Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, of the other part

Wording as published by the EP, in English.

1. Amendment 1Adopted

   Paragraph 37 a (new)

   Tabled by Yannis Maniatis, Nacho Sánchez Amor, Claudiu Manda · S&D

   Added: 37a. Is concerned about the growing evidence that Uzbekistan has weaponised international and regional legal cooperation mechanisms for transnational repression against activists, journalists, human rights defenders and trial monitors; notes that this includes misuse of INTERPOL notices and diffusions, mutual legal assistance requests, and cooperation on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism to pursue politically motivated extradition, detention or forcible return of individuals; calls on Uzbekistan to fully respect the principle of non-refoulement;

2. Amendment 4Rejected

   Recital I a (new)

   Tabled by Sarah Knafo · ESN

   Added: Ia. whereas the European Union should not use its taxpayers’ money to fund programmes in Uzbekistan based on ideological criteria;

3. Amendment 5Rejected

   Recital N

   Tabled by Stanislav Stoyanov, Alexander Sell, Tomasz Froelich · ESN

   … with the EU and 7.2 % of exports went to the EU; Added: whereas the EU Member States need to tap into this economic potential in order to increase the opportunities for European companies to access Uzbekistan’s market of 38.2 million consumers;

4. Amendment 8Rejected

   Paragraph 3

   Tabled by Alexander Sell, Tomasz Froelich · ESN

   3. Stresses that Parliament’s consent to the EPCA Removed: constitutes a strategic investment in the EU-Uzbekistan partnership and should be understood as a tool to foster long-term engagement, stability and cooperation, contributing to the EU’s broader strategy in Central Asia and to balanced international alignment; Added: must serve the concrete economic and security interests of the European Union and its Member States; emphasises that the EPCA should function as a framework for mutually advantageous cooperation; insists that any engagement must deliver measurable benefits to the EU Member States;

5. Amendment 9Rejected

   Paragraph 6 a (new)

   Tabled by Tomasz Froelich, Alexander Sell · ESN

   Added: 6a. Is worried that the EU risks being sidelined in a region where big powers compete for influence and resources; considers that energy and resource supply should be a key part of a strengthened partnership as this would bolster the EU’s energy security and strengthen its strategic position; calls, therefore, for the EU to set aside its political conditionality approach and follow a strategy that aims to facilitate investment in critical raw materials and renewable energy;

6. Amendment 14Rejected

   Paragraph 47 a (new)

   Tabled by Stanislav Stoyanov, Tomasz Froelich · ESN

   Added: 47a. Invites the Government of Uzbekistan to take advantage of the skills and competences acquired by the returning migrants while abroad and create job opportunities for them to avoid further brain drain and boost its own labour market;

7. Amendment 15Rejected

   Paragraph 49

   Tabled by Alexander Sell, Tomasz Froelich · ESN

   … EU-Uzbekistan memorandum of understanding launching a strategic partnership on critical raw materials; Removed: welcomes the EU-Central Asia declaration of intent on critical raw materials, endorsed at the first EU-Central Asia summit, which reflects the mutual interest in boosting cooperation on energy and the green transition; Added: underlines that Uzbekistan ranks among the world’s leading producers of uranium, gold, copper and rare earth elements critical to the EU’s energy security and industrial sovereignty; calls for this partnership to be operationalised through binding supply agreements, joint venture frameworks and priority access for EU companies; welcomes the introduction of an additional EUR 12 billion investment package during …

8. Amendment 16Rejected

   Paragraph 54

   Tabled by Alexander Sell, Tomasz Froelich · ESN

   54. Removed: Supports Added: Welcomes the strengthening of people-to-people contacts, student, academic, scientific, cultural and other professional exchanges, Removed: and mobility, notably in the fields of education, business and tourism; notes that the EPCA includes the possibility of negotiating a readmission Removed: agreement and an agreement on visa facilitation; invites both sides to take the steps necessary to meet the conditions for the launch of the negotiations; Added: agreement; rejects any visa facilitation arrangement that could lead to increased illegal migration or place additional burden on the EU’s asylum system;