4 Amendments of Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS related to 2022/2081(DEC)
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Regrets that according to ECA Special Report No 01/2022, EUR 700 million in financial support for the improvement of the rule of law in the Western Balkans provided by the EU between 2014 and 2020 had little impact on fundamental reforms; calls on the Commission to send clear signals to those candidate countries in which a backlash against rule of law standards - including limitations on the freedom of expression, the freedom of press, women’s and minority rights, the harassment of NGOs and human rights defenders - is jeopardising or delaying their accession to the EU; invites the Commission to examine the efficiency of the funds spent on the improvement of the state of the Rule of Law in the accession countries and report back to the AFET and CONT committees;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Is strongly of the opinion that the financial interest of the EU should be protected within the EU and outside the EU equally, therefore considers that the Commission should put more emphasis on the funds spent in non-EU countries in order to verify that those funds are spent in accordance with European rules and without the involvement of fraud or corruption, and to confirm whether they contribute to the goals of the Union’s development and external policy; recommends sanctions and suspension of budgetary support in non-EU countries where national authorities manifestly fail to take genuine action against widespread corruption, while ensuring that the assistance reaches the civil population through alternative channels;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recognises the critical role performed by UNRWA in providing Palestine refugees with vital services; commendnotes the results of the study on Palestinian schoolbooks performed by the Georg Eckert Institute, confirming that they adhere to UNESCO standards and adopt criteria that are prominent in international education discourse, but, however, also display an antagonism towards Israel.
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Commission to address the difficulties faced by EU registered Belarusian and Russian NGOs in the EU banking sector in order to enable them to open and maintain bank accounts in banks in EU Member States without the current obstacles, in particular the banks' unfounded suspicion of money laundering and terrorist financing; stresses the fact that these NGOs are carrying out projects for the promotion of democracy and the advancement of human rights that are funded by the EU and EU Member States;