656 Amendments of Elena BĂSESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a

(a) to further ~~lift~~enhance the EU-Japan relations, through the timely conclusion of the negotiations of a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement; to define a genuine strategic dimension of the agreement so as to differentiate it from other political and framework agreements;

2014/03/05
Committee: AFET

2014/2021(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point p

(p) to intensify bilateral trade and cooperation on policies promoting safe, secure and sustainable energy policies, energy efficiency, renewable energies, nuclear safety regulatory frameworks and nuclear facility stress tests, energy research including ITER project and carbon capture;

2014/03/05
Committee: AFET

2014/2021(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q

(q) to cooperate in finding an urgent ~~and~~, comprehensive and sustainable global response to climate change;

2014/03/05
Committee: AFET

2014/2008(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

B a. whereas European citizens are directly represented by the only EU institution elected by them - the European Parliament; bearing in mind that the right to petition offers them the chance to address, in a direct manner, their representatives.

2014/01/30
Committee: PETI

2014/2008(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital V

V. ~~whereas~~ the Committee on Petitions has become, over the years, a useful and transparent tool at the service of European citizens and residents, which exercises democratic control and scrutiny over many aspects of European Union activity, especially regarding the implementation of EU laws by the national authorities; and whereas it can contribute further, on the basis of petitions received, on one hand to a more coherent and coordinated application of the EU legislation and on the other hand to the improvement of future EU legislation by drawing attention to the lessons that should be learned from the substance of petitions received.

2014/01/30
Committee: PETI

2014/2008(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Acknowledges the substantial and fundamental role of the Petitions Committee in defending and promoting the rights of EU citizens and residents, ensuring that through the petitions process the concerns of petitioners are better recognised and their legitimate grievances resolved wherever possible, in a reasonable time-frame;

2014/01/30
Committee: PETI

2014/2008(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. EStresses that a close cooperation with the Member States is essential for the work of the Petitions Committee; encourages Member States to play a proactive role in responding to petitions related to the implementation and enforcement of European law, and considers the presence and the active cooperation of Member State representatives at Petitions Committee meetings to be of the utmost importance; is determined to maintain close cooperation and communication between EU Institutions and the citizens;

2014/01/30
Committee: PETI

2014/2005(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the agreement on the MFF 2014-2020 was the outcome of long, comprehensive and strenuous negotiations that lasted two and a half years; whereas the final political agreement could only be reached at the highest political level between Parliament, the Council Presidency and the Commission;

2014/02/24
Committee: BUDG

2014/2005(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas, faced with the impossibility of changing the overall MFF figures decided by the European Council, the Parliament focused on improving the execution of the MFF by successfully negotiateding the inclusion of several key new provisions that will help to make the new financial framework and the new EU annual budget more operational, consistent, transparent and responsive to the needs of EU citizens and to allow the MFF ceilings to be fully used; whereas these provision concern, in particular, the new arrangements relating to the MFF revision, flexibility, own resources, and the unity and transparency of the EU budget;

2014/02/24
Committee: BUDG

2014/2005(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Strongly regrets the fact that both the procedure leading up to the agreement on the MFF 2014-2020 and the political debate surrounding these negotiations demonstrated a clear lack of shared vision as regards the EU budget and priorities and fell short of Parliament’s increased role and prerogatives, as set out in the Treaty of Lisbon; considers it of the utmost importance, therefore, that this report draw the necessary political and institutional lessons, which can serve as a basis for the preparation of future negotiations, notably in relation to the post-electoral revision of the MFF, due to be launched by the Commission before the end of 2016;

2014/02/24
Committee: BUDG

2014/2005(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Is, therefore, convinced that any decision on the financial framework should be preceded by – and based on – a genuine political debate on the role, function and added value of the EU budget and on its compatibility with the political and operational priorities and objectives assigned to the Union; considers that, in order to bridge the gap between divergent visions on what the EU budget stands for and what it can achieve while emphasizing the fact that the MFF is one of the most powerful agents for reform, this debate should be organised in due time and involve the three EU institutions and all national parliaments, but also engage the highest political level in the Member States;

2014/02/24
Committee: BUDG

2014/2004(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Believes that the European economy is showing some signs of recovery and considers that the European budget ~~can~~, in accordance with the priorities that the Union has identified, must be a very strong tool to increase strategic investment with European added value and put the European economy back on track, generating sustainable growth and employment while aiming to foster economic and social cohesion throughout the EU;.

2014/02/11
Committee: BUDG

2014/2004(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Highlights in particular the importance of the European Structural and Investment Funds, which form the biggest single block of expenditure in the EU budget; underlines the fact that these ESIFs are particularly important in helping Member States and regions to exit the current crisis and achieve the Europe 2020 targets; stresses the need to endow citizens with the tools to find a way out of the crisis; stresses in this regard the special need to invest in areas such as education and mobility, research and innovation, SMEs and entrepreneurship, in order to decrease job vacancy rates while boosting the creation of new employment opportunities – in particular youth employment;

2014/02/11
Committee: BUDG

2013/2945(RSP)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the democratisation package presented by the Government on 30 September 2013 and calls on the Government to duly consult the opposition and relevant civil society organisations in the preparation of the implementing legislation and to continue with its reform efforts towards revision of the electoral system, including the lowering of the 10% threshold, and the adequate inclusion of all components of Turkish society; calls on the Government to ensure that the legislation on hate crimes offers protection for all citizens, including minorities and LGBTI; calls on further efforts to address the discrimination faced by the Roma minority, as well as to increase employability and reduce school drop-out;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

2013/2945(RSP)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Notes that Turkey continues to be the EU’s sixth biggest trading partner and that the EU is Turkey’s biggest with 38% of Turkey’s total trade going to the EU and almost 71% of FDI coming from the EU; welcomes the ongoing Commission evaluation of the EU-Turkey Customs Union with the aim of assessing its impact on both parties and ways to update it; calls on Turkey to fulfil all commitments made under the Customs Union by eliminating all restrictions on the free movement of goods;

2014/01/13
Committee: AFET

2013/2260(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/26
Committee: CONT

2013/2256(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. Whereas, as part of the Union administration, the agencies must live up to the highest standards, especially when it comes to transparency.

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2256(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Believes that based on the model provided by the Anti-Corruption report, the Commission should consider the possibility of including the activity and performance of Union institutions and agencies in the next annual report on corruption.

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2252(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/26
Committee: CONT

2013/2251(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/26
Committee: CONT

2013/2250(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/26
Committee: CONT

2013/2249(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/26
Committee: CONT

2013/2248(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/26
Committee: CONT

2013/2247(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/26
Committee: CONT

2013/2245(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2242(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament,

2014/02/26
Committee: CONT

2013/2241(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/03/05
Committee: CONT

2013/2240(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament,

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2239(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2238(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament,

2014/02/26
Committee: CONT

2013/2237(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament,

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2236(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament,

2014/02/26
Committee: CONT

2013/2235(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2234(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2233(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament,

2014/02/26
Committee: CONT

2013/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament,

2014/02/26
Committee: CONT

2013/2231(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2230(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2229(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament,

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2228(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2222(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament,

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2219(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament,

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2218(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2216(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2215(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament,

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2213(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2212(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament,

2014/02/26
Committee: CONT

2013/2211(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2210(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2209(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2208(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament,

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2206(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/26
Committee: CONT

2013/2205(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2204(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/28
Committee: CONT

2013/2203(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2202(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2201(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2200(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2199(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)

– having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2197(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/25
Committee: CONT

2013/2195(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/27
Committee: CONT

2013/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas all Member States have committed to respect the commonly agreed EU rules on free movement, non- discrimination and the common values of the European Union, notably the respect for fundamental rights, including the rights of people belonging to minorities; whereas the Roma minority still faces widespread discrimination and progress in the implementation of the National Strategies for Roma Inclusion is still limited;

2013/12/19
Committee: PETI

2013/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas EU citizens have the right to move and reside freely within the EU;

2013/12/19
Committee: PETI

2013/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas discrimination on grounds of nationality is still present in some EU countries;

2013/12/19
Committee: PETI

2013/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas labour mobility is an important tool that can contribute to reducing the mismatch between jobs and skills in the EU; whereas intra-EU mobility has proved to have positive effects on Member States’ economies;

2013/12/19
Committee: PETI

2013/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Commission to regularly monitor the way in which the administrative formalities related to entry and residence are processed in the Member States; underlines that one of the main pillars of the Single Market is labour mobility; calls in this respect on the Commission to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate measures to remove potential obstacles imposed at the national level in the way of this fundamental freedom;

2013/12/19
Committee: PETI

2013/2186(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Calls on the Member States to protect and enhance the meaning of EU citizenship by discouraging any forms of discrimination on grounds of nationality; deplores any populist rhetoric that aims to create discriminatory practices based only on grounds of nationality;

2013/12/19
Committee: PETI

2013/2185(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)

Na. whereas national parliaments should develop strong and coherent EU related structures with the aim of enhancing links with the European institutions and gaining further expertise on European Affairs issues;

2014/03/04
Committee: AFCO

2013/2185(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point b

(b) provide ministers and national governments with prior guidance on their work within the Council, according to the national constitutional framework;

2014/03/04
Committee: AFCO

2013/2185(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point c

(c) scrutinise the stances taken by ministers and national governments within the Council, according to the national constitutional framework and

2014/03/04
Committee: AFCO

2013/2185(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Notes that only two ‘yellow cards’ - and no ’orange cards’ at all – have been shown in the subsidiarity scrutiny process to date, and points out that the purpose of the early warning mechanism is not to block the European decision-making process but to improve the quality of EU legislation; takes the view that the reduced number of subsidiarity scrutiny procedures so far is due either to the lack of information provided by the national governments to the national parliaments in the formulation of EU negotiating position or to the lack of interest of some national parliaments as regards European Affairs issues;

2014/03/04
Committee: AFCO

2013/2175(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the global financial crisis and the sovereign debt crisis in the EU have significantly hampered the financial intermediation process and the ability of the financial sector in Europe to channel savings to long-term investment needs;

2013/12/05
Committee: ECON

2013/2175(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas there is a persistent lack of confidence and a high level of risk aversion on the part of both private and institutional investors due to economic and political instability;

2013/12/05
Committee: ECON

2013/2175(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Stresses that long-term investments provide the basis for continuous economic growth and social well-being necessary to achieve a competitive, sustainable ~~and~~, inclusive and innovative EU;

2013/12/05
Committee: ECON

2013/2175(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Notes that many SMEs continually suffer from a lack of liquidity;

2013/12/05
Committee: ECON

2013/2175(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Believes that institutional investors – insurance companies, pension funds, mutual funds and endowments – are suitable and reliable providers of long- term financing, given the longer time horizons of their business models;

2013/12/05
Committee: ECON

2013/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Highlights the latest phase in the deployment of NATO’s anti-missile shield (AMS), which aims to annihilate ballistic missiles before they reach their targets in the final stage of their trajectory upon re- entry into the atmosphere, will face greater restrictions than was previously anticipated. It will provide protection to key NATO assets, but contrary to previous plans, it will not, in its current form, provide sufficient coverage for the whole European population from the limited number of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in existence. This unforeseen development has raised support for a European AMS which would supplement NATO’s system; nevertheless, considers that the current system is a major step forward in ensuring the protection of EU territory against ICBMs;

2014/01/08
Committee: AFET

2013/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Proposes that should the AMS turn out to be a feasible and cost-effective means of reducing the risk of a nuclear attack, the European Union should consider its development and construction, preferably at European level by complementing the current NATO project;

2014/01/08
Committee: AFET

2013/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Argues that Russia’s involvement in the AMS is desirable, given that potential interceptions would most likely take place in Russian airspace; argues, furthermore, that Russia’s involvement in the development of the AMS would be beneficial in economic terms, if the system-related costs were to be shared by the actors involved;deleted

2014/01/08
Committee: AFET

2013/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Notes that Russia has expressed its willingness to participate in the development of the AMS; points out, on the other hand, that if Russia does not participate in the AMS for Europe, it will most likely react ~~and develop countermeasures~~ to balance the altered strategic landscape;

2014/01/08
Committee: AFET

2013/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Argues that the EU, in cooperation with NATO and possibly with ~~Russia~~other countries, is capable of pooling resources and developing the AMS, thereby defending Europe against potential attacks from ‘rogue’ states or other state-like actors; points out that this approach would likely benefit all those involved;

2014/01/08
Committee: AFET

2013/2170(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Argues that European anti-missile defence would require complex institutional arrangements that are currently not in existence; calls for a credible plan for an institutional framework in which the EU, NATO and non-NATO countries ~~and Russia~~ could work together;

2014/01/08
Committee: AFET

2013/2168(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Is concerned by reports that Pakistan is considering exporting nuclear weapons to third countries, in particular Saudi Arabia or North Korea; expects the EU and its Members States, despite official denials of the reports, to it make clear to Pakistan that the export of nuclear weapons is unacceptable;

2014/01/09
Committee: AFET

2013/2168(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Is convinced that EU-Pakistan relations need to grow deeper and more comprehensive; welcomes, in this context, the adoption of the 5-year Engagement Plan and the commencement of the EU- Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, reflecting the increased weight of political and security cooperation, including on counter- terrorism policy, disarmament and non- proliferation, as well as on migration, education and culture; expects, however, more progress in all areas of the Engagement Plan;

2014/01/09
Committee: AFET

2013/2168(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Reiterates that progress in bilateral relations is linked to improvement in Pakistan’s human rights record, in particular as regards eradicating modern- day slavery, curbing gender-based violence, enhancing women’s rights, including that of access to education, promoting tolerance and protection of vulnerable minorities, by effectively fighting all forms of discrimination, preserving freedom of religion and belief, including by easing the strict anti- blasphemy legislation, and moving towards abolition of the death penalty;

2014/01/09
Committee: AFET

2013/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Notes in particular that the democratisation of numerous states throughout the world in the past two decades, and more recently the events of the uprisings in the Arab world, have shown that the quest for democracy, human dignity and equal participation is not only a Western ideology but an important action driver of economic development, peace and stability within and across diverse cultural systems and religious backgrounds;

2014/01/27
Committee: AFET

2013/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Believes that the EU model, based on promotion of cultural diversity and tolerance, can be followed by other countries and regions of the world;

2014/01/27
Committee: AFET

2013/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Rejects essentialist visions of cultures as fixed entities; believes that globalization and the growing interaction of people belonging to different cultural backgrounds can lead to the development and strengthening of a common core of universal values;

2014/01/27
Committee: AFET

2013/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that defending smaller and minority cultures and promoting their ability to express themselves is a way to promote peace and stability and to avoid a vision of cultural differences as a confrontation between irreconcilable blocks;

2014/01/27
Committee: AFET

2013/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Emphasises the importance of cultural diplomacy and cultural cooperation in communicating the values that make up European culture and in advancing the interests of the EU’s and its Member States; stresses the need for the EU to act as a coherent world player with a global perspective and global responsibility;

2014/01/27
Committee: AFET

2013/2167(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Stresses the importance of the EU taking action throughout the world to promote respect for freedom of expression, freedom of the press and freedom of access to media and new information technologies; deplores actions taken by various countries to limit internet access and media freedom;

2014/01/27
Committee: AFET

2013/2157(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the Commission forecast shows that real GDP growth in the euro area is slowly returning, unemployment is expected to fall and inflation remains well below 2 %;

2014/01/09
Committee: ECON

2013/2157(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the global economic context is still presenting uncertainties and the demand in emerging economies remains reduced;

2014/01/09
Committee: ECON

2013/2157(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that economic recovery in the EU is under way; believes, however, that the recovery is still fragile and needs to be sustained in order to deliver more growth and jobs in the medium and long term;

2014/01/09
Committee: ECON

2013/2157(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Welcomes the ambitious structural reforms implemented by those Member States that have experienced serious difficulties; encourages the rest of the euro area to be equally ambitious and to make their economies more competitive in order to increase ~~growth and employment~~sustainable growth by strengthening investment, demand and job creation;

2014/01/09
Committee: ECON

2013/2157(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines the importance of continuing the process of ~~deep~~long-term, coherent and sustainable structural reforms; stresses that the EU cannot compete on costs alone, but needs to invest more in research, innovation and development, education and skills, and resource efficiency, at both national and European level;

2014/01/09
Committee: ECON

2013/2157(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Emphasises the importance of the monitoring and the implementation of the country-specific recommendations, multilateral surveillance, the exchange of experiences and best practices and peer reviews as a mean of stimulating debate and peer pressure, thereby providing direction that helps to create the necessary momentum and acceptance of reforms;

2014/01/09
Committee: ECON

2013/2157(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Points out once again that sovereigns and financial institutions show persistent vulnerabilities in a low growth environment;

2014/01/09
Committee: ECON

2013/2157(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Believes that overall the AGS is not detailed enough and does not provide the means to achieve its objectives in a realistic timeframe;

2014/01/09
Committee: ECON

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers human rights to be at the centre of EU relations with all third countries~~, including its strategic partners~~; stresses that EU human rights policy needs to be consistent in complying with the Treaty obligations and avoiding double standards in external policies;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33

33. Notes with concern that respecting the rights of minorities is one of the key challenges identified in the Commission's Enlargement Strategy for 2012-2013; encourages the Member States to launch a general public debate on the acceptance of minorities through education, civil society engagement, and awareness-raising in general; regrets that the Roma community is particularly disadvantaged throughout the Western Balkans; urges the countries concerned to implement effective measures as to address problems such as discrimination and segregation, access to housing and healthcare; condemns the generally negative societal attitudes towards vulnerable groups such as the LGBT community and people with disabilities, which is a recurring issue in many enlargement countries;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)

35a. welcomes the progress in the negotiations between the EU and certain neighbouring countries as regards Association Agreements, including DCFTAs; expects that the Vilnius Summit in November should be a key moment in further strengthening the relations between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Notes with concern the fragile state of democratic processes and the deterioration of human rights and fundamental freedoms in many Neighbourhood countries; emphasises that good governance, transparency, the freedom of association, expression and assembly, a free press and free media, the rule of law and an independent judiciary are essential for underpinning democratic transitions; recognises the key role of civil society in building public support for democratic reforms in the Neighbourhood countries;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)

38a. Regrets the lack of progress in achieving a sustainable political solution as regards "frozen conflicts"; stresses that the political dialogue should take full consideration and should fully respect the territorial integrity and the internationally recognized borders of the countries concerned; urges the EU to engage more actively in this respect;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2152(INI)

Cristian Dan PREDA, Monica MACOVEI, Elena BĂSESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53

53. Expresses its deepest concern regarding the deteriorating human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and calls on the DPRK to engage in a meaningful dialogue on human rights with the European Union; calls on the DPRK to put an end to extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, to release political prisoners and to allow its citizens to travel freely, both within and outside the country; calls on the DPRK to allow free expression and press freedom for national and international media, and to allow its citizens uncensored access to the internet; notes that all the provocatory actions of the DPRK as well as the restrictive measures imposed on its citizens have led to widespread poverty and material deprivation;

2013/10/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2149(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls the ~~achievements and ambitions of the EaP, which is the political framework for strengthening relations between the EU and~~purpose of the EaP, which is the strengthening of the political, economic and cultural European integration of the Eastern Partners, founded on mutual interests, and the commitment~~s, shared ownership and joint responsibility, as well as the institutional basis for political cooperation, and a forum for dialogue between the partner countries~~ to international law, fundamental values, good governance and the market economy and based on shared ownership and joint responsibility; welcomes, in this connection, the establishment of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and other cooperation platforms, such as the EaP Civil Society Forum and the Eastern Europe Initiatives Congress; notes however that the recent developments in some EaP countries have drawn attention to the fragility of the political process;

2014/01/09
Committee: AFET

2013/2149(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Recogni~~Stresses that the EaP project needs new impetus and a clear vision for the way forward, focusing ~~not only on the political cooperation, but aiming to~~ more on the economic and cultural links between the two sides, thus aiming to provide a European choice for the societies of the EaP ~~to the EU, thus~~countries; urges the EU to focus particularly on establishing ~~visa-free regimes~~and implementing visa-free regimes as soon as possible, on investing in youth and future leaders, and on the energy sector;

2014/01/09
Committee: AFET

2013/2149(INI)

Cristian Dan PREDA, Monica MACOVEI, Elena BĂSESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Believes that serious thought should be given by all European institutions and Member States to the possibility of following the EFTA model as further possibility of enhancing the Eastern Partnership and giving the possibility of advancing towards a status of "associated partners" to those countries that prove willing and able to collaborate and integrate closely to the EU; calls on the European Commission to produce a green paper on the Post-Vilnius future of the Eastern Partnership;

2014/01/09
Committee: AFET

2013/2149(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that more rapid progress can be made on the establishment of the visa- free regime and stresses that, following the European Commission's proposal and based on merits and accomplishments, the Republic of Moldova should be granted a free circulation regime in the European Union by the end of February 2014; notes, in this connection, that visa liberalisation is only one of a number of processes aimed at bringing the societies closer together, and that more efforts are required in this area, particularly with regard to advancing cooperation in the field of education and culture; considers that greater emphasis should be placed on the fact that the EaP project is directed at societies rather than authorities;

2014/01/09
Committee: AFET

2013/2149(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Underlines the importance of focusing more on the achievement of energy security and on the consolidation 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; calls for the continuation of gas and electricity market reforms and an adequate share of energy from renewable resources;

2014/01/09
Committee: AFET

2013/2149(INI)

Cristian Dan PREDA, Elena BĂSESCU, Monica MACOVEI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Urges the EU to be more involved in solving "frozen conflicts" in some EaP countries; considers that the EU should have a more central role in this respect due to the potential impact of these conflicts on the relations between the EU and EaP countries, as well as on the stability in the region;

2014/01/09
Committee: AFET

2013/2149(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Regrets, furthermore, the insufficient desire among EaP partner countries to build a common message and engage in common efforts vis-à-vis the EU; notes that cooperation should nevertheless continue, where possible, on a bilateral basis between the EU, on the one side, and the partner countries, on the other;

2014/01/09
Committee: AFET

2013/2149(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Stresses that more efforts should go into sharing experiences of democratic reforms ~~and processes rather than imposing EU standards, and~~, drawing on the rich experience that European countries have in the process of establishing and protecting democratic regimes based on respect for fundamental values and the rule of law, while acknowledging the ~~uniquenes~~specificities of individual countries ~~and~~, highlighting the eqmutual ~~status of partners and potential mutual benefits;~~ benefits and reaching a balance between conditionality and solidarity;

2014/01/09
Committee: AFET

2013/2149(INI)

Cristian Dan PREDA, Monica MACOVEI, Elena BĂSESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. UStrongly urges that athe Association aAgreements ~~be signed and implemented, where applicable, with the partner countries, in order to promote good governance and the rule of law, hum~~and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas with Georgia and Moldova, initialled at Vilnius, should be signed before the end of the current mandate of the European Parliament, in order to affirm the more for more principle and to support the modernisation and r~~ights, particularly the right to a fair trial, and the fight against corruption, and to support the building and modernisation of partners’ economies and business-friendly legisla~~eform process in these countries, particularly in the fields related to the consolidation of good governance, the rule of law, the protection of human rights and the fight against corruption;

2014/01/09
Committee: AFET

2013/2149(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Further calls on the European Commission and the European Council to offer the necessary technical and financial assistance, as well as political support, to Moldova and Georgia in order to help them complete the reform process and face the kind of diplomatic and economic pressure that the Russian Federation has been using in order to deter the initialling of the Association Agreements and the DCFTAs;

2014/01/09
Committee: AFET

2013/2149(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Stresses that reform of judicial systems and public administrations in the partner countries, ensuring the independence of the judiciary, as well as legal certainty, openness and transparency, accountability, efficiency and effectiveness, should be a priority;

2014/01/09
Committee: AFET

2013/2148(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Believes that the EU and its Member States should work on a common and coherent approach for the ASEAN region, supporting and complementing each other and, thus, enabling the EU to develop a stronger presence, economically and politically, in the region;

2013/09/10
Committee: AFET

2013/2148(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Expresses concern over the rate of illegal logging, burning and resulting smog that has a significant negative impact across ASEAN borders; encourages stronger efforts for the protection of the environment and biodiversity, commends the work of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and is looking forward to tighter cooperation between the EU and ASEAN on climate change mitigation and adaptation;

2013/09/10
Committee: AFET

2013/2148(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Recalls that it is also important to support the booming private sector with dialogue and cooperation on financial, investment, economic and trade issues and the ongoing global financial crisis; encourages the exchange of best practices between the EU and ASEAN in this respect;

2013/09/10
Committee: AFET

2013/2148(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Is looking forward to enhanced cooperation on mutual human rights concerns such as the treatment of migrants and minorities;

2013/09/10
Committee: AFET

2013/2134(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)

- whereas it is crucial that fiscal consolidation and restoring financial stability go hand-in-hand with well- designed structural reforms;

2013/07/17
Committee: ECON

2013/2134(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 b (new)

- whereas the euro area sovereign debt crisis has a significant impact on the euro money market and the Eurosystem's extraordinary policy measures as well;

2013/07/17
Committee: ECON

2013/2134(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the SMEs remains the backbone of the euro area economy, representing about 98% of all euro area firms, employing around three quarters of the euro area's employees and generating around 60% of value added;

2013/07/17
Committee: ECON

2013/2134(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Points out that sovereigns and financial institutions show persistent vulnerabilities in a low growth environment;

2013/07/17
Committee: ECON

2013/2134(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Emphasises the importance of the monitoring and the implementation of the country-specific recommendations, multilateral surveillance, the exchange of experiences and best practices and peer reviews as a mean of stimulating debate and peer pressure, thereby providing direction that helps to create the necessary momentum and acceptance of reforms;

2013/07/17
Committee: ECON

2013/2134(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls on all Member States to respect their commitments under the Stability and Growth Pact and ensure the correction of any excessive deficits in accordance with agreed timetables;

2013/07/17
Committee: ECON

2013/2134(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Welcomes the fact that, for the first time, the Single Market is more closely aligned to the European Semester by including a report on the State of Single Market Integration 2013 in the AGS package;

2013/07/17
Committee: ECON

2013/2133(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas Canada is a consolidated parliamentary democracy; whereas Canada shares similar democratic values and principles with the EU;

2013/09/18
Committee: AFET

2013/2133(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b

(b) to insist that all contractual relationships with third countries, both industrialised and developing, should include ~~clearly worded~~ conditionality and political clauses on human rights and democracy, without exception, but with a proper flexibility that distinguishes between historically consolidated democracies, such as Canada, and other partners; to adopt appropriate safeguards to ensure that the suspension mechanism cannot be abused;

2013/09/18
Committee: AFET

2013/2133(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c

(c) to insist that such conditionality should ~~thus, as a matter of course,~~ form part of the SPA with Canada, to ensure the consistency of the EU's common approach on the matter;

2013/09/18
Committee: AFET

2013/2133(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c a (new)

(ca) to ensure that the final text contains specific provisions that ensure that all EU citizens are treated equally with respect to the visa policy applied by Canada towards the EU, thus eliminating visa requirements for all EU countries;

2013/09/18
Committee: AFET

2013/2131(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the increased focus on the support of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); notes, however, that transparency and accountability as regards the real impact of these EIB operations cshould be improved, for example through better use of performance indicators; calls on the Council also, in this connection, to agree swiftly on the joint Commission-EIB initiatives and to blend EU budget resources intended for SMEs, as well as to take more resolute action in implementing cooperation with the ECB so as to reduce the financing constraints placed upon SMEs;

2013/11/06
Committee: ECON

2013/2131(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Calls on the EIB to put in place, in close cooperation with the relevant financial intermediaries, enhanced and adequate information and marketing tools aimed at making SMEs aware of the funding opportunities available through the EIB, thereby optimising the uptake in loans by SMEs. Moreover, an extensive and systematic access to project information, and greater involvement of project beneficiaries and local civil society that could be impacted by EIB financed investments should be ensured;

2013/11/06
Committee: ECON

2013/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Draws attention to the changing strategic global landscape, reduced defence budgets, caused especially by the economic and financial crisis, and the fact that European defence companies are adjusting to this situation by putting an emphasis on exports to third countries, at the cost of transferring sensitive technologies, and intellectual property rights, and moving production outside the EU; is concerned about the reductions in defence investment which will increasingly expose the EDTIB to the risk of being controlled and constrained in its activities by third powers with different strategic interests;

2013/09/25
Committee: AFET

2013/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Welcomes the European Council's decision to put the strengthening of Europe's defence on the agenda for its December summit; calls on the European Council to provide the necessary fresh impetus for supporting a truly European defence technological and industrial base, which will be capability-driven and will promote synergies, provide for the efficient use of the limited resources, avoid duplication and be integrated and competitive on the global market;

2013/09/25
Committee: AFET

2013/2125(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Calls on the Member States to further explore the possibility of synchroniseing and jointly planning the life-cycle management of their defence capabilities; considers that a ~~common European capabilities and armaments polic~~higher degree of synergy wcould be a prerequisite for turning the harmonisation of military requirements into harmonised equipment acquisition among Member States, thus creating the conditions for a successful demand driven transnational restructuring of the defence industry in the EU; recognises the potential of the defence sector in creating jobs and thus enhancing EU's efforts in reducing unemployment;

2013/09/25
Committee: AFET

2013/2105(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses that the main asset of the European Union is the availability of various policies and instruments, combined through the so-called ‘comprehensive approach’, and that it is possible to achieve better results at all levels by better integrating the CSDP into this approach; welcomes in this respect the review of the organisation and functioning of the EEAS published by the HR/VP in July 2013, which recognises the problems of coordination ~~and~~, those related to the speed and effectiveness of decision-making in the area of the CSDP and those regarding the geographical and gender balance among its staff; looks forward to specific decisions being taken at the December Summit and expects the further integration of the CSDP to be analysed thoroughly in the upcoming joint Communication by the HR/VP and the Commission on the implementation of the comprehensive approach;

2013/09/26
Committee: AFET

2013/2105(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Stresses the opportunity for Member States to enjoy the full benefits of working closer together and to decide to spend scarce resources in a better and smarter way, by creating synergies and avoiding redundancy and unnecessary duplication;

2013/09/26
Committee: AFET

2013/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. Notes that the European Neighbourhood Policy is in crisis, given the developments in numerous countries; believes, therefore, that, for reasons of solidarity and on account of our interest in peaceful and free development, the EU must strongly focus its instruments, inter alia by strengthening multilateral approaches in the region; stresses that the EU needs to give greater priority to the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), as well as to provide adequate funding for this policy;

2013/09/26
Committee: AFET

2013/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

43. Considers it regrettable, nevertheless, that the overall situation with regard to democratic standards and respect for human rights in ~~most~~some of the Eastern Partnership countries has scarcely progressed, if not deteriorated; stresses, furthermore, that all the frozen conflicts must be resolved ~~and that the EU should equip itself to play a more activ~~; calls on the EU to engage more actively and coherently in this respect, by making full use of the tools at its disposal and to ensure that human rights are pro~~le in this respe~~perly respected in the areas concerned by the frozen conflicts; reiterates its view that the development of relations should be conditional on a meaningful commitment to democracy and the rule of law;

2013/09/26
Committee: AFET

2013/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44

44. Recalls that democratic reforms promoted by the EU are in the interest of the partner countries themselves and can contribute to their economic and social development; points out that strong democratic institutions and closer ties with the EU through Association Agreements will help to strengthen the sovereignty of these countries against the influence of powerful neighbours; is deeply concerned about the mounting pressure exerted on some of the partner countries, such as Moldova, Ukraine or Armenia, that ultimately aims at slowing down their progress towards further engaging with the EU; calls on the EU to address these issues in a politically coherent manner; reaffirms the EU's readiness to be a reliable and strong partner for these countries on the basis of shared common values, as well as solidarity, and to share with them all the advantages of the EU acquis, along the lines of an Economic Area Plus arrangement;

2013/09/26
Committee: AFET

2013/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48

48. Stresses the strategic importance of the EU's enhanced dialogue and cooperation with Turkey on stability, democracy and security, with particular reference to the wider Middle East; notes that Turkey has strongly and repeatedly condemned the Syrian regime's violence against civilians and is providing vital humanitarian assistance to Syrians fleeing violence across the border; stresses that Turkey's growing international standing should also be based on its commitment to democracy and the rule of law at home;

2013/09/26
Committee: AFET

2013/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52

52. Expresses hope for the Middle East peace negotiations and recalls that resolving the conflict in the Middle East is a fundamental interest of the EU, as well as of the parties themselves and of the wider region; stresses, therefore, that the need for progress is even more urgent on account of the ongoing changes in the Arab world, the Syrian crisis and the particularly volatile situation in the wider Middle East; calls on the Member States to find common ground for more decisive action by the EU in close cooperation with the Arab League and the other members of the Quartet; reiterates the fact that a stable and peaceful Middle East is in the EU's interest and calls for a more active engagement to reach this aim;

2013/09/26
Committee: AFET

2013/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59

59. Recalls that the longer-term stability, security and territorial integrity of these two regions require not only the defeating of violent radical extremists and those trafficking in arms, drugs and people, but also the promotion of reconciliation and alternatives t~~o illegal activities for impoverished people and~~hat should lead to economic growth, prosperity and decline in unemploy~~ed youth~~ment;

2013/09/26
Committee: AFET

2013/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62

62. Notes that the energy- and natural- resource-rich Central Asian countries are potentially significant for the EU's diversification of sources and supply routes in order to reach a higher degree of energy security; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to continue to strongly support energy supply diversification projects such as the Southern Corridor and the trans-Caspian pipeline:

2013/09/26
Committee: AFET

2013/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71

71. Remains deeply concerned about North Korea's continued tests of increasingly powerful nuclear devices and longer-range missiles, and considers this development to be a serious threat to international peace, stability and security, as well as to the economic development of the country;

2013/09/26
Committee: AFET

2013/2076(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas, according to the same forecast, unemployment in the eurozone rose from 10.2 % at the end of 2011 to 11.4 % at the end of 2012 and youth unemployment increased significantly over the same period;

2013/07/12
Committee: ECON

2013/2076(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas the aggregate turnover for all instruments in the euro money market decreased by 14% in the second quarter of 2012 compared with the second quarter of the previous year;

2013/07/12
Committee: ECON

2013/2076(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas the European Economic Forecast in Spring 2012 showed low levels of business and consumer sentiment, high unemployment limiting private consumption and declining export growth since 2010, which has led to a levelling off in GDP growth during 2011 and 2012;

2013/07/12
Committee: ECON

2013/2076(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)

Fb. whereas small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain the backbone of the Euro area economy, representing about 98% of all Euro area firms, employing around three quarters of the euro area's employees and generating around 60% of value added;

2013/07/12
Committee: ECON

2013/2076(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F c (new)

Fc. whereas the creditworthiness and financial health of SMEs have deteriorated more sharply than those of large firms and the protracted period of weak economic conditions have exacerbated the asymmetric information challenges of SMEs;

2013/07/12
Committee: ECON

2013/2076(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F d (new)

Fd. whereas according to the information provided by the Survey on Access to Finance of Enterprises (SAFE) SMEs' profits, liquidity, buffers and own capital have developed less favourably than those of large firms during the crisis;

2013/07/12
Committee: ECON

2013/2076(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

Ga. whereas a low-inflation environment is the best contribution monetary policy can make to creating favourable conditions for economic growth, job creation, social cohesion and financial stability;

2013/07/12
Committee: ECON

2013/2076(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)

Gb. whereas actions of national macro- prudential authorities should take account of the responsibility of the European Systemic Risk Board for macro-prudential oversight of financial system within the EU;

2013/07/12
Committee: ECON

2013/2076(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Considers that a national central bank's functions must be performed in a matter that is fully compatible with the functional, institutional and financial independence to safeguard the proper performance of its tasks under the Treaty and the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the ECB;

2013/07/12
Committee: ECON

2013/2076(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Is concerned about the fact that credit tightening appears to be very severe for the SMEs, because they are perceived by banks to have a higher probability of default than larger firms and also because SMEs are often unable to switch from bank credit to other sources of external finance;

2013/07/12
Committee: ECON

2013/2076(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Stresses its concern regarding the considerable fragmentation of lending conditions for SMEs across Euro area countries;

2013/07/12
Committee: ECON

2013/2076(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. UStresses that, with a view to the ECB's becoming a single supervisory power, it must meet high standards of democratic accountability and underlines that the ECB's independence should not justify lack of ~~democratic~~this accountability;

2013/07/12
Committee: ECON

2013/2076(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Considers that the establishment of the SSM should contribute to restoring confidence in the banking sector and to reviving interbank lending and cross- border credit flows through independent integrated supervision for all participating Member States;

2013/07/12
Committee: ECON

2013/2076(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)

18b. Invites the SSM to operate in a manner fully consistent with the principles underpinning the single market in financial services and in full adherence to the single rulebook for financial services;

2013/07/12
Committee: ECON

2013/2076(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)

18c. Considers that the ECB should welcome the possibility to involve non- Euro area Member states in the SSM to ensure a greater harmonization of supervisory practices within the EU;

2013/07/12
Committee: ECON

2013/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas youth unemployment is one of the deepest economic and social problems of the EU and youth bears the brunt of unemployment caused by underperforming markets;

2013/09/13
Committee: ECON

2013/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that imposing fines is an important tool for competition policy and that quick action is needed for the success of investigations; considers that the Commission should increase unannounced inspections and sanctions, pursuing the suspected infringements; believes that legal certainty is crucial, and calls on the Commission to incorporate the rules on fines into a legislative instrument;

2013/09/13
Committee: ECON

2013/2075(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Considers that companies have to restructure in accordance with clear limits, reducing to a minimum the damaging effects for competitors who have not received support from public funding;

2013/09/13
Committee: ECON

2013/2051(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

Ga. whereas the EU has designated 2013 ‘European Year of Citizens’ to celebrate the 20th anniversary of EU citizenship;

2013/06/25
Committee: PETI

2013/2051(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. CTaking into account the fact that half of the European citizens agrees that the second most important citizens' right is the right to good administration, considers that the Ombudsman's continuous effort to enhance and improve openness, transparency and accountability in decision-making processes and administrations in the European Union have made a decisive contribution towards creating a Union in which decisions are taken ‘as openly as possible and as closely as possible to the citizen’, as provided in Article 1 of the Treaty on the European Union;

2013/06/25
Committee: PETI

2013/2051(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Notes that 52% of the citizens consider that the Ombudsman's most important function is to insure that EU citizens know their rights and how to use them, therefore the Ombudsman needs to improve his communication towards the European citizens and enhance the cooperation with the European Network of Ombudsmen;

2013/06/25
Committee: PETI

2013/2051(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Reiterates the fact that 42% of the European citizens are not satisfied with the level of transparency in the EU administration, and highlights the need for the Ombudsman to continue his efforts in helping the EU institutions become more open, effective and citizen friendly, building bridges between the institutions and citizens;

2013/06/25
Committee: PETI

2013/2051(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Notes that transparency-related complaints have always been at the top of the Ombudsman's complaints list; notes also that such complaints are decreasing from the peak year of 2008, in which 36 % of complainants alleged lack of transparency, to 21.5 % in 2012; ~~consid~~expresses concersn t~~hat this is a sign that the EU institutions have made significant efforts to become more transparent; calls on the EU institutions, agencies and bodies to help bring this number down further;~~ owards the large number of still existing complaints regarding openness, public access and personal data, as these are jeopardising both interinstitutional dialogue and the EU's public image and attitude towards citizens;

2013/06/25
Committee: PETI

2013/2051(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Highlights the fact that every closed inquiry represents a step in the right direction and a good opportunity for bringing in the improvements that the public has identified and called for, as a way of making the concept of European citizenship as participatory as possible with regards to the European legislative process;

2013/06/25
Committee: PETI

2013/2051(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Notes that the previous and the current Ombudsman have in 17 and a half years presented only 18 special reports; considers that this is proof of the cooperative approach adopted by the EU institutions in the majority of cases; acknowledges the importance of these special reports and encourages the Ombudsman to further pursue such cases when it comes to important cases of maladministration concerning EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies;

2013/06/25
Committee: PETI

2013/2047(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas risk management processes show that CCPs reduce counterparty risk and uncertainty and prevent contagion;

2013/09/03
Committee: ECON

2013/2047(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital O a (new)

Oa. whereas recovery and resolution represent key international tools dealing with risks presented by global systemically important financial institutions;

2013/09/03
Committee: ECON

2013/2047(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Acknowledges that CCPs have clearing members from a large number of countries, therefore a CCP resolution framework will be effective when it is effective in all the jurisdictions involved; consequently, national insolvency frameworks have to be updated to accommodate the new European resolution regime;

2013/09/03
Committee: ECON

2013/2047(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Calls on the~~Stresses the importance of a consistent and convergent approach by Member States towards the implementation of Solvency II within a reasonable time-frame, and calls for the completion of negotiations on Omnibus II so that EIOPA can effectively regulate insurance undertakings;

2013/09/03
Committee: ECON

2013/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that the optimal design of tax systems depend on numerous factors and differs therefore from country to country; therefore proper adjustment of tax policies in the short-, medium-, and long term is indispensable;

2013/03/06
Committee: ECON

2013/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Underlines the improvements acquired in the field of the coordination of tax policies, but points out that EU citizens and enterprises engaged in cross-border activities still face considerable costs ~~and~~, administrative burdens and legal gaps which need to be suppressed as soon as possible;

2013/03/06
Committee: ECON

2013/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the healthy competition between different tax systems that exists in the Single Market, as this competition boosts, accelerates and stimulates the European economies; functional institutions represented by a sound and fair legal and administrative framework are crucial in this respect;

2013/03/06
Committee: ECON

2013/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Emphasises that it is in the interest of enterprises and citizens to have a clear, predictable, stable and transparent tax environment within the Single Market, as a lack of transparency on tax rules is an obstacle to cross-border activities and investments in the EU; the tax regime should lead to less distortion of the market signals to businesses and households;

2013/03/06
Committee: ECON

2013/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Notes that economic growth is basically generated by three factors: labour, capital and technological progress, and that taxation policy should be adjusted to these factors in the short, medium and long term; in light of the financial crisis adequate financial market development is vital; in this respect tax should not distort decisions on how to finance investment, including the choice between debt and equity;

2013/03/06
Committee: ECON

2013/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Emphasises that in countries where labour costs are high relative to productivity, and where the creation of jobs is therefore hindered, possible measures to reduce these costs or increase productivity could be examined; tax reforms have to promote labour market participation in order to increase labour supply and promote inclusiveness, and thus contribute to increased productivity;

2013/03/06
Committee: ECON

2013/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the Member States to give their full support to the Commission initiatives, in collaboration with national tax authorities, aimed at suppressing taxation and other fiscal obstacles related to cross-border activities in order to improve further coordination and cooperation in this field; in order to improve economic efficiency and incentives a well-designed tax has to take account of possible arising externalities;

2013/03/06
Committee: ECON

2013/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Member States to improve substantially their tax collection capacity, thereby generating additional resources to promote growth and jobs as laid down in EU 2020; it is important to consider that efficiency in tax administration can reduce the amount of an economy's resources that have to be devoted to revenue collection.

2013/03/06
Committee: ECON

2013/2020(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Emphasises the important role played by the EU, as the world's largest donor, in addressing the development challenges faced by the Sahel region; stresses the importance of engaging other international actors, in efforts such as eradicating poverty and hunger, promoting gender equality and reducing child mortality rates, according to the Millennium Development Goals;

2013/07/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2020(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Reiterates the importance of EU's human rights clause in any agreement with third countries, including those of the Sahel region; considers that the clause is one of EU's most efficient instruments that can lead one the one hand to the sustainable development of least developed countries, as well as to a proper respect and protection of human rights in those countries;

2013/07/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2020(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Supports the UN Security Council resolution commitment to assist the transitional authorities of Mali to implement the road map towards the full restoration of constitutional order, democratic governance and national unity; considers it essential to create conditions conducive to the holding of credible elections, in keeping with international standards; underlines that the organization of a democratic and fair electoral process is key in gaining the trust of the civil society and prevent in the future further tensions; stresses the need to overcome challenges related to the voting arrangements in the IDP and refugee camps, to avoid further political marginalisation; calls for immediate action on this issue by the Malian Government and its international partners; emphasises the need to ensure the safe participation of women in the electoral process;

2013/07/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2020(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Considers that the protection and promotion of freedom of speech is essential in developing an active and engaged civil society that can properly contribute to the development of the entire region; condemns in this regard any attempt of censorship, intimidations of journalists or human rights activists and any type of direct or indirect pressure exerted on private or state media;

2013/07/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2020(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Notes, with particular concern, that access to drinking water still represents a problem in all the Sahel region; reiterates that in order to achieve the development of the region the main focus should be placed on ensuring the basic needs of the population of this area; underlines that an important part of the development aid provided by the EU must address this issue; welcomes in this respect all international initiatives that aim at reducing water scarcity in the Sahel region;

2013/07/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2020(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Expresses deep concern about evidence of child labour in Malian gold mines, agriculture and forestry, as well as in other sectors of the economy, reportedly involving children as young as six years old; notes Malian laws prohibiting child labour, and the particularly hazardous nature of gold mining; calls, therefore, on the Malian authorities to implement the policy proposals in its Action Plan for the Fight against Child Labour (PANETEM) of June 2011, and to promote universal education more actively; calls on the EU to work with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other national and international organisations, to eradicate fully child labour in Mali;

2013/07/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2020(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27a. Notes, with great concern, that according to NGO's statistics, over 3 million children under the age of 17 are working in Mali; deplores this situation, especially because this comes at the expense of reduced education rate and a low literacy rate;

2013/07/04
Committee: AFET

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas in 2012 the Committee on Petitions registered 1 984 petitions, mostly referring to the themes of fundamental rights, the environment, and the internal market; whereas 1650 petitions were processed by the end of May 2013, of which 414 were declared admissible and closed and 465 declared inadmissible; whereas the petitions led to the delivery of a reasoned opinion from the Commission, according to Article 258 of TFEU and one case was brought before the Court of Justice of the European Union; whereas 340 other petitions are pending under the infringements proceedings, 118 of them are pending before the European Court of Justice;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas, in relation to the protection of the environment, the threat posed by pollution and environmental malpractice can never be overstated, due to the ensuing risks to biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as public health risks, all of which are long-lasting and often life-threatening; whereas in 2012 the Committee devoted much attention to the implementation of legislation on waste and water, as well as to the assessment of the impact of projects and activities on the environment and on public health;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas in spite of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the Parliament and the Commission, the latter appears reluctant to provide prompt information on the nature of its deliberations, as well as decisions taken, in infringement proceedings related to petitions and concerning the implementation of environmental legislation; whereas this is an important source of concern given the irreversible damage and destruction that could be inflicted on our ecosystems and health;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas 2013 has been designated the European Year of Citizens, and it is precisely the citizens and residents of the EU, individually or in association with others, who are ~~best~~well placed to both assess the effectiveness of European legislation as it is applied, and to signal possible loopholes which impair the proper implementation of legislation and the full exercise of rights;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas, for that reason, the Committee on Petitions devoted a great amount of time and effort in 2012 to discussing the meaning of citizenship, which is closely associated with the freedom of movement in the EU, as defined in Part III of TFEU; whereas petitions give evidence that Union citizens still face widespread and tangible obstacles to exercising their cross-border rights, a situation which has a direct and daily impact on the lives and welfare of thousands of households;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas petition 630/2006 with more than one million signatures from EU citizens on the subject of the European Parliament's two-seat arrangement has been kept on hold by the European Parliament's Conference of Presidents pending consultation of Member States;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital O

O. whereas certain petitions, such as one of the oldest outstanding petitions concerning discriminatory treatment against foreign- language lecturers (‘lettori’) in Italy, are pending between the Commission, Parliament, European Court of Justice and national authorities without any solution found, leaving the petitioners on uncertain ground with no sign of a conclusion;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Takes note that petitions received in 2012 from European Union citizens and residents focused on alleged breaches of EU law in the fields of fundamental rights, the environment, the internal market and property rights; considers that petitions give evidence that there are still frequent and widespread instances of incomplete transposition or of misapplication of EU law; ~~takes the view therefore that, ultimately, the European Union's body of law does not fully deliver the expected results;~~

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that ~~fundamental rights~~, although the admissibility processing of the petitions was still not concluded by the end of June 2013, fundamental rights, as defined by the Treaties, remain a key subject of the petitions submitted in 2012, notably raising issues related to the rights of persons with disabilities, children's rights, property rights, the right of free of movement without discrimination on any grounds, the protection of freedom of expression and privacy, freedom of association, and the right of access to documents and information; calls on Member States to respect those rights as set out in the Treaty and calls on the European Commission to take the necessary measures to oblige non- compliant Member States to close the gap between national laws and the fundamental rights of EU citizens;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Repeats its previous calls to Member States to ensure freedom of movement for all EU citizens and their families, without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or nationality; repeats its call to Member States to implement fully the rights granted under Articles 2 and 3 of Directive 2004/38/EC not only to different-sex spouses, but also to the registered partner, member of the household or partner with whom an EU citizen has a duly attested, stable relationship, including members of same- sex couples, on the basis of the principles of mutual recognition, equality, non- discrimination, dignity and respect for private and family life; calls on the Commission, in that connection, to ensure that the directive is strictly applied;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Observes that the environment remains another key subject of petitions, giving evidence that public authorities in the Member States repeatedly fail to ensure the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, and that the highest standards of public health are guaranteed; points, in particular, to the numerous petitions submitted on waste management, on water, and on the assessment of the impact of projects and activities on the environment and on public health; urges the Commission to strengthen the environmental legislative framework and, specifically, its correct implementation; regrets that some Member States, despite their efforts, have not been able to find sustainable solutions for problems related to waste management;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Notes, in addition, that citizens in the European Union continue to face barriers within the internal market, notably while exercising their freedom of movement as individuals, ~~as workers, and~~ as providers and consumers of goods and services and as workers, such as, for instance, the case of Romanian and Bulgarian workers who continue to face restrictions on the labour market in some Member States; signals, in particular, that cross-border judicial cooperation and effectiveness remains an area of primary concern; concludes, overall, that strengthened cross- border cooperation and harmonisation provides marked benefits for the protection of citizens' rights and economic stimulation;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses the importance of the creation of the Spanish Coastal Law Working Group, which has been closely studying related petitions and the modification of the law; ~~reiter~~appreciates the importance of direct contact with the Spanish national authorities in this respect and welcomes further cooperation to find a better balance between property rights and the protection of the environment;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Takes the view that better governance and more efficient redress mechanisms are directly linked with transparency and access to information in accordance with Regulation 1049/2001;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Draws attention, in that regard, to the Eurobarometer of public opinion which indicates that only 36% of EU citizens consider themselves well informed about their rights and only 24% feel well informed about what they can do if their rights are not respected; stresses, therefore, the urgent need for improved access to information and for a clearer distinction between the functions of the various national ~~and European institutions~~institutions and the European Commission, the European Ombudsman and the Parliament's competent committee, so that petitions and complaints can be addressed to the right bodies;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Welcomes the constructive cooperation between the Committee and the European Ombudsman, as for instance in the case of the Ombudsman's Special Report on Vienna Airport, regarding the appropriate application of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive; supports the activities of the Ombudsman concerning instances of maladministration in the activities of EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Welcomes the continued cooperation with the European Commission with regard to the examination of petitions in the field of the application of EU law by Member States; stresses, nevertheless, that the Committee expects to be kept well and promptly informed about developments concerning infringement proceedings; asks the Commission to give equal consideration to petitions and complaints as regards the functioning of infringement procedures; calls, in addition, upon the Commission to also provide the Committee with details and a statistical analysis of all complaints it investigates;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Emphasises that access to information held by the EU institutions, as specified by Regulation 1049/2001, is the primary interest of citizens aiming to better understand the ~~political and economic deliberations behind~~ decision-making process; takes the view that greater access to information on investigations and infringement files could be provided by the Commission without jeopardising the purpose of the investigations and that an overriding public interest might well justify access to these files, particularly in cases where fundamental rights, human or animal health and the protection of the environment against irreversible damage may be at stake, or where proceedings are under way regarding discrimination against a minority or violations of human dignity, as long as protection of trade secrets and sensitive information relating to court cases, competition cases and personnel files are safeguarded;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Underlines that, as confirmed by the Legal Service in its Opinion of 29 February 2012, the fields of activity of the European Union institutions, as contained in the Treaty, are wider than the mere sum of the competences exercised by the Union; ~~calls on the European Commission to interpret petitions in light of this fundamenta~~takes into account that, whereas Article 227 TFEU does not provide for a definition of a petition, petitions are to be declared inadmissible only if they do not fulfil the conditions mentioned in Article 227 TFEU; takes also into account the view of Parliament's Legal Service that Parliament is entitled to adopt internal administrative decisions which aim to establish a procedure for the processing of submissions from citizens, and, more specifically according to the Legal Service, it is possible for Parliament's staff to prepare the ground for the work of Members of the Petitions Committee, taking into account that, for the legality of the procedure, it is essential that Parliament's responsible committee exclusively adopts decisions on the admissibility of petitions; regrets in this respect the failure of the appropriate service of the Parliament to follow through Parliament's Resolution of 21 November 2012 with regard to submissions from citizens on issues that fall outside the EU's area of competence pursuant to Article 227 of the Treaty as well bas~~is;~~ Article 51 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights; finally, takes note of the legal ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (Case T-280/09), specifying that a petition must be drafted in a sufficiently clear and precise manner so as to be properly understood, in the light of the conditions set out in Article 227 of the TFEU.

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. ~~Deplores the negligence of many Member States in transposing and enforcing European legislation, a persistent failing which continues to give relevance to the work of this Committee; u~~Urges Member States~~, consequently,~~ to transpose and apply EU legislation in full transparency and, with that objective in mind, considers it indispensable to improve cooperation with Member States' parliaments and governments, on a reciprocal basis;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Notes that the petitions mechanism is not merely a service, but a right for all European citizens and residents; pledges to make the petition procedure more efficient, transparent, and impartial~~, while preserving the participatory rights of the Members of the Committee on Petitions, so that the handling of petitions stands up to judicial review even at a procedural level~~;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Emphasises the essential role of fact- finding visits in the petitions procedure, ~~not just as a participatory parliamentary right, but also as an obligation~~as a duty in relation to petitioners; reaffirms, as already stated in this Committee's previous report, the need for more precise, written, procedural rules in relation to the preparation, implementation and evaluation of visits, ensuring on the one hand that all members of a fact-finding visit have the right to present the facts from their point of view while, on the other hand, guaranteeing all Committee Members the opportunity to participate in the decision- making process concerning the conclusions and recommendations to be drawn by the Committee on Petitions;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Calls on the European Parliament's Conference of Presidents to reinforce this Committee's investigatory role ~~and to take into account the Committee's specific nature by giving its full and prompt support to the fact- finding visits proposed~~;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Looks forward to organising public hearings for successful European Citizens' Initiatives, alongside the legislative Committee responsible in accordance with Rule 197A of the European Parliament's Rules of Procedure; reaffirms its belief that this new tool will strengthen the democratic institutions of the Union and will give meaning to the notion of European citizenship;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Believes that the role and responsibilities of the Petitions Committee would be best performed, and its visibility, efficiency, accountability and transparency best enhanced, by improving its means for bringing issues of importance to European citizens to plenary, and upgrading its abilities to call witnesses, conduct investigations and organise ~~on-site~~ hearings;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/2013(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Calls on the ~~Conference of Presid~~Parliaments to examine the extent to which amendments to the Rules of Procedure would be appropriate for the implementation of the above formal requirements concerning fact-finding visits and plenary resolutions under Article 202 of its Rules of Procedure;

2013/07/12
Committee: PETI

2013/0445(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3

(3) Regulation (EU) No …/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of … 2013 establishing Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation for the period 2014-2020 (‘Horizon 2020 Framework Programme’)12 aims to achieve a greater impact of research and innovation efforts by combining EU and private-sector funds in public-private partnerships (PPPs) in areas where research and innovation can contribute to the Union's wider competitiveness goals and help tackle societal challenges. The Union involvement in these partnerships can take the form of financial contributions to joint undertakings established on the basis of Article 187 of the Treaty. ~~__________________ 12~~The governance and functioning of those partnerships should be open, transparent, effective and efficient and give the opportunity to a wide range of stakeholders active in their specific areas to participate based on a long-term commitment. __________________ 12 OJ … [H2020 FP] OJ … [H2020 FP]

2014/02/21
Committee: ITRE

2013/0445(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7

(7) The Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking (hereinafter ‘S2R Joint Undertaking’) should be a PPP aimed at stimulating and better coordinating Union research and innovation investments in the rail sector while creating new employment opportunities, with a view to accelerating and facilitating the transition towards a more integrated, efficient, sustainable and attractive EU railway market, in line with the business needs of the rail sector and with the general objective of achieving a Single European Railway Area. In particular, the S2R Joint Undertaking should contribute to specific objectives defined in the 2011 White Paper and in the Fourth Railway Package, including the improved efficiency of the rail sector for the benefit of the public purse; a considerable expansion or upgrading of the capacity of the rail network, so as to enable rail to compete effectively and take a significantly greater proportion of passenger and freight transport; an improvement in the quality of rail services by responding to the needs of rail passengers and freight forwarders; the removal of technical obstacles holding back the sector in terms of interoperability; and the reduction of negative externalities linked to railway transport. The progress of the S2R Joint Undertaking towards meeting these objectives should be measured against key performance indicators.

2014/02/21
Committee: ITRE

2013/0410(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4

(4) With a view to increasing clarity, consistency, coherence and transparency, it is necessary to define in ~~more~~ concrete terms the authorities which should have access to the directories established on the basis of this Regulation; for that purpose a uniform reference to competent authorities will be established.

2014/02/13
Committee: IMCO

2013/0410(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9

(9) In order to ensure confidentiality of the inserted data, provision should be made for limiting access to inserted data to specific users and defined purposes only.

2014/02/13
Committee: IMCO

2013/0377(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6

(6) In order to establish coherent rules to ensure the technical implementation of the Kyoto Protocol in the Union after 2012, to enable the effective and efficient operation of the joint fulfilment of the commitments of the Union, its Member States and Iceland, and ensure its alignment with the operation of the EU ETS and the Effort Sharing Decision, the power to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to the Commission. The Commission, when preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should ensure their consistency with internationally agreed accounting requirements, the terms of the joint fulfilment set out in Decision […] and relevant Union legislation,

2014/02/17
Committee: ENVI

2013/0377(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b

Regulation (EU) No 525/2013
Article 10 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1

5. The Commission shall also be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 25 in order to ensure, through the registries of the Union and of the Member States, the technical implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, enable the effective and efficient operation of the joint fulfilment of the commitments of the Union, the Member States and Iceland, and ensure its alignment with the operation of Directive 2003/87/EC and Decision 406/2009/EC, including:

2014/02/17
Committee: ENVI

2013/0340(NLE)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 – point a

Directive 2009/71/Euratom
Article 4 – paragraph 1

1. Member States shall establish and maintain a national legislative, regulatory, administrative and organisational framework (hereinafter referred to as the ‘national framework’) for nuclear safety of nuclear installations that allocates responsibilities and provides for coordination between relevant state bodies. The national framework shall provide in particular for:

2014/02/19
Committee: ITRE

2013/0340(NLE)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8 – point b

Directive 2009/71/Euratom
Article 6– paragraph 2

Member States shall ensure that the national framework in place requires licence holders, under the supervision of the competent regulatory authority, to regularly assess and verify, and continuously improve~~, as far as reasonably achievable,~~ the nuclear safety of their nuclear installations in a systematic and verifiable manner.

2014/02/19
Committee: ITRE

2013/0340(NLE)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9

Directive 2009/71/Euratom
Article 7

Member States shall ensure that the national framework requires all parties to make arrangements for education, continuous training and exercise for their staff having responsibilities relating to the nuclear safety of nuclear installations and to on-site emergency preparedness and response arrangements, in order to build up, maintain and to further develop up-to- date and mutually recognised expertise and skills in nuclear safety.

2014/02/19
Committee: ITRE

2013/0264(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5

(5) New rules should be provided in order to close the regulatory gaps while at the same time providing for more legal clarity and ensuring a consistent application of the legislative framework across the Union. Equivalent operating conditions should be guaranteed to both existing and new players on the market, facilitating new means of payment to reach a broader market and ensuring a high level of consumer protection in the use of these payment services across the whole of the Union. This should lead to a downward trend in costs and prices for payment services users and more choice and transparency of payment services, while strengthening the trust of consumers in a harmonised payments market.

2014/01/28
Committee: ECON

2013/0264(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 30

(30) To enhance transparency on the payment institutions authorised by or registered with competent authorities, including their agents and branches, a web portal serving as European electronic access point should be established with EBA, interconnecting the national registers. These measures should aim at contributing to the enhancement of the cooperation between the competent authorities, fully contributing to a payments environment which nurtures competition, innovation and security to the benefits of all stakeholders and consumers in particular.

2014/01/28
Committee: ECON

2013/0264(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 43

(43) The information required should be proportionate to the needs of users and communicated in a standard format, enhancing efficiency. However, the information requirements for a single payment transaction should be different from those of a framework contract which provides for the series of payment transactions.

2014/01/28
Committee: ECON

2013/0264(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 45

(45) In single payment transactions only the essential information should always be given on the payment service provider’s own initiative. As the payer is usually present when he gives the payment order, it is not necessary to require that information should in every case be provided on paper or on another durable medium. The payment service provider may give information orally over the counter orand make it ~~otherwise~~ easily accessible, for example by keeping the conditions on a notice board on the premises. Information should also be given on where other more detailed information is available (e.g. the address of the website). However, if the consumer so requests, the essential information should be given on paper or on another durable medium.

2014/01/28
Committee: ECON

2013/0264(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 46

(46) This Directive should provide for the consumer’s right to receive relevant information free of charge before being bound by any payment service contract. The consumer should also be able to request prior information as well as the framework contract, on paper, free of charge at any time during the contractual relationship, so as to enable them to compare payment service providers’ services and their conditions and in case of any dispute verify their contractual rights and obligations, therefore maintaining a high level of consumer protection. Those provisions should be compatible with Directive 2002/65/EC. The explicit provisions on free information in this Directive should not have the effect of allowing charges to be imposed for the provision of information to consumers under other applicable Directives.

2014/01/28
Committee: ECON

2013/0264(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 66

(66) In order to strengthen the trust of consumers in a harmonised payment market it is essential for payment service users to know the real costs and charges of payment services in order to make their choice. Accordingly, the use of non- transparent pricing methods should not be allowed, since it is commonly accepted that those methods make it extremely difficult for users to establish the real price of the payment service. Specifically, the use of value dating to the disadvantage of the user should not be permitted.

2014/01/28
Committee: ECON

2013/0214(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1

(1) Long-term finance is a crucial enabling tool for putting the European economy on a path of sustainable, smart and inclusive growth and for building tomorrow's economy and global competitiveness in a way that is less prone to systemic risks and is more resilient. European long-term investment funds (ELTIFs) provide finance to various infrastructure projects or unlisted companies of lasting duration that issue equity or debt instruments for which there is no readily identifiable buyer. By providing finance to such projects, ELTIFs contribute to the financing of the Union economies.

2013/12/05
Committee: ECON

2013/0214(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2

(2) On the demand side, ELTIFs can provide a steady income stream for pension administrators, insurance companies and other entities that face regular and recurrent liabilities and are seeking long- term returns within well-regulated structures. While providing less liquidity than investments in transferable securities, ELTIFs can provide a steady income stream for individual investors that rely on the regular cash flow that an ELTIF can produce. ELTIFs can also offer good opportunities for capital appreciation over time for those investors not receiving a steady income stream.

2013/12/05
Committee: ECON

2013/0214(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4

(4) While individual investors may be interested in investing in an ELTIF, the illiquid nature of most investments in long- term projects precludes an ELTIF from offering regular redemptions to its investors. The commitment of the individual investor to an investment in such assets is by its nature made to the full term of the investment. ELTIFs should, consequently, be structured so as not to offer regular redemptions before the end of life of the ELTIF. A report, three years after the adoption of this Regulation, ~~sha~~will investigate whether this rule will have achieved the expected results in terms of ELTIF distribution or whether the introduction, in a limited number of cases, of the possibility, for some individual retail investors, to redeem their units or shares before the end of the ELTIF, may contribute to increase the distribution of ELTIF among the individual retail investors.

2013/12/05
Committee: ECON

2013/0214(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7

(7) Uniform rules across the Union are necessary to ensure that ELTIFs display a coherent and stable product profile across the Union. In order to ensure the smooth functioning of the internal market and a high level of investor protection, it is necessary to establish uniform rules regarding the operation of ELTIFs, in particular on the composition of the portfolio of ELTIFs and the investment instruments that they are allowed to use in order to gain exposure to non-listed undertakings and real assets. Uniform rules on the portfolio of an ELTIF are also required to ensure that ELTIFs that aim to generate regular income maintain a diversified portfolio of investment assets suitable to maintain the regular cash flow.

2013/12/05
Committee: ECON

2013/0214(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23

(23) Due to the scale of infrastructure projects, these require large amounts of capital that have to remain invested for long periods of time. Such infrastructure projects should include public building infrastructure such as schools, hospitals or prisons, social infrastructure such as social housing, transport infrastructure such as roads, mass transit systems or airports, energy infrastructure such as energy grids, climate adaptation and mitigation projects, power plants or pipelines, water management infrastructure such as water supply systems, sewage or irrigation systems, communication infrastructure such as networks and waste management infrastructure such as recycling or collection systems.

2013/12/05
Committee: ECON

2013/0214(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25

(25) Investments in real assets require patient capital due to the absence of liquid secondary markets. Investment funds represent an essential source of financing for assets that require large capital expenditure. For these assets, capital pooling is often necessary to achieve the desired level of funding. Such investments require long periods of time due to the generally long economic cycle attached to these assets. It generally takes several years to amortize the investment in large real assets. In order to facilitate the development of such large assets, ELTIFs should be able to invest directly in real assets with a value of more than €10 million. In practice this wshould include assets such as infrastructure, real estate, ships, aircraft or rolling stock. For these reasons it is necessary to treat direct holdings in real assets and investments in qualifying portfolio undertakings in like manner.

2013/12/05
Committee: ECON

2013/0188(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 3

(3) As highlighted by the request of the European Council, it is appropriate to bring forward the extension of automatic information exchange already envisaged in Article 8(5) of Directive 2011/16/EU. A Union initiative ensures a coherent, consistent and comprehensive Union-wide approach to the automatic exchange of information in the internal market which would lead to cost savings both for tax administrations and economic operators. Therefore, Union tax policy reinforces its position as key element in the efforts to strengthen the single market in which the co-existence of 28 national tax systems raises issues of double taxation and distortion of competition.

2013/10/01
Committee: ECON

2013/0188(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5

(5) The conclusion of parallel and uncoordinated agreements by Member States under Article 19 of Directive 2011/16/EU would lead to distortions that would be detrimental to the smooth functioning of the internal Market. Expanded automatic information exchange on the basis of a Union-wide legislative instrument would remove the need for Member States to invoke that provision, with a view to concluding bilateral or multilateral agreements that may be considered appropriate on the same subject in the absence of relevant Union legislation. Therefore, the Union will also be in a better negotiating position to push for higher standards of tax information exchange at a global level.

2013/10/01
Committee: ECON

2013/0185(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5

(5) To ensure effective public and private enforcement of the competition rules, it is necessary to regulate in a coherent manner, the way the two forms of enforcement are coordinated, for instance the arrangements for access to documents held by competition authorities. Such coordination at Union level will also avoid divergence of applicable rules, which could jeopardise the proper functioning of the internal market.

2013/11/08
Committee: ECON

2013/0185(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 6

(6) In accordance with Article 26(2) of the Treaty, the internal market comprises an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is ensured. There exist marked differences between the rules in the Member States governing actions for damages for infringements of national or Union competition law. Those differences lead to uncertainty concerning the conditions under which injured parties can exercise the right to compensation they derive from the Treaty, and affect the substantive effectiveness of such right, as well as collective redress. As injured parties often choose the forum of their Member State of establishment to claim damages, the discrepancies between the national rules lead to an uneven playing field as regards actions for damages and may affect competition on the markets on which these injured parties, as well as the infringing undertakings, operate.

2013/11/08
Committee: ECON

2013/0185(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 37

(37) Injured parties and infringing undertakings should be encouraged to agree on compensating the harm caused by a competition law infringement through consensual dispute resolution mechanisms, such as out-of-court settlements, arbitration and mediation. Where possible, such consensual dispute resolution should cover as many injured parties and infringing undertakings as possible. The provisions in this Directive on consensual dispute resolution are therefore meant to facilitate the use of such mechanisms and increase their effectiveness, and shall not discourage in any way, the parties from reaching settlements.

2013/11/08
Committee: ECON

2013/0025(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 34 a (new)

(34a) Privacy and data protection are fundamental rights in the EU and the failure to protect the citizens' rights would seriously erode the fight against terrorism, and permit the perpetuation of the sense that double standards were being applied with respect to these issues, which turns a blind eye to the actions of some groups, while pursuing those of others.

2013/08/01
Committee: ECON

2013/0025(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 34 b (new)

(34b) The sole purpose of the processing must be the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing and personal information should not to be further processed for incompatible purposes.

2013/08/01
Committee: ECON

2013/0025(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 34 c (new)

(34c) Considering that the personal information of clients and potential clients will sometimes be transferred to organisations or subsidiaries in third countries, we should take into account that the data protection standards could not equivalent to those found in the EU, this is why the consequences of such events must be anticipated and prevented.

2013/08/01
Committee: ECON

2013/0025(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 35 a (new)

(35a) Specific provisions on international transfers need to be added which also take into account the principle of proportionality, especially to avoid the mass transfer of personal and sensitive information.

2013/08/01
Committee: ECON

2013/0025(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 35 b (new)

(35b) The proposals of the Directive should recognize the right of data subjects to be informed of the analysis or transfer of their personal information should be clearly outlined in the proposed Directive and any restrictions to the fundamental rights of individuals should be fully justified and be subject to specific conditions and safeguards.

2013/08/01
Committee: ECON

2013/0025(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Addressing the challenge of international terrorism is essential to the delivery of international peace and security. Terrorism can only be prevented and defeated if the international community takes comprehensive, effective and coordinated action to counter it.

2013/08/01
Committee: ECON

2013/0025(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. The challenge of terrorism and the necessity for international cooperation to eradicate it were fully understood after the events of 9/11; terrorism causes damages not only to life and property, but it also, inter alia, shakes the stability of financial systems and, in the end, undermines the confidence of citizens in state authority.

2013/08/01
Committee: ECON

2013/0025(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 a (new)

Article 4a Data protection should therefore not be perceived as an obstacle to combat money laundering but as a basic requirement necessary to achieve this purpose.

2013/08/01
Committee: ECON

2013/0025(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. The proposal should not oblige professionals, without appropriate guidance or training, to profile clients or potential clients and analyse large amounts of personal information. Furthermore, any suspicions should be reported to the relevant authorities and failure to do so should result in sanctions against these professionals.

2013/08/01
Committee: ECON

2013/0025(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Both EU and Member States are facing the challenge of simultaneously securing the democratic rights of citizens to make use and benefit from a secure financial system and the right to information, while dealing with the misuse of the freedom of the single market to finance terrorist activities and exchange information on terrorist-related activities.

2013/08/01
Committee: ECON

2013/0025(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Member States should consider that specific safeguards, for example the right of individuals to be informed and the respect of the principles of proportionality are essential to prevent ordinary citizens from being excessively profiled by service providers on dubious grounds with potentially damaging effects.

2013/08/01
Committee: ECON

2013/0024(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1

(1) Flows of dirty money through transfers of funds ~~can~~ damage the stability and reputation of the financial sector and threaten the internal market and, as a final result, shake the confidence of the citizens in the rule of law. Terrorism shakes the very foundations of our society. The soundness, integrity and stability of the system of transfers of funds and confidence in the financial system as a whole could be seriously jeopardised by the efforts of criminals and their associates either to disguise the origin of criminal proceeds or to transfer funds for terrorist purposes.

2013/07/24
Committee: ECON

2013/0024(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5

(5) Money laundering methods and techniques change in response to developing counter-measures. In order to foster a coherent approach in the international context in the field of combating money laundering and terrorist financing, further Union action should take account of developments at that level, namely the International Standards on combating money-laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation adopted in 2012 by the FATF, and in particular Recommendation 16 and the revised interpretative note for its implementation.

2013/07/24
Committee: ECON

2013/0024(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)

(7a) Any restrictions or limitations of the individuals' fundamental rights should be fully justified and subjected to specific conditions and safeguards, as a result, the single purpose of the processing must be the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing and personal information must not be processed for incompatible purposes.

2013/07/24
Committee: ECON

2013/0024(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12

(12) IDue to the international dimension of the problem, in order to allow the authorities responsible for combating money laundering or terrorist financing in third countries to trace the source of funds used for those purposes, transfers of funds from the Union to outside the Union should carry complete information on the payer and the payee. Those authorities should be granted access to complete information on the payer only for the purposes of preventing, investigating and detecting money laundering or terrorist financing.

2013/07/24
Committee: ECON

2013/0024(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19

(19) Since in criminal investigations it may not be possible to identify the data required or the individuals involved until many months, or even years, after the original transfer of funds and in order to be able to have access to essential evidence in the context of investigations, it is appropriate to require payment service providers to keep records of information on the payer and the payee for the purposes of preventing, investigating and detecting money laundering or terrorist financing. This period should be limited according to the provisions of national laws.

2013/07/24
Committee: ECON

2013/0024(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2

2. Member States shall ensure that where obligations apply to payment services providers, in case of a breach sanctions ~~may~~shall be applied to the members of the management body and to any other individuals who under national law are responsible for the breach.

2013/07/24
Committee: ECON

2012/2319(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Reiterates its ~~grave~~ concern at the continuing cuts in national defence budgets, with ~~too little~~insufficient coordination between the Member States, hampering efforts to close capability gaps and undermining the credibility of the CSDP; urges the Member States to reverse this ~~irresponsible~~ trend, as well as to step up efforts at the EU level to limit its consequences through increased cooperation;

2013/04/16
Committee: AFET

2012/2319(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Notes the existence of a number of bilateral/regional/multilateral partnership initiatives in Europe aimed at pooling resources and fostering interoperability, and capable of providing contributions to EU, UN, NATO or ad hoc coalition operations; while welcoming the benefits of cooperation and fully supporting the rationale of pooling, encourages some form of rationalisation ofand better coordination between the numerous structures with a multinational dimension, which have grown without any global and coherent plan;

2013/04/16
Committee: AFET

2012/2319(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44

44. Emphasises the importance of NATO standards for European defence cooperation and stresses the need for capabilities developed within the EU to ensure full interoperability with NATO; encourages the exchange of best practices between the EU and NATO in the field of defence;

2013/04/16
Committee: AFET

2012/2319(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45

45. Notes that the NATO Response Force and EU battle-groups are complementary, mutually reinforcing initiatives, which, however, require similar efforts from the Member States, and calls for efforts to maximise synergies between them; notes that the duplication of efforts between NATO and the EU should be avoided in order to preserve coherence and limit unnecessary spending;

2013/04/16
Committee: AFET

2012/2318(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

I a. whereas, cooperation with NATO structures in the field of maritime security has not reached its full potential, especially because of the separate chains of commands and lack of inter- operability;

2013/04/03
Committee: AFET

2012/2318(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses that in today's world the complexity, integration and level of interaction among state, commercial and non-state actors at sea demands a comprehensive and coordinated approach that addresses the intricacy of the challenges and threats to European interests, beyond their purely safety or security nature, but also consider the political, economic and other opportunities opened up by such interaction; insists that this approach should not shy away from fully seizing the potential offered by the multiple EU bodies and agencies working together, instead of perpetuating the gaps, overlaps and inconsistencies in implementing common standards, the reluctance to share information, and the divergent approaches to cyber governance that exist today in several areas of maritime-related initiatives and activities;

2013/04/03
Committee: AFET

2012/2318(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Warns against the risk of escalation and the illegitimate exploitation of important natural resources and minerals in EU Member States' waters or in neighbouring seas; notes that the unmanaged race for marine, natural and mineral resources may have a damaging impact on the marine ecosystem, thus increasing the environmental impact of activities at sea; recalls that the exploitation of marine resources can also lead to an undesirable militarisation of maritime zones; however, underlines the right of every Member State to engage in the exploration and exploitation of its marine natural resources, in a manner that respects the environmental regulations;

2013/04/03
Committee: AFET

2012/2318(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19 a. Believes that the geostrategic importance of the Black Sea will grow in the near future in the light of its developing importance as an energy transit hub and its potential as an energy producer; welcomes, in this respect, the projects that aim at diversifying the energy supply routes to Europe from the South Caspian Basin;

2013/04/03
Committee: AFET

2012/2318(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)

19 b. Underlines the need for an effective engagement of the neighbouring countries in fighting against illegal fishing and other environmental challenges, in order to avoid putting at risk the ecological balance of the Black Sea;

2013/04/03
Committee: AFET

2012/2318(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Regrets the fact, however, that EU Member States have been imposing severe cuts in national defence budgets in response to the financial crisis and economic slowdown, and that such cuts, which are mostly uncoordinated at EU level and disregard the European Security Strategy, may entail serious consequences for the Union's ability and preparedness to face maritime and other security challenges and meet international obligations, and hinder its role as provider of global security; notes that the establishment of innovative funding mechanisms in the field of defence may represent a viable solution to the recent defence cuts in the Member States;

2013/04/03
Committee: AFET

2012/2318(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46

46. Given that EU and NATO members have only one set of naval forces, calls for greater strategic coordination between the two organisations on maritime security; is of the view that the future EU Maritime Security Strategy should be independent of, yet complementary to, that of the Alliance in order to help tackle a maximum number of the abovementioned challenges while ensuring optimal use of the limited maritime assets; welcomes the positive results arising from the co-location of the two organisations' Operational Headquarters at Northwood; believes that the EU should focus on the clear added value stemming from its comprehensive approach to dealing with multifaceted challenges, as demonstrated in the case of the diplomatic, financial and judicial follow-up to Atalanta's effective fight against piracy; calls for further improvements in information-sharing between NATO and the EU, as well as enhanced coordination with other international actors;

2013/04/03
Committee: AFET

2012/2303(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the criteria are intended inter alia to prevent arms exports as a result of which conflicts would be aggravated (criteria 3 and 4) or human rights violated (criterion 2) or international humanitarian law violated (criterion 3) or a recipient country's development prospects would be adversely affected (criterion 8); whereas the Common Position is unrestricted in scope and, accordingly, the eight criteria apply also to exports within the EU and to arms transfers to countries closely associated with the EU;

2013/03/11
Committee: AFET

2012/2303(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital S

S. whereas the industry is calling for an expansion in arms exports in order to offset the forecast slackening in demand within the EU, and whereas that call is being backed by many politicians and political parties as a contribution towards strengthening Europe's arms industry base and reducing unemployment in some Member States;

2013/03/11
Committee: AFET

2012/2303(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Calls furthermore for the eight criteria to be extended and applied~~Suggests to explore the possibility of applying and extending the eight criteria, within the provisions of the Common Position, also to the transfer of military, and security ~~and police~~ personnel, to arms-exports- related services~~, know-how and training,~~ and to private military ~~and security~~ services; calls for it to be made mandatory - where ~~security technology and, in general, dual-use goods~~dual-use goods and technology are to be exported - for compatibility with the eight criteria to be verified, if there are reasons for believing that the exports of such goods and technology would breach one of the eight criteria;

2013/03/11
Committee: AFET

2012/2303(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Notes that methods for collecting data on arms exports, as well as practices for publishing data sets recorded, vary in the Member States, as a result of which the COARM annual report does not include important information and therefore is not up to date or reliable; calls accordingly for the introduction of a standardised reporting, collection and submission procedure, to be applied uniformly in all Member States, in order to submit and publish accurate, up-to-date and exhaustive information;

2013/03/11
Committee: AFET

2012/2303(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls for the COARM annual report also to include information on the final destination of exports within Europe and on onward transfers to third countries which may ~~be problematic~~violate one or more of the eight criteria;

2013/03/11
Committee: AFET

2012/2303(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Suggests to include in the COARM annual report a follow-up of the issues regarding arms exports identified in the previous reports, as well as measures taken by the Member States to address those issues;

2013/03/11
Committee: AFET

2012/2303(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Takes the view that government officials responsible for issuing national export licences and civil society organisations addressing the issue of arms export control should be regularly consulted at COARM meetings, since they can make an important contribution to implementing and enforcing the Common Position and help improve the quality of the information exchanged;

2013/03/11
Committee: AFET

2012/2253(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)

- having regard to the previous discharge reports of the Parliament;

2014/02/26
Committee: CONT

2012/2209(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that the low rates of budgetary implementation, particularly in respect of administrative expenditure, are attributable to problems with budget planning and implementation, which have made it harder to achieve all the organisational objectives of the Authority and resulted in a budget surplus;

2013/01/30
Committee: ECON

2012/2209(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Authority to ensure that in future no legal commitments are entered into ~~in advance of~~beforehand budget commitments;

2013/01/30
Committee: ECON

2012/2209(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Takes the view that, even if the ESMA is still ~~in the making~~being developed, internal audit and fixed asset management procedures must not be lacking; for intangible assets developed by the Authority, accounting procedures and information on costs must be clear and reliable;

2013/01/30
Committee: ECON

2012/2208(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Considers it indispensable for a European supervisory authority that the procurement procedure ~~should be~~is in complete~~ly in~~ accordance with the Financial Regulation, the award criteria is laid down at the outset, tasks are allocated in writing and all the requirements of the EU's rules on procurement are complied with;

2013/01/30
Committee: ECON

2012/2207(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that the EBA spent only part of the appropriations entered in the 2011 budget and infers from this that there have been problems with budget planning and implementation, preventing some core goals from being achieved; any further repetition of such outcomes should be averted;

2013/02/01
Committee: ECON

2012/2207(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Authority to avert any future repetition of the weaknesses noted by the Court of Auditors aswith regards to the three legal commitments entered into in advance of budget commitments;

2013/02/01
Committee: ECON

2012/2207(DEC)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Court of Auditors to bring detailed scrutiny to bear in 2013 on the Authority's promises to remedy all shortcomings without delay and in conformity with the current EU legislation.

2013/02/01
Committee: ECON

2012/2143(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the most effective form of prevention lies in the promotion of good governance, inclusiveness, respect for human rights ~~and~~, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, gender equality, and democratic values and practices;

2013/03/04
Committee: AFET

2012/2143(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas a more consequent implementation of R2P's prevention component (R2prevent), including mediation measures and preventive diplomacy at an early stage, would ~~reduce~~prevent or reduce the number of conflicts and help avoid their escalation;

2013/03/04
Committee: AFET

2012/2143(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the proposal initiated by Brazil on the ‘Responsibility while Protecting’ is a welcome contribution to the necessary development of criteria to be followed when implementing an R2P mandate, including legitimacy, the proportionality of the scope and duration of any intervention, a thorough balance of consequences, ex- ante clarity of the political objectives and transparency in the intervention's reasoning; whereas the monitoring and review mechanisms of adopted mandates should be strengthened, including through the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisors on the Prevention of Genocide and on R2P, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and should be conducted ‘fairly, prudently and professionally, without political interference or double standards’7 ;

2013/03/04
Committee: AFET

2012/2143(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b

(b) to cooperate with the European Parliament in the organisation of a series of meetings with concerned interest groups ~~and~~, civil society actors and other non- governmental organizations with the goal of integrating the proposals for initiatives and improvements into the ‘Consensus on R2P’ document;

2013/03/04
Committee: AFET

2012/2143(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c

(c) to institutionalise the practice of producing an annual report on the EU's successes and failures in conflict prevention and mitigation in applying the principle of R2P, to be prepared jointly by the EEAS and the Commission in cooperation with the EU Special Representative for Human Rights; notes that this report should take into account the various positions adopted by the European Parliament on specific issues regarding conflict prevention or human rights protection;

2013/03/04
Committee: AFET

2012/2143(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point c

(c) to integrate women leaders and women's groups much more in all conflict prevention and mitigation, as well as ind resolution efforts in accordance with UNSC Resolutions 1325 and 1820;

2013/03/04
Committee: AFET

2012/2136(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the objective of the trade agreements signed by the EU with partner countries is, inter alia, to promote and expand trade and investment, and to improve market access, with a view to increasing economic integration and social cohesion, reducing poverty, creating new employment opportunities, improving working conditions and raising living standards, and thereby ultimately contributing to the fulfilment of human rights;

2012/12/18
Committee: AFET

2012/2136(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas proper monitoring and practical enforcement of the human rights clause of each trade agreement must be guaranteed; whereas any systematic violation of the human rights clause enshrined in the EU's trade agreements entitles each signatory party to take ‘appropriate measures’, which may include total or partial suspension or termination of the agreement or imposing restrictions;

2012/12/18
Committee: AFET

2012/2136(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital T a (new)

Ta. whereas minority groups from third countries are often subject to discrimination and thus their access to social rights is further hampered in the context of the economic crisis;

2012/12/18
Committee: AFET

2012/2136(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital W

W. whereas the rising price of medicines (by up to 30%) is having a negative impact on the right to health of the most vulnerable, notably children ~~and~~, the elderly and persons with disabilities;

2012/12/18
Committee: AFET

2012/2136(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Expresses its support for the global introduction of a financial transaction tax, which can be an innovative financing mechanism for development, ultimately contributing to the universal fulfilment of economic and social rights; encourages all Member States to support the EU budget proposal for a financial transaction tax;deleted

2012/12/18
Committee: AFET

2012/2136(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Urges governments to tackle critical human rights issues faced by the elderly, especially in times of economic downturn, such as long-term unemployment, age- related employment discrimination, income insecurity and unaffordable healthcare; calls on governments to put in place innovative new mechanisms for flexible workforce participation, such as entitling older people to social pensions while working part-time, retraining programmes or fiscal measures aimed at stimulating the employment of the elderly;

2012/12/18
Committee: AFET

2012/2136(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)

34a. Calls for the protection of minority groups in third countries in order to strengthen the fight against discrimination, and ensure the promotion of identity and participation in political life;

2012/12/18
Committee: AFET

2012/2136(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)

38a. Calls on all states to enhance their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, especially by addressing those areas which suffer from a lack of progress at present;

2012/12/18
Committee: AFET

2012/2092(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Encourages a priority driven approach to budget 2013 with any budget line increase ~~accompani~~followed by a corresponding budget line cut;

2012/07/24
Committee: ECON

2012/2092(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Believes the EU should prioritise programmes and funding that will deliver growth and jobs in the European Union;

2012/07/24
Committee: ECON

2012/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Believes that with the Lisbon Treaty the EU has all the means necessary to adopt a comprehensive approach such as this, whereby all the Union's diplomatic and financial resources are used to back common strategic policy guidelines in order to have the greatest possible leverage in promoting the security and economic prosperity of European citizens and their neighbours, and the fundamental rights all over the world; calls for the further development of an appropriate mechanism in the EEAS, with the participation of the relevant Commission services, where geographic and thematic expertise are integrated and drive a comprehensive approach to policy planning, formulation and implementation;

2012/06/26
Committee: AFET

2012/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Stresses that the role of EU Special Representatives should be complementary to and consistent with the country-specific work of EU Heads of Delegations and should represent and coordinate EU policy towards regions with specific strategies or security interests, which require a continuous EU presence and visibility; welcomes the positive response by the HR/VP to having newly appointed EUSRs and Heads of Delegation appear before Parliament for an exchange of views before taking up their posts; calls for improved reporting and access to political reports from Delegations and EUSRs in order for Parliament to receive full and timely information on developments from the ground, particularly in areas considered to be strategically important or the focus of political concern;

2012/06/26
Committee: AFET

2012/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Stresses the importance of ensuring that the new external relations financial instruments under consideration by the Parliament and Council should be tailored and fu~~lly funded~~nded adequately to respond to the strategic interests of the Union as well as being adaptable to changing political circumstances; calls, therefore, for the Union's budget (the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020) to be properly resourced in line with the ambitions and priorities of the Union and to provide a secure and prosperous future for citizens as well as the necessary flexibility to cope with unforeseen developments;

2012/06/26
Committee: AFET

2012/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Believes that the strategic interests, objectives and general guidelines to be pursued through the CFSP must be founded upon delivering peace, security and prosperity for the citizens of Europe and beyond, first of all in our neighbourhood, but also further afield, guided by the principles which inspired the creation of the EU itself, including, democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, equality and solidarity and respect for international law and the United Nations Charter;

2012/06/26
Committee: AFET

2012/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Reiterates its support for improving the accession process of the Western Balkans by making it more benchmark-driven, transparent and mutually accountable; calls on the EU to continue to prioritise in its enlargement policy conditions such as constructive political dialogue, consolidation of the rule of law, including ensuring the freedom of expression, the effective fight against corruption and organised crime, enhancing the effectiveness and independence of the judiciary, ensuring the protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, improving administrative capacities and track records in enforcing acquis-related legislation, tackling inter- ethnic and inter-religious tensions, and addressing of the situation of refugees and displaced persons as well as resolution of open bilateral issues;

2012/06/26
Committee: AFET

2012/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Considers it essential, furthermore, for EU foreign policy towards a region with a recent history of inter-ethnic armed conflict to promote a climate of tolerance, good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation, including through ~~more integrated education systems (intra- regional exchanges of students)~~education as prerequisites for European stability and as a means of facilitating reconciliation; believes that intra-regional exchanges of students could represent a valuable tool in this respect;

2012/06/26
Committee: AFET

2012/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)

31 a. Recalls the EU commitment to the Middle East Peace Process and its support for the two-state solution with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security;

2012/06/26
Committee: AFET

2012/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)

34 a. Welcomes the strengthening of relations with the Republic of Moldova, including through the significant progress in the Association Agreement talks; is convinced that visa liberalisation and negotiations for the Deep and Comprehensive Trade Area will further contribute to these relations and to the European perspective of the Republic of Moldova, as well as to encouraging this country to pursue the democratic and economic reforms; appreciates the reforms ongoing or undertaken so far by the Republic of Moldova and stresses the importance of their continuation, including for the accomplishment of the European aspirations of the country;

2012/06/26
Committee: AFET

2012/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Calls for continued and strong engagement on the part of the EU in resolving the region's ‘frozen conflicts’, in cooperation with other important regional partners, in particular breaking the deadlock on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and playing a full role in support of any ensuing peace agreement; believes that the Transnistrian ~~question can be~~conflict can and should be solved peacefully and ask the EU to further contribute to this process, which can also represent a good test-case for the good will of the regional partners;

2012/06/26
Committee: AFET

2012/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Supports the EU's promotion of a regional approach in Central Asia, which is essential to tackling the regional dimension of issues including organised crime, trafficking in drugs, radioactive materials and human beings, terrorism, natural and manmade environmental disasters and management of water resources; calls for such engagement to be differentiated and conditional upon progress in democratisation, human rights, good governance, sustainable socio-economic development, the rule of law and the fight against corruption; notes that the EU cooperation Strategy for Central Asia identifies seven priorities, but provides resources too limited to have an impact in all policy areas; calls ~~therefore for~~on the EU to define priorities better according to the resources available~~, whilst ensuring~~; recalls the importance of the region in terms of economic cooperation, energy and security, but stresses that it is important to ensure that development cooperation is not subordinated to ~~economic, energy or security~~these interests;

2012/06/26
Committee: AFET

2012/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44

44. Takes the view that regular EU-US summits would provide an opportunity to identify common objectives and coordinate strategies on matters of global relevance, including inter alia economic governance and developing a common approach towards the emerging powers; considers that the Transatlantic Economic Council and the Transatlantic Legislators‘ Dialogue should include a reflection on strategic engagement by the EU and the US with the BRICS and other relevant emerging countries and on how to foster regulatory convergence with such countries; recalls the need to set up a Transatlantic Political Council as an ad hoc body for systematic, high-level consultation and coordination on foreign and security policy between the EU and the US;

2012/06/26
Committee: AFET

2012/2050(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 a (new)

64 a. Reaffirms that the EU accession to the Convention on Human Rights constitutes a significant achievement for further strengthening human rights protection in Europe;

2012/06/26
Committee: AFET

2012/2033(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas the European Union is founded on commitment to the rule of law and human rights, not only in its internal policies, but also in its externally dimension;

2012/05/30
Committee: AFET

2012/2033(INI)

Ioan ENCIU, Elena BĂSESCU

Motion for a resolution
Citation 1

– having regard to the ~~Treaty on European Union, in particular Articles 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 21 thereof~~EU Treaties,

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 25

~~– having regard to the article ‘Counter- terrorism and human rights’, by Villy Sovndal, Gilles de Kerchove and Ben Emmerson, published in the 19 March 2012 issue of the ‘European Voice’,~~deleted

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Draft opinion
Recital D

D. whereas EU-US relations are based on a strong partnership and cooperation in many fields, on the basis of common shared values of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights; whereas the EU and the United States have strengthened their engagement in the fight against terrorism since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, notably with the Joint Declaration on Counter Terrorism of 3 June 2010~~, but whereas it has became apparent that there is a divergence between declared commitments and practices, and between EU and US policies in the fight against terrorism~~;

2012/05/30
Committee: AFET

2012/2033(INI)

Ioan ENCIU, Elena BĂSESCU

Motion for a resolution
Citation 28

~~– having regard to George W. Bush’s memoirs, which were published on 9 November 2010,~~deleted

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Ioan ENCIU, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Motion for a resolution
Citation 31 a (new)

- having regard to the conclusions of the national inquiries already conducted in some Member States,

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital E

E. whereas the European Parliament has repeatedly and strongly condemned the alleged illegal practices that came to be known collectively as ‘extraordinary rendition’, including kidnapping, abduction, detention without trial (such as in Guantanamo), disappearance, secret prisons and torture, and has demanded full investigations into the apparent active or passive involvement of some Member States in collaboration with United States authorities, notably the CIA, and involving EU territory;

2012/05/30
Committee: AFET

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas Parliament has condemned the US-led CIA rendition and secret detention programme involving ~~multip~~possible human rights violations, including unlawful and arbitrary detention, torture and other ill- treatment, violations of the non- refoulement principle, and enforced disappearance; whereas its Temporary Committee on the alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the transportation and illegal detention of prisoners (hereinafter the ‘Temporary Committee’) has documented the use of European airspace and territory by ~~the CIA~~allegedly CIA planes, and Parliament has since repeated its demand for full investigations into the collaboration of national governments and agencies with the CIA programme;

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Draft opinion
Recital F

~~F. whereas the commission of illegal acts by EU agencies and/or on EU territory may have developed within the framework of NATO multilateral arrangements or bilateral agreements;~~deleted

2012/05/30
Committee: AFET

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the purpose of this resolution is to ‘follow up politically the proceedings of the Temporary Committee and to monitor the developments, and in particular, in the event that no appropriate action has been taken by the Council and/or the Commission, to determine whether there is a clear risk, at the moment, of a serious breach of the principles and values on which the European Union is based, and to recommend to it any resolution, taking as a basis Articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty on European Union, which may prove necessary in this context’1; 1 Paragraph 232 of Parliament’s resolution of 14.2.2007, P6_TA(2007)0032.; Or. en

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls that counter-terrorism strategies can only be fully effective if they are conducted in compliance with human rights obligations and implemented through a due process;

2012/05/30
Committee: AFET

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Marian-Jean MARINESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Ioan ENCIU

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas a proper accountability process ~~is essential~~may be important to the public opinion and media in order to ~~preserv~~enforce citizens‘ trust in the ~~democratic~~ institutions of the EU, effectively protect and promote human rights in the EU's internal and external policies, and ensure legitimate and effective security policies based on the rule of law; 1Or. en Paragraph 232 of Parliament’s resolution of 14.2.2007, P6_TA(2007)0032.

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the Council admitted on 15 September 2006 that ‘the existence of secret detention facilities where detained persons are kept in a legal vacuum is not in conformity with international humanitarian law and international criminal law’, but given the lack of solid judicial evidence has so far failed to recognise and condemn the involvement of Member States in the CIA programme, even though the use of European airspace and territory by the CIA has been acknowledged by political and judicial authorities of some Member States;

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Ioan ENCIU, Elena BĂSESCU

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas ~~there are enduring~~allegations have been reported of human rights violations due to the CIA programme, as e~~videnc~~xemplified in particular by the ongoing administrative detention in Guantánamo Bay of Mr Abu Zubaydah and Mr Al-Nashiri, who have been granted victim status in the Polish criminal investigation into CIA secret prisons;

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Ioan ENCIU, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Regards it as essential that the EU ensures accountability ifor any abusive practices had been conducted in the fight against terrorism, not only so that the EU can live up to its values but also so that it can establish an international lead in this matter;

2012/05/30
Committee: AFET

2012/2033(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas research by the UN, the Council of Europe and civil society has brought to light ~~new concrete~~ information on the possible location of secret CIA detention sites in Europe, rendition flights through European airspace, and persons transported or detained, although no solid judicial evidence has been produced;

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Reiterates its call, required by international law and notably Article 12 of the CAT, for all states faced with credible allegations to ~~end impunity and~~make every effort in order to bring the necessary clarifications and, if justified by the evidence, to conduct thorough investigations and inquiries into all alleged acts of extraordinary rendition, secret prisons, torture and other serious human rights violations, so as to eliminate all doubts or to determine responsibility and ensure accountability, including bringing individuals to justice where there is evidence of criminal liability;

2012/05/30
Committee: AFET

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Urges NATO and~~Calls on the United States and NATO authorities to conduct their own investigations, collaborate fully with EU and Member State parliamentary or judicial inquiries on these issues1, disclose information on extraordinary rendition programmes, and ~~clarify~~reconfirm that all NATO agreements and NATO-EU and other transatlantic arrangements comply with fundamental rights; ______________ 1 See inter alia European Parliament resolution of 9 June 2011 on Guantánamo: imminent death penalty decision (P7_TA(2011)0271).

2012/05/30
Committee: AFET

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the 2011 Council of Europe report states that the data obtained from the Polish agencies in 2009 and 2010 ‘provide definite proof’ that seven CIA-associated aircraft landed in Poland; whereas a possible ‘black site’ was ~~identifi~~pointed to have been located in Romania by journalists on the basis of information provided by former CIA employees in the Romanian national registry office for classified information ~~(*)~~1 , although not confirmed by authorities or by the inquiry already conducted by the Romanian Parliament; whereas former Libyan dissidents have started legal proceedings against the UK for the direct involvement of MI6 in their own and their family members‘ rendition, secret detention and torture;

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas research and court findings on the logistics involved in covering up these alleged illegal operations, including dummy flight plans and the use of private aviation companies to conduct CIA renditions, have ~~further~~ revealed the ~~systematic~~ nature and the extent of the ~~European~~ involvement in the CIA programme;

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the relevant authorities to ~~end the habit of routinely~~not invok~~ing~~e state secrecy in relation to international intelligence cooperation to block accountability and redress, and insists that only genuine national security reasons can justify secrecy, which is in any case overridden by non-derogable fundamental rights obligations such as the absolute prohibition on torture;

2012/05/30
Committee: AFET

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Considers that Member States have ~~so far not properly fulfilled~~to abide by their positive obligation under international law to investigate ~~serious~~alleged human rights violations connected with the CIA programme and to afford full redress to victims;

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Reaffirms that the international fight against terrorism and bilateral or multilateral international cooperation in this area, including in the framework of NATO or between intelligence and security services, must only be carried out with full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and with appropriate democratic and judicial oversight; calls on EU Member States, the Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Council to ensure that these principles are applied in their foreign relations, and insists that they should make a thorough assessment of their counterparts‘ records on human rights before entering into any agreement, notably on intelligence cooperation and information-sharing;

2012/05/30
Committee: AFET

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Ioan ENCIU, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Believes that the failure of some Member States to ~~assume their responsibility to~~ conduct inquiries that are fully compatible with their international obligations may undermines mutual trust in fundamental rights protection~~, and thus becomes the responsibility of the EU as a whole~~;

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the United States, given the cardinal role of the transatlantic partnership and the United States‘ leadership in this area, to fully investigate and secure accountability for any abuses that it has practiced, ~~end the war paradigm which has in practice led to legal black holes,~~ end military trials, fully apply criminal law to terrorist suspects and restore review of detention and habeas corpus, due process, freedom from torture and non- discrimination between foreign and United States citizens;

2012/05/30
Committee: AFET

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Ioan ENCIU, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Reiterates that the ~~failure~~commitment of Member States and the EU to ~~reveal the truth about~~investigate European involvement in the CIA programme ~~contravenes~~is in line with the principle of sincere and loyal cooperation enshrined in Article 4(3) of the TEU;

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Expresses concerns regarding ~~the~~ obstacles encountered by national investigations into some Member States‘ involvement in the CIA programme, as documented in detail by the 2011 Council of Europe report on abuse of state secrecy and national security;

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Ioan ENCIU, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Urges those Member States t~~o establish the truth concerning their involvement in the CIA programme and me~~hat have not met their obligation to investigate alleged human rights violations ~~by conducting independent and effective inquiries,~~to establish the truth concerning their involvement in the CIA programme taking into account all the new e~~vidence~~lements that ha~~s come to light~~ve emerged;

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Ioan ENCIU, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

~~6. Urges Romania to meet its legal obligation to launch an independent and effective inquiry into secret CIA detentions on its territory;~~Deleted

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Ioan ENCIU, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Acknowledges the results of the investigation of the Romanian Parliament in 2008, which did not reveal any involvement of the Romanian authorities in the CIA programme;

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Ioan ENCIU, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Acknowledges that Member States investigations have to be based on solid judicial evidence and on the respect of national judicial systems and EU law, not just on media and public opinion speculation;

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Marian-Jean MARINESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Ioan ENCIU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

~~11. Expects the Council to finally issue a declaration acknowledging and apologising for Member States‘ involvement in the CIA programme;~~Deleted

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Calls on the Council to give its full support to the truth-finding and accountability processes in the Member States, by formally addressing the issue at JHA meetings, sharing all information, providing assistance to inquiries and, in particular, acceding to requests for access to documents;Deleted

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Marian-Jean MARINESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Ioan ENCIU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on the Commission to adopt within a year a framework, including reporting requirements for Member States, for monitoring and supporting national accountability processes, including guidelines on human rights- compliant inquiries, to be based on the standards developed at Council of Europe and UN levels;Deleted

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Ioan ENCIU, Marian-Jean MARINESCU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls on the Commission, in the light of the institutional deficiencies revealed in the context of the CIA programme, to adopt within a year a communication reviewing the mechanism set out in Article 7 TEU; considers that this reform should be aimed at strengthening the EU's capacity to prevent and redress human rights violations at EU level when Member States are unable to meet their obligations at national level, and should provide for the strengthening of Parliament's role and a greater degree of independence as regards the conditions for its activationmeasures aimed at strengthening the EU's capacity to prevent and redress human rights violations at EU level and to provide for the strengthening of Parliament's role;

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Undertakes to devote its next Joint Parliamentary Meeting with national parliaments to reviewing the role of parliaments in ensuring accountability for human rights violations in the context of the CIA programme, and to promoting stronger cooperation and regular exchange between national oversight bodies in charge of scrutinising intelligence services, in the presence of the relevant national authorities, EU institutions and agencies and in full respect of the national and EU law;

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2033(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Is determined to continue fulfilling the mandate given to it by the Temporary Committee, ~~pursuant to Articles 2, 6 and 7 TEU;~~and instructs its Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, together with the Subcommittee on Human Rights, to address Parliament in plenary on the matter a year after the adoption of this resolution;

2012/05/30
Committee: LIBE

2012/2028(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Believes that there is an urgent need to further discuss a longer-term vision for the euro area as a whole, which ensures sound public finances, sustainable growth and high levels of employment, while preventing moral hazard and supporting convergence;

2012/07/12
Committee: ECON

2012/2028(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that all existing and future instruments or institutions which are sensu stricto or sensu lato part of the economic governance framework of the Union need to be democratically legitimised and made accountable by involving the parliaments of the Member States and the European Parliament in the setting-up and ~~run~~proper functioning of these instruments or institutions;

2012/07/12
Committee: ECON

2012/2028(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Believes that the prospect of common bonds can fbooster stability in the euro area and be an additional element to incentivise compliance with the stability and growth pact; reiterates its position that sequencing is a key issue involving a binding roadmap, included in the annex, similar to the Maastricht criteria for introducing the single currency;

2012/07/12
Committee: ECON

2012/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas 20 years after the Copenhagen summit the moment has come for a general re-evaluation of the accession criteria, of the established procedures and of enlargement policy as a whole; whereas the European Parliament contributes to improving the transparency and accountability of enlargement ~~and thereby~~, thus creating the conditions for increasing the public support for this process;

2012/06/08
Committee: AFET

2012/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas true reconciliation between different peoples and the establishment of good neighbourly relations between countries are essential to sustainable peace and stability and contribute substantially to a genuine European integration process, ~~and are~~therefore being of key importance to the enlargement process; whereas a number of candidate and potential candidate countries continue to have unresolved issues with their neighbours;

2012/06/08
Committee: AFET

2012/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Strongly believes that enlargement needs to continue to be a ~~credible policy~~successful and credible policy, contributing to the spread and consolidation of peace, stability, democracy, rule of law and prosperity throughout Europe; considers it, therefore, important for the EU to ~~fulfil~~stand by the promises it has already made ~~and to create the conditions for ensuring that future enlargements are successful~~to aspirant countries and to do its outmost for the success of future enlargements, including by creating the necessary conditions and assisting the candidates in their efforts to fulfil the criteria for EU accession;

2012/06/08
Committee: AFET

2012/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers that the Copenhagen criteria continue to represent a valuable basis and should remain at the heart of enlargement policy; underlines, however, the need to keep the economic subcriteria up to date in line with recent developments in the sphere of economic governance~~, while taking due account of their social implications for the candidate and potential candidate countries~~;

2012/06/08
Committee: AFET

2012/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Points out that ~~the EU~~EU accession continues to be attractive~~, also because of its unique combination of economic dynamism with a social model, and regrets that this social dimension has been largely neglected in the enlargement process; inv~~ for a plurality of reasons, which may include ites the Commission to reflect on possible options, including developing a set of social criteria, to address this deficiency and foster positive social transformation in the future EU Member States; stresses that failure to comply with the EU's common basic social standards constitutes a form of social dumping which is detrimental to European enterprises and workerscombination of economic dynamism with a social model;

2012/06/08
Committee: AFET

2012/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Takes the view that strict conditionality requires that the progress of a country is effectively assessed at every stage of the process on a clear set of criteria, and that countries wishing to join the EU should proceed from one stage to the next only once all the conditions have been met at each stage; ~~notes, however, certain tendencies to exaggeration, and~~ recommends avoiding requiring of candidate and potential candidate countries higher standards than those applying in the EU; stresses the importance of setting transparent and fair ~~benchm~~criteria and standarkds throughout the process, and that the same set of conditions be applied to all the candidates;

2012/06/08
Committee: AFET

2012/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Commission to maintain and further develop a toolbox that draws on conditionality, and to intensify its monitoring of progress in the accession process, ~~so as to ensure that~~as well as its assistance to candidate and potential candidate countries so as to ensure that they achieve a high degree of preparedness which will benefit both them and the EU;

2012/06/08
Committee: AFET

2012/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Believes that, in order to maintain the credibility of the enlargement process, the EU's integration capacity should be evaluated at an early stage and should be properly considered in the Commission's ‘opinion’ for each potential candidate state, outlining the eventual major concerns in this regard, should they exist; is of the view that a comprehensive impact assessment should then follow;

2012/06/08
Committee: AFET

2012/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Encourages greater participation by civil society ~~and non-state actors~~ in the accession process; stresses that civil society can work as an engine of approximation with the EU and create bottom-up pressure for the implementation of the European agenda; calls for additional financial support, inter alia via the Civil Society Facility;

2012/06/08
Committee: AFET

2012/2025(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Remains fully committed to the prospect of enlargement, and calls on the Member States to maintain the momentum of the enlargement process by reconfirming the European perspective of every candidate and potential candidate country, notwithstanding the requirement of strict compliance with the Copenhagen criteria; at the same time, calls on the European Council to consider granting a clearer European perspective to other European countries that have strong European aspirations and show commitment to do the necessary reforms, based on their progress; stresses its conviction that with the Lisbon Treaty the EU can both pursue its enlargement agenda and maintain the impetus of deeper integration;

2012/06/08
Committee: AFET

2012/2024(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Considers that, with the development of the competences of the European Union, citizens are increasingly directly confronted with the Union's administration, without always having the corresponding procedural rights which they could enforce against it in cases where such actions may prove necessary;

2012/05/07
Committee: PETI

2012/2024(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Points out that, after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the right to good administration is a fundamental right of citizens and ‘soft law’ administrative procedures, which can be modified unilaterally by the institution concerned, ~~can~~is not always sufficiently to protect the individual's right to good administration;

2012/05/07
Committee: PETI

2012/2024(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Commission to envisage a regulation, based on Article 298 TFEU, that provides for minimum standards of ~~minimum~~ quality and procedural guarantees which would be horizontally applicable to all European Union administration; this general law should be limited to direct EU administration, in accordance with Article 298 TFEU;

2012/05/07
Committee: PETI

2012/2024(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Notes that the general principles of the future European administrative regulation cshould include the principle of equality and the principles of impartiality and independence, while ~~provision ought to be made to~~ guaranteeing fairness ~~and legitimate expectations~~, lawfulness and legal certainty and the principles of proportionality and openness;

2012/05/07
Committee: PETI

2012/2024(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that the introduction of the service principle – that is, that the administration seeks to guide ~~and help~~, help, serve and support citizens and therefore avoids unnecessarily cumbersome and lengthy procedures, thus saving the time and effort of both citizens and officials – would help to meet the legitimate expectations of citizens and benefit both citizens and the administration in terms of improved service and increased efficiency;

2012/05/07
Committee: PETI

2012/2024(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 12

12. Considers that EU citizens should expect a high level of transparency and responsiveness from the Commission, regardless of whether they are making a formal complaint or exercising their right of petition under the Treaty.

2012/05/07
Committee: PETI

2012/0175(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 21

(21) The inability of insurance intermediaries to operate freely throughout the Union hinders the proper functioning of the single market in insurance and adversely affects the level of consumer protection.

2013/02/14
Committee: ECON

2012/0175(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 22

(22) It is important to guarantee a high level of professionalism and competence among insurance and reinsurance intermediaries and the employees of direct insurers who are involved in activities preparatory to, during and after the sales of insurance policies. Therefore, the professional knowledge of an intermediary, of the employees of direct insurers, and of car rental companies and travel agents, as well as the professional knowledge of persons carrying on the activities of the management of claims, loss adjusting or expert appraisal of claims needs to match the level of complexity of these activities. Continuing education and on-the-job training should be ensured.

2013/02/14
Committee: ECON

2012/0175(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 29

(29) The expanding range of activities that many insurance intermediaries and undertakings carry on simultaneously has increased potential for conflicts of interest between those different activities and the interests of their customer. It is therefore necessary that Member States to provide for rules to ensure that such conflicts do not adversely affect the interests of the customer and the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of insurance markets.

2013/02/14
Committee: ECON

2012/0169(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2

(2) Improving provisions on transparency of investment products offered to retail investors is an important investor protection measure and a precondition for rebuilding confidence of retail investors in the financial market, especially important in the aftermath of the financial crisis. First steps in this direction have been already been taken at Union level through the development of the key investor information regime established in Directive 2009/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on the coordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS).

2013/02/20
Committee: ECON

2012/0169(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4

(4) It is necessary to establish uniform rules at the level of the Union applying across all participants of the investment product market on transparency so as to prevent divergences and reduce costs and uncertainty for product providers and distributors. A Regulation is necessary to ensure that a common standard for key information documents is established in such a uniform fashion so as to be able to harmonise the format and the content of these documents. The directly applicable rules of a Regulation should ensure that all participants in the investment product market are subject to the same requirements. This should also ensure uniform disclosures by preventing divergent national requirements as a result of the transposition of a Directive. The use of a Regulation is also appropriate to ensure that all those selling investment products are subject to uniform requirements in relation to the provision of the key information document to retail investors.

2013/02/20
Committee: ECON

2012/0169(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6

(6) This Regulation should apply to all products regardless of their form or construction that are manufactured by the financial services industry to provide investment opportunities to retail investors, where the return offered to the investor is exposed to the performance of one or more assets or reference values other than an interest rate. This should include such investment products as investment funds, life insurance policies with an investment element, and retail structured products. For these products, investments are not of a direct kind achieved when buying or holding assets themselves. Instead these products intercede between the investor and the markets through a process of ‘packaging’, wrapping or bundling together assets so as to create different exposures, provide different product features, or achieve different cost structures as compared with a direct holding. Such ‘packaging’ can allow retail investors to engage in investment strategies that would otherwise be inaccessible or impractical, but can also require additional information to be made available, in particular to enable comparisons between different ways of packaging investments and ensure that retail investors are able to understand the key features and risks of retail investment products.

2013/02/20
Committee: ECON

2012/0169(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9

(9) Investment product manufacturers – such as fund managers, insurance undertakings, issuers of securities, credit institutions or investment firms – should draw up the key information document for the investment products they manufacture, as they are in the best position to know the product and are responsible for it. The document should be drawn up by the investment product manufacturer before the products can be sold to retail investors. However, where a product is not sold to retail investors, there is no necessity to draw up a key information document, and where it is impractical for the investment product manufacturer to draw up the key information document, this may be delegated to others. Clear reasoning and explanations should be provided when deciding upon a potential impracticality for the investment product manufacturer. In order to ensure widespread dissemination and availability of key information documents, this Regulation should allow for publication by the investment product manufacturer by means of a website of their choice.

2013/02/20
Committee: ECON

2012/0169(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16

(16) Key information documents are the foundation for investment decisions by retail investors. For this reason, investment product manufacturers have an important responsibility towards retail investors in ensuring that they comply with the rules of this Regulation. It is therefore important to ensure that retail investors who relied on a key investor document for their investment decision have an effective right of redress. It should also be ensured that all retail investors across the Union have the same right to seek compensation for damages they may suffer due to failures on the part of investment product manufacturers in complying with the requirements set out in this Regulation. Therefore, rules regarding the liability of the investment product manufacturers should be harmonised. Also, a harmonised approach to sanctions needs to be introduced in order to ensure consistency. This Regulation should establish that the retail investor should be able to hold the product manufacturer liable for an infringement of this Regulation in case a loss is caused through the use of the key information document.

2013/02/20
Committee: ECON

2012/0169(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21

(21) To ensure the trust of retail investors in investment products and in financial markets as a whole, requirements should be established for appropriate internal procedures which ensure that retail investors receive a substantive response from the investment product manufacturer to complaints.

2013/02/20
Committee: ECON

2012/0169(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1

This Regulation lays down uniform rules on the format and content of the key information document to be drawn up by investment product manufacturers and uniform rules on the provision of this document to retail investors. It aims to guarantee that retail investors are able to understand the key features and risks of retail investment products and to compare the features of different products.

2013/02/20
Committee: ECON

2012/0169(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1

The investment product manufacturer shall draw up a key information document in accordance with the requirements laid down in this Regulation for each investment product it produces and shall publish the document on a website of its choice before the investment product can be sold to retail investors. The document should be available in paper as well.

2013/02/20
Committee: ECON

2012/0169(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – introductory part

3. The key information document shall be drawn up as a short document which promotes comparability and is:

2013/02/20
Committee: ECON

2012/0169(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1

1. Where an investment product manufacturer has produced a key information document which does not comply with the requirements of Articles 6, 7 and 8 on which a retail investor has relied when making an investment decision, such a retail investor may claim from the investment product manufacturer damages for any loss caused to that retail investor through the use of the key information document. The amount of potential damages should be proportional to the loss.

2013/02/15
Committee: ECON

2012/0169(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1

1. Four years after the date of entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission shall review this Regulation. The review shall include a general survey of the practical application of the rules laid down in this Regulation, taking due account of developments in the market for retail investment products. As regards UCITS as defined in Article 1 (2) of Directive 2009/65/EC, the review shall assess whether the transitional arrangements under Article 24 of this Regulation shall be prolonged, or whether, following the identification of any necessary adjustments, the provisions on key investor information in Directive 2009/65/EC might be replaced by or considered equivalent to the key investor document under this Regulation. The review shall also reflect on a possible extension of the scope of this Regulation to other ~~financial products~~new or innovative financial products offered in the Union.

2013/02/15
Committee: ECON

2012/0102(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5

(5) A voucher gives the right to receive goods or services or to receive a discount ~~is inherent in the nature of a voucher~~. This right may be assigned from one person to another before the voucher is eventually redeemed. To avoid the risk of double taxation, were the service represented by such a right to be taxed, it is necessary to establish that the assignment of this right and the redemption of goods or services should be regarded as one single transaction.

2013/01/24
Committee: ECON

2012/0102(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 8

(8) Vouchers are frequently distributed through an agent or pass through a distribution chain based on the purchase and the subsequent resale. In order to preserve neutrality, it is essential that the amount of VAT to be paid on the goods or services supplied in return for a voucher, remains intact. To assure this, the nominal value of multi-purpose vouchers should be fixed upon issue.

2013/01/24
Committee: ECON

2012/0102(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3

2006/112/EC
Chapter 5 – Article 30a – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3

“Multi-purpose voucher” shall mean any voucher, other than a discount or rebate voucher, which does not constitute a single-purpose voucher and for which, because the VAT treatment cannot be determined with certainty at the date of the sale or issuance and the end-use is subject to choice, taxation has to await redemption.

2013/01/24
Committee: ECON

2012/0102(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6

2006/112/EC
Chapter 5 – Article 74a – paragraph 2

2. The nominal value ~~of a multi-purpose voucher shall include everything which constitutes consideration,~~ includes the total consideration accruing to the issuer of a multi-purpose voucher which in turn is the taxable amount (including the VAT) a~~mount, obtained or to be obtained by the issuer of the voucher~~ttributable to the supply of the underlying goods or services.

2013/01/24
Committee: ECON

2012/0084(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1

(1) The European Statistical System (the ESS), as a partnership, has in general successfully consolidated its activities to ensure the development, production and dissemination of high-quality, regulated and reliable European statistics, including by improving the governance of the system.

2012/11/19
Committee: ECON

2012/0084(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2

(2) Some weaknesses have, however, recently been identified, in particular with regard to the statistical quality- management framework, and there is a need to further strengthen the credibility of statistics.

2012/11/19
Committee: ECON

2012/0084(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3

(3) The Commission suggested action to address these weaknesses and to strengthen the governance of the ESS in its Communication of 15 April 2011 to the European Parliament and the Council ‘Towards robust quality management for European Statistics’ . In particular, it suggested a targeted amendment of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and the Council of 11 March 2009 on European statistics .

2012/11/19
Committee: ECON

2012/0084(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8

(8) To that effect, the professional independence of statistical authorities should be strengthened in order to safeguard their high credibility and minimum standards should be enforced, in particular as regards the heads of national statistical institutes (NSIs), to whom specific guarantees should be provided in terms of the performance of statistical tasks, organisational management and resource allocation.

2012/11/19
Committee: ECON

2012/0084(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13

(13) The quality of European statistics could be strengthened and the confidence of users reinforced, by involving national governments in the responsibility of rigorously applying the European Statistics Code of Practice. To this end, a ‘Commitment on Confidence in Statistics’ should be established in each Member State and include specific undertakings by its government to implement the Code and national quality-assurance frameworks, including self-assessments and improvement actions.

2012/11/19
Committee: ECON

2011/2317(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the number of submissions of petitions by citizens to the European Parliament continues to increase, and whereas the Committee on Petitions should remain the main point of contact within the European Parliament regarding allegations by citizens of infringement of individual and collective rights, or failure to apply and implement properly the EU legislation;

2012/05/24
Committee: PETI

2011/2317(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. considering that individuals and local communities, as well as NGOs, voluntary associations, professional associations and businesses, are well placed to assess the effectiveness of European legislation as it applies to them, and to signal possible loopholes that need to be analysed in order to ensure better and comparable implementation of EU law in all the Member States;

2012/05/24
Committee: PETI

2011/2317(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Confirms the key role of the Committee on Petitions in identifying non-judicial remedies for citizens, in providing a reality check on the way in which the European Union is seen by the people of Europe, and as a reflection of citizens' views regarding whether European legislation is properly implemented and actually delivers the expected result and responds to what people expect of the Union;

2012/05/24
Committee: PETI

2011/2317(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Believes, therefore, that this role and responsibility should lead Parliament to consider ways of revitalising this fundamental part of parliamentary work ~~both~~ in terms of its visibility, of its efficiency and in terms of improving its ability to raise issues of importance to European citizens in plenary, as well as by reinforcing its competence to call witnesses and investigate more independently issues raised by citizens;

2012/05/24
Committee: PETI

2011/2317(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Considers it important to enhance cooperation with Member States' parliaments and governments, ~~while ensuring that such cooperation is~~based on reciprocality, and, where necessary, to encourage Member States' authorities to transpose and apply EU legislation in full transparency;

2012/05/24
Committee: PETI

2011/2317(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Emphasises the need to close the gaps in legislation or failure in its implementation which prevent citizens from enjoying full rights in the internal market;

2012/05/24
Committee: PETI

2011/2316(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas Azerbaijan has become an important energy supplier for the EU and the EU is a major energy market for Azerbaijan; whereas there has been good progress in the field of energy cooperation, which includes Azerbaijan's support to the Southern Gas Corridor;

2012/03/01
Committee: AFET

2011/2316(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point q

(q) provide better-targeted technical assistance to Azerbaijan to ensure that it can meet the commitments stemming from the negotiations on the Association Agreement and its full implementation, by continuing to offer Comprehensive Institution-Building programmes, including in the areas of civil service and justice reform;

2012/03/01
Committee: AFET

2011/2315(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the Association Agreements constitute the appropriate framework to deepen relations, by enhancing political association ~~and~~, socio-economic integration and legal approximation with the EU, and to develop cultural relations;

2012/02/29
Committee: AFET

2011/2315(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the proper conduct, in accordance with international and European standards, of the forthcoming parliamentary elections due to take place on 6 May 2012 will be of the utmost importance for the strengthening of democracy and rule of law in Armenia, as well as the development of EU- Armenia relations, and whereas the elections are to be conducted in accordance with the new Electoral Code of Armenia;

2012/02/29
Committee: AFET

2011/2315(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r

(r) provide better-targeted financial and technical assistance to Armenia to ensure that it can meet the commitments stemming from the negotiations on the Association Agreement and its full implementation, by continuing to offer Comprehensive Institution-Building programmes, including in such areas as civil service and justice reform;

2012/02/29
Committee: AFET

2011/2275(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Welcomes the specific section on petitions contained in the 28th annual report, as requested by Parliament, in which the Commission gives a breakdown of new petitions received; welcomes the Commission's report that ‘petitions to the European Parliament led to infringement proceedings’ in a number of areas; emphasises that, even wheren petitions do not concern infringements, they provide the Parliament and Commission with remarkable information on citizens‘ concerns;

2012/05/25
Committee: PETI

2011/2275(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Points out that many petitions refer to the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and invoke the values of the EU Treaties, evidencing a potentially significant disconnection between the values enshrined in the EU's primary law and th~~ose~~eir observanced by Member States;

2012/05/25
Committee: PETI

2011/2275(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses that citizens, when submitting a petition to the European Parliament, may expect to be protected by the provisions of the Charter, regardless of which Member State they reside in and whether or not EU law is being implemented; remains concerned, in this regard, that citizens may feel misled about the actual scope of application of the Charter; considers it essential, therefore, to explain properly the subsidiary principle and to clarify the scope of application of the Charter from Parliament's perspective;

2012/05/25
Committee: PETI

2011/2275(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses, in addition, that citizens may similarly feel misled about the applicability of community law in instances of late transposition; points to the distressing reality that citizens who cannot avail themselves of an applicable community law because it has not yet been transposed by the Member State in question find themselves without recourse to any redress mechanism;

2012/05/25
Committee: PETI

2011/2274(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the projected improvement of the fiscal positions of EU Member States; and the maintenance of their fiscal targets; deplores the foreseen protraction of the cyclical slow-down underway;

2012/10/22
Committee: ECON

2011/2274(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Considers that budgetary consolidation must remains a necessity, given the strong pressure from financial markets; recalls that overall public deficits were reduced thanks to strong consolidation efforts;

2012/10/22
Committee: ECON

2011/2274(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Underlines that the long-term sustainability of public finances is an essential condition for growth and for maintaining appropriate levels of public expenditure, including investments; stresses that a high level of debt generates adverse effects on health care, pensions, employment and equity among generations;

2012/10/22
Committee: ECON

2011/2274(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Encourages the Member States to strictly follow the recommendations adopted by the Council in line with the rules set by the ‘six-pack’ on economic governance' in order to implement fiscal consolidation in a stronger, credible and timely manner;

2012/10/22
Committee: ECON

2011/2274(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Encourages the Commission to give both negative and positive feedback to Member States through their country-specific recommendations, and to ~~underlin~~acknowledge noteworthy efforts and best practices;

2012/10/22
Committee: ECON

2011/2274(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that budgetary consolidation can be implemented effectively, and can bring long-lasting positive effects, provided that the measures backing it are ~~sufficient~~properly explained and debated and that they respect equity among citizens;

2012/10/22
Committee: ECON

2011/2274(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Recalls that the key element in the relationship between growth and consolidation is the composition of consolidation; stresses, in that regard, that consolidations based on expenditure rather than on revenue tend to be more lasting and more growth-supporting in the medium~~-run, and that~~ term, but more recessive in the short term; however, their possible negative impact in the short run can be mitigated, ~~in particular~~ provided that the consolidation measures taken are credible, lasting and avoid a reduction in public investment;

2012/10/22
Committee: ECON

2011/2274(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Welcomes the major reforms of the economic and budgetary governance framework adopted recently; considers that, while those reforms cannot suddenly solve the crisis, they enhance the credibility of the fiscal adjustment, reducing its negative short-term impact on growth and setting up the framework for better policy-making in the years when growth has returned;

2012/10/22
Committee: ECON

2011/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas citizens' fundamental rights to freedom of expression and information can be guaranteed only through media freedom and pluralism, whereby journalists and the media can exercise their right and duty to inform in a fair and neutral manner citizens on events and decisions of public interest;

2012/11/28
Committee: LIBE

2011/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the European Union is committed to protect~~ing~~ and promote media pluralism as an essential pillar of the right to information and freedom of expression, as enshrined in Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights;

2012/11/28
Committee: LIBE

2011/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas Parliament has repeatedly expressed concern about media freedom, pluralism and concentration and has called on the Commission, as guardian of the treaties, to take appropriate measures, including by proposing a legislative initiative on the matter;

2012/11/28
Committee: LIBE

2011/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital M

M. whereas the private media are faced with growing domestic but also cross- border concentration, with media conglomerates distributing their products in different countries, rising intra-EU media investments, and non-European investors and media exerting an increasing influence in Europe; whereas there is a certain concern regarding the sources of financing of some private media, including in the European Union;

2012/11/28
Committee: LIBE

2011/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the Member States and the European Union to respect, guarantee, protect and promote the fundamental right to freedom of expression and information, and media freedom and pluralism, and hence to refrain from exerting, and develop or support mechanisms to impede, threats to media freedom such as trying to unduly and politically influence and impose partisan control and censorship on the media;

2012/11/28
Committee: LIBE

2011/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls for the devising of procedures and mechanisms for the selection and appointment of media heads, management boards, media councils and regulatory bodies that are transparent, based on merit and indisputable experience and that ensure professionalism, integrity, independence, consensus across the political and social spectrum and continuity, instead of political or partisan criteria in the framework of a spoil system linked to the results of elections or the will of those in power; notes the fact that every Member State should establish a list of criteria in appointing state media heads or boards, in line with the principles of independence, integrity, experience and professionalism;

2012/11/28
Committee: LIBE

2011/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that measures to regulate the access of media outlets to the market through broadcast licensing and authorising procedures, rules on the protection of the State, national and military security and public order and rules on the protection of morality and of children should not be abused in order to impose political or partisan control and censorship on the media and impede the fundamental right of citizens to be informed about issues of public interest and importance; notes that a proper balance should be ensured in this respect; warns that the media should not be threatened by the impact of specific interest groups and lobbies, economic actors, or religious groups;

2012/11/28
Committee: LIBE

2011/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Believes that media ownership and management should be transparent and not concentrated; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure competition so as to address and prevent dominant positions and guarantee the access of new entrants on the market; calls for rules to ensure that conflicts of interest are properly addressed and resolved; highlights that advertising and sponsoring may cause interference with the editorial line of media; recalls the importance of transparency of media funding and clear rules regarding financial aspects of advertising and sponsoring;

2012/11/28
Committee: LIBE

2011/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Underlines the importance of ensuring the independence of journalists, both from internal pressures from editors or owners and externally from political or economic lobbies or other interest groups; highlights the fact that the right of access to public documents and information is fundamental and calls for the full protection of the confidentiality of sources principle and for the strict application of the European Court of Human Rights case-law in this area, including in relation to whistle-blowing; calls for journalists to be protected from threats and violence, as investigative journalists are often threatened as a result of their activities; highlights the need to support and promote investigative journalism and to promote ethical journalism in the media by developing professional standards and appropriate redress procedures; encourages the establishment by media associations and unions of unitary 'codes of conduct' in the field of journalism;

2012/11/28
Committee: LIBE

2011/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Underlines the need to draw up rules in relation to political information in the audiovisual media in order to guarantee fair access to different political competitors, opinions and viewpoints, in particular on the occasion of elections and referenda, with a view to ensuring that citizens can form their opinions without undue influence from one dominant opinion-forming power; notes the fact that these rules have to be properly enforced by the regulatory bodies;

2012/11/28
Committee: LIBE

2011/2246(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Calls on the Commission to launch the Communication on the indicators for media pluralism in the EU Member States, according to the proposed 'three- step approach', as mentioned in January 2007; notes that the Communication should be followed by a wide public consultation with all involved actors;

2012/11/28
Committee: LIBE

2011/2245(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the events of the ‘Arab Spring’ demonstrated the need for a more informed and strategic engagement on the part of the EU with countries striving for democratic reforms, based on a new approach designed to restore credibility and offer timely assistance to the process of transition to democracy;

2011/12/20
Committee: AFET

2011/2245(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the strengthened approach to democracy support developed in the context of the EU Neighbourhood Policy and of the EU Agenda for Change needs to be accompanied by an increased capacity to react ~~rapid~~both rapidly and consistently to developments concerning democracy;

2011/12/20
Committee: AFET

2011/2245(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas political parties, eminent political personalities (such as dissidents, opposition figures, ~~young~~ leaders of youth organisations), social movements, representatives of civil society and the media (including journalists, bloggers, social media activists, etc.) continue to play a central role in each democracy and democratisation process, and whereas, owing to a lack of resources, a restricted mandate and lengthy EIDHR procedures, support for these actors has in the past been limited;

2011/12/20
Committee: AFET

2011/2245(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b

(b) ensure that the EED fosters and encourages the development of ‘deep and sustainable democracy’ in pre-transition and transition countries, with a primary, although not exclusive, focus on the European Neighbourhood;

2011/12/20
Committee: AFET

2011/2245(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point e

(e) enable the EED to act in the early stages of transition, to kick-start projects which thus far could not be supported by the EU owing to bureaucratic ~~restric~~limitations; and model the EED in such a way that it is less risk-averse;

2011/12/20
Committee: AFET

2011/2245(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point i

(i) build into the EED appropriate channels for structured cooperation and coordination with the Brussels- and field-based actors; provide for close coordination and consultation between the future Executive Committee and the EED secretariat and the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Commission and Parliament on the strategies, objectives and initiatives of their respective EU instruments and a structured dialogue with the EU delegations and Member State embassies on the ground;

2011/12/20
Committee: AFET

2011/2245(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o

(o) review after one year of activities the impact and performance of the EED; draw the appropriate conclusions and if necessary adjust the functioning of EED accordingly;

2011/12/20
Committee: AFET

2011/2185(INI)

Mario MAURO, Tunne KELAM, Elena BĂSESCU, Anna ZÁBORSKÁ, Carlo CASINI

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas freedom of conscience, religion, opinion and expression without the risk of state punishment ~~is a~~are core universal right~~, for which the availability of diverse sources of information is a necessary part~~s;

2012/02/22
Committee: AFET

2011/2185(INI)

Mario MAURO, Tunne KELAM, Elena BĂSESCU, Anna ZÁBORSKÁ, Carlo CASINI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Stresses the importance of a political support process not simply focussed on the period immediately before and after elections, but based on continuity; welcomes the HR/VP's attention to ‘deep democracy’, which links democratic processes with human rights, freedom of expression and association, the rule of law and good governance; underlines that in this context the right to religious freedom should also be assigned a duly prominent role; in fact such a right is generally recognized as one of the most fundamental of all human rights;

2012/02/22
Committee: AFET

2011/2185(INI)

Mario MAURO, Tunne KELAM, Elena BĂSESCU, Anna ZÁBORSKÁ, Carlo CASINI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. Considers that the ‘Arab Spring’ has served to demonstrate the inadequacy of the EU's policies hitherto to effectively support people's strong desire for accountable and representative government in countries where this is denied; welcomes therefore the Joint Communications by the Commission and the HR/VP on ‘A new response to a changing Neighbourhood’ and ‘A partnership for democracy and shared prosperity with the Southern Mediterranean’, and the approach taken of shared commitments and mutual accountability, stronger conditionality, differentiation of policies, the advancing of multilateral and sub-regional cooperation and the principle of further involving civil society; takes the opportunity to stress that the 'Arab Spring' would become a paradox and fail in the face of the expectations of many if it developed in a direction that denies the rights of religious minorities, including Christians;

2012/02/22
Committee: AFET

2011/2185(INI)

Mario MAURO, Tunne KELAM, Elena BĂSESCU, Anna ZÁBORSKÁ, Carlo CASINI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63

63. Urges the Council and Commission to develop a toolkit on the advancement of the right to freedom of religion or belief in the EU's external policy, including instruments to concretely support all religious and ethnic minorities in the different areas and to foresee mechanisms to identify infringements, and to involve civil society organisations in its preparation; welcomes the EU's action in various UN forums against intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief and its unwavering and principled stance against the resolutions on combating defamation of religions; stresses in particular the importance of engaging in a constructive dialogue with the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on this issue;

2012/02/22
Committee: AFET

2011/2182(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the Lisbon Treaty enhanced and detailed the concept of EU citizenship and the rights derived therefrom;

2012/01/20
Committee: PETI

2011/2182(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas several Member States have decided to introduce or to continue applying transitional arrangements which limit Romanian and Bulgarian nationals' access to their labour market; whereas such economically unjustified measures can lead to worker exploitation, illegal work and lack of access to social security benefits;

2012/01/20
Committee: PETI

2011/2182(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

G a. whereas the European Parliament has adopted on the 15th of December 2011 a Resolution on the freedom of movement of workers within the European Union1, with an emphasis on the rights of Romanian and Bulgarian workers in the single market; __________________ 1 (P7_TA(2011)0587)

2012/01/20
Committee: PETI

2011/2182(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Welcomes the EU Citizenship Report 2010, which sets the objective of dismantling the obstacles to EU citizens' rights, and the proposals contained therein; calls on the Commission to ensure that the legislative and non-legislative measures provided for in the report are put forward as soon as possible and approved, so as to ensure that EU citizens' rights become effective and that all Member States abolish obstacles to the comprehensive enjoyment of those rights;

2012/01/20
Committee: PETI

2011/2182(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Calls on the Commission to establish clear and transparent benchmarks for imposing or maintaining obstacles in the way of the free movement of workers, so as abuses may be avoided;

2012/01/20
Committee: PETI

2011/2182(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Commission to ensure that Member States transpose and implement the FMD correctly, making full use of its power to launch infringement proceedings; calls on all Member States to remove existing legal and practical barriers to the free movement of citizens and not to introduce cumbersome, unjustified administrative procedures restricting the application and exercise of that right; calls on the Commission, further, to step up its efforts to raise awareness about citizens' right to free movement and to assist them in exercising it, in particular when it is denied or limited;

2012/01/20
Committee: PETI

2011/2157(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the proposal for a European Endowment for Democracy, which is a timely response to the clamour for democracy by the populations of our neighbouring countries known as "the Arab spring"; underlines that it should be based on the principles of transparency and flexibility and should complement already- existing EU Instruments and the exemplary work of longstanding European political or non- political foundations; stresses that its scope and organisation should be clearly defined and that its structures and procedures should be light and straightforward; calls for a truly political steering committee to be established with the participation of the European Parliament, which should also be involved in the ex-post control mechanisms;

2011/10/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2157(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Considers that human rights situations should be continuously monitored and that an annual assessment of the situation cshould be included in the annex to the annual progress report of each partner country with a clear mechanism to reconsider and progressively limit bilateral cooperation if human rights violations are confirmed;

2011/10/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2157(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Strongly supports the promotion of sub-regional bilateral cooperation and stresses the importance of developing partner-to- partner bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation, which would bring ~~tangibl~~concrete benefits for citizens and improve the political climate in the region;

2011/10/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2157(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Underlines the opportunity that negotiations on association agreements provide to boost reform; stresses that all the components should be linked in order for the EU to deepen its relationship in a ~~holistic~~comprehensive and coherent manner; believes that they should therefore include concrete conditions, timetables and performance benchmarks which should be regularly monitored;

2011/10/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2157(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Welcomes the reference to Article 49 of the TEU and believes that all partner countries of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) have a legitimate right to strive for EU membership; believes that the conclusion of association agreements does not exclude this perspective but can, on the contrary, be an important step towards further European integration through the exchange of good practices and consolidated political and economic dialogue;

2011/10/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)

– having regard to the EU Strategy for the Danube Region,

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the future Association Agreement with Ukraine should heralds a new generation of association agreements and involves an unprecedented level of integration between the European Union and a third country; whereas with this agreement Ukraine commits itself to implementing a large portion of the acquis communautaire; whereas the negotiations with Ukraine are amongst the most advanced in the Eastern Neighbourhood and therefore serve as an example for the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) as a whole,

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas Ukraine is a European state and, pursuant to Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, may apply for membership of the EU, ~~as can any European state~~ provided it adheres to the principles of democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law; whereas the conclusion of an EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, including a DCFTA, will be a major step in Ukraine's European integration process,

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the EU ~~favours~~underlines the importance of a stable and democratic Ukraine that respects the principles of ~~a social market economy,~~ the rule of law, human rights and the protection of minorities, a social market economy and which guarantees fundamental rights; whereas Ukraine's efforts to build domestic political stability and augment internal reform are ~~accelerating and facilitating~~essential for the further development of Ukraine's European integration process,

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the Ukrainian political and state leadership has repeatedly confirmed its commitment to European integration and its long-term ambition to enable Ukraine to become a Member State of the European Union; whereas this goal continues to be supported by all actors on the Ukrainian political stage; whereas the increase in cooperation between the Ukraine and Members of the European Parliament, and between the Ukraine and parliaments of the EU Member States, is a commendable example of different political forces working together to advance Ukraine's integration with the EU, and should be continued,

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas the European Union has made human rights and democracy a central aspect of its European Neighbourhood Policy,

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas Ukraine's progress on the path of European integration must be based on a policy of systematic and irreversible reforms in a number of important ‘institutional, economic and social areas; whereas ~~important~~ reforms have already been carried out or are being carried out; whereas the framework provided by the Association Agreement will constitute a crucial modernisation tool for Ukraine and a roadmap to steer its internal domestic reforms,

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a

(a) to make all necessary progress in order to achieve the ~~rapid~~ conclusion of an EU- Ukraine Association Agreement ~~by no later than the end of 2011~~as soon as possible;

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b

(b) to strive for the signing of the agreement by the Council during the first half of 2012 and to make all documents relevant to the ratification process available to the European Parliament and to the national parliaments by no later than the end of 2012;deleted

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j a (new)

(ja) to exert pressure on the Ukrainian authorities, coupled with support, to consolidate reforms and achieve tangible progress in the fight against corruption, reform of judicial, prosecution and police services to the benefit of the people;

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j b (new)

(jb) to emphasise in the Agreement the importance of the rule of law, good governance and the fight against corruption;

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j c (new)

(jc) to include standard conditionality clauses on protection and promotion of human rights reflecting the highest international and European standards, taking full advantage of the OSCE framework, and to encourage the Ukrainian authorities to promote the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, in compliance with the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities and of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU;

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j d (new)

(jd) to encourage the Ukrainian authorities to strengthen and support independent media, to ensure the neutrality of the public media and promote a pluralistic media environment which will increase the transparency of the decision making process;

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point m

(m) to ~~give all necessary support to Ukra~~reflect in the Association Agreement the highest environmental standards, bearineg in ~~its efforts to implement environmental legislation based on the acquis communautair~~mind inter alia the Strategy for the Danube Region; to further consider the importance of regional cooperation in the Black Sea area and of Ukraine's active participation in EU policies for this space, in lcludineg with ~~multilateral environment agreements~~in an eventual EU Strategy for the Black Sea;

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2132(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o a (new)

(oa) to encourage Ukraine to play a constructive role in 5+2 talks, helping to find a sustainable solution to the Transnistrian conflict;

2011/09/23
Committee: AFET

2011/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas (digital) media platforms increasingly have a global nature as well as a rising number of users;

2013/04/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas net neutrality is an essential principle for the open internet, ensuring competition and transparency; whereas the free flow of information is also beneficial for business opportunities and stimulates job creation and growth;

2013/04/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas journalists, media and freedom of speech are under threat all over the world and journalists are often human rights defenders and promoters;

2013/04/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Recognises that governments have the primary responsibility for hampering freedom of the press and media, and are increasingly resorting to legal pressure, e.g. through the abuse of anti-terrorism legislation and laws on national security, treason or subversion, in order to restrict press and media freedom; notes that a balance between national security issues and freedom of information must be achieved in order to prevent abuses and guarantee the independence of press and media;

2013/04/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Deplores the fact that journalists are frequently murdered or are being subject to serious abuses throughout the world, often with impunity;

2013/04/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Encourages the development of ethical codes for journalists as well as for those involved in the management of media outlets, in order to ensure full independence of journalists and media bodies; recognizes the importance of enforcing such codes through the establishment of independent regulatory bodies;

2013/04/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Deplores all attempts to create various forms of "closed-internet" as they represent serious breaches of the right of information; urges all authorities to refrain from such attempts;

2013/04/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2081(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Strongly condemns any attempts to use the internet or other online media platforms in order to promote and foster terrorist activities; urges authorities to take a firm stance in this respect;

2013/04/11
Committee: AFET

2011/2027(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Emphasises the fundamental importance of the rule of law as a condition not only for the legitimacy of any form of governance and ~~administration and~~ for genuine democracy in which specific actions comply with the general norms laid down, but also for the predictability and objective soundness of decisions, and as a guarantee that citizens can fully and effectively enjoy their rights ~~under~~as provided by law;

2011/05/03
Committee: PETI

2011/2027(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Points out that the petition ~~process~~mechanism continues to be used by citizens, civil society organisations and enterprises mainly to report on, and complain about, non-compliance with EU law by Member State authorities on different levels, the main ~~field~~issues invoked being related to the environment and the internal market ~~but~~, with freedom of movement, fundamental rights and citizenship ~~also~~ featuring prominently;

2011/05/03
Committee: PETI

2011/2027(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Considers that many petitions refer to the Charter of Fundamental Rights, even when the Charter is not applicable to Member States' acts, whilst others invoke the values on which the EU is founded; is concerned that citizens feel misled about the actual scope of application of the Charter, and considers it ~~ver~~highly important that the Charter's ~~applicability~~enforcement be examined carefully in the context of petitions, complaints and own-initiative infringement cases;

2011/05/03
Committee: PETI

2011/2027(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that whilst the Commission is correct in pointing out that it is primarily the duty of Member States' judicial systems to act on infringements of EU law, citizens often face considerable difficulties ~~related to~~stemming from national court procedures, some being prohibitively expensive, many too lengthy to be of actual relevance, and others simply not tr~~ustworthy~~ansparent enough;

2011/05/03
Committee: PETI

2011/2027(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that the 27th annual report on monitoring the application of EU law (2009) (COM (2010)0538)) shows that, despite a fall in the number of infringement cases opened by the Commission, it still dealt with around 2 900 complaints and infringement files at the end of 2009, and that Member States ~~were~~ still ~~late~~had delays with their transposition of directives in more than half of the cases, a situation which is far from satisfactory and for which the Member States' authorities bear most of the responsibility;

2011/05/03
Committee: PETI

2011/2027(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 13

13. Welcomes the shorter timeframes needed for investigating alleged infringements through use of the pilot project method, but considers that clarification and further information is needed from the Commission in order for the Parliament to be able to judge the success of this method from the ~~view~~point of view of actual compliance by Member States;

2011/05/03
Committee: PETI

2011/2027(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 14

14. Considers that ~~greater access to~~facilitating access to publicly available information on infringement files could be provided without jeopardising the ~~purpose of the investigation and that an overriding public interest might well justify access to these files, particularly in cases involving human health and irreversible damage to the environment~~investigation;

2011/05/03
Committee: PETI

2011/2013(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Invites the Commission to study the possibility of including financial services within the general provisions of the Contract Law instrument, with particular focus on loan agreements, either commercial, personal and mortgage;

2011/02/21
Committee: ECON

2011/2010(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Stresses that the ‘home’ country approach to IGS can only be credible from a consumer perspective if there is consistency of consumer experience; calls on the Commission to require a single own-language process and point of contact for consumers within their national supervisor for all insurance guarantee claims regardless of the location of the ‘home’ IGS; recommends that EIOPA develop a harmonised approach for policyholder compensation claims on the basis of simplicity and best practice, if necessary through binding technical standards; requests EIOPA to hold public conferences and consultations to gather views and information on which are the best practices to follow; points out that the development of the harmonised approach for policyholder compensation claims should be undertaken with a high degree of transparency;

2011/03/24
Committee: ECON

2011/2007(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas, in the first instance, it is the responsibility of affected states to address the problems of APL and ERW on their territory, particularly once conflict has ceased and the civilian population returns to the former conflict zones,

2011/05/05
Committee: AFET

2011/2007(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. ~~Notes approvingly~~Welcomes the fact that operations rely almost exclusively on some 10,000 local personnel with international support, strengthening the ownership component of the process;

2011/05/05
Committee: AFET

2011/2007(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Calls for the European Commission to allocate further research funding to mine survey and detection technologies and techniques, in close cooperation with international ~~partners~~actors specialized in this particular field;

2011/05/05
Committee: AFET

2011/2007(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34

34. Urges donors to ~~maintain~~provide funding with more effective targeting and evaluation;

2011/05/05
Committee: AFET

2011/2007(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37

37. Regrets that there is no reliable ~~measure~~census of the current number of victims of APL/ERW/IED and urges a proper analysis as a guide to targeting resources more effectively, with greater consideration given to the needs of victims and their families;

2011/05/05
Committee: AFET

2011/2007(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

39. Stresses the capacity for mine action to make significant contributions to post- conflict disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation, not least by providing ~~highly respected training~~targeted expertise and work for former combatants;

2011/05/05
Committee: AFET

2011/0406(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8

(8) The Union and the Member States should improve the consistency ~~and~~, the complementarity and the efficiency of their respective policies on development cooperation, in particular by responding to partner countries' and regions' priorities at country and regional level. To ensure that the Union's development cooperation policy and that of the Member States complement and reinforce each other, it is appropriate to provide for joint programming procedures which should be implemented whenever possible and relevant.

2012/06/06
Committee: AFET

2011/0406(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11

(11) 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 worldwide promotion of democracy, good governance, human rights and the rule of law, its long-term and ~~predictable~~standing commitment to development assistance and its role in coordinating its actions with its Member States. To ensure such impact, the principle of differentiation should be applied not only at the level of funds allocation, but also at the level of programming, to ensure that bilateral development cooperation targets partner countries most in need, including fragile states and states with high vulnerability, and with limited capacity to have access to other sources of financing for supporting their own development, having regard to the potential impact of the Union assistance in partner countries. As a consequence, bilateral programming would target such countries, pursuant to the application of objective criteria based on the needs and capacities of these countries, as well as the impact of EU assistance.

2012/06/06
Committee: AFET

2011/0406(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15

(15) Fighting climate change and protecting the environment are among the great c~~hallenges which face the Union and~~urrent global challenges where the need for international action is urgent. In accordance with the intent stated in Commission Communication ‘A budget for Europe 2020’ of 29 June 2011, this Regulation should contribute to the objective of addressing at least 20% of the EU budget to low carbon and climate resilient society, and the global public goods and challenges programme should use at least 25% of its funds to cover climate change and environment. Actions in these two areas should, wherever possible, be mutually supportive in order to reinforce their impacts.

2012/06/06
Committee: AFET

2011/0406(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2

Pr~~oper attention~~iority should be given to conflict prevention, state and peace building, post- conflict reconciliation and reconstruction measures.

2012/06/06
Committee: AFET

2011/0344(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3

(3) Citizens should be able to exercise fully the rights deriving from the citizenship of the Union. They should be able to exercise their right to move and reside freely in the Union, their right to vote for and stand as a candidate in European Parliament and municipal elections in the country in which they reside, their right to consular protection and their right to petition the European Parliament. They should feel at ease about living, travelling and working in another Member State, trusting that their rights are protected, no matter where in the Union they happen to be.

2012/05/25
Committee: PETI

2011/0344(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7

(7) Violence against women in all its forms constitutes a violation of fundamental rights and a serious health scourge. Such violence is present throughout the Union and coordinated action is necessary in order to address it. Taking action to prevent and combat violence against women contributes to the promotion of equality between women and men.

2012/05/25
Committee: PETI

2011/0344(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8

(8) The Treaty requires the Union to promote the protection of the rights of the child pursuant to Article 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union, while combating discrimination. Children are vulnerable, in particular in a situation of poverty, social exclusion, disability or specific situations putting them at risk. Action should be taken to promote and defend the rights of the child and contribute to the protection of children from harm and violence, which pose a danger to their physical or mental health.

2012/05/25
Committee: PETI

2011/0344(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13

(13) The Commission Communications ‘The EU Budget Review’12 and ‘A budget for Europe 2020’ underline the importance of focusing funding on actions with clear European added value, i.e. where the Union intervention can bring additional value compared to action of Member States alone. Actions covered by this Regulation should contribute to the development of mutual trust between Member States, increasing cross-border cooperation and networking and achieving correct, coherent and consistent application of Union law. Funding activities should also contribute to achieving effective and better knowledge of Union law and policies by all those concerned and provide a sound analytical basis for the support and the development of Union legislation and policies, as well as for their enforcement and proper implementation. Union intervention allows for those actions to be pursued consistently across the Union and brings economies of scale. Moreover, the European Union is in a better position than Member States to address cross-border situations and to provide a European platform for mutual learning.

2012/05/25
Committee: PETI

2011/0344(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1

The general objective of the Programme shall be to contribute to the creation of an area, where the rights of persons, as enshrined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, are fully respected, promoted and protected.

2012/05/25
Committee: PETI

2011/0344(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b

(b) to promote the effective implementation of the principles of non discrimination on the grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, including equality between women and men and the rights of persons with disabilities and of the elderly;

2012/05/25
Committee: PETI

2011/0344(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2

2. The indicators to measure the achievement of the objectives set out in paragraph 1 shall be, inter alia, the European perception of the respect, exercise and implementation of these rights, ands well as the number ~~of complaints~~and subjects of complaints regarding failures in their protection.

2012/05/25
Committee: PETI

2011/0344(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a

(a) enhancing public awareness and knowledge of Union law and policies, including at the level of local communities and of the citizens;

2012/05/25
Committee: PETI

2011/0344(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c

(c) promoting transnational cooperation and building up of mutual knowledge and mutual trust among all involved stakeholders, including at regional and local level;

2012/05/25
Committee: PETI

2011/0297(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 2

(2) Directive 2003/6/EC13 of the European Parliament and the Council on insider dealing and market manipulation (market abuse), adopted on 28 January 2003, completed and updated the Union's legal framework to protect market integrity. It also required Member States to ensure that competent authorities have the powers to detect and investigate market abuse. Without prejudice to the right of Member States to impose criminal sanctions, Directive 2003/6/EC also required Member States to ensure that the appropriate administrative measures can be taken or administrative sanctions be imposed against the persons responsible for violations of the national rules implementing that Directive.

2012/07/13
Committee: ECON

2011/0297(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 3

(3) The report by the High-Level Group on Financial Supervision in the EU recommended that a sound prudential and conduct of business framework for the financial sector must rest on strong supervisory and sanctioning regimes. To this end, the Group considered that supervisory authorities must be equipped with sufficient powers to act and there should also be equal, strong and deterrent sanctions regimes against all financial crimes, sanctions which should be enforced effectively, in order to preserve market integrity. The Group concluded that Member States sanctioning regimes are in general weak and heterogeneous.

2012/07/13
Committee: ECON

2011/0297(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 4

(4) A well-functioning legislative framework on market abuse requires effective enforcement. An evaluation of the national regimes for administrative sanctions under Directive 2003/6/EC showed that not all national competent authorities had a full set of powers at their disposal to ensure that they could respond to market abuses with the appropriate sanction. In particular, not all Member States had pecuniary administrative sanctions available for insider dealing and market manipulation, and the level of these sanctions varied widely among Member States. A new legislative instrument is also needed to ensure uniform rules and clarity of key concepts and to ensure a single rulebook in line with the conclusions of the High-Level Group on Financial Supervision.

2012/07/13
Committee: ECON

2011/0297(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 5

(5) The adoption of administrative sanctions by the Member States has so far proven insufficient to ensure compliance with the rules on preventing and fighting market abuse.

2012/07/13
Committee: ECON

2011/0297(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1

1. This Directive establishes minimum rules for criminal sanctions for the most serious market abuse offences, namely insider dealing and market manipulation, to ensure the integrity of financial markets in the Union and to enhance investor protection and confidence in those markets.

2012/07/13
Committee: ECON

2011/0297(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a

(a) when in possession of inside information, using that information to acquire or dispose of financial instruments to which that information relates for one's own account or for the account of a third party, either directly or indirectly. This also includes using inside information to cancel or amend an order concerning a financial instrument to which that information relates where that order was placed before entering into possession of that inside information; or

2012/07/13
Committee: ECON

2011/0297(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a

(a) giving, or being likely to give, false or misleading signals as to the supply of, demand for, or price of, a financial instrument or a related spot commodity contract;

2012/07/13
Committee: ECON

2011/0297(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b

(b) securing, or being likely to secure, the price of one or several financial instruments or a related spot commodity contract at an abnormal or artificial level;

2012/07/13
Committee: ECON

2011/0297(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c

(c) entering into a transaction, placing an order to trade, or any other ~~activity~~behaviour in financial markets affecting the price of one or several financial instruments or a related spot commodity contract, which employs a fictitious device or any other form of deception or contrivance;

2012/07/13
Committee: ECON

2011/0297(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d

(d) dissemination of information which gives, or is likely to give, false or misleading signals as to financial instruments or related spot commodity contracts, where those persons derive, for themselves or another person, an advantage or profit from the dissemination of the information in question.

2012/07/13
Committee: ECON

2011/0217(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Recital 9

(9) Despite the fact that the right to free movement and residence is firmly anchored in primary Union law and substantially developed in secondary law, a gap still remains between the applicable legal rules and the reality confronting citizens when they seek to exercise this right in practice. Aside from an uncertainty over the advantages of being mobile, Union citizens ~~perceive~~encounter too many practical and unjustified obstacles with regard to living and in particular working elsewhere in the Union.

2012/03/02
Committee: PETI

2011/0217(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Recital 13

(13) In particular, Union citizens considering whether to make use of their right to free movement should be informed about their rights to acquire or preserve social security rights by virtue of the Union rules on coordination of social security systems; these rules ensure that they will not lose out on their social security rights when choosing to move within Europe. They should further be informed about their right to obtain recognition of their professional and academic qualifications and about the social and civic competences which form part of the European framework of ‘Key Competences for lifelong learning’ and which can equip them to fully participate in civic life and empower them to comprehensively exercise their rights under Union law.

2012/03/02
Committee: PETI

2011/0217(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)

-to raise Union citizens' awareness about their right to work in another Member State and to promote this freedom by cooperating with all the relevant European and national stakeholders;

2012/03/02
Committee: PETI

2011/0217(COD)

Ágnes HANKISS, Elena BĂSESCU

Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – indent 6

– strengthening of the role and visibility of problem solving tools, such as SOLVIT, to allow Union citizens to better make use of and defend their rights under Union legislation.

2012/03/02
Committee: PETI

2010/2311(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recognises that terrorism, as stated in the European Security Strategy1 and its Implementation Report2 , remains a major threat to international stability and European societies that requires a globally coordinated response; welcomes, in the area of CSDP, the ongoing update of the military database and the European Defence Agency's contribution to combating terrorism; ~~affirm~~stresses that human intelligence, oin ~~top of~~addition to all technical means available, remains indispensable in tackling terrorist networks;

2011/05/05
Committee: AFET

2010/2311(INI)

Ágnes HANKISS, Elena BĂSESCU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Promotes a holistic and comprehensive approach to counter- terrorism policy by suggesting the harmonisation of the European Security Strategy and the Internal Security Strategy3 , and the strengthening of existing coordination mechanisms between Justice and Home Affairs Council structures, agencies and the European External Action Service in order to better coordinate external and internal policy instruments; encourages the Counter-Terrorism Co- ordinator to continue his efforts in this field;

2011/05/05
Committee: AFET

2010/2311(INI)

Ágnes HANKISS, Michael GAHLER, Elena BĂSESCU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Underlines that counter-terrorism is an integral part of the Union's relations with third countries; asks for an increase in the funding of counter-terrorism assistance measures in the next Instrument for Stability in order to prevent state failure; agrees, in this respect, with the priority areas being South Asia, in particular Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Sahel region (Mauretania, Mali, Niger), Somalia and Yemen; ~~calls on the Council to adopt a Comprehensive Union Strategy for tackling terrorism in the Saharo-Sahelian region~~welcomes the presentation of the European Union Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel on 21 March 2011 and calls on the Council to adopt the Strategy in consultation with the European Parliament ; welcomes the ~~adop~~insertion of counter-terrorism clauses in international agreements;

2011/05/05
Committee: AFET

2010/2311(INI)

Ágnes HANKISS, Elena BĂSESCU

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Points out the common values and objectives that the Union shares with other international organisations, especially the UN; stresses the need for the universal ratification and implementation of the UN conventions and protocols against terrorism; advocates the adoption of a UN Comprehensive Convention on Terrorism; asks for ~~greater flexibility~~a careful examination of the procedure in the UN Security Council listing process of ~~listing~~ terrorist organisations and individuals;

2011/05/05
Committee: AFET

2010/2303(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Stresses that ultimate responsibility for ~~risk~~setting the risk appetite and the governance lies with the board;

2011/01/18
Committee: ECON

2010/2303(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Believes that firms should establish an internal procedure, reviewed by the supervisor, to address conflicts which may arise between their risk management and operational units; in addition there should be an obligation for the board of directors to inform the supervisor authorities of any material risks they are aware of;

2011/01/18
Committee: ECON

2010/2303(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Calls on national supervisors to develop objective criteria for a ‘fit and proper person’ test to assess the suitability of individuals to be added to an ‘approved persons’ list for supervised functions; supervisors must perform their assessments and approvals procedure in a timely and efficient mannerEuropean Supervisory Authorities to jointly develop for capital market oriented and internationally operating financial institutions objective criteria for a ‘fit and proper person’ test to assess the suitability of individuals;

2011/01/18
Committee: ECON

2010/2303(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Believes that there should be a basic assumption that no person should serve on more than three boards of directors of financial ~~institution~~groups;

2011/01/18
Committee: ECON

2010/2303(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. The primary purpose and objectives of audits should be defined. Stresses that an auditor's primary role should not be compromised by the burden of extra duties, such as an examination and assessment of non-audit information, which falls outside his or her area of expertise;

2011/01/18
Committee: ECON

2010/2303(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Believes that significant transactions above a set size, with the benchmark to be decided by ESMA, should require specific shareholder approval or be subject to a requirement to inform shareholders before the transaction can take effect, provided that the involvement of the shareholders is feasible, the principle of confidentiality is met and the daily business of the financial institution is not undermined;

2011/01/18
Committee: ECON

2010/2303(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Recognises that transparency is necessary with regard to substantial related party transactions and that, on the basis of a benchmark to be set by ESMA, transactions which involve a related party should be notified to the listing authority and be accompanied by a letter from an independent adviser confirming that the transaction is fair and reasonable, or should be subject to a vote by shareholders from which the related party is excluded;

2011/01/18
Committee: ECON

2010/2303(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

~~29. Calls for mandatory annual elections of each member of the board at the AGM, with a view to making the board more accountable and encouraging a culture of greater responsibility;~~deleted

2011/01/18
Committee: ECON

2010/2299(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Recognises that, in a turbulent global context and at a time of economic and financial crisis, the EU is being called upon to become an autonomous strategic actor to ~~uphold~~promote its values, pursue its interests, and protect its citizens by developing a shared vision of the main challenges and threats and aligning its ~~resources to~~capabilities to adequately respond to them, thereby contributing to the preservation of international peace and stability, including by ~~pursu~~implementing effective multilateralism;

2011/03/22
Committee: AFET

2010/2299(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls that strategic autonomy in security affairs entails, for the EU, the capacity to agree upon common political objectives and strategic guidelines, to establish strategic partnerships with a wide range of international ~~organisations and state~~actors, to collect adequate information and generate joint analyses and assessments, to harness and where necessary pool financial, military, and civilian resources, to plan and run effective crisis management operations across the entire range of the Petersberg tasks, and to frame and implement a common defence policy, laying the first tangible foundations on which to build common defence;

2011/03/22
Committee: AFET

2010/2299(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Maintains that reliable and available military capabilities are a sine qua non for a self- contained CSDP and an effective comprehensive approach and could be brought to bear in many different ways, not least for civilian purposes, in keeping with the principles underlying EU action on the international stage and the self-determined nature of the EU legal order;

2011/03/22
Committee: AFET

2010/2299(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Recommends that serious thought be given to the true significance of the clause on mutual assistance in the event of armed aggression on the territory of a Member State, tackling the unresolved problems regarding the implementing provisions, which were removed from the draft treaty on the functioning of the European Union; calls for political guidelines to be drawn up, an imperative need which has arisen not least from the recent termination of the modified Treaty of Brussels (WEU);

2011/03/22
Committee: AFET

2010/2299(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 – introductory part

37. Recognises the soundness of the Battlegroups, but calls for the concept and the structure of the groups, which have so far never been deployed, to be carefully reviewed for an increased degree of flexibility and efficiency; believes that

2011/03/22
Committee: AFET

2010/2299(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73 a (new)

73a. Calls on the Member States to take the necessary steps in order to streamline the EU's effective participation at the reunions of the UN General Assembly;

2011/03/22
Committee: AFET

2010/2298(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the processes of globalisation reveal alarming systemic failures such as in financial markets and climate change policy; whereas global threats and challenges require worldwide cooperation and collective action to tackle them as well as effective institutions and legitimate rules; recalling that if international organisations are to be legitimate and effective, they will have to reflect today's ~~world~~challenges and threats,

2011/04/01
Committee: AFET

2010/2298(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the EU's commitment to effective multilateralism, as stated in the European Security Strategy of 2003, is the guiding principle of European external action; whereas the EU – ~~stemming from~~drawing on its experience with cooperation among nations and institutions, rule-based order and multi-scale multilateralism – has a special global responsibility that it should continue to uphold; whereas the EU is equipped with the set of values and policy tools, including a single legal personality, needed to strengthen multilateral structures,

2011/04/01
Committee: AFET

2010/2298(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the representation of the EU and its Member States in multilateral organisations, informal summits and international regimes is fragmented, often ineffective, and still varies considerably; whereas the Union's external representation has developed in a dispersed, inconsistent and rather ad hoc manner; whereas a highly fragmented external representation is likely to undermine the EU's commitment to effective multilateralism and global governance and whereas weak EU competences and ineffective coordination ~~mechanism~~procedures may prevent the EU from speaking with a single voice in the international arena,

2011/04/01
Committee: AFET

2010/2298(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the EU Member States ~~have adopted the priority of~~are prioritizing the reform~~ing~~ and strengthening of the UN in order to make it capable of fulfilling its responsibilities and acting effectively in providing solutions to global challenges and responding to key threats, whereas the EU provides more than one third of the UN regular budget, more than two-fifths of UN peace operations, and about half of all contributions to UN funds and programmes,

2011/04/01
Committee: AFET

2010/2298(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Considering that the UN is the major multilateral actor and the primary forum through which effective multilateralism can be achieved and enforced, calls on the EU and its Member States to seek to enhance the EU's role and capacity within this global multilateral framework; underlines the need for the EU to convert strategic support for the UN into policy and practical actions;

2011/04/01
Committee: AFET

2010/2298(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses the need for a comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council by building, on the basis of a first-ever negotiation text and widespread support for UNSC reform, a more cohesive position among EU Member States on the issues of legitimacy, composition, effectiveness and regional representation; reiterates the view that an EU seat in an enlarged UNSC remains a goal of the European Union; invites EU Member States on the UN Security Council to keep other EU Member States adequately informed of their positions and activities and share information about developments in the UNSC with other EU Member States; calls on the Member States to work together in order to ensure a minimum of coordination in UNSC debates and decisions; welcomes the newly established practice whereby a representative of the EU is generally invited to attend most scheduled UNSC deliberations and participate with some limited right to speak at the UNSC;

2011/04/01
Committee: AFET

2010/2298(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. In the context of a formal agreement between the EU and the OSCE, calls for serious reflection on how the EU can take on greater responsibilities and participate more efficiently in achieving joint objectives, for which implementing a ~~syste~~mechanism of permanent dialogue, agreeing on joint initiatives and coordinating local activities may be appropriate instruments; calls on the EU and its Member States and the OSCE Permanent Council to jointly develop a mechanism aimed at enhancing cooperation, coordination and consultations between the two organisations; considering also that Article 220(1) TFEU explicitly added the OSCE to the list of international organisations with which 'appropriate forms of cooperation' are to be established, emphasises the need for the VPC/HR to represent the EU as an observer at the OSCE and to take the lead as spokesperson and coordinator of the position of EU Member States on OSCE matters;

2011/04/01
Committee: AFET

2010/2298(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. In order to enhance EU-CoE multilateral cooperation in the fields important for the EU as well, i.e. in education, human rights, the rule of law, democracy and good governance, as well as considering that the EU is the largest contributor to joint operating programmes with the CoE, underlines the need to reform the EU's presence and observer status in the CoE; emphasises the right to attend, with voting rights on behalf of the EU, meetings of the CoE Committee of Ministers when it performs, inter alia, its task of monitoring the execution of judgments given by the European Court of Human Rights as well as the right to be represented oin the Steering Committee for Human Rights;

2011/04/01
Committee: AFET

2010/2298(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Recognises the need, in the light of Article 220(1) TFEU calling for 'appropriate forms of cooperation' with the OECD, to aspire to a ~~reinforcement~~n upgrading of the EU's current observer status in the OECD to that of full member, given the EU's substantial exclusive and shared competences in almost all of the OECD's committees;

2011/04/01
Committee: AFET

2010/2298(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Noting the EU's global economic and financial weight, the need to protect the EU's strategic interests on the international scene and the fact that the summit agendas of the G-8 have broadened considerably to address a series of politico-security issues ranging from human rights through regional security to arms control, is of the view that the EU should be fully ~~parti~~associpate ind to the G-7/G-8 process and should be fully represented in the meetings of the G-7 finance ministers; points out the need for enhanced EU coordination before G-7 and G-8 meetings;

2011/04/01
Committee: AFET

2010/2233(INI)

Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Sari ESSAYAH, Iliana IVANOVA, Astrid LULLING, Elena BĂSESCU, Jean-Paul GAUZÈS, Ildikó GÁLL-PELCZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Notes the Joint Action Programme adopted by the EU-GCC Joint Council and Ministerial Meeting on 14 June 2010 and intended to strengthen cooperation in many strategic areas of mutual interest, including by the means of creating a network linking researchers, academics and businessmen; finds it regrettable, however, that it does not contain a section providing for open, regular and constructive political dialogue;

2010/12/02
Committee: AFET

2010/2124(INI)

Elmar BROK, Krzysztof LISEK, Arnaud DANJEAN, Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI, Paweł ZALEWSKI, Michael GAHLER, Tunne KELAM, Traian UNGUREANU, Inese VAIDERE, Andrey KOVATCHEV, Elena BĂSESCU, Cristian Dan PREDA, Jacek PROTASIEWICZ, Paweł Robert KOWAL, Andrzej GRZYB, Vytautas LANDSBERGIS, Anna IBRISAGIC, Eduard KUKAN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)

29a. Calls on the VP/HR to intensify talks with Russia to assure the unconditional fulfilment of all the provisions of the agreement of 2008 between Russia, the European Union and Georgia; takes the view Russia that should, in particular, guarantee full unlimited access of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) to Abkhazia and South Ossetia; underlines the necessity to provide stability in aforementioned Georgian regions;

2011/03/07
Committee: AFET

2010/2105(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the spectacular rise in the volume of financial transactions in the global economy within the last decade – a volume which in 2007 reached a level 73.5 times higher than nominal world GDP, mainly owing to the boom on the derivatives market - ~~is clearly illustrating the~~suggests a growing disconnection between financial transactions and the needs of the real economy,

2010/11/16
Committee: ECON

2010/2105(INI)

Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Sari ESSAYAH, Iliana IVANOVA, Astrid LULLING, Elena BĂSESCU, Jean-Paul GAUZÈS

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas this prompted the current debate on European economic governance, a key component of which should be measures to strengthen the coordination of taxation policies in order to safeguard tax justice and bring about a shift in the tax be inefficiency of the Stability and Growth Pact in its present form and the divergence in competitiveness between Member States prompted the curdren ~~from labour towards activities with strong negative externalities~~t debate on European economic governance,

2010/11/16
Committee: ECON

2010/2105(INI)

Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Theodor Dumitru STOLOJAN, Sari ESSAYAH, Iliana IVANOVA, Astrid LULLING, Elena BĂSESCU, Jean-Paul GAUZÈS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that ~~the main advantage of~~ innovative financing tools~~, as compared to traditional ones, is their~~ can bring double dividend, as they can at the same time contribute to the achievement of important policy goals, such as financial market stability, and offer significant revenue potential; stresses, in this context, that the effects of these tools on the negative externalities produced by the financial sector should also be taken into account;

2010/11/16
Committee: ECON

2010/2105(INI)

Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Theodor Dumitru STOLOJAN, Sari ESSAYAH, Iliana IVANOVA, Astrid LULLING, Elena BĂSESCU, Jean-Paul GAUZÈS, Ildikó GÁLL-PELCZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Points out that some EU Member States have already introduced similar types of transaction taxes with no apparent negative impact, while other EU Member States have experienced strong negative impacts, including massive delocalization of financial activities, a phenomenon that could only be partially reversed after the tax was abolished;

2010/11/16
Committee: ECON

2010/2105(INI)

Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Sari ESSAYAH, Iliana IVANOVA, Astrid LULLING, Elena BĂSESCU, Jean-Paul GAUZÈS, Corien WORTMANN-KOOL, Ildikó GÁLL-PELCZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Stresses that a European FTT should only be considered if the European Commission's impact assessment concludes that this is a viable option that does not cause a significant displacement of economic activity away from the European Union;

2010/11/16
Committee: ECON

2010/2105(INI)

Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Theodor Dumitru STOLOJAN, Sari ESSAYAH, Iliana IVANOVA, Astrid LULLING, Elena BĂSESCU, Jean-Paul GAUZÈS, Ildikó GÁLL-PELCZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Stresses the importance of comprehensive rules on exemptions and thresholds in order to ensure that the main burden is not transferred to~~Insists on examining who will eventually be paying the tax, as taxes are usually burdened on the consumer, which in this case would be retail investors and individuals;

2010/11/16
Committee: ECON

2010/2105(INI)

Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Sari ESSAYAH, Iliana IVANOVA, Astrid LULLING, Elena BĂSESCU, Jean-Paul GAUZÈS

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Notes the IMF proposal for a Financial Activities Tax (FAT), as endorsed in the recent Commission communication; stresses that an FAT is a solely revenue- oriented tax tool ~~and therefore has no direct or indirect potential to restore m~~that directly tarkget balance or to curb speculation in financial transactions; emphasises, moreover, that even if they are given the broadest possible scope FATs offer lower revenue potential than FTTs; believes, therefore, that an FAT can only be a complement to an FTTs the financial sector; notes that if well- designed, a FAT allows reaching two additional objectives of being a good proxy for value-added of the sector and to tax economic rents and excessive risk- taking; calls on the Commission to assess its potential;

2010/11/16
Committee: ECON

2010/2105(INI)

Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Theodor Dumitru STOLOJAN, Sari ESSAYAH, Iliana IVANOVA, Astrid LULLING, Elena BĂSESCU, Jean-Paul GAUZÈS, Corien WORTMANN-KOOL, Ildikó GÁLL-PELCZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20 a. Calls on the Commission to produce a feasibility assessment in order to establish in the long run a system under which Member States may participate in the issuance of common European bonds; calls for the inclusion in such an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of all options, taking into account possible moral hazard implications for participating members;

2010/11/16
Committee: ECON

2010/2105(INI)

Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Sari ESSAYAH, Iliana IVANOVA, Astrid LULLING, Elena BĂSESCU, Jean-Paul GAUZÈS, Corien WORTMANN-KOOL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. ~~Believes adequate tools need to be found to impose a CO2 tax on imported products and services in order to r~~Warns against the risk of initiating trade wars as a resulet o~~ut competitive disadvantages for the internal market~~f the imposition of a border tax based on the CO2 content of imported goods;

2010/11/16
Committee: ECON

2010/2105(INI)

Danuta Maria HÜBNER, Sari ESSAYAH, Iliana IVANOVA, Astrid LULLING, Elena BĂSESCU, Jean-Paul GAUZÈS, Corien WORTMANN-KOOL, Ildikó GÁLL-PELCZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)

27 b. Points out that a common European carbon tax would have highly dissimilar effects on individual Member States; warns, in this respect,against the uneven burdens that such a tax would create;

2010/11/16
Committee: ECON

2010/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas banks should focus more on ~~the core business of banking, namely~~ lending to the real economy; whereas the Basel Committee and the Commission have to find ways to promote this core business,

2010/06/15
Committee: ECON

2010/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Notes the concept of a ‘crude’ LR as a possible backstop against building excessive leverage, ~~but has strong concerns about its added value~~while expressing the hope that this will genuinely contribute to restricting leverage and systematic risk accumulation within the financial system;

2010/06/15
Committee: ECON

2010/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Is of the view that such a ratio, in order to be effective, must comprise off-balance sheet items and derivatives, must be clearly defined, simple and comparable internationally and should take into account the different leverage ratios existing internationally; takes the view that, in principle, leverage ratios should be incorporated in Pillar 1 of Basel II; r. ro

2010/06/15
Committee: ECON

2010/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28a. Considers that use of the leverage ratio, coupled with risk-based capital requirements, will contain both individual and systemic balance-sheet expansion;

2010/06/15
Committee: ECON

2010/2074(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31

31. Urges the Commission to ensure that, in the context of economic recovery, a leverage ratio does not lead to excessive securitisation and less credit (these being likely ways for banks to reduce their leverage ratio);

2010/06/15
Committee: ECON

2010/2072(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point 6

6. Calls on the Commission to broaden the criteria for the mobilisation of the EGF, in keeping with the above-mentioned conditions, to cover delocalisation within the European Union and to simplify the application procedure significantly; calls on the Commission to extend EGF eligibility criteria to cover cases where redundancies occur in two neighbouring regions situated in different countries;

2010/06/09
Committee: ECON

2010/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Deplores the fact that, in contradiction with the Constitution, members of religious minorities endure discrimination in housing, education and official jobs, which is leading young members of these minorities to opt for emigration; also deplores the fact that Iran is violating the right of cultural self- determination of particular ethnic groups;

2010/11/24
Committee: AFET

2010/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Expresses its grave concern over the numerous executions of minors and the public stonings of women carried out every year despite international appeals for to abide by human rights standards;

2010/11/24
Committee: AFET

2010/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Calls on Iran to support a negotiated solution and agree on a concrete date for talks with EU representatives on the nuclear programme;

2010/11/24
Committee: AFET

2010/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the current Belgian Presidency and the forthcoming Hungarian Presidency to keep the Iranian nuclear file high on the agenda and to engage in meaningful negotiations with a view to achieving a comprehensive and long-term settlement of the nuclear issue;

2010/11/24
Committee: AFET

2010/2050(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Rejects fiercely the desire expressed by the Iranian leadership to "wipe out" Israel; also fiercely rejects the anti-Semitic rhetoric of the Iranian president, especially his denial of the Holocaust and his underlying agenda of delegitimizing the Israeli state; calls on the EU institutions to safeguard the existence and the legitimacy of the Jewish state;

2010/11/24
Committee: AFET

2010/2027(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes the impact of the global recession on public finances and the wider economy; in addition, considers that an ageing population coupled with a declining birth rate within Europe represents a fundamental demographic change which will require reform of the welfare and fiscal systems of Europe and restoration of the proper functioning of the financial markets;

2010/06/09
Committee: ECON

2010/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 a (new)

(8a) For the purpose of setting up environmental economic accounts as satellite accounts to ESA 95, Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2011 on European environmental economic accounts has established a common framework for the collection, compilation transmission and evaluation of European environmental economic accounts1. ________________ 1 OJ L 192, 22.7.2011, p. 1.

2012/01/26
Committee: ECON

2010/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9

(9) Attention should also be paid in the case of environmental and social accounts to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council of 20 August 2009 entitled "GDP and beyond - Measuring progress in a changing world". Therefore, further methodological studies and data tests may be required.

2012/01/26
Committee: ECON

2010/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 3

3. In the event of ~~doubt~~uncertainty regarding the correct implementation of the ESA 2010 accounting rules, the Member State concerned shall request clarification from the Commission (Eurostat). The Commission (Eurostat) shall promptly examine the ~~issue and~~request and promptly communicate its decision on the requested clarification to the Member State concerned.

2012/01/26
Committee: ECON

2010/0374(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2

At the initiative of the European Parliament or the Council that period shall be extended by a further two months.

2012/01/26
Committee: ECON

2010/0273(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 2

(2) Attacks against information systems, in particular ~~as a result of the threat from~~those arising from of organised crime, are a growing menace, and there is increasing concern about the potential for terrorist or politically motivated attacks against information systems which form part of the critical infrastructure of Member States and the Union. This constitutes a threat to the achievement of a safer information society and an area of freedom, security and justice, and therefore requires a response at the level of the European Union.

2011/10/13
Committee: AFET

2010/0273(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 11

(11) This Directive strengthens the importance of networks, such as the G8 or the Council of Europe’s network of points of contact available on a twenty-four hour, seven-day-a-week basis to exchange information in order to ensure the provision of immediate assistance for the purpose of investigations or proceedings concerning criminal offences related to information systems and data, or for the collection of evidence in electronic form of a criminal offence. Given the speed with which large-scale attacks can be carried out, Member States should be able to respond promptly to urgent requests from this network of contact points. Such assistance should include facilitating, or directly carrying out, measures such as: the provision of technical advice, ~~the preservation of data~~a reliable backup destined for data preservation, the collection of evidence, the provision of legal information, and the locating of suspects.

2011/10/13
Committee: AFET

2010/0273(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 13

(13) Significant gaps and differences in Member States’ laws in the area of attacks against information systems area may hamper the fight against organised crime and terrorism, and may complicate effective police and judicial cooperation in this area. The transnational and borderless nature of modern information systems means that attacks against such systems have a trans-border dimension, thus underlining the urgent need for further action to approximate criminal legislation in this area and to strengthen cross-border cooperation. Besides that, the coordination of prosecution of cases of attacks against information systems should be facilitated by the adoption of Council Framework Decision 2009/948/JHA on prevention and settlement of conflict of jurisdiction in criminal proceedings.

2011/10/13
Committee: AFET

2010/0273(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 16

(16) This Directive respects the fundamental rights, in particular the right to privacy, and observes the principles recognised in particular by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, including the protection of personal data, freedom of expression and information, the right to a fair trial, presumption of innocence and the rights of the defence, as well as the principles of legality and proportionality of criminal offences and penalties. In particular, this Directive seeks to ensure full respect for these rights and principles and must be implemented accordingly.

2011/10/13
Committee: AFET

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21

(21) In order to identify the relevant classes of OTC derivatives that should be subject to the clearing obligation, the thresholds and systemically relevant non-financial counterparties, reliable data is needed. Therefore, for regulatory purposes, it is important that a uniform OTC derivatives data reporting requirement is established at Union level. Moreover, a retrospective reporting obligation is needed, to the largest possible extent, for both financial counterparties and non-financial counterparties over the threshold, in order to provide ESMA with comparative data. If such retrospective reporting is not feasible for any classes of OTC derivatives an appropriate justification must be provided to the respective trade repository.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22

(22) It is important that market participants report all details regarding OTC derivative contracts they have entered into to trade repositories. As a result, information on the risks inherent in OTC derivatives markets will be centrally stored and easily accessible to ESMA, the relevant competent authorities and the relevant central banks of the ESCB. The Commission and ESMA should consider extending the applicability of the reporting obligation to embedded derivatives.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32

(32) In view of the global nature of financial markets, ESMA should be directly responsible for recognising CCPs established in third countries and thus allowing them to provide clearing services within the Union, provided that the Union has agreements in place with those third countries, the Commission has recognised the legal and supervisory framework of that third country as equivalent to the Union framework and that certain other conditions are met. In this context, agreements with the Union's major international partners will be of particular importance in order to ensure a global level playing field and ensure financial stability.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 33

(33) CCPs should have robust governance arrangements, senior management of good repute and independent members on its board, irrespective of its ownership structure. At least one third, but not less than two members of the board must be formed of independent members. These members cannot act as independent members in more than one other CCP. Their remuneration shall not be linked in any way with the performance of the CCP. However, different governance arrangements and ownership structures of a CCP may influence a CCP's willingness or ability to clear certain products. It is thus appropriate that the independent members of the board and the risk committee to be established by the CCP should address any potential conflict of interests within a CCP. Clearing members and clients need to be adequately represented as they may be impacted by decisions taken by the CCP. Outsourced functions should be approved by the risk committee.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 34

(34) A CCP may outsource functions other than its risk management functions, but only where those outsourced functions do not impact on the proper operation of the CCP and on its ability to manage risks. Outsourcing of functions should be approved by the risk committee of the CCP.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 36

(36) Clients of clearing members that clear their OTC derivatives with CCPs should be granted a high level of protection. The actual level of protection depends on the level of segregation that those clients choose. Intermediaries should segregate their assets from those of their clients. For this reason, CCPs should keep updated and easily identifiable records. In addition, the members´ accounts, in case of their default, have to be transferable to other members.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 41

(41) The "European Code of Conduct for Clearing and Settlement" of 7 November 200628 established a voluntary framework for ~~establishing~~setting up links between CCPs and trade repositories. However, the post-trade sector remains fragmented along national lines, making cross-border trades more costly and hindering harmonisation. It is therefore necessary to lay down the conditions for the establishment of interoperable arrangements between CCPs to the extent these do not expose the relevant CCPs to risks that are not appropriately managed.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 45

(45) Transparency of prices and fees associated with the services provided by CCPs, their members and trade repositories is necessary to enable market participants to make an informed choice.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 46

(46) ESMA should be able to propose to the Commission to impose periodic penalty payments. The purpose of those periodic penalty payments should be to achieve that an infringement established by ESMA is put to an end, that complete and correct information which ESMA has requested is supplied and that trade repositories, CCPs, their members and other persons submit to an investigation. Moreover, for deterrence purposes and to compel trade repositories, CCPs and their members to comply with the Regulation, the Commission should also be able to impose fines, following a request of ESMA, where intentionally or negligently, specific provisions of the Regulation have been breached. The fine shall be dissuasive and proportionate to the nature and seriousness of the breach, the duration of the breach and the economic capacity of the trade repository, CCP or member concerned.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 47

(47) In order to effectively survey trade repositories, CCPs and their members, ESMA should have the right to conduct investigations and on-site- inspections.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 5

5. ESMA shall, on its own initiative and in consultation with the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB), identify and notify to the Commission the classes of derivatives contracts that should be included in its public register, but for which no CCP has yet received authorisation, together with the reason no CCP has received authorisation.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4

4. In calculating the positions referred to in paragraph 2, OTC derivative contracts entered into by a non-financial counterparty that are objectively measurable as directly linked to the commercial activity of that counterparty shall not be taken into account. ESMA shall establish the precise criteria regarding what represents objectively measurable in the sense of this paragraph.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Member States shall ensure that the competent authorities responsible for the supervision of financial, and where, appropriate, non-financial counterparties disclose every penalty that has been imposed for infringements of Articles 3 to 8 to the public~~, unless such disclosure would seriously jeopardise the financial markets or cause disproportionate damage to the parties involved~~.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1

A CCP shall comply at all times with the conditions necessary for the initial authorisation. The competent authority shall, without undue delay, notify ESMA.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1 – point c

(c) where the CCP is no longer in compliance with the conditions under which authorisation was granted;, but only after notifying ESMA and after all other possibilities that the CCP becomes in compliance again have been exhausted.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2

The review and evaluation shall have regard to the size, systemic importance, nature, scale and complexity of the activities of the CCP. The findings of such reviews shall be reported timely to ESMA.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2

2. Each Member State shall ensure that the competent authorities have the supervisory and investigatory powers and the independence necessary for the exercise of their functions.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2

However, those conditions shall not prevent ESMA, the competent authorities and the relevant central banks from exchanging or transmitting confidential information in accordance with this Regulation and with other legislation applicable to investment firms, credit institutions, pension funds, undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities("UCITS"), alternative investment funds, alternative investment fund managers ("AIFM"), insurance and reinsurance intermediaries, insurance undertakings, regulated markets or market operators or otherwise with the consent of the competent authority or other authority or body or natural or legal person that communicated the information.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 4 – point a

(a) the mechanism for the exchange of information on a continuous basis and the type of information to be exchanged between ESMA and the competent authorities of third countries concerned;. Such information should include, but not be limited to, changing in conditions for the initial authorisation and the findings of reviews, evaluations and audits.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1

1. A CCP shall have robust governance arrangements, which include a clear organisational structure with well-defined, transparent and consistent lines of responsibility, effective processes to identify, manage, monitor and report the risks to which it is or might be exposed, and adequate internal control mechanisms, including sound administrative and accounting procedures. The internal controls and systems should be evaluated by an independent entity (such as an independent audit company), and such evaluation should result in an annual report which would be made available to the competent authority and ESMA, upon request.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

A CCP shall have a board of which at least one third, but no less than two, of its members are independent. The compensation of the independent and other non-executive members of the board shall not be linked ~~to the business~~in any way to the performance of the CCP.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 3

3. A CCP shall clearly determine the roles and responsibilities of the board and shall make the minutes of the board meetings available to the competent authority and auditors.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1

1. A CCP shall establish a risk committee, which shall be composed of representatives of its clearing members and independent members of the board. The representatives of the clearing members cannot be more than one third of the risk committee´s members. They may be elected on a rotational basis to ensure all clearing members are represented in the risk committee within a specified period of time. The risk committee may invite employees of the CCP to attend risk committee meetings in a non-voting capacity. The advice of the risk committee shall be independent from any direct influence by the management of the CCP.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 3

3. The risk committee shall advise the board on any arrangements that may impact the risk management of the CCP, such as, but not limited to, a significant change in its risk model, the default procedures, the criteria for accepting clearing members or, the clearing of new classes of instruments or outsourcing of functions. The advice of the risk committee is not required for the daily operations of the CCP or in emergency situations.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 1

1. The competent authority shall not authorise a CCP until it has been informed of the identities of the shareholders or members, whether direct or indirect, natural or legal persons, that have qualifying holdings and the amounts of those holdings. The competent authority shall conduct a rigorous due diligence on shareholders and members, as a prerequisite of the authorisation. The due diligence shall be aimed at revealing, amongst others, whether the shareholders or members have or had filed for bankruptcy, are or were in litigations or convicted or fined for serious offences.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 6 – point a

(a) a credit institution, assurance undertaking, insurance undertaking, reinsurance undertaking, investment firm, market operator, an operator of a security settlement system, a UCITS management company, an alternative investment fund or an AIFM authorised in another Member State;

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 6 – point b

(b) the parent undertaking of a credit institution, assurance undertaking, insurance undertaking, reinsurance undertaking, investment firm, market operator, an operator of a security settlement system, a UCITS management company, an alternative investment fund or an AIFM authorised in another Member State;

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 6 – point c

(c) a natural or legal person controlling a credit institution, assurance undertaking, insurance undertaking, reinsurance undertaking, investment firm, market operator, an operator of a security settlement system, a UCITS management company, an alternative investment fund or an AIFM authorised in another Member State.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraph 2

2. Where the organisational or administrative arrangements of a CCP to manage conflicts of interest are not sufficient to ensure, with reasonable confidence, that risks of damage to the interests of a clearing member or client will be prevented, it shall clearly disclose the general nature or sources of conflicts of interest to the clearing member and request the resolution of the conflict before accepting new transactions from that clearing member. Where the client is not known to the CCP, the CCP shall inform the clearing member whose client is concerned.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 1

1. A CCP shall establish the categories of admissible clearing members and the admission criteria. Such criteria shall be non-discriminatory, transparent and objective so as to ensure fair and open access to the CCP and shall ensure that clearing members have sufficient financial resources and operational capacity to meet the obligations arising from participation in a CCP. Criteria that restrict access shall only be permitted to the extent that their objective is to control the risk for the CCP. The admission criteria have to be approved by the competent authority.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 3

3. Clearing members that clear transactions on behalf of their clients shall have the necessary additional financial resources and operational capacity to perform this activity. Clearing members shall, upon request, inform the CCP about the criteria and arrangements they adopt to allow their clients to access the services of the CCP. These criteria should be non- discriminatory.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 43 – paragraph 2

2. A CCP may accept, where appropriate and sufficiently prudent the underlying of the derivative contract or the financial instrument that originate the CCP exposure as collateral to cover its margin requirements.deleted

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 44 – paragraph 2

2. Financial instruments posted as margins shall be formed of cash or cash equivalents and be deposited with operators of securities settlement systems that ensure non-discriminatory access to CCPs and the full protection of those instruments. A CCP shall have prompt access to the financial instruments when required.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 60 – paragraph 1 – point c

(c) the trade repository no longer meets the conditions under which it was registered;, and all other possibilities that the trade repository comes again to compliance have been exhausted.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 64 – paragraph 1

1. A trade repository shall have robust governance arrangements, which include a clear organisational structure with well defined, transparent and consistent lines of responsibility and adequate internal control mechanisms, including sound administrative and accounting procedures, which prevent the disclosure of confidential information. The internal controls and systems shall be evaluated by an independent entity (such as an independent audit company) and should result in an annual report.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0250(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 64 – paragraph 4

4. The senior management and members of the board of a trade repository shall be of sufficiently good repute and experience so as to ensure the sound and prudent management of the trade repository. At least one third of the members of the board, but not less than two, shall be independent and their remuneration not linked in any way to the performance of the trade repository.

2011/03/30
Committee: ECON

2010/0207(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 4

4. Deposits shall be paid out in the ~~currency in which the account was maintained~~national currency or in euro. If the amounts expressed in euro referred to in paragraph 1 are converted into other currencies, the amounts effectively paid to depositors shall be equivalent to those set out in this Directive.

2011/04/05
Committee: ECON

2010/0207(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1

Deposit Guarantee Schemes shall be in a position to repay unavailable deposits within 720 days of the date on which the competent authorities make a determination as referred to in Article 2(1)(e)(i) or a judicial authority makes a ruling as referred to in Article 2(1)(e)(ii). Additionally, in exceptional circumstances, a deposit-guarantee scheme may apply to the competent authorities for an extension of the time limit. Such extension shall not exceed 10 working days.

2011/04/05
Committee: ECON

2010/0207(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2

The European Banking Authority shall transmit its confirmation together with the information referred to in paragraph 1(h) to the lending Deposit Guarantee Schemes. They shall receive this confirmation and information within 2 working days. The lending Deposit Guarantee Schemes ~~sha~~will, without delay ~~but at the latest within further 2 working days after reception effect payment of the loan to the borrowing scheme~~, effect the payment of the loan to the borrowing scheme. However, this mechanism should be only an option and leave the final decision to the member states.

2011/04/05
Committee: ECON

2010/0207(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Depositors at branches set up by credit institutions in other Member States or in Member States where a credit institution authorised in another Member State operates shall be repaid by the scheme of the host Member State, once the necessary funds are put forward, on behalf of the scheme in the home Member State. The home scheme shall reimburse the host scheme.

2011/04/05
Committee: ECON

2010/0207(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 2

2. Actual and intending depositors at branches established by a credit institution which has its head office outside the Union and is not member of a scheme operating in a Member State shall be provided by the credit institution with all relevant information concerning the guarantee arrangements which cover their deposits together with a well built-in safety-net that should not place any extra financial burden.

2011/04/05
Committee: ECON

2010/0207(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 1

In the list of authorized credit institutions which it is required to draw up pursuant to Article 14 of Directive 2006/48/EC the Commission shall indicate in a transparent method the status of each credit institution with regard to this Directive.

2011/04/05
Committee: ECON

2010/0199(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 5

Directive 97/9/EC
Article 4b– paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3

The other schemes shall act as lending schemes. For this purpose, Member States in which more than one scheme is established shall designate one scheme acting as the lending scheme of this Member State and inform the ESA (ESMA) thereof. Member States shall undertake all necessary steps to make sure that all stakeholders are informed about which scheme is the lending scheme and how it works. Member States may decide if and how the lending scheme is reimbursed by other Schemes established in the same Member State.

2011/03/02
Committee: ECON

2009/2241(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Points out that the link with the Council of Europe and in particular questions regarding the European Union’s participation in the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly are a matter for the Statute of the Council of Europe ~~and would seem to~~ requires amendment of the latter, or at least the adoption of a Statutory Resolution setting out the proposed amendments so that the changes brought by the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty are taken into account;

2010/02/26
Committee: AFET

2009/2230(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Underlines the importance of the region for the energy security of Europe and calls for the development of EU projects aimed at improving energy links between Member States in the area;

2010/03/26
Committee: AFET

2009/2230(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that the amount of EUR 20 million earmarked in the 2010 EU budget for the Baltic Sea Strategy can be used only for external action~~, which effectively means cooperation with Russia~~;

2010/03/26
Committee: AFET

2009/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Emphasises that for ~~each of~~all the conflicts in the region, the status quo is unacceptable and un~~sustain~~viable;

2010/03/18
Committee: AFET

2009/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Points to the importance of conflict prevention, including through respect for the rights of all members of national minorities, religious tolerance and efforts to strengthen social and economic cohesion;

2010/03/18
Committee: AFET

2009/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Fully supports the Minsk Group Co- chairs’ mediation, the Madrid Principles and the Moscow Declaration; condemns the idea of a military solution and calls on both sides to avoid militant or extreme nationalist rhetoric; furthermore calls on both sides to show more ambition in the peace talks and to abandon the tendency to prefer perpetuating the status quo created through military conquests in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions; calls on the international community likewise to show courage and political will to overcome the remaining sticking points which hinder an agreement;

2010/03/18
Committee: AFET

2009/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7-1

7. Recalls that hundreds of thousands of persons who fled their homes during or in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh war remain displaced and denied their right to return; calls on all parties to unambiguously and unconditionally recognise this right and the need for ~~its prompt realisation~~a prompt solution to this problem that respects the principles of international law; calls on the Armenian and Azerbaijani authorities and leaders of relevant communities to demonstrate their commitment to the creation of peaceful inter-ethnic relations through practical preparations for the return of displaced persons and other means; considers that the situation of the IDPs should be dealt with according to international standards, having regard inter alia to the recent PACE Recommendation 1877(2009), ‘Europe’s forgotten people: protecting the human rights of long-term displaced persons’;

2010/03/18
Committee: AFET

2009/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7-2

7. Recalls that hundreds of thousands of persons who fled their homes during or in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh war remain displaced and denied their right to return; calls on all parties to unambiguously and unconditionally recognise this right and the need for its prompt realisation; calls on the Armenian and Azerbaijani authorities and leaders of relevant communities to demonstrate their commitment to the creation of peaceful inter-ethnic relations through practical preparations for the return of displaced persons and other means and guaranteeing property rights and personal security; considers that the situation of the IDPs should be dealt with according to international standards, having regard inter alia to the recent PACE Recommendation 1877(2009), ‘Europe’s forgotten people: protecting the human rights of long-term displaced persons’;

2010/03/18
Committee: AFET

2009/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Points to the still widespread corruption in the region and calls on the authorities to step up the measures to fight it, as it threatens the economic growth and social and economic development of the countries concerned, as well as the proper institutional functioning of the rule of law;

2010/03/18
Committee: AFET

2009/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Recognises the significance of the region for the EU’s energy cooperation and energy security; notes the great value of Azerbaijan’s energy resources and the essential role these play in its economic development; underscores the importance of ensuring that the benefits deriving from the exploitation of natural resources are e~~ven~~quitably distributed and invested in the development of the country as a whole, permitting it to brace itself against the negative repercussions of an eventual decline in oil production; welcomes the intention of Azerbaijan to diversify its economy;

2010/03/18
Committee: AFET

2009/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Recalls that all the South Caucasus countries are also part of the Black Sea Synergy initiative, which by fostering regional cooperation in certain areas could enhance mutual confidence between the partners while also contributing to closer economic, political and cultural cooperation with all their mutual benefits;

2010/03/18
Committee: AFET

2009/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. Recalls that energy security is a common preoccupation; urges the EU therefore to give more robust support to the energy projects in the region bearing in mind the particular importance of the southern corridor for Europe's energy security, to step up its cooperation on energy issues and to work towards the ~~comple~~full implementation of the Nabucco pipeline; also calls on the Commission to ensure that the energy- and transport- related projects in the South Caucasus foster relations between the three countries and are not a cause of exclusion of certain communities; reaffirms the importance of the Baku Initiative and its corresponding supporting programmes, INOGATE and TRACECA;

2010/03/18
Committee: AFET

2009/2216(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Reiterates the significance of people- to-people contacts and mobility programmes, especially aimed at youth; believes there is a need for a significant increase in the numbers of students, teachers and researchers participating in mobility programmes; calls on the Council and Commission to make progress towards visa facilitation with the three countries and welcomes the initialling of the visa facilitation and readmission agreements with Georgia;

2010/03/18
Committee: AFET

2009/2215(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 - point 2

- the establishment of an insurance and financial guarantee system for investors, based on the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and tailored to the Euro-Mediterranean context, which will encourage companies to invest in the area;

2010/03/31
Committee: AFET

2009/2215(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Underlines the importance of cooperation in the field of energy security, with regard to both oil and gas resources and renewable energies;

2010/03/31
Committee: AFET

2009/2215(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10b. Underlines the importance of developing road and sea transport networks so as to aid the movement of people and goods within the Mediterranean Sea region and neighbouring areas;

2010/03/31
Committee: AFET

2009/2215(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Is keen to see new projects in the cultural, educational and scientific field put on the UfM’s agenda in the very near future; suggests that priority be given to setting up a Euro- Mediterranean junior Erasmus programme called ‘Averroës’, as a way of stepping up exchanges between secondary school pupils in UfM member countries;

2010/03/31
Committee: AFET

2009/2213(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

Ha. whereas the development of relations with Latin America is of mutual benefit and can bring advantages to all EU Member States,

2010/02/19
Committee: AFET

2009/2213(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Welcomes the efforts made with regard to gender equality; recommends the development of EU-Latin America cooperation policies which promote the strengthening of the legal status of women, equal access to education and work and human and social rights;

2010/02/19
Committee: AFET

2009/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. Whereas human rights defenders face human rights violations themselves in the course of their work and whereas these violations include killings, death threats, abductions and kidnappings, arbitrary arrest and detention, and other actions of harassment and intimidation, for example through defamation campaigns and whereas all these violations can also target family members and relatives of human rights defenders, so as to refrain them from continuing to carry on their activities, ; whereas human rights campaigns are affected in many regions by restrictions on their activities and the persecution of human rights defenders;

2010/03/18
Committee: AFET

2009/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Points out that ~~parliamentarian~~members of the national parliaments of third countries also play a crucial role when ensuring that national legislation potentially affecting human rights defenders and their activities is brought into conformity with internationally recognised human rights standards; underlines therefore the importance of these issues being systematically addressed by Members of the European Parliament in bi- and multilateral meetings with other parliamentarians, in line with its specific guidelines for human rights and democracy actions of MEPs in their visits to third countries; considers that EP delegations and interparliamentary assemblies have a key role to play in dialogues and consultations concerning human rights defenders;

2010/03/18
Committee: AFET

2009/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Underlines the importance of independent civil society being fully involved in the preparations of all human rights dialogues, either through civil society seminars or other means; considers that the link between the civil society seminars and the formal dialogue needs to be strengthened, through publications of the recommendations issued and a better follow-up and feed-back to civil society once a dialogue has taken place; stresses the importance to continue to raise individual cases during the dialogues and considers that making the list of names public would enhance the impact of EU actions and increase public attention for these cases; considers that respect for the confidentiality of EU actions in support of human rights defenders is in some cases desirable, especially where their or their families' lives or safety may be at risk;

2010/03/18
Committee: AFET

2009/2199(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Underlines the need to actively support and develop proposals on how the Sakharov Prize network, launched in December 2008 at the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the Sakharov Prize, could be used as part of a sustained support for human rights defenders, as well as to better capitalise on the possible contribution of the laureates for different actions by the European Parliament, with aim to fulfil its mandate; reiterates its concern over the infringements of the human rights of certain Sakharov Prize winners;

2010/03/18
Committee: AFET

2009/2139(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. whereas many petitions continue to raise concerns about the transposition and implementation of European legislation on the internal market and the environment, and bearing in mind the previous calls made by the Committee on Petitions to the Commission to ensure that enforcement checks in these areas are strengthened and made more efficient,

2010/05/10
Committee: PETI

2009/2139(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital O

O. whereas, although the Commission can fully check compliance with EU law only when a final decision has been taken by national authorities, it is important, particularly in relation to environmental matters, to verify at an early stage that national authorities correctly apply all relevant procedural requirements under EU law and when necessary to carry out detailed studies on the application and impact of the legislation in force, in order to obtain all the requisite information,

2010/05/10
Committee: PETI

2009/2139(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Welcomes the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and is confident that Parliament will be closely associated with the development of the new citizens’ initiative so that this instrument can fully achieve its purpose and ensure enhanced transparency and accountability in the EU decision-making process, allowing citizens to suggest ~~change~~improvements or additions to EU law;

2010/05/10
Committee: PETI

2009/2139(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Acknowledges the central role that the Commission plays in the work of the Committee on Petitions, which continues to rely on its expertise when assessing petitions, identifying breaches of European legislation and seeking redress, and recognises the efforts made by the Commission to improve its overall response time to the Committee’s requests for investigations; so that cases reported by citizens can be resolved as quickly as possible,

2010/05/10
Committee: PETI

2009/2139(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Encourages the creation of a portal offering a multi-stage interactive template for petitions, which could inform citizens about what can be achieved by submitting petitions to Parliament and about Parliament’s remit, and could include links to alternative means of redress at European and national level; calls for as detailed a description as possible of the European Union's responsibilities in the various areas to eliminate any confusion between the Union's competences and national competences;

2010/05/10
Committee: PETI

2009/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Welcomes the signing of the Nabucco project agreement; calls on the Commission and the Council to strive for the successful implementation of that agreement; emphasises the importance of guaranteeing EU energy security by promoting a southern corridor for the supply of crude oil to Europe, including via the ConstanŃa–Trieste pan-European oil pipeline;

2010/01/15
Committee: AFET

2009/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Continues to support the development of the Eastern Partnership with the Union'’s European neighbours, integrating them economically into the internal market and intensifying political, economic and cultural cooperation; underlines the importance of tangible middle- and long- term incentives for reform, which would strengthen the commitment of societies in the partner countries to the process of modernisation and integration with the EU; in particular, points out the need – while maintaining security for all EU citizens – to progressively remove all obstacles to the free movement of persons (including, eventually, visa-free travel) and to enhance cooperation in all aspects of security, especially energy security; reiterates its view that the partnership needs to be provided with adequate financial resources;

2010/01/15
Committee: AFET

2009/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Continues to support the development of the Eastern Partnership with the Union's European neighbours, integrating them economically into the internal market and intensifying political cooperation; underlines the importance of tangible middle- and long-term incentives for reform, which would strengthen the commitment of societies in the partner countries to the process of modernisation and integration with the EU; in particular, points out the need – while maintaining security for all EU citizens – to progressively remove all obstacles to the free movement of persons (including, eventually, visa-free travel) as swiftly as possible and to enhance cooperation in all aspects of security, especially energy security; reiterates its view that the partnership needs to be provided with adequate financial resources;

2010/01/15
Committee: AFET

2009/2057(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27a. Calls on the Vice-President/High Representative to step up efforts to develop projects within the framework of the Black Sea Synergy, in view of that region’s special importance for the European Union;

2010/01/15
Committee: AFET

2009/0108(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1

This Regulation establishes measures aimed at safeguarding the security of gas supply so as to ensure the proper and continuous functioning of the internal market for gas by providing for a clear definition and attribution of responsibilities and for a coordination of the response at the level of the Member States and the Community regarding both preventive action and the reaction to concrete disruptions of supply or to serious threats to the gas supply, having regard to the principle of solidarity between Member States.

2009/12/17
Committee: AFET

2009/0108(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 1

(1) 'protected customers' means all household customers already connected to a gas distribution network, and, if the Member State concerned so decides, can also include other customers such as public bodies, social services, small and medium-sized enterprises, schools and hospitals provided that they are already connected to a gas distribution network;

2009/12/17
Committee: AFET

2009/0108(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3

3. The Preventive Action Plan shall take into account cost efficiency, economic effectiveness, effects on the functioning of the internal energy market and environmental impact.

2009/12/17
Committee: AFET

2009/0108(COD)