The European Parliament's EPP group has proposed an amendment to the resolution on the EU-Uzbekistan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement that softens the language on human rights, particularly regarding torture. The amendment, dated 12 May 2026, replaces direct criticism of Uzbek authorities with a reference to the UN Human Rights Committee's call, and weakens demands for accountability and independent investigations.
The amendment targets the resolution's original text, which expresses 'deep concern' over widespread torture and directly urges Uzbekistan to enforce legal safeguards, establish an independent investigation mechanism, and ensure perpetrators are held accountable. The EPP proposal removes the direct parliamentary voice, instead 'recalling' the UN Human Rights Committee's call. It collapses the three-part demand into a single request to 'take robust measures to eradicate torture and ill treatment' and ensure an 'independent and effective complaints mechanism.' The word 'widespread' is removed, and the explicit demand for accountability is omitted.
Political dynamics
Only the EPP group has proposed an amendment, creating a binary split between the EPP and other political groups. The EPP favors a more constructive, less confrontational tone, aiming to depoliticize criticism by grounding it in international legal standards. This suggests a 'critical engagement' approach that prioritizes maintaining a positive diplomatic relationship with Uzbekistan. Other groups (S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, ECR, Left) implicitly support the original text by not proposing amendments, favoring stronger, more direct criticism and a 'principled conditionality' approach where human rights progress is a non-negotiable prerequisite for deeper cooperation.
Stakeholder impact
The amendment has moderate impact on several stakeholders. For EU foreign policy institutions, the softer language may reduce friction with Uzbekistan but could weaken the EU's credibility as a human rights advocate. For the Uzbek government, the amendment offers diplomatic relief and less pressure to reform, potentially slowing progress on torture prevention. For human rights NGOs and civil society, the weakened language is a setback, as it reduces international scrutiny and accountability demands. For EU businesses and investors in Uzbekistan, the amendment may improve the investment climate by reducing political tension, but could also risk reputational damage if human rights abuses persist.
Next steps
The amendment will be debated and voted on in plenary. If adopted, it will replace the relevant paragraphs in the final resolution. The resolution itself is a non-binding opinion on the Council's decision to conclude the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The Council and the European External Action Service will take note of Parliament's position, but the agreement's ratification process continues independently.
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