47 Amendments of Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ related to 2021/2071(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 a (new)
Citation -1 a (new)
— having regard to Articles 2 and 7 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU),
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
— having regards to its resolution of 10 June 2021 on the rule of law situation in the European Union and the application of the Conditionality Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/20921a _________________ 1a Texts adopted, P9_TA(2021)0287.
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
— having regard to the Commission communication of 30 September 2020 on the 2020 Rule of Law Report – the rule of law situation in the European Union (COM(2020)0580),
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)
Citation 3 b (new)
— having regard to the Commission’s reasoned proposal for a Council decision of 20 December 2017 on the determination of a clear risk of a serious breach by the Republic of Poland of the rule of law, issued in accordance with Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union (COM(2017)0835),
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas the conditionality mechanism set out by the Regulation was part of the overall political agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, the Next Generation EU (NGEU) recovery plan and the Own Resources Decision, and should not be delayed in its application, in particular with regard to the application of the aforementioned instruments;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A a (new)
Recital -A a (new)
-A a. whereas the volume of the MFF 2021-2027 and the NGEU represents an unprecedented budget for the EU in its history that aims to support EU’s economic and social recovery following the consequences of the EU-Covid pandemic, and therefore requires more than ever timely and proper application of the principles of the sound financial management, as well as the protection of EU’s financial interests;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A b (new)
Recital -A b (new)
-A b. whereas according to the Regulation, respect for the rule of law is an essential precondition for compliance with the principles of sound financial management;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Commission decided to abide by the non-binding European Council conclusions of December 2020 and declared that it would develop guidelines for the application of the Regulation;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas, in its resolution of 25 March 2021 on the application of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092, the rule-of-law conditionality mechanism, Parliament requested the Commission to adopt the guidelines no later than 1 June 2021 and after having consulted Parliament;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Takes note of the Commission’s intention to develop guidelines for the application of the Regulation; reiterates once again its view that the text of the Regulation is clear and does not require any additional interpretation in order to be applied; further stresses that the legislators have not conferred implementing or executive powers to the Commission to precise the application of the Regulation;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Takes note ofRegrets the Commission’s intention to develop guidelines for the application of the Regulation; reiterates once again its view that the text of the Regulation is clear and does not require any additional interpretation in order to be applied;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that guidelines are not legally binding and by no means could delay the application of the Regulation already in force; notes that the Commission is deviating from its usual practice of drafting guidelines for the application of a legal act only in cases where the actual implementation of the act over a certain period of time shows the need for guidance;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that guidelines are not legally binding; notdeplores that the Commission is deviating from its usual practice of drafting guidelines for the application of a legal act only in cases where the actual implementation of the act over a certain period of time shows the need for guidance;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Strongly regrets the Commission’s failure to respond to Parliament’s request and to adopt its guidelines by 1 June 2021; reiterates its call on the Commission to draft the guidelines as soon as possible in close cooperation with Parliament ; reminds the Commission that Parliament already started the necessary preparations for potential court proceedings under Article 265 of the TFEU against the Commission;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Recalls that the guidelines should only serve the Commission's internal process before triggering the mechanism by ensuring a predictible treatment for the cases brought to the Council;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. UStresses that measures under the Regulation are necessary in particular in cases where other procedures set out in Union legislation would not allow the Union budget to be protected more efficiently; therefore urges the Commission to avoid any further delay in the application of the Regulation and to investigate swiftly and thoroughly any potential breaches of the principles of the rule of law in the Member States that affect or seriously risk affecting the sound financial management of the Union budget or the protection of the financial interests of the Union in a sufficiently direct way; reiterates that the situation in some Member States already warrants immediate investigation under the Regulation, in particular Member States already under the procedure of Article 7 TEU;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. UDeplores the time wasted by the Commission since the entry into force of the Regulation; urges the Commission to avoidct without any further delay in the application of the Regulation and to investigate swiftly and thoroughly any potential breaches of the principles of the rule of law in the Member States that affect or seriously risk affecting the sound financial management of the Union budget or the protection of the financial interests of the Union in a sufficiently direct way; reiterates that the situation in some Member States already warrants immediate investigation under the Regulation;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Recalls that the political guidelines for the European Commission 2019-2024 stated that 'there can be no compromise when it comes to defending our core values' and that it would be ensured that the full Union toolbox would be used at European level; recalls that the Commission ‘shall be completely independent’, and its members ‘shall neither seek nor take instructions from any Government’ in accordance with Article 17(3) of the TEU and Article 245 of the TFEU; recalls further that in accordance with Article 17(8) of the TEU, the Commission ‘shall be responsible to the European Parliament’;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. AskRequests the Commission to report to Parliament on a quarterly or semi-annual basis regarding new and ongoing cases under investigation, starting as soon as possible with the first cases;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Emphasises that any violation of the rule of law principle has to be seen as an attempt to put in danger the impact of the Union funds in the life of our citizens; therefore there cannot be a violation of the rule of law principle without a direct link to qualitative or quantitative violation of the the financial interests of the Union;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Draws attention to the non- regressive clause for the respect of the rule law established recently by the European Court of Justice: calls therefore for the Commission to evaluate the national rules that are regressive and can put in jeopardy the sound financial management and the financial interests of the Union; Court of Justice of 20 April 2021, Repubblika v Il-Prim Ministru, C-896/19, EU:C:2021:311
Amendment 46 #
6 a. Calls on the Commission to clarify in the guidelines that breaches of the rule of law in a Member state which result from decisions or events that took place prior to 1 January 2021 still fall within the scope of the regulation as long as their effect is still ongoing;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Urges that any explicit denial or refusal of execution of an European Court of Justice decision by a national authority should automatically be a cause to trigger the rule of law conditionality;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Draws particular attention to the list of indicative breaches of the principles of the rule of law laid down in Article 3 of the Regulation; calls onurges the Commission to investigate potential occurrences of the breaches included in that list in the Member States, while pointing out that other practices or omissions by public authorities may also be relevant;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Recalls that non-effective and untimely cooperation with EPPO and OLAF constitutes a legitimate and legal basis to trigger the conditionality regulation;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Recalls the importance of the cooperation between the EU institutions, the Member States and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Public Prosecutor`s Office (EPPO); welcomes that EPPO became operational on 1 June 2021 and highlights its crucial role in ensuring the effective functioning of the management and control systems for EU funds in the participating Member States;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Recalls that for the citizens of these Member States that do not take part in EPPO, OLAF remains the only competent body to investigate allegations of fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union; urges therefore the Commission to assess the compliance by the Member States with the OLAF Regulation;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7 c. Recalls that for the financial interests of EU to be effectively protected, all Member States should complete and be part of the EPPO enhanced cooperation as swiftly as possible;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 d (new)
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7 d. Urges the Commission to assess the compliance by the Member State with EPPO; points out that any political delaying of selection procedure of the european delegated prosecutors by the Member States should be seen as an attempt to jeopardise the activity of EPPO in the respective country and a potential danger of misuse of the public money;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that identification of breaches of the principles of the rule of law requires objective, impartial, fair and thorough qualitative assessment by the Commission, taking into account relevant information from available sources and recognised institutions; in particular, calls on the Commission to take materials from EU bodies, such as the Court of Justice of the European Union, the Court of Auditors, the Commission’s annual Rule of Law Report and EU Justice Scoreboard, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), or from international organisations, such as the Council of Europe;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that identification of breaches of the principles of the rule of law requires objective, impartial, fair and thorough qualitative assessment by the Commission, taking into account relevant information from available sources and recognised institutions, including information in the public domain and from fact-based investigative journalism;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Considers that the Commission’s annual Rule of Law report constitutes an objective, impartial, fair, and qualitative assessment of breaches of the principles of rule of law; believes that where the conclusions of the annual reports highlight individual or systemic breaches of the rule of law which affect or seriously risk affecting the sound financial management of the Union budget or the protection of the financial interests of the Union in a sufficiently direct way, they should be directly linked to the triggering of the conditionality mechanism; calls on the Commission to clarify, in the guidelines, a methodology to create a clear and direct link, when relevant, between the annual reports and the conditionality mechanism;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8 b. Highlights that civil society, including independent NGOs and citizens, is at the forefront to identify potential breaches of the rule of law at local and national level, and should therefore be involved in their reporting; calls on the Commission to establish, in the guidelines, an efficient, user-friendly, and easily accessible online one-stop shop for citizens and civil society to report both fraud and corruption cases related to EU Funds, as well as individual or systemic breaches in their Member State, guaranteeing anonymity and leading, where deemed relevant by its services, to further investigations by the OLAF, the EPPO or the Commission;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Recalls that the Regulation provides a clear definition of the rule of law, which must be understood in relation to the other values of the Union, including fundamental rights and non- discrimination; is of the opinion that state-sponsored discrimination against minorities has a direct impact on the projects on which Member States decide or not to spend EU money, and therefore directly affects the protection of the financial interests of the Union; calls on the Commission to take this into account when drafting the guidelines;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recalls that measures under the Regulation are necessary in particular in cases where other procedures set out in Article 7 TEU, in the Common Provision Regulation (CPR), in the Financial regulation or in other sector-specific or financial legislation would not allow the Union budget to be protected more effectively; stresses that this does not mean that the Regulation is to be considered as a ‘last resort’, but rather that the Commission can use a wide range of procedures to protect the Union’s financial interests, to be chosen on a case- by-case basis depending on their efficiency and effectiveness;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Recalls the complementarity principle between the conditionality regulation and other procedures set out in Union legislation; calls on the Commission to use all the tools available for better protecting the EU values and the financial interests of the Union, such as triggering the conditionality regulation and starting infringement procedures against the violation of the rule of law principle based on the recent case-law of European Court of Justice;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Points out that the Regulation covers all Union funds and applies to ‘systemic’ breaches as well as to cases of serious risk to the sound financial management of the Union budget or the protection of the financial interests of the Union, which may be difficult to address by other Union procedures that only apply to specific spending programmes and relate to effects on the budget that have already occurred; underlines that the Regulation is the only EU legislation linking the respect of the rule of law to the EU budget; considers, therefore, that its unique provisions should be fully applied to ensure a complementary protection of the rule of law in addition to EU finances;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Underlines that ‘systemic’ breaches, for instance those affecting the functioning of the justice system, the independence of judges and media or the neutrality of public authorities, have in general a clear iand direct impact on the proper management, spending and control, including civilian oversight, of Union funds;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Underlines that ‘systemic’ breaches, for instance those affecting the functioning of the justice system, the independence of judges or the neutrality of public authorities, have in general a clear inand direct impact on the proper management, spending and control of Union funds;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls that Articles 6 and 7 of the Regulation sets out all steps and a precise timeline for the adoption and lifting of measures under the Regulation; underlines that the procedure for adopting and lifting measures respects the principles of objectivity, non-discrimination and equal treatment of Member States and is to be conducted using a non-partisan and evidence-based approach;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls that the Council is bound to act upon any proposal of the Commission to adopt appropriate measures under the Regulation within a period of one month, which may be extended by a maximum of two additional months in exceptional circumstances; considers that the Commission should ensure that these time references are fully respected for a timely decision;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3 a (new)
Subheading 3 a (new)
Transparency
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Believes that transparency is essential to foster the confidence of Member States and citizens in the conditionality mechanism: points out that each step of the procedure of the Regulation should therefore be taken in a fully transparent way;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Calls on the Commission to set up, in the guidelines, the transparency rules and principles that it will apply when triggering the Conditionality Mechanism;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Recalls that under the Regulation, it is essential that the legitimate interest of final recipients and beneficiaries are properly safeguarded;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Recalls that the Regulation shall be applied in a manner that ensures the protection of persons reporting on breaches of Union law, in line with the principles set out in Directive (EU) 2019/1937;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission to analyse all information at its disposal and do its utmost to ensure that any amount due from government entities or Member States is in fact paid to final recipients or beneficiaries, which may entail recovering payments that have been made or making financial corrections by reducing Union support to programmes in line with applicable sector- specific and financial rules; asks the Commission to further clarify which other sources of funding could be used by Member States to ensure that they respect their obligations to final recipients or beneficiaries, when EU funds are suspended; asks the Commission to present its view on the management of a suspended EU fund in a concerned Member State;