44 Amendments of Helmut SCHOLZ related to 2016/2231(INI)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas EU and Mongolia have a lot of converging positions regarding most major international challenges and Mongolia plays a constructive role in international relations and especially in multilateral organizations;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
C b. whereas the EU ranks as the third largest, but rather distant, trading partner of Mongolia, after China (90% of trade) and Russia; whereas Mongolia is the EU’s 131st trade partner, accounting for less than 0.1 % of the EU’s trade with the world;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
C c. whereas EU relations with Mongolia are mainly focussed on development cooperation projects aiming to enable the country to steer the ongoing rapid transformation towards a social inclusive and economic sustainable development of the society;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
C d. whereas several EU Member States are cooperating with Mongolia in particular areas of bilateral relations developing specific structures and financial instruments for this purpose;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C e (new)
Recital C e (new)
C e. whereas Mongolia is interested in further developing the relations with the EU and expanding the existing cooperation beyond the development cooperation; whereas the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement formally opens up the possibility for both sides to develop new fields of cooperation in areas such as business, trade, development, agriculture, environment, energy, modernization of the state, but also education, culture and tourism;
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C f (new)
Recital C f (new)
C f. whereas both the EU and Mongolia expressed their will to strengthen respect for democratic principles, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C g (new)
Recital C g (new)
C g. whereas the development of the relations of the EU towards Mongolia are still within the responsibility of the EU delegation in Beijing; whereas currently Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary and the United Kingdom have established their own embassies in Ulaanbaatar;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recognises Mongolia’s peculiar geographical position and political and economic significance between China, Russia and the countries of Central Asia and North-East Asia countries, with their great potential for global economy and at the same time with their risks of political instability, its regionally rather exceptional established democratic credentials, and the constructive role it plays by assisting and facilitating peaceful solutions to the conflicts and confrontation in the region and by promoting regional economic integration;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Takes note of the standard clauses enabling both Parties to suspend the Agreement, or its parts, should a violation of essential elements defined in Articles 1(1) and 3, occur;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises the need to further enhance the parliamentary dimension of EU- Mongolia relations; regrets the absence from the PCA text of articles that would establish a Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (PCC) under the PCA to undertake democratic scrutiny of the implementation of the agreement; therefore encourages negotiations on a new protocol to remedy the situation to take place as soon as s possible, as urged previously by the Mongolian and European Parliaments in the Joint Statement of the 10th IPM; nevertheless points out that cooperation can be expanded, subject to Article 57 of the PCA on future cooperation, and encourages that this Article be used for this purpose;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Is of the opinionconvinced that the democratic transformation of Mongolia could become a positive reference for other countries of the region in which complex transformation processes are taking place, and that Mongolia could in this sense constructively contribute to the stability and common wellbeing of the region; calls on the EU to take that into account when programming regional cooperation with esp. the countries of the Central Asia region, as well as the wider region;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Encourages Mongolia to address the outstanding challenges of respect for independence of judiciary;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Welcomes recently started legislative efforts to strengthen the legal basis of the fight against the pervasive corruption, which includes the real and big risk of undermining the social cohesion of the country as well as the efforts to address human rights and social conflicts; encourages Mongolia to adopt substantial reforms and implement them in a timely manner; refers in this context to its own experience that People convicted of corruption must be consistently held responsible; recommends the country to strengthen the cooperation with EU, OSCE and UN on dealing with corruption; is convinced that the active involvement in realizing international recommendations on CSR in the economic productive sector and in public and administrative life of Mongolia could play a positive and substantive role in these undertakings;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Expresses interest in sending an observation mission of the European Parliament to the presidential elections scheduled for mid-2017;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Takes note of Mongolia’s progress in improving its legal framework in line with international human rights obligations, institutional reform, including its Independent National Human Rights Commission, and efforts aimed at capacity-building and human rights awareness-raising, and the continued commitment to address remaining challenges related to the protection and promotion of universal human rights standards, such as those highlighted at the 2015 second UN Universal Peer Review (UN-UPR), including preventing and investigating all allegations of torture, protecting women’s and children’s rights, as well as prisoners ‘rights;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11 c. Believes that the respect of freedom of the press and freedom of expression should be key elements of the ongoing consolidation of the democratic development in Mongolia; encourages Mongolia therefore to address issues related to reports of politically motivated interference in media work and cases of intimidation against journalists; encourages the Mongolian Parliament to codify such fundamental rights explicitly and to implement them under a strong scrutiny;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Is pleased that an agreement between the EU and Mongolia has been reached in principle to launch at the beginning of 2017 a regular EU-Mongolia Human Rights Dialogue;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Welcomes that after having ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights the Mongolian parliament adopted in December 2015 a revised Criminal Code, which, among other important legal reforms such as the prohibition of torture, abolishes the death penalty for all crimes; takes note that the newly elected Parliament has postponed the implementation of the revised Criminal Code and encourages the Mongolian authorities to implement this important reform without further delays;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12 b. Starting from the recommendations of the second UN-Universal Periodic Review of Mongolia and the recent structural reform of the Mongolian authorities calls on Mongolia to follow up on its commitment to establish an independent mechanism to investigate existing allegations of torture and ill- treatment committed by law enforcement officials;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12 c. Recommends Mongolia in accordance with the already ratified Convention on the Rights of the Child to legally ban corporal punishment not only in educational establishment but entirely, and to address with specific and targeted measures the non-declining rates of violence against children, economic exploitation of children, and incidents causing death or severe injuries involving children; calls on all respective EU institutions for assistance with the issue;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d
Paragraph 12 d
12 d. Commends the project supported by the EU in support of LGBTI rights in Mongolia;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 e (new)
Paragraph 12 e (new)
12 e. Welcomes that Mongolia ratified all fundamental ILO Conventions and underlines the expectation that especially the Freedom of Association and the right to Collective Bargaining in all areas, including public sector, are fully guaranteed and protected;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 f (new)
Paragraph 12 f (new)
12 f. Recommends to strengthen the situation in the area of Safety and Health by implementing the ILO Convention C176 as well as the other ILO Safety and Health Conventions not yet ratified;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 g (new)
Paragraph 12 g (new)
12 g. Expresses deep concern over reports over the situation of workers from Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in Mongolia, effectively amounting to forced labour and reminds the Mongolian Government that by ratifying the ILO Convention C029 it has an imperative obligation to suppress the use of forced labour in all its forms within the shortest possible period;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 h (new)
Paragraph 12 h (new)
12 h. Supports Mongolia’s continued and honest efforts to progressively eradicate all forms of child labour, and to guarantee rights of the child;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 i (new)
Paragraph 12 i (new)
12 i. Welcomes Mongolia’s legal framework to realise the equal rights of women and men adopted in 2011; and the progressive elimination of discrimination against women;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 j (new)
Paragraph 12 j (new)
12 j. Recognises the country’s commitments and legal framework to suppress trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Encourages Mongolia in its efforts to achieve sustained economic growth; expresses its concern at the sharp slowdown of GDP growth, which in 2011 stood at record levels (17.3 %) but was only 2.3 % in 2015, with the 2016 figure forecast to be 1.3 %; is concerned that the current economic crisis and the means chosen - mainly spending cuts - to tackle the budget deficit, which has risen to 20 % of GDP, may have a negative impact on poverty alleviation as well as on the social inclusiveness and cohesion of the social protection system;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Emphasises importance of a continuous administrative reform focussing mainly on building up a highly professional administration at national as well as local level; encourages the EU institutions to help Mongolia developing the needed resources and expertise, within the interest to equip the country in a better way to face the challenges of the complex economic and societal transformation processes and to increase the absorption capacity of EU funds in the country; is concerned that the current economic pressure, resulting in austerity measures, including salary cuts for state employees, can undermine professionalism, independence and sustainability of the administration;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17 b. Acknowledges the significant challenges in combating drugs trafficking; and recommends the EU to assist with strengthening public institutions and resources to address these issues;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)
Paragraph 17 c (new)
17 c. Expresses support to further exchanges of students within the Erasmus + programme, of researchers in the Marie Curie Sklodowska programme; and to people-to-people contacts, as well as to sharing of experiences of civil society sector;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 d (new)
Paragraph 17 d (new)
17 d. Welcomes Mongolia’s timely deposition of ratification instrument on 21 September 2016 of the Paris agreement on climate change; is concerned that the combination of effects of climate change, an extensive growth of livestock farming, a dramatic increase in migration from the countryside to the capital as well as a massive use of resources on water and soil for the official and unofficial mining of cupper, coal and other raw materials has led to a drastic deterioration in the environmental situation of Mongolia, an increasing risk of water conflicts with their neighbours and a crescent occurrence of climatic phenomena as the so-called ‘dzud’, characterised by cycles of long droughts and harsh winters and resulting in a massive loss of livestock, wildlife and biodiversity in general; calls on the EU to assist with preventive and other measures and urges in this context close coordination of environmental policies between the EU and Mongolia; calls on the Mongolian authorities and Parliament as well as all EU Member States to cooperate and to contribute to a substantial strengthening of the international climate regime within the efforts of the Marrakesh COP22 undertakings;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 e (new)
Paragraph 17 e (new)
17 e. Welcomes Mongolia’s ratification of and compliance with all the GSP+ relevant conventions on environmental protection and climate change; however, urges Mongolia to comply with its reporting obligations under the UN Conventions on Environmental Protection and Climate Change (CITES, Basel and Stockholm Conventions) and enforce the environmental legal framework of the country which remains till now inefficient;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Encourages the EU and Mongolia to intensify their trade and investment relations, including promotion by means of information and awareness-raising, in line with the legal provisions of the PCA; underlines that such an intensification should be in line with and fully respect the obligations resulting from the international conventions on labour standards, good governance, human rights as well as on environmental standards;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25 a. Recognises the challenges posed by the current economic crisis; takes note of the short- but even more long-time harsh consequences resulting from possible austerity measures for the implementation of Mongolia’s Sustainable Development Vision 2030 putted recently in place and focussing on a sustainable economic, social, and “green” development;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25 b. Raises concern over the government's ability to repay borrowers, due to the current currency devaluation and dwindling foreign currency reserves; urges the EU as well as the EIB to support Mongolia by additional grants and by that to avoid a deeper economic and social crisis with any risk of further aggravating the current crisis with possible dramatic effects for the Mongolian people, understands the request of the government to check any chance for an IMF bailout or for support from another potential partner;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Congratulates Mongolia to its successful role in chairing the ASEM and ASEP meetings 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, the solidification of the parliamentary dimension, and strengthening the partnership between the two regions based on universally acknowledged principles of equality, mutual respect as well as promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, welcomes Mongolia’s proposal to set up an ASEM Center including a virtual/online facility;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32 a. Notes Mongolia’s contribution to UN peacekeeping around the world, and its provision of training facilities for such missions while seeking in parallel increasingly a strengthening of the political and diplomatic opportunities and responsibility of the UN to prevent and solve conflicts;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 b (new)
Paragraph 32 b (new)
32 b. Welcomes Mongolia’s close alignment with the EU in its negotiating and voting positions in the United Nations and other multilateral fora; in this context underlines importance of Article 8 of the PCA on cooperation international cooperation;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 c (new)
Paragraph 32 c (new)
32 c. Recognises Mongolia’s role in promotion of respect for human rights as a new member of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) 2016-2018, and calls on close EU cooperation with Mongolia in preparation and implementation of UNHRC’s work;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 d (new)
Paragraph 32 d (new)
32 d. Welcomes Mongolia’s ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and encourages Mongolia to ratify the Kampala Amendments that provided a definition and a procedure for jurisdiction of the Court over the crime of aggression timely;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 e (new)
Paragraph 32 e (new)
32 e. Commends Mongolia’s efforts to promote democracy, rule of law and human rights in countries close to Mongolia’s neighbourhood aspiring to democratic change; calls on the EU also to involve Mongolia and seek synergies on an ad hoc basis in regional programmes within Central Asia focussing on such developments;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 f (new)
Paragraph 32 f (new)
32 f. Praises Mongolia’s role in bringing together academics from both Koreas, China and Russia, as well as for hosting reunions of families split by the division of the Korean peninsula;
Amendment 97 #
32 g. Supports Mongolia’s declared aspiration to become a UN Security Council member in 2022;