UPN, Alm.del - 2015-16 - Bilag 287: Konklusioner fra det interparlamentariske møde om CSDP/CFSP den 3.-4. september 2016 i Bratislava

Udenrigsudvalget 2015-16, Det Udenrigspolitiske Nævn 2015-16
URU Alm.del Bilag 336, UPN Alm.del Bilag 287
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NTERPARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE

FOR THE

OMMON

OREIGN AND

ECURITY

OLICY

AND THE

OMMON

ECURITY AND

EFENCE

OLICY

2 – 4 S

EPTEMBER

2016, B

RATISLAVA

INAL CONCLUSIONS

The Interparliamentary Conference,

Having regard to the decision of the Conference of Speakers of European Union

Parliaments taken in April 2012 in Warsaw regarding the establishment and

mandate of this Conference;

Having regard to Title II of Protocol I (and Articles 9 and 10) of the Treaty of

Lisbon regarding the promotion of effective and regular interparliamentary

cooperation within the Union;

Cognisant of the new powers and instruments foreseen by the Treaty of Lisbon for

the European Union (EU) institutions in the area of foreign, security and defence

policy; being aware that the new instruments create better opportunities for the

Union to wield an international influence commensurate with its political and

economic weight;

Conscious of the multi-layered decision-making process in the areas of Common

Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy

(CSDP); aware that effective implementation of these policies must involve

numerous policy actors at both the EU and national levels; conscious of the

responsibility to engage in parliamentary scrutiny at the respective levels and

advance interparliamentary cooperation in the areas of CFSP and CSDP;

Aware that the evolution of international affairs calls for further strengthening the

role of Parliaments as central actors of global decision making, with specific

reference to conflicts and crises;

The EU as a global player: Looking for an effective multilateral diplomacy

model

1. Notes with concern that the EU is faced with an unprecedented set of

challenges, both internally and externally; emphasises that the EU and its

Member States need to focus their efforts on restoring and maintaining

peace and stability in Europe and its neighbourhood; emphasising that EU

Member States are under strain by the refugee emergency and by the wars

and conflicts that are afflicting neighbouring countries, highlights that none

of these challenges can be dealt by one State alone and demands solidarity

UPN, Alm.del - 2015-16 - Bilag 287: Konklusioner fra det interparlamentariske møde om CSDP/CFSP den 3.-4. september 2016 i Bratislava

from all Member States and a collective effort to develop a common agenda

to overcome them, in accordance with EU principles and decisions;

2. Points out that the EU has all the means to be an influential global player

if it acts together; stresses the need to enhance cooperation with other global

and regional powers on global threats and challenges emphasising the

importance of the transatlantic bond; underlines the important role of

regional organisations in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, crisis

management, peacekeeping and stabilisation; states that the EU and its

Member States should make further efforts to strengthen these organisations

and help them build capacities and trust necessary to rebuild the European

security architecture on the basis of OSCE rules and principles;

3. Welcomes the EU Global Strategy for foreign and security policy presented

by the Vice-President of the Commission and High Representative for

Foreign and Security Policy on 28 June 2016; underlines the importance of

promoting through this strategy the common interests of EU citizens as well

as the values and principles of the EU; stresses that an effective

implementation of this strategy requires strong commitment and support of

the Member States; highlights that the appropriate resources need to be

allocated to the implementation of this strategy; underlines the need to

follow-up on the Global Strategy and break down its objectives and

priorities into more concrete sectoral and regional sub-strategies, notably in

the area of security;

4. Believes that the EU must step up its efforts to strengthen global

governance; calls for a comprehensive reform of the UN system with a view

to strengthening its legitimacy, transparency, accountability and

effectiveness, including by revitalising its General Assembly; considers that

the UN Security Council needs to be reformed, particularly regarding its

composition and its voting procedures, so as to bring it in line with the

realities of the 21st century and to increase its capacity to act decisively in

tackling global security challenges, beyond the purely military, addressing

issues such as refugees, sustainable development and the fight against

pandemics; believes that the EU and its Member States should position

themselves to influence the debate and steer action in the global fora, such

as the UN, on the governance of those domains where EU strategic interests

and security unfold;

5. Calls for the ratification of Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty by all

member states emphasising its contribution to non-proliferation and

welcomes the EU's efforts in this context;

6. Notes that the distinction between internal and external security has become

less clear; emphasises the need for the EU to address threats emanating from

instability in the South and East through an integrated approach that

connects all security policies, interior and exterior, and correlative

instruments; recalls the need to accelerate the development and

consolidation of the structures and processes of European intelligence

coordination;

UPN, Alm.del - 2015-16 - Bilag 287: Konklusioner fra det interparlamentariske møde om CSDP/CFSP den 3.-4. september 2016 i Bratislava

7. Believes that the EU should engage more with diplomacy that prevents

escalation of conflicts; encourages, in this context, coordination between

actors and institutions responsible for foreign and domestic policies within

the EU, increased cooperation between the EU, NATO, UN and other

international organisations and greater synergy between civil and military

entities;

The Western Balkans and the EU: Cooperation and Integration

8. Stresses that EU enlargement is a driving force for modernisation,

democratisation and stabilisation; considers it important that it should be

locally driven and the countries should take advantage of this process to

ensure that reforms are thoroughly implemented, and will not be reversed,

for which it is essential that countries aspiring to become EU partners

understand the absolute necessity to apply and adhere, without reserve, to

the European

acquis;

9. Encourages further regional cooperation with practical implications for

improving the living standards of Western Balkan citizens; recalls that any

country wishing to accede to the EU must resolve its major disputes with

neighbours before it can join the Union and that these issues should be

addressed in a constructive and neighbourly spirit. An active commitment

to good neighbourly relations needs to be demonstrated at each stage of the

integration;

10. Considers it important to keep the Western Balkan countries focused on

accession preparations, even in the absence of negotiations, and to advance

the process in a number of key areas, such as the functioning of institutions

guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, as well as

economic governance and competitiveness; encourages all EU candidate

countries to progressively align with the EU Common Foreign and Security

Policy; welcomes the swift continuation of accession negotiations with

Montenegro and the opening of the first chapters in the negotiations with

Serbia; encourages Albania to intensify reform efforts in order to be able to

open EU accession negotiations; encourages Bosnia and Herzegovina to

make further progress; welcomes the political agreement reached in the

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on 20th July and calls on all

parties to implement it in good faith; recommends to start accession

negotiations with the country once the conditions have been met;

11. Invites the Commission and the EEAS to use all available instruments under

the Stabilisation and Association Process, including the budgetary ones

under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), the CFSP and the

CSDP in a comprehensive, coherent and consistent manner for the benefit

of strengthening the EU accession process;

12. Calls for enhancing the EU's strategic communication towards the Western

Balkans, which would strengthen communication on EU policies and

UPN, Alm.del - 2015-16 - Bilag 287: Konklusioner fra det interparlamentariske møde om CSDP/CFSP den 3.-4. september 2016 i Bratislava

objectives, foster the independence and sustainability of the media, as well

as increase public awareness of externally backed disinformation attempts;

The EU's Eastern neighbourhood and beyond: Priorities, Perspectives and

Challenges

13. Stresses the importance of further development of the EU's relations with

its Eastern neighbours, especially in the framework of the Eastern

Partnership; in particular highlights the need to support the Eastern

European countries by enhancing their resilience against internal and

external threats; considers the importance of enhancing the parliamentary

dimension of the Eastern Partnership;

14. Is deeply concerned about the breach of international law by the Russian

Federation, its occupation of Crimea, military engagement and escalation of

the conflict in Donbas; recalls that the full implementation of the Minsk

Agreements is fundamental for the reestablishment of cooperative relations

with the Russian Federation, including the suspension of sanctions;

reiterates that it will not accept the illegal annexation of Crimea; condemns

the use of disinformation campaigns, propaganda activities and other tactics

of hybrid warfare in the EU's neighbourhood and within the EU by the

Russian Federation;

15. Recognises the importance of selective engagement and, whenever the

situation allows, dialogue with Russia to ensure accountability and

maintain the option to cooperate on resolving global crises where there is a

clear European Union interest;

16. Supports the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine;

welcomes the efforts made by Ukraine in adopting reforms, and calls on the

authorities to continue on the reform path and to strengthen its fight against

corruption; is committed to the implementation of the Association

Agreement; stresses the importance of full implementation of the Minsk

Agreements; supports the efforts aimed at building Ukrainian resilience to

threats and challenges to its security and stability; welcomes the efforts by

the EU Advisory Mission to Ukraine in assisting the country towards a

sustainable reform of the civilian security sector;

17. Welcomes the proposal of the European Commission to lift the visa

requirement for citizens of Georgia and Ukraine and calls on the European

Parliament and the Council to give their green light when the suspension

clause legislation is completed in September;

18. Remains concerned about the human rights situation and political freedom,

as well as the free and fair organisation of the upcoming September 11

parliamentary elections in Belarus; emphasises that EU-Belarus relations

should be based on common European values; suggests to engage in a

dialogue for easing tensions and building deeper cooperation on the political

and economic level; stresses the need to closely monitor the human rights

situation and conduct of upcoming parliamentary elections in Belarus; calls

UPN, Alm.del - 2015-16 - Bilag 287: Konklusioner fra det interparlamentariske møde om CSDP/CFSP den 3.-4. september 2016 i Bratislava

on Belarus to constructively cooperate with EU experts in order to ensure

nuclear safety beyond the borders of the EU and report on the results of the

accomplished missions and stress tests;

19. Calls for maintaining the differentiated and tailor-made approach to the

Eastern Partnership based on the fundamental principles of democracy,

human rights and rule of law with the aim to build strong and mutually

beneficial relations with all six partners, irrespective of their individual level

of ambition in their relations with the EU;

The EU’s Southern Neighbourhood Policy: threats and challenges

20. Expresses its concern over the instability of the south and eastern

Mediterranean regions, including the risk posed by failed states coming

under domination of terrorist groups; stresses the fact that the risks

emanating from this instability are not confined to the European coastal

countries, but are increasingly spreading throughout other European

countries, including in the form of terrorist attacks;

21. Emphasises that the solution of the Syrian and Iraqi conflicts must be one

of the top items on the European political agenda; calls on the EU to step

up the efforts to find a sustainable solution to the conflict, supporting UN

efforts, using all instruments and levers at its disposal and involving all

relevant regional and international actors;

22. Recognises Turkey’s role as an important partner in solving the Syrian

conflict and the fight against Da’esh; strongly condemns the attempted

military coup against the democratically elected government of Turkey;

shows its support for the constitutional and democratic legality of that

country and its solidarity with the Turkish constitutional authorities;

strongly encourages the Turkish government to protect the constitutional

order, while underlining the importance of respect for the rule of law and

independence of the judiciary in the aftermath of the coup, in cooperation

with the Council of Europe; asks the EU to keep a strong position in

defending their principles and values when it comes to negotiations with

Turkey, especially the respect for human rights, including the rejection of

the death penalty, freedom of the press, democracy and the rule of law;

stresses that all benchmarks have to be fulfilled for the EU to grant visa

liberalisation, as it is required for all countries wishing to benefit from visa-

free access to the Schengen area;

23. Welcomes the efforts to restore stability and to install a Government of

National Accord in Libya; reaffirms that the Government of National

Accord is the sole legitimate authority in the country and calls on all

institutions to move forward based on the provisions set out in the Libyan

Political Agreement; still notes with concern that irregular migration from

Libya towards Europe is not decreasing;

24. Stresses that the European Neighbourhood Policy in the South should be

refocused on priorities related to economic development, employment,

UPN, Alm.del - 2015-16 - Bilag 287: Konklusioner fra det interparlamentariske møde om CSDP/CFSP den 3.-4. september 2016 i Bratislava

particularly of young people, fair sharing of value added, mobility and

migratory flows, security and sustainable management of energy resources,

person-to-person contacts, institutional coherence of institutions, as well as

the advancement of political and economic integration of the Mediterranean

area; calls for strengthening of the security dimension of the European

Neighbourhood Policy also in the South, ensuring the highest level dialogue

with partners from the South;

25. Reminds of the importance of an EU strategy for development, promotion

of the values of peace and democracy, stability and security of the Sahel

countries that are also essentials for the security of Europe and the control

of migratory flows;

Sustainable Development and Migration: Towards a Comprehensive

Approach

26. Acknowledges that irregular and forced migration is a complex, global fact

that requires global responsibility and an effective multi-dimensional and

long-term approach focused on eliminating the root causes, particularly

poverty, armed conflict and bad governance; emphasises the need for a

comprehensive EU approach in the spirit of fair burden sharing, including a

shared responsibility for financing, combining all policy instruments

available, including trade, development aid, diplomacy and crisis

management, as in the case of the European Commission “new Partnership

Framework with third countries under the European Agenda on Migration";

notes in particular the importance of development cooperation; is convinced

that the EU should focus its development policy on creating economic

opportunities, especially for the youth, promoting good governance,

preventing conflicts, and fostering peaceful, inclusive societies;

27. Underlines the need to develop a new approach towards Africa, comprising

a significant increase in the EU’s financial commitments to the region and

a thorough review of the existing trade, agricultural, fisheries and other

policies that directly affect African countries; believes that the EU must

above all aim to improve the living conditions in African countries, namely

by providing better opportunities for trade, investment and growth and by

supporting African countries in building democratic, transparent and

effective institutions;

28. Welcomes the EU's cooperation with countries of transit and origin of

migration flows, and stresses that this needs to place protection of the

human rights of asylum seekers and war refugees at its centre; also stresses

the need to work with countries of origin and transit on returns of persons

who are not in need of international protection; urges the EU and Member

States to step up support for all host countries and communities, so as to

reduce refugees' dependency on humanitarian aid, enable them to integrate

into the local labour market, and allow host countries to provide education

and other basic services; underlines the need to help countries of origin and

transit, including North African countries control their borders and fight

smugglers' networks in order to prevent people from undertaking the

UPN, Alm.del - 2015-16 - Bilag 287: Konklusioner fra det interparlamentariske møde om CSDP/CFSP den 3.-4. september 2016 i Bratislava

hazardous journey across the Mediterranean; welcomes the EU's civilian

and military efforts in controlling migration flows which need to be more

coordinated and effective; welcomes the addition of two supporting tasks to

EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA, in particular concerning capacity

building and training of the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy; looks forward

to the continued effective and sustainable implementation of the EU –

Turkey statement of 18 March;

29. Calls for effective and coordinated international action to address the root

causes of irregular and forced migration, including increased efforts at the

UN level; urges the international community to provide appropriate funding

for UNHCR, WFP and other UN bodies involved in providing basic

services for refugees inside and outside conflict areas;

30. Welcomes the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which represents

a renewed international commitment to eradicating poverty, fostering peace

and conserving the environment; emphasises that in the context of the

upcoming mid-term review of the multiannual financial framework the EU

must ensure that all Agenda 2030 commitments are reflected;

Toward a European Defence Union: A White Book as a first step

31. Calls for an appropriate investment in security and defence by Member

States and the EU; stresses that the European Union should foster more

systematic and efficient defence cooperation among its Member States and

with our closest allies; stresses that the use of Union means should be

coherent with Member States' efforts to deliver defence capabilities; is

convinced that using EU funds to that end is a clear expression of European

solidarity and cohesion in defence matters;

32. Recalls the need, in accordance with the EU Global Strategy for foreign and

security policy, for a security and defence White Book of the EU which

would build on the EU Global Strategy and would describe the ways and

means of its implementation in the area of the CSDP; considers that the

White Book should be binding the initiatives of the EU under each

multiannual political and financial framework; is convinced that the White

Book should be instrumental in building gradual convergence of Member

States' security and defence planning; considers that the White Book should

update both the Civilian and the Military Helsinki Headline Goals and focus

on methods for reforming CSDP capability development, stepping up peer

pressure, assessment and accountability; believes that a principal objective

should be for the EU to move towards voluntary joint defence forces and

the development of a common security and defence culture which will

ultimately lead to a common defence structure for the countries wishing to

participate therein, taking into account the fact that not all EU Member

States are NATO member states; sees further cooperation amongst the

medical services in the form of a medical command as a model for a deeper

military integration; calls for closer cooperation among the parliaments of

the Members States involved in the EU Battle Groups;

UPN, Alm.del - 2015-16 - Bilag 287: Konklusioner fra det interparlamentariske møde om CSDP/CFSP den 3.-4. september 2016 i Bratislava

33. Stresses that the work on an initial White Book should be started now,

taking into account recent developments and their implications; considers

that initial measures should comprise an EU defence review, defence

research funding, initiating a common European capabilities and armaments

policy, complemented by a stakeholder engagement process, implementing

the European defence action plan, and support to NATO initiatives in EU

Member States following the Warsaw summit where this creates EU-NATO

synergies, notably in the area of hybrid threats; supports fully the deepened

cyber defence cooperation between NATO and the EU in order to better

respond and prevent cyber-attacks; calls on the EU Member States to put

into practice the instruments provided for under the Treaty on European

Union, such as Article 42.6 (Permanent Structured Cooperation) and Article

44 (on the implementation of a CSDP task by a group of Member States);

underlines the need to establish a permanent EU military operational

headquarter for participating countries, closely coordinated with the

existing civilian planning and conduct capability; takes the view that it could

be established as part of a civilian-military strategic headquarter,

responsible for the planning and conduct of both EU civilian missions and

military operations; recalls that the CSDP will continue to develop in full

complementarity with NATO and in full, reciprocal autonomy;

34. States that the CSDP should increasingly complement crisis management

operations with crisis prevention and crisis resolution; calls on the HR/VP

to preserve and strengthen the distinct character of civilian approaches to

conflict prevention and crisis management; stresses the need to also deliver

more civilian capabilities and therefore create a comprehensive EU-

structure that can recruit and administer qualified personnel, including

mandatory joint training programmes before CSDP missions;

35. Calls for a more active role of the EU in the field of disarmament and arms

control; calls in this respect on the HR/VP and the Member States to work

towards common guidelines for the use of armed drones and urges the EU

Member States to fully comply with the eight criteria of Common Position

on arms exports;

36. Underlines that the IPC will contribute to the work on the EU's White Book,

and will regularly review its implementation; encourages all participants to

promote the consideration of the White Book in the national security and

defence planning, with a view to being mutually consistent; considers that

this would constitute an important step towards a European Defence Union;

37. Calls on the Council of the European Union to evaluate the financial and

operational consequences on the CSDP of the United Kingdom’s

withdrawal from the European Union.