United response to recent Russian violations of the EU Member States’ airspace and critical infrastructure

Amendments tabled for the plenary sitting on this text, in their own numbering series. This is a different set from the committee amendments tracked elsewhere on AmendEU, and is not counted in any of the site’s amendment totals.

1. Amendment 1Verts/ALEJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 11 a (new)
   Amendment

   11a. Calls for the EU and its Member States to equip authorities with the means to counter drones at critical infrastructure sites such as airports and power plants; notes that such means must be appropriate for the civilian context and follow a model of layered defence with multiple systems that can take down drones kinetically and electronically;

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2. Amendment 2Verts/ALEJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 24
   Current text

   24. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure swift implementation of the European internal security strategy (ProtectEU) and the preparedness strategy to ensure comprehensive readiness and protection against threats posed by Russia’s breaches of European airspace and other threats; stresses the need for sufficient European funding in this respect under the current and next MFFs; recommends the development of comprehensive national civil defence strategies against aerial and missile threats, including UAVs, ensuring preparedness at the national, regional, municipal, community and household levels and that these strategies emphasise early warning systems for local populations, c…

   Amendment

   24. Emphasisesthat Russia’s clear provocations are an active strategy of hybrid warfare to sow fear and distrust, and are intended to test and destabilise the societies of EU Member States and NATO allies; stresses, therefore, the importance of societal resilience and preparedness, as highlighted in the recommendations of the Niinistö report on European civilian and military preparedness and readiness; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure swift implementation of the European internal security strategy (ProtectEU) and the preparedness strategy to ensure comprehensive readiness and protection against threats posed by Russia’s breaches of European airspace and other threats;…

   Excerpt — full text in the official PDF.
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3. Amendment 3The LeftJoint motion for a resolution · Recital R a (new)
   Amendment

   Ra. whereas, in a recent interview, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel assigned significant responsibility to Poland and the Baltic States for the current conflict in Ukraine, stating that their opposition in 2021 to direct dialogue between the European Union and Russian President Vladimir Putin, aimed at surpassing the deadlock of the Minsk Agreements, obstructed the adoption of a diplomatic approach intended to prevent escalation, effectively leaving the door open for the subsequent aggression by the Russian Federation;

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4. Amendment 4The LeftJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 4 a (new)
   Amendment

   4a. Recalls that the Russian shadow fleet is notoriously hard to keep track of due to the constant changing of names and flags, together with unclear and opaque ownership structures; calls, therefore, on the Commission to develop a comprehensive sanctions regime against countries with a proven record of providing flags of convenience to vessels that are linked to the Russian shadow fleet;

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5. Amendment 5The LeftJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 4 b (new)
   Amendment

   4b. Deplores the fact that the militaristic and aggressive policy of Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas has brought the Member States very close to a dramatic conflict with the potential for nuclear escalation; demands an urgent redirection of the Union’s policy towards diplomacy, civilian protection and de-escalation, placing peace, human security and conflict resolution above further military escalation;

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6. Amendment 6The LeftJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 4 c (new)
   Amendment

   4c. Stresses that the Union has so far focused its political and diplomatic efforts almost exclusively on the eastern border, thereby creating the conditions for direct confrontation with the Russian Federation; believes that such an approach compromises the broader interests and security of the majority of Member States; emphasises the need for a balanced and comprehensive assessment of the Union’s geopolitical challenges; calls, in particular, for the strategic dimension of the Mediterranean – which has been unduly relegated to a marginal role – to be placed at the centre of the Union’s external action; urges the Commission and the Council to immediately restore an overall balance in the U…

   Excerpt — full text in the official PDF.
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7. Amendment 7The LeftJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 4 d (new)
   Amendment

   4d. Recalls the declaration of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel regarding the responsibility of some EU Member States for the failure of the Minsk Agreement; calls for the EU to finally open negotiation channels to achieve a political solution to the conflict in Ukraine, a response to the need for collective security and disarmament in Europe, and compliance with the principles of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act;

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8. Amendment 8The LeftJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 4 e (new)
   Amendment

   4e. Expresses serious concern regarding the European Union’s initiative to establish a drone surveillance and defence system (‘drone wall’), emphasising that such a focus risks diverting critical financial and political resources towards an excessively militarised and confrontational posture predominantly concentrated on the EU’s eastern border; underlines that an excessive reliance on militarisation may lead to the escalation of conflicts, jeopardise the protection of fundamental rights, and contribute to the fragmentation of the Union’s cohesive strategic vision;

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9. Amendment 9The LeftJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 24 a (new)
   Amendment

   24a. Recalls that, in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 833/20141a, aircraft registered in Russia or operated by Russian operators are not allowed to fly into the European Union, with limited exceptions; recalls that although no EU airlines currently fly to, from or over the airspace of the Russian Federation, following the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, a number of carriers from non-EU countries continue to do so despite the war-related risks, and despite paying overflight fees to Russia; stresses that such overflight fees result in an estimated EUR 18 million being paid to Russia yearly from Chinese-operated flights departing from Schiphol Airport alone; recalls that air transpor…

   Excerpt — full text in the official PDF.
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10. Amendment 10ECRJoint motion for a resolution · Paragraph 15
    Current text

    15. Welcomes the EU drone wall initiative, as announced by Commission President von der Leyen, Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, and Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security (VP/HR) Kaja Kallas, and the Eastern Flank Watch initiative, noting that the ambitious deadline mentioned by Commissioner Kubilius for its completion requires rapid implementation as part of a broader defence shield along the EU’s and NATO’s eastern flank in response to repeated Russian airspace violations; calls on the Commission, the VP/HR and the Member States, in close coordination with NATO, to accelerate the development of a concrete and operational plan for…

    Amendment

    15. Welcomes the EU drone wall initiative, as announced by Commission President von der Leyen, Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, and Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security (VP/HR) Kaja Kallas, and the Eastern Flank Watch initiative, noting that the ambitious deadline mentioned by Commissioner Kubilius for its completion requires rapid implementation as part of a broader defence shield along the EU’s and NATO’s eastern flank in response to repeated Russian airspace violations, while underlining the need to ensure comprehensive coverage of all Member States facing direct security challenges along the southern flank; calls on the Commis…

    Excerpt — full text in the official PDF.
    official amendment document ↗