Activities of Timothy Charles Ayrton TANNOCK related to 2018/2097(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT Annual report on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy PDF (303 KB) DOC (63 KB)
Amendments (41)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to the Joint Declaration on EU-NATO cooperation of July 2018,
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas EU external action has a direct impact on our citizens’ lives, be it by supporting security and stability in our neighbourhood, deepening trade and economic cooperation, or preventing crises before they happen;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is convinced that no single EU Member State can respond effectively to today’s global challenges on its own; believes that, by pulling their weight together within the EU, theBelieves that working collectively where necessary EU Member States can exert an influence on the world stage that they would not otherwise possess; is convinced that 28 Member States together, representing 500 million citizens, have moresignificant leverage in international negotiations and in setting international regulations and standards; believes, moreover, that under the protection of the EU, globalisation can represent an opportunity for EU citizens and not a threat;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Regrets the fact that the Member States all too often prioritise their national interests, regardless of the possible consequences at a European level, thereby undermining the EU’s credibility as a global player; calls for a greater division of responsibilities andCalls enhanced coordination between the EU and its Member States; and believes ithat good cooperation among the Member States is essential to safeguard our democracy, our freedom, and our social and environmental standards;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Believes the European Union and its Member States must develop effective foreign, security, and defence policies which respect national interests but also seek to work collectively with international partners, the United Nations, NGOs, human rights defenders, and others on issues of shared concern, and in order to promote peace, prosperity and stability around the world;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that, taking the 28 Member States as a whole, the EU is the world’s largest economy with more than half a billion people; stresses that based on the collective contributions of individual Member States the EU is also the world’s leading development aid donor;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – indent 1
Paragraph 5 – indent 1
- promoting and safeguarding European values such as freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – indent 2
Paragraph 5 – indent 2
- a commitment to multilateralism, with the support of the UN system, the NATO alliance, and regional organisations at its core;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – indent 4
Paragraph 5 – indent 4
- an emphasis on conflict prevention, peacebuilding and, institution building, diplomacy, and economic and trade cooperation;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that the EU should stay true to its principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law; emphasises the importance of assessing whether the promotion of these principles in third countries has been successful; further encourages consideration of the policy of less for less with regard to those countries with which the European Union has formal relations and which go into reverse in terms of governance, democracy, and human rights;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Commission and the Member States to act strategically by using all the means at their disposal, including trade, development, and diplomatic and military tools, to strengthen the EU’s geopolitical influence and protect its interestthe interests of the Union and its Member States;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for sufficient financial resources to be made available for the EU’s external action under the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) (2021-2027); takes the view thato address the growing challenges in the EU’s neighbourhood and beyond call for significantly higher appropriations for external action;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Takes the view that in order to achieve greater success in addressing security challenges, as well as in order to anticipate future threats, Member States must increase their defence expenditure in line with the two per cent GDP NATO commitment;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the EEAS to invest in collective leadership and develop ‘issue- based coalitions’ with like-minded countries, to support a rules-based international order, multilateralism and free trade, and to pursue cooperative solutions to global challenges; calls on the EEAS to engage with emerging powers in the provision of global public goods such as peace and security, including by working together on crisis management operations around the world, climate change mitigation, protection of human rights, financial stability, and clean air and water, and unpolluted land;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that the EU has played an important role in de-escalating and resolving foreign policy crises, namely when some Member States have taken the lead under the auspices of the Union overall, such as in the Normandy format or the EU3+3 negotiations with Iran, but recognises that the EU has struggled to find a unified position on dealing with issues relating to migration; supports the establishment of ad hoc coalitions of Member States that can intervene to respond to international crises, making EU external action more flexible and responsive by reducing the pressure of having to achieve universal consensus among the Member States;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Recognises that the EU’s foreign and security policy ambitions cannot be advanced by insisting upon a one size fits all approach and must therefore become more responsive and flexible in addressing changing situations in its neighbourhood as well as globally;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the EU’s increasing role in post-conflict reconstruction as a means of securing peace, but notes that the EU’s objectives of diplomacy, state institution building, economic cooperation, security, and development aid, are increasingly taking place against the backdrop of conflict, thereby limiting opportunities for success;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Understands that proximity to threats determines policy priorities; calls, nevertheless, on all Member States to respect the principle of solidarity enshrined in the Treaties (Article 80 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union) and to take the necessary steps to respond to the migration crisis, just as all Member States have responded with solidarity to the challenges posed by a resurgent and assertive Russia; further believes that current crises have exposed weaknesses in the EU and its structures, and tested the willingness of Member States to cooperate more effectively to address common challenges;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Believes the increasingly assertive behaviour of Russia and of China in an economic and security context risks undermining the European Union’s aspirations to influence global governance;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that internal and external security are increasingly intertwined; supports the Commission and the VP/HR in further improving the EU’s resilience to terrorist attacks, illegal migration, cyberattacks, propaganda and disinformation, and other hybrid threats as part of a risk-reduction strategy;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Remains concerned that the sustained cyber and disinformation campaigns aimed at EU Member States and their regional partners risks destabilising and discrediting political, economic, and social structures;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Highlights that transatlantic relations are indispensable for the security and prosperity of both sides of the Atlantic and encourages the strongest possible relationship between the EU and the United States in order to fulfil these objectives; regrets the US’s progressive retreat from the multilateral, rules-based world order, namely its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, and various United Nations’ agencies;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses that investing in the stability and prosperity of the Western Balkans means investing in the security and future of ourust continue to be a major priority for the European Union; reiterates the European perspective for the countries in the Western Balkans; highlights that the enlargement process is merit-based and must depend on nothing other than the concrete results achieved by each individual country, based on strict application of the Copenhagen criteria; reiterates the importance, throughout this process, of the rule of law, reconciliation and good neighbourly relations, security and migration, socio-economic development, transport and energy connectivity and the digital agenda;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to continue using the EU’s transformative power at its Eastern borders, using trade and association agreements and access to the single market as incentives to foster democratic reforms and the adoption of European rules and standards;
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Condemns unreservedly Russian aggression in Ukraine, including the illegal annexation of Crimea and the Russian-sponsored conflict in eastern Ukraine, and calls on EU Member States and the international community to work more effectively in condemning such actions and in reaching sustainable, peaceful solutions to the crisis which respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Condemns unreservedly measures being taken by the Russian Federation relating to the continued militarisation and deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the Georgian occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia; further calls on the Russian Federation to fulfil its obligations under the EU mediated 2008 Ceasefire Agreement and for an intensification of dialogue via the Geneva process aimed at peaceful conflict resolution and respect for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls that the Mediterranean is one of the most unequal borders in the world; reiterates the urgent need to stimulate the economic development of the Southern Mediterranean basin and Sub- Saharan Africa in order to create local economic opportunities in the countries of origin of migrants; welcomnotes, in this regard, Commission President Juncker’s proposal to build a new Alliance for Sustainable Investment and Jobs between Europe and Africa, and his initiative to develop the various European-African trade agreements into one continent-to- continent free trade agreement, as an economic partnership between equals;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Encourages a deepening of cooperation between the European Union, its Member States, African nations, and international partners in order to fulfil the commitments made in the Paris Climate Change accord in order to address the effect of global warming on the regional and global stability, economic development, and migration;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Supports the development of a coherent, robust strategy for the Sahel region, aimed at improving governance, economic cooperation, addressing security threats to the region and to the EU, and tackling radicalisation and trafficking;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 d (new)
Paragraph 17 d (new)
17d. Supports measures to deepen relations between the European Union, its Member States and partners in Asia, and encourages ongoing economic, diplomatic and security cooperation, including in the context of addressing regional and territorial disputes;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 e (new)
Paragraph 17 e (new)
17e. Emphasises that strengthening regional security in the Indo-Pacific is of critical importance to the interests of the EU and its Member States; stresses that all disputes should be settled through peaceful means based on international laws; takes note that official dialogue between China and Taiwan has been frozen over the past two years; encourages a quick resumption of bilateral talks to de-escalate tensions between the two sides and maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait; reiterates its firm support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organisations, mechanisms and activities;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that, despite their importance, soft power and institution building alone are not sufficient to exert influence in a world where power politics and hard power are increasingly significant; believes that the effectiveness of the EU’s foreign policy will ultimately depend, to a large extent, on the resources and capabilities that support it and the willingness of Member States to cede national decision making in this context;
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. WelcomNotes the steps taken to increase the EU’s military autonomy, namely the establishment of a European single command centre in Brussels for European military training missions, and removing obstacles to the deployment of EU Battlegroups; believes thatincluding the establishment of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) on defence projects and the coordinated review of national defence budgets will help the Member States to spend their defence budgets more effectively;
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that the capacity to dispatch forces to global conflicts is an essential pre-condition for becoming a credible political power; calls on the EEAS and the Member States to develop sufficient military capabilities through NATO to defend their values and interests around the world;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Welcomes the EU Global Strategy’s commitment to NATO as the cornerstone of Europe’s collective security, and to strengthening the United Nations as the bedrock of international order;
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Stresses the importance of ongoing cooperation between the European Union, its Member States, and the United States bilaterally, through NATO and the United Nations, on issues such as Syria, Ukraine, Yemen, Iran, and relations with Russia;
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)
Paragraph 20 c (new)
20c. Welcomes the commitments laid out in the July 2017 Joint Declaration on EU-NATO cooperation in order to promote peace and stability in the Euro- Atlantic area;
Amendment 330 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Recognises the need to look for creative solutions for cooperation between the European Union and the United Kingdom in the area of CFSP and CSDP;
Amendment 342 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. SupportNotes the proposal set out by Commission President Juncker in his State of the Union Address on 12 September 2018 to move to qualified majority voting (QMV) in specific areas of the CFSP where the Treaties currently require unanimity, notably human rights issues, sanctions and civilian missions; believes that the use of QMV would enable the EU to act more resolutely, quickly and effectively; calls on the European Council to take up this initiative by making use of the passerelle clause (Article 31(3) TEU); encourages the European Council to consider extending QMV to other areas of the CFSPencourages Member States to examine ways in which they can act more effectively in the context of CFSP and CSDP; further recognises that the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union can only operate effectively where there is unanimity between Member States;