25 Amendments of Geoffrey VAN ORDEN related to 2013/2081(INI)
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that this is the world the EU needs to understand today, and on the basis of which it should frame a new EU foreign policy to face these challenges; believes that in order to preserve and promote its values and its position on the global stage, the EU needs not only to be coherent and consistent in its external action, but, first and foremost, to clearly define and implement its strategic objectives, making full use of the opportunities provided by the Lisbon Treaty; demands that the instrument of enhanced cooperation be used to secure greater capacity to act, and to overcome the serious problem of the veto principle within the Council;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. States that only, by acting jointly or in unity do we have thegreater strength to pursue our interests and defend our values in this world, and that the Member States must therefore – more than in the past – demonstrate their preparedness and political will for collective, fast and effective action; affirms that the Member States must fulfil their contractual duty of loyalty towards the CFSP in both action and spirit, which is enshrined in the Treaty of Lisbon8 ;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that the effectiveness of the EU's external action also depends on its cooperation with Member States and the full support of itstheir citizens and the legitimacy this provides, and therefore calls for close consultation of the European Parliament in setting clear priorities and objectives for EU foreign policy;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the VP/HR's initiative to developrecognition of the concept of a «Comprehensive Approach» in order to achieve the full potential of the Lisbon Treaty; calls for the VP/HR to engage in a debate with Parliament on the best way to ensure that this comprehensive approach is consistently implemented, and in particular that our foreign policy priorities are further developed in a manner consistent with our interests and are supported by the necessary financial means and by effective and flexible instruments;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Questions, in view of the range of challenges and demands for EU engagement in the world, the Council's rationale for cutting the multiannual financial framework, which will reduce the Union's capacity to promote peace, security and economic development and its credibility in respect of such efforts; cautions that if such cuts are applied in an uncoordinated fashion, they risk undermining the effective pursuit of our values as well as our collective ability to promote security, stability and prosperity in our neighbourhood and further afieldGiven the current economic and financial pressures, fully supports the Council's rationale for cutting the multiannual financial framework;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 – point 4
Paragraph 21 – point 4
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. WelcomNotes the initiative of holding a European Council Summit in December 2013 on the future of European defence, as an opportunity to review the EU's strategic goals and security interests, concepts that should be further developed in a White Book on European defencend hopes that this will be an opportunity to reposition the EU as a provider of civil and humanitarian assistance, rather than pursuing its duplicative, confusing and unnecessary military ambitions;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Strongly believes that the USA is the EUEurope's most important strategic partner; urges the EU, therefore, to give clear political priority to deepening transatlantic relations at all levels and broadening them to include other transatlantic partnersallies and emphasising the fundamental importance of NATO as the primary institution for Western security cooperation;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. CriticisesExpresses concern at China's continuing violation of human rights anddomestic human, cultural and religious minority rights, for instance in Tibet:
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Calls for the EU and its Member States to strengthen their relations with India, based on the promotion of democracy, social inclusion, the rule of law and human rights, and expresses its satisfaction at the rapid progressdisappointment that more rapid progress has not been made on the negotiation of a comprehensive EU-India free trade agreement, which will stimulate European and Indian trade and economic growth, and urges that this agreement be brought to a rapid conclusion;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Stresses the strategic importance of the EU's dialogue and-Turkey relationship and the current cooperation with Turkey on stability, democracy and security, with particular reference in relation to the wider Middle East; notes that Turkey has strongly and repeatedly condemned the Syrian regime's violence against civilians and is providing vital humanitarian assistance to Syrians fleeing violence across the border; stresses that Turkey's growing international standing should also be based on its commitment to democracy and the rule of law at home;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
49. Expresses its deep concern about the situation in Egypt and the excessive violence by all parties, including both state security forces and opposition forces; stresses that the EU should not take sides and welcomes the EU foreign ministers' decision of 21 August 2013 to suspend all export licences for equipment which could be used for internal repression; urges the military and the Muslim Brotherhood to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue and calls for an inclusive political agreement and for power to be transferred to democratically elected leaders as soon as possible;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Considers regrettableNotes the lifting of the EU's arms embargo on Syria, as it is a dangerous step towards the re- nationalisation of EU foreign policy; cCondemns the tragic and ongoing bloodshed in Syria, which has already had a devastating humanitarian impact, including on neighbouring countries, in particular Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey; calls for the immediate and fullwelcomes investigation by the UN of the horrific chemical weapons attack and forurges a united international response; underlines the urgency of convening the Geneva II talks in order to initiate a political solution and bring an end to the deadly spiral of violence;
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55
Paragraph 55
55. Expresses its support for the process of negotiating an association agreement between the EU and Mercosur and; considers that, as part of this process, no Latin American state should engage in policies which infringe the sovereign rights and interests of any EU Member State; notes the commitment of both parties to arriving at an exchange of offers on market access by the end of 2013; notes that such a deal would represent an advance in strategic relations with Latin America;
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
Paragraph 66
66. Emphasises the need to conclude the negotiations on partnership and cooperation agreements and political framework agreements with several Southeast and East Asian countries, and to take positive steps to improve relations with countries such as Sri Lanka, in order to consolidate and heighten the EU's relations with the region;
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67
Paragraph 67
67. Underlines the importance of Asia- Pacific regional security and is concerned about tensions, including territorial disputes around the East and South China Sea, as well as having increasing concerns about North Korea; suggests that the EU could take a more active role, and calls for all parties concerned to be included in dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, especially in the multilateral arena, in view of the importance of stability in this area to the EU's maritime security and commercial interests;
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73
Paragraph 73
73. Notes that recent crises have again highlighted the growing inability of the UN Security Council to act in response to serious threats to international peace and security, on account of its structures and working methods;
Amendment 313 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74
Paragraph 74
74. Calls for the EU and its Member States to reconfirm the EU's commitment to advancing effective multilateralism, with the UN system at its core, by enhancing the representativeness, accountability and effectiveness of the UN; stresses the importance of working with other international partners in order to respond to international challenges; stresses that an EU seat in an enlarged UN Security Council remains a central, long-term goal of the EU; calls, furthermore, on the Member States, in order to strengthen our presence within the UN system, to coordinate their efforts in selecting senior officials for high-level posts in the UN and other international institutions;
Amendment 317 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75
Paragraph 75
75. Calls for the EU and its Member States to cooperate with partners in strengthening the role of regional organisations, including NATO, in peacekeeping, conflict prevention, civilian and military crisis management, and conflict resolution; urges the EU to focus its own efforts on complementary civil instruments; stresses the need to work with partners in ensuring that the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) concept focuses on prevention, protection and post-conflict reconstruction; underlines the need to develop more effective mediation guidelines and capacities, including through collaboration between the EU and the UN;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76
Paragraph 76
76. WelcomNotes the commitments made by the EU and NATO to strengthen their strategic partnership, while observing that most EU Members are NATO Members, and that it makes little sense to have to coordinate the activities of more or less the same states; notes that the current global and European economic crisis has spurred efforts to seek more cost-effective operational capabilities in both the EU and NATO, which are urgently needed; calls for an urgent political solution to the blockage on cooperation under the Berlin Plus arrangements,therefore, urges the EU to cease its unnecessary and duplicative military activities, and to offer civil instruments which may be complementary to the activities of the Alliance; calls for a fresh initiative on Cyprus that is more sympathetic to the interests and concerns of both communities, as the current deadlock has created a blockage which areis holding back the prospects for the two organisations to cooperate more effectively;
Amendment 334 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 79
Paragraph 79
79. Welcomes the EU's coordinated approach of Member States during the negotiation of the Arms Trade Treaty, which resulted in a successful outcome; calls on the Member States to ratify the Treaty expeditiously so that it can enter into force, following the consent of Parliament; calls for competence in respect of the rules governing arms exports to be fully transferred to the EU;