the trans-Caspian pipeline;
Afghanistan
74. Is deeply concerned about the continued violence, in all forms, in Afghanistan, in particular
that directed against women; urges the Afghan Government to prepare for taking over full
responsibility after the withdrawal of international forces from 2014; calls for the Member
States to gear up to support the military and civilian capacity-building of the Afghan
Government and its National Security Forces in order to create stability and security as a
prerequisite for development, avoiding the creation of a security and economic vacuum
once the country assumes full responsibility for its own security after 2014; highlights the
need to continue the EU's support for the fight against corruption; reiterates the need to
establish a plan for the elimination of opium production; recalls that Parliament has
repeatedly called for the promotion of a five-year plan for the elimination of opium
production;
75. Reiterates the EU's long-term commitment to assisting Afghanistan in a peaceful transition
and sustainable socioeconomic development; welcomes the fact that the EU and
Afghanistan are about to conclude the negotiations on a Cooperation Agreement on
Partnership and Development; calls on both sides to conclude the negotiations swiftly;
76. Emphasises the need for enhanced cooperation within the sub-region of Central Asia and
with Russia, Pakistan, India and Iran in order to address the challenges of cross-border
trafficking in people and goods and to combat the illegal production and trafficking of
drugs; warns against the risk of such problems spilling over to neighbouring countries and
to the wider sub-region after 2014; stresses Pakistan's key role in the fight against terrorism;
Asia
77. Calls for the EU to have a greater presence in the Asia-Pacific region, with a focus beyond
China, India and Japan; stresses the political and economic potential of the partnerships
being established between the EU and Indonesia, a democracy with the world's
fourth-largest – mostly Muslim – population, and a G-20 member, and between the EU and
the Philippines; underlines the new prospects for EU-ASEAN relations following the
democratic changes in Myanmar; regards the Bandar Seri Begawan Plan of Action to
strengthen the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-EU enhanced partnership
as a relevant step; also regards the Treaty of Amity as a chance to deepen cooperation and
looks forward to tangible outcomes in this respect;
78. Emphasises the need to conclude the negotiations on partnership and cooperation
agreements and political framework agreements with several Southeast and East Asian
countries, based on social standards and European corporate social responsibility, in order
to consolidate and heighten the EU's relations with the region;
79. Underlines the importance of Asia-Pacific regional security and is concerned about
tensions, including territorial disputes around the East and South China Sea, as well as
having increasing concerns about North Korea; suggests that the EU could take a more
active role and call for all parties concerned to be included in all dialogue and cooperation
mechanisms, especially in the multilateral arena, in view of the importance of stability in
this area to the EU's maritime security and commercial interests;