Activities of Katalin CSEH related to 2020/2170(DEC)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2019
Amendments (12)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that the Agency is partly financed from the fees it receives from companies that request the registration of chemicals as required under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006; notes that the applicable fees depend on the size of the companies and the volume of chemicals registered (different thresholds); notes that, according to the Court’s report, since the first registrations in 2009, some 26 % of the companies claimed to be micro, small or medium sized; notes with concern, however, that thanks to the Agency’s effective system of ex-post verifications, the Agency has identified that some 50 % of the companies had incorrectly declared their size, resulting in lower fees; stresses that this finding demonstrates the limitations of a system that relies excessively on self-declarations made by applicants; notes that, in order to mitigate this situation, the Agency has, over the years, invoiced and cashed fee corrections and administrative charges amounting to EUR 32,2 million, and that the Agency has made considerable progress in recovering undue fee reductions and collecting overdue administrative charges; notes, however, that there is still a considerable verification workload ahead and that the remaining amount of necessary fee corrections was unknown at the end of 2019; calls on the Agency to report to the discharge authority on its efforts, and on the results achieved, to continue to reduce the considerable verification bacworklogad and to implement the fee corrections;
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes, regarding follow-up of the Court’s previous years’ findings, that the Agency has revenues coming both from fees and charges payable by industry and a balancing subsidy from the Union budget; notes that, as the third registration deadline under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 expired in May 2018, income from fees and charges is expechas started to drop significantly from 2019 onwards and this trend is expected to continue; points out that there is a risk that relatively stable expenditure and much less predictable revenue may have a negative effect on the Agency’s operations and budget implementation; takes note, however, that according to the Agency’s reply, it has engaged proactively and has on-going discussions with the Commission to work towards ensuring sustainable financing and overcoming challenges in its financing model; calls on the Agency and the Commission to keep the discharge authority updated on developments in this regard; points out that relying on a predictable balancing subsidy from the Union budget, combined with transferring the income from fees and charges to the Commission, may guarantee more predictable revenue for the Agency, necessary to fulfil its mandate;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 a (new)
Subheading 1 a (new)
Sustainability
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Welcomes the efforts made by the Agency to create an environment-friendly working frame and all the measures taken by the Agency to reduce its carbon footprint, its energy consumption and to develop a paperless workflow and particularly the Director’s pledge to reach carbon neutrality by 2030;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Calls on the Agency to continue to develop its synergies, increase cooperation and exchange of good practices with other European agencies with a view to improve efficiency (human resources, buildingmanagement, IT services and security);
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Stresses the importance to increase the digitalisation of the Agency in terms of internal operations and management procedures; stresses the need for the Agency to continue to be proactive in this regard in order to avoid a digital gap between the agencies at all costs; draws attention, however, to the need to take all the necessary security measures to avoid any risk to the online security of the information processed;
Amendment 17 #
6 c. Recalls the importance for the Agency to develop greater visibility in the media, internet, and social media in order to make its work known;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Encourages the Agency to pursue the development ofa long term Human Resources policy framework which addresses the work-life balance, the lifelong guidance and career development, the gender balance, the teleworking, the geographical balance and the recruitment and integration of people with disabilities;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Underlines the fact that the current ethical framework applying to Union institutions and agencies suffers from considerable drawbacks due to its fragmentation and lack of coordination between existing provisions; highlights that these issues should be addressed by setting up a common ethical framework, ensuring the application of high ethical standards for all Union institutions and agencies; considers that public officials are not in a position to conduct self- assessments regarding ethical situations or in instances of conflicts of interest; believes that this should fall under the competences of an independent specialised third party; calls under these circumstances, for the creation of an Union independent ethics body, responsible for the implementation of the common ethical framework for all Union institutions and agencies;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes that the process of moving to the Agency’s new premises in Helsinki began on 21 December 2019 and the new building was open and operational for the Agency’s staff at the beginning of January 2020, concluding four years of preparations for relocating staff; notes that the move is due to the partial malfunctioning of its previous building, particularly as regards air quality;