Changes from plenary report to adopted text

RemovedMOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

AddedP9_TA(2024)0104

Changedon the implementationImplementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2023

Removed(2023/2117(INI))

AddedCommittee on Foreign Affairs

AddedPE752.694

AddedEuropean Parliament resolution of 28 February 2024 on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2023 (2023/2117(INI))

▸5 unchanged paragraphs

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Treaty on European Union (TEU), in particular Articles 21 and 36 thereof,

– having regard to the report of 15 June 2023 by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) entitled ‘CFSP Report – Our priorities in 2023’,

– having regard to the ‘Strategic Compass for Security and Defence – For a European Union that protects its citizens, values and interests and contributes to international peace and security’, endorsed by the European Council on 24 March 2022,

– having regard to the new NATO Strategic Concept adopted by Heads of State and Government at the NATO Summit in Madrid on 29 June 2022,

Added– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 1 February 2024,

Added– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 14 and 15 December 2023,

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– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 29 and 30 June 2023,

– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 23 and 24 June 2022,

– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 24 and 25 March 2022,

– having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 of 22 March 2021 establishing a European Peace Facility, and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2015/528,

– having regard to the Commission proposal of 20 June 2023 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing the Ukraine Facility (COM(2023)0338),

– having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank of 1 December 2021 entitled ‘The Global Gateway’ (JOIN(2021)0030),

Changed– having regard to the Commission communication of 128 OctoberNovember 20222023 entitled ‘2022‘2023 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy’ (COM(2022)0528),(COM(2023)0690),

– having regard to the 2023 enlargement reports and to the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which were presented by the Commission on 8 November 2023,

– having regard to its recommendation of 23 November 2022 to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning the new EU strategy for enlargement,

Added– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 15 December 2023 concerning the decision to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, the opening of accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved, and the granting of candidate status to Georgia on the understanding that the relevant steps set out in the Commission’s 2023 communication on EU enlargement policy (COM(2023)0690) of 8 November 2023 are taken,

Added– having regard to the statement by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 16 February 2024 on a planned Israeli military operation in Rafah,

▸20 unchanged paragraphs

– having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to the European Parliament and the Council of 7 June 2023 entitled ‘A New Agenda for Relations between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean’ (JOIN(2023)0017),

– having regard to the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 23 February 2023 entitled ‘Principles of the Charter of the United Nations underlying a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine’ (A/RES/ES-11/6), and to previous UN General Assembly resolutions on the aggression against Ukraine,

– having regard to the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 7 April 2022 entitled ‘Suspension of the rights of membership of the Russian Federation in the Human Rights Council’ (A/RES/ES-11/3),

– having regard to the resolution entitled ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ (Agenda 2030) (A/RES/70/1), which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2015 at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York and which established the Sustainable Development Goals,

– having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/162 of 23 January 2023 on a European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA),

– having regard to the Council Decisions (CFSP) 2022/1970 of 17 October 2022 and 2022/2507 of 19 December 2022 amending Decision 2010/452/CFSP on the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia, EUMM Georgia,

– having regard to its resolutions of 15 March 2023 on EU-Armenia relations and EU-Azerbaijan relations, to its resolution of 19 January 2023 on the humanitarian consequences of the blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh and to its resolution of 5 October 2023 on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s attack and the continuing threats against Armenia,

– having regard to its resolution of 18 April 2023 on the implementation of civilian CSDP and other EU civilian security assistance,

– having regard to its recommendation of 5 October 2022 to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the EU’s strategic relationship and partnership with the Horn of Africa,

– having regard to its resolution of 15 June 2023 on the deterioration of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, notably the case of Jimmy Lai,

– having regard to the mid-term revision of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe,

– having regard to its resolution of 1 June 2023 on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation and to its resolution of 9 March 2022 on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union,

– having regard to its resolutions on breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, adopted in accordance with Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the EU action plan on gender equality and women’s empowerment in external action 2021–2025 (GAP III) and to the EU Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) 2019-2024,

– having regard to Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 of 4 March 2022 establishing the existence of a mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine within the meaning of Article 5 of Directive 2001/55/EC, and having the effect of introducing temporary protection, which established temporary protection for people fleeing from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,

– having regard to the Council of Europe declaration of 16-17 May 2023 entitled ‘Reykjavik Declaration – United around our values’,

– having regard to the Declaration of Future Membership of Belarus in the European Union, to the Declaration by the Democratic Forces of Belarus on Solidarity with the People of Ukraine and to the Political Declaration by the Democratic Forces of Belarus, all of which were adopted at the New Belarus Conference on 6 August 2023,

– having regard to its resolution of 13 July 2023 on recommendations for reform of European Parliament’s rules on transparency, integrity, accountability and anti-corruption,

– having regard to the report of 9 May 2022 on the final outcome of the Conference on the Future of Europe,

– having regard to the study entitled ‘Qualified majority voting in common foreign and security policy – A cost of non-Europe report’, published by its Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services on 28 August 2023,

Added– having regard to its recommendation of February 1999 on the establishment of a European Civil Peace Corps;

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– having regard to Rule 54 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A9-0389/2023),

A. whereas the rules-based international order is increasingly being challenged by autocratic actors, working alone or through concerted action, that attempt to influence or undermine multilateral organisations, set up competing organisations, cause destabilisation through a return to sphere-of-influence thinking and threaten the rules-based international order as well as global and regional security;

B. whereas these increasingly autocratic actors also challenge the universality of human rights and undermine democratic standards worldwide; whereas the EU and like-minded partners should defend the rules-based international order as a matter of priority;

C. whereas Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its consequences, including economic uncertainty, food insecurity and high energy prices, have increased instability in the EU’s immediate neighbourhood, thus prompting the EU to give renewed priority to its enlargement policy, which has proven to be its most effective foreign policy instrument;

Change 1

ChangedD. whereas inthe European Council endorsed, on 14 and 15 December, the 2023 enlargement package presented by the Commission on 8 November 2023, thethereby Commissionrecommending recommendedto openingopen accession negotiations with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, openingto open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved,achieved and grantingto grant candidate status to Georgia on the understanding that certain steps are yet to be taken; whereas the Commission has also presented a Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, whichBalkans is designed to boost economic integration within the Western Balkans and close the socio-economic gap between the Union and our partners by the end of this decade; whereas funds will be released upon the delivery of individual reform agendas; whereas the enlargement policy must be governed by the Copenhagen criteria and should remain a merit-based process; whereas the EU must accelerate its enlargement policy while accession countries continue to reform and achieve the required benchmarks; whereas consistent messages and a clear path towards integration for candidate countries are vital for keeping the pro-European perspective alive; whereas the countries of the Western Balkans must focus on conflict resolution, reconciliation, alignment with the common foreign and security policy (CFSP), mutual cooperation and reforms in order to achieve the common security and stability of the region;

E. whereas stability in the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea is paramount for the security of Europe, including its energy security, as declared in the EU’s Strategic Compass and by NATO, and therefore requires comprehensive strategies and meaningful actions; whereas the EU cannot be perceived as a successful and credible global actor if it cannot provide security in its immediate neighbourhood;

F. whereas the Council has extended the temporary protection for people fleeing from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine from 4 March 2024 to 4 March 2025;

Change 2

AddedG. whereas on 1 February 2024, the Council reached an agreement on the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, including the provision for a Ukraine Facility worth EUR 50 billion, in order to provide coherent, predictable and flexible support for the recovery, reconstruction and modernisation of Ukraine in the period 2024-2027;

H. whereas the Russian war of aggression has reaffirmed the role of NATO as the cornerstone of its members’ collective defence and confirmed once more the indispensability of a strong transatlantic bond; whereas NATO’s decision to commit a minimum of 2 % of gross domestic product to defence spending has only been implemented by a few EU NATO members; whereas Russia’s intention to dismantle the Euro-Atlantic security architecture failed utterly owing to the heroic defence of Ukraine and the quick and decisive reaction by NATO allies;

I. whereas Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has accentuated the need for more ambitious, credible, strategic and unified EU action on the world stage and for Member States to demonstrate the required political will to strengthen the CFSP and to transform it into a fully fledged European policy;

Change 3

RemovedI. whereas there is an urgent need to operationalise the strategic autonomy of the EU and its Member States, including in the field of defence policy, which will allow the Union to defend its interests without undue reliance on third states, promote its values and strengthen its contribution to global multilateralism, the peaceful resolution of conflict and the development of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights worldwide;

AddedJ. whereas the 2021 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was awarded to Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny; whereas he had been imprisoned since February 2021 in inhumane conditions, and most recently in Yamalo-Nenets in western Siberia, where he was murdered on 16 February 2024, for which the ultimate responsibility lies with President Putin and the Russian authorities; whereas this shows the cruel and relentless character of Putin’s totalitarian regime; whereas the murder of Navalny should be a wakeup call to the EU, encouraging it to reinforce its support for Ukraine and strengthen its tools for defending democracy and human rights both inside and outside the EU;

AddedK. whereas the terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel have highlighted the volatile and dynamic security situation in the Middle East and the need for the EU and other international actors to assume greater responsibility and assist governments and civil society organisations of the region with reaching a durable and sustainable peace, in particular by continuing to support a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine; whereas on 7 October 2023, 1 139 Israelis and foreign citizens were killed and 240 people were taken hostage during Hamas’ despicable terrorist attack; whereas tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians and hundreds of UN staff, medical personnel and journalists have been killed in the Gaza Strip as a result of the Israeli Government’s response; whereas the continuous bombardment and forced evacuation of Palestinians to the south of the Gaza Strip have created a dire and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation; whereas attacks by Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 330 Palestinians in the West Bank since 7 October 2023; whereas the International Court of Justice has, in its interim ruling, ordered Israel to implement provisional measures in the case concerning the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel);