9 Amendments of Hilde VAUTMANS related to 2024/2030(DEC)
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises FRA’s guidance and engagement in the area of asylum and migration, including cooperation with the European Union Asylum Agency (EUAA) to enhancing the understanding of the importance of guardians and legal representatives assisting unaccompanied children seeking international protection within the Union and the training provided to staff of Europol enhancing awareness and understanding of fundamental rights considerations in relevant operational contexts; welcomes FRA’s timely input on the temporary protection directive implementation in the context of refugees fleeing from Ukraine, as well as on identifying the challenges with regard to the implementation of Union law on long- term residence, and the list of actions the Union and its Member States can take to reduce fatalities at sea;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes with satisfaction that FRA provided fundamental rights analysis and expertise to support the activities and work of other EU justice and home affairs (JHA) agencies, including the EUAA, Frontex, Europol, the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large- Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA), and European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL); calls on FRA to determine the extent to which the rule of law and fundamental rights are intrinsically linked, and how its work could be incorporated or developed in synergy with that of the European Commission in the framework of the annual Rule of Law Report;
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes the new Interoperability roadmap; regrets that the new timeline for the roll-out and interoperability of EU information systems was necessary due to delays in development of the Entry/Exit System (EES), European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and European Criminal Records Information System on third-country nationals (ECRIS-TCN); calls on eu-LISA to prioritise the swift implementation of those information systems and set a new specific operational start date; underlines that swift, effective, and reliable information exchange is critical for sustaining and strengthening the Union’s area of freedom, security, and justice;
Amendment 80 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Acknowledges the essential role Frontex plays in Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, with maritime and aerial assets deployed in joint operations responding to 785 incidents involving 43 508 migrants, underscoring the critical contribution of Frontex to humanitarian efforts; expresses its deep regret at the recurring tragic loss of life in the Mediterranean with over 4,000 people being dead or missing on Mediterranean and Northwest Africa maritime routes in 2023 accoring to UNHCR; renews its call for the establishment of a comprehensive EU SAR mission implemented by the Member States’ competent authorities and Frontex;
Amendment 87 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights the positive progress in implementing Fundamental Rights targets, including the ongoing execution of the Fundamental Rights Action Plan and the independent evaluation of the Agency’s compliance with the Fundamental Rights Framework, in line with the EBCG Regulation; welcomes the proactive follow-up by Frontex on complaints related to fundamental rights, with the majority being dismissed for non-admissibility; highlights the importance of close cooperation with national authorities to ensure the appropriate follow-up on allegations of fundamental rights violations in line with national fundamental rights mechanisms; stresses that Frontex officers must avoid involvement in any actions that could directly or indirectly violate fundamental rights; welcomes Frontex's reinforced commitment to transparency and accountability; stresses the need for more detailed post-operation information;
Amendment 98 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes with appreciation that most Fundamental Rights targets were met in 2023, contributing to a more robust and rights-based approach to Frontex operations; regrets, despite official replies by the Executive Director of Frontex, the lack of concrete action on some of the opinions issued by the FRO and thus calls for continued focus on implementing concretesuch actions based on the recommendations of the FRO and for further strengthening Frontex’s human rights framework;
Amendment 101 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Acknowledges the reception of 217 reported incidents of alleged violations of fundamental rights, the submission of 104 serious incident reports in 2023, 48 of which were related to fundamental rights, which also highlightsthe reception of 64 complaints via the Frontex Complaints Mechanism, the launch of 55 serious incident investigations in 2023, and the closure of 39 serious incidents, with fundamental rights violations found to have likely happened in nearly 50 % of the closed cases; acknowledges that the conducted investigations also highlight Frontex's commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement;
Amendment 118 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the Commission, in light of the challenging migration crisiincrease in irregular arrivals, to follow up on Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s statement of July 2024 declaring that Frontex is well-positioned to further increase its staff to up to 30 000 agents; underlines that this expansion would significantly enhance Frontex’s capacity to manage migration flows and ensure security and the respect for fundamental rights at the Union’s external borders, reinforcing its vital role in the Union’s broader migration strategy.
Amendment 154 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Further acknowledges the Commission's efforts towards a stronger and more secure Europe, as outlined by President Ursula von der Leyen in her statement of 2024; calls on the Commission to double Europol's staff and increase its funding, and recognise Europol’s central role in ensuring security across the Union and its capacity to respond to emerging threats; further underlines that this expansion will further enhance Europol's ability to support Member States in combating serious and organised crime, both online and offline, thereby contributing to a safer and more secure Europe for all.