27 Amendments of Ana GOMES related to 2014/2229(INI)
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21
Citation 21
– whereas the conflict in Syria, the conflict in Iraq, the crisis in Yemen and the situation in Libya are a major potential source of destabilisation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA); having regard to the junction between the Sahel and Middle Eastern fronts in the fight against terrorism; having regard to the disastrous consequences of such a situation for the security of the whole region and of Europe; having regard to the number of civilian victims and the acts of terror committed against them; having regard to the serious humanitarian crisis caused by these conflicts, causing massive population displacements and creating enormous difficulties for refugees and their host communities; having regard to the difficulties in discerning a political approachcoherent conflict resolution strategy and establishing a legitimate and reliable basis for inclusive dialogue with the various parties concerned; having regard to the resulting long-term damage to political and economic development, durablecritical infrastructures and demographic cohesion in the region, also threatening European citizens and interests;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22
Citation 22
– whereas it is necessary to review EU action in the MENA area in the light of the implications of the Arab uprisings for the countries concerned, the new and complex situation thus created and the imperative need to combat the ISIS and other terrorist organisations; whereas stabilisation in the region is not a security issue alone but also has economic, political and social implications, requiring the Union to develop strategic global and multifaceted policies and cooperation with all parties the region, in the medium and long term;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23
Citation 23
– having regard to the escalating crises and conflicts, their ethnic and sectarian dimension, the rise of paramilitary groups and the weakness or collapse of certain states in the region; whereas the MENA countries and international community have shared security interests in connection with the fight against ISIS and other terrorist organisations;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24
Citation 24
– whereas the conflict in Iraq and Syria is exacerbating regional tensions, with the risk of political confrontation between Sunni and Shia extending beyond their immediate borders and jeopard, destabilising other countries in the region and further affecting European security;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25
Citation 25
– having regard to the limited influence of the European Union in the region and the declining influence of the Member States; whereas political and economic stability in the MENA region is of fundamental strategic importance to the Union; whereas the Union accordingly has a major role to play in thepromoting conflict resolution and democratic governance in the MENA region;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 26
Citation 26
– whereas EU development and emergency aid to MENA countries has in the past been too fragmented and too slow to adapt to the political and economic needs of the countries concerned, thereby undermining the full potential of the ENP and of EU's capacity to play a major role and interact positively in the region;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 27
Citation 27
– whereas EU aidssistance to the MENA countries, particularly under the European Neighbourhood Instrument, has in the past too often adopted the same indiscriminate strategic approach, failing to distinguish sufficiently between the specific situations in the countries concerned and failing to identify civil society partners needing empowerment and capacity building assistance;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 28
Citation 28
– whereas having been forced take emergency measures in response to successive crises that it failed to anticipate in the MENA region, the European Union has been unable to analyse the key elements or deal with the complexity of the situation, expectations and prospects created by the Arab uprisings of 2011; whereas, above all, it has failed to respond to the need for a very long-term strategy for genuine democratic transition, economic development and political stability; whereas, acting on the instructions issued by the European Council of December 2013, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) launched a major strategic reflection process; whereas a broad consultation process was launched by the Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS) for a review of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP);
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the action taken by theour Member States against ISIS in Iraq, but stresses that action in all fronts should have been more coordinated and articulated among Member States and the EU; notes that this type of operation should be carried out under the auspices of the European Union, including the Union's Common Security and Defence Policy; to this end, calls on the EU to develop sufficient operational capacity to achieve CSDP targetsand strategic autonomy to achieve CFSP and CSDP objectives and goals, including articulation of emergency and long-term development assistance; stresses however that a response must be found at political and regional level to the challenge presented by ISIS; calls on the EU to take on the role of main facilitateor of a regional dialogue involving all regional stakeholders, in particularcluding Saudi Arabia and Iran, Iran and Turkey;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that the emergence of ISIS is a symptom of the economic, political, social and cultural crisis afflicting the region; calls on the EU, together with the Arab world, to assess the root causes and adopt a global approach through an approach based on security, political, capacity for democratic governance, job creation, economic, social and cultural considerationsdevelopment;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes the allocation of EUR one billion under the EU strategy entitled 'Elements of an EU Regional Strategy for Syria and Iraq as well as the Da'esh threat' , under which EUR 400 million has been earmarked for humanitarian aid; calls for special attention to be given to Jordan and Lebanon, that host around two million Syrian refugees; is concerned that, as a result of extreme poverty and deprivation, refugee camps may become a hotbed of radicalisation and calls, therefore, on the EU to work with other partners, namely the UNHCR and UNICEF, to address persisting problems in refugee and IDPs camps in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, especially in relation to lack of schooling for youth and children; welcomes the funds for host populations under the new strategy and under the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP);
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the involvement of the countries of the Arab Peninsula in the international coalition against ISIS; urges their governments to redouble their efforts to prevent the financing of international terrorism, for example through including increased surveillance of waqfs and private donors; urges them to prevent the sponsoring of proxy wars in Syria and in Libya; stresses the urgent need to introduce an efficient system of penalties coordinated with the LAS so as to put an end to ISIS financing by actors in the Arab world; stresses also the urgent need for a decryption system to deal with clandestine oil sales by ISIS;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses also the importance of regional dialogue with Turkey and Iran; stresses the need to reintegrate Iran into the international community once it has provided definitive assurances and cast- iron guarantees of its intention to develop nuclear energy for civilian purposes only; urges the EU to actively engage in promoting confidence building between Iran and Saudi Arabia and encourage both countries to prevent the fighting of proxy wars in other states in the region;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls the need to put in place the conditions for a resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority for a lasting settlement of the conflict based on a solution enabling both countries to live side by side in peace and securitymains convinced that the stability of the MENA region is intrinsically linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the fact that Palestinian self-determination is still to be fully realised through the foundation of the State of Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza; recalls the need to put in place the conditions for a resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority for a lasting settlement of the conflict based on a solution enabling both countries to live side by side in peace and security with Jerusalem as capital of both states; calls on the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to do their utmost to avoid conflict, as seen last in Gaza in the Summer of 2014; calls on the Hamas to halt belligerent rhetoric against Israel and work towards pacification and the re-construction of the Gaza Strip after the deadly war of 2014; calls on the Israeli government to take concrete steps showing its commitment to a two-state solution, to stop the policy of antagonisation of all Palestinian representatives and to halt all settlement expansion plans and settlement building in the West Bank; welcomes the 2002 peace initiatives and calls on the LAS countries to put them into effect; calls on international donors to honour the commitments made by them at the Cairo Conference of October 2014; urges the EU to affirm itself as a facilitator of the Middle East Peace Process;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Expresses full support for a new cconcrete actions to be enacted by the EU in the framework of the Common sSecurity and dDefence pPolicy (CSDP) to promote stability and security in the MENA countries; points out that the EU could play a major role in providing specific training inassistance and training in the field of SSR and DDR, border surveillance, anti- terrorism and the prevention of arms’ trafficking and in overhauling security with a particular and urgent focus on Libya;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls the crucial importance of promoting improved cooperation between the EU Member States and the MENA countries in combating terrorism; calls for closer cooperation with the Europol and Interpol countries, providing them with assistance in developing the necessary anti-terrorist structures and resources in the field of anti-terrorism, counter-terrorism and organised crime, including human trafficking;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses the urgent need for a political solution to the conflict in Syria, taking due account of the moderate opposition existing alongside the Syrian National Council and strengthening the moderate Sunni components; points out that no democratic solution in line with the fundamental principles of the Union can be negotiated with Bachar Al-Assad, following the massacres perpetrated by himcrimes against humanity, war crimes and gross human rights violations perpetrated by his regime since the start of the conflict in 2011;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for any initiative to end the fighting in Syria to take into account the requirements of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, the latter being applicable during wartime and peacetime, as well as, to the farthest extent possible, of international criminal law; calls on the European Union to step up its efforts to channel humanitarian aid towards the areas controlled by the moderate opposition and assist in their capacity building;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses the need for the Iraqi Government to continue to promote the sharing of political responsibilities, power and oil profits, in an inclusive manner, which should encompassing all religious and ethnic communities in that country and specifically the Sunni minorities; calls for this to be made an essential condition for implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Iraq; calls on the EU to contribute to capacity building by the Iraqi Governmentof the Iraqi Government and Iraqi institutions; encourages the Iraqi government to increase cooperation with the Kurdish Regional Government; encourages the EU Delegation to set up a subdelegation in Erbil;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Expresses its deep concern at the degrading security and humanitarian situation in Libya; stresses the need to maintain its territorial integrity and national unity; stresses that the Libyan crisis can only be resolved by means of dialogue that is as inclusive as possible; and to that end reaffirms the utmost support for the UN-led talks conducted by the SRSG Bernardino Léon in seeking a negotiated solution that will lead to the formation of a Libyan unity government; stresses that the Libyan crisis can only be resolved by means of dialogue that is as inclusive as possible and must be Libyan-owned; highlights that the EU should be ready to lend support to institutions in Libya as soon as a political solution and a ceasefire are found; stresses that the EU should contribute to a DDR and SSR effort in Libya as soon as a unity government is inaugurated and at its request; warns, however, that in the event of a stalemate in the political negotiations and the increase of the armed conflict, the EU must stand ready to contribute to any UNSC-mandated peacekeeping intervention;
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the EEAS and the Commission to continue to encourage democratic reforms withand the promotion of human rights, including women's rights and women's activism in the EU neighbouring countries; stresses the importance of maintaining the ‘'two- thirds/one third' principle for the allocation of ENP funding; calls on the Commission, the EEAS, the Council and the Member States to develop a political and strategic ENP dimension; welcomes the launch by the HR/VP and the Commission of broad consultation on ENP renewal;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses the advantages of coordinating EU aid to the MENA countries with that of other international donors; calls on the Commission to recommend improvements in this respect and stresses the need to coordinate emergency aid with long-term development assistance;
Amendment 305 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses the need to develop an effective common European response by all Member States to jihadist propaganda and to home-grown radicalisation; underlines the need to send a positive message regarding relations between the European Union and the MENA countries and cooperation between them; stresses the need to ensure much greater visibility for EU initiatives in the region than is now the case;
Amendment 312 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Stresses the importance of developing direct dialogue with civil societies in the MENA countries in order to understand their expectations more clearly; stresses its support for the consultation and enhancement of civil society organisations and new generations within the ENP framework; recalls the importance of election observation missions and urges the European Parliament and EEAS to send such missions to all countries in the region; when the prospects for genuine democratic elections are real and ensuring that such missions do not end up legitimising manipulated orchestration;
Amendment 318 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses the need to highlight the central role ofto be played by the Union for the Mediterranean; points out that it should itself be able to raise the necessary funds for these projects; endorses the direction being taken by ministerial meetings; calls for wider dissemination of resulting programmes and actions, including joint missions of election observation and joint assessment and joint assessment missions;
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that strategic dialogue between the EU and the MENA countries should be given further impetus in the direction of sustainable economic development, helping to iron out inequalities and creating youth opportunitiesjob and education opportunities, mainly for the youth; stresses the importance of facilitating access to the EU single market for the MENA countries, while providing all necessary protection; stresses the importance of encouraging European investments in MENA countries, with a strategic objective of fostering sustainable development and democratic accountability;
Amendment 352 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Regrets the deadlock faced by the EU with regard to the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU); calls on the EU to make every effort to assist with the regional integration of the Maghreb countries under the AMU or Agadir agreements and actively support a fair and lasting settlement of the Western Sahara conflict, on the basis of the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people and in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions;