European Parliament 2014-2019 Committee on Foreign Affairs 2015/0302M(NLE) 4.12.2018 AMDMTS 1-230 Draft report (PE629.400v01-00) Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development between the EU and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2015/0302M(NLE)) AM\1171215.docx PE631.807v02-00 United in diversity
AM_Com_NonLegReport PE631.807v02-00 2/104 AM\1171215.docx
1 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Citation 8 having regard to the Council conclusions of 16 October 2017 on Afghanistan, having regard to the Council conclusions of 19 November 2018 and of 16 October 2017 on Afghanistan, 2 Petras Auštrevičius, Patricia Lalonde, Urmas Paet, Ilhan Kyuchyuk Citation 8 having regard to the Council conclusions of 16 October 2017 on Afghanistan, having regard to the Council conclusions of 19 November 2018 on Afghanistan, 3 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Citation 12 a (new) having regard to the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons of 12 April 2017 on his mission to Afghanistan, AM\1171215.docx 3/104 PE631.807v02-00
4 Urmas Paet Citation 12 a (new) having regard to the Geneva ministerial conference on Afghanistan on 27-28 November 2018, 5 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Citation 12 b (new) having regard to the request of the ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda of 3 November 2017 to start an investigation on the war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Afghanistan since May 2003, 6 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Citation 12 c (new) PE631.807v02-00 4/104 AM\1171215.docx
having regard to the UN convention on the rights of children, 7 Petras Auštrevičius, Patricia Lalonde, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Urmas Paet Citation 22 a (new) having regard to the EU Country Roadmap for Engagement with civil society in Afghanistan 2018-2020, 8 Petras Auštrevičius, Patricia Lalonde, Urmas Paet, Ilhan Kyuchyuk Citation 22 b (new) having regard to the Tashkent Conference on Afghanistan on 26-27 of March 2018, 9 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Recital A AM\1171215.docx 5/104 PE631.807v02-00
A. whereas on 10 November 2011, the Council adopted a decision authorising the European Commission to negotiate a CAPD between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan 13 ; 13 Council Decisions of 10 November 2011 (16146/11 and 16147/11). A. whereas on 10 November 2011, the Council adopted a decision authorising the European Commission to negotiate a CAPD between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan 13 ; whereas the CAPD has been provisionally applied since 1 December 2017, before the European Parliament gave its consent to it; 13 Council Decisions of 10 November 2011 (16146/11 and 16147/11). 10 Doru-Claudian Frunzulică Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas the CAPD will also enable the EU and Afghanistan to jointly address global challenges, such as nuclear security, non-proliferation and climate change; 11 Arnaud Danjean Recital B a (new) Ba. whereas the security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated in 2018 and PE631.807v02-00 6/104 AM\1171215.docx
the number of government-controlled districts has decreased; 12 Jean-Luc Schaffhauser Recital C C. whereas Afghanistan is at a crucial point, meaning that if further efforts are not taken, then all of the effort, progress, and sacrifice so far put into the development of Afghanistan will be lost; C. whereas 17 years of western intervention since 2001 a period longer than the two world wars put together have not led to any improvement in the situation; whereas drug production has increased dramatically over this period, reaching 9000 tonnes of opium per year in 2017; whereas USD 1 000 000 000 000 (one trillion dollars) has been spent on military operations in Afghanistan; whereas USD 100 billion has been spend on political reconstruction (nation building); whereas 2300 soldiers have lost their lives and a huge number have sustained terrible injuries; whereas NATO is on the brink of defeat, even if it is reluctant to admit it (see Alfred W. McCoy s long study, How the heroin trade explains US-UK failure in Afghanistan, The Guardian, 9 January 2018); whereas this intervention should therefore be brought to an end; Or. fr 13 Sabine Lösing Recital C AM\1171215.docx 7/104 PE631.807v02-00
C. whereas Afghanistan is at a crucial point, meaning that if further efforts are not taken, then all of the effort, progress, and sacrifice so far put into the development of Afghanistan will be lost; C. whereas after more than 17 years of US and NATO-led military intervention with numerous civilian casualties Afghanistan is at a crucial point, meaning that the overall security situation and living conditions have gravely deteriorated, and if further non-military efforts are not taken, then all of the effort so far put into the development of Afghanistan, the few progress made and the sacrifice done by the Afghan people will be lost; 14 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Recital C C. whereas Afghanistan is at a crucial point, meaning that if further efforts are not taken, then all of the effort, progress, and sacrifice so far put into the development of Afghanistan will be lost; C. whereas Afghanistan is at a crucial point, meaning that further efforts are needed to achieve peace, sustainable development and the respect of human rights and rule of law; whereas according to the United Nations, the number of civilians killed in 2018 has been the highest since 2014; 15 Petras Auštrevičius, Patricia Lalonde, Urmas Paet, Ilhan Kyuchyuk Recital C PE631.807v02-00 8/104 AM\1171215.docx
C. whereas Afghanistan is at a crucial point, meaning that if further efforts are not taken, then all of the effort, progress, and sacrifice so far put into the development of Afghanistan will be lost; C. whereas Afghanistan is at a crucial point, meaning that if further efforts are not taken, then all of the effort, progress, and sacrifice so far put into the development of Afghanistan risks to be lost; 16 Urmas Paet Recital C C. whereas Afghanistan is at a crucial point, meaning that if further efforts are not taken, then all of the effort, progress, and sacrifice so far put into the development of Afghanistan will be lost; C. whereas Afghanistan is at a crucial point, meaning that if further efforts are not taken, then all of the effort, progress, and sacrifice so far put into the development of Afghanistan are at risk; 17 Ana Gomes Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas the security situation in Afghanistan has been steadily deteriorating during 2018, with the Taliban militants controlling more territory than at any time since their ouster by the international coalition in 2001; whereas the emergence of the terrorist threat of the Daesh-linked Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP) contributed significantly to further AM\1171215.docx 9/104 PE631.807v02-00
degradation of the security situation; 18 Petras Auštrevičius, Patricia Lalonde, Urmas Paet, Ilhan Kyuchyuk Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas the European Union and its Member States are collectively the largest international donor to Afghanistan and its people; according to the Multiannual Indicative programme for Afghanistan (MIP 2014-2020), a new development funding of 1.4 billion for the period 2014-2020 is allocated; 19 Anders Primdahl Vistisen Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas since 2002 the EU has provided EUR 3.66 billion in development and humanitarian aid, making it the fourth largest donor in support of the Afghan people; and another EUR 1.2 billion until 2020 in the framework of Multiannual Indicative Programme for Afghanistan (MIP 2014-2020); PE631.807v02-00 10/104 AM\1171215.docx
20 Fabio Massimo Castaldo Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas since 2001 many European Member States, NATO partners and allied countries have contributed to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan with their military and civilian units, suffering several casualties and losses; 21 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas according to the UN, corruption in Afghanistan undermines the legitimacy of the state, posing a serious threat to good governance and sustainable development by preventing a real economy from emerging ; 22 Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas such legal framework AM\1171215.docx 11/104 PE631.807v02-00
builds on the current EU Strategy on Afghanistan as well as the EU s extensive external financing assistance; 23 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Recital C a (new) Ca. whereas according to the Global Adaptation Index Afghanistan is one of the world s most vulnerable countries to climate change; 24 Anders Primdahl Vistisen Recital C b (new) Cb. whereas a stable independent Afghanistan that can provide for itself and deny safe haven to terrorist groups is still in the vital security interests of NATO, the EU, and its Member States; 25 Recital C b (new) PE631.807v02-00 12/104 AM\1171215.docx
Cb. whereas the CAPD will form the basis of EU-Afghan relations for the next ten years, and could be automatically extended for periods of 5 years; 26 Recital C c (new) Cc. whereas the CAPD reflects the principles and conditions on which the EU-Afghanistan future partnership will be based (Title I and II), including the essential elements clauses on human rights and WMD non-proliferation; whereas the CAPD provides for the possibility of cooperation in a broad range of areas, including development (Title III), trade and investment (Title IV), justice and the rule of law (Title V), including the fight against organised crime, money laundering and counternarcotics, cooperation on migration, and a potential future readmission agreement, as well as sectoral cooperation (Title VI); 27 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Recital C c (new) AM\1171215.docx 13/104 PE631.807v02-00
Cc. whereas according to the European Asylum Support Office only one of the thirty-three provinces of Afghanistan is completely spared from armed conflicts; 28 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Recital C d (new) Cd. whereas more than 450 000 Afghan people have returned or been deported from Iran since the start of 2018; whereas the Government of Pakistan has announced that the 1.7 million Afghan refugees registered in the country will need to forcibly return to Afghanistan; whereas the United Nations High Commission for Refugees has expressed its concerns about the compulsory repatriation of refugees, which violates the international law principle of non-refoulement; 29 Recital C d (new) Cd. whereas on 13 January 2016, the PE631.807v02-00 14/104 AM\1171215.docx
VP-HR and the Commission presented to the Council the Joint Proposal for Council Decisions on the signing and conclusion of the CAPD, as an agreement between the European Union and Afghanistan ('EU- only'); 30 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Recital C e (new) Ce. whereas there are more than two million internally displaced persons in Afghanistan as a result of the conflict; whereas according to OCHA, more than 301 000 individuals have been internally displaced in 2018 in Afghanistan due to the ongoing conflict in the country; whereas many of these individuals suffer from food insecurity, inadequate shelter, insufficient access to sanitation and health facilities and lack of protection; 31 Recital C e (new) Ce. whereas while agreeing with the substance of the Agreement, Member States expressed preference for a 'mixed' Agreement with provisional application, therefore asking the Commission and the AM\1171215.docx 15/104 PE631.807v02-00
VP-HR to revise the proposals accordingly to take into account mixed and provisional application; 32 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Recital C f (new) Cf. whereas many children and young people have been forcibly sent back to Afghanistan, where they are at a particular vulnerable situation and at risk of being subject to sexual abuse, child labour or potential recruitment from Talibans and other criminal groups; 33 Recital C f (new) Cf. whereas the CAPD was signed on 18 February 2017; whereas it has been provisionally and partly applied since 1 December 2017; 34 PE631.807v02-00 16/104 AM\1171215.docx
Recital C g (new) Cg. whereas Parliament has been partially but not fully informed throughout negotiations; whereas Parliament received the Council s negotiating directives for the EEAS only on 16 March 2018 instead of November 2011 when Parliament was informed about the decision to open negotiations; 35 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Recital C g (new) Cg. whereas an estimated 87% of Afghan women suffer from genderrelated violence; whereas Afghanistan ranks 154 out of 159 countries on the UN Gender Inequality Index; 36 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Recital C h (new) Ch. whereas in 2017 opium cultivation in Afghanistan reached a record high, with a 63% increase in comparison with AM\1171215.docx 17/104 PE631.807v02-00
2016; whereas illicit trafficking of opiates further fuels instability, insurgency and increases funding to terrorist groups in Afghanistan; 37 Recital C h (new) Ch. whereas the US SINGAR reported that as of May 2018 the Afghan government had control of 56% of the districts of Afghanistan, 58% of the territory, and 47% of the population with 30% of the districts being contested and 14% under insurgent control; 38 Recital C i (new) Ci. whereas Afghanistan is a lowincome, post-conflict and landlocked country, representing special challenges to the international community and its institutions; 39 PE631.807v02-00 18/104 AM\1171215.docx
Recital C j (new) Cj. whereas since 2002 the EU has provided EUR 3.66 billion in development and humanitarian aid, making it the fourth largest donor in support of the Afghan people; and another EUR 1.2 billion until 2020 in the framework of Multiannual Indicative Programme for Afghanistan (MIP 2014-2020); 40 Recital C k (new) Ck. whereas new threats and international crises are arising, causing the public to lose focus, support, and concern for the situation in Afghanistan; 41 Recital C l (new) Cl. whereas a stable independent Afghanistan that can provide for itself and deny safe haven to terrorist groups is still in the vital security interests of NATO, the EU, and its member states; AM\1171215.docx 19/104 PE631.807v02-00
42 Recital C m (new) Cm. whereas the Afghanistan s GDP is currently USD 20 Billion and that the growth rate has shrunk since the withdrawal of ISAF in 2014; and whereas the Afghan economy still faces a number of challenges such as corruption, low revenue collection, poor infrastructure, and anaemic job creation; 43 Recital C n (new) Cn. whereas for the first time the Afghan budget of 2018 adheres to international standards for projections and accounting; 44 Recital C o (new) PE631.807v02-00 20/104 AM\1171215.docx
Co. whereas there are over 600 000 newly displaced people inside Afghanistan in 2016, 2.5 million registered refugees, and between 2 and 3 million undocumented Afghanis in Iran and Pakistan; 45 Recital C p (new) Cp. whereas the EU Police Mission in Afghanistan comes to a close after nine years of progress; 46 Recital C q (new) Cq. whereas the EU Member States still have over 3000 military personnel in Afghanistan participating in NATO Operation Resolute Support; 47 Ana Gomes AM\1171215.docx 21/104 PE631.807v02-00
Paragraph 1 1. Remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key reforms in order to further improve governance and the rule of law, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to promote the respect of human rights, including women s rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve fiscal sustainability and to foster inclusive economic growth; 1. Remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key reforms in order to improve governance and the rule of law, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to foster resilience in the face of the national and regional security challenges, to promote the respect of human rights, including women s, ethnic and religious minorities rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve fiscal sustainability and to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth; 48 Sabine Lösing Paragraph 1 1. Remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key reforms in order to further improve governance and the rule of law, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to promote the respect of human rights, including women s rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve fiscal sustainability and to foster inclusive economic growth; 1. Remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key reforms in order to further improve governance and the rule of law, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to eradicate poverty, to create jobs and alternative livelihoods to opium cultivation and terrorism, to help improve living conditions for Afghan people, to promote the respect of human rights, including women s rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve social and fiscal sustainability and to foster PE631.807v02-00 22/104 AM\1171215.docx
inclusive socio-economic growth; 49 Patricia Lalonde, Petras Auštrevičius Paragraph 1 1. Remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key reforms in order to further improve governance and the rule of law, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to promote the respect of human rights, including women s rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve fiscal sustainability and to foster inclusive economic growth; 1. Remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key reforms in order to further improve governance and the rule of law, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to promote the respect of human rights, including women and children's rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve fiscal sustainability and to foster inclusive economic growth; enabling the young people, (under the age of 25), who represent 2/3 of the population to access a better future; 50 Urmas Paet Paragraph 1 1. Remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key reforms in order to further improve governance and the rule of law, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to 1. Remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key reforms in order to further improve governance and the rule of law, to fight terrorism and extremism, to achieve AM\1171215.docx 23/104 PE631.807v02-00
promote the respect of human rights, including women s rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve fiscal sustainability and to foster inclusive economic growth; sustainable peace and development, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to promote the respect of human rights, including women s rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve fiscal sustainability and to foster inclusive economic growth; 51 Jean-Luc Schaffhauser Paragraph 1 1. Remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key reforms in order to further improve governance and the rule of law, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to promote the respect of human rights, including women s rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve fiscal sustainability and to foster inclusive economic growth; 1. Believes that there is no point in further supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key reforms in order to further improve governance and the rule of law, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to promote the respect of human rights, including women s rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve fiscal sustainability and to foster inclusive economic growth; Or. fr 52 Petras Auštrevičius, Patricia Lalonde, Urmas Paet, Ilhan Kyuchyuk Paragraph 1 1. Remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key 1. Remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key PE631.807v02-00 24/104 AM\1171215.docx
reforms in order to further improve governance and the rule of law, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to promote the respect of human rights, including women s rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve fiscal sustainability and to foster inclusive economic growth; reforms in order to further improve governance and the rule of law, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to promote the respect of human rights, including women s rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve fiscal sustainability and to foster inclusive economic growth and rural development; 53 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Paragraph 1 1. Remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key reforms in order to further improve governance and the rule of law, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to promote the respect of human rights, including women s rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve fiscal sustainability and to foster inclusive economic growth; 1. Remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key reforms in order to further improve governance and the rule of law, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to ensure the respect of human rights, including women s rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve fiscal sustainability and to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth; 54 Arnaud Danjean Paragraph 1 1. Remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to 1. Remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in its efforts to AM\1171215.docx 25/104 PE631.807v02-00
build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key reforms in order to further improve governance and the rule of law, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to promote the respect of human rights, including women s rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve fiscal sustainability and to foster inclusive economic growth; build a secure and stable future for the people of Afghanistan by undertaking key reforms in order to improve governance and the rule of law, to build legitimate, democratic institutions, to promote the respect of human rights, including women s rights, to fight corruption, to counter narcotics, to improve fiscal sustainability and to foster inclusive economic growth; 55 Doru-Claudian Frunzulică Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. The Agreement provides the basis for developing a mutually beneficial relationship in an increasing range of areas such as the rule of law, health, rural development, education, science and technology, as well as actions to combat corruption, money laundering, the financing of terrorism, organised crime and narcotics; 56 Urmas Paet Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Underlines the importance of continuing support of the EU and international community to achieve and preserve the stability and development of PE631.807v02-00 26/104 AM\1171215.docx
Afghanistan; 57 Sabine Lösing Paragraph 2 2. Underscores that the long-term development of Afghanistan will depend on accountability of governance, the sustainable provision of human security, the protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights, and the creation by the country s government of an environment that enables further foreign investment; 2. Underscores that the long-term development of Afghanistan will depend on accountability of governance, the sustainable provision of human security, including poverty eradication, job opportunities and free and universal access to social and health services, the protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights, and the creation by the country s government of an environment that enables fair trade and equal economic relations, which benefits the people instead of the profits of multinational companies; 58 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Paragraph 2 2. Underscores that the long-term development of Afghanistan will depend on accountability of governance, the sustainable provision of human security, the protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights, and the creation by the country s government of an environment 2. Underscores that the long-term development of Afghanistan will depend on good governance, accountability, the sustainable provision of human security and the achievement of human development, the protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights, AM\1171215.docx 27/104 PE631.807v02-00
that enables further foreign investment; and the creation by the country s government of an environment that enables further sustainable foreign investment; stresses the need to conserve and manage in a sustainable manner natural resources and biological diversity; 59 Ana Gomes Paragraph 2 2. Underscores that the long-term development of Afghanistan will depend on accountability of governance, the sustainable provision of human security, the protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights, and the creation by the country s government of an environment that enables further foreign investment; 2. Underscores that the long-term development of Afghanistan will depend on accountability of governance, the sustainable provision of human security, the protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights, and the creation by the country s government of an environment that enables sustainable and inclusive economic growth, including through creating favourable conditions for foreign investment, with full respect for social, environmental and labour standards; 60 Jean-Luc Schaffhauser Paragraph 2 2. Underscores that the long-term development of Afghanistan will depend on accountability of governance, the sustainable provision of human security, the protection of fundamental freedoms 2. Underscores that the long-term development of Afghanistan will depend on accountability of governance, the sustainable provision of human security, the protection of fundamental freedoms PE631.807v02-00 28/104 AM\1171215.docx
and human rights, and the creation by the country s government of an environment that enables further foreign investment; and human rights, and the creation by the country s government of an environment that enables further foreign investment, and that none of these objectives can be met through foreign intervention, but that the Afghans will have to solve their own problems; Or. fr 61 Fabio Massimo Castaldo Paragraph 2 2. Underscores that the long-term development of Afghanistan will depend on accountability of governance, the sustainable provision of human security, the protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights, and the creation by the country s government of an environment that enables further foreign investment; 2. Underscores that the long-term development of Afghanistan will depend on accountability of governance, the sustainable provision of human security, the protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights, including minorities rights, and the creation by the country s government of an environment that enables further foreign investment; 62 Petras Auštrevičius, Patricia Lalonde, Urmas Paet, Ilhan Kyuchyuk Paragraph 2 2. Underscores that the long-term development of Afghanistan will depend on accountability of governance, the sustainable provision of human security, the protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights, and the creation by the country s government of an environment 2. Underscores that the long-term development of Afghanistan will depend on accountability of governance, the sustainable provision of human security, reduction of poverty, the protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights, and the creation by the country s AM\1171215.docx 29/104 PE631.807v02-00
that enables further foreign investment; government of an environment that enables further foreign investment; 63 Urmas Paet Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Stresses that a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Afghanistan is needed and all efforts should be directed towards that most urgent objective; 64 Patricia Lalonde, Petras Auštrevičius Paragraph 3 3. Is concerned by the fragility of the central government and the lack of control it exerts in some provinces; 3. Is concerned by the political instability marked by the fragility of the central government and the lack of control it exerts in some provinces; is further concerned that only 60% of Afghanistan is under the control of the central government; 65 Paragraph 3 PE631.807v02-00 30/104 AM\1171215.docx
3. Is concerned by the fragility of the central government and the lack of control it exerts in some provinces; 3. Is concerned by the fragility of the central government and the lack of control it exerts in some provinces, also due to unresolved post-electoral issues; calls on the EU and international community to facilitate mediation in such cases; 66 Arnaud Danjean Paragraph 3 3. Is concerned by the fragility of the central government and the lack of control it exerts in some provinces; 3. Is concerned by the fragility and the instability of the central government and its lack of control in much of the country; 67 Jean-Luc Schaffhauser Paragraph 3 3. Is concerned by the fragility of the central government and the lack of control it exerts in some provinces; 3. Is concerned by the fragility of the central government and the lack of control it exerts in some provinces; points out that the situation has been the same in Afghanistan for centuries and that nothing will change; Or. fr AM\1171215.docx 31/104 PE631.807v02-00
68 Urmas Paet Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Is concerned of the highly volatile security situation in Afghanistan with continuing high number of incidents, especially the deteriorating security conditions in the North; is concerned about the worsening effect of the conflict on the civilian population in which in the first half of 2018 the conflict caused the highest number of civilian deaths in a sixmonth period since 2009; 69 Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the EU to assist efforts against the long-term trend of inter-ethnic tensions contributing to disintegration of central power and to support the rich multi-ethnic fabric of the Afghan society; 70 Patricia Lalonde, Petras Auštrevičius Paragraph 4 PE631.807v02-00 32/104 AM\1171215.docx
4. Emphasises its long-term support for credible, free and fair elections, in line with international standards, and expresses its support for EU election observation in the country, including observation of the 2019 presidential election; 4. Emphasises its long-term support for credible, free, fair and transparent elections, in line with international standards, and expresses its support for EU election observation in the country, including observation of the 2019 presidential election; stresses that due to chronic political rivalries the result of these elections will have a tremendous impact on the future stability of the Afghan government; 71 Jean-Luc Schaffhauser Paragraph 4 4. Emphasises its long-term support for credible, free and fair elections, in line with international standards, and expresses its support for EU election observation in the country, including observation of the 2019 presidential election; 4. Believes that the notion that, in the long term, credible, free and fair elections, in line with international standards, could ever be hold in the country is naive, and believes that EU election observation in the country, including observation of the 2019 presidential election, is useless; Or. fr 72 Fabio Massimo Castaldo Paragraph 4 4. Emphasises its long-term support for credible, free and fair elections, in line 4. Emphasises its long-term support for credible, inclusive, free and fair AM\1171215.docx 33/104 PE631.807v02-00
with international standards, and expresses its support for EU election observation in the country, including observation of the 2019 presidential election; elections, in line with international standards, and expresses its support for EU election observation in the country, including observation of the 2019 presidential election; 73 Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Supports the Afghan government s efforts to provide the population at large with security and stability; 74 Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Emphasises the vast economic opportunities of the country due to its geographical position and its human and natural resources; 75 Paragraph 4 c (new) PE631.807v02-00 34/104 AM\1171215.docx
4c. Emphasises the EU's substantial financial and political support for Afghanistan's social and economic development, humanitarian aid and regional connectivity; urges further efforts towards joint programming between the EU and its Member States; 76 Paragraph 4 d (new) 4d. Stresses, in this regard, the need for increased EU-US policy coordination and dialogue on Afghanistan and regional issues; 77 Paragraph 4 e (new) 4e. Regrets the migration wave to the West, especially of the educated and the youth, due to the lack of prospects in the country; underlines the EU assistance to improve Afghan emigrants lives disbursed in Pakistan and Iran; calls on those countries not to expel those persons, which could have a deeply negative effect on Afghan stability and economy; calls AM\1171215.docx 35/104 PE631.807v02-00
for the return of refugees to their homes be based on a safe, orderly and voluntary conduct; 78 Paragraph 4 f (new) 4f. Welcomes the Joint Communique adopted at the UN-hosted ministerial conference on Afghanistan, on 27-28 November 2018 in Geneva, with a view to the commitments made at the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan in 2016; 79 Jean-Luc Schaffhauser Paragraph 5 5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; regrets that a stable and successful Afghanistan is not always the end goal for these regional actors; 5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; regrets that the EU has placed itself in opposition to some of these regional powers in particular Russia and that its political stance makes it impossible to cooperate with Moscow on matters such as this one; Or. fr PE631.807v02-00 36/104 AM\1171215.docx
80 Arnaud Danjean Paragraph 5 5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; regrets that a stable and successful Afghanistan is not always the end goal for these regional actors; 5. Underlines that Afghanistan is subject to antagonistic objectives of regional powers; stresses that support and positive cooperation of neighbouring countries and regional powers are essential for the stabilization and development of Afghanistan and underlines the crucial role of these countries in the peace process; 81 Doru-Claudian Frunzulică Paragraph 5 5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; regrets that a stable and successful Afghanistan is not always the end goal for these regional actors; 5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, is vital for peace and essential for stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; considers that closer relations with its neighbours are imperative for Afghanistan's normalization process to achieve stability; encourages them to cooperate constructively to promote a genuine and results-oriented negotiation process without preconditions; AM\1171215.docx 37/104 PE631.807v02-00
82 Patricia Lalonde, Petras Auštrevičius Paragraph 5 5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; regrets that a stable and successful Afghanistan is not always the end goal for these regional actors; 5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; recalls that Afghanistan is situated at the crossroads between Asia and the Middle East, and a neighbouring country to regional powers defending conflicting interests, which can infringe its stability and prosperity; 83 Fabio Massimo Castaldo Paragraph 5 5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; regrets that a stable and successful Afghanistan is not always the end goal for these regional actors; 5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; recalls that a stable and economically viable Afghanistan should be the aim of all these actors; 84 PE631.807v02-00 38/104 AM\1171215.docx
Paragraph 5 5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; regrets that a stable and successful Afghanistan is not always the end goal for these regional actors; 5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; regrets that a stable and successful Afghanistan is not always the end goal for these regional actors; calls upon the EU to take the necessary steps to prevent neighbouring countries from blocking Afghani exports and products; 85 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Paragraph 5 5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; regrets that a stable and successful Afghanistan is not always the end goal for these regional actors; 5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; stresses that peace and stability in Afghanistan should be an end goal for these regional actors; 86 Ana Gomes Paragraph 5 AM\1171215.docx 39/104 PE631.807v02-00
5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; regrets that a stable and successful Afghanistan is not always the end goal for these regional actors; 5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; calls on all of these states to cooperate for the sake of a stable and successful Afghanistan; 87 Urmas Paet Paragraph 5 5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries and regional powers, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan, are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; regrets that a stable and successful Afghanistan is not always the end goal for these regional actors; 5. Recognises that support and positive co-operation from neighbouring countries, regional powers and Central Asia, in particular China, Iran, India, Russia and Pakistan are essential to the stabilisation and development of Afghanistan; regrets that a stable and successful Afghanistan is not always the end goal for these regional actors; 88 Arnaud Danjean Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Stresses that the mobility and sustained activity of terrorist networks PE631.807v02-00 40/104 AM\1171215.docx
operating in Afghanistan and also in Pakistan contribute to the instability of the situation in the whole region; 89 Jean-Luc Schaffhauser Paragraph 6 6. Urges the regional powers to fully support peace efforts in Afghanistan; supports regional cooperation forums, however is concerned at the parallel proxy involvement of some of Afghanistan s neighbours in the conflict, undermining peace efforts; 6. Thanks the regional powers for their support for the peace efforts in Afghanistan; supports regional cooperation forums; Or. fr 90 Ana Gomes Paragraph 6 6. Urges the regional powers to fully support peace efforts in Afghanistan; supports regional cooperation forums, however is concerned at the parallel proxy involvement of some of Afghanistan s neighbours in the conflict, undermining peace efforts; 6. Urges the regional powers to fully support peace efforts in Afghanistan; supports regional cooperation forums; stresses that the conflict is mostly driven by intra-afghan hostilities; at the same time, calls on Afghanistan s neighbours to refrain from involving proxies in their rivalries in Afghanistan, thus undermining peace efforts; AM\1171215.docx 41/104 PE631.807v02-00
91 Fabio Massimo Castaldo Paragraph 6 6. Urges the regional powers to fully support peace efforts in Afghanistan; supports regional cooperation forums, however is concerned at the parallel proxy involvement of some of Afghanistan s neighbours in the conflict, undermining peace efforts; 6. Urges the regional powers to fully cooperate in order to achieve a longlasting and sustainable peace in Afghanistan; supports regional cooperation forums, however is concerned at the parallel proxy involvement of some of Afghanistan s neighbours in the conflict, undermining peace efforts; 92 Patricia Lalonde, Petras Auštrevičius Paragraph 6 6. Urges the regional powers to fully support peace efforts in Afghanistan; supports regional cooperation forums, however is concerned at the parallel proxy involvement of some of Afghanistan s neighbours in the conflict, undermining peace efforts; 6. Urges the regional powers to fully support peace efforts in Afghanistan; supports regional cooperation forums, however is concerned by the involvement of some of Afghanistan s neighbours in the conflict, making peace efforts more difficult; 93 Ana Gomes Paragraph 7 PE631.807v02-00 42/104 AM\1171215.docx
7. Urges the EU to increase its efforts at pressuring regional partners to combat drug trafficking, money laundering, terrorist financing and human smuggling; 7. Urges the EU to increase its efforts at dialogue and cooperation with regional partners to combat drug trafficking, money laundering, terrorist financing and human smuggling; 94 Bodil Valero on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Paragraph 7 7. Urges the EU to increase its efforts at pressuring regional partners to combat drug trafficking, money laundering, terrorist financing and human smuggling; 7. Urges the EU to increase its efforts and work together with regional partners to combat drug trafficking, money laundering, terrorist financing and human smuggling; 95 Petras Auštrevičius, Patricia Lalonde, Urmas Paet, Ilhan Kyuchyuk Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Emphasises the importance of Afghanistan s infrastructure and regional development as fundamental elements to improve trade and connectivity between Central Asia and South Asia countries generating, as well, a stabilising factor in the region; AM\1171215.docx 43/104 PE631.807v02-00
96 Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Regrets that certain state actors such as Russia, Pakistan and Qatar have established warm relations with the Taliban which may lead to a prolonging of the conflict and undermines the democratic future of Afghanistan; 97 Paragraph 7 b (new) 7b. Notes that Pakistan and India view each other s interests in Afghanistan with suspicion, further complicating the geopolitical dilemma of Afghanistan; regrets that Pakistan has been involved in suspicious cooperation with insurgents in Afghanistan such as the Taliban; 98 Paragraph 7 c (new) PE631.807v02-00 44/104 AM\1171215.docx
7c. Notes that Iran s role in Afghanistan remains unclear as it has provided cooperation and support to both coalition forces and the Taliban; regrets that Iran has supplied small arms to the Taliban and in some cases military training; calls for Iran to cease any further recruitment of Afghan immigrants to Shiite militia forces such as Basij which are currently operating in Syria; 99 Paragraph 7 d (new) 7d. Calls on the EU to include considerations about EU-Afghanistan cooperation in its strategies for Central and South Asia; 100 Paragraph 7 e (new) 7e. Highlights that four decades of war and conflicts, starting with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, led to many of the unresolved problems that Afghanistan faces today; in this regard acknowledges the role of the youth and AM\1171215.docx 45/104 PE631.807v02-00
Afghan diaspora in the process of building secure and better future for the country; calls on the EU to support transitional justice for the victims of the violence; 101 Paragraph 7 f (new) 7f. Urges the regional powers fully support peace efforts in the country; supports regional cooperation fora, such as the Istanbul process (Heart of Asia);however is concerned at the parallel proxy involvement of some of its neighbours in the conflict, thus undermining the peace efforts; calls on the VP/HR to ensure that Pakistan, India, China, Iran, Russia, the Central Asian countries as well as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and others play a constructive role in promoting regional stability, as well as to renew efforts for rapprochement and the restoration of good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan through a comprehensive dialogue; 102 Arnaud Danjean Paragraph 8 8. Is concerned about the territorial 8. Remains deeply concerned by the PE631.807v02-00 46/104 AM\1171215.docx
gains of the Taliban and various terrorist groups and attacks committed by them against Afghan civilians, security forces, institutions and civil society; reiterates its full commitment to fighting all forms of terrorism and pays tribute to all coalition and Afghan forces and civilians who have paid the ultimate price for a democratic, secure and stable Afghanistan; continuing deterioration of the security situation in Afghanistan; stresses that the security forces only achieve limited results, despite the extended support of the international community; is concerned about the territorial gains of the Taliban and various terrorist groups and attacks committed by them against Afghan civilians, security forces, institutions and civil society; is particularly concerned about the local branch of Islamic State (Khorasan) that seems to be strongly reinforced by the presence of foreign fighters coming from other countries and other places of Jihad; reiterates its full commitment to fighting all forms of terrorism and pays tribute to all coalition and Afghan forces and civilians who have paid the ultimate price for a democratic, inclusive and prosperous Afghanistan; 103 Paragraph 8 8. Is concerned about the territorial gains of the Taliban and various terrorist groups and attacks committed by them against Afghan civilians, security forces, institutions and civil society; reiterates its full commitment to fighting all forms of terrorism and pays tribute to all coalition and Afghan forces and civilians who have paid the ultimate price for a democratic, secure and stable Afghanistan; 8. Is concerned about the territorial gains of the Taliban and various terrorist groups and attacks committed by them against Afghan civilians, security forces, institutions and civil society; reiterates its full commitment to fighting all forms of terrorism and pays tribute to all coalition and Afghan forces and civilians who have paid the ultimate price for a democratic, secure and stable Afghanistan; notes that more than half of the anti-government attacks in 2018 were attributed to IS-K (ISIS in Afghanistan) whose aim is to disrupt and derail the reconciliation and peace process; AM\1171215.docx 47/104 PE631.807v02-00