Motion for a resolution - B7-0152/2014Motion for a resolution
B7-0152/2014

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the EU-Russia summit

4.2.2014 - (2014/2533(RSP))

to wind up the debate on the statements by the Council and the Commission
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Libor Rouček, Ana Gomes, Justas Vincas Paleckis, Boris Zala, Liisa Jaakonsaari, Pino Arlacchi, Tonino Picula, Michael Cashman on behalf of the S&D Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0150/2014

Procedure : 2014/2533(RSP)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
B7-0152/2014

B7‑0152/2014

European Parliament resolution on the EU-Russia summit

(2014/2533(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–       having regard to its previous resolutions on Russia,

–       having regard to the existing partnership and cooperation agreement (PCA) establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other, and to the ongoing negotiations towards a new EU-Russia agreement,

–       having regard to the ‘Partnership for Modernisation’ initiated in 2010 at Rostov‑on‑Don and to the commitment made by the Russian leadership to the rule of law as a fundamental basis for the modernisation of Russia,

–       having regard to the objective shared by the EU and Russia, set out in the joint statement issued on 31 May 2003 following the 11th EU-Russia Summit held in St Petersburg, of creating 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 (the ‘four common spaces’),

–       having regard to the EU-Russia human rights consultations of 28 November 2013,

–       having regard to the Eastern Partnership Summit of 28 and 29 November 2013,

–       having regard to the EU-Russia summit of 28 January 2013,

–      having regard to the statement by the President of the Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, and the remarks by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, following the EU-Russia summit of 28 January 2014,

–       having regard to the Joint EU-Russia statement of 28 January 2014 on combating terrorism,

–       having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.     whereas the EU remains committed to further deepening and developing EU-Russia relations, as is shown by its commitment to seriously engage in negotiating a new framework agreement for their further development, and whereas the EU and Russia have established deep and comprehensive relations, particularly in the energy, economic and business sectors;

B.     whereas there remains concern over developments in the Russian Federation with regard to respect for and protection of human rights and respect for commonly agreed democratic principles, rules and procedures; whereas the Russian Federation is a full member of the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and has therefore committed itself to the principles of democracy and respect for human rights;

C.     whereas at the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit all participants reconfirmed their commitment to the principles of international law and to fundamental values including democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights; whereas good neighbourly relations, peace and stability in their common neighbouring countries are in the interests of both Russia and the EU;

D.     whereas the process of borderisation around Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia has accelerated and became hostile, with the support of the Russia forces and to the detriment of the Georgian territories;

1.      Reaffirms its belief that Russia remains one of the EU’s most important partners in building strategic cooperation, sharing not only economic and trade interests but also aspiring to the realisation of commonly agreed democratic values; stresses that progress in bilateral relations requires an open discussion to clarify issues of mutual disagreement;

2.      Takes note of the EU-Russia summit of 28 January 2014 as an opportunity to reflect on the nature and direction of the EU-Russia Strategic Partnership and to clarify points of disagreement; expects that the discussions will lead to improved mutual trust and create conditions for a renewed political impetus to move the partnership forward;

3.      Underlines the need for a sustained and constructive dialogue to discuss developments in our common neighbourhood, as well as different regional economic integration initiatives, and in particular their trade implications, on the basis of existing World Trade Organisation (WTO) commitments; encourages the EU and Russia to find ways of making the respective regional integration processes more compatible, while continuing to work towards a vision of a common trade and economic zone in the future;

4.      Reiterates that the EU-Russia dialogue on issues related to a common neighbourhood must be based on the fundamental principle of sovereignty and the independence of neighbouring countries as regards choosing political and trade alliances; insists that external coercion and pressure are unacceptable and undermine regional stability; urges Russia to play a restrained and constructive role in support of a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Ukraine;

5.      Considers it important that the EU and Russia develop and pursue joint regional initiatives that reflect our common interests in a secure, stable and prosperous neighbourhood, thus overcoming obsolete thinking in terms of spheres of influence;

6.      Expects, if the conditions are properly prepared, to launch the new agreement negotiations at the next summit, to be held in June 2014 in Sochi; regrets the lack of progress in the negotiations on a new PCA to replace the current one, mainly owing to the lack of commitment from the Russian side to engage in substantial negotiations on the trade chapter; underlines the need to maintain the commitment to the Partnership for Modernisation, which is showing some progress in certain areas, such as cooperation in science and technology;

7.      Calls on Russia to comply with all its obligations deriving from its accession to the WTO and to fully implement its WTO commitments; calls on Russia to refrain from imposing bans on products from Member States, as such measures are harmful to bilateral relations between individual Member States and Russia, and to EU-Russia relations;

8.      Firmly condemns the recent barbaric attacks in Volgograd; welcomes the adoption of the Joint EU-Russia statement of 28 January 2014 on combating terrorism, in which the EU and Russia agreed to consider possibilities for further strengthening cooperation in response to crimes committed by terrorists and organised crime, to expand cooperation in exchanging best practices in counter-terrorism and training experts in counter-terrorism, and to intensify their cooperation in the UN framework as well as in other multilateral forums;

9.      Stresses the importance of the energy partnership with Russia; reiterates that the supply of natural resources must not be used as a political tool; underlines the mutual importance of collaboration in the field of energy, which represents an opportunity for further trade and economic collaboration in an opened and transparent market with full understanding of the EU’s need for the diversification of channels of transportation and energy providers, and in full compliance with EU legislation; stresses that the principle of interdependence and transparency should be the basis of such cooperation, together with equal access to markets, infrastructure and investment, and a legally binding energy framework which guarantees a reliable and secure energy supply, based on equal standards, to all Member States;

10.    Reiterates its commitment to the long-term objective of visa-free travel between the EU and Russia, on the basis of a step-by-step approach focused on substance and practical progress; notes that negotiations on an upgraded visa facilitation agreement are ongoing, while the implementation of the ‘common steps towards visa-free short-term travel’ is under way;

11.    Welcomes the recent amnesty, and underlines that a clear and reliable understanding of fundamental freedoms, human rights and the rule of law will help advance further our strategic partnership; emphasises that an independent, impartial and efficient justice system is a core element of the rule of law and contributes greatly to the development of a reliable and stable business environment and investment climate;

12.    Expresses its concern over developments in the Russian Federation with regard to respect for and he protection of human rights and respect for commonly agreed democratic principles, rules and procedures, particularly with regard to the ‘foreign agents’ law, the anti-LGBTI legislation, the recriminalisation of defamation, the treason law and the legislation regulating public protests; urges Russia to abide by its international commitments as a member of the Council of Europe;

13.    Condemns repressive laws such as the ‘foreign agents’ law, and their arbitrary enforcement by the Russian authorities, leading to the harassment of NGOs, human rights defenders, ethnic minorities, democracy supporters and LGBTI persons, and calls for the EU to express this concern at all political levels; calls on Russia to repeal the ‘foreign agents’ law so as not to damage the civil society cooperation that has been established between Russia and the EU over the past 20 years;

14.    Calls on Russia to repeal fully the federal law on ‘propaganda for non-traditional sexual relations’ and similar regional anti-propaganda laws which curtail human rights and notably freedom of expression and assembly in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity; expresses its sincere concern over the negative consequences of these laws on society, with discrimination and violence against LGBTI individuals increasing; calls on the EU delegation and Member State embassies in Russia to increase their support for defenders of the human rights of LGBTI persons, in line with the relevant guidelines;

15.    Underlines the importance of dialogue and cooperation with Russia on global questions to tackle effectively issues such as Afghanistan, the Middle East peace process and piracy off the Horn of Africa; encourages the deepening and strengthening of this cooperation aiming at joint action regarding Syria and Iran;

16.    Calls on Russia to reverse its recognition of the separation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia; strongly condemns the process of borderisation around Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia which has led to the expansion of the area of occupied territories, much to the detriment of Georgia;

17.    Calls on the Russian Federation to fulfil the commitments made in 1996 in the Council of Europe and reflected in OSCE summit decisions (Istanbul, 1999 and Oporto, 2002) concerning the withdrawal of Russian troops and arms from the territory of Moldova; expresses concern over the lack of progress on this issue; underlines the fact that all sides of the 5+2 talks have committed to solving the conflict on the basis of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova; calls on Russia to play a constructive role in efforts to resolve the protracted conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh in the framework of the Minsk Group, and calls on the EU to continue to actively support confidence‑building measures to assist the process;

18.    Believes that renewed efforts are needed to advance cooperation and dialogue between the EU and Russia on matters of regional security, including the resolution of protracted conflicts in the neighbourhood;

19.    Underlines the importance of fostering EU-Russia intercultural dialogue, and dialogue on historical knowledge and cultural heritage, as well as encouraging the mobility and exchange of students, teachers, professors and researchers in order to facilitate people-to-people contacts that would provide a visible and tangible testimony of a sustainable partnership leading in the long term to a community of values;

20.    Welcomes the work of the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee as a platform for the development of cooperation and for continued dialogue between the two parliamentary institutions;

21.    Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the governments and parliaments of the Eastern Partnership countries, the President, Government and Parliament of the Russian Federation, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.