Activities of Barbara LOCHBIHLER related to 2015/2229(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
Annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2014 and the EU policy on the matter (debate) DE
Annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2014 and the EU policy on the matter (debate) DE
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2014 and the European Union’s policy on the matter PDF (417 KB) DOC (426 KB)
Amendments (36)
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 b (new)
Citation 20 b (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 8 October 2015 on the death penalty,
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 c (new)
Citation 24 c (new)
- having regard to its study of June 2015 on occupation/annexation of a Territory: Respect for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and Consistent EU Policy,
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas engaging with third countries, in all bilateral and multilateral fora, is one of the most effective tools for addressing human rights issues in third countries; whereas civil society in third countries constitute key interlocutors in shaping and implementing the EU's human rights policy;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas human rights and democracy support policy is beingshould be mainstreamed through otherall EU policies with an external dimension, such as tradeincluding trade, migration, security, counter-terrorism and development;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas migration represents an important EU external policy challenge requiring immediate and effective solutions which are consistent with international human rights standards, including the principle of non-refoulement;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the universal abolition of the death penalty remains one of the EU’s biggest concerns when approaching third countriespriority objectives in its external human rights policy;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Expresses deep concern that human rights and democratic values are increasingly under threat, that the public space for civil society is shrinking and that a growing number of human rights defenders are under attack worldwide;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for the EU and its Member States to enhance their efforts to effectively place human rights and democratic values at the heart of their relations with the wider world, as they committed to doing so in the TEU; insists that trade, energy or security interests should not trump human rights commitments, in particular when dealing with authoritarian regimes;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to effectively address internal human rights challenges, such as the situation of Roma, the treatment of refugees and migrants, discrimination of LGBTI persons, racism, violence against women, detention conditions or media freedom in Member States, in order to maintain credibility and consistency in its external human rights policy;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Insists on the importance of ensuring coherence of EU policy towards situations of occupation or annexation of territory; recalls that international humanitarian law should guide EU policy towards all such situations;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Commends the EEAS and the Commission for their exhaustive reporting on the activities undertaken by the EU in the area of human rights and democracy in 2014; considers nevertheless that the current format of the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy could be improved by offering a more reader- friendly format and a better overview of the concrete impact of the EU’s actions on human rights and democracy in third countries;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Reiterates its view that a solid consensus and enhanced coordination between Member States and the EU institutions is needed in order to coherently and consistently advance the human rights and democracy agenda; firmly stresses that Member States should take greater ownership of the implementation of the Action Plan and of the EU Strategic Framework and use them as their own blueprint in promoting human rights and democracy bilaterally and multilaterally; insists that the successor document be both an EU and Member States Action Plan;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Acknowledges that human rights dialogues with third countries can be an efficient tool for bilateral engagement and cooperation in the promotion and protection of human rights; welcomes, therefore, the establishment of human rights dialogues with a growing number of countries; welcomes the fact that a first human rights dialogue has been held with Myanmar/Burma, provided they do not constitute an end in itself, but a means to secure specific commitments and achievements from the counterpart; welcomes the fact that a first human rights dialogue has been held with Myanmar/Burma but insists that human rights should be mainstreamed throughout the EU's bilateral relations with that country, including trade and investment;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Urges the VP/HR and the EEAS to conduct their human rights dialogues and the corresponding civil society seminars with a clear, results-oriented focus mirroring the HRCS; urges the EEAS to consistently include a preparatory dialogue with civil society organisations, which should automatically feed into the dialogue itself; further urges the VP/HR and the EEAS to raise individual cases of human rights defendersinsists that the VP/HR, the EUSR on Human Rights and the EEAS systematically raise individual cases of human rights defenders at risk or in jail and of political prisoners, and in an accountable and transparent manner during human rights dialogues; considers it essential that the EEAS systematically ensure that all the commitments made during each of the human rights dialogues are honoured;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Reiterates its call on the VP/HR and the EEAS to reviseeffectively implement the EU Guidelines on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in light of the tragic evencluding in relation to conflicts in countries such as Syria and Iraq; recommends, in this context, that the EEAS support civil society organisations that promote respect for IHL by state and non-state actors; urges, moreover, that the EU actively use all instruments at its disposal to enhance compliance of state and non-state actors with IHL; calls on the EU and its Member States to actively contribute to the on-going Swiss/ICRC initiative on strengthening compliance with IHL, notably in relation to compliance mechanisms and to revise the EU Guidelines on IHL accordingly;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Stresses that the EU should continue to actively support democratic and effective human rights institutions and the civil society of neighbouring countries in their efforts to promote democratisation and respect for human rights; positively notes in this context the continued substantial support under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, the Civil Society Facility, and the European Endowment for Democracy’s consistent engagement in the Eastern and Southern neighbourhood of the EU in favour of democracy promotion and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)
Paragraph 44 a (new)
44a. Underlines the Treaty-based obligation of the EU to ensure that all its external policies and activities are designed and implemented in a manner which consolidates and supports human rights and the rule of law; in this regard, calls on the EU to substantially improve the methodology, scope and quality of the ex ante and ex post human rights impact assessment of its trade and investment agreements, notably through genuine consultation of civil society; calls on the EU to explore means to allow for adequate enforcement and redress mechanisms, accessible to affected populations and their representatives in cases where EU policies or activities lead to, contribute to, or benefit from human rights violations;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Welcomes the entry into force of the new Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) (Regulation (EU) 978/2012) on 1 January 2014; positively notes that 14 countries had been granted GSP+ preferences by the end of 2014, as a means of stimulating the effective implementation of 27 core international conventions on human rights and labour standards; stresses the importance of a genuine, transparent and inclusive assessment by the European Commission of these conventions by the GSP+ beneficiary countries; expects the Commission to report back to Parliament and to the Council on the status of ratification and the effective implementation of the conventions by the beneficiaries of the GSP+ preferences by the end of 2015; calls for the inclusion of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the GSP Regulation list of conventions required for GSP+ status and notes that a number of applicants are not party to the Statute;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Reaffirms that the activities of EU companies operating in third countries should be in full compliance with internationalEuropean companies should undertake adequate due diligence to ensure that their operations in third countries respect human rights standards; reaffirms, moreover, the importance of promoting corporate social responsibility and of European enterprises playing a leading role in promoting international standards on business and human rights;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. Takes positive note of the counter- terrorism guidance document drafted by the EEAS and the Commission and endorsed by the Council with the aim of ensuring respect for human rights in the planning and implementation of counter- terrorism assistance projects with third countries; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to ensure effective implementation of the document, starting with its wide dissemination; supports, in this context, the international efforts to stopUN efforts to document and oppose human rights violations being perpetrated by ISIS/Da’esh;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Expresses its solidarity with the high number of refugees and migrants who suffer grave human rights violations as victims of conflicts, tangible governance failures and networks of illegal immigration and trafficking, trafficking and smuggling gangs, and while on their way to Europe, as well as while crossing European borders; expresses also its deep regret at the tragic loss of lives of people seeking asylum in the EU;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 b (new)
Paragraph 52 b (new)
52b. Reiterates its call on the EU to ensure that the negotiation and implementation of all migration cooperation and readmission agreements with non-EU states comply with international human rights, refugee law and international maritime law and asks to be consulted prior to their conclusion; demands to ensure greater transparency in the negotiation of such agreements and to integrate monitoring mechanisms to evaluate the human rights impact of cooperation on migration with non-EU states and of border control measures, including Frontex and operations under its mandate; insists that human rights need to be mainstreamed and monitored in all activities carried out by Frontex;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
Paragraph 53
53. Stresses the urgent neeFocus should also be paid to tackle the root causes of migration flows and, therefore, to address the external dimension of the refugee crisis, including by finding sustainable solutions to conflicts in our neighbourhood and by adopting the necessary fundamental reforms in EU trade, agricultural, fisheries, development and climate policies; underlines the need for a comprehensive human-rights-based approach to migration and calls on the EU to collaborate with the UN, regional organisations, governments and NGOs in order to address the root causes of migration flows; takes note in this context of the European Union Naval Force – Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR Med) operation against smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean; welcomes the measures proposed by the Commission on 9 September 2015 to address the external dimension of the refugee crisis;
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 b (new)
Paragraph 53 b (new)
53b. Stresses the urgent need to re-orient the high number of EU policy initiatives in the field of migration and asylum, from the current focus on externalising our external borders to third countries, to providing actual support to refugees and migrants seeking protection in the EU consistent with international human rights law, and calls on the EU to guarantee effective common standards for reception procedures; calls on the EU Member States to increase cooperation and equitable burden-sharing including by hosting and resettling refugees, contributing to search and rescue services, to assist migrants in distress at sea while attempting to reach EU shores; recalls in that regard the need to respect the principle of non-refoulement in European and international waters, as was upheld by the ECtHR, as well as the urgent need to develop adequate legal migration channels;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 i (new)
Paragraph 53 i (new)
53i. Calls on the EU to make the fight against trafficking in human beings (THB) a priority in its external policies, addressing both the demand and supply side of the phenomenon, including European consumers and European companies abroad, to pay particular focus on the protection of victims and to increase communication and cooperation with relevant actors in the fight against THB; reiterates the need for all EU Member States to implement the EU Directive (2011/36/EU) and the Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012-2016;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 l (new)
Paragraph 53 l (new)
53l. Reiterates its call for the development of an EU common position on the use of armed drones, giving utmost importance to the respect for human rights and international humanitarian law and addressing issues such as the legal framework, proportionality, accountability, the protection of civilians and transparency; urges once again the EU to ban the development, production and use of fully autonomous weapons which enable strikes to be carried out without human intervention; calls on the EU to oppose and ban the practice of extrajudicial and targeted killings and to take legal measures wherever an individual or entity may be connected to an unlawful targeted killing abroad; insists that human rights are part of all dialogues with third countries on counter- terrorism;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 r (new)
Paragraph 53 r (new)
53r. Denounces the increasing practice by authoritarian states of hosting mega sports or cultural events in order to boost their international legitimacy whilst further restricting domestic dissent; calls on the EU and Member States to engage with national sports federations, corporate actors and civil society organizations on the modalities of their participation in such events, including with regards to the FIFA World Cup in Russia in 2018 and in Qatar in 2022, and the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2022; calls for the development of an EU policy framework on sports and human rights;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58
Paragraph 58
58. Reaffirms its strong support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) in bringing justice to the victims of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression; considers it regrettable that no state ratified the Rome Statute in 2014commitment to ending impunity for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community and to provide justice for the victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide and reiterates its support for the International Criminal Court (ICC); urges the EU and EU Members States to fully and effectively cooperate with the Court and to provide it with strong diplomatic and political support in bilateral relations and in all for a, including at the UN and take steps to prevent and respond effectively to instances of non-cooperation with the ICC; expresses serious concern that several arrest warrants have still not been executed;
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58 a (new)
Paragraph 58 a (new)
58a. Reaffirms the importance of strengthening the universality of the Rome Statute and welcomes the ratification of the Rome Statute by Palestine this year; encourages the EU and EU member states to increase their efforts in promoting the ratification, effective implementation and integrity of the Rome Statute;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58 b (new)
Paragraph 58 b (new)
58b. Recalls that the ICC is complementary to national judicial systems and calls for the effective implementation of the 2013 EU toolkit on complementarity to strengthen EU assistance to help reinforce countries capacities in dealing with Rome Statute crimes;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58 d (new)
Paragraph 58 d (new)
58d. Calls on EU Member States to provide the ICC with the resources needed, and to enhance the crucial support to and fostering of the international criminal justice system and the ICC via financial support to civil society actors through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR);
Amendment 314 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63 a (new)
Paragraph 63 a (new)
63a. Urges the EEAS, the Commission and the Member States to provide guidance for a comprehensive and effective European death penalty policy with regard to dozens of European nationals facing execution in third countries, which should include strong and reinforced mechanisms in terms of identification, delivery of legal assistance and diplomatic representation;
Amendment 338 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67 a (new)
Paragraph 67 a (new)
67a. Notes with great concern the scale and consequences of caste-based discrimination globally and the perpetuation of caste-based human rights violations; poverty; inequality, and stigmatization; calls for the adoption of an EU policy and tool on the prevention and elimination of caste-based discrimination, which would inter alia commit the EU to high level public diplomacy on caste-based discrimination and reporting on caste-based discrimination in EU publications; recommends mainstreaming of the topic in EEAS and Commission guidelines and action plans, in particular EU fight against all forms of discrimination, and efforts to combat violence against women and girls, and all forms of discrimination against them;
Amendment 405 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81
Paragraph 81
81. Calls also on the EU and its Member States to use all available means, such as human rights dialogues, political dialogues and public diplomacy, to systematically raise individual cases of human rights defenders and civil society activists at risk, particularly those concerning persons that are imprisoned; encourages the EU Delegations and the Member States’ diplomatic staff to continue to actively support human rights defenders, by systematically monitoring trials, visiting detained activists and issuing statements on individual cases, where appropriate; highlights also the importance of silent diplomacy tools when defending human rights defendersas well as addressing human rights violations with their relevant counterparts; insists that senior EU representatives, notably the HR/VP, Commissioners, EU Special Representatives and government officials from the Member States systematically meet human rights defenders when travelling to countries where civil society is under pressure;