Activities of Werner SCHULZ related to 2013/2149(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on assessing and setting priorities for EU relations with the Eastern Partnership countries PDF (199 KB) DOC (109 KB)
Amendments (20)
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), in particular the Eastern Partnership (EaP), aims to extend the values and ideas of the founders of the EU, share and promote the values and the principles upon which the EU is founded;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the EaP countries have deeply rooted European aspirations and are still undergoing their difficult transition following decades of impeded growth under the USSRtowards a democratic system based on the rule of law and the respect of human rights and civil liberties;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the recent developments in the EaP countries and their relations with the EU are a warningshow that the EU is still not considered as the only political alternative; whereas EaP countries must be free and sovereign to fully exercise their right to determine their future without being subjected to undue external pressure, threats or intimidations;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the Eastern Partnership is in no way aimed at damaging or hampering bilateral relations with the Russian Federation but, on the contrary, is open to develop synergies with Moscow in order to create the most favourable conditions for the sustainable development of the common neighbours;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas peace and stability are fundamental elements of the Eastern Partnership; whereas partner countries must abide by these principles and strive for a peaceful solution of existing conflicts; whereas the Russian Federation plays a key role in the resolution of these conflicts;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Regrets that the outcome of the Vilnius summit did not match the expectations with regard, in particular, to the decision of Ukraine to suspend the preparation of the signing of the Association Agreement and of Armenia to join the Customs Union after having long negotiated the Association Agreement with the EU;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Takes the view that the possibility of granting a European perspective to EaP countries most committed to deepening relations with the EU and willing to undertake and implement the necessary reforms both at political and economic level should be duly taken into account and proposed as an incentive for further European integration;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines the importance of focusing more on the consolidation, the improvement and the efficiency of the energy sector, which is one of the main conditions for modernisation of the economy, and developing energy strategies in line with European Energy Community obligations and EU targets; calls for the continuation of gas and electricity market reforms and an adequate share of energy from renewable resources in line with EU policies;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Takes the view that EU's communication strategy still lacks of effectiveness in all Eastern Partnership countries; urges the Commission to step up efforts in communicating the benefits and advantages of the EaP policy to public opinions and ordinary citizens;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses that more efforts should go into sharing experiences of democratic reforms and processes rather than simposingly lecturing about EU standards, and acknowledging the uniqueness of individual countries and highlighting the equal status of partners and potential mutual benefits;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Takes the view that it is in the interest of EaP countries to find ways to soften and overcome eventual obstacles that make incompatible the European Economic Area and the Customs Union; calls, therefore, for a frank and open dialogue with the Russian Federation in order to make all efforts to develop synergies aimed at benefitting EaP countries;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Takes the view that as regards Ukraine the reform and modernisation process of the country should not be stopped regardless of the signature of the Association Agreement; calls, in this respect, on the EEAS/Commission to identify areas/fields of the association agenda where implementation could already start in the short and medium term;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the EEAS/Commission to take into consideration the wish of certain EaP countries not to conclude ambitious association agreements including DCFTA with the EU and to develop different patterns of agreement for those countries;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Encourages the development of closer relations between partner countries and the promotion of stability and multilateral confidence building; stresses, in this regard, the importance of developing a genuine multilateral dimension in the Eastern Partnership with a view to improving good-neighbourly relations, enhancing regional cooperation and overcoming bilateral controversies;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Is of the view the that participation and involvement of both the civil society of the EU and of the partner countries is of significant importance for the advancement of the EaP policy ; stresses that the participation and active contribution of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum at all levels of the multilateral platform is most welcomed and should be further strengthened;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Takes the view that cooperation between CSOs is a good basis for genuine people to people contact that should not be limited by state borders; recommends a closer cooperation and coordination between the Civil Society Forum of the Eastern Partnership and the EU-Russia one;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Highlights the importance of fostering economic cooperation and sustainable development in order to bring the EaP project forward, inter alia by raising awareness of the complexity of economic problems and the challenges and the advantages of the green economy, promoting good governance in the financial sector, adopting a sectoral approach, encouraging legislation conducive to the development of SME sector and promoting business partnerships between the EU and the EaP;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Highlights the fact that the European Endowment for Democracy can play an important role in EaP countries by strengthening civil society and promoting the rule of law and the respect for human rights;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Reiterates its view that frozen conflicts hamper the full development of the Eastern Partnership; regrets, in this regard, that since the launch of the EaP no progress was made in the resolution of the existing conflicts; calls on the VP/HR to play a more active role making clear that the deepening of bilateral relations is linked to peaceful conflict resolution and the respect for international law; urges the Commission to step up confidence- building programmes in conflict areas with a view to restoring dialogue and facilitating people-to-people exchanges;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Stresses, in this regard, as in the case of Ukraine, the importance for the Council to take immediate actions, including increased diplomatic pressure and the introduction of individual targeted measures and sanctions on travelling, asset and property freeze of officials, legislators and their business sponsors who are responsible for human rights violations and to step up efforts so as to stop money laundering and tax evasion of companies and businesspeople of the country concerned in European banks;