65 Amendments of Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ related to 2019/2202(INI)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
— having regard to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reports on Ukraine, particularly the report on the human rights situation in Ukraine of 16 February – 31 July 2020,
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the full potential of the reforms adopted is still not being realised because of internal institutional instability and, contradictions, weak capacity, limited resources and such external factors as the Covid-19 pandemic;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas media landscape in Ukraine remains under a strong influence of media owners of oligarchic nature and media workers, particularly journalists investigating corruption and fraud, continuously face the threat of violence and intimidation, including death of journalist Vadym Komarov in 2019, their work is often obstructed by limited access to information, legal pressure, including criminal case against Bihus.info, and cyber-attacks, inter alia;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas the ongoing military conflict have caused a humanitarian crisis with devastating consequences on 4.4 million people of which 1.6 million are internally displaced (IDPs); whereas 3.4 million people whom are living on the line of contact require humanitarian assistance and protection; whereas, as a result of attacks on public infrastructure, local populations are facing limited access to health care facilities, schools, water and sanitation;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
Ib. whereas the Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine estimates at least 94 Ukrainian citizens persecuted for political motives in Crimea or in Russia, out of which 71 are Crimean Tatars, including Marlen Asanov, Memet Belyalov, Timur Ibragimov, Seyran Saliyev, Server Mustafayev, Server Zekiryayev and Edem Smailov sentenced in September 2020 to prison terms of between 13 and 19 years;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I c (new)
Recital I c (new)
Ic. whereas LGBTI people and feminist activists are continuously subjected to hate speech and violent attacks, and Roma people face discriminatory language and hate speech from State and local authorities and the media;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I d (new)
Recital I d (new)
Id. whereas the latest report by the OHCHR highlights the lack of progress in criminal proceedings related to accountability for grave human rights violations allegedly perpetrated by members of Ukrainian forces, as well as delays and insufficient progress in investigating the Maidan-related crimes;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the unprecedented aid packages of approximately 190 million EUR, including macro-financial assistance, made available by the Union to Ukraine to help it to cope with the COVID- 19 emergency;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the progress made by Ukraine in fulfilling its commitments enshrined in the AA, particularly in the fields of agriculture, energy, banking, decentralisation, digital economy, environment and electoral procedures; is, however, concerned that according to the review mechanism of the AA (‘Pulse of the AA’), only 37 % of AA implementation- related tasks were completed in 2019;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the progress made by Ukraine in fulfilling its commitments enshrined in the AA, particularly in the fields of agriculture, energy, banking, decentralisation and electoral procedures; is, however, concerned that according to the review mechanism of the AA (‘Pulse of the AA’), only 37 % of AA implementation-related tasks were completed in 2019;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Commends the Ukrainian civil society for its activities and support for the implementation of the AA/DCFTA, addressing the challenges of the COVID- 19 pandemic, assistance and relief for IDPs and other vulnerable groups and raising societal resilience and media literacy among the Ukrainian people, and encourages the Ukrainian central and local governments to continue fostering close cooperation with the civil society, including an increased financial support for its activities;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Insists on a continuous improvement of the electoral code to bring it in line with international standards and address remaining issues like social media campaigning, transparency of campaign spending and access of independent candidates to the electoral process; moreover, in regards to the local elections, it is important to eliminate bureaucratic barriers for voter registration for IDPs, to set a financial ceiling for campaigning, to enable participation of individual candidates, including to reconsider intentions to introduce a cash deposit for candidates in small communities, among other;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the Ukrainian authorities to continue reforms in the public health system, especially considering the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic had upon the Ukrainian health system;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Underlines that civil society continues to play a very active role in promoting and monitoring reforms, as well as in the monitoring of the AA implementation; welcomes, in this regard, the “Civil Society Facility” programme worth €20 million which will support the strengthening of civil society organisations capacity to participate in decision-making and public life;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Welcomes the amendments to the Ukrainian Criminal Code defining rape and sexual violence through lack of consent and urges a swift development of a methodology for the investigation of sexual violence crimes; regrets that due to a lack of such methodology there were no prosecution cases for rape or sexual violence on the grounds of lack of consent in 2019;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Welcomes the resumption of the peace talks under the Normandy four format on 9 December 2019 in Paris after a deadlock of three years, urges all sides to adhere to the ceasefire agreement, stresses the importance of identifying additional disengagement areas, demining activities and opening checkpoints across the contact line, and calls upon Russia to match the constructive steps taken by Ukraine in order to build trust and move closer towards the implementation of the Minsk agreements;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Strongly condemns Russia’s destabilizing actions and military involvement in Ukraine; expresses concerns about Russia’s ongoing build-up of military facilities and installations in the Crimean Peninsula; condemns Russia’s illegal actions aimed to seize control of the Kerch Strait, notably the construction of the Kerch Bridge and its rail link without Ukraine’s consent, and the closing of the Azov Sea which severely hinders Ukraine’s economic activities;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Calls upon the EEAS to develop a more active role for the EU, represented by the Vice-President of the European Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in the peaceful resolution of the ongoing war in eastern Ukraine, including within the agreed Normandy Format; appoint an EU Special Envoy for Crimea and the Donbas region;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 e (new)
Paragraph 11 e (new)
11e. Expresses support for the calls made by the Ukrainian Government for an extended international peacekeeping force to be stationed along the Ukraine- Russia border and in the Luhansk and Donetsk districts; once the situation permits and as part of the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, an EU-led CSDP mission should be offered for deployment to the parties to the conflict, to assist in tasks such as demining, preparations for local elections and securing free access for humanitarian aid organisations;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 f (new)
Paragraph 11 f (new)
11f. Urges the OSCE SMM to implement its mandate, by distance, through regular exchange with victims and witnesses of persecutions, lawyers, NGOs, and media representatives, among others, both for Crimea and Donbas;
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Takes note of the Ukrainian Parliament’s adoption of the laws on national security in June 2018, on defence procurement and on intelligence in 2020; urges it, however, to adopt additional legislation aimed at limiting the competences of Ukraine’s security service of Ukraine (SSU) in order to transform it into a pure counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism agency;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Acknowledges the unique experience and expertise of Ukraine, recognizes its contribution to the EU common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions, battlegroups and operations; calls for deeper cooperation in EU-related defence policies, including participation in PESCO once the issue of participation of third countries is resolved;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Welcomes successful steps taken in the field of scientific and technological cooperation, including space industry, and in the field of defence, notably convergence in the operational, educational and institutional segments, and in the implementation of the necessary internal changes in these sectors;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12c. Urges Ukraine to meet its commitments on reforming the state export control in accordance with the EU requirements and standards and in the implementation of a consistent and systematic sanctions policy; calls on the EEAS and the Commission, to better supervise the implementation of EU sanctions, including in better supervision of the activities of the authorities in the Member States charged with implementing the common EU rules;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)
Paragraph 12 d (new)
12d. Welcomes the enhanced cooperation between Ukrainian authorities and the European public and private sector to combat hybrid threats, primarily from Russia, aiming to, inter alia, spread false information, promulgate violence and push anti-government and anti-European sentiments;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Is pleased that the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption (NAPC) has been re-established and that the High Anti- Corruption Court began its work in September 2019; regrets, however, the low number of judgments handed down to date, as well as the lack of a comprehensive; welcomes the adoption of the national anti-corruption strategy since 2017for 2020-2024;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Highlights that organised crime still is a challenge that needs to be tackled in Ukraine, especially by revising and improving the legislative framework and by improving cooperation and coordination between the responsible law enforcement agencies;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Expresses concerns about initiated criminal proceedings on the possibility of high treason by former President Petro Poroshenko for signing the Minsk Agreements, among other charges;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Welcomes the already occurred exchanges of prisoners and encourages a full exchange of prisoners between Ukraine on the one side and Russia and Russia backed-separatists on the other, however, expresses concern over liberating Russian citizen suspected of involvement in the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17;
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Strongly condemns the violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms perpetrated by the occupying forces in Crimea and Donbas, especially the repression of individuals who oppose the de facto “authorities”, the intimidation and persecution of the community, the restrictions on education rights and the harsh conditions in places of detention in Crimea;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Strongly condemns the violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression, religion or belief and association, as well as the right to peaceful assembly, perpetrated by the occupying forces in Crimea and Donbas;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Notes that the reduction of hostilities in eastern Ukraine during the ceasefire that came into force on 27 July contributed to a 53% drop in security incidents and a reduction in civilian casualties, notes, however, that freedom of media and freedom of religion are still affected in these regions, as well as the fundamental right to education of children;
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Notes that the five-year Action Plan for implementing the National Human Rights Strategy of Ukraine expires in 2020 and calls for a thorough review of its main achievements before setting goals for a follow up action plan;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Welcomes the “EU4ResilientRegions”,worth €30 million, aimed at enhancing the resilience of eastern and southern Ukraine to the negative impacts of the ongoing conflict, including to hybrid threats and other destabilising factors;
Amendment 276 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Deplores Russia-led imprisonment and prosecution of Ukrainian citizens, including Crimean Tatars, for political reasons and calls upon Russian authorities for an immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners; moreover, calls upon Russia to investigate atrocities carried out against Crimean Tatars and to guarantee and safeguard the right of Crimean Tatars, Ukrainians and of all ethnic and religious communities to maintain and develop their own culture, traditions, education and identity;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Underlines that in eastern Ukraine more than 3.5 million people on both sides of the line of contact are still dependent on humanitarian assistance and protection, facing water cuts and electricity stoppages; notes that the current COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the challenges these people are facing;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Reiterates the importance of investigating the Maidan-related crimes and grave human rights violations allegedly perpetrated by members of Ukrainian forces and bringing those responsible to justice;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 d (new)
Paragraph 16 d (new)
16d. Calls upon the European Council and the EEAS to swiftly operationalise and implement an EU human rights sanctions mechanism, the European Magnitsky Act, allowing sanctions to be applied against individuals and companies involved in grave human rights violations and responsible for other crimes, including corruption, and invites Ukraine to follow the example and to introduce an Ukrainian version of the European Magnitsky Act;
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Expresses concern over the lack of proper action taken by the Ukrainian authorities to tackle the discrimination and hate speech targeting minority groups, especially the Roma community;
Amendment 302 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Expresses concerns over the worsening working environment for media representatives, particularly investigative journalists reporting on corruption and fraud; deplores any acts aimed at limiting the work of journalists, including limiting access to information, criminal investigations, pressure to reveal sources and hate speech, notably hate speech against independent media on Telegram channel by the Members of Verkhovna Rada and other political figures;
Amendment 312 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Notes with concern the wide disinformation and propaganda campaigns taking place in Ukraine during the COVID-19 pandemic; stresses that the EU needs to continue to support Ukraine in countering such hybrid threats, including through the strengthening of independent media, media literacy and strategic communications;
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Calls to thoroughly investigate the attacks on media workers and media channels and hold culprits accountable;
Amendment 322 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)
Paragraph 17 c (new)
17c. Urges the development of democratic, independent, pluralistic and balanced media landscape in Ukraine which would bring to an end politically motivated persecution of media channels, including revoking of licenses, and ensures protection of local journalists, opinion makers and dissident voices from harassment and intimidation, allows non- discriminatory access to online and offline information and meaningful civic participation, and safeguards and guarantees human and civil rights;
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 d (new)
Paragraph 17 d (new)
17d. Stresses the important role of the public broadcaster, expresses concern that rural populations were cut off from public television and calls upon the Verkhovna Rada and the Government to uphold State’s commitments to the public broadcaster and to ensure financial and political support for its further modernization, independence and capacity to conduct investigative journalism;
Amendment 326 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 e (new)
Paragraph 17 e (new)
17e. Insists strongly on non- discrimination with regard to all LGBTI people, feminist activists, Roma people and other ethnic, linguistic, religious and national minorities, and their protection against discrimination in law and the prosecution of all acts of abuse, hate speech and physical violence perpetrated against them; calls on the government and all political actors to take efforts to create an inclusive and tolerant society;
Amendment 327 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 f (new)
Paragraph 17 f (new)
17f. Stresses the need for additional efforts to strengthen gender equality and fight against gender-based violence;
Amendment 328 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 g (new)
Paragraph 17 g (new)
17g. Emphasises the importance to protect and ensure Ukrainian citizenship rights in the temporarily occupied territories, including simplifying the procedures for receiving pensions, birth certificates for children and prevent the risk of leaving them stateless and vulnerable;
Amendment 334 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Reiterates its support for deeper economic cooperation and market integration between the EU and Ukraine through a gradual opening of the EU single market, conditioned upon full implementation of the DCFTA and compliance with legal, economic and technical regulations and standards;
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Calls for an increased sectoral cooperation between the EU and Ukraine, in education and research, innovation, ICT sector and digitisation as well as green technologies, in order to share know-how and best practices; moreover, for an increased cooperation and gradually differentiated sectoral integration of Ukraine in the Energy Union, the Transport Community and the Digital Single Market, among other areas;
Amendment 337 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18c. Calls on the Ukraine authorities to open up the country’s aviation market to European companies, including low-cost companies;
Amendment 338 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 d (new)
Paragraph 18 d (new)
18d. Urges deeper cooperation in telecommunications and the creation of a roaming fees-free regime between the EU and Ukraine as soon as possible;
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 e (new)
Paragraph 18 e (new)
18e. Encourages the expansion of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) to Ukraine upon meeting all technical and legal requirements;
Amendment 340 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 f (new)
Paragraph 18 f (new)
18f. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to conduct a credible needs’ assessment for the Donbas region to establish a strategy for its social-economic recovery and suggests the creation of an appropriate international framework for the reconstruction of Donbas;
Amendment 341 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 g (new)
Paragraph 18 g (new)
18g. Notes that, according to UNICEF, Covid-19 poses not only a public healthcare crisis, but also a socio- economic crisis, which might increase the poverty rate in Ukraine from 27.2% to 43.6% or even to 50.8%; therefore, encourages the Ukrainian government to implement comprehensive social protection measures to mitigate the effects of Covid-19;
Amendment 342 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 h (new)
Paragraph 18 h (new)
18h. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to mainstream gender equality in its financial support for Ukraine, particularly when aimed to mitigate the negative effects caused by Covid-19, as women, including women entrepreneurs, were among most impacted by the strict confinement;
Amendment 398 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Encourages the Commission to consider Ukraine’s desire to participate in the European Green Deal, in particular to launch a structural dialogue and possible development of a joint roadmap based on Ukraine’s proposal to the European Union on participating in the Green Deal;
Amendment 408 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Reminds Ukraine of the commitment, within the Energy Community, to comply with applicable European Union law, including environmental and safety policy, and encourages to refuse purchase of energy produced in not compatible to EU standards;
Amendment 409 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Welcomes the EU’s €10 million “Climate package for a sustainable economy” programme which will offer support to Ukraine in developing a holistic approach to restructure its key economic sectors towards a low carbon economy;
Amendment 412 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b. Regrets that in the renewables power generation sector Ukraine is not meeting its obligations towards the investors and that delays in payments to producers of electricity from renewable energy sources threaten further development of clean energy sources in Ukraine;
Amendment 413 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Commends the adoption by the Ukrainian Government in February 2019 of the strategy for the state environmental policy up to 2030 and the national waste management plan, EIА and SEA laws, laws in the field of climate policy; urges Ukraine to take action to put an end to the environmental damage caused by the illegal and unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, such as illegal logging in the primeval Carpathian forests, especially in connection with the unlawful Svydovets ski resort project; urges Ukraine to provide open and convenient access to environmental information, expansion of protected areas, urges Ukraine not to delay the implementation of the National emission reduction plan of major pollutants from large combustion plants; encourages Ukraine to adopt legislation for development of sustainable transport;
Amendment 420 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Expresses concerns about the risks posed by landmines in eastern Ukraine, and proposes a “Donbas demining” program between Ukrainian authorities and the international community;
Amendment 421 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Is deeply concerned about the approximately 1,200 radioactive sources - used for medical, industrial, or scientific purposes - located in and around the Donetsk region, which pose serious health, safety, and ecological risks; calls on the OSCE, the Trilateral Contact Group and the Normandy Four Format countries to counter the proliferation of radioactive activities and the smuggling of radioactive substances in line with the nuclear non-proliferation regime; urges all the parties to engage with relevant stakeholders in order to safely transport high activity disused radioactive sources out of the Donbas region;
Amendment 425 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25c. Is deeply concerned about the environmental impact of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, including dangers posed by the flooding of inter-connected mines; calls for an in-depth evaluation of the conflict’s environmental impact to be followed-up with a reaction plan designed to prevent an ecological collapse;
Amendment 436 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Reiterates its call for the establishment of an Eastern Partnership University in Ukraine and; calls on the Union’s institutions to reinforce and expand training programmes for Ukrainian legal professionals and to strengthen the capacity of Ukraine to participate in Horizon Europe, among other ways to boost people-to-people contacts, academic and educational cooperation between the EU and Ukraine;