374 Amendments of Julia PITERA
Amendment 9 #
2018/2856(RSP)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the Committee on Petitions has no powers to annul court rulings and in most cases can only consider these petitions without having access to their full text, but only on the basis of the position expressed by one of the parents, namely the one addressing the petition;
Amendment 28 #
2018/2856(RSP)
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with great concern that the Committee on Petitions in the last decade has received more than 30 petitions on parental responsibility or child custody in cross-border family disputes and the role of the German Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt), and that many of them involving the alleged discrimination ofagainst the non-German parent and particularly reflect the views of the latter;
Amendment 31 #
2018/2856(RSP)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls that the Committee on Petitions held a fact-finding mission to Germany in 2011, and that this fact- finding mission found no reason to conclude that non-German parents in cross-border marriages are subject to any discrimination by the German Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt);
Amendment 34 #
2018/2856(RSP)
Paragraph 2
2. Points to the long standing work of the Committee on Petitions treating petitions on the role of the German Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt); acknowledges the detailed responses given by the competent German ministry and by a Jugendamt official, present in the relevant deliberations of the Committee on Petitions, on the functioning of the German family law system but underlines that the Committee on Petitions continuously receives petitions concerning alleged discrimination ofagainst the non- German parent;
Amendment 52 #
2018/2856(RSP)
Paragraph 5
Amendment 59 #
2018/2856(RSP)
Paragraph 9
9. Expresses its concern on cases raised by petitioners about short deadlines set by the competent authorities and about documents sent by the competent authorities not provided in the language of the petitioner; stresses the right to refuse acceptances of documents if not written or translated into a language the person understands as laid down in Article 8 (1) of Regulation No. 1393/2007; of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 November 2007 on the service in the Member States of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters;
Amendment 61 #
2018/2856(RSP)
Paragraph 10
10. Reiterates its call on the Commission and the Member States to co- finance and promote the establishment of a platforms providing assistance to non- national EU citizens in family proceeding, for example legal, linguistic, psychological, and educational assistance, to non- national EU citizens in family proceedings, such as the Polish Family Support Centre in the United Kingdom or the German Central Contact Point for Cross-border Family Conflicts;
Amendment 6 #
2018/2262(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Switzerland’s current relationship with the EU is based on a complex set of some 20 main sectoral bilateral agreements and around 100 other agreements; whereas thanks to these agreements EU and Switzerland could cooperate in the fields of internal market, internal security and asylum, transport and tax matters, even if Switzerland only partially participates in all four freedoms;
Amendment 9 #
2018/2262(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas according to Eurostat data, in 2107 Switzerland was the third biggest EU partner in terms of export of goods and the fourth biggest in terms of import of goods;
Amendment 52 #
2018/2262(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
f) suggests that Switzerland better explain to itbetter communication towards Swiss citizens on the tangible benefits they reap fromof having access to the EU internal market and a closer cooperation with the EU, would be beneficial for the closer cooperation between the EU and Switzerland;
Amendment 56 #
2018/2262(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g
Paragraph 1 – point g
g) urges that once concluded, the institutional agreement should be submitted without any delay to the European Parliament, the Member States, and the Swiss Parliament for approval;
Amendment 58 #
2018/2262(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point h
Paragraph 1 – point h
h) notes that Switzerland has welcomed well over a million immigrants from the EU; 1.4 million of the EU citizens live and work in Switzerland which represents almost 17% of the Swiss population;
Amendment 69 #
2018/2262(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point m a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point m a (new)
ma) welcomes the Alp Transit project, also known as The New Railway Link through the Alps (NRLA), as a good example of Swiss funded investment which is also beneficial for the EU internal market trade;
Amendment 73 #
2018/2262(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point o
Paragraph 1 – point o
o) welcomes Switzerland’s association to the entire Horizon 2020 programme and hopes for further cooperation in the future research programmes;
Amendment 18 #
2018/2176(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses the need to build a geographical balance and reduce disparities in middle and senior management positions;
Amendment 37 #
2018/2158(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the full implementation of the Minsk Agreement remains a precondition for closer cooperation with Russia;
Amendment 57 #
2018/2158(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas new areas of tension between the EU and Russia have arisen since 20154, including: aggressive actions taken by Russia in reaction to the pro- European “Euromaidan”; Russian intervention in Syria; large-scale military exercises (Zapad 2017); rRussian interference aimed at influencing elections and stoking tensions in European societies as well as meddling in democratic election processes; restrictions on fundamental freedoms and extensive human rights violations in Russia, including the systemic targeting of human rights defenders and civil society in Russia, discrimination against the Tatar minority in occupied Crimea, and the politically motivated persecution of Alexei Navalny and many others; cyber attacks and assassinations on European soil carried out by Russian intelligence agents using chemical weapons; the intimidation, arrest and imprisonment of foreign citizens in Russia in breach of international law, including Oleg Sentsov and many others; the organisation of illegal and illegitimate elections in the Donbas; flawednon-democratic presidential elections lacking any real choice and with restrictions on fundamental freedoms; violations of arms control agreements;
Amendment 120 #
2018/2158(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Condemns Russia’s attacks in the Sea of Azov and actions in the Kerch Strait insofar as they breach international maritime law and international commitments undertaken by Russia itself in the bilateral agreement of 2003 between Ukraine and Russia and UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provide for the freedom of navigation; points out that the sanctions against Russia should be rolled over and extended to individuals and companies that profit from illegal situation, until the Russian Federation enables Ukraine to fully restore sovereignty and territorial integrity;
Amendment 148 #
2018/2158(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that non-implementation of the Minsk Agreements demonstrates Russia's lack of good will; asks for consultatiregrets that the negotiations within the Normandy format have not brought tangible results; calls ons, to be advanced within the Normandy formatherefore, for a more effective involvement of the European Union as a whole in ending the Russian military interference on the Ukrainian soil;
Amendment 211 #
2018/2158(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Reiterates that while the EU's stance is firm, coherent and concerted with respect to EU sanctions on Russia, further coordination and coherence is required in its foreign and security policy approach to Russia; calls, in this context, on Member States to end 'golden visa/passport' programmes, which benefit Russian oligarchs often supporting the Kremlin and may undermine the effectiveness of international sanctions;
Amendment 212 #
2018/2158(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Reminds that it is important to continue strengthening sanctions towards Russia by prolonging and deepening them and extending their scope until the Russian Federation fully complies with international norms, stops aggressive behaviour towards Ukraine;
Amendment 213 #
2018/2158(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Underlines that various EU cases of money laundering, including the ING Bank, ABLV Bank, Danske Bank as well as Deutsche Bank were linked to Russian capital and/or citizens; calls for more effective scrutiny of all suspicious transaction reports and more actions by the Commission to better cooperate amongst Member States in the stricter control of capital coming from Russia and emphasises the need to provide full transparency of Russian financial flows in the EU;
Amendment 263 #
2018/2158(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Underlines that Russia and the EU will remain key economic partners in the foreseeable future, but Nord Stream 2 reinforces EU dependency on Russian gas supplies, threatens the EU internal market and is not in line withe EU integrity by not following one of the main principles of the EU energy policy, and therefore needs to be stopped; nergy Union - diversifying the countries from where gas is imported to the EU and therefore Nord Stream 2 project needs to be abandoned; underlines that no new projects should be implemented without prior legal assessment of the legal conformity to EU law and to the agreed political priorities;
Amendment 286 #
2018/2158(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Notes that civil society organizations are often too weak to have a substantial impact on the fight against corruption in Russia, while NGOs are systematically discouraged from actively engaging in any anti-corruption efforts or in promoting public integrity; underlines that it is necessary to involve civil society in independent monitoring of the effectiveness of anti-corruption policies; calls on Russia to correctly implement international anti-corruption standards formulated in i.e. UN Convention against Corruption and OECD Anti-Bribery Convention;
Amendment 292 #
2018/2158(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Stresses that Russia should stop anti-EU disinformation and propaganda in the EU and third countries; calls on the EU and Member States to allocate enough resources to effectively fight propaganda and fake news spread by Russia;
Amendment 293 #
2018/2158(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Underlines that Russia has been meddling in the democratic processes in various EU Member States and other countries, supporting anti-EU, populist parties and solutions (e.g. Brexit); calls, in this respect, the EU to find effective solutions to counter such actions by Russia, especially in the context of this year’s European elections;
Amendment 306 #
2018/2158(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for the EU institutions and Member States to make greater efforts to build resilience, particularly in the cyber and media fieldset the rules and develop solutions to protect the cyber and media fields from Russian interference; emphasises the need to create a mechanism for exchange of information in these fields between the EU (and amongst its Member States) and the Eastern Partnership countries; calls for EU-wide support for the European cyber- security industry and a stronger engagement in research; encourages, in this context, the promotion of European values in Russian by East Stratcom;
Amendment 2 #
2018/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
- having regard to the opinion No 8/2018 of the European Court of Auditors (ECA) on the Commission's proposal of 23 May 2018 on amending OLAF Regulation (EU, Euratom) No883/2013 as regards cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor's Office and the effectiveness of OLAF investigations,
Amendment 40 #
2018/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Finds it worrisome that some Member States regularly do not report a single case of fraud; invites the Commission to investigate the situation, as it considers the likelihood that those Member States are fraudless paradises to be rather low; calls on the Commission to run random on spot checks in these countries;
Amendment 41 #
2018/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Repeats its call on the Commission to report annually the amount of EU own resources recovered, following the recommendations made by OLAF, and to communicate the amounts still to be recovered;
Amendment 47 #
2018/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes the fact that the EU draft budget for 2019 includes, for the first time, appropriations for the EPPO (EUR 4.9 million)9 and insists on the importance of having appropriate staffing and budget for the EPPO, as pursuant to the EPPO regulation, the office should be fully operational by the end of 2020; _________________ 9 2019 Budgetary Procedure, draft budget estimates adopted by the Commission on 23 May 2018.
Amendment 81 #
2018/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Welcomes the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of persons reporting on breaches of Union law (COM(2018)0218); hopes that it will significantly improve the safety of whistleblowers in the Union, i.e.by protecting whistleblowers from and kind of retaliation and leading to major improvement of the EU’s financial protection and the rule of law;
Amendment 103 #
2018/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33 a. Stresses that after creation of the EPPO, OLAF will remain the sole office responsible of protecting EU financial interest in 5 EU Member States which did not decide to join the EPPO; highlights that according to the ECA’s opinion 8/2018, the Commission proposal amending OLAF regulation does not resolve the issue of low effectiveness of OLAF’s administrative investigations;
Amendment 78 #
2018/2098(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the vital and central role played by human rights defenders and NGOs in promoting and supporting the application of the fundamental rights enshrined in the core international human rights treaties, including by carrying out educational programmes on human rights protection and raising awareness of the activities of international organisations that work to tackle human rights violations; underlines, in this respect, the importance of the EU’s capacity to maintain support, through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR), for human rights defenders and NGOs in situations where they are most at risk, while devoting special attention to the ProtectDefenders.eu mechanism;
Amendment 140 #
2018/2098(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Denounces the attacks on the freedom of the media, and deplores the fact that media freedom had never been so threatened as it was in 2017; reiterates the importance of freedom of expression, both online and offline, as it fosters a culture of pluralism, and is key to the proper functioning of democratic communities; strongly condemns the threats, intimidation and attacks against journalists, independent media, bloggers and whistle-blowers, as well as hate speech, defamation laws and incitements to violence, as they constitute a threat to the rule of law and the values embodied by human rights; believes that the free expression of legitimate and peaceful grievances must be allowed;
Amendment 185 #
2018/2098(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Considers it deeply regrettable that torture, inhuman or degrading treatment and the death penalty continue to be applied in many countries all over the world, and calls for the EU to intensify its efforts to eradicate these practices; welcomes the formal launch of the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade on 18 September 2017 and the establishment of the EU Anti-Torture Coordination Group, which is tasked with following its implementation; welcomes, in this regard, updates to EU legislation on trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other treatment or punishment; notes that in 2017, the number of executions carried out worldwide fell by 4 % compared with the previous year; calls on countries that have not already done so to establish an immediate moratorium on the death penalty as a step towards its abolition, and calls for compensation to be paid for the moral damage caused to victims as a result of inhuman treatment;
Amendment 386 #
2018/2098(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Takes the view that sport can play a positive role in the promotion of human rights; regrets the fact, however, that there is a specific correlation between certain human rights abuses and major sporting events in host or candidate countries, abuses such as evictions, the silencing of civil society and human rights defenders and the exploitation of workers for the construction of large sporting facilities; calls on international and domestic sporting bodies and organisations and the host countries of major events to commit to good governance and human rights practices, and to better protect the rights of the physical workers used to build sports infrastructure and prevent the illegal employment of people from other countries;
Amendment 41 #
2018/2018(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point f
Paragraph 1 – point f
f) to contribute to the strengthening of multilateralism and international cooperation in order to promote international security and tackle global challenges effectively; to enhance coordination on the positions taken by both sides in international organisations and fora; to provide a substantial contribution to the international system and respect for international law, including the respect for sovereign equality of states, the quest for peace, the stability of borders and territorial integrity;
Amendment 49 #
2018/2018(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point j
Paragraph 1 – point j
j) to allow for increased cooperation in the fight against terrorism, organised crime and cybercrime, the prevention of radicalisation and cross-border crime; to take actions in the context of the global fight against terrorism by stepping up mechanisms, measures and bodies for global and regional cooperation in accordance with international law and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations;
Amendment 1 #
2018/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
– having regard to the Eighteenth report of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) on the year 2017,
Amendment 2 #
2018/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5
Citation 5
– having regard to the Commission report of ...3 September 2018 entitled ‘Protection of the European Union’s financial interests – Fight against fraud – 2017 Annual Report’ (COM(2018)...553) and the accompanying staff working documents (SWD(2018)...381-386),
Amendment 3 #
2018/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9
Citation 9
Amendment 4 #
2018/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12
Citation 12
Amendment 6 #
2018/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas Directive 2014/42/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on the freezing and confiscation of instrumentalities and proceeds of crime in the European Union7 introduces minimum EU standards on the freezing of property with a view to possible subsequent confiscation and on the confiscation of property in criminal matters; _________________ 7 OJ L 127, 29.4.2014, p. 39.
Amendment 7 #
2018/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the Commission proposal 2016/0412 (COD) of 21 December 2016 for a regulation on the mutual recognition of freezing and confiscation orders introduces standardised means of cooperation among Member States;
Amendment 8 #
2018/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
Amendment 9 #
2018/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 on the f 12 October 2017 implementing enhanced cooperation on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), and particularly Article 104 thereof, envisages means of cooperation with third countries;
Amendment 10 #
2018/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas Article 3(4) of the Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism (CETS No 198) requires its States Parties to adopt measures which would introduce the reversed burden of proofstates that in respect of a serious offences, therefore requiring the or offences as defined by national law, an offender to demonstrates the origin of the alleged proceeds; whereas States Parties are, however, required to implement this provision only to the extent to which i or other property liable to confiscation to the extent that such a requirement is consistent with the principles of theirits domestic legal systemsaw;
Amendment 11 #
2018/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas at regional and global level several treatieconventions and mechanisms in relation to confiscation and asset recovery have been developed by the UN and UN-affiliated bodies, but for varCouncil of Europe i.e. the United Nations Convention against Corruption of 31 October 2003, the United Natiouns reasons, including the absence of political will to cooperate,Convention against Transnational Organized Crime of 15 November 2000, the Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism of 16 May 2005, the Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime of 8 November 1990, but for various reasons they do not always allow an effective and timely recovery of stolen assets;
Amendment 12 #
2018/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Amendment 13 #
2018/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas in accordance with Article 14 of the Parliament and the Council Regulation 883/2013, the European Anti- Fraud Office hascan entered into some bilateral agreements that allow investigations to be carried out in certain third countries Administrative Cooperation Arrangements with competent authorities in third countries, following prior coordination with the competent Commission services and the European External Action Service;
Amendment 17 #
2018/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that funds from third countries may also be fraudulently transferred to the EU; underlines that the results of the pEU funded Preparatory aAction implemented by UNICRI on ‘Support to EU Neighbourfor Supporting Arab Spring countries to Iimplement Aasset Rrecovery’ carried out by UNICRI should lead to a broader and permanent EU programme to implement asset recovery;
Amendment 22 #
2018/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Strongly encourages the EU to become part of thCalls for the EU to advance its application for membership to the Council of Europe Group of States Aagainst Corruption (GRECO) as soon as possible, and to keep the Parliament up to date;
Amendment 28 #
2018/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Highlights the need to create mechanisms allowing freezing of assets in third countries when they have been acquired by breaching EU law, inspired by the existing EU directives on mutual recognition and recoveryUnderlines that the Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism of 16 May 2005 and the Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime of 8 November 1990 constitute important instruments facilitating cooperation with third countries related to assets freezing and asset recovery; welcomes successfully concluded negotiations on the proposal for a regulation on the mutual recognition of freezing and confiscation orders; notes that its main elements could be a useful basis to cooperate with third countries in the context of international conventions and bilateral agreements concluded by the European Union;
Amendment 30 #
2018/2006(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Regrets the fact that not all EU Member States have agreed to be part of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO); stresses the importance of the EPPO becoming the key element of any future mechanism of recovery in third countries, requiring that it be recognised for that purpose as a competent judicial authority, in accordance with Article 104 of the EPPO Regulation, in existing and future treatieagreements on mutual legal assistance and asset recovery, whether bilateral or multilateralin particular Council of Europe and UN Conventions;
Amendment 964 #
2018/0243(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 25 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. By way of further derogation from Article 209(3) of the Financial Regulation, repayments and revenues generated by investments under the existing endowments of the ACP Investment Facility shall be considered as revolving assets intended for investment in the sectors and regions covered by the ACP Investment Facility and shall continue to be managed by the EIB. If at any point the Commission or the Council propose for all such assets and liabilities to be transferred to the Union in accordance with [Article 25 of] the Financial Regulation, the legislative acts concerning the future functioning of the ACP Investment Facility shall be prepared in close dialogue with the EIB, in particular taking into account the EIB’s contractual obligations to lend that might be existing at that time.
Amendment 966 #
2018/0243(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph –1 (new)
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph –1 (new)
-1 The EIB Group shall, under chapter IV of this regulation, inter alia: a. indirectly manage and implement the ELM+; b. provide all strategic banking and risk management competences required by the Commission, including those related to the operational management of the EFSD+ Guarantee; c. provide a written opinion on banking- related matters to accompany each Commission proposal for investment windows under the EFSD+ guarantee; d. be an eligible counterpart for managing and implementing activities under EFSD+. Notwithstanding the above, the Commission and the EIB Group may agree on any other role of the EIB Group as part of the implementation of the External Investment Framework in line with the Statute of the relevant EIB Group entity and role under the Treaty.
Amendment 969 #
2018/0243(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The financial envelope referred to in Article (6)(2)(a) shall finance the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), the External Lending Mandate of the EIB, and the External Action Guarantee.
Amendment 971 #
2018/0243(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
The ELM+ is established as a budgetary guarantee managed indirectly by the EIB Group, providing commercial and political risk cover for financially sustainable projects in the public sector and political risk cover for financially sustainable projects in the private sector, each worldwide outside the Union.
Amendment 10 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas, in this context, the major achievements in EU-Ukraine relations such as the entry into force of the visa- free regime on 11 June 2017 and the Association Agreement on 1 September 2017 are to be welcomed;
Amendment 11 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas since the signature of the Association Agreement in 2014 Ukraine has made more pro-European reforms than during all previous years of Ukrainian independence;
Amendment 14 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas Ukraine deserves particular praise for reforms in the areas of energy, health, pensions, education and decentralisation, decentralisation, public procurement, as well as its banking sector and the macro- economic stabilisation of the country;
Amendment 19 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas while condemning the continued Russian aggression in Eastern Ukraine and Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea, its occupation of some regions of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, and Russia’s illegal occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, all of which breach international law and Russia's commitments and obligations within its membership in international organizations, it is to be recognised that Ukraine is facing challenges of a transformational nature in an environment of warfare and destabilisation attempts;
Amendment 26 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the European Parliament shares the official position of the European Union reiterating its strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders;
Amendment 31 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas in the context of the Russia-led aggression on Ukraine EU restrictive measures against the Russian Federation were introduced and regularly extended; whereas a stronger EU strategy and engagement in the conflict resolution is to be expected through e.g. an appointment of an EU special envoy for the conflict in Eastern Ukraine and Crimea; whereas the sanctions against Russia should be rolled over and broadened until the Russian Federation enables Ukraine to fully restore sovereignty and territorial integrity;
Amendment 36 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas the European Parliament and the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee (PAC) have repeatedly called for an international format of negotiations on de-occupation of the Crimean peninsula, with the participation of the EU;
Amendment 46 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses the need to improve the internal decision-making in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to streamline and prioritise the adoption of draft laws related to the implementation of the Association Agreement; believes in this regard that the role of the Committee for European Integration should be enhanced and should be able to block legislation which contradicts the commitments taken under the Association Agreement; stresses that these reforms should be done before the end of the current legislature;
Amendment 51 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises the urgent need for practical technical, expert and financial assistance, focused on capacity-building of the Verkhovna Rada; welcomes the hitherto work of the European Parliament on capacity building as well as the Jean Monnet Dialogue process;
Amendment 52 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points to persistent ‘silo mentalities’ within certain ministries, which are preventing a coherent position on European integration matters; calls, in this respect, for more cooperation within the Government and in the Verkhovna Rada on EU-related issues;
Amendment 60 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Underlines that the Association Agreement does not constitute the final goal of EU-Ukraine relations and welcomes Ukraine's European aspirations; supports the development of new forms of enhanced cooperation such as Ukraine's gradual approximation with the EU's Customs Union, Energy Union and Digital Single Market;
Amendment 61 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Points out that Ukraine has a European perspective pursuant to Article 49 TEU, and may apply to become a member of the European Union provided that it adheres to the Copenhagen criteria and the principles of democracy, respects fundamental freedoms and human and minority rights, and upholds the rule of law;
Amendment 63 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the very intense dialogue carried out between the EU and Ukraine at many different levels, not least between the European Parliament and the Rada through e.g. the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee, including on many controversial issues;
Amendment 104 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Remains deeply concerned at the growing number of illegally detained Ukrainian citizens from the temporarily occupied territories who have been arrested, sentenced and imprisoned by the Russian authorities, including Oleh Sentsov; reiterates its demand to Russia for their immediate and unconditional release;
Amendment 140 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Believes that consolidating Ukraine’s economy and addressing pressing social challenges, such as unemployment, underemployment, grey economy, etc. will require a significant increase of investments; calls the Ukrainian authorities to undertake the necessary reforms to attract new investments, FDIs in particular; in this context, welcomes the recently agreed Reform Contract for Investment and calls the Commission to step up its approach to reduce risks for the private sector to invest in Ukraine; invite Member States to join forces with the Commission in this respect and to promote Ukraine as an investment destination among their business communities;
Amendment 142 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b. Notes Ukraine's commitment, under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, to combat and prevent illicit trade; Calls on Ukraine to take steps in order to criminalize illicit trade;
Amendment 145 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Praises Ukraine for good cooperation in the energy sector, not least the progress it has made in energy efficiency; reiterates the strategic status of EU-Ukraine energy partnership; points out the need for continued reforms, in particular to complete reform of the gas and electricity market, and to end existing monopolies, which will bring long-term economic benefits to industry and consumers;
Amendment 150 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Praises Ukraine for good cooperation in the energy sector, not least the progress it has made in energy efficiency; points out the need for continued reforms, in particular to complete reform of the gas and electricity market, and to end existing monopolies, which will bring long-term economic benefits to industry and consumers; condemns the construction of Nord Stream-2 project as it is a political project posing a threat to European security;
Amendment 163 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Believes and emphasises that provided it commits to implementing the AA and to respecting the principles of democracy, rule of law and fundamental freedoms, Ukraine (as other associated states - Moldova and Georgia) should be granted specific support mechanisms by the EU, including in the framework of the post-2020 Multi-Annual Financial Framework - in line with the "Eastern Partnership Plus" model, advocated by the European Parliament;
Amendment 165 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Highlights the importance of proactive communication to Ukrainian citizens about the concrete benefits and goals of the Eastern Partnership;
Amendment 166 #
2017/2283(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26b. Emphasises the importance of fighting Russia's fake news and propaganda, including its anticipated expected meddling in elections in Ukraine as well as throughout the European Union; calls for Ukraine-EU cooperation on this issue to be enhanced;
Amendment 6 #
2017/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
– having regard to the report on “The State of Corruption: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine” of the Transparency International from 2015,
Amendment 52 #
2017/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 p (new)
Paragraph 3 p (new)
3p. Emphasises the importance of proactive communication to Georgian citizens about the concrete benefits and goals of the Eastern Partnership as well as the need to fight disinformation through fact-based, accessible and high quality information in all languages of the partner country;
Amendment 99 #
2017/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Recalls that according to international law, Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali / South Ossetia region are an integral part of Georgia and expresses full solidarity with the authorities in Tbilisi in relation to its policy on non-recognition of the separatist regimes of these regions; points out that currently only five countries in the world recognise the independence of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali / South Ossetia: Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru and Syria; therefore, demands that the Russian Federation withdraw its decision on the recognition of the so-called independence of these Georgian territories;
Amendment 103 #
2017/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Takes note of the current Georgia's lawsuit against Russia submitted to the European Court of Human Rights, which concerns the use of coercive measures against people living in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, their illegal detentions, attacks and murders that have become common practice after Russian military operations in Georgia in August 2008;
Amendment 108 #
2017/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 f (new)
Paragraph 8 f (new)
8f. Welcomes the adoption by the Georgian Parliament of a resolution establishing a blacklist of people banned from entering Georgia, who have been accused and convicted of murder, kidnapping, torture or inhuman treatment (Otkhozoria -Tatunashvili list); urges the Member States and the Council to impose national and EU sanctions on those who appear;
Amendment 139 #
2017/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Points out that, according to the Transparency International report from 2015 entitles “The State of Corruption: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine”, the judiciary in Georgia suffers from limited independence from the executive, which has had a significant impact on its ability to play an active role in the fight against corruption; welcomes the fact that the Georgian judiciary is showing signs of greater impartiality in its decision making and is more active in holding the government to account;
Amendment 152 #
2017/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on the Georgian authorities, in the case of Afghan Mukhtarli, an Azerbaijan investigative journalist who was abducted in Tbilisi and arbitrarily detained in Baku, to take all necessary measures against Azerbaijan in order to allow him to return to his family; underlines that such detention has been recognised by the EU as a serious violation of human rights;
Amendment 173 #
2017/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Georgian authorities to take further steps to protect womenpeople against all forms of violence and sexual harassment and to increase their participatio number of women in politics and the labour market;
Amendment 188 #
2017/2282(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recalls the importance of free and independent mass media and a pluralistic media environment as key democratic principles; notes with satisfaction the improvements in Georgia as reflected in the 2018 World Press Freedom Index established by Reporters Without Borders; welcomes the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights dated 2nd March 2017 suspending execution of the judgement of the Georgian Supreme Court regarding property rights to the largest and most popular TV channel Rustavi 2 until it considers the case;
Amendment 3 #
2017/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
- having regard to the report on “The State of Corruption: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine” of the Transparency International from 2015,
Amendment 18 #
2017/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines the importance of the Association Agreement / Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (AA/DCFTA), and welcomes the progress achieved by Moldova to date; insists, however, that full implementation of the AA/DCFTA must be a top priority, enabling a further deepening of the country’s relations with the EU, for the benefit of all Moldovan citizens, as well as unlocking additional perspectives in line with the Eastern Partnership Plus (EaP+) policy advocated by Parliament; points out that pursuant to Article 49 of the TEU and in line with the Rome Declaration of 25March 2017, any European state may apply to become a member of the EU, provided that it respects the Copenhagen criteria;
Amendment 23 #
2017/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Praises the courageous agents for positive change in Moldova, notably those leading the efforts to reform the banking sector following the 2014 bank fraud of USD 1 billion (equal to 12% of GDP); calls on Moldovan politicians and the judiciary as a whole to join in with such efforts to reform the country and fight corruption in line with the AA commitments;
Amendment 102 #
2017/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Points out that according to the Transparency International report from 2015 entitled “The State of Corruption: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine”, the judiciary in Moldova suffers from limited independence from the executive, which has had a significant impact on its ability to play an active role in the fight against corruption; underlines with concern that in Moldova judicial reforms are lagging behind and are perceived to be highly politicised;
Amendment 124 #
2017/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 f (new)
Paragraph 11 f (new)
11f. Deplores the adoption of the fiscal reform package by Moldavian authorities, which introduces a tax amnesty legalising assets acquired illicitly in exchange for a 3 per cent fee on the declared asset; highlights that this decision has already been criticised by the EU, the United States, the IMF and the World Bank as an act which legalizes theft and corruption, damages the business environment and undermines the Moldovan government’s commitment to fighting corruption;
Amendment 125 #
2017/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 g (new)
Paragraph 11 g (new)
11g. Urges the Moldovan authorities to urgently abolish the fiscal amnesty law;
Amendment 133 #
2017/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Moldovan authorities to respect international principles and uphold best practices that guarantee an enabling environment for civil society; underlines the essential role of civil society in drawing up, scrutinising and monitoring the implementation of reforms related to the Eastern Partnership as well as in promoting the transparency and accountability of public institutions; opposes all measures seeking to limit legitimate activities of civil society and expects, in particular, that no future legislation will curb funding for Moldovan NGOs;
Amendment 178 #
2017/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Emphasizes the importance of proactive communication to Moldovan citizens about the concrete benefits and goals of the Eastern Partnership;
Amendment 179 #
2017/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Highlights the need to fight Russian disinformation through fact-based and accessible quality information in all languages of the partner country;
Amendment 85 #
2017/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly common and sophisticated, and whereas NATO is stepping up its collective defence activity and NATO leaders need the necessary tools and powers to defend against advanced cyber-attacks and to operate across the whole cyber spectrum; whereas the EU and NATO can complement each other’s efforts to protect critical government, defence and other information infrastructure;
Amendment 182 #
2017/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 11 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Stresses that allied countries must constantly adapt to new situations, as unusual threats are arising on a regular basis due to the activities of non-state actors, such as the so-called Islamic State, and of state actors such as Russia; points out that resilience is, and will continue to be, a key element of collective defence, which is why the EU and NATO should continue to focus on defending against attacks on their cohesion, independence and security, in particular in the face of the serious risk that Russia will resort to the use of chemical weapons;
Amendment 250 #
2017/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Considers it important to ensure the complementarity of maritime capacity- building efforts in order to safeguard maritime security more efficiently; welcomes increased EU-NATO operational cooperation and coordination in the Mediterranean theatre, including the sharing of maritime information and situational awareness, including the sharing of situational awareness based on the experience gained in the Mediterranean and the Horn of Africa, thus seeking further opportunities for mutual logistical support and information exchange between the staff of both organisations concerning operational activities, including activities relating to irregular migration;
Amendment 320 #
2017/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Considers that the next EU-NATO Joint Declaration, to be adopted at the upcoming NATO summit in July 2018, should initiate the process of reviewing the ‘Berlin Plus’ arrangements; considers in this context that PESCO initiatives should not be seen as attempts to strategically emancipate Europe from NATO, but should continue to strengthen the European pillar of this Alliance, making the capabilities developed under PESCO should be available for NATO operations and; points out that PESCO projects should be opened to non-EU members of NATO, such as Norway and, in view of Brexit, the UK; stresses that the review of ‘Berlin Plus’ should provide the framework of cooperation not only for crisis management but also for ensuring security together on the continent;
Amendment 3 #
2017/2274(INI)
– having regard to the over 60 sectoral dialogues between China and the EUthe EU and China,
Amendment 6 #
Amendment 12 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital –A (new)
Recital –A (new)
-A. whereas the EU is China’s biggest trading partner, while China is the EU’s second largest trading partner;
Amendment 13 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital –A a (new)
Recital –A a (new)
-Aa. whereas the EU expects its relationship with China to be one of reciprocal benefit in both political and economic terms; whereas the EU also expects China to assume responsibilities in line with its global impact and to support the rules-based international order from which it, too, benefits;
Amendment 17 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the 19th EU-China Summit in 2017 advanced a bilateral strategic partnership, which has a global impact, and highlighted joint commitments to addressing global challenges, such as climate change, common security threats and the promotingon of multilateralism, peacekeeping and peace-building;
Amendment 24 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, largely unnoticed in Europe, China has been rapidly and systematically increasing its influence through strategic infrastructure investments and transport links and influencing European political and economic decision- makers, media, academics and the wider public, by building up ‘networks’ of supportive European individuals across societies;
Amendment 34 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the so called 16+1 format between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEE) was established in 2012 in the aftermath of the financial crisis and as part of Chinese sub-regional diplomacy; whereas Chinese investmenta plans to commit substantial funds in those countries are wide-ranging;
Amendment 43 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including 'China's Arctic Policy', published on 26 January 2018, is the most ambitious foreign policy initiative the country has ever adopted; whereas at the 16+1 summit held in late December 2017, China pledged to invest USD 3 billion in infrastructure in the 16 CEE countries as part of the BRI; whereas the Chinese infrastructure projects will create large debts for the European governments to Chinese state-owned banks and few jobs in Europe, and are often awarded without transparent tenders;
Amendment 44 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the most ambitious foreign policy initiative the country has ever adopted; whereas at the 16+1 summit held in late December 2017, China pledged to invest USD 3 billion in infrastructure in the 16 CEE countries as part of the BRI; whereas the Chinese infrastructure projects willpose risk of createing large debts for the European governments to Chinese state- owned banks andoffering loans on non- transparent terms and create few jobs in Europe, and are often awarded without transparent tenders;
Amendment 49 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas China introduced term limits in the 1980s in response to the regime of Mao Zedong; whereas on 11 March 2018 the National People’s Congress (NPC) voted with an overwhelming majority in favour of abrogating the limit of two consecutive terms for the posts of President and Vice- President of the People's Republic of China; whereas the abolition of the constitutional limit of two terms is a move to cement the process of structural change;
Amendment 75 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the new regulations on religious affairs that took effect on 1 February 2018 are more restrictive towards religious groups and activities; whereas the new rules threaten persons associated with religious communities that do not have legal status in the country with the imposition of fines when they travel abroad for the purpose of religious education, in the broad sense, and even more so for pilgrimages, which are subject to fines amounting to a multiple of the lowest salary; whereas religious freedom has reached a new low since the start of the economic reforms and the opening up of China in the late 1970s;
Amendment 76 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the new regulations on religious affairs that took effect on 1 February 2018 are more restrictive towards religious groups and activities; whereas religious freedom has reached a new low since the start of the economic reforms and the opening up of China in the late 1970s; whereas Christians have been facing increasing repression in China with both underground and state sanctioned churches being targeted through the harassment and detention of believers, the demolition of churches and the crackdown on Christian gatherings;
Amendment 80 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas the situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, home to ten million Muslim Uygurs, has rapidly deteriorated in recent years, in particular under the rule and tightened security measures of the current president with the establishment of an extrajudicial detention program holding tens of thousands of people who are forced to receive political 're-education', as well as the development of a sophisticated network of invasive digital surveillance, mass deployment of police, strict restrictions on religious practices, the Uyghur language and customs;
Amendment 83 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas no progress has been made in the resolution of the Tibetan crisis in the last few years as the last round of peace talks took place in 2010; whereas the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Tibet has led to an increase of self-immolation cases with a total number of 156 since 2009;
Amendment 87 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)
Recital J b (new)
Jb. whereas the Chinese authorities security's approach to Tibet is impacting negatively the human rights of Tibetans; whereas the surveillance and control measures have been increasing over the past few years as well as arbitrary detentions, acts of torture and ill- treatment;
Amendment 102 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reasserts that the EU-China Strategic Partnership is one of the most important partnerships for the EU and that it still has much more potential for being deepened furtherthere is still a great deal more potential for deepening this relationship and for further cooperation in the international arena;
Amendment 110 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the High Representative's and European Commission's Joint Communication "Elements for a new EU Strategy on China", together with the Council conclusions of 18 July 2016, provide the policy framework for EU engagement with China over the coming years;
Amendment 115 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Underlines that the Council has concluded that in conducting their relations with China, Member States, the High Representative and the Commission will co-operate to ensure consistency with EU law, rules and policies, and that the overall outcome is beneficial for the EU as a whole;
Amendment 117 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Emphasises that cooperation with China is crucial to address global and regional challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, non- proliferation, counter-terrorism, energy security, cyber-security, migration, combatting the destruction of cultural heritage sites and the looting and trafficking of illegal antiquities, deforestation and wildlife trafficking;
Amendment 118 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Stresses that the EU’s engagement with China should be principled, practical and pragmatic, staying true to its interests and values, and based on a positive agenda of partnership coupled with the constructive management of differences;
Amendment 119 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Paragraph 1 e (new)
1e. Stresses that reciprocity, a level playing field and fair competition across all areas of cooperation should be strengthened;
Amendment 127 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the EU Member States to urgently and decisively step up collaboration and unity on their China policies, with a view to speaking with one voice including in the UN fora, and strongly suggests taking advantage of Europe’s much greater collective bargaining power with China, and that Europe defends its free democracies so as to better face up to China’s systematic efforts to influence its politicians and civil society, in order to shape an opinion more conducive to China’s strategic interests; is concerned that China is also attempting to influence educational and academic institutions and their curricula; proposes that the EU and the Member States foster high-quality European think tanks on China in order to ensure the availability of independent expert advice for strategic orientations and decision-making;
Amendment 130 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that the Council has underlined that the promotion of human rights and the rule of law will continue to be a core part of the EU's engagement with China; expresses its concern about the ongoing detention and harassment of human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists and labour rights defenders and their families; underlines that the EU at the 35th round of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue emphasised the deteriorating situation for civil and political rights in China, including restrictions on the freedom of expression; calls on China to act upon the issues raised at the Human Right Dialogue, to fulfil its international obligations and to respect its own constitutional safeguards to upholding the rule of law;
Amendment 139 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Welcomes the outcome of the 4th EU-China High Level People-to-People Dialogue that took place on 13-14 November 2017 in Shanghai; stresses that the High Level People-to-People Dialogue should help build mutual trust and consolidate intercultural understanding between EU and China;
Amendment 150 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Hopes that this sub-regional cooperation framework will be kept as transparent as possible by inviting representatives of the EU institutions to 16+1 meetings and keeping the EU institutions fully briefed about its activities; calls on its participants to envisage further measures dissipating concerns regarding the impact of this format on EU coherence;
Amendment 156 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 166 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes the Chinese interest in strategic infrastructure investments in Europe; underlines the need for cooperation with China on its "One Belt, One Road" initiative on the basis of China fulfilling its declared aim of making it an open platform which adheres to market rules, EU and international requirements and standards, and complements EU policies and projects, in order to deliver benefits for all parties concerned and in all the countries along the planned routes;
Amendment 169 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Welcomes the set-up of the EU- China connectivity platform, established in 2015, to create new synergies between the EU trans-European transport network (TEN-T) projects and China's “One Belt One Road” initiative; notes with satisfaction that several infrastructure projects have been identified which should be implemented on the basis of key principles such as promotion of economic-social and environmentally sustainable projects, geographic balance between regions, level-playing field among investors and project promoters as well as transparency in the project list;
Amendment 171 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Calls on Member States acting with China bilaterally or within sub- regional cooperation networks, to ensure that the improvement of infrastructure links between the EU and Asia are in line with EU policies and legislation;
Amendment 176 #
2017/2274(INI)
5. Notes with concern that the NPC during its last session cemented president Xi Jinping’s position of power and increased the control of the party organs over the state apparatus;
Amendment 181 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that the creation of the National Supervisory Commission, whose legal status is equal to that of the courts and the public prosecutor, is probably the most drastic step towards morphing party and state functions, as it will merge the leadership and functions of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Internal Central Disciplinary Commission with those of supervisory bodies at state level; is concerned about the far-ranging consequences of this merger for a large number of people, as it means that the CCP’s anti-corruption campaign can be expanded to prosecute not just party members but all state officials, and all suspects under investigation will be subject to the new commission’s legal proceedings, without having access to civil lawyers and civil courts;
Amendment 188 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Observes that while the Social Credit System is still under construction, blacklists of non-compliant individuals and legal entities, as well as ‘red lists’ for outstanding individuals and companies, form the core of the current stage of implementation, whereby the main focus is on punishing offenders on the blacklists and rewarding those on the red lists; notes that in early 2017, China's Supreme People's Court stated that more than six million Chinese nationals had been banned from flying as a result of social misdeeds; firmly rejects the public naming and shaming of blacklisted persons as an integral part of the Social Credit System; underlines the importance and necessity of a dialogue between the EU Institutions and their Chinese counterparts on all serious societal consequences of the present central planning and local experiments with the Social Credit System;
Amendment 204 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Notes with grave concern the shrinking space for civil society, academics, human rights defenders, lawyers and bloggers in China; firmly condemns the harassment, arbitrary arrest and prosecution of human rights defenders without due process including foreign nationals both in mainland China and abroad; regrets the restrictions imposed on NGOs that are inconsistent with the right to freedom of association, opinion and expression;
Amendment 225 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Urges China to review its policies in Tibet, which far from creating stability are only heightening tensions, as highlighted by the over 150 self- immolations in Tibet since 2009; calls for the resumption of a constructive dialogue based on the Middle Way Approach between the Chinese Government and the representatives of the Dalai Lama namely the Central Tibetan Administration; urges China to give EU diplomats, journalists and citizens unfettered access to Tibet in reciprocity to the free and open access to the entire territories of the EU Member States that Chinese travellers enjoy; calls on the Chinese authorities to allow Tibetans in Tibet to travel freely and to respect their right to freedom of movement; urges the EU Institutions to take the issue of access to Tibet into serious consideration in the discussions on the EU-China visa facilitation agreement;
Amendment 230 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Chinese government to investigate the ongoing cases of enforced disappearances, torture and ill- treatment of Tibetans and to respect their rights to freedom of association, peaceful assembly, freedom of religion and belief in line with international human rights standards; urges the Chinese authorities to allow independent observers including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to access Tibet;
Amendment 231 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Welcomes China’s aim to develop into a sustainable economy; stresses that the EU can support China’s economic reform programme with its know-how; underlines that China is a key partner for the EU with regard to tackling climate change and global environmental challenges; aims to work together with China to speed up the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement;
Amendment 239 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Takes positive note that the EU policy on China forms part of a rounded policy approach to the Asia-Pacific region, taking full advantage, and full account of the EU's close relations with partners such as the United States, Japan, Korea, the ASEAN countries, Australia and New Zealand;
Amendment 242 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Reminds China of its international obligations and responsibilities in terms of contributing to peace and global security, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council;
Amendment 254 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Stresses that tensions in the South China Sea constitute a threat and a risk to security and stability in the region; underlines that the European Union and its Member States, as contracting parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), acknowledge the Award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal; reiterates its call on China to accept the Tribunal’s award; underlines that the EU would like to maintain the international order based upon the rule of law; reminds at the same time that the EU does not take any position on sovereignty aspects relating to claims;
Amendment 257 #
2017/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Welcomes China’s contributions to United Nations and African Union peacekeeping; remarks that the EU aims to reinforce its engagement with China on foreign policy and security issues by encouraging China to mobilise its diplomatic and other resources to support international security, and to contribute to peace and security in the EU’s neighbourhood based on international law; notes that the cooperation with China in the field of export control, disarmament, non-proliferation issues and the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula is essential to ensure stability in the East Asia region;
Amendment 60 #
2017/2271(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that the EU-US relationship is the fundamental guarantor for global stability and has been the cornerstone of our efforts to ensure peace and stability for our societies since the end of the Second World War, and stronger multilateral economic cooperation and trade; believes that the ‘America first’ policy will harm the interests of both the EU and the US; stresses that while protectionism from any side should be avoided in the interest of both the EU and US, welcomes the counter-measures undertaken by the European Union after the unilateral announcement by the US of tariffs on steel and aluminium producers from the EU;
Amendment 92 #
2017/2271(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls the high potential and the strategic interest of this partnership for both the US and the EU in aiming to achieve mutual prosperity and security and to strengthen a rules-based global order; calls for the fostering of our dialogue and engagement on all aspects of this partnership; highlights that our decisions and actions have an impact on the global economy and security architecture, and the interests of both partners; welcomes in this context the presence of US troops on the EU territory, which - on the basis of cooperation with local military - guarantee strengthened stability and security for the region;
Amendment 169 #
2017/2271(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Takes note that other major world powers, such as Russia and China, have robust political and economic strategies, many of which may go against our values (by e.g. undermining and threatening Eastern European states' democratic choices and reforms), and it is therefore essential to foster the EU-US partnership, to continue to promote our common values, including compliance with international law, and to set up a joint sanctions policy;
Amendment 196 #
2017/2271(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses the importance of cooperation, coordination and synergy effects in the field of security and defence and insists that burden sharing should not be solely focused on the target of spending 2 % of GDP on defence; states that NATO is still crucial for the collective defence of its European and non-European Members;
Amendment 233 #
2017/2271(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Calls on the EU and US to jointly and effectively fight fake news and disinformation, which undermine democratic choices of our societies and question their principles as well as impair transatlantic security;
Amendment 242 #
2017/2271(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Emphasises that an important part of strengthening EU-US counter-terrorism efforts includes the protection of critical infrastructure as well as a comprehensive approach to fighting terrorism, also via coordination in regional and global forums;
Amendment 246 #
2017/2271(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Recalls that enhanced cooperation regarding the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing is crucial; calls on, in this respect, the EU and US to cooperate within the OECD in the fight against tax evasion and aggressive tax planning by setting international rules and norms to tackle this global problem;
Amendment 281 #
2017/2271(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls on the EU and the US to play a more active and effective role in the resolution of the conflict on Ukraine’s territory and to support all efforts for a lasting peaceful solution which respects the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, while also backing all initiatives and measures aimed at facilitating further economic development of the country;
Amendment 288 #
2017/2271(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls on the EU and US to effectively react to Russia's continuous aggression on Ukraine including by strongly cooperating in the sphere of introducing new sanctions and prolonging current ones against the people and institutions bearing responsibility for the annexation of Crimea and the Russian aggression on Ukraine;
Amendment 7 #
2017/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the current VAT system, in particular as applied to cross-border transactions, is vulnerable to fraud and tax- avoidanceevasion strategies, in which Missing Trader Intra-Community (MTIC) fraud, commonly called carousel fraud, alone was responsible for VAT revenue losses of approximately EUR 50 billion in 2015;
Amendment 8 #
2017/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas corruption affects all Member States, particularly in form of organised crime and burdens not only the EU economy, but undermines democracy and rule of law all across Europe; however the exact figures are unknown as Commission has decided not to publish data in the report on the EU's anti- corruption policy;
Amendment 10 #
2017/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas until creation of European Public Prosecutor Office and reform of Eurojust, OLAF is the sole European body specialized in protection of the Union’s financial interest; emphasizes that in several Member States even after the setting up of EPPO it will remain the only body to protect the EU’s financial interest;
Amendment 14 #
2017/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Deplores the fact that not all Member States have adopted national anti- fraud strategies; calls on the Commission to actively get engaged to help Member States creating their national anti-fraud strategies particularly because they manage approximately 74% of the EU budget;
Amendment 15 #
2017/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls again on the Commission to establishNotes that the European Commission has put in place an uniform system for the collection of comparable data on irregularities and cases of fraud from the Member States in order to standardise the reporting process and ensure the qualthrough adoption in 2015 of four Delegated and four Implementing Regulations on the reporting of irregularities harmonizing the areas of shared management ( EU 2015/1970, 2015/1971,2015/1972, 2015/1973,2015/1974, 2015/1975, 2015/1976, 2015/1977) as well as introducing in 2016 a common module in the Irregularity Mand comparability of the data providedagement System for the transmission of irregularities;
Amendment 22 #
2017/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the decision of 20 Member States to proceed with the establishment of a European Public Prosecutor’s Office through enhanced cooperation and looks forward to fruitful; recalls that cooperation between OLAF and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office has to be based on avoidance of duplications of efforts, efficient exchange of information and OLAF’s support in the EPPO’s activities; regrets however that not all EU Member States have been willing to participate in this initiative, and underlines the importance of maintaining equivalent fraud detection efficiency rates in all Member States;
Amendment 24 #
2017/2216(INI)
8. Welcomes the decision of 20 Member States to proceed with the establishment of a European Public Prosecutor’s Office through enhanced cooperation and looks forward to fruitful cooperation between OLAF and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office; regrets however that not all EU Member States have been willing to participate in this initiative, and underlines the importance of maintaining equivalent fraud detection efficiency rates in all Member States; calls on the Commission to incentivise the so far reluctant Member States to join to the EPPO;
Amendment 32 #
2017/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission to report annually the amount of EU own resources recovered following the recommendations made by OLAF and to communicate the amounts still to be recoveredDeplores the fact that the European Commission is not capable to calculate the total amount of recoveries arose from OLAF’s recommendations for recovery; urges the Commission to introduce a system allowing calculation of the total sums recovered and to publish the cooperation of recommendation and sums factually recovered in the OLAF’s annual reports;
Amendment 63 #
2017/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Is concerned by some Member States which have been blocking reforms, or even hampering existing anti- corruption legislation; is on an opinion that those countries should be subject supplementary and rigorous controls on expenditure of EU funds
Amendment 64 #
2017/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. recalls on the Member States to ratify fully the EU Directive on money- laundering, with the introduction of a public register of beneficial ownership of companies and also trusts;
Amendment 77 #
2017/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 b (new)
Paragraph 45 b (new)
45b. Calls on the Commission that at the revision of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No. 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council to create a proper balance of competences between EPPO and OLAF; to strengthen the procedural guarantees, to clarify and strengthen investigative powers of OLAF and establish a certain level of transparency of OLAF recommendations and reports and to clarify the rules on cooperation and access to data between OLAF and its Supervisory Committee;
Amendment 5 #
2017/2145(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Acknowledges that the EEAS undertook a series of initiatives aiming to reduce errors in procurement procedures, by improving the training, support and advice provided to the delegation staff responsible for procurement; asks the EEAS to continue its efforts to actively support and monitor the implementation of procurement rules and procedures in the delegations in order to improve the overall compliance and effectiveness of their tendering procedures and contract management;
Amendment 23 #
2017/2145(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Regrets that out of 136 heads of EU delegations, only 21 come from the 13 Member States that joined the Union after 2004; calls on EEAS to undertake an in- depth assessment of its recruitment policy to allow for better implementation of the geographical balance policy pursued by the EEAS;
Amendment 30 #
2017/2145(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Is awareAcknowledges, in thatis context, of the creation of the task forces on ‘Career Development’ and ‘ Gender and Equal Opportunities’, ‘Learning and Development Framework’ (LEAD) as well as the creation of the network ‘Women and the EEAS’ (WEEAS) as important milestones for improving the functioning of the EEAS by. These initiatives defining ae more attractive careers paths, streamlininges recruitment and theensures the appointment of competent individuals adequacy of competences as well as gender and equal opportunities from the point of view of gender and ethnic background; calls on Member States to do more to promote qualified female candidates for managerial positions in order to reduce gender imbalances;
Amendment 32 #
2017/2145(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Regrets that the EEAS Mediation Service received 75 cases of conflict, harassment or poor work environment in 2016 and that 23 cases remained open at year end; notes that the decrease in cases that remained open (23 cases in 2016 compared to 36 in 2015) might indicate that solutions are being found more quickly; acknowledges with satisfaction actions undertaken to tackle this phenomenon by developing support services such as the Mediator, confidential counsellor, medical and psychological support, awareness raising and appropriate disciplinary measures; calls on the EEAS to continue improveing its policy in this regard in order to prevent any form of psychological and sexual harassment as well as cases of conflict, and to inform the discharge authority on the developments made;
Amendment 38 #
2017/2145(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. CIs concerned that shortcomings in procurement procedures in EU delegations (calls for tender, proposals and others) affected in 2015 and 2016 87 projects with a total value of EUR 873.197.910,00; considers it essential that the heads of delegations continue to be regularly trained and reminded, during pre- posting, ad hoc seminars or the annual conference of the ambassadors, of their key role in the consolidation of the EEAS assurance chain and their overall accountability, both for managing administrative expenditure and portfolios of projects requiring an adequate assessment and for weighing various components likely to trigger the issuance of a reservation, in addition to their political duties;
Amendment 39 #
2017/2145(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Underlines that “substantial flaws in the intervention logic, in assumptions or in risk assessment” were the main problems reported in 2015 and 2016 by the heads of delegations affecting 293 projects with a total amount of EUR 2.574.730.715,00; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to undertake an in-depth analysis to improve the management of projects i.e. by properly assessing risks, geographical priorities, the capacity of EU delegations to cope with the workload and keep focusing on the areas of support in order to increase the impact of the aid;
Amendment 43 #
2017/2145(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Considers that a thorough verification of the rental conditions or purchase options of office buildings and residences have to be ensured in any new building files or transactions to be agreed at headquarters; acknowledges that since 2016, the EEAS has improved the system for verifying the purchase of real estate by implementing external financial evaluations and technical audits executed by recognised experts and calls on the EEAS to present the results of those actions; calls on the EEAS to continue monitoring office space to achieve the benchmarks foreseen; regrets that exceeding the ceiling of 35 m² per person for office buildings resulted in additional costs of EUR 7,4 million;
Amendment 44 #
2017/2145(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Invites also the EEAS to identify best practices in real estate management among Member States that could contribute to the reinforcement of its building policy in a cost-effective manner; notes that since 2016, the EEAS has contracted a service provider to systematically monitor market information and to calculate return on investment against the existing renting options;
Amendment 12 #
2017/2141(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concerned with the high amount of expenditure related to travel expenses and allowances of the Committee members; notes that the final appropriations for travel and subsistence allowances for members were EUR 19 561 194; calls on the Committee to provide a detailed breakdown of members’ expenditure, particularly those concerning item 1004, in its next annual activity report, and asks for the adoption of appropriate measures in order to make savings and reduce environmental pollution; urges the Committee members to increase theassess the potential wider use of videoconference and telepresence facilities, which may contribute to economic savings, such as on travel expenses;
Amendment 27 #
2017/2141(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes with interest that the proportion of women holding middle management position in the Committee is above 40%; encourages the Committee to make additional efforts in order to achieve the same results insofar as senior management positions are concerned and to do the necessary to improve the still considerable geographic imbalance;
Amendment 101 #
2017/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point n
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point n
(n) to improve both energy independence and efficiency through specific investments, strengthened cooperation in all priority areas covered by the EU Energy Union and by closer integration of the partners’ energy markets with the European energy market with a particular focus on interconnectivity and infrastructure, whilst scrutinising closely the consequences of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, assess its compatibility with EU law and if necessary freeze it;
Amendment 143 #
2017/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point q
Paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point q
(q) to commit to sustaining the unity of action among EU Member States in maintaining collective pressure on Russia, in particular through strengthened targeted restrictive measures, to solving the conflict in Ukraine through genuine implementation of the Minsk agreements, and should that not be the case, to insist that the EU should stand ready to consider adopting further sanctions, including targeted personal sanctions, to re-establishing Ukraine’s full sovereignty in Crimea, and that of Georgia in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and of Moldova in Transnistria, and to putting an end to the additional threats of state- sponsored assassinations, cyber warfare, disinformation and other types of destabilisation;
Amendment 8 #
2017/2123(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
- having regard to Eurobarometer 85.1 of June 2016, according to which half of EU citizens surveyed consider EU action insufficient and two thirds of them would like to see greater EU engagement through Member States' commitment in matters of security and defence policy,
Amendment 168 #
2017/2121(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Strongly believes that a new approach to the EU’s relations with its Eastern neighbours is needed; believes that supporting those countries that wish to have closer ties to the EU must be a top priority for EU foreign policy; welcomes the prolongation of sanctions against Russia and continues to see full implementation of the Minsk agreements as the basis for a sustainable political solution to the conflict in Eastern Ukraine; insists that the EU should keep open the option of further gradual sanctions, in particular against high-technology products in the oil and gas, IT and armaments sectors, if Russia continues to violate international law; reiterates its commitment to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders; stresses that Russia’s decision of 21 March 2014 to incorporate Crimea into the Russian Federation remains illegal, and deplores the subsequent decision of the Russian authorities to give all inhabitants of Crimea Russian passports;
Amendment 146 #
2017/2054(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Annex – Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – table – row 21
Annex – Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – table – row 21
Poland 515
Amendment 97 #
2017/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas action should be taken to combat corruption by improving transparency, accountability and measures to fight impunity within states and by and prioritising the development of strategies and specific policies which not only fight corruption but also help to develop and/or build up public policies in this regardeffectively;
Amendment 103 #
2017/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas the absence of free media both online and offline creates favourable conditions for opaque practices to flourish; whereas media play an important role in increasing public awareness of corruption and human rights violations; whereas independent media organisations play an extremely important role in ensuring transparency and scrutiny, as they are a means of exposing corruption and making key information available to the general public;
Amendment 107 #
2017/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
O. whereas many civil society organisations, including anti-corruption associations and human rights associations, trade unions, investigative journalists, bloggers and whistle-blowers expose corruption, fraud, mismanagement and human rights violations despite seriouslaying themselves open to the risk of libel or defamation charges and to personal risksdanger; whereas lack of protection against reprisals, libel and defamation laws and lack of independent and credible investigation can all deter people from speaking out; whereas the EU has a duty to protect them, in particular by offering public support and making the most effective use of its instruments such as the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR);
Amendment 111 #
2017/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital O a (new)
Recital O a (new)
Oa. whereas civil society organisations, trade unions, investigative journalists, bloggers and whistle-blowers play a key role in combating corruption by scrutinising the use made of public funds and monitoring the activities of governments and big business, and whereas such organisations are increasingly being targeted by organised criminal groups, in particular in developing countries; whereas the EU has a duty to protect such organisations by offering them public support and making the best possible use of instruments such as the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) for this purpose;
Amendment 153 #
2017/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Points out that, in all forums for dialogue with third countries, including bilateral forums, the EU should emphasise how important it is to uphold the right of access to public information; emphasises, in particular, the need to set standards ensuring both the fullest and the swiftest possible access to such information, as speed of access is of key importance in efforts to uphold human rights and combat corruption; calls for the EU to promote access to public information in both the Member States and third countries;
Amendment 158 #
2017/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the need to mainstream the principle of local and democratic ownership of projects financed under EU assistance programmes; highlights the need to establish and operationalise conditionality and incentives of EU external financial instruments based on anti-corruption norms and commitments made by partner countries; calls for the EU to ensure that such projects serve to uphold media freedoms and involve civil society organisations and, in particular, human rights defenders and whistle- blowers;
Amendment 161 #
2017/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses the need for lobbying to be strictly regulated in accordance with the principles of openness and transparency, with a view to ensuring that all interest groups have equal access to decision-makers and ending corruption and the risk of human rights violations; calls for the EU and the Member States to identify and condemn all forms of hidden, unethical and illegal lobbying; calls for the EU to promote transparent decision- making and legislative processes, both in the Member States and in relations with third countries;
Amendment 250 #
2017/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Draws attention to the fact that the poorest sections of the population in developing countries suffer most from small-scale corruption, as they are dependent to a large extent on public services; points out that this form of tacit corruption involves public officials requiring bribes in order to provide services;
Amendment 284 #
2017/2028(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Believes that political dialogue and cooperation conducted by the EU with third countries with a view to securing media reforms should be open, transparent and subject to scrutiny; calls for the EU publicly to condemn the introduction of laws placing restrictions on media freedoms and the activities of civil society organisations;
Amendment 19 #
2017/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Latin American and Caribbean region (LAC) constitutes a key partner for the EU since the first bi- regional summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1999 when it comes to jointly facing current global challenges, such as the eradication of poverty, access to drinking water, peace and security, socioeconomic development, sustainability, the fight against climate change, the digital transformation and managing migration;
Amendment 69 #
2017/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ensures universal access to information and protection of freedom of expression;
Amendment 126 #
2017/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Welcomes the protocol of 11th November 2016 between the EU, its Member States, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru on the accession of Ecuador to the Free Trade Agreement between EU, Colombia and Peru; recalls that this agreement removes high customs tariffs and technical barriers to trade, liberalizes service markets, opens public procurement markets and includes obligations concerning fast and efficient dispute resolution mechanisms;
Amendment 155 #
2017/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Reiterates the importance of the existence of work and education opportunities for young people, as they embody the future hopes for, and are a key factor in, the continent’s future political stability; encourages further cooperation in the form of bilateral university participation, knowledge exchange and international mobility between EU and LAC students; points out the need to advance full and mutual recognition of university degrees and to strengthen bi- regional cooperation in the quality and accreditation system; notes with satisfaction that in 2015, the Erasmus+ program was successfully launched offering 6200 mobility's and 3500 scholarships mostly for CELAC students until 2020;
Amendment 200 #
2017/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the EU and LAC countries to address the problem of corruption through measures ranging from prevention to law enforcement and criminal prosecution, and points out that the existence of corruption undermines not only social welfare, but also the political legitimacy and quality of democratic government; stresses that transparency and free media are crucial elements to combat corruption;
Amendment 254 #
2017/2027(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Welcomes the signing on December 2016 of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Cuba; stresses the importance of speeding up its implementation, which can have a positive impact on the overall EU- CELAC partnership, and insists on the need for tangible results in the human rights dialogue; recalls that the agreement is meant to assist in reforming and modernizing Cuba and that it is the first bilateral agreement between the EU and the EU Member States and Cuba, replacing the existing ad hoc dialogue;
Amendment 7 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas the activity of whistle- blowers, based on the principles of transparency and integrity, is essential for whistleblowing, so their protection should be guaranteed by law and reinforced throughout the European Union but only if the purpose of their action is to protect the public interest by acting in good faith according to the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights;
Amendment 13 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Commission to take all necessary steps to implement without any further delay the resolution on the role of whistle-blowers in the protection of EU’s financial interests and, in particular, to submit legislative proposals aimed at establishing a minimum level of protection for European whistle- blowers and an effective and comprehensive European whistle-blower protection programme;
Amendment 34 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5a (new)
Paragraph 5a (new)
5 a. Regrets that not all of the EU's agencies have implement internal rules to protect whistle-blowers and calls on those agencies to implement the internal rules in accordance with Articles 22a, 22b and 22c of the Staff Regulations;
Amendment 35 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Expresses the view that the adoption of sector- specific legislation, such as in the field of the protection of the financial interests of the EU, cshould be fast- tracked and should not have to wait for the adoption of more generpreceded by adoption of general provisions with uniform minimum standard of legal protection, in order to efficiently protect the whistle- blowers who act in various issues under various jurisdictions within the EU or in various sectors of the common market; therefore calls on the Commission to submit a proposal of horizontal legislation on the protection of whistle-blowers. without any further delay;
Amendment 12 #
2016/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Welcomes the fact that in 2015, all EU institutions implemented internal rules protecting whistle-blowers who are officials of those bodies, in accordance with Articles 22a and 22b of the Staff Regulations; emphasizes that EU institutions encourage whistleblowing and will protect whistle-blowers against retaliation.
Amendment 27 #
2016/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the continuation of the European Ombudsman’s investigations into ‘revolving doors’ cases in the Commission; acknowledges the increased information offered by the Commission regarding the names of the senior officials who have left it to work in the private sector as a result of these investigations; encourages the more frequent publication of the names and other data of such persons; expresses its hope that other European institutions and agencies will follow suit; welcomes the willingness of the Commission to publish information regarding the post-term-of-office occupation of former Commissioners; expresses great concern that the former Commission President Mr Barroso was appointed as an adviser and non- executive chairman of Goldman Sachs International;.
Amendment 30 #
2016/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Supports the European Ombudsman’s determination to make the workings of the European Central Bank more transparent and meeting a high standard of governance, especially as a member of the Troika/Quadriga that supervises fiscal consolidation programmes in EU countries; welcomes the decision of the ECB to publish lists of meetings of its Executive Board members; supports the new guiding principles for speaking engagements and the establishment of a "quiet period" regarding market-sensitive information prior to Governing Council meetings.
Amendment 31 #
2016/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for greater transparency in Eurogroup meetings, beyond the steps already taken by its President afterWelcomes the decision to increase transparency in the work of the Eurogroup, following an intervention by the European Ombudsman;.
Amendment 32 #
2016/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 35 #
2016/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 38 #
2016/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recognises the need for transparency in EU decision-making, and supports the investigation by the European Ombudsmen into informal negotiations between the three main EU institutions (‘trilogues’); commends the awareness- raising actions by the Ombudsman on the matter; supports the publishing of key ‘trilogue’ documents, if the European Ombudsman decides that such a publication is in line with public interest;
Amendment 69 #
2016/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls on the European Ombudsman to add to future annual reports a categorization of complaints outside its mandate, which would give to Members of the European Parliament an overview of problems affecting EU citizens.
Amendment 70 #
2016/2150(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes the concern of citizens in relation to the handling of infringement complaints by the Commission, to the potential initiation of an infringement procedure before; highlights that the right to good administration, as enshrined in Article 41 of the CJEU and to the transparency of the relevant proceduresCharter, includes the obligation to sufficient reasoning in cases when the Commission decides not to launch an infringement procedure before the ECJ; welcomes the resulting strategic enquiry by the European Ombudsman on the systemic issues encountered in the EU pilot;
Amendment 3 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
Amendment 49 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas the Committee on Petitions has made greater use of the specific committee tools at its disposal, such as oral questions and short resolutions, so as to give visibility to the different issues of concern to citizens, or the sending of questions and resolutions to the plenary of Parliament, such as the resolutions on mortgage legislation and risky financial instruments in Spain or the best interests of children in Europe;
Amendment 54 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas during 2015 petitions lodged by citizens were processed faster and with greater efficiency, the timespan involved in correspondence with petitioners having been reduced as procedures for dealing with petitions had been simplified;
Amendment 61 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital P
Recital P
P. whereas a specific way of handling petitions relating to the welfare of children has been adopted and a special working group created on the issue, and whereas the group was constituted on 17 September 2015, having elected Eleonora Evi as its chair with representatives from all the political groups;
Amendment 64 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
Recital R
R. whereas these petitions resulted in complaints on environmental issues; whereas the Commission sent a letter of formal notice to Finland regarding the transposition of the Directive on public access to environmental information; whereas in a further five, and in a few cases regarding the environment the Commission initiated bilateral talks with the Member States concerned; whereas the cases were related to shale gas, management of wolves, the incorrect application of the Directive on strategic environmental assessment and , among other things, compliance of national legislation with the requirements of the Directive on public access to environmental information, shale gas, management of wolves and the incorrect application of the Directive on strategic environmental assessment;
Amendment 66 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S
Recital S
S. whereas petitions filed by citizens also deal with justice issues, in one instance motivating the Commission to initiate a bilateral dialogue with a Member State on its restrictions regarding change of name after marriagewhich, after environmental protection, was the second biggest issue in terms of the number of petitions (172 petitions, 7.5% of all petitions);
Amendment 70 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital V
Recital V
V. whereas the involvement of Parliament in these procedures implies additional scrutiny of the investigative work of the competent EU institutions; whereas no petition ishould be closed while it is being investigated by the Commission;
Amendment 71 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital X
Recital X
X. whereas the key issues of concern raised in petitions pertain to a wide range of issues, such as environmental legislation (in particular, waste water treatment, waste management, gas and hydrocarbon prospection and extractionthe application of justice (in particular, custody rights regarding minors), fundamental rights (in particular, the rights of the child and of persons with disabilities), the free movement of persons, discrimination, immigration, employment, animal welfare, the application of justice (in particular custody rights regarding minors) and breaches of consumer rightsbreaches of consumer rights, animal welfare and environmental protection (in particular, waste water treatment, waste management, gas and hydrocarbon prospection and extraction);
Amendment 102 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 110 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that petitions are very important for the legislative process, as they detect deficiencies in the transposition of Community legislation and provide other Parliament committees with useful and direct input for their legislative work in their respective fields; applauds the setting up of an informal petitions network within Parliament, with the participation of Members representing every committee of Parliament, in order to ensure smooth and effective coordination of petitions work; considers that petitions are not solely the responsibility of the Committee on Petitions, but should be a shared endeavour of all of the European Parliament’s committees; urges all parliamentary committees concerned to pay due attention to the petitions forwarded to them and to provide the information necessary for petitions to be processed properly;
Amendment 142 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Reiterates the call of the report on the activities of the Committee on Petitions 2013 (2014/2008 (INI)) for an enhanced structured dialogue to be launched with Member States, for example, by holding regular meetings with members from national Petitions Committees or other competent authorities; is pleased that a delegation from the Committee on Petitions of the German Bundestag was present at the Committee meeting held on 4 May 2015calls on the Member States to take note of the recommendations made in the reports of fact-finding missions and during dialogues;
Amendment 146 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes the restrictive and narrow interpretation of the European Commission in relation to Article 51(1) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights which states, inter alia, that the Charter is addressed to the Member States ‘only when they are implementing Union law’; notes that Article 51(2) of the Charter states that the Charter ‘does not extend the field of application of Union law beyond the powers of the Union’; notes, however, that this does not mean that citizens are unprotected if they believe that their fundamental rights have been violated in cases where EU law is not applied, as in such cases it is up to the Member States to ensure the protection of fundamental rights in accordance with their national legislation and international obligations;
Amendment 150 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 156 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. PStresses that in January 2015, two Members were appointed as representative members of the Committee on Petitions in the structures of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and that they took part in the analysis of the preliminary report of the European Union and the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Geneva, Switzerland, on 27-28 August 2015; points to the important ongoing work carried out by the Committee on Petitions in the context of the application of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; duly notes that 2015 was a very significant year in that for the first time a United Nations agency reviewed the fulfilment of human rights obligations in the EU; is pleased to note that a United Nations committee had the opportunity to hear all the details regarding the protection provided by the Committee on Petitions; underscores that the Commission has begun to incorporate the concluding observations by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into the petition treatment process1; is pleased to note that the public hearing ‘Protecting the rights of people with disabilities, from the perspective of petitions received’ organised by the Committee on Petitions on 15 October 2015, was highly accessible; draws attention to the importance of the findings of the study commissioned by Policy Department C entitled ‘The protection role of the Committee on Petitions in the context of the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’; considers it important that the Committee on Petitions continues to organise events focusing on petitions in the field of disability; calls for the capacity of the Committee on Petitions and its Secretariat to be enhanced to enable it to properly fulfil its protection role; calls for the establishment of a designated officer responsible for the processing of disabilities-related issues; notes the Committee’s significant follow-up action in 2015 with regard to disability with respect to more specific topics such as the ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty (petition No 0924/2011), the unlocking of the anti-discrimination Directive (petition No 0360/2009), exemption from customs duties for certain products designed to promote the cultural, educational or scientific advancement of persons with disabilities (petition No 0240/2015) or family caregivers (petition No 0098/2015); __________________ 1 Adopted by the UN Committee at its 14nth session (17 August to 4 September 2015); see: http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatyb odyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=C RPD%2fC%2fEU%2fCO%2f1&Lang=en
Amendment 161 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 168 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Believes that the organisation of public hearings is an important way of examining problems raised by petitioners; draws attention to the public hearings on the European Citizens’ Initiative organised on 26 February 2015 with the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety in response to the ECI on ‘Water is a Human Right’, and with the Committee on Legal Affairs for the ECI entitled ‘One of Us’Constitutional Affairs, the hearing on the right to submit petitions organised on 23 June 2015, and the hearing on protecting the rights of persons with disabilities organised on 15 October 2015;
Amendment 178 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Considers that the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) is a new political right for citizens as well as a relevant agenda-setting tool for participatory democracy in the European Union, allowing citizens to play an active part in projects and processes that affect them, and the potential of which must unquestionably be exploited to the full and significantly enhanced in order to achieve the best results and to encourage as many EU citizens as possible to participate in the further development of the European integration process; likewise considers that it must be one of the EU’s priority objectives to strengthen the democratic legitimacy of its institutions; reminds the European Commission of the need to follow up on all the recommendations made in the European Parliament resolution of 28 October 2015 on the European Citizens’ Initiative (2014/2257(INI) to ensure thereby that the right to present a European Citizens’ Initiative is properly implemented; reaffirms its commitment to being proactively involved in organising public hearings for successful initiatives; undertakes to give priority, at institutional level, to the effectiveness of this participative process and to ensuring due legislative follow-up;
Amendment 181 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. DeplorWelcomes the fact that the Commission considers that it is too early to revise Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 of 1 April 2012 which entered into force three years agohas committed to carrying out a review of how the Citizens’ Initiative works after accumulating experience during its several years of operation, thus enabling it to make a reliable assessment of regulation (EU) No 211/2011; considers that it is necessary to thoroughly evaluate its implementation to identify possible deficiencies and propose workable solutions with a view to revising it soon; welcomes the Commission’s report of 31 March 2015 on the ECI, and the European Ombudsman’s Decision OI/9/2013/TN, and calls on the Commission to ensure, in its revision of this instrument, that all the appropriate legal measures are taken with a view to providing proper follow-up when an ECI is deemed to have been completed successfully; calls on the Commission, in view of the various weaknesses identified, to present a proposal for reform of Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 as soon as possible;
Amendment 188 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Draws attention to its resolution (2015/2740(RSP) of 8 October 2015 on mortgage legislation and risky financial instruments in Spain in the light of the petitions received, concerning which Parliament issued a series of recommendations for the proper application of EU mortgage legislation; calls on the Commission to supervise closely the implementation in all Member States of Directive 2014/17/EU on credit agreements and to share best practices in order to improve protection for citizens in financial difficulties;
Amendment 191 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
Amendment 204 #
2016/2146(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
Amendment 21 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. Wwhereas the VAT gap amounts to approximately 159.5 billion EUR in 2014 and varies from less than 5% to over 40% depending on the country considered;
Amendment 23 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas fraud is an example of purposeful wrongdoing and is a criminal offence, and that an irregularity is a failure to comply with a rule;
Amendment 24 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)
Recital H b (new)
Hb. whereas fluctuation in number of irregularities can be linked to the progression of the multiannual programming cycles (with higher levels of detection at the end of cycles due to the closure of programmes) as well as to late reporting by certain Member States which tend to report most of the irregularities of previous multiannual programmes at once;
Amendment 26 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Is alarmedNotes that the number of all fraudulent and non-fraudulent irregularities reported (22 349 cases)in 2015 increased significantly for a second consecutive year – first by 48 % in 2014 and then by another 36% in 2015, leading to doubling the amount of registered irregularities within just two yearby 36% amounting to 22 349 cases; notes that even though the number of irregularities doublconsiderably increased, the sum involved in them (EUR 3.21 billion) remains on the same level as in 2014; calls on the Commission to analyse this development;
Amendment 32 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is concerned that despite the positive drop of 11% of fraudulent irregularities from 1,649 in 2014 to 1,461 in 2015, the sums involved increased 18% from 538 million EUR in 2014 to 637.6 million EUR in 2015; notes that false or falsified documents and declarations constituted the most common types of fraud amounting to 34%, while the largest proportion of irregularities reported as fraudulent (52 %) was detected in the agricultural sector, and the highest percentage of detection of all fraudulent irregularities (75%) was made by the administrative control systems provided for by sector-specific regulations;
Amendment 38 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Welcomes the Commission package of four delegated and four implementing regulations on the reporting of irregularity provisions in the area of shared management which aims to improve the quality and consistency of the information on irregularities and fraud reported by the Member States; regrets that those regulations do not regulate timelines in which Members States would be obliged to report the irregularities; deplores the fact that in 2015, 537 out of 538 irregularities reported by Ireland were related to the historic reporting program from 2000- 2006 and 5105 out of 5619 irregularities reported by Spain related to irregularities from the cohesion policy sector detected throughout the whole period 2007-2013 and which were all reported together in 2015; stresses that late reporting impairs accurate assessment of fraudulent and non-fraudulent irregularities in the Member States;
Amendment 47 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Welcomes the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2015/1525 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 September 2015 which has improved the current framework for detecting and investigating customs fraud at EU and national level;
Amendment 56 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Notes that customs controls carried out at the time of clearance of goods and inspections by anti-fraud services were the most successful methods of detecting fraudulent cases in the revenue sector in 2015;
Amendment 57 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Expresses deep concern that a decrease in customs staff can negatively influence the number of controls and therefore have a negative impact on the detection of fraudulent actions in the revenue sector of the EU;
Amendment 65 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Points out that the Commission does not have access to the information exchanged between Member States with a view to preventing and combating Missing Trader Intra-Community fraud, commonly called carousel fraud; is of the opinion that the Commission should have access to Eurofisc, in order to better control, assess and improve the exchange of data among Member States; calls on all the Member States to participate in all of Eurofisc’'s fields of activity so as to facilitate the exchange of information; with the aim of helping to combat fraudjudicial and law enforcement authorities such as Europol and OLAF, as recommended by the Court of Auditors;
Amendment 69 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 77 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Takes positive note of the successful outcomes of numerous joint customs operations (JCOs) involving the cooperation of OLAF and Member States with various third-country services, which have resulted in the seizure of, inter alia, 16 million sticks of cigarettes and 2 tonnes of cannabis; notes that operation Baltica, led by Polish customs authorities in cooperation with OLAF, Europol and five Member States (Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden), seized 13 million sticks of cigarettes coming from third countries such as Belarus and Russia;
Amendment 85 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. DeploresIs deeply concerned that the amount of irregularities reported in the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and in the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) is growing annually for at least 5 consecutive years with the amount of reported cases growing up from 1970 cases in 2011 to 4612 cases in 2015 with the sums involved growing from EUR 119 million in 2012 to EUR 394 million in 2015 with the level of reported irregularities of the EAFRD coming close to 2% of the entire fund; urges the Member States with the highest amount of irregularities reported – Romania, Italy, Spain, Poland, Hungary, Portugal and Lithuania – to do their utmost in order to regulate the situationurgently and efficiently regulate the situation in order to reverse this trend;
Amendment 112 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Supports the Commission in its approach to recommend strengthening the work of the Member States, which continue to report a very low number of fraudulent irregularities, in relation to detecting and/or reporting fraud (Austria, Belgium, France, Lithuania, Malta, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom), in particular, those which have not reported any case over the last five years: Slovakia and Finland in the area of agriculture and Denmark and Luxembourg in the area of cohesion policy;
Amendment 129 #
Amendment 130 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Welcomes the fact that Directive 2014/62/EU came into force in 2014 ordering that acts intentionally committed i.e. counterfeiting or altering money, putting them into circulation but also abetting, aiding and attempting to do so are considered as a crime; deplores the fact that Belgium, France and Ireland did not yet transpose the Directive within the prescribed period, i.e. until 23rd May 2016;
Amendment 131 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 b (new)
Paragraph 32 b (new)
32b. Notes that according to the European Central Bank, since the introduction of the euro in 2002 counterfeit currency caused financial losses amounting to at least 500 million euros in the EU economy until 2016;
Amendment 141 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Reiterates its call on the Commission to submit urgently a legislative proposal on the protection of whistle-blowers in order to effectively prevent and combat fraud affecting the financial interests of the European Union;
Amendment 145 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Deplores that the Commission did not keep its word to publish an EU Anti- Corruption reports biannually, as there has been no report published in 2016e fact that the second anti-corruption report has not been published in 2016, which impaired the assessment of the scale of corruption in 2015; finds unconvincing the argument of the Vice President of the European Commission in the letter dated January 25 2017 that operational activities to share experience and best practices among Member States are a more efficient way to combat corruption then reports such as the first anti-corruption report;
Amendment 150 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Urges the Commission to publish the second anti-corruption report and present these reports regularly to inform the public about the achievements in the fight against corruption, inter alia in the context of the Anti-corruption Sharing Program;
Amendment 157 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Welcomes breaking the deadlock in the Council regardingthe successfully concluded negotiations on the proposal on the Directive on the fight against fraud to the Union’'s financial interests by means of criminal law (PIF Directive) with a VAT fraud included in its scope; expresses hope for a swift conclusion of the PIF directive negotiations and looks forward to obtaining an agreement that will be beneficial for the financial interests of the Unnotes that the Directive defines the types of fraudulent behaviour to be criminalised and provides a definition of corruption;
Amendment 161 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Recalls Parliament’s' resolution on EPPO adopted on 5th of October 2016f 5 October 2016 on the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) and Eurojust reaffirming Parliament's longstanding support for the establishment of an efficient and independent European Public Prosecutor's Office in order to reduce the current fragmentation of national law enforcement efforts to protect the EU budget; believes that an efficient EPPO will strengthen the fight against fraud in the EU provided that it is given the necessary legal provisions and is able to work efficiently with other existing EU bodies and Member State authorities;
Amendment 162 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Recalls Parliament’s resolution on EPPO adopted on 5th of October 2016; believes that an efficient EPPO will strengthen the fight against fraud in the EU provided that it is given the necessary legal provisions and is able to work efficiently with other existing EU bodies and Member State authorities; notes that the scope of the PIF directive determines directly the scope of the EPPO's mandate; notes with concern the diverging opinions in the Council on the EPPO as it is foreseen in the Treaty of Lisbon; sees its provisions not implemented through enhanced cooperation;
Amendment 165 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Points out the decision of the European Commission not to renew the PMI agreement which expired on July 9th 2016; reminds that on March 9th 2016 the EP asked the Commission not to renew, extend or renegotiate it beyond its date of expiry; believes that the 3 other agreements (BAT, JTI, ITL) should not be renewed;
Amendment 175 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39a. Calls on OLAF to compare in its Annual Activities Reports OLAFs recommendations for financial recoveries with the amounts, which were factually recovered;
Amendment 179 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Calls for the Commission to clarify the main reasons that Member States are not following up alleged cases of fraud affecting the EU’s financial interests, as submitted to them by OLAFWelcomes OLAF's analysis of Member States' follow up OLAF's judicial recommendations issued between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2015 as an overview of the main reasons concerning non follow-up of OLAF's recommendations; however notes that the data collected in the document concerns only judicial recommendations without taking into consideration administrative, disciplinary and financial recommendations and so is not representative of the overall follow-up of OLAF's recommendations;
Amendment 183 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)
Paragraph 41 a (new)
41a. Regrets the fact that almost one third (94 out of 317) of OLAF's judicial recommendations issued between 2008 and 2015 addressed to the competent authorities were dismissed on the basis of insufficient evidence; calls on the Commission to assess how administrative investigations could be better used in judicial cases; encourages the competent authorities of Member States to provide detailed information regarding reasons for dismissals, in order for OLAF to better adjust their recommendations to national laws;
Amendment 185 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 b (new)
Paragraph 41 b (new)
41b. urges the Commission in view of the ending mandate of the OLAF Director General to start immediately the procedure for a call of proposals for a new Director General and to start the consultation process with the European Parliament;
Amendment 189 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 b (new)
Paragraph 41 b (new)
41b. Deplores the fact that judicial authorities of some of Member States consider OLAF's recommendations related to the misspending of EU money as a low priority; recalls that according to Art. 325 (2) TFEU Member States shall take the same measures to counter fraud affecting the financial interests of the Union as they take to counter fraud affecting their own financial interests;
Amendment 15 #
2016/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 39 #
2016/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 – point -a (new)
Paragraph 10 – point -a (new)
(-a) that the concept of ‘conflict of interests’, based on the OECD definition, is included in the Code of Conduct, since the Code of Conduct for Commissioners is one of the core texts that apply to Commissioners when they take up their posts;
Amendment 54 #
2016/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 – point e a (new)
Paragraph 10 – point e a (new)
(ea) that Commissioners only meet representatives of lobby groups that are included in the Transparency Register, which contains information on persons seeking to influence policymaking at the EU institutions;
Amendment 2 #
2016/2057(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that the opinions of European citizens voiced by petitioning the European Parliament are fundamentally important in signalling to the European legislator issues that citizens feel concerned about, particularly inadequate distribution of medicines, the impact of the economic crisis on medical and pharmaceutical care, and issues regarding marketing procedures and patents for medicinal products; market failures resulting in restricted access to effective and affordable medicines, the impact of the economic crisis on patients' rights and Member States' healthcare systems, and issues regarding marketing procedures and intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical sector;
Amendment 19 #
2016/2057(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Welcomes that the Conclusions of the Council on strengthening the balance in the pharmaceutical system in the EU and its Members States outline the most relevant challenges of the pharmaceutical sector and important actions towards a fairer and a more patient-centred healthcare system;
Amendment 26 #
2016/2057(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Deplores the fact that there is a large 18 million peoplenumber of EU citizens without proper access to health care or medicines, whose human rights are being violated on a daily basisthreatened; finds it alarming that there are 25 000 annual deaths in the EUthousands of victims due to lack of new effective antibiotics; and imprudent use of critical antibiotics;
Amendment 33 #
2016/2057(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recognises as key obstacles to access to medicinesthat the lack of affordability and availability of medicines, the budgetary cuts resulting fromimpact of the financial crisis, the high price of medicines and theresulting from monopolies of large companies in the market and the uncontrolled parallel trade constitute considerable obstacles to access to medicines;
Amendment 44 #
2016/2057(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights the negative impact of Member States’ austerity policies and sStresses that budgetary cuts should not prevent any EU citizen from being able to access medicines;
Amendment 49 #
2016/2057(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Commission to continue assessing the functioning of the European pharmaceutical system in order to deliver data and proposals for solutions to ensure the sustainability of the European pharmaceutical system and Member States' health systems, as well as the developments of new and innovative medicinal products;
Amendment 54 #
2016/2057(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Supports the intention of the Member States to improve the voluntary cooperation between the states and at EU level, especially in the area of pricing, reimbursements and information exchange;
Amendment 58 #
2016/2057(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. IdentifiesNotes that patent rights as a majornd other innovation promotion measures often create obstacles to access to medicines, and urges public policy makers to take proactive steps towards making generic and biosimilar medicines available in a timely manner, always taking into account the need to ensure the same beneficial effects, continuity of patient care and prevention of any risk of abuse or misuse of the regulatory framework;
Amendment 67 #
2016/2057(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Member States to support research and development (R&D) that focuses on the unmet medical needs of all citizens and to guarantee affordable and non-discriminatory access to medical advances in the European Union; emphasizes the importance of further investments through the Horizon2020 and the Innovative Medicines Initiative, as well as the involvement of the European Medicines Agency in the development of innovative medicines;
Amendment 81 #
2016/2057(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines that free trade agreements such as TTIP and TiSA may seriously damage Member States’ healthcare systems, paving the way for wider liberalisation and privatisation in vital sectors and further undermining the principle of universal access to healthcare should be respected also by trade agreements;
Amendment 89 #
2016/2057(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls onInvites the Member States to consider the possibility of establishment of a pooled public platform for R&D financed by all states via a contribution of 0.01 % of their GDP.
Amendment 8 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
- having regard to Article 6 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
Amendment 17 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas the activity of whistle- blowers, based on the principles of transparency and integrity, is essential for whistleblowing, so their protection should be guaranteed by law and reinforced throughout the European Union but only if the purpose of their action is to protect the public interest by acting in good faith according to the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights;
Amendment 18 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
G b. whereas the authorities should not limit or reduce the ability of whistle- blowers and journalists to document and disclose illegal, unlawful or harmful practices, when revealing this information in good faith and the public interest is a priority;
Amendment 19 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas all the EU institutions have been obliged since 1 January 2014 to introduce internal rules protecting whistle- blowers who are officials of the EU institutions, in accordance with Articles 22a, 22b and 22c of the Staff Regulations, even though not all institutions have yet done so and the working group of the interinstitutional Preparatory Committee for Matters relating to the Staff Regulations, dealing with the protection of whistle-blowers, has not yet finished its work;
Amendment 29 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas in its resolution of 23 October 2013, Parliament called on the Commission to submit a legislative proposal by the end of 2013 establishing an effective and comprehensive European whistle-blower protection programme in the public and private sectors, to protect those who detect inefficient management and irregularities and report cases of national and cross-border corruption relating to EU financial interests; whereas, in addition, it called on the Member States to put in place appropriate and effective protection for whistle-blowers;
Amendment 42 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reiterates its call on the Commission to swiftly submit a legislative proposal establishing an effective and comprehensive European whistle-blower protection programme and, in particular, calls on the Commission to submit a legislative proposal before the end of this year protecting whistle-blowers as part of the necessary measures in the fields of the prevention of and fight against fraud affecting the financial interests of the Union, with a view to affording effective and equivalent protection in the Member States and in all the Union’s institutions, bodies, offices and agencies;
Amendment 47 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. calls on EU Member States which have not yet adopted the principles to protect whistleblowers in their domestic law, to do so as soon as possible;
Amendment 52 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Reiterates that a whistle-blower is required to inform about irregularities, which are contrary to the purpose of an organization, which may affect other employees, or institutions, or would be otherwise detrimental to the public interest;
Amendment 54 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Reiterates that whistle-blowers often have better access to sensitive information than outsiders, and thus may be more likely exposed to greater consequences related to their professional career, or risk their personal safety protected by Article 6 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU;
Amendment 57 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the definition of whistle-blowing includes the protection of those who disclose information with a reasonable belief that the information is true at the time it is disclosed, including those who make inaccurate disclosures in honest error; and the definition of irregularities should take into account cultural and institutional differences;
Amendment 63 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Expresses the need to establish an independent EU institution with sufficient budgetary resources, adequate competences and appropriate specialists, in order to help whistle-blowers use the right channels to disclose their information on possible irregularities affecting the financial interests of the Union, while protecting their confidentiality and offering assistance against possible retaliatory measures; in the first phase, its work would be primarily based on reliable verification of the information received;
Amendment 79 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Emphasizes the fact that while the platform "EU Leaks" was launched in September 2016, allowing anonymous publication of documents which indicate irregularities; the widespread access and complete anonymity of the system could also be used for activities other than those undertaken in good faith aiming to protect the public interest;
Amendment 98 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Reiterates its call on all EU institutions who have not yet done so to implement ArticleWelcomes the fact that the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Court of Auditors, the European External Action Service, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, and the European Data Protection Supervisor implemented internal rules protecting whistle-blowers, in accordance with Articles 22a, 22b and 22c of the Staff Regulations without further delay;
Amendment 13 #
2015/2319(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recalls that a lack of transparency has a negative effect on the trust which Europe's citizens have in the EU institutions; the effective reform of the Commission's expert groups system, based on clear principles of transparency and balanced composition, will improve the availability and reliability of data, which will in turn result in an increase in people's trust in the EU;
Amendment 34 #
2015/2319(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls that both Parliament and the European Ombudsman has recommended to the Commission to make the agendas, background documents, minutes of meetings and deliberations of expert groups public, unless a qualified majority of their members decide that a specific meeting or part of a meeting would need to be secret, and regrets that the Commission has persisted in a system in which the meetings remain secret unless a simple majority of the members of expert groups decides that the deliberations should be made public;
Amendment 41 #
2015/2319(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission to clarify that, if individuals appointed in their personal capacity have submitted false or incomplete declarations of interest, or have failed to keep these up to date, thisey will not only have consequences for their membership in the expert group concerned, but will also mean that they will be banned from other existing or future expert groups for a period of at least two years after the discovery of the errors in respect of their declarations of interestbe banned from its expert groups and other existing or future expert groups;
Amendment 3 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has the responsibility to protect the Union's financial interests by investigating fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities; whereas its Supervisory Committee has been established in order to reinforce and guarantee OLAF's independence by regularly monitoring the implementation of OLAF's investigative function; whereas the Supervisory Committee shall in particular monitor developments concerning the application of procedural guarantees and the duration of investigations in the light of the information supplied by the Director- General in accordance with Article 7(8);
Amendment 6 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that 1 649 out of a total of 16 473 irregularities reported to the Commission in 2014 were fraudulent,; notes that all reported irregularities involvinge an amount of around EUR 3.24 billion, of which about EUR 2.27 billion related to expenditure, representing 1.8% of total payments;
Amendment 8 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines that the overall financial impact of fraudulent and non-fraudulent irregularities reported in 2014 is 36% greater than in 2013, while the number of such irregularities registered increased by 48%;
Amendment 9 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 4 – point 1 (new)
(1) Underlines that the simplification of administrative rules will decrease the number of non-fraudulent irregularities, help identify fraudulent cases, and make EU funds more accessible to the beneficiaries;
Amendment 10 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls for the Commission and the European Court of Auditors to facilitate openness of the audit data by releasing more detailed information as regards the best- and worst-performing Member- states per policy area and sector, so as to allow actors to identify the areas where help is most needed and design actions accordingly;
Amendment 14 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is concerned about the VAT gap and the estimated losses on VAT collection, which amounted to EUR 168 billion in 2013; underlines the fact that in many Member States VAT fraud and avoidance remains at a continuously high level13 out of 26 EU countries examined in 2014, the average estimated VAT loss exceeded 15,2%; reiterates that the Commission has the competence to control and supervise measures taken by the Member States1 ; calls on the Commission to make full use of its executive powers in order to both control and help the Member States in their fight against VAT fraud and tax avoidance; acknowledges the fact that since 2013 Commission has been using the Quick Reaction Mechanism in order to deal with massive and sudden VAT fraud; __________________ 1 Council Regulations (EU, Euratom) No 1553/89/EEC and (EU, Euratom) No 608/2014.
Amendment 17 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Notes an increasing number of coordination centres supported by Eurojust and Europol; welcomes the results of cross-border operations vertigo 2 and 3 and the efficient cooperation between law enforcement and judicial authorities from Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, the UK, Belgium, Spain, the Czech Republic and Switzerland, leading to the neutralization of criminal networks responsible for defrauding approximately EUR 320 million of tax revenues, including VAT;
Amendment 20 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Encourages the Commission to further enhance its supervisory role through audit, control and inspection activities, remedial action plans and early warning letters; calls on the Member States to intensify their efforts and to tap their potential to detect and correct errors prior to claiming reimbursement from the Commission; underlines, in this regard, the particular value of preventive actions in forestalling disbursements and thus eliminating the need for subsequent actions to recover misappropriated funds
Amendment 27 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. AcknowledgeRegrets that Member States’ recovery for the EAGF is below the overall average, and fewer than half of the irregularities detected in 2009 had been recovered by the end of 2014; points to significant differences between the abilities of Member States to recover sums for irregular payments detected under the CAP and urges Bulgaria, France, Greece and Slovakia to significantly improve their results;
Amendment 29 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that the irregularities linked to the Common Fisheries Policy in 2014 returned to a level comparable to 2012 after a one-year peak in 2013; expresses concern regarding the high amount of fraudulent cases reported by Spain, Poland, the United Kingdom and Romanianotes that the most detected category of irregularity during the period 2010-2014 was "Non- eligibility for aid of the action/project" followed by "Infringements of public procurement rules";
Amendment 34 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Is furthermore worried that the overall time gap between the occurrence of an irregularity, its detection and finally its reporting to the Commission is increasing in the cohesion area up to 3 years and 4 months; recalls that after the detection of the irregularity further procedures kick in (recovery orders, OLAF investigations etc.); urges the Commission to work together with Member States to improve the detection and reporting efficiency;
Amendment 42 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Invites the Commission to develop a system of strict indicators and easily applicable criteria based on the requirements set out in the Stockholm Programme to measure the level of corruption in the Member States; is concerned about the reliability and quality of data coming from the Member States; calls on the Commission, therefore, to work closely with Member States to guarantee comprehensive, exact and reliable data keeping in mind the goal of full implementation of the Single Audit Scheme; invites the Commission to work out a corruption index to categorise Member States;
Amendment 47 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Underlines the importance of access to information and the transparency of lobbying, and of using EU funding to support the work of independent organisations in this area, inter alia to establish financial support for cross- border investigative journalism;
Amendment 49 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Urges the Commission to maintain its strict policy on interruptions and suspension of payments; calls on Commission, moreover, to keep the Member States and local authorities better informed about the implementation of its policy, bearing in mind that this process should not be undermined by political considerations; welcomes the fact that the Commission adopted a new decision on the Early Warning Mechanism (EWS) and; looks forward to the creation of a comprehensive system of early detection and exclusion to be proposed by the Commission; and calls on the Commission to better inform the Member States and local authorities about the implementation of its policy, bearing in mind that this process should not be undermined by political considerations;
Amendment 54 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Welcomes the fact that the ex-ante and ex-post 'Community Controls' detect more and more cases of irregularities and therefore these controls should be further promoted;
Amendment 61 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Reiterates its strong views on theviews that there is an urgent need to adopt the PIF Directive, with VAT included in its scope and with a clear definition of PIF offences, minimum andrules for maximum applicable imprisonment penalties, and minimum rules on the statute of limitations as soon as possible; recalls the Taricco Case, in which the Court of Justice of the European Union draws attention to the fact that VAT is a TORfraud is indeed included in the 1995 PIF Convention's definition of PIF fraud;
Amendment 66 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Emphasises that the failure to comply with public procurement rules was a significant source of error for the 2009- 2013 programming period amongst others the avoidance of public procurement by splitting contracts into smaller tenders to avoid exceeding thresholds and the use of inappropriate procedure; ; points out that the new public procurement directives have to be implemented by April 2016; emphasises that reducing the incidence of irregularities requires correct implementation of the directives by the Member States; calls on the Commission to closely monitor the implementation of these directives; is of the belief that ex ante conditionalities have the potential to improve public procurement;
Amendment 67 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Emphasises that the failure to comply with public procurement rules was a significant source of error for the 2009- 2013 programming period; points out that the new public procurement directives have to be implemented by April 2016; emphasises that reducing the incidence of irregularities requires correct implementation of the directives by the Member States; calls therefore on the Commission to work out guidelines for the proper implementation of the directives; calls on the Commission to closely monitor the implementation of these directives; is of the belief that ex ante conditionalities have the potential to improve public procurement;
Amendment 73 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 9
Subheading 9
Amendment 75 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to adopt the planning, implementation and control phase of the MFF in accordance with the resultsperformance-based budgeting principle;
Amendment 77 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Notes the importance of further and continuous measures to avoid fraudulent irregularities, but also pushes for morereiterates its call for the adoption of a new methodology focused on ensuring the ‘Value for Money’ principle in public spendingperformance rather than on formalistic evaluation of the programmes, in line with the principle of an EU budget focused on results;
Amendment 88 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Is of the opinion that the Supervisory Committee should, as a matter of consistency with its mandate, have autonomous staff who are detached from the OLAF administration and financial autonomy; calls on OLAF to grant the SC access to the documents necessary to fulfil its task; urges the Commission to put forward a proposal to change the OLAF regulation in this sense;
Amendment 89 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Urges the Commission to give full transparency on all demands of national prosecutors to lift immunity of OLAF staff including the OLAF Director- General.
Amendment 1 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
– having regard to the proposed Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the fight against fraud to the Union’s financial interests by means of criminal law /* COM/2012/0363 final - 2012/0193 (COD) */,
Amendment 9 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the phenomena of organised crime, corruption and money laundering usually have a cross-border dimension that requires close cooperation by national competent authoritiesetween the competent national authorities and between those authorities and the EU institutions, with the help of national databases, supported by from EU instruments and a European action plan to eradicate it;
Amendment 18 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 21 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 5 – point 1 (new)
(1) Welcomes the communication of 24 February 2016 in which the Commission commits to proposing an action plan for reforming the VAT system; calls on the Commission to include provisions on the fight against cross-border VAT fraud; notes that, according to Commission estimates, the EU loses about EUR 50 billion every year as a result of cross-border VAT fraud;
Amendment 22 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Takes note of the on-going discussions in the Council on the draft regulation establishing the European public prosecutor’s office (EPPO) as an essential piece of the action plan; stresses that the European public prosecutor’s office should have extensive powers for the purpose of combating crimes against the EU’s financial interests; calls on the Member States to make sufficient resources available for the creation of the European public prosecutor’s office;
Amendment 26 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 6 – point 1 (new)
(1) Welcomes the fact that in December 2014, after four years of discussion, Parliament, the Council and the Commission adopted an agreement on EU data protection reforms which will strengthen data protection for natural persons and promote cooperation between the Member State law enforcement bodies;
Amendment 28 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the international agreement within the G20 to apply a new global standard for greater tax transparency, in line with the high standard already applied by the EU; asks for its rapid implementation and effective monitoring of tax fraud and evasion at international level; highlights that at EU levelwelcomes the fact that, in February 2016, the European Commission is still negotiatingsigned agreements involving the exchange of tax information with countries such as Andorra and Monaco and in 2015 Commission had already signed agreements with Switzerland, Liechtenstein and San Marino;
Amendment 33 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 9 – point 1 (new)
(1) Calls on the Member States to create specialised structures at national level to detect criminal organisations and exclude from Member State public tenders entities that are implicated in corrupt practices or money laundering;
Amendment 44 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the 18-month programme of the EU Council for the Dutch, Slovak and Maltese Presidencies, where aich puts the comprehensive and integrated approach to organised crime will be high on theits agenda. In the area of justice, , togethere will be a focus on combatingth the fight against fraud against the Union’s financial interests, including work onwhich will involve work on the appointment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, data protection regulations, and promoting and safeguarding the rule of law and fundamental rights.
Amendment 1 #
2015/2086(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the best interest of the child must be the paramount ofchildren is of highest importance, which must be also the main criterion when taking any kind of decision related to their adoption of a child; calls on Member States to ensure the implementation of the children's right to freely express their views and have these taken into consideration according to their age and maturity, as enshrined in art. 24 CFR;
Amendment 3 #
2015/2086(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. IStates that there is no mechanism within the EU governing automatic recognition of domestic adoption orders made within other Member States, which represents a barrier to free movement of families; insists on the absolute necessity to ensure legal certainty in the field of inter- countrycross-border recognition of domestic adoption for the protection of the parents' and children's rights respecting at the same time EU law provisions as regards European Citizenship; notes, however, that there should be a possibility to refuse the recognition of a domestic adoption if it is manifestly contrary to the public policy of the recognizing state;
Amendment 6 #
2015/2086(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Calls for equal treatment of parents with different nationality during proceedings in matters of parental responsibility and adoption.
Amendment 7 #
2015/2086(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Member States to avoid heavy bureaucracy in the process of recognition of Conventionalinter-country adoptions already recognised in another EU Member State so as to ensure a correct implementation of the 1993 Hague Convention; invites EU Member States to encourage non-contracting States to join the 1993 Hague Convention, which would guarantee that all children benefit from the same standards, and help avoid a parallel system with less safeguards;
Amendment 9 #
2015/2086(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Draws the attention of the European Commission, the Council and the Member States on the possiblStresses the fact that an alarming high number of adoptions in the UK in 2014 were adoptions without parental consent; underlines that adoption without parental consent shall only be decided as a last resort, while children's best interst must be assessed on an individual basis, and the child's right to be hearmful consequences of non-consensual adoptions for birth parents and the adopted childred must be respected; calls on the Member States to give to victims of domestic violence, alcohol or drug abuse, who have their children removed, a reasonable chance to fully recover before the Court takes a final decision for adoption;
Amendment 19 #
2015/2086(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on Member States, in case of proceedings related to non-consensual adoptions with cross-border aspects, to systematically implement the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 and to make sure that the authorities of the States of origin of the parents involved have been properly informed without any delay;
Amendment 20 #
2015/2086(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. When social workers of one Member State carry out missions to establish the facts of the case for adoption in other Member states, calls upon the sending State to inform all appropriate authorities in the country where the mission is conducted.
Amendment 22 #
2015/2086(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Calls on Member States to exchange information and conduct awareness campaigns among citizens about the cultural traditions and rules regarding the raising of children applied in other Member States in order to be informed about practices that would lead to the withdrawal of their parental rights and giving their children for adoption.
Amendment 23 #
2015/2086(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Member sStates to ensure, when accurate, the implementation of articles 15 and 55 of theon the transfer of the case to a court better placed to hear it and article 55 regarding principles of cooperation on cases specific to parental responsibility of Council Regulation n°(EC) No 2201/2003 of 27 November 2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgements in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility;
Amendment 26 #
2015/2086(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Member States, in case of adoption, to to agree on a minimum threshold for the duration of cross-border adoption procedures, ensureing that the relatives of the birth parents have had a real opportunity to apply as permanent carer of the chiladopters of the child; draws, in this regard, attention to international standards and recalls article 8 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), underlining the obligation of governments to respect and protect children's identity, including their family relations. Recalls, furthermore, article 20 UNCRC, which states that when considering different solutions such as foster placement, adoption or placement in suitable institutions for the care of children, due regard shall be paid to the desirability of continuity in a child's upbringing and the child's ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic background;
Amendment 30 #
2015/2086(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Calls on the Member States to ensure compliance with all procedural rights of relatives involved in the process and who are nationals of another Member State, including the provision of legal assistance, duly and timely information about the hearings, an interpreter, all relevant to the case documents in their native language, etc.
Amendment 34 #
2015/2086(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Asks the Member States authorities involved in adoption proceedings to make all the possible efforts in order not to separate siblings.; recalls, in this regard, article 8 UNCRC, underlining the obligation of governments to respect and protect children's identity, including their family relations;
Amendment 35 #
2015/2086(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 8 – point 1 (new)
(1) Underlines the necessity to improve support structures for families; therefore, calls on the Commission and Member States to co-finance and promote the set- up of networks of NGOs providing assistance to EU citizens who live with their families in another Member State and require additional help in their cooperation with child welfare services and local authorities;
Amendment 36 #
2015/2086(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 – point 2 (new)
Paragraph 8 – point 2 (new)
(2) Calls on the Member States to compile regular statistics on cases of children who are nationals of another Member State and are placed into care or adopted.
Amendment 38 #
2015/2086(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Calls on Member States to promote specific training for judges dealing with transnational procedures for adoption of children.
Amendment 41 #
2015/2086(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Notes that to ensure the protection of the best interests of the child, enhanced cooperation between European judges in this area is needed.
Amendment 15 #
2015/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes with concern that according to the EEA EFTA States Internal Market Scoreboard, the current average transposition deficit of the three EFTA states has increased to 1.9 2.0% from 0.5 % in November 2011;
Amendment 33 #
2015/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the fact that Liechtenstein reduced its transposition deficit from 1 % to 0.7 %, which is below the deficit targetNotes that the transposition deficit of Liechtenstein has increased to 1.2 %; is concerned, however, by the fact that its legislation concerning the entry and residence rights of certain family members of EEA nationals and the restrictions imposed on EEA nationals residing in Liechtenstein from taking up employment in another EEA state does not seem to be fully in line with EEA law;
Amendment 35 #
2015/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Takes note of the letter of 12 March 2015 sent by the Icelandic Government on its position as a candidate country for EU membership; strongly urges Iceland to step up its efforts to fulfil its obligations under the EEA Agreement given that it has a transposition deficit of 3.12.8 %, which is the highest of all the states concerned;
Amendment 38 #
2015/2061(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the fact that Norway, with whom ties have strengthened over the past years, is part of the Frontrunners initiative, which aims to improve the Single Market; notes, however, that the transposition deficit has increased to 2% and urges Norway to step up its efforts in this regard in particular with a view to completing the internal energy market;
Amendment 23 #
2014/2257(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Points out that before action is taken to improve the ECI, there needs to be evidence that shows the real situation, including the numbers of complaints lodged with the Court of Justice; points out that such changes should not be based solely on the personal assessments of individuals or groups of stakeholders;
Amendment 52 #
2014/2257(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Points out that there is a Commission and Parliament representation in each Member State; points out, furthermore, that the possibility of setting up, in every Member State, an office to deal with citizens’ initiatives would generate additional bureaucratic costs;
Amendment 56 #
2014/2257(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Points out that the idea of promoting the ECI should not rely on excessive involvement in organising and funding citizens’ initiatives, as this deprives them of their quality of citizenship and makes the European Parliament jointly responsible for the intentions of those behind the initiatives;
Amendment 5 #
2014/2253(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the right to petition the European Parliament is one of the building blocks of European citizenship, as laid down in Article 44 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and Article 227 of The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU); points out that this right provides the necessary tools for increasing public participation in the European Union’s decision-making process and for notifying EU institutions of potential violations of EU law by the authorities of Member States; underlines, in the light of the above, the Committee on Petitions’ crucial role as the effective juncture between EU citizens, Parliament and the Commission;
Amendment 44 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas an ambitious and balanced agreement with the US may support the reindustrialisation of Europe and help achieve the 2020 target for an increase of the EU’s GDP generated by industry from 15 % to 20 %; whereas it has the potential to create opportunities especially for SMEs, which suffer more from non-tariff barriers (NTBs) than larger companies; whereas an agreement between the two biggest economic blocs in the world has the potential to create standards, norms and rules which will be adopted at a global level, which would serve to the advantage of third countries as well;
Amendment 73 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, given the growing interconnectedness of global markets – up to 40 % of European industrial products are manufactured from imported upstream products – it is crucial that policymakers shape the way these markets interact; whereas proper trade rules are fundamental to creating added value in Europe, since industrial production takes place in global value chains;it is crucial that Europe benefits from participation in global supply chains, while maintaining and developing a strong, competitive and diversified industrial base in Europe; (For consistency with the Recital A European added value should not be built only on e.g. costs of marketing, storage and/or distribution of imports. Also resolution should not quote data without reference to sources. TTIP should first and foremost promote trade of goods manufactured in the EU or the US but the imported goods only repacked/relabelled/assembled in the EU or the US.)
Amendment 78 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas EU's attempts to deal with the challenges of climate change, environmental protection and consumer safety have resulted in high regulatory costs for EU enterprises, coupled with high energy feedstock and electricity prices, which - if left unaddressed in TTIP - may accelerate the process of delocalization, deindustrialization and job losses thereby threatening EU reindustrialization and employment targets, that will also defeat the very policy targets that EU regulations seek to achieve;
Amendment 185 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas President Juncker has clearly reiterated in his Political Guidelines that – while the EU and the US can go a significant step further in recognising each other’s product standards and working towards transatlantic standards – the EU will not sacrifice its safety, health, social and data protection standards or our cultural diversity, recalling that the high level of safety of the food we eat and the protection of Europeans’ personal data are non- negotiable;will be maintained; (It is important to stress that we are not talking about lowering standards in negotiations rather than saying that issues of food safety are not-negotiable, as it is not true - issues of food safety or SPS are being negotiated, but we don’t want to decrease level of protection in this negotiations. That is the difference.)
Amendment 331 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point ii a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point b – point ii a (new)
(iia) to keep in mind that EU climate change, environmental, labour, consumer safety and animal welfare legislation imposes disproportionate cost burden on EU enterprises, that - in many sectors is - not borne by similar industries in the United States giving US industries a regulatory and cost advantage in those fields - and therefore the European Commission is encouraged to protect these sectors by, including, but not limiting to, negotiating the longest possible transitional periods;
Amendment 337 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
(iii) to keep in mind that there are important offensive interests for the EU in the services sector, for instance in the areas of engineeringprofessional services, telecommunications and transport services;
Amendment 350 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iii a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iii a (new)
(iiia) to ensure that mutually beneficial mobility package is provided for, which includes visa facilitation for providers of services and goods from all Member States and recognises their professional and technical qualifications;
Amendment 361 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iv
Paragraph 1 – point b – point iv
(iv) to increase market access for services by mutual recognition for EUs professional service providers, according to the ‘positive list approach’ whereby services that are to be opened up to foreign companies are explicitly mentioned and new services are excluded while ensuring that possible standstill and ratchet clauses only apply to non- discrimination provisions and allow for enough flexibility to bring services back into public control;
Amendment 528 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b – point xiv
Paragraph 1 – point b – point xiv
(xiv) to ensure that the negotiations on rules of origin aim at reconcilinge the EU and US approaches; given the conclusion of the negotiations for the Compreh in a way that as far as possible takes into account the interests of European producers and that thus contributes to economic growth and promotes job creation in the EU while protecting the sensitive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between EU and Canada and the potential upgrade of the EU-Mexico free trade agreement, the possibility and scope of cumulation will need to be considered; products; however it must be kept in mind that the purpose of TTIP is to facilitate trade in genuinely US and EU made products and not to allow imports from third countries; Exclusions for certain products will need to be considered on a case by case basis and exclusions from all type of cumulation should be granted for sensitive sectors;
Amendment 550 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point c – point i
Paragraph 1 – point c – point i
(i) to ensure that the regulatory cooperation chapter promotes an effective, pro- competitive economic environment through the facilitation of trade and investment while developing and securing high levels of protection of health and safety, consumer, labour and environmental legislation and of the cultural diversity that exists within the EU; negotiators on both sides should strive to achieve the best outcome in each sector; however, they need to identify and to be very clear about which regulatory measures and standards are fundamental and cannot be compromised, which ones can be the subject of a common approach, which are the areas where mutual recognition based on a common high standard and a strong system of market surveillance is desirable and which are those where simply an improved exchange of information is possible, based on the experience of one and a half years of ongoing talks;
Amendment 635 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point ii
Paragraph 1 – point d – point ii
(ii) to ensure that the sustainable development chapter aims at the full and effective ratification, implementation and enforcement ofreaffirmation of the Parties' commitment to shared key principles stemming from the eight fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and their content, the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda and the core international environmental agreements; provisions should be aimed at improving levels of protection of labour and environmental standards; an ambitious trade and sustainable development chapter should also include rules on corporate social responsibility based on the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and a clearly structured civil society involvement; (Commission in its position paper on Trade and Sustainable Development suggests less stringent provisions. We have to be careful in obliging US to ratify all ILO conventions, as this is probably non- negotiable issues for them.)
Amendment 684 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point vii
Paragraph 1 – point d – point vii
(vii) to ensure that in course of the negotiations the two sides examine ways to facilitate natural gas and oil exports, so that TTIP wouldTTIP abolishes any existing export restrictions on energy between the two trading partners, thereby supporting a diversification of energy sources in the EU and to consider conditioning tariff reduction on energy intensive goods on effective free flow of US energy to the EU in order to enhance European negotiating position;
Amendment 765 #
2014/2228(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xiv
Paragraph 1 – point d – point xiv
(xiv) to ensure that foreign investors are treated in a non-discriminatory fashion and have a fair opportunity to seek and achieve redress of grievances, which can be achieved withrout the inclusion of an ISDSgh a national court systems or, where appropriate ISDS; all dispute mechanism;s such a mechanism is not necessary in TTIP given the EU’s and the US’ developed legal systems; a state-to- state dispute settlement system and the use of national courts are the most appropriate tools to address investment disputes;et in place within the TTIP- framework must uphold full transparency and be subject to democratic principles and scrutiny with CETA solutions serving as a basis; (It is crucial to include in the ISDS provisions the so called fork-in-the-road provision, which creates an option for the investor to choose EITHER national court system OR investment arbitration; parallel claims should be prohibited. Intergovernmental dispute settlement would leave decision on initiation of an investment dispute to a state, which would inevitably involve political considerations and would limit access of SMEs to dispute settlement.)
Amendment 13 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas 1 887 petitions of which 1 070 petitions were inadmissible were closed in 2014, this is almost a 10% rise on the figure for 2013 where 1 723 petitions were closed;
Amendment 14 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas 817 petitions were declared admissible and could be closed in 2014, which is almost 7 % raise on the figure for 2013 where 677 were declared admissible and could be closed;
Amendment 15 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas these figures indicate that the revised administrative procedure by the Secretary-General of the European Parliament from 2014, have increased the efficiency of the work of the Committee of Petitions;
Amendment 30 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas each petition is carefully assessed and dealt with and each petitioner has the right to receive a reply within a reasonable period of timein the clear administrative procedure for petitions that were put in place by the Secretary- General of the European Parliament in 2014 and cover the whole lifecycle of a petition in the European Parliament and finally ensure to deliver realistic results in 9 months in written form to citizens instead of keeping false hopes by leaving petitions open for 2 and more years, as it was the case in the past;
Amendment 37 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas an additional criterion for the admissibility of petitions is whether the petitioner with the petition is directly affected; whereas, for this reason, Members of the European Parliament should refrain from submitting petitions for citizens and should instead make use of other parliamentary means.
Amendment 61 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas the web portal of the Committee on Petitions was launched on 19 November 2014 to replace the Europarl site’s previous electronic platform for filing petitions; whereas this portal has been designed as an integrated solution covering the specific needs of the petition process and which gives EU citizens wishing to file a petition an Internet tool better suited to their needs; whereas the portal will help improve the service and its visibility for citizens and committee members, and will act as an electronic register (planned in Rule 216(4) of the Rules of Procedure) through which citizens may lend or withdraw their support for existing petitions and affix their electronic signature to their own petitions; whereas the new portal has been designed to make the petition procedure more transparent and interactive, and administrative aspects more efficient, in the interest of petitioners, Members and the general public; whereas there can be no question but that its launch in November 2014 has helped to promote EU citizenship; welcomes the launch of the web portal, that brought the Committee on Petitions even closer to the citizens and sensitized the citizens on the capacity and possibilities of the Committee on Petitions to help them to redress their situation; emphasises that the use of new information and communication technology shall be further on stimulated to bring the Committee work closer to citizens and also further lead to EU budget savings;
Amendment 63 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas the web portal of the Committee on Petitions was launched on 19 November 2014 to replace the Europarl site’s previous electronic platform for filing petitions; whereas this portal has been designed as an integrated solution covering the specific needs of the petition process and which gives EU citizens wishing to file a petition an Internet tool better suited to their needs; whereas the portal will help improve the service and its visibility for citizens and committee members, and will act as an electronic register (planned in Rule 216(4) of the Rules of Procedure) through which citizens may lend or withdraw their support for existing petitions and affix their electronic signature to their ownfile and keep track of petitions; whereas the new portal has been designed to make the petition procedure more transparent and interactive, and administrative aspects more efficient, in the interest of petitioners, Members and the general public; whereas there can be no question but that its launch in November 2014 has helped to promote EU citizenship;
Amendment 75 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S
Recital S
S. whereas it should be noted that owing to the workload of the Committee on Petition, no fact-finding visits took place for petitions for which an inquiry was ongoing during 2014, but fact-finding visits have been scheduled for 2015remarks that in the future, fact-finding visits in conjunction with appropriate petitions will be carried out;
Amendment 81 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the fundamental role played by the Committee on Petitions in defending and promoting the rights of EU citizens and residents, ensuring that the concerns of petitioners are better recognised and their legitimate grievances are resolved wherever possible and within a reasonable timeframe;; points to the importance of complying with the administrative reform of the Secretary- General of the European Parliament of 2014, according to which admissible petitions requiring discussion should be discussed in the Committee within 9 months from the filing of the petition at the latest.
Amendment 106 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers it essential that cooperation with the parliaments and governments of Member States be strengthened and that Member State authorities be encouraged to be fully transparent in transposing and applying EU law; stresses the importance of collaboration with the Commission and the Member States and welcomes the presence of representatives of some Member States at meetingreiterates the call of the report on the activities of the Committee on Petitions 2013 (2014/2008 (INI)) for launching an enhanced structured dialogue with Member States namely by holding regular meetings with Members from national Committee on Petitions;
Amendment 111 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the EU Member States to legally standardise the obligation to create petition committees in national parliaments, which would increase the effectiveness of the cooperation between the Committee on Petitions and the national parliaments.
Amendment 113 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Underlines the growing importance of the Committee on Petitions in the European Parliament as a scrutiny committee, which should be a point of reference for the transposition and implementation of the European legislation on the administrative level in the Member states; reiterates the call of the report on the activities of the Committee on Petitions 2013 (2014/2008 (INI)) for more political debates during the plenary sessions and a more vivid communication on the petitions of European citizens;
Amendment 118 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Deplores the fact that the Charter of Fundamental Rights has not been adopted in all the EU Member States and that many people have found its implementation to be unclear and, to some extent, disappointing; deplordetermines the strict way in which the Commission has interpreted Article 51 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights with its stipulation that the provisions of the Charter are addressed to the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union with due regard for the principle of subsidiarity and to the Member States only when they are implementing Union law; recalls that the Commission has often said it is unable to act in the area of fundamental rights, when the Committee has so requested, citing Article 51 of the Charter; stresses the fact that the expectations of citizens are much greater than the Charter’s strictly legal provisions allow for; calls on the Commission to do more to meet citizens’ expectations and to find a new approach to the interpretation of Article 51;
Amendment 134 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes the concerns of petitioners regarding alleged cases of injustice that have occurred during the administrative and judicial procedures for separation or divorce of parents and issues relating to the custody of young children; notes in this context that in the case of bi-national couples, discrimination on grounds of nationality may occur in favour of the spouseparent from the Member State in which proceedings take place and against the non- national of that state, with severe and often very dramatic repercussions on the rights of the child; notes that the Committee on Petitions will conduct a fact-finding visit to the United Kingdom in 2015 to investigate complaints of this nature in situ; stresses that it has been notified of other cases involving other countries: Germany (notably in cases concerning the work of the Child and Youth Welfare Office), France and the Netherlands;
Amendment 135 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes the concerns of petitioners regarding alleged cases of injustice that have occurred during the administrative and judicial procedures for separation or divorce of parents and issues relating to the custody of young children; notes in this context that in the case of bi-national couples, discrimination on grounds of nationality may occur in favour of the spouse from the Member State in which proceedings take place and against the non- national of that state, with severe and often very dramatic repercussions on the rights of the child; notes that the Committee on Petitions will conduct a fact-finding visit to the United Kingdom in 2015 to investigate complaints of this nature in situ; stresses that it has been notified of other cases involving other countries: Germany (notably in cases concerning the work of the Child and Youth Welfare Office), France and, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway;
Amendment 136 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes the concerns of petitioners regarding alleged cases of injustice that have occurred during the administrative and judicial procedures for separation or divorce of parents and issues relating to the custody of young children; notes in this context that in the case of bi-national couples, discrimination on grounds of nationality may occur in favour of the spouse from the Member State in which proceedings take place and against the non- national of that state, with severe and often very dramatic repercussions on the rights of the child; notes that the Committee on Petitions will conduct a fact-finding visit to the United Kingdom in 2015 to investigate complaints of this nature in situ; ;stresses that it has been notified of other cases involving other countries: Germany (notably in cases concerning the work of the Child and Youth Welfare Office), France and the Netherlands;
Amendment 138 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Welcomes the social dialogue ‘European Forum on the Rights of the Child’ annually organised at the Commission’s initiative since 2007, the aim of which consists in supporting children’s rights as part of internal and external EU measures. The participants of this dialogue are: Representatives of the EU Member States, children’s rights representatives, the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee, Europarat, UNICEF, NGOs.
Amendment 140 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses the wide range of the subjects raised in the petitions filed by citizens, such as fundamental rights, the internal market, environmental law, public health issues, child welfare, transport, the disabled and animal rights; calls for further specialising the work of the Committee on Petitions by nominating internal rapporteurs on the major policies to which petitioners refer;
Amendment 162 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. AcknowledgEmphasises the important role of the SOLVIT network, which regularly uncovers and resolves problems linked to the implementation of internal market legislation; urges the Commission to upgrade this tool;
Amendment 169 #
2014/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Attaches great importance to the presence and active cooperation of representatives of the Member States during meetings of the Committee on Petitions; welcomes the presence of representatives from the public authorities of the Member State concerned, their participation and their active cooperation, with particular reference to the representatives of certain Member States such as Greece, Italy and Spain; encourages other Member States to follow their example; encourages all Member States to actively participate in the petition process;