Activities of Norica NICOLAI related to 2017/2056(INI)
Reports (1)
REPORT on a European Parliament recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the negotiations on the EU-Azerbaijan Comprehensive Agreement PDF (523 KB) DOC (70 KB)
Amendments (29)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
– having regard to United Nations Security Council resolutions 882, 853, 874 and 884,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 b (new)
Citation 1 b (new)
– having regard to the key principles enshrined in The Global Strategy for the EU’s Foreign and Security Policy of June 2016, particularly those pertaining to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders of states are equally respected by all participating states,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 c (new)
Citation 1 c (new)
– having regard to the Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership between EU and Azerbaijan in the field of energy of 7 November 2006,
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 d (new)
Citation 1 d (new)
– having regard to the Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit (Brussels, 24 November 2017) where European Union and Member States confirm their commitment to support to the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of all their partners,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 23 October 2013 on European Neighbourhood Policy as well as resolution of 9 July 2015 on the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy,
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
– having regard to its Annual report on the implementation of CFSP of 13 December 2017,
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A (new)
Recital A (new)
A. whereas the Eastern Partnership is based on a shared commitment between Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and the European Union to deepen their relations and adhere to international law and core values, including democracy, the rule of law, good governance, the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B (new)
Recital B (new)
B. whereas the European Parliament favours a deepening of relations with all Eastern Partnership members insofar as they respect these core values; whereas, within the EaP policy, the attractive longer-term ‘EaP+’ model proposed by the European Parliament in its 15 November 2017 resolution on the Eastern Partnership, that could eventually lead to joining the customs union, energy union, digital union and Schengen area among others, should also be open to countries that do not have an association agreement with the EU - such as Azerbaijan - once they are ready for such enhanced commitments and have made significant progress towards implementing mutually agreed reforms;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C (new)
Recital C (new)
C. whereas Azerbaijan is an important partner for the EU; whereas the EU and Azerbaijan are strong economic partners, with bilateral trade amounting to approximately EUR 16billion; whereas the EU is Azerbaijan's first trading partner and its biggest export and import market; whereas Azerbaijan is a strategic energy partner for the EU, allowing for a diversification of the EU’s energy sources;
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D (new)
Recital D (new)
D. whereas the geographic situation of Azerbaijan between Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East and neighbouring regional powers, notably Russia, Iran and Turkey, is both strategic and challenging; whereas protracted conflicts in the South Caucasus, affecting also Armenia and Georgia pose a major threat to all partners’ independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity; whereas the Nagorno Karabakh conflict can only be solved peacefully in line with the OSCE 2009 Basic Principles, notably through the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E (new)
Recital E (new)
E. whereas the EU and Azerbaijan underlined in the Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit of 24 November 2017 that “in a differentiated way, the EU will continue to jointly discuss with each of the partner countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus, attractive and realistic options to strengthen mutual trade and encourage investment to reflect common interests, the reformed investment policy as regards investment protection, as well as international trade rules and trade-related international standards, including in the area of intellectual property, and contribute to the modernisation and diversification of economies”;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F (new)
Recital F (new)
F. whereas the negotiations on the new agreement are progressing positively, at a steady pace and have made good progress; whereas the new agreement is expected to have a positive impact on Azerbaijan in terms of promoting democratic standards, growth and economic development; whereby such prospects are particularly important for Azerbaijan's youth in view of fostering a new generation of educated Azerbaijani, to uphold our core values and aim for the modernisation of the country;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b
Paragraph 1 – point b
(b) to remind the Azerbaijani authorities about the European Parliament’s position as expressed in its resolution of 15 November 2017 on the Eastern Partnership, which unambiguously states that no comprehensive agreement will be ratified with a country that does not respect EU valuethat call for overall compliance of the country with its international commitments, in particular with regard to the non-implementation of decisions by the European Court of Human Rights aend theof harassment, intimidation and persecution of human rights defenders, NGOs and journalists; to ensure that significant steps are taken as regards the release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Azerbaijan before any new EU-Azerbaijan agreement; to ensure a dedicated suspension mechanism related to human rights and fundamental freedoms is included in the neware key requirements / incentives for swift ratification of any new EU-Azerbaijan agreement;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c
Paragraph 1 – point c
(c) to remind the Azerbaijani authorities about the European Parliament position expressed in the sameprevious resolutions according to which the ratification of new agreements between the EU and each of the parties to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict must be made conditional on meaningful commitments to and substantial progress towards solving the conflict, such as maintaining the ceasefire and supporting the implementation of the OSCE 2009 Basic Principles andmeaningful commitments by both sides to and substantial progress towards settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k
Paragraph 1 – point k
(k) to ensure that high priority is given to dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia and to an enhanced EU participation in peacefully solving the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in line with the OSCE 2009 Basic Principles and notably with the support of the OSCE Minsk Group Co- Chairs, promoting all initiatives conducive to peace-building such as high- level talks, genuine confidence-building measures and exchanges between Armenian and Azerbaijani civil society;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k g (new)
Paragraph 1 – point k g (new)
(kg) to call for the withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh and their return to Azerbaijani control;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k h (new)
Paragraph 1 – point k h (new)
(kh) recalls its position that the occupation by one country of the Eastern Partnership of the territory of another violates the fundamental principles and objectives of the Eastern Partnership and that the resolution of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict should comply with UN Security Council resolutions822, 853, 874 and 884 of 1993 and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Basic Principles;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k j (new)
Paragraph 1 – point k j (new)
(kj) to call for immediate withdrawal of Armenian forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan to restore its territorial integrity, and to end the on- going conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan which unnecessarily claim the lives of civilians and soldiers whilst depriving hundreds of thousands IDPs of the right to return to their homelands, and hampering socioeconomic development;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k k (new)
Paragraph 1 – point k k (new)
(kk) to underline that the on-going occupation of the Azerbaijani territories is a violation of international law and is contrary to the founding principles of the European Neighbourhood Policy, thereby jeopardising the whole Eastern Partnership project;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k l (new)
Paragraph 1 – point k l (new)
(kl) to reiterate deep concerns on illegal activities exercised by Armenian troops on the occupied Azerbaijani territories, namely regular military manoeuvres, renewal of military hardware and personnel and the deepening of defensive echelons;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k m (new)
Paragraph 1 – point k m (new)
(km) recalls the EP position expressed in the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy of 9 July 2015 that the occupation of territory of a partner country violates the fundamental principles and objectives of the ENP;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point k n (new)
Paragraph 1 – point k n (new)
(kn) to reaffirm EU’s commitment to support Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within internationally recognised borders;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l
Paragraph 1 – point l
(l) to put in place specific provisions to support the authorities’ important efforts in aiding the large number of refugees and internally displaced persons resulting from the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenian forces, as recognized by relevant UNSC resolutions as well as UNGA resolution of 2008 and to support civilians living in conflict areas within Azerbaijan’s internationally recognised borders; to contribute in particular to upholding their right to return to their homes and property and to be awarded compensation in line with the rulings of the ECHR;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point l a (new)
(la) to assist Azerbaijan in dealing with problems that the country has been facing as a result of massive forced internal displacement from Nagorno-Karabakh conflict area, and to act resolutely for the protection and restoration of the rights of displaced people, including their rights to return, property rights and the right to personal security;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point l b (new)
(lb) to express concerns that hundreds of thousands of refugees and IDPs who fled their homes during or in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh war remain displaced and denied their rights, including the right to return, property rights and the right to personal security; calls on all parties to unambiguously and unconditionally recognise these rights, the need for their prompt realisation and for a prompt solution to this problem that respects the principles of international law; demands, in this regard, the withdrawal of Armenian forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan, accompanied by deployment of international forces to be organised with respect of the UN Charter in order to provide the necessary security guarantees in a period of transition, which will ensure the security of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh and allow the displaced persons to return to their homes and further conflicts caused by homelessness to be prevented; 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; considers that the situation of the IDPs and refugees should be dealt with according to international standards, including with regard to the recent PACE Recommendation 1877(2009), ‘Europe’s forgotten people: protecting the human rights of long-term displaced persons’;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point l c (new)
Paragraph 1 – point l c (new)
(lc) to reiterate its serious concern that hundreds of thousands of IDPs and refugees who fled their native lands in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remain displaced and to reaffirm the right of all IDPs and refugees to return to their places of origin in safety and dignity;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point r
Paragraph 1 – point r
(r) to ensure, before the conclusion of the negotiations, that Azerbaijan takes significant steps as regards the release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience which, in 2017, exceeded 150 persons, including, among the most emblematic cases, Ilgar Mammadov, Afgan Mukhtarli, Mehman Huseynov, Ilkin Rustamzada, Seymur Hazi, Rashad Ramazanov, Elchin Ismayilli, Giyas Ibrahimov, Beyram Mammadov, Asif Yusifli, Fuad Gahramanli and Aziz Orujov, the lifting of their travel bans once released, including those of Khadija Ismayilova and Intigam Aliyev; to secure the release and improvement of the situation of these individuals via the judiciary and the application of the rule of law;
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ab a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point ab a (new)
(aba) to take also appropriate steps towards opening a visa dialogue with Azerbaijan in line with the progress made in the implementation of Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point ab b (new)
Paragraph 1 – point ab b (new)
(abb) to seek possibilities to initiate Visa Liberalisation Dialogue between EU and Azerbaijan as stated in the Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit of 2017;