Activities of Birgit SCHNIEBER-JASTRAM related to 2011/2111(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU foreign policy towards the BRICS and other emerging powers (debate)
Amendments (7)
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Points out that the BRICS countries are too diverse for the EU to pursue a single policy towards them; suggests instead that the EU should try to find coherent patterns and areas of BRICS interest (technical cooperation and assistance, alignment of legislative requirements, etc.) which could allow the EU to establish itself as a primary BRICS partner and to exploit its comparative advantages, such as advanced environmental legislation, experience in regional cooperation and expertise in setting up systems for reducing social inequalities (e.g. efficient tax and social protection systems); is aware that BRICS is a stronger economic grouping and is more suited to address global political and economic issues, whereas the IBSA grouping (India, Brazil and South Africa) already has mechanisms in place to tackle socio-economic and developmental issues;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that the EU must decide whether it wants to establish a closer relationship with BRICS; acknowledges the trade-offs that this would entail, with the EU having to accept that its preference for binding commitments and institutionalised regimes will not necessarily be shared by those countries; also believes that BRICS countries' support for an effective multilateralism might be gained in exchange for a stronger representation in relevant international institutions; insists that the challenges posed by the rise of the BRICS should be seen as a chance rather than a problem;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the EU to uphold standards of corporate social responsibility even in the face of increased competition over resources in order to guarantee legal security and sustainable long-time partnerships;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Welcomes initiatives within the context of the Joint EU-Africa Strategy 2nd Action Plan 2011-2013 providing training on best practice in negotiating mineral contracts and in fostering scientific cooperation in the mining sector as initiatives like EITI will only take effect in the longer term and some BRICS countries do not yet participate in them;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to define specific areas of cooperation with BRICS in the field of development policy, e.g. cooperation in the fight against AIDS, which is not only important within China and other BRICS countries themselves but also a focus of their development cooperation, cooperation in mitigation of and adaptation to climate change or cooperation with Brazil in the agricultural dimensions of development; also stresses that dialogues in the context of budget support and capacity building in African countries have proven to be productive with regards to intensified discussions with BRICS;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Points out that enhancing transparency on financing flows, ensuring competitive bidding in projects, and fully assessing the macroeconomic impact of financing in the field of development policies is in the interest of low income countries, the BRICS and the EU;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Proposes that the EU's focus on ‘aid effectiveness’ should be re-evaluated, becausecomplemented with a focus on ‘development effectiveness’ (which focuses oni.e. output and results of development policies and assistance) which is the preferred concept of emerging donors; takes the view that the concept of ‘development effectiveness’ might thus provide not only an opportunity for more substantial EU-BRICS dialogue but also a chance to strengthen within the EU itself the concept of policy coherence for development enshrined in Article 208 TFEU;