Activities of Louis MICHEL related to 2017/2083(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
The EU-Africa Strategy: a boost for development (debate) FR
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the EU-Africa Strategy: a boost for development PDF (454 KB) DOC (96 KB)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the EU-Africa Strategy: a boost for development
Amendments (61)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
- having regard to the Africa Action Summit which took place on 16 November 2016, consolidating the African dimension of the COP 22
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph –1 (new)
Paragraph –1 (new)
-1. whereas Africa and the European Union are linked by issues of migration and mobility and face common challenges with regard to security and measures against organised and crossborder crime;whereas it is necessary to tackle these issues together in a practical way;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9
Citation 9
— having regard to the conclusions of the 4th EU-Africa summit held in Brussels on 2 and 3 April 2014, the roadmap for the format of the meetings (Cairo format) and the areas of cooperation between the two continents for the period 2014-2017 and the EU-Africa declaration on migration and mobility,
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Emphasises that the Africa-EU strategy must be able to take into account the considerable diversity of African countries and must therefore be able to adapt to the specific circumstances of each partner country;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines the need for a stronger and more political partnership between the EU and Africa, based on shared values and interests, in order to tackle global issues such as climate change, food insecurity, access to water, population growth, youth unemployment, urbanization of large cities, the fight against impunity, terrorism, organised crime and migratory flows, and to promote a rule-based global order based on a strong UN;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the ties between the European Union (EU) and African countries are historic and their destinies are intimately linked; whereas the EU is Africa’s main partner in the fields of economic activity and trade, as well as development, humanitarian aid and security; whereas political, economic and social situations in Africa have evolved considerably in recent years; whereas there is a need to adapt to new realities and to new players on the international scene; whereas there is a need to impress a new vision on the Africa-EU Partnership
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas relations between the EU and Africa must be guided by principles of mutual interest and understanding and by shared common values within the framework of a strengthened reciprocal partnership;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for continued EU support to African partners in the area of peace and security and conflict prevention, including through specific instruments such as CSDP operations and the African Peace Facility; highlights the importance of fostering security and stability by helping our partners to build more resilient states and societies, including through capacity building and security sector reforms, the creation of more and better jobs, especially for young people, the empowerment of women and the support of education, who are and should, increasingly, be the force of economic progress in the region, the support of education by investing more in schools and universities, and research;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the Cotonou Agreement with the EU, to which 79 ACP States are parties, including 48 in sub-Saharan Africa, governs the main partnership between the EU and Africa; whereas there is a need to move towards a modernised and more political partnership, with a focus on defending our key common interests; whereas the EU has also established relations with African countries that are not parties to the Cotonou Agreement under the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) and the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI);
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the next Africa-EU Summit, which will take place in Abidjan on 29 and 30 November 2017 on the topic of ‘Investing in Youth’, is an opportunity to create, support and develop economic conditions of true equality between partners wanting to defend key common interests;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas a stable regulatory and institutional environment and a healthy economy are essential elements for ensuring competitiveness, investments, job creation, a higher standard of living and sustainable growth;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas the new joint Africa-EU strategy must be included in the future Post-Cotonou agreement;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the EU is a major guarantor of the security of the continent of Africa and whereas instability in Africa has a direct impact on stability in Europe; whereas constant support for the effective implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture is essential.
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates the importance of addressing the root causes of large movements of refugees and migrants; recalls that such efforts must entail enhanced political dialogue and cooperation to promote the rule of law, good governance, democracy, fundamental rights and gender equality;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital e a (new)
Recital e a (new)
Ea. whereas the new EU-Africa action plan on migration is intended to combat trafficking networks, to improve the security situation in Libya and to further specific measures to help asylum seekers from Chad and Niger.
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas demographic trends will have to be taken into account, bearing in mind that by 2050 Africa is expected to have a population of 2.5 billion, most of them young people; whereas there is a need to help with and support the empowerment of women and young people, particularly by means of education, access to healthcare and training;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the pursuit of common interests and cooperation on security must be totally consistent with the EU’s fundamental values and with the objectives of supporting democracy, good governance, and promoting human rights and the rule of law; calls for a more strategic, pragmatic, respectful, comprehensive and structured approach to political dialogue under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, with the greater involvement of civil society and a stronger people-to-people dimension;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. As a well-functioning democracy enhances stability and is a powerful tool against terrorism, the European Parliament offers to work more intensively with African Parliaments in building stronger Parliaments and Parliamentarians in taking up their role in the checks and balances between the executive and parliamentary bodies;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers that policies on mobility between Africa and the European Union should on no account result in a brain drain from Africa but should on the contrary place the emphasis on exchanges of knowlege in order to enable young people, in particular, who come from Africa to participate in the development of their countries of origin;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Reiterates its call for reinforcement of legal channels for people who need international protection;recalls that the countries of sub-Saharan Africa are sheltering more than 26% of all the refugees in the world;calls on the European Union to display solidarity towards countries which receive these refugees, particularly by increasing its commitments to resettlement;calls, in this context, for the establishment of a European resettlement framework which can easily be acted upon by Member States and which encourages the Union and its Member States to play a crucial and exemplary role with regard to resettlement worldwide;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Calls furthermore on the European Union and its Member States to cooperate with and provide assistance to African countries that are faced with movements of refugees or prolonged crises, with a view to increasing their asylum capacities and protection systems;recalls that all cooperation with regard to migration and asylum must have the aim of promoting respect for the principles concerning fundamental rights that govern Europe's migration and asylum policies;
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Recalls the importance of providing the maximum information to potential migrants regarding the dangers inherent in irregular migration routes, but also regarding their prospects within the European Union, particularly in the fields of employment and training;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5e. Recalls that two global compacts, relating to migration and refugees respectively, are to be drawn up by 2018 under the auspices of the United Nations and that it is desirable to step up the Africa-EU dialogue in advance in order, if possible, to identify shared priorities;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 f (new)
Paragraph 5 f (new)
5f. Considers that policy on return should take greater account of the issue of the reintegration of the people concerned in their societies of origin and that programmes should be promoted to assist voluntary return and assist migrants who return;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls the importance of the effective implementation of external EU policies that are able to address the real root causes of migration; calls for increased joint efforts to implement the Valetta Action Plan based on a fair and true partnership with third countries of origin and transit; recalls the importance of a balanced approach in the new partnership framework; stresses that the new partnership framework with third countries must not become the only pillar of EU action on migration and should extend beyond a quantitative approach focused mainly on border management; underlines in this matter the importance of democratic scrutiny by the European Parliament;
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls that the root causes of migration are conflicts, weak governance, government instability, violation of human rights, corruption, non-existence of the rule of law, impunity, inequality, unemployment or underemployment, lack of livelihoods and resources, and climate change;
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Welcomes the willingness to place the emphasis on youth within the Africa- EU partnership;calls on the European Union and its Member States to step up their cooperation with African countries to combat the enrolment of child soldiers, female genital mutilation, forced marriages and any other breaches of children's rights;
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses that the upcoming Africa EU summit will provide an opportunity to stress our priorities concerning the EU- Africa relations in the context of the post Cotonou process;
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Commission to present a legislative proposal on accompanying measures for the ‘Conflict Minerals Regulation’ (2014/0059(COD)) in line with the relevant Joint Communication (JOINT (2014) 8);
Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Underlines the importance of small- scale development projects which have a direct effect on people’s lives; urges the Commission to continue their support;
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Emphasises the added value of transport infrastructures to boost the economy and trade between the EU and Africa; Underlines the strategic importance of ports, harbours and airports;
Amendment 66 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Recalls that terrorism and organised crime are threats to both continents and that the dismantling of criminal networks and efforts to prevent impunity should be integral parts of Africa-EU cooperation in these fields;regards promotion of the rule of law and expansion of police and judicial capacities within African partner countries as priorities;calls for cooperation between those countries and the Union and the Eurojust and Europol agencies to be stepped up;
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. urges the European Commission to give special attention to sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls in their external development programmes;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Endorses the stated desire to intensify alliances to tackle global governance issues between the EU and Africa; stresses, in this context, the need to step up the dialogue with the AU and the importance of ensuring its financial autonomy, in accordance with the Kigali Decision on Financing, by reducing its dependence on external financing;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Reiterates the need to reconsider and broaden political dialogue on key common challenges such as terrorism, migration, climate change, and on the individual needs of partner countries such as economic development, diversification, the establishment of value chains;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses that European civil society supports the creation and strengthening of NGOs by transferring expertise in order to help them to contribute to the development of partner countries;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Stresses the key role of the diaspora as a development partner at national and regional levels; supports all initiatives taken to promote the transfer of knowledge and the reconstruction of fragile states; encourages the diaspora to be involved in building national and institutional capacities
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Recalls the importance of the role of the International Criminal Court in tackling impunity and in upholding the values of peace, security, equality, fairness, justice and compensation that it serves as a vehicle for;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls therefore for a frank dialogue, based on mutual respect, concerning these values and principles and for them to be made a major component of cooperation, particularly by extending the conditionality of development aid on strict respect for them;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Stresses the importance of stepping up the parliamentary dimension of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in the future ACP-EU partnership; its key role in strengthening democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights and its contribution to dialogue between the Union and the ACP States; recalls that this assembly has made it possible to improve the understanding of policies introduced and positions taken by the Union and the ACP countries; stresses that the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly is still a unique platform for interaction;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses the urgent need to increase the capacities of developing countries and cooperation between the EU and Africa in the field of security and in combating organised crime and trafficking in human beings; welcomes the creation of a joint anti-jihadist force by the G5-Sahel countries
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls that Africa is particularly vulnerable to the impact of climate change; considers it necessary to support African countries in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt; recalls that it is vital to respect the commitment given in Paris in 2015 to allocate USD 100 billion to developing countries by 2020; calls for new kinds of EU-Africa collaboration to lower the barriers to funding and technology transfer in accordance with the Declaration of the First Africa Action Summit for Continental Co-Emergence, held on the sidelines of the COP22 in Marrakesh on 16 November 2016.
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Recalls the need under EU legislation on conflict minerals to introduce support measures; they should take an integrated approach that is intended to step up permanent political dialogue with the mineral source countries to encourage the application of international standards on due diligence, as defined by the OECD guide.
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Stresses that the protection of African biodiversity – while the rate at which wild species are disappearing is increasing – should be at the core of the EU-Africa political agenda; recalls the involvement of the EU in protecting natural heritage and, in particular, nature parks; stresses the importance of good governance of natural resources;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls that the private sector plays a decisive role in job creation, within the sustainable industrialisation development framework (SDG9) and the development process, and that it helps to finance the latter; welcomes the establishment of the European Fund for Sustainable Development, which should make it possible to support the private sector in African countries and thus promote investment and the creation of sustainable jobs;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls for firm support for economic development based on individual initiative to encourage the emergence of SMEs and family businesses;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Supports the establishment of a continental free trade area in Africa; recalls also the development prospects presented by Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and trade agreements between the EU and African countries; calls for increased cooperation between the European and African private sectors and for concentration of investment in key sectors such as sustainable energy, basic infrastructure, sustainable use of natural resources and agriculture, particularly by means of public-private partnerships; recalls the need to develop public-private partnerships based on a strict ethical code and on the principles of social responsibility
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Recalls that the EPAs are intended to help the ACP countries to expand their markets, encourage trade in goods and boost investment; that they anticipate a slow, gradual opening up of trade in goods between the EU and the ACP countries and a very asymmetric opening up of markets, which will take several years, with the possibility of significant exemptions for the sectors that the partner countries wish to protect;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Recalls that budget support is the best way to carry out appropriation, providing governments with the means to determine their needs and priorities, recalls that general or sector-specific budget support enables development policies to be supported and ensures maximised take-up;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18c. Stresses the importance, in striving to improve the business climate, of putting in place a programme to increase the online accessibility of corporate law information in the OHADA area and to study legal interoperability of civil law and common law in order to lay down common rules in continental Africa, and in the ACP countries;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 d (new)
Paragraph 18 d (new)
18d. Stresses the need to fight against the polarisation of African society; calls for support for broad access to banking services, via mobile banking, for greater financial inclusion of women and for the development of electronic banking; considers it necessary to support a joint effort in this sector by the state, the private sector and civil society;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Recalls that the role of the state in its sovereign duties is a prerequisite for economic development; recalls that economic growth without an impartial state does not systematically guarantee social development or progress; also recalls that people must be given the means to prosper and that a state must be capable of redistributing the generated wealth, of providing its citizens with services, and of improving equal opportunities;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Stresses the fact that regional integration drives economic development and is a necessity in a globalised world; calls for support for South-South Cooperation which reflects the gradual transformation of the African continent;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Emphasises that the urbanisation rate in Africa is on the rise and that African towns will soon face a great demographic shock; considers that the potential gains of demographic growth must be urgently brought to fruition through appropriate measures;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Considers it important to support African countries in establishing effective health systems; calls for the introduction of minimum universal coverage and an increase in the global health fund, particularly concerning maternal health and the fight against infant mortality;
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Supports targeted and coordinated policies, along with investment in health, and sexual and reproductive rights; helps the younger generations to prevent and reduce maternal and infant mortality by tackling violence against women, traditional practices such as female genital mutilation and forced and/or child marriage;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Considers that greater investment in the access to healthcare for family planning is necessary; notes the inadequate access to contraception in Sub-Saharan Africa; believes that greater investment in that policy would help to mitigate the negative impact of the reinstatement of the ‘global gag rule’;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Recalls that Africa is one of the largest pools of cultural diversity; emphasises the undeniable link between culture and development and the importance of drawing up a sub-regional strategy for development, to promote culture and to protect heritage.
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. Stresses the fact that democracy is a universal value which can be part of any culture
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Recalls that a coherent European migration policy based on respect and human dignity is necessary; recalls that such an approach requires international cooperation between the countries of origin, transit and destination countries;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b. Proposes that the framework and structures to be put in place in the countries of origin should be looked at with a view to receiving those turned away at EU borders in a manner that maintains their dignity.