Activities of Olle SCHMIDT related to 2012/2166(DEC)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Eighth, Ninth and Tenth European Development Funds for the financial year 2011 PDF (256 KB) DOC (162 KB)
Amendments (30)
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
Citation 15 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 28 September 2006 on more and better cooperation: the 2006 aid effectiveness package1,
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 b (new)
Citation 15 b (new)
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 c (new)
Citation 15 c (new)
- having regard to the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) report on aid effectiveness, a progress report on the implementation of the June 2009 Paris Declaration,
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 d (new)
Citation 15 d (new)
- having regard to the "Tunis Consensus: Targeting Effective Development" of 4 and 5 November 2010, an African agenda for development effectiveness,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 e (new)
Citation 15 e (new)
- having regard to the outcome document on the OECD high level meeting on Aid Effectiveness in Busan December 2011,
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the main goal of the Cotonou agreement as the framework of the Union's relations with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and overseas countries and territories (OCTs) is to reduce and eventually eradicate poverty, consistent with the objectives of sustainable development and the gradual integration of the ACP countries and OCTs into the world economy and whereas the European Development Fund (EDF) istogether with the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are the Union's most important financial instruments for development cooperation with the ACP States;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. whereas the development aid landscape is constantly evolving and whereas development aid is part of a larger context, where trade, remittances and other sources of income today are more important than the Official Development Assistance (ODA) payments for most developing countries;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas development aid is in many cases delivered in a context of weak state institutions, high occurrence of corruption and insufficient level of control systems in the recipient state and where the EU audit of its development cooperation is of particular importance;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Regrets that the most likely error rate continues to be high; regrets, in particular, that both the most likely error rate and the frequency of errors has increased in 2011; recognises that there may be statistical fluctuations from year to year and considers it crucial that the upward trend does not continue as in this case as it would be difficult for Parliament to grant the EDF discharge; calls on the Commission to complete the comparative analysis of the errors detected by the Court of Auditors in 2010 and 2011 and to report its findings to Parliament;
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Takes note of the low number of reported cases of whistleblowing, despite the high error rate; calls on the Commission to reconsider its whistleblowing policy, including the implementation of that policy in the delegations; request the Commission to report to the Parliament on its present policies and actions for receiving and protecting both internal and external whistle blowers;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Notes that tax evasion is facilitated by a global shadow financial system comprisingsystems can be evaded trough tax havens, secrecy jurisdictions, disguised corporations, anonymous trust accounts, fake foundations, trade mispricing, and money laundering techniques; emphasises that tax evasion and tax fraud urgently need to be tackled at all levels (national, Union and international); calls on the Commission to identify areas for improvement in both Union legislation and administrative cooperation between Member States;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. BWelcomes the Commissions Action Plan to strengthen the fight against tax fraud and tax evasion; believes that a common definition and blacklist of tax havens as well as enhanced corporate transparency, including the introduction of ‘beneficial ownership’ in company registrations, are important steps to curb the illicit capital flows;
Amendment 30 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Stresses that a large part of illicit financial flows is done through the mispricing of trade transactions which consists of overpricing imports and underpricing exports on customs documents; eEmphasises the important role played by the customs authorities in detecting fraudulent transactions as they are the ones who are present at points of entry and exit of goods; points out that the illicit practices are possible in the absence of efficient national customs supervision;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Notes that many of the customs authorities in many developing countries are not functioning effectively, principally due to absence of efficient risk management systems; calls on the Commission to pay particular attention to this aspect of development and to concentrate its resources on remedying this situation, especially by including sustainable reforms of customs systems in the public financial management criteria for granting budget support;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Emphasises the fact that inefficient customs control is not exclusive to developing countries; deplores that control of customs in Member States is not functioning properly*1 , thus allowing for fraudulent behaviour; urgstresses the Commission to take need to strengthen OLAF and its cooperation with internationall necessary steps in order to remedy the situationtworks such as the Economic Crime Agency Network (ECAN) and national customs authorities in order to gather evidence from manufacturers, shipping lines, logistics companies and port authorities all over the world;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Regrets that Member Statesonly four countribute only 0,42% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in development aides - Sweden, Luxembourg, Denmark and the Netherlands - exceeded Union targets for international development assistance in 2012, despite the fact that theyall have committed themselves to contribute 0,70% of their GDP and in spite of the fact that inequality in the world is one of the most serious threats to peace and stabilityross Domestic Product (GDP) in development aid;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Reiterates that good governance, democracy, respect for human rights and poverty reduction must be integrated goals of the implementing organisations in countries where EDF support is distributed; calls on the Commission to more often suspend aide the political dialogue under Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement when there are violations of human rights, and if necessary suspend aid;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32 a. Points out that the Union needs a wide range of tools for development cooperation adapted to different contexts; emphasises especially the need for effective tools and working methods when dealing with failed states or with deeply undemocratic states;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Stresses that the specific development policy objectives must be safeguarded under the EEAS; emphasises that other considerations such ase need to minimise contradictions between trade policy and, foreign and security policy considerations should not hamper the Union'sand development priorities;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Notes that the overall impact of the Union's development policies is also determined by the Union's policies on agriculture, fisheries, energy and trade; stresses the need to ensure Policy Coherence for Development in accordance with Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and that those policies should embody and comply with the ‘do no harm’ principle;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Believes that the Commission should be able to demonstrate to the taxpayers what has been achieved with Union development assistance as well as the added value of Union in this field; calls on the Commission to formulate clear objectives which then make it possible to do actual performance audits;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39 a. Stresses that long term social and economic development requires sustainable sources of income other than aid; in this regard considers that sound and well-functioning trade relations in line with WTO principles is a key issue for developing countries and therefore urges the Council, the Commission and the ACP states to find solutions to the issues concerning the Economic Partnership Agreements and free trade between Union and the ACP region;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Also urges the Commission to take into account existing reporting on corruption and fraud levels before taking a decision on granting budget support; insists that an independent national audit body must be an ultimate condition for granting budget support;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Repeats its call on the Commission to provide regular reports on the accomplishment of the goals set for Union budget support and on specific problems encountered in particular recipient countries; calls on the Commission to ensure that budget support is reduced or cancelled when clear goals are not achievedcoherent set of signals and incentives to the recipient countries and provide a set of credible sanctions in case of non-compliance;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 56
Paragraph 56
56. Reiterates its regret that the investment facility is not covered by the Court of Auditors' Statement of Assurance or Parliament's discharge procedure, even though the operations are conducted by the European Investment Bank (EIB) on behalf of and at the risk of the Union, using EDF resources;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59
Paragraph 59
59. Reiterates its call on the EIB to link its financing of projects more directly to poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs, human rights, democracy, good governance, corporate social responsibility, decent work and environmental principles, democracy and good governance;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62 a (new)
Paragraph 62 a (new)
62 a. Notes furthermore that the present EIB Board of Directors consists of eight women and 20 men; encourages the Member States to consider nominating candidates of both gender in order to achieve a more gender balanced representation on the EIB Board of Directors;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
Paragraph 63
63. Regrets that the EDF have not been included in the general budget in the new financial rules applicable to the general budget of the European Union (Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012); emphasises the need of aid predictability and democratic scrutiny that only can be achieved when the EDF is part of the general budget of the European Union;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
Paragraph 64
64. Recalls that Parliament, the Council and the Commission agreed that those financial rules would be revised in order to include amendments made necessary by the outcome of the negotiations on the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014 to 2020, including on the issue of the possible inclusion of the EDF in the Union budget heading 4 on Global Europe; repeats its call on the Council and Member States to agree to the full incorporation of the EDF into the Union's budget;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65 a (new)
Paragraph 65 a (new)
65 a. Stresses that budgetisation of the EDF does not imply that total development cooperation spending may be reduced;