13 Amendments of Juozas OLEKAS related to 2020/1998(BUD)
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Regrets that the new nomenclature for the external action part as proposed by the Commission is much less detailed than the previous one, reducing transparency, predictability, accountability, scrutiny, and limiting the budgetary authority’s capacity to make budgetary choices reflecting political priorities; insists, therefore, that a more differentiated budget structure, with dedicated lines for the most important beneficiaries and sub- regions, is needed; notes that the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Development have proposed a revised nomenclature that is adapted to the new instruments, but introduces a higher level of detail by creating new budget lines within the extremely broad geographic and thematic lines proposed by the Commission; emphasises that the revised nomenclature enjoys strong support in both committees;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Rejects the deep cuts to heading 6 in the European Council agreement on the MFF of 21 July 2020, which would leave the NDICI at a lower level than its predecessor instruments during the current financial programming period, at a time when EU leadership is needed more desperately than ever; regrets the European Council's decision to discard the external pillar of Next Generation EU, namely the top-up of EUR 10,5 billion for the NDICI proposed by the Commission; calls for significant reinforcements for the NDICI as one of the EU's flagship programmes;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for increased funding levels for all geographic and thematic programmes under the NDICI, in line with its first-reading position on the latter; reiterates its position that the thematic programmes within the NDICI, including on human rights and democracy and on EU elections observation missions, should be reinforced in order to allow the Union to maintain its strong role in these priority areas; underlines that its position on the allocations for the NDICI is fully aligned with the amounts laid down in Parliament's first-reading position on the NDICI;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Rejects the introduction of an “emerging challenges and priorities cushion” budget line, with no substantial information on the intended use of the funds under this line provided by the Commission; insists that such a blank cheque is not compatible with the principles of transparency and democratic accountability and undermines the budgetary authority's prerogatives;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Believes that it is important to continue confidence building with the Eastern Partnership countries and especially with the associated ones; underlines the importance of promoting fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law; therefore calls for the allocations to Azerbaijan and Belarus to be limited to support to civil society and non-state actors, as well as people-to- people contacts;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Recalls the challenges the countries of South Neighbourhood are facing especially due to the tumultuous developments in the region, including but not limited to the COVID-19 emergency and the security environment; is of the opinion that, especially following the dramatic events in Lebanon, an increased support should be foreseen;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. In order to support a peaceful resolution to the Libyan conflict proposes the creation of a dedicated budget line for "the support to the political process in Libya";
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Calls for an increased financial support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in recognition of the essential role played by UNRWA as unique provider of vital services for millions of Palestine refugees and as an investment towards security, stability and development in the region;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Points out that the revised nomenclature proposed by the Committee on Foreign Affairs envisages separate budget lines for the Western Balkans and Turkey; insists on the need for dedicated budget lines for Turkey in view of the highly sensitive nature of EU funding for Turkey; underlines that due to the lack of progress on democracy, the rule of law and the protection of human rights, the allocations for Turkey should be limited to the so called fundamentals, be directly managed by the EU and focus exclusively on support for civil society and people-to- people contacts with the objective of protecting and promoting democratic values and principles, human rights and the rule of law;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Regrets the low level of funding for heading 5, and in particular for the European Defence Fund and for military mobility; calls for a significant increase of funding so as to meet the ambition of the EU in the defence area;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Following the recent worrying developments in Belarus, calls for an increase in the allocations for the Special Representatives and for the creation of a new Special Representative for Belarus, to support the process for a peaceful transition of power in accordance with the will of the Belarusian people.;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6d. Calls for the increase of budget lines on Foreign Policy Needs and Priorities, Crisis Response and Civilian CSDP emergency measures in order to deal with the dramatic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic;
Amendment 62 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 e (new)
Paragraph 6 e (new)
6e. Recalls that the respect of human rights worldwide continues to be a core business for EU external action and enough financing should be available to face the multiple human rights crises throughout the world; reiterates its strong support to human rights defenders, including environmental defenders, in particular those most at risk, and calls for adequate funds to support the project Protect Defenders EU in order to extend and reinforce its protection;