Activities of Marie-Christine VERGIAT related to 2017/2122(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2016 and the European Union’s policy on the matter PDF (1 MB) DOC (145 KB)
Amendments (56)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
– having regard to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) of 18 December 1979,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)
Citation 2 b (new)
– having regard to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) of 12 April 2011,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 c (new)
Citation 2 c (new)
– having regard to the 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families,
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 d (new)
Citation 2 d (new)
– having regard to the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants adopted by the UN General Assembly on 19 September 2016,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
– having regard to the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to the 2030 Agenda to ensure peace and prosperity for people and the planet,
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)
Citation 3 b (new)
– having regard to the UN report of 26 October 2015 on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of states on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights,
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas, under Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union, the EU is to accede to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; whereas Article 21 of the TEU commits the EU to developing a common foreign and security policy (CFSP) guided by the principles of democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principle of equality and solidarity, and compliance with the UN Charter, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and international law;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas, as the UN pointed out in its report of 26 October 2015, these are very troubled times for the global economy: a situation which, combined with certain public decisions, is having an adverse impact on the most basic human rights, particularly economic and social rights, as well as on people's living conditions (with rising unemployment, poverty, inequality and insecure employment, and with declining quality in, and restricted access to, healthcare and education), meaning that people's wellbeing is also being adversely affected;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas freedom of thought, conscience, and religion and belief must be enhanced unconditionally, including the freedom to believe or not to believe, to practise or not to practise the religion of one's choice, and to take on, abandon or change a religion, must be guaranteed all over the world, and unconditionally enhanced, in particular through interreligious and intercultural dialogue;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas trade and human rights reinforce eachhe UN Guiding Principles on business, trade and human rights link all states and all business enterprises, multinational or otherwise, and whereas the business community has an important role to play in offering positive incenregardless of their size, sector, location, ownership and structure, but whereas beyond measures to promote human rights and corporate responsibility, there are currently no effective principles or mechanisms as regards monitoring and penaltives in terms of promoting human rights, democracy and corporate responsibility; whereas the Member States and the Union itself must, as a priority, guarantee that human rights are protected, in particular by playing an active role in drawing up a binding treaty at UN level to ensure that European businesses uphold human rights, regardless of where they might breach those rights; whereas that priority will require – in addition to the introduction of monitoring mechanisms and penalties – the establishment of redress measures where rights are breached;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas placing a high value on freedom and the principle of holding periodicfreedom of opinion and expression, and the holding of regular, transparent and genuine electionoral processes are essential elements of democracy;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas appropriate resources must be made available and deployed in the most efficient manner in order to enhance the promotion of human rights and democracy in third countries by supporting civil society and, in particular, human rights defenders, without interfering in the political processes of the countries concerned;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas respect for and the promotion, of the indivisibility and safeguarding of the universality of human rights arshould be cornerstones of the CFSP; whereas in its role of scrutiny over the CFSP, Parliament has the right to be kept informed of and consulted on its main aspects and basic choices (Article 36 of the TEU); strongly opposes any reorientation of the CFSP towards an increased militarisation relating only to the reinforcement of NATO and considers that European policies should be oriented solely towards peace and conflict resolution;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
Ma. whereas migration is a major external policy challenge requiring appropriate solutions based on strict compliance with international agreements and respect for human rights;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M b (new)
Recital M b (new)
Mb. whereas, according to UNICEF, almost 50 million children worldwide were uprooted in 2015, of whom 28 million were forcibly displaced by conflict and violence1b; _________________ 1b http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/U prooted_growing_crisis_for_refugee_and _migrant_children.pdf
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M c (new)
Recital M c (new)
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses the inalienable nature of the right of people to self-determination as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates its firm belief that the EU and its Member States must actively pursue the principle of mainstreaming human rights and democracy in all EU policies; reiterates, in this regard, the crucial importance of ensuring increased coherence between the EU’s internal and external policies; regrets that EU human rights policy is limited, or even contradicted, by diplomatic, political or economic considerations and that democracy and human rights clauses are rarely implemented;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Reiterates its condemnation of the foreign policy of the EU and of some Member States, which has contributed to international instability and insecurity by not ending the arms trade and to the participation in military operations which have contributed to the emergence of a number of terrorist groups;notes that some EU Member States are major global arms exporters and considers it essential to apply and strengthen international standards on arms sales; calls for investigations into alleged direct or indirect financing of terrorist groups and for the undertakings involved to be held accountable;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. NoteRecalls that in 2016, DROI drafted three reports, namely on human rights and migration in third countries, corporate liability for serious human rights abuses in third countries, and the fight against trafficking in human beings in the EU’s external relations;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Expresses grave concern about the increasing number of attacks against religious minorities, in particular Christians, which are often committed by non-state actors such as ISIS/Daesh; recalls that Muslim populations are the first victims of these acts of violence; calls for the EU and its Member States to step up their efforts to enhance respect for freedom of thought, conscience, and religion and belief and to promote interreligious and interfaith dialogue when engaging with third countries; requests concrete action towards the effective implementation of the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief, including by ensuring the systematic and consistent training of EU staff at headquarters and in delegations; supports fullynotes the EU practice of taking the lead on thematic resolutions on freedom of religionthought, conscience and breliefgion at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the UN General Assembly (UNGA); supports fully the work of the EU Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU, Mr Ján Figel; condemns all exploitation of religious issues;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Regrets that the financial and economic crisis and the sovereign debt crisis, together with the budgetary restrictions adopted in an attempt to address them, are having a negative impact on civil, economic and social rights;stresses that the UN has repeatedly criticised the management of sovereign debt and its consequences for human rights;regrets the fact that none of the Member States voted for the UN resolution of 10 September 2015 recognising, in particular, the right of any state to restructure its sovereign debt;recalls that according to the UN report on ‘financial globalisation’, the liberalisation of trade, the privatisation of public services and the increasing role of businesses in development are having an impact on fundamental rights to such an extent as to compromise the establishment of a sustainable means of subsistence;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Reiterates the fact that freedom of expression online and offline is a vital component of any democratic society, as it nourishes a culture of pluralism that empowers civil society and citizens to hold their governments and decision-makers to account, and supports respect for the rule of law; stresses, therefore, that the EU should intensify its efforts to promote freedom of expression through its external policies and instruments; deplores the fact that, according to Reporters Sans Frontières1 c, 74 journalists met their deaths in 2016 and 348 others were imprisoned, including over one hundred in Turkey, and reiterates its request for the EU and its Member States to enhance their monitoring of all types of restrictions on freedom of expression and the media in third countries and to rapidly and systematically condemn such limitations; emphasises the importance of ensuring the effective implementation of the EU Guidelines on Freedom of Expression Online and Offline and of regularly monitoring their impact; calls on the EU to effectively protect journalists and bloggers under threat in the world, and welcomes the new European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) launched in 2016, with its specific focus on training EU delegations and media actors in third countries on how to apply the Guidelines; _________________ 1c https://rsf.org/sites/default/files/rsf_2016- part_2-en.pdf
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Deplores the deaths, according to the Amnesty International annual report 2015/2016, of at least 156 human rights defenders, condemns all forms of persecution - be this by the courts, the state or private individuals - of human rights defenders, and expresses its concern at the increase in the number of forced disappearances, especially of environmental activists;expresses disappointment at the fact that only 57 states worldwide have ratified the ad hoc UN Convention;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers it deeply regrettable that torture, ill-treatment and the death penalty continue all overin many countries across the world, and calls for the EU to intensify its efforts to eradicate these serious human rights violations; expresses alarm at the fact that in 2016, 1 032 people were executed across 23 countries1 d, and urges the EEAS and the VP/HR to engage more strongly in the fight against torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, including the death penalty, through increased diplomatic efforts and more systematic public positioning; recommends that the EEAS, the EU delegations and the Member States be especially vigilant vis-à-vis states which are threatening to introduce or re- introduce the death penalty, and use all existing instruments, such as the EU Guidelines on Torture, to their full potential; welcomes the fact that the UN’s resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty was adopted by the UNGA in December 2016 with the support of 117 countries; _________________ 1d https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/do cument/?indexNumber=act50%2f5740%2 f2017
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the adoption of the EU Gender Action Plan 2016-2020 which sets out a comprehensive list of measures to improve the situation of women in terms of equal rights and empowerment; emphasises the importance of ensuring its effective implementation; welcomes, in addition, the adoption of the Strategic Engagement for Gender Equality 2016-2019, which promotes gender equality and women’s rights worldwide; stresses that the ratification and effective implementation by all Member States of the Istanbul Convention must be viewed as a priority for coming year; points out that education - and more especially non-sexist education - is the best tool for combating discrimination and violence against women and children, and requests that the Commission, the EEAS and the VP/HR step up their fulfilment of the obligations and commitments in the area of women’s rights under the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); believes that the EU should continue mainstreaming support for women within common security and defence policy (CSDP) operations, conflict prevention and post- conflict reconstruction and in particular should ensure that all necessary medical assistance is provided, in conditions of complete security, to women who are victims of war rape - including abortion as provided for in international humanitarian law; recalls that the 2016 Sakharov Prize was awarded to Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar, survivors of sexual enslavement perpetrated by ISIS/Daesh; strongly condemns all forms of abuse and violence against women and girls in this connection;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Emphasises that the economic crisis has further exacerbated inequalities and that women are the first to suffer as a result;stresses also that the 'empowerment of women' goal can only be achieved by creating stable well-paid jobs rather than the precarious part-time reserved for women, and by ensuring genuine wage equality;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Considers that violence towards women is also expressed psychologically by the presence of a relationship of domination in society and by the dissemination of degrading images of women;stresses that the Commission and Member States must combat not only all forms of violence against women -be this physical, psychological, social or financial - but also adopt as a priority access to education and the combating of all gender stereotypes in respect of boys and girls, and this from a very early age;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
Paragraph 12 c (new)
12c. Stresses again the inalienable right of women to decide what to do with their bodies and to have access to healthcare and the necessary means of contraception, in particular the right to abortion;expresses concern, therefore, at the erosion of this fundamental right in recent years;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Highlights the increase in the number of stateless people and the worrying problem of unregistered children, and particularly those born far from their parents' countries of origin, which has become a particularly pressing issue as a result of the crises in Iraq and Syria;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Expresses its concern at the numerous reports and testimonies highlighting the increase in violence against migrant children, including torture and detention;points out that migrant children are particularly vulnerable, particularly when they are unaccompanied, and that they are entitled to special protection based on the best interests of the child;calls for them to be protected in accordance with the rules of international law;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Condemns in the strongest terms all forms of discrimination, including on grounds of race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, language, culture, social origin, caste, birth, age, disability or any other status; stresses that the EU should intensify its efforts to eradicate all types of discrimination, racism and xenophobia through human rights and political dialogues, the work of the EU delegations and public diplomacy; stresses, in addition, that the EU should continue promoting the ratification and full implementation of all UN conventions that support this cause; condemns the exploitation of religious issues for political ends;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Expresses profound concern that minorities and indigenous peoples are still at a heightened risk of discrimination and are especially vulnerable to political, economic, environmental and labour- related changes and disruptions; notes that many have little or no access to political representation and are acutely affected by poverty; stresses that the EU should intensify its efforts to eradicate the violations of human rights committed against minorities, and expresses its concern at the fact, which it condemns, that ethnic issues are exploited in many conflicts in order to justify violence and divide populations;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Reiterates its support for the introduction of human rights clauses in international agreements between the EU and third countries; calls on the Commission to monitor the implementation of such clauses effectively and systematically and to provide Parliament with regular reports on partner countries’ respect for human rights; takes a positive view of the GSP+ preference system as a means to stimulate the effective implementation of 27 core international conventions on human rights and labour standards; expects the Commission to report back to Parliament and to the Council on the status of its ratificationhighlights, nevertheless, the failure of their introduction in free trade agreements with third countries, as such agreements may even have led to the violation of basic economic and social rights, including the impoverishment of the populations concerned and the grabbing of resources by transnational companies; sees a need, moreover, for ex ante monitoring mechanisms prior to a framework agreement being concluded and on which such conclusion is made conditional as a fundamental part of the agreement, and for ex post monitoring mechanisms which enable infringements of these clauses to be condemned and practical action taken in response to them, including the possible suspension of the agreement; believes that besides these clauses there is a need to implement new forms of cooperation to facilitate the economic and social development of third countries based on the needs of their peoples; reiterates the importance of the proper implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Reaffirms the fact that the activities of all companies, including European ones, operating in third countries should be in full compliance with international human rights standards; reaffirms, moreover, the importance of promoting corporate social responsibility and of European enterprises playing a leading role in promoting international standards on business and human rights, including by participating fully in the drafting and implementation of a binding treaty under the auspices of the UN; acknowledges that global value chains contribute to enhancing international core labour, environmental and social standards, and represent an opportunity for sustainable progress, especially in developing countries;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Strongly condemns the heinous crimes and human rights violations committed by non-state actors such as Boko Haram in Nigeria and ISIS/Daesh in Syria and Iraq; is horrified at the vast range of crimes committed, including murder, torture, rape, enslavement and sexual slavery, the recruitment of child soldiers, forced religious conversions and the systematic killing of religious minorities, including Christians, Yazidis and others ; emphasises that the EU and its Member States should support the prosecution of members of non-state groups such as ISIS/Daesh by seeking a consensus within the UN Security Council to confer jurisdiction to the International Criminal Court (ICC); stresses that efforts to combat terrorism cannot be genuinely successful while trade agreements and political relations are maintained with the countries that fund terrorism; denounces arms sales to those countries by certain Member States and calls therefore for the suspension of those agreements and for the prosecution of undertakings that directly or indirectly finance terrorism; condemns any exploitation of the fight against terrorism which leads to breaches of fundamental rights;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Reiterates its full support for the ICC, the Rome Statute, the Office of the Prosecutor, the Prosecutor’s proprio motu powers, and the progress made in initiating new investigations as an essential means to fight impunity for atrocity crimes; welcomes the meeting of 6 July 2016 between EU and ICC representatives in Brussels in preparation for the 2nd EU-ICC round table meeting, enabling relevant staff at the ICC and the EU institutions to identify common areas of interest, exchange information on relevant activities and ensure better cooperation between both parties; notes, with profound regret, the recent announcements of withdrawals from the Rome Statute, which represent a challenge in terms of victims’ access to justice and which should be firmly condemned; reiterates its call for the VP/HR to appoint an EUSR for International Humanitarian Law and International Justice with a mandate to promote, mainstream and represent the EU’s commitment to the fight against impunity and to the ICC across EU foreign policies; calls on the EU and its Member States not to engage in cooperation in any area with countries whose leaders are subject to an ICC arrest warrant and not to have diplomatic relations with them;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Expresses profound concern at and solidarity with the large number of refugees and migrants who suffer grave human rights violations as the victims of conflicts, persecution, poverty, violent repression, governance failures and illegal migration, trafficking and smuggling networks, in which many public authorities are directly or indirectly implicated; condemns the dramatic increase in the number of deaths at sea in the Mediterranean; stresses the urgent need to genuinely tackle the root causes of migration flows and therefore to address the external dimension of the refugee crisis, including by finding sustainable solutions to conflicts in our neighbourhood by developing cooperation and partnerships with the third countries concerned, but also by granting humanitarian visas and opening up legal channels for migrants; stresses the inconsistency of EU policies and particularly condemns the conditions attached to aid to certain countries by readmission agreements; underlines the need for a comprehensive human-rights- based approach to migration and calls foron the EU to collaborate furtheroperate more with the UN, regional organisations, governments and NGOs; considers that the erection of fences or walls, far from disrupting the economic model followed by the people smugglers and traffickers, only adds impetus to their human trafficking activities;
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Stresses that solutions to the global development of migration and refugee crises will only be found if responses are built on the principle of solidarity and a global strategy to promote safe and legal migration which ensures full respect for human rights and fundamental values; calls on the EU and its Member States to promote peace and to support and promote peace processes and dialogue around the world, rejecting any participation in military operations; stresses that a global migration strategy built on human rights is needed, taking into account also humanitarian and development aid;
Amendment 276 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. Calls on the EU and its Member States to take into account the persecution and discrimination suffered by migrants; stresses that the concepts of safe countries and safe countries of origin must not prevent the consideration of individual asylum applications; expresses concern at the proliferation of negotiations on the subject of readmission and return; calls for the suspension of all readmission agreements with countries that do not respect human rights; calls on Member States to respect the principle of non- refoulement to countries where the lives and liberty of the persons concerned would be at risk; calls for applications by migrants in need of international protection to be taken into account in all circumstances;
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 c (new)
Paragraph 23 c (new)
23c. Calls on the EU and its Member States to sign mobility agreements which favour exchanges of skills, no matter of what level, including the lowest; calls for permanent and compulsory resettlement programmes to be established, giving access to family reunification and granting humanitarian visas which give asylum seekers the possibility of entering third countries to make their claim;
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 d (new)
Paragraph 23 d (new)
23d. Rejects any attempts to outsource the European Union’s migration policies; rejects any agreement that does not guarantee the protection of refugees and respect for the fundamental rights of migrants; condemns the creation and use of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa, which is financed to a large extent out of the European Development Fund (EDF), and the extension of the Rabat Process to the countries of the Horn of Africa whose governments have been condemned by the ICC or the UN, or the Khartoum Process; calls for assessment and monitoring of these mechanisms and this fund and any similar agreements such as the EU- Turkey statement;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 e (new)
Paragraph 23 e (new)
23e. Reaffirms the principle of the right to live as a family, calls on the EU and its Member States to do everything possible to ensure that it is respected all over the world, and calls in this context for cooperation with third countries and assessments of systems of aid to migrants and asylum-seekers;
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 f (new)
Paragraph 23 f (new)
23f. Calls for the rights of migrants, no matter what their status may be, to be guaranteed, particularly in agreements with third countries, which must accord with international law, and calls for the adoption of legislation on the subject, including on asylum, which means in particular that merely crossing a border irregularly must not be regarded as grounds for imprisonment;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls on the EU and its Member States to increase their financial contribution to humanitarian and development aid; deplores the fact that most EU Member States have not achieved the target of allocating 0.7% of their GNI to official development aid as agreed 45 years ago and that some of them have even cut their development aid contributions; insists that development aid should not be used under migration policies; calls on the EU and its Member States not to count in their development aid any monies spent on receiving refugees or migrants or on controlling or returning migrants;
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Considers that the detention conditions and the state of prisons in a number of countries are a matter of grave concern; considers it essential to combat all forms of torture and ill-treatment of detainees, including psychological torture, and to step up efforts to ensure compliance with the relevant international law; considers that refusal to permit prisoners access to care and medicines, particularly in the case of those with hepatitis or HIV, constitutes ill- treatment or even an act of torture, and may be tantamount to failure to assist persons in danger;
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Recalls that corruption is a threat to the equal enjoyment of human rights and undermines democratic processes such asthe foundations of democracy, the rule of law and the fair administration of justice; takes the view that the EU should emphasise in all platforms for dialogue with third countries the importance of integrity, accountability and the proper management of public affairs, finances and property, as stipulated in the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC); recommends that the EU use its expertise to support third countries more consistently and systematically in their efforts to tackle corruption, by setting up and consolidating independent and effective anti-corruption institutions;
Amendment 302 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Highlights the essential obligations and responsibilities of states and other duty bearers to mitigate climate change, prevent its negative impacts on human rights and foster policy coherence in order to ensure that climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts are adequate, sufficiently ambitious, non-discriminatory and otherwise compliant with human rights obligations; stresses that environmental changes may undermine the most basic human rights such as access to water, natural resources and food;
Amendment 304 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Stresses that land-grabbing has increased considerably since 2008 with, according to the FAO, 50-80 million hectares of agricultural land in developing countries being subject to lease or purchase negotiations on the part of international investors, some two-thirds of this land being in sub-Saharan Africa; considers that the fight against the exploitation and appropriation of resources should be a priority; highlights in particular the link between the exploitation of resources and the funding of conflicts, wars and violence and their impact on population movements;
Amendment 315 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Expresses its conviction that the revised European neighbourhood policy should continue to have the promotion of human rights and democratic principles at its core; reiterates the fact that the promotion of human rights and democracy are in the interest of both partner countries, ands of the EU;
Amendment 317 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Recommends that the EU step up its efforts to develop a more comprehensive approach to democratisation processes, of which free and fair elections are only one, media diversity and egalitarian allocation of speaking time to candidates are just certain dimensions, in order to contribute positively to the strengthening of democratic institutions and public confidence in electoral processes worldwide;
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Welcomes the eight Election Observation Missions (EOMs) and the eight Electoral Expert Missions (EEMs) deployed around the globe by the EU in 2016; highlights the fact that since 2015, the EU has deployed 17 EOMs and 23 EEMs; reiterates its positive view of the EU’s continued support for electoral processes and its provision of electoral assistance and support for domestic observers; welcomes and fully supports the work of the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG) in this regard;
Amendment 333 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Reiterates its view that a solid consensus and enhanced coordination between Member States and the EU institutions is required in order to advance the human rights and democracy agenda coherently and consistently; stresses firmlydeplores the fact that Member States shouldare not takeing greater ownership of the implementation of the Action Plan and of the EU Strategic Framework and useing them as a blueprint for promoting human rights and democracy bilaterally and multilaterally;
Amendment 342 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Recalls the EU’s commitment to placing human rights and democracy at the centre of its relations with third countries; stresses, therefore, that the advancement of human rights and democratic principles needs to be supported through all EU policies with an external dimension, such as enlargement and neighbourhood policy, the CSDP, and development, trade, justice and home affairs policies, as well as policies on migration;
Amendment 350 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Reiterates its full support for the EU’s strong engagement in promoting the advancement of human rights and democratic principles through cooperation with UN structures and UN specialised agencies, the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in line with Articles 21 and 220 of the TEU;