Verbatim report of proceedings of 13 November 2014

• Jurisdiction: European Union
• Published date: 12 October 2022
• Celex Number: C2022/392/02

12.10.2022 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 392/116

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13 November 2014
VERBATIM REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF 13 NOVEMBER 2014

(2022/C 392/02)

Contents

1. Opening of the sitting 118

2. Welcome 118

3. Delegated acts (Rule 105(6)): see Minutes 118

4. Implementing measures (Rule 106): see Minutes 118

5. Association agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova - Conclusion of an Association agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova (debate) 118

6. Composition of Parliament : see Minutes 142

7. Welcome: Canadian delegation 142

8. Voting time 142

8.1. Request for waiver of the immunity of Ana Gomes (A8-0025/2014 - Heidi Hautala) (vote) 142

8.2. Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2014/007 IE/Andersen Ireland (A8-0024/2014 - Ivan Štefanec) (vote) 142

8.3. Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2014/009 EL/Sprider Stores (A8-0023/2014 - Victor Negrescu) (vote) 142

8.4. Conclusion of an Association agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova (A8-0022/2014 - Petras Auštrevičius) (vote) 142

8.5. Association agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova (A8-0020/2014 - Petras Auštrevičius) (vote) 143

8.6. Peace process in Northern Ireland (B8-0218/2014) (vote) 143

8.7. Turkish actions creating tensions in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus (RC-B8-0211/2014, B8-0211/2014, B8-0212/2014, B8-0216/2014, B8-0217/2014, B8-0221/2014, B8-0223/2014, B8-0225/2014) (vote) 143

8.8. Humanitarian situation in South Sudan (RC-B8-0213/2014, B8-0213/2014, B8-0214/2014, B8-0215/2014, B8-0219/2014, B8-0220/2014, B8-0222/2014, B8-0224/2014) (vote) 143

9. Explanations of vote 143

9.1. Request for waiver of the immunity of Ana Gomes (A8-0025/2014 - Heidi Hautala) 143

9.2. Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2014/007 IE/Andersen Ireland (A8-0024/2014 - Ivan Štefanec) 151

9.3. Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2014/009 EL/Sprider Stores (A8-0023/2014 - Victor Negrescu) 166

9.4. Conclusion of an Association agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova (A8-0022/2014 - Petras Auštrevičius) 180

9.5. Association agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova (A8-0020/2014 - Petras Auštrevičius) 199

9.6. Peace process in Northern Ireland (B8-0218/2014) 214

9.7. Turkish actions creating tensions in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus (RC-B8-0211/2014, B8-0211/2014, B8-0212/2014, B8-0216/2014, B8-0217/2014, B8-0221/2014, B8-0223/2014, B8-0225/2014) 232

9.8. Humanitarian situation in South Sudan (RC-B8-0213/2014, B8-0213/2014, B8-0214/2014, B8-0215/2014, B8-0219/2014, B8-0220/2014, B8-0222/2014, B8-0224/2014) 247

10. Corrections to votes and voting intentions: see Minutes 266

11. Decisions concerning certain documents: see Minutes 266

12. Transfers of appropriations: see Minutes 266

13. Documents received: see Minutes 266

14. Forwarding of texts adopted during the sitting : see Minutes 266

15. Dates of forthcoming sittings : see Minutes 266

16. Adjournment of the session 266

Verbatim report of proceedings of 13 November 2014

PRESIDE: RAMÓN LUIS VALCÁRCEL

Vicepresidente

1. Opening of the sitting

(Se abre la sesión a las 9.05 horas)

2. Welcome

El Presidente. - Me van a permitir que, en primer lugar, dé la bienvenida a este hemiciclo, en nombre de todos nosotros, al D. Igor Corman, Presidente del Parlamento de la República de Moldavia, así como a la delegación que le acompaña, que han tomado asiento en la tribuna oficial para asistir a este debate sobre Moldavia y ser testigos -hay que decirlo también- de la histórica votación de aprobación del Acuerdo de Asociación entre la Unión Europea y la República de Moldavia.

La delegación va a celebrar también a lo largo del día de hoy diversas reuniones en nuestra institución.

Así pues, en nombre del Parlamento Europeo, les deseo una feliz estancia en Bruselas.

3. Delegated acts (Rule 105(6)): see Minutes

4. Implementing measures (Rule 106): see Minutes

5. Association agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova - Conclusion of an Association agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova (debate)

El Presidente. - El punto siguiente en el orden del día es el debate conjunto sobre:

— la recomendación de Petras Auštrevičius, en nombre de la Comisión de Asuntos Exteriores, sobre el proyecto de Decisión del Consejo relativa a la celebración, en nombre de la Unión Europea, del Acuerdo de Asociación entre la Unión Europea y la Comunidad Europea de la Energía Atómica y sus Estados miembros, por una parte, y la República de Moldavia, por otra (09828/2014 — C8-0130/2014 - 2014/0083(NLE)) (A8-0020/2014), y

— el informe de Petras Auštrevičius, en nombre de la Comisión de Asuntos Exteriores, que contiene una propuesta de resolución no legislativa sobre el proyecto de Decisión del Consejo relativa a la celebración, en nombre de la Unión Europea, del Acuerdo de Asociación entre la Unión Europea y la Comunidad Europea de la Energía Atómica y sus Estados miembros, por una parte, y la República de Moldavia, por otra (2014/2817(INI)) (A8-0022/2014).

Petras Auštrevičius, rapporteur . - Mr President, Mr Corman, Speaker of the Parliament of Moldova, ladies and gentlemen, it is indeed my great honour and pleasure to hereby bring to the attention of the European Parliament, and ask for its consent to ratify, the Association Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova.

Today we are embarking on a new European future for Moldova and its people, the future that has actually always been destined for Moldova. There is no doubt that Moldova is a European country and a part of European culture. It makes me extremely happy to be in a position to say that Moldova fully deserves this historic shift.

Today's ratification is the culmination of the work started by Moldova and the European Union nearly ten years ago with the initiation of the EU-Moldova Action Plan. However at that time the implementation of this plan did not look very bright and promising in Moldova's case. Five years ago the Eastern Partnership was launched by the EU and its partners, and even at that time Moldova's record was considered to be rather lagging behind.

I am particularly proud to be able to say that now Moldova stands as a front runner among our European partners and as an example of very well drafted and implemented political and socio-economic reforms. This is even more impressive when we know that this has been accomplished in only the last few years, thanks to the political determination of the Moldovan Government.

Certainly any government needs the trust and support of its own people. It is therefore quite symbolic that our ratification today comes just a few weeks ahead of the general elections in Moldova. We will be looking very closely at these elections, and we call on the Moldovan authorities to ensure that the upcoming electoral process takes place according to the highest European standards. We all hope that the choice of the Moldovan people will be one that leads to the further building of a free society and a market-based economy.

By implementing the European-Moldovan Association Agreement, this part of Europe will be more stable and prosperous. In principle this has to be the ultimate goal and in the interest of everyone in the region. It is to my deep regret, however, that this is not a strategy shared by everyone. Just as we state in the accompanying resolution – which has been adopted by the Committee on Foreign Affairs and for which I also ask the consent of the European Parliament today – we are concerned about Russia's actions aimed at undermining the association process of the EU's Eastern Partnership. We once again reiterate our conviction that the association process is not a threat to Russia's political and economic interest, and it is to be truly regretted that the Russian leadership wishes to regard it as such.

As we all know, the Association Agreement is an extremely complex document that brings responsibilities for both sides. In other words, it is equally the obligation of the European Union to assist Moldova in fighting corruption, fostering an independent judiciary, strengthening media freedom, protecting all minorities, and doing everything needed so that the Moldovan people are able to see the benefits of their European choice, such as new jobs created or the increased trade preferences that are already being afforded to Moldova as countermeasures to the use of the trade embargo by Russia. Trade volumes between the European Union and Moldova have risen by 33% in the last five or six years and that is already a real example of the benefit to people. The EU-Moldovan association agenda, if duly implemented, will open up new possibilities and is very encouraging to all of us.

In conclusion, allow me to sincerely thank my colleagues in this House for their...