11 Amendments of Saskia BRICMONT related to 2024/2019(DEC)
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the progress in the implementation of Member States' national programmes in 2023; notes with concern that, despite the requirement to spend all funds for the programming period 2014- 2020 by June 2024, 18% of AMIF funds and 25% of ISF funds allocated to Member States for that period remain undeclared;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Notes that the Court of Auditors (the ‘Court’) audited spending areas comprising various policies related to migration and security, namely the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), the Internal Security Fund (ISF), and the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI);
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Deplores the fact that seven out of the 23 transactions examined by the Court contained errors; stresses that four of them were quantifiable errors related to ineligible expenditure, the absence of supporting documents and public procurement issues, which had a financial impact on the amounts charged to the Union budget; further deplores that seven out of ten transactions examined by the Court concerned cases of non- compliance with legal and financial provisions, and that three transactions did not comply with the principles of sound financial management; urges the Commission to address that situation and report to the discharge authority about the progress achieved;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Takes note that the Court reviewed DG HOME’s estimates for risks at payment and at closure and found that they were calculated and reported in the Annual Management and Performance Report (AMPR) in accordance with internal methodology; calls on the Commission to follow the recommendations by the Court in this regard;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the Commission’s timely proposal to increase the ceilings of Headings 4 and 6 as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework mid- term revision with a view to ensuring sufficient funding for the implementation of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum; stresses the need to ensure adequate and timely Union funding for Member States and UnionStresses the need to ensure adequate, timely and more balanced Union funding for JHA agencies to facilitate the smooth implementation of Union law in the areas of asylum and migrationspective areas; calls on the Commission to monitor and assist in the timely progress of the administrative, operational and legal steps required by Member States and Union agencies for the full implementation of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum by Summer 2026provide timely assistance in this regard;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes with concern thatthat according to The International Organization of Migration (IOM), the number of migrants arriving irregularly in the Union increased again in 2023 as compared to previous years; further notes the Commission’s ongoing efforts to assist Member States in addressing irregular arrivals and in successfully integrating legally residing third-country nationals; recalls that, while the Commission should continue to take action on migration and asylum within the framework of external ac, but decreased again in 20241a; calls on the Commission to ensure the transparency and accountability of the programming and implementation, of the functioning of the ‘Team Europe’ approach must be clarified while safeguarding the role of Parliament; calls on the Commission to increase the transparency and accountability of the programming and implementation of theUnion home affairs funds, including in third countries; recalls that splitting the budgetary lines in accordance to the specific objectives of Union home affairs funds in thirdand programmes will countries; renewbute to enhance transparency; reiterates its call on the Commission to suppfort the Union agencies and the Member States in coordinating effective search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean, ensuring that such actions are carried out in accordance with international and Union law;establishment of a comprehensive EU SAR mission implemented by the Member States’ competent authorities and Frontex2a; _________________ 1a https://dtm.iom.int/europe/arrivals 2a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc ument/TA-9-2023-0293_EN.html
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Acknowledges the Commission’s important role in continuously monitoring of rule of law benchmarksituation in all the Member States through the rule of law toolbox, including the annual rule of law report, while remaining concerned that, by adopting an overly diplomatic approach and failing to distinguish between individual and systemic issues, the annual rule of law report risks trivialising some of the most serious breaches of the rule of law; repeats therefore its call on the Commission to come up with specific enforcement actions whenever shortcomings are identified; reiterates its regret and serious concern with respect to the lawfulness of the Commission’s decision concluding that, in Hungary, the horizontal enabling condition of the Charter had been fulfilled in relation to judicial independence which decision, thus enableding the Hungarian authorities to start claiming reimbursements of up to approximately EUR 10,2 billion from Union funds; calls on3a; urges the Commission to take steps towardsinclude, strictly monitor and safeguard the DRF conditions in all budgetary instruments and processes, as well as to apply the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation further and without delay where needed; further urges the Commission to ensure the full implementation of Parliament’s recommendations on the establishment of an EU mechanism for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, contained in its resolutions of 25 October 20161 and of 7 October 20205a, and to also ensure that assessments of rule of law benchmarks are more precise and qualitative than is presently the case, relying not only on legislative changes, but also on real and independent evidence of their implementation in practice; _________________ 1 3a European Parliament resolution of 25 October 2016 with recommendat8 February 2024 report on the Commission’s to the Commission2023 Rule of Law report (2023/2113(INI)) (C/2024/6743, 26.11.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/6743/oj). 5a European Parliament resolution of 7 October 2020 on the establishment of an EU mMechanism on dDemocracy, the rRule of lLaw and fFundamental rRights (2015/225420/2072(INLI)) (OJ C 21395, 129.69.20218, p. 162).
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates its great concern over the delays in the Commission’s procedures for granting access to documents; urges the Commission to address these deficiencies promptly, in line with Parliament’s recommendations;recalls the EP call that if the Commission does not address the systematic and significant delays in its processing of requests for public access to documents, Parliament will consider using all available parliamentary instruments to address the matter6a; urges the Commission to address these deficiencies promptly, in line with Parliament’s and European Ombudsman’s recommendations; _________________ 6a European Parliament resolution of 14 March 2024 on the time the European Commission takes to deal with requests for public access to documents (2023/2941(RSP)) (OJ C, C/2024/6560, 12.11.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/6560/oj).
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Considers that civil society and NGOs play an instrumental role in shaping policies that benefit society and our environment; recalls the commitment of the Commission in its political guidelines to step up its engagement with civil society organisations that have expertise and an important role to play in defending specific societal issues and upholding human rights; urges the Commission to revise its guidelines1a from May 2024 in order to ensure the continuation of the funding of NGO activities, including advocacy, under the LIFE programme; considers that discontinuation of this funding for all NGO activities would seriously undermine the voice of civil society in the public debate and would cause a severe reputational risk for the Commission; _________________ 1a Guidance on funding for activities related to the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of Union legislation and policy
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Continues to strongly regret the Commission’s lack of enforcement measures and legislative follow-up to Parliament’s recommendations, including regarding the use of Pegasus and equivalent spyware and the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in the form of an inter-institutional agreement; calls urgently on the Commission to respect the principle of sincere cooperation between Union institutions and to follow- up on Parliament's recommendations accordingly; further calls on the Commission to present, without undue delay, an action plan to prevent the abuse of spyware in the Union, making full use of all available legislative and non-legislative means provided by the Treaties.
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Recalls that according to Article 11(2) TEU, Union institutions must maintain an open, transparent and structured dialogue with civil society organisations and representative associations, and stresses in particular in this regard that success to structural funding is a prerequisite to ensuring public participation without which it would not be possible for citizens to have their voice channelled at the EU level through their representative associations, sustain a regular dialogue with EU institutions contributing to democratic participation in policy making, an open and wide-ranging dialogue, ensuring that the diversity of views and concerns are taken into account with equal access for public interest as compared to commercial interest, exercise a monitoring role on the implementation of EU policies and legislation, including the use of EU funds or act as checks and balances to the rule of law; recalls the commitment of the Commission in its political guidelines to step up its engagement with civil society organisations that have expertise and an important role to play in defending specific societal issues and upholding human rights; this entails that while the Commission should not mandate NGOs to pursue certain activities or support specific positions or policies, it remains fundamental that civil society organisations, through EU funding can engage in an “open, transparent and structured dialogue with Union institutions”, as enshrined in article 11 TEU, through activities such as advocacy activities, demonstrations, or judicial actions and these should remain eligible in the relevant funding programs and have sufficient dedicated funding available.