32 Amendments of Eduard KUKAN related to 2009/2216(INI)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
– having regard to the ENP Action Plans adopted with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in November 2006 and to the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), closely linked to the implementation of the ENP Action Plans, 1 P7_TA(2009)0120Or. en
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6
Citation 6
– having regard to the Country Strategy Papers 2007-2013 and the National Indicative Programmes 2007-2010 under ENPI agreed upon withfor Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8
Citation 8
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas as a result of the August 2008 war in Georgia, of the EU’s successful intervention to achieve a Ceasefire Agreement and of the great need for further engagement that followed from these developments,in order to secure its full implementation the EU became a significant security actor in the region, through the deployment of the EU Monitoring Mission, the launch of a major post-war assistance programme and the start of a fact-finding mission on the causes and course of the war,
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas guaranteeing peace, security and stability in the region is essential fora peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and of Georgia's internal conflicts in Abkazia and South Ossetia is essential for the stability in the EU neighbourhood, as well as for the economic and social development of the South Caucasus region, the improvement of the standard of living, for the achievement of democratic standards and respect for human rights for all, and to maximise regional and macro- regional development opportunities,
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the Eastern Partnership aims at accelerating reforms, legal approximation and economic integration, is based on the principles of conditionality, differentiation and joint ownership and envisages the negotiation of new Association Agreements, which will require the assent of the European Parliament,
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the challenges for the EUsituation in the South Caucasus and its engagement in this region are such that a ma-region calls for an increasingly repro-active and impromptu policy has become a non-optpolicy in the EU-engagement in this region and whereas the launch of the Eastern Partnership and the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty provide a good opportunity to devise an EU strategy towards the South Caucasus,
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the EU needs to play a more active political role and develop a strategy to assist the transformation of the South Caucasus into a region of sustainable peace, stability and prosperity and to use fully use its potential to contribute to the prevention and peaceful resolution of the conflicts in the region by combining its soft power with a firm approachand to participate in post-conflict rehabilitation;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that for each of the conflicts in the region, the status quo is unacceptable and unsustainablethe conflicts in the region are completely unacceptable and unsustainable and finding a peaceful resolution is the key to achieving political stability and economic development in the South Caucasus, as well as in an extended regional context; underlines the fact that the EU has an important role to play in contributing to the culture of dialogue and understanding in the region; advocates the use of cross-border programmes and dialogue among civil societies as tools for conflict transformation and confidence-building across the division lines; fully supports the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Mr Peter Semneby;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that conflict management and conflict resolution necessitate inter alia the recognition of the rights and legitimate interests of all relevant parties and communities, openness to review perceptions of past events, serious willingness to overcome hatred and fear, preparedness to gihave up maximalistmore constructive ambitions, and interest in innovative approaches, including to the exercise of sovereign to be able to consolidate stability, and readiness to make real concessionsprosperity;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to continue to provide financial support for the efforts of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to deal with the situation of refugees and displaced persons, by helping to renovate buildings and build roads, water and electricity supply infrastructure, hospitals and schools, so as to enable these communities to be more effectively integrated;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the responsibility of external actors to use their power and influence in ways that are fully consistent with international law, including human rights law; believes that reduction of the competition between external actors in the region should be pursued, but cannot come at the price of effectively accepting any actor’s claim to have ‘privileged interests’; is of the opinion that introducing conditions for respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the South Caucasus states is unacceptable;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that security for all is an indispensable element of any settlement; recognises the importance of robust peace- keeping arrangements; welcomes the fact that six meetings between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents took place in 2009; calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to intensify their efforts in the Minsk Co- chairs-led talks on the principles for a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the coming months;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. ConsidersStresses that respect for democratisation, good governance and respect for, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rights of minorities and the rule of law to be basic principles is of paramount importance for determining Armenia, Azerbaijans and Georgia's future relations with the EU; calls for renewed efforts by the countries to implement in full the ENP Action Plan and on the Commission to continue to assist them in such efforts and of peaceful and stable democratic stateCouncil of Europe recommendations in this regard; is concerned by the limited progress made by the countries in the South Caucasus- region on this area, as shown in the Commission 2009 progress reports;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Highlights the importance of engaging in democratic reforms and the essential role of political dialogue and cooperation as the key to developing national consensus; welcomstresses the adoption of significant legislation related to the judiciary in Armenia and calls on the authorities to ensure the effective implementation thereof; welcomes the progress in Azerbaijan in the field of reform of the judiciary and calls on the authorities to work on the independence of judges; welcomes the announcement by the Georgian President regarding a ‘new wave of democratic reforms’, calls for such reforms to be effectively adopted and implemented, such as strengthening parliamentary control over the executive and increasing independence of the judiciary, and considers that democratic reforms need to be pursued and democratic institutions consolidatedimportance of strengthening more independent, transparent and stronger democratic institutions, to support and empower civil society and developing people-to-people contacts in promoting democracy and the rule of law; encourages the Commission to make full use of the opportunities offered by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights for, inter alia , monitoring the implementation of the ENP closely;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Welcomes the efforts of the authorities of Armenia to conduct judiciary reform and calls on the authorities to strengthen the independence of judiciary; notes that despite commitments, the dynamics of democratisation is hardly progressing, especially within the field of human rights, tortures, freedom of expression, NGO status and equality between men and women;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Points to the still widespread corruption in the region and calls on the authorities to step up the measures to fight it, as it threatens the economic growth and social and economic development of the countries concerned; greater attention should be paid to the fight against monopolies, the importance of the oligarchs and the relationship between politicians and major contractors, as well as to recruitment in public services, including the police and education;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Underscorlines the importance of free and fair elections to be held in accordance with international commitments and standards; notes that the last presidential elections held in Armenia in February 2008 were once again violent and that repercussions of the internal crisis in their aftermath are still being felt; takes note of the municipal elections held in a peaceful manner in Azerbaijan on 23 December 2009 and awaits the report of the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities observation delegation thereon; calls on the Georgian authorities to ensure that the local elections scheduled for 30 May 2010 take place in accordance with international standards and that the electoral law is amended accordingly, and reaffirms that securing direct election of mayors is crucial; confirms its and the EU’s position that elections and referenda in breakaway regions are illegitimate; defends the political rights of displaced persstresses the essential role for the EU to help to support, organize and monitor elections;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)
Paragraph 17 c (new)
17c. Calls on the Georgian authorities to ensure that the local elections scheduled for 30 May 2010 take place in accordance with international standards and that the electoral law is amended accordingly, and reaffirms that securing direct election of mayors is crucial; requests the presence of organizations that monitor the election closely; confirms its own and the EU’s position that the EU does not recognize the constitutional and legal framework in which the elections in South Ossetia and Abkhazia have taken place and defends the political rights of displaced persons;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Considers freedom of expression to be a fundamental right and principle and, that the role of the media is essential, is disturbed by the limitations on freedom of expression and the lack of media pluralism in the countries of the South Caucasus and calls on the authorities to ensure both; is preoccupied about attacks on journalists in Armenia and in particular about the continued detention of opposition journalist Nikol Pashinian, despite the welcomed amnesty of 18 June 2009 leading to the release of a number of imprisoned opposition activists; is concerned about the deterioration of the media climate in Azerbaijan with cases of harassment and intimidation of media professionals and deplores the detention and sentencing of the two youth activists and bloggers, Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade; accordingly calls for their release following the appeal procedure in accordance with international standards and with respect for the principles of a fair trial as set out in Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rightsand that the media must be free and independent, is bothered by the restrictions on freedom of expression and the lack of media pluralism in the countries of the South Caucasus and calls on the authorities to ensure both;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Takes the view that freedom of assembly must be guaranteed, as it is instrumessential to the development of a free, democratic and vibrant civil society; is worried about the difficulties, direct and indirect, which civil society faces in organising itself and disturbed by the adoption of laws and practices that might indirectly limit freedom of assembly, including through administrative harassment, such as the intensified checks by the fiscal authorities in Armenia; is concerned about the lack of any serious investigation into the events following the presidential elections of February 2008 when 10 people were killed and which led to the imposition of a state of emergency and restriction of a number of freedoms and rights; calls on the authorities in Azerbaijan, including the local authorities, to implement in a non-restrictive manner the legislation on freedom of assembly which, as amended, meets most international standards; is concerned that in Georgia the 2009 amendments to the Law on Assembly and Manifestations may limit freedom of assembly and curtail the ability of the opposition to mobilise; underlines the important role of civil society for the peace and reconciliation processes in the region;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19c. Is concerned that in Georgia the 2009 amendments to the Law on Assembly and Manifestations may limit freedom of assembly and curtail the ability of the opposition to mobilise; underlines the important role of civil society for the peace and reconciliation processes in the region;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Notes the strategic geopolitical location of the South Caucasus and its increasing importance as an energy, transport and communications corridor connecting the Caspian region and Central Asia with Europe; considers it of the utmost importance, therefore, that EU- cooperation with the South Caucasus be given the highest priority, not least in matters relating to energy;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Underscorlines the importance of investing in renewable energy sources and ensuring that environmental concerns are catered for; welcomesrecognises that generating diversity of supply is vital and can only be attained through enhanced cooperation with neighbouring states, welcomes therefore the establishment of the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus; considers the plans proclaimed by Azerbaijan to make the development of alternative energy sources a government priority praiseworthy and encourages the pursuit of such objectives; is glad to take note ofwelcomes the decision of Armenia to decommission the nuclear plant in Medzamor, but regrets that a new nuclear plant will be built in the same seismic area and towards finding viable alternative solutions for energy supply, as requested by the EU;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Considers that promoting social cohesion and social dialogue, investing in education and health and builddeveloping human capital, ensuring adequate standards of living, are essential in order to build vibrant democratic societies; takes positive note of the adoption by the three countries of their respective programmes on poverty reduction and encourages their thorough implementation;
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Considers that the ENP Action Plans and the implementation thereof constitute an essential basis for evaluating respect for commitments, in accordance with the principle of conditionality, for evaluating and the progress of bilateral relationships with the EU and for considering upgrading of agreementcontractual relations with the countries concerned; takes the view that the European Parliament should be involved in this process; notes the differenat progress made bydiffers among the three countries in the implementation of the respective ENP Action Plans; believes that negotiations on the new association agreements should take into account this diversityese differences and the different objectives but at the same time that the process of negotiation should preferably move at the same pace for allas well as the regional dimension and that three countries, taking into account th must be tregional dimensionated equally;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Calls on the Commission to grant substantial financial and technical support to measures building confidence and promoting trust between and among the populations and to participate in rehabilitation and reconstruction in the region, such as income-generating projeconflicts and projects on socio-economic integration of IDPs and returnees, on the rehabilitation of housing and aiming at dialogue and mediationffected regions once a political solution is found;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Supports EU funding and assistance to the region to promote these principles and processes and considers that such EU assistance should take place within the framework of political conditionality, such as reform of the judiciary and progress inprogress in political dialogue and reform and democratisation processes; warns against the misuse of conflicts by governmenpossibility for governments to misuse conflicts to distract the interest of the international community from domestic issues;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Welcomes the work of the EU High Level EU Advisory Group to Armenia; bwelievcomes thate possibility of increased financial assistance within the framework of the Eastern Partnership and, including for the preparation for the negotiation of new association agreements with the EU has the opportunity to offer technical assistance and calls on the Commission to study the possibility of offering suchtailor-made assistance also to Azerbaijan and Georgia;
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Recognises the potential role of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum as the spaceforum to foster the development of a genuine civil society and strengthen its entrenchment in the states of the region, and calls on the Commission to ensure that the Forum receives sufficient financial and technical support; draws attention to the importance of financing civil society projects and the role that the EU Delegations in the region play in selecting these, and the significance that the projects can have in promoting contacts at regional level;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Considers that the EU should continue to support economic development, trade and investment in the region, and believes that the negotiation and establishment of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade AgreementsArea plays a very important role in this respect; calls on the Commission to consider possible ways to assist the countries in the region to prepare them and enable them toin their preparation, negotiateion and then implement andation in the future, including sustaining the commitments provided for in possiblderiving from the future DCFTAs;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Reiterates the significance of people- to-people contacts and mobility programmes, especially aimed at youth; calls on the Council and Commission to make progress towards visa facilitation with thewelcomes the conclusion of the visa facilitation and readmission agreements with Georgia and calls on three cCountries and welcomes the initialling of thecil and Commission to make progress towards visa facilitation and readmission agreements with GeorgiaArmenia and Azerbaijan;