Activities of Janusz ZEMKE related to 2017/2269(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT containing a motion for a non-legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part PDF (384 KB) DOC (61 KB)
Amendments (15)
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A (new)
Recital A (new)
A. whereas the current framework for relations between Armenia and the European Union is the 1996 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement which entered into force in 1999 and which is to be replaced by this Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B (new)
Recital B (new)
B. whereas, through the Eastern Partnership, the EU and Armenia have based their relations on a shared commitment to international law and fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law and good governance, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C (new)
Recital C (new)
C. whereas there remain concerns about Armenia’s full respect for some of the above-mentioned core values, notably as regards democracy and the rule of law which are undermined by corruption, vote-buying, organised crime and abusive oligarchic control;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D (new)
Recital D (new)
D. whereas the geographic location of Armenia between Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East and neighbouring regional powers, notably Russia, Iran and Turkey, is both strategic and challenging; whereas the non-recognition by some of past tragedies - notably the Armenian genocide, the presence of foreign troops in Armenia as well as the protracted conflicts in the South Caucasus, affecting also Azerbaijan and Georgia, pose a major threat to all partners’ security and regional stability; whereas the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict can only be solved peacefully in line with the OSCE 2009 Basic Principles, notably through the efforts and proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E (new)
Recital E (new)
E. whereas the EU is Armenia’s main trading partner and first donor, whereas Armenia is also a member of the Eurasian Economic Union thus demonstrating that the European Union does not hold as a prerequisite for partners to choose a deepening of relations with the EU at the expense of their relations with third parties, even if some opportunities - such as a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) with the EU - were not attainable in this context;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F (new)
Recital F (new)
F. whereas the new agreement sets a new legal basis to reinvigorate the political dialogue and broaden the scope of economic cooperation as well as cooperation in sectors such as energy, transport, infrastructure and the environment; whereas these provisions are expected to have a positive impact on Armenia in terms of promoting democratic standards, economic growth and sustainable development; whereby such prospects are particularly important for Armenia’s youth including through improved education and more job opportunities; whereas both EU and Armenian citizens stand to benefit from increased cooperation;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that significant progress in terms of upholding core values such as the rule of law, defending the independence of the judiciary and delivering results in the fight against corruption, is key to unlocking further prospects, notably that of a possible visa libera; in this respect, looks forward to the EU considering in due course the opening of visa liberalisation dialogue with Armenia, provided that conditions for well-managed and secure mobility are in place, including the effective implementation of visa facilistation dialogue; and readmission agreements between the Parties;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the territorial application of the Agreement covers on the internationally recognised territory of Armenia and that of the European Unionone hand, the territories in which the Treaty of the European Union, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community are applied and under the condition laid down in those Treaties and, on the other hand, to the territory of Republic of Armenia;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Urges the Armenian authorities, in view of future elections, to swiftly and fully implement all the recommendations of the international observation missions led by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), in particular in relation to allegations of vote buying, voter intimidation, the pressuring of civil servants and private sector employees and undue interference in the voting process by party representatives or law enforcement officers; which failed to improve public confidence in the country’s electoral systems
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates its strong attachment to international law and fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law and good governance, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, regrets that serious gaps in human rights protection persist and encourages Armenia to make significant progress in these areas, in particular as regards media freedom, the independence of the judiciary and the fight against corruption, organiszed crime and abusive oligarchic control; ensure that journalists face no pressure, fear of retaliation and violence over their work
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the adoption of anti- domestic violence legislation in the Armenian Parliament in December 2017, on 8 December 2017, of the Law on the Prevention of Violence within the Family, Protection of Victims of Violence within the Family and Restoration of Peace (Cohesion) in the Family by the National Assembly; commends Armenia on the signature, on 18 January 2018, of the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence and encourages Armenia to swiftly ratify and thoroughly implement this Convention to effectively meet its commitments to international standards in this field;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on Armenia to adopt a comprehensive standalone law on anti- discrimination, prepared with the support of civil society organisations, that would include, as a minimum, a definition of the concept of discrimination, a list of grounds on which discrimination is prohibited in the spirit of Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, a provision for the defence of rights against all types of discrimination, a provision regarding the burden of proof;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Urges the Armenian authorities to put a high priority on ending gender based sex-selection taking place through selective abortions which, together with that in Azerbaijan, remains one of the most widespread in the world after China;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 g (new)
Paragraph 16 g (new)
16g. Calls on Armenia to eradicate child labour and to ensure labour rights in accordance with ILO standards, including contracts, vacation, compensation for extra hours and establishing a fully-fledged labour inspection system;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Emphasizes the importance of the provisions on dialogue and cooperation on employment policy in order to provide better jobs with improved working conditions, notably for young Armenians;