11 Amendments of Tobias PFLÜGER related to 2008/2025(BUD)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that, in order to enable the European Union to meet its civilian external action obligations and to play an active role in facing global challenges, sufficient funds need to be allocated in the EU budget;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is disappointed by the share of appropriations envisaged for Heading 4 under the Commission's Preliminary Draft Budget (PDB) 2009 and by the fact that, while the EU´s civilian international obligations are increasing, the growth in commitment appropriations with regard to the 2008 budget is below the rate of inflation for the same period;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is aware of the limits of the financial framework 2007-2013; therefore urges the Commission and the Council to take the increasing role of the EU as civilian global player duly into account when preparing the review of the EU financial framework;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is concerned byNotes the fact that the appropriations envisaged for Kosovo, particularly under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Instrument for Pre- Accession Assistance (IPA), in the PDB 2009, which are lower than the funding provided for in the adopted 2008 budget; asks the Commission and the Council to inform Parliament about funding absorbed out of the 2008 budget, given; is concerned about the current situation on the ground and probable delays inthe deployment of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX); urges the Commission to re- assess on this basis the requirements in respect of Kosovo's institution-building and socio-economic developmentstop the deployment of the mission in Kosovo which is non-legal according to international law, and ofasks the EU's contribution to the international presence there in 2009Commission not to fund any missions contrary to international law out of the 2009 budget;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the increase of appropriations envisaged for the Western Balkan countries under the institution-building component of the IPA, and in particular the Commission’s intention to step up the provision of additional scholarships and to increase funding for civil society dialogue; asks the Commission to support the Social Agenda for the Balkans and to include only countries recognised by all EU Member States;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Reaffirms its support for democracy and human rights as key elements of the EU's foreign policy; is concerned, however, about the instrumentalisation of human rights in order to prepare military interventions and regime change; notes with satisfaction the increase, albeit modest, in funding for the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), including that allocated for electoral observation, and stresses that this amount provided for in the PDB 2009 should be preserved as a minimum;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Reiterates that Latin America and the Caribbean is a priority region for the European Union, a fact that should be borne in mind when defining the appropriations envisaged in the 2009 PDB; points out that the European Union must take into account that the Association Agreements being discussed as well as all the relations with the region should not increase the vulnerability and dependence of these economies, should promote regional integration based on the right to free determination of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, and should have every regard for the environment, human rights, and for the democratic processes led by their governments;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes the increase in funding proposed for the Instrument for Stability; emphasises that the criteria for allocating funds under that instrument need to be further developed, in order to make them more transparent and to ensure that resources are used exclusively for civil purposes and channelled in a consistent way to real priorities; reiterates that Parliament is to be involved in the development and specification of the relevant criteria;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Disapproves of the proposed increase in funding in respect of European Union Special Representatives (EUSRs), particularly since Parliament is yet to be involved in the process of creating new EUSR positions, setting their mandates and appointing the EUSRs; stresses that the Lisbon Treaty will enable the EU institutions to search for synergy between Commission delegations and Council EUSRs (double-hatting), thus avoiding duplication of tasks, improving coordination and increasing the effectiveness of the EU´s external action;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates in this context its request for the conclusion of an inter-institutional agreement between Parliament and the Council defining, on the basis of the Treaty of Lisbon, their working relations in the field of external action, including the sharing of confidential information;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that the Commission proposes to reinforce the Thematic Programme for the Environment and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources including Energy; reiterates the need to build up a common external energy policy, and asks the Commission to inform Parliament about funding envisaged in the 2009 budget for the realisation of Trans-European Energy Networks (TEN-E) priority projects aimed at strengthening the EU´s energy security.