Relations between the EU and Saudi Arabia

Wording as published by the EP, in English.

1. Amendment 1Rejected

   Paragraph 6

   Tabled by Anja Hazekamp, Carolina Morace, Dario Tamburrano +70 · Members

   Removed: 6. Reaffirms that the EU remains committed to advancing a safe, mutually beneficial, visa-free travel arrangement with the five remaining GCC countries, so as to ensure equal treatment of them, which could be assessed in the context of the new EU visa strategy; notes the significant economic importance of Saudi Arabian tourists for the EU Member States, particularly in supporting key sectors such as hospitality, retail and cultural industries; underlines that Saudi citizens do not present a source of irregular migration pressure4, and therefore invites the Commission and the Member States to consider the introduction of a Schengen visa waiver once the cascade is granted to facilitate tourism, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and further strengthen economic and cultural ties between the EU and Saudi Arabia; 4 Commission Implementing Decision of 22 April 2024 establishing adapted rules on the issuing of multiple-entry visas to Saudi nationals residing in Saudi Arabia and applying in Saudi Arabia for short-stay visas and repealing Commission Implementing Decision C(2022) 8007 (C(2024)2689). Added: deleted

2. Amendment 2Rejected

   Paragraph 7 a (new)

   Tabled by Anja Hazekamp, Carolina Morace, Dario Tamburrano +69 · Members

   Added: 7a. Urges the EU and its Member States to make the ratification of a bilateral partnership and trade agreements with Saudi Arabia conditional on progress by Saudi Arabia in human rights, in particular its ratification of core human rights and labour rights conventions, the release of unjustly imprisoned individuals, and the implementation of human and labour rights reforms as necessary to meet international standards;

3. Amendment 3Rejected

   Paragraph 27

   Tabled by Anja Hazekamp, Anthony Smith, Carolina Morace +71 · Members

   … renewable energy and green hydrogen as part of its Vision 2030 plans; Removed: calls Added: supports the UN experts’ call on Saudi Arabia to Removed: adhere to its commitments under the Paris Agreement and in accordance with UN expert opinion; Added: halt its plans to expand crude oil production, as well as its plans to explore further oil and gas reserves to increase production capacity, which would contribute to the risk of overshooting the 1.5 °C carbon budget and of increased climate change-related impacts on human rights, contrary to their own human rights responsibilities; urges Aramco to release key information on its overall emissions and the carbon intensity of its crude oil production; notes that the EU stands ready to collaborate with its Saudi Arabian …

4. Amendment 4Rejected

   Paragraph 36 a (new)

   Tabled by Anja Hazekamp, Anthony Smith, Carolina Morace +72 · Members

   Added: 36a. Urges Saudi Arabia to allow country visits by independent human rights monitors, who should produce regular independent human rights context reports with clear benchmarks for progress on the situation of human rights in the country;