# CE2007301EN.01014901.xml

| 13.12.2007 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 301/149 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

13.12.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 301/149

---

MINUTES

(2007/C 301 E/04)

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SITTING

IN THE CHAIR: Pierre MOSCOVICI

Vice-President

1.   Opening of sitting

The sitting opened at 10.05.

*

- *

Carl Schlyter spoke, referring to his remarks of the previous day (Minutes of 14.03.2007, Item 15). He made a linguistic correction to the Swedish version of the Muscardini report which had been adopted in October 2006 (P6_TA(2006)0450).

(Minutes of 14.03.2007, Item 15)

(P6_TA(2006)0450)

2.   Documents received

The following documents had been received from the Council and Commission:

| — | Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of the environment through criminal law (COM(2007)0051 — C6-0063/2007 — 2007/0022(COD))






  referred to | responsible: JURI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | opinion: ENVI, LIBE |

—

Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of the environment through criminal law (COM(2007)0051 — C6-0063/2007 — 2007/0022(COD))

referred to

responsible: JURI

opinion: ENVI, LIBE

| — | Proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 2001/114/EC relating to certain partly or wholly dehydrated preserved milk for human consumption (COM(2007)0058 [[01]] — C6-0083/2007 — 2007/0025(CNS))






  referred to | responsible: AGRI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | opinion: ENVI |

—

Proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 2001/114/EC relating to certain partly or wholly dehydrated preserved milk for human consumption (COM(2007)0058 [[01]] — C6-0083/2007 — 2007/0025(CNS))

referred to

responsible: AGRI

opinion: ENVI

| — | Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products (COM(2007)0058 [[02]] — C6-0084/2007 — 2007/0026(CNS))






  referred to | responsible: AGRI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | opinion: ENVI |

—

Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products (COM(2007)0058 [[02]] — C6-0084/2007 — 2007/0026(CNS))

referred to

responsible: AGRI

opinion: ENVI

| — | Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 2597/97 laying down additional rules on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products for drinking milk (COM(2007)0058 [[03]] — C6-0085/2007 — 2007/0027(CNS))






  referred to | responsible: AGRI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | opinion: ENVI |

—

Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 2597/97 laying down additional rules on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products for drinking milk (COM(2007)0058 [[03]] — C6-0085/2007 — 2007/0027(CNS))

referred to

responsible: AGRI

opinion: ENVI

| — | Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, as regards the implementing powers conferred on the Commission (COM(2007)0093 — C6-0088/2007 — 2007/0036(COD))






  referred to | responsible: ENVI |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, as regards the implementing powers conferred on the Commission (COM(2007)0093 — C6-0088/2007 — 2007/0036(COD))

referred to

responsible: ENVI

| — | Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on quarterly statistics on Community job vacancies (COM(2007)0076 — C6-0090/2007 — 2007/0033(COD))






  referred to | responsible: EMPL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | opinion: BUDG, ECON |

—

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on quarterly statistics on Community job vacancies (COM(2007)0076 — C6-0090/2007 — 2007/0033(COD))

referred to

responsible: EMPL

opinion: BUDG, ECON

| — | Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union (COM(2007)0095 — C6-0091/2007 — 2007/0038(COD))






  referred to | responsible: REGI |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union (COM(2007)0095 — C6-0091/2007 — 2007/0038(COD))

referred to

responsible: REGI

| — | Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 08/2007 — Section III — Commission (SEC(2007)0159 — C6-0092/2007 — 2007/2045(GBD))






  referred to | responsible: BUDG |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Proposal for transfer of appropriations DEC 08/2007 — Section III — Commission (SEC(2007)0159 — C6-0092/2007 — 2007/2045(GBD))

referred to

responsible: BUDG

3.   Regional policy (islands and natural and economic constraints) (debate)

(debate)

Report on the islands and natural and economic constraints in the context of the regional policy (2006/2106(INI)) — Committee on Regional Development.

Rapporteur: Francesco Musotto (A6-0044/2007)

Francesco Musotto introduced the report.

Neelie Kroes (Member of the Commission) spoke.

The following spoke: Simon Busuttil, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Stavros Arnaoutakis, on behalf of the PSE Group, Elspeth Attwooll, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Mieczysław Edmund Janowski, on behalf of the UEN Group, Alyn Smith, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Kyriacos Triantaphyllides, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Derek Roland Clark, on behalf of the IND/DEM Group, Luca Romagnoli, on behalf of the ITS Group, Nikolaos Vakalis, Catherine Stihler, Alfonso Andria, Pedro Guerreiro, Margie Sudre, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Giusto Catania, Rolf Berend, Paulo Casaca and Sérgio Marques.

IN THE CHAIR: Luigi COCILOVO

Vice-President

The following spoke: Andrzej Jan Szejna, Den Dover, Emanuel Jardim Fernandes, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Giuseppe Castiglione and Neelie Kroes

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 15.03.2007, Item 5.11.

Minutes of 15.03.2007, Item 5.11

4.   Local authorities and development cooperation (debate)

(debate)

Report on local authorities and development cooperation (2006/2235(INI)) — Committee on Development.

Rapporteur: Pierre Schapira (A6-0039/2007)

Pierre Schapira introduced the report.

Neelie Kroes (Member of the Commission) spoke.

The following spoke: Manolis Mavrommatis, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Atanas Paparizov, on behalf of the PSE Group, Jean Marie Beaupuy, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Wiesław Stefan Kuc, on behalf of the UEN Group, Luisa Morgantini, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Alessandro Battilocchio, Gay Mitchell, Józef Pinior, Thierry Cornillet, Zbigniew Krzysztof Kuźmiuk, Sylwester Chruszcz, Roberta Alma Anastase, Danutė Budreikaitė and Neelie Kroes.

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 15.03.2007, Item 5.12.

Minutes of 15.03.2007, Item 5.12

(The sitting was suspended at 12.00 pending voting time and resumed at 12.05.)

(The sitting was suspended at 12.00 pending voting time and resumed at 12.05.)

IN THE CHAIR: Hans-Gert PÖTTERING

President

5.   Voting time

Details of voting (amendments, separate and split votes, etc.) appear in the ‘Results of votes’ annex to the Minutes.

5.1.   Appointments to interparliamentary delegations (vote)

(vote)

Proposal by the Conference Presidents: Appointments to interparliamentary delegations (Minutes of 14.03.2007, Item 13)

(Minutes of 14.03.2007, Item 13)

The proposal was adopted.

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 1)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 1)

A list of the appointments is published as an annex to these Minutes.

5.2.   Community action on the provision of cross-border health care (vote)

(vote)

Motion for a resolution B6-0098/2007

(Simple majority)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 2)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 2)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2007)0073)

(P6_TA(2007)0073)

5.3.   Illegal bird hunting in Malta (vote)

(vote)

Motion for a resolution B6-0119/2007

(Simple majority)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 3)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 3)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2007)0074)

(P6_TA(2007)0074)

The following spoke:

The following spoke:

| — | Louis Grech, who moved an oral amendment to amendment 7, which was not incorporated as more than 40 Members objected; |
| --- | --- |

—

Louis Grech, who moved an oral amendment to amendment 7, which was not incorporated as more than 40 Members objected;

| — | Simon Busuttil, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, who requested a roll-call vote on amendment 12; the President established that there were no objections to his request. |
| --- | --- |

—

Simon Busuttil, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, who requested a roll-call vote on amendment 12; the President established that there were no objections to his request.

5.4.   Euro-Mediterranean relations (vote)

(vote)

Motions for resolution B6-0041/2007, B6-0080/2007, B6-0084/2007, B6-0090/2007, B6-0092/2007, B6-0094/2007 and B6-0096/2007

(Simple majority)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 4)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 4)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION B6-0041/2007

Rejected

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION RC-B6-0080/2007

(replacing B6-0080/2007, B6-0084/2007, B6-0090/2007, B6-0092/2007, B6-0094/2007 and B6-0096/2007):

tabled by the following Members:

| — | Vito Bonsignore and Tokia Saïfi, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Vito Bonsignore and Tokia Saïfi, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group,

| — | Pasqualina Napoletano, Carlos Carnero González and Véronique De Keyser, on behalf of the PSE Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Pasqualina Napoletano, Carlos Carnero González and Véronique De Keyser, on behalf of the PSE Group,

| — | Philippe Morillon, Thierry Cornillet, on behalf of the ALDE Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Philippe Morillon, Thierry Cornillet, on behalf of the ALDE Group,

| — | Ryszard Czarnecki, Adriana Poli Bortone, Roberta Angelilli, Mieczysław Edmund Janowski and Eugenijus Maldeikis, on behalf of the UEN Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Ryszard Czarnecki, Adriana Poli Bortone, Roberta Angelilli, Mieczysław Edmund Janowski and Eugenijus Maldeikis, on behalf of the UEN Group,

| — | Hélène Flautre, David Hammerstein, Raül Romeva i Rueda and Cem Özdemir, on behalf of the Verts/ ALE Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Hélène Flautre, David Hammerstein, Raül Romeva i Rueda and Cem Özdemir, on behalf of the Verts/ ALE Group,

| — | Luisa Morgantini and Miguel Portas, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group. |
| --- | --- |

—

Luisa Morgantini and Miguel Portas, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group.

Adopted (P6_TA(2007)0075)

(P6_TA(2007)0075)

The following spoke:

The following spoke:

| — | Pasqualina Napoletano (co-author), who moved an oral amendment to paragraph 21 and pointed out that he thought amendment 1 had been withdrawn; |
| --- | --- |

—

Pasqualina Napoletano (co-author), who moved an oral amendment to paragraph 21 and pointed out that he thought amendment 1 had been withdrawn;

| — | Charles Tannock, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, who pointed out that he had not withdrawn amendment 1, and moved an oral amendment to Mr Napoletano's oral amendment, (neither oral amendment was incorporated as more than 40 Members objected). |
| --- | --- |

—

Charles Tannock, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, who pointed out that he had not withdrawn amendment 1, and moved an oral amendment to Mr Napoletano's oral amendment, (neither oral amendment was incorporated as more than 40 Members objected).

5.5.   Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area (vote)

(vote)

Report on the construction of the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area (2006/2173(INI)) — Committee on International Trade.

Rapporteur: Kader Arif (A6-0468/2006)

(Simple majority)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 5)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 5)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2007)0076)

(P6_TA(2007)0076)

The following spoke:

The following spoke:

| — | Gianluca Susta, on behalf of the ALDE Group, who moved an oral amendment to paragraph 58, which was incorporated. |
| --- | --- |

—

Gianluca Susta, on behalf of the ALDE Group, who moved an oral amendment to paragraph 58, which was incorporated.

5.6.   Bosnia-Herzegovina (vote)

(vote)

Report with a proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on Bosnia-Herzegovina (2006/2290(INI)) — Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Rapporteur: Doris Pack (A6-0030/2007)

(Simple majority)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 6)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 6)

PROPOSAL FOR A RECOMMENDATION

Adopted (P6_TA(2007)0077)

(P6_TA(2007)0077)

5.7.   Compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights (vote)

(vote)

Report on compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the Commission's legislative proposals: methodology for systematic and rigorous monitoring (2005/2169(INI)) — Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.

Rapporteur: Johannes Voggenhuber (A6-0034/2007)

(Simple majority)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 7)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 7)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2007)0078)

(P6_TA(2007)0078)

The following spoke:

The following spoke:

| — | Johannes Voggenhuber (rapporteur), who moved an oral amendment to paragraph 15, which was incorporated. |
| --- | --- |

—

Johannes Voggenhuber (rapporteur), who moved an oral amendment to paragraph 15, which was incorporated.

5.8.   Negotiation of an EU-Central America Association Agreement (vote)

(vote)

Report with a proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on the negotiating mandate for an association agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the countries of Central America, of the other part (2006/2222(INI)) — Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Rapporteur: Willy Meyer Pleite (A6-0026/2007)

(Simple majority)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 8)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 8)

PROPOSAL FOR A RECOMMENDATION

Adopted (P6_TA(2007)0079)

(P6_TA(2007)0079)

5.9.   Negotiation of an EU-Andean Community Association Agreement (vote)

(vote)

Report containing the European Parliament's recommendation to the Council on the negotiating mandate for an association agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Andean Community and its member countries, of the other part (2006/2221(INI)) — Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Rapporteur: Luis Yáñez-Barnuevo García (A6-0025/2007)

(Simple majority)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 9)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 9)

PROPOSAL FOR A RECOMMENDATION

Adopted (P6_TA(2007)0080)

(P6_TA(2007)0080)

The following spoke:

The following spoke:

| — | Luis Yáñez-Barnuevo García (rapporteur), who moved oral amendments to paragraph 1 points (b), (s), (u), (v) and (x), which were incorporated. |
| --- | --- |

—

Luis Yáñez-Barnuevo García (rapporteur), who moved oral amendments to paragraph 1 points (b), (s), (u), (v) and (x), which were incorporated.

5.10.   Missing persons in Cyprus (vote)

(vote)

Motion for a resolution B6-0118/2007

(Karin Resetarits, on behalf of the ALDE Group, and Kyriacos Triantaphyllides, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, had also signed the motion for a resolution.)

(Simple majority)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 10)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 10)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2007)0081)

(P6_TA(2007)0081)

The following spoke:

The following spoke:

| — | Panayiotis Demetriou, who drew attention to the presence in the distinguished visitors gallery of Christophe Girod, Chairman of the UN Committee on missing persons in Cyprus, along with Elias Georgiadis and Gülden Plümer Küçük, members of that committee. |
| --- | --- |

—

Panayiotis Demetriou, who drew attention to the presence in the distinguished visitors gallery of Christophe Girod, Chairman of the UN Committee on missing persons in Cyprus, along with Elias Georgiadis and Gülden Plümer Küçük, members of that committee.

5.11.   Regional policy (islands and natural and economic constraints) (vote)

(vote)

Report on the islands and natural and economic constraints in the context of the regional policy (2006/2106(INI)) — Committee on Regional Development.

Rapporteur: Francesco Musotto (A6-0044/2007)

(Simple majority)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 11)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 11)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2007)0082)

(P6_TA(2007)0082)

5.12.   Local authorities and development cooperation (vote)

(vote)

Report on local authorities and development cooperation (2006/2235(INI)) — Committee on Development.

Rapporteur: Pierre Schapira (A6-0039/2007)

(Simple majority)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 12)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 12)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Adopted (P6_TA(2007)0083)

(P6_TA(2007)0083)

6.   Explanations of vote

Written explanations of vote:

Written explanations of vote:

Explanations of vote submitted in writing under Rule 163(3) appear in the Verbatim Report of Proceedings for the sitting.

Verbatim Report of Proceedings

Oral explanations of vote:

Oral explanations of vote:

| — | Illegal bird hunting in Malta (B6-0119/2007): Simon Busuttil, Karin Scheele, Marcin Libicki |
| --- | --- |

—

Illegal bird hunting in Malta (B6-0119/2007): Simon Busuttil, Karin Scheele, Marcin Libicki

| — | Report: Johannes Voggenhuber — A6-0034/2007: Koenraad Dillen |
| --- | --- |

—

Report: Johannes Voggenhuber — A6-0034/2007: Koenraad Dillen

| — | Report: Willy Meyer Pleite — A6-0026/2007 and Report: Luis Yáñez-Barnuevo García — A6-0025/2007: Daniel Hannan |
| --- | --- |

—

Report: Willy Meyer Pleite — A6-0026/2007 and Report: Luis Yáñez-Barnuevo García — A6-0025/2007: Daniel Hannan

| — | Report: Pierre Schapira — A6-0039/2007: Czesław Adam Siekierski |
| --- | --- |

—

Report: Pierre Schapira — A6-0039/2007: Czesław Adam Siekierski

7.   Corrections to votes and voting intentions

Corrections to votes and voting intentions appear on the ‘Séance en direct’ website under ‘Votes’/‘Results of votes’/‘Roll-call votes’. They are published in hard copy in the ‘Result of roll-call votes’ annex.

Séance en direct

The electronic version on Europarl will be regularly updated for a maximum of two weeks after the day of the vote concerned.

After the two-week deadline has passed, the list of corrections to votes and voting intentions will be finalised so that it can be translated and published in the Official Journal.

*

- *

Daniel Hannan had informed the Chair that his voting machine had not worked during the vote on the report by Willy Meyer Pleite (A6-0026/2007).

(The sitting was suspended at 12.55 and resumed at 15.00.)

(The sitting was suspended at 12.55 and resumed at 15.00.)

IN THE CHAIR: Adam BIELAN

Vice-President

8.   Approval of Minutes of previous sitting

The Minutes of the previous sitting were approved.

9.   Banning seal products in the EU (debate)

(debate)

Commission statement: Banning seal products in the EU

Stavros Dimas (Member of the Commission) made the statement.

The following spoke: John Bowis, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Paulo Casaca, on behalf of the PSE Group, Marios Matsakis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Carl Schlyter, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Erik Meijer, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Stavros Dimas and Christopher Beazley, who put a question to the Commission which Stavros Dimas answered.

The debate closed.

10.   The attack on Galina Kozlova, member of the board of the Mari national organisation Mari Ušem and editor of the literary magazine Ontšõko (debate)

(debate)

Commission statement: The attack on Galina Kozlova, member of the board of the Mari national organisation Mari Ušem and editor of the literary magazine Ontšõko

Neelie Kroes (Member of the Commission) made the statement.

The following spoke: Tunne Kelam, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Csaba Sándor Tabajdi, on behalf of the PSE Group, István Szent-Iványi, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Leopold Józef Rutowicz, on behalf of the UEN Group, Erik Meijer, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Laima Liucija Andrikienė, Józef Pinior and Neelie Kroes.

Motions for resolutions to wind up the debate tabled pursuant to Rule 103(2):

| — | Toomas Savi, István Szent-Iványi, Paavo Väyrynen and Henrik Lax, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on the attack against Galina Kozlova, a member of the Mari Usem national organisation and editor of the magazine Ontsoko (B6-0081/2007) |
| --- | --- |

—

Toomas Savi, István Szent-Iványi, Paavo Väyrynen and Henrik Lax, on behalf of the ALDE Group, on the attack against Galina Kozlova, a member of the Mari Usem national organisation and editor of the magazine Ontsoko (B6-0081/2007)

| — | José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Charles Tannock, Tunne Kelam and Vytautas Landsbergis, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on the attack against Galina Kozlova, board member of Mari Uchem and chief editor of the literary magazine Ontšõko (B6-0086/2007) |
| --- | --- |

—

José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Charles Tannock, Tunne Kelam and Vytautas Landsbergis, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, on the attack against Galina Kozlova, board member of Mari Uchem and chief editor of the literary magazine Ontšõko (B6-0086/2007)

| — | Roberta Angelilli, Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, Inese Vaidere, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka and Ryszard Czarnecki, on behalf of the UEN Group, on the attack against Galina Koszlova, a member of the Mari Uchem national organisation and editor of the review Ontšõko (B6-0089/2007) |
| --- | --- |

—

Roberta Angelilli, Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, Inese Vaidere, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka and Ryszard Czarnecki, on behalf of the UEN Group, on the attack against Galina Koszlova, a member of the Mari Uchem national organisation and editor of the review Ontšõko (B6-0089/2007)

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 15.03.2007, Item 12.4.

Minutes of 15.03.2007, Item 12.4

11.   Debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (debate)

(debate)

(For the titles and authors of the motions for resolutions, see Minutes of 13.03.2007, Item 5)

(For the titles and authors of the motions for resolutions, see Minutes of 13.03.2007, Item 5)

11.1.   Guatemala

Motions for resolution B6-0101/2007, B6-0104/2007, B6-0106/2007, B6-0107/2007, B6-0111/2007 and B6-0116/2007

Józef Pinior, Bernd Posselt, Ryszard Czarnecki, Tobias Pflüger and Marios Matsakis introduced motions for resolutions.

IN THE CHAIR: Gérard ONESTA

Vice-President

Raül Romeva i Rueda introduced a motion for a resolution.

The following spoke: Bogusław Sonik, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, Leopold Józef Rutowicz, on behalf of the UEN Group, and Neelie Kroes (Member of the Commission).

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 15.03.2007, Item 12.1.

Minutes of 15.03.2007, Item 12.1

11.2.   Cambodia

Motions for resolution B6-0102/2007, B6-0103/2007, B6-0108/2007, B6-0110/2007, B6-0112/2007 and B6-0117/2007

Marc Tarabella, Bernd Posselt, Erik Meijer, Ryszard Czarnecki and Marco Cappato introduced motions for resolutions.

The following spoke: Marios Matsakis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, and Neelie Kroes (Member of the Commission).

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 15.03.2007, Item 12.2.

Minutes of 15.03.2007, Item 12.2

11.3.   Nigeria

Motions for resolution B6-0105/2007, B6-0109/2007, B6-0113/2007, B6-0114/2007 and B6-0115/2007

Michael Gahler, Erik Meijer, Sophia in 't Veld, Józef Pinior and Carl Schlyter introduced motions for resolutions.

The following spoke: Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, on behalf of the PSE Group, Marco Cappato, on behalf of the ALDE Group, Marcin Libicki, on behalf of the UEN Group, Raül Romeva i Rueda, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, Marios Matsakis and Neelie Kroes (Member of the Commission).

The debate closed.

Vote: Minutes of 15.03.2007, Item 12.3.

Minutes of 15.03.2007, Item 12.3

12.   Voting time

Details of voting (amendments, separate and split votes, etc.) appear in the ‘Results of votes’ annex to the Minutes.

12.1.   Guatemala (vote)

(vote)

Motions for resolution B6-0101/2007, B6-0104/2007, B6-0106/2007, B6-0107/2007, B6-0111/2007 and B6-0116/2007

(Simple majority)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 13)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 13)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION RC-B6-0101/2007

(replacing B6-0101/2007, B6-0104/2007, B6-0106/2007, B6-0107/2007, B6-0111/2007 and B6-0116/2007)

tabled by the following Members:

| — | José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Bernd Posselt and Charles Tannock, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Bernd Posselt and Charles Tannock, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group,

| — | Pasqualina Napoletano, Raimon Obiols i Germà, Elena Valenciano Martínez-Orozco and Emilio Menéndez del Valle, on behalf of the PSE Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Pasqualina Napoletano, Raimon Obiols i Germà, Elena Valenciano Martínez-Orozco and Emilio Menéndez del Valle, on behalf of the PSE Group,

| — | Marios Matsakis, Danutė Budreikaitė, Frédérique Ries and Arūnas Degutis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Marios Matsakis, Danutė Budreikaitė, Frédérique Ries and Arūnas Degutis, on behalf of the ALDE Group,

| — | Michał Tomasz Kamiński, Adam Bielan, Mirosław Mariusz Piotrowski, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Marek Aleksander Czarnecki, Mieczysław Edmund Janowski, Eugenijus Maldeikis and Wojciech Roszkowski, on behalf of the UEN Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Michał Tomasz Kamiński, Adam Bielan, Mirosław Mariusz Piotrowski, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Marek Aleksander Czarnecki, Mieczysław Edmund Janowski, Eugenijus Maldeikis and Wojciech Roszkowski, on behalf of the UEN Group,

| — | Raül Romeva i Rueda, Eva Lichtenberger, Alain Lipietz, Monica Frassoni and Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Raül Romeva i Rueda, Eva Lichtenberger, Alain Lipietz, Monica Frassoni and Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group,

| — | Willy Meyer Pleite, André Brie, Giusto Catania and Marco Rizzo, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group. |
| --- | --- |

—

Willy Meyer Pleite, André Brie, Giusto Catania and Marco Rizzo, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group.

Adopted (P6_TA(2007)0084)

(P6_TA(2007)0084)

The following spoke:

The following spoke:

| — | Marios Matsakis (co-author), who moved oral amendments to recitals B and C, which were incorporated. |
| --- | --- |

—

Marios Matsakis (co-author), who moved oral amendments to recitals B and C, which were incorporated.

12.2.   Cambodia (vote)

(vote)

Motions for resolution B6-0102/2007, B6-0103/2007, B6-0108/2007, B60110/2007, B6-0112/2007 and B6-0117/2007

(Simple majority)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 14)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 14)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION RC-B6-0102/2007

(replacing B6-0102/2007, B6-0103/2007, B6-0108/2007, B60110/2007, B6-0112/2007 and B6-0117/2007)

tabled by the following Members:

| — | Charles Tannock, Bernd Posselt and Ari Vatanen, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Charles Tannock, Bernd Posselt and Ari Vatanen, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group,

| — | Pasqualina Napoletano, Marc Tarabella and Harlem Désir, on behalf of the PSE Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Pasqualina Napoletano, Marc Tarabella and Harlem Désir, on behalf of the PSE Group,

| — | Marco Pannella, Marco Cappato, Marios Matsakis, Frédérique Ries, Jules Maaten, Ignasi Guardans Cambó and Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, on behalf of the ALDE Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Marco Pannella, Marco Cappato, Marios Matsakis, Frédérique Ries, Jules Maaten, Ignasi Guardans Cambó and Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, on behalf of the ALDE Group,

| — | Michał Tomasz Kamiński, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Ryszard Czarnecki, Adam Bielan and Gintaras Didžiokas, on behalf of the UEN Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Michał Tomasz Kamiński, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Ryszard Czarnecki, Adam Bielan and Gintaras Didžiokas, on behalf of the UEN Group,

| — | Frithjof Schmidt, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Frithjof Schmidt, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group,

| — | Vittorio Agnoletto, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group. |
| --- | --- |

—

Vittorio Agnoletto, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group.

Adopted (P6_TA(2007)0085)

(P6_TA(2007)0085)

12.3.   Nigeria (vote)

(vote)

Motions for resolution B6-0105/2007, B6-0109/2007, B6-0113/2007, B6-0114/2007 and B6-0115/2007

(Simple majority)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 15)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 15)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION B6-0105/2007

Adopted (P6_TA(2007)0086)

(P6_TA(2007)0086)

(Motions for resolutions RC-B6-0109/2007, B6-0109/2007, B6-0113/2007, B6-0114/2007 and B6-0115/2007 fell.)

12.4.   The attack on Galina Kozlova, member of the board of the Mari national organisation Mari Ušem and editor of the literary magazine Ontšõko (vote)

(vote)

Motions for resolution B6-0081/2007, B6-0086/2007 and B6-0089/2007

(Simple majority)

(Simple majority)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 16)

(Voting record: ‘Results of votes’, Item 16)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION RC-B6-0081/2007

(replacing B6-0081/2007, B6-0086/2007 and B6-0089/2007)

tabled by the following Members:

| — | José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Charles Tannock, Tunne Kelam and Vytautas Landsbergis, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Charles Tannock, Tunne Kelam and Vytautas Landsbergis, on behalf of the PPE-DE Group,

| — | Jan Marinus Wiersma, on behalf of the PSE Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Jan Marinus Wiersma, on behalf of the PSE Group,

| — | Toomas Savi, István Szent-Iványi, Paavo Väyrynen and Henrik Lax, on behalf of the ALDE Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Toomas Savi, István Szent-Iványi, Paavo Väyrynen and Henrik Lax, on behalf of the ALDE Group,

| — | Michał Tomasz Kamiński, Roberta Angelilli, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Ryszard Czarnecki, Adam Bielan, Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis and Inese Vaidere, on behalf of the UEN Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Michał Tomasz Kamiński, Roberta Angelilli, Hanna Foltyn-Kubicka, Ryszard Czarnecki, Adam Bielan, Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis and Inese Vaidere, on behalf of the UEN Group,

| — | Satu Hassi, Bart Staes, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group, |
| --- | --- |

—

Satu Hassi, Bart Staes, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group,

| — | André Brie, Vittorio Agnoletto and Esko Seppänen, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group. |
| --- | --- |

—

André Brie, Vittorio Agnoletto and Esko Seppänen, on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group.

Adopted (P6_TA(2007)0087)

(P6_TA(2007)0087)

13.   Explanations of vote

Written explanations of vote:

Written explanations of vote:

Explanations of vote submitted in writing under Rule 163(3) appear in the Verbatim Report of Proceedings for the sitting.

Verbatim Report of Proceedings

Oral explanations of vote:

Oral explanations of vote:

| — | Attack on Galina Kozlova (RC-B6-0081/2007): Laima Liucija Andrikienė |
| --- | --- |

—

Attack on Galina Kozlova (RC-B6-0081/2007): Laima Liucija Andrikienė

*

- *

The following spoke: Marcin Libicki, on the vote on Nigeria (B6-0105/2007), and Zbigniew Zaleski, on Mr Libicki's comments.

14.   Decisions concerning certain documents

Referral to committees

PETI Committee

| — | Monitoring the application of Community law (2005) — 23rd annual report (2006/2271(INI))






  referred to | responsible: JURI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | opinion: PETI |

—

Monitoring the application of Community law (2005) — 23rd annual report (2006/2271(INI))

referred to

responsible: JURI

opinion: PETI

15.   Membership of committees and delegations

Marios Matsakis spoke on a procedural matter.

The President had received the following requests for appointments from the PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE, UEN, Verts/ALE, GUE/NGL, ITS and IND/DEM Groups, and from the Non-attached Members:

| — | ECON Committee: Joop Post to replace Renato Brunetta |
| --- | --- |

—

ECON Committee: Joop Post to replace Renato Brunetta

ECON Committee

| — | EMPL Committee: Edit Bauer to replace Ria Oomen-Ruijten |
| --- | --- |

—

EMPL Committee: Edit Bauer to replace Ria Oomen-Ruijten

EMPL Committee

| — | TRAN Committee: Marian-Jean Marinescu to replace Corien Wortmann-Kool |
| --- | --- |

—

TRAN Committee: Marian-Jean Marinescu to replace Corien Wortmann-Kool

TRAN Committee

| — | LIBE Committee: Ria Oomen-Ruijten to replace Edit Bauer |
| --- | --- |

—

LIBE Committee: Ria Oomen-Ruijten to replace Edit Bauer

LIBE Committee

| — | Subcommittee on Human Rights: György Schöpflin was no longer a member |
| --- | --- |

—

Subcommittee on Human Rights: György Schöpflin was no longer a member

Subcommittee on Human Rights

| — | Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly:






  — | Luciana Sbarbati |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly:

Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly

—

Luciana Sbarbati

| — | Zita Gurmai to replace Alexandra Dobolyi |
| --- | --- |

—

Zita Gurmai to replace Alexandra Dobolyi

| — | Josep Borrell Fontelles to replace Elena Valenciano Martínez-Orozco |
| --- | --- |

—

Josep Borrell Fontelles to replace Elena Valenciano Martínez-Orozco

| — | Olle Schmidt to replace Lena Ek |
| --- | --- |

—

Olle Schmidt to replace Lena Ek

| — | Gabriele Zimmer to replace Francis Wurtz |
| --- | --- |

—

Gabriele Zimmer to replace Francis Wurtz

| — | Delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean Joint Parliamentary Assembly:






  — | Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg to replace Eluned Morgan |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean Joint Parliamentary Assembly:

Delegation to the Euro-Mediterranean Joint Parliamentary Assembly

—

Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg to replace Eluned Morgan

| — | Cem Özdemir to replace Daniel Cohn-Bendit |
| --- | --- |

—

Cem Özdemir to replace Daniel Cohn-Bendit

| — | Adamos Adamou to replace Kyriacos Triantaphyllides |
| --- | --- |

—

Adamos Adamou to replace Kyriacos Triantaphyllides

| — | Dimitar Stoyanov to replace Jean-Claude Martinez |
| --- | --- |

—

Dimitar Stoyanov to replace Jean-Claude Martinez

| — | Delegation to the EU-FYROM Joint Parliamentary Committee:







  — | Daniel Strož |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation to the EU-FYROM Joint Parliamentary Committee:

Delegation to the EU-FYROM Joint Parliamentary Committee:

—

Daniel Strož

| — | Kinga Gál to replace András Gyürk |
| --- | --- |

—

Kinga Gál to replace András Gyürk

| — | Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee:







  — | Tchetin Kazak to replace Gérard Deprez |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee:

Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee:

—

Tchetin Kazak to replace Gérard Deprez

| — | Delegation to the EU-Mexico Joint Parliamentary Committee:







  — | András Gyürk to replace Ioannis Gklavakis |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation to the EU-Mexico Joint Parliamentary Committee:

Delegation to the EU-Mexico Joint Parliamentary Committee:

—

András Gyürk to replace Ioannis Gklavakis

| — | Gian Paolo Gobbo to replace Francesco Enrico Speroni |
| --- | --- |

—

Gian Paolo Gobbo to replace Francesco Enrico Speroni

| — | Delegation to the EU-Chile Joint Parliamentary Committee:







  — | Daniela Buruiană-Aprodu |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation to the EU-Chile Joint Parliamentary Committee:

Delegation to the EU-Chile Joint Parliamentary Committee:

—

Daniela Buruiană-Aprodu

| — | Giusto Catania to replace André Brie |
| --- | --- |

—

Giusto Catania to replace André Brie

| — | Delegation for relations with the countries of south-east Europe:







  — | Ovidiu Victor Ganţ, Jean-Paul Gauzès, Ioannis Gklavakis, Marcello Vernola, Georgi Bliznashki, Jan Marinus Wiersma, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Tiberiu Bărbuleţiu and Elly de Groen-Kouwenhoven. |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with the countries of south-east Europe:

Delegation for relations with the countries of south-east Europe:

—

Ovidiu Victor Ganţ, Jean-Paul Gauzès, Ioannis Gklavakis, Marcello Vernola, Georgi Bliznashki, Jan Marinus Wiersma, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Tiberiu Bărbuleţiu and Elly de Groen-Kouwenhoven.

| — | Sarah Ludford was no longer a member |
| --- | --- |

—

Sarah Ludford was no longer a member

| — | Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee:







  — | Ria Oomen-Ruijten |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee:

Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee:

—

Ria Oomen-Ruijten

| — | Jean-Marie Cavada to replace Gianluca Susta |
| --- | --- |

—

Jean-Marie Cavada to replace Gianluca Susta

| — | Zbigniew Krzysztof Kuźmiuk to replace Bogusław Rogalski |
| --- | --- |

—

Zbigniew Krzysztof Kuźmiuk to replace Bogusław Rogalski

| — | Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee:







  — | Gábor Harangozó to replace Edit Herczog |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee:

Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee:

—

Gábor Harangozó to replace Edit Herczog

| — | Marek Siwiec to replace Bernhard Rapkay |
| --- | --- |

—

Marek Siwiec to replace Bernhard Rapkay

| — | Delegation to the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Cooperation Committee:







  — | Dan Mihalache, Cristian Stănescu |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation to the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Cooperation Committee:

Delegation to the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Cooperation Committee:

—

Dan Mihalache, Cristian Stănescu

| — | Maria Petre to replace Giorgio Carollo |
| --- | --- |

—

Maria Petre to replace Giorgio Carollo

| — | Delegation for relations with Belarus:







  — | Stefan Sofianski, Claire Gibault |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with Belarus:

Delegation for relations with Belarus:

—

Stefan Sofianski, Claire Gibault

| — | Andres Tarand to replace Andrzej Jan Szejna |
| --- | --- |

—

Andres Tarand to replace Andrzej Jan Szejna

| — | Alessandra Mussolini to replace Carl Lang |
| --- | --- |

—

Alessandra Mussolini to replace Carl Lang

| — | Delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan, EU-Kyrgyzstan and EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and Delegation for relations with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Mongolia:







  — | Jas Gawronski to replace Albert Jan Maat |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan, EU-Kyrgyzstan and EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and Delegation for relations with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Mongolia:

Delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan, EU-Kyrgyzstan and EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and Delegation for relations with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Mongolia:

—

Jas Gawronski to replace Albert Jan Maat

| — | Marusya Ivanova Lyubcheva to replace Adam Gierek |
| --- | --- |

—

Marusya Ivanova Lyubcheva to replace Adam Gierek

| — | Fausto Correia was no longer a member |
| --- | --- |

—

Fausto Correia was no longer a member

| — | Delegation to the EU-Armenia, EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Committees:







  — | Evgeni Kirilov |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation to the EU-Armenia, EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Committees:

Delegation to the EU-Armenia, EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Committees:

—

Evgeni Kirilov

| — | Marian-Jean Marinescu to replace Frieda Brepoels |
| --- | --- |

—

Marian-Jean Marinescu to replace Frieda Brepoels

| — | Delegation for relations with Israel:







  — | Gabriele Albertini, Philip Dimitrov Dimitrov, Giorgio Carollo, Vasile Dîncu, Andrzej Jan Szejna and Lydia Shouleva |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with Israel:

Delegation for relations with Israel:

—

Gabriele Albertini, Philip Dimitrov Dimitrov, Giorgio Carollo, Vasile Dîncu, Andrzej Jan Szejna and Lydia Shouleva

| — | Antonio Tajani was no longer a member |
| --- | --- |

—

Antonio Tajani was no longer a member

| — | Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council:







  — | Frieda Brepoels, Hannes Swoboda and Mario Borghezio |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council:

Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council:

—

Frieda Brepoels, Hannes Swoboda and Mario Borghezio

| — | Kyriacos Triantaphyllides to replace Adamos Adamou |
| --- | --- |

—

Kyriacos Triantaphyllides to replace Adamos Adamou

| — | Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union (including Libya):







  — | Ioannis Varvitsiotis, Iratxe García Pérez, Alfonso Andria and Dumitru Gheorghe Mircea Coşea |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union (including Libya):

Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union (including Libya):

—

Ioannis Varvitsiotis, Iratxe García Pérez, Alfonso Andria and Dumitru Gheorghe Mircea Coşea

| — | Inés Ayala Sender to replace Luis Yáñez-Barnuevo García |
| --- | --- |

—

Inés Ayala Sender to replace Luis Yáñez-Barnuevo García

| — | Hélène Flautre was no longer a member |
| --- | --- |

—

Hélène Flautre was no longer a member

| — | Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries:







  — | Martin Dimitrov and Hélène Flautre |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries:

Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries:

—

Martin Dimitrov and Hélène Flautre

| — | Dimitar Stoyanov to replace Alessandra Mussolini |
| --- | --- |

—

Dimitar Stoyanov to replace Alessandra Mussolini

| — | Delegation for relations with the Gulf States, including Yemen:







  — | Eugen Mihăescu |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with the Gulf States, including Yemen:

Delegation for relations with the Gulf States, including Yemen:

—

Eugen Mihăescu

| — | Roberta Alma Anastase to replace Nicole Fontaine |
| --- | --- |

—

Roberta Alma Anastase to replace Nicole Fontaine

| — | Joost Lagendijk was no longer a member |
| --- | --- |

—

Joost Lagendijk was no longer a member

| — | Delegation for relations with Iran:







  — | Radu Podgorean, Georgios Karatzaferis and Carl Lang |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with Iran:

Delegation for relations with Iran:

—

Radu Podgorean, Georgios Karatzaferis and Carl Lang

| — | Giusto Catania and Hans-Peter Martin were no longer members |
| --- | --- |

—

Giusto Catania and Hans-Peter Martin were no longer members

| — | Delegation for relations with the United States:







  — | Radu Ţîrle, Christoph Konrad, Konstantin Dimitrov, Atanas Paparizov, Corina Creţu, Karin Riis- Jørgensen, Sarah Ludford, Salvatore Tatarella and Pierre Jonckheer |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with the United States:

Delegation for relations with the United States:

—

Radu Ţîrle, Christoph Konrad, Konstantin Dimitrov, Atanas Paparizov, Corina Creţu, Karin Riis- Jørgensen, Sarah Ludford, Salvatore Tatarella and Pierre Jonckheer

| — | Adrian-Mihai Cioroianu to replace Karin Resetarits |
| --- | --- |

—

Adrian-Mihai Cioroianu to replace Karin Resetarits

| — | Alfonso Andria was no longer a member |
| --- | --- |

—

Alfonso Andria was no longer a member

| — | Delegation for relations with Canada:







  — | Károly Ferenc Szabó, Manfred Weber, Christel Schaldemose, Mladen Petrov Chervenyakov, Urszula Krupa and Petre Popeangă |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with Canada:

Delegation for relations with Canada:

—

Károly Ferenc Szabó, Manfred Weber, Christel Schaldemose, Mladen Petrov Chervenyakov, Urszula Krupa and Petre Popeangă

| — | Edit Herczog to replace Zita Gurmai |
| --- | --- |

—

Edit Herczog to replace Zita Gurmai

| — | Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America:







  — | David Casa, Marie-Noëlle Lienemann, Jan Jerzy Kułakowski and Wiesław Stefan Kuc |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America:

Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America:

—

David Casa, Marie-Noëlle Lienemann, Jan Jerzy Kułakowski and Wiesław Stefan Kuc

| — | Maria Badia i Cutchet to replace Inés Ayala Sender |
| --- | --- |

—

Maria Badia i Cutchet to replace Inés Ayala Sender

| — | Gianluca Susta to replace Lapo Pistelli |
| --- | --- |

—

Gianluca Susta to replace Lapo Pistelli

| — | Delegation for relations with the Andean Community:







  — | Fausto Correia, Ovidiu Ioan Silaghi and Jean-Claude Martinez |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with the Andean Community:

Delegation for relations with the Andean Community:

—

Fausto Correia, Ovidiu Ioan Silaghi and Jean-Claude Martinez

| — | Gabriela Creţu to replace Margrietus van den Berg |
| --- | --- |

—

Gabriela Creţu to replace Margrietus van den Berg

| — | Delegation for relations with Japan:







  — | Dieter-Lebrecht Koch, Ioan Mircea Paşcu, Karin Resetarits and Umberto Pirilli |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with Japan:

Delegation for relations with Japan:

—

Dieter-Lebrecht Koch, Ioan Mircea Paşcu, Karin Resetarits and Umberto Pirilli

| — | Elena Valenciano Martínez-Orozco to replace Maria Badia i Cutchet |
| --- | --- |

—

Elena Valenciano Martínez-Orozco to replace Maria Badia i Cutchet

| — | Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China:







  — | Monica Maria Iacob-Ridzi, Daciana Octavia Sârbu, Eluned Morgan, Stavros Arnaoutakis, Eduard Raul Hellvig, Antonyia Parvanova and Viorica-Pompilia-Georgeta Moisuc |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China:

Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China:

—

Monica Maria Iacob-Ridzi, Daciana Octavia Sârbu, Eluned Morgan, Stavros Arnaoutakis, Eduard Raul Hellvig, Antonyia Parvanova and Viorica-Pompilia-Georgeta Moisuc

| — | Jorgo Chatzimarkakis to replace Karin Riis-Jørgensen |
| --- | --- |

—

Jorgo Chatzimarkakis to replace Karin Riis-Jørgensen

| — | Hans-Peter Martin to replace Gianni De Michelis |
| --- | --- |

—

Hans-Peter Martin to replace Gianni De Michelis

| — | Jacky Henin to replace Gabriele Zimmer |
| --- | --- |

—

Jacky Henin to replace Gabriele Zimmer

| — | Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia:







  — | Christian Ehler |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia:

Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia:

—

Christian Ehler

| — | Delegation for relations with India:







  — | Christopher Beazley to replace Christian Ehler |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with India:

Delegation for relations with India:

—

Christopher Beazley to replace Christian Ehler

| — | Delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN):







  — | Kristian Vigenin and Alexandru-Ioan Morţun |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN):

Delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN):

—

Kristian Vigenin and Alexandru-Ioan Morţun

| — | Athanasios Pafilis was no longer a member |
| --- | --- |

—

Athanasios Pafilis was no longer a member

| — | Delegation for relations with the Korean Peninsula:







  — | Vincenzo Aita |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with the Korean Peninsula:

Delegation for relations with the Korean Peninsula:

—

Vincenzo Aita

| — | Alexandra Dobolyi to replace Andres Tarand |
| --- | --- |

—

Alexandra Dobolyi to replace Andres Tarand

| — | Umberto Bossi to replace Francesco Enrico Speroni |
| --- | --- |

—

Umberto Bossi to replace Francesco Enrico Speroni

| — | Philip Claeys to replace Fernand Le Rachinel |
| --- | --- |

—

Philip Claeys to replace Fernand Le Rachinel

| — | Gérard Onesta was no longer a member |
| --- | --- |

—

Gérard Onesta was no longer a member

| — | Delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand:







  — | Françoise Grossetête, Alexandru Athanasiu, Evangelia Tzampazi and Paavo Väyrynen |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand:

Delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand:

—

Françoise Grossetête, Alexandru Athanasiu, Evangelia Tzampazi and Paavo Väyrynen

| — | Adamos Adamou to replace Kyriacos Triantaphyllides |
| --- | --- |

—

Adamos Adamou to replace Kyriacos Triantaphyllides

| — | Fernand Le Rachinel to replace Philip Claeys |
| --- | --- |

—

Fernand Le Rachinel to replace Philip Claeys

| — | Leopold Józef Rutowicz was no longer a member |
| --- | --- |

—

Leopold Józef Rutowicz was no longer a member

| — | Delegation for relations with South Africa:







  — | Atilla Béla Ladislau Kelemen, Adam Gierek, Catherine Guy-Quint and Georgios Toussas |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Delegation for relations with South Africa:

Delegation for relations with South Africa:

—

Atilla Béla Ladislau Kelemen, Adam Gierek, Catherine Guy-Quint and Georgios Toussas

The President established that there were no objections. The appointments were thereby ratified.

16.   Communication of Council common positions

Pursuant to Rule 57(1), The President announced that the Council had sent the following common position, along with the reasons for its adoption and the Commission's position on:

| — | Common position adopted by the Council on 5 March 2007 with a view to adoption of a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing for the period 2007-2013 a specific programme to prevent and combat violence against children, young people and women and to protect victims and groups at risk (Daphne III programme) as part of the general programme ‘Fundamental Rights and Justice’ (16367/1/2006 — C6-0089/2007 — 2005/0037A(COD))






  referred to | responsible: FEMM. |
| --- | --- | --- |

—

Common position adopted by the Council on 5 March 2007 with a view to adoption of a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing for the period 2007-2013 a specific programme to prevent and combat violence against children, young people and women and to protect victims and groups at risk (Daphne III programme) as part of the general programme ‘Fundamental Rights and Justice’ (16367/1/2006 — C6-0089/2007 — 2005/0037A(COD))

referred to

responsible: FEMM.

The three-month period available to Parliament to adopt its position would therefore begin the following day, 16.03.2007.

17.   Written declarations entered in the register (Rule 116)

(Rule 116)

Number of signatures obtained by the written declarations entered in the register (Rule 116(3)):

| Document No | Author | Signatures |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 85/2006 | Jacky Henin, Marco Rizzo, Helmuth Markov | 25 |
| 86/2006 | Adriana Poli Bortone | 31 |
| 87/2006 | Jolanta Dičkutė, John Bowis, Stephen Hughes, Frédérique Ries, Thomas Ulmer | 463 |
| 88/2006 | Daniel Strož | 40 |
| 89/2006 | Ignasi Guardans Cambó, Panayiotis Demetriou, Ana Maria Gomes, Gérard Onesta, Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann | 166 |
| 90/2006 | Caroline Lucas, Jillian Evans, Luigi Cocilovo, Jean Lambert | 54 |
| 91/2006 | Daniel Strož | 21 |
| 1/2007 | Philip Claeys, Frank Vanhecke, Koenraad Dillen | 13 |
| 2/2007 | Robert Evans, Mojca Drčar Murko, Gitte Seeberg, Carl Schlyter | 176 |
| 3/2007 | Bogusław Rogalski | 30 |
| 4/2007 | Konrad Szymański, Charles Tannock, Marek Siwiec | 76 |
| 5/2007 | Eugenijus Gentvilas, Arūnas Degutis, Gintaras Didžiokas, Eugenijus Maldeikis | 18 |
| 6/2007 | Adriana Poli Bortone | 13 |
| 7/2007 | Oldřich Vlasák | 11 |
| 8/2007 | Jo Leinen, Frédérique Ries, Erik Meijer, Bernat Joan i Marí | 38 |
| 9/2007 | Jim Higgins, Dan Jørgensen, John Bowis, Linda McAvan | 105 |
| 10/2007 | Elmar Brok, Nicole Fontaine, Bronislaw Geremek, Jo Leinen, Iñigo Méndez de Vigo | 181 |
| 11/2007 | Michael Cashman, Sophia in 't Veld, Raül Romeva i Rueda, Alexander Stubb, John Bowis | 139 |
| 12/2007 | Graham Watson, Joseph Daul, Martin Schulz, Cristiana Muscardini, Daniel Cohn-Bendit | 188 |
| 13/2007 | Daniel Strož | 12 |
| 14/2007 | Jamila Madeira | 25 |
| 15/2007 | Adriana Poli Bortone | 26 |
| 16/2007 | Zita Gurmai, Anders Wijkman, Vittorio Prodi, Umberto Guidoni, Claude Turmes | 172 |
| 17/2007 | Véronique Mathieu, Anne Van Lancker, Sophie in 't Veld, Luisa Morgantini, Hiltrud Breyer | 115 |
| 18/2007 | Urszula Krupa, Witold Tomczak | 9 |
| 19/2007 | Daniel Strož, Athanasios Pafilis, Tobias Pflüger | 34 |
| 20/2007 | Gianni Pittella, Lapo Pistelli, Luciana Sbarbati, Lilli Gruber, Claudio Fava | 67 |
| 21/2007 | Alyn Smith, Karin Resetarits, Luisa Morgantini, Marie-Arlette Carlotti, Anna Záborská | 27 |
| 22/2007 | Pierre Schapira, Kader Arif, Johan Van Hecke, Luisa Morgantini, Caroline Lucas | 47 |
| 23/2007 | Mojca Drčar Murko, Jelko Kacin, Sepp Kusstatscher, Karin Resetarits, Csaba Sándor Tabajdi | 14 |
| 24/2007 | Elizabeth Lynne, Angelika Beer, Véronique De Keyser, Mihael Brejc | 90 |
| 25/2007 | Andreas Mölzer | 8 |
| 26/2007 | Andreas Mölzer | 5 |
| 27/2007 | Aldo Patriciello | 17 |
| 28/2007 | Marco Cappato, Gérard Onesta, Riccardo Ventre, Józef Pinior, Marco Pannella | 50 |
| 29/2007 | Caroline Lucas, Mojca Drčar Murko, Karin Scheele, Satu Hassi, Jens Holm | 38 |
| 30/2007 | Adrian-Mihai Cioroianu and Alexandru-Ioan Morţun | 8 |

Document No

Document No

Author

Author

Signatures

Signatures

85/2006

Jacky Henin, Marco Rizzo, Helmuth Markov

25

86/2006

Adriana Poli Bortone

31

87/2006

Jolanta Dičkutė, John Bowis, Stephen Hughes, Frédérique Ries, Thomas Ulmer

463

88/2006

Daniel Strož

40

89/2006

Ignasi Guardans Cambó, Panayiotis Demetriou, Ana Maria Gomes, Gérard Onesta, Sylvia-Yvonne Kaufmann

166

90/2006

Caroline Lucas, Jillian Evans, Luigi Cocilovo, Jean Lambert

54

91/2006

Daniel Strož

21

1/2007

Philip Claeys, Frank Vanhecke, Koenraad Dillen

13

2/2007

Robert Evans, Mojca Drčar Murko, Gitte Seeberg, Carl Schlyter

176

3/2007

Bogusław Rogalski

30

4/2007

Konrad Szymański, Charles Tannock, Marek Siwiec

76

5/2007

Eugenijus Gentvilas, Arūnas Degutis, Gintaras Didžiokas, Eugenijus Maldeikis

18

6/2007

Adriana Poli Bortone

13

7/2007

Oldřich Vlasák

11

8/2007

Jo Leinen, Frédérique Ries, Erik Meijer, Bernat Joan i Marí

38

9/2007

Jim Higgins, Dan Jørgensen, John Bowis, Linda McAvan

105

10/2007

Elmar Brok, Nicole Fontaine, Bronislaw Geremek, Jo Leinen, Iñigo Méndez de Vigo

181

11/2007

Michael Cashman, Sophia in 't Veld, Raül Romeva i Rueda, Alexander Stubb, John Bowis

139

12/2007

Graham Watson, Joseph Daul, Martin Schulz, Cristiana Muscardini, Daniel Cohn-Bendit

188

13/2007

Daniel Strož

12

14/2007

Jamila Madeira

25

15/2007

Adriana Poli Bortone

26

16/2007

Zita Gurmai, Anders Wijkman, Vittorio Prodi, Umberto Guidoni, Claude Turmes

172

17/2007

Véronique Mathieu, Anne Van Lancker, Sophie in 't Veld, Luisa Morgantini, Hiltrud Breyer

115

18/2007

Urszula Krupa, Witold Tomczak

9

19/2007

Daniel Strož, Athanasios Pafilis, Tobias Pflüger

34

20/2007

Gianni Pittella, Lapo Pistelli, Luciana Sbarbati, Lilli Gruber, Claudio Fava

67

21/2007

Alyn Smith, Karin Resetarits, Luisa Morgantini, Marie-Arlette Carlotti, Anna Záborská

27

22/2007

Pierre Schapira, Kader Arif, Johan Van Hecke, Luisa Morgantini, Caroline Lucas

47

23/2007

Mojca Drčar Murko, Jelko Kacin, Sepp Kusstatscher, Karin Resetarits, Csaba Sándor Tabajdi

14

24/2007

Elizabeth Lynne, Angelika Beer, Véronique De Keyser, Mihael Brejc

90

25/2007

Andreas Mölzer

8

26/2007

Andreas Mölzer

5

27/2007

Aldo Patriciello

17

28/2007

Marco Cappato, Gérard Onesta, Riccardo Ventre, Józef Pinior, Marco Pannella

50

29/2007

Caroline Lucas, Mojca Drčar Murko, Karin Scheele, Satu Hassi, Jens Holm

38

30/2007

Adrian-Mihai Cioroianu and Alexandru-Ioan Morţun

8

18.   Forwarding of texts adopted during the sitting

Pursuant to Rule 172(2), the Minutes of that day's sitting would be submitted to Parliament for its approval at the beginning of the next sitting.

With Parliament's agreement, the texts that had been adopted would be forwarded forthwith to the bodies named therein.

19.   Dates for next sittings

The next sittings would be held on 28.03.2007 and 29.03.2007.

20.   Adjournment of session

The session of the European Parliament was adjourned.

The sitting closed at 17.05.

Harald Rømer

Secretary-General

Hans-Gert Pöttering

President

---

ATTENDANCE REGISTER

The following signed:

Adamou, Agnoletto, Aita, Albertini, Ali, Allister, Alvaro, Anastase, Andersson, Andrejevs, Andria, Andrikienė, Angelilli, Arif, Arnaoutakis, Athanasiu, Atkins, Attard-Montalto, Attwooll, Aubert, Audy, Auken, Ayala Sender, Aylward, Ayuso, Badia i Cutchet, Bărbuleţiu, Batten, Battilocchio, Batzeli, Bauer, Beaupuy, Beazley, Becsey, Beer, Beglitis, Belder, Belet, Belohorská, Bennahmias, Berend, Berès, Berlato, Berlinguer, Berman, Bielan, Birutis, Bliznashki, Blokland, Böge, Bösch, Bonde, Bono, Borghezio, Borrell Fontelles, Bourlanges, Bourzai, Bowis, Bowles, Bozkurt, Bradbourn, Braghetto, Brepoels, Breyer, Březina, Brie, Brok, Budreikaitė, Buitenweg, Bulfon, Bullmann, Buruiană-Aprodu, Bushill-Matthews, Busk, Busquin, Busuttil, Buzek, Cabrnoch, Calabuig Rull, Callanan, Camre, Capoulas Santos, Cappato, Carlotti, Carnero González, Casa, Casaca, Caspary, Castex, Castiglione, del Castillo Vera, Catania, Cavada, Cederschiöld, Cercas, Chervenyakov, Chichester, Chiesa, Chmielewski, Christensen, Christova, Chruszcz, Ciornei, Cioroianu, Claeys, Clark, Cocilovo, Coelho, Cohn-Bendit, Corbett, Corbey, Cornillet, Correia, Coşea, Paolo Costa, Cottigny, Cramer, Gabriela Creţu, Crowley, Marek Aleksander Czarnecki, Ryszard Czarnecki, Daul, Davies, De Blasio, de Brún, De Keyser, Demetriou, Deprez, De Rossa, Descamps, Désir, Deß, Deva, De Veyrac, De Vits, Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Dičkutė, Didžiokas, Dillen, Dimitrakopoulos, Martin Dimitrov, Philip Dimitrov Dimitrov, Dobolyi, Dombrovskis, Doorn, Douay, Dover, Doyle, Drčar Murko, Duchoň, Duff, Duka-Zólyomi, Dumitrescu, Ebner, Ehler, El Khadraoui, Esteves, Estrela, Ettl, Jill Evans, Jonathan Evans, Robert Evans, Färm, Fajmon, Falbr, Farage, Fatuzzo, Fava, Fazakas, Ferber, Fernandes, Fernández Martín, Anne Ferreira, Elisa Ferreira, Figueiredo, Flasarová, Flautre, Foltyn-Kubicka, Fontaine, Ford, Fourtou, Fraga Estévez, Frassoni, Freitas, Friedrich, Fruteau, Gahler, Gál, Gaľa, Ganţ, García-Margallo y Marfil, García Pérez, Gargani, Gauzès, Gebhardt, Gentvilas, Geremek, Geringer de Oedenberg, Gewalt, Gibault, Gierek, Giertych, Gill, Gklavakis, Glante, Glattfelder, Goebbels, Goepel, Golik, Gollnisch, Gomes, Gomolka, Goudin, Grabowska, Grabowski, Graça Moura, Gräßle, de Grandes Pascual, Grech, Griesbeck, de Groen-Kouwenhoven, Groote, Grosch, Grossetête, Gruber, Guardans Cambó, Guerreiro, Gurmai, Gutiérrez-Cortines, Guy-Quint, Gyürk, Hall, Hammerstein, Hamon, Handzlik, Hannan, Harbour, Harkin, Harms, Hasse Ferreira, Hassi, Haug, Hedh, Hegyi, Hellvig, Helmer, Henin, Hennicot-Schoepges, Hennis-Plasschaert, Herranz García, Hieronymi, Hökmark, Holm, Honeyball, Hoppenstedt, Horáček, Howitt, Hudacký, Hudghton, Hughes, Hyusmenova, Hybášková, Ibrisagic, Ilchev, in 't Veld, Isler Béguin, Itälä, Jackson, Jäätteenmäki, Jałowiecki, Janowski, Jarzembowski, Jeggle, Jensen, Jöns, Jonckheer, Jordan Cizelj, Juknevičienė, Kacin, Kaczmarek, Kallenbach, Kamall, Kamiński, Karas, Kaufmann, Kauppi, Kazak, Tunne Kelam, Kelemen, Kindermann, Kinnock, Kirilov, Klamt, Klaß, Klich, Klinz, Koch, Kohlíček, Konrad, Kónya-Hamar, Kósáné Kovács, Koterec, Krahmer, Krasts, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Kreissl-Dörfler, Kristovskis, Krupa, Kuc, Kułakowski, Kušķis, Kusstatscher, Kuźmiuk, Lagendijk, Laignel, Lamassoure, Lambert, Lambrinidis, Lambsdorff, Lang, Langen, Langendries, Laperrouze, La Russa, Lauk, Lechner, Le Foll, Lehideux, Lehtinen, Leichtfried, Leinen, Lewandowski, Libicki, Lichtenberger, Lienemann, Liese, Lipietz, López-Istúriz White, Losco, Louis, Lucas, Lulling, Lundgren, Lynne, Lyubcheva, Maaten, McAvan, McDonald, McGuinness, Madeira, Maldeikis, Manders, Maňka, Erika Mann, Thomas Mann, Manolakou, Mantovani, Marques, Martens, David Martin, Hans-Peter Martin, Martinez, Martínez Martínez, Masiel, Maštálka, Mastenbroek, Mathieu, Mato Adrover, Matsakis, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Mayer, Mayor Oreja, Medina Ortega, Meijer, Menéndez del Valle, Meyer Pleite, Miguélez Ramos, Mihăescu, Mihalache, Mikko, Mikolášik, Millán Mon, Mitchell, Mohácsi, Moisuc, Moreno Sánchez, Morgan, Morgantini, Morillon, Morţun, Moscovici, Mote, Mulder, Musacchio, Muscat, Musotto, Mussolini, Myller, Napoletano, Nassauer, Nattrass, Newton Dunn, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nicholson, Nicholson of Winterbourne, van Nistelrooij, Novak, Obiols i Germà, Occhetto, Öger, Özdemir, Olbrycht, Ó Neachtain, Onesta, Onyszkiewicz, Oomen-Ruijten, Ortuondo Larrea, Őry, Ouzký, Oviir, Pack, Pafilis, Pahor, Paleckis, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Pannella, Panzeri, Papadimoulis, Paparizov, Papastamkos, Parish, Parvanova, Paşcu, Patrie, Peillon, Pęk, Alojz Peterle, Petre, Pflüger, Piecyk, Pieper, Pīks, Pinheiro, Pinior, Piotrowski, Pirilli, Pirker, Pleguezuelos Aguilar, Pleštinská, Podestà, Podgorean, Podkański, Pöttering, Poignant, Polfer, Poli Bortone, Pomés Ruiz, Popeangă, Posdorf, Posselt, Prets, Vittorio Prodi, Protasiewicz, Purvis, Queiró, Rack, Radwan, Rapkay, Rasmussen, Remek, Resetarits, Reul, Reynaud, Riera Madurell, Ries, Riis-Jørgensen, Rizzo, Rocard, Rogalski, Roithová, Romagnoli, Romeva i Rueda, Rosati, Roszkowski, Roth-Behrendt, Rothe, Rouček, Roure, Rudi Ubeda, Rübig, Rühle, Rutowicz, Sacconi, Saïfi, Sakalas, Saks, Salinas García, Samaras, Samuelsen, Sánchez Presedo, dos Santos, Sartori, Saryusz-Wolski, Savi, Sbarbati, Schaldemose, Schapira, Scheele, Schenardi, Schierhuber, Schlyter, Olle Schmidt, Frithjof Schmidt, Schnellhardt, Jürgen Schröder, Schuth, Schwab, Seeber, Seeberg, Segelström, Seppänen, Şerbu, Severin, Shouleva, Siekierski, Silaghi, Silva Peneda, Simpson, Siwiec, Skinner, Škottová, Smith, Sofianski, Sommer, Søndergaard, Sonik, Spautz, Speroni, Staes, Stănescu, Staniszewska, Starkevičiūtė, Šťastný, Stauner, Sterckx, Stevenson, Stihler, Stockmann, Stoyanov, Strejček, Strož, Sudre, Surján, Susta, Svensson, Swoboda, Szájer, Szejna, Szent-Iványi, Tabajdi, Tannock, Tarabella, Tarand, Tatarella, Thomsen, Thyssen, Ţicău, Titley, Tomczak, Toubon, Trakatellis, Trautmann, Triantaphyllides, Trüpel, Turmes, Uca, Ulmer, Vaidere, Vălean, Van Hecke, Van Lancker, Van Orden, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Vatanen, Vaugrenard, Ventre, Veraldi, Vergnaud, Vernola, Vidal-Quadras, Virrankoski, Vlasák, Vlasto, Voggenhuber, Wagenknecht, Wallis, Walter, Watson, Henri Weber, Weiler, Westlund, Whittaker, Wieland, Wiersma, Wijkman, Willmott, Wise, Wohlin, Bernard Wojciechowski, Janusz Wojciechowski, Wortmann-Kool, Wurtz, Yáñez-Barnuevo García, Záborská, Zahradil, Zaleski, Zapałowski, Zappalà, Zatloukal, Ždanoka, Železný, Zieleniec, Zīle, Zimmer, Zingaretti, Zvěřina, Zwiefka

---

ANNEX I

RESULTS OF VOTES

Abbreviations and symbols

| + | adopted |
| --- | --- |
| - | rejected |
| ↓ | lapsed |
| W | withdrawn |
| RCV (..., ..., ...) | roll-call vote (in favour, against, abstentions) |
| EV (..., ..., ...) | electronic vote (in favour, against, abstentions) |
| split | split vote |
| sep | separate vote |
| am | amendment |
| CA | compromise amendment |
| CP | corresponding part |
| D | deleting amendment |
| = | identical amendments |
| § | paragraph |
| art | article |
| rec | recital |
| MOT | motion for a resolution |
| JT MOT | joint motion for a resolution |
| SEC | secret ballot |

+

adopted

-

rejected

↓

lapsed

W

withdrawn

RCV (..., ..., ...)

roll-call vote (in favour, against, abstentions)

EV (..., ..., ...)

electronic vote (in favour, against, abstentions)

split

split vote

sep

separate vote

am

amendment

CA

compromise amendment

CP

corresponding part

D

deleting amendment

=

identical amendments

§

paragraph

art

article

rec

recital

MOT

motion for a resolution

JT MOT

joint motion for a resolution

SEC

secret ballot

1.   Appointments to interparliamentary delegations

Proposal by the Conference of Presidents

| Subject | Amendment No | Author | RCV, etc. | Vote | RCV/EV — remarks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | | | | + | |

Subject

Amendment No

Author

RCV, etc.

Vote

RCV/EV — remarks

+

2.   Community action on the provision of cross-border healthcare

Motion for a resolution: B6-0098/2007

| Subject | Amendment No | Author | RCV, etc. | Vote | RCV/EV — remarks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| motion for a resolution B6-0098/2007




  (ENVI Committee) |
| § 2 | § | original text | split | | |
| 1 | + | |
| 2/EV | + | 250, 243, 9 |
| 3 | + | |
| after § 3 | 12 | ALDE | | - | |
| § 4 | 14 | Verts/ALE | | - | |
| § 5 | 4 | ALDE | | - | |
| 13 | ALDE | | - | |
| 8 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| after § 5 | 2 | GUE/NGL | | + | |
| 3 | GUE/NGL | | + | |
| § 6 | 9 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| 5 | ALDE | | - | |
| § 8 | 15 | Verts/ALE | | - | |
| after § 8 | 6 | ALDE | EV | + | 342, 223, 10 |
| § 9 | 10 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| after § 9 | 7 | ALDE | EV | + | 349, 222, 4 |
| 11 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| after rec A | 1 | GUE/NGL | | - | |
| 16 | PSE | | + | |
| vote: resolution (as a whole) | | + | |

Subject

Amendment No

Author

RCV, etc.

Vote

RCV/EV — remarks

motion for a resolution B6-0098/2007

(ENVI Committee)

§ 2

§

original text

split

1

+

2/EV

+

250, 243, 9

3

+

after § 3

12

ALDE

-

§ 4

14

Verts/ALE

-

§ 5

4

ALDE

-

13

ALDE

-

8

PPE-DE

+

after § 5

2

GUE/NGL

+

3

GUE/NGL

+

§ 6

9

PPE-DE

+

5

ALDE

-

§ 8

15

Verts/ALE

-

after § 8

6

ALDE

EV

+

342, 223, 10

§ 9

10

PPE-DE

+

after § 9

7

ALDE

EV

+

349, 222, 4

11

PPE-DE

+

after rec A

1

GUE/NGL

-

16

PSE

+

vote: resolution (as a whole)

+

Requests for split votes

IND/DEM, UEN

§ 2

1st part: text as a whole without the words ‘recalls also ... best guarantees’

2nd part:‘recalls also ... concerning health’

3rd part: remainder

3.   Illegal bird hunting in Malta

Motion for a resolution: B6-0119/2007

| Subject | Amendment No | Author | RCV, etc. | Vote | RCV/EV — remarks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| motion for a resolution B6-0119/2007




  (Verts/ALE, UEN) |
| § 1 | 4 | PSE | | W | |
| § | original text | split | | |
| 1 | + | |
| 2 | + | |
| § 2 | 5 | PSE | | + | |
| after § 2 | 6 | PSE | | + | |
| 7 | PSE | | - | |
| 8 | PSE | | + | |
| § 3 | 9 | PSE | | - | |
| § 4 | 10D | PSE | RCV | + | 282, 269, 33 |
| after § 4 | 11 | PSE | | + | |
| 12 | PPE-DE | RCV | + | 317, 249, 22 |
| 13 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| 14 | PPE-DE | EV | - | 247, 344, 5 |
| rec C | 1 | PSE | | + | |
| rec D | 2 | PSE | EV | + | 359, 208, 19 |
| rec F | 3 | PSE | | - | |
| vote: resolution (as a whole) | RCV | + | 300, 253, 35 |

Subject

Amendment No

Author

RCV, etc.

Vote

RCV/EV — remarks

motion for a resolution B6-0119/2007

(Verts/ALE, UEN)

§ 1

4

PSE

W

§

original text

split

1

+

2

+

§ 2

5

PSE

+

after § 2

6

PSE

+

7

PSE

-

8

PSE

+

§ 3

9

PSE

-

§ 4

10D

PSE

RCV

+

282, 269, 33

after § 4

11

PSE

+

12

PPE-DE

RCV

+

317, 249, 22

13

PPE-DE

+

14

PPE-DE

EV

-

247, 344, 5

rec C

1

PSE

+

rec D

2

PSE

EV

+

359, 208, 19

rec F

3

PSE

-

vote: resolution (as a whole)

RCV

+

300, 253, 35

Requests for roll-call votes

Verts/ALE: am 10 and final vote

PPE-DE: am 12

Requests for split votes

PSE

§ 1

1st part:‘Takes note of the report ... 9 and 12 May 2006;’

2nd part: remainder

4.   Euro-Mediterranean relations

Motions for resolutions: B6-0041/2007, B6-0080/2007, B6-0084/2007, B6-0090/2007, B6-0092/2007, B6-0094/2007, B6-0096/2007

| Subject | Amendment No | Author | RCV, etc. | Vote | RCV/EV — remarks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| motion for a resolution B6-0041/2007 (ITS) |
| B6-0041/2007 | | ITS | | - | |
| joint motion for a resolution RC B6-0080/2007




  (PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE, UEN, Verts/ALE, GUE/NGL) |
| § 7 | § | original text | split | | |
| 1 | + | |
| 2 | + | |
| 1 | PPE-DE | EV | + | 304, 271, 12 |
| vote: resolution (as a whole) | | + | |
| motions for resolutions by political groups |
| B6-0080/2007 | | ALDE | | ↓ | |
| B6-0084/2007 | | Verts/ALE | | ↓ | |
| B6-0090/2007 | | UEN | | ↓ | |
| B6-0092/2007 | | GUE/NGL | | ↓ | |
| B6-0094/2007 | | PPE-DE | | ↓ | |
| B6-0096/2007 | | PSE | | ↓ | |

Subject

Amendment No

Author

RCV, etc.

Vote

RCV/EV — remarks

motion for a resolution B6-0041/2007 (ITS)

B6-0041/2007

ITS

-

joint motion for a resolution RC B6-0080/2007

(PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE, UEN, Verts/ALE, GUE/NGL)

§ 7

§

original text

split

1

+

2

+

1

PPE-DE

EV

+

304, 271, 12

vote: resolution (as a whole)

+

motions for resolutions by political groups

B6-0080/2007

ALDE

↓

B6-0084/2007

Verts/ALE

↓

B6-0090/2007

UEN

↓

B6-0092/2007

GUE/NGL

↓

B6-0094/2007

PPE-DE

↓

B6-0096/2007

PSE

↓

Requests for split votes

PPE-DE

§ 7

1st part: text as a whole without the words ‘i.e. without preconditions’

2nd part: those words

5.   Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area

Report: Kader ARIF (A6-0468/2007)

| Subject | Amendment No | Author | RCV, etc. | Vote | RCV/EV — remarks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| after § 14 | 3 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| § 17 | 1 | ALDE | | W | |
| § | original text | sep | - | |
| § 22 | § | original text | split | | |
| 1 | + | |
| 2 | + | |
| 3/EV | + | 318, 257, 4 |
| § 46 | 2 | ALDE | | - | |
| § 51 | § | original text | split | | |
| 1 | + | |
| 2 | + | |
| § 54 | § | original text | split | | |
| 1 | + | |
| 2 | + | |
| after § 56 | 4 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| § 58 | 5 | PPE-DE | split | | |
| 1 | + | |
| 2 | - | |
| § | original text | | + | oral amendment |
| § 97 | 9 | ITS | | - | |
| § 98 | 10D | ITS | | - | |
| § | original text | split | | |
| 1 | + | |
| 2 | + | |
| § 100 | 11 | PSE | | + | |
| § 101 | 6 | UEN | | - | |
| vote: resolution (as a whole) | | + | |

Subject

Amendment No

Author

RCV, etc.

Vote

RCV/EV — remarks

after § 14

3

PPE-DE

+

§ 17

1

ALDE

W

§

original text

sep

-

§ 22

§

original text

split

1

+

2

+

3/EV

+

318, 257, 4

§ 46

2

ALDE

-

§ 51

§

original text

split

1

+

2

+

§ 54

§

original text

split

1

+

2

+

after § 56

4

PPE-DE

+

§ 58

5

PPE-DE

split

1

+

2

-

§

original text

+

oral amendment

§ 97

9

ITS

-

§ 98

10D

ITS

-

§

original text

split

1

+

2

+

§ 100

11

PSE

+

§ 101

6

UEN

-

vote: resolution (as a whole)

+

Amendments 7 and 8 had been cancelled.

Requests for separate votes

ALDE: § 17

Requests for split votes

ALDE

am 5

1st part:‘Asks ... WTO’

2nd part:‘(deletion)’

PPE-DE

§ 22

1st part: text as a whole without the words ‘is extremely concerned ... medium-term’ and ‘advocated by this study’

2nd part:‘is extremely concerned ... medium-term’

3rd part:‘advocated by this study’

§ 51

1st part: text as a whole without the words ‘giving priority ... commercial considerations,’

2nd part: those words

§ 54

1st part:‘Calls on the SEMCs ... the countries in question;’

2nd part: remainder

§ 98

1st part:‘Takes the view that ... development;’

2nd part: remainder

Miscellaneous

Gianluca Susta, on behalf of the ALDE Group, moved an oral amendment to paragraph 58, which then read as follows:

(58) Asks the Commission to refrain from pressurising SEMCs to open up their service markets beyond what they agreed to in the GATS framework of the WTO, and to respond to positive offers by considering EU provisions regarding enhanced possibilities for the free movement of service workers (Mode IV of GATS);

6.   Bosnia-Herzegovina

Report: Doris PACK (A6-0030/2007)

| Subject | Amendment No | Author | RCV, etc. | Vote | RCV/EV — remarks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| § 1 | 7 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| § 2 | 8 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| § 3 | 9D | PPE-DE | | + | |
| § 4 | 15 | Verts/ALE | | W | |
| § 8 | 5 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| after § 13 | 17 | GUE/NGL | split | | |
| 1 | - | |
| 2 | - | |
| after § 14 | 18 | GUE/NGL | | - | |
| after § 20 | 10 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| § 21 | 11 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| § 26 | 14 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| § 29 | 12 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| § | original text | | ↓ | |
| § 32 | 16 | Verts/ALE | split | | |
| 1 | - | |
| 2 | + | |
| 13 | PPE-DE | | + | addition to am 16, second part |
| § 33 | 20 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| § 34 | 1 | PSE | | + | |
| rec C | 2 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| rec D | 3 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| rec E | 4 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| rec G | § | original text | sep | - | |
| rec M | 19 | GUE/NGL | | - | |
| 6 | PPE-DE | | + | |
| vote: recommendation (as a whole) | | + | |

Subject

Amendment No

Author

RCV, etc.

Vote

RCV/EV — remarks

§ 1

7

PPE-DE

+

§ 2

8

PPE-DE

+

§ 3

9D

PPE-DE

+

§ 4

15

Verts/ALE

W

§ 8

5

PPE-DE

+

after § 13

17

GUE/NGL

split

1

-

2

-

after § 14

18

GUE/NGL

-

after § 20

10

PPE-DE

+

§ 21

11

PPE-DE

+

§ 26

14

PPE-DE

+

§ 29

12

PPE-DE

+

§

original text

↓

§ 32

16

Verts/ALE

split

1

-

2

+

13

PPE-DE

+

addition to am 16, second part

§ 33

20

PPE-DE

+

§ 34

1

PSE

+

rec C

2

PPE-DE

+

rec D

3

PPE-DE

+

rec E

4

PPE-DE

+

rec G

§

original text

sep

-

rec M

19

GUE/NGL

-

6

PPE-DE

+

vote: recommendation (as a whole)

+

Requests for separate votes

PPE-DE: rec G

Requests for split votes

PPE-DE, Verts/ALE

am 16

1st part: text as a whole without the words ‘takes the view ... local authorities’

2nd part: those words

Verts/ALE

am 17

1st part:‘Welcomes the decision ... as soon as possible’

2nd part: remainder

7.   Compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights

Report: Johannes VOGGENHUBER (A6-0034/2007)

| Subject | Amendment No | Author | RCV, etc. | Vote | RCV/EV — remarks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| § 2 | 1 | ITS | | - | |
| § | original text | split | | |
| 1/RCV | + | 468, 93, 35 |
| 2/RCV | + | 455, 115, 21 |
| § 6 | 5 | ITS | | - | |
| § 8 | § | original text | split | | |
| 1 | + | |
| 2 | + | |
| § 13 | 6D | PPE-DE | | - | |
| § 15 | § | original text | | + | oral amendment |
| 7D | PPE-DE | | ↓ | |
| after rec D | 8 | GUE/NGL | split | | |
| 1 | - | |
| 2 | - | |
| after rec H | 2 | ITS | | - | |
| after rec L | 3 | ITS | | - | |
| after rec M | 4 | ITS | | - | |
| vote: resolution (as a whole) | RCV | + | 485, 87, 29 |

Subject

Amendment No

Author

RCV, etc.

Vote

RCV/EV — remarks

§ 2

1

ITS

-

§

original text

split

1/RCV

+

468, 93, 35

2/RCV

+

455, 115, 21

§ 6

5

ITS

-

§ 8

§

original text

split

1

+

2

+

§ 13

6D

PPE-DE

-

§ 15

§

original text

+

oral amendment

7D

PPE-DE

↓

after rec D

8

GUE/NGL

split

1

-

2

-

after rec H

2

ITS

-

after rec L

3

ITS

-

after rec M

4

ITS

-

vote: resolution (as a whole)

RCV

+

485, 87, 29

Requests for roll-call votes

IND/DEM: § 2 and final vote

Requests for split votes

PPE-DE

§ 8

1st part:‘Considers it ... each case’

2nd part: remainder

PSE

am 8

1st part:‘whereas all EU ... European Social Charter)’

2nd part: remainder

IND/DEM

§ 2

1st part: text as a whole without the words ‘to preserve the central achievements of the constitution’

2nd part: those words

Miscellaneous

Johannes Voggenhuber (rapporteur) moved an oral amendment to paragraph 15, which then read as follows:

15. Contemplates the possibility of amending to this end Rule 34 of its Rules of Procedure, so as to entrust the Committee on Civil Liberties with the task of monitoring the consequences of legislative proposals, measures and regulations relevant to fundamental rights, and also of amending Rules 91 and 115 of its Rules of Procedure so that Parliament's resolutions can also apply to Member State affairs, enabling it to fulfil its responsibility pursuant to Articles 6 and 7 of the TEU at an early stage;

8.   Negotiation of an EU-Central America Association Agreement

Report: Willy MEYER PLEITE (A6-0026/2007)

| Subject | Amendment No | Author | RCV, etc. | Vote | RCV/EV — remarks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| § 1, point (b) | 2 | PSE | | - | |
| § 1, point (d) | § | original text | split | | |
| 1 | + | |
| 2 | + | |
| § 1, point (t) | 3D | PSE | | W | |
| 18 | Verts/ALE | | - | |
| 12 | GUE/NGL, PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE | | + | |
| § 1, point (u) | 4 | PSE | | W | |
| 19 | Verts/ALE | | - | |
| 13 | GUE/NGL, PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE | | + | |
| § 1, point (v) | 20D | Verts/ALE | | - | |
| 14 | GUE/NGL, PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE | | + | |
| 5 | PSE | | W | |
| § 1, point (y) | 6D= | PSE
  Verts/ALE | | W | |
| 21D= | PSE
  Verts/ALE | | - | |
| 15 | GUE/NGL, PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE | | + | |
| § 1, point (z) | 7D | PSE | | W | |
| 22 | Verts/ALE | | - | |
| 16 | GUE/NGL, PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE | | + | |
| § 1, point (aa) | § | original text | split | | |
| 1 | + | |
| 2 | + | |
| § 1, point (ab) | 23 | Verts/ALE | | - | |
| 8 | PSE | | - | |
| § | original text | sep | + | |
| § 1, point (ac) | 24 | Verts/ALE | | - | |
| § 1, point (ad) | § | original text | sep | + | |
| § 1, point (ae) | § | original text | sep | + | |
| § 1, point (ag) | § | original text | sep | + | |
| § 1, point (ah) | § | original text | sep | + | |
| § 1, point (aj) | 9 | PSE | | - | |
| 25 | Verts/ALE | | - | |
| citation 2 | 11 | GUE/NGL, PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE, Verts/ALE | | + | |
| rec C | 10 | GUE/NGL, PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE | | + | |
| 17 | Verts/ALE | | ↓ | |
| vote: recommendation (as a whole) | RCV | + | 472, 30, 75 |

Subject

Amendment No

Author

RCV, etc.

Vote

RCV/EV — remarks

§ 1, point (b)

2

PSE

-

§ 1, point (d)

§

original text

split

1

+

2

+

§ 1, point (t)

3D

PSE

W

18

Verts/ALE

-

12

GUE/NGL, PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE

+

§ 1, point (u)

4

PSE

W

19

Verts/ALE

-

13

GUE/NGL, PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE

+

§ 1, point (v)

20D

Verts/ALE

-

14

GUE/NGL, PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE

+

5

PSE

W

§ 1, point (y)

6D=

PSE

Verts/ALE

W

21D=

PSE

Verts/ALE

-

15

GUE/NGL, PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE

+

§ 1, point (z)

7D

PSE

W

22

Verts/ALE

-

16

GUE/NGL, PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE

+

§ 1, point (aa)

§

original text

split

1

+

2

+

§ 1, point (ab)

23

Verts/ALE

-

8

PSE

-

§

original text

sep

+

§ 1, point (ac)

24

Verts/ALE

-

§ 1, point (ad)

§

original text

sep

+

§ 1, point (ae)

§

original text

sep

+

§ 1, point (ag)

§

original text

sep

+

§ 1, point (ah)

§

original text

sep

+

§ 1, point (aj)

9

PSE

-

25

Verts/ALE

-

citation 2

11

GUE/NGL, PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE, Verts/ALE

+

rec C

10

GUE/NGL, PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE

+

17

Verts/ALE

↓

vote: recommendation (as a whole)

RCV

+

472, 30, 75

Amendment 1 had been cancelled.

Requests for roll-call votes

PPE-DE: final vote

Requests for separate votes

GUE/NGL: §§ 1ab, 1ad, 1ae, 1ag and 1ah

Requests for split votes

GUE/NGL

§ 1, point (d)

1st part: text as a whole without the words ‘combating terrorism’

2nd part: those words

§ 1, point (aa)

1st part:‘take into account ... effective customs union’

2nd part: remainder

9.   Negotiation of an EU-Andean Community Association Agreement

Report: Luis YÁÑEZ-BARNUEVO GARCÍA (A6-0025/2007)

| Subject | Amendment No | Author | RCV, etc. | Vote | RCV/EV — remarks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| § 1, point (b) | 1 | PSE | | W | |
| 12 | GUE/NGL | | - | |
| 15 | Verts/ALE | | - | |
| § | original text | | + | oral amendment |
| § 1, point (d) | 2 | PSE | | - | |
| § | original text | split | | |
| 1 | + | |
| 2 | + | |
| § 1, after point (e) | 14 | GUE/NGL | split | | |
| 1 | + | |
| 2/EV | - | 228, 323, 4 |
| § 1, point (s) | 4 | PSE | | W | |
| 17 | Verts/ALE | | W | |
| § | original text | | + | oral amendment |
| § 1, point (t) | 5D=
  18D= | PSE
  Verts/ALE | | - | |
| § 1, point (u) | 6=
  19= | PSE
  Verts/ALE | | W | |
| § | original text | | + | oral amendment |
| § 1, point (v) | 7D=
  20D= | PSE
  Verts/ALE | | W | |
| | § | original text | | + | oral amendment |
| § 1, point (x) | 8D | PSE | | W | |
| 21 | Verts/ALE | | W | |
| 13 | GUE/NGL | | - | |
| § | original text | | + | oral amendment |
| § 1, point (y) | 9 | PSE | | W | |
| 22 | Verts/ALE | | - | |
| § 1, point (aa) | 23 | Verts/ALE | | - | |
| § 1, point (ab) | § | original text | sep | + | |
| § 1, point (ac) | § | original text | sep | + | |
| after citation 7 | 10 | GUE/NGL | | - | |
| rec D | 11 | GUE/NGL | | - | |
| 16 | Verts/ALE | | - | |
| vote: recommendation (as a whole) | RCV | + | 470, 29, 65 |

Subject

Amendment No

Author

RCV, etc.

Vote

RCV/EV — remarks

§ 1, point (b)

1

PSE

W

12

GUE/NGL

-

15

Verts/ALE

-

§

original text

+

oral amendment

§ 1, point (d)

2

PSE

-

§

original text

split

1

+

2

+

§ 1, after point (e)

14

GUE/NGL

split

1

+

2/EV

-

228, 323, 4

§ 1, point (s)

4

PSE

W

17

Verts/ALE

W

§

original text

+

oral amendment

§ 1, point (t)

5D=

18D=

PSE

Verts/ALE

-

§ 1, point (u)

6=

19=

PSE

Verts/ALE

W

§

original text

+

oral amendment

§ 1, point (v)

7D=

20D=

PSE

Verts/ALE

W

§

original text

+

oral amendment

§ 1, point (x)

8D

PSE

W

21

Verts/ALE

W

13

GUE/NGL

-

§

original text

+

oral amendment

§ 1, point (y)

9

PSE

W

22

Verts/ALE

-

§ 1, point (aa)

23

Verts/ALE

-

§ 1, point (ab)

§

original text

sep

+

§ 1, point (ac)

§

original text

sep

+

after citation 7

10

GUE/NGL

-

rec D

11

GUE/NGL

-

16

Verts/ALE

-

vote: recommendation (as a whole)

RCV

+

470, 29, 65

Amendment 3 had been cancelled.

Requests for roll-call votes

PPE-DE: final vote

Requests for separate votes

GUE/NGL: §§ 1ab and 1ac

Requests for split votes

GUE/NGL

§ 1, point (d)

1st part: text as a whole without the words ‘and terrorism, focusing in particular on narcoterrorism’

2nd part: those words

PPE-DE

am 14

1st part:‘prioritise actions ... and health,’

2nd part: remainder

Miscellaneous

Luis Yáñez-Barnuevo García (rapporteur) moved oral amendments to the effect that the following points within paragraph 1 then read:

paragraph 1(b)

1(b) specify in the negotiating mandate that one of the aims of the association agreement between the EU and the CAN should be the establishment in time of an advanced free trade zone (FTZ), political dialogue and cooperation and the promotion of sustainable human development, social cohesion, consolidation of democracy and the rule of law and full respect for human, civil, political, economic, and social rights, without neglecting their cultural and environmental dimension;

paragraph 1(s)

1(s) provide in the negotiating guidelines for gradual reciprocal trade liberalisation under conditions of justice and mutual benefit based on complementarity and solidarity, so as to ensure that the future agreement reduces existing imbalances between the EU and the CAN, and among the CAN countries; provide therefore for special, variable and flexible treatment, following an agreed timetable, depending on commitments on regional integration and improved competitiveness achieved by the Andean countries, proceeding from the premise that transformation of the production sector and the competitiveness of the Andean economies need to be strongly supported under development cooperation measures and through technology transfer, the inclusion of requirements for home-country content in rules of origin, and the establishment of cooperation and technical assistance programmes; all of which should go hand in hand both with a stable legal environment which guarantees safety for investments and the parties' economic and trade relations;

paragraph 1(u)

1(u) take into account that the conclusion of an Association Agreement with the CAN, establishing a Euro-Latin America Global Interregional Association Zone, is a priority strategic objective for the EU's external relations in an international context characterised by increased interdependence, economic growth, the emergence of new economic powers, and a series of global challenges which transcend national borders, such as security, world economic governance, the environment and poverty reduction;

paragraph 1(v)

1(v) commit to the establishment of a Euro-Latin America Global Interregional Association Zone in full compliance with the new WTO Transparency Mechanism and the rights and obligations arising out of the WTO, particularly art XXIV of GATT and art V of GATS, thus contributing to the strengthening of the multilateral trading system;

paragraph 1(x)

1(x) negotiate a single and indivisible trade agreement which goes beyond the negotiating parties' present and future WTO obligations and establishes over a transition period compatible with WTO requirements a Euro-Latin America Global Interregional Association Zone which, without excluding any sector, takes account, in the least restrictive fashion possible, of the development dimension of the specific sensitivity of certain products;

10.   Missing persons in Cyprus

Motion for a resolution: B6-0118/2007

| Subject | Amendment No | Author | RCV, etc. | Vote | RCV/EV — remarks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| motion for a resolution B6-0118/2007




  (PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE, UEN, Verts/ALE, GUE/NGL, IND/DEM) |
| vote: resolution (as a whole) | | + | |

Subject

Amendment No

Author

RCV, etc.

Vote

RCV/EV — remarks

motion for a resolution B6-0118/2007

(PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE, UEN, Verts/ALE, GUE/NGL, IND/DEM)

vote: resolution (as a whole)

+

11.   Regional policy (islands and natural and economic constraints)

Report: Francesco MUSOTTO (A6-0044/2007)

| Subject | Amendment No | Author | RCV, etc. | Vote | RCV/EV — remarks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| § 25 | § | original text | sep | + | |
| § 26 | § | original text | sep | + | |
| rec E | § | original text | sep | + | |
| rec F | § | original text | sep | + | |
| vote: resolution (as a whole) | RCV | + | 473, 26, 35 |

Subject

Amendment No

Author

RCV, etc.

Vote

RCV/EV — remarks

§ 25

§

original text

sep

+

§ 26

§

original text

sep

+

rec E

§

original text

sep

+

rec F

§

original text

sep

+

vote: resolution (as a whole)

RCV

+

473, 26, 35

Requests for roll-call votes

PPE-DE: final vote

Requests for separate votes

Verts/ALE: § 25

GUE/NGL: §§ 25, 26 and recs E and F

12.   Local authorities and development cooperation

Report: Pierre SCHAPIRA (A6-0039/2007)

| Subject | Amendment No | Author | RCV, etc. | Vote | RCV/EV — remarks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| vote: resolution (as a whole) | | + | |

Subject

Amendment No

Author

RCV, etc.

Vote

RCV/EV — remarks

vote: resolution (as a whole)

+

13.   Guatemala

Motions for resolutions: B6-0101/2007, B6-0104/2007, B6-0106/2007, B6-0107/2007, B6-0111/2007, B6-0116/2007

| Subject | Amendment No | Author | RCV, etc. | Vote | RCV/EV — remarks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| joint motion for a resolution RC B6-0101/2007




  (PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE, UEN, Verts/ALE, GUE/NGL) |
| rec B | | original text | | + | oral amendment |
| rec C | | original text | | + | oral amendment |
| vote: resolution (as a whole) | RCV | + | 57, 0, 1 |
| motions for resolutions by political groups |
| B6-0101/2007 | | PSE | | ↓ | |
| B6-0104/2007 | | PPE-DE | | ↓ | |
| B6-0106/2007 | | UEN | | ↓ | |
| B6-0107/2007 | | GUE/NGL | | ↓ | |
| B6-0111/2007 | | ALDE | | ↓ | |
| B6-0116/2007 | | Verts/ALE | | ↓ | |

Subject

Amendment No

Author

RCV, etc.

Vote

RCV/EV — remarks

joint motion for a resolution RC B6-0101/2007

(PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE, UEN, Verts/ALE, GUE/NGL)

rec B

original text

+

oral amendment

rec C

original text

+

oral amendment

vote: resolution (as a whole)

RCV

+

57, 0, 1

motions for resolutions by political groups

B6-0101/2007

PSE

↓

B6-0104/2007

PPE-DE

↓

B6-0106/2007

UEN

↓

B6-0107/2007

GUE/NGL

↓

B6-0111/2007

ALDE

↓

B6-0116/2007

Verts/ALE

↓

Requests for roll-call votes

PPE-DE: final vote

Miscellaneous

Marios Matsakis, on behalf of the ALDE Group, moved oral amendments to recs B and C, to the effect that they then read as follows:

rec B

B. whereas the alleged perpetrators of these crimes (Luis Arturo Herrera López, José Estuardo López, José Adolfo Gutiérrez and Marvin Escobar Méndez), who held positions of responsibility in the Division of Criminal Investigation in the Police Department of Guatemala, were subsequently killed in the highsecurity prison where they were being held, in bizarre circumstances, which have still not been clarified,

rec C

C. whereas there are suspicions that these killings constituted an attempt to hamper the investigations into the instigators of the murders of the members of the PARLACEN,

14.   Cambodia

Motions for resolutions: B6-0102/2007, B6-0103/2007, B6-0108/2007, B6-0110/2007, B6-0112/2007, B6-0117/2007

| Subject | Amendment No | Author | RCV, etc. | Vote | RCV/EV — remarks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| joint motion for a resolution RC B6-0102/2007




  (PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE, UEN, Verts/ALE, GUE/NGL) |
| after rec G | 1 | ALDE | RCV | - | 11, 46, 2 |
| 2 | ALDE | RCV | + | 40, 16, 0 |
| vote: resolution (as a whole) | RCV | + | 59, 0, 0 |
| motions for resolutions by political groups |
| B6-0102/2007 | | PSE | | ↓ | |
| B6-0103/2007 | | PPE-DE | | ↓ | |
| B6-0108/2007 | | GUE/NGL | | ↓ | |
| B6-0110/2007 | | UEN | | ↓ | |
| B6-0112/2007 | | ALDE | | ↓ | |
| B6-0117/2007 | | Verts/ALE | | ↓ | |

Subject

Amendment No

Author

RCV, etc.

Vote

RCV/EV — remarks

joint motion for a resolution RC B6-0102/2007

(PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE, UEN, Verts/ALE, GUE/NGL)

after rec G

1

ALDE

RCV

-

11, 46, 2

2

ALDE

RCV

+

40, 16, 0

vote: resolution (as a whole)

RCV

+

59, 0, 0

motions for resolutions by political groups

B6-0102/2007

PSE

↓

B6-0103/2007

PPE-DE

↓

B6-0108/2007

GUE/NGL

↓

B6-0110/2007

UEN

↓

B6-0112/2007

ALDE

↓

B6-0117/2007

Verts/ALE

↓

Requests for roll-call votes

PPE-DE: final vote

ALDE: ams 1 and 2

15.   Nigeria

Motions for resolutions: B6-0105/2007, B6-0109/2007, B6-0113/2007, B6-0114/2007, B6-0115/2007

| Subject | Amendment No | Author | RCV, etc. | Vote | RCV/EV — remarks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| motions for resolutions by political groups |
| B6-0105/2007 | | PPE-DE | RCV | + | 36, 24, 1 |
| joint motion for a resolution RC B6-0109/2007




  (PSE, ALDE, Verts/ALE, GUE/NGL) |
| vote: resolution (as a whole) | | ↓ | |
| motions for resolutions by political groups |
| B6-0109/2007 | | GUE/NGL | | ↓ | |
| B6-0113/2007 | | ALDE | | ↓ | |
| B6-0114/2007 | | PSE | | ↓ | |
| B6-0115/2007 | | Verts/ALE | | ↓ | |

Subject

Amendment No

Author

RCV, etc.

Vote

RCV/EV — remarks

motions for resolutions by political groups

B6-0105/2007

PPE-DE

RCV

+

36, 24, 1

joint motion for a resolution RC B6-0109/2007

(PSE, ALDE, Verts/ALE, GUE/NGL)

vote: resolution (as a whole)

↓

motions for resolutions by political groups

B6-0109/2007

GUE/NGL

↓

B6-0113/2007

ALDE

↓

B6-0114/2007

PSE

↓

B6-0115/2007

Verts/ALE

↓

Requests for roll-call votes

PPE-DE: final vote (B6-0105/2007)

16.   Attack on Galina Kozlova

Motions for resolutions: B6-0081/2007, B6-0086/2007, B6-0089/2007

| Subject | Amendment No | Author | RCV, etc. | Vote | RCV/EV — remarks |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| joint motion for a resolution RC B6-0081/2007




  (PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE, UEN, Verts/ALE, GUE/NGL) |
| vote: resolution (as a whole) | | + | |
| motions for resolutions by political groups |
| B6-0081/2007 | | ALDE | | ↓ | |
| B6-0086/2007 | | PPE-DE | | ↓ | |
| B6-0089/2007 | | UEN | | ↓ | |

Subject

Amendment No

Author

RCV, etc.

Vote

RCV/EV — remarks

joint motion for a resolution RC B6-0081/2007

(PPE-DE, PSE, ALDE, UEN, Verts/ALE, GUE/NGL)

vote: resolution (as a whole)

+

motions for resolutions by political groups

B6-0081/2007

ALDE

↓

B6-0086/2007

PPE-DE

↓

B6-0089/2007

UEN

↓

---

ANNEX II

RESULT OF ROLL-CALL VOTES

1.   B6-0119/2007 — Illegal bird hunting in Malta

Amendment 10

For: 282

ALDE: Costa, Ortuondo Larrea

IND/DEM: Batten, Clark, Farage, Krupa, Louis, Nattrass, Tomczak, Whittaker, Wise, Železný

ITS: Buruiană-Aprodu, Claeys, Coşea, Dillen, Gollnisch, Lang, Martinez, Mihăescu, Moisuc, Mussolini, Popeangă, Romagnoli, Schenardi, Stănescu, Stoyanov

NI: Battilocchio, Chruszcz, Giertych, Helmer, Martin Hans-Peter, Wojciechowski Bernard Piotr

PPE-DE: Albertini, Anastase, Andrikienė, Atkins, Audy, Ayuso, Barsi-Pataky, Bauer, Beazley, Becsey, Berend, Böge, Bowis, Bradbourn, Braghetto, Březina, Brok, Bushill-Matthews, Busuttil, Buzek, Cabrnoch, Callanan, Casa, Casini, Caspary, Castiglione, del Castillo Vera, Cederschiöld, Chichester, Chmielewski, Coelho, Daul, De Blasio, Demetriou, Descamps, Deß, De Veyrac, Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Dimitrov Martin, Dimitrov Philip Dimitrov, Doorn, Dover, Duchoň, Duka-Zólyomi, Ebner, Ehler, Esteves, Evans Jonathan, Fajmon, Fatuzzo, Ferber, Fontaine, Fraga Estévez, Freitas, Friedrich, Gahler, Gál, Gaľa, Ganţ, García-Margallo y Marfil, Gargani, Garriga Polledo, Gauzès, Gewalt, Gklavakis, Glattfelder, Goepel, Gomolka, Graça Moura, de Grandes Pascual, Grosch, Grossetête, Gutiérrez-Cortines, Gyürk, Handzlik, Hannan, Harbour, Hennicot-Schoepges, Herranz García, Hökmark, Hudacký, Ibrisagic, Itälä, Jackson, Jałowiecki, Jarzembowski, Jeggle, Jordan Cizelj, Kaczmarek, Kamall, Karas, Kauppi, Kelam, Kelemen, Klamt, Klaß, Klich, Koch, Konrad, Kónya-Hamar, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Lamassoure, Langen, Langendries, Lauk, Lechner, Lewandowski, Liese, López-Istúriz White, Lulling, Mann Thomas, Mantovani, Marinescu, Marques, Martens, Mathieu, Mato Adrover, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Mayer, Mayor Oreja, Mikolášik, Millán Mon, Musotto, Nassauer, Nicholson, van Nistelrooij, Novak, Olbrycht, Oomen-Ruijten, Őry, Ouzký, Pack, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Papastamkos, Parish, Peterle, Petre, Pieper, Pirker, Pleštinská, Podestà, Pomés Ruiz, Posdorf, Protasiewicz, Purvis, Queiró, Rack, Radwan, Reul, Roithová, Rudi Ubeda, Rübig, Saïfi, Samaras, Sartori, Saryusz-Wolski, Schierhuber, Schnellhardt, Schröder, Schwab, Seeber, Siekierski, Silva Peneda, Škottová, Sommer, Spautz, Šťastný, Stevenson, Strejček, Sudre, Surján, Szájer, Tannock, Trakatellis, Ulmer, Vakalis, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Vatanen, Ventre, Vernola, Vidal-Quadras, Vlasák, Vlasto, Wieland, von Wogau, Wortmann-Kool, Záborská, Zahradil, Zaleski, Zappalà, Zatloukal, Zieleniec, Zvěřina, Zwiefka

PSE: Attard-Montalto, Beglitis, Bono, Bourzai, Bozkurt, Creţu Gabriela, De Keyser, Douay, Dumitrescu, Estrela, Fazakas, Geringer de Oedenberg, Goebbels, Golik, Grech, Guy-Quint, Hamon, Hasse Ferreira, Honeyball, Howitt, Kirilov, Koterec, Laignel, Le Foll, Lehtinen, Mann Erika, Menéndez del Valle, Miguélez Ramos, Mihalache, Mikko, Muscat, Napoletano, Piecyk, Pleguezuelos Aguilar, Podgorean, Simpson, Skinner, Tarand, Thomsen, Titley, Willmott

UEN: Angelilli, Aylward, Berlato, Borghezio, Crowley, Czarnecki Ryszard, Didžiokas, La Russa, Ó Neachtain, Pirilli, Poli Bortone, Speroni

Verts/ALE: Turmes

Against: 269

ALDE: Ali, Alvaro, Andria, Attwooll, Bărbuleţiu, Beaupuy, Bourlanges, Bowles, Budreikaitė, Busk, Cappato, Cavada, Christova, Ciornei, Cioroianu, Cocilovo, Cornillet, Davies, Deprez, Drčar Murko, Duff, Fourtou, Gentvilas, Geremek, Gibault, Griesbeck, Guardans Cambó, Hall, Harkin, Hellvig, Hennis-Plasschaert, Husmenova, Ilchev, in 't Veld, Jäätteenmäki, Jensen, Juknevičienė, Kacin, Kazak, Klinz, Krahmer, Laperrouze, Lehideux, Losco, Lynne, Maaten, Manders, Matsakis, Mohácsi, Morillon, Morţun, Mulder, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nicholson of Winterbourne, Onyszkiewicz, Oviir, Pannella, Parvanova, Piskorski, Prodi, Resetarits, Ries, Riis-Jørgensen, Samuelsen, Savi, Sbarbati, Schmidt Olle, Schuth, Şerbu, Shouleva, Silaghi, Staniszewska, Sterckx, Susta, Szent-Iványi, Van Hecke, Veraldi, Virrankoski, Wallis, Watson

GUE/NGL: Adamou, Agnoletto, Aita, Brie, Catania, de Brún, Figueiredo, Flasarová, Guerreiro, Henin, Holm, Kaufmann, McDonald, Maštálka, Meijer, Meyer Pleite, Morgantini, Musacchio, Papadimoulis, Pflüger, Remek, Rizzo, Seppänen, Søndergaard, Svensson, Triantaphyllides, Uca, Wagenknecht, Wurtz, Zimmer

IND/DEM: Belder, Goudin, Lundgren

NI: Allister

PPE-DE: Belet, Brepoels, Doyle, Seeberg, Thyssen, Wijkman, Wohlin

PSE: Andersson, Arif, Arnaoutakis, Athanasiu, Ayala Sender, Batzeli, Berès, Berlinguer, Berman, Bliznashki, Bösch, Borrell Fontelles, Bulfon, Bullmann, Busquin, Calabuig Rull, Carlotti, Carnero González, Casaca, Castex, Cercas, Chervenyakov, Chiesa, Christensen, Corbey, Correia, Cottigny, Désir, De Vits, Dobolyi, El Khadraoui, Ettl, Evans Robert, Färm, Falbr, Fava, Fruteau, García Pérez, Gebhardt, Gill, Glante, Gomes, Groote, Haug, Hedh, Hegyi, Hughes, Kindermann, Kreissl-Dörfler, Leichtfried, Leinen, Lyubcheva, Madeira, Maňka, Martínez Martínez, Mastenbroek, Medina Ortega, Moreno Sánchez, Morgan, Moscovici, Myller, Öger, Panzeri, Paşcu, Patrie, Pinior, Prets, Rapkay, Rasmussen, Reynaud, Riera Madurell, Rocard, Rothe, Roure, Sacconi, Saks, Salinas García, Sánchez Presedo, dos Santos, Schaldemose, Schapira, Scheele, Segelström, Siwiec, Stihler, Stockmann, Ţicău, Trautmann, Van Lancker, Vaugrenard, Vergnaud, Walter, Weber Henri, Weiler, Westlund, Yáñez-Barnuevo García

UEN: Camre, Czarnecki Marek Aleksander, Foltyn-Kubicka, Grabowski, Janowski, Kuc, Kuźmiuk, Masiel, Pęk, Piotrowski, Podkański, Roszkowski, Rutowicz, Zapałowski, Zīle

Verts/ALE: Aubert, Auken, Beer, Bennahmias, Breyer, Buitenweg, Cohn-Bendit, Cramer, Evans Jill, Flautre, Frassoni, de Groen-Kouwenhoven, Hammerstein Mintz, Harms, Hassi, Horáček, Hudghton, Isler Béguin, Jonckheer, Kallenbach, Kusstatscher, Lagendijk, Lambert, Lichtenberger, Lipietz, Lucas, Özdemir, Onesta, Romeva i Rueda, Rühle, Schlyter, Schmidt Frithjof, Smith, Staes, Trüpel, Voggenhuber, Ždanoka

Abstention: 33

ALDE: Newton Dunn

GUE/NGL: Manolakou, Pafilis

IND/DEM: Blokland, Bonde

ITS: Mote

PPE-DE: Hoppenstedt, McGuinness, Mitchell, Stauner

PSE: Capoulas Santos, Ferreira Elisa, Ford, Gierek, Grabowska, Gruber, Jöns, Lambrinidis, Lienemann, Martin David, Pahor, Paparizov, Peillon, Rosati, Rouček, Severin, Tabajdi, Wiersma, Zingaretti

UEN: Bielan, Kamiński, Libicki, Rogalski

Corrections to votes and voting intentions

Against:
  Hans-Peter Martin, Claude Turmes

2.   B6-0119/2007 — Illegal bird hunting in Malta

Amendment 12

For: 317

ALDE: Ali, Alvaro, Andria, Attwooll, Bărbuleţiu, Beaupuy, Bourlanges, Bowles, Budreikaitė, Busk, Cappato, Cavada, Christova, Ciornei, Cioroianu, Cocilovo, Cornillet, Costa, Davies, Deprez, Duff, Fourtou, Gentvilas, Geremek, Gibault, Griesbeck, Guardans Cambó, Hall, Harkin, Hellvig, Hennis-Plasschaert, Husmenova, Ilchev, in 't Veld, Jäätteenmäki, Jensen, Juknevičienė, Kacin, Kazak, Klinz, Krahmer, Kułakowski, Laperrouze, Lehideux, Losco, Lynne, Maaten, Manders, Matsakis, Mohácsi, Morillon, Morţun, Mulder, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nicholson of Winterbourne, Onyszkiewicz, Ortuondo Larrea, Oviir, Pannella, Parvanova, Piskorski, Polfer, Prodi, Resetarits, Ries, Riis-Jørgensen, Samuelsen, Savi, Sbarbati, Schmidt Olle, Schuth, Şerbu, Shouleva, Silaghi, Staniszewska, Sterckx, Susta, Szent-Iványi, Van Hecke, Veraldi, Virrankoski, Wallis, Watson

IND/DEM: Bonde, Goudin, Krupa, Louis, Lundgren, Tomczak, Železný

ITS: Coşea, Dillen, Mihăescu, Mussolini, Popeangă

NI: Allister, Battilocchio, Belohorská, Helmer

PPE-DE: Albertini, Anastase, Andrikienė, Atkins, Audy, Ayuso, Barsi-Pataky, Bauer, Beazley, Becsey, Belet, Berend, Böge, Bowis, Bradbourn, Braghetto, Brepoels, Březina, Brok, Bushill-Matthews, Busuttil, Buzek, Cabrnoch, Callanan, Casa, Casini, Caspary, Castiglione, del Castillo Vera, Cederschiöld, Chichester, Chmielewski, Coelho, Daul, De Blasio, Demetriou, Descamps, Deß, Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Dimitrov Martin, Dimitrov Philip Dimitrov, Doorn, Dover, Doyle, Duchoň, Duka-Zólyomi, Ebner, Ehler, Evans Jonathan, Fajmon, Fatuzzo, Ferber, Fontaine, Fraga Estévez, Freitas, Friedrich, Gahler, Gál, Gaľa, Ganţ, García-Margallo y Marfil, Gargani, Garriga Polledo, Gauzès, Gewalt, Gklavakis, Glattfelder, Goepel, Gomolka, Graça Moura, de Grandes Pascual, Grosch, Grossetête, Gutiérrez-Cortines, Gyürk, Handzlik, Hannan, Harbour, Hennicot-Schoepges, Herranz García, Hökmark, Hudacký, Hybášková, Ibrisagic, Itälä, Jackson, Jałowiecki, Jarzembowski, Jeggle, Jordan Cizelj, Kaczmarek, Kamall, Karas, Kauppi, Kelam, Kelemen, Klamt, Klaß, Klich, Koch, Konrad, Kónya-Hamar, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Lamassoure, Langen, Langendries, Lauk, Lechner, Lewandowski, Liese, López-Istúriz White, Lulling, McGuinness, Mann Thomas, Mantovani, Marinescu, Marques, Martens, Mato Adrover, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Mayer, Mayor Oreja, Mikolášik, Millán Mon, Mitchell, Musotto, Nassauer, Nicholson, van Nistelrooij, Novak, Olbrycht, Oomen-Ruijten, Ouzký, Pack, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Papastamkos, Parish, Peterle, Petre, Pieper, Pirker, Pleštinská, Podestà, Pomés Ruiz, Posdorf, Posselt, Protasiewicz, Purvis, Queiró, Rack, Radwan, Reul, Roithová, Rudi Ubeda, Rübig, Saïfi, Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Samaras, Sartori, Saryusz-Wolski, Schnellhardt, Schröder, Schwab, Siekierski, Silva Peneda, Škottová, Sommer, Spautz, Šťastný, Stevenson, Strejček, Sudre, Surján, Szájer, Tannock, Thyssen, Trakatellis, Ulmer, Vakalis, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Vatanen, Ventre, Vernola, Vidal-Quadras, Vlasák, Vlasto, Wieland, von Wogau, Wortmann-Kool, Záborská, Zahradil, Zaleski, Zappalà, Zatloukal, Zieleniec, Zvěřina, Zwiefka

PSE: Cottigny, De Rossa, Lehtinen, dos Santos

UEN: Angelilli, Aylward, Berlato, Borghezio, Crowley, Czarnecki Marek Aleksander, Czarnecki Ryszard, Didžiokas, Kuźmiuk, La Russa, Libicki, Ó Neachtain, Pirilli, Poli Bortone, Speroni, Zīle

Against: 249

ALDE: Drčar Murko

GUE/NGL: Adamou, Agnoletto, Aita, Brie, Catania, de Brún, Figueiredo, Henin, Holm, Kaufmann, McDonald, Maštálka, Meijer, Meyer Pleite, Morgantini, Musacchio, Papadimoulis, Pflüger, Remek, Seppänen, Søndergaard, Svensson, Triantaphyllides, Uca, Wagenknecht, Wurtz, Zimmer

IND/DEM: Batten, Belder, Blokland, Clark, Farage, Nattrass, Whittaker, Wise

NI: Chruszcz, Giertych, Martin Hans-Peter, Wojciechowski Bernard Piotr

PPE-DE: De Veyrac, Mathieu, Seeberg, Wijkman, Wohlin

PSE: Andersson, Arif, Arnaoutakis, Athanasiu, Attard-Montalto, Ayala Sender, Batzeli, Beglitis, Berlinguer, Berman, Bliznashki, Bösch, Bono, Borrell Fontelles, Bourzai, Bozkurt, Bulfon, Bullmann, Busquin, Calabuig Rull, Capoulas Santos, Carlotti, Carnero González, Castex, Cercas, Chervenyakov, Chiesa, Christensen, Corbett, Corbey, Correia, Creţu Gabriela, De Keyser, Désir, De Vits, Dobolyi, Douay, Dumitrescu, El Khadraoui, Estrela, Ettl, Evans Robert, Färm, Falbr, Fava, Fazakas, Fernandes, Ferreira Anne, Ferreira Elisa, Ford, Fruteau, García Pérez, Gebhardt, Geringer de Oedenberg, Gierek, Gill, Glante, Golik, Gomes, Grabowska, Grech, Groote, Gruber, Gurmai, Hamon, Hasse Ferreira, Haug, Hedh, Hegyi, Honeyball, Howitt, Hughes, Jöns, Kindermann, Kinnock, Kirilov, Koterec, Kreissl-Dörfler, Laignel, Lambrinidis, Le Foll, Leichtfried, Leinen, Lyubcheva, McAvan, Madeira, Maňka, Mann Erika, Martin David, Martínez Martínez, Mastenbroek, Medina Ortega, Menéndez del Valle, Miguélez Ramos, Mihalache, Mikko, Moreno Sánchez, Morgan, Moscovici, Muscat, Myller, Napoletano, Öger, Pahor, Panzeri, Paparizov, Paşcu, Patrie, Pinior, Podgorean, Poignant, Prets, Rapkay, Rasmussen, Reynaud, Riera Madurell, Rocard, Rosati, Rothe, Rouček, Roure, Sacconi, Saks, Salinas García, Sánchez Presedo, Schaldemose, Schapira, Scheele, Segelström, Severin, Simpson, Siwiec, Skinner, Stihler, Stockmann, Szejna, Tabajdi, Tarabella, Tarand, Thomsen, Ţicău, Titley, Trautmann, Van Lancker, Vaugrenard, Vergnaud, Walter, Weber Henri, Weiler, Westlund, Wiersma, Willmott, Yáñez-Barnuevo García, Zingaretti

UEN: Bielan, Foltyn-Kubicka, Grabowski, Kamiński, Kuc, Masiel, Pęk, Piotrowski, Podkański, Rogalski, Roszkowski, Rutowicz, Zapałowski

Verts/ALE: Aubert, Auken, Beer, Bennahmias, Breyer, Buitenweg, Cramer, Evans Jill, Flautre, Frassoni, de Groen-Kouwenhoven, Hammerstein Mintz, Harms, Hassi, Horáček, Hudghton, Isler Béguin, Jonckheer, Kallenbach, Kusstatscher, Lagendijk, Lambert, Lichtenberger, Lipietz, Lucas, Özdemir, Onesta, Romeva i Rueda, Rühle, Schlyter, Schmidt Frithjof, Smith, Staes, Trüpel, Turmes, Voggenhuber, Ždanoka

Abstention: 22

ALDE: Newton Dunn

GUE/NGL: Manolakou, Pafilis

ITS: Buruiană-Aprodu, Claeys, Gollnisch, Lang, Martinez, Moisuc, Mote, Romagnoli, Schenardi, Stănescu, Stoyanov

PPE-DE: Esteves, Hoppenstedt, Schierhuber, Stauner

PSE: Goebbels, Peillon

UEN: Camre, Janowski

3.   B6-0119/2007 — Illegal bird hunting in Malta

Resolution

For: 300

ALDE: Andria, Busk, Cavada, Christova, Cornillet, Costa, Drčar Murko, Duff, Gentvilas, Geremek, Gibault, Griesbeck, Hall, Hellvig, Jäätteenmäki, Klinz, Krahmer, Kułakowski, Lambsdorff, Laperrouze, Lehideux, Losco, Morillon, Nicholson of Winterbourne, Onyszkiewicz, Pannella, Piskorski, Prodi, Resetarits, Ries, Sbarbati, Staniszewska, Susta, Veraldi

GUE/NGL: Agnoletto, Aita, Brie, Catania, de Brún, Flasarová, Henin, Holm, Kaufmann, McDonald, Meijer, Meyer Pleite, Morgantini, Musacchio, Papadimoulis, Pflüger, Remek, Rizzo, Seppänen, Søndergaard, Svensson, Uca, Wagenknecht, Wurtz, Zimmer

IND/DEM: Belder, Blokland, Bonde, Goudin, Lundgren

ITS: Mihăescu

NI: Allister, Belohorská, Chruszcz, Giertych, Wojciechowski Bernard Piotr

PPE-DE: Bauer, Beazley, Becsey, Belet, Bowis, Brepoels, Bushill-Matthews, Callanan, Chichester, Doyle, Grosch, Gyürk, Jackson, Kelemen, Kónya-Hamar, Parish, Seeberg, Stauner, Thyssen, Wijkman, Wohlin

PSE: Andersson, Arif, Arnaoutakis, Athanasiu, Ayala Sender, Badia i Cutchet, Batzeli, Beglitis, Berès, Berlinguer, Berman, Bliznashki, Bösch, Bono, Borrell Fontelles, Bourzai, Bozkurt, Bulfon, Bullmann, Busquin, Calabuig Rull, Capoulas Santos, Carlotti, Carnero González, Casaca, Castex, Cercas, Chervenyakov, Chiesa, Christensen, Corbett, Corbey, Correia, Creţu Gabriela, De Keyser, De Rossa, Désir, De Vits, Dobolyi, Douay, Dumitrescu, El Khadraoui, Estrela, Ettl, Evans Robert, Färm, Falbr, Fava, Fazakas, Fernandes, Ferreira Anne, Ferreira Elisa, Ford, Fruteau, García Pérez, Gebhardt, Geringer de Oedenberg, Gierek, Gill, Glante, Gomes, Grabowska, Groote, Gruber, Gurmai, Hamon, Hasse Ferreira, Haug, Hedh, Hegyi, Honeyball, Howitt, Hughes, Jöns, Kindermann, Kinnock, Kirilov, Koterec, Kreissl-Dörfler, Laignel, Lambrinidis, Le Foll, Leichtfried, Leinen, Lienemann, Lyubcheva, McAvan, Madeira, Maňka, Mann Erika, Martin David, Martínez Martínez, Mastenbroek, Medina Ortega, Menéndez del Valle, Miguélez Ramos, Mihalache, Mikko, Moreno Sánchez, Morgan, Moscovici, Napoletano, Obiols i Germà, Occhetto, Öger, Pahor, Panzeri, Paparizov, Paşcu, Patrie, Pinior, Pleguezuelos Aguilar, Podgorean, Poignant, Prets, Rapkay, Rasmussen, Reynaud, Riera Madurell, Rocard, Rosati, Rothe, Rouček, Roure, Sacconi, Saks, Salinas García, Sánchez Presedo, dos Santos, Schaldemose, Schapira, Scheele, Segelström, Severin, Simpson, Siwiec, Skinner, Stihler, Stockmann, Szejna, Tabajdi, Tarabella, Tarand, Thomsen, Ţicău, Titley, Trautmann, Vaugrenard, Vergnaud, Walter, Weber Henri, Weiler, Westlund, Wiersma, Willmott, Yáñez-Barnuevo García

UEN: Bielan, Camre, Czarnecki Marek Aleksander, Czarnecki Ryszard, Foltyn-Kubicka, Grabowski, Kamiński, Kuc, Kuźmiuk, Libicki, Masiel, Piotrowski, Podkański, Rogalski, Roszkowski, Rutowicz, Zapałowski, Zīle

Verts/ALE: Aubert, Auken, Beer, Bennahmias, Breyer, Buitenweg, Cohn-Bendit, Cramer, Evans Jill, Frassoni, de Groen-Kouwenhoven, Hammerstein Mintz, Harms, Hassi, Horáček, Isler Béguin, Kallenbach, Kusstatscher, Lagendijk, Lambert, Lichtenberger, Lipietz, Lucas, Özdemir, Onesta, Romeva i Rueda, Rühle, Schlyter, Schmidt Frithjof, Smith, Staes, Trüpel, Turmes, Voggenhuber, Ždanoka

Against: 253

ALDE: Ali, Alvaro, Attwooll, Bărbuleţiu, Bourlanges, Bowles, Budreikaitė, Cappato, Ciornei, Cioroianu, Cocilovo, Davies, Deprez, Guardans Cambó, Harkin, Husmenova, Ilchev, in 't Veld, Jensen, Juknevičienė, Kacin, Kazak, Lynne, Maaten, Manders, Matsakis, Mohácsi, Morţun, Mulder, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Ortuondo Larrea, Oviir, Parvanova, Polfer, Riis-Jørgensen, Savi, Schmidt Olle, Schuth, Şerbu, Silaghi, Sterckx, Szent- Iványi, Van Hecke, Virrankoski, Wallis, Watson

GUE/NGL: Maštálka

IND/DEM: Batten, Clark, Farage, Krupa, Louis, Nattrass, Tomczak, Whittaker, Wise

ITS: Coşea, Mussolini

NI: Battilocchio, Helmer

PPE-DE: Albertini, Anastase, Andrikienė, Atkins, Audy, Ayuso, Barsi-Pataky, Berend, Böge, Bradbourn, Braghetto, Březina, Busuttil, Buzek, Cabrnoch, Casa, Casini, Caspary, Castiglione, del Castillo Vera, Cederschiöld, Chmielewski, Coelho, Daul, De Blasio, Demetriou, Descamps, Deß, De Veyrac, Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Dimitrov Martin, Dimitrov Philip Dimitrov, Doorn, Dover, Duchoň, Duka-Zólyomi, Ebner, Ehler, Esteves, Evans Jonathan, Fajmon, Ferber, Fontaine, Fraga Estévez, Freitas, Friedrich, Gahler, Gaľa, Ganţ, García-Margallo y Marfil, Gargani, Garriga Polledo, Gauzès, Gewalt, Gklavakis, Goepel, Gomolka, Graça Moura, de Grandes Pascual, Grossetête, Gutiérrez-Cortines, Handzlik, Hannan, Harbour, Hennicot-Schoepges, Herranz García, Hökmark, Hoppenstedt, Hudacký, Hybášková, Ibrisagic, Itälä, Jałowiecki, Jarzembowski, Jeggle, Jordan Cizelj, Kaczmarek, Kamall, Karas, Kauppi, Kelam, Klamt, Klaß, Klich, Koch, Konrad, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Lamassoure, Langen, Langendries, Lauk, Lechner, Lewandowski, López-Istúriz White, Lulling, Mann Thomas, Mantovani, Marinescu, Marques, Martens, Mathieu, Mato Adrover, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Mayer, Mayor Oreja, Mikolášik, Millán Mon, Musotto, Nassauer, Nicholson, van Nistelrooij, Novak, Olbrycht, Oomen-Ruijten, Őry, Ouzký, Pack, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Papastamkos, Peterle, Petre, Pieper, Pirker, Pleštinská, Podestà, Pomés Ruiz, Posdorf, Posselt, Protasiewicz, Purvis, Queiró, Rack, Radwan, Reul, Roithová, Rudi Ubeda, Rübig, Saïfi, Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Samaras, Sartori, Saryusz-Wolski, Schnellhardt, Schröder, Schwab, Siekierski, Silva Peneda, Škottová, Sommer, Spautz, Šťastný, Stevenson, Strejček, Sudre, Surján, Szájer, Tannock, Trakatellis, Ulmer, Vakalis, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Vatanen, Ventre, Vernola, Vidal-Quadras, Vlasák, Vlasto, Wieland, von Wogau, Wortmann-Kool, Záborská, Zahradil, Zaleski, Zappalà, Zatloukal, Zieleniec, Zvěřina, Zwiefka

PSE: Golik, Lehtinen, Myller, Van Lancker

UEN: Angelilli, Aylward, Berlato, Crowley, Didžiokas, La Russa, Ó Neachtain, Pęk, Pirilli, Poli Bortone

Abstention: 35

ALDE: Fourtou, Hennis-Plasschaert, Newton Dunn

GUE/NGL: Adamou, Manolakou, Pafilis

IND/DEM: Železný

ITS: Claeys, Dillen, Gollnisch, Lang, Martinez, Moisuc, Mote, Popeangă, Romagnoli, Schenardi, Stănescu, Stoyanov

PPE-DE: Gál, Glattfelder, Liese, Mitchell, Schierhuber, Seeber

PSE: Attard-Montalto, Cottigny, Grech, Guy-Quint, Muscat, Peillon, Piecyk

UEN: Borghezio, Janowski, Speroni

4.   Voggenhuber report A6-0034/2007

Paragraph 2/1

For: 468

ALDE: Ali, Alvaro, Andria, Attwooll, Bărbuleţiu, Beaupuy, Bourlanges, Bowles, Budreikaitė, Busk, Cappato, Cavada, Ciornei, Cioroianu, Cocilovo, Cornillet, Costa, Davies, Deprez, Drčar Murko, Duff, Fourtou, Gentvilas, Geremek, Gibault, Griesbeck, Guardans Cambó, Hall, Harkin, Hellvig, Hennis-Plasschaert, Husmenova, Ilchev, in 't Veld, Jäätteenmäki, Jensen, Juknevičienė, Kacin, Kazak, Klinz, Krahmer, Kułakowski, Lambsdorff, Laperrouze, Lehideux, Losco, Lynne, Maaten, Manders, Matsakis, Morillon, Morţun, Mulder, Newton Dunn, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nicholson of Winterbourne, Onyszkiewicz, Ortuondo Larrea, Oviir, Pannella, Parvanova, Piskorski, Prodi, Resetarits, Ries, Riis-Jørgensen, Samuelsen, Sbarbati, Schmidt Olle, Schuth, Şerbu, Shouleva, Silaghi, Staniszewska, Sterckx, Susta, Szent-Iványi, Van Hecke, Veraldi, Virrankoski, Wallis, Watson

GUE/NGL: Brie, Kaufmann, Meyer Pleite, Remek, Uca, Zimmer

IND/DEM: Železný

ITS: Claeys, Dillen, Moisuc, Popeangă, Stănescu

NI: Battilocchio, Belohorská, Chruszcz, Giertych, Wojciechowski Bernard Piotr

PPE-DE: Albertini, Anastase, Andrikienė, Audy, Ayuso, Barsi-Pataky, Bauer, Beazley, Becsey, Berend, Böge, Braghetto, Brepoels, Březina, Brok, Busuttil, Casa, Casini, Caspary, Castiglione, del Castillo Vera, Cederschiöld, Chmielewski, Coelho, Daul, De Blasio, Demetriou, Descamps, Deß, Deva, De Veyrac, Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Dimitrov Martin, Dimitrov Philip Dimitrov, Doorn, Doyle, Duka-Zólyomi, Ebner, Ehler, Esteves, Fatuzzo, Ferber, Fontaine, Fraga Estévez, Friedrich, Gahler, Gál, Gaľa, Ganţ, García-Margallo y Marfil, Gargani, Garriga Polledo, Gauzès, Gewalt, Gklavakis, Glattfelder, Goepel, Gomolka, Graça Moura, de Grandes Pascual, Grosch, Grossetête, Gutiérrez-Cortines, Gyürk, Handzlik, Hennicot-Schoepges, Herranz García, Hieronymi, Hökmark, Hoppenstedt, Hudacký, Hybášková, Ibrisagic, Itälä, Jałowiecki, Jarzembowski, Jeggle, Jordan Cizelj, Kaczmarek, Karas, Kauppi, Kelam, Kelemen, Klamt, Klaß, Klich, Koch, Konrad, Kónya- Hamar, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Lamassoure, Langen, Langendries, Lauk, Lechner, Lewandowski, Liese, López- Istúriz White, Lulling, McGuinness, Mann Thomas, Mantovani, Marinescu, Marques, Martens, Mathieu, Mato Adrover, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Mayer, Mayor Oreja, Mikolášik, Millán Mon, Mitchell, Musotto, Nassauer, van Nistelrooij, Novak, Olbrycht, Oomen-Ruijten, Őry, Pack, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Papastamkos, Peterle, Pieper, Pirker, Pleštinská, Podestà, Pomés Ruiz, Posdorf, Posselt, Protasiewicz, Queiró, Rack, Radwan, Reul, Roithová, Rudi Ubeda, Rübig, Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Samaras, Sartori, Saryusz-Wolski, Schierhuber, Schnellhardt, Schröder, Schwab, Seeber, Seeberg, Siekierski, Silva Peneda, Sofianski, Sommer, Sonik, Spautz, Šťastný, Stauner, Sudre, Surján, Szájer, Tannock, Thyssen, Toubon, Trakatellis, Ulmer, Vakalis, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Vatanen, Ventre, Vidal-Quadras, Vlasto, Wieland, Wijkman, Wohlin, Wortmann-Kool, Záborská, Zaleski, Zappalà, Zatloukal, Zieleniec, Zwiefka

PSE: Andersson, Arif, Arnaoutakis, Athanasiu, Attard-Montalto, Ayala Sender, Badia i Cutchet, Batzeli, Beglitis, Berès, Berlinguer, Berman, Bliznashki, Bösch, Bono, Borrell Fontelles, Bourzai, Bozkurt, Bulfon, Bullmann, Busquin, Calabuig Rull, Capoulas Santos, Carlotti, Carnero González, Casaca, Castex, Cercas, Chervenyakov, Chiesa, Christensen, Corbey, Correia, Cottigny, Creţu Gabriela, De Keyser, De Rossa, Désir, De Vits, Dobolyi, Douay, Dumitrescu, El Khadraoui, Estrela, Ettl, Färm, Falbr, Fazakas, Fernandes, Ferreira Anne, Ferreira Elisa, Ford, Fruteau, García Pérez, Gebhardt, Geringer de Oedenberg, Gierek, Gill, Glante, Goebbels, Golik, Gomes, Grabowska, Grech, Groote, Gruber, Gurmai, Guy-Quint, Hamon, Hasse Ferreira, Haug, Hegyi, Jöns, Kindermann, Kirilov, Koterec, Kreissl-Dörfler, Laignel, Lambrinidis, Le Foll, Lehtinen, Leichtfried, Leinen, Lienemann, Lyubcheva, Madeira, Maňka, Martin David, Martínez Martínez, Mastenbroek, Medina Ortega, Menéndez del Valle, Miguélez Ramos, Mihalache, Mikko, Moreno Sánchez, Moscovici, Muscat, Myller, Napoletano, Obiols i Germà, Occhetto, Öger, Pahor, Panzeri, Paparizov, Paşcu, Patrie, Peillon, Piecyk, Pinior, Pleguezuelos Aguilar, Podgorean, Poignant, Prets, Rapkay, Rasmussen, Reynaud, Riera Madurell, Rocard, Rosati, Rothe, Rouček, Roure, Sacconi, Saks, Salinas García, Sánchez Presedo, dos Santos, Schaldemose, Schapira, Scheele, Segelström, Severin, Siwiec, Stockmann, Szejna, Tabajdi, Tarabella, Tarand, Thomsen, Ţicău, Van Lancker, Vaugrenard, Vergnaud, Walter, Weber Henri, Weiler, Westlund, Wiersma, Yáñez-Barnuevo García, Zingaretti

UEN: Camre, Czarnecki Ryszard, Kuźmiuk, Libicki, Pęk, Rogalski

Verts/ALE: Aubert, Auken, Bennahmias, Buitenweg, Cohn-Bendit, Cramer, Evans Jill, de Groen- Kouwenhoven, Hammerstein Mintz, Hassi, Horáček, Hudghton, Isler Béguin, Jonckheer, Kallenbach, Lambert, Lichtenberger, Lipietz, Lucas, Onesta, Romeva i Rueda, Rühle, Schlyter, Schmidt Frithjof, Smith, Staes, Trüpel, Turmes, Voggenhuber

Against: 93

ALDE: Mohácsi, Polfer, Savi

GUE/NGL: Adamou, Figueiredo, Guerreiro, Holm, Manolakou, Maštálka, Meijer, Pafilis, Seppänen, Søndergaard, Svensson

IND/DEM: Batten, Belder, Blokland, Bonde, Clark, Farage, Goudin, Krupa, Louis, Lundgren, Nattrass, Tomczak, Whittaker, Wise

ITS: Buruiană-Aprodu, Gollnisch, Lang, Mihăescu, Mote, Mussolini, Romagnoli, Schenardi, Stoyanov

NI: Allister, Helmer

PPE-DE: Atkins, Belet, Bowis, Bradbourn, Bushill-Matthews, Cabrnoch, Callanan, Chichester, Dover, Duchoň, Evans Jonathan, Fajmon, Hannan, Harbour, Jackson, Kamall, Nicholson, Ouzký, Parish, Petre, Purvis, Škottová, Stevenson, Strejček, Vernola, Vlasák, von Wogau, Zahradil, Zvěřina

UEN: Aylward, Borghezio, Crowley, Czarnecki Marek Aleksander, Didžiokas, Foltyn-Kubicka, Grabowski, Janowski, Kuc, Masiel, Ó Neachtain, Piotrowski, Podkański, Roszkowski, Rutowicz, Speroni, Zapałowski, Zīle

Verts/ALE: Beer, Breyer, Harms, Kusstatscher, Lagendijk, Özdemir, Ždanoka

Abstention: 35

GUE/NGL: Agnoletto, Aita, Catania, de Brún, McDonald, Morgantini, Musacchio, Papadimoulis, Pflüger, Rizzo, Wagenknecht

ITS: Coşea, Martinez

NI: Martin Hans-Peter

PPE-DE: Buzek

PSE: Evans Robert, Hedh, Honeyball, Howitt, Hughes, Kinnock, McAvan, Mann Erika, Morgan, Simpson, Skinner, Stihler, Titley, Willmott

UEN: Angelilli, Berlato, Bielan, La Russa, Pirilli, Poli Bortone

Corrections to votes and voting intentions

For:
  Tatjana Ždanoka, Marcin Libicki

Against:
  Koenraad Dillen

5.   Voggenhuber report A6-0034/2007

Paragraph 2/2

For: 455

ALDE: Ali, Alvaro, Andria, Attwooll, Bărbuleţiu, Beaupuy, Bourlanges, Bowles, Budreikaitė, Busk, Cappato, Cavada, Christova, Ciornei, Cioroianu, Cocilovo, Cornillet, Costa, Davies, Deprez, Drčar Murko, Duff, Fourtou, Gentvilas, Geremek, Gibault, Guardans Cambó, Hall, Harkin, Hellvig, Hennis-Plasschaert, Husmenova, Ilchev, in 't Veld, Jäätteenmäki, Jensen, Juknevičienė, Kacin, Kazak, Klinz, Krahmer, Kułakowski, Lambsdorff, Laperrouze, Lehideux, Losco, Lynne, Maaten, Manders, Matsakis, Mohácsi, Morillon, Morţun, Mulder, Newton Dunn, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nicholson of Winterbourne, Onyszkiewicz, Ortuondo Larrea, Oviir, Pannella, Parvanova, Piskorski, Polfer, Prodi, Resetarits, Ries, Riis-Jørgensen, Samuelsen, Savi, Sbarbati, Schmidt Olle, Schuth, Şerbu, Shouleva, Silaghi, Staniszewska, Sterckx, Susta, Szent-Iványi, Van Hecke, Veraldi, Virrankoski, Wallis, Watson

GUE/NGL: Kaufmann

ITS: Coşea, Mussolini

NI: Battilocchio

PPE-DE: Albertini, Anastase, Andrikienė, Audy, Ayuso, Barsi-Pataky, Bauer, Becsey, Belet, Berend, Böge, Braghetto, Brepoels, Březina, Brok, Busuttil, Buzek, Casa, Casini, Caspary, Castiglione, del Castillo Vera, Cederschiöld, Chmielewski, Coelho, Daul, De Blasio, Demetriou, Descamps, Deß, Deva, De Veyrac, Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Dimitrov Martin, Dimitrov Philip Dimitrov, Doorn, Duka-Zólyomi, Ebner, Ehler, Fatuzzo, Ferber, Fontaine, Fraga Estévez, Friedrich, Gahler, Gál, Gaľa, Ganţ, García-Margallo y Marfil, Gauzès, Gewalt, Gklavakis, Glattfelder, Goepel, Gomolka, Graça Moura, de Grandes Pascual, Grosch, Grossetête, Gutiérrez-Cortines, Gyürk, Handzlik, Hennicot-Schoepges, Herranz García, Hieronymi, Hökmark, Hoppenstedt, Hudacký, Hybášková, Ibrisagic, Itälä, Jałowiecki, Jarzembowski, Jeggle, Jordan Cizelj, Kaczmarek, Karas, Kauppi, Kelam, Kelemen, Klamt, Klaß, Klich, Koch, Konrad, Kónya-Hamar, Kratsa- Tsagaropoulou, Lamassoure, Langen, Langendries, Lauk, Lechner, Lewandowski, Liese, López-Istúriz White, Lulling, McGuinness, Mann Thomas, Mantovani, Marinescu, Marques, Martens, Mathieu, Mato Adrover, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Mayer, Mayor Oreja, Mikolášik, Millán Mon, Mitchell, Musotto, Nassauer, van Nistelrooij, Novak, Olbrycht, Oomen-Ruijten, Őry, Pack, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Papastamkos, Peterle, Petre, Pieper, Pirker, Pleštinská, Podestà, Pomés Ruiz, Posdorf, Posselt, Protasiewicz, Queiró, Rack, Radwan, Reul, Roithová, Rudi Ubeda, Rübig, Saïfi, Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Samaras, Sartori, Saryusz-Wolski, Schierhuber, Schnellhardt, Schröder, Schwab, Seeber, Seeberg, Siekierski, Silva Peneda, Sofianski, Sommer, Sonik, Spautz, Šťastný, Stauner, Sudre, Surján, Szájer, Thyssen, Toubon, Trakatellis, Ulmer, Vakalis, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Ventre, Vernola, Vidal-Quadras, Vlasto, Wieland, Wijkman, von Wogau, Wortmann-Kool, Zaleski, Zappalà, Zatloukal, Zieleniec, Zwiefka

PSE: Andersson, Arif, Arnaoutakis, Athanasiu, Attard-Montalto, Ayala Sender, Badia i Cutchet, Batzeli, Beglitis, Berès, Berlinguer, Berman, Bliznashki, Bösch, Bono, Borrell Fontelles, Bourzai, Bozkurt, Bulfon, Bullmann, Busquin, Calabuig Rull, Capoulas Santos, Carlotti, Carnero González, Casaca, Castex, Cercas, Chervenyakov, Chiesa, Christensen, Correia, Cottigny, Creţu Gabriela, De Keyser, De Rossa, Désir, De Vits, Dobolyi, Douay, Dumitrescu, El Khadraoui, Estrela, Ettl, Färm, Falbr, Fava, Fazakas, Fernandes, Ferreira Elisa, Ford, Fruteau, García Pérez, Gebhardt, Geringer de Oedenberg, Gierek, Glante, Goebbels, Golik, Gomes, Grabowska, Grech, Groote, Gruber, Gurmai, Guy-Quint, Hamon, Hasse Ferreira, Haug, Jöns, Kindermann, Kirilov, Koterec, Kreissl-Dörfler, Laignel, Lambrinidis, Le Foll, Lehtinen, Leichtfried, Leinen, Lienemann, Lyubcheva, Madeira, Maňka, Mann Erika, Martin David, Martínez Martínez, Mastenbroek, Medina Ortega, Menéndez del Valle, Miguélez Ramos, Mihalache, Mikko, Moreno Sánchez, Moscovici, Myller, Napoletano, Obiols i Germà, Öger, Pahor, Panzeri, Paparizov, Paşcu, Patrie, Peillon, Piecyk, Pinior, Pleguezuelos Aguilar, Podgorean, Poignant, Prets, Rapkay, Rasmussen, Reynaud, Riera Madurell, Rocard, Rosati, Rothe, Rouček, Roure, Sacconi, Saks, Salinas García, Sánchez Presedo, dos Santos, Schaldemose, Schapira, Scheele, Segelström, Severin, Siwiec, Stockmann, Szejna, Tabajdi, Tarabella, Tarand, Thomsen, Ţicău, Van Lancker, Vaugrenard, Vergnaud, Walter, Weber Henri, Weiler, Westlund, Wiersma, Yáñez-Barnuevo García, Zingaretti

UEN: Angelilli, Aylward, Berlato, Crowley, Didžiokas, La Russa, Ó Neachtain, Pirilli, Poli Bortone, Zīle

Verts/ALE: Aubert, Auken, Beer, Bennahmias, Breyer, Buitenweg, Cramer, Evans Jill, de Groen- Kouwenhoven, Hassi, Horáček, Hudghton, Isler Béguin, Kusstatscher, Lagendijk, Lambert, Lichtenberger, Lipietz, Özdemir, Onesta, Romeva i Rueda, Rühle, Schmidt Frithjof, Smith, Staes, Trüpel, Turmes, Voggenhuber, Ždanoka

Against: 115

GUE/NGL: Adamou, Agnoletto, Aita, Brie, Catania, de Brún, Figueiredo, Flasarová, Guerreiro, Henin, Holm, McDonald, Manolakou, Meijer, Meyer Pleite, Morgantini, Musacchio, Pafilis, Papadimoulis, Pflüger, Remek, Rizzo, Seppänen, Søndergaard, Svensson, Triantaphyllides, Uca, Wagenknecht, Wurtz, Zimmer

IND/DEM: Batten, Belder, Blokland, Bonde, Clark, Farage, Goudin, Krupa, Louis, Lundgren, Nattrass, Tomczak, Whittaker, Wise, Železný

ITS: Buruiană-Aprodu, Claeys, Dillen, Gollnisch, Lang, Mihăescu, Moisuc, Mote, Popeangă, Romagnoli, Schenardi, Stănescu, Stoyanov

NI: Allister, Chruszcz, Giertych, Helmer, Wojciechowski Bernard Piotr

PPE-DE: Atkins, Beazley, Bowis, Bradbourn, Bushill-Matthews, Cabrnoch, Callanan, Chichester, Dover, Duchoň, Evans Jonathan, Fajmon, Gargani, Hannan, Harbour, Jackson, Nicholson, Ouzký, Parish, Purvis, Škottová, Stevenson, Strejček, Tannock, Vlasák, Wohlin, Záborská, Zahradil, Zvěřina

PSE: Ferreira Anne

UEN: Bielan, Borghezio, Camre, Czarnecki Marek Aleksander, Czarnecki Ryszard, Foltyn-Kubicka, Grabowski, Janowski, Kamiński, Kuc, Kuźmiuk, Libicki, Masiel, Pęk, Piotrowski, Podkański, Rogalski, Roszkowski, Rutowicz, Speroni

Verts/ALE: Lucas, Schlyter

Abstention: 21

GUE/NGL: Maštálka

ITS: Martinez

NI: Martin Hans-Peter

PPE-DE: Kamall

PSE: Corbett, Corbey, Evans Robert, Gill, Hedh, Honeyball, Howitt, Hughes, Kinnock, McAvan, Morgan, Muscat, Simpson, Skinner, Stihler, Titley, Willmott

Corrections to votes and voting intentions

For:
  Joseph Muscat

6.   Voggenhuber report A6-0034/2007

Resolution

For: 485

ALDE: Ali, Alvaro, Andria, Attwooll, Bărbuleţiu, Beaupuy, Bourlanges, Bowles, Budreikaitė, Busk, Cappato, Cavada, Christova, Ciornei, Cioroianu, Cocilovo, Cornillet, Costa, Deprez, Drčar Murko, Duff, Fourtou, Gentvilas, Geremek, Gibault, Griesbeck, Guardans Cambó, Hall, Harkin, Hellvig, Hennis-Plasschaert, Husmenova, Ilchev, in 't Veld, Jäätteenmäki, Jensen, Juknevičienė, Kacin, Kazak, Klinz, Krahmer, Kułakowski, Lambsdorff, Laperrouze, Lehideux, Losco, Lynne, Maaten, Manders, Matsakis, Mohácsi, Morillon, Morţun, Mulder, Newton Dunn, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nicholson of Winterbourne, Onyszkiewicz, Ortuondo Larrea, Oviir, Pannella, Parvanova, Piskorski, Polfer, Prodi, Resetarits, Ries, Riis-Jørgensen, Samuelsen, Savi, Sbarbati, Schmidt Olle, Schuth, Şerbu, Shouleva, Silaghi, Staniszewska, Sterckx, Susta, Szent-Iványi, Van Hecke, Veraldi, Virrankoski, Wallis, Watson

GUE/NGL: Brie, Kaufmann

NI: Battilocchio, Belohorská, Martin Hans-Peter

PPE-DE: Albertini, Anastase, Andrikienė, Audy, Ayuso, Barsi-Pataky, Bauer, Becsey, Belet, Berend, Böge, Braghetto, Brepoels, Březina, Brok, Busuttil, Buzek, Casa, Casini, Caspary, Castiglione, del Castillo Vera, Cederschiöld, Chmielewski, Coelho, Daul, De Blasio, Demetriou, Descamps, Deß, Deva, De Veyrac, Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Dimitrov Martin, Dimitrov Philip Dimitrov, Doorn, Doyle, Duchoň, Duka-Zólyomi, Ebner, Ehler, Esteves, Fatuzzo, Ferber, Fraga Estévez, Freitas, Friedrich, Gahler, Gál, Gaľa, Ganţ, García-Margallo y Marfil, Gargani, Garriga Polledo, Gauzès, Gewalt, Gklavakis, Glattfelder, Goepel, Gomolka, Graça Moura, de Grandes Pascual, Grosch, Grossetête, Gutiérrez-Cortines, Gyürk, Handzlik, Hennicot-Schoepges, Herranz García, Hieronymi, Hökmark, Hoppenstedt, Hudacký, Hybášková, Ibrisagic, Itälä, Jałowiecki, Jarzembowski, Jeggle, Jordan Cizelj, Kaczmarek, Karas, Kauppi, Kelam, Kelemen, Klamt, Klaß, Klich, Koch, Konrad, Kónya-Hamar, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Lamassoure, Langen, Langendries, Lauk, Lechner, Lewandowski, Liese, López-Istúriz White, Lulling, McGuinness, Mann Thomas, Mantovani, Marinescu, Marques, Martens, Mathieu, Mato Adrover, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Mayer, Mayor Oreja, Mikolášik, Millán Mon, Mitchell, Musotto, Nassauer, van Nistelrooij, Novak, Olbrycht, Oomen-Ruijten, Őry, Pack, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Papastamkos, Petre, Pieper, Pirker, Pleštinská, Podestà, Pomés Ruiz, Posdorf, Posselt, Protasiewicz, Queiró, Rack, Radwan, Reul, Roithová, Rudi Ubeda, Rübig, Saïfi, Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Sartori, Saryusz-Wolski, Schierhuber, Schnellhardt, Schröder, Schwab, Seeber, Seeberg, Siekierski, Silva Peneda, Škottová, Sofianski, Sommer, Sonik, Spautz, Šťastný, Stauner, Sudre, Surján, Szájer, Thyssen, Toubon, Trakatellis, Ulmer, Vakalis, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Vatanen, Ventre, Vernola, Vidal-Quadras, Vlasto, Wieland, Wijkman, von Wogau, Wohlin, Wortmann-Kool, Zaleski, Zappalà, Zatloukal, Zieleniec

PSE: Andersson, Arif, Arnaoutakis, Athanasiu, Attard-Montalto, Ayala Sender, Badia i Cutchet, Batzeli, Beglitis, Berès, Berlinguer, Berman, Bliznashki, Bösch, Bono, Borrell Fontelles, Bourzai, Bozkurt, Bulfon, Bullmann, Busquin, Calabuig Rull, Capoulas Santos, Carlotti, Carnero González, Casaca, Castex, Cercas, Chervenyakov, Chiesa, Christensen, Corbett, Corbey, Correia, Cottigny, Creţu Gabriela, De Keyser, De Rossa, Désir, De Vits, Dobolyi, Douay, Dumitrescu, El Khadraoui, Estrela, Ettl, Evans Robert, Färm, Falbr, Fava, Fernandes, Ferreira Elisa, Ford, Fruteau, García Pérez, Gebhardt, Geringer de Oedenberg, Gierek, Gill, Glante, Goebbels, Golik, Gomes, Grabowska, Grech, Groote, Gruber, Gurmai, Guy-Quint, Hamon, Hasse Ferreira, Haug, Hegyi, Honeyball, Howitt, Hughes, Jöns, Kindermann, Kinnock, Kirilov, Koterec, Kreissl-Dörfler, Laignel, Lambrinidis, Le Foll, Lehtinen, Leichtfried, Leinen, Lienemann, Lyubcheva, McAvan, Madeira, Maňka, Mann Erika, Martin David, Martínez Martínez, Mastenbroek, Medina Ortega, Menéndez del Valle, Miguélez Ramos, Mihalache, Mikko, Moreno Sánchez, Morgan, Moscovici, Muscat, Myller, Napoletano, Obiols i Germà, Occhetto, Öger, Pahor, Panzeri, Paparizov, Paşcu, Patrie, Peillon, Piecyk, Pinior, Pleguezuelos Aguilar, Podgorean, Poignant, Rapkay, Rasmussen, Reynaud, Riera Madurell, Rocard, Rosati, Rothe, Rouček, Roure, Sacconi, Saks, Salinas García, Sánchez Presedo, dos Santos, Schaldemose, Schapira, Scheele, Segelström, Severin, Simpson, Siwiec, Skinner, Stihler, Stockmann, Szejna, Tabajdi, Tarabella, Tarand, Thomsen, Ţicău, Titley, Van Lancker, Vaugrenard, Vergnaud, Walter, Weber Henri, Weiler, Westlund, Wiersma, Willmott, Yáñez-Barnuevo García, Zingaretti

UEN: Angelilli, Aylward, Crowley, Czarnecki Marek Aleksander, Didžiokas, Masiel, Ó Neachtain, Pirilli, Zīle

Verts/ALE: Aubert, Auken, Beer, Bennahmias, Breyer, Buitenweg, Cohn-Bendit, Cramer, Evans Jill, Flautre, Frassoni, de Groen-Kouwenhoven, Hammerstein Mintz, Harms, Hassi, Horáček, Hudghton, Isler Béguin, Jonckheer, Kallenbach, Kusstatscher, Lagendijk, Lambert, Lichtenberger, Lipietz, Lucas, Özdemir, Onesta, Romeva i Rueda, Rühle, Schlyter, Schmidt Frithjof, Smith, Staes, Trüpel, Turmes, Voggenhuber, Ždanoka

Against: 87

ALDE: Davies

GUE/NGL: Adamou, Figueiredo, Guerreiro, Henin, Holm, Manolakou, Meijer, Pafilis, Pflüger, Seppänen, Søndergaard, Svensson, Triantaphyllides, Wagenknecht

IND/DEM: Batten, Belder, Blokland, Bonde, Clark, Farage, Goudin, Krupa, Louis, Lundgren, Nattrass, Tomczak, Wise

ITS: Buruiană-Aprodu, Claeys, Coşea, Dillen, Gollnisch, Lang, Martinez, Mihăescu, Moisuc, Mote, Mussolini, Popeangă, Romagnoli, Schenardi, Stănescu, Stoyanov

NI: Allister, Chruszcz, Giertych, Helmer, Wojciechowski Bernard Piotr

PPE-DE: Atkins, Bowis, Bradbourn, Bushill-Matthews, Callanan, Chichester, Dover, Evans Jonathan, Fajmon, Hannan, Harbour, Jackson, Kamall, Nicholson, Parish, Purvis, Stevenson, Tannock, Záborská

UEN: Bielan, Borghezio, Camre, Czarnecki Ryszard, Foltyn-Kubicka, Grabowski, Janowski, Kamiński, Kuc, Kuźmiuk, Libicki, Pęk, Piotrowski, Podkański, Rogalski, Roszkowski, Rutowicz, Speroni, Zapałowski

Abstention: 29

GUE/NGL: Agnoletto, Aita, Catania, de Brún, Flasarová, McDonald, Maštálka, Meyer Pleite, Morgantini, Musacchio, Papadimoulis, Remek, Rizzo, Uca, Wurtz, Zimmer

IND/DEM: Železný

PPE-DE: Cabrnoch, Ouzký, Peterle, Strejček, Vlasák, Zahradil, Zvěřina

PSE: Ferreira Anne, Hedh

UEN: Berlato, La Russa, Poli Bortone

7.   Meyer Pleite report A6-0026/2007

Resolution

For: 472

ALDE: Ali, Alvaro, Andria, Attwooll, Bărbuleţiu, Beaupuy, Bourlanges, Bowles, Budreikaitė, Busk, Cappato, Cavada, Christova, Ciornei, Cioroianu, Cocilovo, Cornillet, Costa, Deprez, Drčar Murko, Duff, Fourtou, Gentvilas, Geremek, Gibault, Griesbeck, Guardans Cambó, Hall, Harkin, Hellvig, Hennis-Plasschaert, Husmenova, Ilchev, in 't Veld, Jäätteenmäki, Juknevičienė, Kacin, Kazak, Klinz, Krahmer, Kułakowski, Lambsdorff, Laperrouze, Lehideux, Losco, Lynne, Maaten, Manders, Matsakis, Mohácsi, Morillon, Morţun, Mulder, Newton Dunn, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nicholson of Winterbourne, Onyszkiewicz, Ortuondo Larrea, Oviir, Pannella, Parvanova, Piskorski, Polfer, Prodi, Resetarits, Ries, Riis-Jørgensen, Samuelsen, Savi, Sbarbati, Schmidt Olle, Schuth, Şerbu, Shouleva, Silaghi, Staniszewska, Sterckx, Susta, Szent-Iványi, Van Hecke, Veraldi, Virrankoski, Wallis, Watson

IND/DEM: Belder, Blokland, Krupa, Lundgren, Tomczak

ITS: Coşea

NI: Battilocchio, Belohorská, Chruszcz, Giertych, Helmer, Wojciechowski Bernard Piotr

PPE-DE: Albertini, Anastase, Andrikienė, Atkins, Audy, Ayuso, Barsi-Pataky, Bauer, Beazley, Becsey, Belet, Berend, Böge, Bowis, Braghetto, Brepoels, Březina, Brok, Bushill-Matthews, Busuttil, Buzek, Callanan, Casa, Casini, Caspary, Castiglione, del Castillo Vera, Cederschiöld, Chichester, Chmielewski, Daul, De Blasio, Demetriou, Descamps, Deß, Deva, De Veyrac, Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Dimitrov Martin, Dimitrov Philip Dimitrov, Doorn, Dover, Doyle, Duka-Zólyomi, Ebner, Ehler, Esteves, Evans Jonathan, Fatuzzo, Ferber, Fraga Estévez, Freitas, Friedrich, Gahler, Gál, Gaľa, Ganţ, García-Margallo y Marfil, Gargani, Gauzès, Gewalt, Gklavakis, Glattfelder, Goepel, Gomolka, Graça Moura, de Grandes Pascual, Grosch, Grossetête, Gutiérrez-Cortines, Gyürk, Handzlik, Harbour, Hennicot-Schoepges, Herranz García, Hieronymi, Hökmark, Hoppenstedt, Hudacký, Hybášková, Ibrisagic, Jackson, Jałowiecki, Jarzembowski, Jeggle, Jordan Cizelj, Kaczmarek, Kamall, Karas, Kauppi, Kelam, Kelemen, Klamt, Klaß, Klich, Koch, Konrad, Kónya-Hamar, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Lamassoure, Langen, Langendries, Lechner, Lewandowski, Liese, López-Istúriz White, Lulling, McGuinness, Mann Thomas, Mantovani, Marinescu, Marques, Martens, Mathieu, Mato Adrover, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Mayer, Mayor Oreja, Mikolášik, Millán Mon, Mitchell, Musotto, Nassauer, Nicholson, van Nistelrooij, Novak, Olbrycht, Oomen-Ruijten, Őry, Pack, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Papastamkos, Parish, Peterle, Petre, Pieper, Pleštinská, Podestà, Posselt, Protasiewicz, Purvis, Queiró, Radwan, Reul, Roithová, Rudi Ubeda, Rübig, Saïfi, Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Sartori, Saryusz-Wolski, Schierhuber, Schnellhardt, Schröder, Schwab, Seeber, Seeberg, Siekierski, Silva Peneda, Sofianski, Sommer, Sonik, Spautz, Stauner, Stevenson, Sudre, Surján, Szájer, Tannock, Thyssen, Toubon, Trakatellis, Ulmer, Vakalis, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Vatanen, Ventre, Vernola, Vidal-Quadras, Vlasto, Wieland, Wijkman, von Wogau, Wohlin, Wortmann-Kool, Záborská, Zaleski, Zappalà, Zatloukal, Zieleniec

PSE: Andersson, Arif, Arnaoutakis, Athanasiu, Attard-Montalto, Ayala Sender, Badia i Cutchet, Batzeli, Beglitis, Berès, Berlinguer, Berman, Bliznashki, Bösch, Bono, Borrell Fontelles, Bourzai, Bozkurt, Bulfon, Bullmann, Busquin, Calabuig Rull, Capoulas Santos, Carlotti, Carnero González, Casaca, Castex, Cercas, Chervenyakov, Chiesa, Christensen, Corbett, Corbey, Correia, Cottigny, Creţu Gabriela, De Keyser, De Rossa, Désir, De Vits, Dobolyi, Douay, Dumitrescu, El Khadraoui, Estrela, Ettl, Evans Robert, Färm, Falbr, Fava, Fernandes, Ferreira Anne, Ferreira Elisa, Ford, Fruteau, Gebhardt, Geringer de Oedenberg, Gierek, Gill, Glante, Goebbels, Gomes, Grabowska, Grech, Groote, Gruber, Gurmai, Guy-Quint, Hamon, Hasse Ferreira, Haug, Hedh, Hegyi, Honeyball, Howitt, Hughes, Jöns, Kindermann, Kinnock, Kirilov, Koterec, Kreissl-Dörfler, Laignel, Lambrinidis, Le Foll, Lehtinen, Leichtfried, Leinen, Lienemann, Lyubcheva, McAvan, Madeira, Maňka, Mann Erika, Martin David, Martínez Martínez, Mastenbroek, Medina Ortega, Menéndez del Valle, Miguélez Ramos, Mihalache, Mikko, Moreno Sánchez, Morgan, Moscovici, Muscat, Myller, Napoletano, Obiols i Germà, Öger, Pahor, Panzeri, Paparizov, Paşcu, Patrie, Peillon, Piecyk, Pinior, Pleguezuelos Aguilar, Podgorean, Poignant, Rapkay, Rasmussen, Reynaud, Riera Madurell, Rosati, Rothe, Rouček, Roure, Sacconi, Saks, Salinas García, Sánchez Presedo, dos Santos, Schaldemose, Schapira, Scheele, Segelström, Severin, Simpson, Siwiec, Skinner, Stockmann, Szejna, Tabajdi, Tarabella, Tarand, Thomsen, Ţicău, Titley, Van Lancker, Vaugrenard, Vergnaud, Walter, Weber Henri, Weiler, Westlund, Wiersma, Willmott, Yáñez-Barnuevo García, Zingaretti

UEN: Angelilli, Aylward, Berlato, Bielan, Borghezio, Camre, Crowley, Czarnecki Ryszard, Didžiokas, Foltyn-Kubicka, Janowski, Kuc, La Russa, Libicki, Ó Neachtain, Pęk, Pirilli, Poli Bortone, Roszkowski, Rutowicz, Speroni, Zapałowski, Zīle

Verts/ALE: Cohn-Bendit

Against: 30

ALDE: Jensen

GUE/NGL: Brie, Manolakou, Pafilis, Pflüger, Uca, Wagenknecht, Zimmer

IND/DEM: Batten, Clark, Farage, Goudin, Nattrass, Wise

ITS: Buruiană-Aprodu, Claeys, Dillen, Gollnisch, Lang, Mihăescu, Moisuc, Mote, Mussolini, Popeangă, Romagnoli, Schenardi, Stănescu, Stoyanov

PPE-DE: Pomés Ruiz

Verts/ALE: Hammerstein Mintz

Abstention: 75

GUE/NGL: Adamou, Agnoletto, Aita, Catania, de Brún, Flasarová, Henin, Holm, Kaufmann, McDonald, Maštálka, Meijer, Meyer Pleite, Morgantini, Musacchio, Papadimoulis, Remek, Rizzo, Seppänen, Søndergaard, Svensson, Triantaphyllides, Wurtz

IND/DEM: Bonde, Železný

ITS: Martinez

NI: Martin Hans-Peter

PPE-DE: Cabrnoch, Duchoň, Fajmon, Lauk, Ouzký, Škottová, Šťastný, Strejček, Vlasák, Zahradil, Zvěřina

UEN: Kamiński

Verts/ALE: Aubert, Auken, Beer, Bennahmias, Breyer, Buitenweg, Cramer, Evans Jill, Flautre, Frassoni, de Groen-Kouwenhoven, Harms, Hassi, Horáček, Hudghton, Isler Béguin, Jonckheer, Kallenbach, Kusstatscher, Lagendijk, Lambert, Lichtenberger, Lipietz, Lucas, Özdemir, Onesta, Romeva i Rueda, Rühle, Schlyter, Schmidt Frithjof, Smith, Staes, Trüpel, Turmes, Voggenhuber, Ždanoka

8.   Yáñez-Barnuevo García report A6-0025/2007

Resolution

For: 470

ALDE: Ali, Alvaro, Andria, Attwooll, Bărbuleţiu, Beaupuy, Bourlanges, Bowles, Budreikaitė, Busk, Cappato, Cavada, Christova, Ciornei, Cioroianu, Cocilovo, Cornillet, Costa, Deprez, Drčar Murko, Duff, Fourtou, Gentvilas, Geremek, Gibault, Griesbeck, Guardans Cambó, Hall, Harkin, Hellvig, Hennis-Plasschaert, Husmenova, Ilchev, in 't Veld, Jäätteenmäki, Jensen, Juknevičienė, Kacin, Kazak, Klinz, Kułakowski, Lambsdorff, Laperrouze, Lehideux, Losco, Lynne, Manders, Matsakis, Mohácsi, Morillon, Morţun, Mulder, Newton Dunn, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nicholson of Winterbourne, Onyszkiewicz, Ortuondo Larrea, Oviir, Pannella, Parvanova, Piskorski, Polfer, Prodi, Resetarits, Ries, Riis-Jørgensen, Samuelsen, Savi, Sbarbati, Schmidt Olle, Schuth, Şerbu, Shouleva, Silaghi, Staniszewska, Sterckx, Susta, Szent-Iványi, Van Hecke, Veraldi, Virrankoski, Wallis, Watson

IND/DEM: Belder, Blokland, Bonde, Lundgren, Tomczak, Železný

ITS: Coşea

NI: Battilocchio, Belohorská, Chruszcz, Giertych, Wojciechowski Bernard Piotr

PPE-DE: Albertini, Anastase, Andrikienė, Atkins, Audy, Ayuso, Barsi-Pataky, Bauer, Beazley, Becsey, Belet, Berend, Böge, Bowis, Braghetto, Brepoels, Březina, Brok, Bushill-Matthews, Busuttil, Buzek, Cabrnoch, Callanan, Casa, Casini, Caspary, Castiglione, del Castillo Vera, Cederschiöld, Chichester, Chmielewski, Daul, De Blasio, Demetriou, Descamps, Deß, Deva, De Veyrac, Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Dimitrov Martin, Dimitrov Philip Dimitrov, Doorn, Dover, Doyle, Duchoň, Duka-Zólyomi, Ebner, Ehler, Esteves, Evans Jonathan, Fajmon, Fatuzzo, Ferber, Fraga Estévez, Freitas, Friedrich, Gahler, Gál, Gaľa, Ganţ, García-Margallo y Marfil, Gargani, Garriga Polledo, Gauzès, Gewalt, Gklavakis, Glattfelder, Gomolka, Graça Moura, de Grandes Pascual, Grosch, Grossetête, Gutiérrez-Cortines, Gyürk, Handzlik, Harbour, Hennicot-Schoepges, Herranz García, Hieronymi, Hökmark, Hoppenstedt, Hudacký, Hybášková, Ibrisagic, Jackson, Jałowiecki, Jarzembowski, Jeggle, Jordan Cizelj, Kaczmarek, Kamall, Karas, Kauppi, Kelam, Kelemen, Klamt, Klaß, Klich, Koch, Konrad, Kónya-Hamar, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Lamassoure, Langen, Langendries, Lauk, Lechner, Liese, López-Istúriz White, Lulling, McGuinness, Mann Thomas, Mantovani, Marinescu, Marques, Martens, Mato Adrover, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Mayer, Mayor Oreja, Mikolášik, Millán Mon, Mitchell, Musotto, Nassauer, Nicholson, van Nistelrooij, Novak, Olbrycht, Oomen-Ruijten, Őry, Ouzký, Pack, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Papastamkos, Parish, Peterle, Petre, Pieper, Pleštinská, Podestà, Pomés Ruiz, Posselt, Protasiewicz, Purvis, Queiró, Radwan, Reul, Roithová, Rudi Ubeda, Rübig, Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Sartori, Saryusz-Wolski, Schierhuber, Schnellhardt, Schröder, Schwab, Seeber, Seeberg, Siekierski, Silva Peneda, Škottová, Sofianski, Sommer, Sonik, Spautz, Šťastný, Stevenson, Strejček, Sudre, Surján, Szájer, Tannock, Thyssen, Toubon, Trakatellis, Ulmer, Vakalis, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Vatanen, Ventre, Vernola, Vidal-Quadras, Vlasák, Vlasto, Wieland, von Wogau, Wohlin, Wortmann-Kool, Záborská, Zahradil, Zaleski, Zappalà, Zatloukal, Zieleniec, Zvěřina

PSE: Andersson, Arif, Arnaoutakis, Athanasiu, Attard-Montalto, Ayala Sender, Batzeli, Beglitis, Berès, Berlinguer, Berman, Bliznashki, Bösch, Bono, Borrell Fontelles, Bourzai, Bozkurt, Bulfon, Bullmann, Busquin, Calabuig Rull, Capoulas Santos, Carlotti, Carnero González, Casaca, Castex, Cercas, Chervenyakov, Chiesa, Christensen, Corbett, Corbey, Correia, Cottigny, Creţu Gabriela, De Keyser, De Rossa, Désir, De Vits, Dobolyi, Douay, Dumitrescu, El Khadraoui, Estrela, Ettl, Evans Robert, Färm, Fava, Fernandes, Ferreira Anne, Ferreira Elisa, Ford, Fruteau, Gebhardt, Geringer de Oedenberg, Gierek, Gill, Glante, Goebbels, Gomes, Grabowska, Grech, Groote, Gruber, Gurmai, Guy-Quint, Hamon, Haug, Hedh, Hegyi, Honeyball, Howitt, Hughes, Jöns, Kindermann, Kirilov, Koterec, Laignel, Lambrinidis, Le Foll, Lehtinen, Leichtfried, Leinen, Lienemann, Lyubcheva, Madeira, Maňka, Mann Erika, Martin David, Martínez Martínez, Mastenbroek, Medina Ortega, Menéndez del Valle, Miguélez Ramos, Mihalache, Mikko, Moreno Sánchez, Morgan, Moscovici, Muscat, Myller, Napoletano, Obiols i Germà, Occhetto, Öger, Pahor, Panzeri, Paparizov, Paşcu, Patrie, Piecyk, Pinior, Pleguezuelos Aguilar, Podgorean, Poignant, Rapkay, Rasmussen, Reynaud, Riera Madurell, Rosati, Rothe, Rouček, Roure, Sacconi, Saks, Salinas García, Sánchez Presedo, dos Santos, Schaldemose, Schapira, Scheele, Segelström, Severin, Simpson, Siwiec, Skinner, Stockmann, Szejna, Tabajdi, Tarabella, Tarand, Thomsen, Ţicău, Van Lancker, Vaugrenard, Vergnaud, Walter, Weber Henri, Weiler, Westlund, Wiersma, Willmott, Yáñez-Barnuevo García

UEN: Angelilli, Aylward, Berlato, Bielan, Borghezio, Crowley, Czarnecki Ryszard, Didžiokas, Foltyn-Kubicka, Janowski, Kamiński, Kuc, La Russa, Libicki, Masiel, Ó Neachtain, Pęk, Pirilli, Poli Bortone, Roszkowski, Rutowicz, Speroni, Zapałowski, Zīle

Against: 29

ALDE: Maaten

GUE/NGL: Brie, Figueiredo, Guerreiro, Manolakou, Maštálka, Pafilis, Pflüger, Wagenknecht, Zimmer

IND/DEM: Batten, Clark, Farage, Goudin, Wise

ITS: Buruiană-Aprodu, Claeys, Dillen, Gollnisch, Lang, Mihăescu, Moisuc, Mote, Mussolini, Popeangă, Schenardi, Stănescu, Stoyanov

Verts/ALE: Hammerstein Mintz

Abstention: 65

GUE/NGL: Adamou, Agnoletto, Aita, Catania, de Brún, Flasarová, Henin, Holm, Kaufmann, McDonald, Meijer, Meyer Pleite, Morgantini, Musacchio, Papadimoulis, Remek, Rizzo, Seppänen, Søndergaard, Svensson, Triantaphyllides, Uca, Wurtz

IND/DEM: Krupa

ITS: Martinez, Romagnoli

NI: Martin Hans-Peter

PPE-DE: Hannan

UEN: Camre

Verts/ALE: Aubert, Auken, Beer, Bennahmias, Breyer, Buitenweg, Cohn-Bendit, Cramer, Evans Jill, Flautre, Frassoni, de Groen-Kouwenhoven, Harms, Hassi, Horáček, Hudghton, Isler Béguin, Jonckheer, Kallenbach, Kusstatscher, Lagendijk, Lambert, Lichtenberger, Lipietz, Lucas, Özdemir, Onesta, Romeva i Rueda, Rühle, Schlyter, Schmidt Frithjof, Smith, Staes, Trüpel, Turmes, Ždanoka

Corrections to votes and voting intentions

For:
  Jules Maaten

9.   Musotto report A6-0044/2007

Resolution

For: 473

ALDE: Ali, Alvaro, Andria, Attwooll, Bărbuleţiu, Beaupuy, Bourlanges, Bowles, Budreikaitė, Busk, Cappato, Cavada, Christova, Ciornei, Cioroianu, Cocilovo, Costa, Deprez, Drčar Murko, Duff, Gentvilas, Geremek, Gibault, Griesbeck, Guardans Cambó, Hall, Harkin, Hellvig, Hennis-Plasschaert, Husmenova, Ilchev, in 't Veld, Jäätteenmäki, Jensen, Juknevičienė, Kacin, Kazak, Klinz, Kułakowski, Lambsdorff, Laperrouze, Lehideux, Losco, Lynne, Maaten, Manders, Matsakis, Mohácsi, Morillon, Morţun, Mulder, Newton Dunn, Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Nicholson of Winterbourne, Onyszkiewicz, Ortuondo Larrea, Oviir, Pannella, Parvanova, Piskorski, Polfer, Prodi, Resetarits, Ries, Riis-Jørgensen, Savi, Sbarbati, Schmidt Olle, Schuth, Şerbu, Shouleva, Silaghi, Staniszewska, Sterckx, Susta, Szent-Iványi, Van Hecke, Veraldi, Virrankoski, Wallis, Watson

IND/DEM: Bonde

ITS: Buruiană-Aprodu, Claeys, Coşea, Dillen, Gollnisch, Lang, Martinez, Moisuc, Mussolini, Popeangă, Romagnoli, Schenardi, Stănescu, Stoyanov

NI: Battilocchio, Belohorská, Martin Hans-Peter

PPE-DE: Albertini, Anastase, Andrikienė, Audy, Ayuso, Barsi-Pataky, Bauer, Beazley, Becsey, Belet, Berend, Böge, Braghetto, Brepoels, Březina, Brok, Busuttil, Cabrnoch, Casa, Casini, Caspary, Castiglione, Cederschiöld, Chmielewski, Daul, De Blasio, Demetriou, Descamps, Deß, Deva, De Veyrac, Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Dimitrov Martin, Dimitrov Philip Dimitrov, Doorn, Doyle, Duchoň, Duka-Zólyomi, Ebner, Ehler, Esteves, Evans Jonathan, Fajmon, Fatuzzo, Ferber, Fraga Estévez, Freitas, Friedrich, Gahler, Gál, Gaľa, Ganţ, García-Margallo y Marfil, Gargani, Garriga Polledo, Gauzès, Gewalt, Gklavakis, Glattfelder, Gomolka, Graça Moura, de Grandes Pascual, Grosch, Grossetête, Gutiérrez-Cortines, Gyürk, Handzlik, Hennicot-Schoepges, Hökmark, Hoppenstedt, Hudacký, Hybášková, Ibrisagic, Jałowiecki, Jarzembowski, Jeggle, Jordan Cizelj, Kaczmarek, Karas, Kauppi, Kelam, Kelemen, Klamt, Klaß, Klich, Konrad, Kónya-Hamar, Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Langen, Lauk, Lechner, Liese, López-Istúriz White, Lulling, McGuinness, Mann Thomas, Mantovani, Marinescu, Marques, Martens, Mato Adrover, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Mayer, Mayor Oreja, Millán Mon, Mitchell, Musotto, Nassauer, Nicholson, van Nistelrooij, Novak, Oomen-Ruijten, Őry, Ouzký, Pack, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Papastamkos, Peterle, Petre, Pieper, Pleštinská, Podestà, Pomés Ruiz, Posselt, Protasiewicz, Purvis, Queiró, Radwan, Reul, Roithová, Rudi Ubeda, Rübig, Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Sartori, Saryusz-Wolski, Schierhuber, Schnellhardt, Schröder, Schwab, Seeber, Seeberg, Siekierski, Silva Peneda, Škottová, Sofianski, Sommer, Sonik, Spautz, Sudre, Surján, Szájer, Thyssen, Trakatellis, Ulmer, Vakalis, Varela Suanzes-Carpegna, Vatanen, Ventre, Vernola, Vidal-Quadras, Vlasák, Vlasto, Wieland, von Wogau, Wohlin, Wortmann-Kool, Záborská, Zahradil, Zaleski, Zappalà, Zatloukal, Zieleniec, Zvěřina

PSE: Andersson, Arif, Arnaoutakis, Athanasiu, Attard-Montalto, Ayala Sender, Badia i Cutchet, Batzeli, Beglitis, Berès, Berlinguer, Berman, Bliznashki, Bösch, Bono, Borrell Fontelles, Bourzai, Bozkurt, Bulfon, Bullmann, Busquin, Calabuig Rull, Capoulas Santos, Carlotti, Carnero González, Casaca, Castex, Cercas, Chervenyakov, Chiesa, Christensen, Corbey, Correia, Cottigny, Creţu Gabriela, De Keyser, De Rossa, Désir, Dobolyi, Douay, Dumitrescu, El Khadraoui, Estrela, Ettl, Evans Robert, Färm, Falbr, Fava, Fernandes, Ferreira Anne, Ferreira Elisa, Ford, Fruteau, Gebhardt, Geringer de Oedenberg, Gierek, Gill, Glante, Goebbels, Gomes, Grech, Groote, Gruber, Gurmai, Guy-Quint, Hamon, Haug, Hedh, Hegyi, Honeyball, Howitt, Hughes, Jöns, Kindermann, Kinnock, Koterec, Laignel, Lambrinidis, Le Foll, Lehtinen, Leichtfried, Leinen, Lienemann, Lyubcheva, McAvan, Madeira, Maňka, Martin David, Martínez Martínez, Medina Ortega, Menéndez del Valle, Miguélez Ramos, Mihalache, Moreno Sánchez, Morgan, Moscovici, Muscat, Napoletano, Obiols i Germà, Occhetto, Öger, Panzeri, Paparizov, Paşcu, Piecyk, Pinior, Podgorean, Poignant, Rapkay, Rasmussen, Reynaud, Riera Madurell, Rosati, Rouček, Roure, Sacconi, Saks, Sánchez Presedo, dos Santos, Schaldemose, Schapira, Scheele, Segelström, Severin, Simpson, Siwiec, Skinner, Stockmann, Szejna, Tabajdi, Tarabella, Tarand, Thomsen, Ţicău, Titley, Van Lancker, Vaugrenard, Vergnaud, Walter, Weber Henri, Weiler, Westlund, Wiersma, Willmott, Yáñez-Barnuevo García

UEN: Angelilli, Berlato, Bielan, Borghezio, Camre, Crowley, Czarnecki Ryszard, Didžiokas, Foltyn-Kubicka, Janowski, Kamiński, Kuc, Libicki, Masiel, Ó Neachtain, Pęk, Pirilli, Poli Bortone, Roszkowski, Rutowicz, Speroni, Zapałowski, Zīle

Verts/ALE: Aubert, Auken, Beer, Bennahmias, Breyer, Buitenweg, Cohn-Bendit, Evans Jill, Frassoni, de Groen-Kouwenhoven, Hammerstein Mintz, Harms, Hassi, Horáček, Hudghton, Isler Béguin, Jonckheer, Kallenbach, Kusstatscher, Lagendijk, Lambert, Lichtenberger, Lipietz, Onesta, Romeva i Rueda, Rühle, Schlyter, Schmidt Frithjof, Smith, Staes, Turmes, Ždanoka

Against: 26

GUE/NGL: de Brún, Flasarová, Holm, McDonald, Manolakou, Maštálka, Meijer, Pafilis, Pflüger, Seppänen, Søndergaard, Svensson, Wagenknecht

IND/DEM: Batten, Belder, Blokland, Clark, Goudin, Krupa, Lundgren, Tomczak, Wise

NI: Chruszcz, Giertych, Wojciechowski Bernard Piotr

PPE-DE: Strejček

Abstention: 35

GUE/NGL: Adamou, Agnoletto, Aita, Brie, Catania, Figueiredo, Guerreiro, Henin, Kaufmann, Meyer Pleite, Morgantini, Musacchio, Papadimoulis, Remek, Rizzo, Triantaphyllides, Uca, Wurtz, Zimmer

IND/DEM: Železný

ITS: Mote

PPE-DE: Atkins, Bowis, Bushill-Matthews, Buzek, Chichester, Dover, Hannan, Harbour, Jackson, Kamall, Parish, Stevenson, Tannock

PSE: Corbett

10.   RC-B6-0101/2007 — Guatemala

Resolution

For: 57

ALDE: Bowles, Cappato, in 't Veld, Matsakis

GUE/NGL: Meijer, Pflüger

NI: Giertych

PPE-DE: Andrikienė, Audy, Bauer, Bowis, Březina, Caspary, Chichester, Daul, Deß, Dover, Duka-Zólyomi, Gahler, Gauzès, Grossetête, Kaczmarek, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Pleštinská, Posselt, Purvis, Saryusz-Wolski, Siekierski, Sofianski, Sonik, Sudre, Záborská, Zaleski

PSE: Ayala Sender, Beglitis, Bourzai, Casaca, Ettl, Gebhardt, Geringer de Oedenberg, Martin David, Martínez Martínez, Medina Ortega, Pinior, Roure, Scheele, Tarabella

UEN: Bielan, Kamiński, Libicki, Rutowicz

Verts/ALE: Lambert, Onesta, Romeva i Rueda, Schlyter

Abstention: 1

ITS: Stănescu

11.   RC-B6-0102/2007 — Cambodia

Amendment 1

For: 11

ALDE: Bowles, Cappato, in 't Veld, Matsakis

GUE/NGL: Meijer

NI: Giertych

PSE: Casaca

Verts/ALE: Lambert, Onesta, Romeva i Rueda, Schlyter

Against: 46

GUE/NGL: Pflüger

PPE-DE: Andrikienė, Audy, Bauer, Bowis, Březina, Caspary, Chichester, Daul, Deß, Dover, Duka-Zólyomi, Gahler, Gauzès, Grossetête, Kaczmarek, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Pleštinská, Posselt, Purvis, Saryusz-Wolski, Schwab, Siekierski, Sofianski, Sonik, Sudre, Záborská, Zaleski

PSE: Ayala Sender, Beglitis, Bourzai, Ettl, Gebhardt, Geringer de Oedenberg, Martin David, Martínez Martínez, Medina Ortega, Pinior, Roure, Scheele, Tarabella

UEN: Bielan, Kamiński, Libicki

Abstention: 2

ITS: Stănescu

UEN: Rutowicz

12.   RC-B6-0102/2007 — Cambodia

Amendment 2

For: 40

ALDE: Bowles, Cappato, in 't Veld, Matsakis

GUE/NGL: Meijer, Pflüger

ITS: Stănescu

NI: Giertych

PPE-DE: Andrikienė, Audy, Bauer, Bowis, Březina, Chichester, Daul, Deß, Dover, Duka-Zólyomi, Gahler, Gauzès, Grossetête, Kaczmarek, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Pleštinská, Posselt, Purvis, Saryusz-Wolski, Siekierski, Sofianski, Sonik, Sudre, Záborská, Zaleski

PSE: Casaca

Verts/ALE: Lambert, Onesta, Romeva i Rueda, Schlyter

Against: 16

PSE: Ayala Sender, Beglitis, Bourzai, Ettl, Gebhardt, Geringer de Oedenberg, Martin David, Martínez Martínez, Medina Ortega, Pinior, Roure, Scheele, Tarabella

UEN: Bielan, Kamiński, Libicki

Corrections to votes and voting intentions

Against:
  Tobias Pflüger

13.   RC-B6-0102/2007 — Cambodia

Resolution

For: 59

ALDE: Bowles, Cappato, in 't Veld, Matsakis

GUE/NGL: Meijer, Pflüger

ITS: Stănescu

NI: Giertych

PPE-DE: Andrikienė, Audy, Bauer, Bowis, Březina, Caspary, Chichester, Daul, Deß, Dover, Duka-Zólyomi, Gahler, Gauzès, Grossetête, Kaczmarek, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Pleštinská, Posselt, Purvis, Saryusz-Wolski, Schwab, Siekierski, Sofianski, Sonik, Sudre, Záborská, Zaleski

PSE: Ayala Sender, Beglitis, Bourzai, Casaca, Ettl, Gebhardt, Geringer de Oedenberg, Martin David, Martínez Martínez, Medina Ortega, Pinior, Roure, Scheele, Tarabella

UEN: Bielan, Kamiński, Libicki, Rutowicz

Verts/ALE: Lambert, Onesta, Romeva i Rueda, Schlyter

14.   RC-B6-0105/2007 — Nigeria

Resolution

For: 36

NI: Giertych

PPE-DE: Andrikienė, Audy, Bauer, Bowis, Březina, Caspary, Chichester, Daul, Deß, Dover, Duka-Zólyomi, Gahler, Gauzès, Grossetête, Hannan, Kaczmarek, Mauro, Mavrommatis, Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Pleštinská, Posselt, Purvis, Roithová, Saryusz-Wolski, Schwab, Siekierski, Sofianski, Sonik, Sudre, Záborská, Zaleski

UEN: Bielan, Kamiński, Libicki, Rutowicz

Against: 24

ALDE: Bowles, Cappato, in 't Veld, Matsakis

GUE/NGL: Meijer, Pflüger

PSE: Ayala Sender, Beglitis, Bourzai, Casaca, Ettl, Gebhardt, Geringer de Oedenberg, Martin David, Martínez Martínez, Medina Ortega, Pinior, Roure, Scheele, Tarabella

Verts/ALE: Lambert, Onesta, Romeva i Rueda, Schlyter

Abstention: 1

ITS: Stănescu

---

ANNEX III

INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS

Delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia

(20 members)

Full members

| PPE-DE | BELET Ivo
  BUSHILL-MATTHEWS Philip
  DEVA Nirj
  JÁRÓKA Lívia
  MANN Thomas
  NICHOLSON James
  ... |
| --- | --- |
| PSE | BULFON Wolfgang
  EVANS Robert
  GERINGER de OEDENBERG Lidia Joanna
  GOEBBELS Robert
  GOLIK Bogdan
  LEINEN Jo |
| ALDE | LYNNE Elizabeth
  MULDER Jan
  ... |
| UEN | MASIEL Jan Tadeusz |
| Verts/ALE | LAMBERT Jean |
| GUE/NGL | KOHLÍČEK Jaromír |
| IND/DEM | ... |

PPE-DE

BELET Ivo

BUSHILL-MATTHEWS Philip

DEVA Nirj

JÁRÓKA Lívia

MANN Thomas

NICHOLSON James

...

PSE

BULFON Wolfgang

EVANS Robert

GERINGER de OEDENBERG Lidia Joanna

GOEBBELS Robert

GOLIK Bogdan

LEINEN Jo

ALDE

LYNNE Elizabeth

MULDER Jan

...

UEN

MASIEL Jan Tadeusz

Verts/ALE

LAMBERT Jean

GUE/NGL

KOHLÍČEK Jaromír

IND/DEM

...

Delegation for relations with India

(22 members)

Full members

| PPE-DE | BAUER Edit
  DEMETRIOU Panayiotis
  EHLER Jan Christian
  IBRISAGIC Anna
  LAMASSOURE Alain
  LECHNER Kurt
  McGUINNESS Mairead
  VAKALIS Nikolaos |
| --- | --- |
| PSE | CHRISTENSEN Ole
  DE VITS Mia
  ETTL Harald
  GILL Neena
  ŢICĂU Silvia-Adriana
  VAUGRENARD Yannick |
| ALDE | CIORNEI Silvia
  COSTA Paolo
  DUQUESNE Antoine |
| UEN | RYAN Eoin |
| Verts/ALE | LAMBERT Jean |
| GUE/NGL | PAFILIS Athanasios |
| IND/DEM | BELDER Bastiaan |
| ITS | MOTE Ashley |

PPE-DE

BAUER Edit

DEMETRIOU Panayiotis

EHLER Jan Christian

IBRISAGIC Anna

LAMASSOURE Alain

LECHNER Kurt

McGUINNESS Mairead

VAKALIS Nikolaos

PSE

CHRISTENSEN Ole

DE VITS Mia

ETTL Harald

GILL Neena

ŢICĂU Silvia-Adriana

VAUGRENARD Yannick

ALDE

CIORNEI Silvia

COSTA Paolo

DUQUESNE Antoine

UEN

RYAN Eoin

Verts/ALE

LAMBERT Jean

GUE/NGL

PAFILIS Athanasios

IND/DEM

BELDER Bastiaan

ITS

MOTE Ashley

Delegation for relations with Afghanistan

(16 members)

Full members

| PPE-DE | FONTAINE Nicole
  HÖKMARK Gunnar
  PODESTÀ Guido
  TAJANI Antonio
  ...
  ... |
| --- | --- |
| PSE | ATTARD-MONTALTO John
  CHIESA Giulietto
  MENÉNDEZ del VALLE Emilio
  ...
  ... |
| ALDE | JUKNEVIČIENĖ Ona
  MORILLON Philippe |
| UEN | ANGELILLI Roberta |
| Verts/ALE | BEER Angelika |
| GUE/NGL | BRIE André |

PPE-DE

FONTAINE Nicole

HÖKMARK Gunnar

PODESTÀ Guido

TAJANI Antonio

...

...

PSE

ATTARD-MONTALTO John

CHIESA Giulietto

MENÉNDEZ del VALLE Emilio

...

...

ALDE

JUKNEVIČIENĖ Ona

MORILLON Philippe

UEN

ANGELILLI Roberta

Verts/ALE

BEER Angelika

GUE/NGL

BRIE André

---

TEXTS ADOPTED

P6_TA(2007)0073

Cross-border healthcare

European Parliament resolution of 15 March 2007 on Community action on the provision of cross-border healthcare

The European Parliament,

| — | having regard to the Communication from the Commission entitled ‘Consultation regarding Community action on health services’ (SEC(2006)1195/4), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Communication from the Commission entitled ‘Consultation regarding Community action on health services’ (SEC(2006)1195/4),

| — | having regard to Article 152 of the EC Treaty, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Article 152 of the EC Treaty,

| — | having regard to the judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Communities (‘European Court of Justice’) in Decker (C-120/95, 28 April 1998), Kohll (C-158/96, 28 April 1998), Geraets-Smits & Peerbooms (C-157/99, 12 July 2001), Vanbraekel (C-368/98, 12 July 2001), IKA (C-326/00, 25 February 2003), Müller-Fauré & van Riet (C-385/99, 13 May 2003), Inizan (C-56/01, 23 October 2003), Leichtle (C-8/02, 18 March 2004) and Watts (C-327/04, 16 May 2005), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Communities (‘European Court of Justice’) in Decker (C-120/95, 28 April 1998), Kohll (C-158/96, 28 April 1998), Geraets-Smits & Peerbooms (C-157/99, 12 July 2001), Vanbraekel (C-368/98, 12 July 2001), IKA (C-326/00, 25 February 2003), Müller-Fauré & van Riet (C-385/99, 13 May 2003), Inizan (C-56/01, 23 October 2003), Leichtle (C-8/02, 18 March 2004) and Watts (C-327/04, 16 May 2005),

| — | having regard to its resolution of 9 June 2005 on patient mobility and healthcare developments in the European Union (1) |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its resolution of 9 June 2005 on patient mobility and healthcare developments in the European Union (1)

| — | having regard to Oral Question B6-0013/2007 by the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety pursuant to Rule 108 of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Oral Question B6-0013/2007 by the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety pursuant to Rule 108 of its Rules of Procedure,

| — | having regard to Rule 108(5) of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Rule 108(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

| A. | whereas health services are excluded from Directive 2006/123/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on services in the internal market (2), |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas health services are excluded from Directive 2006/123/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on services in the internal market (2),

| B. | whereas in the European Parliament there is currently a discussion of a draft report on the impact and consequences of the exclusion of healthcare services from the scope of Directive 2006/123/EC; |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas in the European Parliament there is currently a discussion of a draft report on the impact and consequences of the exclusion of healthcare services from the scope of Directive 2006/123/EC;

| C. | whereas the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has given a number of rulings since 1998 allowing patients to move freely in search of medical treatment and care and thus applying the principle of free movement to the reimbursement of healthcare provided abroad, |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has given a number of rulings since 1998 allowing patients to move freely in search of medical treatment and care and thus applying the principle of free movement to the reimbursement of healthcare provided abroad,

| D. | whereas the ECJ first ruled that making reimbursement of costs incurred in another Member State subject to prior authorisation should be considered as a barrier to the provision of services, but then developed further the principles on reimbursement and the need for prior authorisation, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas the ECJ first ruled that making reimbursement of costs incurred in another Member State subject to prior authorisation should be considered as a barrier to the provision of services, but then developed further the principles on reimbursement and the need for prior authorisation,

| E. | whereas healthcare systems in the European Union are based on the principles of solidarity, equity and universality, in order to guarantee that all people, regardless of their income, social status and age receive appropriate high-quality care, |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas healthcare systems in the European Union are based on the principles of solidarity, equity and universality, in order to guarantee that all people, regardless of their income, social status and age receive appropriate high-quality care,

| F. | whereas the arrangements for healthcare delivery vary from country to country, |
| --- | --- |

F.

whereas the arrangements for healthcare delivery vary from country to country,

| 1. | Welcomes the Commission initiative to launch a consultation procedure on the best form of Community action with a view to providing a framework for cross-border aspects of healthcare; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Welcomes the Commission initiative to launch a consultation procedure on the best form of Community action with a view to providing a framework for cross-border aspects of healthcare;

| 2. | Recalls the Treaty obligation to ensure a high level of human health protection in all Community policies; recalls also Article 95(3) of the Treaty, which sets the legal basis for internal market measures concerning health; considers it therefore necessary to create a legal framework for cross-border healthcare provision which best guarantees patients' timely access to appropriate and high-quality healthcare, the development of cross-border healthcare provision and the sustainability of healthcare financing; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Recalls the Treaty obligation to ensure a high level of human health protection in all Community policies; recalls also Article 95(3) of the Treaty, which sets the legal basis for internal market measures concerning health; considers it therefore necessary to create a legal framework for cross-border healthcare provision which best guarantees patients' timely access to appropriate and high-quality healthcare, the development of cross-border healthcare provision and the sustainability of healthcare financing;

| 3. | Points out that the cross-border aspects of healthcare cover both patient mobility and the mobility of healthcare professionals, as well as the provision of healthcare from another country; also points out that the ECJ rulings specifically address the problem relating to patients' rights to seek treatment abroad and subsequently get reimbursed by their national health insurance schemes; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Points out that the cross-border aspects of healthcare cover both patient mobility and the mobility of healthcare professionals, as well as the provision of healthcare from another country; also points out that the ECJ rulings specifically address the problem relating to patients' rights to seek treatment abroad and subsequently get reimbursed by their national health insurance schemes;

| 4. | Considers, therefore, that ensuring legal certainty as regards the reimbursement of the costs for cross-border healthcare is one of the priority issues not only for patients but also for national health insurance systems and healthcare providers; underlines the need to clarify procedures and conditions for reimbursement in various cases; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Considers, therefore, that ensuring legal certainty as regards the reimbursement of the costs for cross-border healthcare is one of the priority issues not only for patients but also for national health insurance systems and healthcare providers; underlines the need to clarify procedures and conditions for reimbursement in various cases;

| 5. | Urges the Commission to develop common principles and basic guidelines for healthcare in order to guarantee patient safety; takes the view, also, that the development of harmonised health indicators (such as blood test standards) at Community level is very important to improving the exchange of best practice, particularly between health professionals; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Urges the Commission to develop common principles and basic guidelines for healthcare in order to guarantee patient safety; takes the view, also, that the development of harmonised health indicators (such as blood test standards) at Community level is very important to improving the exchange of best practice, particularly between health professionals;

| 6. | Considers that the EU must play an important role in improving the availability of information for patients on cross-border mobility by coordinating cooperation between Member States in this field; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Considers that the EU must play an important role in improving the availability of information for patients on cross-border mobility by coordinating cooperation between Member States in this field;

| 7. | Considers that patient mobility must always be a matter for free patient choice and that no pressure must be brought to bear on patients' freedom of choice
  ; |
| --- | --- |

7.

Considers that patient mobility must always be a matter for free patient choice and that no pressure must be brought to bear on patients' freedom of choice
  ;

| 8. | Stresses the need to ensure patient safety in all circumstances regardless of where and how healthcare is provided; calls for clarity on the responsibilities between authorities in supervising healthcare providers and for effective information exchange between national authorities on the registration and disciplinary status of health care professionals; considers it necessary to create a mechanism for appeals on malpractice in cross-border healthcare; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Stresses the need to ensure patient safety in all circumstances regardless of where and how healthcare is provided; calls for clarity on the responsibilities between authorities in supervising healthcare providers and for effective information exchange between national authorities on the registration and disciplinary status of health care professionals; considers it necessary to create a mechanism for appeals on malpractice in cross-border healthcare;

| 9. | Points out that, in almost all cases, healthcare and medical treatment require follow-up, which may take a long time; recognises the need for clear rules on the division of tasks and responsibilities between healthcare providers during the different stages of treatment and care; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Points out that, in almost all cases, healthcare and medical treatment require follow-up, which may take a long time; recognises the need for clear rules on the division of tasks and responsibilities between healthcare providers during the different stages of treatment and care;

| 10. | Considers the introduction of a legislative framework at Community level as the best way to ensure legal certainty for patients, national healthcare systems and private healthcare providers; believes that it is also the best way to enhance the optimal use of healthcare resources and speed up access to treatment; |
| --- | --- |

10.

Considers the introduction of a legislative framework at Community level as the best way to ensure legal certainty for patients, national healthcare systems and private healthcare providers; believes that it is also the best way to enhance the optimal use of healthcare resources and speed up access to treatment;

| 11. | Considers that there is a need to incorporate a common charter of patients' rights in that framework in order to ensure that such rights are exercised in practice across borders and in the home country; |
| --- | --- |

11.

Considers that there is a need to incorporate a common charter of patients' rights in that framework in order to ensure that such rights are exercised in practice across borders and in the home country;

| 12. | Considers it necessary also to incorporate into the framework a mechanism for data collection and exchange of information between national authorities on healthcare providers, their registration and disciplinary status, and available expertise; believes also that the creation of a network of European Centres of Reference would bring considerable benefits to the treatment of diseases; |
| --- | --- |

12.

Considers it necessary also to incorporate into the framework a mechanism for data collection and exchange of information between national authorities on healthcare providers, their registration and disciplinary status, and available expertise; believes also that the creation of a network of European Centres of Reference would bring considerable benefits to the treatment of diseases;

| 13. | Considers it necessary, for patient safety, to incorporate into the legal framework a duty upon national authorities to exchange registration and disciplinary information about healthcare professionals engaging in cross-border healthcare; |
| --- | --- |

13.

Considers it necessary, for patient safety, to incorporate into the legal framework a duty upon national authorities to exchange registration and disciplinary information about healthcare professionals engaging in cross-border healthcare;

| 14. | Appeals to the Member States to introduce a one-stop-shop approach to complaint procedures for patients; |
| --- | --- |

14.

Appeals to the Member States to introduce a one-stop-shop approach to complaint procedures for patients;

| 15. | Calls on the Commission to pay special attention to the provision of information to patients on their rights and obligations and introduce appropriate provisions in its legislative proposal; |
| --- | --- |

15.

Calls on the Commission to pay special attention to the provision of information to patients on their rights and obligations and introduce appropriate provisions in its legislative proposal;

| 16. | Believes that the forthcoming Community framework can provide an opportunity to empower European citizens as patients as well as encourage Member States to develop their healthcare systems; |
| --- | --- |

16.

Believes that the forthcoming Community framework can provide an opportunity to empower European citizens as patients as well as encourage Member States to develop their healthcare systems;

| 17. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States. |
| --- | --- |

17.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

---

(1)  OJ C 124 E, 25.5.2006, p. 543.

(2)  OJ L 376, 27.12.2006, p. 36.

P6_TA(2007)0074

Illegal bird hunting in Malta

European Parliament resolution of 15 March 2007 on the hunting and trapping of migratory birds in spring in Malta

The European Parliament,

| — | having regard to Petition 794/2004, Petition 334/2005 and Petition 886/2005, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Petition 794/2004, Petition 334/2005 and Petition 886/2005,

| — | having regard to the Report on the fact-finding mission carried out by the Committee on Petitions to Malta between 9 and 12 May 2006, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Report on the fact-finding mission carried out by the Committee on Petitions to Malta between 9 and 12 May 2006,

| — | having regard to Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the Conservation of wild birds (1) (the ‘Birds Directive’), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the Conservation of wild birds (1) (the ‘Birds Directive’),

| — | having regard to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (2) (the ‘Habitats Directive’), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (2) (the ‘Habitats Directive’),

| — | having regard to Articles 10, 226 and 242 of the EC Treaty, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Articles 10, 226 and 242 of the EC Treaty,

| — | having regard to Oral Question B6-0015/2007, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Oral Question B6-0015/2007,

| — | having regard to Rules 108(5) of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Rules 108(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

| A. | whereas the European Parliament has received several petitions against the practice of hunting and trapping migratory birds in spring in Malta, including a petition from the Belgian Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, signed by 300 000 people in Europe, more than 4 000 of whom were from Malta; whereas 115 000 people in Europe, notably from the UK, petitioned the Maltese Government in February 2007 in protest against the spring hunting, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas the European Parliament has received several petitions against the practice of hunting and trapping migratory birds in spring in Malta, including a petition from the Belgian Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, signed by 300 000 people in Europe, more than 4 000 of whom were from Malta; whereas 115 000 people in Europe, notably from the UK, petitioned the Maltese Government in February 2007 in protest against the spring hunting,

| B. | whereas the Committee on Petitions has examined the allegations made in the petitions and has dispatched a delegation to Malta pursuant to Rule 192(3) of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament in order to establish the facts of the situation in situ, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas the Committee on Petitions has examined the allegations made in the petitions and has dispatched a delegation to Malta pursuant to Rule 192(3) of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament in order to establish the facts of the situation in situ,

| C. | whereas the report on that fact-finding mission concluded that, although certain efforts had been made by the Maltese authorities responsible to bring national legislation and its application into line with Community law, the sustainability and survival of populations of several species of migratory birds still face serious threats from illegal and indiscriminate hunting and trapping when birds of those species pass through Malta during their spring migration, |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas the report on that fact-finding mission concluded that, although certain efforts had been made by the Maltese authorities responsible to bring national legislation and its application into line with Community law, the sustainability and survival of populations of several species of migratory birds still face serious threats from illegal and indiscriminate hunting and trapping when birds of those species pass through Malta during their spring migration,

| D. | whereas the report on the fact-finding mission also raises concerns about Malta's compliance with both the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive and about the illegal hunting and the trapping of protected species, in particular birds of prey, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas the report on the fact-finding mission also raises concerns about Malta's compliance with both the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive and about the illegal hunting and the trapping of protected species, in particular birds of prey,

| E. | whereas spring hunting and trapping are defended by Maltese hunters as part of their cultural tradition; whereas, however, the resting space available for migratory birds has diminished considerably in recent years, due to urban development, and whereas new methods and weaponry have also made hunting more efficient and thus more damaging to populations of migratory birds, causing the local eradication of birds such as the Peregrine Falcon and Barn Owl, |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas spring hunting and trapping are defended by Maltese hunters as part of their cultural tradition; whereas, however, the resting space available for migratory birds has diminished considerably in recent years, due to urban development, and whereas new methods and weaponry have also made hunting more efficient and thus more damaging to populations of migratory birds, causing the local eradication of birds such as the Peregrine Falcon and Barn Owl,

| F. | whereas opinion polls appear to show that a broad majority of Maltese society is against current hunting practices, |
| --- | --- |

F.

whereas opinion polls appear to show that a broad majority of Maltese society is against current hunting practices,

| G. | whereas the Government of Malta has decided to open a spring hunting season for Turtle Dove and Quail, both declining species, from 10 April to 20 May 2007, and a trapping season from 26 March to 20 May 2007, |
| --- | --- |

G.

whereas the Government of Malta has decided to open a spring hunting season for Turtle Dove and Quail, both declining species, from 10 April to 20 May 2007, and a trapping season from 26 March to 20 May 2007,

| H. | whereas Malta is one of the principal bottlenecks for birds migrating between Europe and Africa; whereas a recent study contained evidence of birds, many of which were rare or endangered, being shot in 35 countries, mostly European States, and trapped in 19 countries, |
| --- | --- |

H.

whereas Malta is one of the principal bottlenecks for birds migrating between Europe and Africa; whereas a recent study contained evidence of birds, many of which were rare or endangered, being shot in 35 countries, mostly European States, and trapped in 19 countries,

| I. | whereas the Commission is investigating whether Malta's transposition of the Birds Directive fulfils the requirements of the Directive and whether the legislation is being correctly applied, and has commenced infringement proceedings against Malta for failure to comply fully with Article 9 of the Directive, |
| --- | --- |

I.

whereas the Commission is investigating whether Malta's transposition of the Birds Directive fulfils the requirements of the Directive and whether the legislation is being correctly applied, and has commenced infringement proceedings against Malta for failure to comply fully with Article 9 of the Directive,

| J. | whereas the Commission has recommended that the Government of Malta should not allow spring hunting this year and has stated that if spring hunting is to be authorised in 2007 the Commission intends to examine, in a joint case, the spring hunting that was also permitted in 2004, 2005 and 2006 and to dispatch a Reasoned Opinion to Malta on the matter, |
| --- | --- |

J.

whereas the Commission has recommended that the Government of Malta should not allow spring hunting this year and has stated that if spring hunting is to be authorised in 2007 the Commission intends to examine, in a joint case, the spring hunting that was also permitted in 2004, 2005 and 2006 and to dispatch a Reasoned Opinion to Malta on the matter,

| K. | whereas Member States' obligation to cooperate fully with the Commission when it is acting within its powers under Article 226 of the EC Treaty follows from the principle of cooperation in good faith laid down in Article 10 of the EC Treaty, |
| --- | --- |

K.

whereas Member States' obligation to cooperate fully with the Commission when it is acting within its powers under Article 226 of the EC Treaty follows from the principle of cooperation in good faith laid down in Article 10 of the EC Treaty,

| 1. | Takes note of the report on the fact-finding mission of the Committee of Petitions during which the facts were examined in situ between 9 and 12 May 2006, and supports the recommendations in the report; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Takes note of the report on the fact-finding mission of the Committee of Petitions during which the facts were examined in situ between 9 and 12 May 2006, and supports the recommendations in the report;

| 2. | Shares the concerns expressed in the report on the fact-finding mission, in particular in respect of the authorisation given as regards the hunting of resting migratory birds in spring and the illegal hunting and the trapping of protected species, including in areas protected under Community law; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Shares the concerns expressed in the report on the fact-finding mission, in particular in respect of the authorisation given as regards the hunting of resting migratory birds in spring and the illegal hunting and the trapping of protected species, including in areas protected under Community law;

| 3. | Condemns all types of illegal hunting in all Member States; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Condemns all types of illegal hunting in all Member States;

| 4. | Calls on the Maltese Government and the Commission to publish their full technical positions on the subject; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Calls on the Maltese Government and the Commission to publish their full technical positions on the subject;

| 5. | Welcomes the Commission's decision to investigate the compliance of Maltese legislation and its application with the Birds Directive and strongly urges the Commission to redouble its efforts to persuade the Maltese authorities to comply fully with Community law; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Welcomes the Commission's decision to investigate the compliance of Maltese legislation and its application with the Birds Directive and strongly urges the Commission to redouble its efforts to persuade the Maltese authorities to comply fully with Community law;

| 6. | Also calls on the Maltese Government to fully comply with the Birds Directive, relevant Community law and the terms of the Accession Treaty as signed by the Maltese Government; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Also calls on the Maltese Government to fully comply with the Birds Directive, relevant Community law and the terms of the Accession Treaty as signed by the Maltese Government;

| 7. | Welcomes the decision of the Maltese Government to address cases of abuse, inter alia, by increasing fines to a maximum of EUR 14 000 and providing for terms of imprisonment of up to two years and the permanent revocation of hunting licences in the case of recidivists; |
| --- | --- |

7.

Welcomes the decision of the Maltese Government to address cases of abuse, inter alia, by increasing fines to a maximum of EUR 14 000 and providing for terms of imprisonment of up to two years and the permanent revocation of hunting licences in the case of recidivists;

| 8. | Also welcomes the decision of the Maltese Government to ban the trapping of finches and the hunting of birds at sea during spring; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Also welcomes the decision of the Maltese Government to ban the trapping of finches and the hunting of birds at sea during spring;

| 9. | Reiterates the principle of cooperation in good faith laid down in Article 10 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Member States have agreed to cooperate fully with the Community Institutions; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Reiterates the principle of cooperation in good faith laid down in Article 10 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Member States have agreed to cooperate fully with the Community Institutions;

| 10. | Notes that the principle of cooperation in good faith is of particular importance when the Commission is acting in its capacity as ‘guardian of the treaties’ and investigating the compliance of Member States with Community law pursuant to Article 226 of the EC Treaty; |
| --- | --- |

10.

Notes that the principle of cooperation in good faith is of particular importance when the Commission is acting in its capacity as ‘guardian of the treaties’ and investigating the compliance of Member States with Community law pursuant to Article 226 of the EC Treaty;

| 11. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Government and Parliament of Malta. |
| --- | --- |

11.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Government and Parliament of Malta.

---

(1)  OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.

(2)  OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

P6_TA(2007)0075

Euro-Mediterranean relations

European Parliament resolution of 15 March 2007 on Euro-Mediterranean relations

The European Parliament,

| — | having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the preparation of the Tampere Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Affairs Ministers Conference (COM(2006)0620), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the preparation of the Tampere Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Affairs Ministers Conference (COM(2006)0620),

| — | having regard to the conclusions of the eighth Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (the eighth Euromed conference), held in Tampere on 27-28 November 2006, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the conclusions of the eighth Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (the eighth Euromed conference), held in Tampere on 27-28 November 2006,

| — | having regard to the communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) (COM(2006)0726), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on strengthening the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) (COM(2006)0726),

| — | having regard to the conclusions of the Euro-Mediterranean Summit to mark the tenth anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership held in Barcelona on 27-28 November 2005, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the conclusions of the Euro-Mediterranean Summit to mark the tenth anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership held in Barcelona on 27-28 November 2005,

| — | having regard to the Conclusions of the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Trade held in Marrakesh on 24 March 2006, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Conclusions of the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Trade held in Marrakesh on 24 March 2006,

| — | having regard to the final declaration of the Civil Forum held in Marrakesh from 4 to 7 November 2006, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the final declaration of the Civil Forum held in Marrakesh from 4 to 7 November 2006,

| — | having regard to the Euro-African conference held in Rabat on 10-11 July 2006 and the conference in Tripoli held on 22-23 November 2006, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Euro-African conference held in Rabat on 10-11 July 2006 and the conference in Tripoli held on 22-23 November 2006,

| — | having regard to the programme of the current Presidency of the Council, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the programme of the current Presidency of the Council,

| — | having regard to the conclusions of the European Council of 8 and 9 March 2007, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the conclusions of the European Council of 8 and 9 March 2007,

| — | having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

| A. | whereas regard should be had to the strategic importance to the EU of the Mediterranean region and the Middle East and the need for a Mediterranean policy based on solidarity to tackle the numerous common challenges and to achieve the objectives of establishing an area of peace, stability and shared prosperity, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas regard should be had to the strategic importance to the EU of the Mediterranean region and the Middle East and the need for a Mediterranean policy based on solidarity to tackle the numerous common challenges and to achieve the objectives of establishing an area of peace, stability and shared prosperity,

| B. | whereas on 28 November 2005 the Heads of State and Government adopted a Five-Year Programme to reinvigorate the Barcelona Process, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas on 28 November 2005 the Heads of State and Government adopted a Five-Year Programme to reinvigorate the Barcelona Process,

| C. | whereas there can be no sustainable development without peace, stability, solidarity and good governance and sustainable development must be at the heart of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas there can be no sustainable development without peace, stability, solidarity and good governance and sustainable development must be at the heart of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership,

| D. | whereas the worsening of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent years has led to a serious deterioration in the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with a very negative impact on security throughout the region, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas the worsening of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent years has led to a serious deterioration in the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with a very negative impact on security throughout the region,

| E. | having regard to the decision of the eighth EuroMed conference to hold a conference in 2007 on respect for human rights in the context of combating terrorism in accordance with international law, as a measure to implement the EuroMed Code of Conduct adopted at the Barcelona Summit in November 2005, |
| --- | --- |

E.

having regard to the decision of the eighth EuroMed conference to hold a conference in 2007 on respect for human rights in the context of combating terrorism in accordance with international law, as a measure to implement the EuroMed Code of Conduct adopted at the Barcelona Summit in November 2005,

| F. | whereas the EU does not yet have a common immigration policy and different national rules prevail in each Member State, |
| --- | --- |

F.

whereas the EU does not yet have a common immigration policy and different national rules prevail in each Member State,

| G. | whereas illegal immigration can lead to human exploitation, forced labour and human trafficking, |
| --- | --- |

G.

whereas illegal immigration can lead to human exploitation, forced labour and human trafficking,

| H. | whereas the integration of women in economic and social activity is essential if societies are to develop, |
| --- | --- |

H.

whereas the integration of women in economic and social activity is essential if societies are to develop,

| I. | whereas the negative effects of debt and the trade deficit with the European Union on the development of most countries on the southern side of the Mediterranean should be noted, |
| --- | --- |

I.

whereas the negative effects of debt and the trade deficit with the European Union on the development of most countries on the southern side of the Mediterranean should be noted,

| J. | whereas account should be taken of the abovementioned Communication from the Commission on strengthening the ENP, which contains proposals to significantly improve the impact of the partnership policy, opening up new possibilities for enhancing common relations, strengthening political dialogue and increasing the integration of partner countries in EU policies, |
| --- | --- |

J.

whereas account should be taken of the abovementioned Communication from the Commission on strengthening the ENP, which contains proposals to significantly improve the impact of the partnership policy, opening up new possibilities for enhancing common relations, strengthening political dialogue and increasing the integration of partner countries in EU policies,

| K. | whereas the financial envelope allocated by the EU to the southern and eastern Mediterranean countries for the period 2007-2013 must be maintained at a level commensurate with that of the region's commercial, economic and strategic weight in its relations with the EU, |
| --- | --- |

K.

whereas the financial envelope allocated by the EU to the southern and eastern Mediterranean countries for the period 2007-2013 must be maintained at a level commensurate with that of the region's commercial, economic and strategic weight in its relations with the EU,

| L. | whereas an emphasis is to be placed on the enormous advantages for all partners of the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean energy market, fully interconnected and integrated by the extension and integration of energy markets in the Euro-Mediterranean and sub-Saharan region, and the completion of the energy infrastructure projects needed, |
| --- | --- |

L.

whereas an emphasis is to be placed on the enormous advantages for all partners of the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean energy market, fully interconnected and integrated by the extension and integration of energy markets in the Euro-Mediterranean and sub-Saharan region, and the completion of the energy infrastructure projects needed,

| M. | whereas it might be useful to establish a link between Euro-Mediterranean policy objectives, particularly the economic and financial dimension, and the EU's objectives in its relations with the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, |
| --- | --- |

M.

whereas it might be useful to establish a link between Euro-Mediterranean policy objectives, particularly the economic and financial dimension, and the EU's objectives in its relations with the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council,

| N. | whereas the transformation of the Euro-Mediterranean parliamentary forum into a Euro-Mediterranean parliamentary assembly (EMPA), with three committees, increases the parliamentary dimension of the Euro-Mediterranean process, which now bears great democratic responsibility; whereas this new body should step up the general dialogue between the two regions, |
| --- | --- |

N.

whereas the transformation of the Euro-Mediterranean parliamentary forum into a Euro-Mediterranean parliamentary assembly (EMPA), with three committees, increases the parliamentary dimension of the Euro-Mediterranean process, which now bears great democratic responsibility; whereas this new body should step up the general dialogue between the two regions,

| 1. | Considers it is appropriate to strengthen the political dimension of neighbourhood towards the south, in view of the increased complexity of relations with the Mediterranean region, towards which the Barcelona Process represented a significant step forward; notes that the objectives with which this policy was launched, aimed at establishing stable relations based on common values shared with the new neighbours of an enlarged Europe, are still far from being achieved; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Considers it is appropriate to strengthen the political dimension of neighbourhood towards the south, in view of the increased complexity of relations with the Mediterranean region, towards which the Barcelona Process represented a significant step forward; notes that the objectives with which this policy was launched, aimed at establishing stable relations based on common values shared with the new neighbours of an enlarged Europe, are still far from being achieved;

| 2. | Considers that the development of the ENP cannot be limited to updating the association and cooperation agreements with each of the countries concerned, stressing only the bilateral dimension, and calls on all partners to relaunch and update the strategic and political objectives of the Barcelona Process, including the creation of cooperation networks and the promotion of North-South and South-South regional integration; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Considers that the development of the ENP cannot be limited to updating the association and cooperation agreements with each of the countries concerned, stressing only the bilateral dimension, and calls on all partners to relaunch and update the strategic and political objectives of the Barcelona Process, including the creation of cooperation networks and the promotion of North-South and South-South regional integration;

| 3. | Welcomes the Commission's proposal to give the ENP a thematic dimension, pursuing the reinforcement of trade agreements and strengthening support for reforms to improve the regulatory environment and the investment climate; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Welcomes the Commission's proposal to give the ENP a thematic dimension, pursuing the reinforcement of trade agreements and strengthening support for reforms to improve the regulatory environment and the investment climate;

| 4. | Calls on the Commission and the partner countries to give more concrete expression to the relationship between the ENP and the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership by adding new agreements and multilateral programmes for energy and transport and by strengthening existing programmes and agreements; emphasises in particular the vulnerability of the Euro-Mediterranean region from an environmental point of view and, more precisely, in terms of climate change, and, against that background, calls on the Commission to put forward an action plan for renewable energy sources for the region; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Calls on the Commission and the partner countries to give more concrete expression to the relationship between the ENP and the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership by adding new agreements and multilateral programmes for energy and transport and by strengthening existing programmes and agreements; emphasises in particular the vulnerability of the Euro-Mediterranean region from an environmental point of view and, more precisely, in terms of climate change, and, against that background, calls on the Commission to put forward an action plan for renewable energy sources for the region;

| 5. | Reaffirms the need to relaunch the Middle East peace process, taking account of the seriousness of the political and humanitarian situation and draws attention to the limits of the TIM (Temporary International Mechanism); considers that the relaunching of negotiations based on the Road Map will not suffice unless account is taken of other proposals such as the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative and unless all players in the region take part in the negotiations; welcomes the prospect of an international conference aimed at reaching a final resolution of the conflict; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Reaffirms the need to relaunch the Middle East peace process, taking account of the seriousness of the political and humanitarian situation and draws attention to the limits of the TIM (Temporary International Mechanism); considers that the relaunching of negotiations based on the Road Map will not suffice unless account is taken of other proposals such as the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative and unless all players in the region take part in the negotiations; welcomes the prospect of an international conference aimed at reaching a final resolution of the conflict;

| 6. | Observes with interest the announcement that should lead to the formation of a new Palestinian coalition government and welcomes the initiative taken by Saudi Arabia with the agreement signed in Mecca on 8 February 2007; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Observes with interest the announcement that should lead to the formation of a new Palestinian coalition government and welcomes the initiative taken by Saudi Arabia with the agreement signed in Mecca on 8 February 2007;

| 7. | Reaffirms that the Middle East conflict can only be resolved by negotiating a firm and final peace agreement, as provided for by the Road Map, i.e. without preconditions, based on the existence of two democratic, sovereign and viable States living in peace alongside one another and within secure and recognised international borders; |
| --- | --- |

7.

Reaffirms that the Middle East conflict can only be resolved by negotiating a firm and final peace agreement, as provided for by the Road Map, i.e. without preconditions, based on the existence of two democratic, sovereign and viable States living in peace alongside one another and within secure and recognised international borders;

| 8. | Reasserts its concerns about the seriousness of the systematic destruction of natural resources and human potential caused by the various ongoing conflicts; calls for increased use of political and economic measures under the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership framework and the five-year action programme in order to tackle this problem; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Reasserts its concerns about the seriousness of the systematic destruction of natural resources and human potential caused by the various ongoing conflicts; calls for increased use of political and economic measures under the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership framework and the five-year action programme in order to tackle this problem;

| 9. | Stresses the importance of dialogue between cultures and religions by reaffirming the need to respect common values and the need to develop the rule of law, democracy and human rights; reminds all Euro-Mediterranean governments of their commitment, under the Barcelona Declaration of 1995, to the principles of respect for diversity, other beliefs and cultures, the promotion of tolerance, and the principle of respect for fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Stresses the importance of dialogue between cultures and religions by reaffirming the need to respect common values and the need to develop the rule of law, democracy and human rights; reminds all Euro-Mediterranean governments of their commitment, under the Barcelona Declaration of 1995, to the principles of respect for diversity, other beliefs and cultures, the promotion of tolerance, and the principle of respect for fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression;

| 10. | Considers that no terrorist act can be justified in any circumstances and that terrorist acts cannot be justified by the pursuit of political or religious objectives and that the fight against terrorism cannot legitimise the stigmatisation of any particular culture, civilisation or religion; calls on all countries to abide by their legal obligation to respect human rights and international humanitarian law in the fight against terrorism; |
| --- | --- |

10.

Considers that no terrorist act can be justified in any circumstances and that terrorist acts cannot be justified by the pursuit of political or religious objectives and that the fight against terrorism cannot legitimise the stigmatisation of any particular culture, civilisation or religion; calls on all countries to abide by their legal obligation to respect human rights and international humanitarian law in the fight against terrorism;

| 11. | Calls on the Commission to do everything possible to bring about the setting up of ‘democracy and human rights committees’ with all countries that have signed up to the ENP action plans and calls on the partner countries to respect their commitments in this connection, particularly with regard to individual cases; reiterates its call to all contracting parties to the Euro-Mediterranean association agreements to transpose the human rights clause into a programme for action in order to enhance and promote respect for human rights and to put in place a mechanism for the regular assessment of compliance with Article 2 of the Association Agreement in order to make it more effective and more binding; |
| --- | --- |

11.

Calls on the Commission to do everything possible to bring about the setting up of ‘democracy and human rights committees’ with all countries that have signed up to the ENP action plans and calls on the partner countries to respect their commitments in this connection, particularly with regard to individual cases; reiterates its call to all contracting parties to the Euro-Mediterranean association agreements to transpose the human rights clause into a programme for action in order to enhance and promote respect for human rights and to put in place a mechanism for the regular assessment of compliance with Article 2 of the Association Agreement in order to make it more effective and more binding;

| 12. | Highlights the need to address women's rights within the EuroMed Dialogue and stresses the importance of legislative reforms promoting gender equality; stresses the importance of women's participation in political, economic and social life as well as in the media; calls for an improvement in women's access to education and health care, especially in the southern states of the partnership; also stresses the need to support both governmental and non-governmental organisations in promoting women's rights and implementing the action plan for women adopted by the eighth EuroMed conference; |
| --- | --- |

12.

Highlights the need to address women's rights within the EuroMed Dialogue and stresses the importance of legislative reforms promoting gender equality; stresses the importance of women's participation in political, economic and social life as well as in the media; calls for an improvement in women's access to education and health care, especially in the southern states of the partnership; also stresses the need to support both governmental and non-governmental organisations in promoting women's rights and implementing the action plan for women adopted by the eighth EuroMed conference;

| 13. | Reaffirms the importance of a social policy that creates jobs, especially for young people, by establishing, in particular, a favourable climate for increased foreign direct investment and by encouraging young people to create new businesses at local level by means of appropriate instruments such as microcredits; |
| --- | --- |

13.

Reaffirms the importance of a social policy that creates jobs, especially for young people, by establishing, in particular, a favourable climate for increased foreign direct investment and by encouraging young people to create new businesses at local level by means of appropriate instruments such as microcredits;

| 14. | Considers that an education and training policy remains essential for the development of the countries on the southern side of the Mediterranean, the fight against poverty and for young people to become fully integrated; calls for the development of cultural, university and scientific exchanges in the Euro-Mediterranean area; |
| --- | --- |

14.

Considers that an education and training policy remains essential for the development of the countries on the southern side of the Mediterranean, the fight against poverty and for young people to become fully integrated; calls for the development of cultural, university and scientific exchanges in the Euro-Mediterranean area;

| 15. | Calls on the EU institutions and the institutions of the partner Mediterranean countries to ensure that their strategic, political and economic principles take account of the Lisbon and Göteborg Strategy objectives for sustainable development and the Mediterranean Strategy objectives for sustainable development, while also taking account of the need to reduce inequalities and disparities between the two sides of the Mediterranean; |
| --- | --- |

15.

Calls on the EU institutions and the institutions of the partner Mediterranean countries to ensure that their strategic, political and economic principles take account of the Lisbon and Göteborg Strategy objectives for sustainable development and the Mediterranean Strategy objectives for sustainable development, while also taking account of the need to reduce inequalities and disparities between the two sides of the Mediterranean;

| 16. | Calls on the Council, the Commission and the governments of the partner countries to give prime importance to environmental problems and in particular to tackle the consequences of urban concentration and industrial and commercial activities on both sides of the Mediterranean; |
| --- | --- |

16.

Calls on the Council, the Commission and the governments of the partner countries to give prime importance to environmental problems and in particular to tackle the consequences of urban concentration and industrial and commercial activities on both sides of the Mediterranean;

| 17. | Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote respect for social and trade union rights when implementing financial and technical aid programmes in the partner countries; calls on the Commission to implement a regional programme for the construction of a Euro-Mediterranean social area, based on social dialogue between all partners, with employment as a priority objective; advocates the elaboration of codes of conduct for decent work and for social responsibility among Euro-Mediterranean enterprises; |
| --- | --- |

17.

Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote respect for social and trade union rights when implementing financial and technical aid programmes in the partner countries; calls on the Commission to implement a regional programme for the construction of a Euro-Mediterranean social area, based on social dialogue between all partners, with employment as a priority objective; advocates the elaboration of codes of conduct for decent work and for social responsibility among Euro-Mediterranean enterprises;

| 18. | Calls for a major development of investments in the region as part of the European strategy with regard to financial policies and resources in the regional and intra-regional dimension of the Partnership, which would constitute value added for this strategy; invites the Commission, as was decided when the EU budget for 2007 was adopted, to ensure that, when drawing up the relevant strategy papers and related programmes, total resources for regional and multilateral activities are maintained at the level achieved in the 2000-2006 period, taking account of the fact that, according to the Commission, this level has reached 20 % of the total amount; |
| --- | --- |

18.

Calls for a major development of investments in the region as part of the European strategy with regard to financial policies and resources in the regional and intra-regional dimension of the Partnership, which would constitute value added for this strategy; invites the Commission, as was decided when the EU budget for 2007 was adopted, to ensure that, when drawing up the relevant strategy papers and related programmes, total resources for regional and multilateral activities are maintained at the level achieved in the 2000-2006 period, taking account of the fact that, according to the Commission, this level has reached 20 % of the total amount;

| 19. | Stresses the need for a common European immigration and asylum policy and for strengthening the management of migratory flows in a comprehensive and balanced manner that is beneficial to the peoples in the Mediterranean region; stresses the importance, in a spirit of partnership and on the basis of the Barcelona Five-Year Work Programme, of opening effective channels of legal immigration while combating illegal immigration and of protecting the fundamental rights of immigrants and asylum seekers; calls for exploitation and human trafficking to be combated; calls on the states that are party to the Barcelona Process, especially the EU Member States, to ratify the United Nations Convention for the protection of the rights of migrant workers; |
| --- | --- |

19.

Stresses the need for a common European immigration and asylum policy and for strengthening the management of migratory flows in a comprehensive and balanced manner that is beneficial to the peoples in the Mediterranean region; stresses the importance, in a spirit of partnership and on the basis of the Barcelona Five-Year Work Programme, of opening effective channels of legal immigration while combating illegal immigration and of protecting the fundamental rights of immigrants and asylum seekers; calls for exploitation and human trafficking to be combated; calls on the states that are party to the Barcelona Process, especially the EU Member States, to ratify the United Nations Convention for the protection of the rights of migrant workers;

| 20. | Demands an increase in the funding allocated to Frontex and to projects relating to immigration policy in the Mediterranean and demands a strengthening of their capacity to ensure that human rights are respected; |
| --- | --- |

20.

Demands an increase in the funding allocated to Frontex and to projects relating to immigration policy in the Mediterranean and demands a strengthening of their capacity to ensure that human rights are respected;

| 21. | Points out that, pursuant to European Court of Human Rights case law, European states cannot, under any circumstance, send a person back to a State where he or she is likely to be subject to torture or cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment, including the death penalty, without diplomatic assurances from the countries of origin; |
| --- | --- |

21.

Points out that, pursuant to European Court of Human Rights case law, European states cannot, under any circumstance, send a person back to a State where he or she is likely to be subject to torture or cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment, including the death penalty, without diplomatic assurances from the countries of origin;

| 22. | Invites the EU Member States and their Mediterranean partners to carry out the necessary studies concerning the transformation of the facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) into a Euro-Mediterranean Development Bank, considering the importance of that bank in driving the private sector and in increasing investment in the area; |
| --- | --- |

22.

Invites the EU Member States and their Mediterranean partners to carry out the necessary studies concerning the transformation of the facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) into a Euro-Mediterranean Development Bank, considering the importance of that bank in driving the private sector and in increasing investment in the area;

| 23. | Calls on the Commission and the Council to put forward a proposal allowing for the possibility of cooperation, particularly in the financial and economic fields, between all partner countries and the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council; |
| --- | --- |

23.

Calls on the Commission and the Council to put forward a proposal allowing for the possibility of cooperation, particularly in the financial and economic fields, between all partner countries and the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council;

| 24. | Calls on the Council, the Commission and partner countries to continue to work towards gradual integration of the Euro-Mediterranean energy markets, to establish energy programmes of common interest and to develop sustainable energy sources, in accordance with national plans and programmes and in agreement with local communities; |
| --- | --- |

24.

Calls on the Council, the Commission and partner countries to continue to work towards gradual integration of the Euro-Mediterranean energy markets, to establish energy programmes of common interest and to develop sustainable energy sources, in accordance with national plans and programmes and in agreement with local communities;

| 25. | Stresses the need to strengthen cooperation on security of energy supply in the Mediterranean region through the use of measures that involve the diversification of domestic energy resources, especially at local and regional level, the promotion of energy efficiency, particularly at decentralised level, conservation methods, the development of new technologies that present no risk to either the environment or the public, research and development activities and the strengthening of financial options for sustainable energy projects; |
| --- | --- |

25.

Stresses the need to strengthen cooperation on security of energy supply in the Mediterranean region through the use of measures that involve the diversification of domestic energy resources, especially at local and regional level, the promotion of energy efficiency, particularly at decentralised level, conservation methods, the development of new technologies that present no risk to either the environment or the public, research and development activities and the strengthening of financial options for sustainable energy projects;

| 26. | Reaffirms the need to impart fresh impetus to the partnership process, particularly by breathing new life into the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, as the democratic framework for parliamentary action; stresses that this Assembly should have the necessary resources at its disposal and administrative structures in place so as to give it a high profile and to enable it to run smoothly; welcomes the first meeting of the Mediterranean youth assembly; |
| --- | --- |

26.

Reaffirms the need to impart fresh impetus to the partnership process, particularly by breathing new life into the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, as the democratic framework for parliamentary action; stresses that this Assembly should have the necessary resources at its disposal and administrative structures in place so as to give it a high profile and to enable it to run smoothly; welcomes the first meeting of the Mediterranean youth assembly;

| 27. | Calls on the Council to reserve an active place for the EMPA among those parties invited to EuroMed meetings and ministerial conferences; |
| --- | --- |

27.

Calls on the Council to reserve an active place for the EMPA among those parties invited to EuroMed meetings and ministerial conferences;

| 28. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Bureau of the EMPA and the parliaments and governments of all the Member States and of the countries of the EuroMed Partnership. |
| --- | --- |

28.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Bureau of the EMPA and the parliaments and governments of all the Member States and of the countries of the EuroMed Partnership.

P6_TA(2007)0076

Euro-Med Free Trade Area

European Parliament resolution of 15 March 2007 on the construction of the Euro-Mediterranean free-trade zone (2006/2173(INI))

The European Parliament,

| — | having regard to the Barcelona Declaration of 28 November 1995, which established a partnership between the European Union and the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries (SEMCs), and the work programme adopted at that conference, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Barcelona Declaration of 28 November 1995, which established a partnership between the European Union and the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries (SEMCs), and the work programme adopted at that conference,

| — | having regard to its resolution of 27 October 2005 on the Barcelona Process revisited (1), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its resolution of 27 October 2005 on the Barcelona Process revisited (1),

| — | having regard to the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament of 12 April 2005 entitled ‘Tenth Anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership: A work programme to meet the challenges of the next five years’ (COM(2005)0139) and the annexes thereto (SEC(2005)0482 and SEC(2005)0483), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament of 12 April 2005 entitled ‘Tenth Anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership: A work programme to meet the challenges of the next five years’ (COM(2005)0139) and the annexes thereto (SEC(2005)0482 and SEC(2005)0483),

| — | having regard to the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament of 11 March 2003 entitled ‘Wider Europe — Neighbourhood: A New Framework for Relations with our Eastern and Southern Neighbours’ (COM(2003)0104), its European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) strategy paper of 12 May 2004 (COM(2004)0373), its communication to the Council of 9 December 2004 on its proposals for action plans under the ENP (COM(2004)0795), to the action plans for Israel, Jordan, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Lebanon, and to Regulation (EC) No 1638/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 laying down general provisions establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (2), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament of 11 March 2003 entitled ‘Wider Europe — Neighbourhood: A New Framework for Relations with our Eastern and Southern Neighbours’ (COM(2003)0104), its European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) strategy paper of 12 May 2004 (COM(2004)0373), its communication to the Council of 9 December 2004 on its proposals for action plans under the ENP (COM(2004)0795), to the action plans for Israel, Jordan, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Tunisia and Lebanon, and to Regulation (EC) No 1638/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 laying down general provisions establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (2),

| — | having regard to the conclusions of the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conferences and Sectoral Ministerial Conferences that have taken place since the launch of the Barcelona Process, and particularly the conclusions of the VIIth Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs held in Luxembourg on 30-31 May 2005, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the conclusions of the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conferences and Sectoral Ministerial Conferences that have taken place since the launch of the Barcelona Process, and particularly the conclusions of the VIIth Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs held in Luxembourg on 30-31 May 2005,

| — | having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements between the Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Tunisia (3), Israel (4), Morocco (5), Jordan (6), Egypt (7), Lebanon (8) and Algeria (9), of the other part, and the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on Trade and Cooperation between the Community and the PLO (for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority) (10); having regard to Decision No 1/95 of the EC-Turkey Association Council of 22 December 1995 on implementing the final phase of the customs union (96/142/EC) (11), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements between the Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Tunisia (3), Israel (4), Morocco (5), Jordan (6), Egypt (7), Lebanon (8) and Algeria (9), of the other part, and the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on Trade and Cooperation between the Community and the PLO (for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority) (10); having regard to Decision No 1/95 of the EC-Turkey Association Council of 22 December 1995 on implementing the final phase of the customs union (96/142/EC) (11),

| — | having regard to the free-trade agreement, known as the Agadir Agreement, signed by Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco on 25 February 2004, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the free-trade agreement, known as the Agadir Agreement, signed by Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco on 25 February 2004,

| — | having regard to the strategic partnership for the Mediterranean and the Middle East adopted by the European Council in June 2004, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the strategic partnership for the Mediterranean and the Middle East adopted by the European Council in June 2004,

| — | having regard to the MEDA Euro-Mediterranean Partnership Regional Strategy Paper 2002-2006 and the Regional Indicative Programme 2005-2006, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the MEDA Euro-Mediterranean Partnership Regional Strategy Paper 2002-2006 and the Regional Indicative Programme 2005-2006,

| — | having regard to the Sustainability Impact Assessment of the Euro-Mediterranean Free-trade Area (FTA) drawn up by Manchester University's Institute for Development Policy and Management, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Sustainability Impact Assessment of the Euro-Mediterranean Free-trade Area (FTA) drawn up by Manchester University's Institute for Development Policy and Management,

| — | having regard to its resolution of 17 November 1995 on economic and trade relations between the EU and the countries of the Mediterranean basin (12), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its resolution of 17 November 1995 on economic and trade relations between the EU and the countries of the Mediterranean basin (12),

| — | having regard to its resolution of 30 March 2000 on Mediterranean policy (13), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its resolution of 30 March 2000 on Mediterranean policy (13),

| — | having regard to the conclusions and recommendations (including the five-year work programme drawn up by the Commission) of the Barcelona Summit of 27 and 28 November 2005, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the conclusions and recommendations (including the five-year work programme drawn up by the Commission) of the Barcelona Summit of 27 and 28 November 2005,

| — | having regard to the resolution of 11 May 2006 of the Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs, Social Affairs and Education of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) on the Conditions for the Transformation of the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) in the Euro-Mediterranean Development Bank, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the resolution of 11 May 2006 of the Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs, Social Affairs and Education of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA) on the Conditions for the Transformation of the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) in the Euro-Mediterranean Development Bank,

| — | having regard to the work of the EMPA, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the work of the EMPA,

| — | having regard to its position of 14 December 2004 on the proposal for a Council regulation on financial and technical measures to accompany (MEDA) the reform of economic and social structures in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership (Codified version) (14), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its position of 14 December 2004 on the proposal for a Council regulation on financial and technical measures to accompany (MEDA) the reform of economic and social structures in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership (Codified version) (14),

| — | having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

| — | having regard to the report of the Committee on International Trade and the opinions of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A6-0468/2006), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on International Trade and the opinions of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A6-0468/2006),

| A. | whereas the Barcelona Conference of 27 and 28 November 1995 launched a very ambitious project, one which is unique in its kind, namely the creation of new and closer political, economic, social and cultural ties between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean; whereas this project has enabled great progress to be made in the region, but is still a long way from completion, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas the Barcelona Conference of 27 and 28 November 1995 launched a very ambitious project, one which is unique in its kind, namely the creation of new and closer political, economic, social and cultural ties between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean; whereas this project has enabled great progress to be made in the region, but is still a long way from completion,

| B. | whereas the political conditions (Oslo Agreements) which facilitated the launch of the Barcelona Process have changed radically in the meantime, and whereas the prospect of a peace settlement in the Middle East is more uncertain than ever, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas the political conditions (Oslo Agreements) which facilitated the launch of the Barcelona Process have changed radically in the meantime, and whereas the prospect of a peace settlement in the Middle East is more uncertain than ever,

| C. | whereas it is in the interest of the EU and the Member States that the Mediterranean region should develop within a mutually beneficial integrated economic and social environment, |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas it is in the interest of the EU and the Member States that the Mediterranean region should develop within a mutually beneficial integrated economic and social environment,

| D. | whereas the strong demographic growth in the SEMCs necessitates the introduction of both economic and social policies and measures which can no longer be postponed, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas the strong demographic growth in the SEMCs necessitates the introduction of both economic and social policies and measures which can no longer be postponed,

| E. | whereas it is in the common interest of the SEMCs and the EU to bring down unemployment rates in the region and to give the populations concerned, in particular young people and the rural population, decent prospects, given that 35 million new jobs need to be created between 2000 and 2015 just to maintain unemployment rates at their present levels, |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas it is in the common interest of the SEMCs and the EU to bring down unemployment rates in the region and to give the populations concerned, in particular young people and the rural population, decent prospects, given that 35 million new jobs need to be created between 2000 and 2015 just to maintain unemployment rates at their present levels,

| F. | whereas the economies of the SEMCs are highly dependent on foreign trade and whereas total imports and exports account for some two thirds of their GDP; whereas a substantial proportion of these trade flows are to the EU, though they account for only 4% of the EU's foreign trade; whereas SEMC export structures are very poorly diversified and these countries remain specialised in sectors which bring little in the way of growth, |
| --- | --- |

F.

whereas the economies of the SEMCs are highly dependent on foreign trade and whereas total imports and exports account for some two thirds of their GDP; whereas a substantial proportion of these trade flows are to the EU, though they account for only 4% of the EU's foreign trade; whereas SEMC export structures are very poorly diversified and these countries remain specialised in sectors which bring little in the way of growth,

| G. | whereas, in relation to other economic areas, particularly the countries of South-East Asia, the SEMCs have lost prominent positions in terms of relative competitiveness, industrial development and social development perspectives; whereas the SEMCs' share of world trade has dropped perceptibly since 1980, in spite of relatively sustained economic growth, and whereas this trend must be a cause for concern to the EU and its neighbourhood policy, especially in terms of the effects on social and political stability at its borders, |
| --- | --- |

G.

whereas, in relation to other economic areas, particularly the countries of South-East Asia, the SEMCs have lost prominent positions in terms of relative competitiveness, industrial development and social development perspectives; whereas the SEMCs' share of world trade has dropped perceptibly since 1980, in spite of relatively sustained economic growth, and whereas this trend must be a cause for concern to the EU and its neighbourhood policy, especially in terms of the effects on social and political stability at its borders,

| H. | whereas, where trade is concerned, the structure of trade between the EU and the SEMCs has changed very little since the start of the Barcelona Process, and whereas the signing of the association agreements has not yet produced the results expected, |
| --- | --- |

H.

whereas, where trade is concerned, the structure of trade between the EU and the SEMCs has changed very little since the start of the Barcelona Process, and whereas the signing of the association agreements has not yet produced the results expected,

| I. | whereas there is a need for an FTA the aim of which is to eradicate poverty, bring full employment, strengthen democracy and promote sustainable development; whereas this FTA should be based on balanced and properly targeted rules, which are essential in order to boost the integration of the SEMCs into international trade, ensure their economic diversification, meet the challenges of globalisation and ensure a fair sharing of its benefits, |
| --- | --- |

I.

whereas there is a need for an FTA the aim of which is to eradicate poverty, bring full employment, strengthen democracy and promote sustainable development; whereas this FTA should be based on balanced and properly targeted rules, which are essential in order to boost the integration of the SEMCs into international trade, ensure their economic diversification, meet the challenges of globalisation and ensure a fair sharing of its benefits,

| J. | whereas increased economic cooperation in the Mediterranean region also offers positive prospects for the economies of the Southern European Member States and, therefore, their deeper integration into the EU single market, |
| --- | --- |

J.

whereas increased economic cooperation in the Mediterranean region also offers positive prospects for the economies of the Southern European Member States and, therefore, their deeper integration into the EU single market,

| K. | whereas the two shores of the Mediterranean continue to present a strikingly asymmetrical picture in economic, social and demographic terms, and whereas there are significant differences between the SEMCs in terms of development, |
| --- | --- |

K.

whereas the two shores of the Mediterranean continue to present a strikingly asymmetrical picture in economic, social and demographic terms, and whereas there are significant differences between the SEMCs in terms of development,

| L. | whereas the persistent political and economic fragmentation of the SEMCs and the lack of a genuine integration process could have very harmful effects on the Barcelona programme, and on the creation of the FTA in particular, by exacerbating the effects of trade concentration, and thus the dependence of certain SEMCs on the Community market, |
| --- | --- |

L.

whereas the persistent political and economic fragmentation of the SEMCs and the lack of a genuine integration process could have very harmful effects on the Barcelona programme, and on the creation of the FTA in particular, by exacerbating the effects of trade concentration, and thus the dependence of certain SEMCs on the Community market,

| M. | whereas the creation of an FTA may have effects which are generally positive in the long term, but it may also have negative short- and medium-term effects on the EU's Mediterranean countries and on the SEMCs, |
| --- | --- |

M.

whereas the creation of an FTA may have effects which are generally positive in the long term, but it may also have negative short- and medium-term effects on the EU's Mediterranean countries and on the SEMCs,

| N. | whereas it is in the common interest for effective flanking measures to be introduced to dampen and offset, as regards all the regions and countries affected, the negative effects of the liberalisation which is currently in progress, |
| --- | --- |

N.

whereas it is in the common interest for effective flanking measures to be introduced to dampen and offset, as regards all the regions and countries affected, the negative effects of the liberalisation which is currently in progress,

| O. | whereas, owing to the growing pace of change in our computer-based societies, the SEMCs should step up their efforts, both quantitatively and qualitatively, in the field of scientific and technological research, with a view to narrowing the technological divide which separates them from the more highly developed countries in this area, thus eventually permitting more sustained and sustainable economic growth, |
| --- | --- |

O.

whereas, owing to the growing pace of change in our computer-based societies, the SEMCs should step up their efforts, both quantitatively and qualitatively, in the field of scientific and technological research, with a view to narrowing the technological divide which separates them from the more highly developed countries in this area, thus eventually permitting more sustained and sustainable economic growth,

| P. | whereas the SEMCs have made remarkable progress in terms of primary education, greatly reducing their illiteracy levels, which nevertheless remain very high in some countries in the region; whereas access to higher and university-level education is confined to a small proportion of the population and the school system still does not have the capacity to train high-level professional or technical staff so as to create a real balance between supply and demand on the labour market, |
| --- | --- |

P.

whereas the SEMCs have made remarkable progress in terms of primary education, greatly reducing their illiteracy levels, which nevertheless remain very high in some countries in the region; whereas access to higher and university-level education is confined to a small proportion of the population and the school system still does not have the capacity to train high-level professional or technical staff so as to create a real balance between supply and demand on the labour market,

| Q. | whereas, in tandem with the process to create a free trade area between the EU and the SEMCs, the SEMCs must remove the political and economic obstacles which are currently standing in the way of the integration process throughout the area in order to achieve more fruitful collaboration amongst themselves, |
| --- | --- |

Q.

whereas, in tandem with the process to create a free trade area between the EU and the SEMCs, the SEMCs must remove the political and economic obstacles which are currently standing in the way of the integration process throughout the area in order to achieve more fruitful collaboration amongst themselves,

Reinvigorating the Barcelona Process

| 1. | Regrets the fact that Barcelona's three main objectives (establishment of a common area of peace and stability; creation of an area of shared prosperity through an economic partnership and the creation of an FTA; cooperation in social, cultural and human affairs to promote a dialogue between cultures in the region) are still far from being achieved; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Regrets the fact that Barcelona's three main objectives (establishment of a common area of peace and stability; creation of an area of shared prosperity through an economic partnership and the creation of an FTA; cooperation in social, cultural and human affairs to promote a dialogue between cultures in the region) are still far from being achieved;

| 2. | Points out that these three pillars must necessarily move forward together in order to ensure the success of the process of Euro-Mediterranean integration and to reduce the development gap between the two shores of the Mediterranean; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Points out that these three pillars must necessarily move forward together in order to ensure the success of the process of Euro-Mediterranean integration and to reduce the development gap between the two shores of the Mediterranean;

| 3. | Stresses that strengthening the Barcelona Process helps spread European values and the European economic and social model; recalls that this process predates other more recent regional initiatives and has acquired more of an institutional nature; stresses the importance of this initiative as a factor for stability and the promotion of dialogue; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Stresses that strengthening the Barcelona Process helps spread European values and the European economic and social model; recalls that this process predates other more recent regional initiatives and has acquired more of an institutional nature; stresses the importance of this initiative as a factor for stability and the promotion of dialogue;

| 4. | Stresses that the success of the Barcelona Process, and of the FTA in particular, requires a sustained effort and common will on the part of all parties, and greater involvement of civil society and of the people on both sides of the Mediterranean; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Stresses that the success of the Barcelona Process, and of the FTA in particular, requires a sustained effort and common will on the part of all parties, and greater involvement of civil society and of the people on both sides of the Mediterranean;

| 5. | Stresses the need for a clearer definition of the objectives of the ENP, which, without neglecting the countries of Eastern Europe, must neither weaken the Barcelona Process nor favour bilateral approaches at the expense of a multilateral regional approach; considers that a more effective use of the ENPI for regional projects would make it possible to improve the situation with a view to promoting a genuinely integrated regional economic area; believes that, while advocating closer cooperation with the most advanced partners, and with due regard for their specific political, cultural, religious and social characteristics, the SEMCs must continue to be regarded as a separate entity; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Stresses the need for a clearer definition of the objectives of the ENP, which, without neglecting the countries of Eastern Europe, must neither weaken the Barcelona Process nor favour bilateral approaches at the expense of a multilateral regional approach; considers that a more effective use of the ENPI for regional projects would make it possible to improve the situation with a view to promoting a genuinely integrated regional economic area; believes that, while advocating closer cooperation with the most advanced partners, and with due regard for their specific political, cultural, religious and social characteristics, the SEMCs must continue to be regarded as a separate entity;

| 6. | Believes that, while continuing to demonstrate a positive approach, given the accumulated delays and the problems encountered, the date of 2010 for the creation of the FTA will probably have to be revised in order to take into account the many structural changes in the world economy since 1995 and the need for a more cautious approach to free trade among unequal partners; calls on the Commission, the EU Member States and the SEMCs to re-launch the Barcelona Process by giving priority to the establishment of a genuine Euro-Mediterranean socio-economic area which will incorporate social and environmental aspects into the economic side of the partnership to a greater extent; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Believes that, while continuing to demonstrate a positive approach, given the accumulated delays and the problems encountered, the date of 2010 for the creation of the FTA will probably have to be revised in order to take into account the many structural changes in the world economy since 1995 and the need for a more cautious approach to free trade among unequal partners; calls on the Commission, the EU Member States and the SEMCs to re-launch the Barcelona Process by giving priority to the establishment of a genuine Euro-Mediterranean socio-economic area which will incorporate social and environmental aspects into the economic side of the partnership to a greater extent;

| 7. | Calls on the SEMCs not to miss an opportunity for sustainable growth which would enable them to respond better to the growing needs of their citizens and the need to meet the challenges of globalisation more effectively; |
| --- | --- |

7.

Calls on the SEMCs not to miss an opportunity for sustainable growth which would enable them to respond better to the growing needs of their citizens and the need to meet the challenges of globalisation more effectively;

| 8. | Regrets that the technical and financial assistance granted by the EU, although by no means negligible, has not measured up to the objectives and ambitions of Barcelona, particularly as regards the socio-cultural chapters of the Barcelona Declaration and support for local economies; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Regrets that the technical and financial assistance granted by the EU, although by no means negligible, has not measured up to the objectives and ambitions of Barcelona, particularly as regards the socio-cultural chapters of the Barcelona Declaration and support for local economies;

| 9. | Believes that the FTA will be able to offer a genuine opportunity for growth for the SEMCs only if it is planned on a concerted, gradual basis in the context of a rational, predictable partnership which reflects the socio-economic realities of the SEMCs and promotes economic development and deeper regional integration; emphasises the importance of greater participation by the partner countries and the incentive which partnership provides; recalls that ownership of the objectives of the partnership lies with both shores of the Mediterranean; stresses the need to give the SEMCs the right to control the speed with which they open up their trade and their national strategies for economic and social development; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Believes that the FTA will be able to offer a genuine opportunity for growth for the SEMCs only if it is planned on a concerted, gradual basis in the context of a rational, predictable partnership which reflects the socio-economic realities of the SEMCs and promotes economic development and deeper regional integration; emphasises the importance of greater participation by the partner countries and the incentive which partnership provides; recalls that ownership of the objectives of the partnership lies with both shores of the Mediterranean; stresses the need to give the SEMCs the right to control the speed with which they open up their trade and their national strategies for economic and social development;

| 10. | Considers that creating closer institutional ties between the EU and the SEMCs is an important factor in ensuring the success of the Barcelona Process; advocates a substantial increase in formal and informal meetings between the Community authorities, the Member States, the SEMCs and the competent local authorities; hopes that the SEMCs will participate as observers in the work of the specialised European agencies and programmes with which they share an interest; |
| --- | --- |

10.

Considers that creating closer institutional ties between the EU and the SEMCs is an important factor in ensuring the success of the Barcelona Process; advocates a substantial increase in formal and informal meetings between the Community authorities, the Member States, the SEMCs and the competent local authorities; hopes that the SEMCs will participate as observers in the work of the specialised European agencies and programmes with which they share an interest;

| 11. | Emphasises the importance of regional integration of the SEMCs and increasing South-South trade; welcomes the signature of the Agadir Free Trade Agreement of 25 February 2004 between Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan; considers that this measure is essential for the creation of a genuine FTA and calls on the other countries in the region to join it; considers it essential, however, that the economic integration process be deepened and that the obstacles to trade between these countries be rapidly eliminated so as to enable the potential for further development of South-South trade to be fully exploited; |
| --- | --- |

11.

Emphasises the importance of regional integration of the SEMCs and increasing South-South trade; welcomes the signature of the Agadir Free Trade Agreement of 25 February 2004 between Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan; considers that this measure is essential for the creation of a genuine FTA and calls on the other countries in the region to join it; considers it essential, however, that the economic integration process be deepened and that the obstacles to trade between these countries be rapidly eliminated so as to enable the potential for further development of South-South trade to be fully exploited;

| 12. | Calls on the EU to increase the resources available for technical and financial assistance to the SEMCs, in line with the ambitious Barcelona objectives and in proportion to the genuine progress which can be seen to have been achieved in the SEMCs with regard to respect for human rights, the protection of workers, environmental protection, regional integration, and improvements in the quality of local public services and educational and cultural services; |
| --- | --- |

12.

Calls on the EU to increase the resources available for technical and financial assistance to the SEMCs, in line with the ambitious Barcelona objectives and in proportion to the genuine progress which can be seen to have been achieved in the SEMCs with regard to respect for human rights, the protection of workers, environmental protection, regional integration, and improvements in the quality of local public services and educational and cultural services;

| 13. | Points out that the creation of an economic and commercial free trade area in the Mediterranean cannot be dissociated from political efforts aimed at ensuring peace, democratisation, respect for human rights, gender equality and the promotion of inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue, and a sustained effort to ensure that the political dialogue and trust between the partners plays a genuine role in establishing democracy in the region; |
| --- | --- |

13.

Points out that the creation of an economic and commercial free trade area in the Mediterranean cannot be dissociated from political efforts aimed at ensuring peace, democratisation, respect for human rights, gender equality and the promotion of inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue, and a sustained effort to ensure that the political dialogue and trust between the partners plays a genuine role in establishing democracy in the region;

Trade and customs policy

| 14. | Stresses that customs duties still account for a substantial share of the SEMCs' tax revenue; considers, therefore, that it is necessary for the timetable for any subsequent reduction to be carried out to take into account the economic progress made by the SEMCs and the time needed to implement equitable tax reforms designed to offset the reduction in customs revenues; |
| --- | --- |

14.

Stresses that customs duties still account for a substantial share of the SEMCs' tax revenue; considers, therefore, that it is necessary for the timetable for any subsequent reduction to be carried out to take into account the economic progress made by the SEMCs and the time needed to implement equitable tax reforms designed to offset the reduction in customs revenues;

| 15. | Considers that, at the same time, effective measures should be taken against non-tariff barriers to trade, stressing in this connection the importance of granting sufficient technical assistance; |
| --- | --- |

15.

Considers that, at the same time, effective measures should be taken against non-tariff barriers to trade, stressing in this connection the importance of granting sufficient technical assistance;

| 16. | Calls on the Commission to take into account a potential erosion of tariff preferences from which the SEMCs benefit, caused by the signing of free-trade agreements between the EU and some third countries, the improvement of the system of generalised preferences (GSP) for developing countries and the granting of the system of cumulation of origin to some Asian countries which are serious competitors to industry in the SEMCs; |
| --- | --- |

16.

Calls on the Commission to take into account a potential erosion of tariff preferences from which the SEMCs benefit, caused by the signing of free-trade agreements between the EU and some third countries, the improvement of the system of generalised preferences (GSP) for developing countries and the granting of the system of cumulation of origin to some Asian countries which are serious competitors to industry in the SEMCs;

| 17. | Calls on the Commission to establish a compensation procedure, in the context of the Barcelona process and respecting WTO standards, with a view to reducing the negative impact which this tariff erosion might have on the SEMCs and, in the future, on the creation of the FTA; |
| --- | --- |

17.

Calls on the Commission to establish a compensation procedure, in the context of the Barcelona process and respecting WTO standards, with a view to reducing the negative impact which this tariff erosion might have on the SEMCs and, in the future, on the creation of the FTA;

| 18. | Welcomes the progress made on ‘Trade facilitation’, particularly in the customs field with the harmonisation and simplification of customs procedures, the automation and speeding up of procedures, enhanced transparency, the use of electronic information and payment systems and the abolition of certain non-tariff barriers which now tend to supplant the traditional tariff barriers, particularly in the area of standardisation and certification; |
| --- | --- |

18.

Welcomes the progress made on ‘Trade facilitation’, particularly in the customs field with the harmonisation and simplification of customs procedures, the automation and speeding up of procedures, enhanced transparency, the use of electronic information and payment systems and the abolition of certain non-tariff barriers which now tend to supplant the traditional tariff barriers, particularly in the area of standardisation and certification;

| 19. | Reiterates that, in view of the intensification of international competition, it is essential to strengthen the political will to establish a more substantial economic and social agenda which will improve the competitiveness of the knowledge-based economy, stimulate growth, training, innovation and research, create new jobs and boost prosperity with a view to co-development; |
| --- | --- |

19.

Reiterates that, in view of the intensification of international competition, it is essential to strengthen the political will to establish a more substantial economic and social agenda which will improve the competitiveness of the knowledge-based economy, stimulate growth, training, innovation and research, create new jobs and boost prosperity with a view to co-development;

| 20. | Calls on the SEMCs to establish an enhanced cooperation and twinning scheme with a view to helping reform the administrative and business environment in line with the principle of good governance; |
| --- | --- |

20.

Calls on the SEMCs to establish an enhanced cooperation and twinning scheme with a view to helping reform the administrative and business environment in line with the principle of good governance;

| 21. | Stresses the need to increase customs checks and make them more stringent, in order to combat smuggling, counterfeiting and piracy of goods, such practices, apart from the loss of revenue they entail, presenting considerable dangers to the health of the region's inhabitants; |
| --- | --- |

21.

Stresses the need to increase customs checks and make them more stringent, in order to combat smuggling, counterfeiting and piracy of goods, such practices, apart from the loss of revenue they entail, presenting considerable dangers to the health of the region's inhabitants;

Sustainability impact assessment of the Euro-Mediterranean FTA

| 22. | Welcomes the publication of the second phase of the aforementioned sustainability impact assessment of the FTA drawn up by the University of Manchester; is extremely concerned about the findings of that assessment with regard to the expected negative social and environmental effects of an FTA in the short-term and medium-term; urges the Commission to incorporate the recommendations in this report into future discussions concerning the implementation of the FTA, but also to redirect the negotiations towards the social cohesion and sustainable development advocated by this study; |
| --- | --- |

22.

Welcomes the publication of the second phase of the aforementioned sustainability impact assessment of the FTA drawn up by the University of Manchester; is extremely concerned about the findings of that assessment with regard to the expected negative social and environmental effects of an FTA in the short-term and medium-term; urges the Commission to incorporate the recommendations in this report into future discussions concerning the implementation of the FTA, but also to redirect the negotiations towards the social cohesion and sustainable development advocated by this study;

| 23. | Further stresses the importance of establishing a partnership guidance scheme to assess the measures carried out in furtherance of the objectives pursued; believes that such guidance might consist in creating an analysis and assessment tool for the Mediterranean; |
| --- | --- |

23.

Further stresses the importance of establishing a partnership guidance scheme to assess the measures carried out in furtherance of the objectives pursued; believes that such guidance might consist in creating an analysis and assessment tool for the Mediterranean;

| 24. | Urges all participants in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership to discuss the findings of the abovementioned sustainability impact assessment of the FTA at Ministerial level and to determine what the consequences may be for the ongoing FTA negotiations; |
| --- | --- |

24.

Urges all participants in the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership to discuss the findings of the abovementioned sustainability impact assessment of the FTA at Ministerial level and to determine what the consequences may be for the ongoing FTA negotiations;

Financial and technical assistance

MEDA and ENPI

| 25. | Regrets the fact that the EU has been unable to make available funding which is commensurate with the objectives of the Barcelona Process, this being one of the causes of the accumulated delays in creating the FTA; |
| --- | --- |

25.

Regrets the fact that the EU has been unable to make available funding which is commensurate with the objectives of the Barcelona Process, this being one of the causes of the accumulated delays in creating the FTA;

| 26. | Notes the good performance of the MEDA II programme during the period 2004-2006 compared with MEDA I, particularly as regards the increased absorption capacity shown by the beneficiary countries and the flexibility in programming and implementation of MEDA projects since 2000; |
| --- | --- |

26.

Notes the good performance of the MEDA II programme during the period 2004-2006 compared with MEDA I, particularly as regards the increased absorption capacity shown by the beneficiary countries and the flexibility in programming and implementation of MEDA projects since 2000;

| 27. | Welcomes with interest the creation of the ENPI, a new instrument intended to cover the financial aspects of the ENP, and the Commission's proposal to increase funding to EUR 14 930 000 000, so as to meet the needs of the eligible countries more satisfactorily, on condition that this becomes a genuine convergence instrument, and includes aid to compensate for lost customs revenue of Mediterranean partner countries and other costs associated with liberalising markets; |
| --- | --- |

27.

Welcomes with interest the creation of the ENPI, a new instrument intended to cover the financial aspects of the ENP, and the Commission's proposal to increase funding to EUR 14 930 000 000, so as to meet the needs of the eligible countries more satisfactorily, on condition that this becomes a genuine convergence instrument, and includes aid to compensate for lost customs revenue of Mediterranean partner countries and other costs associated with liberalising markets;

| 28. | Regards the sum of EUR 11 181 000 000 adopted by the Council on 17 October 2006 as insufficient; demands that, when the mid-term review of the financial perspective takes place in 2008-2009, more substantial sums be provided so as to enable the integration process to achieve its objectives; |
| --- | --- |

28.

Regards the sum of EUR 11 181 000 000 adopted by the Council on 17 October 2006 as insufficient; demands that, when the mid-term review of the financial perspective takes place in 2008-2009, more substantial sums be provided so as to enable the integration process to achieve its objectives;

| 29. | Hopes that this financial instrument will become more effective by placing greater emphasis on more relevant and targeted programming and on the participation (‘ownership’) of the partners and of civil society at all stages of the project management cycle; calls on the governments of the SEMCs to take any action necessary to improve the use of Community funds, particularly those for research, occupational training, the strengthening of local infrastructures and public services, and the reorganisation of the industrial and agricultural production system; calls on the Commission and the Member States to seek to maintain a balance between the EU's neighbours to the East and those to the South and to give priority to the funding of regional (particularly South-South) projects; |
| --- | --- |

29.

Hopes that this financial instrument will become more effective by placing greater emphasis on more relevant and targeted programming and on the participation (‘ownership’) of the partners and of civil society at all stages of the project management cycle; calls on the governments of the SEMCs to take any action necessary to improve the use of Community funds, particularly those for research, occupational training, the strengthening of local infrastructures and public services, and the reorganisation of the industrial and agricultural production system; calls on the Commission and the Member States to seek to maintain a balance between the EU's neighbours to the East and those to the South and to give priority to the funding of regional (particularly South-South) projects;

| 30. | Strongly reiterates that, for the creation of the FTA and more generally for the success of the Barcelona Process, the ENP must not disappoint the legitimate expectations of the SEMCs, particularly as regards the geographical distribution of European financial aid and the arrangements for its disbursement; |
| --- | --- |

30.

Strongly reiterates that, for the creation of the FTA and more generally for the success of the Barcelona Process, the ENP must not disappoint the legitimate expectations of the SEMCs, particularly as regards the geographical distribution of European financial aid and the arrangements for its disbursement;

FEMIP

| 31. | Welcomes the good results achieved by the FEMIP since its inception, and considers that its enhancement is essential to the success of the Barcelona Process; wishes to see it transformed into a genuine Euro-Mediterranean investment and development bank; |
| --- | --- |

31.

Welcomes the good results achieved by the FEMIP since its inception, and considers that its enhancement is essential to the success of the Barcelona Process; wishes to see it transformed into a genuine Euro-Mediterranean investment and development bank;

| 32. | Notes that the activities of the MEDA programme and of the FEMIP are largely complementary; calls on the Commission and the EIB to establish an enhanced cooperation and coordination procedure to boost the effectiveness of EU action, both at strategic level and in the management of specific projects; |
| --- | --- |

32.

Notes that the activities of the MEDA programme and of the FEMIP are largely complementary; calls on the Commission and the EIB to establish an enhanced cooperation and coordination procedure to boost the effectiveness of EU action, both at strategic level and in the management of specific projects;

| 33. | Considers that, until such time as consensus is reached between the EU Member States, the proposed Euro-Mediterranean Development Bank could be set up with the involvement, in the initial phase, of any European or southern Mediterranean countries interested in the project; |
| --- | --- |

33.

Considers that, until such time as consensus is reached between the EU Member States, the proposed Euro-Mediterranean Development Bank could be set up with the involvement, in the initial phase, of any European or southern Mediterranean countries interested in the project;

Foreign direct investment (FDI)

| 34. | Notes that a lack of financial attractiveness acts as a major brake on FDI in the SEMCs, with negativeeffects on the region's economic growth; |
| --- | --- |

34.

Notes that a lack of financial attractiveness acts as a major brake on FDI in the SEMCs, with negativeeffects on the region's economic growth;

| 35. | Recalls that investments (15) have a very significant impact in terms of subcontracting, the propagation of know-how and meeting training needs in a region which as a whole is under-industrialised, and in terms of job creation; |
| --- | --- |

35.

Recalls that investments (15) have a very significant impact in terms of subcontracting, the propagation of know-how and meeting training needs in a region which as a whole is under-industrialised, and in terms of job creation;

| 36. | Considers it necessary for these countries to engage in a trade policy which may encourage the use of private domestic investments, particularly by modernising the financial and banking systems and facilitating access to credit for as many people as possible; |
| --- | --- |

36.

Considers it necessary for these countries to engage in a trade policy which may encourage the use of private domestic investments, particularly by modernising the financial and banking systems and facilitating access to credit for as many people as possible;

| 37. | Stresses the importance of dialogue between businesses on both shores of the Mediterranean in boosting trade and investment; |
| --- | --- |

37.

Stresses the importance of dialogue between businesses on both shores of the Mediterranean in boosting trade and investment;

Rules of origin and cumulation of origin

| 38. | Welcomes the extension of the pan-European system of cumulation of origin to all the SEMCs; believes that this may provide the SEMCs with access to an extended economic area covering the Euro-Mediterranean region and also the EFTA countries and the CEECs; requests that the call by the Palestinian Authority for goods produced in the Occupied Territories to be identifiable within the framework of the rules of origin be fully respected; |
| --- | --- |

38.

Welcomes the extension of the pan-European system of cumulation of origin to all the SEMCs; believes that this may provide the SEMCs with access to an extended economic area covering the Euro-Mediterranean region and also the EFTA countries and the CEECs; requests that the call by the Palestinian Authority for goods produced in the Occupied Territories to be identifiable within the framework of the rules of origin be fully respected;

| 39. | Calls, therefore, on the SEMCs to adopt, as soon as possible, pan-Euro-Mediterranean protocols on the rules of origin in the context of their respective agreements with the EU and the other pan-Euro-Mediterranean partners, with a view to making the most of the pan-European system of cumulation by applying it to the whole region; |
| --- | --- |

39.

Calls, therefore, on the SEMCs to adopt, as soon as possible, pan-Euro-Mediterranean protocols on the rules of origin in the context of their respective agreements with the EU and the other pan-Euro-Mediterranean partners, with a view to making the most of the pan-European system of cumulation by applying it to the whole region;

| 40. | Calls on the SEMCs to rapidly implement training, information and awareness-raising programmes on the rules of origin and to guarantee, with the Commission's assistance, adequate training for economic operators and customs officials; |
| --- | --- |

40.

Calls on the SEMCs to rapidly implement training, information and awareness-raising programmes on the rules of origin and to guarantee, with the Commission's assistance, adequate training for economic operators and customs officials;

| 41. | Calls on the Commission, in line with the criteria set out in its communication of on the rules of origin in preferential trade arrangements — orientations for the future (COM(2005)0100), and in the light of the two studies commissioned by DG Trade and DG Development since the publication of the 2005 Green Paper, to consider carefully the reform (simplification and increased flexibility) of these rules, and the need to exert more effective controls over their application in order to avoid the abuse of preferences; hopes in particular that the new regulations will guarantee compliance with these rules and respect for commitments made to the Euro-Mediterranean area; |
| --- | --- |

41.

Calls on the Commission, in line with the criteria set out in its communication of on the rules of origin in preferential trade arrangements — orientations for the future (COM(2005)0100), and in the light of the two studies commissioned by DG Trade and DG Development since the publication of the 2005 Green Paper, to consider carefully the reform (simplification and increased flexibility) of these rules, and the need to exert more effective controls over their application in order to avoid the abuse of preferences; hopes in particular that the new regulations will guarantee compliance with these rules and respect for commitments made to the Euro-Mediterranean area;

Agriculture

| 42. | Considers that the opening up of agricultural markets should be defined jointly and implemented progressively and asymmetrically, while providing for the possibility of a certain number of exceptions and time schedules and taking into account the EU's and the SEMCs' joint prospects for this sector and the differences between, and individual characteristics of, the agricultural sector in different countries; also stresses the economic and social importance of this sector for the SEMCs and the need to avoid impoverishing the rural population, which is a factor contributing to a rural exodus and a concentration of the population in urban centres, particularly coastal cities, which are already over-populated; |
| --- | --- |

42.

Considers that the opening up of agricultural markets should be defined jointly and implemented progressively and asymmetrically, while providing for the possibility of a certain number of exceptions and time schedules and taking into account the EU's and the SEMCs' joint prospects for this sector and the differences between, and individual characteristics of, the agricultural sector in different countries; also stresses the economic and social importance of this sector for the SEMCs and the need to avoid impoverishing the rural population, which is a factor contributing to a rural exodus and a concentration of the population in urban centres, particularly coastal cities, which are already over-populated;

| 43. | Calls on the Commission and the governments of the SEMCs to give priority to any initiative aimed at the modernisation and sustainable development of the Mediterranean primary sector with a view to improving living conditions and creating new agricultural and non-agricultural jobs in the countryside; |
| --- | --- |

43.

Calls on the Commission and the governments of the SEMCs to give priority to any initiative aimed at the modernisation and sustainable development of the Mediterranean primary sector with a view to improving living conditions and creating new agricultural and non-agricultural jobs in the countryside;

| 44. | Calls for the introduction of an integrated technical assistance and human resources training scheme; stresses that the EU's agriculture measures in the region must contribute to defining a viable water policy, to safeguarding the environment and biodiversity, to protecting soil and its fertility, to guaranteeing food sovereignty and to adding value to typical regional products; reiterates its support for the policies implemented by the SEMCs to diversify their agricultural production; |
| --- | --- |

44.

Calls for the introduction of an integrated technical assistance and human resources training scheme; stresses that the EU's agriculture measures in the region must contribute to defining a viable water policy, to safeguarding the environment and biodiversity, to protecting soil and its fertility, to guaranteeing food sovereignty and to adding value to typical regional products; reiterates its support for the policies implemented by the SEMCs to diversify their agricultural production;

| 45. | Considers that the promotion of locally adapted, mainly small-scale, farming, which represents an improvement for the environment and therefore for the financial position and health of the rural population, could not be achieved by simply liberalising market access for agricultural products; |
| --- | --- |

45.

Considers that the promotion of locally adapted, mainly small-scale, farming, which represents an improvement for the environment and therefore for the financial position and health of the rural population, could not be achieved by simply liberalising market access for agricultural products;

| 46. | Considers, consequently, that any opening up of the markets between the EU and the SEMCs must be gradual, quality-oriented and measured and take into account the farm structures, agricultural policies and reforms pursued on either side of the Mediterranean; stresses the fact, moreover, that negotiations on access to markets cannot under any circumstances be conducted globally, but rather on a case-by-case and product- by-product basis, and must take account of the need for protection in the case of ‘sensitive’ products, which should be excluded from any full liberalisation in order to prevent local producers from suffering irreparable damage; |
| --- | --- |

46.

Considers, consequently, that any opening up of the markets between the EU and the SEMCs must be gradual, quality-oriented and measured and take into account the farm structures, agricultural policies and reforms pursued on either side of the Mediterranean; stresses the fact, moreover, that negotiations on access to markets cannot under any circumstances be conducted globally, but rather on a case-by-case and product- by-product basis, and must take account of the need for protection in the case of ‘sensitive’ products, which should be excluded from any full liberalisation in order to prevent local producers from suffering irreparable damage;

| 47. | Points out that many Mediterranean countries have expressed the wish to preserve their trade preferences vis-à-vis the Community market; considers that maintaining this preferential and asymmetric system is incompatible with a general liberalisation of the agricultural sector; emphasises, furthermore, that it is in the mutual interest of all Mediterranean countries to preserve certain tools with which to manage supply on their respective markets; |
| --- | --- |

47.

Points out that many Mediterranean countries have expressed the wish to preserve their trade preferences vis-à-vis the Community market; considers that maintaining this preferential and asymmetric system is incompatible with a general liberalisation of the agricultural sector; emphasises, furthermore, that it is in the mutual interest of all Mediterranean countries to preserve certain tools with which to manage supply on their respective markets;

| 48. | Calls upon all the socio-professional players in the Euro-Mediterranean agricultural sector to foster cooperation in complementary sectors by promoting the complementarity of products both between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean and (where possible) between the SEMCs' South-South shores; emphasises, by way of example, the case of the wine industry or the fruit and vegetable sector, where production from both sides of the Mediterranean could help develop a more comprehensive and attractive commercial supply for consumers; |
| --- | --- |

48.

Calls upon all the socio-professional players in the Euro-Mediterranean agricultural sector to foster cooperation in complementary sectors by promoting the complementarity of products both between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean and (where possible) between the SEMCs' South-South shores; emphasises, by way of example, the case of the wine industry or the fruit and vegetable sector, where production from both sides of the Mediterranean could help develop a more comprehensive and attractive commercial supply for consumers;

| 49. | Emphasises, in the same vein, the value of jointly developing a common Euro-Mediterranean labelling policy on the basis of registered designations of origin, a policy which must be sufficiently compatible with the EU's current rules based on registered designations of origin and organic certification, and of ensuring traceability and transparency of production methods; |
| --- | --- |

49.

Emphasises, in the same vein, the value of jointly developing a common Euro-Mediterranean labelling policy on the basis of registered designations of origin, a policy which must be sufficiently compatible with the EU's current rules based on registered designations of origin and organic certification, and of ensuring traceability and transparency of production methods;

| 50. | Is convinced that liberalisation of the markets in the SEMCs would primarily benefit large mechanised farms, which already benefit in full from the compensation fund system; calls on the institutional players of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership to improve access to loans for small-scale producers and to develop a system for weighting aid towards small farmers, who constitute the overwhelming majority of the farming population of these countries and who will be the first to suffer from competition with the EU and, in the long run, to replace the old system of compensation and aid with a new system of support for sustainable farming and small-scale food processing industry investments in order to strengthen the competitiveness of rural economies through diversification, local marketing and the production of specific qualities; |
| --- | --- |

50.

Is convinced that liberalisation of the markets in the SEMCs would primarily benefit large mechanised farms, which already benefit in full from the compensation fund system; calls on the institutional players of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership to improve access to loans for small-scale producers and to develop a system for weighting aid towards small farmers, who constitute the overwhelming majority of the farming population of these countries and who will be the first to suffer from competition with the EU and, in the long run, to replace the old system of compensation and aid with a new system of support for sustainable farming and small-scale food processing industry investments in order to strengthen the competitiveness of rural economies through diversification, local marketing and the production of specific qualities;

| 51. | Calls for thought to be given to implementing an agricultural policy which genuinely integrates both shores of the Mediterranean, giving priority to increased food security in SEMCs over commercial considerations, and to coordinating fisheries and water management; |
| --- | --- |

51.

Calls for thought to be given to implementing an agricultural policy which genuinely integrates both shores of the Mediterranean, giving priority to increased food security in SEMCs over commercial considerations, and to coordinating fisheries and water management;

Technical regulations and standards, intellectual property, competition

| 52. | Considers that a harmonised EU/SEMC regulatory context would make it possible to expand and consolidate trade on a clear basis, not least by promoting greater transparency and fairer competition; believes that harmonisation, or at least a consistent framework, where standards are concerned is also likely to encourage the development of South-South trade; |
| --- | --- |

52.

Considers that a harmonised EU/SEMC regulatory context would make it possible to expand and consolidate trade on a clear basis, not least by promoting greater transparency and fairer competition; believes that harmonisation, or at least a consistent framework, where standards are concerned is also likely to encourage the development of South-South trade;

| 53. | Stresses the importance of introducing appropriate economic incentives and technical assistance for SMEs which have difficulty in internalising the costs arising from the harmonisation of the standards proposed by the association agreements; |
| --- | --- |

53.

Stresses the importance of introducing appropriate economic incentives and technical assistance for SMEs which have difficulty in internalising the costs arising from the harmonisation of the standards proposed by the association agreements;

| 54. | Calls on the SEMCs to draw up and apply legislation on intellectual property which meets international standards, encourages innovation and creativity and is sufficiently flexible to meet the requirements and specific characteristics of the countries in question; calls on the Commission, with reference to intellectual property legislation, not to ask SEMCs to go beyond the commitments required under the existing TRIPs; |
| --- | --- |

54.

Calls on the SEMCs to draw up and apply legislation on intellectual property which meets international standards, encourages innovation and creativity and is sufficiently flexible to meet the requirements and specific characteristics of the countries in question; calls on the Commission, with reference to intellectual property legislation, not to ask SEMCs to go beyond the commitments required under the existing TRIPs;

Services

| 55. | Believes that any liberalisation of services in relation to the creation of the FTA can take place only on a basis agreed with the SEMCs, and by giving them the right to phase in and control the opening up of sensitive and vulnerable sectors of their economies; |
| --- | --- |

55.

Believes that any liberalisation of services in relation to the creation of the FTA can take place only on a basis agreed with the SEMCs, and by giving them the right to phase in and control the opening up of sensitive and vulnerable sectors of their economies;

| 56. | Regards the services sector as essential for the success of the free trade area; notes that the services sector is crucial for the economies of the SEMCs and accounts for around 50 % of the GDP of Egypt, Morocco and Syria, 60 % of the GDP of Tunisia and more than 70 % of the GDP of Jordan and Lebanon; |
| --- | --- |

56.

Regards the services sector as essential for the success of the free trade area; notes that the services sector is crucial for the economies of the SEMCs and accounts for around 50 % of the GDP of Egypt, Morocco and Syria, 60 % of the GDP of Tunisia and more than 70 % of the GDP of Jordan and Lebanon;

| 57. | Stresses at the same time that a phased liberalisation of services, a sector of particular importance for the SEMC economies, will assist their economic development, helping to improve infrastructures, transfer technologies and knowledge, and also raise the standard of service provision to their citizens; considers therefore that negotiations on the services sector must go hand in hand with negotiations on trade in goods; |
| --- | --- |

57.

Stresses at the same time that a phased liberalisation of services, a sector of particular importance for the SEMC economies, will assist their economic development, helping to improve infrastructures, transfer technologies and knowledge, and also raise the standard of service provision to their citizens; considers therefore that negotiations on the services sector must go hand in hand with negotiations on trade in goods;

| 58. | Notes the official opening of the negotiations on the liberalisation of trade in services and investment at the 5th Euro Med trade ministerial conference in March 2006 between the EU and some SEMCs; |
| --- | --- |

58.

Notes the official opening of the negotiations on the liberalisation of trade in services and investment at the 5th Euro Med trade ministerial conference in March 2006 between the EU and some SEMCs;

| 59. | Asks the Commission to continue the negotiations begun in Marrakech and to conclude them in the area of services with certain SEMCs, covering all modes and sectors in accordance with what they agreed in the GATS framework of the WTO and to respond to positive offers by considering EU provisions regarding enhanced possibilities for the free movement of service workers (Mode IV of GATS); |
| --- | --- |

59.

Asks the Commission to continue the negotiations begun in Marrakech and to conclude them in the area of services with certain SEMCs, covering all modes and sectors in accordance with what they agreed in the GATS framework of the WTO and to respond to positive offers by considering EU provisions regarding enhanced possibilities for the free movement of service workers (Mode IV of GATS);

| 60. | Considers that a distinction must be made between commercial services and public services; stresses the need to keep public services outside the negotiating framework, especially those relating to people's basic needs and those allowing them access to essential public benefits, such as health, education, drinking water and energy, as well as those playing a leading part in cultural identity, such as audiovisual services; |
| --- | --- |

60.

Considers that a distinction must be made between commercial services and public services; stresses the need to keep public services outside the negotiating framework, especially those relating to people's basic needs and those allowing them access to essential public benefits, such as health, education, drinking water and energy, as well as those playing a leading part in cultural identity, such as audiovisual services;

Transport

| 61. | Believes that the development of a Euro-Mediterranean transport network based on modern interconnections and the preparation of a common strategy for better cooperation, coordination and development constitute a precondition for the success of the FTA; regards it as vital for the SEMCs to enjoy closer interoperability with the trans-European transport networks, and for them to be involved in deciding and implementing future priority projects; asks in this context for consideration to be given to the possibility of upgrading maritime transport routes as a matter of priority and lowering the costs associated with maritime freight services; |
| --- | --- |

61.

Believes that the development of a Euro-Mediterranean transport network based on modern interconnections and the preparation of a common strategy for better cooperation, coordination and development constitute a precondition for the success of the FTA; regards it as vital for the SEMCs to enjoy closer interoperability with the trans-European transport networks, and for them to be involved in deciding and implementing future priority projects; asks in this context for consideration to be given to the possibility of upgrading maritime transport routes as a matter of priority and lowering the costs associated with maritime freight services;

| 62. | Calls on the Commission and the SEMCs to make sufficient financial resources available for infrastructure modernisation, with particular reference to the logistics sector, and to carry out the necessary reforms to make the sector more competitive and dynamic taking due account of the specific geography of the area, which is the natural transit point for trade in goods between Europe and Asia (including China and India in particular); |
| --- | --- |

62.

Calls on the Commission and the SEMCs to make sufficient financial resources available for infrastructure modernisation, with particular reference to the logistics sector, and to carry out the necessary reforms to make the sector more competitive and dynamic taking due account of the specific geography of the area, which is the natural transit point for trade in goods between Europe and Asia (including China and India in particular);

| 63. | Calls on the SEMCs, in conjunction with the Commission, to make the road and port sectors more efficient in order to reduce the very high logistics and transport costs which make the region's industrial and agricultural exports less competitive; calls, also, for thought to be given to the air transport sector, with particular reference to air freight services; |
| --- | --- |

63.

Calls on the SEMCs, in conjunction with the Commission, to make the road and port sectors more efficient in order to reduce the very high logistics and transport costs which make the region's industrial and agricultural exports less competitive; calls, also, for thought to be given to the air transport sector, with particular reference to air freight services;

| 64. | Welcomes with interest the forthcoming adoption of a Council communication on extending the main trans-European routes to the Mediterranean countries, taking into account the need for action to reorient transport flows for the benefit of this region; |
| --- | --- |

64.

Welcomes with interest the forthcoming adoption of a Council communication on extending the main trans-European routes to the Mediterranean countries, taking into account the need for action to reorient transport flows for the benefit of this region;

Energy

| 65. | Notes that the majority of the Barcelona Process countries depend to an ever-increasing extent on external energy supplies, particularly oil and gas, and that increased demand will exercise additional pressure on existing supply channels; stresses that, against this background, it will be important to establish effective cooperation between Mediterranean countries in the area of energy supply; |
| --- | --- |

65.

Notes that the majority of the Barcelona Process countries depend to an ever-increasing extent on external energy supplies, particularly oil and gas, and that increased demand will exercise additional pressure on existing supply channels; stresses that, against this background, it will be important to establish effective cooperation between Mediterranean countries in the area of energy supply;

| 66. | Calls for the construction of a genuine Euro-Mediterranean energy market to become a matter of central concern; regards it as vital, in the light of the recent increase in oil and gas prices, for the EU and those SEMCs which are without energy resources to make a coordinated effort to reinvigorate the dialogue with the energy-producing countries, while avoiding, as far as possible, entering into bilateral agreements which are detrimental to the interests of the EU and the SEMCs; notes with interest the Commission's desire, expressed at the Conference on external energy policy of 20 and 21 November 2006, to accord an important role to North Africa and the Middle East in its external energy policy, and calls for these declarations to be accompanied by concrete action; |
| --- | --- |

66.

Calls for the construction of a genuine Euro-Mediterranean energy market to become a matter of central concern; regards it as vital, in the light of the recent increase in oil and gas prices, for the EU and those SEMCs which are without energy resources to make a coordinated effort to reinvigorate the dialogue with the energy-producing countries, while avoiding, as far as possible, entering into bilateral agreements which are detrimental to the interests of the EU and the SEMCs; notes with interest the Commission's desire, expressed at the Conference on external energy policy of 20 and 21 November 2006, to accord an important role to North Africa and the Middle East in its external energy policy, and calls for these declarations to be accompanied by concrete action;

| 67. | Welcomes the carrying into effect of energy cooperation in the Mediterranean region under the auspices of the Rome Euro-Mediterranean Energy Platform (REMEP); considers that this platform may provide a common starting point for strengthening EU/SEMC cooperation by enabling important regional initiatives to be carried into effect and a basis for any other activities in the common interest which might be decided upon; |
| --- | --- |

67.

Welcomes the carrying into effect of energy cooperation in the Mediterranean region under the auspices of the Rome Euro-Mediterranean Energy Platform (REMEP); considers that this platform may provide a common starting point for strengthening EU/SEMC cooperation by enabling important regional initiatives to be carried into effect and a basis for any other activities in the common interest which might be decided upon;

| 68. | Welcomes the launch of major sub-regional projects such as the progressive integration of the Maghreb countries' electricity market into that of the EU, the integration of gas markets in the Mashreq region, and the construction of the Medgaz and Arab gas pipelines; |
| --- | --- |

68.

Welcomes the launch of major sub-regional projects such as the progressive integration of the Maghreb countries' electricity market into that of the EU, the integration of gas markets in the Mashreq region, and the construction of the Medgaz and Arab gas pipelines;

| 69. | Calls on the Commission, the EU Member States and the SEMCs to explore new forms of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the energy sector, particularly in connection with the introduction of measures to improve energy efficiency; also calls on the SEMCs to introduce policies to encourage the development of renewable energies and environmental protection (oil refinery activities and risks associated with hydrocarbon transport via the Mediterranean Sea); |
| --- | --- |

69.

Calls on the Commission, the EU Member States and the SEMCs to explore new forms of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the energy sector, particularly in connection with the introduction of measures to improve energy efficiency; also calls on the SEMCs to introduce policies to encourage the development of renewable energies and environmental protection (oil refinery activities and risks associated with hydrocarbon transport via the Mediterranean Sea);

| 70. | Regards it as vital for the EU and those SEMCs, which are without energy resources, to engage in a strategic dialogue on the possibility of fostering the production of renewable energies on a massive scale and to grant SEMCs the right to participate in EU programmes related to R&D in the field of renewable energy; |
| --- | --- |

70.

Regards it as vital for the EU and those SEMCs, which are without energy resources, to engage in a strategic dialogue on the possibility of fostering the production of renewable energies on a massive scale and to grant SEMCs the right to participate in EU programmes related to R&D in the field of renewable energy;

| 71. | Emphasises the role that first generation biofuels can play as an alternative form of energy, and also their increased competitiveness in the energy markets; |
| --- | --- |

71.

Emphasises the role that first generation biofuels can play as an alternative form of energy, and also their increased competitiveness in the energy markets;

The environment and sustainable development

| 72. | Welcomes the ‘Horizon 2020’ initiative launched at the Barcelona Summit in 2005, which is intended to reduce the level of pollution in the region by identifying and tackling the most significant sources of pollution between now and 2020; stresses that this initiative is likely to supplement and relaunch the Mediterranean Sustainable Development Strategy, which was approved in 1995; |
| --- | --- |

72.

Welcomes the ‘Horizon 2020’ initiative launched at the Barcelona Summit in 2005, which is intended to reduce the level of pollution in the region by identifying and tackling the most significant sources of pollution between now and 2020; stresses that this initiative is likely to supplement and relaunch the Mediterranean Sustainable Development Strategy, which was approved in 1995;

| 73. | Calls on the Commission and the SEMCs to concentrate on the primary environmental objective of stopping the pollution of the Mediterranean Sea (particularly by reducing industrial emissions and urban waste), while bringing into being a better form of political and financial cooperation involving greater participation by regional and local authorities and representatives of civil society and the private sector; also calls on the Commission to carry out regular assessments of the progress achieved in this area; |
| --- | --- |

73.

Calls on the Commission and the SEMCs to concentrate on the primary environmental objective of stopping the pollution of the Mediterranean Sea (particularly by reducing industrial emissions and urban waste), while bringing into being a better form of political and financial cooperation involving greater participation by regional and local authorities and representatives of civil society and the private sector; also calls on the Commission to carry out regular assessments of the progress achieved in this area;

| 74. | Calls on the Commission to concentrate on the full implementation of the Barcelona Protocol on land-based sources of maritime pollution by all Mediterranean countries, especially through increased financing for the Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program (METAP); |
| --- | --- |

74.

Calls on the Commission to concentrate on the full implementation of the Barcelona Protocol on land-based sources of maritime pollution by all Mediterranean countries, especially through increased financing for the Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program (METAP);

| 75. | Considers that this initiative deserves to be publicised as much as possible and should receive the full and undivided support of the European Parliament in view of its important implications not only for the sustainable development of the region (tourism, fisheries, agriculture, access to water) but also for the standard of living of adjacent regions; |
| --- | --- |

75.

Considers that this initiative deserves to be publicised as much as possible and should receive the full and undivided support of the European Parliament in view of its important implications not only for the sustainable development of the region (tourism, fisheries, agriculture, access to water) but also for the standard of living of adjacent regions;

Industry

| 76. | Notes with concern that the SEMCs have developed industries specialising in low-technology and low-added-value products, which makes them more vulnerable to external competition; takes the view that greater competitiveness on the part of SEMC industry is necessary for the success of the FTA, and calls on the SEMCs to adopt direct measures to help companies increase their competitiveness vis-à-vis European and Asian producers; |
| --- | --- |

76.

Notes with concern that the SEMCs have developed industries specialising in low-technology and low-added-value products, which makes them more vulnerable to external competition; takes the view that greater competitiveness on the part of SEMC industry is necessary for the success of the FTA, and calls on the SEMCs to adopt direct measures to help companies increase their competitiveness vis-à-vis European and Asian producers;

| 77. | Calls for the timetable for liberalisation of the industrial sector to be adjusted according to prevailing economic and social conditions (including the level of unemployment) in each SEMC, and its impact on the environment; |
| --- | --- |

77.

Calls for the timetable for liberalisation of the industrial sector to be adjusted according to prevailing economic and social conditions (including the level of unemployment) in each SEMC, and its impact on the environment;

| 78. | Calls on the SEMCs to establish regional policies in the field of industry in order to bring about increased prospects of economies of scale and a better development strategy which takes account of the role of very small enterprises (VSEs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region; calls on the Commission and the SEMCs to promote VSEs and SMEs by developing efficient financial services and delivering technical and administrative assistance to enable them to improve their competitiveness; |
| --- | --- |

78.

Calls on the SEMCs to establish regional policies in the field of industry in order to bring about increased prospects of economies of scale and a better development strategy which takes account of the role of very small enterprises (VSEs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region; calls on the Commission and the SEMCs to promote VSEs and SMEs by developing efficient financial services and delivering technical and administrative assistance to enable them to improve their competitiveness;

| 79. | Also calls on the Commission and the SEMCs to engage in joint action aimed at: (a) the simplification of administrative procedures, (b) ensuring professional, business and trade union associations are more genuinely representative, (c) enabling access to commercial information, (d) providing firms with technical assistance and support services and (e) the provision of lifelong training; |
| --- | --- |

79.

Also calls on the Commission and the SEMCs to engage in joint action aimed at: (a) the simplification of administrative procedures, (b) ensuring professional, business and trade union associations are more genuinely representative, (c) enabling access to commercial information, (d) providing firms with technical assistance and support services and (e) the provision of lifelong training;

The textile sector

| 80. | Reiterates its concern at the consequences that the end of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing on 1 January 2005 and the abolition of quotas have had for the performance of the textile and clothing sector in the SEMCs and the EU; points out that this sector plays a crucial role in the economies of many SEMCs and some European countries; stresses that implementation of a programme aiming to improve the sector's competitiveness, with Commission support, would serve a useful purpose; |
| --- | --- |

80.

Reiterates its concern at the consequences that the end of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing on 1 January 2005 and the abolition of quotas have had for the performance of the textile and clothing sector in the SEMCs and the EU; points out that this sector plays a crucial role in the economies of many SEMCs and some European countries; stresses that implementation of a programme aiming to improve the sector's competitiveness, with Commission support, would serve a useful purpose;

| 81. | Considers that the major difficulties faced by the textile sector could inevitably have adverse consequences for the economy of EU countries and the SEMCs and, indirectly, for the establishment of the FTA; considers that, when the EU's new commercial and investment strategy with regard to China and, more generally, European commercial policy towards Asia are formulated, their possible impact on SEMCs and EU countries should be taken into account; |
| --- | --- |

81.

Considers that the major difficulties faced by the textile sector could inevitably have adverse consequences for the economy of EU countries and the SEMCs and, indirectly, for the establishment of the FTA; considers that, when the EU's new commercial and investment strategy with regard to China and, more generally, European commercial policy towards Asia are formulated, their possible impact on SEMCs and EU countries should be taken into account;

| 82. | Calls on the Commission, in close cooperation with Member States and the private sector, to initiate ad hoc assistance programmes to improve the competitiveness of these countries' textile industries and enhance their traditional links with Community manufacturers; |
| --- | --- |

82.

Calls on the Commission, in close cooperation with Member States and the private sector, to initiate ad hoc assistance programmes to improve the competitiveness of these countries' textile industries and enhance their traditional links with Community manufacturers;

| 83. | Considers that the current difficulties could be overcome by reorganising the sector to enable it to take advantage of its physical proximity to European markets by concentrating on medium and high quality production with faster delivery (and stock replenishment) times at competitive prices; |
| --- | --- |

83.

Considers that the current difficulties could be overcome by reorganising the sector to enable it to take advantage of its physical proximity to European markets by concentrating on medium and high quality production with faster delivery (and stock replenishment) times at competitive prices;

| 84. | Supports the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean production area as the only means of enabling not only the southern, but also the northern Mediterranean countries to face the challenge of competing regional blocks and ensure that industrial output and employment can be maintained; considers that it is necessary to allocate specific European funds to support programmes of research, innovation or cooperation with that end in view; |
| --- | --- |

84.

Supports the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean production area as the only means of enabling not only the southern, but also the northern Mediterranean countries to face the challenge of competing regional blocks and ensure that industrial output and employment can be maintained; considers that it is necessary to allocate specific European funds to support programmes of research, innovation or cooperation with that end in view;

| 85. | Supports a Euro-Mediterranean partnership which promotes cooperation and competitiveness in the sector by pursuing a proactive policy of resolutely supporting training, R&D, technological innovation, the dissemination of good practice and exchanges of market information; recommends the introduction of a Euro-Mediterranean network of schools, training establishments and specialised technical centres for the textile/clothing industry to promote technical partnership and joint training and research programmes; |
| --- | --- |

85.

Supports a Euro-Mediterranean partnership which promotes cooperation and competitiveness in the sector by pursuing a proactive policy of resolutely supporting training, R&D, technological innovation, the dissemination of good practice and exchanges of market information; recommends the introduction of a Euro-Mediterranean network of schools, training establishments and specialised technical centres for the textile/clothing industry to promote technical partnership and joint training and research programmes;

| 86. | Notes that the difficulty of gaining access to financing and the unsuitable nature of certain financial instruments are still considerable hurdles to overcome for SMEs in the sector; calls on the Commission to propose means of remedying these deficiencies and incentive measures aimed at retaining part of the production chain in the countries of the Euro-Mediterranean area; |
| --- | --- |

86.

Notes that the difficulty of gaining access to financing and the unsuitable nature of certain financial instruments are still considerable hurdles to overcome for SMEs in the sector; calls on the Commission to propose means of remedying these deficiencies and incentive measures aimed at retaining part of the production chain in the countries of the Euro-Mediterranean area;

Science and technology

| 87. | Is concerned about the slow progress being made by most of the SEMCs with regard to education and scientific research; notes that, despite an undeniable increase in the level of schooling, there remains a persistent lack of interaction between the labour market and the education system, something which has serious implications for productivity, labour skills and, more generally, the prospects for the region's development; |
| --- | --- |

87.

Is concerned about the slow progress being made by most of the SEMCs with regard to education and scientific research; notes that, despite an undeniable increase in the level of schooling, there remains a persistent lack of interaction between the labour market and the education system, something which has serious implications for productivity, labour skills and, more generally, the prospects for the region's development;

| 88. | Calls on the Commission and the SEMCs to introduce measures aimed at improving the educational system in general, to pay more attention to the role of young people, to encourage more frequent exchanges between universities and to facilitate women's entry into the employment market by means of specific teaching programmes; stresses that greater participation by women in the employment market is a key factor for economic development; welcomes the initiatives taken by the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for Intercultural Dialogue with regard to Euromed schools, Euromed teams of young researchers, university summer schools and exchange programmes which allow more extensive dialogue and cooperation between the members of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership; |
| --- | --- |

88.

Calls on the Commission and the SEMCs to introduce measures aimed at improving the educational system in general, to pay more attention to the role of young people, to encourage more frequent exchanges between universities and to facilitate women's entry into the employment market by means of specific teaching programmes; stresses that greater participation by women in the employment market is a key factor for economic development; welcomes the initiatives taken by the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for Intercultural Dialogue with regard to Euromed schools, Euromed teams of young researchers, university summer schools and exchange programmes which allow more extensive dialogue and cooperation between the members of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership;

| 89. | Urges the SEMCs to give greater priority to a development model based on the knowledge economy and to substantially increase the proportion of GDP allocated to scientific research; calls on the Commission to provide financial and technical support; |
| --- | --- |

89.

Urges the SEMCs to give greater priority to a development model based on the knowledge economy and to substantially increase the proportion of GDP allocated to scientific research; calls on the Commission to provide financial and technical support;

| 90. | Calls on the Commission to support the Euromesco inter-university network, to help ensure that partnerships between universities, research centres, laboratories and doctoral schools are established on an institutional basis and to promote the mobility of research workers, teachers and postgraduate students from these institutions and the strengthening of joint research programmes; |
| --- | --- |

90.

Calls on the Commission to support the Euromesco inter-university network, to help ensure that partnerships between universities, research centres, laboratories and doctoral schools are established on an institutional basis and to promote the mobility of research workers, teachers and postgraduate students from these institutions and the strengthening of joint research programmes;

| 91. | Calls on the Commission to evaluate existing funding and programming arrangements with a view to encouraging joint EU/SEMC projects and enabling these countries to participate to a greater extent in Community research framework programmes; |
| --- | --- |

91.

Calls on the Commission to evaluate existing funding and programming arrangements with a view to encouraging joint EU/SEMC projects and enabling these countries to participate to a greater extent in Community research framework programmes;

| 92. | Stresses the importance of vocational training, which plays a crucial role in firms' development; considers that the importance of vocational training should be reflected by the introduction of programmes geared towards the problems and requirements encountered and identified by firms; |
| --- | --- |

92.

Stresses the importance of vocational training, which plays a crucial role in firms' development; considers that the importance of vocational training should be reflected by the introduction of programmes geared towards the problems and requirements encountered and identified by firms;

Trade and development

| 93. | Stresses that the EU's trade policy must not run counter to the objectives of its policies on development and poverty reduction, but that it should complement them; points out that more than 30 % of the population in the SEMCs lives on less than USD 2 a day; calls on the EU to invest in a specific action plan to combat absolute and relative poverty in the Mediterranean, i.e. a Mediterranean version of the Millennium Goals, and to achieve development through trade, the Mediterranean version of Aid for Trade, in parallel with poverty reduction schemes; |
| --- | --- |

93.

Stresses that the EU's trade policy must not run counter to the objectives of its policies on development and poverty reduction, but that it should complement them; points out that more than 30 % of the population in the SEMCs lives on less than USD 2 a day; calls on the EU to invest in a specific action plan to combat absolute and relative poverty in the Mediterranean, i.e. a Mediterranean version of the Millennium Goals, and to achieve development through trade, the Mediterranean version of Aid for Trade, in parallel with poverty reduction schemes;

| 94. | Stresses that microcredit, particularly for small landowners in the agricultural sector, is an essential means of combating poverty and achieving sustainable social and economic development in line with the Millennium Objectives and is also a powerful emancipatory force, particularly for women; considers that this new microeconomic approach should be recognised in the framework of the FTA and, more generally, in the ENP and the Barcelona Process; calls on the Council and the Commission to provide more support for initiatives aimed at promoting microfinance in the SEMCs, to significantly strengthen existing programmes and to develop and promote new systems to facilitate access to credit for as many people as possible; |
| --- | --- |

94.

Stresses that microcredit, particularly for small landowners in the agricultural sector, is an essential means of combating poverty and achieving sustainable social and economic development in line with the Millennium Objectives and is also a powerful emancipatory force, particularly for women; considers that this new microeconomic approach should be recognised in the framework of the FTA and, more generally, in the ENP and the Barcelona Process; calls on the Council and the Commission to provide more support for initiatives aimed at promoting microfinance in the SEMCs, to significantly strengthen existing programmes and to develop and promote new systems to facilitate access to credit for as many people as possible;

| 95. | Stresses the importance of fundamental employment standards and decent jobs for the development of the FTA; points out that trade that assists development and reduces poverty also helps achieve social progress and decent working conditions; notes that the rules governing trade should not override social legislation and the ILO Framework Convention; notes that action to combat all forms of exploitation at work, and respect for trade union freedoms, are essential if trade is to be organised on a fair basis and in the interest of all; urges the Commission to work to that end in close collaboration with the ILO, particularly with a view to the introduction of ENP action plans; |
| --- | --- |

95.

Stresses the importance of fundamental employment standards and decent jobs for the development of the FTA; points out that trade that assists development and reduces poverty also helps achieve social progress and decent working conditions; notes that the rules governing trade should not override social legislation and the ILO Framework Convention; notes that action to combat all forms of exploitation at work, and respect for trade union freedoms, are essential if trade is to be organised on a fair basis and in the interest of all; urges the Commission to work to that end in close collaboration with the ILO, particularly with a view to the introduction of ENP action plans;

| 96. | Calls on the Commission to take non-commercial criteria into account in future negotiations, so that trade does not expand at the expense of the working conditions of local people; wishes to see the FTA lay down an agenda for acceptable work specifically designed for the SEMCs, and to see the EU commit itself to providing all the requisite assistance to ensure that this agenda is implemented; |
| --- | --- |

96.

Calls on the Commission to take non-commercial criteria into account in future negotiations, so that trade does not expand at the expense of the working conditions of local people; wishes to see the FTA lay down an agenda for acceptable work specifically designed for the SEMCs, and to see the EU commit itself to providing all the requisite assistance to ensure that this agenda is implemented;

| 97. | Stresses the need to promote codes of conduct that have been negotiated with multinationals, which should incorporate the objectives of providing decent employment; recommends that undertakings which are based in Europe and have subsidiaries in the SEMCs should regularly check their subsidiaries' compliance with these codes of conduct; calls for any newly associated undertaking to accept the codes of conduct and to publicise the fact that it has done so; |
| --- | --- |

97.

Stresses the need to promote codes of conduct that have been negotiated with multinationals, which should incorporate the objectives of providing decent employment; recommends that undertakings which are based in Europe and have subsidiaries in the SEMCs should regularly check their subsidiaries' compliance with these codes of conduct; calls for any newly associated undertaking to accept the codes of conduct and to publicise the fact that it has done so;

Concluding considerations

| 98. | Draws attention to the decision of the 2005 Barcelona Summit to create an area of mutual cooperation with regard to migration, social integration, justice and security; regards the establishment of such an area as an essential corollary to the establishment of a genuine Euro-Mediterranean FTA; |
| --- | --- |

98.

Draws attention to the decision of the 2005 Barcelona Summit to create an area of mutual cooperation with regard to migration, social integration, justice and security; regards the establishment of such an area as an essential corollary to the establishment of a genuine Euro-Mediterranean FTA;

| 99. | Takes the view that, although the conditions for this are not yet in place, the FTA should be complemented by the phased and conditioned introduction of free movement for workers, while taking account of the situation on the European employment market and current thinking in the international community on the links between migration and development; stresses that it is important and necessary to reduce the cost of transfers of remittances by migrant workers so as to maximise their use in the local economy; regards it as a matter of urgency to establish the legal and administrative procedures likely to facilitate the granting of visas, in particular for the players in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, students, university staff and socioeconomic players; |
| --- | --- |

99.

Takes the view that, although the conditions for this are not yet in place, the FTA should be complemented by the phased and conditioned introduction of free movement for workers, while taking account of the situation on the European employment market and current thinking in the international community on the links between migration and development; stresses that it is important and necessary to reduce the cost of transfers of remittances by migrant workers so as to maximise their use in the local economy; regards it as a matter of urgency to establish the legal and administrative procedures likely to facilitate the granting of visas, in particular for the players in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, students, university staff and socioeconomic players;

| 100. | Continues to be concerned by the lack of a clear definition of the EU's Mediterranean policy and of a long-term strategic vision for the region's development and stabilisation; stresses the need for the process of Euro-Mediterranean integration to become, once again, a political priority on the EU agenda; |
| --- | --- |

100.

Continues to be concerned by the lack of a clear definition of the EU's Mediterranean policy and of a long-term strategic vision for the region's development and stabilisation; stresses the need for the process of Euro-Mediterranean integration to become, once again, a political priority on the EU agenda;

| 101. | Deplores the systematic destruction of Lebanon's economic system and infrastructures during the recent conflict with Israel, which will cause delays in the country's development and the establishment of the FTA; notes the results of the conference of 25 January 2007 on the reconstruction of Lebanon and supports the efforts to organise international aid to that country in the long term; calls for the EU, in the context of the current peace process, to continue to provide sufficient financial support to help the Lebanese to cope with the challenges of the country's economic and social reconstruction following the conflict of July 2006; expresses its strong concern about the situation of the Palestinian territories and consequently calls on the Council and the Commission, in cooperation with the international community, to provide the Palestinian population with essential humanitarian aid; notes that Israel has transferred part of the Palestine tax and customs revenues which it was holding, and calls on the Israeli Government to pay the remainder of these frozen sums as a matter of urgency; urges the Commission to insist on compliance with the clauses relating to the Barcelona Process, in particular the human rights clause included in the Association Agreements and the various action plans, in order to achieve a true area of freedom and security in the region; |
| --- | --- |

101.

Deplores the systematic destruction of Lebanon's economic system and infrastructures during the recent conflict with Israel, which will cause delays in the country's development and the establishment of the FTA; notes the results of the conference of 25 January 2007 on the reconstruction of Lebanon and supports the efforts to organise international aid to that country in the long term; calls for the EU, in the context of the current peace process, to continue to provide sufficient financial support to help the Lebanese to cope with the challenges of the country's economic and social reconstruction following the conflict of July 2006; expresses its strong concern about the situation of the Palestinian territories and consequently calls on the Council and the Commission, in cooperation with the international community, to provide the Palestinian population with essential humanitarian aid; notes that Israel has transferred part of the Palestine tax and customs revenues which it was holding, and calls on the Israeli Government to pay the remainder of these frozen sums as a matter of urgency; urges the Commission to insist on compliance with the clauses relating to the Barcelona Process, in particular the human rights clause included in the Association Agreements and the various action plans, in order to achieve a true area of freedom and security in the region;

| 102. | Believes that, bearing in mind, in particular, the recent steps taken under the European neighbourhood policy and also the new presence of China in Africa, the objective of EU foreign policy in the Mediterranean is to support and encourage political, democratic and socioeconomic reforms in the partner countries so as to create together an area of shared prosperity; |
| --- | --- |

102.

Believes that, bearing in mind, in particular, the recent steps taken under the European neighbourhood policy and also the new presence of China in Africa, the objective of EU foreign policy in the Mediterranean is to support and encourage political, democratic and socioeconomic reforms in the partner countries so as to create together an area of shared prosperity;

| 103. | Stresses the role of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly within the partnership as the democratic body which brings together Members of Parliament from both shores of the Mediterranean around the three pillars of the Barcelona Process; finally, calls for stronger cooperation between the EMPA, the Commission and the Council of the European Union in the economic field; |
| --- | --- |

103.

Stresses the role of the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly within the partnership as the democratic body which brings together Members of Parliament from both shores of the Mediterranean around the three pillars of the Barcelona Process; finally, calls for stronger cooperation between the EMPA, the Commission and the Council of the European Union in the economic field;

*

- *

| 104. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, to the Heads of State and Governments and the Parliaments of the Member States and of the SEMCs and to the EMPA. |
| --- | --- |

104.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission, to the Heads of State and Governments and the Parliaments of the Member States and of the SEMCs and to the EMPA.

---

(1)  OJ C 272 E, 9.11.2006, p. 570.

(2)  OJ L 310, 9.11.2006, p. 1.

(3)  OJ L 97, 30.3.1998, p. 2.

(4)  OJ L 147, 21.6.2000, p. 3.

(5)  OJ L 70, 18.3.2000, p. 2.

(6)  OJ L 129, 15.5.2002, p. 3.

(7)  OJ L 304, 30.9.2004, p. 39.

(8)  OJ L 143, 30.5.2006, p. 2.

(9)  OJ L 265, 10.10.2005, p. 2.

(10)  OJ L 187, 16.7.1997, p. 3.

(11)  OJ L 35, 13.2.1996, p. 1.

(12)  OJ C 323, 4.12.1995, p. 5.

(13)  OJ C 378, 29.12.2000, p. 71.

(14)  OJ C 226 E, 15.9.2005, p. 42.

(15)  Particularly investments in ‘greenfield’ sites.

P6_TA(2007)0077

Bosnia-Herzegovina

European Parliament recommendation to the Council of 15 March 2007 on Bosnia-Herzegovina (2006/2290(INI))

The European Parliament,

| — | having regard to the proposal for a recommendation to the Council by Doris Pack on behalf of the Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats on Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) (B6-0615/2006), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the proposal for a recommendation to the Council by Doris Pack on behalf of the Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats on Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) (B6-0615/2006),

| — | having regard to the agreement of 5 October 2005 between representatives of the State and constituent Entities of BiH which endorses the basic principles set out by the Commission for the restructuring of police forces, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the agreement of 5 October 2005 between representatives of the State and constituent Entities of BiH which endorses the basic principles set out by the Commission for the restructuring of police forces,

| — | having regard to the Council's subsequent decision of 22 November 2005 to open negotiations with BiH on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Council's subsequent decision of 22 November 2005 to open negotiations with BiH on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement,

| — | having regard to the agreement reached on 18 March 2006 between leaders of most of the main political parties in BiH on a number of constitutional amendments, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the agreement reached on 18 March 2006 between leaders of most of the main political parties in BiH on a number of constitutional amendments,

| — | having regard to the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board's decision of 23 June 2006, whereby the Office of the High Representative (OHR) should immediately begin preparations with a view to closing down on 30 June 2007, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board's decision of 23 June 2006, whereby the Office of the High Representative (OHR) should immediately begin preparations with a view to closing down on 30 June 2007,

| — | having regard to the fact that the PIC will review and, if appropriate, confirm the OHR closure in early 2007, taking into account the overall situation in the country and in the region, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the fact that the PIC will review and, if appropriate, confirm the OHR closure in early 2007, taking into account the overall situation in the country and in the region,

| — | having regard to the recent presidential and parliamentary elections in BiH, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the recent presidential and parliamentary elections in BiH,

| — | having regard to the Commission's 2006 Progress Report on BiH (SEC(2006)1384), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Commission's 2006 Progress Report on BiH (SEC(2006)1384),

| — | having regard to the conclusions on the Western Balkans of the General Affairs Council of 11 December 2006, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the conclusions on the Western Balkans of the General Affairs Council of 11 December 2006,

| — | having regard to Rule 114(3) and Rule 90 of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Rule 114(3) and Rule 90 of its Rules of Procedure,

| — | having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A6-0030/2007), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A6-0030/2007),

| A. | whereas BiH has made the transition from the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement of 1995, an agreement which put an end to Europe's bloodiest war since the end of the Second World War in what was a peaceful and multi-ethnic country, and is now moving towards European integration, thereby necessitating constitutional changes, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas BiH has made the transition from the implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement of 1995, an agreement which put an end to Europe's bloodiest war since the end of the Second World War in what was a peaceful and multi-ethnic country, and is now moving towards European integration, thereby necessitating constitutional changes,

| B. | whereas the representatives of the State and of the two Entities had agreed that the proposed police force reform would envisage the transfer to state level of all legislative and budgetary competencies, the elimination of all political interference in the operation of police forces and the delimitation of territorial units along purely technical and functional lines, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas the representatives of the State and of the two Entities had agreed that the proposed police force reform would envisage the transfer to state level of all legislative and budgetary competencies, the elimination of all political interference in the operation of police forces and the delimitation of territorial units along purely technical and functional lines,

| C. | whereas that agreement provided for the setting-up of a directorate for restructuring of the police, with representatives from all levels of government (State, Entity and cantons), whose task was to submit a proposal for implementation of the reform, including proposals for the demarcation of the new police territorial units, |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas that agreement provided for the setting-up of a directorate for restructuring of the police, with representatives from all levels of government (State, Entity and cantons), whose task was to submit a proposal for implementation of the reform, including proposals for the demarcation of the new police territorial units,

| D. | whereas on 22 December 2006 that directorate submitted to the Council of Ministers of BiH a draft plan for the implementation of the police structure reform, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas on 22 December 2006 that directorate submitted to the Council of Ministers of BiH a draft plan for the implementation of the police structure reform,

| E. | whereas that draft provides the framework for fulfilling the prerequisites laid down by the Commission for the conclusion of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union, |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas that draft provides the framework for fulfilling the prerequisites laid down by the Commission for the conclusion of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union,

| F. | whereas during the recent electoral campaign the Republika Srpska leadership repeatedly issued statements which questioned the agreement on the proposed police reform which it had previously endorsed, |
| --- | --- |

F.

whereas during the recent electoral campaign the Republika Srpska leadership repeatedly issued statements which questioned the agreement on the proposed police reform which it had previously endorsed,

| G. | whereas the mandate of the representatives of the Republika Srpska has now been confirmed by popular vote and their parties are strongly represented at both Entity and State level, |
| --- | --- |

G.

whereas the mandate of the representatives of the Republika Srpska has now been confirmed by popular vote and their parties are strongly represented at both Entity and State level,

| H. | whereas the package of constitutional amendments supported by representatives of most of the main parties in BiH contains a number of proposals which strengthen state-level powers and address certain dysfunctions in BiH's legislative and executive branches, |
| --- | --- |

H.

whereas the package of constitutional amendments supported by representatives of most of the main parties in BiH contains a number of proposals which strengthen state-level powers and address certain dysfunctions in BiH's legislative and executive branches,

| I. | whereas those proposals do not reform the Entity veto mechanism, notwithstanding that this mechanism can seriously obstruct the work of BiH's Parliament, |
| --- | --- |

I.

whereas those proposals do not reform the Entity veto mechanism, notwithstanding that this mechanism can seriously obstruct the work of BiH's Parliament,

| J. | whereas in the near future deep reflection should be undertaken among the different components of society in BiH on how to transcend the rigid ethnic division of the country so as to reform its structures and make it more flexible and compatible with the European democracies, |
| --- | --- |

J.

whereas in the near future deep reflection should be undertaken among the different components of society in BiH on how to transcend the rigid ethnic division of the country so as to reform its structures and make it more flexible and compatible with the European democracies,

| K. | whereas the above-mentioned package of amendments was endorsed by a majority in the Parliament of BiH but failed, by only two votes, to reach the threshold required for the adoption of the constitutional amendments, |
| --- | --- |

K.

whereas the above-mentioned package of amendments was endorsed by a majority in the Parliament of BiH but failed, by only two votes, to reach the threshold required for the adoption of the constitutional amendments,

| L. | whereas premature closure of the OHR, based on the legitimate desire to increase the feeling of ownership of the political process and to speed up the process of reconciliation between the three main peoples inside BiH, would have an impact on the stability of the country and on the pace and outcome of the administrative and constitutional reforms, |
| --- | --- |

L.

whereas premature closure of the OHR, based on the legitimate desire to increase the feeling of ownership of the political process and to speed up the process of reconciliation between the three main peoples inside BiH, would have an impact on the stability of the country and on the pace and outcome of the administrative and constitutional reforms,

| M. | whereas the persistence of strong ethnic divisions within BiH shows the need for a more integrated, non-segregationist, modern education system in the country, |
| --- | --- |

M.

whereas the persistence of strong ethnic divisions within BiH shows the need for a more integrated, non-segregationist, modern education system in the country,

| N. | whereas the experience of inter-ethnic educational establishments which successfully apply a non-segregationist model, such as the establishments sponsored by the Catholic Church in BiH, should be considered in this context, |
| --- | --- |

N.

whereas the experience of inter-ethnic educational establishments which successfully apply a non-segregationist model, such as the establishments sponsored by the Catholic Church in BiH, should be considered in this context,

| 1. | Notes with concern that the winners of the parliamentary and presidential elections, who were formerly moderate parties, resorted during the campaign to confrontational and divisive language; urges the parties, especially those that won the elections — irrespective of various recent negative actions and statements — to act quickly to lay the foundations for a strengthened BiH, which is preparing itself to fulfil the criteria necessary for the conclusion and implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and to apply for EU membership in due course; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Notes with concern that the winners of the parliamentary and presidential elections, who were formerly moderate parties, resorted during the campaign to confrontational and divisive language; urges the parties, especially those that won the elections — irrespective of various recent negative actions and statements — to act quickly to lay the foundations for a strengthened BiH, which is preparing itself to fulfil the criteria necessary for the conclusion and implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and to apply for EU membership in due course;

| 2. | Welcomes the establishment of a government at State level and reminds BiH's political leaders of the urgent and important reforms they need to undertake, notably with regard to the State's Constitution, the judiciary, public administration, the business environment, the educational sector, the phytosanitary and veterinary areas and the environmental field; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Welcomes the establishment of a government at State level and reminds BiH's political leaders of the urgent and important reforms they need to undertake, notably with regard to the State's Constitution, the judiciary, public administration, the business environment, the educational sector, the phytosanitary and veterinary areas and the environmental field;

| 3. | Takes the view that the recently submitted draft plan for the implementation of the BiH police structure reform lays down a clear and balanced allocation of responsibilities between the State and local levels, providing as it does for the State to adopt a single legal framework for police administration, grant budgetary resources and monitor the use thereof, supply support services, coordinate activities between the different bodies and levels and provide strategic steering, without infringing the requisite autonomy of local police units; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Takes the view that the recently submitted draft plan for the implementation of the BiH police structure reform lays down a clear and balanced allocation of responsibilities between the State and local levels, providing as it does for the State to adopt a single legal framework for police administration, grant budgetary resources and monitor the use thereof, supply support services, coordinate activities between the different bodies and levels and provide strategic steering, without infringing the requisite autonomy of local police units;

| 4. | Welcomes, furthermore, the mechanisms envisaged in the above plan for ensuring transparency in the selection and appointment of police chiefs and police officers and for monitoring the activities of police forces at State and local level; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Welcomes, furthermore, the mechanisms envisaged in the above plan for ensuring transparency in the selection and appointment of police chiefs and police officers and for monitoring the activities of police forces at State and local level;

| 5. | Is of the opinion that the legal provisions for achieving a police structure which matches the ethnic composition of the population in BiH should be accompanied by an effective monitoring mechanism; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Is of the opinion that the legal provisions for achieving a police structure which matches the ethnic composition of the population in BiH should be accompanied by an effective monitoring mechanism;

| 6. | Notes with satisfaction that the criteria put forward for determining the local police areas are based on the principles of operational efficiency and sustainability and on demographic, social, economic and security factors, rather than merely on administrative boundaries; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Notes with satisfaction that the criteria put forward for determining the local police areas are based on the principles of operational efficiency and sustainability and on demographic, social, economic and security factors, rather than merely on administrative boundaries;

| 7. | Urges the Council to exert pressure on the relevant authorities in BiH to take all necessary steps to implement the proposals in the above plan and to remind all parties that the police reform is a key prerequisite for the conclusion of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement; |
| --- | --- |

7.

Urges the Council to exert pressure on the relevant authorities in BiH to take all necessary steps to implement the proposals in the above plan and to remind all parties that the police reform is a key prerequisite for the conclusion of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement;

| 8. | Welcomes the fact that the Bosnian governments and police forces have, in general, cooperated with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), inter alia by affording access to military archives; condemns, however, the failure to arrest all the war criminals still at large on the country's territory and the fact that documents potentially of use to the investigations have in many cases disappeared; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Welcomes the fact that the Bosnian governments and police forces have, in general, cooperated with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), inter alia by affording access to military archives; condemns, however, the failure to arrest all the war criminals still at large on the country's territory and the fact that documents potentially of use to the investigations have in many cases disappeared;

| 9. | Calls on the political leadership of BiH to continue in its efforts to cooperate fully with the ICTY and to dismantle networks supporting indicted war criminals; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Calls on the political leadership of BiH to continue in its efforts to cooperate fully with the ICTY and to dismantle networks supporting indicted war criminals;

| 10. | Welcomes the decision of the authorities of the Republika Srpska to establish a special body with the task of improving its cooperation with the ICTY with a view to implementing the ad hoc action plan; expects, in this connection, concrete results in the near future with regard to the capture of the main fugitives; |
| --- | --- |

10.

Welcomes the decision of the authorities of the Republika Srpska to establish a special body with the task of improving its cooperation with the ICTY with a view to implementing the ad hoc action plan; expects, in this connection, concrete results in the near future with regard to the capture of the main fugitives;

| 11. | Urges BiH to continue efforts to improve its economic and fiscal policies, and in particular to strengthen fiscal coordination, thus contributing to fiscal stability; |
| --- | --- |

11.

Urges BiH to continue efforts to improve its economic and fiscal policies, and in particular to strengthen fiscal coordination, thus contributing to fiscal stability;

| 12. | Calls on the leadership of BiH to resolve any remaining border disputes with neighbouring countries, and in particular to respect and ratify an agreement on demarcation of the land and river borders; |
| --- | --- |

12.

Calls on the leadership of BiH to resolve any remaining border disputes with neighbouring countries, and in particular to respect and ratify an agreement on demarcation of the land and river borders;

| 13. | Calls on the leaders of BiH to continue in their efforts to implement fully the agreed public broadcasting reforms; |
| --- | --- |

13.

Calls on the leaders of BiH to continue in their efforts to implement fully the agreed public broadcasting reforms;

| 14. | Calls on the authorities in BiH to implement swiftly the priorities identified in the European partnership; reaffirms that the EU's overall policy towards BiH and the whole region of the Western Balkans is based on a clear prospect of European integration as set out in the Thessaloniki Agenda of June 2003; |
| --- | --- |

14.

Calls on the authorities in BiH to implement swiftly the priorities identified in the European partnership; reaffirms that the EU's overall policy towards BiH and the whole region of the Western Balkans is based on a clear prospect of European integration as set out in the Thessaloniki Agenda of June 2003;

| 15. | Believes that the constitutional debate should be re-launched immediately, building on the achievements made so far, but involving






  — | an in-depth review of the Entity veto mechanism, which should apply only to issues falling under the shared responsibility of the State and the Entities, |
| --- | --- | --- |

15.

Believes that the constitutional debate should be re-launched immediately, building on the achievements made so far, but involving

—

an in-depth review of the Entity veto mechanism, which should apply only to issues falling under the shared responsibility of the State and the Entities,

| — | a clear, exhaustive and at the same time narrow interpretation of the concept of ‘vital national interests’ so as to prevent any ethnically motivated misuse of the related veto instrument for purely obstructionist purposes, |
| --- | --- |

—

a clear, exhaustive and at the same time narrow interpretation of the concept of ‘vital national interests’ so as to prevent any ethnically motivated misuse of the related veto instrument for purely obstructionist purposes,

| — | a more courageous streamlining of BiH's administrative structures with a view to simplifying and accelerating the decision-making process; |
| --- | --- |

—

a more courageous streamlining of BiH's administrative structures with a view to simplifying and accelerating the decision-making process;

| 16. | Believes that this debate should be conducted in public, with the participation of civil society and national and international experts; considers that public opinion must be involved in this process so that the final outcome is owned and recognised as legitimate by everybody; |
| --- | --- |

16.

Believes that this debate should be conducted in public, with the participation of civil society and national and international experts; considers that public opinion must be involved in this process so that the final outcome is owned and recognised as legitimate by everybody;

| 17. | Invites BiH's Parliament to consider establishing a committee with the specific task of drawing up comprehensive proposals for constitutional reform; |
| --- | --- |

17.

Invites BiH's Parliament to consider establishing a committee with the specific task of drawing up comprehensive proposals for constitutional reform;

| 18. | Takes the view that the European Union, under the aegis of the EU Special Representative, should play a leading role in re-launching the constitutional debate, notably by facilitating the dialogue between the parties, supporting initiatives aimed at promoting public debate and providing technical assistance in terms of expertise to the BiH parliamentarians directly involved in the debate; |
| --- | --- |

18.

Takes the view that the European Union, under the aegis of the EU Special Representative, should play a leading role in re-launching the constitutional debate, notably by facilitating the dialogue between the parties, supporting initiatives aimed at promoting public debate and providing technical assistance in terms of expertise to the BiH parliamentarians directly involved in the debate;

| 19. | Is concerned by the persisting ethnic barriers in BiH, which hamper the development of a national identity; takes the view that the constitutional arrangements in the Dayton Agreement make it more difficult to remove such barriers; recalls that the EU experience is that a common identity is fully compatible with respect for the cultural and religious traditions of the constituent peoples; |
| --- | --- |

19.

Is concerned by the persisting ethnic barriers in BiH, which hamper the development of a national identity; takes the view that the constitutional arrangements in the Dayton Agreement make it more difficult to remove such barriers; recalls that the EU experience is that a common identity is fully compatible with respect for the cultural and religious traditions of the constituent peoples;

| 20. | Welcomes, therefore, a recent statement by the Prime Minister of the Republika Srspka committing the government of that Entity to preventing any disturbance which could take place in connection with the Kosovo status settlement; |
| --- | --- |

20.

Welcomes, therefore, a recent statement by the Prime Minister of the Republika Srspka committing the government of that Entity to preventing any disturbance which could take place in connection with the Kosovo status settlement;

| 21. | Considers that, in the context of EU assistance — which, after the reconstruction phase, has focused on facilitating the adoption of EU standards and laws — increasing attention should be paid to dealing with the burden of the past, including the issue of persons who went missing during the bloody conflict, and promoting an inclusive, non-discriminatory education system in BiH, based on tolerance and respect for diversity; |
| --- | --- |

21.

Considers that, in the context of EU assistance — which, after the reconstruction phase, has focused on facilitating the adoption of EU standards and laws — increasing attention should be paid to dealing with the burden of the past, including the issue of persons who went missing during the bloody conflict, and promoting an inclusive, non-discriminatory education system in BiH, based on tolerance and respect for diversity;

| 22. | Recalls that in practice this means an end to the segregation of different ethnic groups schooled under the same roof, a debate on the creation of a common curriculum for those in compulsory schooling, paying special attention to the way in which history is taught, and improved continuing training for teachers; |
| --- | --- |

22.

Recalls that in practice this means an end to the segregation of different ethnic groups schooled under the same roof, a debate on the creation of a common curriculum for those in compulsory schooling, paying special attention to the way in which history is taught, and improved continuing training for teachers;

| 23. | Calls on the Commission to devolve sufficient funds, under the new Pre-Accession Instrument, to both of the above-mentioned objectives, not least by providing support to the International Commission on Missing Persons, and urges the Council, via its EU Special Representative, to promote initiatives in this area; is of the opinion that the current education system can represent a serious threat to the security of the country; |
| --- | --- |

23.

Calls on the Commission to devolve sufficient funds, under the new Pre-Accession Instrument, to both of the above-mentioned objectives, not least by providing support to the International Commission on Missing Persons, and urges the Council, via its EU Special Representative, to promote initiatives in this area; is of the opinion that the current education system can represent a serious threat to the security of the country;

| 24. | Takes the view that it would be in the interests of the citizens of BiH, and would reflect their desire to avoid conflict in the future, if a national truth and reconciliation commission were established for the country, which should examine and report on the abuses suffered in the past as well as developing recommendations for steps to be taken to deal with this painful legacy and to prevent the recurrence of any such inhumanity; |
| --- | --- |

24.

Takes the view that it would be in the interests of the citizens of BiH, and would reflect their desire to avoid conflict in the future, if a national truth and reconciliation commission were established for the country, which should examine and report on the abuses suffered in the past as well as developing recommendations for steps to be taken to deal with this painful legacy and to prevent the recurrence of any such inhumanity;

| 25. | Points out that education is the primary vehicle for reconciliation; considers that the young generation in BiH should come to grips with the past and learn from it, as did young people in Europe after World War II, that the future lies in overcoming divisions, promoting mutual understanding and furthering the values of solidarity, tolerance, democracy, human rights and equality among the citizens of the country; |
| --- | --- |

25.

Points out that education is the primary vehicle for reconciliation; considers that the young generation in BiH should come to grips with the past and learn from it, as did young people in Europe after World War II, that the future lies in overcoming divisions, promoting mutual understanding and furthering the values of solidarity, tolerance, democracy, human rights and equality among the citizens of the country;

| 26. | Refers in this context to the development of inter-ethnic peer mediation courses in schools and of integrated classes as a way of overcoming formal and informal segregation in the education system of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; |
| --- | --- |

26.

Refers in this context to the development of inter-ethnic peer mediation courses in schools and of integrated classes as a way of overcoming formal and informal segregation in the education system of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

| 27. | Warns, therefore, against any attempt to carve out, inside BiH, mono-ethnic territories; reminds BiH politicians that the international community will not tolerate any measure or policy undermining, directly or indirectly, the multi-ethnic character, the territorial integrity, the stability and the unity of BiH and of its entities; calls on the High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina to remain particularly vigilant in this respect and to be more robust in promoting the re-integration of refugees and displaced people throughout the territory of BiH, and, in particular, in the Republika Srpska, which has a disappointing record as regards returns of refugees and displaced persons; |
| --- | --- |

27.

Warns, therefore, against any attempt to carve out, inside BiH, mono-ethnic territories; reminds BiH politicians that the international community will not tolerate any measure or policy undermining, directly or indirectly, the multi-ethnic character, the territorial integrity, the stability and the unity of BiH and of its entities; calls on the High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina to remain particularly vigilant in this respect and to be more robust in promoting the re-integration of refugees and displaced people throughout the territory of BiH, and, in particular, in the Republika Srpska, which has a disappointing record as regards returns of refugees and displaced persons;

| 28. | Welcomes the opening of the first round of negotiations between the EU and BiH on visa facilitation and looks forward to their conclusion by June 2007, so that the agreement may enter into force in 2008; emphasises that the ultimate objective must be to facilitate travel to the EU for all citizens of the Western Balkan countries and calls on the Commission to support this process, notably through measures aimed at strengthening cooperation in the field of police and border control; |
| --- | --- |

28.

Welcomes the opening of the first round of negotiations between the EU and BiH on visa facilitation and looks forward to their conclusion by June 2007, so that the agreement may enter into force in 2008; emphasises that the ultimate objective must be to facilitate travel to the EU for all citizens of the Western Balkan countries and calls on the Commission to support this process, notably through measures aimed at strengthening cooperation in the field of police and border control;

| 29. | Welcomes the role played by the European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR) in providing a safe and secure environment in BiH; considers that the reduction in the number of troops recently decided upon by the Council constitutes a clear sign of increased stability in the region; |
| --- | --- |

29.

Welcomes the role played by the European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR) in providing a safe and secure environment in BiH; considers that the reduction in the number of troops recently decided upon by the Council constitutes a clear sign of increased stability in the region;

| 30. | Commends the work done by the EU Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina in supporting the development of a modern and efficient police force in BiH; takes the view that the future of that mission should also be considered in the light of the progress made in the police reform; |
| --- | --- |

30.

Commends the work done by the EU Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina in supporting the development of a modern and efficient police force in BiH; takes the view that the future of that mission should also be considered in the light of the progress made in the police reform;

| 31. | Welcomes the fact that BiH has signed many international conventions and passed several laws aimed at guaranteeing and promoting women's rights; urges the government of BiH to pursue its efforts towards implementing in practice the principles laid down in those international and national instruments; |
| --- | --- |

31.

Welcomes the fact that BiH has signed many international conventions and passed several laws aimed at guaranteeing and promoting women's rights; urges the government of BiH to pursue its efforts towards implementing in practice the principles laid down in those international and national instruments;

| 32. | In the light of the uncertainties which still surround BiH's future, supports the decision of the PIC to reconsider its decision of 23 June 2006 and to maintain the OHR with its full prerogatives until June 2008; takes the view that this extension should also be used to hand over more responsibilities to the local authorities; welcomes the fact that the Council has adopted a joint action for the EU Special Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina which extends the terms of that mandate in order to give the Special Representative a clear role in furthering the constitutional reforms in BiH; |
| --- | --- |

32.

In the light of the uncertainties which still surround BiH's future, supports the decision of the PIC to reconsider its decision of 23 June 2006 and to maintain the OHR with its full prerogatives until June 2008; takes the view that this extension should also be used to hand over more responsibilities to the local authorities; welcomes the fact that the Council has adopted a joint action for the EU Special Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina which extends the terms of that mandate in order to give the Special Representative a clear role in furthering the constitutional reforms in BiH;

| 33. | Emphasises the need for the international community to speak with one voice in BiH; regrets the recent announcement by the incumbent EU High Representative/Special Representative of his intention to step down in June 2007 and commends the work he has carried out during his mandate; urges the Council to hold an in-depth debate on the nature, scope and duration of the international presence in BiH; |
| --- | --- |

33.

Emphasises the need for the international community to speak with one voice in BiH; regrets the recent announcement by the incumbent EU High Representative/Special Representative of his intention to step down in June 2007 and commends the work he has carried out during his mandate; urges the Council to hold an in-depth debate on the nature, scope and duration of the international presence in BiH;

| 34. | Is also of the opinion that, when the OHR eventually closes down, the EU must provide strong and coordinated support to help BiH to achieve its long-term aim of European integration as quickly and thoroughly as possible; considers that the EU Special Representative must speak up forcefully on behalf of the European Union inter alia when coordinating all the institutions and agencies of the EU in BiH; |
| --- | --- |

34.

Is also of the opinion that, when the OHR eventually closes down, the EU must provide strong and coordinated support to help BiH to achieve its long-term aim of European integration as quickly and thoroughly as possible; considers that the EU Special Representative must speak up forcefully on behalf of the European Union inter alia when coordinating all the institutions and agencies of the EU in BiH;

| 35. | Instructs its President to forward this recommendation to the General Affairs Council and, for information, to the Commission, the EU Special Representative/High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the governments and parliaments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, of the Republika Srpska and of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
| --- | --- |

35.

Instructs its President to forward this recommendation to the General Affairs Council and, for information, to the Commission, the EU Special Representative/High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the governments and parliaments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, of the Republika Srpska and of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

P6_TA(2007)0078

Compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights

European Parliament resolution of 15 March 2007 on compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the Commission's legislative proposals: methodology for systematic and rigorous monitoring (2005/2169(INI))

The European Parliament,

| — | having regard to the Commission Communication on Compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights in Commission legislative proposals (COM(2005)0172), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Commission Communication on Compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights in Commission legislative proposals (COM(2005)0172),

| — | having regard to Articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU),

| — | having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (1) proclaimed in Nice on 7 December 2000, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (1) proclaimed in Nice on 7 December 2000,

| — | having regard to the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (the constitutional treaty) signed in Rome on 29 October 2004, which incorporates the provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, in order to make them legally binding, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (the constitutional treaty) signed in Rome on 29 October 2004, which incorporates the provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, in order to make them legally binding,

| — | having regard to its resolution of 20 April 2004 on the Commission communication on Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union: Respect for and promotion of the values on which the European Union is based (2), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its resolution of 20 April 2004 on the Commission communication on Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union: Respect for and promotion of the values on which the European Union is based (2),

| — | having regard to its resolution of 26 May 2005 on promotion and protection of fundamental rights: the role of national and European institutions, including the Fundamental Rights Agency (3), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its resolution of 26 May 2005 on promotion and protection of fundamental rights: the role of national and European institutions, including the Fundamental Rights Agency (3),

| — | having regard to the 2005 Annual Report on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union, drawn up by the EU network of independent experts, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the 2005 Annual Report on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union, drawn up by the EU network of independent experts,

| — | having regard to Council Regulation(EC) No 168/2007 of 15 February 2007) establishing a European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (4) and the Declaration by the Council on Police and Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Council Regulation(EC) No 168/2007 of 15 February 2007) establishing a European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (4) and the Declaration by the Council on Police and Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters,

| — | having regard to the speech by Mr José Manuel Barroso, in his then capacity as President-designate of the Commission, at Parliament's plenary sitting of 17 November 2004, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the speech by Mr José Manuel Barroso, in his then capacity as President-designate of the Commission, at Parliament's plenary sitting of 17 November 2004,

| — | having regard to Rules 45, 34 and 91 of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Rules 45, 34 and 91 of its Rules of Procedure,

| — | having regard to the report of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the opinion of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (A6-0034/2007), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the opinion of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (A6-0034/2007),

| A. | whereas the Union is based on the principles of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms as well as on the rule of law, these principles being common to all Member States (Article 6 of the TEU), |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas the Union is based on the principles of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms as well as on the rule of law, these principles being common to all Member States (Article 6 of the TEU),

| B. | whereas Parliament, as the directly elected representative of the citizens of the Union, has a particularly prominent responsibility in the realisation of these principles, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas Parliament, as the directly elected representative of the citizens of the Union, has a particularly prominent responsibility in the realisation of these principles,

| C. | whereas this responsibility is all the greater because, as the Treaties currently stand:






  — | the right of individuals to bring an action directly before the European courts remains very limited (5), |
| --- | --- | --- |

C.

whereas this responsibility is all the greater because, as the Treaties currently stand:

—

the right of individuals to bring an action directly before the European courts remains very limited (5),

| — | collective action is not possible, |
| --- | --- |

—

collective action is not possible,

| — | in a number of fields, even the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice is limited (cf. Title IV of the EC Treaty and Article 35 of the TEU) or even non-existent (second pillar — Title V of the TEU (6)), |
| --- | --- |

—

in a number of fields, even the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice is limited (cf. Title IV of the EC Treaty and Article 35 of the TEU) or even non-existent (second pillar — Title V of the TEU (6)),

which makes it all the more necessary for the European legislature to take care when legislating on matters which might affect the protection of fundamental rights,

| D. | whereas a procedure for checking the compatibility of all legislative proposals with the Charter of Fundamental Rights is one of the necessary consequences which have arisen from the adoption of the Charter by Parliament, the Council, the Commission and all the Member States, as well as from the formal proclamation to EU citizens on 7 December 2000 in Nice, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas a procedure for checking the compatibility of all legislative proposals with the Charter of Fundamental Rights is one of the necessary consequences which have arisen from the adoption of the Charter by Parliament, the Council, the Commission and all the Member States, as well as from the formal proclamation to EU citizens on 7 December 2000 in Nice,

| E. | whereas the effective scope of fundamental rights arising from the application of Article 6(2) of the TEU is to this day primarily the product of case-law, but whereas the European legislature should also explicitly state how these rights should be interpreted, |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas the effective scope of fundamental rights arising from the application of Article 6(2) of the TEU is to this day primarily the product of case-law, but whereas the European legislature should also explicitly state how these rights should be interpreted,

| F. | whereas, by adopting the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Parliament, the Council and the Commission agreed on definitions of these rights and whereas, for obvious reasons of consistency and good faith, they should in future refer to them when drafting EC legislation (cf. the above-mentioned Commission Communication COM(2005)0172)), |
| --- | --- |

F.

whereas, by adopting the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Parliament, the Council and the Commission agreed on definitions of these rights and whereas, for obvious reasons of consistency and good faith, they should in future refer to them when drafting EC legislation (cf. the above-mentioned Commission Communication COM(2005)0172)),

| G. | whereas, once incorporated in the law of the Union, the rights defined in the Charter acquire binding force by virtue of the EC law based thereon, |
| --- | --- |

G.

whereas, once incorporated in the law of the Union, the rights defined in the Charter acquire binding force by virtue of the EC law based thereon,

| H. | whereas the systematic nature, thoroughness, objectivity, openness and transparency of the procedure for compliance with fundamental rights in legislative proposals are made all the more important by the fact that, regrettably, the Charter of Fundamental Rights has so far not been made legally binding; whereas over the years the Charter has nonetheless become a reference text for European courts such as the Court of First Instance, the Court of Justice (7), the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and numerous constitutional courts, |
| --- | --- |

H.

whereas the systematic nature, thoroughness, objectivity, openness and transparency of the procedure for compliance with fundamental rights in legislative proposals are made all the more important by the fact that, regrettably, the Charter of Fundamental Rights has so far not been made legally binding; whereas over the years the Charter has nonetheless become a reference text for European courts such as the Court of First Instance, the Court of Justice (7), the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and numerous constitutional courts,

| I. | whereas, when making a prior assessment of the impact which new EC legislation will have on fundamental rights, the European legislature should take account of the views of national legislatures, civil society, academia and the expertise of other international organisations such as the Council of Europe and the United Nations; whereas in this way the European legislature would promote the development of an ever more widespread culture of fundamental rights, as was the case when certain acts were drafted relating to the protection of private life, the right to family life and the right to transparency, |
| --- | --- |

I.

whereas, when making a prior assessment of the impact which new EC legislation will have on fundamental rights, the European legislature should take account of the views of national legislatures, civil society, academia and the expertise of other international organisations such as the Council of Europe and the United Nations; whereas in this way the European legislature would promote the development of an ever more widespread culture of fundamental rights, as was the case when certain acts were drafted relating to the protection of private life, the right to family life and the right to transparency,

| J. | whereas the Commission's proposal on the consolidation and better public awareness of the procedure, for compliance with fundamental rights in legislative proposals, which came into force in 2001, represents clear progress in its project to develop a genuine ‘fundamental rights culture’ in the European Union, |
| --- | --- |

J.

whereas the Commission's proposal on the consolidation and better public awareness of the procedure, for compliance with fundamental rights in legislative proposals, which came into force in 2001, represents clear progress in its project to develop a genuine ‘fundamental rights culture’ in the European Union,

| K. | whereas, however, this procedure is too introverted, the criteria are too restrictive and Parliament's role is not sufficient, and whereas the proposals on the integration of Member State parliaments, such as that of the British House of Lords (8), remain unconsidered, as does the much-needed continuous dialogue between the European institutions and collaboration with independent organisations, with a view to increased objectivity, |
| --- | --- |

K.

whereas, however, this procedure is too introverted, the criteria are too restrictive and Parliament's role is not sufficient, and whereas the proposals on the integration of Member State parliaments, such as that of the British House of Lords (8), remain unconsidered, as does the much-needed continuous dialogue between the European institutions and collaboration with independent organisations, with a view to increased objectivity,

| L. | whereas a genuine ‘fundamental rights culture’ in the Union requires the development of an overall system for monitoring fundamental rights, which should include the Council and decisions in the field of intergovernmental cooperation, |
| --- | --- |

L.

whereas a genuine ‘fundamental rights culture’ in the Union requires the development of an overall system for monitoring fundamental rights, which should include the Council and decisions in the field of intergovernmental cooperation,

| M. | whereas a true ‘fundamental rights culture’ consists not only of passive compliance with the rules, but also of active promotion of fundamental rights and intervention in cases of violation or unsatisfactory protection of fundamental rights by the Member States, |
| --- | --- |

M.

whereas a true ‘fundamental rights culture’ consists not only of passive compliance with the rules, but also of active promotion of fundamental rights and intervention in cases of violation or unsatisfactory protection of fundamental rights by the Member States,

| N. | whereas an overall system for monitoring fundamental rights must provide for an annual debate involving the three institutions and national parliaments, particularly when Parliament reviews the progress made and the problems encountered in the development of the EU as an area of freedom, security and justice, |
| --- | --- |

N.

whereas an overall system for monitoring fundamental rights must provide for an annual debate involving the three institutions and national parliaments, particularly when Parliament reviews the progress made and the problems encountered in the development of the EU as an area of freedom, security and justice,

| O. | whereas in such a debate it would be possible to consider:






  — | the annual report of the Fundamental Rights Agency, |
| --- | --- | --- |

O.

whereas in such a debate it would be possible to consider:

—

the annual report of the Fundamental Rights Agency,

| — | a specific report by the Commission as part of its general report on the implementation of Community law, |
| --- | --- |

—

a specific report by the Commission as part of its general report on the implementation of Community law,

| — | a report by the Council on the aspects which it regards as having been significant in the past year with reference to respect for fundamental rights in the Union and by its Member States, |
| --- | --- |

—

a report by the Council on the aspects which it regards as having been significant in the past year with reference to respect for fundamental rights in the Union and by its Member States,

| P. | whereas on the occasion of these annual debates the institutions should review the desirability of revising legislation which has restricted the exercise of freedoms on public security grounds, |
| --- | --- |

P.

whereas on the occasion of these annual debates the institutions should review the desirability of revising legislation which has restricted the exercise of freedoms on public security grounds,

| Q. | whereas the existence of secret prisons and the illegal kidnappings by the CIA as part of counterterrorism operations, the dilatory investigation and lack of cooperation on the part of several governments, or the transfer of airline passenger data and bank account data by SWIFT without legal basis only serve to undermine the confidence of citizens in the ability and will of the European institutions to protect fundamental rights and to punish infractions, |
| --- | --- |

Q.

whereas the existence of secret prisons and the illegal kidnappings by the CIA as part of counterterrorism operations, the dilatory investigation and lack of cooperation on the part of several governments, or the transfer of airline passenger data and bank account data by SWIFT without legal basis only serve to undermine the confidence of citizens in the ability and will of the European institutions to protect fundamental rights and to punish infractions,

| 1. | Points to the historical task, in ‘creating an ever closer Union’ (Article 1 of the TEU), of creating instruments for freedom alongside the development of instruments for security and justice and for economic and social progress; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Points to the historical task, in ‘creating an ever closer Union’ (Article 1 of the TEU), of creating instruments for freedom alongside the development of instruments for security and justice and for economic and social progress;

| 2. | Stresses the need to overcome the crisis in the constitutional process, to preserve the central achievements of the constitutional treaty, and to establish the Charter of Fundamental Rights as legally binding; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Stresses the need to overcome the crisis in the constitutional process, to preserve the central achievements of the constitutional treaty, and to establish the Charter of Fundamental Rights as legally binding;

| 3. | Welcomes the Commission's proposals on the consolidation and improved transparency of the procedure on compliance with fundamental rights in its legislative proposals and considers this to be the first positive result of the ambitious measures on the protection of fundamental rights announced in Parliament by Commission President José Manuel Barroso on 17 November 2004, and the working parties set up by him to this end; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Welcomes the Commission's proposals on the consolidation and improved transparency of the procedure on compliance with fundamental rights in its legislative proposals and considers this to be the first positive result of the ambitious measures on the protection of fundamental rights announced in Parliament by Commission President José Manuel Barroso on 17 November 2004, and the working parties set up by him to this end;

| 4. | Calls on the Commission to make the monitoring process more transparent and to consult with relevant actors in civil society, particularly those potentially affected by the Commission proposal; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Calls on the Commission to make the monitoring process more transparent and to consult with relevant actors in civil society, particularly those potentially affected by the Commission proposal;

| 5. | Stresses that the Commission's proposed ‘systematic’ monitoring makes it absolutely necessary for every legislative proposal to be thoroughly checked and for the result to be substantiated; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Stresses that the Commission's proposed ‘systematic’ monitoring makes it absolutely necessary for every legislative proposal to be thoroughly checked and for the result to be substantiated;

| 6. | Calls on the Commission to check the compliance of legislative proposals not only with the Charter of Fundamental Rights, but also with all European and international instruments regarding fundamental rights and with the rights derived from the constitutional traditions common to the Member States, as general principles of EC law; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Calls on the Commission to check the compliance of legislative proposals not only with the Charter of Fundamental Rights, but also with all European and international instruments regarding fundamental rights and with the rights derived from the constitutional traditions common to the Member States, as general principles of EC law;

| 7. | Stresses that genuinely systematic and rigorous protection of fundamental rights calls not only for scrutiny to identify any legal errors in weighing up the respective importance of the freedom of the individual and the requirements of the public interest, but also for political analysis on every occasion to ascertain which of the various solutions that weigh up these interests correctly produces the best balance between determination of the objective and restriction of fundamental rights (optimisation in terms of fundamental rights); |
| --- | --- |

7.

Stresses that genuinely systematic and rigorous protection of fundamental rights calls not only for scrutiny to identify any legal errors in weighing up the respective importance of the freedom of the individual and the requirements of the public interest, but also for political analysis on every occasion to ascertain which of the various solutions that weigh up these interests correctly produces the best balance between determination of the objective and restriction of fundamental rights (optimisation in terms of fundamental rights);

| 8. | Considers it desirable that scrutiny should concentrate on the fundamental rights specifically affected in each case, and considers it essential to state these on each occasion explicitly and individually in recitals; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Considers it desirable that scrutiny should concentrate on the fundamental rights specifically affected in each case, and considers it essential to state these on each occasion explicitly and individually in recitals;

| 9. | Hopes that specific, practical ways can be found of applying the stated methods by means of which the Commission intends to implement the Charter of Fundamental Rights in its legislative proposals; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Hopes that specific, practical ways can be found of applying the stated methods by means of which the Commission intends to implement the Charter of Fundamental Rights in its legislative proposals;

| 10. | Points out that systematic internal monitoring to ensure compliance with fundamental rights when legislative proposals are being drawn up must be the subject of an explanatory report which provides legal grounds for compliance with such rights; |
| --- | --- |

10.

Points out that systematic internal monitoring to ensure compliance with fundamental rights when legislative proposals are being drawn up must be the subject of an explanatory report which provides legal grounds for compliance with such rights;

| 11. | Calls on the Commission to think over its decision to divide its considerations on fundamental rights into the current three categories in its impact assessment — economic, social and environmental effects — and to create a specific category entitled ‘Effects on fundamental rights’, to ensure that all aspects of fundamental rights are considered; |
| --- | --- |

11.

Calls on the Commission to think over its decision to divide its considerations on fundamental rights into the current three categories in its impact assessment — economic, social and environmental effects — and to create a specific category entitled ‘Effects on fundamental rights’, to ensure that all aspects of fundamental rights are considered;

| 12. | Underlines the Commission's right, throughout the legislative process, to withdraw its proposal before it is approved by the Council, if there are changes which violate a fundamental right; |
| --- | --- |

12.

Underlines the Commission's right, throughout the legislative process, to withdraw its proposal before it is approved by the Council, if there are changes which violate a fundamental right;

| 13. | Rejects the Commission's reservations on bringing annulment proceedings ‘on the basis of case-bycase political scrutiny’ and strongly emphasises the absolute priority of the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms over all political considerations; |
| --- | --- |

13.

Rejects the Commission's reservations on bringing annulment proceedings ‘on the basis of case-bycase political scrutiny’ and strongly emphasises the absolute priority of the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms over all political considerations;

| 14. | Considers it necessary to extend the procedure on compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights to the entire legislative process and to the comitology system, to strengthen the position of Parliament, to make the role of the Fundamental Rights Agency more precise and to call more frequently on its support; |
| --- | --- |

14.

Considers it necessary to extend the procedure on compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights to the entire legislative process and to the comitology system, to strengthen the position of Parliament, to make the role of the Fundamental Rights Agency more precise and to call more frequently on its support;

| 15. | Contemplates the possibility of amending to this end Rule 34 of its Rules of Procedure, so as to entrust the Committee on Civil Liberties with the task of monitoring the consequences of legislative proposals, measures and regulations relevant to fundamental rights, and also of amending Rules 91 and 115 of its Rules of Procedure so that Parliament's resolutions can also apply to Member State affairs, enabling it to fulfil its responsibility pursuant to Articles 6 and 7 of the TEU at an early stage; |
| --- | --- |

15.

Contemplates the possibility of amending to this end Rule 34 of its Rules of Procedure, so as to entrust the Committee on Civil Liberties with the task of monitoring the consequences of legislative proposals, measures and regulations relevant to fundamental rights, and also of amending Rules 91 and 115 of its Rules of Procedure so that Parliament's resolutions can also apply to Member State affairs, enabling it to fulfil its responsibility pursuant to Articles 6 and 7 of the TEU at an early stage;

| 16. | Points out that, even though general consultation procedures exist, independent external bodies and organisations which are specifically concerned with fundamental rights issues must be more extensively involved; to that end, calls on the Commission to devise a specific arrangement for enabling such bodies and organisations to be consulted during the procedure for drafting legislative proposals which have an impact on fundamental rights; |
| --- | --- |

16.

Points out that, even though general consultation procedures exist, independent external bodies and organisations which are specifically concerned with fundamental rights issues must be more extensively involved; to that end, calls on the Commission to devise a specific arrangement for enabling such bodies and organisations to be consulted during the procedure for drafting legislative proposals which have an impact on fundamental rights;

| 17. | Calls on the Council to strengthen the systematic monitoring of fundamental rights also in areas covered by intergovernmental cooperation, to publish the results and likewise to secure the support of the Fundamental Rights Agency; |
| --- | --- |

17.

Calls on the Council to strengthen the systematic monitoring of fundamental rights also in areas covered by intergovernmental cooperation, to publish the results and likewise to secure the support of the Fundamental Rights Agency;

| 18. | Reaffirms that Parliament and other European Union institutions may benefit, within the framework of the legislative procedure, as appropriate and on a voluntary basis, from the expertise on fundamental rights acquired by the Fundamental Rights Agency, as well as in the areas of police and judicial cooperation; |
| --- | --- |

18.

Reaffirms that Parliament and other European Union institutions may benefit, within the framework of the legislative procedure, as appropriate and on a voluntary basis, from the expertise on fundamental rights acquired by the Fundamental Rights Agency, as well as in the areas of police and judicial cooperation;

| 19. | Neither the Treaties nor Regulation (EC) No 168/2007 preclude the possibility of Parliament seeking the assistance of the Fundamental Rights Agency when implementing Article 7 of the TEU; expects that the Commission and the Fundamental Rights Agency will provide in the multi-annual framework, as well as in the annual work programme, for the necessary financial and human resources, so that the Fundamental Rights Agency can respond adequately to requests from Parliament when exercising its powers according to Article 7 of the TEU; |
| --- | --- |

19.

Neither the Treaties nor Regulation (EC) No 168/2007 preclude the possibility of Parliament seeking the assistance of the Fundamental Rights Agency when implementing Article 7 of the TEU; expects that the Commission and the Fundamental Rights Agency will provide in the multi-annual framework, as well as in the annual work programme, for the necessary financial and human resources, so that the Fundamental Rights Agency can respond adequately to requests from Parliament when exercising its powers according to Article 7 of the TEU;

| 20. | Stresses the importance of establishing suitable means of communicating with and informing the general public and the EU institutions concerning the internal monitoring of the compliance with fundamental rights, including by drawing up periodic reports on the subject; |
| --- | --- |

20.

Stresses the importance of establishing suitable means of communicating with and informing the general public and the EU institutions concerning the internal monitoring of the compliance with fundamental rights, including by drawing up periodic reports on the subject;

| 21. | Requests Member State parliaments, in particular in the fields of police and judicial cooperation and the common foreign and security policy, to verify the compatibility of all decisions and measures with the Charter of Fundamental Rights, so that the indivisibility of fundamental rights is preserved and the systematic and thorough monitoring of fundamental rights in all the Union's policies can be ensured; |
| --- | --- |

21.

Requests Member State parliaments, in particular in the fields of police and judicial cooperation and the common foreign and security policy, to verify the compatibility of all decisions and measures with the Charter of Fundamental Rights, so that the indivisibility of fundamental rights is preserved and the systematic and thorough monitoring of fundamental rights in all the Union's policies can be ensured;

| 22. | Calls on the Council and the Commission, pursuant to Article 4 of the TEU and Articles 200 and 212 of the EC Treaty, to submit a yearly report on the fundamental rights policy of the Union to Parliament and the national parliaments, and to engage in a systematic, open and permanent dialogue on the safeguarding of fundamental rights in the Union; |
| --- | --- |

22.

Calls on the Council and the Commission, pursuant to Article 4 of the TEU and Articles 200 and 212 of the EC Treaty, to submit a yearly report on the fundamental rights policy of the Union to Parliament and the national parliaments, and to engage in a systematic, open and permanent dialogue on the safeguarding of fundamental rights in the Union;

| 23. | Calls on the Commission and the Council to report to Parliament on the follow-up given to the reports by the network of national experts; |
| --- | --- |

23.

Calls on the Commission and the Council to report to Parliament on the follow-up given to the reports by the network of national experts;

| 24. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the candidate countries. |
| --- | --- |

24.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the candidate countries.

---

(1)  OJ C 364, 18.12.2000, p. 1.

(2)  OJ C 104 E, 30.4.2004, p. 408.

(3)  OJ C 117 E, 18.5.2006, p. 242.

(4)  OJ L 53, 22.2.2007, p. 1.

(5)  Judgment of the Court of 25 July 2002 in Case C-50/00, Unión de Pequeños Agricultores v Council of the European Union, [2002] ECR I-6677.

(6)  Order of the Court of First Instance of 7 June 2004 in Case T-338/02, Segi et al. v Council of the European Union, [2004] ECR II-1647.

(7)  Case C-540/03 of 27 June 2006, European Parliament v Council of the European Union, on the right to family reunification for minor children of third-country nationals (Directive 2003/86/EC).

(8)  House of Lords, European Union Committee, 16th Report, Session 2005-06, ‘Human Rights Proofing EU Legislation’, 29 November 2005, paragraph 149.

P6_TA(2007)0079

Negotiation of an EU-Central America Association Agreement

European Parliament recommendation of 15 March 2007 to the Council on the negotiating mandate for an association agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the countries of Central America, of the other part (2006/2222(INI))

The European Parliament,

| — | having regard to the proposal for a recommendation to the Council by Willy Meyer Pleite on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on the guidelines for the negotiation of an Association Agreement between the European Union and Central America (B6-0417/2006), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the proposal for a recommendation to the Council by Willy Meyer Pleite on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, on the guidelines for the negotiation of an Association Agreement between the European Union and Central America (B6-0417/2006),

| — | having regard to paragraph 31 of the Vienna Declaration, which notes the decision taken by the European Union and Central America at the Fourth European Union-Latin America and Caribbean Summit, held in Vienna on 12 May 2006, to open negotiations on an Association Agreement, which includes political dialogue, cooperation programmes and a trade agreement, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to paragraph 31 of the Vienna Declaration, which notes the decision taken by the European Union and Central America at the Fourth European Union-Latin America and Caribbean Summit, held in Vienna on 12 May 2006, to open negotiations on an Association Agreement, which includes political dialogue, cooperation programmes and a trade agreement,

| — | having regard to Title V of the Treaty on European Union, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Title V of the Treaty on European Union,

| — | having regard to its resolution of 15 November 2001 on a global partnership and a common strategy for relations between the European Union and Latin America (1), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its resolution of 15 November 2001 on a global partnership and a common strategy for relations between the European Union and Latin America (1),

| — | having regard to its resolution of 27 April 2006 on a stronger partnership between the European Union and Latin America (2), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its resolution of 27 April 2006 on a stronger partnership between the European Union and Latin America (2),

| — | having regard to Rule 114(3) and Rule 83(5) of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Rule 114(3) and Rule 83(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

| — | having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the opinions of the Committee on Development and the Committee on International Trade (A6-0026/2007), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the opinions of the Committee on Development and the Committee on International Trade (A6-0026/2007),

| A. | whereas respect for democracy, the rule of law and full enjoyment of human rights by all individuals, along with full respect for the civil and political rights of the citizens of both regions, are the basic conditions for the development of the association between the parties, as was decided in Vienna, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas respect for democracy, the rule of law and full enjoyment of human rights by all individuals, along with full respect for the civil and political rights of the citizens of both regions, are the basic conditions for the development of the association between the parties, as was decided in Vienna,

| B. | whereas a guarantee of full enjoyment of fundamental rights for all citizens, particularly those who are disadvantaged, such as those belonging to indigenous peoples, and their more active social and political participation, are fundamental elements of the agreement, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas a guarantee of full enjoyment of fundamental rights for all citizens, particularly those who are disadvantaged, such as those belonging to indigenous peoples, and their more active social and political participation, are fundamental elements of the agreement,

| C. | whereas the guidelines for negotiation of the future agreement on economic association, political consensus and cooperation must accord with the parties' wish, as expressed in paragraph 31 of the Vienna Declaration, to conclude a comprehensive association agreement, in other words, one which restates the firm belief that the relationship with Central America, implies a political and economic partnership with the region and its various countries which takes into account the asymmetry and inequalities between the two regions and amongst the various Central American countries, and which therefore includes key provisions on development cooperation and social cohesion and will strive to bring about free trade, |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas the guidelines for negotiation of the future agreement on economic association, political consensus and cooperation must accord with the parties' wish, as expressed in paragraph 31 of the Vienna Declaration, to conclude a comprehensive association agreement, in other words, one which restates the firm belief that the relationship with Central America, implies a political and economic partnership with the region and its various countries which takes into account the asymmetry and inequalities between the two regions and amongst the various Central American countries, and which therefore includes key provisions on development cooperation and social cohesion and will strive to bring about free trade,

| D. | whereas the creation of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat) has been a decisive step in reinforcing the democratic legitimacy and political dimension of relations between the EU and Latin America, and particularly between the EU and Central America, and whereas that Assembly will be a permanent forum for political dialogue between the two regions, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas the creation of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat) has been a decisive step in reinforcing the democratic legitimacy and political dimension of relations between the EU and Latin America, and particularly between the EU and Central America, and whereas that Assembly will be a permanent forum for political dialogue between the two regions,

| E. | whereas the guidelines for negotiation of the future agreement must take account of the economic, political and social circumstances which exist in most Central American countries, and the differences in development between the two regions, as well as the nature of economic relations in Central America: regional trade concentrated on a small number of countries, a high level of dependence on exports of traditional products and low levels of foreign direct investment by the EU in the region, and so on, |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas the guidelines for negotiation of the future agreement must take account of the economic, political and social circumstances which exist in most Central American countries, and the differences in development between the two regions, as well as the nature of economic relations in Central America: regional trade concentrated on a small number of countries, a high level of dependence on exports of traditional products and low levels of foreign direct investment by the EU in the region, and so on,

| 1. | Addresses the following recommendations to the Council:






  (a) | expressly include in the negotiating mandate the legal basis on which the new association agreement is to be negotiated; that basis should be Article 310 of the EC Treaty in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the second subparagraph of Article 300(3); |
| --- | --- | --- |

1.

Addresses the following recommendations to the Council:

(a)

expressly include in the negotiating mandate the legal basis on which the new association agreement is to be negotiated; that basis should be Article 310 of the EC Treaty in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the second subparagraph of Article 300(3);

| (b) | specify in the negotiating mandate that the objective of the Association Agreement between the EU and Central America includes the gradual liberalisation of trade in conditions of fairness and mutual benefit based on complementarity and solidarity, and political dialogue and cooperation, as well as consolidating democracy and the rule of law and full respect for human, civil and political rights, social cohesion, sustainable human development, and economic and social rights, not forgetting the cultural and environmental aspects of such rights; |
| --- | --- |

(b)

specify in the negotiating mandate that the objective of the Association Agreement between the EU and Central America includes the gradual liberalisation of trade in conditions of fairness and mutual benefit based on complementarity and solidarity, and political dialogue and cooperation, as well as consolidating democracy and the rule of law and full respect for human, civil and political rights, social cohesion, sustainable human development, and economic and social rights, not forgetting the cultural and environmental aspects of such rights;

| (c) | provide in the negotiating guidelines for the mechanisms required to ensure that the terms of the future agreement are in perfect accordance with the EU Treaty mandate, pursuant to which the contribution to sustainable human development, as defined in the 1996 United Nations Development Programme, promotion of international cooperation, the development and consolidation of democracy, and respect for human rights are basic objectives of the Union; |
| --- | --- |

(c)

provide in the negotiating guidelines for the mechanisms required to ensure that the terms of the future agreement are in perfect accordance with the EU Treaty mandate, pursuant to which the contribution to sustainable human development, as defined in the 1996 United Nations Development Programme, promotion of international cooperation, the development and consolidation of democracy, and respect for human rights are basic objectives of the Union;

| (d) | identify in the negotiating guidelines, taking account of the vulnerability that is characteristic of Central American socio-economic, environmental and democratic development, the central issues on which the agenda and political dialogue will focus, including the updating of aims and objectives in such issues as democratic governance, combating terrorism, the maintenance of peace and security and conflict management; include further new issues such as the reduction of poverty, support for social cohesion, migration and human exchanges, the fight against crime and especially violent crime with transnational connections (trafficking in drugs, arms and people, and the activities of organised gangs such as ‘las Maras’) and so on; and propose specific action for adopting common positions in international fora and at the United Nations in such a way as to achieve a genuine international political consensus between the two regions; |
| --- | --- |

(d)

identify in the negotiating guidelines, taking account of the vulnerability that is characteristic of Central American socio-economic, environmental and democratic development, the central issues on which the agenda and political dialogue will focus, including the updating of aims and objectives in such issues as democratic governance, combating terrorism, the maintenance of peace and security and conflict management; include further new issues such as the reduction of poverty, support for social cohesion, migration and human exchanges, the fight against crime and especially violent crime with transnational connections (trafficking in drugs, arms and people, and the activities of organised gangs such as ‘las Maras’) and so on; and propose specific action for adopting common positions in international fora and at the United Nations in such a way as to achieve a genuine international political consensus between the two regions;

| (e) | provide for the appointment of members of the European Union — Central America Joint Parliamentary Committee, which will be set up under the new association agreement, from among Members of the European Parliament and the Central American Parliament, from the national parliaments not yet belonging to any regional chamber and from EuroLat, as a practical expression of support for the regional integration process in Central America and for the EU-LAC Bi-regional Strategic Partnership; |
| --- | --- |

(e)

provide for the appointment of members of the European Union — Central America Joint Parliamentary Committee, which will be set up under the new association agreement, from among Members of the European Parliament and the Central American Parliament, from the national parliaments not yet belonging to any regional chamber and from EuroLat, as a practical expression of support for the regional integration process in Central America and for the EU-LAC Bi-regional Strategic Partnership;

| (f) | include specific references in the negotiating guidelines to the appropriate involvement of civil society in the new political dialogue, by proposing the holding of periodic conferences with representatives of civil society in both the EU and Central America, granting those representatives observer status at interministerial meetings, and taking action to facilitate the representatives' active involvement in the relevant sectoral forums, committees and subcommittees at all stages in the discussion and negotiation of, and follow-up to, the process; |
| --- | --- |

(f)

include specific references in the negotiating guidelines to the appropriate involvement of civil society in the new political dialogue, by proposing the holding of periodic conferences with representatives of civil society in both the EU and Central America, granting those representatives observer status at interministerial meetings, and taking action to facilitate the representatives' active involvement in the relevant sectoral forums, committees and subcommittees at all stages in the discussion and negotiation of, and follow-up to, the process;

| (g) | also allocate a key role to supporting the fight against impunity and corruption, and provide actions and programmes to strengthen democratic institutions in Central America; |
| --- | --- |

(g)

also allocate a key role to supporting the fight against impunity and corruption, and provide actions and programmes to strengthen democratic institutions in Central America;

| (h) | provide in the negotiating guidelines for additional support from the EU for Central American integration and the reform and consolidation of its legislative framework and its institutions — including the General Secretariat, Central American Parliament and Central American Court of Justice —, with the aim of improving their effectiveness, representativeness and legitimacy, in particular as regards the customs union, the free movement of persons, common policies, harmonising legislation and creating their own funding mechanism; |
| --- | --- |

(h)

provide in the negotiating guidelines for additional support from the EU for Central American integration and the reform and consolidation of its legislative framework and its institutions — including the General Secretariat, Central American Parliament and Central American Court of Justice —, with the aim of improving their effectiveness, representativeness and legitimacy, in particular as regards the customs union, the free movement of persons, common policies, harmonising legislation and creating their own funding mechanism;

| (i) | include the aims of supporting regional integration — in particular, the integration of physical, transport, communications and energy infrastructures — among the aims of the forthcoming mandate for the European Investment Bank's operations in Latin America, so that the Bank's activity effectively complements the new agreement; |
| --- | --- |

(i)

include the aims of supporting regional integration — in particular, the integration of physical, transport, communications and energy infrastructures — among the aims of the forthcoming mandate for the European Investment Bank's operations in Latin America, so that the Bank's activity effectively complements the new agreement;

| (j) | work with the countries of Central America to support their efforts to counter the illegal production and trade in drugs; part of those activities should involve extending aid programmes to farmers for introducing alternative crops, the marketing of which the EU could help effectively to ensure; |
| --- | --- |

(j)

work with the countries of Central America to support their efforts to counter the illegal production and trade in drugs; part of those activities should involve extending aid programmes to farmers for introducing alternative crops, the marketing of which the EU could help effectively to ensure;

| (k) | ensure the inclusion and application of the democracy clause in the guidelines for the Association Agreement and establish mechanisms to safeguard the continuity of the system of employment and environmental incentives under the scheme of generalised preferences (GSP) (3), including the GSP Plus scheme, by means of clauses of a social or environmental nature; make express reference to the practical mechanisms that will enable them to be applied, and provide in particular for an annual report to Parliament on the follow-up carried out by the Commission in this area; |
| --- | --- |

(k)

ensure the inclusion and application of the democracy clause in the guidelines for the Association Agreement and establish mechanisms to safeguard the continuity of the system of employment and environmental incentives under the scheme of generalised preferences (GSP) (3), including the GSP Plus scheme, by means of clauses of a social or environmental nature; make express reference to the practical mechanisms that will enable them to be applied, and provide in particular for an annual report to Parliament on the follow-up carried out by the Commission in this area;

| (l) | take into account the fact that the GSP, including GSP Plus, is an autonomous EU regime benefiting the Central American countries on the basis of their levels of development; |
| --- | --- |

(l)

take into account the fact that the GSP, including GSP Plus, is an autonomous EU regime benefiting the Central American countries on the basis of their levels of development;

| (m) | take account, with regard to the provisions on development cooperation in the new agreement, of the particular features of the Central American region and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the region, and start from the premise that the training of human resources and cultural and educational exchange are a priority for overcoming poverty in the region, so as to give special attention to education, research, science and technology and culture, also promoting an increase in exchanges in these areas; |
| --- | --- |

(m)

take account, with regard to the provisions on development cooperation in the new agreement, of the particular features of the Central American region and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the region, and start from the premise that the training of human resources and cultural and educational exchange are a priority for overcoming poverty in the region, so as to give special attention to education, research, science and technology and culture, also promoting an increase in exchanges in these areas;

| (n) | point out that the Association Agreement between the EU and Central America should be based on achieving the MDGs and also on the fight to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities, which the EU has set as priorities for cooperation; |
| --- | --- |

(n)

point out that the Association Agreement between the EU and Central America should be based on achieving the MDGs and also on the fight to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities, which the EU has set as priorities for cooperation;

| (o) | ensure that cooperation and the economic instruments available to the EU will also be used to promote and preserve the environment in the Central American region; |
| --- | --- |

(o)

ensure that cooperation and the economic instruments available to the EU will also be used to promote and preserve the environment in the Central American region;

| (p) | pay particular attention to tourism projects in Central America with a view to ensuring that they are developed sustainably, given that tourism provides an incentive for economic growth; |
| --- | --- |

(p)

pay particular attention to tourism projects in Central America with a view to ensuring that they are developed sustainably, given that tourism provides an incentive for economic growth;

| (q) | also promote three-way and bi-regional cooperation — especially with the Caribbean — and the policy of South-South cooperation, once the association agreement has entered into force; |
| --- | --- |

(q)

also promote three-way and bi-regional cooperation — especially with the Caribbean — and the policy of South-South cooperation, once the association agreement has entered into force;

| (r) | promote a suitable support framework for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their creation as an essential element for economic development, job creation and social well-being; consider what measures could be implemented to combat unemployment in the field of SMEs (including fiscal measures) and develop support programmes for those enterprises in the area of research; |
| --- | --- |

(r)

promote a suitable support framework for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their creation as an essential element for economic development, job creation and social well-being; consider what measures could be implemented to combat unemployment in the field of SMEs (including fiscal measures) and develop support programmes for those enterprises in the area of research;

| (s) | support small-scale producers and SMEs in general, and urges that investment be made in small businesses since the opening-up of the European markets will essentially benefit larger-scale producers who are able to satisfy European sanitary and phytosanitary standards; |
| --- | --- |

(s)

support small-scale producers and SMEs in general, and urges that investment be made in small businesses since the opening-up of the European markets will essentially benefit larger-scale producers who are able to satisfy European sanitary and phytosanitary standards;

| (t) | conclude a comprehensive and balanced Association Agreement based on three pillars: a political and institutional chapter reinforcing democratic dialogue and political cooperation, a cooperation chapter promoting sustainable economic and social development, and a trade chapter eventually establishing an advanced FTA with a broad agenda including, in addition to the gradual and reciprocal liberalisation of trade in goods and services, investment, public procurement, the protection of intellectual property rights, cooperation regarding competition and trade defence instruments, trade facilitation and an effective dispute settlement mechanism; |
| --- | --- |

(t)

conclude a comprehensive and balanced Association Agreement based on three pillars: a political and institutional chapter reinforcing democratic dialogue and political cooperation, a cooperation chapter promoting sustainable economic and social development, and a trade chapter eventually establishing an advanced FTA with a broad agenda including, in addition to the gradual and reciprocal liberalisation of trade in goods and services, investment, public procurement, the protection of intellectual property rights, cooperation regarding competition and trade defence instruments, trade facilitation and an effective dispute settlement mechanism;

| (u) | provide in the negotiating guidelines for gradual and reciprocal trade liberalisation, (under terms and conditions characterised by justice and mutual benefit based on complementarity and solidarity) progressive access to European markets for Central American products under competitive terms and conditions, so as to prevent the agreement from aggravating existing asymmetries; accordingly, provide for special, variable and flexible treatment as regards the timetable that is established, depending on the commitments and improvements in the competitiveness achieved by the Central American countries, including EU support measures to promote changes in the production sector and the competitiveness of the Central American economies, such as technology transfer, the inclusion of requirements for home-country content in rules on origin, and the drawing-up of cooperation and technical assistance programmes, while at the same time promoting a stable legal environment and clear ground rules to guarantee the security of the parties' investments and economic and trade relations; |
| --- | --- |

(u)

provide in the negotiating guidelines for gradual and reciprocal trade liberalisation, (under terms and conditions characterised by justice and mutual benefit based on complementarity and solidarity) progressive access to European markets for Central American products under competitive terms and conditions, so as to prevent the agreement from aggravating existing asymmetries; accordingly, provide for special, variable and flexible treatment as regards the timetable that is established, depending on the commitments and improvements in the competitiveness achieved by the Central American countries, including EU support measures to promote changes in the production sector and the competitiveness of the Central American economies, such as technology transfer, the inclusion of requirements for home-country content in rules on origin, and the drawing-up of cooperation and technical assistance programmes, while at the same time promoting a stable legal environment and clear ground rules to guarantee the security of the parties' investments and economic and trade relations;

| (v) | regard a Euro-Latin America Interregional Comprehensive Partnership Area as a priority strategic objective for the EU's external relations in an international context characterised by increased interdependence, economic growth and the emergence of new economic powers; |
| --- | --- |

(v)

regard a Euro-Latin America Interregional Comprehensive Partnership Area as a priority strategic objective for the EU's external relations in an international context characterised by increased interdependence, economic growth and the emergence of new economic powers;

| (w) | join Parliament in asking the Commission to launch, as a matter of urgency, a trade sustainability impact assessment, which should be a preliminary step in the negotiation of a trade agreement, and to request that the Commission inform Parliament about initiatives taken in this regard; |
| --- | --- |

(w)

join Parliament in asking the Commission to launch, as a matter of urgency, a trade sustainability impact assessment, which should be a preliminary step in the negotiation of a trade agreement, and to request that the Commission inform Parliament about initiatives taken in this regard;

| (x) | in particular, do not include any express or tacit subordination making conclusion of the future EUCentral America agreement conditional on prior completion of the round of negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO), without prejudice to incorporating in the agreement in due course the results of the Doha working programme that are compatible with the ultimate aim of the EU-Central America Association, all this being a demonstration of tangible and decisive support for the regional integration process in Central America; |
| --- | --- |

(x)

in particular, do not include any express or tacit subordination making conclusion of the future EUCentral America agreement conditional on prior completion of the round of negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO), without prejudice to incorporating in the agreement in due course the results of the Doha working programme that are compatible with the ultimate aim of the EU-Central America Association, all this being a demonstration of tangible and decisive support for the regional integration process in Central America;

| (y) | commit to the establishment of a Euro-Latin America Interregional Comprehensive Partnership Area in full compliance with the new WTO transparency mechanism and the rights and obligations arising out of the WTO, particularly Article XXIV of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and Article V of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), thus contributing to the strengthening of the multilateral trading system; |
| --- | --- |

(y)

commit to the establishment of a Euro-Latin America Interregional Comprehensive Partnership Area in full compliance with the new WTO transparency mechanism and the rights and obligations arising out of the WTO, particularly Article XXIV of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and Article V of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), thus contributing to the strengthening of the multilateral trading system;

| (z) | negotiate a single and indivisible trade agreement which goes beyond the negotiating parties' present and future WTO obligations and establishes over a transition period compatible with WTO requirements a Euro-Latin America Interregional Comprehensive Partnership Area and which, without excluding any sector, takes account, in the least restrictive fashion possible, of the development dimension and the specific sensitivity of certain products; |
| --- | --- |

(z)

negotiate a single and indivisible trade agreement which goes beyond the negotiating parties' present and future WTO obligations and establishes over a transition period compatible with WTO requirements a Euro-Latin America Interregional Comprehensive Partnership Area and which, without excluding any sector, takes account, in the least restrictive fashion possible, of the development dimension and the specific sensitivity of certain products;

| (aa) | take into account, as a very important step for the successful development of the negotiations, that Central America has endeavoured to fulfil its commitment, confirmed at the above-mentioned Vienna Summit, to implement as planned the decisions taken by the Heads of State and Government of Panama, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic meeting in Panama on 9 March 2006, which aim at achieving an effective customs union, as well as to seek ratification of the Central American Treaty on Investment and Trade in Services and to develop a jurisdictional mechanism that could secure enforcement of regional economic legislation throughout the region; |
| --- | --- |

(aa)

take into account, as a very important step for the successful development of the negotiations, that Central America has endeavoured to fulfil its commitment, confirmed at the above-mentioned Vienna Summit, to implement as planned the decisions taken by the Heads of State and Government of Panama, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic meeting in Panama on 9 March 2006, which aim at achieving an effective customs union, as well as to seek ratification of the Central American Treaty on Investment and Trade in Services and to develop a jurisdictional mechanism that could secure enforcement of regional economic legislation throughout the region;

| (ab) | take carefully into account the fact that the joint EU-Central American assessment of Central America's economic integration highlights a number of important practical conclusions to be drawn at the operational level (as regards the institutional framework, economic integration, the customs union, technical barriers to trade, the rules on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, regional liberalisation of services and investment, public procurement, intellectual property rights and the geographic information system, competition, and the trade defence instrument) so as to strengthen, develop, and complete the Central American customs union and the common internal market, which are essential in order to negotiate and establish a genuine FTA encompassing the two regions; |
| --- | --- |

(ab)

take carefully into account the fact that the joint EU-Central American assessment of Central America's economic integration highlights a number of important practical conclusions to be drawn at the operational level (as regards the institutional framework, economic integration, the customs union, technical barriers to trade, the rules on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, regional liberalisation of services and investment, public procurement, intellectual property rights and the geographic information system, competition, and the trade defence instrument) so as to strengthen, develop, and complete the Central American customs union and the common internal market, which are essential in order to negotiate and establish a genuine FTA encompassing the two regions;

| (ac) | take into account the fact that consolidating and strengthening the Central American common market, first and foremost by completing the customs union and developing the common market, among other things by establishing an external trade policy and genuinely free movement of imported goods, will serve to lower the barriers for economic operators and boost trade and investment flows between the two regions; |
| --- | --- |

(ac)

take into account the fact that consolidating and strengthening the Central American common market, first and foremost by completing the customs union and developing the common market, among other things by establishing an external trade policy and genuinely free movement of imported goods, will serve to lower the barriers for economic operators and boost trade and investment flows between the two regions;

| (ad) | offer meaningful new opportunities for market access in agriculture, which is crucial for Central America's development, independently of progress made in other areas, such as access to the market in non-agricultural products (NAMA) and in services, as achieved in relation to agricultural issues other than market access; |
| --- | --- |

(ad)

offer meaningful new opportunities for market access in agriculture, which is crucial for Central America's development, independently of progress made in other areas, such as access to the market in non-agricultural products (NAMA) and in services, as achieved in relation to agricultural issues other than market access;

| (ae) | ensure a far-reaching and balanced outcome to the NAMA negotiations so as to allow for new and real opportunities for market access across the whole trade spectrum, subject to the appropriate degree of flexibility regarding the timetable for the elimination of tariffs by Central America and also to enable fisheries-related activities to continue and expand; |
| --- | --- |

(ae)

ensure a far-reaching and balanced outcome to the NAMA negotiations so as to allow for new and real opportunities for market access across the whole trade spectrum, subject to the appropriate degree of flexibility regarding the timetable for the elimination of tariffs by Central America and also to enable fisheries-related activities to continue and expand;

| (af) | take carefully into account the fact that fishing activity is an important and sensitive matter both for the EU and for Central America, given its contribution to economic development and job creation in the region, and the need to maintain fish stocks at sustainable levels through responsible fishing; |
| --- | --- |

(af)

take carefully into account the fact that fishing activity is an important and sensitive matter both for the EU and for Central America, given its contribution to economic development and job creation in the region, and the need to maintain fish stocks at sustainable levels through responsible fishing;

| (ag) | take into account the importance of guaranteeing universal access to essential services and of national rights to regulate, and thus of proceeding cautiously in the negotiations on the liberalisation of trade in services, in conformity with Article V of GATS, in order to ensure real improvements regarding the liberalisation commitments thus far agreed and applied and the need for a clear and predictable regulatory framework; abstain from making offers or accepting requests in the areas of public health and education; |
| --- | --- |

(ag)

take into account the importance of guaranteeing universal access to essential services and of national rights to regulate, and thus of proceeding cautiously in the negotiations on the liberalisation of trade in services, in conformity with Article V of GATS, in order to ensure real improvements regarding the liberalisation commitments thus far agreed and applied and the need for a clear and predictable regulatory framework; abstain from making offers or accepting requests in the areas of public health and education;

| (ah) | take into account the ever-increasing potential of the tourism sector for investment and economic development in the Central American countries, and the importance of promoting tourism between the two regions; |
| --- | --- |

(ah)

take into account the ever-increasing potential of the tourism sector for investment and economic development in the Central American countries, and the importance of promoting tourism between the two regions;

| (ai) | include as a general provision the need for both the EU and Central America to seek, as a matter of principle, the eventual convergence of the various agreements in force or under negotiation between the two regions; |
| --- | --- |

(ai)

include as a general provision the need for both the EU and Central America to seek, as a matter of principle, the eventual convergence of the various agreements in force or under negotiation between the two regions;

| (aj) | take into account the fact that the dispute settlement procedures provided for in comparable existing agreements concluded by the Community with third countries are not effectively utilised; therefore request the Commission to put forward new proposals with a view to devising a more effective dispute settlement instrument to issue rulings on disputes arising in any of the individual sectors to be covered by the FTA; |
| --- | --- |

(aj)

take into account the fact that the dispute settlement procedures provided for in comparable existing agreements concluded by the Community with third countries are not effectively utilised; therefore request the Commission to put forward new proposals with a view to devising a more effective dispute settlement instrument to issue rulings on disputes arising in any of the individual sectors to be covered by the FTA;

| (ak) | ensure that the Commission provides Parliament with exhaustive (and if necessary confidential) information on the draft negotiating guidelines as well as on the negotiating guidelines finally adopted; |
| --- | --- |

(ak)

ensure that the Commission provides Parliament with exhaustive (and if necessary confidential) information on the draft negotiating guidelines as well as on the negotiating guidelines finally adopted;

| 2. | Instructs its President to forward this recommendation to the Council and, for information, to the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the countries of Central America. |
| --- | --- |

2.

Instructs its President to forward this recommendation to the Council and, for information, to the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the countries of Central America.

---

(1)  OJ C 140 E, 13.6.2002, p. 569.

(2)  OJ C 296 E, 6.12.2006, p. 123.

(3)  Council Regulation (EC) No 980/2005 of 27 June 2005 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences (OJ L 169, 30.6.2005, p. 1).

P6_TA(2007)0080

Negotiation of an EU-Andean Community Association Agreement

European Parliament recommendation of 15 March 2007 to the Council on the negotiating mandate for an association agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Andean Community and its member countries, of the other part (2006/2221(INI))

The European Parliament,

| — | having regard to the proposal for a recommendation to the Council by Luis Yáñez-Barnuevo on behalf of the PSE Group on the negotiating guidelines for an association agreement between the European Union and its Member States of the one part, and the Andean Community and its member countries, of the other part (B6-0374/2006), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the proposal for a recommendation to the Council by Luis Yáñez-Barnuevo on behalf of the PSE Group on the negotiating guidelines for an association agreement between the European Union and its Member States of the one part, and the Andean Community and its member countries, of the other part (B6-0374/2006),

| — | having regard to Paragraph 31 of the Vienna Declaration, which notes the decision taken by the European Union and the Andean Community (CAN) at the Fourth European Union — Latin America and Caribbean Summit, held in Vienna on 12 May 2006, to initiate in 2006 a process leading to the negotiation of an association agreement, including a political dialogue, cooperation programmes and a trade agreement, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Paragraph 31 of the Vienna Declaration, which notes the decision taken by the European Union and the Andean Community (CAN) at the Fourth European Union — Latin America and Caribbean Summit, held in Vienna on 12 May 2006, to initiate in 2006 a process leading to the negotiation of an association agreement, including a political dialogue, cooperation programmes and a trade agreement,

| — | having regard to Title V of the Treaty on European Union, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Title V of the Treaty on European Union,

| — | having regard to its resolution of 15 November 2001 on a global partnership and a common strategy for relations between the European Union and Latin America (1), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its resolution of 15 November 2001 on a global partnership and a common strategy for relations between the European Union and Latin America (1),

| — | having regard to its position of 31 March 2004 on the signature of a Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Andean Community and its Member States, the Republics of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, of the other part (2), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its position of 31 March 2004 on the signature of a Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Andean Community and its Member States, the Republics of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, of the other part (2),

| — | having regard to its resolution of 27 April 2006 on a stronger partnership between the European Union and Latin America (3), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its resolution of 27 April 2006 on a stronger partnership between the European Union and Latin America (3),

| — | having regard to the Commission recommendation to open negotiations with a view to concluding an association agreement with the Andean Community and its member countries (SEC(2006)1625), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Commission recommendation to open negotiations with a view to concluding an association agreement with the Andean Community and its member countries (SEC(2006)1625),

| — | having regard to Rules 114(3) and 83(5) of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Rules 114(3) and 83(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

| — | having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the opinions of the Committee on Development and the Committee on International Trade (A6-0025/2007), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the opinions of the Committee on Development and the Committee on International Trade (A6-0025/2007),

| A. | whereas respect for democracy, the rule of law and the full enjoyment of human rights by all individuals, along with full respect for the civil and political rights of the citizens of both regions, are basic conditions for the development of the association between the parties, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas respect for democracy, the rule of law and the full enjoyment of human rights by all individuals, along with full respect for the civil and political rights of the citizens of both regions, are basic conditions for the development of the association between the parties,

| B. | whereas the guarantee that all citizens, especially the less privileged among the indigenous peoples, will be able to fully enjoy their fundamental rights, and their more active social and political participation, are key elements of the agreement, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas the guarantee that all citizens, especially the less privileged among the indigenous peoples, will be able to fully enjoy their fundamental rights, and their more active social and political participation, are key elements of the agreement,

| C. | whereas the CAN has been endeavouring to conclude an association agreement with the European Union and shown its willingness to do so despite the internal difficulties with which it has had to contend, |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas the CAN has been endeavouring to conclude an association agreement with the European Union and shown its willingness to do so despite the internal difficulties with which it has had to contend,

| D. | whereas the negotiating guidelines for the future agreement must make perfectly clear that the intention is to conclude a general association agreement between the two parties, including political dialogue as befits a genuine association, cooperation programmes and the creation of a free trade area (FTA), which would benefit all the citizens of both regions, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas the negotiating guidelines for the future agreement must make perfectly clear that the intention is to conclude a general association agreement between the two parties, including political dialogue as befits a genuine association, cooperation programmes and the creation of a free trade area (FTA), which would benefit all the citizens of both regions,

| E. | whereas on 13 June 2006 the Presidents of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru met in Quito, responded positively to the requirements laid down in the Vienna Declaration and agreed to consolidate their desire for integration and push forward the process leading to the start of negotiations on the Association Agreement between the CAN and the EU, |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas on 13 June 2006 the Presidents of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru met in Quito, responded positively to the requirements laid down in the Vienna Declaration and agreed to consolidate their desire for integration and push forward the process leading to the start of negotiations on the Association Agreement between the CAN and the EU,

| F. | whereas the establishment of the transatlantic Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat) has done a great deal to enhance democratic legitimacy and the political dimension of the EU's relations with Latin America and with the CAN in particular, and whereas the Assembly will act as a permanent forum for political dialogue between the two regions, |
| --- | --- |

F.

whereas the establishment of the transatlantic Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat) has done a great deal to enhance democratic legitimacy and the political dimension of the EU's relations with Latin America and with the CAN in particular, and whereas the Assembly will act as a permanent forum for political dialogue between the two regions,

| G. | whereas the negotiating guidelines for the future agreement must not overlook the serious economic, political and social deficit that exists in most of the Andean countries, nor ignore the differences in development between the two regions or the nature of economic relations within the CAN itself, |
| --- | --- |

G.

whereas the negotiating guidelines for the future agreement must not overlook the serious economic, political and social deficit that exists in most of the Andean countries, nor ignore the differences in development between the two regions or the nature of economic relations within the CAN itself,

| H. | whereas it must be ensured that the EU's multi-annual financial planning instruments are compatible with the action to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Andean region, |
| --- | --- |

H.

whereas it must be ensured that the EU's multi-annual financial planning instruments are compatible with the action to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Andean region,

| 1. | Addresses the following recommendations to the Council:






  (a) | expressly include in the negotiating mandate the legal basis on which the new association agreement is to be negotiated, namely Article 310 of the EC Treaty in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the second subparagraph of Article 300(3); |
| --- | --- | --- |

1.

Addresses the following recommendations to the Council:

(a)

expressly include in the negotiating mandate the legal basis on which the new association agreement is to be negotiated, namely Article 310 of the EC Treaty in conjunction with the first sentence of the first subparagraph of Article 300(2) and the second subparagraph of Article 300(3);

| (b) | specify in the negotiating mandate that some of the aims of the association agreement between the EU and the CAN should be the establishment in time of an advanced free trade area, the pursuit of political dialogue and cooperation and, in addition, the promotion of sustainable human development, social cohesion, consolidation of democracy and the rule of law and full respect for human, civil, political, economic, and social rights, without neglecting the cultural and environmental dimension; |
| --- | --- |

(b)

specify in the negotiating mandate that some of the aims of the association agreement between the EU and the CAN should be the establishment in time of an advanced free trade area, the pursuit of political dialogue and cooperation and, in addition, the promotion of sustainable human development, social cohesion, consolidation of democracy and the rule of law and full respect for human, civil, political, economic, and social rights, without neglecting the cultural and environmental dimension;

| (c) | include in the negotiating guidelines clear signals of support to the CAN members in their efforts to deepen all aspects of regional integration, fostering an agreement between regional blocs which would certainly not exclude the differentiated treatment which the development of the integration process within the CAN requires; |
| --- | --- |

(c)

include in the negotiating guidelines clear signals of support to the CAN members in their efforts to deepen all aspects of regional integration, fostering an agreement between regional blocs which would certainly not exclude the differentiated treatment which the development of the integration process within the CAN requires;

| (d) | clearly identify in the guidelines the central issues on which the agenda and the political dialogue will focus, including the updating of objectives and focuses on issues such as governability and democratic stabilisation; combating corruption, impunity, and terrorism, focusing in particular on narcoterrorism and its links to organised crime; peacekeeping and security, and conflict management; include issues such as reducing poverty, supporting social cohesion, migration and human exchanges; and open the way to concrete action on issues such as the adoption of common positions in international forums and the United Nations; |
| --- | --- |

(d)

clearly identify in the guidelines the central issues on which the agenda and the political dialogue will focus, including the updating of objectives and focuses on issues such as governability and democratic stabilisation; combating corruption, impunity, and terrorism, focusing in particular on narcoterrorism and its links to organised crime; peacekeeping and security, and conflict management; include issues such as reducing poverty, supporting social cohesion, migration and human exchanges; and open the way to concrete action on issues such as the adoption of common positions in international forums and the United Nations;

| (e) | provide for the appointment of members of the EU-CAN Joint Parliamentary Committee, to be set up under the new association agreement, from amongst Members of the European Parliament and the Andean Parliament who also form part of Eurolat, as a practical expression of support for the process of regional integration in the Andean region and for the EU-Latin America and Caribbean Bi-regional Strategic Association; |
| --- | --- |

(e)

provide for the appointment of members of the EU-CAN Joint Parliamentary Committee, to be set up under the new association agreement, from amongst Members of the European Parliament and the Andean Parliament who also form part of Eurolat, as a practical expression of support for the process of regional integration in the Andean region and for the EU-Latin America and Caribbean Bi-regional Strategic Association;

| (f) | prioritise actions by the EU, particularly in the fields of education and health, |
| --- | --- |

(f)

prioritise actions by the EU, particularly in the fields of education and health,

| (g) | promote structured participation by social organisations and civil society in the association agreement and its negotiation process, defining mechanisms for dialogue, ensuring transparency and appropriate access to information, proposing the organisation of periodic conferences with representatives of social organisations and civil society both in the EU and the CAN, granting such representatives observer status in interministerial meetings and facilitating their active participation in the relevant sectoral forums, committees and subcommittees; |
| --- | --- |

(g)

promote structured participation by social organisations and civil society in the association agreement and its negotiation process, defining mechanisms for dialogue, ensuring transparency and appropriate access to information, proposing the organisation of periodic conferences with representatives of social organisations and civil society both in the EU and the CAN, granting such representatives observer status in interministerial meetings and facilitating their active participation in the relevant sectoral forums, committees and subcommittees;

| (h) | include in the negotiating mandate, in particular, the EU-CAN consensus on shared responsibility for fighting drug trafficking, stepping up the political dialogue specifically on combating drugs and the social, economic and environmental implications of implementing the measures proposed, and, in particular, those concerned with promoting alternative employment and crops and market access for them, and specific control mechanisms designed to contain and gradually reduce the related crimes of money laundering and arms trafficking; |
| --- | --- |

(h)

include in the negotiating mandate, in particular, the EU-CAN consensus on shared responsibility for fighting drug trafficking, stepping up the political dialogue specifically on combating drugs and the social, economic and environmental implications of implementing the measures proposed, and, in particular, those concerned with promoting alternative employment and crops and market access for them, and specific control mechanisms designed to contain and gradually reduce the related crimes of money laundering and arms trafficking;

| (i) | include in the future association agreement the ‘democracy clause’ and other social clauses (in connection with the labour rights incorporated in the ILO conventions, with particular reference to Convention 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in independent countries, the protection of decent working conditions, non-discrimination, equality of work between men and women and the eradication of child labour), and environmental clauses; refer explicitly to the specific mechanisms which ensure that they are applied and in particular ensure the continuity and improvement of the system of labour and environmental incentives provided for in the scheme of generalised preferences (4) (SGP), including SGP Plus, with provision in particular for an annual report to the European Parliament on the Commission's follow-up in this respect; |
| --- | --- |

(i)

include in the future association agreement the ‘democracy clause’ and other social clauses (in connection with the labour rights incorporated in the ILO conventions, with particular reference to Convention 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in independent countries, the protection of decent working conditions, non-discrimination, equality of work between men and women and the eradication of child labour), and environmental clauses; refer explicitly to the specific mechanisms which ensure that they are applied and in particular ensure the continuity and improvement of the system of labour and environmental incentives provided for in the scheme of generalised preferences (4) (SGP), including SGP Plus, with provision in particular for an annual report to the European Parliament on the Commission's follow-up in this respect;

| j) | take account in the negotiating guidelines' provisions on development cooperation under the new agreement, designed to achieve the MDGs, of the specific features of the Andean region, and start from the premiss that the training of human resources is a priority for overcoming poverty in the region, so as to give special attention to education, research, science and technology, culture, not least with a view to intensifying exchanges between those areas, protection of public health and protection of ecosystems and biodiversity; |
| --- | --- |

j)

take account in the negotiating guidelines' provisions on development cooperation under the new agreement, designed to achieve the MDGs, of the specific features of the Andean region, and start from the premiss that the training of human resources is a priority for overcoming poverty in the region, so as to give special attention to education, research, science and technology, culture, not least with a view to intensifying exchanges between those areas, protection of public health and protection of ecosystems and biodiversity;

| (k) | stress the need to ensure coherence of development policies in line with the principle enshrined in Article 178 of the EC Treaty, the joint statement by the Council and the representatives of the governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission on European Union Development Policy, entitled ‘The European consensus on development’ (5), and the Council conclusions on integrating development concerns in Council decision-making (6); |
| --- | --- |

(k)

stress the need to ensure coherence of development policies in line with the principle enshrined in Article 178 of the EC Treaty, the joint statement by the Council and the representatives of the governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission on European Union Development Policy, entitled ‘The European consensus on development’ (5), and the Council conclusions on integrating development concerns in Council decision-making (6);

| (l) | stress the need for the guidelines to take full account of the priority objective of eradicating poverty, inequality, social exclusion and all forms of discrimination, particularly discrimination on grounds of gender and ethnic origin, and emphasise the need to have a general integrated development strategy and policies that will guarantee equal work opportunities and better living and working conditions for everyone, including the economic and cultural rights of indigenous peoples, as well as high priority for greater access to education and health; |
| --- | --- |

(l)

stress the need for the guidelines to take full account of the priority objective of eradicating poverty, inequality, social exclusion and all forms of discrimination, particularly discrimination on grounds of gender and ethnic origin, and emphasise the need to have a general integrated development strategy and policies that will guarantee equal work opportunities and better living and working conditions for everyone, including the economic and cultural rights of indigenous peoples, as well as high priority for greater access to education and health;

| (m) | ask that internal mechanisms and joint measures within the framework of the association be strengthened so that the development strategies can reach their full potential, stimulating co-development projects, particularly with immigrant populations resident in the EU; |
| --- | --- |

(m)

ask that internal mechanisms and joint measures within the framework of the association be strengthened so that the development strategies can reach their full potential, stimulating co-development projects, particularly with immigrant populations resident in the EU;

| (n) | point out that foreign investment is an essential element for the economic development of both regions and stress that European undertakings with investments in the CAN should be expected to apply the same standards as regards working conditions and investment as are observed in the EU, and that the legal security of investors should be guaranteed on the basis of private international law and with full respect for the principle of national sovereignty over natural resources; |
| --- | --- |

(n)

point out that foreign investment is an essential element for the economic development of both regions and stress that European undertakings with investments in the CAN should be expected to apply the same standards as regards working conditions and investment as are observed in the EU, and that the legal security of investors should be guaranteed on the basis of private international law and with full respect for the principle of national sovereignty over natural resources;

| (o) | include in the future agreement, with regard to migration, provisions designed to reinforce the fundamental, labour and civil rights of legal migrants, particularly with regard to their social security, wherever they may be, and establish mechanisms to facilitate sending remittances, making such operations cheaper and more transparent and secure, at the same time tackling the basic causes of migration; |
| --- | --- |

(o)

include in the future agreement, with regard to migration, provisions designed to reinforce the fundamental, labour and civil rights of legal migrants, particularly with regard to their social security, wherever they may be, and establish mechanisms to facilitate sending remittances, making such operations cheaper and more transparent and secure, at the same time tackling the basic causes of migration;

| (p) | consider the objectives of support for Andean regional integration — in particular, integration of physical, transport, communications and energy infrastructures — into the objectives of the next mandate for European Investment Bank action in Latin America and Asia, so that EIB action would effectively complement the new agreement; |
| --- | --- |

(p)

consider the objectives of support for Andean regional integration — in particular, integration of physical, transport, communications and energy infrastructures — into the objectives of the next mandate for European Investment Bank action in Latin America and Asia, so that EIB action would effectively complement the new agreement;

| (q) | take account in the negotiating guidelines of the increase in EU support for Andean integration and the reform and reinforcement of its legislative framework and institutions to make them more efficient, representative and legitimate, in particular with regard to removing obstacles to trade, free movement of people, common policies and harmonisation of laws, and with reference to the European experience with the structural, regional and cohesion funds; |
| --- | --- |

(q)

take account in the negotiating guidelines of the increase in EU support for Andean integration and the reform and reinforcement of its legislative framework and institutions to make them more efficient, representative and legitimate, in particular with regard to removing obstacles to trade, free movement of people, common policies and harmonisation of laws, and with reference to the European experience with the structural, regional and cohesion funds;

| (r) | state in the negotiating mandate that the socio-environmental impact study should be submitted at the start of negotiations and included as a reference document for the negotiating agenda; |
| --- | --- |

(r)

state in the negotiating mandate that the socio-environmental impact study should be submitted at the start of negotiations and included as a reference document for the negotiating agenda;

| (s) | conclude a comprehensive and balanced Association Agreement with the CAN, based on three pillars: a political and institutional chapter reinforcing democratic dialogue and political cooperation, a cooperation chapter promoting sustainable economic and social development, and a trade chapter taking full account of the specific development objectives of the countries of the CAN; |
| --- | --- |

(s)

conclude a comprehensive and balanced Association Agreement with the CAN, based on three pillars: a political and institutional chapter reinforcing democratic dialogue and political cooperation, a cooperation chapter promoting sustainable economic and social development, and a trade chapter taking full account of the specific development objectives of the countries of the CAN;

| (t) | provide in the negotiating guidelines for gradual reciprocal trade liberalisation under conditions of justice and mutual benefit based on complementarity and solidarity, so as to ensure that the future agreement reduces existing imbalances between the EU and the CAN, and between the CAN countries; provide, therefore, for special, variable and flexible treatment, following an agreed timetable, depending on commitments on regional integration and improvements in the competitiveness achieved by the Andean countries, proceeding from the premise that transformation of the production sector and the competitiveness of the Andean economies need to be strongly supported by means of development cooperation measures and through technology transfer, the inclusion of requirements for home-country content in rules of origin, and the establishment of cooperation and technical assistance programmes, all of which should go hand in hand both with a stable legal environment which guarantees the security of investments and the parties' economic and trade relations; |
| --- | --- |

(t)

provide in the negotiating guidelines for gradual reciprocal trade liberalisation under conditions of justice and mutual benefit based on complementarity and solidarity, so as to ensure that the future agreement reduces existing imbalances between the EU and the CAN, and between the CAN countries; provide, therefore, for special, variable and flexible treatment, following an agreed timetable, depending on commitments on regional integration and improvements in the competitiveness achieved by the Andean countries, proceeding from the premise that transformation of the production sector and the competitiveness of the Andean economies need to be strongly supported by means of development cooperation measures and through technology transfer, the inclusion of requirements for home-country content in rules of origin, and the establishment of cooperation and technical assistance programmes, all of which should go hand in hand both with a stable legal environment which guarantees the security of investments and the parties' economic and trade relations;

| (u) | regard the negotiation of an EU-CAN FTA as vital for the reinforcement of the EU's role as Latin America's trade and investment partner, and for strengthening intercontinental integration, which negotiation must be completed in a context marked by the expansion of US bilateral trade agreements and the US-led proposal for an FTA of the Americas; |
| --- | --- |

(u)

regard the negotiation of an EU-CAN FTA as vital for the reinforcement of the EU's role as Latin America's trade and investment partner, and for strengthening intercontinental integration, which negotiation must be completed in a context marked by the expansion of US bilateral trade agreements and the US-led proposal for an FTA of the Americas;

| (v) | take into account the fact that the conclusion of an Association Agreement with the CAN, establishing a Euro-Latin America Global Interregional Association Area, is a priority strategic objective for the EU's external relations in an international context characterised by increased interdependence, economic growth, the emergence of new economic powers and a series of global challenges which transcend national borders, such as those relating to security, world economic governance, the environment and poverty reduction; |
| --- | --- |

(v)

take into account the fact that the conclusion of an Association Agreement with the CAN, establishing a Euro-Latin America Global Interregional Association Area, is a priority strategic objective for the EU's external relations in an international context characterised by increased interdependence, economic growth, the emergence of new economic powers and a series of global challenges which transcend national borders, such as those relating to security, world economic governance, the environment and poverty reduction;

| (w) | commit to the establishment of a Euro-Latin America Global Interregional Association Area in full compliance with the new WTO transparency mechanism and the rights and obligations arising out of the WTO, particularly Article XXIV of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and Article V of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), thus contributing to the strengthening of the multilateral trading system; |
| --- | --- |

(w)

commit to the establishment of a Euro-Latin America Global Interregional Association Area in full compliance with the new WTO transparency mechanism and the rights and obligations arising out of the WTO, particularly Article XXIV of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and Article V of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), thus contributing to the strengthening of the multilateral trading system;

| (x) | as a demonstration of tangible, decisive support for the Andean regional integration process, refrain from including any explicit or tacit subordinating conditions of any kind, making the conclusion of the future EU-CAN agreement conditional on prior completion of the WTO round negotiations, without prejudice to incorporating in the agreement, in due course, those results of the Doha working programme which are compatible with the ultimate aim of the EU-ANC association; |
| --- | --- |

(x)

as a demonstration of tangible, decisive support for the Andean regional integration process, refrain from including any explicit or tacit subordinating conditions of any kind, making the conclusion of the future EU-CAN agreement conditional on prior completion of the WTO round negotiations, without prejudice to incorporating in the agreement, in due course, those results of the Doha working programme which are compatible with the ultimate aim of the EU-ANC association;

| (y) | negotiate a single and indivisible trade agreement which goes beyond the negotiating parties' present and future WTO obligations, and establish over a transition period compatible with WTO requirements a Euro-Latin America Global Interregional Association Area which, without excluding any sector, takes account, in the least restrictive fashion possible, of the development dimension and the specific sensitivity of certain products; |
| --- | --- |

(y)

negotiate a single and indivisible trade agreement which goes beyond the negotiating parties' present and future WTO obligations, and establish over a transition period compatible with WTO requirements a Euro-Latin America Global Interregional Association Area which, without excluding any sector, takes account, in the least restrictive fashion possible, of the development dimension and the specific sensitivity of certain products;

| (z) | pay specific attention to the EU-CAN joint assessment on the regional economic integration of the CAN, which points to a number of important concrete operational conclusions, with a view to strengthening, developing and completing the CAN customs union and the CAN common internal market, both of which are essential to the negotiation and completion of an effective FTA between the two regions; |
| --- | --- |

(z)

pay specific attention to the EU-CAN joint assessment on the regional economic integration of the CAN, which points to a number of important concrete operational conclusions, with a view to strengthening, developing and completing the CAN customs union and the CAN common internal market, both of which are essential to the negotiation and completion of an effective FTA between the two regions;

| (aa) | pay specific attention, as an important step for the fruitful development of the negotiations, to the initiatives planned by the CAN with a view to deepening regional economic integration and, in particular, those in respect of the tariffs applied to products originating in the EU, the simplification and harmonisation of customs regimes and the areas of services and cross-border road transport; |
| --- | --- |

(aa)

pay specific attention, as an important step for the fruitful development of the negotiations, to the initiatives planned by the CAN with a view to deepening regional economic integration and, in particular, those in respect of the tariffs applied to products originating in the EU, the simplification and harmonisation of customs regimes and the areas of services and cross-border road transport;

| (ab) | offer meaningful new opportunities for market access in agriculture, which is crucial for the CAN's development, but bear in mind that the degree of the EU's flexibility in the agricultural sector should also depend on the progress made in other areas, such as access to the market in non-agricultural products and in services, as well as progress on agricultural issues other than market access; |
| --- | --- |

(ab)

offer meaningful new opportunities for market access in agriculture, which is crucial for the CAN's development, but bear in mind that the degree of the EU's flexibility in the agricultural sector should also depend on the progress made in other areas, such as access to the market in non-agricultural products and in services, as well as progress on agricultural issues other than market access;

| (ac) | take into account the importance of guaranteeing universal access to essential services and of national rights to regulate, and therefore proceed cautiously in the negotiations on the liberalisation of trade in services, in conformity with Article V of GATS in order to achieve real improvements regarding the liberalisation commitments thus far agreed and applied and the need for a clear and predictable regulatory framework; abstain from making offers or accepting requests in the areas of public health and education; |
| --- | --- |

(ac)

take into account the importance of guaranteeing universal access to essential services and of national rights to regulate, and therefore proceed cautiously in the negotiations on the liberalisation of trade in services, in conformity with Article V of GATS in order to achieve real improvements regarding the liberalisation commitments thus far agreed and applied and the need for a clear and predictable regulatory framework; abstain from making offers or accepting requests in the areas of public health and education;

| (ad) | ask the Commission, given that the dispute settlement mechanisms included in similar trade agreements already concluded by the Community with third countries are not being effectively utilised, to propose new ideas to develop a more effective bilateral dispute settlement instrument facilitating the resolution of disagreements arising in any of the areas covered by the FTA; |
| --- | --- |

(ad)

ask the Commission, given that the dispute settlement mechanisms included in similar trade agreements already concluded by the Community with third countries are not being effectively utilised, to propose new ideas to develop a more effective bilateral dispute settlement instrument facilitating the resolution of disagreements arising in any of the areas covered by the FTA;

| (ae) | carefully examine, in order to prevent the increasing overlap of multiple bilateral, regional and multilateral liberalisation commitments and sets of rules in Latin America from resulting in unintended obstacles for trade and investment flows, the need for both the EU and Latin America to seek, as a matter of principle, the possible convergence of the various agreements in force or under negotiation between the two regions; |
| --- | --- |

(ae)

carefully examine, in order to prevent the increasing overlap of multiple bilateral, regional and multilateral liberalisation commitments and sets of rules in Latin America from resulting in unintended obstacles for trade and investment flows, the need for both the EU and Latin America to seek, as a matter of principle, the possible convergence of the various agreements in force or under negotiation between the two regions;

| (af) | provide in the negotiation guidelines for promotion of a system to help set up small and medium-sized enterprises, these being a key factor for economic development and in creating jobs and social wellbeing; with the aim of tackling unemployment, enable small and medium-sized enterprises to develop using soft loans, and devise business support programmes under the heading of innovation; |
| --- | --- |

(af)

provide in the negotiation guidelines for promotion of a system to help set up small and medium-sized enterprises, these being a key factor for economic development and in creating jobs and social wellbeing; with the aim of tackling unemployment, enable small and medium-sized enterprises to develop using soft loans, and devise business support programmes under the heading of innovation;

| (ag) | ensure that the Commission provides Parliament with exhaustive information, on a confidential basis if necessary, both on the draft negotiating guidelines and on the negotiating guidelines that are finally adopted; |
| --- | --- |

(ag)

ensure that the Commission provides Parliament with exhaustive information, on a confidential basis if necessary, both on the draft negotiating guidelines and on the negotiating guidelines that are finally adopted;

| 2. | Instructs its President to forward this Recommendation to the Council, and to the Commission for information, and to the governments and parliaments of the Member States of the European Union and of the Andean Community. |
| --- | --- |

2.

Instructs its President to forward this Recommendation to the Council, and to the Commission for information, and to the governments and parliaments of the Member States of the European Union and of the Andean Community.

---

(1)  OJ C 140 E, 13.6.2002, p. 569.

(2)  OJ C 103 E, 29.4.2004, p. 543.

(3)  OJ C 296 E, 6.12.2006, p. 123.

(4)  Council Regulation (EC) No 980/2005 of 27 June 2005 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences (OJ L 169, 30.6.2005, p. 1).

(5)  OJ C 46, 24.2.2006, p. 1.

(6)  Conclusions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, 16 and 17 October 2006, Document No 13735/06.

P6_TA(2007)0081

Missing persons in Cyprus

European Parliament resolution of 15 March 2007 on missing persons in Cyprus

The European Parliament,

| — | having regard to its resolution of 6 April 1995 (1) on the problem of missing persons in Cyprus, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its resolution of 6 April 1995 (1) on the problem of missing persons in Cyprus,

| — | having regard to the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly on Cyprus and the international initiatives taken to investigate the fate of missing persons in Cyprus, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly on Cyprus and the international initiatives taken to investigate the fate of missing persons in Cyprus,

| — | having regard to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) of 10 May 2001 (2) concerning missing persons in Cyprus, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) of 10 May 2001 (2) concerning missing persons in Cyprus,

| — | having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

| A. | whereas the problem of missing persons (Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Greeks, Turks and others) is exclusively a humanitarian one deriving from the right of the relatives of missing persons to know their fate, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas the problem of missing persons (Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Greeks, Turks and others) is exclusively a humanitarian one deriving from the right of the relatives of missing persons to know their fate,

| B. | whereas the great agony and suffering of the families of missing persons, who have remained ignorant of their fate for decades, cannot continue any longer, and must finally come to an end, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas the great agony and suffering of the families of missing persons, who have remained ignorant of their fate for decades, cannot continue any longer, and must finally come to an end,

| C. | whereas the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) in Cyprus has been reactivated under the aegis of the UN Secretary-General, and progress, albeit slow, has been made with the exhumation and identification of remains, |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) in Cyprus has been reactivated under the aegis of the UN Secretary-General, and progress, albeit slow, has been made with the exhumation and identification of remains,

| D. | whereas the European Parliament applauds the constructive cooperation between the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot members of the CMP, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas the European Parliament applauds the constructive cooperation between the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot members of the CMP,

| 1. | Calls on the parties concerned to cooperate sincerely and honestly on a speedy completion of the appropriate investigations into the fate of all missing persons in Cyprus and to implement fully the ECHR judgment of 10 May 2001; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Calls on the parties concerned to cooperate sincerely and honestly on a speedy completion of the appropriate investigations into the fate of all missing persons in Cyprus and to implement fully the ECHR judgment of 10 May 2001;

| 2. | Calls on the parties concerned and all those who have, or are in a position to have, any information or evidence emanating from personal knowledge, archives, battlefield reports or records of detention places to pass it on to the CMP without any further delay; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Calls on the parties concerned and all those who have, or are in a position to have, any information or evidence emanating from personal knowledge, archives, battlefield reports or records of detention places to pass it on to the CMP without any further delay;

| 3. | Calls on the Council and the Commission to concern themselves actively with this problem, providing, inter alia, financial assistance to the CMP, and to take all necessary steps, in cooperation with the United Nations Secretary-General, to bring about the implementation of the aforementioned ECHR judgment and the relevant UN and European Parliament resolutions; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Calls on the Council and the Commission to concern themselves actively with this problem, providing, inter alia, financial assistance to the CMP, and to take all necessary steps, in cooperation with the United Nations Secretary-General, to bring about the implementation of the aforementioned ECHR judgment and the relevant UN and European Parliament resolutions;

| 4. | Calls for the problem to be referred to its appropriate committee with a view to follow-up, in close cooperation with the Commission, developments on this issue; asks that the committee be requested to submit periodical reports, the first within six months; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Calls for the problem to be referred to its appropriate committee with a view to follow-up, in close cooperation with the Commission, developments on this issue; asks that the committee be requested to submit periodical reports, the first within six months;

| 5. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the governments of Cyprus, Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom. |
| --- | --- |

5.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the governments of Cyprus, Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom.

---

(1)  OJ C 109, 1.5.1995, p. 166.

(2)  Cyprus v Turkey [GC], no. 25781/94, ECHR 2001-IV.

P6_TA(2007)0082

Regional policy (islands and natural and economic constraints)

European Parliament resolution of 15 March 2007 on the islands and natural and economic constraints in the context of the regional policy (2006/2106(INI))

The European Parliament,

| — | having regard to the regulations governing the Structural Funds for the Period 2007-2013, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the regulations governing the Structural Funds for the Period 2007-2013,

| — | having regard to the Council Decision 2006/702/EC of 6 October 2006 on Community strategic guidelines on cohesion (1), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Council Decision 2006/702/EC of 6 October 2006 on Community strategic guidelines on cohesion (1),

| — | having regard to the conclusions of the European Council held in Seville on 21-22 June 2002, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the conclusions of the European Council held in Seville on 21-22 June 2002,

| — | having regard to the conclusions of the European Council held in Brussels on 14-15 December 2006, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the conclusions of the European Council held in Brussels on 14-15 December 2006,

| — | having regard to its resolution of 2 September 2003 on structurally disadvantaged regions (islands, mountain regions, regions with low population density) in the context of cohesion policy, and their institutional prospects (2), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its resolution of 2 September 2003 on structurally disadvantaged regions (islands, mountain regions, regions with low population density) in the context of cohesion policy, and their institutional prospects (2),

| — | having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 13 March 2002 on the problems of island regions in the European Union in the context of enlargement (3), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 13 March 2002 on the problems of island regions in the European Union in the context of enlargement (3),

| — | having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 7 July 2005 on the revision of the guidelines for regional State aids (4), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 7 July 2005 on the revision of the guidelines for regional State aids (4),

| — | having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

| — | having regard to the report of the Committee on Regional Development (A6-0044/2007), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Regional Development (A6-0044/2007),

| A. | whereas the European Parliament has frequently drawn attention to the plight of islands suffering from an accumulation of disadvantages and has stressed the need to help them to overcome those difficulties and to reduce regional disparities, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas the European Parliament has frequently drawn attention to the plight of islands suffering from an accumulation of disadvantages and has stressed the need to help them to overcome those difficulties and to reduce regional disparities,

| B. | whereas the concepts of ultraperipherality and insularity should not be confused with one another, even if many ultraperipheral regions are also islands; whereas the specific provisions of Article 299 of the EC Treaty, which have provided a sound legal basis for measures to be taken to provide effective compensation to assist the ultraperipheral regions, are to be distinguished from the provisions of Article 158 of the EC Treaty and from the Declaration on islands regions contained in the Treaty of Amsterdam, which have never been the subject of implementing provisions, as a result of which there have been imbalances in economic development between the core of the EU, on the one hand, and the islands on its periphery on the other, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas the concepts of ultraperipherality and insularity should not be confused with one another, even if many ultraperipheral regions are also islands; whereas the specific provisions of Article 299 of the EC Treaty, which have provided a sound legal basis for measures to be taken to provide effective compensation to assist the ultraperipheral regions, are to be distinguished from the provisions of Article 158 of the EC Treaty and from the Declaration on islands regions contained in the Treaty of Amsterdam, which have never been the subject of implementing provisions, as a result of which there have been imbalances in economic development between the core of the EU, on the one hand, and the islands on its periphery on the other,

| C. | whereas cohesion, as one of the EU's key objectives, aims to ensure multi-centred and harmonious development by reducing regional disparities and by removing obstacles to development, including obstacles which are linked to natural and geographical handicaps, |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas cohesion, as one of the EU's key objectives, aims to ensure multi-centred and harmonious development by reducing regional disparities and by removing obstacles to development, including obstacles which are linked to natural and geographical handicaps,

| D. | whereas the principle of territorial cohesion has been further consolidated in the regulations on the Structural Funds 2007-2013, and whereas that principle constitutes an integral part of cohesion policy, which should be preserved and strengthened in the future and which has as its objective the multicentred integration of the EU's territory so as to secure equal opportunities for all the regions and their populations, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas the principle of territorial cohesion has been further consolidated in the regulations on the Structural Funds 2007-2013, and whereas that principle constitutes an integral part of cohesion policy, which should be preserved and strengthened in the future and which has as its objective the multicentred integration of the EU's territory so as to secure equal opportunities for all the regions and their populations,

| E. | whereas illegal immigration by sea is one of the main problems facing the EU and whereas, within the last year, migratory pressure has been particularly intense on the EU's external maritime frontiers, and particularly on the islands in the Mediterranean, which are called upon to carry a wholly disproportionate burden, simply because of their geographical location, |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas illegal immigration by sea is one of the main problems facing the EU and whereas, within the last year, migratory pressure has been particularly intense on the EU's external maritime frontiers, and particularly on the islands in the Mediterranean, which are called upon to carry a wholly disproportionate burden, simply because of their geographical location,

| F. | whereas the European Council held in Brussels on 14-15 December 2006 emphasised the need for immigration to be tackled globally, and that the efforts made so far need to be redoubled, particularly in some of the EU's island regions, since they constitute the EU's maritime frontiers and migration routes, |
| --- | --- |

F.

whereas the European Council held in Brussels on 14-15 December 2006 emphasised the need for immigration to be tackled globally, and that the efforts made so far need to be redoubled, particularly in some of the EU's island regions, since they constitute the EU's maritime frontiers and migration routes,

| 1. | Believes that insularity is both a geocultural characteristic that is open to potential exploitation by a development strategy, and a permanent handicap which renders the situation even more difficult as regards the competitiveness of these regions; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Believes that insularity is both a geocultural characteristic that is open to potential exploitation by a development strategy, and a permanent handicap which renders the situation even more difficult as regards the competitiveness of these regions;

| 2. | Acknowledges that a number of concrete provisions in favour of structurally disadvantaged regions have been incorporated in the regulations on the Structural Funds 2007-2013; regrets, however, that the Council did not take on board other important proposals from the Parliament, such as the possibility of increasing the co-financing rate for areas affected by more than one geographical or natural handicap; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Acknowledges that a number of concrete provisions in favour of structurally disadvantaged regions have been incorporated in the regulations on the Structural Funds 2007-2013; regrets, however, that the Council did not take on board other important proposals from the Parliament, such as the possibility of increasing the co-financing rate for areas affected by more than one geographical or natural handicap;

| 3. | Calls on the Commission, with regard to the programming period 2007-2013 concerning the operational programmes of island regions, including those of objective 2, to exhaust all avenues giving them the possibility to carry-out measures related to infrastructure works that are very much needed; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Calls on the Commission, with regard to the programming period 2007-2013 concerning the operational programmes of island regions, including those of objective 2, to exhaust all avenues giving them the possibility to carry-out measures related to infrastructure works that are very much needed;

| 4. | Welcomes the emphasis given to the territorial dimension of cohesion policy in the Commission strategic guidelines on cohesion 2007-2013; notes, in particular, that supporting the economic diversification of areas with natural handicaps figures among the priorities for the next programming period; urges, therefore, the managing authorities of the Member States concerned to take full account of this priority in the preparation of their national strategic reference frameworks and operational programmes; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Welcomes the emphasis given to the territorial dimension of cohesion policy in the Commission strategic guidelines on cohesion 2007-2013; notes, in particular, that supporting the economic diversification of areas with natural handicaps figures among the priorities for the next programming period; urges, therefore, the managing authorities of the Member States concerned to take full account of this priority in the preparation of their national strategic reference frameworks and operational programmes;

| 5. | Calls on the Commission to pay special attention to and address the situation of islands and other structurally disadvantaged regions in the Fourth Cohesion Report; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Calls on the Commission to pay special attention to and address the situation of islands and other structurally disadvantaged regions in the Fourth Cohesion Report;

| 6. | Calls on the Commission, in the context of the European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON) work programme, to pay special attention to the situation of regions, and islands in particular, that are beset by natural handicaps; considers that a sound and thorough knowledge of the situation on the islands is essential if their special characteristics are to be taken satisfactorily into account; urges the Member States to establish specific mechanisms permitting the gathering of relevant data concerning the islands at local level, which will subsequently be forwarded to ESPON; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Calls on the Commission, in the context of the European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON) work programme, to pay special attention to the situation of regions, and islands in particular, that are beset by natural handicaps; considers that a sound and thorough knowledge of the situation on the islands is essential if their special characteristics are to be taken satisfactorily into account; urges the Member States to establish specific mechanisms permitting the gathering of relevant data concerning the islands at local level, which will subsequently be forwarded to ESPON;

| 7. | Calls on the Commission to update the statistical information it obtained during all the 2003 studies concerning the islands; believes that further work should be oriented towards defining more pertinent statistical indicators that are more amenable to providing a distinct statistical picture of the development level, and a satisfactory understanding of the regions with geographical and natural handicaps, and particularly where there are accumulated difficulties, such as mountain ranges, groupings of islands, and cases of double insularity; stresses that these indicators should also permit an improved assessment of the differences between these regions and the rest of the EU as well as an assessment of the disparities existing within those regions; calls on the Commission to record and report on those indicators on a regular basis, together with examples of best practice; |
| --- | --- |

7.

Calls on the Commission to update the statistical information it obtained during all the 2003 studies concerning the islands; believes that further work should be oriented towards defining more pertinent statistical indicators that are more amenable to providing a distinct statistical picture of the development level, and a satisfactory understanding of the regions with geographical and natural handicaps, and particularly where there are accumulated difficulties, such as mountain ranges, groupings of islands, and cases of double insularity; stresses that these indicators should also permit an improved assessment of the differences between these regions and the rest of the EU as well as an assessment of the disparities existing within those regions; calls on the Commission to record and report on those indicators on a regular basis, together with examples of best practice;

| 8. | Acknowledges the fact that the Commission highlights the special situation of islands and peripheral regions in the guidelines on national regional aid for 2007-2013 and in the guidelines on state aid and risk capital for small and medium-sized undertakings; considers, however, that in order to deal more satisfactorily with the permanent disadvantage of such territories there should be increased flexibility in the implementation of existing and future state aid policies, without such flexibility causing unacceptable market distortions within the EU; asks the Commission to review its approach so as to take better account of the need of islands to enjoy access to the internal market on equal terms with mainland regions; considers, in this respect, that improved transport links should constitute a priority action in this field, especially in the case of ports and airports; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Acknowledges the fact that the Commission highlights the special situation of islands and peripheral regions in the guidelines on national regional aid for 2007-2013 and in the guidelines on state aid and risk capital for small and medium-sized undertakings; considers, however, that in order to deal more satisfactorily with the permanent disadvantage of such territories there should be increased flexibility in the implementation of existing and future state aid policies, without such flexibility causing unacceptable market distortions within the EU; asks the Commission to review its approach so as to take better account of the need of islands to enjoy access to the internal market on equal terms with mainland regions; considers, in this respect, that improved transport links should constitute a priority action in this field, especially in the case of ports and airports;

| 9. | Calls on the Commission to study the possibility of permitting state aid to be granted to island regions where fuel and energy costs clearly adversely affect the competitiveness of the communities living on them; notes, in particular, that significant fluctuations in the cost of fuel can make transportation between island regions and mainland Europe significantly more burdensome; believes that, in its next regional state aid guidelines, a regime allowing operating aids should be extended to all island regions which are not island states or inland islands; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Calls on the Commission to study the possibility of permitting state aid to be granted to island regions where fuel and energy costs clearly adversely affect the competitiveness of the communities living on them; notes, in particular, that significant fluctuations in the cost of fuel can make transportation between island regions and mainland Europe significantly more burdensome; believes that, in its next regional state aid guidelines, a regime allowing operating aids should be extended to all island regions which are not island states or inland islands;

| 10. | Calls on the Commission to undertake and to present to the Parliament, on a regular basis, a ‘special needs assessment’ study of island regions taking into account issues of specific concern to islands and proposing measures to address them; considers that such an assessment should focus in particular on the impact of the implementation of regional policy on islands, including on levels of investment, the spread of economic activity, unemployment, transport infrastructure (notably, ports and airports), environmental pressures and the overall level of economic and social integration of islands within the internal market; |
| --- | --- |

10.

Calls on the Commission to undertake and to present to the Parliament, on a regular basis, a ‘special needs assessment’ study of island regions taking into account issues of specific concern to islands and proposing measures to address them; considers that such an assessment should focus in particular on the impact of the implementation of regional policy on islands, including on levels of investment, the spread of economic activity, unemployment, transport infrastructure (notably, ports and airports), environmental pressures and the overall level of economic and social integration of islands within the internal market;

| 11. | Calls on the Member States to ensure that the special environmental, cultural and social characteristics of the island regions are effectively protected using measures, such as the drawing up of appropriate regional development plans and the controlling of building and construction activity, and, in addition, to adopt, in cooperation with the Commission, integrated programmes to safeguard cultural heritage and environmental resources; |
| --- | --- |

11.

Calls on the Member States to ensure that the special environmental, cultural and social characteristics of the island regions are effectively protected using measures, such as the drawing up of appropriate regional development plans and the controlling of building and construction activity, and, in addition, to adopt, in cooperation with the Commission, integrated programmes to safeguard cultural heritage and environmental resources;

| 12. | Approves of the trans-sectoral approach to the implementation of Community policies, as reflected in the Commission's green paper entitled ‘Towards a future Maritime Policy for the Union: A European vision for the oceans and seas’, and insists that this approach be applied primarily to islands which constitute a fundamental part of Europe's maritime dimension; calls on the Commission to extend the transsectoral approach to other policies so that they take into account the specific circumstances of island regions, thereby boosting their ability to integrate fully and to reap the benefits of the internal market and the Lisbon Strategy; |
| --- | --- |

12.

Approves of the trans-sectoral approach to the implementation of Community policies, as reflected in the Commission's green paper entitled ‘Towards a future Maritime Policy for the Union: A European vision for the oceans and seas’, and insists that this approach be applied primarily to islands which constitute a fundamental part of Europe's maritime dimension; calls on the Commission to extend the transsectoral approach to other policies so that they take into account the specific circumstances of island regions, thereby boosting their ability to integrate fully and to reap the benefits of the internal market and the Lisbon Strategy;

| 13. | Draws special attention to islands far from large centres of population which, accordingly, experience difficulties of access and in providing services and bear higher costs, particularly in relation to transport, which place them at a competitive disadvantage; |
| --- | --- |

13.

Draws special attention to islands far from large centres of population which, accordingly, experience difficulties of access and in providing services and bear higher costs, particularly in relation to transport, which place them at a competitive disadvantage;

| 14. | Encourages the efforts made towards a holistic Community maritime policy, which will be extended beyond the legal borders of the EU, and will therefore establish, through the advantageous geopolitical location of the Community islands, strong commercial, economic and political relations and technical cooperation (exchange of knowledge and expertise) with neighbouring countries on the basis of international maritime law, mutual respect and benefit; |
| --- | --- |

14.

Encourages the efforts made towards a holistic Community maritime policy, which will be extended beyond the legal borders of the EU, and will therefore establish, through the advantageous geopolitical location of the Community islands, strong commercial, economic and political relations and technical cooperation (exchange of knowledge and expertise) with neighbouring countries on the basis of international maritime law, mutual respect and benefit;

| 15. | Considers that islands face higher than average per capita costs in respect of transport and environmental infrastructure as well as in relation to their energy needs and often find it harder to implement certain parts of the acquis which may not have taken fully into account their specificities; calls, therefore, on the Commission to adopt a more flexible approach towards islands in policy formulation and in legislation, the implementation of which may be particularly burdensome for islands; |
| --- | --- |

15.

Considers that islands face higher than average per capita costs in respect of transport and environmental infrastructure as well as in relation to their energy needs and often find it harder to implement certain parts of the acquis which may not have taken fully into account their specificities; calls, therefore, on the Commission to adopt a more flexible approach towards islands in policy formulation and in legislation, the implementation of which may be particularly burdensome for islands;

| 16. | Requests the Commission to set up, within the Directorate-General for Regional Policy, an administrative unit for the islands, along the lines of the existing administrative unit for the outermost regions, to ensure that the special characteristics and the needs of islands, and their permanent and seasonal populations, are systematically taken into account in policy development which aims to achieve social, economic and territorial cohesion, and in implementing measures, particularly in the fields of transport, energy, the securing of adequate water resources, the surveillance of regional border areas and the protection of the fragile island environment; |
| --- | --- |

16.

Requests the Commission to set up, within the Directorate-General for Regional Policy, an administrative unit for the islands, along the lines of the existing administrative unit for the outermost regions, to ensure that the special characteristics and the needs of islands, and their permanent and seasonal populations, are systematically taken into account in policy development which aims to achieve social, economic and territorial cohesion, and in implementing measures, particularly in the fields of transport, energy, the securing of adequate water resources, the surveillance of regional border areas and the protection of the fragile island environment;

| 17. | Wishes to see the Commission further exploit the possibility offered by the EC Treaty of adapting Community policies likely to have negative repercussions on the economic, social and territorial development of these regions, with the view to remedying, as far as possible, the major problems which specifically affect each region or group of island regions; |
| --- | --- |

17.

Wishes to see the Commission further exploit the possibility offered by the EC Treaty of adapting Community policies likely to have negative repercussions on the economic, social and territorial development of these regions, with the view to remedying, as far as possible, the major problems which specifically affect each region or group of island regions;

| 18. | Considers that special attention should be given to those areas of economic activity which are more prevalent on islands, notably agriculture, fisheries, tourism and crafts; calls, therefore, on the Commission to ensure that its policy initiatives increasingly take into account the specific needs of islands in these areas; |
| --- | --- |

18.

Considers that special attention should be given to those areas of economic activity which are more prevalent on islands, notably agriculture, fisheries, tourism and crafts; calls, therefore, on the Commission to ensure that its policy initiatives increasingly take into account the specific needs of islands in these areas;

| 19. | Calls on the Commission to consider what adjustments are needed to the ‘market investor’ test for state aid in order to reflect the realities of life on islands and other remote regions where it can be impossible to find or evaluate a market investor as there may be none in the area; the average level of return for a given sector is also very unlikely to be met due to the small size and remote nature of the markets, thus making this test impossible to satisfy for remote islands; |
| --- | --- |

19.

Calls on the Commission to consider what adjustments are needed to the ‘market investor’ test for state aid in order to reflect the realities of life on islands and other remote regions where it can be impossible to find or evaluate a market investor as there may be none in the area; the average level of return for a given sector is also very unlikely to be met due to the small size and remote nature of the markets, thus making this test impossible to satisfy for remote islands;

| 20. | Calls on the Commission particularly to examine the impact of climate change on island regions and, especially, the exacerbation of existing problems, such as drought, and to promote, in cooperation with the Member States, the development and application of appropriate technologies or other measures to tackle these problems; |
| --- | --- |

20.

Calls on the Commission particularly to examine the impact of climate change on island regions and, especially, the exacerbation of existing problems, such as drought, and to promote, in cooperation with the Member States, the development and application of appropriate technologies or other measures to tackle these problems;

| 21. | Calls on the Commission to re-examine the conditions relating to public contracts concerning transport in order to eliminate any obstacles in respect of obligations to provide a public service so as to facilitate transport links with island regions; |
| --- | --- |

21.

Calls on the Commission to re-examine the conditions relating to public contracts concerning transport in order to eliminate any obstacles in respect of obligations to provide a public service so as to facilitate transport links with island regions;

| 22. | Calls on the Commission to give priority to the energy security of the islands and to funding for the development and implementation of projects for the production of energy using new technologies and renewable energy sources and to promote efficient use of energy, whilst protecting the environment and preserving its natural beauty; |
| --- | --- |

22.

Calls on the Commission to give priority to the energy security of the islands and to funding for the development and implementation of projects for the production of energy using new technologies and renewable energy sources and to promote efficient use of energy, whilst protecting the environment and preserving its natural beauty;

| 23. | Encourages island communities to make use of Euroregions or similar European networks for the management of inter-regional cooperation, the exchange of good practice as well as for developing cross border projects and better integration of the island communities into their surrounding economic areas; |
| --- | --- |

23.

Encourages island communities to make use of Euroregions or similar European networks for the management of inter-regional cooperation, the exchange of good practice as well as for developing cross border projects and better integration of the island communities into their surrounding economic areas;

| 24. | Encourages island communities to make use of the Jaspers (Joint Assistance in Supporting Projects in European Regions) and Jeremie (Joint European Resources for Micro to Medium Enterprises) financial and management facilities, in order to exploit the available regional development resources and to foster the growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises encouraging diversification of island economies and promoting core growth through sustainable development; further encourages the implementation, at local, regional, national and European levels, of the ‘better legislation’ initiative with a view to, inter alia, simplifying administrative requirements, notably as far as the submission and the evaluation of applications for financial aid are concerned; |
| --- | --- |

24.

Encourages island communities to make use of the Jaspers (Joint Assistance in Supporting Projects in European Regions) and Jeremie (Joint European Resources for Micro to Medium Enterprises) financial and management facilities, in order to exploit the available regional development resources and to foster the growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises encouraging diversification of island economies and promoting core growth through sustainable development; further encourages the implementation, at local, regional, national and European levels, of the ‘better legislation’ initiative with a view to, inter alia, simplifying administrative requirements, notably as far as the submission and the evaluation of applications for financial aid are concerned;

| 25. | Acknowledges the positive result achieved as regards the implementation, for the first time, of European Resources for Border Controls and welcomes the recent Commission proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a mechanism for the creation of Rapid Border Intervention Teams (COM(2006)0401), with the purpose of providing swift operational and technical assistance to any Member State requesting it; believes, however, that the activities of such teams will only be effective if they have a remit defined with due reference to the remit of a European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex); urges the Commission to examine the need for the creation of a European coastguard body to assist, in parallel, those regions and the Member States in monitoring the EU's external borders; |
| --- | --- |

25.

Acknowledges the positive result achieved as regards the implementation, for the first time, of European Resources for Border Controls and welcomes the recent Commission proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a mechanism for the creation of Rapid Border Intervention Teams (COM(2006)0401), with the purpose of providing swift operational and technical assistance to any Member State requesting it; believes, however, that the activities of such teams will only be effective if they have a remit defined with due reference to the remit of a European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex); urges the Commission to examine the need for the creation of a European coastguard body to assist, in parallel, those regions and the Member States in monitoring the EU's external borders;

| 26. | Reiterates its support for the initiatives and activities undertaken by Frontex and requests that it monitor, on an ongoing basis, the impact of illegal immigration on island communities; calls on the Commission and on Frontex to take prompt action in support of islands so as to alleviate the immediate pressure to deal with this problem whilst ensuring due respect for human rights; calls on the Council and the Commission to ensure that the requisite resources are made available for fast and effective action; emphasises, further, the importance of stronger and closer coordination and cooperation between the islands, and the need for greater involvement on the part of these regions in combating illegal immigration; |
| --- | --- |

26.

Reiterates its support for the initiatives and activities undertaken by Frontex and requests that it monitor, on an ongoing basis, the impact of illegal immigration on island communities; calls on the Commission and on Frontex to take prompt action in support of islands so as to alleviate the immediate pressure to deal with this problem whilst ensuring due respect for human rights; calls on the Council and the Commission to ensure that the requisite resources are made available for fast and effective action; emphasises, further, the importance of stronger and closer coordination and cooperation between the islands, and the need for greater involvement on the part of these regions in combating illegal immigration;

| 27. | Calls on the Commission to place particular emphasis on the development of broadband and to promote measures for solving the specific difficulties of providing services in island regions, such as health care and online medical services, electronic governance and citizens' services; |
| --- | --- |

27.

Calls on the Commission to place particular emphasis on the development of broadband and to promote measures for solving the specific difficulties of providing services in island regions, such as health care and online medical services, electronic governance and citizens' services;

| 28. | Considers that tourism represents for most islands a primary source of wealth creation, having a direct influence on the growth of other sectors (agriculture, commerce, services, fisheries), and that it is imperative to put in place an integrated policy capable of ensuring the sustainability of island tourism; believes that this policy needs to be accompanied by a well-organised European information campaign directed at European citizens through the creation of a quality and island origin label, and the emergence or further development of other activity sectors within islands; calls on the Commission, with this in view, to carry out a cross-sectoral analysis paying special attention to opportunities to support sustainable tourism within the regional strategies of islands that are far from centres of population; |
| --- | --- |

28.

Considers that tourism represents for most islands a primary source of wealth creation, having a direct influence on the growth of other sectors (agriculture, commerce, services, fisheries), and that it is imperative to put in place an integrated policy capable of ensuring the sustainability of island tourism; believes that this policy needs to be accompanied by a well-organised European information campaign directed at European citizens through the creation of a quality and island origin label, and the emergence or further development of other activity sectors within islands; calls on the Commission, with this in view, to carry out a cross-sectoral analysis paying special attention to opportunities to support sustainable tourism within the regional strategies of islands that are far from centres of population;

| 29. | Proposes that the Commission and the other Institutions designate the year 2010 as the European year for the islands; |
| --- | --- |

29.

Proposes that the Commission and the other Institutions designate the year 2010 as the European year for the islands;

| 30. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission. |
| --- | --- |

30.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.

---

(1)  OJ L 291, 21.10.2006, p. 11.

(2)  OJ C 76 E, 25.3.2004, p. 111.

(3)  OJ C 192, 12.8.2002, p. 42.

(4)  OJ C 31, 7.2.2006, p. 25.

P6_TA(2007)0083

Local authorities and development cooperation

European Parliament resolution of 15 March 2007 on local authorities and development cooperation (2006/2235(INI))

The European Parliament,

| — | having regard to Article 179 of the EC Treaty, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Article 179 of the EC Treaty,

| — | having regard to the joint statement by the Council and the representatives of the governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission on European Union Development Policy: ‘The European Consensus’ (1), of 20 December 2005, which establishes ownership and partnership as the primary common principles of development cooperation, with which the signatories thereto undertook to support decentralisation and good governance and which encourages ‘increased involvement of local authorities’, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the joint statement by the Council and the representatives of the governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission on European Union Development Policy: ‘The European Consensus’ (1), of 20 December 2005, which establishes ownership and partnership as the primary common principles of development cooperation, with which the signatories thereto undertook to support decentralisation and good governance and which encourages ‘increased involvement of local authorities’,

| — | having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation (2), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation (2),

| — | having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (3), as amended by the Agreement amending the Partnership Agreement, signed in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005 (4) (‘the Cotonou Agreement’), and in particular Articles 4, 28, 30(2), 43(4) and 58(2) thereof, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (3), as amended by the Agreement amending the Partnership Agreement, signed in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005 (4) (‘the Cotonou Agreement’), and in particular Articles 4, 28, 30(2), 43(4) and 58(2) thereof,

| — | having regard to the Charter of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) adopted by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers on 14 January 1994 at its 506th meeting of Ministers' Deputies, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Charter of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) adopted by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers on 14 January 1994 at its 506th meeting of Ministers' Deputies,

| — | having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 25 January 2006 entitled ‘The Thematic Programme Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development’, which reaffirms that local authorities are fully-fledged stakeholders in development and proposes to involve them ‘in the development process, including through dialogue and financial support’ (COM(2006)0019), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 25 January 2006 entitled ‘The Thematic Programme Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development’, which reaffirms that local authorities are fully-fledged stakeholders in development and proposes to involve them ‘in the development process, including through dialogue and financial support’ (COM(2006)0019),

| — | having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee of 12 October 2005 entitled ‘EU Strategy for Africa: Towards a Euro-African pact to accelerate Africa's development’ (that strategy having been adopted by the European Council of 15-16 December 2005) in which the Commission undertakes to support decentralisation and develop the capacities of local authorities, stressing the strategic importance of partnership and twinnings between European and African towns and municipalities in order to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and promote the conditions required for their achievement (COM(2005)0489), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee of 12 October 2005 entitled ‘EU Strategy for Africa: Towards a Euro-African pact to accelerate Africa's development’ (that strategy having been adopted by the European Council of 15-16 December 2005) in which the Commission undertakes to support decentralisation and develop the capacities of local authorities, stressing the strategic importance of partnership and twinnings between European and African towns and municipalities in order to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and promote the conditions required for their achievement (COM(2005)0489),

| — | having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee of 20 October 2003 on governance and development, which establishes good governance as a priority area of European cooperation (COM(2003)0615), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee of 20 October 2003 on governance and development, which establishes good governance as a priority area of European cooperation (COM(2003)0615),

| — | having regard to the Commission's Introductory Note to the departments of its Directorate General for Development and delegations in the ACP-ALA-MED countries (African, Caribbean and Pacific; Asian and Latin American; Mediterranean) and CEEC (Central and Eastern European Countries) of 23 December 1999 (DEV/1424/2000), which advocates ‘that (decentralised) stakeholders be involved upstream in policy formulation and programming’ and puts forward an Operational Guide for delegations in all developing countries, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Commission's Introductory Note to the departments of its Directorate General for Development and delegations in the ACP-ALA-MED countries (African, Caribbean and Pacific; Asian and Latin American; Mediterranean) and CEEC (Central and Eastern European Countries) of 23 December 1999 (DEV/1424/2000), which advocates ‘that (decentralised) stakeholders be involved upstream in policy formulation and programming’ and puts forward an Operational Guide for delegations in all developing countries,

| — | having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1659/98 of 17 July 1998 on decentralised cooperation (5), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1659/98 of 17 July 1998 on decentralised cooperation (5),

| — | having regard to budget line B7-6002, entitled ‘decentralised cooperation’, which is intended to promote this approach in all developing countries, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to budget line B7-6002, entitled ‘decentralised cooperation’, which is intended to promote this approach in all developing countries,

| — | having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 16 November 2005 on ‘Decentralised cooperation in the reform of the EU's development policy’ (CdR 224/2005) |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 16 November 2005 on ‘Decentralised cooperation in the reform of the EU's development policy’ (CdR 224/2005)

| — | having regard to the outcome statement of the Heads of State and Government on the MDGs at the 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2005, which underlines ‘the important role of local authorities in contributing to the achievement of [...] the Millennium Development Goals’, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the outcome statement of the Heads of State and Government on the MDGs at the 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2005, which underlines ‘the important role of local authorities in contributing to the achievement of [...] the Millennium Development Goals’,

| — | having regard to report A/59/354 of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, submitted to the 59th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 13 September 2004, which recognises the role of local authorities and global networks of local authorities, most notably the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), as one of the UN's main partners in development and humanitarian issues at local level, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to report A/59/354 of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, submitted to the 59th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 13 September 2004, which recognises the role of local authorities and global networks of local authorities, most notably the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), as one of the UN's main partners in development and humanitarian issues at local level,

| — | having regard to the Final Declaration of the ministers and representatives of governments at the Fourth World Water Forum held in Mexico between16 and 22 March 2006, which states that efficient collaboration with local authorities is a key factor in meeting water-related challenges and MDGs, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Final Declaration of the ministers and representatives of governments at the Fourth World Water Forum held in Mexico between16 and 22 March 2006, which states that efficient collaboration with local authorities is a key factor in meeting water-related challenges and MDGs,

| — | having regard to the Declaration of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg between 26 August and 4 September 2002, which states that the role and capacities of local authorities must be strengthened to ensure sustainable development, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Declaration of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg between 26 August and 4 September 2002, which states that the role and capacities of local authorities must be strengthened to ensure sustainable development,

| — | having regard to the Final Declaration of the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlement (Habitat II), held in Istanbul between 3 and 15 June 1996, which recognises that local authorities are closest partners of States in the implementation of the United Nations Agenda on human settlements, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Final Declaration of the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlement (Habitat II), held in Istanbul between 3 and 15 June 1996, which recognises that local authorities are closest partners of States in the implementation of the United Nations Agenda on human settlements,

| — | having regard to the Declaration on Environment and Development adopted at the Second Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro between 3 and 14 June 1992, which stresses the key role of local authorities in the implementation of Agenda 21, adopted by the signatories of the abovementioned declaration, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Declaration on Environment and Development adopted at the Second Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro between 3 and 14 June 1992, which stresses the key role of local authorities in the implementation of Agenda 21, adopted by the signatories of the abovementioned declaration,

| — | having regard to the Declaration of the Constituent Congress of the UCLG held in Paris between 2 and 5 May 2004, at which 3000 mayors and elected representatives from local authorities the world over undertook to implement MDGs at local level and work towards greater local autonomy and democracy and towards cooperation between towns to promote development, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Declaration of the Constituent Congress of the UCLG held in Paris between 2 and 5 May 2004, at which 3000 mayors and elected representatives from local authorities the world over undertook to implement MDGs at local level and work towards greater local autonomy and democracy and towards cooperation between towns to promote development,

| — | having regard to the Final Declaration of the General Assembly of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), held in Innsbruck between 10 and 12 May 2006, and the chapter entitled ‘From Local to Global’, which stresses the role of Europe and local authorities in the world, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Final Declaration of the General Assembly of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), held in Innsbruck between 10 and 12 May 2006, and the chapter entitled ‘From Local to Global’, which stresses the role of Europe and local authorities in the world,

| — | having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

| — | having regard to the report of the Committee on Development (A6-0039/2007), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the report of the Committee on Development (A6-0039/2007),

The expertise and added value of local authorities in development cooperation

| A. | whereas the achievement of the MDGs is an EU priority and whereas the crucial role of local authorities in the implementation of these goals has been recognised by the United Nations, and in particular by the UN Secretary-General, who stated at the Millennium Summit in 2005: ‘How can we expect to reach the Millennium Development Goals [...] without making progress in areas such as education, hunger, health, water, sanitation and gender equality? Cities and local authorities have a critical role to play in all these areas. [...] While our Goals are global, they can most effectively be achieved through action at local level’, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas the achievement of the MDGs is an EU priority and whereas the crucial role of local authorities in the implementation of these goals has been recognised by the United Nations, and in particular by the UN Secretary-General, who stated at the Millennium Summit in 2005: ‘How can we expect to reach the Millennium Development Goals [...] without making progress in areas such as education, hunger, health, water, sanitation and gender equality? Cities and local authorities have a critical role to play in all these areas. [...] While our Goals are global, they can most effectively be achieved through action at local level’,

| B. | whereas at the present rate it would take 110 years to achieve the MDGs set for 2015 and whereas the experience of local authorities in a wide variety of development-related areas, such as water management, the fight against AIDS, gender policy, waste management, social cohesion and local economic development, should be recognised by the EU as a necessary contribution to the achievement of MDGs, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas at the present rate it would take 110 years to achieve the MDGs set for 2015 and whereas the experience of local authorities in a wide variety of development-related areas, such as water management, the fight against AIDS, gender policy, waste management, social cohesion and local economic development, should be recognised by the EU as a necessary contribution to the achievement of MDGs,

| C. | whereas every child has the right to be enrolled in a registry office at birth and an essential role is played by local authorities in this matter and there is a direct connection between this practice and the application of the relevant human rights standards protecting children from exploitation through work, |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas every child has the right to be enrolled in a registry office at birth and an essential role is played by local authorities in this matter and there is a direct connection between this practice and the application of the relevant human rights standards protecting children from exploitation through work,

| D. | whereas good governance is one of the EU's priority objectives and whereas local democracy and decentralisation lie at the very heart of democratic governance under the above-mentioned European Consensus on Development, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas good governance is one of the EU's priority objectives and whereas local democracy and decentralisation lie at the very heart of democratic governance under the above-mentioned European Consensus on Development,

| E. | whereas, in 20 years' time, 60 % of the world's population will live in towns and cities and whereas towns and cities will, as a result, have a major role to play in improving the living conditions of the poorest sections of the population, |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas, in 20 years' time, 60 % of the world's population will live in towns and cities and whereas towns and cities will, as a result, have a major role to play in improving the living conditions of the poorest sections of the population,

| F. | whereas local authorities around the world acquire experience through:






  — | local authority-to-local authority projects funded or promoted by European local authorities themselves, in partnership with Southern local authorities over a period of more than 30 years, |
| --- | --- | --- |

F.

whereas local authorities around the world acquire experience through:

—

local authority-to-local authority projects funded or promoted by European local authorities themselves, in partnership with Southern local authorities over a period of more than 30 years,

| — | local authority-to-local authority projects funded by the EU under the URB-AL (Latin America), Asia URBS and, to a lesser extent, MEDA (Southern Mediterranean), ACCESS (Central and Eastern Europe), Tacis (Eastern Europe and Central Asia) and CARDS (Balkans) programmes and the Multiannual Microproject Programmes (MMP) in the ACP countries, |
| --- | --- |

—

local authority-to-local authority projects funded by the EU under the URB-AL (Latin America), Asia URBS and, to a lesser extent, MEDA (Southern Mediterranean), ACCESS (Central and Eastern Europe), Tacis (Eastern Europe and Central Asia) and CARDS (Balkans) programmes and the Multiannual Microproject Programmes (MMP) in the ACP countries,

| — | national or regional cooperation programmes to support decentralisation or local development, in which local authorities and their associations are involved as operators, with the support of the EU and other donors (United Nations, bilateral agencies, World Bank or regional development banks, etc.), |
| --- | --- |

—

national or regional cooperation programmes to support decentralisation or local development, in which local authorities and their associations are involved as operators, with the support of the EU and other donors (United Nations, bilateral agencies, World Bank or regional development banks, etc.),

| G. | whereas local authorities have the necessary political legitimacy, know-how and experience of running local affairs and are able to mobilise other local stakeholders around them, |
| --- | --- |

G.

whereas local authorities have the necessary political legitimacy, know-how and experience of running local affairs and are able to mobilise other local stakeholders around them,

| H. | whereas, although the importance of involving local authorities in the cooperation process has been acknowledged in the Cotonou Agreement and the European Consensus on Development, no permanent mechanism has been set up to ensure that they can take part in dialogue with the Commission in Europe and in developing countries; whereas, however, such a mechanism does exist in the case of non-State actors, |
| --- | --- |

H.

whereas, although the importance of involving local authorities in the cooperation process has been acknowledged in the Cotonou Agreement and the European Consensus on Development, no permanent mechanism has been set up to ensure that they can take part in dialogue with the Commission in Europe and in developing countries; whereas, however, such a mechanism does exist in the case of non-State actors,

In Europe

| I. | whereas local authorities are already skilled players with long experience in development aid: they have been experts in all areas of urban development and rural affairs for more than 30 years and are constantly stepping up and diversifying their activities, thereby forming a solidarity network spanning the five continents; whereas many of these activities are currently supported and financed by the various States, |
| --- | --- |

I.

whereas local authorities are already skilled players with long experience in development aid: they have been experts in all areas of urban development and rural affairs for more than 30 years and are constantly stepping up and diversifying their activities, thereby forming a solidarity network spanning the five continents; whereas many of these activities are currently supported and financed by the various States,

| J. | whereas national and regional associations of European local authorities are playing an increasingly important role in terms of information, capacity building and dialogue and can thus become one of the ‘key channels’ of the EU and other development partners for involving the local authorities they represent in dialogue with the Commission in Europe, |
| --- | --- |

J.

whereas national and regional associations of European local authorities are playing an increasingly important role in terms of information, capacity building and dialogue and can thus become one of the ‘key channels’ of the EU and other development partners for involving the local authorities they represent in dialogue with the Commission in Europe,

| K. | whereas European local governments and their associations play a key role in informing, mobilising and sensitising public opinion within the EU on a local basis, directly involving citizens; whereas this contributes to the promotion of the values of solidarity and development aid, as shown by the ‘Millennium Cities Campaign’ launched in July 2005 by the UCLG with the support of the United Nations; whereas, in this context, the European section of the UCLG, the CEMR, has been mobilising European cities since April 2006 to promote and implement the MDGs, |
| --- | --- |

K.

whereas European local governments and their associations play a key role in informing, mobilising and sensitising public opinion within the EU on a local basis, directly involving citizens; whereas this contributes to the promotion of the values of solidarity and development aid, as shown by the ‘Millennium Cities Campaign’ launched in July 2005 by the UCLG with the support of the United Nations; whereas, in this context, the European section of the UCLG, the CEMR, has been mobilising European cities since April 2006 to promote and implement the MDGs,

| L. | whereas, in a growing number of municipalities and regions, local development awareness plans and programmes are not confined to one-off actions but have instead established a comprehensive training and information programme for local populations, |
| --- | --- |

L.

whereas, in a growing number of municipalities and regions, local development awareness plans and programmes are not confined to one-off actions but have instead established a comprehensive training and information programme for local populations,

| M. | whereas local authorities are key players in the field of development, helping to dynamise and coordinate economic and social operators at local level, |
| --- | --- |

M.

whereas local authorities are key players in the field of development, helping to dynamise and coordinate economic and social operators at local level,

| N. | whereas the twinning links between towns and cities in Europe and in the South currently do not receive any financial support from the EU, despite the growing number of cooperation initiatives set up by European towns vis-à-vis their counterparts in Southern countries, |
| --- | --- |

N.

whereas the twinning links between towns and cities in Europe and in the South currently do not receive any financial support from the EU, despite the growing number of cooperation initiatives set up by European towns vis-à-vis their counterparts in Southern countries,

| O. | whereas immigrant populations in Europe play an important role in development cooperation and offer added value in terms of their potential contributions, their skills and their closeness to their countries of origin; whereas, in this context, decentralised cooperation is a key and appropriate area of intervention for immigrant communities' international solidarity organisations with regard both to activities set up in their countries of origin and to development education and awareness-raising projects in the host country, |
| --- | --- |

O.

whereas immigrant populations in Europe play an important role in development cooperation and offer added value in terms of their potential contributions, their skills and their closeness to their countries of origin; whereas, in this context, decentralised cooperation is a key and appropriate area of intervention for immigrant communities' international solidarity organisations with regard both to activities set up in their countries of origin and to development education and awareness-raising projects in the host country,

In developing countries

| P. | whereas ‘decentralised cooperation’, as defined by the EU since the Fourth Lomé Conevntion (Lomé IV), signed on 15 December 1989, reflects a desire no longer to take decisions on aid to developing countries solely with the third countries concerned, but to involve local authorities in policy decisions and in implementing aid in order to ensure that it is more effective and viable; whereas the aim is to make a lasting change to European cooperation procedures on the basis of people's expectations so that projects are better geared to real needs, |
| --- | --- |

P.

whereas ‘decentralised cooperation’, as defined by the EU since the Fourth Lomé Conevntion (Lomé IV), signed on 15 December 1989, reflects a desire no longer to take decisions on aid to developing countries solely with the third countries concerned, but to involve local authorities in policy decisions and in implementing aid in order to ensure that it is more effective and viable; whereas the aim is to make a lasting change to European cooperation procedures on the basis of people's expectations so that projects are better geared to real needs,

| Q. | whereas participation in and ownership of development policies, which are priority principles for the EU, must include the involvement of local authorities, since the fact that they extend over the whole territory enables them to conduct a proximity policy and to communicate the expectations of the people on a day-to-day basis, in particular in the most remote regions, |
| --- | --- |

Q.

whereas participation in and ownership of development policies, which are priority principles for the EU, must include the involvement of local authorities, since the fact that they extend over the whole territory enables them to conduct a proximity policy and to communicate the expectations of the people on a day-to-day basis, in particular in the most remote regions,

| R. | whereas local authorities have experience of local needs in all developing countries, in areas as diverse as sanitation, education, health, housing, the promotion of women in local decision-making bodies, information systems on drugs, tourism management, the protection of the urban historical heritage, the development of local health services, water management and public transport, |
| --- | --- |

R.

whereas local authorities have experience of local needs in all developing countries, in areas as diverse as sanitation, education, health, housing, the promotion of women in local decision-making bodies, information systems on drugs, tourism management, the protection of the urban historical heritage, the development of local health services, water management and public transport,

| S. | whereas the decentralisation and State reforms currently taking place in most regions of the world have resulted in local authorities asserting themselves as a sphere of government that is both distinct and representative, with new responsibilities in extremely varied sectors of political activity, which are essential for combating poverty and achieving the MDGs, such as primary health care, water, sanitation, access to education, environmental protection, local economic development, HIV/AIDS prevention and gender equality, |
| --- | --- |

S.

whereas the decentralisation and State reforms currently taking place in most regions of the world have resulted in local authorities asserting themselves as a sphere of government that is both distinct and representative, with new responsibilities in extremely varied sectors of political activity, which are essential for combating poverty and achieving the MDGs, such as primary health care, water, sanitation, access to education, environmental protection, local economic development, HIV/AIDS prevention and gender equality,

| T. | whereas the involvement of local authorities can contribute to strengthening local democracy and democratisation of aid management at local level, in view of the role which national associations of local authorities can play in this area in Southern countries, |
| --- | --- |

T.

whereas the involvement of local authorities can contribute to strengthening local democracy and democratisation of aid management at local level, in view of the role which national associations of local authorities can play in this area in Southern countries,

| U. | whereas, wherever they have electoral legitimacy, the strategic role of local authorities, midway between national government and civil society, makes them an ideal intermediary to promote the consultation between the various partners in the development process that is required for effective and coordinated aid, |
| --- | --- |

U.

whereas, wherever they have electoral legitimacy, the strategic role of local authorities, midway between national government and civil society, makes them an ideal intermediary to promote the consultation between the various partners in the development process that is required for effective and coordinated aid,

| V. | whereas local authorities which, being closer to local conditions than central government or international donors, contribute specific added value, are better equipped to assess the local impact of national and international development strategies, and thus able to provide assistance that is better geared to the specific needs of the areas under their administration, |
| --- | --- |

V.

whereas local authorities which, being closer to local conditions than central government or international donors, contribute specific added value, are better equipped to assess the local impact of national and international development strategies, and thus able to provide assistance that is better geared to the specific needs of the areas under their administration,

| W. | whereas, with adequate resources, local authorities could act as a stable framework enabling new players to express themselves, organise themselves and adjust to European partnership requirements, |
| --- | --- |

W.

whereas, with adequate resources, local authorities could act as a stable framework enabling new players to express themselves, organise themselves and adjust to European partnership requirements,

| X. | whereas their specific knowledge of the area under their administration makes local authorities a crucial lever in combating poverty and inequality, |
| --- | --- |

X.

whereas their specific knowledge of the area under their administration makes local authorities a crucial lever in combating poverty and inequality,

| Y. | whereas, for instance, in the Latin American region, the rapid development of urbanisation is placing urban policies at the forefront of development issues and making towns and urban conurbations the main interlocutors of governments in dealing with major social problems (migration, youth, poverty and employment), |
| --- | --- |

Y.

whereas, for instance, in the Latin American region, the rapid development of urbanisation is placing urban policies at the forefront of development issues and making towns and urban conurbations the main interlocutors of governments in dealing with major social problems (migration, youth, poverty and employment),

| Z. | whereas there is a need to promote dialogue between local authorities and non-State actors for the purpose of devising and implementing local development projects funded by the Community, |
| --- | --- |

Z.

whereas there is a need to promote dialogue between local authorities and non-State actors for the purpose of devising and implementing local development projects funded by the Community,

| AA. | whereas the involvement of local authorities in developing countries calls for a process of ownership of development cooperation strategies, which requires, among other things, improvements in their access to information, their organisational resources and representation mechanisms, and their capacities for dialogue and initiative on cooperation policies, and involvement in national, regional and international dialogue and consultation bodies, |
| --- | --- |

AA.

whereas the involvement of local authorities in developing countries calls for a process of ownership of development cooperation strategies, which requires, among other things, improvements in their access to information, their organisational resources and representation mechanisms, and their capacities for dialogue and initiative on cooperation policies, and involvement in national, regional and international dialogue and consultation bodies,

| AB. | whereas the UCLG has a role to play in the restructuring and presentation of the needs of local authorities in developing countries, |
| --- | --- |

AB.

whereas the UCLG has a role to play in the restructuring and presentation of the needs of local authorities in developing countries,

| AC. | whereas, despite this expertise in development, the role of local authorities in development has so far been under-estimated and under-exploited, |
| --- | --- |

AC.

whereas, despite this expertise in development, the role of local authorities in development has so far been under-estimated and under-exploited,

Providing local authorities with the resources to play their role in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals

| 1. | Recalls that the Commission has for a long time been committed to giving local authorities a role as full partners in development aid, its latest commitments being, for ACP countries, the Cotonou Agreement and, for all developing countries, the moral underpinning of the abovementioned European Consensus on Development; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Recalls that the Commission has for a long time been committed to giving local authorities a role as full partners in development aid, its latest commitments being, for ACP countries, the Cotonou Agreement and, for all developing countries, the moral underpinning of the abovementioned European Consensus on Development;

| 2. | Recognises that the involvement of local authorities in development policies is essential for achieving the MDGs and ensuring good governance; believes that ownership of development policies is a significant step towards transparency and democracy in development aid and enables more effective and more viable projects and programmes to be devised on the basis of beneficiaries' real needs; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Recognises that the involvement of local authorities in development policies is essential for achieving the MDGs and ensuring good governance; believes that ownership of development policies is a significant step towards transparency and democracy in development aid and enables more effective and more viable projects and programmes to be devised on the basis of beneficiaries' real needs;

| 3. | Stresses the importance of North-South and South-South partnerships between local authorities and their representative associations in contributing to the strengthening of good governance and the achievement of the MDGs; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Stresses the importance of North-South and South-South partnerships between local authorities and their representative associations in contributing to the strengthening of good governance and the achievement of the MDGs;

| 4. | Calls on the Commission to support and strengthen direct cooperation between European local authorities and their international partners; calls, in particular, for steps to be taken to ensure the continuity, including in financial terms, of the solidarity networks set up by the URB-AL, Asia URBS and other programmes, due to end in 2007 at the latest, which all represent commitments made to people; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Calls on the Commission to support and strengthen direct cooperation between European local authorities and their international partners; calls, in particular, for steps to be taken to ensure the continuity, including in financial terms, of the solidarity networks set up by the URB-AL, Asia URBS and other programmes, due to end in 2007 at the latest, which all represent commitments made to people;

| 5. | Stresses that the principles of ownership, participation and good governance call for a multi-stakeholder approach in which the various development partners, whether third countries, local authorities or non-State actors, act in a complementary and coherent manner; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Stresses that the principles of ownership, participation and good governance call for a multi-stakeholder approach in which the various development partners, whether third countries, local authorities or non-State actors, act in a complementary and coherent manner;

| 6. | Stresses that local governments should enlist the support of the other local stakeholders (universities, social agents, development NGOs, companies, etc.) and stimulate citizens' participation in public life; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Stresses that local governments should enlist the support of the other local stakeholders (universities, social agents, development NGOs, companies, etc.) and stimulate citizens' participation in public life;

| 7. | Calls on the local stakeholders to work together with international organisations to monitor industry and agriculture with the aim of preventing child labour and cooperating in the construction and maintenance of adequate school facilities with trained teaching staff and free transport and meals, so that all children are able to attend school; |
| --- | --- |

7.

Calls on the local stakeholders to work together with international organisations to monitor industry and agriculture with the aim of preventing child labour and cooperating in the construction and maintenance of adequate school facilities with trained teaching staff and free transport and meals, so that all children are able to attend school;

| 8. | Considers it important, however, to make a clear distinction between the specific role of local authorities and that of non-State actors, in terms of their sphere of competence, legitimacy and democratic control, experience in the management of local affairs and involvement in the implementation of public policies; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Considers it important, however, to make a clear distinction between the specific role of local authorities and that of non-State actors, in terms of their sphere of competence, legitimacy and democratic control, experience in the management of local affairs and involvement in the implementation of public policies;

| 9. | Welcomes the political recognition and the specific funds granted to local authorities by the abovementioned instrument for development cooperation (DCI): (a) local authorities are involved upstream in the definition of the cooperation strategies of developing countries, the drawing up of geographic and thematic programmes, their implementation and their evaluation; (b) up to 15 % of the thematic programme ‘non- State actors and local authorities’ may be allocated directly to local authorities; (c) European local authorities will be integrated in a structured political dialogue with the Community institutions and the other Northern development stakeholders; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Welcomes the political recognition and the specific funds granted to local authorities by the abovementioned instrument for development cooperation (DCI): (a) local authorities are involved upstream in the definition of the cooperation strategies of developing countries, the drawing up of geographic and thematic programmes, their implementation and their evaluation; (b) up to 15 % of the thematic programme ‘non- State actors and local authorities’ may be allocated directly to local authorities; (c) European local authorities will be integrated in a structured political dialogue with the Community institutions and the other Northern development stakeholders;

| 10. | Calls on the Commission to refer, in future development cooperation financing instruments and legislative texts, to the role of local authorities and their representative associations as ‘political partners’ and to ensure that they are involved in all phases of the cooperation process and have direct access to Community funding; |
| --- | --- |

10.

Calls on the Commission to refer, in future development cooperation financing instruments and legislative texts, to the role of local authorities and their representative associations as ‘political partners’ and to ensure that they are involved in all phases of the cooperation process and have direct access to Community funding;

| 11. | Calls on the Commission to specify in the country strategy papers the procedures and mechanisms for more closely involving local authorities, their representative organisations and civil society partners in all phases of the cooperation process (dialogues and formulation of strategy papers, programming, implementation, reviews, evaluations) and for EU delegations to be informed thereof in order to ensure their implementation; |
| --- | --- |

11.

Calls on the Commission to specify in the country strategy papers the procedures and mechanisms for more closely involving local authorities, their representative organisations and civil society partners in all phases of the cooperation process (dialogues and formulation of strategy papers, programming, implementation, reviews, evaluations) and for EU delegations to be informed thereof in order to ensure their implementation;

| 12. | Calls on the Commission and the Council to recognise associations of Southern local authorities as effective interfaces between local authorities on the one hand and the governments of the Member States and the EU on the other, in defining strategies and implementing development policies; |
| --- | --- |

12.

Calls on the Commission and the Council to recognise associations of Southern local authorities as effective interfaces between local authorities on the one hand and the governments of the Member States and the EU on the other, in defining strategies and implementing development policies;

| 13. | Regrets that, to date, local authorities in developing countries have only been involved in the implementation of projects and not in the definition of development policies, even in ACP countries, despite the revision of the Cotonou Agreement which places political dialogue with local authorities at the heart of the partnership; undertakes, therefore, to carry out a detailed political follow-up with associations of elected representatives of the implementation of the DCI within both the EU and developing countries, in particular by examining country strategy papers, and to inform local authorities of new opportunities open to them and, in the event of difficulties on the ground raised by local authorities, to forward information to the Commission; |
| --- | --- |

13.

Regrets that, to date, local authorities in developing countries have only been involved in the implementation of projects and not in the definition of development policies, even in ACP countries, despite the revision of the Cotonou Agreement which places political dialogue with local authorities at the heart of the partnership; undertakes, therefore, to carry out a detailed political follow-up with associations of elected representatives of the implementation of the DCI within both the EU and developing countries, in particular by examining country strategy papers, and to inform local authorities of new opportunities open to them and, in the event of difficulties on the ground raised by local authorities, to forward information to the Commission;

| 14. | Stresses, in this connection, that the Commission's above-mentioned Introductory Note of 23 December 1999 put forward an Operational Guide for delegations in all developing countries which clearly explained how to involve local authorities and non-State actors in each phase of the cooperation process, advocated that decentralised stakeholders be ‘involved upstream in policy formulation and programming’, and which remains a useful guide for the implementation of new development instruments; |
| --- | --- |

14.

Stresses, in this connection, that the Commission's above-mentioned Introductory Note of 23 December 1999 put forward an Operational Guide for delegations in all developing countries which clearly explained how to involve local authorities and non-State actors in each phase of the cooperation process, advocated that decentralised stakeholders be ‘involved upstream in policy formulation and programming’, and which remains a useful guide for the implementation of new development instruments;

| 15. | Welcomes the fact that, in its abovementioned Communication of 25 January 2006, the Commission reaffirms that local authorities are full stakeholders in development and proposes ‘involving non-State actors and local authorities in the development process, including through dialogue and financial support’; stresses that, in accordance with the new DCI provisions, this will mean providing for their involvement in the devising of national strategies and geographic programmes, given that this is where Community cooperation policy guidelines are defined; regrets therefore that, in the same Communication, the Commission restricts the possibility of local authority involvement and considers it as secondary, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, in relation to geographic programmes; considers, therefore, that cooperation between local authorities and central government will make development aid more effective and enable more effective use to be made of the funding earmarked and also allow aid to reach those most in need; |
| --- | --- |

15.

Welcomes the fact that, in its abovementioned Communication of 25 January 2006, the Commission reaffirms that local authorities are full stakeholders in development and proposes ‘involving non-State actors and local authorities in the development process, including through dialogue and financial support’; stresses that, in accordance with the new DCI provisions, this will mean providing for their involvement in the devising of national strategies and geographic programmes, given that this is where Community cooperation policy guidelines are defined; regrets therefore that, in the same Communication, the Commission restricts the possibility of local authority involvement and considers it as secondary, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, in relation to geographic programmes; considers, therefore, that cooperation between local authorities and central government will make development aid more effective and enable more effective use to be made of the funding earmarked and also allow aid to reach those most in need;

| 16. | Stresses the need to establish an ongoing dialogue and consultation between the EU and local authorities and their representative associations at all levels, national, regional and global, in particular by involving them as observers in forums for dialogue between the EU and partner countries, such as the Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the ACP-EU Council of Ministers, on the same terms as the representatives of non-State actors; |
| --- | --- |

16.

Stresses the need to establish an ongoing dialogue and consultation between the EU and local authorities and their representative associations at all levels, national, regional and global, in particular by involving them as observers in forums for dialogue between the EU and partner countries, such as the Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the ACP-EU Council of Ministers, on the same terms as the representatives of non-State actors;

| 17. | Calls for local authorities and their representative associations to be allowed to benefit from direct and appropriate funding: (a) under DCI geographic programmes, in view of their role in local governance and the importance of their participation in the achievement of the MDGs; (b) in the ‘non-State actors and local authorities’ thematic programme, given that the enhancement of their capacity for dialogue and participation in the cooperation process (organisation and representation, establishment of consultation, dialogue and lobby mechanisms) in Europe and developing countries calls for financial support that is more in keeping with their new responsibilities; |
| --- | --- |

17.

Calls for local authorities and their representative associations to be allowed to benefit from direct and appropriate funding: (a) under DCI geographic programmes, in view of their role in local governance and the importance of their participation in the achievement of the MDGs; (b) in the ‘non-State actors and local authorities’ thematic programme, given that the enhancement of their capacity for dialogue and participation in the cooperation process (organisation and representation, establishment of consultation, dialogue and lobby mechanisms) in Europe and developing countries calls for financial support that is more in keeping with their new responsibilities;

| 18. | Calls, therefore, on the Commission for the revision of the coming development instruments in 2008/2009:






  — | to ensure that decentralisation and local authority action become a focus of Community aid in developing countries; |
| --- | --- | --- |

18.

Calls, therefore, on the Commission for the revision of the coming development instruments in 2008/2009:

—

to ensure that decentralisation and local authority action become a focus of Community aid in developing countries;

| — | to see to it that a significant proportion of EU budgetary aid for geographic programmes to developing countries is allocated directly to local authorities, in consultation with central governments, in order to improve governance of aid in developing countries, to strengthen local democracy and to improve access for populations to Community funds, in accordance with the principles laid down in the European Consensus on Development, |
| --- | --- |

—

to see to it that a significant proportion of EU budgetary aid for geographic programmes to developing countries is allocated directly to local authorities, in consultation with central governments, in order to improve governance of aid in developing countries, to strengthen local democracy and to improve access for populations to Community funds, in accordance with the principles laid down in the European Consensus on Development,

| — | to increase the budget line of the thematic programme on ‘Non-State actors and local authorities’, given their comprehensive role in the achievement of the MDGs, in particular the role of local authorities in the supply of local public services, |
| --- | --- |

—

to increase the budget line of the thematic programme on ‘Non-State actors and local authorities’, given their comprehensive role in the achievement of the MDGs, in particular the role of local authorities in the supply of local public services,

| — | to accelerate support for capacity building of ACP local government and information sharing under the Cotonou Agreement, notably through the ACP Local Government Platform and its membership, including the prompt putting into effect of the funding bid endorsed by the Committee of ACP Ambassadors in October 2003; |
| --- | --- |

—

to accelerate support for capacity building of ACP local government and information sharing under the Cotonou Agreement, notably through the ACP Local Government Platform and its membership, including the prompt putting into effect of the funding bid endorsed by the Committee of ACP Ambassadors in October 2003;

| — | where decentralisation is not a focal point, to support the action of local authorities through aid to the country's decentralisation policy in terms of capacities, fund availability, budgetary support, legislative support or other forms of support; |
| --- | --- |

—

where decentralisation is not a focal point, to support the action of local authorities through aid to the country's decentralisation policy in terms of capacities, fund availability, budgetary support, legislative support or other forms of support;

| — | to set up mechanisms in order to allocate sectoral aid on a territorial basis with a view to ensuring that local authorities play the role conferred on them by decentralisation laws, since local authorities provide added value as regards the implementation of sectoral programmes, in particular in terms of health, education and essential public services, but are at present often excluded from this process; |
| --- | --- |

—

to set up mechanisms in order to allocate sectoral aid on a territorial basis with a view to ensuring that local authorities play the role conferred on them by decentralisation laws, since local authorities provide added value as regards the implementation of sectoral programmes, in particular in terms of health, education and essential public services, but are at present often excluded from this process;

| 19. | Stresses the importance of a structured dialogue between European local authorities and Community institutions, as defined by the DCI, so that European local authorities are provided with a framework in which they can effectively cooperate and dialogue with development institutions and other stakeholders; |
| --- | --- |

19.

Stresses the importance of a structured dialogue between European local authorities and Community institutions, as defined by the DCI, so that European local authorities are provided with a framework in which they can effectively cooperate and dialogue with development institutions and other stakeholders;

| 20. | Calls on the Commission to establish a partnership with a platform of associations representing local authorities active in the field of cooperation, modelled on Concord (European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development) for NGOs, to facilitate dialogue and cooperation with Community institutions, coordinate cooperation between local authorities and assist local authorities in implementing development policies, and in particular strengthen the capacities of its members; |
| --- | --- |

20.

Calls on the Commission to establish a partnership with a platform of associations representing local authorities active in the field of cooperation, modelled on Concord (European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development) for NGOs, to facilitate dialogue and cooperation with Community institutions, coordinate cooperation between local authorities and assist local authorities in implementing development policies, and in particular strengthen the capacities of its members;

| 21. | Calls on the Commission to set up an international monitoring centre for local democracy and decentralisation, in partnership with local authority organisations, to:






  — | monitor the involvement of local authorities in the process of cooperation with the EU (political dialogue, formulation of development strategies, programming, implementation and evaluation) and alert the institutions of difficulties encountered on the ground, |
| --- | --- | --- |

21.

Calls on the Commission to set up an international monitoring centre for local democracy and decentralisation, in partnership with local authority organisations, to:

—

monitor the involvement of local authorities in the process of cooperation with the EU (political dialogue, formulation of development strategies, programming, implementation and evaluation) and alert the institutions of difficulties encountered on the ground,

| — | draw up a world map of local governance, listing projects, stakeholders, and budgets available to local authorities around the world in order to facilitate coordination, coherence and synergy between the various local government partners, |
| --- | --- |

—

draw up a world map of local governance, listing projects, stakeholders, and budgets available to local authorities around the world in order to facilitate coordination, coherence and synergy between the various local government partners,

| — | create tools for the purpose of providing information and supporting the involvement of local authorities in the European cooperation process, such as updated information on new opportunities available to local authorities since the reform of aid, technical aid in order to respond to calls for tenders and calls for proposals, etc.; |
| --- | --- |

—

create tools for the purpose of providing information and supporting the involvement of local authorities in the European cooperation process, such as updated information on new opportunities available to local authorities since the reform of aid, technical aid in order to respond to calls for tenders and calls for proposals, etc.;

| — | monitor and analyse compliance with standards relating to democracy and human rights, notably those relating specifically to local democracy and good governance as set out in relevant Community and other internationally agreed standards such as those of the UN, the African Union, or the Commonwealth; |
| --- | --- |

—

monitor and analyse compliance with standards relating to democracy and human rights, notably those relating specifically to local democracy and good governance as set out in relevant Community and other internationally agreed standards such as those of the UN, the African Union, or the Commonwealth;

| 22. | Calls on the Commission to promote structural measures aimed at providing an impetus to and support for decentralisation and local capacity building in partner countries, together with greater democracy and citizen participation; |
| --- | --- |

22.

Calls on the Commission to promote structural measures aimed at providing an impetus to and support for decentralisation and local capacity building in partner countries, together with greater democracy and citizen participation;

| 23. | Proposes the use of the mechanisms for revising cooperation strategies, including that of the Cotonou Agreement, to monitor progress made in the involvement of local authorities in the cooperation process and to seek to remove legal, political and organisational constraints on the involvement of local authorities in the cooperation process; |
| --- | --- |

23.

Proposes the use of the mechanisms for revising cooperation strategies, including that of the Cotonou Agreement, to monitor progress made in the involvement of local authorities in the cooperation process and to seek to remove legal, political and organisational constraints on the involvement of local authorities in the cooperation process;

*

**

| 24. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the parliaments and governments of the Member States. |
| --- | --- |

24.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the parliaments and governments of the Member States.

---

(1)  OJ C 46, 24.2.2006, p. 1.

(2)  OJ L 378, 27.12.2006, p. 41.

(3)  OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 3. Agreement last amended by Decision No 1/2006 of the Council of ACP-EC Ministers (OJ L 247, 9.9.2006, p. 22).

(4)  OJ L 209, 11.8.2005, p. 27.

(5)  OJ L 213, 30.7.1998, p. 6. Regulation last amended by Regulation (EC) No 625/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 99, 3.4.2004, p. 1).

P6_TA(2007)0084

Guatemala

European Parliament resolution of 15 March 2007 on Guatemala

The European Parliament,

| — | having regard to its previous resolutions on Guatemala, and in particular those of 18 May 2000 (1), 14 June 2001 (2), 11 April 2002 (3), 10 April 2003 (4), 7 July 2005 (5), and 26 October 2006 on the proceedings against Rios Montt (6), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its previous resolutions on Guatemala, and in particular those of 18 May 2000 (1), 14 June 2001 (2), 11 April 2002 (3), 10 April 2003 (4), 7 July 2005 (5), and 26 October 2006 on the proceedings against Rios Montt (6),

| — | having regard to the agreement between the Government of Guatemala and the United Nations to establish an International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), adopted on 12 December 2006, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the agreement between the Government of Guatemala and the United Nations to establish an International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), adopted on 12 December 2006,

| — | having regard to its firm and permanent commitment to ensuring respect for the peace agreements and for human rights in Guatemala, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its firm and permanent commitment to ensuring respect for the peace agreements and for human rights in Guatemala,

| — | having regard to the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, of the other part, signed on 15 December 2003, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, of the other part, signed on 15 December 2003,

| — | having regard to the position expressed by the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) on the assassinations of three Central American parliamentarians, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the position expressed by the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) on the assassinations of three Central American parliamentarians,

| — | having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

| A. | whereas on 19 February 2007, three Members of the Central American Parliament, the Salvadoreans Eduardo José D'Aubuisson Munguía, William Rizziery Pichinte Chávez and José Ramón González Rivas, as well as their driver, Gerardo Napoleón Ramírez, were brutally murdered as they were driving towards the Parlacen plenary meeting, and their charred and abandoned corpses were found near Guatemala City, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas on 19 February 2007, three Members of the Central American Parliament, the Salvadoreans Eduardo José D'Aubuisson Munguía, William Rizziery Pichinte Chávez and José Ramón González Rivas, as well as their driver, Gerardo Napoleón Ramírez, were brutally murdered as they were driving towards the Parlacen plenary meeting, and their charred and abandoned corpses were found near Guatemala City,

| B. | whereas the alleged perpetrators of these crimes (Luis Arturo Herrera López, José Estuardo López, José Adolfo Gutiérrez and Marvin Escobar Méndez), who held positions of responsibility in the Division of Criminal Investigation in the Police Department of Guatemala, were subsequently killed in the highsecurity prison where they were being held, in bizarre circumstances, which have still not been clarified, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas the alleged perpetrators of these crimes (Luis Arturo Herrera López, José Estuardo López, José Adolfo Gutiérrez and Marvin Escobar Méndez), who held positions of responsibility in the Division of Criminal Investigation in the Police Department of Guatemala, were subsequently killed in the highsecurity prison where they were being held, in bizarre circumstances, which have still not been clarified,

| C. | whereas there are suspicions that these killings constituted an attempt to hamper the investigations into the instigators of the murders of the members of the Parlacen, |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas there are suspicions that these killings constituted an attempt to hamper the investigations into the instigators of the murders of the members of the Parlacen,

| D. | whereas television journalists who covered the murder of the four police officers have received death threats after broadcasting their report, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas television journalists who covered the murder of the four police officers have received death threats after broadcasting their report,

| E. | whereas, according to human rights experts, several thousand homicides are committed every year in Guatemala but arrests are made in only 2% of cases; whereas trade unionists (such as Pedro Zamora in Puerto Quetzal), peasant leaders and their families have also been killed earlier in 2007, and threats, break-ins and burglaries are suffered by witnesses of cases of genocide under investigation, as well as by the legal representatives of genocide victims and by different human rights organisations, |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas, according to human rights experts, several thousand homicides are committed every year in Guatemala but arrests are made in only 2% of cases; whereas trade unionists (such as Pedro Zamora in Puerto Quetzal), peasant leaders and their families have also been killed earlier in 2007, and threats, break-ins and burglaries are suffered by witnesses of cases of genocide under investigation, as well as by the legal representatives of genocide victims and by different human rights organisations,

| F. | whereas Vice-President Eduardo Stein has admitted how difficult it is to fight organised crime when it is deeply entrenched in the public institutions themselves; whereas this case highlights the extent to which organised crime has penetrated the Guatemalan police, the growth of an atmosphere of impunity, and the deterioration of public safety, and this points to the need to assume political responsibility, |
| --- | --- |

F.

whereas Vice-President Eduardo Stein has admitted how difficult it is to fight organised crime when it is deeply entrenched in the public institutions themselves; whereas this case highlights the extent to which organised crime has penetrated the Guatemalan police, the growth of an atmosphere of impunity, and the deterioration of public safety, and this points to the need to assume political responsibility,

| 1. | Expresses its total repudiation of all the murders concerned, and transmits its condolences to the victims' relatives; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Expresses its total repudiation of all the murders concerned, and transmits its condolences to the victims' relatives;

| 2. | Expects the Guatemalan government to guarantee full independence, liberty and security to the Guatemalan judicial authorities in their investigation of these crimes; calls for the full cooperation of the political, judicial and police authorities in Guatemala and El Salvador in the investigation of the events; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Expects the Guatemalan government to guarantee full independence, liberty and security to the Guatemalan judicial authorities in their investigation of these crimes; calls for the full cooperation of the political, judicial and police authorities in Guatemala and El Salvador in the investigation of the events;

| 3. | Urges the Guatemalan Parliament to ratify the setting up CICIG agreement; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Urges the Guatemalan Parliament to ratify the setting up CICIG agreement;

| 4. | Calls on the European Union and the Guatemalan Government to summon the Consultative Group on Guatemala, involving the major donor countries, in order to support the implementation of the CICIG and promote a national dialogue against impunity; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Calls on the European Union and the Guatemalan Government to summon the Consultative Group on Guatemala, involving the major donor countries, in order to support the implementation of the CICIG and promote a national dialogue against impunity;

| 5. | Urges the Guatemalan Parliament to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, adopted on 17 July 1998 and to modify its domestic legislation in line with the obligations derived from the Rome Statute and other relevant international law; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Urges the Guatemalan Parliament to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, adopted on 17 July 1998 and to modify its domestic legislation in line with the obligations derived from the Rome Statute and other relevant international law;

| 6. | Calls on the Guatemalan Government to adopt measures to protect the judicial agents, the victims of crimes against humanity who are seeking justice, the human rights activists, and the witnesses who can help the trials progress; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Calls on the Guatemalan Government to adopt measures to protect the judicial agents, the victims of crimes against humanity who are seeking justice, the human rights activists, and the witnesses who can help the trials progress;

| 7. | Welcomes the restructuring and purging of the security forces introduced by the government; |
| --- | --- |

7.

Welcomes the restructuring and purging of the security forces introduced by the government;

| 8. | Expresses its support for the Guatemalan people and authorities, in continuing to uphold the rule of law and foster economic, social and political development, which will contribute to peace and national reconciliation; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Expresses its support for the Guatemalan people and authorities, in continuing to uphold the rule of law and foster economic, social and political development, which will contribute to peace and national reconciliation;

| 9. | Urges the Commission to strengthen, in its strategy of cooperation with Guatemala for the period 2007 to 2013, the promotion of the rule of law, the fight against impunity, full respect for human rights, and support for the Guatemalan Government in the capacity building of its security forces on the basis of respect for human rights; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Urges the Commission to strengthen, in its strategy of cooperation with Guatemala for the period 2007 to 2013, the promotion of the rule of law, the fight against impunity, full respect for human rights, and support for the Guatemalan Government in the capacity building of its security forces on the basis of respect for human rights;

| 10. | Stresses that it is absolutely necessary that the authorities in the country where the Parlacen has its seat should act to ensure the safety and guarantee the physical integrity of the Members of the Parlacen and its meetings; |
| --- | --- |

10.

Stresses that it is absolutely necessary that the authorities in the country where the Parlacen has its seat should act to ensure the safety and guarantee the physical integrity of the Members of the Parlacen and its meetings;

| 11. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of Guatemala, El Salvador and the other countries of Central America, and the Central American Parliament. |
| --- | --- |

11.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of Guatemala, El Salvador and the other countries of Central America, and the Central American Parliament.

---

(1)  OJ C 59, 23.2.2001, p. 286.

(2)  OJ C 53 E, 28.2.2002, p. 403.

(3)  OJ C 127 E, 29.5.2003, p. 688.

(4)  OJ C 64 E, 12.3.2004, p. 609.

(5)  OJ C 157 E, 6.7.2006, p. 494.

(6)  Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2006)0466.

P6_TA(2007)0085

Cambodia

European Parliament resolution of 15 March 2007 on Cambodia

The European Parliament,

| — | having regard to its resolutions of 13 January 2005 (1), 10 March 2005 (2) and 19 January 2006 (3) on Cambodia and its resolution of 1 December 2005 on the human rights situation in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (4), |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its resolutions of 13 January 2005 (1), 10 March 2005 (2) and 19 January 2006 (3) on Cambodia and its resolution of 1 December 2005 on the human rights situation in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (4),

| — | having regard to the Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Cambodia (5), approved on 4 October 1999, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Cambodia (5), approved on 4 October 1999,

| — | having regard to the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted on 9 December 1998, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted on 9 December 1998,

| — | having regard to the European Union Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the Council on 14 June 2004, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the European Union Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the Council on 14 June 2004,

| — | having regard to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both adopted on 16 December 1966, to which Cambodia is a party, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both adopted on 16 December 1966, to which Cambodia is a party,

| — | having regard to the Agreement between the United Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia concerning the Prosecution under Cambodian Law of Crimes Committed during the Period of Democratic Kampuchea of 6 June 2003, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to the Agreement between the United Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia concerning the Prosecution under Cambodian Law of Crimes Committed during the Period of Democratic Kampuchea of 6 June 2003,

| — | having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

| A. | whereas on 24 February 2007 Hy Vuthy, President of the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) at the Suntex garment factory, was shot dead after finishing his night shift at the Suntex factory in Phnom Penh's Dangkao district, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas on 24 February 2007 Hy Vuthy, President of the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) at the Suntex garment factory, was shot dead after finishing his night shift at the Suntex factory in Phnom Penh's Dangkao district,

| B. | whereas Chea Vichea, the FTUWKC President, was shot dead on 22 January 2004 and Ros Sovannarith, the FTUWKC President at the Trinunggal Komara factory, was murdered on 7 May 2004, while other trade unionists in Cambodia have been victims of serious harassment, intimidation and physical attacks in the past year, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas Chea Vichea, the FTUWKC President, was shot dead on 22 January 2004 and Ros Sovannarith, the FTUWKC President at the Trinunggal Komara factory, was murdered on 7 May 2004, while other trade unionists in Cambodia have been victims of serious harassment, intimidation and physical attacks in the past year,

| C. | whereas the murder of Chea Vichea has still not been solved; whereas on 28 January 2004 Born Sammang and Sok Sam Oeun were arrested for the alleged murder of Chea Vichea and later convicted and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment despite the lack of any credible evidence against them, |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas the murder of Chea Vichea has still not been solved; whereas on 28 January 2004 Born Sammang and Sok Sam Oeun were arrested for the alleged murder of Chea Vichea and later convicted and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment despite the lack of any credible evidence against them,

| D. | whereas Cambodia is a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which provide for the right of everyone to form trade unions and join the trade union of his or her choice as well as the right of trade unions to operate freely, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas Cambodia is a party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which provide for the right of everyone to form trade unions and join the trade union of his or her choice as well as the right of trade unions to operate freely,

| E. | whereas the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders also enshrines ‘the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights’ (Article 1), |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders also enshrines ‘the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights’ (Article 1),

| F. | whereas it is seriously concerned that the abovementioned cases demonstrate that there is still no guarantee of the independence and impartiality of the judiciary or of its ability to conduct the trials of the Khmer Rouge leaders in the specially created court without political interference, |
| --- | --- |

F.

whereas it is seriously concerned that the abovementioned cases demonstrate that there is still no guarantee of the independence and impartiality of the judiciary or of its ability to conduct the trials of the Khmer Rouge leaders in the specially created court without political interference,

| G. | whereas the proceedings before the extraordinary chambers in the courts of Cambodia (ECCC) have not started, because of various disagreements between the Cambodian and the international judicial officers concerning the draft internal rules for the ECCC, |
| --- | --- |

G.

whereas the proceedings before the extraordinary chambers in the courts of Cambodia (ECCC) have not started, because of various disagreements between the Cambodian and the international judicial officers concerning the draft internal rules for the ECCC,

| H. | alarmed by the uncertain legal status in Cambodia of Montagnard refugees from Vietnam, |
| --- | --- |

H.

alarmed by the uncertain legal status in Cambodia of Montagnard refugees from Vietnam,

| 1. | Condemns the killing of Hy Vuthy and all other acts of violence against trade unionists; urges the Cambodian authorities to launch an urgent, impartial and effective investigation into the murders of Hy Vuthy, Chea Vichea, Ros Sovannarith and Yim Ry, to make the findings public and to bring the persons responsible to justice; calls on the authorities to give Born Sammang and Sok Sam Oeum a prompt retrial which complies with international standards; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Condemns the killing of Hy Vuthy and all other acts of violence against trade unionists; urges the Cambodian authorities to launch an urgent, impartial and effective investigation into the murders of Hy Vuthy, Chea Vichea, Ros Sovannarith and Yim Ry, to make the findings public and to bring the persons responsible to justice; calls on the authorities to give Born Sammang and Sok Sam Oeum a prompt retrial which complies with international standards;

| 2. | Insists that the Cambodian Government must put an end to the prevailing climate of impunity and effectively apply the law to violators of human rights and civil liberties; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Insists that the Cambodian Government must put an end to the prevailing climate of impunity and effectively apply the law to violators of human rights and civil liberties;

| 3. | Reminds the Cambodian Government that it must meet its obligations and commitments with regard to the democratic principles and fundamental human rights which are an essential element of the Cooperation Agreement with the European Community, as defined in Article 1 of that agreement; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Reminds the Cambodian Government that it must meet its obligations and commitments with regard to the democratic principles and fundamental human rights which are an essential element of the Cooperation Agreement with the European Community, as defined in Article 1 of that agreement;

| 4. | Calls on the Cambodian authorities to engage in political and institutional reforms with a view to building a democratic State governed by the rule of law and founded on respect for fundamental freedoms and to ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, in accordance with international human rights standards and international conventions ratified by Cambodia; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Calls on the Cambodian authorities to engage in political and institutional reforms with a view to building a democratic State governed by the rule of law and founded on respect for fundamental freedoms and to ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, in accordance with international human rights standards and international conventions ratified by Cambodia;

| 5. | Urges the Cambodian Government to allow the Khmer Rouge Tribunal to start operating without further delay, in accordance with international standards of judicial independence, fair trial and due legal process, as agreed with the UN in June 2003; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Urges the Cambodian Government to allow the Khmer Rouge Tribunal to start operating without further delay, in accordance with international standards of judicial independence, fair trial and due legal process, as agreed with the UN in June 2003;

| 6. | Supports the efforts of the ECCC Review Committee on the Internal Rules to narrow the differences on a number of issues in order to move prosecutions and trials forward; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Supports the efforts of the ECCC Review Committee on the Internal Rules to narrow the differences on a number of issues in order to move prosecutions and trials forward;

| 7. | Calls on the Council and the Commission to address the concerns over human rights and the rule of law in Cambodia in their contacts with the Cambodian Government; |
| --- | --- |

7.

Calls on the Council and the Commission to address the concerns over human rights and the rule of law in Cambodia in their contacts with the Cambodian Government;

| 8. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government and National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Human Rights in Cambodia, and the governments of the ASEAN Member States. |
| --- | --- |

8.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government and National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Human Rights in Cambodia, and the governments of the ASEAN Member States.

---

(1)  OJ C 247 E, 6.10.2005, p. 161.

(2)  OJ C 320 E, 15.12.2005, p. 280.

(3)  OJ C 287 E, 24.11.2006, p. 334.

(4)  OJ C 285 E, 22.11.2006, p. 129.

(5)  OJ L 269, 19.10.1999, p. 18.

P6_TA(2007)0086

Nigeria

European Parliament resolution of 15 March 2007 on Nigeria

The European Parliament,

| — | having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Nigeria, |
| --- | --- |

—

having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Nigeria,

| — | having regard to the international human rights conventions ratified by Nigeria, |
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—

having regard to the international human rights conventions ratified by Nigeria,

| — | having regard to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure, |
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—

having regard to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure,

| A. | whereas, despite efforts made in recent years by the Nigerian government to promote human rights and to stem corruption, and, despite some improvements in respect for civil and political rights, a number of urgent and basic human rights issues remain to be addressed; and whereas the country remains marred by corruption, arbitrary arrests and torture, extrajudicial killings and political violence, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas, despite efforts made in recent years by the Nigerian government to promote human rights and to stem corruption, and, despite some improvements in respect for civil and political rights, a number of urgent and basic human rights issues remain to be addressed; and whereas the country remains marred by corruption, arbitrary arrests and torture, extrajudicial killings and political violence,

| B. | whereas ethnic and religious divisions, as well as widespread poverty, are major causes of chronic intercommunal violence, |
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B.

whereas ethnic and religious divisions, as well as widespread poverty, are major causes of chronic intercommunal violence,

| C. | whereas Islamic Sharia courts have jurisdiction over criminal cases in 12 of Nigeria's 36 States; whereas these courts continue to hand down death sentences as well as sentences of flogging and amputation; whereas, although executions and amputations are no longer being carried out, trials do not conform to international standards, for instance with regard to the right to a lawyer, and informing the accused of their rights, and they tend to discriminate against women, |
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C.

whereas Islamic Sharia courts have jurisdiction over criminal cases in 12 of Nigeria's 36 States; whereas these courts continue to hand down death sentences as well as sentences of flogging and amputation; whereas, although executions and amputations are no longer being carried out, trials do not conform to international standards, for instance with regard to the right to a lawyer, and informing the accused of their rights, and they tend to discriminate against women,

| D. | whereas impunity remains the rule rather than the exception, since very few of the perpetrators of violence and human rights violations are investigated and brought to justice, and whereas such impunity is in itself one of the most important obstacles to tackling and ending human rights abuse and violence, |
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D.

whereas impunity remains the rule rather than the exception, since very few of the perpetrators of violence and human rights violations are investigated and brought to justice, and whereas such impunity is in itself one of the most important obstacles to tackling and ending human rights abuse and violence,

| E. | whereas insufficient capacity and lack of resources of the Nigerian police force limit the possibilities of investigating crimes and also result in large numbers of people being held in extended pre-trial detention in violation of their rights, |
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E.

whereas insufficient capacity and lack of resources of the Nigerian police force limit the possibilities of investigating crimes and also result in large numbers of people being held in extended pre-trial detention in violation of their rights,

| F. | whereas police and security forces have often been implicated in human rights violations including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and torture, |
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F.

whereas police and security forces have often been implicated in human rights violations including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and torture,

| G. | whereas child labour and child trafficking remain widespread, |
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G.

whereas child labour and child trafficking remain widespread,

| H. | whereas freedom of expression remains limited by the continued harassment of journalists and political activists, |
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H.

whereas freedom of expression remains limited by the continued harassment of journalists and political activists,

| I. | whereas the Nigerian Parliament is currently examining a Bill entitled the ‘Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act’, imposing a five-year prison sentence on anyone who ‘performs, witnesses, aids or abets the ceremony of same sex marriage’, but also on anyone involved publicly or privately in positive representation of, or advocacy for, same sex relationships, |
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I.

whereas the Nigerian Parliament is currently examining a Bill entitled the ‘Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act’, imposing a five-year prison sentence on anyone who ‘performs, witnesses, aids or abets the ceremony of same sex marriage’, but also on anyone involved publicly or privately in positive representation of, or advocacy for, same sex relationships,

| J. | whereas state and national elections in 1999 and 2003 could not be considered as free and fair due to widespread fraud and violence, |
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J.

whereas state and national elections in 1999 and 2003 could not be considered as free and fair due to widespread fraud and violence,

| 1. | Calls on the Nigerian Government to take immediate and effective measures to protect its citizens, put an end to the violence, widespread corruption and impunity for the perpetrators of human rights violations, and to actively promote respect for human rights; |
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1.

Calls on the Nigerian Government to take immediate and effective measures to protect its citizens, put an end to the violence, widespread corruption and impunity for the perpetrators of human rights violations, and to actively promote respect for human rights;

| 2. | Calls on the Nigerian Government to abolish the death penalty and to intervene in individual cases of persons tried under Sharia law and sentenced to death, amputation, flogging or other inhuman and degrading treatment that violates the Nigerian Constitution as well as international human rights law; |
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2.

Calls on the Nigerian Government to abolish the death penalty and to intervene in individual cases of persons tried under Sharia law and sentenced to death, amputation, flogging or other inhuman and degrading treatment that violates the Nigerian Constitution as well as international human rights law;

| 3. | Welcomes the multilateral agreement among 26 western and central African countries against trafficking in women and children, as well as other efforts made in this area by the Nigerian authorities; calls, however, on the Nigerian Government to take further measures in this area as well as in tackling the exploitation of children through child labour; |
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3.

Welcomes the multilateral agreement among 26 western and central African countries against trafficking in women and children, as well as other efforts made in this area by the Nigerian authorities; calls, however, on the Nigerian Government to take further measures in this area as well as in tackling the exploitation of children through child labour;

| 4. | Calls on all stakeholders in the forthcoming national elections in April to publicly declare their commitment to ending political violence, killings, intimidation and other human rights abuses as well as impunity for such crimes; |
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4.

Calls on all stakeholders in the forthcoming national elections in April to publicly declare their commitment to ending political violence, killings, intimidation and other human rights abuses as well as impunity for such crimes;

| 5. | Calls on the Nigerian Government to take all necessary measures to address pre-election concerns regarding restrictions on the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), abusive conduct and harassment by security forces, and any other obstacle to freedom of expression and opinion and other basic requirements for free and fair elections; |
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5.

Calls on the Nigerian Government to take all necessary measures to address pre-election concerns regarding restrictions on the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), abusive conduct and harassment by security forces, and any other obstacle to freedom of expression and opinion and other basic requirements for free and fair elections;

| 6. | Calls on the Nigerian Parliament not to adopt the proposed ‘Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act’ in its current form, since it contains infringements of the basic human rights of freedom of expression and opinion, in particular since it envisages a five-year prison sentence for anyone involved publicly or privately in positive representation of, or advocacy for, same sex relationships; |
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6.

Calls on the Nigerian Parliament not to adopt the proposed ‘Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act’ in its current form, since it contains infringements of the basic human rights of freedom of expression and opinion, in particular since it envisages a five-year prison sentence for anyone involved publicly or privately in positive representation of, or advocacy for, same sex relationships;

| 7. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the Government and Parliament of Nigeria. |
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7.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the Government and Parliament of Nigeria.

P6_TA(2007)0087

Attack on Galina Kozlova

European Parliament resolution of 15 March 2007 on Galina Kozlova

The European Parliament,

| — | having regard to its previous resolution of 12 May 2005 on violations of human rights and democracy in the Republic of Mari El in the Russian Federation (1), to its other resolutions on Russia, in particular that of 13 December 2006 on the EU-Russia summit which was held in Helsinki on 24 November 2006 (2) and that of 25 October 2006 on EU-Russia relations following the murder of the Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya (3), and to the resolution on EU-Russia relations adopted on 26 May 2005 (4), |
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—

having regard to its previous resolution of 12 May 2005 on violations of human rights and democracy in the Republic of Mari El in the Russian Federation (1), to its other resolutions on Russia, in particular that of 13 December 2006 on the EU-Russia summit which was held in Helsinki on 24 November 2006 (2) and that of 25 October 2006 on EU-Russia relations following the murder of the Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya (3), and to the resolution on EU-Russia relations adopted on 26 May 2005 (4),

| — | having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part, which entered into force on 1 December 1997 (5), |
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—

having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part, which entered into force on 1 December 1997 (5),

| — | having regard to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and in particular to Article 10 thereof, |
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—

having regard to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and in particular to Article 10 thereof,

| — | having regard to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages signed by the Russian Federation on 10 May 2001, |
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—

having regard to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages signed by the Russian Federation on 10 May 2001,

| — | having regard to the Constitution of the Mari Republic (Mari El), which recognises Mari as one of the State languages, and to the 1995 Act on Linguistic Matters that declares Mari El a multi-ethnic republic and provides for the right of all citizens regardless of their ethnicity to maintain and develop their native language and culture, |
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—

having regard to the Constitution of the Mari Republic (Mari El), which recognises Mari as one of the State languages, and to the 1995 Act on Linguistic Matters that declares Mari El a multi-ethnic republic and provides for the right of all citizens regardless of their ethnicity to maintain and develop their native language and culture,

| — | having regard to the credible reports by Russian and international NGOs of continuing violations of human rights and irregularities in Mari El, |
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—

having regard to the credible reports by Russian and international NGOs of continuing violations of human rights and irregularities in Mari El,

| — | having regard to the ongoing EU-Russia consultations on human rights, minorities and fundamental freedoms, |
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—

having regard to the ongoing EU-Russia consultations on human rights, minorities and fundamental freedoms,

| — | having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure, |
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—

having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

| A. | whereas Galina Kozlova, a member of the board of the Mari national organisation Mari Ušem, editor of the literary magazine Ontšõko and wife of Vladimir Kozlov, chair of the Mari council, was brutally attacked on 25 January 2007 and suffered head injuries resulting in concussion and severe headaches, dizziness and eyesight problems, |
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A.

whereas Galina Kozlova, a member of the board of the Mari national organisation Mari Ušem, editor of the literary magazine Ontšõko and wife of Vladimir Kozlov, chair of the Mari council, was brutally attacked on 25 January 2007 and suffered head injuries resulting in concussion and severe headaches, dizziness and eyesight problems,

| B. | whereas, according to Mari Ušem, the attack could not have been an ordinary robbery attempt, |
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B.

whereas, according to Mari Ušem, the attack could not have been an ordinary robbery attempt,

| C. | whereas the attack on Mrs Kozlova followed a series of attacks on activists and journalists in Mari El, including the killing of three journalists in 2001, an attack on Vladimir Kozlov on 4 February 2005 and an attack on the former leader of the Mari movement, Nina Maksimova, |
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C.

whereas the attack on Mrs Kozlova followed a series of attacks on activists and journalists in Mari El, including the killing of three journalists in 2001, an attack on Vladimir Kozlov on 4 February 2005 and an attack on the former leader of the Mari movement, Nina Maksimova,

| D. | whereas, in October 2006, Vladimir Kozlov was optimistic about the future of his organisation, pointing out that no Mari El ethnic rights activist had been the target of an assault for over a year, but this allegedly less hostile attitude to Mari Ušem has now been brutally reversed, |
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D.

whereas, in October 2006, Vladimir Kozlov was optimistic about the future of his organisation, pointing out that no Mari El ethnic rights activist had been the target of an assault for over a year, but this allegedly less hostile attitude to Mari Ušem has now been brutally reversed,

| E. | whereas the local and federal governments have failed to take adequate steps to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of journalists and the independence of the media, |
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E.

whereas the local and federal governments have failed to take adequate steps to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of journalists and the independence of the media,

| F. | whereas opposition media and newsletters face considerable difficulty in operating freely, so that, for example, several opposition newspapers can only be printed outside Mari El, |
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F.

whereas opposition media and newsletters face considerable difficulty in operating freely, so that, for example, several opposition newspapers can only be printed outside Mari El,

| G. | whereas individuals belonging to the Mari minority face considerable difficulty in obtaining education in their native language, since there is no secondary or higher education in the Mari language, |
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G.

whereas individuals belonging to the Mari minority face considerable difficulty in obtaining education in their native language, since there is no secondary or higher education in the Mari language,

| 1. | Strongly condemns the attack on Galina Kozlova, which has so far not led to any convictions or even arrests, and the continuing harassment of, and assaults on, activists, leading cultural figures and independent journalists in Mari El; and calls on the federal and local authorities to bring the perpetrators of these acts to justice and ensure respect for freedom of expression; |
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1.

Strongly condemns the attack on Galina Kozlova, which has so far not led to any convictions or even arrests, and the continuing harassment of, and assaults on, activists, leading cultural figures and independent journalists in Mari El; and calls on the federal and local authorities to bring the perpetrators of these acts to justice and ensure respect for freedom of expression;

| 2. | Is convinced that the multi-ethnic character of the Russian Federation greatly contributes to the cultural and linguistic diversity of Europe and is a phenomenon of which all citizens of the Russian Federation are justifiably proud and which should be preserved for the benefit of all Europeans; |
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2.

Is convinced that the multi-ethnic character of the Russian Federation greatly contributes to the cultural and linguistic diversity of Europe and is a phenomenon of which all citizens of the Russian Federation are justifiably proud and which should be preserved for the benefit of all Europeans;

| 3. | Calls for a speedy, comprehensive and independent inquiry by federal and local judicial authorities into the attacks on Mrs Kozlova and other similar incidents; |
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3.

Calls for a speedy, comprehensive and independent inquiry by federal and local judicial authorities into the attacks on Mrs Kozlova and other similar incidents;

| 4. | Calls on the Government of Mari El immediately to halt political retribution and intimidation directed at dissenting public servants and to refrain from undue political interference in the affairs of educational and cultural institutions; |
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4.

Calls on the Government of Mari El immediately to halt political retribution and intimidation directed at dissenting public servants and to refrain from undue political interference in the affairs of educational and cultural institutions;

| 5. | Calls on the local and federal authorities to honour their obligations under international law and to take adequate steps to facilitate the practical implementation of the provisions of the Constitution and legislation relating to the maintenance and development of minority languages and cultures, with particular emphasis on providing quality education in a person's native language at all levels, thus ensuring that the Mari language and Russian are placed on the same footing throughout Mari El; |
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5.

Calls on the local and federal authorities to honour their obligations under international law and to take adequate steps to facilitate the practical implementation of the provisions of the Constitution and legislation relating to the maintenance and development of minority languages and cultures, with particular emphasis on providing quality education in a person's native language at all levels, thus ensuring that the Mari language and Russian are placed on the same footing throughout Mari El;

| 6. | Calls on the Commission to raise the issue of Finno-Ugric minorities in Russia, and concerns regarding the situation in Mari El, during the regular EU-Russia human rights dialogue and at the forthcoming EU-Russia Summit; |
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6.

Calls on the Commission to raise the issue of Finno-Ugric minorities in Russia, and concerns regarding the situation in Mari El, during the regular EU-Russia human rights dialogue and at the forthcoming EU-Russia Summit;

| 7. | Calls on the Commission to include programmes targeting Finno-Ugric and other minorities in the framework of EU-Russia cultural and educational cooperation; |
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7.

Calls on the Commission to include programmes targeting Finno-Ugric and other minorities in the framework of EU-Russia cultural and educational cooperation;

| 8. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Governments of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Mari El. |
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8.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Governments of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Mari El.

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(1)  OJ C 92 E, 20.4.2006, p. 409.

(2)  Texts Adopted P6_TA(2006)0566.

(3)  Texts Adopted P6_TA(2006)0448.

(4)  OJ C 117 E, 18.5.2006, p. 235.

(5)  OJ L 327, 28.11.1997, p. 1.

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