23 Amendments of Tomáš ZDECHOVSKÝ related to 2019/2098(DEC)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. NWelcomes the visible progress made by the agencies in their efforts to respond to the demands and recommendations expressed within the annual discharge procedures; notes with satisfaction that, according to the annual report of the European Court of Auditors’ (the 'Court') on Union agencies for the financial year 2018 (the 'Court’s report'), the Court issued an unqualified audit opinion on the reliability of the accounts of all agencies; notes in addition that the Court issued an unqualified opinion on the legality and regularity of the revenue underlying the accounts for all agencies; observes that the Court issued an unqualified opinion on the legality and regularity of the payments underlying the accounts for all agencies, except for the European Asylum Support Office (EASO); points out with regret that for EASO’s payments for the financial years 2016 and 2017, the Court issued a qualified opinion; acknowledges the continued progress made by the Office in delivering reforms and corrective action plans;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Deems it questionable to operate 32 decentralised agencies headquartered across all the Member States; authorizes the Commission to perform a feasibility study in order to research the possibility of merging certain underfinanced and highly expert agencies with a similar field of operation; recalls concerns that merger of decentralised agencies would create an all-powerful Agency, and that the very idea of decentralisation would be diminished; opposes such claims with remark, that the creation of an agency with a wider range of operation will bring simplicity and effective administration; further notes that the merger and setting- up of shared synergies among several agencies would save significant amount of finances, which may then be used for funding the increased optimized remuneration coefficient needed in several Agencies, especially those in the Member States which joined the EU in 2004, in order to ensure the attractiveness of the vacant positions in those Agencies;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Main risks and recommendations identified by the Court
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recommends that all agencies focus on public communication and publicity as their existence and activities are often not recognised among citizens;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses that the need to have separate administrative structures and procedures for all agencies constitutes an inherent risk to administrative inefficiency and urges agencies to strengthen their thematic bundling and cooperation according to their fields of policy to ensure harmonisation and efficient sharing of resources;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Emphasizes on the problem with dual operational and administrative headquarters that do not offer operational added value for the agencies and encourages further action to limit the inefficiencies; encourages the agencies to co-locate concentrating on their specific policy fields; notes that the Commission is responsible for providing proposals regarding the possible mergers, closures and/or transfers of tasks;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Acknowledges that the effective, efficient and error-free work of the agencies is closely tied to the adequate level of funding needed to cover their operational and administrative activities;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes the Network’s reply in support of Parliament’s invitation to provide the Union institutions with constructive feedback in the framework of the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations and that each agency was invited to perform an analysis of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 proposal by the Commission; acknowledges the high importance of the Multiannual Financial Framework on the budgeting of the agencies and encourages them to continue exploring new sources of financing in addition to the existing Union budget contributions;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Encourages the agencies and the Commission to apply the principle of performance-based budgeting, to consistently seek the most effective ways to provide added value, and to further explore possible improvements in efficiency in relation to resources management; notes the Court’s suggestion that a publication of agency budgets by activity would allow linking resources to the activities they are used for and would assist for easier budget allocation, efficacy and limit unnecessary expenses;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes with satisfaction that some agencies cooperate effectively according to their thematic grouping, for exeample the Justice and Home Affairs6 agencies and the European Supervisory Authorities7; encourages other agencies also to increase cooperation with each other whenever possible, not only in establishing shared services and synergies, but in their common policy areas as well; notes that a majority of agencies do focus and strive on further enhancing synergies and sharing resources; notes that the Network has established an online catalogue of shared services, mainly IT services, and that in 2018, a pilot has been developed to monitor the use and benefit of the shared services which has been extended in 2019 to all share services; 6. European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), European Agency for the Operational Management of Large- Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA), European Asylum Support Office (EASO), European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE),European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), European Police College (CEPOL), European Police Office (Europol), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), The European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit (Eurojust). 7. European Banking Authority (EBA), European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes from the Court’s report that in 2018, some progress was made in relation to the introduction of SYSPER II, the human resources management tool developed by the Commission, with five additional agencies signed up for it in 2018; notes, however, that the progress in its implementation varies, the project being complex and each agency having its own specificities; notes furthermore that good progress was made in relation to the introduction of e-procurement; nevertheless, a number of agencies are still in the process of introducing the tools of electronic invoicing as developed by the Commission;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17 b. Notes that the agencies continuously monitor and assess their staffing levels and their needs in terms of additional human and financial resources, and make relevant requests where necessary; acknowledges that such requests should be subject to a wider inter-institutional process, so that the level of resources corresponds to the tasks and responsibilities of the agencies;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes from the Court’s report that payments in its audit samples indicate a trend towards compensating shortages of own statutory staff by external staff, particularly IT consultants working in the premises of the agencies on times and means contracts and interim staff; notes that five agencies engaged in the use of interim workers provided by registered temporary work agencies, but did not respect all the rules laid down in both the Directive 20108/104/EC6 and in the respective national law, for instance as regards working conditions for interim workers; notes that three agencies used contracts on the provision of IT and other consultancy services which were formulated and/or implemented in a way that, in practice, might result in the assignment (‘mise à disposition’) of temporary agency workers instead of the provision of clearly specified services or products and as required by Directive 2008/104/EC7 , Staff Regulations and social and employment rules, exposing these agencies to legal and reputational risks; calls on the Network to introduce a general policy to not replace permanent staff by more expensive external consultants; _________________ 6Directive 2008/104/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on temporary agency work (OJ L 327, 5.12.2008, p. 9). 7Directive 2008/104/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on temporary agency work (OJ L 327, 5.12.2008, p. 9).
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Urges the agencies to effectively utilise their established internal rules or guidelines on whistleblowing and calls on the ones that are still in the process of adopting such rules to do it without unnecessary delay;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Notes that most agencies do not publish their vacancy notices on the website of the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO); takes note of the concern regarding high translation costs; welcomes in this regard the inter-agency job board launched and maintained by the Network and invites all agencies to take advantage of the platform;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19 b. Encourages the Union agencies that do not have a fundamental rights strategy to consider adopting one, including a reference to fundamental rights in a code of conduct that could define the duties of their staff and training for staff; recommends that effective prevention policies should be implemented and efficient procedures found to resolve harassment issues;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes from the Court’s report that shortcomings were found related to excessive dependency on contractors, external consultancy and interims, to the use of inadequate award criteria and the conclusion of contracts with abnormally low tenderers without reasonable justification; notes that several agencies have outsourced, extensively, regular activities and occasionally core business activities, which weakens the internal expertise and control over contract execution, with some weaknesses in the procurement process which may impair fair competition and the achievement of best value for money procurements; recommends an adequate ratio between price and quality when awarding contracts, an optimal design of framework contracts, justified intermediary services and the use of detailed framework contracts notes that for six agencies the framework contract terms for the provision of IT maintenance and equipment were weak, as they allowed the purchase of items not specifically mentioned therein and not subject to an initial competitive procedure, and it also allowed the contractor to charge uplifts on the prices of items purchased from other suppliers; notes that although agencies have no power to change the basic contractual arrangements, their related ex - ante controls did not check the accuracy of the up-lifts charged by the contractor;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Once again, calls on the agencies to implement a comprehensive and horizontal policy concerning the avoidance of conflicts of interest, and to use the European Chemicals' Agency's (ECHA) Independence Policy as a best practice and an exemplary system of monitoring and preventing any conflicts of interest; encourages all agencies to set up a Conflicts of Interest Advisory Committee;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Notes from the Court’s report that fivsome agencies do not have policies in place defining their sensitive functions and related mitigating controls, which aim to reduce the risk of the misuse of powers delegated to staff to an acceptable level and should be a standard element of internal control, thus urges those agencies to adopt such policies;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Notes from the Court’s report that the previously London-based agencies, the European Baking Authority (EBA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), leftwere relocated from the United Kingdom in 2019 and that their accounts include provisions for the related removal costs; notes, furthermore, in the case of EMA, that the Court referred to developments following the lease agreement of the agency and the ruling of the High Court of Justice of England and Wales; notes the contingent liability of 465 million euro left following the conclusion of the new sublease agreement and to the uncertainty about the total loss of staff following the agency’s relocation; in addition, notes with concern that for both agencies, the Court also referred to possible decreases in revenue following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the Union;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Stresses the urgent need to aim the focus of the agencies on disseminating the results of their research and work to the general public, and to reach out to public via the social media and other media outlets in order to raise awareness of their operations; recalls the general unawareness of the citizens about the agencies even within the country of operation; appeals to the agencies to reach out to the people more effectively and frequently;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Stresses the possible negative effects of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (as of 31.01.2020) on the organisation, operations and accounts of the agencies, specifically when it comes to decrease of direct contributions; urges the Commission to act with extreme diligence when handling risk prevention and risk mitigation for the agencies;