Activities of Barbara SPINELLI related to 2018/2094(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the state of the debate on the future of Europe PDF (265 KB) DOC (107 KB)
Amendments (52)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights, to the European Social Charter, the Additional Protocol thereto and the revised version thereof,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 26 October 2016 with recommendations to the Commission on the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights,
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 14 September 2017 on transparency, accountability and integrity in the EU institutions,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 b (new)
Citation 10 b (new)
- having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18
Citation 18
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 22
Citation 22
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23
Citation 23
— having regard to the European Council meeting of 14-15 December 2017, and to the Leaders’ ‘meeting and Euro summit meetings taking place in the margins thereof,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 36
Citation 36
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Union is an exampleperiment of supranational integration without equal andwhich has brought lasting peace, prosperity and welfare to its peoples among its members and engaged to put the promotion of its values – namely respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities – and the well-being of its peoples at the core of its action;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas over the past few years the Union has faced multiple crises which have testrongly weakened its resilience and capacity to act in a decisive and united manner, united and rights-based manner and to fulfil its duty of solidarity;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas, although Europe has managed to overcomecontain the most critical moments of the economicfinancial crisis, important and urgent reforms are still lie ahead in the area ofnecessary to boost economic grecovernance in general and in the euro area in particular, as well as in terms of recovery of the social standards of our welfare statey, promote social progress and inclusion and bridge the gap between surplus and deficit countries;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas substantial reforms of the EU policies aimed at tackling the major challenges that are affecting Union citizens, such as increased inequalities, poverty and social exclusion, high-rate unemployment, work precariousness, unchanged debt unsustainability and ineffective social protection, represent the first and indispensable step to regain grassroots support for the EU project as a whole;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas in view of the multiple current and future challenges facing the Union in a hostile global world, in particular those concerning migration, terrorism, security, completing the EMU, globalisation, climate change, international trade, foreign affairs and dthe EU should promote a renewed spirit of cooperation and solidarity among its Members in view of the multiple current and future challenges the Union is facing, taking as reference, the development of the social pillar, and the fight against anti-EU populism, the objective enshrined the Lisbon Treaty of creating an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe should continue to inspire the actions taken by the Union; whereas these clear challenges can only be addressed if tackled together point the founding principles enshrined in articles 2 and 3 TEU and the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the referendum in the UK of June 2016 leading to the UK’'s announcement on 29 March 2017 of its intention to leave the European Union has intensified the debate on the future of the Union; whereas this is reflected, besides in Parliament’s own resolutions on the future of Europe of 16 February 2017, in the Bratislava Declaration and Roadmap, the Commission White Paper on the Future of Europe, the Rome Declaration, the Leaders’ Agenda adopted by the European Council in October 2017, and various contributions by individual Member States or groups of them;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the latest Eurobarometer survey, conducted between 17 and 28 March 2018, shows that a majority of Europeans have a positive image of the EU (40 %) and that this proportion continues to exceed that of those who have a neutral image of the EU (37 %); whereas just above a fifth of Europeans have a negative image of the EU (21 %); whereas, however, such positive image seems contradicted by the result of national and local elections in several Member States;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the upcoming elections to the European Parliament present an opportunity to take stock ofdraw some concrete and appropriate conclusions from the debate on the future of Europe, also in view of the principal institutional priorities of the three institutions for the new term; whereas the upcoming European Parliament elections represent also an opportunity to reshape the Union’s course of action through a redefinition of its political priorities by promoting a new socially and environmentally oriented economic and political model based on the full implementation of the principles enshrined in Part I, Title II, of the TFEU and in the EU Charter of fundamental rights;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the EU is facing a particularly important period in its construction process, given the nature and dimension of its challenges, and whereas these can only be solved by working together and through greater and better integration and through more consistent efforts of solidarity;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas institutional reforms should aim at making decision-making processes more democratic, enhancing the transparency of decision-making and the accountability of the Union and its institutions; whereas, in view of these aims, it is an opportune timppropriate to organise consultations and promote a regular dialogue with citizens and representative associations, in line with the requirements of article 11 TEU;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
I a. whereas transparency and integrity of the EU institutions and bodies are essential conditions to build trust and confidence vis-à-vis citizens and to allow them to fully enjoy and exercise the rights deriving from the EU law;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that Parliament’s resolutions on the future of Europe of 16 February 2017 emphasised the importance of the single institutional framework and the Community method and suggested several proposals and initiatives of particular importance for European integration that can contribute to building Europe’s futurein this regard;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that the Union must tackle the challenges of its future with greater and better political integration, with full respect for fundamental and democratic values, and by working together; agrees with the heads of state and government who addressed Parliament in plenary during the debates on the future of Europe that citizens want a Europe that protects their rights and their social model on the basis of shared sovereignty, and that the problems we face in Europeand promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms and of the democratic principles; invites the heads of state and government to pursue this path in a renewed spirit of solidarity and collaboration reminding that the problems having an European dimension can only be solved together;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates its belief that differentiated integration must remain open to all Member States and continue to act as an example of deeper European integration and solidarity, not as a way to facilitate à la carte solutions;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the crisis has produced an imbalance between the main institutions of the Union, and that the Council, and in particular the European Council, is exercising its own political initiative to the detriment of the Commission’'s right of initiative; reiterates its call on the European Council to fully respect the boundaries of its competences as enshrined, in particular, in article 15 TEU;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Reiterates its suggestion to transform the Council into a true legislative chamber and to improve the transparency of its decision-making process; however, considers that it would be appropriate, in the first place, to redefine the competences of the Council vis-à-vis those of the European Parliament with the aim of strengthening the co-decision procedure and increasing the transparency of the whole legislative process, including the Trilogues; points in this context to the special report by the Ombudsman on the transparency of the Council’s legislative process and the initiative of a majority of national parliaments calling for more transparency ofrom the Council and informal bodies such as the Eurogroup, in line with similar requests made by Parliament in this respect; asks to the Council to swiftly address the concerns raised with regard to the transparency of its decision-making process and the access to documents by taking into account, inter alia, the Recommendation of the European Ombudsman in case OI/2/2017/TE on the Transparency of the Council legislative process, the recent judgment of 22 March 2018 of the General Court in the case Emilio De Capitani v. European Parliament (T-540/15) and the Letter of the COSAC Delegations to the EU Institutions of 20 December 2017 on the transparency of political decision-making within the EU;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Reminds that in the period 1 January 2013 to 30 June 2016 the majority of complaints received by the European Ombudsman concerned an alleged lack of transparency, as highlighted by the Commission in its Report of 24.1.2017 “On progress towards effective EU citizenship 2013-2016”; recalls that transparency of the decision- making process of the EU institution is vital for building and strengthening credibility and trust in the EU as a whole; asks all the EU institutions and bodies to address the still existing shortcomings in line with the provisions, amongst others, of articles 9 and 10(3) TEU, 15 TFEU and 41-42 of the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Calls, moreover, on the Commission to provide concrete follow- ups to the concerns expressed by the European Parliament in its resolution of 14 September 2017 on transparency, accountability and integrity in the EU institutions and to those highlighted by the European Ombudsman in the joint inquiry into complaints 194/2017/EA, 334/2017/EA, and 543/2017/EA on the European Commission’s handling of post-mandate employment of former Commissioners, a former Commission President and the role of its ‘Ethics Committee’;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8 c. Reiterates its proposal according to which, in the event of a possible future revision of the Treaties, the right of legislative initiative be mainly attributed to the European Parliament, as direct representative of the EU citizens;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Takes note of the report of the Task Force on Subsidiarity, Proportionality and ‘'Doing Less More Efficiently’' of 10 July 2018, presenting recommendations on a new way of working on subsidiarity and proportionality;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the joint proclamation endorsing the European Pillar of Social Rights; points out that the competences and tools required to deliver on the pillar are mainly in the hands of lregrets, however, the non-binding character of the Social Pillar, unable, as such, to shift the EU focus from macro- economic policies, internal market and fiscal policy to social, regional and national authorities, as well as social partners and civil society, while progress in its implementation should r policy targets; is convinced that social targets must be prioritised, by giving full effect to article 9 TFEU, and that social rights must be decoupled from economic and fiscal conditionality; recalls in this context that collecetive particular attention within the economic policy coordination of the European Semester; recalls in this context that sorights have proven to be indispensable to improve EU policy- and law-making; calls for the replacement of the European Semester with democratic decision-making of the co-legislators - European Parliament and Councial dialogue has proven to be an indispensable instrument to improve EU policy- and law-making- with close involvement of the social partners and civil society, using the instrument of directives to set social minimum standards at EU level for gradual upwards convergence of social standards in the Member States;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Reiterates its call for a social protocol to be introduced in the Treaties in order to strengthen fundamental social rights in relation to economic freedoms;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Calls once again on the Member States to sign and ratify the revised European Social Charter and the European Convention on Social Security (ETS No 78); calls also on the Commission to start negotiations with the Council of Europe in order to launch the process for the accession of the EU to the European Social Charter; meanwhile, asks the Commission to use the provisions of the Social Charter as guiding standards for the impact assessments carried out on the basis of article 12 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making and for drafting the explanatory memoranda foreseen in article 25 of such Agreement;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10 c. Stresses that environmental protection shall become a short-term top priority for the EU in the light of the current environmental degradation, and shall be mainstreamed in all policies and actions of the Union; moreover suggests, in order to better attain the above- mentioned objective, to introduce in the Treaties a specific reference to the Right of Nature, as developed, for instance, in the Constitution of Ecuador;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recalls its own proposals and welcomesDeplores that the current economic governance system of the EU has proved itself ineffective to tackle those made by the Commission and some Member States for better governance of the EMU and for a stronger and more democratic institutional architecture, but regrets the slow pace of adoption and implementation of its proposals, as well as the disappointing results of the last European Council summit of 28-29 June 2018 in this regardjor challenges that are affecting Union citizens, such as increased inequalities, poverty and social exclusion, high-rate unemployment and work insecurity; calls for a reformed governance of the EMU, for a new European deal to face the social adversities of globalisation and for a stronger and more democratic institutional architecture, based on the principles of transparency, accountability and respect for the rule of law;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for the governance institutions of the EMU to be designed in such a way to take full account of the need for democratic support of its decisions by Parliament and its relationship with national parliaments, in order to provideprovide for a stronger decision-making power of the European Parliament, while taking into account its relationship with national parliaments, and for a full judicial oversight of the Court of Justice, in order to confer to the economic and financial governance for the euro area with the maximum social anan enhanced democratic legitimacy;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Recalls that, according to the Court of Justice (Joined Cases C-8/15 P to C-10/15 P, Ledra Advertising), the European institutions are bound to respect and uphold the provisions of the EU Charter of fundamental rights even when they act outside the EU legal framework;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes theTakes note of the alleged convergence of positions taken by France and Germany on the idea of a budgetary capacity for the euro area; reiterates its view that this capacity should be developed within the EU framework;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the Commission communication on a European Minister of Economy and Finance; pPoints out that merging the positions of Commission Vice-President for Economic Affairs and Chair of the Eurogroup could improve parliamentary accountability at European level; insists, however, that the EU should firstly clarify the legal nature of the decisions taken by the Eurogroup as well as its functions and responsibilities;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Asks the European Council, the Council, when meeting informally, and the Eurogroup to start applying the Transparency Regulation and to develop rules of procedure that are in line with the standards developed in EU legislation and case law, as already requested in the Letter of the COSAC Delegations to the EU Institutions of 20 December 2017 on the transparency of political decision- making within the EU;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. WelcomesTakes note of the Commission’s proposal on own resources introducing new real own resources, as requested by the Parliament, but regrets the non- introduction of other possible sources of revenues such as an EU wide coordinated wealth levy, a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) and a carbon tax; express concern at the Commission proposal for the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027, and regrets the positions taken by some Member States that refuse to provide more resources to the EU, despite unanimous recognition of the need to face new common challenges and responsibilities, and therefore the need for more financial resources;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Regrets that, to date, there has been no practical follow-up neither to its call for a convergence code – to be adopted by codecision – in order to have a more effective framework for economic policy coordination, nor to its call for an interinstitutional agreement (IIA) to be concluded to give Parliament a more substantial role in the European Semester; stresses, however, that the criteria to lay down in the Convergence Code shall never entail any levelling down of social, environmental and human rights standards enshrined in the European and international human rights law or impede the adoption, by the Member States, of more favourable provisions in this area; recalls in this context its suggestion that budgetary calendars at national and European level need to be better coordinated throughout the process in order to better involve both the European Parliament and national parliaments in the European Semester and to promote the social dialogue as provided for in articles 151, 154 and 155 TFEU;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. WelcomesTakes note of the Council decision establishing permanent structured cooperation (PESCO), the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) and the European Defence Fund (EDF) as important steps towardsin view of setting a common defence policy, and notes proposals by certain Member States for an EU Security Council and a European Intervention Initiative; recalls its call for the establishment of a permanent Council of Defence Ministers chaired by the Vice- President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR), and underlines the importance of appropriate democratic accountability of decisions taken in this area and the need for reinforced cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments in this regardunderlines the importance of appropriate democratic accountability of decisions taken in this area and the need for reinforced cooperation between the European Parliament and national parliaments in this regard; reminds that any action or measure adopted by the Union in the field of external action shall be subjected to the strict observance and the full respect of the principles enshrined, amongst others, in article 2, 3(5) and 21 TEU;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Deplores the absence of agreement among the Member States on the priorities and implementation of an EU-level comprehensive immigration and asylum policy, which would make it possible to organise and regulate mestablish a well- functioning migration and refugees policy rooted on articles 67 and 80 TFEU and on the principles of solidarity, non- discrimination, non-refoulement and on proactive search and rescue, in line with the obligratory flows, control our external borders more effectively, cooperate with countries of origin and transit, and guaranteeions deriving from the Geneva Convention, the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, providing for the full respect for the fundamental rights of migrants and asylum seekers, among other objectives; underlines that the obvious contradictions in interests exposed by Member States need to be overcome in order not to jeopardise the European integration project;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Reaffirms that the Union must adopt a long-term strategy to address the root causes of migration in third countries (persecution, military conflicts, generalised violence, climate change, natural disasters and extreme poverty) and create safe and regular channels to access the EU; in this regard, calls for negotiations to be stopped on all types of agreements related to migration, including readmission agreements, with third countries which do not guarantee the protection of refugees and respect for fundamental rights and of the Geneva Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18 b. Stresses the urgency of effective integration policies of migrants who have entered the EU, and calls on the Member States to refrain from any form of labour exploitation or religious discrimination of migrant workers; calls also on the Member States to put an end to their reluctance to ratify the 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines its determination to continue with the Spitzenkandidaten process for the election of the next Commission President, and welcomes the support of the Commission and certain Member States in this respect; underlines that it will reject any candidate in the investiture procedure of the Commission President who was not appointed as a Spitzenkandidat in the run-up to European Parliament elections and who does not have a sufficient parliamentary majority; considers it essential to strengthen the social legitimacy of the European elections and the supranational role of the European Parliament as an exponent of European citizenship and European sovereignty;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Regrets the frequent and widespread temptation to attribute unpopular decisions only to Brussels and to free national authorities of their responsibilities and politics, given that this unjust and opportunistic attitude damages Europe, promotes anti-European nationalismfeelings and discredits the EU and the national institutions;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Underlines the need to strengthenclear the way for the European public sphere as a supratransnational area of European democracy; stresses that the major challenges Europe is facing must be addressed and discussed from a European perspective and not from a national perspective; points out that, for this reason, European democracy needs a European identity,with the full involvement of all the parties concerned, at European and national level, and by giving full effect to the provisions enshrined in articles 10 and 11 TEU; points out that, for this reason, European democracy needs to develop a concrete EU participatory, social and rights-based dimension able to foster the development of a genuinely European demos, and to promote more European institutional education and a deliberative, more participatory and less national social framework;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the approach taken to the currentIs aware of the complexity of the negotiations con the United Kingdom’s orderly withdrawalcerning the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, and underlines the remarkable unity displayed by the EU institutions and Member States; notes that experience demands the negotiating parties to fully honour their earlier commitments concerning the negotiations to date has shown the enormous complexities of such deciscontent of the Withdrawal Agreement by providing for positive and concrete solutions to the still outstanding issues specifically in the areas of citizens’ rights and the Status on Northern Ireland as also requested in the European Parliament resolution of 14 March 2018 on the framework of the future EU-UK relationship;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Asks the EU and UK negotiators to spell out in detail, in the Withdrawal Agreement, all the issues concerning the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union so as to guarantee their binding nature and avoid, as much as possible, any legal uncertainty in their interpretation;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Underlines once more that neither national sovereignty nor subsidiarity can justify or legitimise the systematic refusal on the part of a Member State to comply with the fundamental values of the European Union which inspired the introductory articles of the European Treaties, which every Member State has willingly endorsed and committed to respect; underlines furthermore that upholding these values is fundamental for the cohesion of the European project, the rights of all Europeans and the mutual trust needed among the Member States; recalls its recommendation to establish a European mechanism for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rightsRecalls that, according to article 2 TEU, the Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, which reflect binding and well-established principles of international law that every Member State has willingly endorsed and committed to respect; underlines furthermore that upholding and promoting these principles is a precondition for guaranteeing the legitimacy of and building trust in the European project;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Reminds that, according to Article 49 TEU, candidate countries must demonstrate to satisfy the Copenhagen criteria in order to become members of the EU and the Commission has a duty to demand full compliance with them; stresses that, once part of the EU, Member States have a corresponding obligation to respect and protect the principle of the rule of law and its constitutive elements but regrets that the Union has limited instruments to ensure that Member States comply with such obligation; asks once again to the Commission to swiftly submit a proposal giving effect to the European Parliament resolution of 25 October2016 with recommendations to the Commission on the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights;