Activities of Marietje SCHAAKE related to 2018/2160(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Post-Arab Spring: way forward for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region (debate)
Amendments (25)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to the Commission proposal (COM (2018) 460) for a Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to the partnership priorities concluded between the European Union and a variety of countries in the Middle East, including Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan,
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
- having regard to the EU Guidelines to promote and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons, adopted by the Council in 2013,
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 b (new)
Citation 17 b (new)
- having regard to the joint communication by the Commission and the VP/HR to the European Parliament and the Council of 14 March 2017 entitled ‘Elements for an EU Strategy for Syria’ (JOIN(2017)0011) and to the Council conclusions on Syria of 3 April 2017, which together make up the new EU strategy on Syria,
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Arab uprisings that affected the MENA region in 2011 constituted a moment of mass upheavals against authoritarian regimes; whereas a large segment of the protesters was composed of young women and men aspiring to a better and more inclusive future; whereas the overthrow of most of thsome regimes and the introduction of liberal reforms gave rise to great hope and expectations;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, eight years after the Arab Spring and political developments which have led countries in the Maghreb and Mashreq regions to follow many diverse evolutionary paths in terms of politics and stability, it is still essential to assess how to respond to the legitimate democratic aspirations in the region; whereas it is important to take stock of the efforts and policy stance adopted by the EU in response to the Arab Spring and to assess its capacity for policy delivery; whereas it is essential to reassess the policy framework of the EU towards Southern Neighbourhood countries and its future objectives;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas despite some reforms some MENA region countries’ authorities have intensified their crackdown on civil society, with continuous and widespread cases of politically-motivated prosecution, arbitrary detention and harassment of human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, and political opposition activists;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
E b. whereas companies based in several EU Member States have continued to export surveillance technology to some MENA countries facilitating hacking and malware as well as other forms of attacks on human rights defenders and civil society activists on social media; whereas this activity has led to the repression of freedom of expression online;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Recital E c (new)
E c. whereas any detention that results from the exercise of the rights or freedoms guaranteed in international law, such as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, is an arbitrary detention that is prohibited under international law;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with concern that, eight years after the upheavals, most of the expectations have still not been met; condemns the persistent and continuing violations of human rights, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms in several cases, and attacks on the rights of minorities and LGBTI people; is worried about the socio- economic situation in the region, which continues to be dire and, in particular, about the high levels of youth unemployment and social exclusion, which cause disillusionment and disenfranchisement on a large scale;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Supports the aspirations of the majority of MENA region people who want to establish free, stable, prosperous, inclusive, and democratic countries which respect their national and international commitments on human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Is concerned about ongoing human rights violations, the shrinking space for democracy and civil society, the curtailing of the rule of law as well as military interventions in a number of Middle Eastern countries;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Reminds the MENA region authorities that their long-term prosperity goes hand in hand with the protection of universal human rights and the establishment and anchorage of democratic and transparent institutions that are engaged in protecting citizens’ fundamental rights; condemns the extended use of security arguments in some MENA region countries to repress freedom of expression both online and offline and supress the role of the media in promoting well-informed citizens;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Welcomes the different EU assistance and aid packages for MENA countries after the Arab Spring; stresses however the need to increase efforts to tackle the root causes of conflict in the MENA countries;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Welcomes EU initiatives aimed at addressing the terrorist threat in the MENA region; underlines the importance of strengthening the capacity of state actors that play a key role in countering terrorism and violent extremism as well as the essential need to focus on partnerships between authorities, youth and communities to address underlying factors that can make communities vulnerable to violent extremism;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Expresses concern about the fact that, in spite of its considerable political and budgetary investments and continuous political and economic outreach, the EU has not been able to gain real political and economic leverage, and is no longert perceived as a game changer by the countries in the region; points to the dissatisfaction felt by civil society and local NGOs at how the EU translates its vision into action on the ground; is concerned about the increasingly complex political situation in the Maghreb and Mashreq regions, and the emergence of new political and economic regional players such as Russia and China, in addition to the competing narratives and financing from the Gulf countries and Iran;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Regrets that partnership priorities are concluded with countries without any conditions and despite significant and continuing backsliding in the field of democracy, human rights and the rule of law;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Recalls, in this regard, the crucial support provided by EIDHR in the implementation of the EU’s Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy and its Human Rights Guidelines and country strategies, which has enabled the EU to act more strategically in this area and has ensured accountability, visibility and effectiveness;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concerned, however, that the complexity of managing the migration and refugee flows from and through the Maghreb and Mashreq regions, the nexus between security and migration, the challenge of terrorism and the legitimate concerns about the fragility of certain countries in the region, as well as the lack of a cohesive approach by the Member States, is encouraging the EU’s action towards the region to rely excessively on an ideology of stability; takes the view that when stability and security become the predominant objectives, they lead to a shorter-term policy vision and deprive EU action directed at reaffirming human rights and fundamental freedoms of the required intensity; reiterates that human rights are not subsidiary to migration management or counter-terrorism actions and is convinced that stability and security can only be achieved through longer-term objectives;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Takes the view that, as the EU struggles to come up with a renewed vision for the management of migration and assistance to refugees, there is an increasing risk that some countries in the region might use migration containment and their role therein to seek greater leverage in their political and policy dialogue with the EU; is concerned about the possible instrumentalisation of EU foreign policy as ‘migration management’, and emphasises that all attempts to work with MENA region countries, including countries of origin and transit, on migration must go hand in hand with improving human rights conditions within these countries and complying with international human rights and refugee law; stresses, instead, the importance of a policy framework promoting democratic, political and socio- economic inclusion as mutually reinforcing factors; is convinced that, where the prerequisites for the negotiation of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements, conditional on democratic progress, are not yet in place, the EU should provide increased access to trade and investment, and assistance for reconstruction and infrastructure modernisation in strict correlation with progressive political and economic reforms;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Reiterates that the promotion and protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law are amongst the core principles of the EU's foreign policy as articulated in article 21 TEU; stresses that the promotion and protection of such rights and principles can never be or become secondary to economic national interests including arms trade; calls in this regard for an arms embargo on those countries in the Middle East engaged in military interventions, either outside their territories or against their own populations;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Is concerned about the ongoing sales from EU Member States of surveillance technologies used for internal repression by the governments of a number of Middle Eastern countries; reiterates its position as laid down in its report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a Union regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering, technical assistance and transit of dual- use items as adopted on January 18th 2018; urges the EU Member States to treat give utmost importance to this file in trying to reach agreement in the Council;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Welcomes the European Endowment for Democracy’s consistent efforts to promote democracy and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms in the southern neighbourhoods of the EU; recognises the risks faced by human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders who face specific risks and threats due to their gender, and calls on the EEAS and the Member States to pay special attention to them in the EU Guidelines for Human Rights Defenders; underlines the need for strong EU coordination on engagement with MENA region country authorities regarding human rights defenders and civil society;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls that women’s rights, gender equality and the right to non-discrimination of vulnerable groups, including LGBTQI people, are fundamental rights and key principles of the EU’s external action;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Strongly condemns, once again, all atrocities and the widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed during the conflict, and in particular the perpetrations committed by forces of the Assad regime including with the support of its allies Russia and Iran, as well as by the UN-listed terrorist organisations; deeply regrets the failure of repeated regional and international attempts to end the war, and urges renewed and intensive global cooperation to achieve a peaceful, sustainable solution to the conflict; stresses that there should not be any tolerance and impunity for the horrific crimes committed in Syria; reiterates its call for independent, impartial, thorough and credible investigations and prosecutions of those responsible and supports the work of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism on international crimes committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2012(IIIM); calls, furthermore, for support for civil society organisations and NGOs, which are collecting and help preserving evidence of human rights abuses and humanitarian law violations;