Activities of Agustín DÍAZ DE MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA related to 2015/2342(INI)
Plenary speeches (4)
Addressing refugee and migrant movements: the role of EU External Action (debate) ES
Addressing refugee and migrant movements: the role of EU External Action (debate) ES
Addressing refugee and migrant movements: the role of EU External Action (debate) ES
Addressing refugee and migrant movements: the role of EU External Action (debate) ES
Reports (1)
REPORT on addressing refugee and migrant movements: the role of EU External Action PDF (459 KB) DOC (107 KB)
Amendments (29)
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas 6.7 million refugees are living in protracted displacement situations – estimated to last on average about 26 years – with a total lack of perspectives; whereas durable solutions to displacement remain unacceptably low and this makes it necessary to view forced displacement as a political and development challenge, not an exclusively humanitarian one;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the EU response has mobilised different internal and external instruments, but appears to have been excessively focussed on the short term and on reducing or stopping flows; whereas this short-term approach does not address the causes of forced displacement and migration flows neither the humanitarian needs of migrants;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)
Recital E d (new)
Ed. whereas according to Article 208 of the Lisbon Treaty development assistance aims at reducing and eventually eradicating poverty in third countries;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas mobility of people represents a great factor of growth for countries, including the EU, through the provision of adequate facilities (housing, education, languages) by fostering public and private sectors investments; whereas positive narratives should be developed to depict migration movements not just as a challenge to security and stability because of uncontrolled movements of people, but also as an opportunity for host countries, as this can also counter extremism and populism;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that this high level of human mobility responds to multiple, complex causes that require evidence- based decisions to differentiate its elements and develop targeted policy responses; underlines the need for the EU and its Member States to take into account this current reality and develop a new approach to the movement of people based on real data and the EU's interests, by fostering the resilience of people by increasing their access to basic services, notably education, and their integration and contribution to local contexts by providing opportunities for employment and self-employment;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that EU development cooperation should continue to address the root causes of forced displacement by promoting peace, democracy and security, reducing poverty and inequality, strengthening basic services, addressing state fragility and promoting human rights and good governance, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 16 in the new 2030 Agenda; highlights the need to focus on the socioeconomic aspects of the migration phenomenon and promote the creation of decent jobs and real economic opportunities so as to make migration a choice and not an obligation; notes that a successful policy should recognize the need of creating economic resilience in both host and origin countries;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Welcomes the EU's commitment to humanitarian assistance – as the world largest donor – and calls on EU and Member States to fulfil the pledges already made and increase their financial commitments in line with the rise in humanitarian needs; notes that the humanitarian response will always be the first element of the response to displacement crises; stresses that international law and the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence need to remain the guiding framework of the EU's humanitarian response to refugee and forced displacement crises;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Underlines that, in line with EU principles, an overall objective of the EU external migration policies should be to establish a multilateral governance regime for international migration, for which the recent UN High-Level Meeting is a first step;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses that global cooperation should be built-up upon regional and sub- regional cooperation and mobility frameworks, including those between developing regions; calls on the Commission to strengthen cooperation frameworks with regional organisations such as the African Union, League of Arab States, Gulf Cooperation Council that can also encourage the management of intra-regional mobility, with the African continent as a priority; expresses support for the reinforcement of initiatives of South-South mobility;
Amendment 272 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Highlights the international law obligations regarding refugees and calls all countries which have not done so to ratify and implement the Refugee Convention and its Protocol; calls on countries to expand the protection to internally displaced persons, as is done in mechanisms like the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention), and to expand the definition of refugees to include those forcibly displaced by extreme poverty, climate change or natural disasters;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Underlines the need to boost opportunities for education; calls for harmonization of qualification recognition policies and Protection of migrant workers' rights and social security coverage in line with core ILO conventions; calls for the signature and ratification of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Considers that temporary or subsidiary protection based on the assumption that refugees will return home as early as possible, creates a lack of perspective and of opportunity for integration; reminds the importance of the positive role that refugees can play in the reconstruction of their societies, upon returning to their countries or from abroad;
Amendment 302 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Commends the work, despite all difficulties and dangers, of local and international NGO and civil society organisations in delivering urgent and in many cases life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable ones whether in countries of origin, transit or destination of refugees and migrants, which has, in many cases, filled the gap left by the States and international community at large;
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that EU external action should be forward-looking instead of mainly reactive with changing objectives in response to new crises; recalls that the migration phenomenon stems from a complex set of causes such as a growing population, poverty, insufficient job creation, political instability and climate change; underlines the essential need to reinforce policy coherence at two levels: between internal and external EU policies, and –within external action itself– between the enlargement policy, the European neighbourhood policy, the bilateral relations with EU strategic partners, as well as development and trade policies;
Amendment 336 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Stresses the need to put in place a comprehensive approach to external conflict and crises by implementing a mapping of the direct and indirect economic, environmental, social, fiscal and political impacts of displacement on third countries in order to better adjust development policies to their needs.
Amendment 348 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for the establishment of a genuine, value-based common European migration policy – with adequate legal channels for migration as a sustainable long-term policy to promote growth and cohesion within the EU – in order to set a clear framework for EU relations with third countries; welcomes the EU Action Plan against migrant smuggling (2015-2020), which envisages closer cooperation with third countries, but underlines that the implementation of a common EU legal migration policy would be instrumental in breaking the business model of smugglers; notes that the EU external migration policies need agreements with third countries to be guided by long-term objectives and by establishing durable partnerships; recalls that any such partnerships should be based on dialogue, common interests and mutual ownership;
Amendment 362 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Welcomes the approach that the EU should set itself clear priorities and measurable objectives for any common policies and especially in dealing with third countries; underlines that Parliament should participate in the setting up of these clear objectives; considers that an EU external action based on a common approach will be the only way for a stronger and effective policy; calls for a real unified and coordinated action between the EU and the Member States, as unilateral initiatives, whether in internal or external affairs, can undermine the viability and success of our common policies and interests;
Amendment 430 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Underlines that EU assistance and cooperation is tailored to achieve development and growth in third countries, thereby also fostering growth within the EU, and that migration flows are an international reality and should not become an indicator of the performance of EU policies in third countries;
Amendment 434 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Draws the attention to the intention of revising development cooperation programming documents to deliver on the new migration compacts; stresses that this revision needs to be done in line with development effectiveness principles and in dialogue with partner countries; calls for the European Parliament to be fully involved at all stages of the revision, including programming documents part of the European Development Fund (EDF);
Amendment 439 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Is extremely concerned by the continuing conflict in Syria, in which violence against civilians and violations of international humanitarian law over the past five years have led to the forced displacement of half of the country; expresses its full support to Lebanon and Jordan, which continue to demonstrate extraordinary solidarity in hosting millions of refugees in spite of limited resources; reminds that a great part of these populations continue to live in deprived conditions with none or limited access to legal recognition, health and education systems or job markets; calls on the EU and its Member States to continue and step-up its cooperation and dialogue with Lebanon and Jordan, as with other third host countries, to ensure that, first, refugee populations can enjoy decent living conditions, access to basic services, and are granted rights to free movement and work opportunities, and, second, that funds reach their final objectives; stresses that this should be coupled with assistance to the host communities;
Amendment 452 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Notes that, following the implementation of the political agreement reached by the Member States and Turkey on 16 March, the flows of people reaching frontline Member States has decreased; underlines the concerns regarding this political agreement as stated publicly by international humanitarian organizations, particularly with regard to the respect of international law and human rights; warns against the replication of this model in other countries as it is necessary to take into consideration each country and region's own singularities;
Amendment 477 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Underlines that the EUR 3.35 billion earmarked for the new European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) as part of the EIP correspond to over 5% of the total funds available from EDF, DCI and European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) under the multiannual financial framework (MFF); calls on the Commission to provide more details regarding this estimation, the expected impact, and to indicate on which assumption it expects Member States, other donors and private partners to contribute by up to 44 billion to it, while some Member States have yet to contribute to current Trust Funds;
Amendment 511 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Expresses concerns that the 2017 EU draft budget foresees an increase in the management of migration flows or internal security initiatives at the expenses of EU cohesion funds and action in the world;
Amendment 513 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Welcomes and supports the initiatives of the European Investment Bank to sustain economic resilience in the EU's Southern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans regions through projects that lead to job creation, economic resilience and poverty reduction in line with the European Union's external policies;
Amendment 540 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Welcomes the deployment of European Migration Liaison Officers to priority countries as a first step to reinforce the EU's cooperation with third countries in the field of migration; recommends the reinforcement of staff for Justice and Home Affairs within the EU Delegations with a clear mandate to develop coordination within the Member States;
Amendment 543 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Underlines the need for a decentralised approach instead of carrying on with a centralised approach from Brussels, by making better use of EU Delegations - which have become in a very short period of time a tool of great value -; and applying greater flexibility and shorter programming period especially for countries at risk; calls for the appointment of regional coordinators with the capacity to lead on development and cooperation and external relations to ensure a coherent approach based on the local reality on the ground;
Amendment 544 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21c. Recommends the promotion, with the support of the EU, of information campaigns in third countries to inform citizens of their mobility rights and obligations and alert them of the risks they could face during their journey - particularly with regards to smugglers and traffickers - in order to facilitate the most informed decision;
Amendment 545 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 d (new)
Paragraph 21 d (new)
21d. Demands that twinning programmes and TAIEX action be used better, not simply for exchanges of best practices and training but for development and cooperation with special effort to countries under pressure;
Amendment 546 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 e (new)
Paragraph 21 e (new)
21e. Stresses that targeted support based on local situation is a key element to an efficient and results-oriented policy, and that such support should be negotiated with third countries; calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop clear and measurable objectives to be implemented by the financial instruments including Trust Funds, in a coherent and coordinated way;