Activities of Vlad GHEORGHE related to 2021/2025(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the Commission’s 2020 Rule of law report - COM(2020)0580
Amendments (11)
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines the high number of petitions received from citizens concerned about the breaches of the rule of law in their respective countries and with the consequences of such breaches on their lives; stresses that full protection of Union citizens’ rights can be ensured throughout the Union only if all Member States comply with all the principles underlying the rule of law, as deficiencies in one Member State have an impact on other Member States and the Union as a whole; stresses that inadequate implementation of rule of law principles jeopardises EU objectives in all policy areas, thus creating an environment where legislation indifferent policy sectors cannot be executed in a correct and timely manner;highlights in this regard the responsibility of the EU institutions in assisting and monitoring the application of the rule of law by Member States
Amendment 4 #
1 a. Invites the Commission to provide in its further reports an assessment of the impact of identified deficiencies and breaches on the subsequent allocation of the EU funds under the conditionality mechanism; stresses the crucial role of rule of law enforcement tools in achieving effective implementation of the values enshrined in Art.2 TEU; calls, therefore, on the Commission to guarantee effective operationalisation of the Report findings in concrete policy actions; calls on the Commission to provide a higher level of visibility of NGOs contributions and public consultation results when drafting its future Reports;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Stresses that more fact-finding missions need to be organised to assess the major rule of law concerns in relevant Member States;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. HCalls on the Commission to continue to assess rigorously and objectively whether press freedom is respected in all Member States; highlights that the COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed the importance of strengthening independent journalism and access to pluralistic information as key enablers of rule of law and democratic accountability able to provide citizens with fact-checked information, thereby contributing to the fight against disinformation; deplores the fact that in a number of Member States, journalists have increasingly faced physical threats and online harassment, especially female journalists; regrets that such attacks often lead to self-censorship and undermine citizens' right to information;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights that the COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed the importance of strengthening independent journalism, whistleblower protection and access to pluralistic information as key enablers of rule of law and democratic accountability able to provide citizens with fact-checked information, thereby contributing to the fight against disinformation; deplores the fact that in a number of Member States, journalists have increasingly faced physical threats and online harassment, especially female journalists;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines that the Court of Justice of the European Union recently ruled2 that civil society organisations must be able to operate without unjustified interference by the state, acknowledging that the right to freedom of association constitutes one of the essential bases of a democratic and pluralist society; is seriously concerned that some NGOs active in the area of migration and LGBTI+ rights are subject to smear campaigns, and face severe restriction of the civic space where they can operate.; deplores the stillpersistent phenomenon of strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP); highlights that politicisation in public procurement undermines good governance and underlines that the activities of NGOs and CSOs are crucial in countering this malpractice; believes that strong safeguard measures must betaken to prevent this phenomenon from occurring; _________________ 2Judgment of 18 June 2020, Commission v Hungary, C-78/18, EU:C:2020:476, paragraphs 112 and 113.
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Underlines the necessity to raise awareness among the EU citizens and residents on the means and procedures available at national and EU level to safeguard the respect of the rule of law and to report its breaches, with petitions to the European Parliament being one of such instruments; underlines that the redress of justice for those who became victims of the rule of law breaches is an essential element of building trust towards institutions and must be guaranteed by the Member States; invites in this regard the Commission to provide concrete recommendations to the responsible authorities in order to compensate the impacted individuals for the breaches of their fundamental rights.
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Regrets that freedom of association and the shrinking space for civil society are not part of the 2020 report; reiterates that civil society is essential for democracies to flourish and that shrinking space for civil society contributes to violations of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights; reiterates that the Union institutions should maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society.
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Regrets that the application of Co- operation and Verification Mechanism still prevents some EU citizens from fully benefitting of the area of freedom, security and justice.
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Highlights that adequate rule of law standards should be guaranteed for the EU citizens and residents during their exercise of freedom of movement rights within the EU; stresses that social and medical protection, as well as effective access to justice, must be fully guaranteed to seasonal workers and cross-border workers when they pursue their professional activity in another Member State.
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6 d. Highlights that the capacity of the EU and its Member States to uphold the rule of law determines its international image and the credibility in promoting rule of law, democracy and human rights in third countries; warns about the risk of the interference of third countries in all democratic processes at EU level through, inter alia, international corruption schemes, which jeopardise the rule of law in the EU; stresses that EU citizens living in third countries must be treated with respect to the rule of law in their interaction with the authorities in their MS, as well as with EU authorities.