European Parliament resolution of 10 May 2007 on the EU-Russia Summit to be held in Samara on 18 May 2007
Date: 2007-05-10
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Russia, cooperation agreement (EU), democratisation, economic relations, energy policy, human rights, international security, trade relations

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Thursday 10 May 2007

P6_TA(2007)0177

Retrofitting of mirrors to heavy goods vehicles ***I

European Parliament legislative resolution of 10 May 2007 on the proposal for a directive of the
European Parliament and of the Council on the retrofitting of mirrors to heavy goods vehicles
registered in the Community (COM(2006)0570 — C6-0332/2006 — 2006/0183(COD))

(Codecision procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission proposal

to the European Parliament

and the Council

(COM(2006)0570),

— having regard to Article 251(2) and Article 71(1)(c) of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Commis-

sion submitted the proposal to Parliament (C6-0332/2006),

— having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (A6-0124/2007);

1.

Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it intends to amend the proposal

2.
substantially or replace it with another text;

3.

Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and the Commission.

P6_TC1-COD(2006)0183

Position of the European Parliament adopted at first reading on 10 May 2007 with a view to the
adoption of Directive 2007/…/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the retrofitting
of mirrors to heavy goods vehicles registered in the Community

(As an agreement was reached between Parliament and Council, Parliament's position at first reading corresponds to the
final legislative act, Directive 2007/38/EC.)

P6_TA(2007)0178

EU-Russia summit

European Parliament resolution of 10 May 2007 on the EU-Russia Summit to be held in Samara on
18 May 2007

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and
their Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part (1), which entered
into force in 1997 and expires in 2007,

(1) OJ L 327, 28.11.1997, p. 1.

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— having regard to the objective of the EU and Russia, set out in the joint statement issued following the
St Petersburg Summit held on 31 May 2003, to set up a common economic space, a common space of
freedom, security and justice, a common space of cooperation in the field of external security and a
common space of research and education, including cultural aspects,

— having regard to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Free-

doms and its five protocols,

— having regard to the EU-Russia human rights dialogue,

— having regard to the public statement concerning the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation made
on 13 March 2007 by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrad-
ing Treatment or Punishment of the Council of Europe,

— having regard to the EU Presidency Statement of 2 May 2007 on the situation in front of the Estonian

embassy in Moscow,

— having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Council and the European

Parliament of 10 January 2007 entitled ‘An Energy Policy for Europe’ (COM(2007)0001),

— having regard to its resolution of 23 March 2006 on security of energy supply in the European

Union (1),

— having regard to its previous resolutions on Russia, and in particular

— its resolution of 26 April 2007 on the recent repression of demonstrations in Russia (2),

— its resolution of 13 December 2006 on the EU-Russia Summit held in Helsinki on 24 November

2006 (3),

— its resolution of 25 October 2006 on EU-Russia relations following the murder of the Russian

journalist Anna Politkovskaya (4),

— its resolution of 15 June 2006 on the EU-Russia Summit held in Sochi on 25 May 2006 (5),

— its resolution of 19 January 2006 on Chechnya after the elections and civil society in Russia (6),

— its resolution of 15 December 2005 on human rights in Russia and the new NGO legislation (7),

and

— its resolution of 26 May 2005 on EU-Russia relations (8),

— having regard to the 19th EU-Russia Summit, to be held in Samara on 18 May 2007,

— having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas relations between the EU and Russia have been steadily developing over the past few years,
leading to deep and comprehensive economic integration and interdependency, which is bound to
increase even more in the near future,

B. whereas enhanced cooperation and good-neighbourly relations between the EU and Russia are of key
importance to the stability, security and prosperity of the whole of Europe and its neighbour states,

(1) OJ C 292 E, 1.12.2006, p. 112.
(2) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2007)0169.
(3) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2006)0566.
(4) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2006)0448.
(5) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2006)0270.
(6) OJ C 287 E, 24.11.2006, p. 302.
(7) OJ C 286 E, 23.11.2006, p. 525.
(8) OJ C 117 E, 18.5.2006, p. 235.

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C. whereas the Russian Federation is a Member of the Council of Europe and thus has committed itself to
the objectives of that organisation, which are to promote democracy and consolidate democratic stabi-
lity in Europe,

D. whereas there is widespread concern over democracy and human rights in Russia, over the indepen-
dence of the judiciary, as exemplified by the Yukos case, over increased control of the media, over the
inability of the Russian police and judicial authorities to find those responsible for murders of journal-
ists and over repressive measures taken against the opposition,

E. whereas serious human rights violations in the form of murder, enforced disappearance, torture, hos-

tage-taking and arbitrary detention are still occurring in the Chechen Republic,

F. whereas so far the EU-Russia human rights consultations have not brought about any substantial pro-

gress in this field, which should be a priority in EU-Russia relations,

G. whereas the rapid and full implementation of all four common spaces, mentioned above, should be at

the heart of the negotiations on the new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement,

H. whereas the underlying principles governing economic and trade relations between the EU and the
Russian Federation should be reciprocity, transparency, predictability, reliability, non-discrimination
and good governance,

I. whereas a future agreement between the EU and the Russian Federation should include principles of the
Energy Charter Treaty aimed at reinvigorating ties and should ease European worries that Russia is
using its vast energy resources as a political weapon,

J. whereas on 19 April 2007 the Justice and Home Affairs Council approved the conclusion of two
agreements on visa facilitation and readmission of illegal immigrants, and whereas talks were opened
on 22 April 2007 on achieving visa-free travel, signalling concrete progress on the common space of
freedom, security and justice,

K. whereas Russia has signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on

Climate Change,

L. whereas the conclusion of a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the
Russian Federation is of the utmost importance for their future cooperation, in particular with regard
to the further development of economic relations, to the further enhancement of security and stability
in Europe and to the further strengthening of respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law
as the basis of this cooperation,

M. whereas the start of the negotiations on the new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement has been
delayed and made conditional upon the Russian Government lifting a ban on Polish imports introduced
in 2005; whereas efforts are being made by the EU to find a compromise on the Polish meat imports
issue, in order to end this political impasse,

N. whereas, following recent events in Estonia, the normal functioning of the Estonian embassy in Moscow
has been blocked and several of its diplomats, including the head of the mission, have been physically
attacked by demonstrators surrounding the embassy and burning the Estonian flag,

O. whereas no substantial progress has been made as regards the solution of the ‘frozen conflicts’

in
common neighbouring countries; whereas peace and stability are in the interests of both Russia and
the EU,

P. whereas it is important that the EU speak with one voice, show solidarity and display unity in its
relations with the Russian Federation, and base those relations on mutual interests and common values;

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1.
Reconfirms its conviction that Russia remains an important partner for the purpose of building stra-
tegic cooperation, with which the EU shares not only economic and trade interests but also the objective of
cooperating closely in the international arena as well as in the common neighbourhood;

2.
Stresses the importance of strengthening unity and solidarity among the EU Member States in their
relations with Russia; welcomes, therefore, the common line taken by the EU in the negotiations with the
Russian Government on the lifting of Russia's ban on imports of Polish agricultural products;

3.
Regrets the breakdown of those negotiations and the subsequent failure to launch negotiations on a
new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Russia, and encourages the German
Presidency to continue its efforts to enable the negotiating mandate for a new agreement to be adopted as
soon as possible and to start negotiations without further delay;

Calls on the European Union to demonstrate solidarity with Estonia and speak to Russia with one
4.
voice in the context of recent events in Tallinn; calls on Russia to fully respect its obligations under the
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by guaranteeing the protection of foreign diplomats and the
normal functioning of foreign embassies;

5. Welcomes the continuous exchange of views on human rights in Russia as part of the EU-Russia
human rights consultations; emphasises, however, that the current situation in Russia gives rise to serious
concern in terms of respect for human rights, democracy, freedom of expression and the rights of civil
society and individuals to challenge authorities and hold them accountable for their actions;

Reiterates its view that a robust defence of human rights and democratic values should be a core
6.
principle of any EU engagement with Russia; urges the Commission to ensure that these values do not
have a subsidiary status in the EU-Russia negotiating package and that any financial assistance granted to
the Russian authorities takes into consideration the strengthening of democratic standards in that country;

7.
Expresses its deep concern about the use of force by the Russian authorities against peaceful anti-
government demonstrators in Moscow and St Petersburg over the past few weeks; stresses that freedom of
speech and the right of assembly are fundamental human rights and that, therefore, a continuation of this
tendency will be in violation of their international obligations;

8.
Expresses its deep concern at the continuing reports from Russian and international human rights
organisations about the use of torture and the commission of inhumane and degrading acts in prisons,
police stations and secret detention centres in Chechnya, strongly condemns such practices and calls on
the Russian authorities to ensure that the rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights,
to which Russia is a signatory, are fully respected in the Chechen Republic and that all those who violate
those rights are brought to justice; underlines in this regard the fact that that the Russian Government has
rejected the mandate conferred in October 2006 on the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, who planned to visit prisons in North Caucasus without
prior notice;

9.
Expresses its concern about social and political polarisation and the restriction of democratic freedoms
in the run-up to the Duma elections in December 2007 and the presidential elections in March 2008; calls
on the Russian authorities to guarantee a free and fair process for both elections in order to ensure that the
opposition parties have the opportunity to campaign, as well as halting the process of depriving some
political parties of their legal status and their eligibility to participate in the elections due to exceedingly
demanding new requirements applicable to their membership as well as the extent of their territorial orga-
nisation, and abiding by the principle of freedom of expression; stresses that freedom of the media will be
of key importance if the elections are to be seen as free and fair; underlines the importance of NGOs
independent of national governments for the development of civil society;

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10.
Emphasises the need to work together with Russia as a necessary and important partner to ensure
peace, stability and security, to combat international terrorism and violent extremism, and to address other
security issues such as environmental and nuclear hazards, drugs, trafficking in arms and human beings and
cross-border organised crime in the European neighbourhood;

Thursday 10 May 2007

11.
Calls on the Commission and the Council to pursue joint initiatives with the Russian Government
aimed at strengthening security and stability in the common neighbourhood, in particular by means of
enhanced dialogue over Ukraine and Belarus and joint efforts to finally resolve the frozen conflicts in
Nagorno Karabakh as well as in Moldova and Georgia by guaranteeing the full territorial integrity of those
states;

Calls on the EU and on Russia, as a member of the UN Security Council, to assume their responsi-

12.
bility for the Iranian nuclear issue;

Expresses its concern about declarations made by President Putin in reaction to the United States'
13.
plans to deploy components of its anti-ballistic missile system in Poland and the Czech Republic and calls
on all parties involved to engage in dialogue; calls on the US to increase its efforts to consult and explain its
planned missile defence system in order to allow NATO and the EU to remain united; demands a thorough
discussion of these proposals, including the need for them, a threat assessment and the possibility of differ-
ent areas of security both in the EU and NATO frameworks; stresses the importance of consulting on the
system within the NATO-Russia Council;

Calls on the EU and Russia, as members of the Quartet to assume their responsibility for the resolu-
14.
tion of the Middle East conflict and to promote efforts to hold an international peace conference on a
regional Middle East peace; calls further on Russia, as a member of the Contact Group and on the UN
Security Council to cooperate in finding a lasting solution to the Kosovo question and, as one of the parties
to the Six Party Talks, to help find a solution to the problem of nuclear proliferation in North Korea;

15.
Calls on Russia not to delay further the decision on the final status of Kosovo based on the Ahtisaari
Plan for supervised independence; draws attention to the repercussions that such a delay could have on the
stability of the region and urges the Moscow authorities to act in a constructive way;

16.
Notes that the European Neighbourhood Policy already presents a number of opportunities for
multilateral cooperation; calls for the setting-up of an EU-Black Sea Community, along the lines of the
Northern Dimension, to enhance and encourage greater dialogue for a more stable, secure and democratic
neighbourhood;

17. Welcomes the progress concerning the Latvia-Russia border agreement but underlines that further
progress must be made to secure ratification and implementation of the border agreement between Russia
and Estonia as soon as possible;

18.
Reiterates its support for Russian membership of the WTO, which will help Russia to come to terms
with the rules on the global market; believes that WTO accession should lead to deeper economic integra-
tion between the EU and Russia;

19.
Reiterates, moreover, the importance of setting up the Common Economic Space (CES) and further
developing the objectives agreed upon in the CES Road Map, especially as regards the creation of an open
and integrated market between the EU and Russia; expects that Russia will
lift the embargo on some
Moldovan and Georgian products;

20.
Stresses the importance of improving the investment climate in Russia, which can only be achieved
by promoting and facilitating non-discriminatory and transparent business conditions, less bureaucracy and
two-way investment; is concerned about the lack of predictability in the application of rules by authorities;

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21. Welcomes the intensified EU-Russia dialogue on energy issues; underlines the importance of energy
imports for European economies, representing as they do a potential opportunity for further trade and
economic cooperation between the EU and Russia; stresses that the principles of interdependence and
transparency should be the basis of such cooperation, together with equal access to markets, infrastructure
and investment; calls on the Council and the Commission to ensure that the principles of the Energy
Charter Treaty, the Transit Protocol annexed thereto and the G8 conclusions are included in a new Partner-
ship and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Russia,
including further cooperation on energy
efficiency, energy saving and renewable energy; points out that these principles should be applied to major
energy infrastructure projects, such as the Baltic gas pipeline; calls for the European Union to speak to
Russia with one voice on these sensitive energy matters;

22.
Advocates the exchange of information on advanced energy technologies and encourages contacts
between EU and Russian energy sector actors, as well the efforts necessary to improve energy efficiency and
to develop non-CO2-emitting technologies, which present significant opportunities for cooperation, particu-
larly industrial cooperation, with the exchange of best practices and technologies between Russian and EU
companies;

23.
Calls upon Russia and the EU Member States to reach the prescribed targets of the Kyoto Protocol
and insists, in this respect, on the specific responsibility of developed countries to take the lead in reducing
emissions; calls on Russia to play an active role in future international negotiations and to facilitate a swift
agreement by 2008, and by 2009 at the latest, to ensure continuity of the global carbon market;

24. Welcomes the initiatives to achieve visa-free travel between the European Union and Russia, holding
out the prospect of improved relations; calls for further cooperation on illegal
improved
checks on identity documents and better information exchange on terrorism and organised crime; empha-
sises that the Council and the Commission must ensure that Russia complies with all the conditions set in
any negotiated agreement on the elimination of visas between the two sides, so as to prevent any breach of
security and democracy in Europe;

immigration,

Calls on the Council and the Commission to redouble their efforts to solve the problems involved in
25.
crossing the EU-Russian border and to engage in concrete projects and fully utilise the new Neighbourhood
and Partnership Instrument and Interreg funds for cross-border cooperation;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Governments

26.
and Parliaments of the Member States and of the Russian Federation and the Council of Europe.

P6_TA(2007)0179

EU strategy for reform in the Arab world

European Parliament resolution of 10 May 2007 on reforms in the Arab world: what strategy
should the European Union adopt? (2006/2172(INI))

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the policies and strategies adopted by the Commission and the Council in relation to

the various countries of the Arab world,

— having regard to the interim report on the European Union's Strategic Partnership with the Mediterra-

nean and the Middle East, adopted by the European Council in December 2006,