14 Amendments of Helmut SCHOLZ related to 2017/2282(INI)
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Warmly welcomesTakes note of the progress made in implementing the Association Agreement and the development of trade relations, and calls on the Georgian authorities to keep up the momentum and to ensure stability, further democratic reforms and economic and social improvements as a key factor in winning hearts and minds on the path towards re-establishing Georgia’s sovereignty over the whole of its internationally recognised territorysubstantially improving social and welfare conditions for the people of Georgia, who are beset by persistent poverty, unemployment and a high level of economic emigration, visibly putting to the test the immediate benefits of the partnership arrangements;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes with satisfaction that Georgia’s European agenda continues to garner cross-party consensus and the support of a majority of Georgian citizens; points out that pursuant to Article 49 of the TEU and in line with the Rome Declaration of 25 March 2017, any European state may apply to become a member of the EU, provided that it upholds the Copenhagen criteria; recalls, in the meantime, the proposal of an ‘Eastern Partnership Plus’ (EaP+) policy advocated by Parliament in order to unlock additional perspectivesrecalls that the EU proposal of an ‘Eastern Partnership Plus’ (EaP+) policy unlocks additional perspectives for the development of relations between the two sides; points out that, in order to resolve existing structural problems, future relations with Georgia must be fashioned in such a way as to avoid undermining traditional economic relations and take advantage of new possibilities of regional cooperation such as those offered by the Silk Route;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Supports GeorgiaWelcomes the efforts being made by the Georgian Government in a number of areas to rebuild relations with Russia to their mutual benefit, thus helping to stabilise a region beset by conflict; reaffirms its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and supports it in its pursuit of a policy of peaceful conflict resolution and its constructive participation in the Geneva International Discussions; praises the initiative entitled ‘A Step towards a Better Future’, presented on 4 April 2018;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes with satisfaction Georgia’s results in fighting corruption; commends Georgia’s continued implementation of the Anti-Corruption Strategy and its Action Plan; calls on Georgia to ensure that the Anti-Corruption Agency is separated from the State Security Service and organised as an independent authority;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Urges the Georgian authorities to put in place an effective mechanism for investigating and prosecuting cases of abuse by law enforcement officials;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the progress of the judicial reform; calls foronfirms at the same time that more transparency of the judicial system and for further improvements to its independence are being achieved;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Underlines the importance of ongoing public administration reforms; welcomes the newly enacted Civil Service Law and expects its rapid implementation with a view to ensuring a sustainable increase in public confidence;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Georgian authorities to take further steps to uphold fundamental freedoms, notably for vulnerable groups, by fighting hate speech and discrimination, including on the labour market through an amended Labour Code, against LGBTQI people, disabled people and minorities, and by ending discrimination by employers against those availing themselves of their trade union rights;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Welcomes the emphasis put on job creation as well as labour rights notably through the adoption of the law on occupational safety; stresses the need to put in place a fully-fledged labour inspection system to improve safety at work and reduce undeclared work; takes note of the Georgian authorities’ ambition to do so by September 2019; is concerned by child labour and insufficient freedom of association for trade unionimprove safety at work and reduce undeclared work by putting in place a fully-fledged labour inspection system with sufficient resources and strong enforcement powers that does not require employer authorisation; stresses the need for the active involvement of the social partners in this initiative; takes note of the Georgian authorities’ ambition to do so by September 2019 and at the same time, since it has not yet done so, encourages them to ratify ILO Convention No 81 (Labour inspection) without delay; is concerned by child labour and insufficient freedom of association for trade unions; underlines in this context the need to bring the Labour Code back into line with established international standards; recalls that occupational safety according to the requirements of the Association Agreement is of critical importance;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Calls on the Commission and the Georgian authorities to implement the cooperation provisions of the Association Agreement (Chapter 14) and accordingly formulate appropriate arrangements for the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders, in particular the social partners on both sides, in policy formulation for implementation of the Agreement and further development of relations;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Calls on the Commission and the Georgian Government to establish a dialogue with the social partners and civil society for the development and implementation of a ‘European’ social model to strengthen the rights of workers and their organisations, promote investment in stable and decent employment and ensure full access to high-quality public services, in particular education, health care, social security and social infrastructures;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 e (new)
Paragraph 21 e (new)
21e. Reminds the Georgian Government of its obligation to transpose international labour law into national legislation;
Amendment 208 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 g (new)
Paragraph 21 g (new)
21g. Under the following heading points out that the economic policy hitherto pursued, seeking to stimulate growth through policies such as employer-friendly deregulation of the labour market and the dismantling of the established rights of workers and trade unions, runs counter to the Association Agreement; recalls that, under Article 229 of the Association Agreement, Georgia undertakes to implement the ILO core labour standards in law and in practice, while Article 235 explicitly prohibits measures to encourage trade or investment by lowering the levels of protection afforded in domestic environmental or labour law.
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. WelcomNotes the progress towards the integration of Georgia’s energy market with that of the EU through regulatory convergence, in accordance with the Association Agreement and the Energy Community Treaty and firmly believes that this goes further to meeting the conditions for a pan-European energy mix in line with the Paris Agreement on measures to combat climate change and Goal 10 of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development regarding measures to combat energy poverty;