Draft emergency

resolutions
 1 Draft Emergency Resolution Nr. 1 tabled by the EPP Presidency
2 to the EPP Congress, Helsinki (Finland), 7-8 November 2018
3

4 Protecting EU Values and Safeguarding Democracy

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6 Next year the European Union will hold elections to the European Parliament. Our political
7 family must strive to increase citizens’ trust in our institutions. In recent years, the EU has
8 experienced many challenges, much like our Member States and their respective
9 democracies. Christian Democrats after the Second World War were at the forefront fighting
10 to establish liberal democracy in a secure Europe — based on our Judeo-Christian values,
11 Christian democratic ideas, the rule of law and a multiparty system, a strong civil society with
12 independent media, the freedom of religion as well as expression and association. Today,
13 these fundamental values and principles are being challenged in an unprecedented manner.
14 Populist and nationalist extremism, disinformation, discrimination and threats to the rule of
15 law pose the greatest threat to freedom and democracy in Europe since the fall of the Iron
16 Curtain. Therefore, as the leading political force in Europe, it is important to defend our values
17 — as pointed out in the party’s political platform — and to extend the following message to
18 Europe’s citizens:

19  We stress that the European Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity,
20 freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the
21 rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are essential elements of a society
22 in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between
23 women and men prevail. Full respect of these principles is the basic condition for building
24 citizens’ trust in the Union. They are central to the Treaties on the European Union signed
25 by all Member States at the moment of their accession.
26  We call on all EPP members and associations to respect, protect and promote these
27 principles and values.
28  We are convinced that without a strong European Union and strong EU institutions, the
29 Common Good cannot be achieved and our core values cannot be implemented. We
30 reaffirm our commitment to democracy, the rule of law and the social market economy.
31 Populism and nationalism are incompatible with progress, democracy and the rule of law.
32  We are strongly concerned by increasing restrictions on the constitutional system, the
33 independence of judiciary, the fight against corruption, freedom of media and civil
34 society in several Member States.
35  We underline that the way in which the rule of law is implemented in the Member States
36 plays a key role in ensuring mutual trust among Member States and their legal systems
37 and is vital to maintaining an area of freedom, security and justice without internal
38 borders.
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39  We stress that an independent judiciary is an essential precondition for membership of
40 the EU. Justice cannot be arbitrary or confused with the dictatorship of the majority.
41 Independent courts are the basis of mutual trust between our Member States and our
42 judicial systems.
43  We stress that the Council of Europe remains the bedrock of human rights, democracy
44 and the rule of law in the whole of Europe. We must ensure the further democratisation
45 of the Council of Europe and prevent any attempts to destroy it.
46  We are convinced that corruption poses a serious threat to the rule of law, democracy,
47 human rights and social justice. It hinders economic development and endangers the
48 stability of democratic institutions and the moral foundations of society. Transparency
49 and accountability, integrity in elections, effective prosecutions, fair trials and the
50 presence of independent media and civil society are crucial for tackling corruption.
51  We insist that a vibrant civil society plays a vital role in a fully-fledged democracy. Non-
52 governmental organisations must be allowed to operate for humanitarian goals without
53 fear of punishment. They should be treated equally by governments and legislatures,
54 regardless of their political orientation, so long as their activities remain within the
55 boundaries of the rule of law.
56  We emphasise that academic freedom is a cornerstone of democracy. Governments
57 should protect it at all times.
58  We are strongly concerned by the intimidation and even murder of journalists. The lack
59 of an independent media, insufficient transparency of media ownership and unbalanced
60 media coverage in some Member States are further sources of concern.
61  We underline that disinformation, populist attacks, pressure produced by online media
62 and misuse of the digital revolution have seriously threatened traditional media. The
63 democratisation of information brought by the internet is not a substitute for quality
64 journalism. We believe that serious journalism, which is essential for a democracy,
65 requires a protective legal and institutional environment.
66  We call on EPP members to guarantee the functioning of the democratic institutions in
67 their respective countries, on questions related to constitutional justice, separation of
68 power, laws and judiciary, electoral legislation and on human rights issues and the rights
69 of minorities.
70  We emphasise that the EU institutions should play a key role in measuring the progress
71 and monitoring compliance with the fundamental values of the European Union. A lively
72 debate about the functioning of EU institutions is welcome and will have positive effects
73 on citizens’ trust in EU institutions. But EU Member State governments should refrain
74 from spinning conspiracy theories and launching all-out attacks against the European
75 Commission or the European Parliament as well as against European cooperation as a
76 whole.

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 1 Draft Emergency Resolution Nr. 2 tabled by the KDH / Slovakia
2 to the EPP Congress, Helsinki (Finland), 7-8 November 2018
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4 Situation in Belarus
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6 1. Being alarmed by the critical growth of pressure on the democratic movement of Belarus,
7 the continuing and increasing violation of human rights and the difficult situation for the
8 political opposition, independent trade unions, civil society, journalists and other freedom
9 defenders in Belarus;
10 2. Referring to the commitments of Belarus to uphold the principles enshrined in the 1975
11 Helsinki Final Act, which include respect of human rights and main liberties, such as freedom
12 of thought, conscience, faith and opinion;
13 3. Expressing concern that the nature of human rights violations in Belarus remain structural
14 and endemic, underscored by the centralization of the legislative and executive powers in
15 the office of the President, whose decrees are a key legislative mechanism in the country,
16 undermining the role of Parliament;
17 4. Regretting that elections in Belarus, including the October 2015 presidential election, the
18 September 2016 parliamentary elections, the February 2018 local elections have been
19 neither free nor fair;
20 5. Expressing protest in connection with the mass detentions of 7-9 August 2018 and the
21 subsequent prosecution of the independent journalists and editors of TUT.BY (www.tut.by),
22 BelaPAN (www.belapan.by), Deutsche Welle and others, as well as in connection with the
23 searches and confiscation of office equipment in the editorial offices of the independent
24 media;
25 6. Assessing the passing of the guilty verdicts on 24 August 2018 against Gennady Fedynich,
26 Chairman of the Independent Trade Union of Radio Electronics Industry Workers (REP) and
27 Ihar Komlik, Chief Accountant of the REP Trade Union, as an attack on the independent trade
28 union movement;
29 7. Noting that a similar criminal case was initiated in 2011 against the Chairman of the Human
30 Rights Center "Viasna" Ales Bialiatski, which was unequivocally regarded by human rights
31 defenders and the international community as a prosecution for his professional activities;
32 8. Noting the numerous cases of restriction of freedom of assembly and the continuing arrest
33 and harassment of political activists for picketing near the "Kurapaty" memorial and
34 organizing other peaceful protests;

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35 9. Drawing attention to the fact that, since the lifting of the EU sanctions against Belarus in
36 2016, the Belarusian government has ignored all appeals from the European Union regarding
37 the observance of human rights in the country.
38 The European People’s Party:
39 1. Condemns the violation of Internet freedom, freedom of speech and harassment of
40 independent journalists in Belarus;
41 2. Calls on the Government of Belarus to immediately stop the pressure on independent
42 media and stop the criminal prosecution of the following journalists:
43 1. Tatsiana Karavenkava (BelaPAN);
44 2. Hanna Kaltyhina (Tut.by);
45 3. Halina Ulasik (Tut.by);
46 4. Hanna Ermachenak (Tut.by);
47 5. Aliaksei Zhukau ("Belarusians and the Market");
48 6. Pauliuk Bykovsky (freelance writer for Deutsche Welle, media expert);
49 7. Iryna Leushyna (BelaPAN);
50 8. Dzmitry Bobryk (Tut.by).
51 9. Maryna Zolatava (Tut.by)
52 As well as restore access to independent Internet resources "Belarusian Partisan"
53 www.belaruspartisan.org and "Charter 97" www.charter97.org;
54 3. Calls for a review of the verdicts and termination of the criminal prosecution of the leaders
55 of the REP Trade Union Gennady Fedynich and Ihar Komlik and demands from the authorities
56 of Belarus to stop pressure on the independent trade union movement and urges to refuse
57 from unjustified interference in its activities;
58 4. Reiterates its call on the authorities to implement the recommendations of the
59 International Labour Organization with regard to trade unions, and to stop the repressions
60 and prosecution of the leaders and activists of REPAM and BITU, to fulfil the obligations arising
61 from the Convention 87 of the ILO, as well as the implementation of the 12 recommendations
62 of the ILO on the restoration of the rights of workers and trade unions in the country;
63 5. Calls on the Government of Belarus to immediately release and rehabilitate all political
64 prisoners in Belarus, including Mikhail Zhamchuzhny, and unconditionally guarantee the full
65 restoration of their civil and political rights;

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66 6. Calls upon the authorities in Belarus to fulfil their obligations in allowing for the right to
67 freedom of association. Also expresses concern about the lack of progress in registering the
68 "Belarusian Christian Democracy" party, “Social Christian Movement", the human rights
69 center "Viasna" and other public associations of Belarus;
70 7. Urges the Government of Belarus to comply with its OSCE commitments with respect to
71 freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, allowing citizens the right to publicly protest
72 both online and offline, to stop the persecution of the defenders of the Kuropaty memorial
73 and participants in other peaceful protests;
74 8. Calls on the international financial institutions, governments and businesses to take into
75 account the provisions of this Declaration when conducting cooperation with the authorities
76 of Belarus;
77 9. Due to the continuously deteriorating situation with regard to freedom of speech and
78 human rights, calls for the European Parliament and the European Commission to take the
79 necessary steps, including to revise the priorities for cooperation with Belarus, as well as to
80 consider additional possibilities for the protection of human rights in Belarus. EPP considers it
81 necessary to reformat the dialogue with Belarus with the issue of observance of human rights,
82 the reform of the electoral and law enforcement system at the top of the agenda;
83 10. Calls on its member organisations to monitor the situation in Belarus as much as possible
84 and to strengthen cooperation with the observer members of the EPP and civil society
85 organisations in Belarus.

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 1 Draft Emergency Resolution Nr. 3 tabled by the DISY / Cyprus
2 to the EPP Congress, Helsinki (Finland), 7-8 November 2018
3

4 Cyprus problem talks

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6 The EPP reiterates its support for a comprehensive, sustainable and viable settlement of the
7 Cyprus problem, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and in line
8 with EU law, values and principles, including the principle of subsidiarity. The settlement
9 process should be Cypriot-led, aiming to reunify the island as a bizonal, bicommunal
10 federation. The EPP underlines that the 44 years of military occupation imposed by Turkey on
11 the Republic of Cyprus must cease and expresses its deep regret about the recent stalemate
12 in the negotiations.
13 In this particularly sensitive period, there is an urgent need to resume negotiations between
14 the two communities under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary General’s Good
15 Offices Mission. Considerable progress and convergences had been achieved during a process
16 that led up to the Conference for Cyprus at Crans Montana in July 2017. Yet the intransigence
17 of Turkey on the issue of Security and its insistence on maintaining the anachronistic system
18 of guarantees and intervention rights, caused the breakdown of the negotiations. Since then,
19 there has been no substantial dialogue between the leaders of the two communities. In this
20 respect, the EPP supports President’s Anastasiade’s and DISY’s efforts to maintain the
21 dialogue between the two communities and welcomes the initiatives taken in this respect.
22 The EPP emphasises that there should be no deviation from the framework of negotiations
23 based on a bizonal, bicommunal federal model for Cyprus established by the UN and Security
24 Council Resolutions, as well as on the parameters set out by the UN Secretary General Mr
25 Antonio Guterres in Crans Montana. The EPP also underlines that the accession of the
26 Republic of Cyprus to the EU provided an impetus for a solution to the Cyprus problem, in
27 accordance with the EU acquis, values and principles. To this end, the EPP will not accept any
28 attempt by Turkey to create two states on the island of Cyprus. The EPP also calls upon all
29 parties involved to ensure the continuation of the presence of the UN peace-keeping force in
30 Cyprus (UNFICYP), under its current mandate, until a settlement is reached.
31 Moreover, the EPP calls on Turkey to take all necessary and constructive steps, as were
32 expressed by previous EPP positions, to facilitate the negotiations. In this respect, the EPP
33 condemns any aggressive rhetoric and actions aimed at threatening the sovereign rights of
34 EU Member States, to explore and exploit their natural resources in line with the EU acquis
35 and international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It also condemns
36 Turkey’s threats to disrupt the Republic of Cyprus’ drilling program within its Exclusive

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37 Economic Zone, with the dispatch of air and naval forces, and calls upon Turkey to respect the
38 sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus over its Exclusive Economic Zone. The EPP
39 furthermore expresses its full support for the energy exploration program of the Republic of
40 Cyprus and reiterates Cyprus’ importance in bolstering the EU’s energy security and regional
41 energy cooperation, and its strategic role in the Eastern Mediterranean.
42 Considering the above, the EPP remains fully committed to supporting the negotiation
43 process for a just, sustainable and viable solution to the benefit of all the people of Cyprus,
44 without the presence of foreign troops, guarantees or intervention rights of any foreign state,
45 so that a reunified Cyprus will be able to function as a normal EU member state. The EPP
46 reiterates that Cyprus's EU membership constitutes the best guarantee for the security and
47 stability of the country, and the best safeguard for the security and prosperity of all Cypriots.

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 1 Draft Emergency Resolution Nr. 4 tabled by the EPP Presidency jointly with the EPP Groups
2 in the European Parliament and in the European Committee of the Regions
3 to the EPP Congress, Helsinki (Finland), 7-8 November 2018
4

5 A prosperous and secure Europe

6 EPP calls for a timely adoption of the EU budget post-2020
7

8 The European People's Party supports a strong EU budget for of a prosperous and secure
9 Europe for our citizens. We welcome the results-focused approach of the European
10 Commission’s proposal for the MFF post-2020, as a good starting point for the negotiations.
11 The EPP calls for the adoption of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) before the
12 2019 European Parliament elections, thereby ensuring a timely launch of the new
13 programmes to secure the funding for all beneficiaries. We need to demonstrate a European
14 Union at 27 that is united, strong and able to deliver, and provide for predictability in an
15 uncertain global world context. The European budget has to be stable, secure and predictable,
16 to give confidence to citizens and investors.
17 1. The EPP’s priorities for the MFF 2021-2027 are centred on improving the lives of our people
18 and on enabling them to realise their full potential. We must boost competitiveness and
19 innovation, strengthen cohesion, empower our youth, strengthen the EU’s security and
20 defence, support our neighbourhood countries and address sustainability and climate change.
21 The EU needs additional funding to deal with migration and to protect its external borders.
22 We must further promote investments to develop a cohesive and inclusive growth across our
23 regions, cities and rural areas. We must show solidarity with our citizens who expect to be
24 protected from instability and threats both within and outside the EU.
25 2. To match our ambitions, we need to secure a sufficient level of the EU budget. We must
26 reinforce flexibility and synergies between public and private funding and ensure genuine EU
27 own resources. The EPP is committed to transparency, simplification, accountability and
28 efficiency in EU spending.
29 3. The EU budget can deliver successfully only if it is founded on ownership and partnership.
30 We must respect the subsidiarity principle, to keep decisions as close to the citizens as
31 possible.
32 4. The EU budget must have a clear European added value so as to deliver effective solutions
33 for the MFF's current and new priorities. We must communicate the impact of EU budget via
34 local dialogues. This is the best way to make citizens value the EU’s worth and to ensure trust

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35 in its fundamental purpose: building a community of values, peace and prosperity. On the
36 other hand, the EU taxpayers’ money should not be spent in countries where fundamental EU
37 values and the rule of law are not respected or in countries which don’t fully cooperate with
38 the EU’s anti-fraud institution OLAF.
39 5. In light of the above, the EPP calls on all institutions involved, especially the European
40 Parliament and the Council of Ministers - with the support of the European Commission and
41 the European Committee of the Regions - to join forces and develop a real dialogue so that
42 negotiations can be concluded before the 2019 EU elections. We have a common
43 responsibility to our citizens and future generations to make this happen. Our people,
44 especially the young people, need the resources and opportunities to face the future with
45 confidence that the EU is working for them.

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 1 Draft Emergency Resolution Nr. 5 tabled by the PNL / Romania
2 to the EPP Congress, Helsinki (Finland), 7-8 November 2018
3

4 Moldova

6 We are deeply concerned by the increasing concentration of economic and political power in
7 the hands of a narrow group of people and the deterioration of basic democratic standards in
8 the Republic of Moldova: the rule of law, democratic institutions, independence of judiciary,
9 excessive politicisation of state institutions, systemic corruption, lack of media freedom,
10 respect for human rights and harassment of the political opposition.
11 We call on the Moldovan authorities to:
12 ● Guarantee the fundamental principle of democratic representation and ensure that the
13 will of the voters, as expressed in the 2018 Chisinau mayoral election and as recognized
14 by the national and international observers, is fully respected;
15 ● Ensure the principle of judicial independence and renounce the anti-democratic practice
16 of politicising the judiciary and the instrumentalization of the justice system for political
17 ends;
18 ● Guarantee political pluralism and stop the harassment and intimidation of the opposition
19 and cease the politically-motivated prosecutions and dismissals of opposition members
20 and activists throughout the country;
21 ● Address the recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission on
22 electoral reform; there is a risk that, under the current set of rules, elections won’t be
23 recognised by the international community;
24 ● Guarantee the integrity of the upcoming election process by refraining from the use of
25 administrative resources and unlawful use of state institutions against political opponents
26 prior, during and after the electoral campaign;
27 ● Ensure the right of free and fair elections by allowing the citizens of the Republic of
28 Moldova living abroad to participate fully and freely in the upcoming parliamentary
29 elections;
30 ● Guarantee freedom of speech and media freedom, stop discrimination against
31 independent journalists by denying them access to events that present major public
32 interest and end the anti-democratic practice of criminalizing journalistic work as a tool
33 of political retribution;

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34 ● Demonstrate genuine commitment to the rule of law by fully and promptly investigating
35 the billion dollar fraud, so that all perpetrators are brought to justice;
36 ● Respect international principles and best practices and guarantee an environment that
37 enables the role of civil society; and strongly acknowledge the pressure placed on NGOs
38 by denying their right to access foreign funding.

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 1 Draft Emergency Resolution Nr. 6 tabled by the KD / Sweden
2 to the EPP Congress, Helsinki (Finland), 7-8 November 2018
3

4 Human rights violations in the Palestinian territories

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6 Considering:
7 A) the report “Two Authorities, One Way, Zero Dissent” published by Human Rights Watch
8 (HRW) on 23 October 2018 about the situation for dissidents in the Palestinian territories in
9 which the HRW suggests that both the Hamas authorities in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority
10 (PA) in the West Bank systematically and arbitrarily arrest citizens, and threaten, abuse and
11 torture prisoners. According to HRW, these actions could amount to crimes against humanity
12 – they cannot be tolerated in any way.
13 B) that the HRW urges the European Union (EU) and a number of national governments that
14 financially support PA, to suspend aid to agencies complicit in arbitrary arrests, abuse and
15 torture.
16 C) that the PA heavily depends on external support and the EU provides training and other
17 supportive measures to its security forces. Alongside Canada, Norway and Turkey, all EU
18 member states have provided aid to the Palestinian Police through the European Union
19 Coordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support (EUPOL COPPS), of a total sum of 12.372
20 million Euro in 2017.
21 D) that the EPP has repeatedly urged the parties in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to resume
22 negotiations with the aim of reaching a peace agreement based on a two state solution. Peace
23 requires accountability on both sides, and any actor that supports Palestinian statehood have
24 to react and, most importantly, act when PA is cracking down on basic freedoms.
25 Therefore, the EPP:
26 1. Urges the EU to immediately suspend its support to the Palestinian police force until the
27 Palestinian Authority has taken effective measures to end its arbitrary arrests and practices
28 of abuse and torture arresting critics and torturing detainees.
29 2. Demand the PA to conduct thorough, impartial and swift investigations of all allegations
30 of arbitrary arrests, abuse and torture.
31 3. Stresses the importance of a close and thorough monitoring and evaluation of the EU
32 development assistance.
33 4. Urges the parties in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to resume negotiations with the aim
34 of reaching a peace agreement based on a two state solution.
 1 Draft Emergency Resolution Nr. 7 tabled by the PP / Spain
2 to the EPP Congress, Helsinki (Finland), 7-8 November 2018
3

4 Catalan attempts at secession are contrary to law and democracy i(1)

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6 On 6 September 2017, the Regional Parliament of Catalonia illegally approved, with only half
7 its members present, an unlawful referendum act that attempted to break democracy,
8 territorial unity and the rule of law in Spain. It was unanimously rejected by EU and the
9 international community.
10 The Government of Spain had to implement a mechanism included in Article 155 of the
11 Spanish Constitution and that led to the call for early elections in Catalonia. There have been
12 more than 50 electoral processes in Catalonia since 1978. The result was a Catalan society
13 divided between 48% secessionists and 52% non-secessionists.
14 We have to keep in mind that Catalonia is an Autonomous Community fully recognized in
15 the Spanish Constitution enjoying autonomy in education, health, language, culture and that
16 make of it one of the most decentralized regions of Europe enjoying a high-level of self-
17 government.
18 Since then, secessionists in Catalonia have not stopped challenging and defying the rule of
19 law, exacerbating tension between the Spanish people who live in Catalonia and dividing
20 society in order to achieve their political goals. As a result, many firms have abandoned
21 Catalonia, forced to move their head offices to other parts of Spain. Catalonia has been
22 plunged into serious political and economic instability.
23 Spain is an established democracy governed by the rule of law, with all legal guarantees. This
24 is demonstrated in the Spanish Constitution of 1978, and in our membership of the Council
25 of Europe and the European Union, as ratified by the immense majority of the Spanish
26 people, at 87.8%, and over 90% in Catalonia, with an exemplary period of political transition.
27 The alleged exercise of a right to self-determination by part of the territory is not permitted
28 under the Spanish Constitution, in international law, or in United Nations resolutions.
29 Moreover, the siphoning of public funds that has endangered health and education in
30 Catalonia, in order to finance a massive international propaganda machine to buy public
31 opinion, was not backed by any member nation of the United Nations.

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32 For this reason, the EPP:

33  Condemns all illegal secessionism as an altered political reality, contrary to law, the
34 rule of law and democracy itself;
35  States that it is opposed head-on to any attempt to break with the legality and
36 equality of the citizens who are part of a country and supports the guaranteed
37 territorial unity of each State under the Constitution and the law;
38  Recognises that secessionists in Catalonia have tried to ignore the constitution by an
39 ongoing process of adopting decisions that go against established laws, against
40 European values and the rule of law;
41  Affirms that secessionist actions generate political instability and uncertainty in
42 countries, affecting their levels of economic growth, job creation, prosperity,
43 coexistence, consensus and their very future;
44  Stresses that illegal secessionist attempts will not be recognised internationally,
45 noting that it is a case of minority and radical policies that have clashed with the law,
46 justice and the judiciary, and that endanger democracy and the rule of law;
47  Highlights the firm defence of democratic values and human rights, as stated by the
48 European Union itself, which defends the territorial unity and integrity of all its
49 Member States.
50  Highlights the important role of regions as part of EU Member States and of the multi-
51 level structure of the EU.
52  Hopes that the issue will be resolved for the sake of cohesion of all Catalanonian
53 citizens.

(1) iNothing in this resolution relates to the unique situation in Northern Ireland where
legally binding international agreements exist.