Activities of Amjad BASHIR related to 2015/2154(DEC)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014, Section III – Commission and executive agencies
Amendments (7)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with concern that the estimated level of error in the policy area of employment and social affairs is 3,7 % in 2014, which is slightly higher than in the previous year (3,1 %); highlights that this represents a step backwards in achieving an error rate that is below the target of 2%;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers that the continued focus on compliance rather than results represents an inefficient use of public funds; calls on the Commission to further develop result indicators and monitoring systems with a view to increasing the efficiency of future operating programmes;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes the Court’s observations about the increased risk of irregularities in cases of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) participating in Horizon 2020; supports the Commission’s reply that SMEs' involvement in the programme is crucial for the creation of growth and jobs and; welcomes that the administrative rules for SMEs have been simplified and stresses that further simplification would lead to a higher involvement of SMEs;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes that SMEs are Europe's biggest job creators and considers that more can be done to increase their participation across EU funding programmes; calls on the Commission to introduce further measures that encourage the active participation of SMEs including the application of the think-small-first principle;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Is alarmed by the findings of Court of Auditors’ Special Report 17/2015 regarding the redirection of ESF funding during the period 2012 - 2014; notes with concern the shortcomings in the Commission's reporting on the impact of these funds and highlights the considerable gap in financial accountability that this represents; considers that further moves towards results-based policy making are vital to ensuring sound financial accountability and an efficient use of public funds;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Considers that the promotion of broader use of simplified cost options can lead to the reduction of the administrative burden on the beneficiaries; highlights that the introduction of Annual Burden Reduction Targets that include EU funding programmes would increase compliance and therefore contribute to a reduction in the error rate;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls upon the Commission to bring forward proposals for an Annual Burden Survey which also covers EU funding programmes with a view to reducing the administrative burden, increasing compliance and therefore reducing the error rate;