Activities of Soledad CABEZÓN RUIZ related to 2017/2069(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU Citizenship Report 2017: Strengthening Citizens' Rights in a Union of Democratic Change (debate) ES
Amendments (57)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 2 February 2017 on recommendations to the Commission on cross border aspects of adoptions
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)
Citation 2 b (new)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 c (new)
Citation 2 c (new)
- having regard to the Council conclusions of 29 February2017 on the Single Market strategy1cand especially to the document on the Outcome of the informal meeting of SOLVIT Centres held in Lisbon on 18 September 20151d _________________ 1c Council document 6622/16 1d Council document 14268/15
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 2 February 2016 on ‘learning EU at school’,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)
Citation 3 b (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 2 March 2017 on the implementation of the Europe for Citizens Programme,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 c (new)
Citation 3 c (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 6 October 2016 on the 2014 Annual report on monitoring the application of Union law,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to respect for the rule of law, enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 c (new)
Citation 5 c (new)
- having regard to Article 3(2) of the Treaty on European Union enshrining the right of freedom of movement of persons,
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 c (new)
Citation 5 c (new)
- having regard to Article 165 of the Treaty on European Union,
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6
Citation 6
– having regard to Articles 2, 6 and 9-12 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), to Articles 18-25 of the TFEU and to Articles 11 and 39-46 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights,
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas access to EU citizenship is gained through nationality of a Member State, which is regulated by national laws; whereas at the same time, rights and duties emerge from this institution which are laid down by EU law and do not depend on the Member States; whereas for the above reason it is equally true that these rights and obligations cannot be limited in an unjustified manner by the Member States, including by their sub-state authorities;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas EU citizens trust in the Member States, including their sub-state authorities, to apply both Community law and their national laws, which is a precondition for the effective exercise of rights deriving from the EU citizenship which they hold;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas any unilateral change in the borders of a Member State constitutes, at the very least, a violation of Articles 2, 3.2 and 4.2 of the Treaty on European Union, as well as jeopardising enjoyment of all the rights deriving from EU citizenship;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the prospect of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU (Brexit) has highlighted the importance of EU citizenship rights and their crucial role in the everyday lives of millions of EU citizens, and has raised awareness in the EU about the potential loss of rights that Brexit would entail on both sides with special regard to the 3 million EU citizens resident in the UK and the 1.2million UK citizens resident in the EU;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas the right to free movement and its exercise is central to EU citizenship and complements the other freedoms of the EU internal market; whereas young Europeans in particular consider free movement, which ranks first among EU citizens in terms of recognition and popularity, as the EU’s most positive achievement, after ensuring peace;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas as petitions and complaints addressed to the European Commission and to SOLVIT have shown, EU citizens face notable difficulties in exercising this right, owing to administrative burdens and bureaucracy in Member States, and to misinformation and/or a lack of cooperation by Member State authorities;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the principle ofArticle 21 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights explicitly prohibits non- discrimination on the basis of nationality, sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or beliefbased on any grounds such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation is as the primary expression of EU citizenship; whereas it forms at the same time a crucial component of the successful exercise of the freedom of movement, as evidenced in petitions;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Takes note of the Commission’s 2017 EU Citizenship Report, which contains an enumeration of priorities by field of activity; expresses its doubt as to whether these priorities will effectively answer citizens’ concerns; regrets the lack of well-defined, concrete commitments and actions for the next three years;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Takes note of the Commission’s willingness to increase its efforts in order to inform the European citizens of their rights whereas strongly recalls the predominant importance of a timely and effective enforcement of them ;reminds that the correct application of EU law is a shared responsibility of the Member States and the European institutions; underlines in that respect the crucial role the Commission has to play as the Guardian of the Treaties in the implementation of the articles 258-260 TFEU;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Urges the Commission to speed up its EU law enforcement policy by using all available tools mechanisms in order to bring a correct application of EU law closer to the citizens.
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes with regret that the Commission’s 2017 EU Citizenship Report makes no reference to the right to petition, to the right to refer to the European Ombudsman or to, the right to access documents or the right to access registers;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recommends that the Commission introduces an entry register at all of its headquarters, including at the representation offices in the Member States, to enable citizens to address any EU institution in writing or face-to-face with the proper guarantees;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Recommends that the Commission introduce, in cooperation with universal postal service providers, a messaging system with certification of content, date and sender, so that citizens can address the European institutions remotely in writing with the proper guarantees;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Expresses strong regret that for almost a decade now little progress has been made in the adoption of the EU-wide Anti- Discrimination Directive; calls upon all EU institutions and especially upon the Council of the European union to conclude the relevant negotiations as soon as possiblean utmost priority;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Regrets the existing opt-outs from parts of the EU treaties by some Member States which undermine and generate de facto differences in citizens’ rights that are intended to be equal under the EU Treaties
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Invites the Commission to take more active steps against LGBTI discrimination and to combat homophobia by defining concrete action to be taken at national and European levels; calls at the same time for the EU institutions to monitor LGBTI rights closely and to promote the recognition of cross-border rights for LGBTI persons and their families in the EU; calls upon legislators to expedite their activities with regard to the adoption of a comprehensive directive on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States as regards the accessibility requirements for products and services including different modes of transportation;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Expresses its deep concern about the number of Roma people in Europe, who are victims of discriminatory birth registration, have therefore no identity documents, are denied access to essential basic services in their countries of residence, which also lead to their denial of access to any rights in the EU; calls on Member States to take immediate corrective measures in this regard to safeguard the enjoyment of their fundamental human rights and all the rights provided by EU citizenship; calls on the Commission to assess and monitor the situation in Member States and initiate legally binding legislation on the identification and protection of people whose citizenship have not been recognised and have no access to identity documents
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes with appreciation the Commission’s efforts to make multiple information and assistance outlets about the EU and Citizenship rightthe rights it confers to its citizens, such as the Europe Direct network, the Your Europe portal and the e- justice portal, available and more accessible; urges the Commission to systematise the information and possibly plan for a single, EU-wide information window; at the same time, invites the Member States to promote the SOLVIT network and its services among EU citizens, as well as other redress mechanisms, both at EU level, such as the Committee on Petitions and the European Ombudsman and at national level, such as the local ombudsman;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on the Commission to reinforce the SOLVIT network by improving the interaction between its services and national centres in order to ensure a better follow-up of unresolved and repetitive cases as well as a greater articulation between the different EU law enforcement tools such as EU PILOT and CHAP ;at the same time, invites the Member States to promote the SOLVIT network and its services among EU citizens, as well as other redress mechanisms, both at EU level, such as the Committee on Petitions and the European Ombudsman and at national level, such as the local ombudsman;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Calls on Member States to better inform EU citizens as to their rights and duties, and to facilitate entitlement to these rights being respected equally both in their country of origin and in any other Member State
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Points out that citizens should have access to all the necessary information, which should be presented in a clear and comprehensible way, in order to be able to make informed decisions on the exercise of their Treaty rights, and especially their right to free movement, which is one of the key elements of EU citizenship, and residence within the EU; recommends the promotion of transparency and proactive publishing as the most appropriate tools to that end;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Recalls that the Committee on Petitions has been advocating the adoption of a binding treaty related to access by blind and visually impaired persons to published works since 2011;welcomes the inter-institutional agreement reached to implement the Marrakesh Treaty in EU copyright law, and reiterates its call for a swift ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty by the EU and its Member States
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Recalls that access to health services, coordination of social security schemes and recognition of professional qualifications in other Member States are the areas where EU citizens are often facing difficulties and calls for a vigorous enforcement by the Commission in order to redress those situations ;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 e (new)
Paragraph 9 e (new)
9e. Urges the Commission to launch an Education for European Citizenship strategy incorporating a proposed guideline curriculum, in the form of a recommendation to the Council and which Member State education systems could adopt, on the basis of Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 f (new)
Paragraph 9 f (new)
9f. Encourages Member States to give more space to political education on EU affairs, inter alia on EU citizens’ rights, in their school curricula and to adapt teacher training accordingly; considers that Member States should promote school visits to EU institutions in their educational systems; emphasises that accessible education plays a vital role in informing future citizens
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on European political parties to effectively tackle the problem of decreasing levels of voters turnout and the widening gap between citizens and the EU institutions; considers the nomination of Europe wide candidates for Commission president by European political parties an important step towards building a genuine European public space, but is convinced that the prospect of a Europeanisation of the electoral campaign can only be achieved through pan-European activities and networks of local and national media, especially public ones in the fields of radio, TV, seminars and the internet
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Believes that the reform of the Electoral Act on the basis of Parliament’s legislative initiative is an unmissable opportunity for the Union to become more democratic; highlights the fact that thousands of Europeans share this view, as evidenced by the ‘Let me Vote’ European Citizens’ Initiative, which aims to allow citizens to vote in their place of residence; commends the Commission for exploring the possibilities for non-national EU citizens who have exercised their right to free movement to vote in national elections in the country in which they reside; whereas various complaints have been received with regard to the exercise of the right to vote in European and municipal elections, and also with regard to disenfranchisement in relation to national elections after a period of time spent abroad; urges the Commission to devise a concrete action plan for the introduction of electronic voting with a view to the 2019 European Parliament elections;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Recognises that knowledge and the full exercise of the rights linked to Union citizenship, including participation in European Parliament elections, requires not only information but also training campaigns;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Encourages the ‘Europe for Citizens’ programme to finance more innovative projects with the potential to have a systemic impact, leaving behind the paradigm based on financing seminars and exchanges of best practice that are simply drops in the ocean, however much of a transnational component they may have;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)
Paragraph 11 d (new)
11d. Proposes, with the aim of strengthening Union citizenship and the exercise of that citizenship, that the Commission should encourage local authorities to designate councillors responsible for European affairs, since this is the level that is closest to citizens;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 e (new)
Paragraph 11 e (new)
11e. Takes the view that Union citizenship requires action by the Commission to strengthen the European cultural dimension; suggests creating the ‘Get to Know Europe’ programme in parallel with and as a complement to ‘Europe for Citizens’;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. ERecalls the fundamental right to freedom of expression and information enshrined in article 11 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights ; expresses its conviction that free media and access to a plurality of voices in society and in the media are an indispensable part of a healthy democracy and constitutes therefore a constitutional foundation of EU membership as enshrined in Articles 2 and 6 of the TEU; underlines the need for a defined EU policy to tackle anti- European propaganda and false information; proposes that EU institutions proceed with the creation of a European television channel broadcasting in all Member Statesunderlines the need for a defined EU policy to tackle anti-European propaganda and false information;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Deplores any populist rhetoric that aims to create discriminatory practices based on grounds of nationality
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Maintains that transparency is a key tool for bringing citizens closer to the EU and involving them in its activities; notes that access to documents represents 30% of the inquiries closed by the European Ombudsman in 2016 and therefore recommends the promotion of the right to access documents and the translation of as many documents as possible into all EU languages; calls for an horizontal directive on whistle-blowing which sets out appropriate channels and procedures for reporting cases; supports the intensification of dialogue with citizens and the encouragement of public debates in order to improve EU citizens’ understanding of the impact of the EU on their daily lives and to allow them to take part in an exchange of views, through slots in television programmes for targeted audiences;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Supports the promotion of a culture of service among EU and national institutions and considers that the EU should lead by example through the highest administrative and transparency standards, as envisaged elsewhere inin accordance with Article 41 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights; proposes that local EU offices in the Member States be transformed into one- stop shops, offering comprehensive services for EU citizens, so as to reduce bureaucracy and the obstacles it poses to the exercise of EU citizenship rights; highlights the importance of the ‘once only’ project, which eliminates unnecessary burdens for European businesses that are asked to present the same data and documents repeatedly in their operations across borders;
Amendment 185 #
14a. Recognises that the UK withdrawal from the EU will be the first instance in the history of the EU that citizens will have their rights, that have been acquired through the treaties, removed, and highlights the impact this loss of rights will have on citizens on both sides;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Recommends to both the European Union and the UK that the acquired rights of citizens to live, work, have recognition of qualifications, and to own a business are maintained to the fullest possible extent following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Urges all Member States to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and to sign the Protocol; “In the context of the ratification of this Convention, urges the Commission to take the necessary measures to enable persons with disabilities to exercise their full right as a European citizen, without any form of discrimination
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)
Paragraph 14 d (new)
14d. Stresses the need to further develop, as an integral part of the Union´s citizenship, a European common conscience oriented towards the future, pluralistic, transcultural and open to migration flows and influences from the rest of the world;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 e (new)
Paragraph 14 e (new)
14e. To establish a European public holiday on May 9 in order to reinforce a European feeling of belonging to the European family; and the creation of a single European identity card
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Urges the Member States to guarantee that their national legislation is sufficiently clear and detailed to ensure that the right to free movement of citizens and their families is respected; to proceed with the proper training of competent national authorities in this respect on the basis of an electronic learning tool and to disseminate accurate information to interested parties in a precise manner; to foster, furthermore, good cooperation and a swift exchange of information with other national administrations, especially where cross-border insurance and old age pensions are concerned; urges the Commission to submit a proposal for an act on the cross-border recognition of adoption orders;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Regrets the existence of cross- border obstacles in civil or social matters, such as family law or pensions, that prevent many citizens from enjoying full EU citizenship
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15d. Regrets that the options for redress open to parents and children in the event of separation or divorce are not the same in each Member State, with the result that hundreds of parents in Europe have contacted the Committee on Petitions to urge it to be more active despite it having very limited competences in this area
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 f (new)
Paragraph 15 f (new)
15f. Welcomes the launch of the EU solidarity corps for young European citizens and asks for the initiative to be properly funded and that quality jobs are not replaced by unpaid volunteering;
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 g (new)
Paragraph 15 g (new)
15g. Urges the Commission and Council to guarantee that refugees and migrants can enjoy all the rights linked to Union citizenship, and in particular the right to free movement and free movement of labour, as well as access to health, education, the labour market and culture;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 h (new)
Paragraph 15 h (new)