Activities of Norica NICOLAI related to 2011/2008(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Explanations of vote
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the state of implementation of the EU Strategy for Central Asia PDF (272 KB) DOC (176 KB)
Amendments (34)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the importance of fostering good relations between the European Union and the five countries of Central Asia is paramount for the mutual development of both sides,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas Central Asia holds significant importance for the European Union in terms of trade potential and energetic security and whereas the region has been affected by the recent global financial and economic crisis,
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Ad. whereas some Member States have strong bilateral relations with the Central Asian states, being leading sources of investment and trade and whereas the EU needs a concerted and coherent approach towards the region in order to avoid misunderstandings, doubling of tasks and most importantly, sending mixed signals,
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the level and nature of the EU’s engagement must be differentiated and conditional, depending on measurable progressEU needs to maintain a high level of engagement in Central Asia, tailoring its strategies to the progress of the states in the region in the fields of human rights, good governance, sustainable development, the rule of law and the fight against corruption, offering its assistance where needed to help foster this progress, following lines similar to the principles of the EU’s neighbourhood policy;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Considers that the revision of the Central Asia Strategy needs to take into account the need to back its objectives with sufficient financial resources and to establish adequate distribution patterns that reflect on the realities of every country in the region; considers that given the financial restraints, a focus should be given to those medium and long-term programs that can make the biggest impact on the development of the region, notably youth and education, technical assistance on economic development and promotion of small and medium sized businesses, as well as water security and combating drug trafficking;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Supports the opening of fully-fledged EU delegations in all the countries of Central Asia as a vital means of increasing the presence and visibility of the EU in the region and long-term cooperation and engagement with all sectors of society and fostering progress towards better understanding and the emergence of the rule of law and respect for human rights; notes with concern that failure to open delegations contradicts the objectives of the strategy and EU interests in the region;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. DeploresNotes with concern the difficulty encountered by the EU in engaging with independent civil society in the area of human rights and good governance in the context of, deploring the continued harassment of NGOs in the region; calls for support for genuinely independent NGOs so as to help them play an effective role in the development and consolidation of civil societyto redouble efforts directed at independent civil society NGOs; considers that the continued promotion by the EU of programmes targeted at the Central Asian countries is an important trans-border tool for fostering understanding and cooperation between the states of the region;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets that, although some positive developments have taken place in the region (abolition of the death penalty in Uzbekistan, freeing of prisoners in Turkmenistan, some constitutional and judicial procedure reforms, etc.), the overall situation in the fields of human rights and the rule of law remains worryingtroubling despite the new institutions set up and constitutional or legal changes designed to improve it;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Regards it as of the utmost importance that energy cooperation projects include long-term supply agreements, enshrining the principles of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative; calls for the promotion of EITI and other such initiatives by the EU in all the states of the region that have significant extractive resources;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3 a (new)
Subheading 3 a (new)
Trade and energy
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Stresses the importance of energy in the relations with Central Asian countries, as a major source of revenue for the states, as well as a potential source of energy security for the EU; welcomes the signing of memorandums of understanding with Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, as well as the steps taken in the development of the Southern Corridor, notably in the shape of the Nabucco Project; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to continue supporting energy projects, as well as fostering communication towards important goals such as the Trans-Caspian route; welcomes the participation of all the Central Asian countries in the Baku Initiative;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Notes with concern the adverse effect had in Central Asia by the global financial crisis and the increasing levels of poverty; considers that the path towards a healthy social and political life is tied to economic prosperity and that the EU needs to address the development of Central Asia economies as a major part of its strategy for the region; calls for enhanced support for poverty alleviation programs and notes the importance of EIB investment;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)
Paragraph 11 d (new)
11d. Underlines the unbalanced nature of some of the Central Asian economies, which overly rely on natural resources and considers that diversification is a major goal for the medium and long term in the region; notes in this area the importance of the Central Asia Invest programme and calls for it to be applied in all the five countries;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Reaffirms its support for actions aimed at fostering regional cooperation as the only way to address the many cross-border security, resource management, ethnic, environmental and development problems of the states concerned; considers that the continuation of the Border Management Programme is a very important tool of assistance;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls for the inclusion of cross-border cooperation with Afghanistan, in particular with its border provinces, inStresses the need for coherence between the EU’s approach to Afghanistan and the Central Asia Strategy, in particular in relation with transport, energy, trade and development actions and programmes;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Calls on the EU to focus its assistance on combating drug and human trafficking, issues that represent the main source of instability in Central Asia which can be targeted by EU efforts; notes with concern the development of this issue in all the region and calls for trans-border efforts to be suggested and promoted by the EU; supports the organisation of Central Asian fora for combating narco- crime;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Is concerned at the dual issue of rising fundamentalist views and movements as a spill-over effect from Afghanistan but also as an reaction to the problematic human rights and democratic record of the governments in the region; notes that the fight against terrorism is an important element for the EU’s Central Asia strategy;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 e (new)
Paragraph 19 e (new)
19e. Deplores that an agreement over the status of the Caspian Sea has yet to be found and considers that the EU should be consistent in promoting that the Central Asian countries bordering the sea, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, take an active and open part in the negotiations;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5
Subheading 5
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6
Subheading 6
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7
Subheading 7
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8
Subheading 8
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 9
Subheading 9
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29