64 Amendments of Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ related to 2020/2112(INI)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9
Citation 9
— having regard to the Council conclusions of 8 December 2009 on Arctic issues, of 12 May 2014 on developing a European Union Policy towards the Arctic Region, of 20 June 2016 on the Arctic, of 21 November 2019 on Space Solutions for a sustainable Arctic and of 9 December 2019 on the EU Arctic policy,
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25
Citation 25
— having regard to the statements adopted at the Northern Dimension Parliamentary Forum in Bodø, Norway, in November 2019, in Reykjavik, Iceland, in May 2015, in Archangelsk, Russia, in November 2013, in Tromsø, Norway, in February 2011 and in Brussels in September 2009,
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 a (new)
Citation 25 a (new)
— having regard to the statement from the 14th Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region 13- 14 April 2021,
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas since the end of the Cold War, the Arctic has been a zone of peace and international cooperation, and the goal of the international community shouldmust be to keep it as such;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas since the end of the Cold War, the Arctic has long been a zone of peace andn area of constructive international cooperation, and the goal of the internatneeds to remain as an area of peace and low-tensional community should be to keep it as suchoperative regional order;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas climate change is warming the Arctic two to three times faster than the global average, thus significantly changing the regional ecosystem and geography, including by opening new transport routes, enabling the access to rare natural resources, and intensifying fishing and tourism;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas some parts of the Arctic have the highest concentration of plastic litter in the world, already affecting Arctic animal species, posing a risk of contaminating the food web and eventually affecting humans;
Amendment 46 #
Cc. whereas, due to its remoteness, man-made environmental disasters in the Arctic, particularly when extracting oil and other Arctic resources, are difficult to contain and manage and eliminating their damages is problematic;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
Cd. whereas the largest oil contamination of the Arctic took place on Russian territories in May 2020 when more than 20,000 tons of diesel fuel poured into the surrounding ground and waterways near the city of Norilsk, and the clean-up work is still ongoing;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the effects of climate change in the Arctic and the re-emergence of geopolitical competition in the region may impact the economic development of the northern hemisphere by enhancing trade, research and travel opportunities due to the increased potential access to the region;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the effects of climate change in the Arctic and the re-emergence of geopolitical competition in the region may impact theaffect sustainable and economic development ofin the northern hemisphereArctic;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the Arctic is warming at a rate three times of the global average, resulting in rapid social, environmental, and economic impacts, not only in the region but worldwide;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas the management of climate change and its effect in the Arctic requires international cooperation and the implementation of the Paris Agreement is at the heart of such cooperation;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the remit of the Arctic Council is limited, giving it the flexibility to adapt to new challenges but also making it less able to respond to all the issues affecting the Arctic, particularly security- related affairs and de-escalation of tensions related to the race for the Arctic territories, resources and dominance in the Arctic waters;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas the EU’s engagement with the Arctic is based on history, geography, economy and research, and whereas the EU, as a global actor, has consistently demonstrated its commitment to a peaceful, environmentally clean and cooperative Arctic; whereas three EU Member States – Denmark, Finland and Sweden – are Arctic countries;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas over the last seven years, the EU has mobilized over 200 million euros into Arctic research;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas Russian obstruction has since 2014the EU has been denied the EU formal observer status to the Arctic Council;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas Russia’s economic and military investments in the Arctic far exceed those of the rest of the Arctic states;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas the military importance of the Arctic is rapidly increasing due to the progressive and steady re-militarisation of the Russian Federation, including modernization of its Northern Fleet, provision of new submarines and nuclear- powered heavy icebreakers, reopening of former Soviet-era Arctic outposts and building new military structures equipped with combat ready radars and missile systems stretching from the Barents Sea to the Bering Straits, significantly increasing the likelihood of military confrontation in the region;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas the military importance of the Arctic is rapidly increasing due to the progressive and steady re-militarisation of the Russian Federation, significantly increasing the likelihood of military confrontation in the region; whereas Russia’s growing military footprint in the Arctic region is followed by increased Russian naval and air patrols, booming submarine activity and electronic warfare tactics;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
Ma. whereas Russia is mobilising its infrastructure and increasing its military presence rapidly by rebuilding its military capabilities; whereas Russia is refurbishing Soviet-era airfields and radar installations, constructing new ports and search-and-rescue centres, and building up its fleet of nuclear- and conventionally-powered icebreakers; whereas Russia is developing new high- tech weapons and a nuclear reactor powered torpedo;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
Ma. whereas Russia is taking unilateral actions to tighten the control of the Northern Sea Route along its Arctic coastline;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M b (new)
Recital M b (new)
Mb. whereas such geopolitical developments have led to an increase in exercises, deployments, patrols, and capability investments in the Arctic;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas China has engaged in a long-term effort to enhance its position in the Arctic, declaring itself a ‘near-Arctic state’, with the ambition of becoming a ‘polar power’, by creating the Polar Silk Road for commerce through the Arctic region, as an extension to China’s Belt and Road Initiative; whereas China has organized regional scientific exploration missions, establishing research centres in the Arctic and developing 24 polar observation satellites; whereas China is an active participant in the Arctic Council and has engaged in bilateral cooperation with individual Arctic states and other stakeholders in order to earn support for its initiatives;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the Arctic plays a crucial role in keeping the environmental balance of the planet and aims to maintain the region as a zonen area of peace, low-tension and international cooperation; stresses that the Arctic is disproportionally affected by climate change and pollution;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the Arctic plays a crucial role in keeping the environmental balance of the planet and aims to maintain the region as a zone of peace, prosperity and international cooperation;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that the Arctic states hold the primary responsibility for tackling issues within their territories; reiterates that international law is the cornerstone of the legal framework regulating inter-state relations in the Arctic and underlines the importance of the UNCLOS and decision- making platforms such as the Arctic Council, The Conference of Arctic Parliamentarians, The Barents Euro- Arctic-Council, the Northern Dimension, the United Nations;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take a stronger role in promoting the effective implementation of international conventions such as the Paris Agreement, Minamata Convention, Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, Gothenburg Protocol, Stockholm Convention, the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code), Århus Convention and Convention on Biological Diversity;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Urges cooperation with the Arctic states and responsible international organizations to harmonize the legal system applicable to the Arctic and avoid unilateral disruptive actions by the Arctic states to enact domestic regulations over the international norms;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights that the prospect of Arctic militarisation carries substantial security risks in and beyond the region; notes that thea safe, stable, sustainable, peaceful and prosperous Arctic plays a crucial role in the security of Europe as whole;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Urges the Russian Federation to enact its Arctic policies in full respect of international law and to be mindful of the consequences of its actions; is therefore worried by the military build-up pursued by Russia, including the development of anti-access and area denial (A2/AD) capabilities;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines that constructive cooperation with Russia in the Arctic should be consistent with the principle of selective engagement, also in the areas of climate and environment, and should not jeopardise the goals of sanctionrestrictive measures against Russian actions elsewhere;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Expresses concerns over China’s investment attempts in the seaports along the Northern Sea Route and to obtain mining rights, inter alia, as a way to establish its presence in the Arctic, and urges the Arctic states to carry out a thorough screening of foreign investments in their objects of strategic importance;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Stresses the need to invest into infrastructure projects in the European Arctic and strengthen regional cohesion policy to support capacity-building;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Stresses that the protection of the environment and the management of man-made pollution should be a key objective in the Arctic; discourages the exploitation of Arctic resources if it is scientifically proven to cause irreparable damage to the ecosystem of the Arctic and beyond;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Emphasises the role of EU and its Member States to help to prevent and resolve conflicts in the Arctic, help build civilian security mechanisms, enhance crisis management capacities and search and rescue infrastructures;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines the importance of the Arctic for EU energy security, strongly insists on a sustainable science-based exploitation of the energy resources;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Highlights the need for an enhanced policy of EU-generated renewable energies and energy efficiency that significantly reduces the Union's reliance on external sources and thereby improves its security position; recognizes the threat which oil and gas exploitation in the Arctic might cause;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Stresses the need to fight climate change by keeping to the goals of the European Green Deal and becoming climate neutral by 2050 following the Paris Agreement;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Emphasises the usefulness of place-based instruments such as smart specialisation strategies and territorial cooperation for tailoring sustainable investments in the Arctic and believes these EU policies should be further developed and linked to the EU Arctic Policy;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Welcomes the work of the Arctic Council in tackling pollution in the Arctic and calls on the EU to play an active role and provide assistance in this regard;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Encourages cooperation with the Arctic states in developing rapid response systems for the real-time management of environmental disasters, in particular oil spills;
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes the signing and entry into force of the CAOF aAgreement, which represents an ambitious and innovative step towards tackle the problems of achieve sustainable development in the Arctic;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Underlines the importance of takingto implement a precautionary approach toat all stages of Arctic fisheries, at all stages, and encourages the adoption of a sustainable, science-based approach; is concerned by the inability of Arctic coastal states to agree on how to divide quotas on transboundary fish stocks and and encourages a sustainable, scientific based approach. expresses its support for existing regional fisheries management organiszations;
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Notes that Russian and Chinese national interests are to develop the North Sea Route as a means to boost economic growth and as a globally competitive national transport network; notes the development of large-scale energy projects, such as the current Russian- Chinese cooperation on the Yamal LNG project and the Arctic LNG 2, is concerned that such projects significantly increase shipping volumes via the North Sea Route and imply substantial pressure on an already threatened Arctic ecosystem;
Amendment 304 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Reiterates its call to actively involve all the communities and inhabitants of the Arctic, and particularly indigenous peoples, in the decision-makingal processes concerning development choices; stresses the importance to ensure people- to-people cooperation, access to education and business opportunities and support to the youth in the Arctic;
Amendment 324 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Emphasises the importance of sustainable development, cohesion policy and cross-border cooperation to tackle geopolitical tension;
Amendment 327 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Calls for an increase of the accessibility of digital infrastructure in the Arctic, which promotes entrepreneurship, innovation and helps diversify economic development in the Arctic;
Amendment 333 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recognises the validity of the three founding pillars of the integrated EU policy for the Arctic, namely climate change,responding to climate change and safeguarding the Arctic environment, promoting sustainable development and strengthening international cooperation;
Amendment 352 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the updating of the EU’s Arctic policy, which should also reflect newhas to reflect EU’s interest in the Arctic and address the combined challenges of climatic, geopolitical and geo-economic changes in the region, with a strong emphasis on the current security realities; i. Is of the opinion that the EU should engage with stakeholders which have a vested interest in promoting regional stability and prosperity and continue dialogue and confidence building measures in existing frameworks;
Amendment 353 #
18. Welcomes the updating of the EU’s Arctic policy, which should alsoneeds to take a proactive role in the Arctic taking account accelerated climate change and exponentially increasing international attention and reflect on new security realities; ichallenges. Is of the opinion that the EU should engagactively engage in policy dialogue with stakeholders which have a vested interest in promoting regional stability and prosperity;
Amendment 357 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Recognises the contribution of EU Space programmes such as Copernicus, Galileo, the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service and the satellite communications to environmental, maritime and human safety and security in the Arctic by enabling the monitoring of ice evolution, sustainable management of marine resources, detection of pollution, emergency warning, identification and tracking of maritime movement, search and rescue services, inter alia; supports continuous investment in development of these capabilities and advises their application in the Arctic in cooperation and under the leadership of the Arctic states that are members of the EU and/or NATO;
Amendment 360 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on the Commission to include the security dimension of the Arctic in EU’s Foreign and Security Policy;
Amendment 367 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Regrets Russia’s veto tof EU observer status in the Arctic Council;, supports the EU’s continued de facto membership of Arctic Councilobserver status of working groups;
Amendment 368 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Highlights the important role of the Arctic Council as a platform for dialogue between its Members and promote constructive cooperation, low- tension, peace and stability in the Arctic region;
Amendment 369 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses the need for the EU and its Member States to maintain constructive relations with Arctic states and underlines the need for the EU to keep engaging with the indigenous peoples of the Arctic. Stresses the importance for the EU Arctic states to more extensively share information about the current challenges in the region, improve their hybrid warfare capabilities, continue investment in defence, improve coherence with regards to current activities in the Arctic and jointly develop maritime and air domains;
Amendment 382 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Is of the opinion that issues of security in the Arctic should also be part of consultations and cooperation with NATO, which can use the framework of the NATO-Russia Council to resolve misunderstandings, de-escalate tensions and prevent crises. Recognizes the importance of military, political and environmental cooperation between the EU and NATO in the Arctic region which should be based on increased intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations in the region, the establishment of mechanisms to enhance information sharing and the increase of the frequency and complexity of NATO military exercises in the Arctic region;
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Stresses the need for the EU and US to jointly promote security and stability in the Arctic, while investing and expanding their permanent scientific presence in the region;
Amendment 390 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Notes that PESCO projects that are relevant for the security of the Arctic region should be initiated, in order to develop joint capabilities that would promote a holistic view of European security and strategic autonomy. Calls on the strengthening of the EU’s defence dimension, which should include air defence, surveillance and cybersecurity;
Amendment 397 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls for the aims of the new Arctic Strategy to be reflected in the EU’s programmes with dedicated funding, projects, finances and relevant legislation, as well as in the work of the relevant EU agencies;
Amendment 401 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Highlights the need for improved synergies between existing financing instruments in order to prevent possible duplications, and to maximise interaction between internal and external EU programmes;
Amendment 404 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Amendment 407 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 c (new)
Paragraph 23 c (new)
23c. Calls for the creation of a unit in the EEAS for Northern policies to expand EU’s presence and capacity as well as to provide more security and coherence in its policies;