as well as to support the completion of TEN-T and extension of corridors towards the partner countries in the Eastern Neighbourhood; proposes, to increase appropriations for CEF Transport by EUR 40 million above the DB in 2025; further proposes to top-up CEF Energy with an additional EUR 30 million;
Amendment 120 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses that a well-functioning Single Market is critical for the Union’s competitiveness and to enhance access to markets for EU businesses; emphasises that SMEs in particular have been hit hard by high inflation and energy prices and proposes, as a result, an increase of EUR 5 million above the DB for the SME strand of the Single Market programme, notably to support the European net-zero industry academies;
Amendment 121 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Underlines the need for specific child trackers in relation to the EU Budget and expenditures, as to capture the extent to which the upcoming budget, as well as future ones, concretely work for current and future generations of children;
Amendment 123 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Stresses that the EU should prioritise investment in training border officials and police on child rights-based procedures and should support child- sensitive critical services such as protection, education, and health;
Amendment 138 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Regrets that, due to the limited flexibility of the current MFF, the Commission has resorted to reorienting cohesion policy, which is not a crisis response tool but has been repeatedly called on to make up for shortcomings in budgetary flexibility or crisis response mechanisms in the MFF to the detriment of its long-term policy objectives;
Amendment 145 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Underlines that the expenditure programmes under Heading 2b have to share the tight resources and margins under Heading 2b with the EURI budget line which covers the NGEU debt management and interest costs and, eventually, debt repayments; and has de facto prevented the Commission from proposing reinforcements where they are needed; is intent on covering these borrowing costs in a reliable and transparent manner without having to reduce programme allocations for this purpose; is convinced that, for 2025, the cascade mechanism and the newly created EURI Special Instrument make it possible that this objective can be achieved; emphasises that this is a crucial message to the beneficiaries of EU funding and the public at large;
Amendment 147 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
Amendment 156 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Emphasises its strong preferenceReiterates Parliament's call for covering a larger share of EURI borrowing costs by availabilities in the de- commitment compartment of the EURI Special Instrument over and above the MFF ceilings which would have the effect of restoring some margin within Heading 2b and creating budgetary space in the Flexibility Instrument; proposes, therefore, to cover 65% of the overrun costs in 2025 by the de-commitment compartment of the EURI special instrument;
Amendment 162 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Is alarmed by the growing impact of natural disasters in Europe and its neighbourhood and concerned about the Union’s ability to respond in an effectively and timely manner; underlines that these disasters are often linked to climate change and are therefore likely to occur with greater frequency and intensity in the future; wishes to protect human lives and to augment the Commissboost the Union’s crisis response capacity; increases, therefore, appropriations for the Union Civil Protection Mechanism by EUR 42 million above DB; calls for a prioritisation of investments that help reduce the impact of natural disasters; stresses that the Union, being based on solidarity, will find the resources for the citizens affected by the recent floods;
Amendment 171 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Underlines the importance of a stronger Health Union and enhanced preparedness; highlights the vital role that the EU4Health programme plays in this respect; proposes, therefore, to increase the programme’s appropriations by EUR 50 million above DB in support of investments in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer, diseases affecting childrendiseases and improving mental health as well as in ensuring universal access to sexual and imreproving mental healthductive health and rights;
Amendment 176 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Reiterates its unwavering support for promoting the learning mobility of young people; proposes to reinforce, against this background, the EU flagship programme Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programmes, which play a vital role in supporting learning mobility opportunities, improving people’s skills and employability and promoting social inclusion; emphasises that both programmes aim to boost participation rates among people with fewer opportunities - an objective that is challenged by soaring inflation and the increased cost of livingand calls for a readjustment of Erasmus+ grants to account for higher inflation and higher living costs; ; is committed to ensuring that Erasmus+ does not become a de facto selective programme open only to those who can afford to participate and recalls that the Commission is required to put in place financial support measures for people with fewer opportunities; proposes, therefore, an increase of EUR 70 million for Erasmus+ (57 million EUR for Promoting learning mobility of individuals and groups, and cooperation, inclusion and equity, excellence, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of education and training — Indirect management; 5 million EUR for Promoting non-formal and informal learning mobility and active participation among young people, and cooperation, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of youth; 8 million EUR for Promoting learning mobility of sport staff, and cooperation, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of sport organisations and sport policies); insists that the top-up be used to contribute in particular to the programme’s over- arching aim of becoming more accessible, including by providing the necessary increased financial support per participant with fewer opportunities; proposes, moreover, a reinforcement of EUR 1 million for the ESC above DB, specifically to ensure the programme is accessible for all;
Amendment 181 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Underscores the continued socio- economic challenges in the cultural and creative sectors, which are often made up of small organisations and individual artists, as well as their key role in fostering media literacy and combatting disinformation, and promoting and protecting media freedom and pluralism as the basis for a functioning democracy; proposes, therefore, to increase financing for the various strands of the Creative Europe programme by a total of EUR 8 million above the DB;
Amendment 187 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Reiterates the indispensable role of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme in promoting European values and citizens’ rights, in fostering active civic engagement, in building resilient societies, in combatting gender-based violence, especially important in the context of the measurable increase in violence against women, and violence against the LGBTQI+ community and in supporting the key principles of democracy, the rule of law, solidarity, inclusiveness, justice, non- discrimination and equality; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for the programme by EUR 9 million above the DB, with reinforcements for the equality and rights, ‘citizens’ engagement and participation’, Daphne and ‘Union values’ strands;
Amendment 193 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Deems it necessary to allocate adequate resources for the effective implementation of EU rules on social security coordination in order to facilitate labour mobility and easier transfer of social security benefits, as well as the need for effective social dialogue, proper information and training, by financing the relevant line by EUR 2 millions;
Amendment 196 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
Amendment 199 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Recalls the important role played by the decentralised agencies and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) under Heading 2b; reinforcing funding and staffing levels for the Fundamental Rights Agency, for the European Institute for Gender Equality, the European Labour Authority and the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation in line with the agencies’ identified needs; proposunderlines, furthermore, to reinforce the European Public Phe importance of protecting the Union budget against fraud, corruption and other misconduct; stresses, in this regard, the central role that the EPPO plays in prostecutor’s Office in terms of financing and staffting the Union’s financial interests, including with respect to the use of NextGenerationEU funds, and ensuring compliance with the rule of law; proposes, therefore, targeted reinforcements to the EPPO and increase its staffing levels to allow ithe body to fulfil its duties andmandate; calls on all the Member States to join the EPPO to ensure more robust protection of the Union’s financial interests;
Amendment 204 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
Amendment 222 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Underlines the indispensable and complementary role that the LIFE programme, as an EU flagship programme, plays in delivering on the European Green Deal and achieving the Union’s climate neutrality goal by investing in nature and biodiversity, reducing emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy, creating a circular economy; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for the programme by EUR 49 million above the DB; supports the EEA with a modest increase in funding and staff;
Amendment 227 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
Amendment 241 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. Underlines the important role that the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) plays in managing the Union’s external borders and in particular in supporting Member States in meeting their obligations with regards to the adequate capacity for the border procedure as defined in the Asylum Procedure Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/1348) and Commission’s implementing decision 2024/2150, with reinforced border protection capabilities including physical infrastructure, buildings, equipment, systems and services required at border crossing points, notably to meet the requirements of reception conditions for asylum seekers and migrants.; stresses that Member States with a larger share of adequate capacity should receive funds in proportion to their obligations; underlines that the instrument should also support the acceleration of Romania’s and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area; proposes therefore to increase appropriations for the BMVI by EUR 35 million above DB;
Amendment 253 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Highlights the need for the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) to have the requisite resources to carry out its operational activities effectively and decides, therefore, to restore the DB for the agency; notes, however, with concern, that the Agency continues to struggle with its absorption capacity and has not yet managed to hire the necessary staff to fulfil its mission; reiterates that the enhanced competences and resources allocated to the Agency must be accompanied by increased transparency and accountability, as well as full respect for and protection of fundamental rights; calls on the Agency to continue to improve its efficiency and effectiveness;
Amendment 256 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
Paragraph 53
53. Proposes to reinforce the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) by EUR 2 million and to reinforce staff at the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) as they both have heavier workload following the adoption of the Asylum and Migration Pact;
Amendment 260 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55
Paragraph 55
55. Recalls the highly unstable geopolitical situation and international environment around the Union giving rise to greater security and defence challenges since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; considers that the Union's current budget for ensuring the security of Europeans, is not equal to the challenges to be met in the short and long term; therefore supports increasing financial and budgetary massive EU investment for European defence.
Amendment 264 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57 a (new)
Paragraph 57 a (new)
57 a. Strongly supports EU efforts to tackle rising security threats such as the spread of disinformation, including online disinformation, fake news campaigns against the EU, terrorism, radicalisation and violent extremism within the EU and its neighbouring countries;
Amendment 284 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
Paragraph 64
64. Shares the Council’s assessment that the need for humanitarian aid needs have reached new heights; considers that, given the highly challenging international context and the ongoing climate change- induced emergencies, humanitarian aid needs in 2025 are likely to be even higher than estimated by the Council and the Commission, in particular since humanitarian aid to Ukraine will continue to be covered under Heading 6 rather than the Ukraine Facility; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for humanitarian aid by EUR 120 million compared to the DB; points out that the Union’s humanitarian aid budget has relied heavily on the Emergency Aid Reserve (EAR), driving resources away from the EAR’s other objectives and reducing the Union’s ability to respond to emergencies;
Amendment 288 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65 a (new)
Paragraph 65 a (new)
65 a. Calls for consistent and sustainable budgeting for all gender- related activities in the EU Defence and Security sector, in line with the EU Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security; Emphasizes the need for a dedicated funding for gender-related actions within Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions, including a specific budget line for the Gender Advisors within civilian CSDP missions;
Amendment 19 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The Union’s macro-financial assistance should aim to support the restoration of a sustainable external financing situation for Jordan thereby supporting its economic and social development. In this context, and in recognition of Jordan's crticial role in the Middle-East, it is imperative for the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to further deepen and strenghtenen the EU-Jordan partnership, thereby advancing cooperation.
Amendment 32 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) A pre-condition for granting the Union’s macro-financial assistance should be that Jordan respects effective democratic mechanisms – including a multi-party parliamentary system – and the rule of law, and guarantees respect for human rights. In addition, the specific objectives of the Union’s macro-financial assistance should strengthen the efficiency, transparency and accountability of the public finance management systems in Jordan and promote structural reforms aimed at supporting sustainable and inclusive growth, employment creation and fiscal consolidation. Both the fulfilment of the pre-conditions and the achievement of those objectives should be regularly monitored by the Commission and the EEAS which should subsequently be reported to the European Parliament.
Amendment 37 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) The Union’s macro-financial assistance should be subject to economic policy conditions, to be laid down in a Memorandum of Understanding. In order to ensure uniform conditions of implementation and for reasons of efficiency, the Commission should be empowered to negotiate such conditions with the Jordanian authorities under the supervision of the committee of representatives of the Member States in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. Under that Regulation, the advisory procedure should, as a general rule, apply in all cases other than as provided for in that Regulation. Considering the potentially important impact of assistance of more than EUR 90 million, it is appropriate that the examination procedure be used for operations above that threshold. Considering the amount of the Union’s macro-financial assistance to Jordan, the examination procedure should apply to the adoption of the Memorandum of Understanding, including clear and measurable benchmarks to evaluate the implementation of each installment, and to any reduction, suspension or cancellation of the assistance.
Amendment 38 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) The Union’s macro-financial assistance should be subject to clear and measurable economic policy conditions, to be laid down in a Memorandum of Understanding. In order to ensure uniform conditions of implementation and for reasons of efficiency, the Commission should be empowered to negotiate such conditions with the Jordanian authorities under the supervision of the committee of representatives of the Member States in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. Under that Regulation, the advisory procedure should, as a general rule, apply in all cases other than as provided for in that Regulation. Considering the potentially important impact of assistance of more than EUR 90 million, it is appropriate that the examination procedure be used for operations above that threshold. Considering the amount of the Union’s macro-financial assistance to Jordan, the examination procedure should apply to the adoption of the Memorandum of Understanding, and to any reduction, suspension or cancellation of the assistance.
Amendment 49 #
2024/0086(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission and the European External Action Service shall monitor the fulfilment of this pre-condition throughout the life cycle of the Union’s macro- financial assistance and report regularly to the European Parliament on the conditions as outlined in Article 2(1).
Amendment 69 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Research has shown that limiting the dissemination of child sexual abuse material is not only crucial to avoid the re- victimisation linked to the circulation of images and videos of the abuse but is also essential as a form of offender-side prevention, as accessing child sexual abuse material is often the first step towards hands-on abuse, regardless of whether it depicts real or simply realistic abuse and exploitation. The ongoing development of artificial intelligence applications capable of creating realistic images that are indistinguishable from real images, the number of so-called ‘deep-fake’ and AI generated images and videos depicting child sexual abuse is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. In addition, the development of augmented, extended and virtual reality settings making use of avatars including sensory feedback, e.g. through devices providing a perception of touch are not fully covered by the existing definition. The inclusion of an explicit reference to ‘reproductions and representations’ should ensure that the definition of child sexual abuse material covers these and future technological developments in a sufficiently technology- neutral and hence future-proof way.
Amendment 76 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) To prevent offences involving the sexual abuse of children, the definition of child sexual abuse material should include so-called ‘paedophile manuals’. Paedophile manuals'instruction manuals on how to sexually abuse children'. 'Instruction manuals on how to sexually abuse children' provide advice on how to find, groom and abuse children and avoid being identified and prosecuted. By lowering barriers and providing the necessary know-how, they contribute to inciting offenders and support the commission of sexual abuse. Their online dissemination has already led certain Member States to amend their criminal law and explicitly criminalise possession and distribution of such manuals. The lack of harmonisation creates an uneven level of protection across the EU.
Amendment 81 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) In adopting legislation on substantive criminal law, the Union should ensure consistency of such legislation in particular with regard to the level of penalties. This Directive, because it contains an exceptionally high number of different offences, requires, in order to reflect the various degrees of seriousness, a differentiation in the level of penalties which goes further than what should usually be provided in Union legal instruments. The Directive must however ensure that technology-facilitated offences committed are covered by the same penalties as other offences, the seriousness and trauma resulting from them being equivalent.
Amendment 92 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) Solicitation of children for sexual purposes is a threat with specific characteristics in the context of the Internet, as the latter provides unprecedented anonymity to users because they are able to conceal their real identity and personal characteristics, such as their age. In the last decade, the use of information and communication technologies has provided offenders with increasingly easy access to children, where the contact often starts with the offender luring the child, for example by pretending to be a peer or with other deceitful or flattering conduct, into compromising situations. This increased access to children has led to the rapid growth of phenomena such as ‘sextortion’ (i.e. the conduct of threatening to share intimate material depicting the victim to obtain money, child sexual abuse material or any other benefit), affecting children both below and above the age of sexual consent. There has been a surge in recent years of financially motivated sexual extortion by organised crime groups that target in particular teenage boys, which have led to multiple cases of those children taking their lives. It is therefore essential that all these phenomena are appropriately covered in Member States’s law. At the same time, Member States acknowledge the importance of also combating the solicitation of a child outside the context of the Internet, in particular where such solicitation is not carried out by using information and communication technology. Member States are encouraged toshould criminalise the conduct where the solicitation of a child to meet the offender for sexual purposes takes place in the presence or proximity of the child, for instance in the form of a particular preparatory offence, attempt to commit the offences referred to in this Directive or as a particular form of sexual abuse. Whichever legal solution is chosen to criminalise ‘off-line grooming’, Member States should ensure that they prosecute the perpetrators of such offences.
Amendment 101 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) This Directive does not govern Member States’ policies with regard to consensual sexual activities in which children may be involved and which can be regarded as the normal discovery of sexuality in the course of human development, taking account of the different cultural and legal traditions and of new forms of establishing and maintaining relations among children and adolescents, including through information and communication technologies. Member States which avail themselvesAmong others, the United Nations Committee ofn the possibilities referred to in this Directive do so in the exercise of their competences. More particularly, Member States should be able to exempt from criminalisation consensual sexual activities involving exclusively children above the age of sexual consent, as well asRights of the Child and the Lanzarote Committee have stated that consensual activities between peers who are close in age, maturity and development for consensual and non-exploitative sexual activity should not be criminalised provided that there is no element of coercion, abuse of trust or dependency between the them. Accordingly, Member States should protect children from criminalisation for consensual sexual activities involving peers. The amendments to that Article are intended to clarify the scope of the derogation, in light of the fact that some Member States appear to have interpreted its original wording too broadly (e.g. by exempting from criminalisation consensual activities between minors above the age of consent and adults of any age, considered to be ‘peers’ despite a significant age difference). This means that only consensual activities between peers who are close in age, maturity and development should be protected from criminalisation. The provisions related to age of consent should not be interpreted in limiting in any manner the criminalisation of child sexual abuse and exploitation of children who have reached and are above the age of consent as no child can consent to their sexual abuse.
Amendment 107 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) Physical or mental incapacity under this Directive should be understood as also including the state of physical or mental incapacity caused by the influence of drugs and alcoho, medicines and alcohol, or any substance that could compromise one's free will.
Amendment 108 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) Victims of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children are often unable to report the crime for several decades after its commission due to the shame, guilt and self-blame, which can be related, among others, to the social and cultural stigma that still surround sexual abuse, the secrecy in which the abuse takes place, threatening or blaming conduct by the perpetrator, and/or trauma. Due to children’s specific vulnerabilities and developmental limitations, they may not fully grasp that what occurred was abusive, especially if the abuser was a trusted adult. It may take reaching adulthood for survivors to develop the emotional maturity to recognize the abuse for what it was and understand its long-term effects. Trauma can cause victims to repress or block out the memories as a protective measure for years. Perpetrators of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children, unlike perpetrators of other violent crimes, tend to remain active until old age, continuing to pose a threat to children. In light of this, effective investigation and prosecution of offences involving sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children, as well as appropriate victims’ assistance and support, can only be provided if statutes of limitations allow victims to re abolished. Therepforte, the crime for a significantly extended period of time.minimum standards provided in the Directive should be interpreted as a first step towards abolition
Amendment 113 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 31 a (new)
Recital 31 a (new)
(31 a) At least two-thirds of victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation are girls; Crimes in the area of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children against girls are forms of violence against women as per article 2.a of Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against women and domestic violence, which shall be applicable. Consequently, when implementing the Directive at hand, a gender sensitive approach shall be applied.
Amendment 118 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 34
Recital 34
(34) Member States should encourage any person who has knowledge or suspicion of the sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a child to report to the competent services. In particular, Member States should make available information to children about the possibility to report the abuse, including to helplines and through the communication platforms that young people use most frequently. It is the responsibility of each Member State to determine the competent authorities to which such suspicions may be reported. Those competent authorities should not be limited to child protection services or relevant social services. The requirement of suspicion ‘in good faith’ should be aimed at preventing the provision being invoked to authorise the denunciation of purely imaginary or untrue facts carried out with malicious intent.
Amendment 122 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 36
Recital 36
(36) Measures to protect child victims in a comprehensive manner should be adopted in their best interest, taking into account an assessment of their needs. Effective child protection requires a whole of society approach. With the child at the centre, all relevant authorities and services should work together to protect and support the child, in their best interests. The “Barnahus” model of providing a child-friendly environment staffed with specialists from all relevant disciplines is currently the most advanced example of a child-friendly approach to justice and to avoiding revictimisation. The relevant provisions of this Directive are built on the principles of that model. That model aims to ensure that all children involved in child abuse or child sexual exploitation investigations benefit from a high-quality assessment in child-friendly settings, appropriate psychosocial support and child protective services. This Directive attempts to ensurequires that all Member States uphold these principles and establish age-appropriate multidisciplinary and interagency structures to provide care and legal support to victims under one roof, although it does not require the Member States to follow the Barnahus model as such. Where medical examinations of the child are necessary for the purposes of the criminal investigations, for example to gather evidence of abuse, these should be limited to the strictly necessary in order to limit retraumatisation. This obligation should not prevent other medical examinations necessary for the well-being of the child. All children who are likely to be, for whatever reason and in whatever capacity, brought into contact with criminal, civil or administrative justice systems should have easy access to child friendly justice. Child-friendly justice refers to justice systems which guarantee the respect and the effective implementation of all children’s rights at the highest attainable level and giving due consideration to the child’s level of maturity and understanding and the circumstances of the case. It is of particular importance that justice is accessible, age appropriate, speedy, diligent, adapted to and focused on the needs and rights of the child, respecting the rights of the child including the rights to due process, to participate in and to understand the proceedings, to respect for private and family life and to integrity and dignity. Child victims should have easy access to child friendly justice, legal remedies and measures to address conflicts of interest where sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a child occurs within the family. When a special representative should be appointed for a child during a criminal investigation or proceeding, this role may be also carried out by a legal person, an institution or an authority. Moreover, child victims should be protected from penalties, for example under national legislation on prostitution, if they bring their case to the attention of competent authorities. Furthermore, participation in criminal proceedings by child victims should not cause additional trauma to the extent possible, as a result of interviews or visual contact with offenders. All authorities involved in the proceedingsprofessionals who come into contact with children in the justice system should be trained in child friendly justice. A good understanding of children and how they behave when faced with traumatic experiences will help to ensure a high quality of evidence-taking and also reduce the stress placed on children when carrying out the necessary measures. Where child victimsren participate in criminal proceedings, the court should take full account of their age and maturity in conducting the proceedings and should ensure that the proceedings are accessible and understandable to the child. The court should prioritize the child's right to participate meaningfully, ensuring that their views are heard and respected throughout the process.
Amendment 128 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 38
Recital 38
(38) The trauma arising from sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children often lasts well into adulthood, entailing long-term effects which often prevent victims from reporting the offence and from seeking assistance and support for years or even decades. Therefore, Member States should provide tailored and comprehensive short- and long-term assistance not only to child victims, but also to adult survivors of child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. Survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation designate all persons who have experienced sexual violence as a child, irrespective of their legal status and their recognition as a victim of a crime by a legal system.
Amendment 156 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
This Directive establishes minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and sanctions in the area of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children, child sexual abuse material and solicitation of children for sexual purposes, including by means of information and communication technology. It also introduces provisions to strengthen the prevention of those criminal offences and, the protection of the victimsupport and redress of the victims and survivors thereof.
Amendment 159 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
(1 a) (2) ‘survivor’ means a person who has experienced sexual violence as a child, irrespective of their legal status and their recognition as a victim of a crime by a legal system.
Amendment 167 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point a
(a) any material that visually depictsrepresentation, by whatever means, of a child or any part of the body of a child engaged in real or simulated sexually explicit conduct;
Amendment 172 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
(b) depictionAny representation, by whatever means of the sexual organparts of a child for primarily sexual purposes;
Amendment 178 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point c
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point c
(c) aAny material that visually depictsrepresentation, by whatever means, of any person appearing to be a child engaged in real or simulated sexually explicit conduct or any depiction of the sexual organparts of any person appearing to be a child, for primarily sexual purposes;
Amendment 183 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point d
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point d
(d) Any realistic images , reproductions or representations of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct or of the sexual organparts of a child, for primarily sexual purposes;
Amendment 189 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point e
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point e
Amendment 198 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
(4) ‘child exploitation in prostitution’' means the use of a child for sexual activities where money or any other form of remuneration, gain, advantage, benefit or consideration is given or promised as payment in exchange for the child engaging in sexual activities, regardless of whether that payment, promise, gain, advantage, benefit or consideration is made to the child or to a third party;
Amendment 207 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point b
(b) the sexual organparts of a child for primarily sexual purposes;
Amendment 211 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
(5 a) ‘sexual extortion of children’ means the conduct of threatening to share intimate material depicting the child victim to obtain money, child sexual abuse material or any other benefit under the threat of sharing the material beyond the consent of the depicted person;
Amendment 215 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 7 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 7 a (new)
(7 a) 'information and communication technology’ means any technological tool and resource used to digitally store, create, share or exchange information, including smart phones, computers, social networking and other media applications and services;
Amendment 217 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 7 b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 7 b (new)
(7 b) ‘online’ means by means of information and communication technologies;
Amendment 222 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8
(8) ‘peers’ means persons who are close in age and degree of psychological and physical development orand maturity.
Amendment 229 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the conduct referred to in paragraphs 2 to 8 is punishable, including if the conduct was committed by means of information and communication technology.
Amendment 261 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – point c
(c) use is made of coercion, force, physical or psychological violence, blackmail or threats shall be punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 12 years if the child has not reached the age of sexual consent, and of at least 7 years of imprisonment if the child is over that age.
Amendment 273 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 7 – point a a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 7 – point a a (new)
(a a) causing a child below the age of sexual consent to engage themselves, in any act of vaginal, anal or oral penetration of a sexual nature, with any bodily part or object;
Amendment 286 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 8
Article 3 – paragraph 8
8. Where the child is above the age of sexual consent and does not consent to the act, the conduct referred to in paragraph 7 shall be punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 102 years.
Amendment 292 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 9 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 9 – introductory part
9. For the purpose of paragraph 4 and 8, Member States shall ensure that:
Amendment 295 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 9 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 9 – point a
(a) a non-consensual act is understood as an act which is performed without the child’s consent given voluntarily, as a result of the child’s free will assessed in the context of the surrounding circumstances, or where the child is unable to form a free will due to the presence of circumstances referred to in paragraph 5, or due to other circumstances, including the child’s physical or mental condition such as a state of unconsciousness, sleepiness, intoxication, surprise, freezing, illness or bodily injury;
Amendment 296 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 9 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 9 – point a
(a) a non-consensual act is understood as an act which is performed without the child’s consent given clearly and voluntarily, as a result of the child’s free will assessed in the context of the surrounding circumstances, or where the child is unable to form a free will due to the presence of circumstances referred to in paragraph 5, or due to other circumstances, including the child’s physical or mental condition such as a state of unconsciousness, intoxication, freezing, illness or bodily injury;
Amendment 298 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 9 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 9 – point c
(c) the absence of consent cannot be refuted exclusively by the child’s silence, verbal or physical non-resistance or past sexual conduct.
Amendment 301 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the intentional conduct referred to in paragraphs 2 to 7 is punishable, including if the conduct was committed by means of information and communication technology.
Amendment 333 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Coercing or forcing a child to share intimate material depicting the child to obtain money, child sexual abuse material or any other benefit under the threat of sharing the material beyond the consent of the depicted person shall be punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 8 years.
Amendment 341 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. Acquisition or possession of child sexual abuse material shall be punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 12 years.
Amendment 346 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 3
3. Knowingly obtaining access, including by means of information and communication technology, to child sexual abuse material shall be punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 12 years.
Amendment 359 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 6
Article 5 – paragraph 6
6. Production of child sexual abuse material shall be punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 38 years.
Amendment 369 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 8 – point a a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 8 – point a a (new)
a a. promptly notify and request online service providers to remove reported illegal material hosted on their platform;
Amendment 375 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 9
Article 5 – paragraph 9
9. It shall be within the discretion of Member States to decide whetherMember States shall ensure that this Article applies to cases involving child sexual abuse material as referred to in Article 2 , point (36)(c) , where the person appearing to be a child was in fact 18 years of age or older at the time of depiction.
Amendment 377 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 a (new)
Article 5 a (new)
Article5a Instructions manuals on how to commit the offences listed in Articles 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the intentional conduct, when committed without right, referred to in paragraphs 2 to 6 is punishable. 2. Acquisition or possession of instructions manual on how to sexually abuse children shall be punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 2 years. 3. Knowingly obtaining access, including by means of information and communication technology, to instructions manual on how to sexually abuse children shall be punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment at least 2 years. 4. Distribution, dissemination or transmission of child sexual abuse material and instructions manual on how to sexually abuse children shall be punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment at least 2 years. 5. Offering, supplying or making available child sexual abuse material and instructions manual on how to sexually abuse children shall be punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment at least 2 years. 6. Production of child sexual abuse material and instructions manual on how to sexually abuse children shall be punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment at least 8 years.
Amendment 383 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) proposing , including by means of information and communication technology, to meetestablish a relationship with a child either online or in person , for the purpose of committing any of the offences referred to in Article 3(4) , (5), (6) and (7) andArticle 4, Article 5(6) and Article 7, where that proposal was followed by material acts leading to such a meetingoffences, shall be punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 1 year;
Amendment 390 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(a a) The conduct referred to in the first subparagraph does not cover consensual relationships between peers who are close in age and degree of psychological and physical development and maturity, provided that there is no element of coercion, abuse of trust or dependency between the peer;
Amendment 394 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that an attempt, including by means of information and communication technology, to commit the offences provided for in Article 5(2) and (3) by an adult soliciting a child to provide child sexual abuse material is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 6 months .
Amendment 400 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that an attempt, including by means of information and communication technology, to commit the offences provided for in Article 4(2) and (5) by an adult causing a child to participate in child sexual abuse performances and exploitation in prostitution is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 6 months.
Amendment 405 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Member States shall ensure that law enforcement authorities promptly investigate attempts of solicitation of children for sexual purposes. Member States shall ensure that victims of such solicitation attempts are effectively referred to relevant support services for assistance and protection.
Amendment 410 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – title
Article 7 – title
Solicitation of child sexual abuse and exploitation
Amendment 412 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that intentionally promising or giving any third person money, or other form of remuneration or consideration, including by means of information and communication technology, to cause themis person to commit any of the offences listed in Article 3(4), (5),(6), (7), and (8), Article 4(2) and (3) and Article 5(6) is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of at least 3 years.
Amendment 420 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph -1 (new)
Article 10 – paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Member States should ensure that peers are protected from prosecution for consensual and non-exploitative sexual activity, provided that there is no element of coercion, abuse of trust or dependency between the peers;
Amendment 423 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. It shall be within the discretion of Member States to decide whetherMember States shall ensure that Article 3(2), (4) and (4)7) do not apply to consensual sexual activities between peers, in so far as the acts did not involve any abuseprovided that there is no element of coercion, abuse of trust or dependency between the peers.
Amendment 429 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. It shall be within the discretion of Member States to decide whetherMember States shall ensure that Article 4(4) does not appliesy to a performance that takes place in the context of a consensual relationship where the child has reached the age of sexual consent or between peers , in so far as the acts did not involve any abuse or exploitation and no money or other form of remuneration or consideration is given as payment in exchange for the performance.
Amendment 432 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Amendment 436 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
where that material is produced and possessed with the consent of the children involved and only for the private use of the persons involved, in so far as the acts did not involve any abuseprovided that there is no element of coercion, abuse of trust or dependency between the peers.
Amendment 437 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 4
Article 10 – paragraph 4
4. It shall be within the discretion of Member States to decide whetherMember States shall ensure that Article 6 does not appliesy to proposals, conversations, contacts or exchanges between peers, provided that there is no element of coercion, abuse of trust or dependency between the peers.
Amendment 442 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
For the purpose of paragraphs 1 to 4, a child above the age of sexual consent can be considered as having consented to an activity only where the consent was given voluntarily, as result of the child’s free will assessed in the context of the surrounding circumstances. A child above the age of sexual consent cannot be considered to have consented when the child was unable to form a free will due to the presence of the circumstances described in Article 3(5) or due to other circumstances, including the child’s physical or mental condition such as a state of unconsciousness, intoxication, freezing, illness or bodily injury.
Amendment 445 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
For the purpose of paragraphs 1 to 4, a child above the age of sexual consent can be considered as having consented to an activity only where the consent was given clearly and voluntarily, as result of the child’s free will assessed in the context of the surrounding circumstances.
Amendment 447 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 3
Article 10 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 3
The absence of consent cannot be refuted exclusively by the child’s silence, verbal or physical non-resistance or past conduct.
Amendment 452 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 6
Article 10 – paragraph 6
6. Consensual sharing of one’s intimate images or, videos or similar material cannot be interpreted as consent to any further sharing or dissemination of that same image or video, video or similar material, including in a manipulated or altered version.
Amendment 459 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the offence was committed against a child in a particularly vulnerable situation, such as a young child, a child with a mental or physical disability, a child who is seen as not conforming to conventional norms relating to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or sex characteristics, or a child in a situation of dependence or in a state of physical or mental incapacity;
Amendment 464 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point g
(g) the offence involved serious violence or caused serious physical or psychological harm to the child ;
Amendment 465 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point h
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point h
(h) the offence or another criminal offence of child sexual abuse or sexual exploitation was committed repeatedly;
Amendment 470 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point j a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point j a (new)
(j a) the offence was committed due to a motive based on one or more than one grounds protected under Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and resulted in either a direct or an indirect discrimination, prohibited under EU law.
Amendment 476 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. In order to avoid the risk of repetition of offences, Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that a natural person who has been convicted of any of the offences referred to in Articles 3 to 9 mayshall be temporarily or permanently prevented from exercising at least professional activities involvn organised voluntary activities involving or facilitating direct and regular contacts with children.
Amendment 478 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that any employers, when recruiting a person, including staff, consultants and volunteers, for professional or organised voluntary activities involving or facilitating direct and regular contacts with children, and organisations acting in the public interest against child sexual abuse, when recruiting staffa person, are required to request information in accordance with national law by way of any appropriate means, such as access upon request or via the person concerned, of the existence of criminal convictions for any of the offences referred to in Articles 3 to 9 , entered in the criminal record or of the existence of any disqualification from exercising activities involving direct and regular contacts with children arising from those criminal convictions.
Amendment 480 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 3
Article 12 – paragraph 3
3. For the application of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article, when requested by competent authorities, Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure, the transmission of information concerning the existence of criminal convictions for any of the offences referred to in Articles 3 to 9 , or of any disqualification from exercising activities involving direct and regular contacts with children arising from those criminal convictions , and that the transmitted information is as complete as possible, comprising at least information on criminal convictions or disqualifications arising from criminal convictions kept by any Member State, in accordance with human and children's rights standards. For that purpose, such information shall be transmitted through ECRIS or the mechanism for the exchange of criminal record information established with third countries.
Amendment 484 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Member States shall ensure that the functioning of mechanisms to centrally register any information on convictions or disqualifications referred to in paragraphs 3 are guided by human and children’s rights standards.
Amendment 489 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Member States shall, in accordance with the basic principles of their legal systems take the necessary measures to ensure that competent national authorities are entitledo not to prosecute or impose penalties on child victims of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation for their involvement in criminal activities, which they have been compelled to commit as a direct consequence of being subjected to any of the acts referred to in Article 4(2), (3), (5) and (6), and in Article 5 (4), (5) and (6).
Amendment 496 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Member States shall take the necessary measures to enable the prosecution of any of the offences referred to in Article 3, Article 4(2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (7) 8), of any serious offences referred to in Article 5(6) when child sexual abuse material as referred to in Article 2 , points (3)(a) and (b) has been used, and of any of the offences referred to in Articles 7 and 8 , for a sufficient period of time afto guarantere the victim has reached the age of majority and which is commensurate with the gravity of the offence concerneright of every victim to access justice and at least until the victim has reached 58 years old.
Amendment 503 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point a
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point a
(a) at least 240 years from the date the victim has reached the age of majority for the offences punishable under this Directive by a maximum penalty of at least 3 years of imprisonment;
Amendment 507 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point b
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point b
Amendment 511 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point c
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point c
Amendment 518 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. The period of time referred to in the second subparagraph shall be interrupted by any act initiating the judicial proceedings or any subsequent proceedings for offences listed in paragraph 2 first subparagraph conducted against the same offender.
Amendment 519 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. If the offender commits another offence listed in paragraph 2 first subparagraph before the expiry of the limitation period, the limitation period of the initial offence is prolonged until the the date on which the limitation period for the new offence expires.
Amendment 523 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 4
Article 16 – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall ensure that persons, units or services investigating and prosecuting the offences referred to in Articles 3 to 9 have sufficient staff, expertise and effective investigative tools to effectively investigate and prosecute such crimes, including those committed through the use of information and communication technology, in accordance with the applicable rules of Union and national law. Where appropriate, tThese tools shall include psychological forensic experts, and, where appropriate, special investigative tools, such as those which are used in countering organised crime or other serious crime cases, like the possibility to conduct undercover investigations.
Amendment 526 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 2
Article 17 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall take the necessary measures to encourage any natural or legal person who knows about or suspects, in good faith, that any of the offences referred to in Articles 3 to 9 have been committed, to report this to the competent services , without affecting Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council24 and Article 12 of Regulation (EU) …/…25 [laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse]. _________________ 24 Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act) (OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj). 25 Regulation (EU)
Amendment 531 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 3
Article 17 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall ensure that at leastll professionals and volunteers working in close contact with children in the child protection, education, childcare and health care sectors are obliged to report to the competent authorities if they have reasonable grounds for believing that an offence punishable under this Directive has been committed or is likely to be committed.
Amendment 534 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Member States shall ensure the existence of accessible, visible, clear, user-friendly and gender sensitive reporting mechanisms in accordance with the Barnahus quality standards. Member States shall ensure that these reporting mechanisms are adequately resourced, including in terms of funding and staffing.
Amendment 541 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph -1 (new)
Article 18 – paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Member States shall ensure the existence of accessible, visible, clear, user-friendly and gender sensitive reporting mechanisms in accordance with the Barnahus quality standards. Member States shall ensure that these reporting mechanisms are adequately resourced, including in terms of funding and staffing;
Amendment 543 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 1
Article 18 – paragraph 1
1. In addition to the rights of victims when making a complaint under Article 5 of Directive 2012/29/EU, and Article 5a under Directive (EU) …/… [proposed Directive amending Directive 2012/29 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crimes], Member States shall ensure that victims can report, through diversified mechanisms, the offences referred to in Articles 3 to 9 of this Directive to the competent authorities in an easy and accessible manner. This shall include the possibility of reporting those criminal offences, and submitting evidence where feasible, by means of easily accessible and user-friendly information and communication technologies.
Amendment 546 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Article 18 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall ensure that the reporting procedures referred to in paragraph 1 are safe, confidentialaccessible, clear, user- friendly, anonymous, safe, confidential, available in official and widely spoken languages, and designed in a child- friendly, trauma-informed and gender sensitive manner and language, in accordance with their age and maturity. Member States shall ensure appropriate information and awareness about reporting procedures and available support services. Member States shall ensure reporting is not conditional upon parental consent.
Amendment 549 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 18 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Member States should encourage and support, including financially, other reporting mechanisms, notably : (a) the development of dedicated helplines and hotlines, including but not only under the number 116 000 for missing children; (b) the appointment of well-being officers by online platforms, specifically trained to receive, assess and report suspicion of child sexual abuse and exploitation. Member States shall ensure that these reporting systems are fully integrated into national child protection systems.
Amendment 566 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – title
Article 21 – title
Assistance and support to victims and survivors
Amendment 568 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph -1 (new)
Article 21 – paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Member States shall establish age- appropriate multidisciplinary interagency structures for responding to child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Amendment 570 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Article 21 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that assistance and specialised and appropriate support are provided to victims before, during and for an appropriate period of timeand survivors as soon as a report is made, during criminal proceedings and for as long as needed after the conclusion of criminal proceedings and on an opt-out basis in order to enable them to exercise the rights set out in Directive 2012/29/EU , Directive (EU) …/… [proposed Directive amending Directive 2012/29 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crimes] and in this Directive. Member States shall notably ensure that victims of offences and survivors referred to in Articles 3 to 9 have access to targeted and integrated support services for children in accordance with Article 9a of Directive (EU) …/… [proposed Directive amending Directive 2012/29 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crimes]. Member States shall, in particular, take the necessary steps to ensure protection and specific support for children who report cases of abuse within their family, in line with the best interest of the child.
Amendment 575 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
2. Victims and survivors shall be provided with coordinated, age-appropriatemprehensive, specialist, coordinated, age-appropriate, trauma- informed and gender-sensitive, medical care, emotional, psychosocial, psychological, legal and educational support, as well as any other appropriate support tailored in particular to situations of sexual abuse, including when committed by means of information and communication technology. Member States shall take specific actions to assist and support victims and survivors who are particularly vulnerable, including due to mental or physical disabilities in accordance with article 26(c) of Directive (EU)…/… [proposed Directive amending Directive 2012/29/EU establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crimes]of the proposed Recast Victims’ Rights Directive (2023/0250).
Amendment 588 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 3
Article 21 – paragraph 3
3. Where it is necessary to provide for interim accommodation, children shall, as a priority, be placMember States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the need for and the type of interim accommodation is assessed with other family members, where necessary best in temporary or permanent housing, equipped with support servicesrest of the child as primary consideration.
Amendment 593 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 6
Article 21 – paragraph 6
6. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the specific actions to assist and support child victims and child survivors in enjoying their rights under this Directive, are undertaken following an individual assessment of the special circumstances of each particular child victim, conducted in accordance with Article 22 of Directive (EU) …/… [proposed Directive amending Directive 2012/29/EU establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crimes] and taking due account of the child’s views, needs, specific vulnerabilities and concerns.
Amendment 602 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 9 a (new)
Article 21 – paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Member States shall ensure that victims, survivors and their family receive tailored age-appropriate information about their right to support and assistance and processes to be followed, in accordance with Article 4 of Directive 2012/29/EU and Directive (EU) …/… [proposed Directive amending Directive 2012/29 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crimes]. Member States shall take specific measures for child victims and survivors to ensure appropriate communication adapted to the child's age, maturity, needs and specific vulnerabilities. Persons with disabilities shall have the right to ask and receive such information in a manner accessible to them;
Amendment 603 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 9 b (new)
Article 21 – paragraph 9 b (new)
9 b. Victims and survivors shall have the right to receive, upon their request and on opt-out basis, information regarding any instances of child sexual abuse material depicting them hosted or disseminated in the EU . Member States shall take specific measures to ensure victims and survivors are informed about the potential impact of this request and have access to assistance and support throughout the process.
Amendment 604 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 21 – paragraph 9 c (new)
Article 21 – paragraph 9 c (new)
9 c. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the rights set out in this Directive are not made conditional on the victim's residence status, citizenship or nationality, in accordance with Directive 2012/29/EU. Member States shall, in particular, ensure that victims residing outside of the EU have access to the assistance and information in relation to material hosted or disseminated in the EU depicting them. Member States shall set up cooperation mechanisms with third- countries to facilitate non-EU victims’ request for removal and access to support as well as judicial cooperation.
Amendment 609 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – title
Article 22 – title
Protection of child victims in criminalren in investigations and proceedings
Amendment 610 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph -1 (new)
Article 22 – paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Member States shall ensure that any investigations and proceedings involving children are conducted in accordance with the principles of child- friendly justice. All authorities involved in the proceedings should be trained in child friendly justice.
Amendment 612 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph -1 a (new)
Article 22 – paragraph -1 a (new)
-1 a. Member States shall ensure that where child victims participate in criminal proceedings, they receive, without delay, appropriate support and protection throughout all stages of the criminal investigations and proceedings, taking due account of the child’s views, needs, specific vulnerabilities and concerns.
Amendment 613 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph -1 b (new)
Article 22 – paragraph -1 b (new)
-1 b. Member States shall ensure that child victims receive age-appropriate information about their rights and the processes to be followed in accordance with Article 4 of Directive 2012/29/EU and Directive (EU) …/… [proposed Directive amending Directive 2012/29 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crimes].
Amendment 623 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 3 – point f a (new)
Article 22 – paragraph 3 – point f a (new)
(f a) the interviews and any sharing of information by the child victim should be done with the child’s consent unless the consent itself is a reason for significant risk of harm.
Amendment 625 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 4
Article 22 – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that in criminal investigations of any of the offences referred to in Articles 3 to 9 all interviews with the child victim or, where appropriate, with a child witness, may be audio-visually recorded with informed consent of the child victim and parent/legal guardian, when that parent/legal guardian is not involved in the crime committed and that such audio- visually recorded interviews may be used as evidence in criminal court proceedings, in accordance with the rules under their national law.
Amendment 631 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 22 – paragraph 7
Article 22 – paragraph 7
7. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that, where the participation of a child is necessary in criminal courtjudicial proceedings relating to any of the offences referred to in Articles 3 to 9, the court takes into account the child’s best interest, age and maturity in the relevant court proceedings. Member States shall ensure this applies to all children, including those alleged as, accused of or convicted of a crime.
Amendment 636 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – title
Article 23 – title
Victim’s and survivor's right to compensation
Amendment 639 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 1
Article 23 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that victims and survivors of offences referred to in Articles 3 to 9 of this Directive have a right to compensation for any damage suffered. Member States shall ensure clear, trauma-informed and victim- sensitive procedural rules for compensation. Member States shall ensure that compensation can be requested from perpetrators of any of the offences referred to in Articles 3 to 9 from legal persons liable for such offences under Articles 13 and 14, from organisations whose staff, contractors and volunteers work in close contact with children when there has been a culpable breach of their safeguarding obligation of care towards the victim and, where appropriate, from national compensation schemes established for the benefits of victims of crime.
Amendment 647 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 23 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) at least 240 years from the date the victim has reached the age of majority for the offences punishable under this Directive by a maximum penalty of at least 3 years;
Amendment 650 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 23 – paragraph 3 – point b
Amendment 653 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 3 – point c
Article 23 – paragraph 3 – point c
Amendment 656 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 23 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Member States shall ensure that when victims are not legally able to request compensation from the offender during criminal proceedings due to his/ her death, unfitness to stand trial or any other similar legal reason they are still able to request compensation during civil proceedings against any of the other liable parties mentioned in paragraph one.
Amendment 659 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 24 – paragraph 2
Article 24 – paragraph 2
In particular, national authorities shall be responsible for the data collection, research and reporting obligations referred to in Article 31. The EU Centre, once established, shall support national authorities in carrying out the activities listed in paragraph 1.
Amendment 674 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 27 – paragraph 1
Article 27 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that persons who fear that they might commit any of the offences referred to in Articles 3 to 9 have easy access to dedicated and effective intervention programmes or measures designed to evaluate and prevent the risk of such offences being committed.
Amendment 675 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 27 – paragraph 2
Article 27 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall ensure that the programmes or measures referred to in paragraph 1 are accessible without undue restrictions in line with national standards concerning healthcare, and that programmes are properly and continuously resourced.
Amendment 682 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 2
Article 28 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall develop national action plan to prevent and tackle child sexual abuse and exploitation. Member States shall take appropriate actions, including through the Internet, such as information and awareness-raising campaigns, research, education and training programmes or material on how to identify, prevent and report child sexual abuse and exploitation, where appropriate in cooperation with relevant civil society organisations and other stakeholders, aimed at raising awareness and reducing the risk of children, becoming victims of sexual abuse or sexual exploitation. Member States should integrate sexual education, digital literacy and safe online practices in school curriculum and promoted in communities.
Amendment 688 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 3
Article 28 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall promoteensure mandatory regular training , including in child friendly justice for all professionals, judges and officials likely to come into contact with child victims of sexual abuse or sexual exploitatio and volunteers recruited for professional or organised voluntary activities involving or facilitating direct and regular contacts with children, including , but not limited to judges, child protection professionals, child care, healthcare professionals, legal professionals, teachers and educators, family court judges and front-line police officers, aimed at enabling them to identify and deal with child victims and potential child victims of sexual abuse or sexual exploitation.
Amendment 692 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Member States shall take appropriate measures to enhance the prevention of child sexual abuse in community settingsall organisations whose staff and volunteers work in close contact with children, including schools, hospitals, social care services, sports clubs or religious communities.
Amendment 696 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 – point a
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 – point a
(a) dedicated training and awareness raising activities for staff working in such settingsand volunteers working in close contact with children, including on how to prevent, identify and provide an age appropriate, gender- sensitive and trauma-informed response to child sexual abuse and exploitation;
Amendment 698 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 – point b
Article 28 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 – point b
(b) mandatory Child Safeguarding Policies explaining how to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse and exploitation, dedicated guidelines, internal protocols and standards identifying good practices, such as the establishment of mechanisms of supervision and accountability for staff working in close contact with children in such settings;
Amendment 708 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 5 – point c a (new)
Article 28 – paragraph 5 – point c a (new)
(c a) issuing guidelines for front-line professionals on how to identify and deal with child victims and potential child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation.
Amendment 710 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 28 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 28 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Member States should ensure that the actions listed in the above paragraph are evidence-based and take into account the evolving manifestations of the offences listed in the Directive, including online.
Amendment 713 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – title
Article 29 – title
Intervention programmes or measures on a voluntary basis in the course of or after criminal proceedings
Amendment 715 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 29 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the following persons may have access to the intervention programmes or measures referred to in paragraph 1:
Amendment 717 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 29 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) persons subject to criminal proceedings for any of the offences referred to in Articles 3 to 9 , under conditions which are neither detrimental nor contrary to the rights of the defence or to the requirements of a fair and impartial trial, and, in particular, in compliance with the principle of the presumption of innocence; and have access to the intervention programmes or measures referred to in paragraph 1.
Amendment 719 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 29 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) persons convicted of any of the offences referred to in Articles 3 to 9 participate in intervention programmes or measures referred to in paragraph 1.
Amendment 724 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – paragraph 5 – point c
Article 29 – paragraph 5 – point c
(c) may refuse and, in the case of convicted persons, are made aware of the possible consequences of such a refusal.
Amendment 725 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 29 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 29 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Member States shall take the necessary measures to encourage alternatives to imprisonment prior to considering criminal sanctions and detention, in particular when the person convicted is under the age of 18.
Amendment 728 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 30 – title
Article 30 – title
Measures against websites containing or disseminating child sexual abuse material and instructions manuals on how to sexually abuse children
Amendment 731 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 30 – paragraph 1
Article 30 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure the prompt removal of web pages containing or disseminating child sexual abuse material hosted in their territory and to endeavour to obtain the removal of such pages hosted outside of their territory. ‘Prompt removal’ means that the content must be removed within 24 hours of being notified.
Amendment 733 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 30 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 30 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that online service providers who fail to remove the content promptly, as outlined in paragraph 1, is punishable by effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions, which may include criminal or non- criminal fines or other sanctions, such as listed in Article 14 (1).
Amendment 735 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 30 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 30 – paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Member States shall require online service providers: (a) to provide information about competent national support services and reporting mechanisms; (b) to report to the competent child protection service any child victim of offences referred to in Articles 3 to 9 who they know about or suspects, in good faith, to have been committed.
Amendment 738 #
2024/0035(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 30 – paragraph 2
Article 30 – paragraph 2
2. Member States may take measures to promptly block access to web pages containing or disseminating child sexual abuse material towards the Internet users within their territory. These measures must be set by transparent procedures and provide adequate safeguards, in particular to ensure that the restriction is limited to what is necessary and proportionate, and that users are informed of the reason for the restriction. Those safeguards shall also include the possibility of judicial redress. For the purpose of paragraph 1, ‘prompt removal’ means that the content must be blocked within 24 hours of being notified.