15 Amendments of Sophia IN 'T VELD related to 2011/2069(INI)
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
General recommendations -1. Calls on the Commission, the Council and the Member States to fully assume their responsibilities in relation to the proper and full application of the mandate and competences of the European Union in relation to fundamental rights, both on the basis of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and of the articles of the Treaties dealing with fundamental rights and citizens' rights issues, and notably Articles 2, 6, 7 TEU; believes that this is the only way to ensure that the EU equips itself - as it has done in other areas of common interest and importance, such as economic and budgetary matters - to deal with democratic, rule of law and fundamental rights crisis and tensions that are affecting the EU and its Member States; calls for the urgent strengthening of the European mechanisms to ensure that democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights are respected in the EU;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Commission to draft an annual report on the situation of fundamental rights in the EU, on the basis inter alia of Articles 2 and 6 TEU and of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, instead of focusing only on the implementation of the Charter and adopting a minimalist approach; such a report should adopt a more balanced and self-critical analysis, to include not only positive developments but also an analysis of where it could strengthen its approach in the future; believes that such a report should include an analysis of the situation in the Member States, including on the basis of international organisations, NGOs, EP and citizens' concerns in relation to violations of fundamental rights, the rule of law and democracy; recalls that the Commission has a duty to conduct such activity both as guardian of the Treaties and of the Charter and on the basis of Articles 2, 6 and 7 TEU;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – indent 2 a (new)
Paragraph 5 – indent 2 a (new)
- the lack of transparency and openness, as well as of appropriate respect, protection and promotion of fundamental rights and of democratic and parliamentary oversight, in international negotiations, which has led the EP to reject international agreements such as, inter alia, ACTA, which shall lead EU institutions and Members States to change their current practices and respect citizens' rights;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls for the launch of a "European fundamental rights policy cycle", detailing on a multiannual and yearly basis the objectives to be achieved and the problems to be solved; such a cycle should foresee a framework for institutions and the FRA, as well as Member States, to work together by avoiding overlaps, building on each others' reports, taking common actions and organising joint events with the participation of NGOs, citizens, national parliaments, etc.;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Deplores the unacceptable delays and blockages in the EU's accession to the ECHR, which are mainly due to specific Member States, and urges the Commission to conclude the procedthe UK objections and urges the Commission to remind the Member State concerned of the duty of loyal cooperation to be fulfilled in international negotiations and to conclude the procedure; consequently calls the Council to act under the terms of Article 265 TFUE so that the procedures for EU accession to the ECHR are concluded at least in time for the end of this legislature;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Considers that the Commission and the Council should create a mechanism to ensure that the EU and its Member States respect, implement and transpose the ECtHR's jurisprudence, since this is a matter of common interest and an obligation in relation to the respect of fundamental rights in the EU;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls therefore on the Commission to come up withupdate its 2003 communication (COM(2003) 606) and repeats its call to it to issue before the end of 2012 a detailed proposal for a clear cut monitoring mechanism and early warning system,, early warning system and a "freezing procedure" to ensure that Member States, at the request of EU institutions, suspend the adoption of laws when these are suspected of being in contrast with fundamental rights or the EU legal order, associating notably the national fundamental rights bodies created in compliance with the Paris principles and building on the provisions of Article 7 of thes 2, 6 and 7 TEU and Article 258 of the TFEU;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Points out that the Paris Principles on NHRIs should be used as a model for reforming the national institutions as well the FRA and calls for the FRA Regulation to be urgently reviewed so that the remit of the FRA is enlarged and aligned following an ordinary legislative procedure by the European Parliament and by the Council to the full scope covered by Articles 2, 6 and 7 TEU and notably to the European Charter implementation by the EU Institutions Agencies offices and bodies as well to the Member State activities; considers that the independence of the FRA should be strengthened, as well as its powers and competences; considers that the FRA Scientific Committee and the FRANET network should submit to the European and national parliaments and publish annually a thematic and more focused report assessing the situation in the EU Member State, as was done until 2006 by the former Network of Experts on Fundamental Rights; calls on the FRA to fully respect Article 15 of the TFEU by making its proceedings open and by giving access to its documents via a publicly accessible register as foreseen by Regulation 1049/2001;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Calls on the Commission to fully respect the independence and the competences of the FRA and to refrain from exerting undue pressures on the FRA in relation to its opinions on the Commission proposals, as happened recently in relation to the opinion on jurisdiction and applicable law for the property effects of marriages and registered partnerships;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13c. Calls on the FRA to ensure that NGOs that do not respect fundamental rights, tolerance, equality and non- discrimination and promote intolerance and discrimination are excluded from the FRA fundamental rights platform and believes that transparency should be required in relation to the way these organizations are funded and on their activities;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Believes that the Commission should stop stating that "citizens knock at the wrong door", minimizing the competence of the EU in relation to fundamental rights and turning down requests of citizens; stresses that the Commission must take note of citizens' concerns on violation of fundamental rights, make them aware of how to exercise their right of access to justice and enforce their rights in the most appropriate, relevant or competent fora; calls on the Commission to inform those citizens contacting it in relation to fundamental rights violations of these additional or more appropriate possibilities in detail, to keep record of these indications and to report on this in full detail in its annual reports on fundamental rights in the EU and on the implementation of the Charter; underlines that citizens' correspondence is extremely relevant in revealing possible structural, systemic, serious violations of fundamental rights in the EU and its Member States and consequently relevant to ensure the real application of Articles 2, 6 and 7 TEU by the Commission; considers that informal networks, such as those successfully developed for the internal market (SOLVIT), should be established at national and regional level to assist and advise people whose rights risk being violated (such as migrants, asylum seekers, vulnerable people); considers that these support structures for rights restoration and economic and social integration should be a priority for regional funds;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Calls on the Commission to propose a review of the Framework Decision to include other forms of bias-motivated crime, including on grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses that the principles of human dignity and equality before the law are foundations of democratic society; deems incomprehensibleregrettable and contrary to the spirit and the letter of the Treaty the current blockage of Council negotiations on the Commission's proposal for a horizontal directive extending comprehensive protection against discrimination on all grounds, including religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, and urges efforts to ensure adoption as soon as possible; calls on the Council and the Member States which are currently blocking the negotiations to make public their arguments, proposals and positions in the Council in general and notably in the competent Council Working Group so that EU citizens can better understand why no progress is made and judge in full conscience the positions of the governments, Ministers and political parties on discrimination of persons on the basis of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation; calls for the launch of a European campaign and launches an appeal to NGOs, citizens, political parties and leaders, civil society, economic actors, to join together in it so to reach the adoption of the directive; consequently calls on the Council to act, on the basis of Article 265 TFUE, and to adopt the directive before the end of the year;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on Member States to protect freedom of religion or belief, including the freedom of those without a religion not to suffer discrimination as a result of excessive exemptions for religions from laws on equality and non-discrimination;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4
Subheading 4
Equal opportunitiesity between women and men