8 Amendments of Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ related to 2018/2154(INI)
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the number of private military and security companies (PMSCs) has dramatically increased over the past 20 years; whereas globally the private security industry was valued up to USD 200 billion in 2016 with around 100 000 PSCs and 3.5 million employees; whereas PMSCs are performing many activities both in and outside of situations of armed conflict armed conflict, for example demining, escorting convoys, protecting mines and oil refineries, interrogation, intelligence services, protecting commercial shipping from piracy, providing floating armouries, participating in drug-eradication efforts, working in prisons and detention centres and even conducting offensive military operations;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas Russian PMSCs have allegedly been involved in many human rights violations over the past 25 years; whereas, despite a legal prohibition on mercenary activities (Article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), Russia has actively used military 'volunteers' since 1992 in Bosnia, Moldova (Transnistria), Nagorno-Karabah, Georgia, Ukraine (Crimea, Donbass) and Syria; whereas there are increasing numbers of reports suggesting the use of Russian military 'volunteers' in Africa;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Recital Q
Q. whereas the Montreux Document is the first major document to define how international law applies to PMSCs; whereas 54 states support the Montreux Document; whereas the EU endorsed the Montreux Document on 27 July 2012; whereas the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC) defines industry standards; whereas the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Providers’ Association (ICoCA) has the aim of promoting, managing and supervising the implementation of the ICoC and encouraging the responsible provision of security services and respect for human rights and national and international law; whereas affiliation to ICoCA is brought about by a voluntary act, accompanied by a payment, and the high membership charges do not permit all private security companies to become members;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
Recital R
R. whereas initiatives such as the Montreux Document and the ICoC have helped to clarify and raise awareness of states’ obligations with respect to PMSCs; whereas these initiatives are non-binding and voluntary, with no significant penalty for non-compliance or for the commission of human rights violations, beyond being expelled from the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers’ AssociationCoCA and losing out on valuable contracts;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital S
Recital S
S. whereas considerable regulatory gaps remain at the European and international level – notably regarding the use of force and firearms in the course of duty, the acquisition of weapons and arms trafficking, maritime security services, the issue of extra-territoriality and accountability, the availability of effective remedies for victims, and civil liability of individuals and corporate actors – meaning that PMSCs are still largely able to operate outside the constraints of legal supervision; whereas the absence of a legally binding international instrument also poses considerable challenges in monitoring and supervising the activities of PMSCs;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. CRegrets that the European Union does not have a regulatory framework of its own, despite the large number of PSCs of European origin and/or involved in missions and operations under the CSDP or EU delegations; calls for the EU to encourage legislation that would require all PMSCs registered in, operating in or contracted by an EU Member State to maintain membership in good standing with the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers’ AssociationCoCA;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Encourages Member States and the EU institutions to provide information about the performance of PSCs more consistently and in a transparent manner to allow for a proper assessment of the use of PSCs by their respective budgetary authorities and independent auditors; recommends that parliaments and NGOs should be actively engaged in the necessary evaluation processes that are crucial for the regulation and oversight of this industry;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. CUrges the EU and its Member States to push for an international legally binding instrument that goes further than the Montreux document, by regulating the activities of PSCs, establishing a level playing field to ensure that host states have the authority to regulate PSCs and contracting states are able to use their power to protect human rights and prevent corruption; considers an international binding instrument to be an appropriate option to ensure that human rights are fully protected wherever PMSCs operate; takes the view that the development of an international regulatory framework is in the interest of all stakeholders, as it provides for legal certainty, remedies, uniformity and objectivity with respect to international standards and thereby creates a level playing field at global level;