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Document 52012IP0505
European Parliament resolution of 13 December 2012 containing the European Parliament’s recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service on the negotiations of the new EU-Russia Agreement (2011/2050(INI))
European Parliament resolution of 13 December 2012 containing the European Parliament’s recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service on the negotiations of the new EU-Russia Agreement (2011/2050(INI))
European Parliament resolution of 13 December 2012 containing the European Parliament’s recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service on the negotiations of the new EU-Russia Agreement (2011/2050(INI))
IO C 434, 23.12.2015, p. 123–130
(BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)
23.12.2015 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 434/123 |
P7_TA(2012)0505
New EU-Russia agreement
European Parliament resolution of 13 December 2012 containing the European Parliament’s recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service on the negotiations of the new EU-Russia Agreement (2011/2050(INI))
(2015/C 434/11)
The European Parliament,
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having regard to the Agreement on partnership and cooperation establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Russian Federation, of the other part, which entered into force on 1 December 1997, |
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having regard to its resolution of 26 October 2012 on EU-Russia trade relations following Russia’s accession to the WTO (1), |
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having regard to the negotiations initiated in 2008 on a new EU-Russia agreement, as well as to the ‘Partnership for Modernisation’ initiated in 2010, |
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having regard to the objective shared by the EU and Russia, set out in the joint statement issued following the 11th EU-Russia Summit held in St Petersburg on 31 May 2003, 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’), |
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having regard to the EU-Russia human rights consultations, |
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having regard to the European Parliament recommendation of 23 October 2012 to the Council on establishing common visa restrictions for Russian officials involved in the Sergei Magnitsky case (2), |
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having regard to its resolutions on relations between the EU and Russia, |
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having regard to its resolution of 4 July 2012 on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Russian Federation relating to the introduction or increase of export duties on raw materials (3); |
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having regard to Rules 90(4) and 48 of its Rules of Procedure, |
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having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the opinion of the Committee on International Trade (A7-0338/2012), |
A. |
whereas the EU’s evolving common foreign security and energy policy should, in line with the principle of conditionality, include Russia as a strategic partner provided that the fundamental values upon which the Union is based, including democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the UN Charter and international law, are shared and upheld; whereas Russia is a country whose cultural roots lie in Europe and is an important global and regional player, as a member of the UN Security Council, the G-8, the G-20, the Council of Europe and the OSCE and therefore bound to meet its obligations as a member of those organisations, with particular regard to the Council of Europe’s monitoring report of October 2012; |
B. |
whereas Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has joint responsibility with the other members for maintaining global stability; whereas numerous challenges at the international level can only be dealt with through a coordinated approach which includes Russia; |
C. |
whereas the economic interdependence of the EU and Russia is constantly growing, and whereas enhanced cooperation and good-neighbourly relations between the EU and Russia should therefore be seen as being of major importance for the stability, security and prosperity of both parties; |
D. |
whereas Russia, under the presidency of Vladimir Putin, is showing only selective interest in developing common policies and no real intention to develop a genuine and far-reaching strategic partnership for the implementation of international law and conflict prevention; |
E. |
whereas both the EU and Russia have experienced profound political, institutional, social and economic changes since 1994, when the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) was signed; |
F. |
whereas Russia’s accession to the WTO on 22 August 2012 constituted a major step, which could help accelerate the modernisation of the Russian economy and, at the same time, function as a positive incentive for Russia to meet the international rules and standards concerning trade to which it has committed itself; |
G. |
whereas these changes, along with the new challenges and opportunities facing the EU-Russia relationship, have to be addressed at both bilateral and multilateral level; whereas, despite the present lack of enthusiasm on the Russian side, an ambitious, comprehensive and legally binding new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, covering the most important areas of cooperation and founded on common values of democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, could provide the basis for a genuine strategic partnership; whereas in particular, the need to build a genuine partnership between the societies of the EU and Russia should be emphasised; |
H. |
whereas the EU continues to be committed to further deepening and developing its relations with Russia, and to the principles enshrined in the Partnership for Modernisation, which are based on common interests and a deep commitment to universal values and democratic principles, respect for fundamental human rights, and the rule of law; |
I. |
whereas the sentencing of members of the Russian punk group Pussy Riot to two years in jail for a protest performance against President Vladimir Putin in a Moscow Orthodox cathedral is disproportionate and raises serious concerns about the way the Russian legal system treats citizens and acts in such a way as to intimidate Russian civil society; |
J. |
Whereas, in the context of the ongoing negotiations, the status quo of relations between the EU and Russia needs to be properly evaluated, taking into account the bilateral disputes existing between Russia and EU Member States; |
K. |
whereas EU-Russia relations continue to suffer from the failure of Russia to fully embrace democratic values and strengthen the rule of law; |
L. |
whereas the ongoing intimidation, harassment and arrests of representatives of opposition forces and NGOs, the recent adoption of the laws on NGO financing and the right of assembly, the law on defamation and the law imposing internet restrictions, as well as the increasing pressure being exerted on the free and independent media and on minorities with respect to sexual orientation and religious belief, are resulting in a further degradation of the situation regarding human rights and democratic principles in Russia; |
M. |
whereas the United Nations Human Rights Committee recently condemned laws in force in some regions of the Russian Federation which ban ‘homosexual propaganda’ as being in breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; |
N. |
whereas the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement needs to remain valid and effective until the new one is concluded and in force; |
O. |
whereas on 14 October 2012 local and regional elections took place across Russia; |
P. |
whereas the above-mentioned new or amended laws have been adopted by the State Duma, the most recent elections to which were neither free nor fair, according to both the OSCE observation mission and the conclusions of the EP; |
Q. |
whereas certain procedures employed to target the opposition, such as depriving a former member of the Duma — Gennady Gudkov, of the opposition party Just Russia — of his parliamentary mandate, may be interpreted as instances of the selective application of justice and interference with legitimate political activity; |
1. |
Addresses, in the context of the ongoing negotiations for the new agreement, the following recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service: On the conduct of negotiations
Political dialogue and cooperation
Economic cooperation
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2. |
Remains vigilant as to the requirements that the EU intends to set as regards respect for democratic principles, and considers that respect as an absolute prerequisite for the signature of a EU-Russia Agreement; |
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3. |
Instructs its President to forward this resolution containing the European Parliament’s recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service, and, for their information, to the Government of the Russian Federation and the Russian State Duma. |
(1) Texts adopted, P7_TA(2012)0409.
(2) Text adopted, P7_TA(2012)0369.
(3) Texts adopted, P7_TA(2012)0286.