{
"activities": [
{
"date": "2000-02-18T00:00:00",
"body": "EP",
"type": "Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading",
"committees": [
{
"body": "EP",
"responsible": true,
"committee": "AFET",
"date": "1999-09-22T00:00:00",
"committee_full": "Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security, Defense",
"rapporteur": [
{
"group": "PPE-DE",
"name": "BROK Elmar"
}
]
},
{
"body": "EP",
"responsible": false,
"committee": "BUDG",
"date": "2000-07-19T00:00:00",
"committee_full": "Budgets",
"rapporteur": [
{
"group": "PSE",
"name": "HAUG Jutta"
}
]
}
]
},
{
"date": "2000-05-15T00:00:00",
"docs": [
{
"url": "http://register.consilium.europa.eu/servlet/driver?page=Result&lang=EN&typ=Advanced&cmsid=639&ff_COTE_DOCUMENT=5990%2F00&fc=REGAISEN&srm=25&md=100",
"text": [
"\n
PURPOSE : to present the annual report from the Council on the\nmain aspects and basic options in regard to the Common Foreign and\nSecurity Policy (CFSP) in 1999.
\nCONTENT : in conformity with point 40, section H, of the\nInterinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 on the budgetary\ndiscipline and the improvement of the budgetary procedure, the\nCouncil is presenting a document to the European Parliament which\nsets out the main aspects and basic options in regard to the Common\nForeign and Security Policy (CFSP), including their financial\nimplications for the Union's budget.
\nThis third report, like the two preceding reports, focuses on the\nfollowing points:
\n1) presenting a description of CFSP activities (joint strategies,\njoint actions and decisions concerning their implementation,\ndeclarations and political dialogue approaches);
\n2) creating an additional chapter relating to external relations of\nthe Union in the annual report on the progress of the European\nUnion;
\n3) presenting the main priorities of the Union on the subject of\nexternal relations in 2000.
\nThe report highlights the fact that the entry into force in 1999 of\nthe Amsterdam Treaty, which laid the foundations of a more\neffective CFSP, was the main achievement of 1999, along with the\ncreation of the post of High Representative (Mr Javier SOLANA) and\nthe establishment of a management unit and rapid alert\nsystem.
\nAmongst the important meetings held in 1999, the report cites the\nEuropean Councils in Cologne and Helsinki which together\nestablished the main principles and modalities for the Union to\ndeal with military and non-military crises in the context of a\nstrengthened Common European policy in the field of security and\ndefence.
\nIn 1999, the EU adopted two common strategies for Russia and\nUkraine with the aim of laying the foundations of a strategic\npartnership. In the Balkans, the Kosovo crisis attracted attention\nthroughout the year with intense efforts in view to finding a\nnegotiated solution to inter-ethnic conflict. The Stability Pact\nfor South East Europe was launched in 1999 to contribute towards\nreinforcing peace in the region. Furthermore, the Union has given\nits broad support to democratic forces in the Former Yugoslav\nRepublic and has continued to exert pressure on President Milosovic\nto convince him to opt for more democratic values.
\nIn other regions of the world, the Union maintained a constructive\nengagement as in, for example, South Asia against the Kaboul\nregime, in Indonesia by launching an arms embargo with a view to\nsupporting the process in East-Timor, in Africa where many\ninitiatives have been taken to restore human rights and democratic\nprinciples (Ethiopia, Erithrea and Congo), in the Middle East, with\nthe appointment of a special Union representative to this region\n(Mr. Miguel Moratinos).
\nIn the field of disarmament, the Union continued its efforts to\nachieve the objective of the total elimination of anti-personnel\nland mines in the world and adopted a first report on the\napplication of the code of conduct concerning arms exports.
\nWith regard to the budget, expenses are generally linked to the\nsending of special envoys from the Union to regions at risk. These\nrelate in particular to the Balkans which attract most of the\nCommunity financial efforts with assistance to Bosnia (EUR 16\nmillion), former Yugoslavia and Kosovo (special envoy from the\nUnion: EUR 500 000, as well as support to UNMIK: EUR 910 000) and\nAlbania (EUR 2.6 million).
\nThe other main priorities were the Stability Pact for South East\nEurope as well as the Royaumont Process (assistance to promote good\nrelations with neighbouring countries in the region) for a total of\nEUR 5 million; the Middle East Peace Process (around EUR 3\nmillion); the Great Lakes Region and the Congo (more than EUR 2.2\nmillion) and Russia (around EUR 9 million with a view to financing\na disarmament programme).
\nIt should also be noted that additional financial assistance has\nbeen provided in order to continue the disarmament effort and\nnon-proliferation of nuclear weapons in the world.
\nAs regards the initiatives foreseen for the year 2000, the report\nclearly outlines the continuation of actions already under way in\nthe regions with a greater emphasis on the situation in the Balkan\nregion, Eastern Europe and Russia. A particular priority will be\ngiven to the development of the Union's abilities in terms of\nmanaging civil and military crises.
\nFurthermore, another objective highlighted in the report aims to\novercome the bilateral trade differences which affect the positive\noverall relations with the Union and the United States in\n2000.
\nLastly, this document states that new efforts will be made in order\nto increase contacts with civil society and international\norganisations and actors.
\n
\n
\n
The committee adopted the report by Elmar BROK (EPP-ED, D)\nexpressing strong support for the Common Foreign and Security\nPolicy (CFSP) as a key element in ensuring peace and freedom and\nprotecting the EU's values and interests. The report underlined the\nimportance of democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human\nrights as factors for security and economic development. In\nparticular it welcomed the EU's attempts to achieve the ultimate\nabolition of capital punishment and the elimination of torture.\nThere was support for enlargement which, the committee felt, would\nlead to continental stability and security. However, thorough\ninternal reform of the EU was seen as a prerequisite for\nenlargement.
\nThe common European security and defence policy (CSDP) was seen as\na fundamental element of the CFSP and as an important step towards\nEuropean integration. Member States were urged to draw up a\ncalendar for the abolition of the Western European Union (WEU),\nwith its residual functions being absorbed by the EU's new\ninstitutional framework that would emerge from the forthcoming\nIntergovernmental Conference.
\nOn specific issues there was broad support for EU policy in the\nBalkans and a welcome for the new course being followed by the\nYugoslav government. Nevertheless the report argued that the EU's\nnew foreign policy priorities should not be financed at the expense\nof other important tasks. Consequently the ceiling of the financial\nperspective should be raised to meet the new financial challenges\ninvolved in the reconstruction of Yugoslavia.
\nThe committee expressed broad support for EU policy towards Russia,\nUkraine, the Caucasus and Afghanistan. However, it felt that the EU\nshould extend its commitments in Asia and expressed concern at the\nlack of any substantial progress on the EU-China dialogue on human\nrights. It also regretted the emergence of differences between\nMember States regarding North Korea. The committee also called for\nthe EU to give greater importance to Africa and deplored the\npersistent inability of the EU to play a constructive role in\nbringing peace to the Middle East.
\nThe report also underlined the importance of Parliament's role in\nthe CFSP and the CSDP and called for the national parliaments of\nMember States and - under certain conditions - candidate countries\nand non-EU NATO countries to be involved in the development of\nthese policies. Finally, it welcomed the steps that had been taken\nto reform the organisation of external relations, but called for\nthe office of the CFSP High Representative to be integrated into\nthe Commission.
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
The European Parliament adopted the resolution by Mr Elmar\nBROK (EPP/ED, D) on the Common Foreign and Security Policy by 411\nvotes to 58 with 55 abstentions. The resolution follows closely the\ndecision of the committee repsonsible, therefore, please refer to\nthe previous document.
\nIn addition, the Parliament adopted an amendment that calls on the\nCouncil and the Member States to take the initiative at the United\nNations to propose the formation of an ad hoc International\nTribunal on Iraq to investigate the responsibility of Saddam\nHussein's regime in human rights abuses.
\n
\n
PURPOSE : to present the annual report from the Council on the\nmain aspects and basic options in regard to the Common Foreign and\nSecurity Policy (CFSP) in 1999.
\nCONTENT : in conformity with point 40, section H, of the\nInterinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 on the budgetary\ndiscipline and the improvement of the budgetary procedure, the\nCouncil is presenting a document to the European Parliament which\nsets out the main aspects and basic options in regard to the Common\nForeign and Security Policy (CFSP), including their financial\nimplications for the Union's budget.
\nThis third report, like the two preceding reports, focuses on the\nfollowing points:
\n1) presenting a description of CFSP activities (joint strategies,\njoint actions and decisions concerning their implementation,\ndeclarations and political dialogue approaches);
\n2) creating an additional chapter relating to external relations of\nthe Union in the annual report on the progress of the European\nUnion;
\n3) presenting the main priorities of the Union on the subject of\nexternal relations in 2000.
\nThe report highlights the fact that the entry into force in 1999 of\nthe Amsterdam Treaty, which laid the foundations of a more\neffective CFSP, was the main achievement of 1999, along with the\ncreation of the post of High Representative (Mr Javier SOLANA) and\nthe establishment of a management unit and rapid alert\nsystem.
\nAmongst the important meetings held in 1999, the report cites the\nEuropean Councils in Cologne and Helsinki which together\nestablished the main principles and modalities for the Union to\ndeal with military and non-military crises in the context of a\nstrengthened Common European policy in the field of security and\ndefence.
\nIn 1999, the EU adopted two common strategies for Russia and\nUkraine with the aim of laying the foundations of a strategic\npartnership. In the Balkans, the Kosovo crisis attracted attention\nthroughout the year with intense efforts in view to finding a\nnegotiated solution to inter-ethnic conflict. The Stability Pact\nfor South East Europe was launched in 1999 to contribute towards\nreinforcing peace in the region. Furthermore, the Union has given\nits broad support to democratic forces in the Former Yugoslav\nRepublic and has continued to exert pressure on President Milosovic\nto convince him to opt for more democratic values.
\nIn other regions of the world, the Union maintained a constructive\nengagement as in, for example, South Asia against the Kaboul\nregime, in Indonesia by launching an arms embargo with a view to\nsupporting the process in East-Timor, in Africa where many\ninitiatives have been taken to restore human rights and democratic\nprinciples (Ethiopia, Erithrea and Congo), in the Middle East, with\nthe appointment of a special Union representative to this region\n(Mr. Miguel Moratinos).
\nIn the field of disarmament, the Union continued its efforts to\nachieve the objective of the total elimination of anti-personnel\nland mines in the world and adopted a first report on the\napplication of the code of conduct concerning arms exports.
\nWith regard to the budget, expenses are generally linked to the\nsending of special envoys from the Union to regions at risk. These\nrelate in particular to the Balkans which attract most of the\nCommunity financial efforts with assistance to Bosnia (EUR 16\nmillion), former Yugoslavia and Kosovo (special envoy from the\nUnion: EUR 500 000, as well as support to UNMIK: EUR 910 000) and\nAlbania (EUR 2.6 million).
\nThe other main priorities were the Stability Pact for South East\nEurope as well as the Royaumont Process (assistance to promote good\nrelations with neighbouring countries in the region) for a total of\nEUR 5 million; the Middle East Peace Process (around EUR 3\nmillion); the Great Lakes Region and the Congo (more than EUR 2.2\nmillion) and Russia (around EUR 9 million with a view to financing\na disarmament programme).
\nIt should also be noted that additional financial assistance has\nbeen provided in order to continue the disarmament effort and\nnon-proliferation of nuclear weapons in the world.
\nAs regards the initiatives foreseen for the year 2000, the report\nclearly outlines the continuation of actions already under way in\nthe regions with a greater emphasis on the situation in the Balkan\nregion, Eastern Europe and Russia. A particular priority will be\ngiven to the development of the Union's abilities in terms of\nmanaging civil and military crises.
\nFurthermore, another objective highlighted in the report aims to\novercome the bilateral trade differences which affect the positive\noverall relations with the Union and the United States in\n2000.
\nLastly, this document states that new efforts will be made in order\nto increase contacts with civil society and international\norganisations and actors.
\n
\n
\n
The committee adopted the report by Elmar BROK (EPP-ED, D)\nexpressing strong support for the Common Foreign and Security\nPolicy (CFSP) as a key element in ensuring peace and freedom and\nprotecting the EU's values and interests. The report underlined the\nimportance of democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human\nrights as factors for security and economic development. In\nparticular it welcomed the EU's attempts to achieve the ultimate\nabolition of capital punishment and the elimination of torture.\nThere was support for enlargement which, the committee felt, would\nlead to continental stability and security. However, thorough\ninternal reform of the EU was seen as a prerequisite for\nenlargement.
\nThe common European security and defence policy (CSDP) was seen as\na fundamental element of the CFSP and as an important step towards\nEuropean integration. Member States were urged to draw up a\ncalendar for the abolition of the Western European Union (WEU),\nwith its residual functions being absorbed by the EU's new\ninstitutional framework that would emerge from the forthcoming\nIntergovernmental Conference.
\nOn specific issues there was broad support for EU policy in the\nBalkans and a welcome for the new course being followed by the\nYugoslav government. Nevertheless the report argued that the EU's\nnew foreign policy priorities should not be financed at the expense\nof other important tasks. Consequently the ceiling of the financial\nperspective should be raised to meet the new financial challenges\ninvolved in the reconstruction of Yugoslavia.
\nThe committee expressed broad support for EU policy towards Russia,\nUkraine, the Caucasus and Afghanistan. However, it felt that the EU\nshould extend its commitments in Asia and expressed concern at the\nlack of any substantial progress on the EU-China dialogue on human\nrights. It also regretted the emergence of differences between\nMember States regarding North Korea. The committee also called for\nthe EU to give greater importance to Africa and deplored the\npersistent inability of the EU to play a constructive role in\nbringing peace to the Middle East.
\nThe report also underlined the importance of Parliament's role in\nthe CFSP and the CSDP and called for the national parliaments of\nMember States and - under certain conditions - candidate countries\nand non-EU NATO countries to be involved in the development of\nthese policies. Finally, it welcomed the steps that had been taken\nto reform the organisation of external relations, but called for\nthe office of the CFSP High Representative to be integrated into\nthe Commission.
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
The European Parliament adopted the resolution by Mr Elmar\nBROK (EPP/ED, D) on the Common Foreign and Security Policy by 411\nvotes to 58 with 55 abstentions. The resolution follows closely the\ndecision of the committee repsonsible, therefore, please refer to\nthe previous document.
\nIn addition, the Parliament adopted an amendment that calls on the\nCouncil and the Member States to take the initiative at the United\nNations to propose the formation of an ad hoc International\nTribunal on Iraq to investigate the responsibility of Saddam\nHussein's regime in human rights abuses.
\n