188 Amendments of Alf SVENSSON
Amendment 30 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the uprisings in the Arab world prompted the European Union to acknowledge the failure of past policiesat the EU had been more concerned about stability than about democratisation and to commit to a ‘more for more’ approach in the Review of the Neighbourhood Policy, based on a commitment to ‘adapt levels of EU support to partners according to progress on political reforms and building deep democracy’, including free and fair elections, freedom of association, expression and assembly, a free press and media, and the rule of law administered by an independent judiciary;
Amendment 35 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the European Parliament, in its resolutions on the previous Annual Report and on the review of the EU human rights strategy (both of which were adopted in December 2012), stressed the need for a reform of its own practices to mainstream human rights in its activities and follow up its urgent resolutions condemning breaches of democracy, human rights and the rule of law;
Amendment 36 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the European Parliament Eurobarometer survey of public opinion, carried out in the 27 EU Member States in November and December 2012, shows again that the protection of human rights remains the most important value in the eyes of Europeans; whereas credible implementation of stated EU and UN commitments to support human rights and democracy in its external policies is crucial to maintain the overall credibility of EU foreign policy;
Amendment 50 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the VP/HR, EU Special Representative for Human Rights and the EEAS to pursue these commitments and mainstream human rights and democracy in all the EU’s relations with its partners, including at the highest political level, by making use of all relevant EU external policy instruments;
Amendment 66 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Acknowledges the efforts made to list the various EU actions in the field of human rights and democracy support in the country reports, which provide a wealth of information about the work of the EU institutions around the world; regrets, nevertheless, that the country reports still seem to lack a systematic, clear and coherent frameworkarrangement that would allow for more rigorous analysis on the impact and efficiency of EU action;
Amendment 68 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the effort to include activities by the European Parliament in the Annual Report and strongly encourages the VP/HR and the EEAS to specifyreport which EU action has been taken to follow up on Parliament’s resolutions;
Amendment 80 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recognises the importance of the mandate given to the first EU Special Representative (SR) for Human Rights; encourages the EU SR to enhance the visibility, mainstreaming, coherence and effectiveness of EU human rights policy and to strike the right balance between silent and public diplomacy in carrying out his mandate; repeats its recommendation that the EU SR provide Parliament with a regular report on his activities;Does not affect the English version.
Amendment 164 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Welcomes the European Commission’s decision to place the rule of law at the heart of the enlargement process; urges the EU to remain vigilant during the enlargement processes and to demand rigorous implementation of provisions critical to human rights, such as protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, establishing the rule of law together with vigorous action to combat all forms of corruption, and effective access to justice, and guaranteeing fundamental freedoms;
Amendment 175 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Notes that media freedom has generally advanced in enlargement countries; deplores, however, the lack of measures to ensure freedom of expression in certain enlargement countries, which often leads to self-censorship, political interference, economic pressures, and the harassment of, or even violence against, journalists; is seriously concerned in this respect about increasing violations of the freedom of expression and of the press in Turkey;
Amendment 216 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Remains deeply concerned about the crisis in Syria; strongly deplores the excessive use of force and violence against the civilian population in the country, and abhors the scale of state abuses that may constitute crimes against humanity; calls on all armed factions to put an immediate end to violence in the country; expresses grave concern at the on-going humanitarian crisis and the implications for neighbouring countries; believes that the key to solving the conflict lies in political mechanisms and diplomatic processes; condemns the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East;
Amendment 313 #
2013/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72
Paragraph 72
72. Calls for the EU to pay particular attention to discrimination based on forms of social stratification, such as caste and analogous systems of inherited status, which have a seriously harmful and sometimes destructive impact on the prospects for equal enjoyment of human rights; considers that those countries where a caste system still exists should be urged to prohibit it and ensure that laws against the caste system are genuinely implemented;
Amendment 9 #
2013/2057(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the importance of granting thedeveloping countries’ ownership of the development processes to developing countries by allowing themin that they are allowed to decide the packages of reforms and policies best suited to their needs. Calls for local governments to be assisted in securing tax resources and powers of taxation and in building well- functioning local structures so that they are able to manage their own development and reduce their dependency on aid. Notes also the importance of relying on local actors such as civil society and NGOs who; stresses that it is important to support the development of these countries’ capacity so that they can build up the skills, know- how and institutions required to manage their own development effectively; stresses the importance of free trade, a market economy and entrepreneurship in order for developing countries themselves to be able to fight poverty and thus create sustainable economic development and reduce their dependency on aid. Stresses likewise the importance of promoting and defending good governance and that it is important that authorities in recipient countries should combat corruption and build up their fiscal infrastructure in order to be able to safeguard their tax revenue and combat tax evasion and unlawful capital flight; notes also the importance of supporting and doing more to coordinate with local actors such as private organisations and NGOs within civil society, which, as they are close by, are better placed to identify the development needs and can leadpromote the development process of countries; stresses that in many cases public-private partnerships can help to make aid more effective and better coordinated.
Amendment 10 #
2013/2057(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers that EU delegations in third countries should assume greater responsibility for coordinating the development cooperation of the EU and of EU Member States with recipient countries, including in relation to other international donors.
Amendment 47 #
2013/2052(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j
Paragraph 1 – point j
(j) to call for Malaysia to protect the constitutional rights of all Malaysians to freedom of religion and to promote interreligious good relations and tolerance; to condemn, in this connection, the demolition of Hindu temples in 2006 and the attacks on Christian churches in 2010, and to express regret atcondemn the recent political and judicial interventions in relation to well- established linguistic uses; to call for the Christians to be able to exercise fully their constitutional right to practise their religion according to their traditions and without interference or fear of prosecution; to call for all Malaysians to enjoy the right to decide their own religious affiliation freely and without administrative or legal hindrance;, to call for the speedy removal of the current administrative and legal obstacles to Muslims who convert to Christianity or Hinduism, and to call for the state to offer such converts protection from prosecution; to call for Malaysia to amend, in the interests of religious freedom, the laws prohibiting missionary activity by non-Muslims, laws which exist in 10 of the 13 states of Malaysia and impose long prison sentences and flogging for those who break them.
Amendment 88 #
2013/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q
Paragraph 1 – point q
(q) to combat intolerance, anti-Semitism, negative stereotyping, stigmatisation, discrimination and incitement to violence; to recognise with deep concern the rising violence against members of religious and other communities in various parts of the world;
Amendment 82 #
2013/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Longer, higher and/or heavier vehicles may be used in cross- border transport if the two Member States concerned already allow itor wish to allow such vehicles on a permanent basis since Directive 96/53/EC came into force and if the conditions for derogation under Article 4(3), (4) or (5 (4) of the Directive are met. The European Commission has already provided guidance on the application of Article 4 of the Directive. The transport operations referred to in Article 4(4) do not have a significant impact on international competition if the cross- border use remains limited to two Member States where the existing infrastructure and the road safety requirements allSuch vehicles may also be used in cross border transport between Member States and neighbouring Member States where they are already allowed on provisional basis. Provisions to this effect are laid down itn a new Article 4 (7). This balances the Member States’ right under the principle of subsidiarity to decide on transport solutions suited to their specific circumstances with the need to prevent such policies from distorting the internal market. The provisions of Article 4 (4) are clarified in this respect.
Amendment 100 #
2013/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Using alternative engines that no longer rely only on fossil fuels and are therefore non-polluting or less polluting, such as electric or hybrid engines for heavy-duty vehicles or buses (mainly in urban or suburban environments) generates extra weight which should not be counted at the expense of the effective load of the vehicle so that the road transport sector is not penalised in economic terms. The solutions should also maintain the principle of technological neutrality.
Amendment 147 #
2013/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Directive 96/53/EC
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
(a) The word ‘national’ is deleted from points (a) and (b) of paragraph 12.
Amendment 163 #
2013/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Directive 96/53/EC
Article 4 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Transport operations shall be considered to not significantly affect international competition in the transport sector if they take place on the territory of a Member State or, for a cross-border operation, between only two neighbouring Member States who have both adopted measures taken in application of this paragraph, and ifunder this, and if , as regards dimensions, one of the conditions under (a) and (b) is fulfilled:
Amendment 183 #
2013/0105(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
Directive 96/53/EC
Article 4 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 7 a (new)
(5a) The following paragraph 7a. is added to Article 4: 7a. Neighbouring Member States that on a permanent basis since Directive 96/53/EC entered into force allow road transport of goods with vehicles or vehicle combinations with weights and/or dimensions deviating from Annex 1 as provided in Article 4.1 a) and 4.2 a) and, as regards dimensions, in compliance with Article 4 (4) with the addition, as regards cross boarder operations, of deviations from Annex 1 point 1.3, may allow cross boarder operations between them with such vehicles and combinations. Such Member States and neighbouring Member States where longer, heavier or higher vehicles are provisionally allowed may likewise allow cross boarder operations between them on mutual agreement. The Member States will notify the Commission on this procedure.
Amendment 82 #
2012/2870(RSP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses Turkey's unique strategic role, politically and geographically, for the foreign policy of the EU and its neighbourhood policy; recognises Turkey's role as an important regional player and calls on the EU and Turkey to further reinforce their existing political dialogue on foreign policy choices and objectives; regrets that the alignment of Turkey with CFSP declarations continued to be low in 2012; encourages Turkey to develop its foreign policy in the framework of dialogue and coordination with the EU;
Amendment 90 #
2012/2870(RSP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2a (new)
Paragraph 2a (new)
Expresses support for Turkey's role in the Syrian conflict and praises the efforts of the Turkish government to give Syrian refugees a temporary safe haven within its borders;
Amendment 91 #
2012/2870(RSP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2a (new)
Paragraph 2a (new)
2a. Acknowledges that Turkey's relations with Israel deteriorated after the Mavi Marmara incident and expresses support for dialogue and re-established relationships between the two countries;
Amendment 102 #
2012/2870(RSP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the Council decision to invite the Commission to take steps towards visa liberalisation as a gradual and long term perspective, in parallel with the signature of the readmission agreement; urges Turkey to sign and implement the readmission agreement without further delay and to ensure that, until this agreement enters into force, existing bilateral agreements are fully implemented; recalls that Turkey is one of the key transit countries for illegal migration to the EU and underlines the need to intensify cooperation with the EU on migration management, the fight against human trafficking and border controls; stresses once again the importance of facilitating access to the EU for business people, academics, students and representatives of civil society from Turkey; supports the efforts of the Commission and the Member States to implement the visa code, harmonise and simplify visa requirements and create visa facilitating centres in Turkey; Reminds the Member States of their commitments under the association agreement in line with the Soysal Ruling of the European Court of Justice of 19 February 2009;
Amendment 207 #
2012/2870(RSP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the Law on the protection of family and prevention of violence against women; commends the National Action Plan to combat Violence against Women (2012-2015) and stresses the need to enforce it effectively nationwide; calls on the Ministry for Family and Social Policies to continue its efforts to increase the number and quality of shelters for women and minors in danger; stresses the importance to provide women who have been victims of violence with concrete alternatives and self-sustainment prospects; urges Turkey to continue to step up its preventive efforts at all levels in the fight against ‘honour killings’, domestic violence and the phenomenon of forced marriages and child brides; calls on the Ministry to continue to actively promote women's participation in the labour market, which remains low, in politics and at senior level in the administration and the private sector, if necessary by foreseeing reserved quotas;
Amendment 235 #
2012/2870(RSP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Welcomes the continued implementation of legislation amending the 2008 law on foundations and broadening the scope of the restoration of the property rights of non-Muslim communities; calls on the relevant authorities to assist the Syriac community in clarifying the difficulties faced with property and land registration; calls for a solution for the large number of properties of the Latin Catholic Church which remain confiscated by the State; recalls the urgent need to continue vital and substantial reform in the area of freedom of thought, conscience and religion, in particular by enabling religious communities to obtain legal personality, by eliminating all restrictions on the training, appointment and succession of clergy, by recognising Alevi places of worships and by complying with the relevant judgments of the ECtHR and the recommendations of the Venice Commission; calls on Turkey to ensure that the Saint Gabriel monastery is not deprived of its lands, and that it is protected in its entirety; calls on a dialogue between the Turkish government and The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople to ensure the right of access to prayer and worship for Christians in the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul;
Amendment 1 #
2012/2319(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
- having regard to the solidarity clause in the Lisbon Treaty, which requires other Member States to provide resources if another Member State is the victim of a disaster, a terrorist attack or an armed attack,
Amendment 47 #
2012/2319(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recognises the contribution of the EU battle-groups to the transformation of Member States’ armed forces, driving military interoperability and promoting multinational cooperation; notes, however,deplores the fact that the concept has not yet proven its utility as a rapid reaction instrument in operations, and that without substantial modifications any agreement on deployment appears unlikely;
Amendment 5 #
2012/2263(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls the vital importance of the principle of ‘the best interests of the child’need to consider children as particularly vulnerable and emphasizes that the principle of ‘the best interests of the child’ must take precedence over all other considerations when dealing with unaccompanied minors;
Amendment 8 #
2012/2263(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Points to the obvious protection gap at EU level as regards the reception of and provision of assistance to unaccompanied minors; recalls in this context that ensuring the security and health of unaccompanied minors, regardless of the length of their stay in the EU, is the responsibility of the respective Member States; considers that, in view of this, the EU should introduce a common and binding regulatory framework with clear rules to address the challenge in its entirety, in order to correct the current shortcomings and the disparities existing between Member States;
Amendment 12 #
2012/2263(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for an increase in EU funding to address this problem; regrets that child protection is significantly and consistently underfunded in comparison with other humanitarian sectors; encourages all Member States to establish practices to safeguard unaccompanied minors' access to human rights, as well as the right to health and the right to education, as established in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child;
Amendment 13 #
2012/2263(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for improved cooperation between the countries of origin, transit and destination on issues such as family tracing, monitored return, reintegration and identification of suitable solutions, with a view to advancing towards a common EU approach and establishing lasting solutions; encourages exchanges of information and good practices as well as special training of border staff and authorities on how to sensitively deal with children with traumatic backgrounds; considers that the EU must go beyond the Action Plan proposed by the Commission so that the fundamental rights of unaccompanied minors are genuinely reinforced; stresses, in particular, the need to strengthen the status of ‘legal guardian’ in the EU and partner countries, and considers it extremely important to draw up a monitoring plan in cooperation with countries of origin and any transit countries in order to ensure that the child is properly protected after returning to and being reintegrated into the country of origin;
Amendment 1 #
2012/2225(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
– having regard to Articles 207 and 208 of the Treaty onf the Functioning of the European Union and Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union,
Amendment 13 #
2012/2225(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A bis (new)
Recital A bis (new)
A bis. a/A new (before the current A) Whereas Articles 207 and 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union are clearly interlinked; whereas Article 207 states that the EU's commercial policy shall be based on the priciples and objectives of the Union's external action, and whereas Article 208 requires that the Union's policies which are likely to affect developing countries shall take account of the objectives of development cooperation;
Amendment 26 #
2012/2225(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes the flaws in the implementation and follow-up of the regulations laid down for the ‘Kimberley Process’; eEmphasises the urgent need for a solid, transparent and reliable tracking system for gems and valuable minerals, such as coltan, so as to more efficiently prevent products that contribute to systematic breaches of human rights, or fuel conflict or unrest in developing countries, from entering the EU market;
Amendment 28 #
2012/2225(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Acknowledges that the European Commission is a partner in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI); calls on the Commission and parties active within the extractive industry to actively encourage more producer countries to join the initiative.
Amendment 36 #
2012/2225(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Supports the Commission’s aim of enhancing synergies between trade and development policies; recommends that it award priority, in these policies, to measures aimed at creating jobs, facilitating trade, improving the trade and investment climate, resistance to economic shocks, fiscal governance and diversification of trade and investment flows, and promoting sustainable development; calls on the EU to display greater consistency in the implementation of its trade, agricultural, environmental, energy and development policies;
Amendment 129 #
2012/2225(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Welcomes the conclusprovisional application of a first economic partnership agreement (EPA) with an African country and calls on the Commission to harness this momentum to relaunch the negotiations on EPAs not yet concluded; points to the importance of establishing a firm legal and commercial framework for promoting investment in ACP countries; calls on the Commission to take into account the European Parliament’s recommendations concerning preference erosion and the flexibility and scope of tariff dismantling, and to award special attention to implementing the EPAs;
Amendment 1 #
2012/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
– having regard to Articles 207 and 208 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European union, and Article 3 of the Treaty of the European Union,
Amendment 5 #
2012/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
Citation 9 a (new)
– having regard to the Enhanced Integrated Framework for trade related assistance to Least Developed Countries, prepared under the leadership of the World Bank;
Amendment 6 #
2012/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
Amendment 7 #
2012/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas Articles 207 and 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union are clearly interlinked; whereas Article 207 states that the EU's commercial policy shall be based on the principles and objectives of the Union's external action, and whereas Article 208 requires that the Union's policies which are likely to affect developing countries shall take account of the objectives of development cooperation;
Amendment 25 #
2012/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas upper-middle-income countries will be excluded from the EU's Generalised System of Preferences from 1 January 2014, but ithis is unlikely to open manycertain to what extent this will lead to the opening of new export opportunities for the least developed countries;
Amendment 90 #
2012/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Notes that trade capacity is dependent on both hardware (infrastructure) and software (expertise), calls therefore on the EU to invest its aid so as to promote both elements in many countries, particularly in cooperation with the least developed countries;
Amendment 113 #
2012/2224(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Acknowledges that the Commission is a partner in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI); calls on the Commission and parties active within the extractive industry to actively encourage more producer countries to join the initiative.
Amendment 3 #
2012/2145(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to strengthen the instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide in order to support democratic reforms and governance, to address in particular grassroots organisations and to reinforce election observation missions and the election observation activities of local civil society, and to make use of the opportunities offered within the framework of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) for that purpose;
Amendment 4 #
2012/2145(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that building legitimate democratic foundations, and civil society is a long-term process properly functioning civil society and the establishment of a democratic, rights- based community is a long-term process that needs to be built up from below and requiringes internal, regional and international support;
Amendment 8 #
2012/2145(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets thatLooks to the European Neighbourhood Policy hasto delivered mixed more substantial and positive results than in the past in terms of, and to creatinge lasting democratic structures and economic development, as reforms have led to cosmetic rather than fundamental changes; stresses the need to learn from past policy mistakes and to apply; stresses the need for a new approach that would be aligned withcreate respect for human rights and freedoms and support for democratic rule.
Amendment 153 #
2012/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 232 #
2012/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recognises the enormous efforts made by the Chinese Government to develop Tibet and Xinjiang economically; uUrges the Chinese Government to act in a politically responsible way by respecting and protecting Tibetan and Uighur traditional cultures and lifestyles; believes that Beijing cannot win the hearts and minds of the Tibetan and Uighur peoples by way of millions of surveillance cameras or repressive police methods; Expects that China will respect the free choice of the Tibetan citizens on the international status of their country;
Amendment 309 #
2012/2137(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Observes that the new American strategy of ‘rebalance’ or ‘pivot’ towards Asia is perceived as a threat by the Chinese leadership; eEncourages China and the USA to avoid tensions and an arms race in the Pacific; urges China to honour America's vital interest in ensuring freedom of circulation on the seas;
Amendment 2 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that owing to the heterogeneity of the concept of CSR, with different companies having developed different standards on accounting, auditing and reporting, levels of CSR are hard to compare; emphasises that compulsory regulationminimum rules following the guiding principles of the UN in the context of CSR would create trust and fairness in business relations and have the benefits of certainomparability, enforceability, universality and stakeholder empowerment;
Amendment 8 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that CSR is essential to achieving the objective of policy coherence for development (PCD); welcomes the Commission’s commitment to promote CSR in full consistency with current international guidelines; regrets, however, that the language of CSR is mostly voluntary;
Amendment 14 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that, as a purely voluntary commitment, CSR ismay be insufficient to deal with externalities resulting from the operations of multinationals, including environmental degradation and human rights violations; reiterates its call for the establishment of legally binding obligationshuman rights violations and environmental degradation; reiterates its call for foreign investors operating in developing countries to respect human rights and environmental and ILO core labour standards;
Amendment 18 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that CSR should result in clear commitments with performance indicators, and that provision should be made for objective monitoring and effective accountability mechanisms for dealing with non-compliance;
Amendment 30 #
2012/2098(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that EU companies should be legally liable in their home countries for human rights violations committed abroad by their subsidiaries and entities they control;
Amendment 2 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that owing to the heterogeneity of the concept of CSR, with different companies having developed different standards on accounting, auditing and reporting, levels of CSR are hard to compare; emphasises that compulsory regulationminimum rules following the guiding principles of the UN in the context of CSR would create trust and fairness in business relations and have the benefits of certainomparability, enforceability, universality and stakeholder empowerment;
Amendment 8 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that CSR is essential to achieving the objective of policy coherence for development (PCD); welcomes the Commission’s commitment to promote CSR in full consistency with current international guidelines; regrets, however, that the language of CSR is mostly voluntary;
Amendment 14 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that, as a purely voluntary commitment, CSR ismay be insufficient to deal with externalities resulting from the operations of multinationals, including environmental degradation and human rights violations; reiterates its call for the establishment of legally binding obligationshuman rights violations and environmental degradation; reiterates its call for foreign investors operating in developing countries to respect human rights and environmental and ILO core labour standards;
Amendment 18 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that CSR should result in clear commitments with performance indicators, and that provision should be made for objective monitoring and effective accountability mechanisms for dealing with non-compliance;
Amendment 30 #
2012/2097(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that EU companies should be legally liable in their home countries for human rights violations committed abroad by their subsidiaries and entities they control;
Amendment 10 #
2012/2062(INI)
Draft opinion
Section 1 – paragraph 7
Section 1 – paragraph 7
7. Calls for renewed efforts to protect and support human rights defenders in third countries, especially those living under threat or fear because of their commitment; looks forward to the more flexible and specially targeted measures which it will be possible to take to protect human rights defenders within the framework of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED);
Amendment 18 #
2012/2062(INI)
Draft opinion
Section 1 – paragraph 9
Section 1 – paragraph 9
9. Emphasises that the new EU Special Representative for Human Rights must take the development aspectgenda as a basis for all efforts.;
Amendment 17 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the fight against Al-Shabaab and the lack of clear political and economic stabilitpiracy in Somalia, the renewed tensions and risk of conflict between Sudan and South Sudan, the conflict-prone regions of Abiyei and Darfur, the tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea and Somalia, the tensions between Eritrea and Djibouti, and the terrorist activities of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) all contribute to making the Horn of Africa one of the most conflict-prone and tense regions in the world;
Amendment 25 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the ongoing political instability and conflict in Somalia have virtually destroyhave terribly reduced any prospects of economic development in the region; whereas the lack of stable democratic and economic prospects for the population, particularly the young, coupled with an absence of the rule of law, provides fertile ground for encouraging criminal activities, including piracy and drug smuggling, and sustains terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab; whereas, regrettably, piracy continues to be seen by some Somalis as the only profitable and viable source of income and means to a higher standard of living;
Amendment 28 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the swearing in of a new Parliament and election of a new President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, on 10 September 2012, represented a historic moment, and an important step towards improving peace and security and demonstrated that the situation in Somalia is not irreversible;
Amendment 57 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas security and development in the Horn of Africa cannot be separated, helping the countries in the region to achieve security is integral to enabling their economies to grow and poverty to be reduced;
Amendment 89 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the important contribution made by EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA to maritime security off the coast of Somalia by protecting World Food Programme chartered vessels delivering aid to Somalia and other vulnerable vessels, as well as supplies to AMISOM; welcomes the Council decision of 23 March 2012 prolonging EUNAVFOR Atalanta to December 2014 and extending its mandate to target the operational bases of pirates onshore; urges the Member States to ensure that EUNAVFOR Atalanta is properly supported with adequate surveillance and patrol ships, as well as with the means for pursuing pirates on land;, and their financiers and networks on land in order to ensure secure aid deliveries and create stability.
Amendment 97 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the decision by the Foreign Affairs Council of 12 December 2011 to establish a regional maritime capacity- building initiative, called EUCAP Nestor, in order to strengthen the maritime and judicial capabilities and training of coastal police forces and judges in five countries in the Horn of Africa and the western Indian Ocean; calls for close coordination with other initiatives, including the EU's MARSIC project, under the Critical Maritime Routes Programme sponsored by the Instrument for Stability and the regional Maritime Security Programme (MASE), initiated by Eastern and Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region countries, supported by the EU and aiming at tackling piracy on land and enhancing judicial capacities to arrest, transfer, detain and prosecute piracy suspects; believes that only by enhancing the coastal security capabilities of the riparian countries will the EU and its partners be able to withdraw their naval patrols from the area;
Amendment 116 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines the need for close strategic coordination amongst all security-related actors, in particular EU-NAVFOR ATALANTA, EUTM Somalia and EUCAP Nestor, as well as NATO (Operation Atlantic Shield), the UN and AMISOM; believes that the decision by the Council of 23 March 2012 to activate, on an ad hoc basis, the EU Operations Centre should facilitate greater EU coordination in the framework of the Strategy for the Horn of Africa; Underlines that by supporting security in the region, reconstruction, social development, aid deliveries, and developmental cooperation are made possible; underlines the need for human rights in the region - as mentioned in United Nations´ charter of human rights; acknowledges that the lack of these is our largest moral dilemma in the world today and emphasises therefore the importance for the EU to work together with the authorities in the region, as well as other important international and regional actors, to ensure that these human rights are recognized and guaranteed; stresses that human rights for especially women, children and religious minorities have long been neglected in the region and calls on the governments in the region to strengthen the human rights for these groups; stresses the roles of the EUSRs and the European Endowment for Democracy to further promote human rights and democracy in the region; notes that sectarian Islamism has spread in parts of the Horn of Africa and is threatening the religious freedom of Christian and other religious minorities; calls for the constitutions in the countries of the region to guarantee full human rights for religious minorities; stresses that ensuring and strengthening the rights of the Christian and other religious minorities is a prerequisite for EU development cooperation with the governments in the region.
Amendment 143 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Salutes the work of the Roadmap Signatories, Traditional Elders, National Constituent Assembly, the new Federal Parliament and the Technical Selection Committee for their roles in ending the transition period; welcomes the commitment of the outgoing President to support and work with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud; urges all political actors in Somalia to cooperate with the new authorities;
Amendment 145 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Welcomes President Hassan Sheikh's vision for Somalia and his intention to ensure formation of inclusive, broad- based governing institutions, stabilisation, the rule of law and good governance, economic recovery, peace building and reconciliation, public service delivery, improved relations between Somalia and the rest of the world; urges him to respect his commitment to transparent and accountable governance, to fighting corruption at all levels, and to ensuring inclusive dialogue and setting up representative and accountable institutions at the national, regional, district and local levels, in accordance with the Provisional Constitution of Somalia;
Amendment 147 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Considers it desirable to seize the opportunity presented by the opening up of the succession to the late Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who died on 20 August 2012, by the election of the new Somali President, and the approach of Kenyan legislative elections in 2013, to (i) work on promoting respect for constitutional norms, the rule of law, human rights, and gender equality through cooperation and dialogue with Horn partners, (ii) continue work on institutional development, democracy building and democratization, (iii) monitor the follow-up of Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) recommendations and providing support for their implementation where relevant, (iv) reinforce political dialogue at country and regional level, and continue to raise issues of human rights, including wherever appropriate, extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, and the fight against impunity, (v) support an independent civil society that is able to express social agendas.
Amendment 150 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 159 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 181 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines the very positive example of Somaliland, which has demonstrated its capacity to develop and consolidate its democratic, economic and administrative structures over more than twenty years; notes that Somaliland has so far been very successful in consolidating security and stability on its territory and in cooperating in the fight against piracy and terrorism; expresses concern, however, that should Al-Shabaab regroup in its mountainous border regions, Somaliland may become vulnerable; stresses, therefore, that it is essential to support Somaliland in the fight against terrorism, including promoting economic diversification and building capacity for youth employment; stresses that in the quest for a solution for the long- term stability and security of Somalia it is important to evaluate the positive example of Somaliland's stability; notes that Somaliland currently seeksupports Somaliland’s re-recognition as a separate state in its own right;
Amendment 187 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Government of Ethiopia to formally endorse the Boundary Commission's virtual demarcation between Eritrea and Ethiopia as final and binding; calls on the Eritrean Government to agree to engage in dialogue with Ethiopia in order to address the process of disengagement of troops from the border and physical demarcation in accordance with the Border Commission's decision, as well as the normalisation of relations with Ethiopia, including the reopening of the border; calls on the international community to devise a roadmap to assist Eritrea in restoring its political and economic structures and create the capacity for long-term sustainability and effective functioning; emphasises that all assistance which does not pursue humanitarian objectives should be made strictly conditional on a commitment by the Eritrean authorities to facilitate a democratic transition and the improvement of the human rights situation in the country;introduction of human rights situation in the country; calls for freedom of speech, press and religion, as well as the introduction of free and fair elections and democracy in the country; calls for the immediate release of political prisoners, including the jailed journalist Dawit Isaac who has imprisoned without a trial for over 4000 days.
Amendment 197 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses the urgent need for an agreement on the sharing of oil revenues between Sudan and South Sudan and that a renewed conflict between the two could have dire consequences for the sustainability of South Sudan as a newly independent state and imperil regional stability; supports the efforts of the panel headed by the former South African president Thabo Mbeki to resolve all outstanding issues, and calls on the EUSR for Sudan and South Sudan to make all possible efforts to ensure that the Mbeki panel retains a central role in promoting a solution between Sudan and South Sudan; calls on the EUSR for Sudan and South Sudan to coordinate with the Head of Delegations in Sudan and South Sudan to ensure that EU engagement, political efforts and assistance maintain a very high degree of visibility; Calls on both nations to conclude a comprehensive agreement on all outstanding issues in accordance with the AU Roadmap and UN Security Council Resolution 2046; stresses the urgent need for a total ceasefire in the Darfur region. Underlines the necessity of Omar Al Bashir to be handed over to the ICC to face trial over crimes against humanity.
Amendment 198 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses the urgent need for an agreement on the sharing of oil revenues between Sudan and South Sudan and that a renewed conflict between the two could have dire consequences for the sustainability of South Sudan as a newly independent state and imperil regional stability; supports the efforts of the panel headed by the former South African president Thabo Mbeki to resolve all outstanding issues, and calls on the EUSR for Sudan and South Sudan to make all possible efforts to ensure that the Mbeki panel retains a central role in promoting a solution between Sudan and South Sudan; stresses the importance of continuous assistance to South Sudan with a view to creating and sustaining an effective civil society; calls on the EUSR for Sudan and South Sudan to coordinate with the Head of Delegations in Sudan and South Sudan to ensure that EU engagement, political efforts and assistance maintain a very high degree of visibility;
Amendment 201 #
2012/2026(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on the European Union and its states to continue to provide neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations and to support the countries of the region in strengthening their national capacities through disaster risk reduction strategies and long-term development cooperation programmes in the areas of drought- preparedness, agriculture, rural development and food security;
Amendment 4 #
2012/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 c (new)
Citation 2 c (new)
- having regard to the Joint Communication of 12 December 2011 entitled ‘Human Rights and Democracy at the Heart of EU External Action - towards a more effective approach’ (COM(2011) 886),
Amendment 14 #
2012/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the Commission communication states that respect for human rights and good governance continue to be preconditions for development, which does not exclude the possibility of finding the rhythm best suited to the circumstances of each countryand that the form and level of development cooperation will be designed to suit each partner country’s specific situation, including its ability to conduct reforms,
Amendment 30 #
2012/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the Agenda for Change is innovative in that it focuses, inter alia, on harnessing budgetary resources, combining subsidies and loans and promoting the private sector; considers that the use of these mechanisms should contribute, principally, to lifting the inhabitants of developing countries out of extreme poverty and aid dependence;
Amendment 49 #
2012/2002(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to live up to their pledge of a ‘Human Rights based approach’ across the entire development cooperation process;
Amendment 64 #
2012/0184(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Vehicles of hHistoric intervehiclest are supposed to conserve heritage of the époque they have been built and considered to be hardly used on public roads, it should be left to Member States to extend the period of periodic roadworthiness testing for such vehicles. It should also be for Member States to regulate roadworthiness testing of other types of specialised vehicles.
Amendment 111 #
2012/0184(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 7
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – indent 7
Amendment 124 #
2012/0184(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – indent 1
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – indent 1
– vehicles of historic interest,historic vehicles.
Amendment 133 #
2012/0184(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Amendment 135 #
2012/0184(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – introductory part
(7) vehicles of– historic interest,vehicles means any vehicle which fulfils all the following conditions :
Amendment 143 #
2012/0184(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – indent 3
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – indent 3
Amendment 150 #
2012/0184(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – indent 4
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 7 – indent 4
Amendment 154 #
2012/0184(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Amendment 189 #
2012/0184(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – indent 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – indent 1
Amendment 9 #
2011/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 (new)
Paragraph 7 (new)
7. Stresses that the European Parliament's budgetary oversight power must be respected in the terms of reference for a European Endowment for Democracy; insists that the European Parliament should be duly represented in the governing bodies and involved in the definition of the EED's mandate, in decisions on political strategy and in the appointment of executive personnel;
Amendment 22 #
2011/2198(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Amendment 24 #
2011/2198(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Points out that women, especially widows, separated women and orphans have difficulties returning home from refugee camps and owning land because of traditional stereotypes and because of the usual increase in land disputes after long conflicts; takes the view that the destruction of the fabric of societies brought about by conflicts should be seen as a chance to rebuild such societies in a way which guarantees women the right to own land and rights of political participation in general;
Amendment 1 #
2011/2115(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the Commission is pushing for a comprehensive investment liberalisation framework with the aim of achieving maximum protection for EU investors; recalls that it is vital that investment treaties provide a better balance between the rights and obligations of investors and host governments; urges the EU not to ban the use of performance requirements (local content, technology transfer, environment sustainability, etc.) as they are often prerequisites to ensure that foreign investment benefits the domestic market;
Amendment 12 #
2011/2115(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 17 #
2011/2115(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 24 #
2011/2115(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that higher intellectual property (IP) standards negotiated within bilateral trade agreements erode the flexibilities available to developing countries under the multilateral IP protection regime; calls on the EU fully to respectCalls on the EU to apply wherever possible the TRIPS flexibilities, especially those relating to public health and access to medicines, so as to leave the developing countries policy space to address public interest concerns;
Amendment 29 #
2011/2115(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Regrets the fact that, in spite of opposition from developing countries,Notes that the EU is pushing for binding liberalisation commitments in General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) negotiations, thereby undermining the development of the developing countries’ domestic services; calls on the EU fully to respect flexibility mechanisms in the GATS; highlights the fact that without a comprehensive assessment of trade in services, developing; calls on the EU to apply wherever possible the flexibility mechanisms in the GATS; emphasises that liberalisation must not impair the ability of governments to impose performance and quality countries are unable to assess the costs and benefits of GATS liberalisationols on environmental services and service providers;
Amendment 1 #
2011/2032(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that democracy and human rights asre interdependent concepts by acknowledging free; argues that free and fair elections asre necessary, but not sufficient, for democratic consolidation,
Amendment 4 #
2011/2032(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that democracy as a system of government provides mechanisms for allocating political power and managing conflict, which are essential for stable and peaceful societies; notes, however, that democracy must be home grown and cannot be artificially imposed by outside agents; argues that the EU, together with the international community, can play an active role in supporting the process of democratic consolidation,
Amendment 16 #
2011/2032(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Encourages aid donors to treat democracy building as a political and ethical processmoral imperative, rather than simply a technical exercise,
Amendment 1 #
2011/2019(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points upout the fact that, without additional sources of funding, the Member States will be unable to honour the commitments entered into in connection with the Millennium Development Goals; advocates establishing a European tax on financial transactions with a view to funding global public goods;
Amendment 8 #
2011/2019(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that the emergAgrees that a differentiated approach to the diverse group of developing economies - India, China and Brazil - should no longer beuntries is needed, and that traditional financial aid may become less relievant on official development assistance, given that poverty for emerging countries; considers that aid for emerging countries, while promoting sustainable economic growth, should still focus on reinforcing those countries can be combated with own resources generated by high-growth economiese partner country's fiscal policy and promoting mobilisation of domestic revenue which should lead to the reduction of poverty and of aid dependency;
Amendment 14 #
2011/2019(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to concentrate development aid on the poorest countries and on the least favoured sections of their populations;least developed countries but stresses the need to assist all countries to the achievement of the MDGs by 2015, in this regard, asks that a system based on rewards and incentives be put in place so that developing countries are actively encouraged to meet MDG targets
Amendment 19 #
2011/2019(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Takes the view that, owing to the efforts ofNotes that the efforts of actors funded through the Global Fund to Fight AIDSids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, has led to substantial progress has been made in combating these evils; regards the amount allocated to the Global Fund for this purpose as insufficient, howeverand rapid results and commends the Fund on what has been achieved thus far, emphasises that continued support to these actors is essential to counteract and eliminate the spread of AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; however, is highly concerned about the misappropriation of funds from the Global Fund and considers that it is of critical importance that concrete measures are taken against future fraud, stresses that the misuse of funds and corruption are totally unacceptable;
Amendment 24 #
2011/2019(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 21 #
2011/0410(CNS)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Union assistance should focus where it has more impact, having regard to its capacity to act on a global scale and respond to global challenges such as poverty eradication, sustainable and inclusive development and growth or worldwide promotion of democracy, good governance, human rights and rule law, its long-term and predictable engagement in development assistance and its role in coordinating with its Member States.
Amendment 22 #
2011/0410(CNS)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) The EU-Greenland partnership should provide for a framework permitting regular discussions on matters of interest for the Union or Greenland, such as global issues, where an exchange of views, and a possible convergence of ideas and opinions, could be beneficial for both parties. The increasing impact of climate change on human activity and the environment, maritime transport, natural resources, including raw materials, as well as education, research and innovation, calls for dialogue and enhanced cooperation.
Amendment 32 #
2011/0410(CNS)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) To support and cooperate with Greenland in addressing its major challenges in particular the sustainable diversification of the economy, the need to increase the skills of its labour force, including scientistsin the area of mining and science, and the need to improve the Greenlandic information systems in the field of Information and Communication Technologies. The achievement of these objectives shall be measured by the percentage of trade balance in GDP, the percentage of the fisheries sector in total exports, and the results of education statistical indicators as well as other indicators deemed suitable.
Amendment 477 #
2011/0294(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 21 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) Roads correspond to the provisions of Article 20(3). At the request of a Member State, exemptions from the provisions of Article 20(3) may be granted by the Commission in duly justified cases, including cases where certain infrastructure investments could not be justified in economic cost- benefit terms, as long as an appropriate level of safety is ensured.
Amendment 769 #
2011/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 1 – article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
Part 1 – article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
(f a) Promote the deployment of fishing gears and practices with low environmental impact.
Amendment 1490 #
2011/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 3 – article 15 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Part 3 – article 15 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. All catches of the following fish stocks subject to catch limits caught during fishing activities incaught during fisheries activities in Union waters and by Union fishing vessels outside the Union waters orand by Union fishing vessels outstide Union waters shall be brought and retained on board the fishing vessels and recorded and landed, except when used as live bait, in EU ports or third countries designated ports, except when used as live bait or specified in a register of exempt species. This register is to be established and maintained by the Commission, in accordance with the following timeframe:
Amendment 1813 #
2011/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 4 – article 27 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Part 4 – article 27 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. EBy..*, each Member State shall establish a system of transferableindividual fishing concessions no later than 31 December 2013 forfor all fishing vessels that fish stocks for which the Union fishing opportunities have been allocated pursuant to Article 16, each Member State concerned shall also establish s system of fishing concessions for all vessels that fish that stock.
Amendment 2244 #
2011/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 7 – article 42 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Part 7 – article 42 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(b a) Cost of access to the fisheries resources in third country waters shall be fully borne by the operators fishing in these waters.
Amendment 2443 #
2011/0195(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Part 11 – article 50 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Part 11 – article 50 – paragraph 2 a (new)
The Union shall ensure the public disclosure of detailed and timely information on the use of financial assistance, including relevant budgets and evaluations.
Amendment 10 #
2010/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph C a (new)
Paragraph C a (new)
Ca. whereas China’s rapid economic growth has taken place partially at the expense of human rights, and is partially built on forced labour and child labour;
Amendment 42 #
2010/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to move away from traditional development cooperation and aid towards a more commercially oriented relationship with China in the interests of both sides, but emphasises that the EU's trade relations with China should continuously be complemented with efforts and demands for democratic development;
Amendment 51 #
2010/2301(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission, therefore, to treat China as a partner, with respect for its cultural traditions, and valueto establish the same legitimate claims on China as on the EU’s other trade partners regarding the respect for human rights; considers that such an approach will help to overcome current tensions, intensify further exchanges and increase mutual investment;
Amendment 4 #
2010/2269(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the EU has a major role to play in making migration a lever for development; takes the view that coherent, development-oriented action can help to tackle the root causes of migratory flows, while migration can help to boost economic growth and social empowerment as well as stimulating governance reform in countries of origin;
Amendment 8 #
2010/2269(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recognises the crucial role played by the diaspora in promoting development in countries of origin; calls for closer cooperation between institutions in developing countries and EU Member States with a view to engaging more fully with the diaspora as a major component of civil society;
Amendment 11 #
2010/2269(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Urges the stepping-up of efforts aimed at reducing the negative effects of the brain drain; emphasises the importance of promotingEncourages efforts such as the promotion of circular migration, regulatingon of recruitment practices and supporting for capacity-building, in order to reduce the negative effects of brain drain;
Amendment 21 #
2010/2269(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses the important role played byof the Global Forum on Migration and Development, which provides a structured framework for the promotion of enhanced dialogue and cooperation between both governmental and non-governmental actors, including civil society;
Amendment 22 #
2010/2269(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Member States to adopt aput into practice fair and transparent procedures to facilitate migrants‘ access to employment coupled with decent working conditions, health care provision and social protection; urges the Commission to take into consideration the policy recommendations adopted at the Africa-EU Senior Officials Meeting on Migration, Mobility and Employment (15- 17 September 2010);
Amendment 25 #
2010/2269(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 29 #
2010/2269(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the European Union to take bolconsider steps to adjust the financing instruments for its external action so as to make it possible to enhance the positive effects of migration in terms of promoting human development and democracy in fragile states;
Amendment 35 #
2010/2269(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recommends increasing theEmphasises the importance of the allocated financial resources allocated for strengthening the ‘migration-development nexus’, and the improvingement of the complementary and timely mobilisation of the EU's various financing instruments for its external action;
Amendment 38 #
2010/2269(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for clarification of the respective roles of the European External Action Service and DEVCO, and for coordination between them; demands thaturges DEVCO to play a leading role in the programming phase in respect of migration policy;
Amendment 4 #
2010/2205(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that observance of the core labour standards (CLS) and of the ILO's decent work agenda is essential in order to achieve the MDGs; expresses disappointmentnotes that the social provisions of EU preferential trade agreements are presented as objectives to be achieved rather than legal commitments to be enforced, as there is no provision for genuine enforcement mechanisms;
Amendment 19 #
2010/2205(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. DeplorEncourages the poor implementation and enforcement of social standards, especially the ILO conventions and CSR principles; emphasises that the ILO permits the imposition of trade sanctions on countries that do not comply with their international obligations; calls on the EU to pursue an approach based on incentives and sanctions in the context of bilateral and regional agreements, so as to ensure that the social provisions of EU preferential agreements are effectively enforced;
Amendment 25 #
2010/2205(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Insists that trade negotiations pursued within the WTO must not jeopardise social development; reasserts that the ILO should be allowed to submit expert reports to the WTO during trade disputes, and that there should be an appeal route to the ILO where a decision by the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body questions the findings of an ILO decision;
Amendment 29 #
2010/2205(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the heterogeneity of the concept of CSR raises the issue of comparability; urges the EU to move CSR away from a purely voluntary approach and to identify clear legal obligations on corporations as regards human rights and CLS, along with effective ways to hold them accountable in the event of breaches.
Amendment 21 #
2010/2100(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas agriculture provides employment and a livelihood for more than 70 % of the labour force, mainly women, in developing countries; whereas the World Bank estimates that growth in the agricultural sector is twice as effective at reducing poverty as growth in other sectors, but also points to the importance of investing in rural non-farm sector growth and job creation;
Amendment 22 #
2010/2100(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas evidence shows the potential of smallholder agricultural systems in increasing overall food production; whereas focussing on export production in developing countries has negative impacts on women as smallholder farmers,
Amendment 28 #
2010/2100(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas strong State capacitiwell-functioning, democratic and transparent state structures are crucial for sustainable development and for building up production and processing capacities,
Amendment 34 #
2010/2100(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
EU policy framework on food and nutrition security: a human rights based-approach to sustainable smallholder agriculture
Amendment 56 #
2010/2100(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Agrees that EU assistance programmes should focus on sustainable small-scale food production and that priority should be given to ‘ecologically-efficient’ approaches that strengthen biodiversity,, to prevent the degradation of fertile land, and to promote agro-ecological and low-external- input (LEI) practices, and excludes GMOs;
Amendment 124 #
2010/2100(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Encourages the adoption of the FAO voluntary guidelines on land acquisitions, but also calls for strict binding national and international regulations on land acquisitions; stresses that contract negotiations should be made transparent allowing for the participation of civil society;
Amendment 136 #
2010/2100(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Reminds the Commission and partner countries of the positive effects of agro- ecological production systems regarding climate change mitigation; stresses however that the main purpose of agricultural aid to regions with urgent food insecurity or hunger must be to increase food production and access to food;
Amendment 4 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU and its Member States, as the world's largest donor, needs to play a leading role at the September MDG meeting and adopt an ambitious, united position that can drive the planet forwardwork as a driving force towards meeting the MDGs on time,
Amendment 5 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
Amendment 6 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
Amendment 7 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas unpredictable aid can be detrimental to recipient countries and whereas better quality aid could free uplease an extra EUR 3 billion a year for the development spendingbudgets of the EU and its Member States1, ________ 1 'Aid Effectiveness Agenda: Benefits of a European Approach', European Commission, October 2009
Amendment 8 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
Amendment 10 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas incoherencies in the European Union's policies mustshould not undermine the impact of development funding,
Amendment 11 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas remittances pumpcontribute at least USD 300 billion a year into developing countries' economies1, ________________ 1 'Migration and Remittance Trends 2009', World Bank, November 2009
Amendment 13 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas manysome LDCs are on track to meet no MDGs whatsoever,
Amendment 14 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas the recent food and fuel crises, coupled with the global economic downturn and climate change, have reversed much ofled to set-backs in the last decade's progress on poverty reduction,
Amendment 16 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
O. whereas fmitighating climate change in the south will cost upwards of USD 100 billion a year and the economic downturn at least as much againdeveloping countries could cost around USD 100 billion a year by 20201, _________ 1 Stepping up international climate finance: A European blueprint for the Copenhagen deal, COM(2009) 475/3
Amendment 18 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S
Recital S
S. whereas a lack of securitpeace and security, democracy and political stability often prevents poor countries from meeting their full potential development potential,
Amendment 21 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital U a (new)
Recital U a (new)
Ua. whereas trade is a prerequisite for sustainable development,
Amendment 26 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Y
Recital Y
Y. whereas failing to meet our MDG promises will mean a death sentencecontinued suffering for millions of poor people and will seriously erode trust between north and south,
Amendment 36 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the EU and the OECD not to broaden the definition of development aid (ODA) and not to count debt cancellation or other non-ODA financial flows as aid spending;
Amendment 38 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 41 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 45 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on all Member States actively to crack down onounteract tax havens and tax evasion, within the G20 framework, and to promote greater transparency and country-by- country reporting by multinationals;
Amendment 47 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on all Member States and the international community to take action to make remittances cheaper;
Amendment 50 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on all Member States to apply an interest-free debt moratorium on debt repayments until 2015 for developing countries and to make renewed efforts to write off debts of LDCsand the international community to make renewed efforts to ease the debt burden of LDCs with a track-record of accountability, transparency and good governance;
Amendment 57 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on all Member States to commit to allotting significantly more resources to development cooperation and emergency aid under the next Financial Perspective and European Development Fund;
Amendment 60 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on all Member States to increase significantly the amount of aid provided through budget support, particularly via MDG contracts, but insistson condition that democracy, human rights, governance and other essential criteria are met and that there is more and better monitoring and audits;
Amendment 70 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the EU not to pressure poor countries through its trade policy into opening up vulnerable market sectors when their level of development precludes them fromand the international community to support rule of law and non-corrupt administration, processing and diversification of production, as well as efficient infrastructure in developing countries for their increased capacity to competinge fairly on the global stage;
Amendment 85 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls on the EU to channel at least half its aid into LDCs and to target the neediest within these c Least Developed Countries, focusing especially on women, children and people with disabilities, and to mainstream more effectively the interests of vulnerable groups in its development strategies;
Amendment 89 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls on the EU and partner governments to increase investment in farming and food security to levels that guarantee, the international community and developing country governments to prioritise efforts for food security and freedom from hunger for all, looking particularly at urgent hunger needs, small-scale farming and social protection programmes;
Amendment 99 #
2010/2037(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Intends, when codeciding the upcoming revisionnewal of the European Investment Bank's external mandate, to seize the opportunity to turn the EIB into an effective, pro-poor lending instituensure fulfilment of its development obligations;
Amendment 21 #
2009/2217(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the international community has implicitly recognised that nine years of war and international involvement haves not yet succeeded in eliminating the Taliban insurgency and bringing peace and stability to the country,
Amendment 47 #
2009/2217(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
Amendment 114 #
2009/2217(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Strongly believes that women's rights are part of the security solution – it is impossible to achieve stability in Afghanistan without women enjoying their full rights in political, social and economic life; calls on the Afghan authorities to include women in every stage of the peace talks and reconciliation/reintegration efforts;
Amendment 138 #
2009/2217(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 147 #
2009/2217(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 182 #
2009/2217(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Recognises the potential for local corruption but believes that this will be outweighed by the strengthened legitimacyand affirms that one of the goals of the international involvement is that the Afghan State will gain by beingbe responsible for implementing aid and by ensuring that aide effectiveness indicators andof the aid; notes that this is to take place through effective monitoring mechanisms, agreed upon by both donors and the Afghan Government, are in place;
Amendment 191 #
2009/2217(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Notes that, as widely reported in the press and in the US House of Representatives report "Warlord, Inc.", the US military in Afghanistan has outsourced most of its logistics to private contractors, who in turn subcontract the protection of military convoys to local Afghan security providers, with disastrous consequences;
Amendment 198 #
2009/2217(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
Amendment 202 #
2009/2217(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
Amendment 252 #
2009/2217(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Believes, too, that all other that when the Afghan State has shown capacity to take responsibility for the entire country and when stability and prosperity have been consolidated, more and more issues should be left to the will and capacity of the Afghan people themselves;
Amendment 303 #
2009/2217(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
Amendment 331 #
2009/2217(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
Amendment 366 #
2009/2217(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59
Paragraph 59
59. Notes, however, that the opium problem was not considered a priority by the Bush Administration, which preferred to cooperate with the warlords in the name of the war on terrorduction is still a major problem, and calls on the EU to assist in making the Afghan economy less dependent on the production of opium, for example by abolishing EU export subsidies, which have led to the dumping of EU products on other non-EU countries' markets by making local agricultural products uncompetitive and manufactured industrial goods uneconomical;
Amendment 7 #
2009/0104(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The visa liberalisation dialogue initiated by the Commission with a regional approach and a European perspective, includes countries of the Western Balkans, namely Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia on an equal footing and without any discrimination. The composition of the lists of third countries in Annexes I and II to Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 should be, and should remain, consistent with the criteria laid down in recital (5) thereto. Some third countries, for which the situation has changed as regards these criteria, should be transferred from one Annex to the otherThe same criteria laid down in the roadmaps for visa liberalisation should be applied to all countries concerned.
Amendment 8 #
2009/0104(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) All of the Western Balkan countries that have met the benchmarks should be admitted to the visa-free travel regime from the beginning of 2010. Those countries that, despite having made substantial progress, have not fully met the benchmarks should be granted the same privilege as soon as they meet the benchmarks as set out in the corresponding roadmaps for visa liberalisation.
Amendment 11 #
2009/0104(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
(2a) With the aim of furthering the implementation of the Thessaloniki agenda and as part of its regional approach, the Commission should start a visa dialogue with Kosovo and establish a tailor-made roadmap for visa facilitation and liberalisation similar to those established with other Western Balkan countries. This should be without prejudice to Member States' competence as regards the recognition of Kosovo as an independent state.
Amendment 15 #
2009/0104(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) As regards Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Commission should, without delay and not later than in the spring of 2010, present its report on the achievements made by those two countries in meeting all the benchmarks set in the roadmap.
Amendment 16 #
2009/0104(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 b (new)
Recital 4 b (new)
Amendment 17 #
2009/0104(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 c (new)
Recital 4 c (new)
(4c) The Council, while commending the relevant recent progress achieved by Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina towards meeting the benchmarks, calls on the relevant Albanian and Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities to adopt, without delay, the necessary reforms to fully meet the benchmarks.
Amendment 18 #
2009/0104(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 d (new)
Recital 4 d (new)
(4d) The Council asks the Commission to assist the relevant authorities of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina in this respect.
Amendment 21 #
2009/0104(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 - paragraph 1 - point a a (new)
Article 1 - paragraph 1 - point a a (new)
Regulation (EC) No 539/2001
Annex I - part 1
Annex I - part 1
(aa) in Part 1, the references to Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina are replaced by the following: "Albania**, Bosnia and Herzegovina ** ------------------- ** The exemption from the visa requirement granted to holders of biometric passports will apply in accordance with Community law"
Amendment 1 #
2008/0251(NLE)
The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on International Trade, as the committee responsible, to propose that Parliament decline to give its consent.