14 Amendments of Csaba MOLNÁR related to 2016/2008(INI)
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas following the recent crises in the economic, political and social fields that have severely affected individual Member States and the Union as a whole, citizens’ relationship with politics has become increasingly strained, as the public feels that it is not represented adequately; whereas the engagement and involvement of citizens and civil society in democratic life are essential for the good functioning of democracy and for the legitimacy and accountability of both national and EU representational systems;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas 21st-century European citizens do not find it sufficient to be permitted to express their opinions concerning the policies, decisions and leadership of the Union and the Member States only in elections to the European Parliament or national elections;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas it is crucial to regain citizens’ confidence and interest in the European project by improving participation and transparency in decision- making, buttressing democratic oversight mechanisms, making political parties more open, rendering the terminology of the Union more comprehensible and reforming electoral systems to give the public more voice in them;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas democracy should adapt to the changes associated with the new technological age, the progress of which must be regarded as a public good that, if properly used, could help to create a more transparent and participatory democracy which meets the demands of 21st century citizens better;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas a wave of new digital communication tools and open and collaborative platforms could inspire creative solutions for reducing public discontent with political institutions and increase levels of trust in the democratic system; whereas the new communication tools help to increase participatory democracy and transparency;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas e-democracy could represent an alternative form of engagement capable of providing a solution to public disaffection with traditional politics, and could help promote grassroots support for EU policies and ensure that the European Union institutions tackle the issues that concern citizens most;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes e-democracy, which is defined as the support and enhancement of traditional democracy by means of information and communication technology (ICT), and is meant to complement democratic processes by adding elements of citizens’ enablement through different online activities that include, amongst others, e-government, e- governance, e-participation and e-voting; welcomes the fact that, by means of the new information and communication tools, more and more citizens can be involved in democratic processes;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls the first successful European example of online voting in Estonia in its legally binding elections in 2005 as a positive example, but maintains that if the take-up of e-voting across Europe is to be successful, it will be necessary to assess the costs, benefits and implications of different or divergent technological approaches; is convinced that the European Union, as the biggest and most developed economy in the world, must be a trend-setter in adopting innovative solutions such as e-voting in European elections;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Member States and the EU to provide educational and technical means for improving ICT competences and digital access for all EU citizens in order to bridge the digital divide (e-inclusion) and put an end to digital illiteracy, for the ultimate benefit of democracy; encourages the Member States to integrate the acquisition of digital skills and touch- typing into school curricula and supports the development of networks with universities and educational institutions to promote research on and implementation of new participation tools;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Recommends that the European Parliament, as the only directly elected institution of the European Union, take the lead in reinforcing e-democracy; considers it worthwhile, to this end, to develop innovative technological solutions which will make it possible for citizens to communicate meaningfully and share their concerns with their elected representatives;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Encourages the Member States and the EU to promote and support mechanisms that enable the participation of the public and their interaction with governments and EU institutions; highlights that ICT should facilitate access to information, transparency, active listening and debate for better decision- making; considers that dissemination of best practices should be promoted, for example by drawing attention to the success of the e-Estonia programme;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission to expand and develop e-participation in the Digital Single Market Strategy and to propose the allocation of corresponding funds in the budget; considers that the reinforcement of European e-democracy will bolster the credibility of the European Union’s institutions and the confidence of citizens in the Union;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Proposes that, on the basis of the existing DESI (Digital Economy and Society Index) indicator, the Commission should make recommendations to the Member States with a view to reinforcing e-democracy, which proposals could also usefully be incorporated in the recommendations of the European Semester;