ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
67.

Points out that many of our automotive firms are becoming less competitive as a result of growing competition — some of it unfair — from non-EU firms; stresses that many of them have the potential to become successful if they are allowed to meet the growing demand on new export markets; urges the Commission to reorganise its trade policy, so as to be able to: (a) coordinate Member State measures for promoting EU firms and protecting EU products, investment and intellectual property rights outside the EU; (b) centralise all EU export instruments, in particular those geared to SMEs (Small Business, Big World), e.g. through the creation of a comprehensive, accessible and sectoral digital platform; (c) gradually make the principle of reciprocity — to which the Commission pays too little attention in CARS 2020 — a central tenet of our trade relations; (d) push for the dismantling of non-tariff barriers in the automotive sector; (e) shorten the time taken to instigate investigations and apply trade defence instruments;
15.

Notes with concern that the number and timeliness of CSDP missions and operations, and the development of civilian and especially military means and capabilities for the CSDP, fall short of what is required, given the EU's increasingly insecure and unstable neighbourhood; deplores, in particular, the limited overall scope of the CSDP missions related to the crises in Libya and Mali and regrets the lack of flexibility within the Union’s decision-making procedures which account for delayed effective responses in crisis scenarios, as the two examples illustrate; calls for the situation to be monitored and for the operational engagement in Eastern Europe and the Southern Caucasus, which has yielded positive results, to be maintained; calls for greater ambition and serious efforts to improve the design of future CSDP missions and operations under a ‘lessons learned process’ and to develop appropriate exit strategies; invites the VP/HR to steer this process and welcomes in this respect her report published on 15 October 2013 as an important step on how to make the CSDP more effective and proactive;
21.

Points out that volunteering plays a key role in creating human and social capital and promoting social inclusion; calls on the Commission and the Member States to give due recognition to the vital contribution made by volunteering in the world of sport and, specifically, amateur sport, in which field many sports organisations would not be able to function without the help of volunteers;
22.

Considers that the location of the BEREC Office is not a barrier to monitoring the EU institutions’ day-to-day work on electronic communications, which is a matter of special interest to BEREC, and that it will not hamper the efficient use of the BEREC Office, provided that greater use is made of electronic communications strategies;
3.

Supports the Iraqi authorities in the fight against IS terrorism and other armed/terrorist groups, but emphasises that the security response needs to be combined with a sustainable political solution involving all the components of Iraqi society and addressing their legitimate grievances; stresses, further, that in the fight against terrorism human rights and international humanitarian law must be respected; urges the Iraqi Security Forces to act in line with international and national law and with respect for Iraq’s commitments to international agreements on human rights and fundamental freedoms; calls on the Iraqi Government and on all political leaders to take the necessary measures to provide security and protection for all people in Iraq, in particular members of vulnerable groups and religious communities;
31.

Considers that the global development framework after 2015 should duly reflect the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States and the peace-building and state-building goals agreed in Busan; highlights that special attention is required with regard to fragile states in the new framework; welcomes the fact that the promotion of peaceful societies is one of the priorities of the EU and that it is evolving as an important element of the new framework; also considers that it is imperative to engage in structural, intensive and long-term partnerships that prioritise security sector reform and the establishment of the rule of law and democratic institutions;
A.

whereas on 3 October 2014 Turkey issued a NAVTEX (Navigational Telex) directive, by which it ‘designated’ a large area within the southern part of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus as being reserved for seismic surveys to be conducted by the Turkish vessel Barbaros from 20 October to 30 December 2014; whereas these seismic surveys affect blocks that have been allocated by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus to the Italian company Eni and to the Korea Gas Corporation for the exploration of possible hydrocarbon reserves in the seabed soil;
—

having regard to its previous resolution of 5 July 2012 on violence against lesbian women and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons in Africa (1), to its position of 13 June 2013 on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement amending for the second time the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000, as first amended in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005 (2), and to its resolution of 11 December 2013 on the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2012 and the European Union’s policy on the matter (3),
6.

Welcomes the recent visit of the High Representative/Vice-President to Israel and to Palestine and her commitment to engage proactively in a positive process aimed at breaking the circle of the conflict and creating the conditions for genuine progress in the peace process; believes that the European Union should take its responsibility and become a genuine actor and facilitator in the Middle East peace process, also with a view to the need of the resumption of the peace talks, including through a common approach and a comprehensive strategy for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; reiterates that a diplomatic approach under the auspices of the Middle East Quartet is necessary and recalls the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative;
8.

Stresses that, in view of the unprecedented scale of the crisis, alleviating the suffering of millions of Syrians in need of basic goods and services must be a priority for the EU and the international community at large; calls for an urgent UNSC humanitarian resolution on this subject; calls in particular on Russia and China, as permanent members of the UNSC, to fulfil their responsibilities and facilitate the adoption of a humanitarian resolution; urges again the EU and its Member States to live up to their humanitarian responsibilities and increase their assistance to Syrian refugees, and to coordinate their efforts more effectively in this field; condemns the consistent thwarting of attempts to deliver humanitarian aid and calls on all parties involved in the conflict, and in particular the Assad regime, to facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid and assistance through all possible channels, including across borders and conflict lines, and to ensure the safety of all medical personnel and humanitarian workers;
5.

Welcomes Kosovo’s first ever country-wide local elections held under Kosovan law on 3 November, 17 November and 1 December 2013 as having marked a huge step forward for democracy in Kosovo and for citizens’ confidence in the democratic processes underpinning the normalisation process, and welcomes the overall orderly conduct of the elections, as assessed in the preliminary statements of the EU Election Observation Mission (EOM); welcomes the fact that Kosovo’s first woman mayor was elected; continues to stress the need to encourage women candidates to participate in future elections; welcomes the measures taken by Kosovan authorities to enhance trust in the country’s institutions, for example the strong stand-by mechanism by which citizens can complain about intimidation and irregularities on election day; welcomes the visible voter turnout in Serbian-dominated municipalities to the south of the Ibar river as a crucial step towards the formation of the Association of Serbian Municipalities; stresses, in this regard, that the failure to inaugurate a new mayor in North Mitrovica and the subsequent call for new elections in this municipality must not hinder the continuation of the process and the full implementation of the 19 April 2013 agreement; strongly condemns the murder of Dimitrije Janicijevic, municipal councillor of North Mitrovica, and calls for the relevant authorities to start immediately the investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice;
25.

Recognises the dynamic nature of the parcel delivery market, with new services and operators emerging rapidly; notes that innovative solutions responding to the needs of e-retailers and customers are likely to become a key differentiator for competition; considers that any legislative measures should be carefully assessed in advance in order to avoid impairing the dynamism of the parcel delivery market which should not be hampered by over-regulation; calls on the Commission to monitor the development of the market carefully, in order to identify any areas of potential market failure where further action may become necessary in the future; stresses in this context that market monitoring should take into account not only established postal operators but also other types of delivery service providers;
21.

Welcomes the readiness of the 28 EU heads of state or government to sign the political chapters of the Association Agreement (AA) as soon as possible and before the presidential elections on 25 May 2014, and to adopt unilateral measures, such as tariff cuts for Ukrainian exports to the EU, which allow Ukraine to benefit from the provisions of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA), as proposed by the Commission on 11 March 2014; points out that the EU stands ready to sign the full AA/DCFTA as soon as possible, and as soon as the Ukrainian Government is ready to take this step; insists on clear signals demonstrating to Russia that nothing in this agreement endangers or harms future cooperative bilateral political and economic relations between Ukraine and Russia; points out, furthermore, that, pursuant to Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, Ukraine — like any other European state — has a European perspective and may apply to become a member of the Union, provided that it adheres to the principles of democracy, respects fundamental freedoms and human and minority rights, and ensures the rule of law;
27.

Reiterates its deep concern that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws — which can carry the death sentence and are often used to justify censorship, criminalisation, persecution and, in certain cases, the murder of members of political and religious minorities — are open to a misuse that affects people of all faiths in Pakistan; underlines that the refusal to reform or repeal the blasphemy laws creates an environment of persistent vulnerability for minority communities; calls on the Pakistani government to implement a moratorium on the use of these laws, as a first step towards revising or revoking them, and to investigate and prosecute, as appropriate, campaigns of intimidation, threats, and violence against Christians, Ahmadis, and other vulnerable groups;
E.

whereas Article 36 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union commits the Union to recognising and respecting ‘access to services of general economic interest as provided for in national laws and practices, in accordance with the Treaties, in order to promote the social and territorial cohesion of the Union’; whereas Article 14 TFEU establishes that ‘given the place occupied by services of general economic interest in the shared values of the Union as well as their role in promoting social and territorial cohesion, the Union and the Member States, each within their respective powers and with the scope of application of the Treaties, shall take care that such services operate on the basis of principles and condition, particularly economic and financial conditions, which enable them to fulfil their missions’; whereas Article 345 TFEU provides that the Treaties ‘shall in no way prejudice the rules in Member States governing the system of property ownership’; and whereas Protocol No. 26 on services of general interest elaborates on the shared values of the Union with respect to services of general economic interest;
15.

Calls on the Commission to regularly monitor the way in which the administrative formalities related to entry and residence of EU citizens and their relatives are processed in the Member States; calls on the Commission to play an active role in ensuring that procedures implemented by Member States fully comply with the values and human rights recognised in the EU Treaties; emphasises that one of the main pillars of the Single Market is labour mobility; highlights the very positive benefits of the EU migrant workforce to the economy of the Member States; calls in this respect on the Commission to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate measures to remove potential obstacles, such as excessive bureaucracy, imposed at the national level in the way of this fundamental freedom;
32.

Calls on the Council to sign the AAs/DCFTAs between the EU and its Member States and Moldova and Georgia, respectively; expresses its approval of the proposal for a Council decision on the provisional application of the EU–Moldova and EU–Georgia AAs immediately upon signature; urges the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union to reduce the notification procedures following the signing of the AAs, so that provisional application can take effect as soon as possible after signing; states its intention, in the event of all requirements being met and the AAs subsequently being signed, to proceed with full ratification of the EU–Moldova and EU–Georgia AAs as soon as possible and before the end of the Commission’s current term; calls for the allocation to those countries of the additional financial assistance required; calls, furthermore, for a frank and open dialogue with the Russian Federation in order to make every effort to develop synergies aimed at benefiting EaP countries;
2.

Is convinced that a lasting solution to the current crisis in Syria can only be achieved through a Syrian-led, inclusive political process with the backing of the international community; deplores the fact that peace talks are currently failing due to the regime’s obstruction of these talks, and urgently requests that all the parties involved and the international community put all their efforts into working towards new talks, which will bring this massacre to an end; stresses the importance of the participation and contribution of all parts of Syrian society, including ethnic and religious minorities, in this process, and underlines the crucial role of minorities in preserving the unique cultural heritage and the tradition of intercultural, interethnic and interreligious coexistence in Syria, with the aim of creating a vibrant society for future generations of Syrians;
23.

Is seriously concerned about the recent allegations of corruption within EULEX; believes that EULEX has played, and still should and could play, an important role in Kosovo, and thus welcomes the prompt reaction of VP/HR Federica Mogherini in appointing an independent expert to probe into the handling of such allegations in depth; calls for full transparency in this investigation and urges all those concerned to cooperate fully so that the investigation can be swiftly concluded; stresses the importance of ensuring that the expert can pursue a comprehensive investigation covering all aspects of the case; is concerned at the fact that sensitive documents on the corruption allegations within EULEX have gone missing; calls for a thorough and comprehensive investigation; stresses that it is of utmost importance to restore the credibility of the EU in Kosovo and abroad and to consider the lessons learned for future missions; notes that both the Ombudsperson and OLAF decided to start independent investigations on the alleged EULEX misconduct and calls on all investigators to effectively coordinate their actions and exchange information; considers, however, that a broad and deep analysis is needed, in order to assess the overall effectiveness of EULEX and the adequacy of its performance, updating the report published in October 2012 by the European Court of Auditors;
11.

Reiterates that Burundi is bound by the human rights clause of the Cotonou Agreement, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and therefore has an obligation to respect universal human rights, including freedom of expression; calls on the Government of Burundi to allow genuine and open political debate to take place ahead of the elections in 2015 without fear of intimidation, by refraining from interfering in the internal management of the opposition parties, by not placing restrictions on campaigning that affect all parties, especially in rural areas, and by refraining from abusing the judiciary to exclude political rivals;
62.

Welcomes the proceedings of the UPR for Egypt in November 2014 and looks forward to its adoption at the upcoming session of the UNHRC; urges Egypt to immediately and unconditionally release all activists and human rights defenders, as well as those detained for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association; demands, also, that the Government of Egypt enact legislation in line with international standards and safeguard the right to association enshrined in the Egyptian Constitution, including the right to receive and dispense funding, and that it revoke the Protest Law of November 2013 and introduce new legislation that would guarantee freedom of assembly; urges the Egyptian Government to open a judicial investigation to determine the identity of those responsible for ordering and carrying out unlawful killings in the course of the suppression of the mainly peaceful demonstrations that have taken place since 3 July 2013, including the dispersals of 14 August 2013 in Raba’a Square and Nahda Square, in which at least 1 000 protesters were killed; urges Egypt to conduct independent, impartial and effective investigations into all human rights violations committed since 2011, including crimes of sexual violence, and to ensure that perpetrators are held to account and victims are provided with an adequate remedy in accordance with international standards; calls on the Egyptian authorities to immediately cancel all death sentences and order retrials that guarantee the right to a fair trial and due process, and to impose an immediate moratorium on death sentences and executions, immediately release all detained journalists and media workers and guarantee the right to freedom of information and expression in accordance with international standards; urges the Egyptian authorities to allow the visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, which has been agreed on in principle, but has been pending since early 2014, and to invite the relevant UN human rights mechanisms and procedures in particular, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly, the Special Rapporteur on Torture, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights while Countering Terrorism, and the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers; calls on the Egyptian authorities to ensure the compliance of domestic law with international human rights standards and to immediately withdraw Law No 136/2014 and put an end to military trials for civilians, as well as cancel all verdicts issued against civilians by military courts and order immediate retrials before civilian courts; calls on the EU and its Member States to support a strong statement on those issues;
5.

Urges the President of France and the Chancellor of Germany, as well as the relevant Foreign Ministers, to raise the question of the release of Nadiya Savchenko at the next meetings of the Contact Group on the implementation of the Minsk Agreements in the Normandy format; calls on the VP/HR, the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to continue to follow closely the case of Nadiya Savchenko, to raise it in different formats and meetings with the Russian authorities, and to keep Parliament informed about the outcome of these efforts;
7.

Welcomes the determination expressed at the Niamey Regional Summit of 20 and 21 January 2015 by the 13 participating countries, in particular the military commitment of Chad, together with Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria, to the fight against the terrorist threats of Boko Haram; encourages a strengthening of this regional response, using all existing tools and in full compliance with international law; calls on ECOWAS, in particular, to continue to make its new Counter-Terrorism Strategy operational, paying particular attention to the containment of cross-border illicit flows of arms, weapons, fighters and contraband; further insists that without such cooperation the violence is likely to continue, undermining peace and stability across the region; points, in this regard, to the pledge of allegiance made by Boko Haram to Islamic State, and to the necessity of impeding any further coordination or cooperation between the two terrorist organisations and the expansion of this threat;
6.

Underlines that EU-Russia relations must henceforth be based on respect for international law and a dialogue, whereby the EU would be ready to re-engage and relaunch cooperation with the authorities in Moscow in a number of specific fields of common interest; underlines that a resumption of cooperation would be envisaged on the condition that Russia respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, including Crimea, fully implements the Minsk Agreements (which include full control of the border by the Ukrainian authorities, the unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops and weapons, and an immediate halt to the provision of assistance to rebel groups), and stops destabilising military and security activities at the EU Member States' borders; stresses that the OSCE has shown itself to be a structure capable of making a contribution to crisis resolution; stresses that such potentially renewed cooperation must not be conducted at the expense of international principles, European values, standards and international commitments; stresses that the EU must clearly define both its expectations of Russia, especially as regards respecting international law and contractual commitments and acting as a predictable partner, and the measures it will take after 31 December 2015, should Russia fail to honour its commitments (or before that date if there are serious developments on the ground), and the resumption of cooperation it would be ready to offer in the event of compliance; stresses that such cooperation should adhere fully to international human rights standards;
4.

Deplores the fact that the proposed revision of the directive may be withdrawn by the Commission as part of the REFIT exercise, and, if this ultimately proves to be the case, asks for a legislative initiative aimed at revising Council Directive 92/85/EEC as an immediate alternative, to be started under the Luxembourg presidency of the Council, in order to improve the health and safety of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding, thereby addressing demographic challenges while also reducing inequality between men and women;