Activities of Boris ZALA related to 2015/2001(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
State of EU-Russia relations (debate)
Amendments (15)
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, in reaction to and despite Russia’'s aggression against Georgia and violation of its territorial integrity in 2008, the EU opted for an increascontinued cooperation model as a way to appease Russia; whereas, in line with this, rather than taking restrictive measures, a series of generous initiatives for deeper cooperation – such as the common spaces, the Partnership for Modernisation, the negotiations on a New EU-Russia Agreement, and the Human Rights dialogue – have been launched or deepened;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the EU has firmly supported Russia’s accession and participation in different international organisations and fora, such as the G8, the G20 and the WTO; whereas this strategy of including Russia in international decision-making bodies has not had the results expected but instead created tensions owing to Russia’s habit of breachingrepeated violation of rules, e.g. its non- compliance with WTO standards and obligations (by introducing a number of discriminatory measures against individual EU Member States and other countries in its neighbourhood), its failure to implement more than a thousand judgements of the European Court of Human Rights, etc.;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reiterates that, in the light of Russia’s direct and indirect involvement in the war in Ukraine, amounting to a deliberate violation of the core of the democratic principles Russia's policy of military aggression, economic coercion, political destabilization and dangerous provocation directed against its neighbours, including EU Member States, constitutes a deliberate violation of international law and fundamental Europeand values sustained by the EU and widely shared internationally, and a threat to peace and security in Europe; believes that, as a result, the EU cannot envisage a return to ‘'business as usual’;', and calls for a critical re-assessment by the EU of its relations with Russia, and for the drafting, as promptly as possible, of a soft-power contingency plancomprehensive strategy to counter the aggressive and divisive policies conducted by Russia against the EU and its partners;
Amendment 192 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that at this point, Russia, because of its actions, can no longer be treated as, or considered, a ‘'strategic partner’'; points out that strategic partnerships are only conceivable with countries that do not jeopardise the international order, which is based on democracy, state sovereignty (including the choice of internalrule-based cooperation, state sovereignty, inviolability of state borders, freedom to choose domestic constitutional orderarrangements and foreign policy orientation), the inviolability of state borders, respect for the rule of law and the principles of international trade, and mutual trustrespect for the rule of law and the principles of open international trade, and mutual trust; believes that, given Russia's shared responsibility for maintaining security in Europe, the EU should remain open to a mutually beneficial and truly strategic partnership in the long-run, conditional upon Russia's adherence to international law and to the spirit of cooperation;
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is deeply concerned by the fact that Russia now openly positions itself, and acts, not as a partner of, but as a rival to the international democratic community, seeking toEU, and challenges the currentestablished rule- based international order, and is not least by seeking the process ofo redrawing borders within Europe by force; is extremely worried by the tendency of the Russian authoritiesgovernment to systematically denigrate liberal democracy and to consider the democratic process and European integration of neighbouring countries as a threat to their own rule;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that any improvement in EU-Russia relations must henceforth be based on the rule of law and on preconditioned dialogue, whereby the EU would be ready to relaunch cooperation with the authorities in Moscow on the condition that Russia unambiguously and without pretence takesbe conditioned on the Russian government unambiguously assuming its share of responsibility andfor the fully implementsation of the Minsk Agreements; stresses that in order to ensure that such a dialogue – if renewed (for which the return of Crimea to Ukraine would be a prerequisite) –renewed dialogue and cooperation is not conducted at the expense of European values, standards and international commitmentcommitments to EU's Eastern partners, it would be necessary to specify very clearly the EU’'s expectations of Russia, along with the retaliatory measures it would take should Russia not keep to its commitments;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Commends the solidarity and the unity demonstrated by the Member States in the context of Russia’'s undeclared war against Ukraine, allowing for the adoption and further extension of responsive measures; welcomes the decision of the European Council in March to link the duration of the existing sanctions regime to the full implementation of the Minsk agreement; calls on the Member States to consider as an absolute priority the preservation of this unity; reiterates that unity and solidarity amongst the Member States, as well as between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries, is essential for ensuring the effectiveness of the EU’'s policiesexternal action and its ability to withstand externalsecurity challenges and pressures;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines, in this regard, that the strengthening of internal policiesinternal political cohesion, notably through closer integration, is the keycornerstone of an efficient, and successful EU external policy; calls, therefore, on the Member States to carry on with, and intensify their efforts towards, the effective elimination of decision-making bottlenecks and the consolidation of common policies, with the aim of minimising the vulnerabilities of these policies and maximising their resilience, in particulartrategic foreign and security policy of the Union, including vis-a-vis Russia ; calls for deeper cooperation and integration in the field of defence and security, notably by moving toward a vision of common European armed forces, with an integrated operational command and a flexible financing mechanism, as well as a fully- fledged EU intelligence agency, not least in the context of addressing threats stemming from the rise of hybrid warfare; believes that effective foreign and security policy requires further institutional consolidation and maximization of synergy effects in the areas of trade, financial services and transactions, migration, energy, external borders management, information and cyber security;
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Considers that, given current trends in Russia's domestic and foreign policy, the EU should develop a new paradigm for bilateral relations that would transcend the erstwhile mode of ever-closer cooperation and economic interdependence, on the one hand, and the Cold-War model of containment and confrontation, on the other; asserts that a nuanced EU strategy for future relations with Russia should prioritise the protection of the fundamental values and security interests of the Union, as well as the sovereignty, territorial integrity and European choice of its Eastern partners, while allowing for meaningful dialogue with Moscow on a stable and functioning security order in Europe, including by addressing Russia's legitimate security or trade concerns, conditional upon full implementation of the Minsk agreements; opines that, in light of historical and recent experience, any new security arrangement must contain a categorical rejection of the instrumental use of ethnic or language minorities for geopolitical gains; further believes that a rebalanced policy toward Russia would require a more pro-active and self-confident role of the EU as an autonomous security actor, not least through greater engagement in resolution of existing frozen conflicts in the Eastern neighbourhood;
Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Firmly supports the swift creation of a robust European Energy Union, specifically the interconnection of national energy networks in order to reduce considerably the dependence of individual Member States on external energy suppliers; is of the firm conviction that the challenges to and vulnerability of European solidarity, and the exposure of individual Member States, to the illegitimate use of energy as a political and diplomatic bargain chip can only be combatted efficiently through the full implementation of the Third Energy package and the completion of a transparent, integrated, synchronised and resilient European internal energy market; highlights the critical importance of establishing a joint mechanism to coordinate Member States negotiations of bilateral energy supply contracts, and ultimately, of empowering the EU to negotiate contracts on behalf Member States as a way of strengthening intra-EU solidarity and overall security of energy supply;
Amendment 325 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Recalls the EU's readiness to consult Russia on the trade and economic implications of the Association and DCFTA Agreements signed with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, notably in the framework of WTO rules and commitments but also through engagement with the Eurasian Economic Union, but reiterates that, as a third party, Russia possesses no right to influence the content or implementation of these agreements;
Amendment 340 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses the necessity and relevance of the suspension ofding cooperation with Russia in the defence sector, and calls on the Member States to refrain from taking any decisions that could jeopardise this united position; is therefore of the view that, notwithstanding their undisputable bilateral nature, agreements in the field of defence cooperation between some Member States and Russia should be assessed carefully at EU level, with a view to defining an appropriate and consistent approach; calls for the EU’'s cooperation with NATO to be consolidated further;
Amendment 366 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Renews its call for the development of EU reconnaissance capabilities of weaponised information and the preparation of informTakes the view that, while the EU has neither the need nor the desire to engage in Cold-war type ideological warfare with Russia, it must develop appropriate instruments of strategic communication to countingency plans, including the strengthening of analytical and monitoring capabilities, especially in the Russian language, in order to be ableer Russian subversive propaganda and targeted misinformation; renews its call for the development of EU reconnaissance capabilities and contingency plans to identify, and respond swiftly and appropriately to, purposefully biased information; within the EU and abroad; in this regard, calls on the Commission to earmark without delay adequate funding for concrete projects aimed at countering Russian propaganda within the EU and abroad; calls on the Commission and the Member States to devise as well a coordinated mechanism for the collection, monitoring and reporting of financial, political or technical assistance provided by Russia to political parties and other organisations within the EU, with a view to assessing its involvement in, and influence over, political life and public debate in the EUengaged in subversive actions;
Amendment 390 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the EU to provide support to grass-roots projects aimed at developing high journalistic standards, freedom of the media, and unbiased and trustworthy information in Russia, and at deconstructing propaganda within the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries; supports the initiative to develop Russian- language media channels, with a view to providing a credible and accessible alternative to biased information for Russian-speaking minorities in the EU and in the Eastern Partnership countries;
Amendment 406 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Reiterates that uncompromising respect for the rule of law is a core and founding principle of the EU, and rejects past attempts to put forward pragmatic interpretations of the rules to accommodate Russia as a trade partner; calls, therefore, on the strict, swift and unconditional application of the rule of law – in the event of any breach of the rules – and of the principle of free and fair competition in the single market, including in the proceedings against Gazprom;