BETA

Activities of Markus PIEPER related to 2020/2140(DEC)

Shadow reports (1)

REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2019, Section III – Commission and executive agencies
2021/04/09
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2020/2140(DEC)
Documents: PDF(637 KB) DOC(313 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Joachim KUHS', 'mepid': 197482}]

Amendments (140)

Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Stresses that the EU funds should be used in accordance to the principles of transparency, effectiveness and efficiency; welcomes that the Commission adopted the General regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union's budget; recalls Article 265 TFEU; calls on the Commission to implement the regulation without undue; furthermore calls on the Commission to ensure the protection of the Union´s Financial Interests in all dimensions;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Is concerned about the financial loss caused by generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in a number of Member States which render existing complaint and protection mechanisms void or ineffective;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Deplores that deficiencies in the validity and comparability of data and reporting technologies with varying degrees of digitalisation in the Member States continue to severely hamper a comprehensive overview over the distribution of EU funds and their efficient control; regrets that the detection of misuse, fraud and embezzlement of EU funds is mostly limited to incidental discoveries by the Commission and the European Court of Auditors (ECA) during their sample-based audits or investigations by OLAF;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Recalls Parliament’s call on the Commission to propose regulation for the establishment of an interoperable IT system allowing for uniform and standardised reporting in a timely manner by Member State’s authorities in the area of shared management, particularly regarding CAP and cohesion funds, for an earlier detection of systemic errors and misuse as expressed in the discharge report for the Commission for the financial year 2018;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Emphasises that such an interoperable IT system would not only allow for an earlier and more efficient detection of misuse, fraud, misappropriations, conflicts of interest, double-funding and other systemic problems but would also allow for a comprehensive overview of the true distribution of EU funds and potentially unintended concentrations in the hands of few oligarchic or even criminal ultimate beneficiaries; underlines that the lack of information about the ownership structures and beneficial owners of companies and groups of companies significantly contributes to the opaqueness of the current distribution of funds; emphasises again the crucial importance of comprehensive, reliable and comparable data for the efficient, effective and timely control of European spending and the protection of European tax-payers’ money;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1 d. Underlines the benefits such an interoperable and digital system would entail for the Member States’ authorities with regard to the control and overview of national Parliaments and governments over the allocation, management and distribution of national tax-payer’s money in the form of European funds; emphasises that the digitalisation of the European reporting, monitoring and audit is overdue and indispensable given the cross-border nature of misuse, fraud, misappropriations, conflicts of interest, double-funding and other systemic problems;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 e (new)
1 e. Reiterates its urgent call on the Commission to prioritise a proposal for a regulation to establish such a reporting and monitoring IT system that would provide a comprehensive overview over the true distribution of EU funds; acknowledges proposals made by the Parliament and the Commission during the negotiations about the MFF 2021- 2027, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) and the CAP; deplores the Council’s resistance and refusal to constructively engage in the negotiations for viable compromises; regrets that different rules and reporting requirements were agreed in the different legislations; urges the Commission to propose a suitable provision to be included in the Financial Regulation without undue delay;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 f (new)
1 f. Notes that the Early Detection and Exclusion System (EDES), established by Art 135 Financial Regulation should ensure effective sanctions on unreliable persons or entities, and notably the exclusion from award and procurement procedures funded under the EU budget and the imposition of financial penalties; regrets that the database only lists very few economic operators (five as per February 2021); views this as a sign that EDES is not properly implemented;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 i (new)
1 i. Calls on the Commission to report to the discharge authority the reasons for why EDES only contains very limited entries; take the necessary action to improve the working, implementation and operability of EDES to ensure that all economic operators that fulfil the criteria of Art 136(1) (c) to (h) of the Financial Regulation are listed; calls further on the Commission to review the criteria with a view to decreasing complexity and increase applicability in practice;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 g (new)
1 g. Recalls that the discharge report 2018 called on the Commission to provide the discharge authority with a list of the 50 largest individual recipients (natural persons as beneficial owners of a company or of several companies) per Member State as well as a list of the 50 largest recipients (natural persons and legal persons as well as natural persons as owners of companies) of Union-subsidies aggregated across all Member States; acknowledges repeated attempts by the Commission to compile such a list by requesting information from the Member States; deplores that the Commission until the date of this resolution has not been able to provide the list as requested due to a lack of complete, reliable and comparable data provided by the Member States; underlines that this illustrates and emphasises the pressing need for a digital, interoperable reporting and monitoring system for the funds under shared management;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 h (new)
1 h. Reiterates its call on the Commission: - to remove any technical and legal barriers to the collection of data on company structures and beneficial ownership and establish measures to ensure a digital and interoperable, standardized collection of information on the recipients of Union funding, including on those ultimately benefitting, directly or indirectly, from Union funding and their beneficial owners; - to put in place the necessary digital systems and instruments for the compulsory use of all Member States, including but not limited to a single data- mining and risk-scoring tool allowing the Commission, OLAF and where applicable the EPPO, to access and analyse such data on the recipients of Union funding (including their beneficial owners) for the purposes of control and audit, in order to enhance the protection of the Union budget and Next Generation EU against irregularities, fraud and conflicts of interest;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5 d. Underlines that the creation of the European Public Prosecutor´s Office (EPPO) marks a fundamental development in the protection of the Union´s financial interests; criticizes the underfinancing and understaffing of the EPPO during its build-up phase and reiterates Parliament´s opposition towards the reductions of staff in OLAF as a result of posts transferred to EPPO leading to a cumulative reduction of 45 posts by 2023 for OLAF; calls on the Commission to increase the capacities by reviewing staffing situation concerning EPPO and OLAF;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Is concerned by the Court’s repeated findings that the work of some national audit authorities or certifying bodies is considered too error-prone and therefore unreliable; regrets that the Court cannot include an analysis for the underlying reasons for these persisting weaknesses in its work; regrets that neither the Commission could contribute meaningful insights on the reasons and any country-specific differences between Member States’ authorities; regrets that this lack of information on the underlying reasons for these persisting, systemic weaknesses in certain national audit authorities hinders efficiently and effectively addressing and solving these problems; calls on the Commission to conduct a thorough analysis of the underlying reasons and structural problems causing the persisting systemic weaknesses identified by the Court; asks the Commission to also include observations on best practice and based on this analysis address clear, practical and readily implementable horizontal as well as country-specific recommendations to the national authorities as described in greater detail in the specific chapters of this resolution;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Stresses that, in view of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021- 2027 and the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the financial resources of the European Union should support the increasing priorities and responsibilities of the Union. The protection of the Union financial interest is of utmost importance and that the strongest effort are necessary at all levels in order to prevent, and to fight against, fraud, corruption and misuse of the Union funds; welcomes the new corporate Anti-Fraud Strategy, adopted by the Commission in April 2019, on OLAF’s initiative, with the objective of enhancing the Commission’s knowledge about fraud and its analytical capability to steer anti-fraud action, to ensure cooperation among departments and executive agencies in fighting fraud, and to strengthen the corporate oversight of the fight against fraud;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Underlines that the error rate calculated by the Court is a statistical summary providing a convenient single indicator of the legality and regularity of EU spending, yet, does not provide a differentiated view of the different nature and graveness of errors flowing into it; acknowledges that the Court’s methodology is based on international audit standards involving testing of a random sample of transaction and that a representative sample cannot be entirely risk-based; welcomes that the Court divides its samples into high-risk and low- risk transactions; appreciates that the Court already includes specific examples of the errors found; invites the Court to include even more detailed information with a view to providing in particular more geographical insight into country- specific problems;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5 e. Is concerned that outstanding commitments have continued to grow, reaching EUR 298,0 billion at the end of 2019 (compared to EUR 281,2 billion in 2018); notes that the level of payment appropriations in the annual budgets has been noticeably lower than the MFF ceiling in recent years, which might lead to higher payment needs in the future; welcomes that the Commission included the estimated future payments in relation to the reinforcements proposed in 2020 as part of the EU coronavirus response in its proposal for the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework Regulation; calls on the Commission to closely monitor the implementation by Member States in the case of under-implementation and low absorption rates; welcoming the Commission´s effort to introduce the n+2 rule for all expenditure areas, stressing the need for other perspective instruments to replace the n+3 rule;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 f (new)
5 f. Recalls the increasing gap between commitments and payments and the increase in the size of the Union budget (the Court’s rapid case review, ‘Outstanding commitments - a closer look’) which poses a serious challenge for the discharge authority too; notes that the long-term EU budget increased from 1.083 to 1.800 billion Euro for 2021-2027, including the EU Recovery plan Next GenerationEU; calls on the Commission to monitor the implementation of the national recovery and resilience plans at regular intervals to ensure that the state aid rules are fulfilled and report to the discharge authority; stresses that a failure of this request could lead to a refusal of the Discharge procedure in 2020;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 h (new)
5 h. Regrets that the possibility to utilise the amounts of unused commitment appropriations and decommitted appropriations under the Multiannual Financial Framework from 2021-2027 to repay the debt incurred to fund the Recovery Plan, was missed.
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 g (new)
5 g. Is concerned that the current staffing situation is insufficient to cope with the increasing EU budget; stresses that an increase of the administrative capacities in the Court and the relevant secretariats in the European Parliament is indispensable; stresses if these requirements are not met it can lead to a refusal of the 2020 discharge;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 h (new)
5 h. Points out that in recent years the level of payment appropriations in the annual budgets has been noticeably below the MFF ceiling, which might lead to higher payment needs in the future and risks putting the budget under pressure;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 i (new)
5 i. Draws attention to the fact that the main financial risks to which the EU budget was exposed to in 2019 were associated with financial operations in form of loans covered directly by the EU budget (53,7 %), and financial operations covered by an EU guarantee fund (46,3 %); observes that, when including also the possible future payments relating to the EFSI (European Fund for Strategic Investments) guarantee, the amount of the total risk borne by the EU budget reached up to EUR 90,5 billion by the end of 2019; calls on the Commission to present a complete picture of the exposure of the EU budget in the annual “Report on guarantees covered by the general budget”, including the risk generated by the EFSI guarantee as well as all future financial operations concerned;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 j (new)
5 j. Points out that the Union has increasingly made use of financial instruments and budgetary guarantees provided to the EIB Group; recalls that at present, EIB Group operations that are not financed by the Union budget, but which serve the same Union objectives do not fall under the Court’s audit mandate;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 k (new)
5 k. Notes that the Court wants to move towards the attestation approach; calls on the Court to continue with own sampling checks in order to monitor individual transactions;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 l (new)
5 l. Stresses that the aim of performance information is to provide an indication as to whether Union policies and programmes are achieving their objectives efficiently and effectively; suggests that, if improvements are needed, performance information should be used to inform the process of designing necessary corrective measures, and their implementation be continuously monitored; stresses the Commission to reflect on the impact and the achievements of the Union spending programmes and putting more emphasis on results and added value of Union funding by going beyond mere outputs;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 m (new)
5 m. Welcomes that the Court assessed the results of EU programmes; notes that appropriate risk analyzes and recommendations for action to EU policymakers are an important basis for political decision-making; however, is concerned that the large number of output indicators is increasingly expressing preference for certain partisan positions; calls on the Court to focus the performance assessments on achieving European added value and an efficient use of EU tax money;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 n (new)
5 n. Is concerned that the Commission uses too many input and output indicators in its performance analysis that are expressing preference for certain partisan positions; asks the Commission to streamline performance reporting by reducing the number of relevant objectives and meaningful indicators it uses for its various performance reports, and focus on those fewer and more appropriate common set of outcome and impact indicators which best measure the results achieved in terms of efficiency, economy and effectiveness of the Union spending;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 o (new)
5 o. Notes that, with regard to the Commission’s own estimate of risk at payment, the Court has highlighted certain issues for specific MFF headings: - ‘Competitiveness’:ex-post audits did not mainly cover payments or clearings made in the statement of assurance year under review, and were not always found to be reliable; - ‘Natural resources’: the Member State control reflected in the control statistics did not capture all errors, and adjustments by the Commission were necessary, while the Commission adjustments were generally based on flat rates, and there were limitations in the reliability of the results of the certification bodies’ work; - ‘Cohesion’: the audit authorities’ checks were not always reliable;calls on the Commission to improve the quality and reliability of national authorities audit work; - ‘Global Europe’: there was an insufficient number of on-the-spot checks in the countries where projects are implemented, insufficient coverage of relevant aspects of procurement procedures, a broad scope for estimating the impact of individual errors, and a lack of substantive own-testing for transactions already checked by others; calls on the Court to strengthen its independence and improve number of random checks with a risk-based approach so that its reports on error rates pay more attention to areas where problems are most likely to arise;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2 a (new)
Political reservations
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 p (new)
5 p. Endorses the reservations issued by the directors general of DG BUDG, RTD, AGRI, REGIO,EMPL, MARE, CLIMA, HOME, JUST, NEAR and REFORM in their AAR; is of the opinion that those reservations demonstrate that the control procedures put in place in the Commission and the Member States can only give the necessary guarantees concerning the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions in the corresponding policy areas if all necessary correction procedures are implemented successfully;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that the Court did not estimate levels of error for areas of expenditure under MFF headings 3 ‘Security and citizenship’ and 4 ‘Global Europe’; points out that the provision of error rates would allow comparability between financial years; calls on the Court to provide data on an error rate for payments for each expenditure area in its next annual report;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Regrets the fact that outstanding commitments have continued to grow, reaching EUR 298,0 billion at the end of 2019 (compared to EUR 281,2 billion in 2018); notes that the level of payment appropriations in the annual budgets has been noticeably lower than the MFF ceiling in recent years, which might lead to higher payment needs in the future; calls on the Commission to reduce current and prevent further outstanding commitments, to further improve its financial forecasts and, where necessary, to assist countries to find eligible projects, especially those with clear European added-value;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Points out that the Union has increasingly made use of financial instruments and budgetary guarantees provided to the EIB Group; recalls that at present, EIB Group operations that are not financed by the Union budget, but which serve the same Union objectives, do not come under the Court’s audit mandate; points out that this means that the Court is unable to provide a complete overview of the links between EIB Group operations and the Union budget; in particular, supports the Court’s request to audit the EIB’s non-Union budget related operations; welcomes the Commission efforts to renew the tripartite agreement between the Commission, the EIB and the Court; requests to agree on a Memorandum of Understanding between the EIB and the Parliament to improve Parliament's access to EIB documents and data related to strategic orientation and financing policies in order to strengthen the Bank’s accountability;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Notes that the current agreement between the Commission, the EIB and the Court concerning audits of operations which are financed or backed by the Union budget expires in 2020; views this an opportunity to ensure that the Court is enabled to audit the regularity and also the performance of the EIB activities, which do not fall under a specific Union mandate; Recalls that Art. 287 (3) TFEU defines the Court’s audit powers in relation to the EIB; recalls that the Court is competent to audit the EIB's activity in managing Union expenditure and revenue; recalls that the Audit Committee is competent to audit the EIB’s share capital according to Art. 12 of Protocol 5 (Statute of the EIB); recalls that Art 308 (3) TFEU allows the Council to amend the Protocol on the Statute of the EIB by simple decision without a full Treaty revision; emphasises the increased importance under the new MFF of EU guarantees and other financial instruments managed by the EIB; calls therefore on the Council to amend Art. 12 of Protocol 5 to give the ECA a role in auditing the EIB’s share capital; notes that the current tripartite agreement between the Commission, the EIB and the Court concerning audits of operations which are financed or backed by the Union budget expires in 2020; calls on the Commission, the Court and the EIB to enhance the role of the Court and further strengthen its auditing powers regarding activities of the EIB in the renewal of the tripartite agreement governing the rules of engagement;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Welcomes the Court’s first separate and full report on the performance of the Union budget – Status at the end of 2019 and encourages the Court to continue to produce and develop this report further in the coming years; stresses that the aim of performance information is to provide an indication as to whether Union policies and programmes, are achieving their objectives efficiently and effectively; suggests that, if improvements are needed, performance information should be used to inform the process of designing necessary corrective measures, and their implementation be continuously monitored; stresses the Commission to reflect on the impact and the achievements of the Union spending programmes and putting more emphasis on results and added value of Union funding by going beyond mere outputs;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Welcomes that the Court assessed the results of EU programmes; notes that appropriate risk analyzes and recommendations for action to EU policymakers are an important basis for political decision-making; however, is concerned that the large number of output indicators is increasingly expressing preference for certain partisan positions; calls on the Court to focus the performance assessments on achieving European added value and an efficient use of EU tax money;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27 b. Is concerned that the Commission uses too many input and output indicators in its performance analysis that are expressing preference for certain partisan positions; asks the Commission to streamline performance reporting by reducing the number of relevant objectives and meaningful indicators it uses for its various performance reports, and focus on those fewer and more appropriate common set of outcome and impact indicators which best measure the results achieved in terms of efficiency, economy and effectiveness of the Union spending;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Welcomes that the Commission documents the indicator data as well as indicator baselines, milestones and targets that measure progress on programmes ‘general and specific objectives in the Annual Programme Statements; calls on the Commission to ensure that these indicator baselines, milestones and targets that could not have been accomplished without EU-funding and represent EU added value concentrate on achieving this;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32 a. Notes that the Court assessed whether programmes in all main areas of the EU budget were “on track” to meet their objectives:
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 b (new)
32 b. Competitiveness: Welcomes that for the EU’s Horizon 2020 research programme, there are no indications that performance is at risk, and examples of successful projects are plentiful; welcomes that according to the court the programme provides EU added value through its uniqueness and pan- European character;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 c (new)
32 c. Cohesion: Regrets that although the Commission and Member States had already revised the initial 2014-2020 targets, just over a third of indicators for the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund show timely progress. Before the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, most employment and education targets were likely to be met by 2020,but progress on R&D, poverty and social inclusion lagged behind; regrets that in this policy area, the Commission’s own performance data indicates that the programmes fall short of initial expectations;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 d (new)
32 d. Natural resources: Regrets that a key weakness is that the performance indicators for the 2014-2020 period are not based on a detailed intervention logic for providing CAP financial support. For example, direct payments to farmers have reduced farmers’ income volatility, but they are not targeted at helping farmers achieve a fair standard of living; regrets that the CAP measures are found to have an insufficient impact in addressing climate change;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 e (new)
32 e. Security and citizenship: Notes that the Commission’s reporting does not indicate whether the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund is progressing well towards its objective, but the information available points to its relevance and EU added value; notes that for integration and legal migration, indicators show its achievements in a positive light, also because long-term impacts (such as differences between migrants’ and EU nationals’ job prospects) cannot yet be assessed;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 f (new)
32 f. Global Europe: Notes that the Commission does not provide enough information for a robust performance assessment of two funding instruments, i.e. one for cooperation with developing countries and the other for relations with the EU’s southern and eastern neighbours; welcomes that the indicators nevertheless reveal a positive trend for poverty reduction, education, gender equality and human development, and a worsening one on consolidating democracy, rule of law and political stability;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
46. Notes, with concern that in its examination of internal control systems both within the Commission and in the Member states, the Court found shortcomings in individual categories of own resources; notes that, according to the Commission’s assessment, 24 of the 28 Member States had partially satisfactory or unsatisfactory control strategies for targeting the undervaluation risks;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57 a (new)
57 a. Points out that the performance of research and innovation policy is difficult to assess as there is a considerable time- lag between funding of projects and results and impacts to materialise; notes furthermore that reporting in this field is mainly focused on positive achievements instead of critical assessment of results and impact, which may not provide for a realistic picture of the performance as a whole; notes that research as a discipline involves risks as regard the results and a successful outcome cannot always be guaranteed;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59
59. Is deeply concerned that based on the 28 errors the Court has quantified, the estimated level of error is 4,0 %; recalls that this figure is close to the rates the Court found in 2015, 2016 and 2017; notes that it´s a considerable increase compared to 2018 where the estimated level of error was 2,0%.;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61 a (new)
61 a. Regrets that complex application rules and lengthy procedures are major hurdles in particular for SMEs, start-ups and first-time applicant that lack significant resources and experience with these application procedures;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65 a (new)
65 a. Notes with concern that the Court found weaknesses in the Commission’s documentation of the audit work done, sampling consistency and reporting, as well as in the quality of the audit procedures in some of the files reviewed; points out that the Court found, inter alia, ineligible amounts that the auditors had not detected because of insufficient testing in their audit (mainly in respect of personnel costs), erroneous interpretation of the double-ceiling rule, and errors in the underlying calculation of personnel costs that had not been detected; in tat connection supports the recommendations from the Court to improve the situation;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68 a (new)
68 a. Welcomes that the Court assessed the results of EU programmes; notes that appropriate risk analyzes and recommendations for action to EU policymakers are an important basis for political decision-making; however, is concerned that the large number of output indicators is increasingly expressing preference for certain partisan positions; calls on the Court to focus the performance assessments on achieving European added value and an efficient use of EU tax money;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68 b (new)
68 b. Is concerned that the Commission uses too many input and output indicators in its performance analysis that are expressing preference for certain partisan positions; asks the Commission to streamline performance reporting by reducing the number of relevant objectives and meaningful indicators it uses for its various performance reports, and focus on those fewer and more appropriate common set of outcome and impact indicators which best measure the results achieved in terms of efficiency, economy and effectiveness of the Union spending;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 a (new)
72 a. Welcomes that the Court assessed the results of EU programmes; notes that appropriate risk analyzes and recommendations for action to EU policymakers are an important basis for political decision-making; however, is concerned that the large number of output indicators is increasingly expressing preference for certain partisan positions; calls on the Court to focus the performance assessments on achieving European added value and an efficient use of EU tax money;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 262 #
72 b. Is concerned that the Commission uses too many input and output indicators in its performance analysis that are expressing preference for certain partisan positions; asks the Commission to streamline performance reporting by reducing the number of relevant objectives and meaningful indicators it uses for its various performance reports, and focus on those fewer and more appropriate common set of outcome and impact indicators which best measure the results achieved in terms of efficiency, economy and effectiveness of the Union spending;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73 a (new)
73 a. Observes that, according to the Court, EFSI is on track to reach its targets, and in particular, the main target to mobilise EUR 500 billion of investment;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 85 a (new)
85 a. Notes that the risk at closure was estimated at 1,1 % (1,3 % in 2018), and the risk at payment increased from 1,7 % in 2018 to a range between 2,2 - 3,1 % in 2019 for this expenditure area according to the Commission;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 85 b (new)
85 b. Notes that for ERDF the risk at payment increased from 2 % in 2018 to a range between 2,7 - 3,8 % in 2019, and for ESF, the risk at payment was estimated in the range of 1,7 - 2,4 %; points out that the Commission found that ineligible expenditure, public procurement irregularities and audit trail issues are the main sources of audit findings and irregularities identified in this policy field;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 90
90. Notes, while assessing the work of 18 out of 116 audit authorities in 2019, that for 120 of the sampled transactions (55 %), the Court was able to conclude on the basis of its review of audit authorities’ work; is deeply concerned that the Court identified shortcomings with the scope, quality and/or documentation of that work in 100 transactions (45 %), which required the Court to re-perform the corresponding audit procedures;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 16 a (new)
Serious irregularities and misuse of funds in member states
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 304 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 a (new)
93 a. Regrets that the correlation between EGF cost per assisted worker and the reintegration rate is very weak or non- existent. For example, in Spain the cost/worker is 2,422.74 EUR and the reintegration rate is 48%, while in Finland the cost is 2,289.81/person and the rate of reintegration is 83%. The integration rates and the costs greatly vary by Member States, however, it is impossible to conclude the higher amounts spent per capita would translate into higher reintegration rates. Asks the Commission to carefully analyse and address this discrepancy;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 305 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 b (new)
93 b. Considers that the EU Youth Guarantee falls short of expectations; calls on the Commission to ensure that programmes designed to help young people do not raise expectations which cannot be fulfilled; insists that the Commission should manage expectations by setting realistic and achievable objectives and targets;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 306 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 c (new)
93 c. Notes that in 2019, DG EMPL issued 16 warning letters, when significant deficiencies in the management and control system have been identified. 12 decisions to interrupt payment deadlines have been taken (4 for Italy, 3 for Hungary, 2 for the UK and France and 1 for Spain) and one decision has been taken to suspend payments (UK- Scotland);
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 d (new)
93 d. Notes that significant reservations were issued for Italy (15 reservations, amounting to EUR 50.26 million) and France (9 reservations, amounting to EUR 47.95 million). In case of Italy this was mainly due to the to a systemic deficiency in public procurements resulting from the wrong transposition of the public procurement directive by the national legislation, while in France the regional control bodies did not have enough time to finalise their audits of operations within the deadline in the case of 5 programmes;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 308 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 e (new)
93 e. Notes that the total amount of financial corrections performed for the accounting year2018- 2019 by the Member States was EUR 3.41 billion, of which 912 million fell on Hungary, 578 million on Spain, 368 million on Slovakia and 236 million on Poland. As regards financial corrections reported cumulatively since the beginning of the period 2014-2020 by the Member States the total amount was 6.10 billion, of which 2.15 billion fell on Hungary, 668 million on Spain, 647 million on Poland and 459 million on Slovakia;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 309 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 f (new)
93 f. Is worried about the durability of ERDF co-financed investments in infrastructure; regrets that projects have been repurposed after a few years; considers the concept of durability as an important safeguard for the effective and efficient use of Union resources under cohesion policy; calls on the Commission to ensure that the sustainability of investments is guaranteed for a longer period;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 g (new)
93 g. Notes with concern that the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), in its 2019 Annual Activity Report, had to issue two reservations concerning 67 programmes ERDF/CF in the 2014-2020 programming period, and 9 ERDF/CF and one IPA- CBC programmes in the 2007-2013 programming period; points out that serious deficiencies in the management and control systems leading to a risk to expenditure estimated above 10 % for the Multiannual Framework 2014-2020; welcomes that the updated Financial regulation has further clarified the concept of conflict of interests under shared management;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 311 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 93 h (new)
93 h. Is concerned that the Directorate- General for Employment (DG EMPL), in its 2019 Annual Activity Report, had to issue a reservation concerning the ESF / Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) and Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived(FEAD) (30 programmes in ESF / YEI and FEAD) 2014-2020 period; notes since the two DGs stated in their Annual Activity Reports that no reservations are made where the confirmed residual error rate for the previous accounting year was above 2 % because additional financial corrections would be applied in the future, the Commission’s reservations are mostly based on provisional rates and might not necessarily cover all material risks;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 316 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 – indent -1 (new)
-1 conduct a thorough analysis of the underlying reasons and potential structural problems causing the persisting systemic weaknesses detected by the Court in its audits every year and pay special attention to any potential country-specific differences; asks the Commission to also include observations on best practice in national authorities with low levels of errors and whose work is deemed reliable by the Court; asks the Commission to conduct this analysis in close cooperation with the Court and actively involve national authorities both regarding the problem description and potential solutions;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 317 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 – indent -1 a (new)
-1 a -share the results of this analysis with the Court, the discharge authority and Member States;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 318 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 – indent -1 b (new)
-1 b based on this analysis, address clear, practical and readily implementable horizontal as well as country-specific recommendations to the national authorities; asks the Commission to establish a structured dialogue with the national authorities and the Court to continuously work on capacity building and exchange of best practice to improve the reliability of national audit authorities’ work; keep the discharge authority informed about the progress of this dialogue;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 343 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 a (new)
94 a. Is astonished that there was no initiation of procedures to reduce the programme allocations through net corrections in 2019, as reported in DG REGIO 2019 AAR; calls on the Commission to systematically impose net financial corrections when the conditions set by Article 145(7) of the Common Provisions Regulation are fulfilled;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 345 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 b (new)
94 b. Welcomes that the Court assessed the results of EU programmes; notes that appropriate risk analyzes and recommendations for action to EU policymakers are an important basis for political decision-making; however, is concerned that the large number of output indicators is increasingly expressing preference for certain partisan positions; calls on the Court to focus the performance assessments on achieving European added value and an efficient use of EU tax money;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 347 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 c (new)
94 c. Is concerned that the Commission uses too many input and output indicators in its performance analysis that are expressing preference for certain partisan positions; asks the Commission to streamline performance reporting by reducing the number of relevant objectives and meaningful indicators it uses for its various performance reports, and focus on those fewer and more appropriate common set of outcome and impact indicators which best measure the results achieved in terms of efficiency, economy and effectiveness of the Union spending;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 348 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 95 a (new)
95 a. Notes with concern that years after the launch of the2014-2020 programming period just above one third of the 72 programme indicators for ERDF and CF were on track, even though a number of the targets had been revised downwards; recalls the recommendation to further improve the Key Performance Indicators; notes, however, that limitations in data prevent the auditors from making a comprehensive assessment of performance in this policy field, as it is difficult to assess whether the funds have met, or are likely to meet, the general and specific objectives set, even though the progress of the individual indicators can be assessed against the milestones and targets set; calls on the Commission to develop a consistent assessment framework that is able to assess whether the milestones and targets of ERDF and CF have been met;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 357 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 99
99. Underlines that in cohesion policy, characterised by large-scale infrastructure projects, there can be a time lag between the start of the programme, its implementation and the realisation of outputs and results; finds it worrisome that progress is also likely to be affected by the relatively low levels of implementation in respect of cohesion policy, compared to the rest of Union budget; notes that these factors, together with the fact that the latest data available (in an implementation period lasting until the end of 2023) relates to the end of 2018, making it harder at this stage to conclude on the achievement of the objectives; calls on the Commission to reduce the time lag between the start of the programme, its implementation and the realisation of outputs and results; notes that the supervision of network completion needs to be strengthened; urges the Commission to implement a department for providing Member States with expert support in steering such large projects;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 377 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 107
107. Finds itself in agreement with the Court’s opinion that there are strong indications that the Union will not meet the 2030 climate and energy targets; notes that according to the Commission, there was only limited progress in the reduction of the negative environmental impacts stemming from the use of natural resources; highlights its agreement with the Court that half of the Union Member States were at risk of not generating enough electricity from renewable energy to meet their 2020 targets; notes that in the Court’s landscape review of Union action on energy and climate change, the Court reported that the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions projected by Member States falls short of the 40 % target for 2030; calls on the Commission to reevaluate the results due to the impact of covid-19 pandemic and the Green Deal package;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 394 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 116 a (new)
116 a. Takes note of the Commission’s conclusion that with regard to the performance of the EU budget, most programmes are progressing towards the targets set at the beginning of the programming period, and despite the delays in the starting up the 2014-2020 cohesion programmes, progress is now accelerating; notes however that the Commission is able to define definite conclusions on performance only on the basis of detailed evaluations after closure of the current programmes;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 427 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 126
126. Is concerned by the limitations in the reliability of the results of the certification bodies’ work, due to weaknesses the Court identified in some certification bodies’ checks and sampling methodologies; welcomes that the Commission visited all certification bodies to review their work on legality and irregularity and to assist them to improve their work by the end of 2019; calls on the Commission to analyse the main sources of undetected errors and develop the necessary measures together with audit authorities to improve the reliability of reported residual rates;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 448 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 21 a (new)
Country-specific observations
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 449 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 127 a (new)
127 a. Notes, that as regards market measures, 6 Paying Agencies have been classified as providing "limited assurance with high risk": Bulgaria, Spain, UK, Greece, Italy (for 2 aid schemes) and Portugal. The highest adjusted error rate was found in Bulgaria (11.52%), followed by Poland (7.15%) and Italy (6.12%). DG AGRI has issued 7 reservations at measure level: Fruit and Vegetables: Operational programmes for producer organisations (the United Kingdom, Italy and Portugal), Olive oil (Greece), Wine sector (Bulgaria, Italy), EU School Scheme (Spain). Is especially concerned about the wine sector, where the adjusted error rates in Bulgaria (15.7%) and Italy (9.6%) are very high, with amounts at risk of more than EUR 30 million in Italy and EUR 2.3 million in Bulgaria.
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 450 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 127 b (new)
127 b. Notes, that as regards direct payments, 18 Paying Agencies had an error rate between 2% and 5%, and one above 5 % (5.2 in Austria). DG AGRI has issued 17 reservations at Paying Agency level for Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Spain (3 Paying Agencies), Greece, Italy (7 Paying Agencies), Portugal, Romania and Sweden;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 451 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 127 c (new)
127 c. The reservations can be grouped in the following categories: due to weaknesses in relation to payment entitlements (AT, DK, IT, PT, SE), due to weakness in animal-based voluntary support measures (AT, GR, RO), due to high reported error-rate (CY), based on the Certification Body assessment (ES06) , due to weaknesses in the quality of on- the-spot checks (ES09, ES15, GR, PT, SE), weaknesses in the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) (IT) and due to weaknesses in the definition of land type (RO, SE);
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 452 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 127 d (new)
127 d. The reductions made in 2019 concerned 17 Member States and a total amount of EUR 67 764 269.48 of which 36 million fell on Italy, 15 million on the UK and 8 million on Spain;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 453 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 127 e (new)
127 e. Notes, that as regards rural development, 30 out of 71 Paying Agencies have an adjusted error rate above 2% (of which 8 were above 5%: Cyprus, Germany (one Paying Agency), Estonia, Spain (one Paying Agency), France (one Paying Agency), United Kingdom (one Paying Agency), Portugal, Slovakia. DG AGRI has issued 21 reservations at Paying Agency level: Austria, Cyprus, Germany (one Paying Agency), Denmark, Estonia, Spain (two Paying Agencies), Finland, France (two Paying Agencies), United Kingdom (one Paying Agency), Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy (two Paying Agencies), Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and Slovakia. The highest adjusted error rates were found in Slovakia (10.31%), followed by 7.63% in Cyprus and 5.94% in Poland;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 454 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 127 f (new)
127 f. The reservations can be grouped in the following categories: due to deficiencies in organic farming measure (AT,HU); under afforestation (ES02, PT); and for Leader and private investment non- Integrated Administrative and Control System (non-IACS) measure (DE19), due to deficiencies in checks for the on the spot controls (CY, DK, FR18, FR19,IT10, SK); cost reasonableness (ES09, FR19); in cross-checks (ES09, SK); ineligibility (ES09, CY, RO, SK) and active farmer (GB07), due to weaknesses in supervision procedures for some measures (IT10); and in recording of the maximum eligible area (MEA) in the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) for Integrated Administrative and Control System (IACS) measures (IT10, IT26), due to deficiencies in investment measure (HR); private investments (LT); forestry, agri-environmental commitments, setting up of producer groups and risk management measures (HU); due to deficiencies in public procurement procedures (HU, RO, SK), due to high reported error rates (CY, DK, EE, ES02, ES09, FR18, FR19 HR, IE, LT, PT) , based on the Certification Body assessment (FI, GB07, HR, IT26, SE);
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 455 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 127 h (new)
127 h. Is concerned that the Commission uses too many input and output indicators in its performance analysis that are expressing preference for certain partisan positions; asks the Commission to streamline performance reporting by reducing the number of relevant objectives and meaningful indicators it uses for its various performance reports, and focus on those fewer and more appropriate common set of outcome and impact indicators which best measure the results achieved in terms of efficiency, economy and effectiveness of the Union spending;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 456 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 127 g (new)
127 g. Welcomes that the Court assessed the results of EU programmes; notes that appropriate risk analyzes and recommendations for action to EU policymakers are an important basis for political decision-making; however, is concerned that the large number of output indicators is increasingly expressing preference for certain partisan positions; calls on the Court to focus the performance assessments on achieving European added value and an efficient use of EU tax money;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 464 #
a. The Commission states that ‘over 85 % of the targets for climate actions in the agricultural sector have already been reached in the management of biodiversity, soil and water’. These targets are based on the areas under specific EAFRD measures, i.e. outputs. They do not show whether the payments had any effect on the condition of supported areas. The Commission claims that the EAFRD ‘is making an important contribution to development. For example, broadband access in rural areas has improved considerably (59 % of households had next-generation access in 2019)’. There is no information on the contribution of the EAFRD to this figure in the AMPR;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 466 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 2 – point a
a. the Commission’s intervention logic connects CAP objectives, measures and output indicators, but does not identify needs or intended results and targets. The Commission’s intervention logic for direct payments does not define which level of income the CAP aims to achieve for farmers;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 468 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 2 – point b
b. the targets for CAP general objectives and most EAGF specific objectives are expressed as desired trends (e.g. “to increase” agricultural factor income or “to decrease” greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture). Multiple external factors impact the final outcome, and the Commission has not always identified a causal relationship between the CAP and the variable. Targets expressed only as directions and not as quantified values make it impossible to identify milestones;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 471 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 2 – point c
c. most CMEF indicators, which are not in the programme statements, are output indicators; they do not provide significant additional information on performance towards achieving policy objectives. Evaluation support studies frequently note that a lack of monitoring data (on measures) is a limitation when analysing impact. ECA pointed out8 the limitations of the performance information collected through the CMEF indicators; _________________ 8 See special reports No 1/2016 (performance measurement in relation to farmers’ incomes), paragraph 92; No 10/2017 (young farmers), paragraphs 70- 71; No 13/2020 (biodiversity on farmland), paragraphs 49, 59, 71, and 81; ECA opinion No 7/2018, paragraphs 68- 71.deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 474 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 3 – point a
a. all three indicators linked to the general objective of viable food production (increasing agricultural factor income, increasing agricultural productivity, and limiting price variability) reflect macroeconomic developments. While these indicators show a positive trend, the CAP has little or no demonstrable impact on them;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 476 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 3 – point b
b. the EAGF specific objective ‘to sustain farmers’ income stability by providing direct income support’ has a single indicator: ‘share of direct support in agricultural entrepreneurial income’. In 2017, the value of this indicator varied from 8 % in the Netherlands to 50 % in Slovakia. The target is to keep the ratio stable. However, this is not consistent with the policy objective of increasing the individual earnings of people engaged in agriculture while limiting the need for direct support;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 479 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 3 – point c
c. in its 2019 AMPR, the Commission argued that farmers’ income lagged behind salaries in the economy as whole. The Commission stated that, in 2017, average income in the farming sector amounted to about 46,5 % of average wages in the Union-28 economy. The Commission uses entrepreneurial income per family work unit as a proxy for farm income. However, this figure does not take into account the different demographics of the two populations (many farmers are of retirement age) or the non-farming income of farm households. Disposable income, also taking into account non-farming income, is a key element for assessing farmers’ standard of living;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 481 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 3 – point d
d. in 2016 about two thirds9 of farms in the Union were smaller than 5 ha. As direct payments are linked to farm area, around 80 % of the support goes to around 20 % of beneficiaries. In fact, more than 30 % of the payments goes to 2 % of the beneficiaries, who each receive more than EUR 50 000 in direct payments. Various redistributive mechanisms have had only a marginal effect; _________________ 9eleted according to Eurostat
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 482 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 3 – point e
e. the CAP performance indicators do not measure the efficiency of direct payments. The Court concluded that the proportion10 of farms receiving direct payments and generating an income per unit of labour higher than average national labour productivity had decreased from 29 % in 2013 to 26 % in 2015. The study found that 9 % of small farms and more than 30 % of large farms had income per unit of labour above this benchmark; _________________ 10Evaluation study of the impact of the CAP measures towards the general objective “viable food production”, 2020, pp. 108-122.deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 486 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 3 – point f
f. the indicator ‘percentage of agricultural holdings participating in risk- management schemes’ measures the proportion of farmers receiving CAP support for insurance premiums, and participating in mutual funds and other income stabilisation tools. Based on the programme statements, the indicator’s progress towards target did not reach its 2018 milestone. By the end of 2018, 28,3 % of the target value for 2023 had been achieved. The Court has found11 that most farmers who take out insurance policies do so without Union support, and that direct payments themselves significantly reduce income volatility; _________________ 11Special report No 23/2019 – Farmers’ income stabilisation, paragraphs 16-22, 41.deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 491 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 4 – point a
a. most programme statements’ indicators for the specific objectives under the natural resources and climate action concern the area or number of animals subject to the various measures or commitments, without measuring the benefits achieved for the environment;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 492 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 4 – point b
b. in its latest AMPR, the Commission considers it an achievement that 79 % of the Union’s total agricultural area was subject to at least one greening obligation in 2018. However, the Court found12 that greening had had little measurable effect on farming practices and the environment. It had led to changes in farming practices on around 5 % of all Union farmland and tended to minimise disturbance to established farming practices. Greening remained essentially an income-support scheme; _________________ 12deleted Special report No 21/2017 – Greening.
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 495 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 4 – point c
c. where properly targeted, agri- environment-climate measures can contribute significantly to biodiversity. This is most likely where schemes cover a substantial portion of the farmed landscape or focus on specific risks. One constraint is a low level of uptake by farmers. For some EAFRD measures, the Court found13 cases where compensation did not cover scheme participation costs (e.g. Natura 2000 payments in some Member States); _________________ 13Special report No 1/2017 – More efforts needed to implement the Natura 2000 network to its full potential, paragraphs 59-60.deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 496 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 4 – point d
d. for the specific EAFRD objective related to ecosystems, the forestry-related output indicators at Union level showed that the uptake of forestry measures has been modest;eleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 497 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 4 – point e
e. the indicator ‘percentage of irrigated land switching to more efficient irrigation systems’ relates to EAFRD specific objective 5. The target for 2023 is 13,0 %; in 2018, the result was 5,26 %, i.e. 40 % of the way towards reaching the target. Overall progress is unclear. Based on a sample of Member States, the evaluation support study14 found that there is no clear verification of the water savings achieved after the completion of the EAFRD investment; _________________ 14 Evaluation of the impact of the CAP on water, 2019, pp. 157-158.deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 498 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 4 – point f
f. emissions from agriculture accounted for around 12,6 % of total Union greenhouse gas emissions in 2017. Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture have fallen by more than 20 % since 1990, but have stalled since 2010;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 501 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 4 – point g
g. the evaluation support study on climate change notes that the compulsory measures (e.g. greening and cross- compliance) do not sufficiently address greenhouse gas emissions from livestock and cropland management. There are no CAP measures through which Member States can compel farmers to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock and crop management;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 503 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 5 – point a
a. the only programme statements’ indicator for the general objective of ‘balanced territorial development’ is ‘rural employment rate’. This rate increased from 63,4 % in 2012 to 68,1 % in 2018. The influence of the CAP is uncertain, but limited. Over the same period the general employment rate increased from 68,4 % to 72,2 %. The external economic environment and numerous national policies directly and indirectly affect employment in rural areas. The AMPR acknowledges these external factors;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 504 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 5 – point b
b. the number of jobs recorded as directly created by LEADER by the end of 2018 was 13 337 (30 % of the 2023 target) and less than 0,05 % of total employment in rural areas. For other rural development measures, the number of jobs created was 10 784 (14 % of the target). The Commission notes in its programme statements that it does not have reliable data on jobs created under LEADER;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 505 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 5 – point c
c. evaluation support studies suggest15 that regional and sectorial context has a significant impact on employment in rural areas, and that CAP measures have little impact on rural jobs; _________________ 15Evaluation of Article 68 measures, 2016; Evaluation of the impact of the CAP on generational renewal, local development and jobs in rural areas, 2019.deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 506 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 5 – point d
d. young farmers can receive additional direct payments under the EAGF and one-off support from the EAFRD for setting up their first agricultural holding. The Court’s findings coincide with those of evaluation support studies16 : EAGF support for young farmers has little to no impact, while EAFRD support is more effective, mainly because it is better targeted. CAP generational renewal measures have been found to be effective in ‘cases where complementary national, regional and local governance institutions and fiscal policies also support and enhance’ those measures; _________________ 16Evaluation of the impact of the CAP on generational renewal, local development and jobs in rural areas, 2019; ECA special report No 10/2017: EU support to young farmers should be better targeted to foster effective generational renewal; SURE-Farm: Impact of the Young Farmers payment on structural change, 2020.eleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 508 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 – indent 5 – point e
e. the Commission states in its AMPR that broadband access in rural areas has improved considerably, but it holds no further information on the EAFRD’s contribution to the development of rural areas. An evaluation support study assessing the general objective of balanced territorial development in 2014- 2020 is ongoing;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 566 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 138 a (new)
138 a. Urges the Commission to follow up on the Court's recommendations concerning audit coverage, sampling and audit trails in relation to Member States' audit authorities in order to address the identified shortcomings;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 567 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 138 c (new)
138 c. Welcomes that the Court assessed the results of EU programmes; notes that appropriate risk analyzes and recommendations for action to EU policymakers are an important basis for political decision-making; however, is concerned that the large number of output indicators is increasingly expressing preference for certain partisan positions; calls on the Court to focus the performance assessments on achieving European added value and an efficient use of EU tax money;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 568 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 138 c (new)
138 c. Is concerned that the Commission uses too many input and output indicators in its performance analysis that are expressing preference for certain partisan positions; asks the Commission to streamline performance reporting by reducing the number of relevant objectives and meaningful indicators it uses for its various performance reports, and focus on those fewer and more appropriate common set of outcome and impact indicators which best measure the results achieved in terms of efficiency, economy and effectiveness of the Union spending;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 571 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 139 a (new)
139 a. Notes that the evaluation of output indicators is difficult in this policy area; is concerned that EU funding has neither improved the humanitarian situation in refugee camps nor effectively protected the external borders; calls on the Commission for a detailed clarification, in particular for admission procedures at external borders; calls on the Commission to investigate where exactly the EU funs have been invested in the AMIF programs and which specific improvements they caused; requests a corresponding report from the Commission for each of the member states concerned;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 572 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 139 b (new)
139 b. This deficits are mainly caused by the length of asylum procedures, sluggish integration and insufficient return rates; calls on the EU Commission and the member states to make immediate legislative progress;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 656 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 158 a (new)
158 a. Notes with concern that DG NEAR, in its 2019 Annual Activity Report, had to issue a reservation concerning the difficulties in monitoring adequately all projects in Libya and Syria (non-quantified reservation) and a reservation concerning the errors in expenditure in Direct Management Grants (quantified reservation);
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 662 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 163 – indent 2
- improve the design of target and performance indicators, specifically make a greater use of outcome-oriented indicators;results
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 679 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 164 a (new)
164 a. Welcomes that the Court assessed the results of EU programmes; notes that appropriate risk analyzes and recommendations for action to EU policymakers are an important basis for political decision-making; however, is concerned that the large number of output indicators is increasingly expressing preference for certain partisan positions; calls on the Court to focus the performance assessments on achieving European added value and an efficient use of EU tax money;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 680 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 164 b (new)
164 b. Is concerned that the Commission uses too many input and output indicators in its performance analysis that are expressing preference for certain partisan positions; asks the Commission to streamline performance reporting by reducing the number of relevant objectives and meaningful indicators it uses for its various performance reports, and focus on those fewer and more appropriate common set of outcome and impact indicators which best measure the results achieved in terms of efficiency, economy and effectiveness of the Union spending;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 717 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 36
Findings of the PWC and of the Courtdeleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 719 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 173
173. Notes the results of transaction testing: of 45 transactions examined representing each institution and body, 3 (6,7 %) contained quantifiable errors, led to an estimated level of error below the materiality threshold;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 721 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 174
174. Notes that no specific issue was identified concerning the Council, the Court of Justice, the Court of Auditors, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions, the European Ombudsman, the EDPS or the European External Action Service (EEAS);deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 728 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 175
175. Notes that on European Parliament level the Court detected errors in one payment to a European political party (non-compliance with the expenditure eligibility rules: no procurement procedure, no written contractual documents and no supporting evidence for costs actually incurred);deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 731 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 176
176. Notes that concerning the Commission, several errors relating to staff costs and the PMO’s management of family allowances were found;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 746 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 37
European Economic and Social Commitdeleteed
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 753 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 177
177. Points out that The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has not yet developed a sensitive functions policy in line with its internal control standards, specifically it has issued no definition of sensitive posts or functions, nor has it performed a risk analysis with a view to adopting mitigating controls and, ultimately, an internal mobility policy;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 759 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 178
178. Finds it worrying that the EESC has not carried out a comprehensive risk assessment since 2014, only one directorate has identified the risks to the achievement of its objectives, but without yet proposing mitigating controls that would reduce those risks to an acceptable level;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 777 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 40
General observationsdeleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 779 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 184
184. Takes into account that the adoption in 2014 of the revised Staff Regulations was accompanied by a commitment by the institutions and bodies gradually to reduce the number of posts (officials and temporary staff) in their establishment plans by 5 % before 2018 compared with the situation in 2012;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 782 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 185
185. Points out that the institutions and bodies had reduced their establishment plans by 1 409 posts (3 %) and at the same time gradually increased the employment of contract staff. Over the period, the proportion of contract staff in total workforce forecasts rose from 17 % to 22 %;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 786 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 186
186. Underlines that the increase in the headcount of contract staff at year-end differs significantly from one institution, body or executive agency to another, which reflects differences in the size of the entities, but also the impact on staffing levels of new tasks stemming from rapidly evolving priorities, such as: - additional work performed by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) on behalf of other Commission departments and third parties and the replacement of grant holders previously employed under national law by a large number of scientific and technical support officers recruited in FG IV; - implementation of new programmes delegated by the Commission to the executive agencies which was neutral in budgetary terms and in terms of Commission staff transferred; - internalisation of support services at the European Parliament (security staff and drivers employed in FG I); - new responsibilities placed on the EEAS, notably in the areas of the common security and defence policy and the action plan against Disinformation (the EEAS also strengthened the physical and IT security in Union Delegations);deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 787 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 186 – indent 1
- additional work performed by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) on behalf of other Commission departments and third parties and the replacement of grant holders previously employed under national law by a large number of scientific and technical support officers recruited in FG IV;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 788 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 186 – indent 2
- implementation of new programmes delegated by the Commission to the executive agencies which was neutral in budgetary terms and in terms of Commission staff transferred;
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 789 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 186 – indent 3
- internalisation of support services at the European Parliament (security staff and drivers employed in FG I);deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 790 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 186 – indent 4
- new responsibilities placed on the EEAS, notably in the areas of the common security and defence policy and the action plan against Disinformation (the EEAS also strengthened the physical and IT security in Union Delegations);deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 793 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 187
187. Is very critical in relation to the increase in contract staff as a result to special or urgent situations, such as the migration crisis;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 798 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 188
188. Notes with curiosity the high number of closing days in the Union- institutions, for which staff do not have to use their annual leave;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 803 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 189
189. Notes that, for some institutions, there was an increase in FG I contract staff as a result of the conversion of permanent and temporary posts for clerical/secretarial assistants into contract staff;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 805 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 190
190. Finds it highly problematic that at the end of 2018, the institutions, bodies and executive agencies employed 11 962 contract staff, (representing an increase of 37 % since 2012); points out that most were employed by the European Commission, mainly in FG IV, the best paid function group, similarly, a majority of contract staff at the executive agencies were in FG III and FG IV (763 and 715 respectively);deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 810 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 191
191. Takes note that, during the period under review, the salary bill for permanent and temporary staff employed by the institutions, bodies and executive agencies increased by 12 %, while total payments to contract staff rose by 59 %, meanwhile the total salary bill for permanent and temporary staff and contract staff increased by 15 %, from EUR 4 116 million in 2012 to EUR 4 724 million in 2018;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 816 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 41
Recommendationsdeleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 828 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 192
192. Calls on the European Economic and Social Committee to: - implement a policy for dealing with sensitive functions, drawing on a comprehensive risk assessment leading to the identification of mitigating controls which take into account the Committee’s size and the nature of its work;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT
Amendment 833 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 192 – indent 1
- implement a policy for dealing with sensitive functions, drawing on a comprehensive risk assessment leading to the identification of mitigating controls which take into account the Committee’s size and the nature of its work;deleted
2021/03/04
Committee: CONT