# Official Journal C 305E/2010

| | ISSN 1725-2423
  doi:10.3000/17252423.CE2010.305.eng |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | C 305E |
| | |
| English edition | Information and Notices | Volume 5311 November 2010 |

ISSN 1725-2423

doi:10.3000/17252423.CE2010.305.eng

Official Journal

of the European Union

C 305E

English edition

Information and Notices

Volume 5311 November 2010

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| Notice No | Contents | page |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | I   Resolutions, recommendations and opinions |
| | RESOLUTIONS |
| | European Parliament2009-2010 SESSIONSittings of 20 and 21 January 2010The Minutes of this session have been published in OJ C 104 E, 23.4.2010.TEXTS ADOPTED |
| | Wednesday 20 January 2010 |
| 2010/C 305E/01 | Second revision of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement (Cotonou Agreement)European Parliament resolution of 20 January 2010 on the second revision of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement (the Cotonou Agreement) (2009/2165(INI)) | 1 |
| | Thursday 21 January 2010 |
| 2010/C 305E/02 | Recent attacks on Christian communitiesEuropean Parliament resolution of 21 January 2010 on recent attacks on Christian communities | 7 |
| 2010/C 305E/03 | Human Rights violations in China, notably the case of Liu XiaoboEuropean Parliament resolution of 21 January 2010 on human rights violations in China, notably the case of Liu Xiaobo | 9 |
| 2010/C 305E/04 | PhilippinesEuropean Parliament resolution of 21 January 2010 on the Philippines | 11 |
| 2010/C 305E/05 | European Strategy for the Danube RegionEuropean Parliament resolution of 21 January 2010 on a European Strategy for the Danube Region | 14 |

Notice No

Contents

page

I   Resolutions, recommendations and opinions

RESOLUTIONS

European Parliament2009-2010 SESSIONSittings of 20 and 21 January 2010The Minutes of this session have been published in OJ C 104 E, 23.4.2010.TEXTS ADOPTED

Wednesday 20 January 2010

2010/C 305E/01

Second revision of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement (Cotonou Agreement)European Parliament resolution of 20 January 2010 on the second revision of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement (the Cotonou Agreement) (2009/2165(INI))

1

Thursday 21 January 2010

2010/C 305E/02

Recent attacks on Christian communitiesEuropean Parliament resolution of 21 January 2010 on recent attacks on Christian communities

7

2010/C 305E/03

Human Rights violations in China, notably the case of Liu XiaoboEuropean Parliament resolution of 21 January 2010 on human rights violations in China, notably the case of Liu Xiaobo

9

2010/C 305E/04

PhilippinesEuropean Parliament resolution of 21 January 2010 on the Philippines

11

2010/C 305E/05

European Strategy for the Danube RegionEuropean Parliament resolution of 21 January 2010 on a European Strategy for the Danube Region

14

| | II   Information |
| --- | --- |
| | INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES |
| | European Parliament |
| | Wednesday 20 January 2010 |
| 2010/C 305E/06 | Election of the European OmbudsmanEuropean Parliament decision of 20 January 2010 electing the European Ombudsman | 19 |
| ANNEX | 20 |
| 2010/C 305E/07 | Proposal for the appointment of a member of the panel consulted prior to the appointment of Judges and Advocates-General of the Court of Justice and the General CourtEuropean Parliament decision of 20 January 2010 proposing the appointment of Ana Palacio Vallelersundi to the panel set up under Article 255 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (2009/2210(INS)) | 21 |

II   Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Parliament

Wednesday 20 January 2010

2010/C 305E/06

Election of the European OmbudsmanEuropean Parliament decision of 20 January 2010 electing the European Ombudsman

19

ANNEX

20

2010/C 305E/07

Proposal for the appointment of a member of the panel consulted prior to the appointment of Judges and Advocates-General of the Court of Justice and the General CourtEuropean Parliament decision of 20 January 2010 proposing the appointment of Ana Palacio Vallelersundi to the panel set up under Article 255 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (2009/2210(INS))

21

| | III   Preparatory acts |
| --- | --- |
| | European Parliament |
| | Wednesday 20 January 2010 |
| 2010/C 305E/08 | Temporary suspension of autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties on imports of certain industrial products into Madeira and the Azores *European Parliament legislative resolution of 20 January 2010 on the proposal for a Council regulation temporarily suspending autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties on imports of certain industrial products into the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores (COM(2009)0370 – C7-0222/2009 – 2009/0125(CNS)) | 22 |

III   Preparatory acts

European Parliament

Wednesday 20 January 2010

2010/C 305E/08

Temporary suspension of autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties on imports of certain industrial products into Madeira and the Azores *European Parliament legislative resolution of 20 January 2010 on the proposal for a Council regulation temporarily suspending autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties on imports of certain industrial products into the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores (COM(2009)0370 – C7-0222/2009 – 2009/0125(CNS))

22

| Key to symbols used






  - | Consultation procedure |
| --- | --- |
| **I | Cooperation procedure: first reading |
| **II | Cooperation procedure: second reading |
| *** | Assent procedure |
| ***I | Codecision procedure: first reading |
| ***II | Codecision procedure: second reading |
| ***III | Codecision procedure: third reading |

Key to symbols used

*

Consultation procedure

**I

Cooperation procedure: first reading

**II

Cooperation procedure: second reading

***

Assent procedure

***I

Codecision procedure: first reading

***II

Codecision procedure: second reading

***III

Codecision procedure: third reading

(The type of procedure is determined by the legal basis proposed by the Commission.)

Political amendments: new or amended text is highlighted in bold italics; deletions are indicated by the symbol ▐.

Technical corrections and adaptations by the services: new or replacement text is highlighted in italics and deletions are indicated by the symbol ║.

| EN | |
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EN

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I Resolutions, recommendations and opinions

RESOLUTIONS

European Parliament 2009-2010 SESSION Sittings of 20 and 21 January 2010 The Minutes of this session have been published in OJ C 104 E, 23.4.2010. TEXTS ADOPTED

Wednesday 20 January 2010

| 11.11.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 305/1 |
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11.11.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 305/1

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Wednesday 20 January 2010Second revision of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement (Cotonou Agreement)

P7_TA(2010)0004

European Parliament resolution of 20 January 2010 on the second revision of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement (the ‘Cotonou Agreement’) (2009/2165(INI))

2010/C 305 E/01

The European Parliament,

having regard to Articles 208 to 211 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

having regard to the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) 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 (1) and revised in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005, as last amended by the Decision No 1/2006 of the ACP-EC Council of Ministers (2) (hereinafter ‘the Cotonou Agreement’),

having regard to Article 95 of the Cotonou Agreement, which provides for a revision clause allowing the Agreement to be adapted every five years,

having regard to the Council notification letter to the President of the ACP Council of Ministers, adopted at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting of 23 February 2009,

having regard to the Paris Declaration of 2 March 2005 on Aid Effectiveness, the aim of which is to promote a model to improve transparency and monitoring of resources for development,

having regard to Rules 90(5) and 48 of its Rules of Procedure,

having regard to the report of the Committee on Development and the opinion of the Committee on International Trade (A7-0086/2009),

| A. | whereas the primary objectives of the Cotonou Agreement are the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and the progressive integration of ACP countries into the world economy, |
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A.

whereas the primary objectives of the Cotonou Agreement are the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and the progressive integration of ACP countries into the world economy,

| B. | whereas since the last revision of the Cotonou Agreement in 2005 numerous changes have occurred on the international scene – such as soaring food and energy prices, unprecedented financial crisis, climate change consequences – which have their most serious repercussions on developing countries, |
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B.

whereas since the last revision of the Cotonou Agreement in 2005 numerous changes have occurred on the international scene – such as soaring food and energy prices, unprecedented financial crisis, climate change consequences – which have their most serious repercussions on developing countries,

| C. | whereas all these new developments in the global environment, if not addressed properly, risk to undermine the Cotonou Agreement’s objectives and dampen prospects for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, |
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C.

whereas all these new developments in the global environment, if not addressed properly, risk to undermine the Cotonou Agreement’s objectives and dampen prospects for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015,

| D. | whereas the conclusion and implementation of the regional Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) has undermined the cohesion of the ACP Group and the ongoing regional integration process; whereas there is a need to maintain the unity and coherence of the ACP group and the stability of the ACP-EU institutions, |
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D.

whereas the conclusion and implementation of the regional Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) has undermined the cohesion of the ACP Group and the ongoing regional integration process; whereas there is a need to maintain the unity and coherence of the ACP group and the stability of the ACP-EU institutions,

| E. | whereas the second review of the Cotonou Agreement is an extremely timely occasion to adjust its provisions in light of the above realities; whereas, however, most of these issues are only marginally touched upon in the Cotonou revision mandate, |
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E.

whereas the second review of the Cotonou Agreement is an extremely timely occasion to adjust its provisions in light of the above realities; whereas, however, most of these issues are only marginally touched upon in the Cotonou revision mandate,

| F. | whereas the areas notified for revision on the part of the EU or the ACP group include, inter alia:






  — | a regional dimension; |
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F.

whereas the areas notified for revision on the part of the EU or the ACP group include, inter alia:

—

a regional dimension;

| — | a political dimension, including migration and good governance in the fiscal area; |
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—

a political dimension, including migration and good governance in the fiscal area;

| — | an institutional dimension; |
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—

an institutional dimension;

| — | promoting the MDGs and policy coherence for development; |
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—

promoting the MDGs and policy coherence for development;

| — | humanitarian and emergency assistance, including clarification on procedures applied in situations of crisis; |
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—

humanitarian and emergency assistance, including clarification on procedures applied in situations of crisis;

| — | programming and implementation of aid, including programming of the intra-ACP envelope; |
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—

programming and implementation of aid, including programming of the intra-ACP envelope;

| — | climate change and food security as cross-cutting issues (notified by the ACP group), |
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—

climate change and food security as cross-cutting issues (notified by the ACP group),

| G. | whereas the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty is changing the institutional architecture of the EU and its balance in terms of decision making, |
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G.

whereas the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty is changing the institutional architecture of the EU and its balance in terms of decision making,

| 1. | Considers that the second review of the Cotonou Agreement should be an occasion to adjust it in the light of recent and current crises including climate change, soaring food and oil prices, financial crisis and abject poverty in Africa; believes that the need to address the root causes of these crises is not an option, but a necessity; |
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1.

Considers that the second review of the Cotonou Agreement should be an occasion to adjust it in the light of recent and current crises including climate change, soaring food and oil prices, financial crisis and abject poverty in Africa; believes that the need to address the root causes of these crises is not an option, but a necessity;

| 2. | Deplores the fact that the European Parliament, the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) and the national parliaments of the ACP States as well as civil society organisations and non-state actors were - once again - not involved in the decision-making process that led to the identification of areas and articles of the Cotonou Agreement for revision and to the establishment of the negotiating mandates adopted by the Council of the EU and the ACP Council of Ministers; |
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2.

Deplores the fact that the European Parliament, the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) and the national parliaments of the ACP States as well as civil society organisations and non-state actors were - once again - not involved in the decision-making process that led to the identification of areas and articles of the Cotonou Agreement for revision and to the establishment of the negotiating mandates adopted by the Council of the EU and the ACP Council of Ministers;

| 3. | Encourages the enhancement of the role of national parliaments in the ongoing process of revision and further reviews in order to improve democratic legitimacy and ownership; |
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3.

Encourages the enhancement of the role of national parliaments in the ongoing process of revision and further reviews in order to improve democratic legitimacy and ownership;

| 4. | Emphasises that this omission affects the transparency and credibility of the revision process and further alienates the EU and ACP populations from their governments and institutions; |
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4.

Emphasises that this omission affects the transparency and credibility of the revision process and further alienates the EU and ACP populations from their governments and institutions;

| 5. | Emphasises the importance of the ACP countries being regarded as equal negotiating partners of the EU, in order to establish a true Partnership Agreement; |
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5.

Emphasises the importance of the ACP countries being regarded as equal negotiating partners of the EU, in order to establish a true Partnership Agreement;

| 6. | Stresses the need to consolidate the political dimension of the Cotonou Agreement, particularly in respect of the commitment of the parties to implement the obligations stemming from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; |
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6.

Stresses the need to consolidate the political dimension of the Cotonou Agreement, particularly in respect of the commitment of the parties to implement the obligations stemming from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court;

| 7. | Calls on the Commission, the EU and the ACP Council to take into account the principles and results of the International Aid Transparency Initiative; |
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7.

Calls on the Commission, the EU and the ACP Council to take into account the principles and results of the International Aid Transparency Initiative;

| 8. | Regrets that the Commission, the EU and the ACP Council did not effectively consult non-state actors in the months preceding the signature of the Revised Cotonou Agreement and ensure their views would be taken into account; calls on the EU and ACP authorities to launch a debate on the future of ACP-EU relations post-2020 and to involve non-state actors in that process; |
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8.

Regrets that the Commission, the EU and the ACP Council did not effectively consult non-state actors in the months preceding the signature of the Revised Cotonou Agreement and ensure their views would be taken into account; calls on the EU and ACP authorities to launch a debate on the future of ACP-EU relations post-2020 and to involve non-state actors in that process;

| 9. | Considers that policy coherence for development, particularly between policies on trade, development, agriculture and fisheries, should be a guiding principle of EU development cooperation and must be explicitly addressed in the revised Agreement; encourages the Joint Parliamentary Assembly to make greater use of Article 12 of the Cotonou Agreement to maintain consistency between the policies of the EU and of the ACP countries; |
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9.

Considers that policy coherence for development, particularly between policies on trade, development, agriculture and fisheries, should be a guiding principle of EU development cooperation and must be explicitly addressed in the revised Agreement; encourages the Joint Parliamentary Assembly to make greater use of Article 12 of the Cotonou Agreement to maintain consistency between the policies of the EU and of the ACP countries;

| 10. | As regards Article 12 of the Cotonou Agreement, calls on the Commission to notify systematically the Secretariat of the ACP States and the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly of any European measures which might affect the interests of the ACP States; in this perspective, calls on the Commission to better use inter-service consultations between its Directorates-General, as well as policy impact assessments that might enhance Policy Coherence for Development; |
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10.

As regards Article 12 of the Cotonou Agreement, calls on the Commission to notify systematically the Secretariat of the ACP States and the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly of any European measures which might affect the interests of the ACP States; in this perspective, calls on the Commission to better use inter-service consultations between its Directorates-General, as well as policy impact assessments that might enhance Policy Coherence for Development;

| 11. | Considers it necessary, firstly in view of the entry into force of the EPAs for certain ACP countries only and secondly because various provisions of Article 37 of the Cotonou Agreement are out of date, to revise the part of the ACP-EU agreement concerning trade agreements in order to incorporate provisions concerning all the existing ACP-EU trade arrangements (Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), GSP plus, interim EPAs, EPAs with the Caribbean Forum of ACP States (Cariforum) countries) and to uphold a number of principles and commitments which should not be lost from the Agreement, namely:






  — | consistency between, on the one hand, all the trade frameworks governing relations between the ACP and EU countries and, on the other hand, the development objectives which are at the heart of ACP-EU cooperation, |
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11.

Considers it necessary, firstly in view of the entry into force of the EPAs for certain ACP countries only and secondly because various provisions of Article 37 of the Cotonou Agreement are out of date, to revise the part of the ACP-EU agreement concerning trade agreements in order to incorporate provisions concerning all the existing ACP-EU trade arrangements (Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), GSP plus, interim EPAs, EPAs with the Caribbean Forum of ACP States (Cariforum) countries) and to uphold a number of principles and commitments which should not be lost from the Agreement, namely:

—

consistency between, on the one hand, all the trade frameworks governing relations between the ACP and EU countries and, on the other hand, the development objectives which are at the heart of ACP-EU cooperation,

| — | the guarantee that all the ACP countries will have the benefit of a trade framework which is at least equivalent to their previous situation, particularly for countries which are not Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and are not signatories to an EPA, |
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—

the guarantee that all the ACP countries will have the benefit of a trade framework which is at least equivalent to their previous situation, particularly for countries which are not Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and are not signatories to an EPA,

| — | the guarantee that, for all the ACP countries, the new trade framework will take account of sensitive sectors, particularly agricultural food production, when determining transition periods and the final product coverage, and that it will make it possible to improve the market access which ACP countries enjoy, particularly by means of a review of the origin rules; |
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—

the guarantee that, for all the ACP countries, the new trade framework will take account of sensitive sectors, particularly agricultural food production, when determining transition periods and the final product coverage, and that it will make it possible to improve the market access which ACP countries enjoy, particularly by means of a review of the origin rules;

| 12. | Notes that, in their notification letters, the parties to the Cotonou Agreement explicitly ask for the revision of trade provisions; points out that new provisions need to be added in new areas, such as Aid for Trade in order to guarantee the development dimension in the trade areas of that Agreement; |
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12.

Notes that, in their notification letters, the parties to the Cotonou Agreement explicitly ask for the revision of trade provisions; points out that new provisions need to be added in new areas, such as Aid for Trade in order to guarantee the development dimension in the trade areas of that Agreement;

| 13. | Welcomes the request by the ACP countries for new provisions regarding cooperation in the following areas: trade and development, trade and finance, fair trade, and notes their request on trade in arms; |
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13.

Welcomes the request by the ACP countries for new provisions regarding cooperation in the following areas: trade and development, trade and finance, fair trade, and notes their request on trade in arms;

| 14. | Calls on the European Investment Bank (EIB) to review its policy on offshore financial centres on the basis of more stringent criteria than the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) listing for the definition of prohibited and monitored jurisdictions, and to ensure its implementation and provide annual reports on progress; |
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14.

Calls on the European Investment Bank (EIB) to review its policy on offshore financial centres on the basis of more stringent criteria than the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) listing for the definition of prohibited and monitored jurisdictions, and to ensure its implementation and provide annual reports on progress;

| 15. | Considers that structural changes in the EIB’s organisational and governance structure is necessary in order to ensure fulfilment of its development obligations in the context of the current review of the Cotonou Agreement and the ongoing mid-term review and renewal of the EIB’s external lending mandate; |
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15.

Considers that structural changes in the EIB’s organisational and governance structure is necessary in order to ensure fulfilment of its development obligations in the context of the current review of the Cotonou Agreement and the ongoing mid-term review and renewal of the EIB’s external lending mandate;

| 16. | Calls on the Commission and ACP governments to include the fight against abuses of tax havens, tax evasion and illicit capital flight as a matter of priority in the Cotonou Agreement; calls therefore for an international binding mechanism, which forces all transnational corporations to disclose automatically the profits made and the taxes paid in every country where they operate; |
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16.

Calls on the Commission and ACP governments to include the fight against abuses of tax havens, tax evasion and illicit capital flight as a matter of priority in the Cotonou Agreement; calls therefore for an international binding mechanism, which forces all transnational corporations to disclose automatically the profits made and the taxes paid in every country where they operate;

| 17. | Calls on the negotiators to address the tax-related aspect of development and to put in place effective and viable tax systems in the ACP countries in order to ensure sustainable source of development financing with the long-term objective of replacing foreign aid dependency; calls on the negotiators in this context to include in Article 9.3 of the ACP-EU agreement, concerning the proper management of public affairs, the principle of good fiscal governance; |
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17.

Calls on the negotiators to address the tax-related aspect of development and to put in place effective and viable tax systems in the ACP countries in order to ensure sustainable source of development financing with the long-term objective of replacing foreign aid dependency; calls on the negotiators in this context to include in Article 9.3 of the ACP-EU agreement, concerning the proper management of public affairs, the principle of good fiscal governance;

| 18. | Given that the European Development Fund (EDF) is the main financial resource for funding development cooperation policy under the Cotonou Agreement, calls for its inclusion in the budgetary powers of the European Parliament to allow tighter democratic control; |
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18.

Given that the European Development Fund (EDF) is the main financial resource for funding development cooperation policy under the Cotonou Agreement, calls for its inclusion in the budgetary powers of the European Parliament to allow tighter democratic control;

| 19. | Calls for a new global financial architecture to be worked out and agreed upon, which would allow developing countries to be represented through their respective regional organisations and to address their legitimate sustainable development concerns based on their specific situation; |
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19.

Calls for a new global financial architecture to be worked out and agreed upon, which would allow developing countries to be represented through their respective regional organisations and to address their legitimate sustainable development concerns based on their specific situation;

| 20. | Stresses the importance of promoting microcredit to facilitate investment and the development of small businesses; |
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20.

Stresses the importance of promoting microcredit to facilitate investment and the development of small businesses;

| 21. | Calls on the Commission and ACP governments to address the structural causes of climate change by putting in place an automatic climate change risk assessment in national development strategy and plans and in country and regional strategy papers; |
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21.

Calls on the Commission and ACP governments to address the structural causes of climate change by putting in place an automatic climate change risk assessment in national development strategy and plans and in country and regional strategy papers;

| 22. | Believes that renewable energy is vital for the economic and social development of ACP countries, as they are endowed with considerable renewable energy resources (solar energy, wind power, geothermal energy and biomass); urges the negotiators to pay particular attention to reducing ACP countries’ dependency on fossil fuels and decreasing their vulnerability to price rises, by giving priority to renewable energy in the Cotonou Agreement; |
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22.

Believes that renewable energy is vital for the economic and social development of ACP countries, as they are endowed with considerable renewable energy resources (solar energy, wind power, geothermal energy and biomass); urges the negotiators to pay particular attention to reducing ACP countries’ dependency on fossil fuels and decreasing their vulnerability to price rises, by giving priority to renewable energy in the Cotonou Agreement;

| 23. | Calls on the Commission and the ACP countries to promote equitable and sustainable development which incorporates the social dimension, by support for new forms of enterprise, including non-profit enterprises and/or businesses established with the aid of microcredit programmes in accordance with ethical and economic principles, as in social market economy models; |
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23.

Calls on the Commission and the ACP countries to promote equitable and sustainable development which incorporates the social dimension, by support for new forms of enterprise, including non-profit enterprises and/or businesses established with the aid of microcredit programmes in accordance with ethical and economic principles, as in social market economy models;

| 24. | Deplores the fact that despite the majority of ACP countries’ population living in rural areas and the fight against poverty being a primary objective of the Cotonou Agreement, agriculture remains a neglected sector in ACP-EU cooperation; |
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24.

Deplores the fact that despite the majority of ACP countries’ population living in rural areas and the fight against poverty being a primary objective of the Cotonou Agreement, agriculture remains a neglected sector in ACP-EU cooperation;

| 25. | Calls on the Commission, when implementing EU development policy, to address food security concerns consistently and coherently, to raise the profile of food security in dialogue on national and regional development policies, and to foster regional agricultural market development in developing countries; |
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25.

Calls on the Commission, when implementing EU development policy, to address food security concerns consistently and coherently, to raise the profile of food security in dialogue on national and regional development policies, and to foster regional agricultural market development in developing countries;

| 26. | Urges ACP countries and the Commission to focus on agricultural development to ensure food security and requests that agriculture and rural development become matters of priority in the Agreement and in the country and regional strategy papers; emphasises that ACP farmers need support and decent wages to produce for local markets and that they need infrastructures which can sustain trade and the movement of goods; |
| --- | --- |

26.

Urges ACP countries and the Commission to focus on agricultural development to ensure food security and requests that agriculture and rural development become matters of priority in the Agreement and in the country and regional strategy papers; emphasises that ACP farmers need support and decent wages to produce for local markets and that they need infrastructures which can sustain trade and the movement of goods;

| 27. | Asks the Commission to regularly consult and effectively involve women and consumers’ organisations in agricultural policy; considers that women’s associations should be actively involved in the decision-making processes, in view of their pivotal role in society; |
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27.

Asks the Commission to regularly consult and effectively involve women and consumers’ organisations in agricultural policy; considers that women’s associations should be actively involved in the decision-making processes, in view of their pivotal role in society;

| 28. | Expresses its deep concern about the current farmland acquisition (particularly in Africa) by government-backed foreign investors, which, if not handled properly, threatens to undermine local food security and lead to serious and far-reaching consequences in the ACP states; |
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28.

Expresses its deep concern about the current farmland acquisition (particularly in Africa) by government-backed foreign investors, which, if not handled properly, threatens to undermine local food security and lead to serious and far-reaching consequences in the ACP states;

| 29. | Urges the negotiators to avoid the adverse impacts of farm land acquisition (such as expropriation of small farmers and unsustainable use of land and water) by recognising the right of the people to ownership of farmland and other vital natural resources and by adopting guiding principles in this line; |
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29.

Urges the negotiators to avoid the adverse impacts of farm land acquisition (such as expropriation of small farmers and unsustainable use of land and water) by recognising the right of the people to ownership of farmland and other vital natural resources and by adopting guiding principles in this line;

| 30. | Urges ACP countries to establish policies, based on respect for human rights, democratic principles, rule of law, sound economic development and decent work, in order to combat brain drain and allow ACP countries to use their trained work force for their own development; |
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30.

Urges ACP countries to establish policies, based on respect for human rights, democratic principles, rule of law, sound economic development and decent work, in order to combat brain drain and allow ACP countries to use their trained work force for their own development;

| 31. | Calls on the Commission and the ACP countries to include in Article 13 of the ACP-EU agreement on migration the principle of circular migration and its facilitation by granting circular visas; stresses that the article in question emphasises respect for human rights and equitable treatment of nationals of ACP countries, but that the scope of these principles is seriously compromised by bilateral readmission agreements with transit countries in a context of externalisation by Europe of the management of migration, which do not guarantee respect for the rights of migrants and which may result in ‘cascade’ readmissions which jeopardise their safety and their lives; |
| --- | --- |

31.

Calls on the Commission and the ACP countries to include in Article 13 of the ACP-EU agreement on migration the principle of circular migration and its facilitation by granting circular visas; stresses that the article in question emphasises respect for human rights and equitable treatment of nationals of ACP countries, but that the scope of these principles is seriously compromised by bilateral readmission agreements with transit countries in a context of externalisation by Europe of the management of migration, which do not guarantee respect for the rights of migrants and which may result in ‘cascade’ readmissions which jeopardise their safety and their lives;

| 32. | Calls for negotiations to reinforce the principle of non-negotiable human rights clauses and sanctions for failure to respect such clauses, inter alia with regard to discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, sexual orientation and towards people living with HIV/AIDS; |
| --- | --- |

32.

Calls for negotiations to reinforce the principle of non-negotiable human rights clauses and sanctions for failure to respect such clauses, inter alia with regard to discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, sexual orientation and towards people living with HIV/AIDS;

| 33. | Expresses its deep concern at the limited number of existing facilities which may offer specialised medical care, despite the increasing numbers of both emergencies and chronic disease affected people; emphasises that medical infrastructure and public health systems need a boost through development strategies; |
| --- | --- |

33.

Expresses its deep concern at the limited number of existing facilities which may offer specialised medical care, despite the increasing numbers of both emergencies and chronic disease affected people; emphasises that medical infrastructure and public health systems need a boost through development strategies;

| 34. | Recalls that the ACP public health systems’ capacity to provide health assistance to the population and also for victims recovering following humanitarian crisis, conflict or post conflict, or natural disasters, is one of their main duties and of permanent immediate concern and should be accordingly promoted by ACP-EU cooperation; |
| --- | --- |

34.

Recalls that the ACP public health systems’ capacity to provide health assistance to the population and also for victims recovering following humanitarian crisis, conflict or post conflict, or natural disasters, is one of their main duties and of permanent immediate concern and should be accordingly promoted by ACP-EU cooperation;

| 35. | Expresses concern that increased regionalisation of ACP-EU relations may represent a threat to the coherence and strength of the ACP Group and may hinder the functioning of the joint ACP-EU institutions under the Cotonou Agreement; |
| --- | --- |

35.

Expresses concern that increased regionalisation of ACP-EU relations may represent a threat to the coherence and strength of the ACP Group and may hinder the functioning of the joint ACP-EU institutions under the Cotonou Agreement;

| 36. | Considers that the second revision should also update the text of the Agreement to reflect explicitly the establishment of new EPA institutions (e.g. Joint EPA Councils, Trade and Development Committees and Parliamentary Committees) and to ensure synergies and complementarity with the Cotonou institutions; |
| --- | --- |

36.

Considers that the second revision should also update the text of the Agreement to reflect explicitly the establishment of new EPA institutions (e.g. Joint EPA Councils, Trade and Development Committees and Parliamentary Committees) and to ensure synergies and complementarity with the Cotonou institutions;

| 37. | Underlines the importance of the parliamentary dimension of the Cotonou Agreement, embodied in the ACP-EU JPA; expresses its firm commitment to the JPA playing its full role in ensuring parliamentary participation in actions and processes under the Cotonou Agreement; emphasises its implacable opposition to any attempt to reduce the role of the JPA in particular by proposals that impact on its working methods and frequency of its meetings, which should be left to the JPA to determine for itself; |
| --- | --- |

37.

Underlines the importance of the parliamentary dimension of the Cotonou Agreement, embodied in the ACP-EU JPA; expresses its firm commitment to the JPA playing its full role in ensuring parliamentary participation in actions and processes under the Cotonou Agreement; emphasises its implacable opposition to any attempt to reduce the role of the JPA in particular by proposals that impact on its working methods and frequency of its meetings, which should be left to the JPA to determine for itself;

| 38. | Calls, with the aim of enhancing the parliamentary, representative and democratic character of the JPA, for all ACP countries to be genuinely represented by parliamentarians in the JPA in future and not by representatives of governments, as sometimes happens, and consequently for Article 17 of the ACP-EU agreement to be revised to this effect; |
| --- | --- |

38.

Calls, with the aim of enhancing the parliamentary, representative and democratic character of the JPA, for all ACP countries to be genuinely represented by parliamentarians in the JPA in future and not by representatives of governments, as sometimes happens, and consequently for Article 17 of the ACP-EU agreement to be revised to this effect;

| 39. | Believes firmly in the key role that ACP national parliaments may play in all aspects of development cooperation actions, including programming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation; calls for the revision of the Cotonou Agreement to give those parliaments formal recognition as participants in EDF-financed cooperation; |
| --- | --- |

39.

Believes firmly in the key role that ACP national parliaments may play in all aspects of development cooperation actions, including programming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation; calls for the revision of the Cotonou Agreement to give those parliaments formal recognition as participants in EDF-financed cooperation;

| 40. | Calls for the strengthening and upgrading of the ACP-EU JPA and insists that provisions be made in the Cotonou Agreement to allow the JPA and ACP parliaments to scrutinise the country and regional strategy papers, the ACP-EC EPAs and the EDF; calls for genuine synergy to be established between, on the one hand, the new parliamentary committees created by the EPAs and, on the other hand, the JPA; |
| --- | --- |

40.

Calls for the strengthening and upgrading of the ACP-EU JPA and insists that provisions be made in the Cotonou Agreement to allow the JPA and ACP parliaments to scrutinise the country and regional strategy papers, the ACP-EC EPAs and the EDF; calls for genuine synergy to be established between, on the one hand, the new parliamentary committees created by the EPAs and, on the other hand, the JPA;

| 41. | Welcomes future synergies between the Parliamentary Committees created by the EPAs and the ACP-EU JPA, by means of presentations by the Chair and the Rapporteurs as well as participation by members of the EPA Parliamentary Committees in the JPA and the organisation of parallel meetings when possible, etc., which will add specialised expertise to the JPA and allow for enriching exchanges and cooperation; |
| --- | --- |

41.

Welcomes future synergies between the Parliamentary Committees created by the EPAs and the ACP-EU JPA, by means of presentations by the Chair and the Rapporteurs as well as participation by members of the EPA Parliamentary Committees in the JPA and the organisation of parallel meetings when possible, etc., which will add specialised expertise to the JPA and allow for enriching exchanges and cooperation;

| 42. | Recalls that the Parliamentary Committees established by the EPAs have been created at the initiative of the European Parliament to ensure an adequate involvement of Members of Parliament specialised in trade and development issues in the monitoring of the implementation of complex technical trade agreements; |
| --- | --- |

42.

Recalls that the Parliamentary Committees established by the EPAs have been created at the initiative of the European Parliament to ensure an adequate involvement of Members of Parliament specialised in trade and development issues in the monitoring of the implementation of complex technical trade agreements;

| 43. | Calls on the Commission and ACP States to stick with the OECD Development Assistance Committee definition of Official Development Assistance while preparing country and regional strategy papers to be financed under the 10th EDF; |
| --- | --- |

43.

Calls on the Commission and ACP States to stick with the OECD Development Assistance Committee definition of Official Development Assistance while preparing country and regional strategy papers to be financed under the 10th EDF;

| 44. | Instructs its president to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and to the governments and parliaments of the EU Member States and ACP countries. |
| --- | --- |

44.

Instructs its president to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and to the governments and parliaments of the EU Member States and ACP countries.

---

(1)  OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 3.

(2)  OJ L 247, 9.9.2006, p. 22.

---

Thursday 21 January 2010

| 11.11.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 305/7 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

11.11.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 305/7

---

Thursday 21 January 2010Recent attacks on Christian communities

P7_TA(2010)0005

European Parliament resolution of 21 January 2010 on recent attacks on Christian communities

2010/C 305 E/02

The European Parliament,

having regard to its previous resolutions, and in particular that of 15 November 2007 on serious events which compromise Christian communities' existence and those of other religious communities,

having regard to Article 18 of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

having regard to the 1981 UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion and Belief,

having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

| A. | whereas the promotion of democracy and respect for human rights and civil liberties are fundamental principles and aims of the European Union and constitute common ground for its relations with third countries, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas the promotion of democracy and respect for human rights and civil liberties are fundamental principles and aims of the European Union and constitute common ground for its relations with third countries,

| B. | whereas, according to international human rights law and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in particular, everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; whereas this right includes freedom to change one’s religion or belief, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest one’s religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas, according to international human rights law and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in particular, everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; whereas this right includes freedom to change one’s religion or belief, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest one’s religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching,

| C. | whereas Europe, like other parts of the world, is not exempt from cases of violation of that freedom, and experiences individual crimes committed against members of minorities on the basis of their beliefs, |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas Europe, like other parts of the world, is not exempt from cases of violation of that freedom, and experiences individual crimes committed against members of minorities on the basis of their beliefs,

| D. | whereas the European Union has repeatedly expressed its commitment to freedom of thought, freedom of conscience and freedom of religion and has stressed that government has a duty to guarantee these freedoms all over the world, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas the European Union has repeatedly expressed its commitment to freedom of thought, freedom of conscience and freedom of religion and has stressed that government has a duty to guarantee these freedoms all over the world,

| E. | whereas on 6 January 2010 a drive-by shooting killed seven individuals – six Coptic Christians and a policeman – and injured others when worshipers were leaving a church after midnight mass on Coptic Christmas Eve in the city of Nagaa Hammadi in Upper Egypt; whereas, in recent weeks, further clashes involving Coptic Christians and Muslims have broken out and have been qualified by the Egyptian Government as individual incidents, |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas on 6 January 2010 a drive-by shooting killed seven individuals – six Coptic Christians and a policeman – and injured others when worshipers were leaving a church after midnight mass on Coptic Christmas Eve in the city of Nagaa Hammadi in Upper Egypt; whereas, in recent weeks, further clashes involving Coptic Christians and Muslims have broken out and have been qualified by the Egyptian Government as individual incidents,

| F. | whereas on 8 January 2010 the Egyptian authorities announced that they had arrested and were holding three people in connection with the attack in Nagaa Hammadi on 6 January; whereas the Egyptian Public Prosecutor decided that the three accused should be tried before the Emergency State Security Court for premeditated murder, |
| --- | --- |

F.

whereas on 8 January 2010 the Egyptian authorities announced that they had arrested and were holding three people in connection with the attack in Nagaa Hammadi on 6 January; whereas the Egyptian Public Prosecutor decided that the three accused should be tried before the Emergency State Security Court for premeditated murder,

| G. | whereas Coptic Christians represent around 10 % of the Egyptian population; whereas there have been recurrent acts of violence against Coptic Christians in Egypt over recent years, |
| --- | --- |

G.

whereas Coptic Christians represent around 10 % of the Egyptian population; whereas there have been recurrent acts of violence against Coptic Christians in Egypt over recent years,

| H. | whereas the Egyptian Constitution guarantees freedom of belief and freedom to practise religious rites, |
| --- | --- |

H.

whereas the Egyptian Constitution guarantees freedom of belief and freedom to practise religious rites,

| I. | whereas it attaches great importance to relations with Egypt and underlines the importance of Egypt and EU-Egypt relations for the stability and development of the EU-Mediterranean area, |
| --- | --- |

I.

whereas it attaches great importance to relations with Egypt and underlines the importance of Egypt and EU-Egypt relations for the stability and development of the EU-Mediterranean area,

| J. | whereas the Malaysian Catholic Church had filed a lawsuit against the Malaysian Government in 2007 after the Government threatened to prohibit publication of the Herald newspaper on grounds of national security if it did not stop using the word ‘Allah’, commonly used by the Bahasa-Malaysia-speaking community, of Christian faith, as a translation of ‘God’, |
| --- | --- |

J.

whereas the Malaysian Catholic Church had filed a lawsuit against the Malaysian Government in 2007 after the Government threatened to prohibit publication of the Herald newspaper on grounds of national security if it did not stop using the word ‘Allah’, commonly used by the Bahasa-Malaysia-speaking community, of Christian faith, as a translation of ‘God’,

| K. | whereas, on 31 December 2009, the Malaysian High Court ruled that Christians in Malaysia have the constitutional right to use the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God and that the word is not exclusive to Islam, |
| --- | --- |

K.

whereas, on 31 December 2009, the Malaysian High Court ruled that Christians in Malaysia have the constitutional right to use the word ‘Allah’ to refer to God and that the word is not exclusive to Islam,

| L. | whereas, following the ruling, there were at least nine attacks on Christian churches in Malaysia, |
| --- | --- |

L.

whereas, following the ruling, there were at least nine attacks on Christian churches in Malaysia,

| M. | whereas in 2009 the Government had confiscated more than 15 000 copies of the Bible in the Malay language, in which the word ‘Allah’ was used to refer to God, and it has not, to date, returned them, |
| --- | --- |

M.

whereas in 2009 the Government had confiscated more than 15 000 copies of the Bible in the Malay language, in which the word ‘Allah’ was used to refer to God, and it has not, to date, returned them,

| N. | whereas the Malaysian Government accepts the use of the word ‘Allah’ by the Christian communities in Sahah and Sarawak states, while questioning it in other regions of the country, thus generating additional discrimination among the whole Christian community in Malaysia, |
| --- | --- |

N.

whereas the Malaysian Government accepts the use of the word ‘Allah’ by the Christian communities in Sahah and Sarawak states, while questioning it in other regions of the country, thus generating additional discrimination among the whole Christian community in Malaysia,

| O. | whereas inter-community dialogue is crucial to promoting peace and mutual understanding between peoples, |
| --- | --- |

O.

whereas inter-community dialogue is crucial to promoting peace and mutual understanding between peoples,

| 1. | Stresses that the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is a fundamental human right guaranteed by international legal instruments, and strongly condemns all kinds of violence, discrimination and intolerance, based on religion and belief, against religious people, apostates and non-believers; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Stresses that the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is a fundamental human right guaranteed by international legal instruments, and strongly condemns all kinds of violence, discrimination and intolerance, based on religion and belief, against religious people, apostates and non-believers;

| 2. | Expresses its concern about the recent attacks against Coptic Christians in Egypt and its solidarity with the families of the victims; calls on the Egyptian Government to ensure the personal safety and physical integrity of Coptic Christians and of members of other religious minorities in the country; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Expresses its concern about the recent attacks against Coptic Christians in Egypt and its solidarity with the families of the victims; calls on the Egyptian Government to ensure the personal safety and physical integrity of Coptic Christians and of members of other religious minorities in the country;

| 3. | Welcomes the efforts made by the Egyptian authorities to identify the authors and perpetrators of the 6 January 2010 attack; calls on the Egyptian Government to ensure that all persons responsible for that attack, as well as for other violent acts against Coptic Christians or other religious or other minorities, are brought to justice and tried by due process; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Welcomes the efforts made by the Egyptian authorities to identify the authors and perpetrators of the 6 January 2010 attack; calls on the Egyptian Government to ensure that all persons responsible for that attack, as well as for other violent acts against Coptic Christians or other religious or other minorities, are brought to justice and tried by due process;

| 4. | Calls on the Egyptian Government to guarantee that Coptic Christians and members of other religious communities and of minorities enjoy the full range of human rights and fundamental freedoms – including the right to choose and change their religion freely – and to prevent any discrimination against them; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Calls on the Egyptian Government to guarantee that Coptic Christians and members of other religious communities and of minorities enjoy the full range of human rights and fundamental freedoms – including the right to choose and change their religion freely – and to prevent any discrimination against them;

| 5. | Deplores incidents of religiously motivated violence on European soil, including the murder of Marwa al-Sherbini, and expresses its solidarity with the families of the victims; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Deplores incidents of religiously motivated violence on European soil, including the murder of Marwa al-Sherbini, and expresses its solidarity with the families of the victims;

| 6. | Expresses its concern about the recent attacks against churches and places of worship in Malaysia and its solidarity with the victims; calls on the Malaysian authorities to ensure the personal safety and physical integrity of people practising their religion and to take appropriate steps to protect churches and other houses of worship; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Expresses its concern about the recent attacks against churches and places of worship in Malaysia and its solidarity with the victims; calls on the Malaysian authorities to ensure the personal safety and physical integrity of people practising their religion and to take appropriate steps to protect churches and other houses of worship;

| 7. | Calls on the Malaysian authorities to carry out thorough and rapid investigations into reported attacks against places of worship and to bring those responsible to justice; |
| --- | --- |

7.

Calls on the Malaysian authorities to carry out thorough and rapid investigations into reported attacks against places of worship and to bring those responsible to justice;

| 8. | Considers that the action of the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs constitutes violation of the freedom of religion; is especially worried that the Malaysian Government has acted outside the law and that its interference has contributed to mounting tensions among religious groups in the country; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Considers that the action of the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs constitutes violation of the freedom of religion; is especially worried that the Malaysian Government has acted outside the law and that its interference has contributed to mounting tensions among religious groups in the country;

| 9. | Welcomes the ruling by Malaysia's High Court and calls on the Malaysian authorities to respect its decision; calls on the Malaysian Government not to seek to reinstate the ban on use of the word ‘Allah’ but to try to defuse the resulting tensions and to refrain from further actions that might upset the peaceful coexistence between the dominant and minority religions, as stipulated in the Constitution of Malaysia; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Welcomes the ruling by Malaysia's High Court and calls on the Malaysian authorities to respect its decision; calls on the Malaysian Government not to seek to reinstate the ban on use of the word ‘Allah’ but to try to defuse the resulting tensions and to refrain from further actions that might upset the peaceful coexistence between the dominant and minority religions, as stipulated in the Constitution of Malaysia;

| 10. | Calls on the Council, the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in the framework of EU relations and cooperation with the countries concerned, to pay particular attention to the situation of religious minorities, including Christian communities; |
| --- | --- |

10.

Calls on the Council, the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in the framework of EU relations and cooperation with the countries concerned, to pay particular attention to the situation of religious minorities, including Christian communities;

| 11. | Supports all initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue and mutual respect between communities; calls on all religious authorities to promote tolerance and to take initiatives against hatred and violent and extremist radicalisation; |
| --- | --- |

11.

Supports all initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue and mutual respect between communities; calls on all religious authorities to promote tolerance and to take initiatives against hatred and violent and extremist radicalisation;

| 12. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of Egypt and the Government and Parliament of Malaysia. |
| --- | --- |

12.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of Egypt and the Government and Parliament of Malaysia.

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| 11.11.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 305/9 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

11.11.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 305/9

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Thursday 21 January 2010Human Rights violations in China, notably the case of Liu Xiaobo

P7_TA(2010)0006

European Parliament resolution of 21 January 2010 on human rights violations in China, notably the case of Liu Xiaobo

2010/C 305 E/03

The European Parliament,

having regard to its previous resolutions on China, in particular its resolutions of, respectively, 13 December 2007 on the EU-China Summit and the EU/China human rights dialogue, and 26 November 2009 on ‘China: minority rights and the application of the death penalty’,

having regard to its resolution of 6 September 2007 on the functioning of the human rights dialogues and consultations on human rights with third countries,

having regard to the declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union of 19 December 2008 concerning Charter 2008 and the arrest of human rights campaigners,

having regard to the EU-China Summit held in Prague in May 2009,

having regard to the declarations by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union of 26 June 2009 and 14 December 2009 on prosecution of Liu Xiaobo,

having regard to the EU-China seminar of 18-19 November 2009 and the EU-China human rights dialogue of 20 November 2009,

having regard to the declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union of 29 December 2009 on the execution of Akmal Shaikh,

having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

| A. | whereas on 8 December 2008 Liu Xiaobo, a prominent human rights activist and scholar and co-author of Charter 2008, was placed under ‘residential surveillance’, a form of pre-trial detention that can be used for up to six months without any charges being laid, at an undisclosed location in Beijing, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas on 8 December 2008 Liu Xiaobo, a prominent human rights activist and scholar and co-author of Charter 2008, was placed under ‘residential surveillance’, a form of pre-trial detention that can be used for up to six months without any charges being laid, at an undisclosed location in Beijing,

| B. | whereas Liu Xiaobo was arrested on 23 June 2009 and charged the following day with ‘inciting subversion of state power’, pursuant to Article 105 of the Criminal Code, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas Liu Xiaobo was arrested on 23 June 2009 and charged the following day with ‘inciting subversion of state power’, pursuant to Article 105 of the Criminal Code,

| C. | whereas Liu Xiaobo is one of the 303 signatories of Charter 2008, a petition calling for constitutional reform, democratisation and protection of human rights, which was subsequently signed by more than 10 000 Chinese citizens, |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas Liu Xiaobo is one of the 303 signatories of Charter 2008, a petition calling for constitutional reform, democratisation and protection of human rights, which was subsequently signed by more than 10 000 Chinese citizens,

| D. | whereas on 25 December 2009 the Beijing Municipal No 1 Intermediate People’s Court found Liu Xiaobo guilty of ‘inciting subversion of state power’ and sentenced him to 11 years in prison, and whereas the government based this conviction on Mr Liu’s role in drafting and organising the signing of Charter 2008 and on six essays criticising the Chinese Government, published between 2005 and 2007, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas on 25 December 2009 the Beijing Municipal No 1 Intermediate People’s Court found Liu Xiaobo guilty of ‘inciting subversion of state power’ and sentenced him to 11 years in prison, and whereas the government based this conviction on Mr Liu’s role in drafting and organising the signing of Charter 2008 and on six essays criticising the Chinese Government, published between 2005 and 2007,

| E. | whereas Liu Xiaobo’s wife and staff from about a dozen foreign embassies in Beijing requested permission to observe the trial but were denied access to the courtroom, |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas Liu Xiaobo’s wife and staff from about a dozen foreign embassies in Beijing requested permission to observe the trial but were denied access to the courtroom,

| F. | whereas this ruling has generated widespread criticism from domestic internet bloggers, international civil society groups and foreign governments, and whereas Liu Xiaobo has appealed against the ruling of the court, |
| --- | --- |

F.

whereas this ruling has generated widespread criticism from domestic internet bloggers, international civil society groups and foreign governments, and whereas Liu Xiaobo has appealed against the ruling of the court,

| G. | whereas former Czech president Vaclav Havel, who wanted to deliver an appeal for Liu Xiaobo’s release, was denied access to the embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Prague, |
| --- | --- |

G.

whereas former Czech president Vaclav Havel, who wanted to deliver an appeal for Liu Xiaobo’s release, was denied access to the embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Prague,

| H. | whereas the Chinese authorities did not listen to the repeated calls by the EU and one of its Member States for the death sentence passed against Akmal Shaikh to be commuted, |
| --- | --- |

H.

whereas the Chinese authorities did not listen to the repeated calls by the EU and one of its Member States for the death sentence passed against Akmal Shaikh to be commuted,

| I. | whereas, a few days ago, a Chinese official acknowledged for the first time that Gao Zhisheng, a Christian human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, has disappeared, |
| --- | --- |

I.

whereas, a few days ago, a Chinese official acknowledged for the first time that Gao Zhisheng, a Christian human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, has disappeared,

| J. | whereas other human rights violations took place in China in December 2009, including harassment of members of the Guizhou Human Rights Forum in order to prevent them from carrying out planned activities to celebrate Human Rights Day, and the beating and ill-treatment while in detention of Qi Choghuai, a reporter and former Shandong Bureau Chief for the Fazhi Morning Post, |
| --- | --- |

J.

whereas other human rights violations took place in China in December 2009, including harassment of members of the Guizhou Human Rights Forum in order to prevent them from carrying out planned activities to celebrate Human Rights Day, and the beating and ill-treatment while in detention of Qi Choghuai, a reporter and former Shandong Bureau Chief for the Fazhi Morning Post,

| K. | whereas, ahead of the country’s 60th anniversary on 1 October, the Chinese authorities increased their surveillance, harassment and imprisonment of activists in order to prevent them from raising human rights concerns, and whereas, according to Amnesty International, several hundred activists and dissidents were placed under various kinds of surveillance or house arrest on that occasion, |
| --- | --- |

K.

whereas, ahead of the country’s 60th anniversary on 1 October, the Chinese authorities increased their surveillance, harassment and imprisonment of activists in order to prevent them from raising human rights concerns, and whereas, according to Amnesty International, several hundred activists and dissidents were placed under various kinds of surveillance or house arrest on that occasion,

| L. | whereas in April 2009 the People’s Republic of China submitted a document to the United Nations in support of its candidacy for membership of the Human Rights Council, in which it affirmed that the People’s Republic of China was ‘committed to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Chinese people’, |
| --- | --- |

L.

whereas in April 2009 the People’s Republic of China submitted a document to the United Nations in support of its candidacy for membership of the Human Rights Council, in which it affirmed that the People’s Republic of China was ‘committed to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Chinese people’,

| M. | whereas on 13 January 2010 Google announced its intention to stop cooperating with Chinese internet censorship, linking this to sophisticated cyber-attacks on its computer systems (which it suspected originated in China), aimed in part at the Gmail user accounts of human rights activists, |
| --- | --- |

M.

whereas on 13 January 2010 Google announced its intention to stop cooperating with Chinese internet censorship, linking this to sophisticated cyber-attacks on its computer systems (which it suspected originated in China), aimed in part at the Gmail user accounts of human rights activists,

| N. | whereas the EU is China’s biggest trading partner and investor, while China is the EU’s second biggest trading partner, and whereas trade and economic relations have overshadowed the questions of democratic reforms, respect for human rights and the rule of law, |
| --- | --- |

N.

whereas the EU is China’s biggest trading partner and investor, while China is the EU’s second biggest trading partner, and whereas trade and economic relations have overshadowed the questions of democratic reforms, respect for human rights and the rule of law,

| O. | whereas the EU-China human rights dialogue established in 2000 has achieved negligible results so far, and whereas this lack of results is also the consequence of an uncoordinated and ineffective EU common foreign policy on China, |
| --- | --- |

O.

whereas the EU-China human rights dialogue established in 2000 has achieved negligible results so far, and whereas this lack of results is also the consequence of an uncoordinated and ineffective EU common foreign policy on China,

| 1. | Calls for Liu Xiaobo’s immediate and unconditional release and expresses its solidarity with his peaceful actions and initiatives in favour of democratic reforms and the protection of human rights; strongly condemns the judicial harassment of which he was a victim; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Calls for Liu Xiaobo’s immediate and unconditional release and expresses its solidarity with his peaceful actions and initiatives in favour of democratic reforms and the protection of human rights; strongly condemns the judicial harassment of which he was a victim;

| 2. | Expresses at the same time its sympathy with those Chinese who have openly voiced their dissatisfaction with the sentencing of Liu Xiaobo; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Expresses at the same time its sympathy with those Chinese who have openly voiced their dissatisfaction with the sentencing of Liu Xiaobo;

| 3. | Calls on the authorities of the People’s Republic of China to honour the commitments they made before the Human Rights Council and comply with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 December 1998; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Calls on the authorities of the People’s Republic of China to honour the commitments they made before the Human Rights Council and comply with the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 December 1998;

| 4. | Urges the People’s Republic of China to ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and calls for ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Urges the People’s Republic of China to ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and calls for ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

| 5. | Deplores the fact that China, in the context of its Universal Periodic Review process of 2009, has rejected all the recommendations made by UN Member States in relation to freedom of expression, freedom of association, the independence of the judiciary, guarantees for the legal profession, protection of human rights defenders, the rights of ethnic minorities, abolition of the death penalty, abolition of re-education through labour, prohibition of torture, media freedom and effective remedies for discrimination; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Deplores the fact that China, in the context of its Universal Periodic Review process of 2009, has rejected all the recommendations made by UN Member States in relation to freedom of expression, freedom of association, the independence of the judiciary, guarantees for the legal profession, protection of human rights defenders, the rights of ethnic minorities, abolition of the death penalty, abolition of re-education through labour, prohibition of torture, media freedom and effective remedies for discrimination;

| 6. | Condemns in the strongest terms the execution of Akmal Shaikh and reaffirms its absolute and longstanding opposition to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances; is convinced that abolition of the death penalty is an integral part of respect for human rights and protection of human dignity, in all countries; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Condemns in the strongest terms the execution of Akmal Shaikh and reaffirms its absolute and longstanding opposition to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances; is convinced that abolition of the death penalty is an integral part of respect for human rights and protection of human dignity, in all countries;

| 7. | Welcomes Google’s intention to stop cooperating with the Chinese authorities in relation to internet filtering and censorship, and urges all other companies to do the same; calls on the People’s Republic of China fully to respect freedom of speech on the internet; expresses solidarity with China’s internet users, who will be those most affected by Google’s proposed departure; |
| --- | --- |

7.

Welcomes Google’s intention to stop cooperating with the Chinese authorities in relation to internet filtering and censorship, and urges all other companies to do the same; calls on the People’s Republic of China fully to respect freedom of speech on the internet; expresses solidarity with China’s internet users, who will be those most affected by Google’s proposed departure;

| 8. | Stresses that the Chinese Government published its first National Human Rights Action Plan (2009-2010) in April 2009, which is designed to improve the protection of citizens’ rights, guard against arbitrary detention, prohibit extracting confessions by torture and ensure fair and open trials; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Stresses that the Chinese Government published its first National Human Rights Action Plan (2009-2010) in April 2009, which is designed to improve the protection of citizens’ rights, guard against arbitrary detention, prohibit extracting confessions by torture and ensure fair and open trials;

| 9. | Stresses that China’s human rights record remains a matter of serious concern and calls on the Council and the Commission to raise Liu Xiaobo’s case at the next EU-China Summit; takes note of the previous human rights dialogues with China and the EU-China human rights dialogue of 20 November 2009; insists on the need for strict follow-up between all such dialogues in order to ensure that the recommendations are implemented; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Stresses that China’s human rights record remains a matter of serious concern and calls on the Council and the Commission to raise Liu Xiaobo’s case at the next EU-China Summit; takes note of the previous human rights dialogues with China and the EU-China human rights dialogue of 20 November 2009; insists on the need for strict follow-up between all such dialogues in order to ensure that the recommendations are implemented;

| 10. | Emphasises the need to initiate comprehensive assessment and strengthening of the EU-China human rights dialogues; calls for cases involving human rights defenders to be systematically raised during these dialogues and highlights the imprisonment of the 2008 Sakharov Prize winner Hu Jia and the harassment of his wife Zeng Jinyan; |
| --- | --- |

10.

Emphasises the need to initiate comprehensive assessment and strengthening of the EU-China human rights dialogues; calls for cases involving human rights defenders to be systematically raised during these dialogues and highlights the imprisonment of the 2008 Sakharov Prize winner Hu Jia and the harassment of his wife Zeng Jinyan;

| 11. | Takes the view that the development of economic relations with China must be accompanied by effective political dialogue and demands that respect for human rights be an integral part of the new framework agreement currently being negotiated with China; |
| --- | --- |

11.

Takes the view that the development of economic relations with China must be accompanied by effective political dialogue and demands that respect for human rights be an integral part of the new framework agreement currently being negotiated with China;

| 12. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign and Security Policy, the President of the Council of the European Union, the Commission and the President, Prime Minister and People’s National Assembly of the People’s Republic of China. |
| --- | --- |

12.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign and Security Policy, the President of the Council of the European Union, the Commission and the President, Prime Minister and People’s National Assembly of the People’s Republic of China.

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| 11.11.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 305/11 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

11.11.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 305/11

---

Thursday 21 January 2010Philippines

P7_TA(2010)0007

European Parliament resolution of 21 January 2010 on the Philippines

2010/C 305 E/04

The European Parliament,

having regard to the Declaration of 25 November 2009 by the EU Presidency on the killings in Maguindanao province, Philippines, and to the statement of 2 December 2009 by Philip Alston, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings,

having regard to the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Additional Protocol thereto, to which the Philippines are a signatory,

having regard to the Commission's Country Strategy Paper 2007-2013 for the Philippines,

having regard to the Financing Agreement for the EU-Philippines Justice Support Programme, which was signed in October 2009 and which is intended to speed up judicial proceedings against the perpetrators of extrajudicial killings,

having regard to the presidential, parliamentary and local elections to be held in the Philippines on Monday, 10 May 2010,

having regard to its previous resolutions on the Philippines,

having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

| A. | whereas political killings and disappearances, especially of members of opposition organisations, journalists, human rights activists and religious leaders, continue to be widespread in the Philippines, and whereas human rights organisations speak of more than 1 000 politically motivated murders and disappearances in the past decade, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas political killings and disappearances, especially of members of opposition organisations, journalists, human rights activists and religious leaders, continue to be widespread in the Philippines, and whereas human rights organisations speak of more than 1 000 politically motivated murders and disappearances in the past decade,

| B. | whereas the virtual impunity of the perpetrators and the government's inability effectively to tackle politically motivated violence in the country makes it very difficult to bring those responsible to justice, despite the undertakings given by the government as part of its Universal Periodic Review in 2008, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas the virtual impunity of the perpetrators and the government's inability effectively to tackle politically motivated violence in the country makes it very difficult to bring those responsible to justice, despite the undertakings given by the government as part of its Universal Periodic Review in 2008,

| C. | whereas hundreds of thousands of people remain internally displaced by the conflict opposing the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the New People's Army, which remains active throughout the country, and by military operations against criminal groups such as the Abu Sayyaf Group in the island provinces of Sulu and Basilan in Western Mindanao, |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas hundreds of thousands of people remain internally displaced by the conflict opposing the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the New People's Army, which remains active throughout the country, and by military operations against criminal groups such as the Abu Sayyaf Group in the island provinces of Sulu and Basilan in Western Mindanao,

| D. | whereas on 23 November 2009 100 armed men from a local militia led by the Ampatuan family, including officials of the local police force, tortured and brutally murdered 57 members of a convoy, including female relatives of Esmail Mangudadatu, some of whom were raped, lawyers and 30 journalists, who were on their way to file Mangudadatu's candidacy for the governorship of Maguindanao province in Mindanao, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas on 23 November 2009 100 armed men from a local militia led by the Ampatuan family, including officials of the local police force, tortured and brutally murdered 57 members of a convoy, including female relatives of Esmail Mangudadatu, some of whom were raped, lawyers and 30 journalists, who were on their way to file Mangudadatu's candidacy for the governorship of Maguindanao province in Mindanao,

| E. | whereas this massacre, which produced the biggest ever death toll among journalists in one incident anywhere in the world, revealed in a shocking way the extent to which local warlords, the corruption of the security forces and impunity for the most ruthless crimes have taken hold of the Philippines, |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas this massacre, which produced the biggest ever death toll among journalists in one incident anywhere in the world, revealed in a shocking way the extent to which local warlords, the corruption of the security forces and impunity for the most ruthless crimes have taken hold of the Philippines,

| F. | whereas on 24 November 2009 the Philippines Government declared a state of emergency in the two provinces concerned, thus putting the military in charge of law and order, invited international forensic experts to support the inquiry, and, on 4 December 2009, declared martial law in Maguindanao for one week, the first such decision since 1972, |
| --- | --- |

F.

whereas on 24 November 2009 the Philippines Government declared a state of emergency in the two provinces concerned, thus putting the military in charge of law and order, invited international forensic experts to support the inquiry, and, on 4 December 2009, declared martial law in Maguindanao for one week, the first such decision since 1972,

| G. | whereas this move led to the arrest of the leading members of the Ampatuan family and their being charged with multiple murder and the discovery of a staggering arsenal of weapons and thousands of hidden voter-identification cards, hinting at massive vote-rigging in favour of President Arroyo's political party Lakas-Kampi-CMD, |
| --- | --- |

G.

whereas this move led to the arrest of the leading members of the Ampatuan family and their being charged with multiple murder and the discovery of a staggering arsenal of weapons and thousands of hidden voter-identification cards, hinting at massive vote-rigging in favour of President Arroyo's political party Lakas-Kampi-CMD,

| H. | whereas elections in the Philippines have in the past been marred by frequent extrajudicial killings of political opponents committed by private armies and militias, many of them armed with government-issued weapons, employed by politically influential families, |
| --- | --- |

H.

whereas elections in the Philippines have in the past been marred by frequent extrajudicial killings of political opponents committed by private armies and militias, many of them armed with government-issued weapons, employed by politically influential families,

| I. | whereas the fact that in the 2007 election campaign some 60 candidates and in the 2004 campaign 41 candidates were murdered is giving rise to fears that killings of political activists will increase in the run-up to the May 2010 elections, |
| --- | --- |

I.

whereas the fact that in the 2007 election campaign some 60 candidates and in the 2004 campaign 41 candidates were murdered is giving rise to fears that killings of political activists will increase in the run-up to the May 2010 elections,

| J. | whereas the brutal killings in Maguindanao represent a major setback for peace and democracy in the Philippines and will complicate the peace talks between the Philippines Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which resumed on 8 December 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, facilitated by the Malaysian Government, |
| --- | --- |

J.

whereas the brutal killings in Maguindanao represent a major setback for peace and democracy in the Philippines and will complicate the peace talks between the Philippines Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which resumed on 8 December 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, facilitated by the Malaysian Government,

| 1. | Strongly condemns the Maguindanao massacre of 23 November 2009 and expresses its solidarity with the families of the deceased; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Strongly condemns the Maguindanao massacre of 23 November 2009 and expresses its solidarity with the families of the deceased;

| 2. | Welcomes the response of the Philippines Government to the massacre, whilst deploring the initial delays, and stresses that the police investigation must be comprehensive and independent and that it must be followed by effective prosecutions, including of the members of the security forces suspected of involvement; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Welcomes the response of the Philippines Government to the massacre, whilst deploring the initial delays, and stresses that the police investigation must be comprehensive and independent and that it must be followed by effective prosecutions, including of the members of the security forces suspected of involvement;

| 3. | Is deeply concerned that the personal links which members of the administration maintain with the Ampatuan family could hinder rather than help an impartial investigation into the killings and calls for the Ampatuan family to be questioned by the National Bureau of Investigation; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Is deeply concerned that the personal links which members of the administration maintain with the Ampatuan family could hinder rather than help an impartial investigation into the killings and calls for the Ampatuan family to be questioned by the National Bureau of Investigation;

| 4. | Calls for urgent measures to protect all witnesses, judges, lawyers and prosecutors involved in the investigation and trials; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Calls for urgent measures to protect all witnesses, judges, lawyers and prosecutors involved in the investigation and trials;

| 5. | Calls on donor countries to offer forensic, investigative and legal assistance and support to the Justice Department of the Philippines; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Calls on donor countries to offer forensic, investigative and legal assistance and support to the Justice Department of the Philippines;

| 6. | Calls on the Philippines Government to take decisive steps in order to end extrajudicial killings and disappearances, and to shed light on all other unresolved cases, including that of Jonas Burgos, who was disappeared in April 2007; urges the Philippines Government to ratify the UN Convention on Forced Disappearances; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Calls on the Philippines Government to take decisive steps in order to end extrajudicial killings and disappearances, and to shed light on all other unresolved cases, including that of Jonas Burgos, who was disappeared in April 2007; urges the Philippines Government to ratify the UN Convention on Forced Disappearances;

| 7. | Calls on the Philippines Government to take decisive action in order immediately to stop all private and local funding of police and military auxiliary groups and to disband paramilitary forces and local militias; welcomes President Arroyo's declaration on 9 December 2009 concerning this matter and calls on Ms Arroyo to revoke Executive Order 546; |
| --- | --- |

7.

Calls on the Philippines Government to take decisive action in order immediately to stop all private and local funding of police and military auxiliary groups and to disband paramilitary forces and local militias; welcomes President Arroyo's declaration on 9 December 2009 concerning this matter and calls on Ms Arroyo to revoke Executive Order 546;

| 8. | Welcomes, in this connection, the gun ban recently issued by the Commission on Elections in preparation for the 10 May 2010 polls; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Welcomes, in this connection, the gun ban recently issued by the Commission on Elections in preparation for the 10 May 2010 polls;

| 9. | Welcomes the signing in October 2009 of the Financing Agreement for the EU-Philippines Justice Support Programme (EPJUST), which allocates EUR 3.9m in support, assistance and training to strengthen the criminal justice system and support the work of the Commission on Human Rights and of civil society groups; looks forward to the reports on the work of the monitoring system, to be established under EPJUST, that will be responsible for tracking the nation’s progress in combating extrajudicial killings and related abuses; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Welcomes the signing in October 2009 of the Financing Agreement for the EU-Philippines Justice Support Programme (EPJUST), which allocates EUR 3.9m in support, assistance and training to strengthen the criminal justice system and support the work of the Commission on Human Rights and of civil society groups; looks forward to the reports on the work of the monitoring system, to be established under EPJUST, that will be responsible for tracking the nation’s progress in combating extrajudicial killings and related abuses;

| 10. | Expresses its concern that the declaration of a state of emergency by the President, combined with the conferral of greater powers on the armed forces, which in the past have been implicated in numerous extrajudicial killings, will not prevent or curb election-related violence in Mindanao province; |
| --- | --- |

10.

Expresses its concern that the declaration of a state of emergency by the President, combined with the conferral of greater powers on the armed forces, which in the past have been implicated in numerous extrajudicial killings, will not prevent or curb election-related violence in Mindanao province;

| 11. | Calls on the Philippines Government to step up efforts to eliminate instances of political violence in order to safeguard the future of democracy in the Philippines; calls in particular on the authorities to establish a high-level task force with broad political support in order urgently to implement measures to prevent election-related violence in the months ahead of the May elections and to take steps designed to protect the media and freedom of expression in general; |
| --- | --- |

11.

Calls on the Philippines Government to step up efforts to eliminate instances of political violence in order to safeguard the future of democracy in the Philippines; calls in particular on the authorities to establish a high-level task force with broad political support in order urgently to implement measures to prevent election-related violence in the months ahead of the May elections and to take steps designed to protect the media and freedom of expression in general;

| 12. | Welcomes the decision by the Supreme Court to allow the participation of Ang Ladlad in the May elections a decision which overturns the initial refusal on ‘moral grounds’ by the Commission on Elections (COMLEC); |
| --- | --- |

12.

Welcomes the decision by the Supreme Court to allow the participation of Ang Ladlad in the May elections a decision which overturns the initial refusal on ‘moral grounds’ by the Commission on Elections (COMLEC);

| 13. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the President and Government of the Philippines, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the governments of the ASEAN Member States. |
| --- | --- |

13.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the President and Government of the Philippines, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the governments of the ASEAN Member States.

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| 11.11.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 305/14 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

11.11.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 305/14

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Thursday 21 January 2010European Strategy for the Danube Region

P7_TA(2010)0008

European Parliament resolution of 21 January 2010 on a European Strategy for the Danube Region

2010/C 305 E/05

The European Parliament,

having regard to Article 192 and Article 265(5) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

having regard to the question of 3 December 2009 to the Commission on a European Strategy for the Danube Region (O-0150/2009 – B7-0240/2009),

having regard to the conclusions of the European Council of 18 and 19 June 2009, which called on the Commission to draw up a European strategy for the Danube region before the end of 2010,

having regard to the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region,

having regard to the programme of the Council, prepared by the Spanish, Belgian and Hungarian Presidencies,

having regard to the Danube Forum set up within the European Parliament and the Forum's work,

having regard to its resolution of 24 March 2009 on the Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion and the state of the debate on the future reform of cohesion policy,

having regard to the Opinion of the Committee of the Regions, entitled ‘An EU strategy for the Danube area’, of October 2009,

having regard to the Espoo, Aarhus and Berne Conventions on environmental protection,

having regard to the Water Framework Directive and the Helsinki Convention,

having regard to the Belgrade Convention regulating navigation on the Danube,

having regard to the joint statement on ‘Development of Inland Navigation and Environmental Protection in the Danube River Basin’ adopted by the Danube Commission, the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) and the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC),

having regard to the Stockholm Conference on macro-regional strategy held by the Swedish Presidency,

having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

| A. | whereas the Treaty of Lisbon acknowledges territorial cohesion as an objective of the European Union (Article 3 TEU), |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas the Treaty of Lisbon acknowledges territorial cohesion as an objective of the European Union (Article 3 TEU),

| B. | whereas macro-regional strategies are aimed at making better use of the existing resources to tackle issues of territorial development and identify joint responses to common challenges, |
| --- | --- |

B.

whereas macro-regional strategies are aimed at making better use of the existing resources to tackle issues of territorial development and identify joint responses to common challenges,

| C. | whereas the Baltic Sea Strategy already provides a model for coordinating EU policies and funding in geopolitical territorial units – macro-regions – defined on the basis of specific criteria and whereas an EU Danube Strategy, following the model of the Baltic Sea Strategy, has the potential to promote regional and cross-border cooperation for further economic growth and to identify joint responses to common challenges, |
| --- | --- |

C.

whereas the Baltic Sea Strategy already provides a model for coordinating EU policies and funding in geopolitical territorial units – macro-regions – defined on the basis of specific criteria and whereas an EU Danube Strategy, following the model of the Baltic Sea Strategy, has the potential to promote regional and cross-border cooperation for further economic growth and to identify joint responses to common challenges,

| D. | whereas the Danube links ten European countries – Germany, Austria, the Slovak Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine – six of which are EU Member States, and in a broader territorial context the region also comprises the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bosnia Herzegovina and Montenegro, |
| --- | --- |

D.

whereas the Danube links ten European countries – Germany, Austria, the Slovak Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine – six of which are EU Member States, and in a broader territorial context the region also comprises the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bosnia Herzegovina and Montenegro,

| E. | whereas the Danube region is an important crossover point between the EU's Cohesion Policy programmes, programmes for countries covered by the European Neighbourhood Policy and potential candidates for accession, and therefore represents an area where enhanced synergies between different EU policies can be developed: cohesion, transport, tourism, agriculture, fisheries, economic and social development, energy, environment, enlargement and neighbourhood policy, |
| --- | --- |

E.

whereas the Danube region is an important crossover point between the EU's Cohesion Policy programmes, programmes for countries covered by the European Neighbourhood Policy and potential candidates for accession, and therefore represents an area where enhanced synergies between different EU policies can be developed: cohesion, transport, tourism, agriculture, fisheries, economic and social development, energy, environment, enlargement and neighbourhood policy,

| F. | whereas an EU Strategy for the Danube Region is to be developed in the following cooperation areas: social development and protection, sustainable economic development, transport and energy infrastructure, environmental protection, culture and education, |
| --- | --- |

F.

whereas an EU Strategy for the Danube Region is to be developed in the following cooperation areas: social development and protection, sustainable economic development, transport and energy infrastructure, environmental protection, culture and education,

| G. | whereas the EU Strategy for the Danube Region could make an important contribution to the achievement of better coordination between regional and local authorities and organisations operating in the Danube region and would make for prosperity, sustainable development, job creation and security in the area, |
| --- | --- |

G.

whereas the EU Strategy for the Danube Region could make an important contribution to the achievement of better coordination between regional and local authorities and organisations operating in the Danube region and would make for prosperity, sustainable development, job creation and security in the area,

| H. | whereas there is a long history of cooperation in the Danube region: the European Commission for the Danube, founded on 30 March 1856 and originally based in Galați (Romania), was one of the very first European institutions, and is today based in Budapest, |
| --- | --- |

H.

whereas there is a long history of cooperation in the Danube region: the European Commission for the Danube, founded on 30 March 1856 and originally based in Galați (Romania), was one of the very first European institutions, and is today based in Budapest,

| I. | whereas the Danube has almost become an internal waterway of the European Union following the 2007 enlargement, and whereas the Danube Region may make a substantial contribution to fostering the developments which have taken place since that enlargement, |
| --- | --- |

I.

whereas the Danube has almost become an internal waterway of the European Union following the 2007 enlargement, and whereas the Danube Region may make a substantial contribution to fostering the developments which have taken place since that enlargement,

| J. | whereas the Danube is an effective waterway even beyond the Member States and, together with the Main Canal and River Rhine, connects the North Sea with the Black Sea and has the potential to enhance the geostrategic position of the Black Sea region, |
| --- | --- |

J.

whereas the Danube is an effective waterway even beyond the Member States and, together with the Main Canal and River Rhine, connects the North Sea with the Black Sea and has the potential to enhance the geostrategic position of the Black Sea region,

| K. | whereas the Danube region represents an interconnected area with heterogeneous economic capacities and whereas considering the Danube area as a single macro-region would help to overcome the regional differences in economic performance and sustain integrated development, |
| --- | --- |

K.

whereas the Danube region represents an interconnected area with heterogeneous economic capacities and whereas considering the Danube area as a single macro-region would help to overcome the regional differences in economic performance and sustain integrated development,

| L. | whereas the Danube Delta has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991 and the Danube region includes several Special Protection Areas and Special Areas for Conservation within the framework of Natura 2000; whereas the Danube and the Danube Delta have a unique and fragile ecosystem, which is home to rare plant species that are under threat due to pollution, |
| --- | --- |

L.

whereas the Danube Delta has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991 and the Danube region includes several Special Protection Areas and Special Areas for Conservation within the framework of Natura 2000; whereas the Danube and the Danube Delta have a unique and fragile ecosystem, which is home to rare plant species that are under threat due to pollution,

| 1. | Calls on the Commission to launch, as soon as possible, broad consultations with all countries along the Danube in order to cover various aspects of regional cooperation and to present the EU Strategy for the Danube Region no later than the end of 2010; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Calls on the Commission to launch, as soon as possible, broad consultations with all countries along the Danube in order to cover various aspects of regional cooperation and to present the EU Strategy for the Danube Region no later than the end of 2010;

| 2. | Considers that a European Strategy for the Danube Region represents an appropriate instrument for enhancing territorial development through intensified cooperation in clearly defined policy fields in which genuine European added value has been identified by all governmental partners, and calls for that strategy to be developed as part of the European Territorial Cooperation objective; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Considers that a European Strategy for the Danube Region represents an appropriate instrument for enhancing territorial development through intensified cooperation in clearly defined policy fields in which genuine European added value has been identified by all governmental partners, and calls for that strategy to be developed as part of the European Territorial Cooperation objective;

| 3. | Stresses the imperative that any macro-regional strategy should be incorporated in the EU's regional policy, as a coordinated policy for the whole territory of the EU; furthermore, highlights the need to analyse the added value of this strategy for the implementation of the objective of territorial cohesion within the territory of the Union; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Stresses the imperative that any macro-regional strategy should be incorporated in the EU's regional policy, as a coordinated policy for the whole territory of the EU; furthermore, highlights the need to analyse the added value of this strategy for the implementation of the objective of territorial cohesion within the territory of the Union;

| 4. | Stresses the need to involve the relevant regional and local stakeholders in the Danube region in the preparatory process, in order to clearly identify the needs, in terms both of balanced, sustainable development of territories and of capacity building, in order to find solutions to common challenges, to implement efficiently the concrete projects and to provide a good governance mechanism, and urges the governments to support and facilitate measures to inform and consult NGOs, trade associations and civil society in both the establishment of the strategy and its future implementation; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Stresses the need to involve the relevant regional and local stakeholders in the Danube region in the preparatory process, in order to clearly identify the needs, in terms both of balanced, sustainable development of territories and of capacity building, in order to find solutions to common challenges, to implement efficiently the concrete projects and to provide a good governance mechanism, and urges the governments to support and facilitate measures to inform and consult NGOs, trade associations and civil society in both the establishment of the strategy and its future implementation;

| 5. | Calls on the Commission to clearly identify the ‘governance structure’ of a future Danube region policy; takes the view that implementation of this strategy must not impinge on the responsibilities of regional and local government; |
| --- | --- |

5.

Calls on the Commission to clearly identify the ‘governance structure’ of a future Danube region policy; takes the view that implementation of this strategy must not impinge on the responsibilities of regional and local government;

| 6. | Supports the economic and social development of the Danube region as an EU priority area and the promotion of deeper regional integration in the Danube region as a dynamic component of a wider European economic and political area; |
| --- | --- |

6.

Supports the economic and social development of the Danube region as an EU priority area and the promotion of deeper regional integration in the Danube region as a dynamic component of a wider European economic and political area;

| 7. | Calls for improvements to the ecological status of the Danube, which is currently a polluted river, and for measures to reduce pollution and prevent further releases of oil and other toxic and harmful substances; |
| --- | --- |

7.

Calls for improvements to the ecological status of the Danube, which is currently a polluted river, and for measures to reduce pollution and prevent further releases of oil and other toxic and harmful substances;

| 8. | Notes that responsibility for the pollution of the Danube region lies with both the Member States and the other riparian countries through which the Danube flows; stresses that protecting the environment in the Danube basin is an important aspect which will have a bearing on the agricultural and rural development of the region and urges riparian states to give top priority to the establishment of shared hydrological and water quality testing facilities; |
| --- | --- |

8.

Notes that responsibility for the pollution of the Danube region lies with both the Member States and the other riparian countries through which the Danube flows; stresses that protecting the environment in the Danube basin is an important aspect which will have a bearing on the agricultural and rural development of the region and urges riparian states to give top priority to the establishment of shared hydrological and water quality testing facilities;

| 9. | Encourages the Commission and the Member States, in the framework of the fight against climate change, to pay special attention to, and cooperate in protecting, local ecosystems and urges the Commission to support research and development focusing on new technologies geared to enhancing forecasting and response capabilities in connection with flooding, extreme drought and accidental pollution; |
| --- | --- |

9.

Encourages the Commission and the Member States, in the framework of the fight against climate change, to pay special attention to, and cooperate in protecting, local ecosystems and urges the Commission to support research and development focusing on new technologies geared to enhancing forecasting and response capabilities in connection with flooding, extreme drought and accidental pollution;

| 10. | Underlines the need to protect and enhance fish stocks in the Danube; calls on the Commission to prepare a comprehensive plan for conserving and restoring the natural sturgeon stocks in the Danube; |
| --- | --- |

10.

Underlines the need to protect and enhance fish stocks in the Danube; calls on the Commission to prepare a comprehensive plan for conserving and restoring the natural sturgeon stocks in the Danube;

| 11. | Calls on the Commission to draw on the operational experience gained with the Baltic Sea Strategy; calls, accordingly, for an action plan to complement the document; is of the opinion that the Action Plan should include the following elements: environmentally friendly use of the Danube by inland navigation, intermodality with other transport modes along the Danube through the improvement of all infrastructures (with priority for the better use of existing infrastructure) and by creating a multi-modal transport system all along the river, environmentally-friendly use of water power along the Danube, preservation and improvement of Danube water quality in accordance with the Water Framework Directive, stringent vessel safety requirements, development of environmentally friendly tourism and improvements in the fields of education, research and social cohesion; |
| --- | --- |

11.

Calls on the Commission to draw on the operational experience gained with the Baltic Sea Strategy; calls, accordingly, for an action plan to complement the document; is of the opinion that the Action Plan should include the following elements: environmentally friendly use of the Danube by inland navigation, intermodality with other transport modes along the Danube through the improvement of all infrastructures (with priority for the better use of existing infrastructure) and by creating a multi-modal transport system all along the river, environmentally-friendly use of water power along the Danube, preservation and improvement of Danube water quality in accordance with the Water Framework Directive, stringent vessel safety requirements, development of environmentally friendly tourism and improvements in the fields of education, research and social cohesion;

| 12. | Stresses the need to diversify energy sources and calls on the Commission and all riparian states to increase cooperation in the field of energy, to promote and implement joint projects on energy efficiency and renewable energy resources, in the light of the region's potential as a source of bioenergy, and to encourage the use of biomass, solar, wind and hydro energy; |
| --- | --- |

12.

Stresses the need to diversify energy sources and calls on the Commission and all riparian states to increase cooperation in the field of energy, to promote and implement joint projects on energy efficiency and renewable energy resources, in the light of the region's potential as a source of bioenergy, and to encourage the use of biomass, solar, wind and hydro energy;

| 13. | Underlines that proper strategic and environmental impact assessments, including assessments of effects on the entire ecosystems of the river, should be a prerequisite for all transport- and energy-related infrastructure projects, in order to guarantee that international standards of environmental protection are met, after consulting those partners which might be affected by those decisions; |
| --- | --- |

13.

Underlines that proper strategic and environmental impact assessments, including assessments of effects on the entire ecosystems of the river, should be a prerequisite for all transport- and energy-related infrastructure projects, in order to guarantee that international standards of environmental protection are met, after consulting those partners which might be affected by those decisions;

| 14. | Points out the exceptional economic interdependence of the states in the Danube region and supports the establishment of business development networks and non-governmental trade promotion bodies which can coordinate and promote future development opportunities, especially for SMEs, in order to ensure sustainable and efficient growth and to stimulate the growth of the green economy in the whole Danube macro-region; |
| --- | --- |

14.

Points out the exceptional economic interdependence of the states in the Danube region and supports the establishment of business development networks and non-governmental trade promotion bodies which can coordinate and promote future development opportunities, especially for SMEs, in order to ensure sustainable and efficient growth and to stimulate the growth of the green economy in the whole Danube macro-region;

| 15. | Proposes the integration of the EU transport system with those of the EU's neighbouring countries in the Danube region and stresses the importance of making provision for co-modality projects; |
| --- | --- |

15.

Proposes the integration of the EU transport system with those of the EU's neighbouring countries in the Danube region and stresses the importance of making provision for co-modality projects;

| 16. | Regards the inland waterway navigation system as an important aspect of the development of transport in the region, whilst recognising the decrease in inland navigation, which is mainly due to the strong economic downturn, and emphasises the importance of eliminating the bottlenecks on the Rhine/Meuse-Main-Danube waterway axis and improving the entire intermodal transport system along the Danube, while focusing on the combination between improved inland ports and logistics, inland navigation and rail transport and taking into account the additional possibilities of short sea shipping; |
| --- | --- |

16.

Regards the inland waterway navigation system as an important aspect of the development of transport in the region, whilst recognising the decrease in inland navigation, which is mainly due to the strong economic downturn, and emphasises the importance of eliminating the bottlenecks on the Rhine/Meuse-Main-Danube waterway axis and improving the entire intermodal transport system along the Danube, while focusing on the combination between improved inland ports and logistics, inland navigation and rail transport and taking into account the additional possibilities of short sea shipping;

| 17. | Proposes that the Trans-European Network be upgraded in order to improve intermodality in the whole region and increase connectivity with the Black Sea through road and railway routes (freight corridors and high-speed railway lines); |
| --- | --- |

17.

Proposes that the Trans-European Network be upgraded in order to improve intermodality in the whole region and increase connectivity with the Black Sea through road and railway routes (freight corridors and high-speed railway lines);

| 18. | Calls on the Commission to foster more widespread use of modern communication and information technologies and to take all necessary measures to achieve as swiftly as possible an efficient unified system of navigation rules on the Danube; |
| --- | --- |

18.

Calls on the Commission to foster more widespread use of modern communication and information technologies and to take all necessary measures to achieve as swiftly as possible an efficient unified system of navigation rules on the Danube;

| 19. | Considers sustainable tourism an important instrument for promoting the economic growth of the region, noting for example the opportunities offered by ecotourism and the economic potential of the cycle routes along almost the entire Danube; |
| --- | --- |

19.

Considers sustainable tourism an important instrument for promoting the economic growth of the region, noting for example the opportunities offered by ecotourism and the economic potential of the cycle routes along almost the entire Danube;

| 20. | Supports programmes aimed at improving the multicultural environment of the Danube by fostering multinational mobility, promoting cultural dialogue, generating forms of art and communication and of training and business incubator establishments in these sectors, and protecting the cultural and historical heritage as well as stimulating new cultural industries; |
| --- | --- |

20.

Supports programmes aimed at improving the multicultural environment of the Danube by fostering multinational mobility, promoting cultural dialogue, generating forms of art and communication and of training and business incubator establishments in these sectors, and protecting the cultural and historical heritage as well as stimulating new cultural industries;

| 21. | Supports university exchange programmes within the region and suggests that the universities in the region could form networks in order to foster centres of excellence capable of competing at international level; |
| --- | --- |

21.

Supports university exchange programmes within the region and suggests that the universities in the region could form networks in order to foster centres of excellence capable of competing at international level;

| 22. | Calls on the Commission and the Member States to improve administrative arrangements in order to lessen the administrative burden inherent in developing more effectively and implementing the EU Strategy for the Danube Region; |
| --- | --- |

22.

Calls on the Commission and the Member States to improve administrative arrangements in order to lessen the administrative burden inherent in developing more effectively and implementing the EU Strategy for the Danube Region;

| 23. | Calls on the Commission to work closely with it in defining the priorities for the development of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, and calls on the Commission to regularly inform and consult the European Parliament on the status of the implementation of this strategy; |
| --- | --- |

23.

Calls on the Commission to work closely with it in defining the priorities for the development of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, and calls on the Commission to regularly inform and consult the European Parliament on the status of the implementation of this strategy;

| 24. | Underlines the need for a coordinated approach aimed at more efficient and higher absorption of all available EU funds in the States along the Danube, in order to be able to fulfil the objectives of the Strategy; |
| --- | --- |

24.

Underlines the need for a coordinated approach aimed at more efficient and higher absorption of all available EU funds in the States along the Danube, in order to be able to fulfil the objectives of the Strategy;

| 25. | Encourages the use of the existing Operational Programmes to finance projects under the strategy; urges all parties concerned also to explore other, non-financial instruments that would facilitate the implementation of the strategy and have an immediate positive effect on the ground; |
| --- | --- |

25.

Encourages the use of the existing Operational Programmes to finance projects under the strategy; urges all parties concerned also to explore other, non-financial instruments that would facilitate the implementation of the strategy and have an immediate positive effect on the ground;

| 26. | Proposes that, following consultation with local and regional stakeholders, an EU Danube Summit be held every two years and its conclusions be presented to the European Council and Parliament; |
| --- | --- |

26.

Proposes that, following consultation with local and regional stakeholders, an EU Danube Summit be held every two years and its conclusions be presented to the European Council and Parliament;

| 27. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Committee of the Regions and the other relevant institutions. |
| --- | --- |

27.

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Committee of the Regions and the other relevant institutions.

---

II Information

INFORMATION FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS, BODIES, OFFICES AND AGENCIES

European Parliament

Wednesday 20 January 2010

| 11.11.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 305/19 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

11.11.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 305/19

---

Wednesday 20 January 2010Election of the European Ombudsman

P7_TA(2010)0001

European Parliament decision of 20 January 2010 electing the European Ombudsman

2010/C 305 E/06

The European Parliament,

having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the third paragraph of Article 24 and Article 228 thereof,

having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 106a thereof,

having regard to its Decision 94/262/ECSC, EC, Euratom of 9 March 1994 on the regulations and general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman's duties (1),

having regard to Rule 204 of its Rules of Procedure,

having regard to the call for applications (2),

having regard to its vote of 20 January 2010,

| 1. | Elects Nikiforos DIAMANDOUROS to serve as European Ombudsman; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Elects Nikiforos DIAMANDOUROS to serve as European Ombudsman;

| 2. | Requests Nikiforos DIAMANDOUROS to take an oath before the Court of Justice; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Requests Nikiforos DIAMANDOUROS to take an oath before the Court of Justice;

| 3. | Instructs its President to have the annexed decision published in the Official Journal of the European Union; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Instructs its President to have the annexed decision published in the Official Journal of the European Union;

| 4. | Instructs its President to forward this Decision to the Council, the Commission and the Court of Justice. |
| --- | --- |

4.

Instructs its President to forward this Decision to the Council, the Commission and the Court of Justice.

---

(1)  OJ L 113, 4.5.1994, p. 15.

(2)  OJ C 216, 10.9.2009, p. 7.

---

Wednesday 20 January 2010ANNEX

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

of 20 January 2010

electing the European Ombudsman

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the third paragraph of Article 24 and Article 228 thereof,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 106a thereof,

Having regard to its Decision 94/262/ECSC, EC, Euratom of 9 March 1994 on the regulations and general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman's duties (1),

Having regard to Rule 204 of its Rules of Procedure,

Having regard to the call for applications (2),

Having regard to its vote of 20 January 2010,

HAS DECIDED:

to elect Nikiforos DIAMANDOUROS to serve as European Ombudsman.

Done at Strasbourg, 20 January 2010

For the European Parliament

The President

Jerzy BUZEK

---

(1)  OJ L 113, 4.5.1994, p. 15.

1

(2)  OJ C 216, 10.9.2009, p. 7.

2

---

| 11.11.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 305/21 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

11.11.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 305/21

---

Wednesday 20 January 2010Proposal for the appointment of a member of the panel consulted prior to the appointment of Judges and Advocates-General of the Court of Justice and the General Court

P7_TA(2010)0003

European Parliament decision of 20 January 2010 proposing the appointment of Ana Palacio Vallelersundi to the panel set up under Article 255 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (2009/2210(INS))

2010/C 305 E/07

The European Parliament,

having regard to the second paragraph of Article 255 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

having regard to Rule 107a of its Rules of Procedure,

| A. | whereas Ana Palacio Vallelersundi meets the conditions laid down in the second paragraph of Article 255 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, |
| --- | --- |

A.

whereas Ana Palacio Vallelersundi meets the conditions laid down in the second paragraph of Article 255 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

| 1. | Proposes that Ana Palacio Vallelersundi be appointed to the panel; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Proposes that Ana Palacio Vallelersundi be appointed to the panel;

| 2. | Instructs its President to forward this decision to the President of the Court of Justice. |
| --- | --- |

2.

Instructs its President to forward this decision to the President of the Court of Justice.

---

III Preparatory acts

European Parliament

Wednesday 20 January 2010

| 11.11.2010 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 305/22 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

11.11.2010

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 305/22

---

Wednesday 20 January 2010Temporary suspension of autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties on imports of certain industrial products into Madeira and the Azores *

P7_TA(2010)0002

European Parliament legislative resolution of 20 January 2010 on the proposal for a Council regulation temporarily suspending autonomous Common Customs Tariff duties on imports of certain industrial products into the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores (COM(2009)0370 – C7-0222/2009 – 2009/0125(CNS))

2010/C 305 E/08

(Special legislative procedure – Consultation)

The European Parliament,

having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2009)0370),

having regard to Article 299(2) of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C7-0222/2009),

having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council entitled ‘Consequences of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon for ongoing interinstitutional decision-making procedures’ (COM(2009)0665),

having regard to Article 349(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU,

having regard to Rules 55 and 46(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

having regard to the report of the Committee on Regional Development (A7-0001/2010),

| 1. | Approves the Commission proposal as amended; |
| --- | --- |

1.

Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

| 2. | Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 293(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU; |
| --- | --- |

2.

Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 293(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU;

| 3. | Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament; |
| --- | --- |

3.

Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

| 4. | Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal substantially; |
| --- | --- |

4.

Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal substantially;

| 5. | Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, to the Commission and to the national parliaments. |
| --- | --- |

5.

Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, to the Commission and to the national parliaments.

| TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION | AMENDMENT |
| --- | --- |
| Amendment 1 |
| Proposal for a regulation


  Recital 5 |
| 5. | In order to give a long term perspective to investors and enable economic operators to reach a level of industrial and commercial activities which stabilises the economic and social environment in the regions concerned, it is appropriate to suspend in full the Common Customs Tariff duties for certain goods for a period
  of 10 years
  starting on
  1 January 2010
  . |

TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION

AMENDMENT

Amendment 1

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 5

5.

In order to give a long term perspective to investors and enable economic operators to reach a level of industrial and commercial activities which stabilises the economic and social environment in the regions concerned, it is appropriate to suspend in full the Common Customs Tariff duties for certain goods for a period
  of 10 years
  starting on
  1 January 2010
  .

| (5) | In order to give a long-term perspective to investors and enable economic operators to reach a level of industrial and commercial activities which stabilises the economic and social environment in the regions concerned, it is appropriate to suspend in full the Common Customs Tariff duties for certain goods for a period starting on 1 February 2010 and ending on 31 December 2019. |
| --- | --- |

(5)

In order to give a long-term perspective to investors and enable economic operators to reach a level of industrial and commercial activities which stabilises the economic and social environment in the regions concerned, it is appropriate to suspend in full the Common Customs Tariff duties for certain goods for a period starting on 1 February 2010 and ending on 31 December 2019.

Amendment 2

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1

From
  1 January 2010
  to 31 December 2019 the Common Customs Tariff duties applicable to imports into the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores of finished goods for agricultural, commercial or industrial use listed in Annex I shall be suspended in full.

From
  1 February 2010
  to 31 December 2019 the Common Customs Tariff duties applicable to imports into the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores of finished goods for agricultural, commercial or industrial use listed in Annex I shall be suspended in full.

Amendment 3

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2

From
  1 January 2010
  to 31 December 2019 the Common Customs Tariff duties applicable to imports into the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores of raw materials, parts and components listed in Annex II, and used for agricultural purposes, and industrial transformation or maintenance in the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores, shall be suspended in full.

From
  1 February 2010
  to 31 December 2019 the Common Customs Tariff duties applicable to imports into the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores of raw materials, parts and components listed in Annex II, and used for agricultural purposes, and industrial transformation or maintenance in the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores, shall be suspended in full.

Amendment 4

Proposal for a regulation

Article 9 – paragraph 2

It shall apply from
  1 January 2010
  .

It shall apply from
  1 February 2010
  .

Amendment 5

Proposal for a regulation

Annex II – Table

TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION

CN-Code

| | 3102 40 10 |
| --- | --- |

3102 40 10

| | 3105 20 10 |
| --- | --- |

3105 20 10

| | 4008 29 00 |
| --- | --- |

4008 29 00

| | 4009 42 00 |
| --- | --- |

4009 42 00

| | 4010 12 00 |
| --- | --- |

4010 12 00

| | 4015 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

4015 90 00

| | 4016 93 00 |
| --- | --- |

4016 93 00

| | 4016 99 97 |
| --- | --- |

4016 99 97

| | 5401 10 90 |
| --- | --- |

5401 10 90

| | 5407 42 00 |
| --- | --- |

5407 42 00

| | 5407 72 00 |
| --- | --- |

5407 72 00

| | 5601 21 90 |
| --- | --- |

5601 21 90

| | 5608 |
| --- | --- |

5608

| | 5806 32 90 |
| --- | --- |

5806 32 90

| | 5806 32 90 |
| --- | --- |

5806 32 90

| | 5901 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

5901 90 00

| | 5905 00 90 |
| --- | --- |

5905 00 90

| | 6217 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

6217 90 00

| | 6406 20 90 |
| --- | --- |

6406 20 90

| | 7303 00 90 |
| --- | --- |

7303 00 90

| | 7315 12 00 |
| --- | --- |

7315 12 00

| | 7315 89 00 |
| --- | --- |

7315 89 00

| | 7318 14 91 |
| --- | --- |

7318 14 91

| | 7318 15 69 |
| --- | --- |

7318 15 69

| | 7318 15 90 |
| --- | --- |

7318 15 90

| | 7318 16 91 |
| --- | --- |

7318 16 91

| | 7318 19 00 |
| --- | --- |

7318 19 00

| | 7318 22 00 |
| --- | --- |

7318 22 00

| | 7320 20 89 |
| --- | --- |

7320 20 89

| | 7323 99 99 |
| --- | --- |

7323 99 99

| | 7324 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

7324 90 00

| | 7326 90 98 |
| --- | --- |

7326 90 98

| | 7412 20 00 |
| --- | --- |

7412 20 00

| | 7415 21 00 |
| --- | --- |

7415 21 00

| | 7415 29 00 |
| --- | --- |

7415 29 00

| | 7415 33 00 |
| --- | --- |

7415 33 00

| | 7419 91 00 |
| --- | --- |

7419 91 00

| | 7606 11 91 |
| --- | --- |

7606 11 91

| | 7606 11 93 |
| --- | --- |

7606 11 93

| | 7606 11 99 |
| --- | --- |

7606 11 99

| | 7616 10 00 |
| --- | --- |

7616 10 00

| | 7907 00 |
| --- | --- |

7907 00

| | 8207 90 99 |
| --- | --- |

8207 90 99

| | 8302 42 00 |
| --- | --- |

8302 42 00

| | 8302 49 00 |
| --- | --- |

8302 49 00

| | 8308 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8308 90 00

| | 8406 90 90 |
| --- | --- |

8406 90 90

| | 8409 91 00 |
| --- | --- |

8409 91 00

| | 8409 99 00 |
| --- | --- |

8409 99 00

| | 8411 99 00 |
| --- | --- |

8411 99 00

| | 8412 90 40 |
| --- | --- |

8412 90 40

| | 8413 30 80 |
| --- | --- |

8413 30 80

| | 8413 70 89 |
| --- | --- |

8413 70 89

| | 8414 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8414 90 00

| | 8415 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8415 90 00

| | 8421 23 00 |
| --- | --- |

8421 23 00

| | 8421 29 00 |
| --- | --- |

8421 29 00

| | 8421 31 00 |
| --- | --- |

8421 31 00

| | 8421 99 00 |
| --- | --- |

8421 99 00

| | 8440 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8440 90 00

| | 8442 40 00 |
| --- | --- |

8442 40 00

| | 8450 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8450 90 00

| | 8451 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8451 90 00

| | 8452 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8452 90 00

| | 8478 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8478 90 00

| | 8481 20 10 |
| --- | --- |

8481 20 10

| | 8481 30 99 |
| --- | --- |

8481 30 99

| | 8481 40 |
| --- | --- |

8481 40

| | 8481 80 99 |
| --- | --- |

8481 80 99

| | 8482 10 90 |
| --- | --- |

8482 10 90

| | 8482 80 00 |
| --- | --- |

8482 80 00

| | 8483 40 90 |
| --- | --- |

8483 40 90

| | 8483 60 80 |
| --- | --- |

8483 60 80

| | 8484 10 00 |
| --- | --- |

8484 10 00

| | 8503 00 99 |
| --- | --- |

8503 00 99

| | 8509 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8509 90 00

| | 8511 80 00 |
| --- | --- |

8511 80 00

| | 8511 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8511 90 00

| | 8513 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8513 90 00

| | 8514 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8514 90 00

| | 8529 10 31 |
| --- | --- |

8529 10 31

| | 8529 10 39 |
| --- | --- |

8529 10 39

| | 8529 10 80 |
| --- | --- |

8529 10 80

| | 8529 10 95 |
| --- | --- |

8529 10 95

| | 8529 90 65 |
| --- | --- |

8529 90 65

| | 8529 90 97 |
| --- | --- |

8529 90 97

| | 8531 90 85 |
| --- | --- |

8531 90 85

| | 8539 31 90 |
| --- | --- |

8539 31 90

| | 8543 70 90 |
| --- | --- |

8543 70 90

| | 8544 20 00 |
| --- | --- |

8544 20 00

| | 8544 42 90 |
| --- | --- |

8544 42 90

| | 8544 49 93 |
| --- | --- |

8544 49 93

| | 9005 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

9005 90 00

| | 9011 90 90 |
| --- | --- |

9011 90 90

| | 9014 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

9014 90 00

| | 9015 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

9015 90 00

| | 9024 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

9024 90 00

| | 9029 20 31 |
| --- | --- |

9029 20 31

| | 9209 91 00 |
| --- | --- |

9209 91 00

| | 9209 92 00 |
| --- | --- |

9209 92 00

| | 9209 94 00 |
| --- | --- |

9209 94 00

| | 9506 70 90 |
| --- | --- |

9506 70 90

AMENDMENT

CN Code

| | 3102 40 10 |
| --- | --- |

3102 40 10

| | 3105 20 10 |
| --- | --- |

3105 20 10

| | 4008 29 00 |
| --- | --- |

4008 29 00

| | 4009 42 00 |
| --- | --- |

4009 42 00

| | 4010 12 00 |
| --- | --- |

4010 12 00

| | 4015 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

4015 90 00

| | 4016 93 00 |
| --- | --- |

4016 93 00

| | 4016 99 97 |
| --- | --- |

4016 99 97

| | 5401 10 90 |
| --- | --- |

5401 10 90

| | 5407 42 00 |
| --- | --- |

5407 42 00

| | 5407 72 00 |
| --- | --- |

5407 72 00

| | 5601 21 90 |
| --- | --- |

5601 21 90

| | 5608 |
| --- | --- |

5608

| | 5806 32 90 |
| --- | --- |

5806 32 90

| | 5901 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

5901 90 00

| | 5905 00 90 |
| --- | --- |

5905 00 90

| | 6217 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

6217 90 00

| | 6406 20 90 |
| --- | --- |

6406 20 90

| | 6804 |
| --- | --- |

6804

| | 7303 00 90 |
| --- | --- |

7303 00 90

| | 7308 |
| --- | --- |

7308

| | 7309 00 |
| --- | --- |

7309 00

| | 7310 (2) |
| --- | --- |

7310 (2)

| | 7315 12 00 |
| --- | --- |

7315 12 00

| | 7318 14 91 |
| --- | --- |

7318 14 91

| | 7318 15 69 |
| --- | --- |

7318 15 69

| | 7315 89 00 |
| --- | --- |

7315 89 00

| | 7318 15 90 |
| --- | --- |

7318 15 90

| | 7318 16 91 |
| --- | --- |

7318 16 91

| | 7318 19 00 |
| --- | --- |

7318 19 00

| | 7318 22 00 |
| --- | --- |

7318 22 00

| | 7320 20 89 |
| --- | --- |

7320 20 89

| | 7322 |
| --- | --- |

7322

| | 7323 99 99 |
| --- | --- |

7323 99 99

| | 7324 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

7324 90 00

| | 7326 90 98 |
| --- | --- |

7326 90 98

| | 7412 20 00 |
| --- | --- |

7412 20 00

| | 7415 21 00 |
| --- | --- |

7415 21 00

| | 7415 29 00 |
| --- | --- |

7415 29 00

| | 7415 33 00 |
| --- | --- |

7415 33 00

| | 7419 91 00 |
| --- | --- |

7419 91 00

| | 7606 11 91 |
| --- | --- |

7606 11 91

| | 7606 11 93 |
| --- | --- |

7606 11 93

| | 7606 11 99 |
| --- | --- |

7606 11 99

| | 7610 |
| --- | --- |

7610

| | 7611 00 00 |
| --- | --- |

7611 00 00

| | 7612 |
| --- | --- |

7612

| | 7613 00 00 |
| --- | --- |

7613 00 00

| | 7616 10 00 |
| --- | --- |

7616 10 00

| | 7907 00 |
| --- | --- |

7907 00

| | 8202 |
| --- | --- |

8202

| | 8203 |
| --- | --- |

8203

| | 8204 |
| --- | --- |

8204

| | 8205 |
| --- | --- |

8205

| | 8207 |
| --- | --- |

8207

| | 8208 (1) |
| --- | --- |

8208 (1)

| | 8209 00 |
| --- | --- |

8209 00

| | 8210 00 00 |
| --- | --- |

8210 00 00

| | 8302 42 00 |
| --- | --- |

8302 42 00

| | 8302 49 00 |
| --- | --- |

8302 49 00

| | 8303 00 |
| --- | --- |

8303 00

| | 8304 00 00 |
| --- | --- |

8304 00 00

| | 8307 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8307 90 00

| | 8308 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8308 90 00

| | 8402 |
| --- | --- |

8402

| | 8403 |
| --- | --- |

8403

| | 8404 |
| --- | --- |

8404

| | 8405 |
| --- | --- |

8405

| | 8406 |
| --- | --- |

8406

| | 8407 |
| --- | --- |

8407

| | 8408 |
| --- | --- |

8408

| | 8409 |
| --- | --- |

8409

| | 8411 |
| --- | --- |

8411

| | 8412 90 40 |
| --- | --- |

8412 90 40

| | 8413 |
| --- | --- |

8413

| | 8414 |
| --- | --- |

8414

| | 8415 |
| --- | --- |

8415

| | 8416 |
| --- | --- |

8416

| | 8417 |
| --- | --- |

8417

| | 8418 |
| --- | --- |

8418

| | 8419 |
| --- | --- |

8419

| | 8420 |
| --- | --- |

8420

| | 8421 |
| --- | --- |

8421

| | 8422 |
| --- | --- |

8422

| | 8423 (3) |
| --- | --- |

8423 (3)

| | 8424 (4) |
| --- | --- |

8424 (4)

| | 8425 |
| --- | --- |

8425

| | 8426 |
| --- | --- |

8426

| | 8427 |
| --- | --- |

8427

| | 8428 |
| --- | --- |

8428

| | 8437 |
| --- | --- |

8437

| | 8438 |
| --- | --- |

8438

| | 8439 |
| --- | --- |

8439

| | 8440 |
| --- | --- |

8440

| | 8441 |
| --- | --- |

8441

| | 8442 40 00 |
| --- | --- |

8442 40 00

| | 8443 |
| --- | --- |

8443

| | 8444 00 |
| --- | --- |

8444 00

| | 8445 |
| --- | --- |

8445

| | 8446 |
| --- | --- |

8446

| | 8447 |
| --- | --- |

8447

| | 8448 |
| --- | --- |

8448

| | 8450 |
| --- | --- |

8450

| | 8451 |
| --- | --- |

8451

| | 8452 |
| --- | --- |

8452

| | 8453 |
| --- | --- |

8453

| | 8456 |
| --- | --- |

8456

| | 8457 |
| --- | --- |

8457

| | 8458 |
| --- | --- |

8458

| | 8459 |
| --- | --- |

8459

| | 8460 |
| --- | --- |

8460

| | 8461 |
| --- | --- |

8461

| | 8462 |
| --- | --- |

8462

| | 8463 |
| --- | --- |

8463

| | 8464 |
| --- | --- |

8464

| | 8465 |
| --- | --- |

8465

| | 8466 |
| --- | --- |

8466

| | 8467 |
| --- | --- |

8467

| | 8468 |
| --- | --- |

8468

| | 8469 00 |
| --- | --- |

8469 00

| | 8470 |
| --- | --- |

8470

| | 8471 |
| --- | --- |

8471

| | 8472 |
| --- | --- |

8472

| | 8474 |
| --- | --- |

8474

| | 8475 |
| --- | --- |

8475

| | 8477 |
| --- | --- |

8477

| | 8478 |
| --- | --- |

8478

| | 8480 |
| --- | --- |

8480

| | 8481 20 10 |
| --- | --- |

8481 20 10

| | 8481 30 99 |
| --- | --- |

8481 30 99

| | 8481 40 |
| --- | --- |

8481 40

| | 8481 80 99 |
| --- | --- |

8481 80 99

| | 8482 10 90 |
| --- | --- |

8482 10 90

| | 8482 80 00 |
| --- | --- |

8482 80 00

| | 8483 40 90 |
| --- | --- |

8483 40 90

| | 8483 60 80 |
| --- | --- |

8483 60 80

| | 8484 10 00 |
| --- | --- |

8484 10 00

| | 8486 |
| --- | --- |

8486

| | 8501 |
| --- | --- |

8501

| | 8503 00 |
| --- | --- |

8503 00

| | 8504 40 84 |
| --- | --- |

8504 40 84

| | 8508 |
| --- | --- |

8508

| | 8509 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8509 90 00

| | 8511 80 00 |
| --- | --- |

8511 80 00

| | 8511 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8511 90 00

| | 8513 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

8513 90 00

| | 8514 |
| --- | --- |

8514

| | 8515 |
| --- | --- |

8515

| | 8517 |
| --- | --- |

8517

| | 8526 |
| --- | --- |

8526

| | 8529 10 31 |
| --- | --- |

8529 10 31

| | 8529 10 39 |
| --- | --- |

8529 10 39

| | 8529 10 95 |
| --- | --- |

8529 10 95

| | 8529 90 20 |
| --- | --- |

8529 90 20

| | 8529 90 65 |
| --- | --- |

8529 90 65

| | 8529 90 97 |
| --- | --- |

8529 90 97

| | 8531 90 85 |
| --- | --- |

8531 90 85

| | 8537 10 99 |
| --- | --- |

8537 10 99

| | 8539 31 90 |
| --- | --- |

8539 31 90

| | 8543 |
| --- | --- |

8543

| | 8544 |
| --- | --- |

8544

| | 9005 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

9005 90 00

| | 9010 |
| --- | --- |

9010

| | 9011 |
| --- | --- |

9011

| | 9012 |
| --- | --- |

9012

| | 9014 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

9014 90 00

| | 9015 90 00 |
| --- | --- |

9015 90 00

| | 9016 00 |
| --- | --- |

9016 00

| | 9017 |
| --- | --- |

9017

| | 9018 |
| --- | --- |

9018

| | 9024 |
| --- | --- |

9024

| | 9025 |
| --- | --- |

9025

| | 9026 |
| --- | --- |

9026

| | 9027 |
| --- | --- |

9027

| | 9028 |
| --- | --- |

9028

| | 9029 20 31 |
| --- | --- |

9029 20 31

| | 9030 |
| --- | --- |

9030

| | 9031 |
| --- | --- |

9031

| | 9032 |
| --- | --- |

9032

| | 9033 00 00 |
| --- | --- |

9033 00 00

| | 9209 00 00 |
| --- | --- |

9209 00 00

| | 9209 92 00 |
| --- | --- |

9209 92 00

| | 9209 94 00 |
| --- | --- |

9209 94 00

| | 9406 00 |
| --- | --- |

9406 00

| | 9506 70 90 |
| --- | --- |

9506 70 90

---

(1)  
  (excluding 8208 40 00).

(2)  
  (excluding 7310 21).

(3)  
  (excluding 8423 10 10).

(4)  
  (excluding 8424 81 10).

---