Activities of Csaba SÓGOR related to 2018/0247(COD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA III)
Amendments (33)
Amendment 17 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Regulation (EU) No 231/201414 expires on 31 December 2020. In order to maintain the Union's effectiveness in external actions, a framework for planning and delivering external assistance should be maintainedof the Union’s enlargement policy, it should continue to be supported by a specific funding instrument for financing external action. _________________ 14 Regulation (EU) No 231/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II) (OJ L 77, 15.3.2014, p. 11).
Amendment 18 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The objectives of an instrument for pre-accession are substantially distinct fromstem from both the general objectives of Union external action and the specific objectives of the EU’s enlargement policy, as this instrument aims to prepare the beneficiaries listed in Annex I for future membership of the Union and support their accession process. It is therefore essential to have a dedicated instrument in support of enlargement, while ensuring its complementarity with the general objectives of Union external action and in particular with the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI).
Amendment 19 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) provides that any European state which respects the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, and commits to promote these values, may apply to become a member of the Union. A European State which has applied to join the Union can become a member only when it has been confirmed that it fully meets the membership criteria established at the Copenhagen European Council in June 1993 (the ‘Copenhagen criteria’) and provided that the Union has the capacity to integrate the new member. The Copenhagen criteria relate to the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities, the existence of a functioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union, and the ability to assume not only the rights but also the obligations under the Treaties, including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union.
Amendment 21 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The enlargement policy of the Union is an investment in peace, security and, stability and prosperity in Europe. It provides increased economic and trade opportunities to the mutual benefit of the Union and the aspiring Member States. The prospect of Union membership hascan have a powerful transformative effect, embedding positive democratic, political, economic and societal change. This potential should be tapped into to the highest possible degree.
Amendment 27 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Assistance should also be provided in compliance with the agreements concluded by the Union with the beneficiaries listed in Annex I. Assistance should mainly focus on assisting the beneficiaries listed in Annex I to strengthen democratic institutions and the rule of law, reform the judiciary and public administration, respect fundamental rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, and promote gender equality, tolerance, social inclusion and non- discrimination. Assistance should also support adherence to the key principles and rights as defined in the European Pillar of Social Rights.17 Assistance should continue to support their efforts to advance regional, macro-regional and cross-border cooperation as well as territorial development, including through implementation of Union macro-regional strategies. It should also enhance their economic and social development and economic governance, underpinning a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth agenda, including through implementation of regional development, agriculture and rural development, social and employment policies and the development of the digital economy and society, also in line with the flagship initiative Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans. _________________ 17 European Pillar of Social Rights solemnly proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission at the Gothenburg Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth, Gothenburg 17 November 2017.
Amendment 30 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The Union should provide support to the transition towards accession for the benefit of the beneficiaries listed in Annex I, based on the experience of its Member States and its own institutions and bodies. This cooperation should focus in particular on the sharing of experience acquired by the Member States in the reform process.
Amendment 32 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Enhanced strategic and operational cooperation between the Union and the beneficiaries listed in Annex I on security is pivotal to addressing effectively and efficiently security and terrorism threats. The European Union should invest in capacity building, institutional strengthening and training of law- enforcement agencies and facilitate police and judicial cooperation between beneficiaries and EU Member States to counter threats posed by organised crime and terrorism, including radicalisation leading to violent extremism, the challenges related to the return of foreign terrorist fighters, and the trafficking of firearms and explosives. Attention should also be paid to capacity building in the area of cyber-security and the fight against cyber-crime.
Amendment 37 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) It is essential to further step up cooperation on migration including border managementconsolidate border and migration management capacities and to improve cooperation with the European Union in this area, ensuring access to international protection, sharing relevant information, strengthening the development benefits of migration, facilitating legal and labour migration, enhancing border control, ensuring the effective implementation of readmission and return policies and pursuing ourcommon efforts in the fight against irregular migration, trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling.
Amendment 43 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) Migration, border management and security are cross-cutting policy fields in which the EU can provide an effective response only through full coherence and the use of synergies of the relevant internal and external funding instruments. It is therefore essential to apply an integrated approach which takes into account the actions of the beneficiary countries and ensures coherence, consistency and synergies between the different EU funding instruments with a view to maximize their leverage and impact, both for beneficiaries outside the Union and for the Union itself.
Amendment 46 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Strengthening the rule of law, including the independence of the judiciary, democracy and fundamental rights, safeguarding and promoting the independence of the media, the fight against corruption and organised crime, and good governance, including public administration reform, remain key challenges in most of the beneficiaries listed in Annex I and are essential in order for beneficiaries to come closer to the Union and later to fully assume the obligations of Union membership. In view of the longer-term nature of the reforms pursued in those areas and the need to build up track records, financial assistance under this Regulation should address the requirements placed on the beneficiaries listed in Annex I as early as possible.
Amendment 51 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) In view of the ethnic complexity of the Western Balkans region and its recent turbulent history of ethnic relations, the protection of national, ethnic and linguistic minorities is of particular importance. In order for minority protection to become a force for stability in candidate and potential candidate countries, the European Union should support governments in the adoption, monitoring and effective application of legal minority protection frameworks based on relevant international norms. In this, the EU should capitalise the lessons learnt during and after former accession negotiations.
Amendment 52 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 b (new)
Recital 11 b (new)
(11b) The situation of the Roma remains particularly problematic in most of the candidate and potential candidate countries, where they continue to suffer from pervasive discrimination, miserable living conditions, inadequate access to basic social services and extremely high rates of illiteracy and early school leaving, which in turn reinforces their social exclusion. IPA III should assist in the provision of well-targeted and strategy- based support for improving the situation of the Roma in the beneficiaries.
Amendment 56 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) The priorities for action towards meeting objectives in the relevant policy areas which will be supported under this Regulation should be defined in a programming framework established by the Commission for the duration of the Union multiannual financial framework for the period from 2021 to 2027 in partnership with the beneficiaries listed in Annex I, based on the enlargement agenda and their specific needs, in line with the general and specific objectives defined by this Regulation and taking relevant national strategies and resolutions of the European Parliament into due account. The programming framework should identify the areas to be supported through assistance with an indicative allocation per area of support, including an estimate of climate-related expenditure.
Amendment 57 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) It is in the Union'scommon interest to assistof the Union and the beneficiaries listed in Annex I to assist the beneficiaries in their efforts to reform with a view to Union membership. Assistance should be managed with a strong focus on results and with incentives for those who demonstrate their commitment to reform through efficient implementation of pre-accession assistance and progress towards meeting the membership criteria.
Amendment 60 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18 a (new)
Recital 18 a (new)
(18a) There should be clear consequences in cases of serious deterioration with respect to the rule of law, democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms in a candidate or potential candidate country or where the beneficiary violates the commitments taken in the relevant agreements concluded with the Union. In such cases, without prejudice to the budgetary procedure and the provisions on suspension of aid in international agreements with beneficiaries, the power to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission to amend Annex I to this Regulation with a view to suspend or partially suspend Union assistance. When taking such decisions, the Commission should ensure that financial support for actions directly benefitting the citizens, in particular those run by non-governmental actors directly related to the strengthening of the rule of law, democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, remains possible. Where the Commission finds that the reasons justifying the suspension of assistance no longer apply, it should be empowered to adopt delegated acts to amend Annex I with a view to reinstate Union assistance.
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31 a (new)
Recital 31 a (new)
(31a) Transparency, communication and visibility activities are essential to raise awareness about Union actions on the ground. In order to raise awareness in the general public, the Commission, the Union delegations and beneficiaries should communicate clearly and effectively about the use of pre-accession assistance in recipient countries by outlining their objectives, use and results. The recipients of Union funding should acknowledge the origin of the Union’s funding and ensure its proper visibility. IPA III should contribute to financing communication actions to promote the results of the Union’s assistance to multiple audiences in the recipient countries.
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) To strengthen the rule of law, democracy, the respect of human rights, fundamental rights and international law, civil society and security as well as improve migration management including border managementincluding the independence of the judiciary, democracy, the respect of fundamental rights, human rights, including the rights of minorities, compliance with international law, independence of the media, civil society and the fight against corruption;
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a a (new)
(aa) To improve migration and border management capacities and to strengthen strategic and operational cooperation with the EU including ensuring access to international protection, sharing of relevant information, facilitating legal and labour migration, enhancing border control, ensuring the effective implementation of readmission and return policies and the fight against irregular migration and migrant smuggling;
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a b (new)
(ab) To support capacity-building and training of law-enforcement agencies as well as strategic and operational cooperation with the EU on security issues in view of countering threats posed by organised crime, terrorism and cyber- crime;
Amendment 77 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) To reinforce the quality, effectiveness and accountability of public administration and support structural reforms and good governance at all levels;
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) To shape the rules, standards, policies and practices of the beneficiaries listed in Annex I in alignment to those of the Union and to reinforce reconciliation and good neighbourly relations, as well as people to people contacts and communicationimprove their capacity to implement the EU acquis;
Amendment 85 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point d a (new)
(da) To reinforce conflict prevention and to promote reconciliation, peace- building, good neighbourly relations, as well as people to people contacts and communication;
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 a (new)
Article 7 a (new)
Article 7a Suspension of Union assistance 1. In cases of serious deterioration in the respect for the rule of law, democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms in a beneficiary or where a beneficiary violates the commitments taken in the relevant agreements concluded with the Union, the Commission shall be empowered, in accordance with Article 14, to adopt a delegated act to amend Annex I to this Regulation in order to suspend or partially suspend Union assistance. In the event of a partial suspension, the programmes for which the suspension applies shall be indicated. When taking such decisions, the Commission should ensure that financial support for actions directly benefitting the citizens, in particular those run by non-governmental actors directly related to the strengthening of the rule of law, democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, remains possible. 2. Where the Commission finds that the reasons justifying the suspension of assistance no longer apply, it shall be empowered to adopt a delegated act, in accordance with Article 14 to amend Annex I in order to reinstate Union assistance.
Amendment 97 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Article 17 – paragraph 1
1. Articles 36 and 37 of [Regulation NDICI] shall apply. When providing financial assistance under this Regulation, the Commission and the Union delegations in the beneficiaries shall take all necessary measures in order to ensure the visibility of the Union's financial support, including monitoring recipients' compliance with those requirements. IPA- financed actions shall be subject to the requirements set out in the Communication and Visibility Manual for EU External Actions. The Commission shall adopt guidance for Union funded projects on visibility and communication actions for each beneficiary. 2. The Commission shall take measures to strengthen strategic communication and public diplomacy for communicating the values of the Union and highlighting the added value of the Union’s support. 3. The recipients of Union funding shall acknowledge the origin of the Union funding and ensure its proper visibility by: (a) providing a statement highlighting the support received from the Union in a visible manner on documents and communication material relating to the implementation of the funds, including on an official website, where such a website exists; (b) promoting the actions and their results by providing coherent, effective and proportionate targeted information to multiple audiences, including the media and the public. 4. The Commission shall implement information and communication actions relating to this Regulation, as well as the actions set out by it and the results achieved. Financial resources allocated to this Regulation shall also contribute to the corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, insofar as those priorities are directly related to the objectives referred to in Article 3 and in Annexes II and III.
Amendment 106 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point a
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) Establishing and promoting from an early stage the proper functioning of the institutions necessary in order to secure the rule of law, democracy, fundamental rights and human rights, including the rights of minorities. Interventions in this area shall aim at: establishing independent, accountable and efficient judicial systems, including transparent and merit-based recruitment and promoting judicial cooperation, evaluation and promotion systems and effective disciplinary procedures in cases of wrongdoing; ensuring the establishment of robust systems to protect the borders, manage migration flows and provide asylum to those in need;safeguarding and promoting the independence of media, developing effective tools to prevent and fight organised crime, trafficking in human beings, migrants smuggling, money laundering/financing of terrorism and corruption; promoting and protecting human rights, rights of persons belonging to minorities, including Roma as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons fundamental freedoms, including freedom of the media and data protection.
Amendment 107 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) Promoting respect for the rights of persons belonging to national, ethnic or linguistic minorities. Interventions shall aim at: actions supporting the de- politicisation of minority issues, development of legislative frameworks and long-term strategies for the protection of minority rights; establishment of robust capacities for the monitoring of the application of existing minority protection legislation in practice in order to secure effective application and to remedy shortcomings; enabling the development of governmental/parliamentary/state administration and judiciary structures guaranteeing the participation of minorities and the establishment of specific bodies or fora for minorities, such as minority councils; facilitating and promoting the use of minority languages in education, public administration, and public and cultural life and media; sharing of best practices in the area of positive discrimination and affirmative actions;
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point a b (new)
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point a b (new)
(ab) Improving the situation of the Roma. Interventions shall aim at: developing credible, comprehensive and adequately funded long-term strategies for Roma inclusion and integration; measures for improving the situation of Roma in the areas of education, health, housing and employment, targeted actions for reducing illiteracy and early school leaving; measures ensuring meaningful participation of Roma in public and political life;
Amendment 109 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point a c (new)
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point a c (new)
(ac) Consolidating border and migration management capacities. Interventions shall aim at: ensuring the establishment of robust systems to protect the borders, to manage migration flows and to provide asylum and international protection to those in need; strengthening cooperation with the EU on migration including border management, sharing relevant information, facilitating legal and labour migration, ensuring the effective implementation of readmission and return policies; fighting irregular migration, trafficking in human beings and migrants smuggling.
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point a d (new)
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point a d (new)
(ad) Strengthening security capacities. Interventions shall aim at: capacity building, training and institutional strengthening of law enforcement authorities and facilitation of police and judicial cooperation between beneficiaries and EU Member States to counter threats originating from organised crime and terrorism, including radicalisation leading to violent extremism, the challenge of foreign terrorist fighters and the trafficking of firearms and explosives; capacity building in the area of cyber- security and fight against cyber-crime.
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point b
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) Reforming public administrations in line with the Principles of Public Administration. Interventions shall aim at: strengthening public administration reform frameworks; improving strategic planning and inclusive and evidence-based policy and legislative development; enhancing professionalisation and de-politicisation of public service by embedding meritocratic principles; promoting transparency and accountability; improving quality and delivery of services, including adequate administrative procedures and the use of citizen centred eGovernment; strengthening and modernising public financial management; reforming tax administrations, developing the digital economy and the production of reliable statistics.
Amendment 115 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point f
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) Promoting the alignment of partner countries’ rules, standards, policies and practices to those of the Union, including state aid rulepublic procurement, competition and state aid rules and improving their capacity to implement the EU acquis.
Amendment 117 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point g
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point g
(g) Strengthening access to and quality of education, training and lifelong learning at all levels, and offering support to cultural and creative sectors. Interventions in this area shall aim at: reforming education systems and promoting equal access to quality early-childhood education and care, primary and secondary education, improving the provision of basic skills; increasing educational attainment levels, reducing early school-leaving and reinforcing teachers’ training. D; designing and implementing targeted and comprehensive measures towards the education of the Roma minority; developing vocational education and training (VET) systems and promoting work-based learning systems to facilitate the transition to the labour market; improving the quality and relevance of higher education; encouraging alumni related activities; enhancing access to lifelong learning and supporting investment in education and training infrastructure, particularly with a view to reducing territorial disparities and fostering non-segregated education and including through the use of digital technologies.
Amendment 123 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point n a (new)
Annex II – paragraph 1 – point n a (new)
(na) Fostering tourism and promotion of cultural and natural heritage. Interventions shall aim at: preservation and restoration of cultural heritage, including those of minorities, encouraging tourism; protection and promotion of natural heritage;