ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
5.

Is concerned at the fact that, according to the UNICEF appeal of 7 February 2012 and to the report of 23 November 2011 of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, almost 400 children have died since the beginning of the violence in Syria in March 2011, and almost 380 – some of them under the age of 14 – have been arbitrarily arrested and suffered torture and sexual violence during detention; strongly condemns all violations of human rights, including children’s rights, committed by the Syrian military and security forces and calls on the Syrian Government to put an end to all violations of children’s and other human rights;
F.

whereas the newly introduced claim ‘now contains X % less of [nutrient]’ violates the principle of comparative claims, as laid down in Article 9(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006; whereas it allows for the nutritional values of a product to be compared with a previous version of that product, regardless of the starting level of the nutrient in question, which could be excessively high by comparison with other products on the market; whereas products which have not been reformulated, but are nevertheless lower in a certain nutrient than the reformulated product of a different brand, will not be allowed to bear a nutrition claim, and this will inevitably mislead consumers;
15.

Calls on the Commission, on behalf of the European Union, and the Member States to accede to the 1997 United Nations Convention on International Watercourses and to promote the entry into force of the amendments to the 1992 Helsinki Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, in order to extend the scope of this instrument beyond solely the UNECE countries, and to encourage wider ratification of the Protocol on Health and Water to the 1992 Helsinki Convention, with a view to promoting the coordinated and fair management of water in national and international basins;
5.

Calls on the Egyptian authorities to fully implement, through its national legislation, the principles of the Conventions to which Egypt is party, i.e. the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (and its optional 1967 Protocol ), the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrants Workers and Members of their Family, which it ratified in 1993 and which subsequently entered into force in 2003;
A.

whereas there is currently no universally accepted definition for the term ‘regional airport’; whereas airports whose principal catchment area is a capital city are not included in the purview of this report; whereas it is suggested that regional airports, i.e. ‘non-hub’ airports, should be subdivided into major and minor airports, on the basis of the types of links provided by such airports, passenger volume and links with major cities and major airports, and whereas the Commission is urged to set common criteria in order to facilitate a proper definition of ‘regional airport’ that takes into account all of the above mentioned elements; whereas, however, ‘regional air service’ should be defined as a flight departing from and/or landing at a regional airport; whereas it will be essential in the ongoing debate on regional airports to determine their various roles and in particular to distinguish between island airports and airports serving inaccessible or economically weak regions;
63.

Calls on the Commission to make efforts with a view to a possible modification of the Montreal Convention, so as to ensure that the mobility equipment of PRMs is compensated in full, as such equipment is important to their integrity, dignity and independence and is therefore in no way comparable to luggage, and that the passenger should have the right, whenever possible, to use his or her own wheelchair up to the door of the aircraft and to receive it back at the door of the aircraft upon arrival; insists meanwhile that PRMs must be informed of their right to claim compensation for damage to their mobility equipment and of their right to make a special declaration of interest in accordance with the Montreal Convention;
4.

Recalls that the objective of the ongoing negotiations on the Association Agreement between the EU and Mercosur is to introduce a framework for economic integration and political dialogue between the two blocks in order to achieve the highest degree of progress and prosperity for both regions, and believes that for such negotiations to be successful both sides have to approach the talks in a spirit of openness and mutual trust; points out also that decisions such as that taken by the Argentine authorities can put a strain on the climate of understanding and friendship needed to reach such an agreement;
A.

whereas the European Parliament stated its position on promoting youth access to the labour market and strengthening trainee, internship and apprenticeship status in its 2010 Resolution that called upon the European Commission, the Member States, the social partners and other stakeholders, in accordance with their respective competences, inter alia, to: — work urgently on strategies, economic and labour market policies to create more and better jobs for the young, thereby avoiding the precariousness trap of young people having a succession of temporary jobs and unpaid internships not leading to any real improvement in salary and working conditions or to more stable forms of employment; — back up national labour market, education and training policies with a Youth Guarantee securing the right of every young person in the EU to be offered a job, an apprenticeship, additional training or combined work and training after a maximum period of 4 months’ unemployment; — intensify efforts to reduce early school-leaving and to develop reach-out strategies for young people not in employment, education or training (‘NEETs’); — improve links between the worlds of education and work by better adjusting educational curricula to the needs of the labour market, providing quality internships offering decent wages and appropriate working conditions, introducing a European Quality Charter on Internships setting out minimum standards for internships to ensure their educational value and avoid exploitation while offering social protection, and creating more and better apprenticeships within Vocational Educational Training (VET) to facilitate young people’s transition from education to employment; — step up efforts to establish and implement a European system for the certification and recognition of formal and informal learning, thereby improving both national and cross-border labour market mobility; — ensure inclusive policies to avoid discrimination of young people and address the needs of groups that often face specific obstacles when entering the labour market, such as young migrants, young parents, young Roma and people with a disability;
2.

Recalls that it adopted by an overwhelming majority the report of the Special committee on the Policy challenges and budgetary resources for a sustainable European Union after 2013 (SURE) in its resolution of 8 June 2011, the contents of which remain fully valid and which is to be seen as its negotiating position for the next MFF 2014-2020; restates that it will not be possible to meet the political goals of the Union without adequate financing from a robust EU budget; stresses that the Europe 2020 Strategy, endorsed by all 27 Member States, should help the Union recover from the crisis and emerge stronger through job creation and smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; reaffirms its position against any proposal that would not allow the Union to fulfil its role and meet the political commitments already made or to respond to new responsibilities;
11.

Calls on the Member States, in accordance with Article 65 of the TFEU, in close cooperation with the Commission and in liaison with the ECB, to take measures to prevent infringements of national law and regulations, in particular in the field of taxation; notes that this is of particular importance as regards Member States experiencing, or threatened with, serious difficulties with respect to their financial stability in the euro area;
35.

Notes that the proposal contained in the basic regulation to introduce ‘transferable fishing concessions’ (TFCs), as the sole means of solving the problem of overcapacity, could generate anti-competitive, speculative and concentration practices, and believes that it should therefore be voluntary in nature and subject to the decision of the Member States, as is currently the case; points out that the direct experience of some Member States which have already introduced TFC systems without effective restrictions and safeguards shows a direct correlation between their introduction and an increase in the concentration of fishing rights in the hands of a few traders, and a consequent rise in the prices of fishery products; notes that, although in some countries the implementation of such a system has been followed by reductions in fleet capacity, this has been mainly at the expense of small-scale and artisanal coastal fishing, which are not the most environmentally destructive fleet segments, but the most economically endangered part of the industry and the biggest provider of jobs and economic activity in coastal regions; recalls that a reduction in fishing capacity does not necessarily mean a reduction in fishing activity, but merely the concentration of fishery resource exploitation in the hands of more economically competitive operators; emphasises that, if TFC schemes were introduced, adequate safeguards would need to be put in place in order to protect small-scale and coastal fishing;
D.

whereas, as well as being in itself a violation of human rights, female genital mutilation causes very serious and irreparable injuries in the short and long term to the physical and mental health and rights of the women and girls who undergo it, constituting a grave assault on their person and integrity, and in some cases can even be fatal; whereas the use of rudimentary instruments and the lack of antiseptic precautions have further harmful effects, such that sexual intercourse and childbirth may become painful, the affected organs are irreparably damaged and there may be complications such as haemorrhaging, shock, infection, transmission of the AIDS virus, tetanus, benign tumours and serious complications affecting pregnancy and childbirth;
68.

Considers that the European Animal Welfare Framework Law should include: (a) a common OIE-based definition and understanding of animal welfare, and general science-based objectives; (b) the principle of duty of care for all animal owners and handlers, whereas stray animals should firstly be the responsibility of the owner and ultimately of the Member States’ authorities because of the public health and safety related risks; (c) awareness-raising tools and guidelines for staff from public authorities, on how to identify animal welfare issues in the course of their duty; (d) a requirement, when needed, to ensure the competence – while recognising the skills and knowledge already acquired through practical experience or training – of any person handling animals in the course of their professional duties, along with adequate training requirements for specific animal welfare responsibilities; (e) an obligation for Member States to submit to the Commission biennial reports on the implementation of EU animal welfare legislation, including a roadmap for the following two years, and the requirement for the Commission to publish, without delay, these reports together with an executive summary; (f) effective and timely actions against those Member States who do not submit reports or do not fulfil their obligations to carry out controls and inspections; (g) the creation of a coordinated European Animal Welfare Network which, based on the experiences of the Pilot Project X/2012, will support information and education campaigns, evaluate the animal welfare requirements on the basis of the latest peer-reviewed scientific knowledge, and coordinate an EU system for the pre-testing of new technologies in line with existing programmes promoted by the Commission and its agencies and committees; (h) a structure for science-based sectoral legislation and non-legislative measures; (i) a review clause to allow the framework law to be regularly adapted to new scientific developments while respecting the need for legal certainty and taking into account the economic lifespan of the investments made;
32.

Reiterates its call for a strong EU-wide cohesion policy post-2013, which must streamline existing funds and programmes, ensure adequate financing, be based on multi-level governance and be closely aligned with the objectives of the EU 2020 strategy; insists on the need to improve the efficiency and responsiveness of the Solidarity Fund and expects proposals to that end; is convinced that it is possible to find, by appropriate means, common ground for the EU cohesion and research and development policies, which ought to be targeted towards growth and competitiveness while respecting the principles of economic, social and territorial cohesion as well as excellence;
1.

Addresses the following recommendations to the Council: (a) to establish a common EU list of officials responsible for the death of Sergei Magnitsky, for the subsequent judicial cover-up and for the ongoing and sustained harassment of his mother and widow; (b) to impose and implement an EU-wide visa ban on these officials and to freeze any financial assets they or their immediate family may hold inside the European Union; (c) to call on Russia to conduct a credible and independent investigation encompassing all aspects of this tragic case, and to bring all those responsible to justice; (d) to urge the Russian authorities to put an end to the widespread corruption and to reform the judicial system, and bring it into line with international standards, by creating an independent, just and transparent system that cannot, under any circumstances, be misused for political reasons; (e) to raise, in the course of bilateral meetings with Russian authorities, this issue as well as the issue of intimidation and impunity in cases involving human rights defenders, journalists and lawyers, in a more determined, resolute and result-oriented manner;
31.

Recognises the important role played by money market funds (MMFs) in the financing of financial institutions in the short run and in allowing for risk diversification; recognises the different role and structure of MMFs based in the EU and the US; recognises that the 2010 ESMA guidelines imposed stricter standards on MMFs (credit quality, maturity of underlying securities and better disclosure to investors); notes, however, that some MMFs, in particular those offering a stable net asset value to investors, are vulnerable to massive runs; stresses, therefore, that additional measures need to be taken to improve the resilience of these funds and to cover the liquidity risk; supports the October 2012 IOSCO final report in its proposed recommendations for the regulation and management of MMFs across jurisdictions; believes that MMFs that offer a stable net asset value (NAV) should be subject to measures designed to reduce the specific risks associated with their stable NAV feature and internalise the costs arising from these risks; considers that regulators should require, where workable, a conversion to floating/variable NAV, or, alternatively, safeguards should be introduced to reinforce stable NAV MMFs’ resilience and ability to face significant redemptions; invites the Commission to submit a review of the UCITS framework, with particular focus on the MMF issue, in the first half of 2013, by requiring MMFs either to adopt a variable asset value with a daily evaluation or, if retaining a constant value, to be obliged to apply for a limited-purpose banking licence and be subject to capital and other prudential requirements; stresses that regulatory arbitrage must be minimised;
4.

Stresses that effective cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union can only be realised on the basis of a clear willingness on the part of the Ukrainian authorities to carry out and implement the necessary reforms, in particular that of the legal and judicial system, with the aim of fully adhering to the principles of democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, minority rights and the rule of law; calls for active and effective support to be given to this reform process by the institutions of the European Union, the Council of Europe and its Venice Commission;
2.

Underlines, therefore, the need for a global and coordinated approach to these challenges at the EU level through the development of a comprehensive EU cyber security strategy which should provide a common definition of cyber security and defence and of what constitutes a defence-related cyber attack, a common operating vision and should take into account the added value of the existing agencies and bodies; as well as good practices from those Member States which already have national cyber security strategies; stresses the crucial importance of coordination and creating synergies at the Union level to help combine different initiatives, programmes and activities, both military and civilian; emphasises that such a strategy should ensure flexibility and be updated on a regular basis to adapt it to the rapidly changing nature of cyberspace;
47.

Highlights the Council’s 2009 decision to extend the human rights and democracy clause to all agreements and to provide for a linkage between these agreements and free trade agreements by including a ‘passerelle clause’ where necessary; notes the reference in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy to the development of criteria for the application of this element; notes that the extension of the coverage of the human rights clause necessarily requires a clear mechanism for its implementation at the institutional and political levels, and that it therefore needs to be complemented by an operational enforcement mechanism; insists that enforceable and non-negotiable human rights clauses must be included in all agreements concluded by the EU with both industrialised and developing countries, including sectoral agreements and agreements on trade and investment; considers it essential that all partner countries, in particular like-minded countries and strategic partners with which the EU is negotiating agreements, subscribe to this binding commitment;
16.

Regrets the fact that the payment appropriations of EUR 5 0 0 00 000 on the EGF budget line (line 04 05 01) in the 2012 budget has proved to be insufficient to cover all needed payments; regrets that the Commission has proposed to cover this payment through a transfer of payment appropriations from European Progress Microfinance Facility (line 04 04 15) instead of asking for fresh money through Draft Amending Budget No 6/2012, as it justifiably did for other requests for EGF mobilisation; recalls that the EGF was created as a separate specific instrument with its own objectives and deadlines and therefore deserves a dedicated allocation, which will avoid transfers from other budget lines, as happened in the past, which could be detrimental to the achievement of the policy objectives of the EGF;
16.

Highlights that, while urban areas can make a vital contribution as growth centres and growth drivers, it is necessary to integrate local development needs when addressing the problems of suburban, neighbouring and rural areas, in order to promote a relationship that is not in conflict but is complementary and synergetic, and in order to tackle the gradual loss of the rural-urban fringe, due to the trend of urban spread, and the conversion of rural areas into building land, while developing the accessibility to public services;
59.

Reiterates once more the importance of the EU Member States working towards the fulfilment of the indivisibility and universality of human rights and supporting the work of the UNHRC in this respect, in particular by ratifying all the international human rights instruments that this body has established; reiterates its regret that no EU Member State has ratified the Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families; reiterates, too, its regret that several Member States have not yet adopted and/or ratified the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance or the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and that only two Member States have ratified the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; reiterates its call for all the Member States to ratify these conventions and protocols, and encourages them to sign and ratify the recent Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure, which was opened for signature in Geneva, Switzerland, on 28 February 2012; stresses the importance of the Member States submitting their periodic reports to the UN monitoring bodies in a timely manner;
10.

Notes the Commission’s general intention to exempt more measures from the notification requirement; notes, in particular, that the Commission’s proposal includes coverage by the Enabling Regulation of aid granted to culture and aid to make good the damage caused by natural disasters; stresses, however, that the Members States will have to ensure ex ante compliance with state aid rules of de minimis measures and block-exempted schemes in order to preserve a sufficient level of control, while the Commission will continue to exercise ex post control of such cases; underlines that this must not lead to increased state aid; calls on the Commission to ensure that there is a long-term reduction in state aid;
F.

whereas in the wake of the protests, the government amended the ICT Act of 1973 to introduce a provision allowing plaintiffs to appeal against a verdict delivered by the Tribunal; whereas the court ruling against Abdul Qader Mollah can thus be overturned in favour of a death sentence; whereas this form of retroactive legislation violates fair trial standards, undermines the legitimacy of the ICT’s work and violates the prohibition on double jeopardy (‘ne bis in idem’) in international law, which is also laid down in Article 14(7) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bangladesh is a party;
28.

Takes note of the provisional application of a first economic partnership agreement (EPA) with a group of African countries; encourages the Commission to take stock of the lack of progress so far in concluding other EPAs which take full account of the development interests of DCs; calls on the Commission to harness this momentum in order to relaunch the ongoing negotiations on EPAs between the EU and interested DCs, in order to gradually integrate their markets in the multilateral trade framework; stresses the importance of establishing a firm and fair legal and commercial framework for promoting EU investment in ACP countries in a form that is mutually beneficial; calls on the Commission to take into account Parliament‘s recommendations concerning preference erosion and the flexibility and scope of tariff dismantling, and to pay particular attention to implementing the EPAs;