Verbatim report of proceedings of 18 September 2014

• Jurisdiction: European Union
• Published date: 14 September 2022
• Celex Number: C2022/352/04

14.9.2022 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 352/387

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18 September 2014
VERBATIM REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF 18 SEPTEMBER 2014

(2022/C 352/04)

Contents

1. Opening of the sitting 389

2. Composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes 389

3. Situation in Ukraine and state of play of EU-Russia relations (motions for resolutions tabled): see Minutes 389

4. EU response to the Ebola outbreak (motions for resolutions tabled): see Minutes 389

5. Situation in Iraq and Syria and the ISIS offensive including the persecution of minorities (motions for resolutions tabled): see Minutes 389

6. Situation in Libya (motions for resolutions tabled): see Minutes 389

7. Israel-Palestine after the Gaza war and the role of the EU (motions for resolutions tabled): see Minutes 389

8. EU annual report on human rights and democracy in the world (debate) 389

9. Debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (debate) 407

9.1. Persecution of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan 407

9.2. Burundi, in particular the case of Pierre Claver Mbonimpa 413

9.3. Human rights violations in Bangladesh 418

10. Voting time 423

10.1. Persecution of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan (RC-B8-0090/2014, B8-0090/2014, B8-0091/2014, B8-0093/2014, B8-0095/2014, B8-0096/2014, B8-0098/2014, B8-0099/2014) (vote) 424

10.2. Burundi, in particular the case of Pierre Claver Mbonimpa (RC-B8-0086/2014, B8-0086/2014, B8-0087/2014, B8-0088/2014, B8-0089/2014, B8-0092/2014, B8-0094/2014, B8-0106/2014) (vote) 424

10.3. Human rights violations in Bangladesh (RC-B8-0097/2014, B8-0097/2014, B8-0100/2014, B8-0101/2014, B8-0103/2014, B8-0104/2014, B8-0105/2014) (vote) 424

10.4. Situation in Ukraine and state of play of EU-Russia relations (RC-B8-0118/2014, B8-0118/2014, B8-0122/2014, B8-0123/2014, B8-0125/2014, B8-0127/2014, B8-0128/2014, B8-0129/2014) (vote) 424

10.5. EU response to the Ebola outbreak (RC-B8-0107/2014, B8-0107/2014, B8-0108/2014, B8-0114/2014, B8-0115/2014, B8-0119/2014, B8-0124/2014, B8-0126/2014) (vote) 424

10.6. Situation in Iraq and Syria and the ISIS offensive including the persecution of minorities (RC-B8-0109/2014, B8-0109/2014, B8-0110/2014, B8-0121/2014, B8-0130/2014, B8-0134/2014, B8-0137/2014, B8-0138/2014) (vote) 425

10.7. Situation in Libya (RC-B8-0111/2014, B8-0111/2014, B8-0120/2014, B8-0131/2014, B8-0132/2014, B8-0133/2014, B8-0135/2014, B8-0136/2014) (vote) 425

10.8. Israel-Palestine after the Gaza war and the role of the EU (B8-0112/2014, B8-0113/2014, B8-0116/2014, RC-B8-0117/2014, B8-0117/2014, B8-0139/2014, B8-0140/2014, B8-0141/2014) (vote) 425

10.9. Delegated Regulation – Products originating in certain ACP states (B8-0081/2014) (vote) 425

11. Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting : see Minutes 425

12. Explanations of vote 426

12.1. Situation in Ukraine and state of play of EU-Russia relations (RC-B8-0118/2014, B8-0118/2014, B8-0122/2014, B8-0123/2014, B8-0125/2014, B8-0127/2014, B8-0128/2014, B8-0129/2014) 426

12.2. EU response to the Ebola outbreak (RC-B8-0107/2014, B8-0107/2014, B8-0108/2014, B8-0114/2014, B8-0115/2014, B8-0119/2014, B8-0124/2014, B8-0126/2014) 440

12.3. Situation in Iraq and Syria and the ISIS offensive including the persecution of minorities (RC-B8-0109/2014, B8-0109/2014, B8-0110/2014, B8-0121/2014, B8-0130/2014, B8-0134/2014, B8-0137/2014, B8-0138/2014) 455

12.4. Situation in Libya (RC-B8-0111/2014, B8-0111/2014, B8-0120/2014, B8-0131/2014, B8-0132/2014, B8-0133/2014, B8-0135/2014, B8-0136/2014) 472

12.5. Israel-Palestine after the Gaza war and the role of the EU (B8-0112/2014, B8-0113/2014, B8-0116/2014, RC-B8-0117/2014, B8-0117/2014, B8-0139/2014, B8-0140/2014, B8-0141/2014) 482

12.6. Delegated Regulation – Products originating in certain ACP states (B8-0081/2014) (vote) 496

13. Corrections to votes and voting intentions: see Minutes 501

14. Council position at first reading: see Minutes 501

15. Decisions concerning certain documents: see Minutes 501

16. Documents received: see Minutes 501

17. Forwarding of texts adopted during the sitting: see Minutes 501

18. Dates of forthcoming sittings: see Minutes 501

19. Adjournment of the session 501

Verbatim report of proceedings of 18 September 2014

PRÉSIDENCE DE MME Sylvie GUILLAUME

Vice-présidente

1. Opening of the sitting

(La séance est ouverte à 9 heures)

2. Composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes

3. Situation in Ukraine and state of play of EU-Russia relations (motions for resolutions tabled): see Minutes

4. EU response to the Ebola outbreak (motions for resolutions tabled): see Minutes

5. Situation in Iraq and Syria and the ISIS offensive including the persecution of minorities (motions for resolutions tabled): see Minutes

6. Situation in Libya (motions for resolutions tabled): see Minutes

7. Israel-Palestine after the Gaza war and the role of the EU (motions for resolutions tabled): see Minutes

8. EU annual report on human rights and democracy in the world (debate)

La Présidente. - L'ordre du jour appelle le débat sur la déclaration de la vice-présidente de la Commission et haute représentante de l'Union pour les affaires étrangères et la politique de sécurité sur le rapport annuel de l'Union européenne sur les droits de l'homme et la démocratie dans le monde (2014/2830(RSP)).

Neven Mimica, Member of the Commission, on behalf of the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy . - Madam President, on behalf of the High Representative, Catherine Ashton, I am honoured to address you today on the occasion of the presentation of the 2013 annual report on human rights and democracy. As you know, the annual report outlines the work done by the European Union on human rights and democracy across the whole range of our external relations during the past year. It tells the story of our enduring efforts to defend and promote human rights and to support democracy around the world.

The European Union has put human rights at the very centre of its external action and is undoubtedly one of the main international actors in the field. One of the reasons for this is the leading role played by the European Parliament in influencing and shaping our democracy and human rights policy. I would like to praise the work of all those honourable Members who have played and are playing a crucial role in promoting human rights and reporting violations and abuses, in particular those who are active in the Subcommittee on Human Rights.

Last December we had the opportunity for a broad debate in plenary on the excellent report on human rights and democracy in the world drafted by Mr Kukan. Many of the topics and concerns raised in the document are taken up in our annual report. This proves that in the protection and promotion of human rights and democracy we stand united.

Since the adoption of the human rights package in June 2012, our annual reports give us an opportunity to assess our capacity to implement the ambitious 2012 action plan on human rights and democracy. We are happy to see that Parliament has appreciated this effort to provide transparency and accountability.

Allow me a few words on the Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy. The adoption of this package was a landmark decision. It provided us with a clear set of principles and objectives to guide our work in promoting human rights in the world. Thanks to these comprehensive documents, the EU's delivery has become more tangible and more measurable. It has also made our endeavours part of a collective effort involving all EU institutions and Member States alike. I am pleased to say that, in two years, we have accomplished most of the nearly 100 actions set out, and we are working on completing the remaining ones.

At a time when democratic values are increasingly being challenged in many parts of the world, the High Representative and her services, including EU delegations, have addressed human rights and democracy as a matter of priority. Those who are oppressed around the world, as well as civil society representatives and international partners, look up to the European Union and count on our contribution. The EU has not feared to go beyond traditional diplomacy and to express its concerns openly. Baroness Ashton did just that over the developments in Russia in relation to civil society. She spoke out on the harassment of civil society in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. She called for the release of political prisoners in Bahrain while attending the EU and Gulf Cooperation Council ministerial meeting. In Myanmar she joined Aung San Suu Kyi in attending a special civil society forum with more than 60 participants from all parts of the country. Civil society representatives were similarly involved in the EU-Myanmar/Burma Task Force and participated actively in its political session.

The role of Stavros Lambrinidis as the EU's Special Representative for Human...