Activities of Joe HIGGINS
Plenary speeches (57)
Adoption of modifications to the Treaty (debate)
Conclusions of the European Council meeting on 16-17 December (debate)
Explanations of vote
Violation of freedom of expression and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in Lithuania (debate)
EU-Cameroon forest law agreement - EU-Republic of Congo forest law agreement - FLEGT voluntary partnership agreements (debate)
One-minute speeches (Rule 150)
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Uganda: the Bahati Bill and discrimination against the LGBT population
A new strategy for Afghanistan (debate)
ECB annual report for 2009 - Latest developments on international currency exchange rates (debate)
Strengthening the OSCE: a role for the EU (debate)
Explanations of vote
Instrument for Stability - Financing instrument for development cooperation - Financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide - Financing instrument for cooperation with industrialised countries - Financing instrument for development cooperation (debate)
Aid for Pakistan and possible implication for the European industrial sector (debate)
Improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding - Precarious women workers (debate)
One-minute speeches (Rule 150)
Explanations of vote
EU-China summit on 6 October 2010 (debate)
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Venezuela, in particular the case of Maria Lourdes Afiuni
Explanations of vote
Situation in Kyrgyzstan (debate)
Review of the Spanish Presidency (debate)
Explanations of vote
Nepal
One-minute speeches on matters of political importance
Religious freedom in Pakistan
Situation in Thailand
Mass atrocities in Jos, Nigeria, in January and March (debate)
Explanations of vote (continuation)
Europe 2020 - new European Strategy for Jobs and Growth (debate)
EU - Canada Summit (debate)
Explanations of vote
One-minute speeches on matters of political importance
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Regulation applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences (debate)
Railway safety, including the European signalling system (debate)
Venezuela
Effects of the economic crisis on world trade (debate)
Explanations of vote
One-minute speeches on matters of political importance
Recent attacks on religious minorities in Egypt and in Malaysia
Azerbaijan: freedom of expression
Responses to relaunch the economy in the Member States of the European Union in Central and Eastern Europe
China: Minority rights and application of the death penalty
One-minute speeches on matters of political importance
One-minute speeches on matters of political importance
Sri Lanka
Outcome of the referendum in Ireland (debate)
Outcome of the referendum in Ireland (debate)
Statement by the President-designate of the Commission (debate)
Statement by the President-designate of the Commission (debate)
Outcome of the European Council (18-19 June 2009) - Term in office of the Czech Presidency (debate)
Shadow reports (3)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1334/2000 setting up a Community regime for the control of exports of dual-use items and technology PDF (405 KB) DOC (623 KB)
REPORT Report on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the application of certain guidelines in the field of officially supported export credits PDF (282 KB) DOC (378 KB)
REPORT Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1215/2009 introducing exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the European Union's Stabilisation and Association process PDF (209 KB) DOC (252 KB)
Opinions (1)
OPINION Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Delivering an area of freedom, security and justice for Europe's citizens - action plan implementing the Stockholm Programme
Amendments (149)
Amendment 1 #
2010/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
Amendment 5 #
2010/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 8 #
2010/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 11 #
2010/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses therefore that all strategies in relation to transforming Europe for a post-crisis world need to be guided by sustainable job creation, strong and effective public services that are run in the interests of workers and users of public services;
Amendment 12 #
2010/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 16 #
2010/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Underlines that, given the severe implications of climate change internationally, there is an urgency to invest in more research on how to combat and reverse the effects of climate change; the research into a sustainable economy can only be successful when done on a cross-border level and conducted in the interests of the well being of the population and not in the interest of enhanced competitiveness and profit- making;
Amendment 20 #
2010/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 22 #
2010/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notices the strong drive by European investors and big business to open up public procurement and services "markets" through international trade agreements; underlines the negative effects this has on the quality of services as well as wage levels; stresses that all institutions concerned with research and development must be democratically run, publically funded and exempted from market principles;
Amendment 23 #
2010/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 25 #
2010/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Acknowledges that technology transfer in the interest of development and with respect to achieving the MDGs needs to be an important aspect of European trade policy;
Amendment 26 #
2010/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 29 #
2010/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Reiterates the negative effects of enforcing stronger IPR rules and patent rights in the interests of large corporations in general and the pharmaceutical industry in particular; emphasises that combating counterfeiting must have as its sole objective the protection of consumers’ interests, their health and general well being;
Amendment 30 #
2010/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 33 #
2010/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 1 #
2010/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Strongly insists that the European Union´s trade policy must be guided by the active promotion and defence of democratic and human rights; recalls that women in particluar suffer from structural discrimination and in many cases are subjected to the use of violence which is backed by the law in the countries that compose the Gulf Cooperation Council; therefore rejects any further negotiations on the conclusion of a possible EU-GCC FTA;
Amendment 2 #
2010/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 6 #
2010/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that the GCC is currently the EU's sixth largest export market and that the EU is currently the GCC's second trading partner; notes that, notwithstanding this already intensive level of trade, there is still scope for deepening it, as well as room for more diversification between the two parties; is of the opinion that the conclusion of the EU-GCC FTA would greatly favour closer ties and further diversification;
Amendment 9 #
2010/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. WelcomNotes the fact that over the past two decades EU-GCC economic relations have been intensifying and that trade between the two sides has increased significantly, despite the failure to conclude an FTA; takes this as a sign that an FTA would further enhance this natural growth and embed it in a more open, predictable and secure environment;
Amendment 10 #
2010/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 13 #
2010/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is firmly of the opinionnot convinced that an EU-GCC FTA would be substantially advantageous to both parties; believes that an FTA with the EU would benefit the internal integration of the GCC and that, following the establishment of the GCC Customs Union, it may also provide a greater impetus to important projects such as the GCC common market, and the completion of a GCC Monetary Union with a single currencyfor workers and poor in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Europe;
Amendment 15 #
2010/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Strongly suppdeplortes the message that the HR/VP Catherine Ashton sent during the EU-GCC Joint Ministerial in June 2010 and more recently on 22 September, during the EU-GCC meeting on the margins of the Ministerial of the UN General Assembly, indicating that the EU is ready to make a final effort to conclude these negotiations; also welcomes the reaction of the GCC, which also confirmed its wish to conclude the negotiations;
Amendment 18 #
2010/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Notes that there are 15 million migrant workers in the six nation Gulf Cooperation Council states and that those workers make up 40% of the total population; recalls the precarious situation of migrant workers in the Gulf States which were highlighted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and supports its call for a minimum wage in the region in order to not further deteriorate the position of domestic and migrant workers; also supports the right of all workers to form and join trade unions in order to defend their interests;
Amendment 21 #
2010/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 25 #
2010/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. WelcomNotes the fact that over the years the EU and the GCC have become major investment partners; is of the opinionnotes that the conclusion of the FTA, or at least the official reopening of the negotiations, will surely open the way to further agreements which will encourage and facilitate mutual foreign direct investments (FDIs); recalls that following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, FDIs now fall within the competence of the EU, and therefore provide further scope for the desirable rapid conclusion of an EU-GCC FTA;
Amendment 27 #
2010/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 30 #
2010/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that all six GCC countries currently benefit from preferential access to the EU market under the EU's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP); is of the opinion that, given the level of economic progress in the region, the FTA would be a better tool to spread commercial benefits throughout the region;
Amendment 33 #
2010/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 8 #
2010/2205(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that the defence and enlargement of labour and social rights are core issues when it comes to transforming Europe in the interests of the working population in Europe and internationally, therefore strongly insists that every trade agreement between the EU and third partners must include strong and legally binding sustainability chapters, with the respect of all ILO standards as a minimum requirement;
Amendment 9 #
2010/2205(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 11 #
2010/2205(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Points out that investment policy has become an additional competence of the EU; calls on the Commission to refrain from insisting on investor-state dispute settlement provisions in international trade and investment agreements as this heavy handed tool undermines the position of trade unions in social conflicts;
Amendment 15 #
2010/2205(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that the implementation of these basic standards by partner countries should be subject to continuous monitoring by elected trade union bodies, local communities and human rights organisations, and that effective and transparent procedures should be in place to penalise non-enforcement or infringements in the territory of the partner country and in the Member States;
Amendment 22 #
2010/2205(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Points out that CSR rhetoric of large corporations is often not matched by the reality of their actions; particularly noticeable are infringements of CSR agreements in the mining sector and in large areas of the supply industry; draws the conclusion that CSR is often simply used as a marketing tool for multinationals;
Amendment 25 #
2010/2205(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Considers CSR at large to be an ineffective tool for protecting workers’ rights, the rights of local and indigenous communities and the environment and calls for stringent legislation and effective trade union organisation to ensure workers’ rights and environmental protection, rather than relying on companies non-binding commitments;
Amendment 3 #
2010/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Reiterates the potential importance of agriculture in the context of poverty alleviation and the achievement of the MDGs in developing and LDCs; stresses that this potential can only be utilised to the full if it is in line with the principles of supporting food sovereignty and food security, compliance with the highest environmental, health and safety standards, the protection and development of sustainable domestic agriculture in the interest of small farmers and producers; therefore urges the Commission to fundamentally review its agricultural policy with special focus on export subsidies and the asymmetric distribution of agricultural subsidies within the EU which favour big agro business;
Amendment 6 #
2010/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 18 #
2010/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls upon the Commission to continue to seek, as one of its major priorities,, in the interest of safeguarding consumer interest by providing consumers with reliable and relevant product information, to seek more effective protection of geographical indications (GI) in the WTO by extending the higher level of protection currently available for wines and spirits (Article 23 of the TRIPS agreement) to all GIs, and by establishing a system of notification and registration of geographical indications;
Amendment 29 #
2010/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises the importance of strict implementation of the preferential rules of origin; calls for a review of all trade preferences given to emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil by the European Union in order to guarantee the development of domestic economies in developing and LDCs and to avoid abuse of the preferential rules of origins by foreign based corporations; calls for a review of all trade preferences given to emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil by the European Union; insists strongly that any such review must not harm those sections of society in the respective countries that still live in poverty and/or on very low incomes;
Amendment 1 #
2010/2102(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the objective of liberalising trade with the developing countries must be to promote the sustainable economic growth and the socially, environmentally and economically responsible development of these countries; notes that the elimination of customs duties will inevitably entails a loss of customs revenue and must therefore be under better control, be more gradualreviewed and go hand in hand with the implementation of tax reforms mobilising alternative forms of revenue to make up the shortfall (VAT, property tax, income tax)in the interest of the majority of the population in the developing countries, including the progressive taxation of income and a tax on corporate profits;
Amendment 5 #
2010/2102(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for systematic implementation, in the framework of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), of measures to support tax reforms, in the form of both material assistance (IT systems) and organisational assistance (legal and tax training for tax authority staff), if requested by any developing country; underlines the need to make a special effort with African countries which still do not receive long-term assistance on taxation matters;
Amendment 8 #
2010/2102(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reaffirms the need to enhance the coherence between the European Union's development policy and its trade policy; recalls that the crisis has exacerbated the volatility of commodities prices and has caused capital and aid flows to developing countries to dry up; stresses that, in this context, it is a priority to put in place an efficient tax system that exempts people with low incomes and does not discriminate against people with medium incomes so as to reduce developing countries' dependence on foreign aidinternational financial institutions and other, unpredictable external financial flows;
Amendment 14 #
2010/2102(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that a system of low-rate taxation for low and medium incomes founded on a broader tax basis and excluding all discretionary tax exemptions and preferences, including for the extractive industries, is indispensable; emphasises the need for incentive measures to involve investors more closely of public investment into projects with a positive local impact in economic, social and environmental terms;
Amendment 18 #
2010/2102(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that the development of an efficient tax system that does not discriminate against low and medium incomes and therefore introduces progressive taxation and taxes on corporate profits that must be paid in the country where profits were accumulated must be one of the objectives of the new EU investment policy in developing countries in order to establish an environment more favourable to foreign and domestic privateublic investment and to create the conditions for more effective international assistance; recalls that the EU's investment policy must encourage innovation, public service efficiency, public-private partnerships and knowledge transfer to promote growthin the interest of sustainable development, knowledge transfer and poverty eradication and to create the conditions for more effective international assistance;
Amendment 25 #
2010/2102(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for the creation, in the EPA framework, of an independent monitoring mechanism to assess the net tax impact of removing customs duties and at the same time progress being made in the area of tax reform in each country; calls for a clause to be introduced providing for a mandatory overall review of all EPAs after fivthree years and for the provisions of each agreement to be amended, where necessary, in line with the requirements identified therein. in the interest of poverty eradication, sustainable development and regional integration;
Amendment 1 #
2010/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the EU’s trade policy, set against the multilateral background of the WTO and a transparent and regulated market, needs an effective production base that is supported by appropriate sectoral policies and targeted at growth andecologically sustainable growth, development, investment into environmentally friendly production and innovation and at the creation of decent and unionised jobs;
Amendment 3 #
2010/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is convinced that innovative, good- quality industrial production is vital to the EU’s trade policy and its competitiveness, in line with the EU 2020 Strategy and as a response to the economic and financial crisis, the aim being to cut Member State debt and unemployment figures, redistribute wealth more equallyhalt "internal devaluation" and to cut unemployment figures, achieve equal wealth distribution and to protect the European social model;
Amendment 6 #
2010/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that in its industrial policies the EU must pay particular attention to supporting eco-compatible production, the protecting intellectual property, building up SME capital, to making SMEs internationally active, liberalising protected markets, stabilising exchange rates, to legal protection abroad, and to combating unfair competition and counterfeitingon of trade union, workers and human rights as well as the safeguarding of health and safety and social standards;
Amendment 9 #
2010/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 11 #
2010/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4a (new)
Paragraph 4a (new)
Amendment 12 #
2010/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4b (new)
Paragraph 4b (new)
4b. Highlights the importance of the international trade union movement in shaping a worker-friendly Industrial Policy for the Globalised Era, notices the pressures that are exerted on the trade union movement as a result of increased competition in a globalised world; calls for closer collaboration between the rank and file trade union movement in the international arena and for the recommendations of the trade union movement to be integrated into the new Industrial Challenges for the Globalised Era in order to meet the challenges of the future;
Amendment 13 #
2010/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4c (new)
Paragraph 4c (new)
4c. Notices the ongoing threat of job losses due to delocalisation of production to low wage countries; calls for the nationalisation under democratic workers control of companies threatening with delocalisation in order to prevent de- industrialisation, increase in unemployment and decline in purchasing power as a result;
Amendment 2 #
2010/2072(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B (new)
Recital B (new)
(A) whereas the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) does not impose any active labour market measures on a Member State that have to be implemented in the framework of an application for the fund but to put in place a coordinated package of personalised services designed to reintegrate workers into the labour market in accordance with Article 3 of the EGF regulation[1] which preserves fully the flexibility of the Member States to adapt the measures targeting the redundant workers to the local and individual needs of each application, ([1] Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2009 on establishing the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund as amended by regulation (EC) No 546/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009.)
Amendment 23 #
2010/2072(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Asks the Commission to present a proposal on how the EGF regulation should be amended in order to allow the inclusion of all workers made redundant because of the same event, across sectors and regions;
Amendment 28 #
2010/2072(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Member States benefitting from the EGF to be very effective and to adopt a personalised approach to assistance for redundant workers, particularly in cases of large-scale redundancies, so as to improve workers' opportunities on a labour market that is undergoing profound restructuring; to this end, recommends that the Member States step up their exchanges of good practice, especially making use of Progress;
Amendment 45 #
2010/2072(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Reminds undertakings of their social responsibility to do all they can to ensure that workers can, right from the start of their period of unemployment, authenticate their experience acquired, so as to ensure that their retraining is as specific and as rapid as possible and that they obtain new, stable jobs with a promising future;
Amendment 47 #
2010/2072(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Asks the Commission to provide the Member States with a set of guidelines for the design and the implementation of the applications for EGF funding seeking a fast application procedure and a broad consensus of the stakeholders for the strategy to apply and the measures to be put in place for an effective reintegration of the workers into the labour market;
Amendment 49 #
2010/2072(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Asks the Commission to provide assistance also to the Member States, the social partners and the workers associations during the process of implementation of the measures;
Amendment 1 #
2010/2037(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that achieving the MDGs shouldmust remain a key objective for the European Union despite the fact that progress towards it is threatened by the financial and economic crisis, negative or stalling economic growth, diminished resources and possible reductions ; emphasises that poverty reduction through the achievement of the MDGs must be recognised unambiguously as the overarching framework for EU policy and that this must be reflected clearly in all relevant policy, including trade policy, and legislative proposals; believes that the MDGs should not be seen as a technical matter which will be resolved simply by providing more money or more trade opportunities without identifying aind flows from donor nationstackling the underlying causes of poverty;
Amendment 2 #
2010/2037(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 3 #
2010/2037(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Stresses that the UN Secretary General regards a lack of commitment from UN member states as an important reason for a possible non-achievement of the MDG; recalls that according to the World Bank an estimated 64 million more people would live on less than $1.25 a day this year than would have been the case without the crisis; therefore insists that additional efforts need to be made to compensate for the effects of the crisis in developing and least developing countries; on the level of trade relations this must include an end to free trade agreements which promote the liberalisation of public procurement, incorporate a "most favourite nation" clause and defend intellectual property and patent rights in the interest of multinational companies etc.;
Amendment 6 #
2010/2037(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is convinced that trade can be a powerful engine of economic growth; believes that the slow progress of the Doha Round negotiations is hampering the contribution of the international trading system to the MDGs; stresses that a positive conclusion of the Doha Round would deliver an economic sin certain cases and under certain conditions be a powerful complement to national economic growth; takes note of the host of studies by UNCTAD and other institutions that show that the extensive trade liberalisation in LDCs has seldom translated into sustained and substantial poverty reduction, and has contributed to a decline of the terms of trade of developing countries, in partimculus package globallyar of African countries;
Amendment 15 #
2010/2037(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reiterates that the EU should support those developing countries which use the so-called flexibilities built into the TRIPS Agreement in order to be able to provide medicines at affordable prices under their domestic public health programmes.; stresses that those agreements which guarantee access to generic medicines must not be undermined in free trade agreements; strongly supports the idea of taking the pharmaceutical industry into democratic and public control;
Amendment 22 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the biggest part of demographic change has already been coped with successfully over the last 100 years; whereas e.g. in Germany in 1900, for one retired person there were twelve workers, and in 2000 this ratio had gone down to four workers per one retired and is expected to further decline to two workers per one retired by 2040; whereas thus for the coming four decades Europe will only have to cope with the comparatively minor demographic effect of the ageing of the 'baby boomer generation',
Amendment 23 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas demographics are blind to productivity gains and ignore the significant increases in productivity that have occurred over the last number of years,
Amendment 32 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Opposes the drive across Europe led by big business and their political representatives to increase retirement ages and diminish pension rights;
Amendment 43 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Takes the view that a policy for justice between the generations must aim to create the necessary bases and tools for conducting an opthere is no conflict in interest between younger and older workers and that all share a common interest in defending the right to retirement and frank intergenerational dialogue with a view to achieving win-win situationssecure pension benefits that provide for a decent standard of living;
Amendment 114 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Council and the Commission to make particular efforts and to devise practical measures – one of which should be a European Youth Guarantee – to ensure that, after a maximum period of six months" unemployment, young people are offered a jobimmediately upon facing unemployment, young people are guaranteed a suitable well-paid job in line with their qualifications and skills, an apprenticeship, additional training or combined work and training, with the additional proviso that those concerned support the process of their integration into work through their own effortse apprenticeship, training or combined work and training must include a wage at least at the level of the minimum wage or relevant collective agreement in the sector and should not be used to depress wage levels generally;
Amendment 119 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 – point i
Paragraph 17 – point i
Amendment 124 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 – point ii
Paragraph 17 – point ii
Amendment 132 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 – point iv
Paragraph 17 – point iv
Amendment 153 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 179 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Emphasises that the family is the cornerstone of our society and is inherently associated with the transmission of values and with cooperation in a spirit of solidarity; emphasises too that work and family life are rendered compatible in all the Member States through the provision of affordable, high-quality care and education for young children;
Amendment 191 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Advocates the right of workers to choose flexible working hours and, job sharing and a reduced working week with no loss of income, as measures that contribute to compatibility between family life and work;
Amendment 209 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
Amendment 225 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
Amendment 241 #
2010/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Emphasises that, irrespective of their income level, age or social status or the degree of health risk they face, people must receive affordable, high-quality, publicly funded medical treatment and care, free at the point of use;
Amendment 41 #
2010/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Emphasises that trade which is to benefit working class people, small and landless farmers and indigenous peoples, both in Europe and Latin America, needs to be based on not-for-profit-driven exchange of goods and services that has as its primary objectives the protection and development of social, trade union and human rights, quality of life, food security and food sovereignty, the environment and environmental standards as well as public services, including health and education;
Amendment 49 #
2010/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Notes that trade which is meant to be carried out in the framework of equal partnership also requires equitable wealth distribution within the respective countries; underlines, therefore, the urgent need for democratic land reform and land distribution in many countries of Latin America;
Amendment 86 #
2010/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Amendment 99 #
2010/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Stresses that if the EU is to be a genuine promoter of values such as human rights, social standards and democracy, the ratification process of the FTA between Colombia and Peru as well as the Association Agreement between the EU and Central America needs to be put on hold; all further negotiations can only take place in a transparent manner and with the direct participation of all relevant stakeholders, such as trade unions, representatives from the indigenous communities and NGOs;
Amendment 153 #
2010/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Welcomes the process of closer regional integration, the setting up of ALBA and the proclamations about building “Socialism in the 21st Century”; is concerned, however, that further progress in that direction will be jeopardised if capitalism is not fundamentally broken with and natural resources, land and the key sections of the economy are not swiftly brought into public ownership, with democratic control and management by the working class, indigenous people and the poor;
Amendment 20 #
2010/0289(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) The main objective of any emergency measures taken by the Commission should aim at sustainably supporting the rebuilding of livelihoods and in improving the living standards of those affected by the floods; the Commission should therefore seek close collaboration with the trade union movement in Pakistan in general and those of the textile sector in particular.
Amendment 21 #
2010/0289(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 b (new)
Recital 4 b (new)
(4b) The effects of the autonomous trade preferences should be able to be measured in concrete terms of job creation, poverty eradication and the sustainable development of Pakistan's working population and poor.
Amendment 106 #
2010/0289(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4
Article 10 – paragraph 4
4. This Regulation shall apply until 31 December 2013, to this end insists that the duration of the measures largely depend on the effects they have on rebuilding the livelihoods of Pakistani people affected by the floods; therefore concludes that a definite timeline for the measures can only be put in place after a full impact assessment has been conducted in collaboration with the trade union movement in Pakistan and the EU.
Amendment 1 #
2010/0057(NLE)
Proposal for a recommendation
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. CDeclines to consents to conclusion of the Agreement;
Amendment 1 #
2010/0056(COD)
Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Adopts its position at first reading, taking overRejects the Commission proposal;
Amendment 2 #
2010/0056(COD)
Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it intends to amend its proposal substantially or replace it with another textwithdraw its proposal (and submit a new one);
Amendment 7 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas there are few possibilities for young people to find permanent regular employment; whereas young people mainly enter the labour market via atypical, highly flexible, insecure and precarious forms of employment (marginal part-time, temporary or fixed term employment etc.), and the likelihood that this is a stepping stone to permanent employment is low,
Amendment 8 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas traineeships and internships seem to be more frequently used by employers to replace regular employment, by exploiting the obstacles to entering the labour market that young people face; whereas such forms of exploitation of young people need to be addressed and effectively eradicated by Member States,
Amendment 88 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recognises that, in times of crisis, young people seek education and should be encouraged to do so; calls on all Member States to secure equal access to education for all by guaranteeing a minimum right of 12 years freto free well-funded education, including third level and postgraduate education, and securing financial support for young students, and invites Member States to invest further in education and training, even if fiscal constraints are present;
Amendment 100 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 – introductory part
Paragraph 12 – introductory part
12. Appeals to Member States to include all four flexicurityfour components in the national designs for youth employment strategies, namely:
Amendment 101 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 – point a
Paragraph 12 – point a
a. flexiblsecure and reliable contractual arrangements,
Amendment 105 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 – point c
Paragraph 12 – point c
c. effective active labour-market policies that focus on skills, quality employment and inclusion,
Amendment 136 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recognises the importance of young people being able to be financially independent and calls for Member States to ensure that all young people are individually entitled to a minimumdecent level of income that secures for them the possibility of creating an independent adult life;
Amendment 142 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Invites the Commission to examine whether legislation in some Member States, such as the lower minimum wage for young people as for adults in the UK, the reduced employment benefits for young people in Denmark, the exclusion of young people under 25 from the Revenu minimum d'insertion in France and from the housing allowance component of ALG II in Germany constitute discrimination based on age;
Amendment 143 #
2009/2221(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Suggests that the Council and the Commission come forward with a European Youth Guarantee securing the right of every young person in the EU to be offered a jobsuitable well-paid job in line with their qualifications and skills, an apprenticeship, additional training or combined work and training after a maximum period of 6 months"immediately upon facing unemployment;
Amendment 3 #
2009/2219(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the European Union to uphold the principles of managed and fair trade, rejecting protectionism that serves the interests of European big business or any attempt to undermine the legitimate comparative advantages of developing countries that do not undermine human and trade union rights, but applying a different interpretation of WTO Article XXIV to allow for the exemption of vulnerable manufacturing and other sectors from trade agreements where this is justified;
Amendment 7 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
Amendment 7 #
2009/2219(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Confirms that all trade agreements must require all parties to have ratified and effectively implemented at least the core conventions of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Rights and Principles, and that the Sustainable Development chapter has the same binding status as the market access provisions and is subject to the same dispute-settlement mechanism;
Amendment 14 #
2009/2219(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the use of Sustainability Impact Assessments, but deplores failures to act fully on their findings, as in west Africa; in the case of Colombia, with which country the EU should conclude no trade deal, given its record of human rights abuses, including the murder with impunity of many trade union activists; emphasises the EU's leverage to pursue concrete improvements in respect for labour and human rights in advance of trade agreements, as well as during their implementation;
Amendment 19 #
2009/2219(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recognises that current and future trade agreements are being negotiated in the context of an economic depression; that off-shoring by multinational companies in search of higher profits accounts for a high proportion of job losses; and, that EU trade policy should seek to prevent an excessive or over-rapid decline in EU market share and employment has encouraged the 'race to the bottom' in workers' wages and conditions, as seen in recent judgments of the European Court of Justice in relation to Sweden, Germany and Luxembourg, and that the EU Globalisation Adjustment Fund is a complevtelsy in any given sector; calls for trade agreements to be concluded in the light of the scope for the EU's Globalisation Adjustment Fund to provide adequate assistance towards restructuringadequate response; calls for major enterprises which threaten substantial job losses to be taken into public ownership, while steps are taken to maintain cooperation with and assistance to developing countries;
Amendment 22 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls therefore for the European Union’s future trade strategy to preserve European commercial interests and for the EU andand that of its trading partners mutually to respect the application and implementation of clauses on human rights and social and environmental standards; considers that the EU should adopt a positive approach in its negotiations; underlines that including provisions on sustainable development, particularly in bilateral agreements, will benefit all parties;
Amendment 26 #
2009/2219(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for complaints about social problems to be the subject of public independent expert decisions, follow-up and review, involving representative workers' and community organisations;
Amendment 27 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4a (new)
Paragraph 4a (new)
4a. to this end calls for all trade agreements to require all parties to have ratified and effectively implemented at least the core conventions of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Rights and Principles;
Amendment 31 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5a (new)
Paragraph 5a (new)
5a. Calls for any “Human Rights” or “Sustainable Development” chapters in Free Trade Agreements to have the same binding status as the market access provisions, and calls for those agreements to be subsequently ratified by all member states;
Amendment 45 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12a (new)
Paragraph 12a (new)
12a. Condemns the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement with Colombia as being contrary to the notion of promoting human rights, given that the right to strike in Colombia is severely limited and two thirds of all trade unionists killed in the world each year are killed in Colombia – with more than 500 murdered since 2002;
Amendment 6 #
2009/2215(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 2
Point 2
2. Underlines the importance of relations between the European Union and the Mediterranean region, not just in terms of trade, but academically and culturallylso in terms of development, transfer of technology, improvement of social rights and protection of the environment, and also academically and culturally; this must include mutual, horizontal exchange of experience and opinions on the basis of full participation of civil society organisations in relation to those challenges,
Amendment 11 #
2009/2215(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 3
Point 3
3. Urges the Commission to estrengthenablish clear criteria for the reduction of social inequalities, diversification of the local economies, sustainable development of agriculture, industrialisation, food sovereignty and security when strengthening its role as investor and partner,
Amendment 26 #
2009/2215(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 6
Point 6
6. Hopes for an improvement in the economic and legal environment in the region, an essential guarantee for future investment; underlines that the preservation and the development of strong and democratically run public services is another important precondition to guarantee sustainable development in the region,
Amendment 36 #
2009/2215(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 8
Point 8
8. Underlines the need to establish a regional agricultural policy which observes the requirements of food sovereignty, food security, and the preservation and development of small and middle farming adapted to sustainable development and preservation of the cultural diversity,
Amendment 49 #
2009/2215(INI)
Draft opinion
Point 12
Point 12
12. Calls on the Commission to contribute towards regional stability, crisis prevention, and democratisation including the full respect of freedom of speech, independently from the existence of economical interests of EU investors or trade partners,
Amendment 13 #
2009/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the CSR rhetoric of these companies is often not matched by the reality of their actions, and CSR is often simply used as a marketing tool for multinationals,
Amendment 15 #
2009/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas regardless of CSR, the chief priority of major companies remains the maximisation of profit, which comes at the expense of working people and the environment,
Amendment 15 #
2009/2201(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas regardless of CSR, the chief priority of major companies remains the maximisation of profit, which comes at the expense of working people and the environment,
Amendment 16 #
2009/2201(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
E b. whereas the CSR rhetoric of companies is often not matched by the reality of their actions, and CSR is often simply used as a marketing tool for multinationals,
Amendment 17 #
2009/2201(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers CSR to be an ineffective tool for improving competitiveness, occupational safety and the workingtecting workers' rights, the rights of local and indigenous communities and the environment;
Amendment 26 #
2009/2201(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Calls for stringent legislation to ensure workers' rights and environmental protection, rather than relying on companies' non-binding commitments;
Amendment 56 #
2009/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers CSR to be an ineffective tool for protecting workers' rights, the rights of local and indigenous communities and the environment and calls for stringent legislation and effective trade union organisation to ensure workers' rights and environmental protection, rather than relying on companies' non-binding commitments;
Amendment 5 #
2009/2200(INI)
having regard to the Policy Department's Analysis of the 2009 annual programme for Turkey under the Pre- accession Instrument (IPA) in the context of the 2OO9 enlargement package,
Amendment 8 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E (new)
Recital E (new)
whereas average unemployment in Turkey has reached an alarming 13% in 2009, youth unemployment stands at 24% and the latest Poverty Survey (2007) indicates that 18.56% of Turkey's population lives below the poverty line,
Amendment 9 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F (new)
Recital F (new)
whereas according to 'Analysis of the 2009 annual programme for Turkey under the Pre-accession Instrument (IPA) in the context of the 2OO9 enlargement package', “ the EU is often perceived as an international organization that puts primacy to issues of economic efficiency and macroeconomic stability, rather than social issues […]” , which underlines the need to fully address social standards, human and trade union rights in trade negotiations,
Amendment 10 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G (new)
Recital G (new)
whereas there are serious regional differences within Turkey which require a serious and lasting commitment by the Turkish Government to an overall, balanced development and modernization of the country, with an emphasis on improving quality of life and human rights, poverty alleviation and the extension of adequate social protection to vulnerable individuals and groups, in particular the elimination of child labour,
Amendment 14 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1b new
Paragraph 1b new
Regrets that Turkey is on the path of becoming a completely open economy; states that, under the pretext of an open economy, further privatisation programmes (for example the privatisation of former state enterprise, TEKEL) are under way; highlights that another 12,000 jobs will be lost due to the latest phase of TEKEL's privatisation alone; warns that domestic demand and purchasing power of the population will be undermined as a result;
Amendment 15 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 new
Paragraph 2 new
Stresses the fact that workers in so-called open economies are vulnerable to international competition and attempts to drive down wages; is therefore convinced that workers need to be protected by collective agreements and strong trade union organisation; notes with concern that, by the end of 2006, less than 10% of workers in Turkey were protected by collective agreements;
Amendment 17 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Welcomes the upturn in Turkey’s economy after the global financial and economic crisis; congratulates Turkey on thetakes note of Turkey's serious reforms of its banking system, that proved resilient to the financial and economic crisis, as reflected in the upgrading of its credit ratings; stresses the importance of further cooperation between the EU and Turkey to overcome difficulties in both trade and investment;
Amendment 20 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Notes Turkey’s potential for further economic development, given its young and dynamic population; encourages both the EU and Turkey to pay due attention to their interlinked economies, to pursue further openness, to refrain from hidden protectionism and to capitalise more on Turkey’s geo-political position when setting trade targets;
Amendment 25 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 27 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5a new
Paragraph 5a new
Stresses the severity of the youth employment situation and the lack of specific actions to tackle the problem; refers to a recent ILO study which describes employment creation in general and women's and youth employment in particular as the key labour-market challenge for Turkey's development; calls, therefore, for an employment strategy which is targeting the youth employment in general and the situation of young women in particular;
Amendment 28 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5b new
Paragraph 5b new
Points to the findings of a recent ILO study on child labour in Turkey and related conclusions, that despite large- scale projects to curb child labour in recent years there is the possibility that because of the economic crisis child labour might become a major problem once again; welcomes therefore the efforts of the Turkish Ministry of Labour and Social Security, which has set itself the goal of entirely eliminating the worst forms of child labour by the year 2015, and which has planned the implementation of new projects until 2013; asks the Commission and the Member States to provide financial and technical assistance to support these efforts;
Amendment 29 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Highlights that the CU covers manufactured goods and processed agricultural products; looks forward to the inclusion of agricultural products in the CU, with the adoption of the CAP; considers that other areas such as services and public procurement should fall within its scope;
Amendment 38 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9a new
Paragraph 9a new
Calls on Turkey to immediately comply with all its obligations deriving from the Additional Protocol to the EC-Turkey Association Agreement, in a non- discriminatory way, what will contribute to the further development of its trade relations with all EU Member States;
Amendment 39 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 42 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10a new
Paragraph 10a new
Underlines the importance of policy coherence in all aspects of the European Union’s policy spheres and in this context condemns Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code as it is used to oppress ethnic minorities, trade unionists and government opponents in general and has assisted in the indefensible banning of the Demokratik Toplum Partisi (Democratic Society Party, DTP);
Amendment 61 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 62 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 67 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17a new
Paragraph 17a new
Points out that the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) identifies Germany, the USA and Israel as the three largest arms providing countries for Turkey; is deeply concerned that the driving force behind the increase in trade between Turkey and Israel is due to their intense defence cooperation and notes with strong disapproval that a significant proportion of Turkish imports from Israel consists of arms purchases;
Amendment 68 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 72 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Notes that Turkey and the EU face similar challenges in energy supply; stresses the need to define a common external energy strategy; urges Turkey to ratify thinvest in publicly owned sustainable and environmentally friendly energy resources and is therefore opposed to Turkey’s recent investment in nuclear energy; regrets all attempts to liberalise Eenergy Charter Treaty Trade Amendmentand water distribution services, is therefore opposed to the first privatisations of the electricity distribution services;
Amendment 92 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a new
Paragraph 24 a new
Notes that Turkey is among the top three states (together with Mexico and Slovakia) that display the greatest disparity in GDP per capita across the regions (OECD 2009), underlines that this development is intertwined with the ongoing oppression of and repression against the Kurdish population in the south east of the country; underlines the necessity of halting the discrimination against Kurdish people and other minorities and respecting the Kurdish right to self-determination;
Amendment 93 #
2009/2200(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24b new
Paragraph 24b new
Calls for the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus; defends the right of return of people displaced by the process of occupation; calls for a united movement of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot workers to build a democratic socialist federation of Cyprus that can provide peace, economic development and prosperity;
Amendment 6 #
2009/2150(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the significant decrease in export revenues in developing countries is threatening to shatter the growth and development of the Southdeveloping countries, and in particular those which have been most integrated into the world economic market and opened their economies to international financial institutions, have been hit hardest by the economic crisis; calls on the Commission – when negotiating and implementing trade agreements, in particular the Economic Partnership Agreements – to strengthimplement EU Policy Coherence for Development and the promocreation of decent work and to ensure respect for the priorities of each country and adequate consultation of key actors and civil society;
Amendment 8 #
2009/2150(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is convinced that a fair and development-oriented conclusion of the Doha Round in 2010 could help the WTO in aiding the economic recovery from the crisis and continuing the fight against protectionism and couldreorientation of international trade towards full respect for people’s economic and social needs could more effectively contribute to poverty alleviation in developing countries, the creation of good-quality jobs and the reduction of consumer prices;
Amendment 14 #
2009/2150(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Asks the Commission and Member States to support measures to ease developing countries’ access to credit, including the substUnderlines the need to cancel all debt of developing countries in order to foster sustainable development and to support access to credit through alternative, democratic and publicly owned finantcial capitalisation of multilateral development bankinstitutions that act in the interests of the social and economic emancipation of developing countries;
Amendment 18 #
2009/2150(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. WelcomNotes the Agreement on the Global System of Trade Preferences (GSTP), a mechanism established by 22 developing countries to reduce tariffs and other barriers to the export of goods traded between them, in an attempt to boost South-South trade.
Amendment 48 #
2008/0249(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) In order to be in line with the Union´s stated commitment in the field of policy coherence for development, Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 ensures that exports (such as computers and related equipment) which serve the purpose of technology transfer in the interests of development will be included in the EU general export authorisations.
Amendment 49 #
2008/0249(COD)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 5 b (new)
Recital 5 b (new)
(5b) In the interest of transparency, democracy and efficient implementation of Regulation (EC) No 428/2009, this Regulation should provide for a mechanism that gives stakeholders such as human rights and peace monitoring organisations and trade unions a say in the decision making process that leads to the updating of the countries of destination as well as the updating of goods identified as dual use items.
Amendment 18 #
2008/0195(COD)
Proposal for a directive– amending act
–
–
The European Parliament rejects the Commission proposal.
Amendment 12 #
2006/0167(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 3 c (new)
Recital 3 c (new)
(3c) Developing and consolidating democracy, respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, as stipulated in Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), should be used as a guide for all projects financed by officially supported export credit agencies based in the Union, including the overarching environmental principles contained in the TEU, fundamental human rights referred to in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and standards incorporated into the body of Union environmental and social legislation relevant to sectors and projects financed by officially supported export credit agencies.
Amendment 13 #
2006/0167(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 3 d (new)
Recital 3 d (new)
(3d) The climate objectives of the European Union and its Member States in terms of their Union and international commitments should guide all projects financed by officially supported export credit agencies based in the Union. These include: the final declaration by the heads of State and Government at the G20 Pittsburgh Summit on 24 and 25 September 2009 to phase out fossil fuel subsidies; the Union objectives to reduce its GHG emissions by 30% compared to 1990 levels, to increase energy efficiency by 20% and to have 20% of its energy consumption coming from renewable sources by 2020; and the Union objective to reduce its GHG emissions by 80 to 95% by 2050. The removal of fossil fuel subsidies must be accompanied by measures to ensure that the living standards of workers and the poor are not adversely affected.
Amendment 27 #
2006/0167(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Annex 1 a (new)
Annex 1 a (new)