Activities of Dennis de JONG
Plenary speeches (150)
Debate with the Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven, on the Future of Europe (debate)
Discharge 2017 (debate) NL
Centralised system for the identification of Member States holding conviction information on third country nationals and stateless persons (ECRIS-TCN) (A8-0018/2018 - Daniel Dalton) (vote)
Conflict of interest and the protection of the EU budget in the Czech Republic (debate) NL
Debate with the Prime Minister of Denmark, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, on the Future of Europe (debate)
Rail passengers' rights and obligations (debate) NL
Anti-corruption (debate) NL
Debate with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, on the Future of Europe (debate) NL
Debate with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, on the Future of Europe (debate) NL
Annual report on the control of the financial activities of the European Investment Bank for 2016 (debate) NL
Discharge 2016 (debate) NL
Order of business NL
Order of business NL
Integrity policy of the Commission, in particular the appointment of the Secretary-General of the European Commission (debate) NL
Order of business NL
Former Commission President Barroso's prohibited lobby activities, such as the meeting with Commissioner Katainen (debate)
The consequences of rising socio-economic inequalities for European citizens (topical debate) NL
Enforcement of the Directive 2006/123/EC on services in the internal market, laying down a notification procedure for authorisation schemes and requirements related to services, and amending Directive 2006/123/EC and Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 on administrative cooperation through the Internal Market Information System (A8-0396/2017 - Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto) (vote) NL
Preparation of the European Council meeting of 19 and 20 October 2017 (debate)
Presentation of the Court of Auditors' annual report - 2016 (debate) NL
The functioning of franchising in the retail sector (A8-0199/2017 - Dennis de Jong) (vote) NL
Decision adopted on Mobility package (debate) NL
Road transport in the European Union (debate) NL
Discharge 2015 (debate) NL
Discharge 2015 (debate) NL
Approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles (debate) NL
Approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles (debate) NL
Control of the Register and composition of the Commission's expert groups (short presentation) NL
The role of whistleblowers in the protection of EU´s financial interests (short presentation) NL
International aviation agreements (B8-1337/2016, B8-1338/2016, B8-1339/2016) NL
Emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants (A8-0249/2015 - Julie Girling) NL
EU strategic communication to counteract anti-EU propaganda by third parties (A8-0290/2016 - Anna Elżbieta Fotyga) NL
Presentation of the Court of Auditors' annual report - 2015 (debate) NL
Fight against corruption and follow-up of the CRIM resolution (A8-0284/2016 - Laura Ferrara)
EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (A8-0283/2016 - Sophia in 't Veld) NL
2016 UN Climate change Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco (COP22) (B8-1043/2016) NL
Need for a European reindustrialisation policy in light of the recent Caterpillar and Alstom cases (RC-B8-1051/2016, B8-1051/2016, B8-1052/2016, B8-1053/2016, B8-1055/2016, B8-1056/2016, B8-1057/2016, B8-1058/2016) NL
Inter-Institutional Agreement on Transparency Register (debate) NL
Legal aid for suspects and accused persons in criminal proceedings and for requested persons in European arrest warrant proceedings (debate) NL
Legal aid for suspects and accused persons in criminal proceedings and for requested persons in European arrest warrant proceedings (debate) NL
Avoiding conflicts of interest of past and present Commissioners - Bahamas leaks (debate) NL
Review of the Dutch Presidency (debate) NL
Decision adopted on the Digital Single Market package (debate) NL
Mandatory indication of the country of origin or place of provenance for certain foods (B8-0545/2016) NL
Legal aspects, democratic control and implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement (debate) NL
Implementation and review of the EU-Central Asia Strategy (A8-0051/2016 - Tamás Meszerics) NL
Situation in Poland (B8-0461/2016, B8-0463/2016, B8-0464/2016, B8-0465/2016) NL
Protection of trade secrets against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure (debate) NL
The situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration (A8-0066/2016 - Roberta Metsola, Kashetu Kyenge) NL
Tobacco agreement (PMI agreement) (debate) NL
Establishment of a European Platform to enhance cooperation in the prevention and deterrence of undeclared work (debate) NL
Association Agreements / Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine (RC-B8-0068/2016, B8-0068/2016, B8-0069/2016, B8-0077/2016, B8-0078/2016, B8-0079/2016, B8-0080/2016) (vote)
Programme of activities of the Dutch Presidency (debate) NL
Towards a Digital Single Market Act (A8-0371/2015 - Kaja Kallas, Evelyne Gebhardt) NL
Presentation of the Court of Auditors' annual report - 2014 (debate) NL
A new animal welfare strategy for 2016-2020 (B8-1278/2015, B8-1278/2015, B8-1279/2015, B8-1280/2015, B8-1281/2015, B8-1282/2015, B8-1283/2015) NL
Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement on the general principles for the participation of Tunisia in Union programmes (A8-0254/2015 - Pier Antonio Panzeri)
Conclusions of the Justice and Home Affairs Council on migration (14 September 2015) (debate) NL
Negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) (A8-0175/2015 - Bernd Lange) NL
Long-term shareholder engagement and corporate governance statement (A8-0158/2015 - Sergio Gaetano Cofferati) NL
Resource efficiency: moving towards a circular economy (A8-0215/2015 - Sirpa Pietikäinen) NL
OLAF Supervisory Committee's annual report 2014 (debate) NL
European Agenda on Migration (debate) NL
Maternity leave (B8-0453/2015) NL
Decision adopted on the Digital Single Market (debate) NL
Tobacco agreements (debate) NL
Possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs (A8-0038/2014 - Frédérique Ries) NL
The EU and the global development framework after 2015 (A8-0037/2014 - Davor Ivo Stier) NL
Fight against tax avoidance (debate) NL
Death sentence against Asia Bibi NL
Adoption by Lithuania of the euro on 1 January 2015 (A8-0001/2014 - Werner Langen) NL
Posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services (debate)
Request for defence of the parliamentary immunity of Mario Borghezio (A7-0245/2014 - Bernhard Rapkay)
Deployment of the eCall in-vehicle system - Deployment of the interoperable EU-wide eCall (debate)
29th annual report on monitoring the application of EU law (2011) (A7-0055/2014 - Eva Lichtenberger)
Effective labour inspections as a strategy to improve working conditions (A7-0458/2013 - Jutta Steinruck)
Call for a measurable and tangible commitment against tax evasion and tax avoidance in the EU (B7-0550/2013, B7-0551/2013, B7-0552/2013)
Sexual and reproductive health and rights (A7-0426/2013 - Edite Estrela)
Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument - financing of the Cypriot Structural Funds programmes (A7-0388/2013 - Jean-Luc Dehaene)
Organised crime, corruption, and money laundering (debate)
Rule of law and human rights in Russia, especially with respect to xeno- and homophobia (debate)
Internal market for services (A7-0273/2013 - Anna Maria Corazza Bildt)
Investigations conducted by the European Anti Fraud Office (OLAF) (debate)
Laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast) - Application for international protection lodged in a Member State by a third-country national or a stateless person (recast version) - Establishment of 'Eurodac' for the comparison of fingerprints - Granting and withdrawing international protection (recast) (debate)
Laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast) - Application for international protection lodged in a Member State by a third-country national or a stateless person (recast version) - Establishment of 'Eurodac' for the comparison of fingerprints - Granting and withdrawing international protection (recast) (debate)
Organised crime, corruption and money laundering (debate)
Annual tax report: how to free the EU potential for economic growth (A7-0154/2013 - Ildikó Gáll-Pelcz)
Preparations for the European Council meeting (22 May 2013) - Fight against tax fraud, tax evasion and tax havens - Annual tax report: how to free the EU potential for economic growth (debate)
2011 discharge
Motion for a resolution - European Council conclusions of 7-8 February concerning the Multiannual Financial Framework
Improving access to finance for SMEs (A7-0001/2013 - Philippe De Backer)
Guidelines for the 2014 budget - sections other than the Commission (debate)
Information and consultation of workers, anticipation and management of restructuring (A7-0390/2012 - Alejandro Cercas)
Explanations of vote
Towards a genuine Economic and Monetary Union (debate)
Single Market Act II - Concerns of European citizens and business with the functioning of the Single Market (debate)
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Fight against homophobia in Europe (debate)
An EU approach to criminal law (short presentation)
Question Time (Commission)
Question Time (Commission)
Call for concrete ways to combat tax fraud and tax evasion (debate)
Explanations of vote
Family reunification of third-country nationals living in the EU (debate)
Explanations of vote
Public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (debate)
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Ombudsman's annual report 2010 (debate)
Conclusions of the European Council meeting (23 October 2011) (debate)
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection (debate)
Sexual orientation and gender identity at the UN Human Rights Council (debate)
Closing the gap between anti-corruption law and reality (debate)
Annual report on monitoring the application of EU law (2009) - Better legislation, subsidiarity and proportionality and smart regulation - Public access to documents 2009-2010 (debate)
A new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for a competitive, sustainable and inclusive Europe (continuation of debate)
European Arrest Warrant (debate)
Governance and partnership in the Single Market - Single market for Europeans - Single market for enterprises and growth - Public procurement (continuation of debate)
Explanations of vote
Respect of national wage and retirement-setting mechanisms (debate)
Commission expert groups and balanced representation and transparency (debate)
Explanations of vote
State of European asylum system, after the recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights (debate)
Adequate, sustainable and safe European pension systems (debate)
Situation of Christians in the context of freedom of religion (debate)
Cost of examining asylum seekers’ applications in Member States (debate)
Violation of freedom of expression and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in Lithuania (debate)
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Agreement between the EC and Pakistan on readmission - Community readmission agreements with third countries (debate)
Postal services
Discrimination of same-sex married or in civil-partnership couples (debate)
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Outcome of the summit of 7 May 2010 and the ECOFIN meeting - What is the political relevance of the EU 2020 strategy in the context of the current financial and economic crisis? - Consequences of the financial and economic crisis on the EU 2020 strategy and its governance - What is the relevance of the EU 2020 strategy in the framework of the current financial and economic crisis? (debate)
Explanations of vote
Europe 2020 - new European Strategy for Jobs and Growth (debate)
Annual accounts of certain types of companies as regards micro-entities (debate)
Online gambling in relation to recent ECJ rulings (debate)
Improvement needed in the legal framework for access to documents following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty (debate)
Presentation of the Court of Auditors’ annual report - 2008 (debate)
G20 Summit in Pittsburgh (24-25 September) (debate)
Reports (9)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting for the period 2021-2027 (the ‘Pericles IV programme') PDF (207 KB) DOC (93 KB)
REPORT on the functioning of franchising in the retail sector PDF (320 KB) DOC (66 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2015, Section I – European Parliament PDF (717 KB) DOC (110 KB)
REPORT on the role of whistle-blowers in the protection of EU’s financial interests PDF (382 KB) DOC (59 KB)
REPORT on control of the Register and composition of the Commission’s expert groups PDF (387 KB) DOC (60 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on provisional legal aid for suspects or accused persons deprived of liberty and legal aid in European arrest warrant proceedings PDF (645 KB) DOC (383 KB)
REPORT on the European Retail Action Plan for the benefit of all actors PDF (226 KB) DOC (112 KB)
REPORT on misleading advertisement practices PDF (170 KB) DOC (83 KB)
REPORT on an EU approach on criminal law PDF (164 KB) DOC (95 KB)
Shadow reports (335)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Railway Agency (ERA) (now European Union Agency for Railways) for the financial year 2017 PDF (191 KB) DOC (68 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of Eurojust for the financial year 2017 PDF (184 KB) DOC (69 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) (before 1 May 2017: European Police Office) for the financial year 2017 PDF (187 KB) DOC (63 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) for the financial year 2017 PDF (195 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) for the financial year 2017 PDF (172 KB) DOC (63 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) for the financial year 2017 PDF (186 KB) DOC (63 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for the Οperational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (now European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice) (eu-LISA) for the financial year 2017 PDF (194 KB) DOC (70 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) for the financial year 2017 PDF (185 KB) DOC (65 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European GNSS Agency (GSA) for the financial year2017 PDF (175 KB) DOC (55 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) for the financial year 2017 PDF (185 KB) DOC (67 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union agencies for the financial year 2017: performance, financial management and control PDF (203 KB) DOC (75 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) for the financial year 2017 PDF (183 KB) DOC (58 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) for the financial year 2017 PDF (184 KB) DOC (63 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) for the financial year 2017 PDF (186 KB) DOC (68 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) for the financial year 2017 PDF (185 KB) DOC (61 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the financial year 2017 PDF (187 KB) DOC (70 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) for the financial year 2017 PDF (183 KB) DOC (66 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) for the financial year 2017 PDF (179 KB) DOC (65 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Euratom Supply Agency (ESA) for the financial year 2017 PDF (165 KB) DOC (57 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Training Foundation (ETF) for the financial year 2017 PDF (182 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) for the financial year 2017 PDF (189 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) for the financial year 2017 PDF (172 KB) DOC (62 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for the financial year 2017 PDF (184 KB) DOC (69 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Environment Agency (EEA) for the financial year 2017 PDF (191 KB) DOC (65 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for the financial year 2017 PDF (191 KB) DOC (65 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Banking Authority (EBA) for the financial year 2017 PDF (187 KB) DOC (67 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union (CdT) for the financial year 2017 PDF (182 KB) DOC (67 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) for the financial year 2017 PDF (184 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Aviation Safety Agency for the financial year 2017 PDF (190 KB) DOC (66 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the financial year 2017 PDF (184 KB) DOC (60 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2017, Section IX – European Data Protection Supervisor PDF (165 KB) DOC (69 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Office of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) for the financial year 2017 PDF (171 KB) DOC (61 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators for the financial year 2017 PDF (171 KB) DOC (60 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2017, Section X – European External Action Service PDF (185 KB) DOC (75 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2017, Section I – European Parliament PDF (270 KB) DOC (124 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2017, Section VII – Committee of the Regions PDF (159 KB) DOC (60 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2017, Section VI – European Economic and Social Committee PDF (157 KB) DOC (59 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2017, Section VIII – European Ombudsman PDF (154 KB) DOC (61 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2017, Section IV – Court of Justice PDF (174 KB) DOC (72 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2017, Section V – Court of Auditors PDF (172 KB) DOC (67 KB)
REPORT on strengthening the competitiveness of the Internal Market by developing the EU Customs Union and its governance PDF (190 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Programme for single market, competitiveness of enterprises, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and European statistics and repealing Regulations (EU) No 99/2013, (EU) No 1287/2013, (EU) No 254/2014, (EU) No 258/2014, (EU) No 652/2014 and (EU) 2017/826 PDF (727 KB) DOC (334 KB)
REPORT on the Annual Report 2017 on the protection of the European Union’s financial interests – fight against fraud PDF (188 KB) DOC (65 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States PDF (1 MB) DOC (182 KB)
REPORT on the implementation of Directive 2011/7/EU on combating late payment in commercial transactions PDF (488 KB) DOC (68 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on promoting fairness and transparency for business users of online intermediation services PDF (1 MB) DOC (295 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the import of cultural goods PDF (1 MB) DOC (206 KB)
SECOND REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, Section II – European Council and Council PDF (362 KB) DOC (60 KB)
SECOND REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Asylum Support Office for the financial year 2016 PDF (282 KB) DOC (58 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/413/JHA PDF (705 KB) DOC (111 KB)
REPORT on the public procurement strategy package PDF (483 KB) DOC (83 KB)
REPORT on the Annual Report 2016 on the protection of the EU’s financial interests – Fight against fraud PDF (498 KB) DOC (73 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, Section X – European External Action Service PDF (473 KB) DOC (68 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, Section IV – Court of Justice PDF (410 KB) DOC (71 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, Section VII – Committee of the Regions PDF (364 KB) DOC (56 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, Section II – European Council and Council PDF (363 KB) DOC (56 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union agencies for the financial year 2016: performance, financial management and control PDF (428 KB) DOC (75 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security for the financial year 2016 PDF (290 KB) DOC (62 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of Eurojust for the financial year 2016 PDF (397 KB) DOC (73 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for the Οperational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice for the financial year 2016 PDF (425 KB) DOC (76 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Police Office (Europol) for the financial year 2016 PDF (320 KB) DOC (69 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) for the financial year 2016 PDF (331 KB) DOC (68 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Fisheries Control Agency for the financial year 2016 PDF (318 KB) DOC (65 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2016 PDF (311 KB) DOC (63 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, Section I – European Parliament PDF (724 KB) DOC (110 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Medicines Agency for the financial year 2016 PDF (333 KB) DOC (69 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Euratom Supply Agency for the financial year 2016 PDF (270 KB) DOC (51 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Securities and Markets Authority for the financial year 2016 PDF (314 KB) DOC (63 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, Section VIII – European Ombudsman PDF (362 KB) DOC (54 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, Section IX – European Data Protection Supervisor PDF (389 KB) DOC (58 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (before 1 July 2016: European Police College) (CEPOL) for the financial year 2016 PDF (322 KB) DOC (70 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, Section VI – European Economic and Social Committee PDF (367 KB) DOC (56 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology for the financial year 2016 PDF (295 KB) DOC (59 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for the financial year 2016 PDF (314 KB) DOC (61 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2016 PDF (322 KB) DOC (65 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2016 PDF (329 KB) DOC (63 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2016 PDF (313 KB) DOC (63 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, Section V – Court of Auditors PDF (361 KB) DOC (54 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2016 PDF (320 KB) DOC (63 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute for Gender Equality for the financial year 2016 PDF (310 KB) DOC (60 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2016 PDF (328 KB) DOC (66 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for the financial year 2016 PDF (322 KB) DOC (71 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work for the financial year 2016 PDF (316 KB) DOC (61 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Asylum Support Office for the financial year 2016 PDF (339 KB) DOC (79 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European GNSS Agency for the financial year 2016 PDF (370 KB) DOC (63 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2016 PDF (307 KB) DOC (60 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Training Foundation for the financial year 2016 PDF (313 KB) DOC (62 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Railway Agency (now European Union Agency for Railways) for the financial year 2016 PDF (433 KB) DOC (65 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Maritime Safety Agency for the financial year 2016 PDF (319 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators for the financial year 2016 PDF (284 KB) DOC (57 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Office of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications for the financial year 2016 PDF (288 KB) DOC (59 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the financial year 2016 PDF (306 KB) DOC (60 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Banking Authority for the financial year 2016 PDF (318 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Aviation Safety Agency for the financial year 2016 PDF (325 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing a single digital gateway to provide information, procedures, assistance and problem solving services and amending Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 PDF (1 MB) DOC (190 KB)
REPORT on the amended proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain aspects concerning contracts for the sales of goods, amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Directive 2009/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Directive 1999/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council PDF (833 KB) DOC (140 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a centralised system for the identification of Member States holding conviction information on third country nationals and stateless persons (TCN) to supplement and support the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS-TCN system) and amending Regulation (EU) No 1077/2011 PDF (915 KB) DOC (137 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain aspects concerning contracts for the supply of digital content PDF (1 MB) DOC (200 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) PDF (1 MB) DOC (219 KB)
SECOND REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2015, Section II – European Council and Council PDF (359 KB) DOC (57 KB)
RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council regulation implementing enhanced cooperation on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (“the EPPO”) PDF (469 KB) DOC (57 KB)
RECOMMENDATION FOR SECOND READING on the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the fight against fraud to the Union's financial interests by means of criminal law PDF (462 KB) DOC (60 KB)
REPORT on European Standards – implementation of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 PDF (515 KB) DOC (94 KB)
REPORT on online platforms and the digital single market PDF (461 KB) DOC (84 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on addressing geo-blocking and other forms of discrimination based on customers' nationality, place of residence or place of establishment within the internal market and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2009/22/EC PDF (1 MB) DOC (228 KB)
REPORT on the Annual Report 2015 on the protection of the EU’s financial interests – Fight against fraud PDF (594 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2015, Section V – Court of Auditors PDF (369 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union agencies for the financial year 2015: performance, financial management and control PDF (519 KB) DOC (78 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European GNSS Agency for the financial year 2015 PDF (287 KB) DOC (55 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators for the financial year 2015 PDF (293 KB) DOC (54 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for the financial year 2015 PDF (303 KB) DOC (63 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the financial year 2015 PDF (318 KB) DOC (65 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2015, Section VI – European Economic and Social Committee PDF (364 KB) DOC (60 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Office of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications for the financial year 2015 PDF (285 KB) DOC (61 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2015, Section VIII – European Ombudsman PDF (363 KB) DOC (60 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2015, Section VII – Committee of the Regions PDF (363 KB) DOC (60 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2015, Section IX – European Data Protection Supervisor PDF (382 KB) DOC (66 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (now European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex)) for the financial year 2015 PDF (404 KB) DOC (67 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2015, Section IV – Court of Justice PDF (385 KB) DOC (69 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Maritime Safety Agency for the financial year 2015 PDF (299 KB) DOC (59 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2015, Section II – European Council and Council PDF (360 KB) DOC (58 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of Eurojust for the financial year 2015 PDF (405 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Railway Agency (now European Union Agency for Railways) for the financial year 2015 PDF (416 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology for the financial year 2015 PDF (299 KB) DOC (67 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Euratom Supply Agency for the financial year 2015 PDF (274 KB) DOC (57 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Securities and Markets Authority for the financial year 2015 PDF (306 KB) DOC (66 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2015, Section X – European External Action Service PDF (403 KB) DOC (70 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Training Foundation for the financial year 2015 PDF (293 KB) DOC (61 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work for the financial year 2015 PDF (302 KB) DOC (63 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security for the financial year 2015 PDF (283 KB) DOC (60 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2015 PDF (299 KB) DOC (63 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Police Office (Europol) for the financial year 2015 PDF (304 KB) DOC (62 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute for Gender Equality for the financial year 2015 PDF (304 KB) DOC (65 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for the Οperational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice for the financial year 2015 PDF (399 KB) DOC (68 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2015 PDF (305 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Fisheries Control Agency for the financial year 2015 PDF (302 KB) DOC (65 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2015 PDF (308 KB) DOC (60 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2015 PDF (320 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Asylum Support Office for the financial year 2015 PDF (305 KB) DOC (67 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Aviation Safety Agency for the financial year 2015 PDF (310 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2015 PDF (317 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2015 PDF (300 KB) DOC (59 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Medicines Agency for the financial year 2015 PDF (314 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for the financial year 2015 PDF (305 KB) DOC (60 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Police College (now European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training) (CEPOL) for the financial year 2015 PDF (300 KB) DOC (63 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Banking Authority for the financial year 2015 PDF (310 KB) DOC (68 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2015 PDF (284 KB) DOC (60 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive (EU) 2015/849 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing and amending Directive 2009/101/EC PDF (1 MB) DOC (200 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles PDF (1 MB) DOC (362 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 laying down the Union Customs Code, as regards goods that have temporarily left the customs territory of the Union by sea or air PDF (439 KB) DOC (54 KB)
REPORT on the fight against corruption and follow-up of the CRIM resolution PDF (490 KB) DOC (87 KB)
SECOND REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the ARTEMIS Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2014 PDF (270 KB) DOC (57 KB)
SECOND REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy for the financial year 2014 PDF (270 KB) DOC (60 KB)
SECOND REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the ENIAC Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2014 PDF (270 KB) DOC (57 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Framework Decision 2009/315/JHA, as regards the exchange of information on third country nationals and as regards the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS), and replacing Council Decision 2009/316/JHA PDF (736 KB) DOC (398 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013, as regards the secretariat of the Supervisory Committee of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) PDF (445 KB) DOC (79 KB)
REPORT on unfair trading practices in the food supply chain PDF (350 KB) DOC (143 KB)
REPORT on Non-Tariff Barriers in the Single Market PDF (292 KB) DOC (104 KB)
REPORT on public access to documents (Rule 116(7)) for the years 2014-2015 PDF (402 KB) DOC (132 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014, Section III – Commission and executive agencies PDF (1 MB) DOC (647 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014, Section I – European Parliament PDF (807 KB) DOC (212 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work for the financial year 2014 PDF (287 KB) DOC (92 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Asylum Support Office for the financial year 2014 PDF (286 KB) DOC (94 KB)
REPORT on the Court of Auditors’ special reports in the context of the 2014 Commission discharge PDF (708 KB) DOC (208 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for the Οperational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice for the financial year 2014 PDF (379 KB) DOC (99 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Police Office (Europol) for the financial year 2014 PDF (288 KB) DOC (93 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2014 PDF (288 KB) DOC (93 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the ECSEL Joint Undertaking (formerly the ENIAC Joint Undertaking and the ARTEMIS Joint Undertaking) for the financial year 2014 PDF (285 KB) DOC (98 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2014 PDF (301 KB) DOC (105 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology for the financial year 2014 PDF (280 KB) DOC (89 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Training Foundation for the financial year 2014 PDF (284 KB) DOC (92 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union for the financial year 2014 PDF (296 KB) DOC (100 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Medicines Agency for the financial year 2014 PDF (303 KB) DOC (105 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the ENIAC Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2014 PDF (271 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European GNSS Agency for the financial year 2014 PDF (269 KB) DOC (82 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Euratom Supply Agency for the financial year 2014 PDF (260 KB) DOC (74 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for the financial year 2014 PDF (291 KB) DOC (97 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Railway Agency for the financial year 2014 PDF (296 KB) DOC (100 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2014 PDF (283 KB) DOC (91 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Fisheries Control Agency for the financial year 2014 PDF (286 KB) DOC (94 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for the financial year 2014 PDF (292 KB) DOC (97 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Maritime Safety Agency for the financial year 2014 PDF (293 KB) DOC (96 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2014 PDF (291 KB) DOC (98 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union's Judicial Cooperation Unit (Eurojust) for the financial year 2014 PDF (408 KB) DOC (94 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security for the financial year 2014 PDF (268 KB) DOC (81 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy for the financial year 2014 PDF (287 KB) DOC (99 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Securities and Markets Authority for the financial year 2014 PDF (297 KB) DOC (100 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Aviation Safety Agency for the financial year 2014 PDF (314 KB) DOC (106 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2014 PDF (277 KB) DOC (92 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Office of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications for the financial year 2014 PDF (284 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the ARTEMIS Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2014 PDF (359 KB) DOC (89 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2014 PDF (298 KB) DOC (101 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Banking Authority for the financial year 2014 PDF (295 KB) DOC (101 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the SESAR Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2014 PDF (291 KB) DOC (103 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Police College for the financial year 2014 PDF (288 KB) DOC (94 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators for the financial year 2014 PDF (289 KB) DOC (87 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2014 PDF (302 KB) DOC (107 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute for Gender Equality for the financial year 2014 PDF (284 KB) DOC (92 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2014 PDF (270 KB) DOC (81 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2014 PDF (347 KB) DOC (91 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the financial year 2014 PDF (285 KB) DOC (93 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking (formerly the Joint Undertaking for the implementation of the Joint Technology Initiative on Innovative Medicines) for the financial year 2014 PDF (276 KB) DOC (93 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union agencies for the financial year 2014: performance, financial management and control PDF (381 KB) DOC (114 KB)
REPORT on the European Investment Bank (EIB) – Annual Report 2014 PDF (481 KB) DOC (184 KB)
REPORT on the Annual Report 2014 on the Protection of the EU’s Financial Interests – Fight against fraud PDF (556 KB) DOC (182 KB)
REPORT on Towards a Digital Single Market Act PDF (619 KB) DOC (373 KB)
RECOMMENDATION FOR SECOND READING on the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on package travel and linked travel arrangements, amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directive 90/314/EEC PDF (166 KB) DOC (91 KB)
SECOND REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology for the financial year 2013 PDF (168 KB) DOC (88 KB)
REPORT on Towards improved single market regulation PDF (175 KB) DOC (111 KB)
REPORT on protecting the European Union’s financial interests: towards performance-based controls of the Common Agricultural Policy PDF (162 KB) DOC (96 KB)
RECOMMENDATION FOR SECOND READING on the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing, amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Directive 2005/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Directive 2006/70/EC PDF (151 KB) DOC (72 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the strengthening of certain aspects of the presumption of innocence and of the right to be present at trial in criminal proceedings PDF (785 KB) DOC (515 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Euratom Supply Agency for the financial year 2013 PDF (151 KB) DOC (67 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators for the financial year 2013 PDF (157 KB) DOC (78 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the ENIAC Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2013 PDF (169 KB) DOC (81 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the ARTEMIS Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2013 PDF (162 KB) DOC (81 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2013, Section III – Commission and executive agencies PDF (483 KB) DOC (523 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Fisheries Control Agency for the financial year 2013 PDF (164 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for the Οperational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice for the financial year 2013 PDF (169 KB) DOC (93 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute for Gender Equality for the financial year 2013 PDF (169 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2013 PDF (175 KB) DOC (96 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2013 PDF (168 KB) DOC (87 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European GNSS Agency for the financial year 2013 PDF (160 KB) DOC (78 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union for the financial year 2013 PDF (173 KB) DOC (93 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for the financial year 2013 PDF (166 KB) DOC (84 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2013 PDF (167 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of Eurojust for the financial year 2013 PDF (166 KB) DOC (87 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Training Foundation for the financial year 2013 PDF (164 KB) DOC (81 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security for the financial year 2013 PDF (159 KB) DOC (77 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Maritime Safety Agency for the financial year 2013 PDF (163 KB) DOC (81 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Securities and Markets Authority for the financial year 2013 PDF (170 KB) DOC (91 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Police College for the financial year 2013 PDF (167 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Asylum Support Office for the financial year 2013 PDF (165 KB) DOC (82 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2013 PDF (159 KB) DOC (78 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2013 PDF (170 KB) DOC (88 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2013, Section I – European Parliament PDF (228 KB) DOC (222 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Office of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications for the financial year 2013 PDF (158 KB) DOC (76 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Police Office for the financial year 2013 PDF (167 KB) DOC (82 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the financial year 2013 PDF (167 KB) DOC (84 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Railway Agency for the financial year 2013 PDF (169 KB) DOC (93 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology for the financial year 2013 PDF (161 KB) DOC (81 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work for the financial year 2013 PDF (167 KB) DOC (87 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Medicines Agency for the financial year 2013 PDF (174 KB) DOC (94 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Aviation Safety Agency for the financial year 2013 PDF (168 KB) DOC (91 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2013 PDF (176 KB) DOC (96 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Banking Authority for the financial year 2013 PDF (172 KB) DOC (96 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union agencies for the financial year 2013: performance, financial management and control PDF (185 KB) DOC (112 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for the financial year 2013 PDF (167 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2013 PDF (165 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on the Court of Auditors' special reports in the context of the 2013 Commission discharge PDF (280 KB) DOC (213 KB)
INTERIM REPORT on the proposal for a Council regulation on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office PDF (261 KB) DOC (209 KB)
RECOMMENDATION FOR SECOND READING on the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning type-approval requirements for the deployment of the eCall in-vehicle system based on the 112 service and amending Directive 2007/46/EC PDF (147 KB) DOC (66 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a European Union agency for law enforcement training (Cepol), repealing and replacing Council Decision 2005/681/JHA PDF (651 KB) DOC (340 KB)
REPORT on the Annual Report 2013 on the Protection of the EU’s Financial Interests – Fight against fraud PDF (199 KB) DOC (136 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on procedural safeguards for children suspected or accused in criminal proceedings PDF (698 KB) DOC (434 KB)
REPORT on Single Market governance within the European Semester 2015 PDF (210 KB) DOC (123 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Police College for the financial year 2012 PDF (188 KB) DOC (95 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union agencies for the financial year 2012: performance, financial management and control PDF (241 KB) DOC (123 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2012 PDF (177 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology for the financial year 2012 PDF (165 KB) DOC (76 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Fisheries Control Agency for the financial year 2012 PDF (180 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority for the financial year 2012 PDF (183 KB) DOC (87 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Securities and Markets Authority for the financial year 2012 PDF (180 KB) DOC (88 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute for Gender Equality for the financial year 2012 PDF (181 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2012 PDF (182 KB) DOC (86 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Medicines Agency for the financial year 2012 PDF (183 KB) DOC (88 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for the financial year 2012 PDF (181 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European GNSS Agency for the financial year 2012 PDF (158 KB) DOC (71 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Aviation Safety Agency for the financial year 2012 PDF (177 KB) DOC (83 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Banking Authority for the financial year 2012 PDF (178 KB) DOC (84 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2012 PDF (189 KB) DOC (91 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2012 PDF (175 KB) DOC (82 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Railway Agency for the financial year 2012 PDF (176 KB) DOC (86 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators for the financial year 2012 PDF (165 KB) DOC (79 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the financial year 2012 PDF (181 KB) DOC (86 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications for the financial year 2012 PDF (166 KB) DOC (78 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2012 PDF (156 KB) DOC (70 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the ENIAC Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2012 PDF (185 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Artemis Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2012 PDF (184 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2012 PDF (174 KB) DOC (79 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2012 PDF (175 KB) DOC (80 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy for the financial year 2012 PDF (181 KB) DOC (76 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the SESAR Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2012 PDF (192 KB) DOC (90 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Maritime Safety Agency for the financial year 2012 PDF (177 KB) DOC (83 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Network and Information Security Agency for the financial year 2012 PDF (165 KB) DOC (73 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work for the financial year 2012 PDF (175 KB) DOC (81 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Asylum Support Office for the financial year 2012 PDF (173 KB) DOC (86 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of Eurojust for the financial year 2012 PDF (174 KB) DOC (83 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2012 PDF (182 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for the financial year 2012 PDF (177 KB) DOC (86 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2012 PDF (175 KB) DOC (83 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Training Foundation for the financial year 2012 PDF (179 KB) DOC (85 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union for the financial year 2012 PDF (182 KB) DOC (90 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Euratom Supply Agency for the financial year 2012 PDF (152 KB) DOC (69 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Police Office for the financial year 2012 PDF (175 KB) DOC (84 KB)
RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council regulation extending to the non-participating Member States the application of Regulation (EU) No …/2012 establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the ‘Pericles 2020’ programme) PDF (128 KB) DOC (55 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering and terrorist financing PDF (706 KB) DOC (782 KB)
REPORT on public access to documents (Rule 104(7)) for the years 2011-2013 PDF (207 KB) DOC (102 KB)
REPORT on the draft regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision 2005/681/JHA establishing the European Police College (CEPOL) PDF (191 KB) DOC (289 KB)
INTERIM REPORT on the proposal for a Council regulation on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office PDF (301 KB) DOC (176 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on package travel and assisted travel arrangements, amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004, Directive 2011/83/EU and repealing Council Directive 90/314/EEC PDF (767 KB) DOC (881 KB)
REPORT on evaluation of justice in relation to criminal justice and the rule of law PDF (176 KB) DOC (84 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning type-approval requirements for the deployment of the eCall in-vehicle system and amending Directive 2007/46/EC PDF (551 KB) DOC (711 KB)
REPORT on Single Market governance within the European Semester 2014 PDF (203 KB) DOC (91 KB)
REPORT with recommendations to the Commission on the review of the European Arrest Warrant PDF (188 KB) DOC (88 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of the euro and other currencies against counterfeiting by criminal law, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2000/383/JHA PDF (260 KB) DOC (390 KB)
REPORT on the EU Roadmap against homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity PDF (201 KB) DOC (92 KB)
REPORT on the draft directive of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding the European Investigation Order in criminal matters PDF (445 KB) DOC (297 KB)
REPORT on the implementation of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive 2005/29/EC PDF (178 KB) DOC (94 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an exchange, assistance and training programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting (the 'Pericles 2020' programme) PDF (243 KB) DOC (427 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the right of access to a lawyer in criminal proceedings and on the right to communicate upon arrest PDF (400 KB) DOC (431 KB)
REPORT on online gambling in the internal market PDF (236 KB) DOC (151 KB)
RECOMMENDATION FOR SECOND READING on the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning customs enforcement of intellectual property rights and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1383/2003 PDF (134 KB) DOC (68 KB)
REPORT on the EU Charter: standard settings for media freedom across the EU PDF (238 KB) DOC (149 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors PDF (1 MB) DOC (2 MB)
REPORT with recommendations to the Commission on the governance of the Single Market PDF (307 KB) DOC (198 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on public procurement PDF (2 MB) DOC (3 MB)
REPORT on the amended proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of 'EURODAC' for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of Regulation (EU) No […/…] (establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person) and to request comparisons with EURODAC data by Member States' law enforcement authorities and Europol for law enforcement purposes and amending Regulation (EU) No 1077/2011 establishing a European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (recast) PDF (417 KB) DOC (573 KB)
REPORT on the implementation of the Consumer Credit Directive 2008/48/EC PDF (162 KB) DOC (102 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 and Directive 2009/22/EC (Directive on consumer ADR) PDF (690 KB) DOC (1 MB)
REPORT on the 20 main concerns of European citizens and business with the functioning of the Single Market PDF (391 KB) DOC (241 KB)
REPORT on eCall: a new 112 service for citizens PDF (216 KB) DOC (150 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European Standardisation and amending Council Directives 89/686/EEC and 93/15/EEC and Directives 94/9/EC, 94/25/EC, 95/16/EC, 97/23/EC, 98/34/EC, 2004/22/EC, 2007/23/EC, 2009/105/EC and 2009/23/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council PDF (617 KB) DOC (969 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning customs enforcement of intellectual property rights PDF (559 KB) DOC (824 KB)
REPORT on modernisation of customs PDF (254 KB) DOC (171 KB)
REPORT on online gambling in the Internal Market PDF (239 KB) DOC (155 KB)
REPORT on organised crime in the European Union PDF (254 KB) DOC (158 KB)
REPORT on modernisation of public procurement PDF (366 KB) DOC (266 KB)
REPORT on Governance and Partnership in the Single Market PDF (243 KB) DOC (157 KB)
REPORT Report on the impact of advertising on consumer behaviour PDF (220 KB) DOC (138 KB)
REPORT Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating late payment in commercial transactions (recast) PDF (458 KB) DOC (662 KB)
REPORT Report on delivering a single market to consumers and citizens PDF (229 KB) DOC (143 KB)
REPORT Report on SOLVIT PDF (192 KB) DOC (120 KB)
REPORT Report on the Internal Market Scoreboard PDF (171 KB) DOC (112 KB)
REPORT on the initiative of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, the Republic of Hungary, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Slovak Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with a view to the adoption of a Council Decision setting up a European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN) and repealing Decision 2001/427/JHA PDF (168 KB) DOC (82 KB)
Opinions (12)
OPINION on the implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union in the EU institutional framework
OPINION on Implementation of the legal provisions and the Joint Statement ensuring the parliamentary scrutiny over decentralised agencies
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on representative actions for the protection of the collective interests of consumers, and repealing Directive 2009/22/EC
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Justice programme
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of persons reporting on breaches of Union law
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on rail passengers' rights and obligations (recast)
OPINION on legitimate measures to protect whistle-blowers acting in the public interest when disclosing the confidential information of companies and public bodies
OPINION on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing a European Platform to enhance cooperation in the prevention and deterrence of undeclared work
OPINION on the Implementation of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive
OPINION on Budget 2013: Section III (Commission)
OPINION on better legislation, subsidiarity and proportionality and smart regulation
OPINION on the Green Paper entitled ‘Towards adequate, sustainable and safe European pension systems’
Shadow opinions (56)
DRAFT OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing, as part of the Integrated Border Management Fund, the instrument for financial support for customs control equipment
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF).
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Digital Europe programme for the period 2021-2027
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on unfair trading practices in business-to-business relationships in the food supply chain
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP)
OPINION on the situation in Hungary (pursuant to the European Parliament resolution of 17 May 2017)
OPINION on the Annual Report 2016 on the Protection of the EU’s Financial Interests - Fight against fraud
OPINION on the Report on Competition Policy 2016
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust)
OPINION on legitimate measures to protect whistle-blowers acting in the public interest when disclosing the confidential information of companies and public bodies
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Cross-border parcel delivery services
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 96/71/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 16 December 1996 concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2010/13/EU on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services in view of changing market realities
OPINION on the Annual Report on EU Competition Policy
OPINION on the evaluation of external aspects of the customs performance and management as a tool to facilitate trade and fight illicit trade
OPINION on Commissioners’ declarations of interests - Guidelines
OPINION on an aviation strategy for Europe
OPINION on the Report on the application of the Postal Services Directive
OPINION on a new forward-looking and innovative future strategy on trade and investment
OPINION on transparency, accountability and integrity in the EU institutions
OPINION on transparency, accountability and integrity in the EU institutions
OPINION on the Annual Report on EU Competition Policy
OPINION on the recommendations to the European Commission on the negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Fund for Strategic Investments and amending Regulations (EU) No 1291/2013 and (EU) No 1316/2013
OPINION on Regulatory fitness and performance programme (REFIT): state of play and outlook
OPINION on the review of the economic governance framework: stocktaking and challenges
OPINION on the Annual Report on EU Competition Policy
OPINION on the Annual Report 2013 on the Protection of the EU’s Financial Interests - Fight against fraud
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning type-approval requirements for the deployment of the eCall in-vehicle system and amending Directive 2007/46/EC
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC as regards disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large companies and groups
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the comparability of fees related to payment accounts, payment account switching and access to payment accounts with basic features
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights and Regulation (EC) No 2027/97 on air carrier liability in respect of the carriage of passengers and their baggage by air
OPINION on European Semester for economic policy coordination: implementation of 2013 priorities
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on collective management of copyright and related rights and multi-territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online uses in the internal market
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the enforcement of Directive 96/71/EC concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services
OPINION on the implementation of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive
OPINION on the Annual Report on EU Competition Policy 2011
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/98/EC on re-use of public sector information
OPINION on an agenda for adequate, safe and sustainable pensions
OPINION on European Semester for economic policy coordination: implementation of 2012 priorities
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on groundhandling services at Union airports and repealing Council Directive 96/67/EC
OPINION Passengers rights in all transport modes
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on criminal sanctions for insider dealing and market manipulation
OPINION on the proposal for a Council regulation on laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (2014 - 2020)
OPINION on Access to Basic Banking Services
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on roaming on public mobile communications networks within the Union (recast)
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on credit agreements relating to residential property
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain permitted uses of orphan works
OPINION on the reform of EU State aid rules on Services of General Economic Interest
OPINION on the future of VAT
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing technical requirements for credit transfers and direct debits in euros and amending Regulation (EC) No 924/2009
OPINION on European Broadband: investing in digitally driven growth
OPINION Report from the Commission: Report on competition policy 2009
OPINION Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Central Bank, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions : Reinforcing economic policy coordination
OPINION Green Paper: The interconnection of business registers
Institutional motions (21)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION seeking an opinion from the Court of Justice on the compatibility with the Treaties of the proposed Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco, the Implementation Protocol thereto and an exchange of letters accompanying the said Agreement PDF (153 KB) DOC (54 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION seeking an opinion from the Court of Justice on the compatibility with the Treaties of the proposed agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco on the amendment of Protocols 1 and 4 to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part PDF (151 KB) DOC (53 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on conflicts of interest and the protection of the EU budget in the Czech Republic PDF (272 KB) DOC (50 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on conflicts of interest and the protection of the EU budget in the Czech Republic PDF (166 KB) DOC (46 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the need for a comprehensive EU mechanism for the protection of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights PDF (268 KB) DOC (49 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on autonomous weapon systems PDF (174 KB) DOC (49 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation of UNRWA PDF (270 KB) DOC (48 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation of UNRWA PDF (264 KB) DOC (51 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the implementation of the Council’s LGBTI Guidelines, particularly in relation to the persecution of (perceived) homosexual men in Chechnya, Russia PDF (153 KB) DOC (49 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on implementation of the Council’s LGBTI Guidelines, particularly in relation to the persecution of (perceived) homosexual men in Chechnya, Russia PDF (271 KB) DOC (48 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on making relocation happen PDF (275 KB) DOC (55 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada, of the one part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the other part PDF (304 KB) DOC (60 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on EU-Turkey relations PDF (266 KB) DOC (68 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on emission measurements in the automotive sector PDF (300 KB) DOC (87 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the OLAF Supervisory Committee’s annual report 2014 PDF (139 KB) DOC (72 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the OLAF Supervisory Committee’s annual report 2014 PDF (270 KB) DOC (74 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the revision of the Commission’s impact assessment guidelines and the role of the SME test PDF (150 KB) DOC (64 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Commission’s impact assessment guidelines PDF (132 KB) DOC (56 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child PDF (159 KB) DOC (91 KB)
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Sudan – the case of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim PDF (138 KB) DOC (66 KB)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Sudan, the case of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim PDF (138 KB) DOC (59 KB)
Oral questions (19)
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) PDF (196 KB) DOC (19 KB)
Protection of children in migration PDF (201 KB) DOC (22 KB)
Integrity policy of the Commission PDF (193 KB) DOC (19 KB)
Investigation in the wake of the Dieselgate 2.0 scandal PDF (197 KB) DOC (19 KB)
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons PDF (193 KB) DOC (19 KB)
Ruling by the General Court of the European Union on the Commission's decision of 10 September 2014 to refuse to register the European Citizens' Initiative 'STOP TTIP' PDF (198 KB) DOC (17 KB)
VP/HR - Implementation of the Council's LGBTI Guidelines, particularly in relation to the persecution of (perceived) homosexual men in Chechnya, Russia PDF (106 KB) DOC (18 KB)
Mr Dijsselbloem's remarks on what caused the economic crisis in southern Europe PDF (105 KB) DOC (16 KB)
Trafficking in Human Beings PDF (98 KB) DOC (18 KB)
Tackling the disappearance of migrant children in Europe PDF (195 KB) DOC (19 KB)
Commission's answers to written questions PDF (205 KB) DOC (19 KB)
EU policies and actions to protect children in the context of migration PDF (196 KB) DOC (20 KB)
Cooperation agreement with Philip Morris International (PMI) PDF (195 KB) DOC (16 KB)
Regarding leaked consolidated TTIP chapter PDF (109 KB) DOC (26 KB)
Tobacco agreement (PMI agreement) PDF (106 KB) DOC (26 KB)
Access to finance for the SMEs PDF (7 KB) DOC (26 KB)
OLAF Supervisory Committee's annual report 2014 PDF (103 KB) DOC (25 KB)
Tobacco agreements PDF DOC
Outsourcing of asylum processing and search and rescue operations to third countries PDF DOC
Written explanations (48)
Supplementary protection certificate for medicinal products (A8-0039/2019 - Luis de Grandes Pascual) NL
Ik heb me onthouden van de stemming over het aanvullende beschermingscertificaat voor geneesmiddelen (ABC), omdat ik weliswaar de doelstelling ervan ondersteun, namelijk dat EU-fabrikanten van generieke en biosimilaire geneesmiddelen de mogelijkheid krijgen om tijdens de ABC-periode te exporteren naar landen buiten de EU in plaats van zich te verplaatsen naar een land waar geen ABC bestaat of al is verlopen, maar de trialoog-uitkomst het EP-voorstel betreffende de duur van de voorraadvorming van 24 naar 6 maanden heeft teruggebracht en belangrijke mensenrechtenparagrafen m.b.t. toegang tot geneesmiddelen uit het EP-verslag heeft geschrapt.
Protection of persons reporting on breaches of Union law (A8-0398/2018 - Virginie Rozière) NL
Ik heb me onthouden van stemming over de klokkenluidersrichtlijn. Ik ben namelijk vóór de bescherming van klokkenluiders, maar deze richtlijn regelt wel wat de lidstaten in dit opzicht zouden moeten doen maar stelt juist bij de Europese instellingen geen enkele verbetering voor. Met name het ontbreken van een Europees huis voor klokkenluiders, bijvoorbeeld onder te brengen bij de Europese Ombudsman, vind ik een gemiste kans.
Enforcement requirements and specific rules for posting drivers in the road transport sector (A8-0206/2018 - Merja Kyllönen) NL
Ik heb voor het voorstel van de Commissie vervoer over de detachering in het wegvervoer gestemd omdat er een stap voorwaarts is gezet in de richting van gelijk loon voor gelijk werk. De in het verslag geformuleerde uitzonderingsgevallen op dit beginsel moeten niet leiden tot toename van sociale dumping. Ik wil dat er door strakke handhaving een einde komt aan het gesjoemel in de sector waarvan de chauffeurs de dupe zijn.
Protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States (A8-0469/2018 - Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, Petri Sarvamaa) NL
Situation of rule of law and fight against corruption in the EU, specifically in Malta and Slovakia (B8-0230/2019) NL
Ik heb voor deze resolutie gestemd omdat ik de gerechtelijke dwalingen in de onderzoeken op de moorden van de journalisten afwijs. Malta en Slowakije moeten echt stappen gaan zetten in het kader van de verbetering van hun rechtstaat. Ik betreur het echter wel dat deze resolutie oproept tot meer geld voor Europol en tevens lidstaten oproept die nog geen lid zijn om lid te worden van het Europees Openbaar Ministerie.
Copyright in the Digital Single Market (A8-0245/2018 - Axel Voss) NL
Ik heb mij onthouden van stemming over de auteursrechtenrichtlijn omdat ik niet tevreden ben met de uiteindelijke tekst. Goed aan de richtlijn is de versterking van de rechten van artiesten richting platenlabels. Ook kan de richtlijn ertoe leiden dat artiesten eindelijk beloond worden voor vertoning van hun werk op internetplatforms, voor zover dat tot meer licentieovereenkomsten tussen makers en internetplatforms zal leiden. Tegelijk betreur ik het dat het gebruik van grove uploadfilters om auteursrechtelijk materiaal van platforms te weren, niet is uitgesloten. Ook heb ik zorgen over de positie van kleine bedrijven die onvoldoende beschermd worden. E.e.a. zal via duidelijkere nationale uitvoeringswetgeving gerepareerd moeten worden.
Contracts for the supply of digital content and digital services (A8-0375/2017 - Evelyne Gebhardt, Axel Voss) NL
Ik heb vóór dit pakket van consumentenrechten gestemd omdat er een einde moet komen aan de onzekerheid voor consumenten in Europa. Consumenten weten met deze regels waar ze aan toe zijn, ook als ze in andere lidstaten aankopen doen. Ik betreur het wel dat er is gekozen voor maximale harmonisatie. Daarmee wordt het praktisch onmogelijk gemaakt voor Nederland om in te spelen op nieuwe ontwikkelingen die nog niet te overzien zijn. Minimale harmonisatie had dan ook mijn voorkeur gehad.
Contracts for the sale of goods (A8-0043/2018 - Pascal Arimont) NL
Ik heb vóór dit pakket van consumentenrechten gestemd omdat er een einde moet komen aan de onzekerheid voor consumenten in Europa. Consumenten weten met deze regels waar ze aan toe zijn, ook als ze in andere lidstaten aankopen doen. Ik betreur het wel dat er is gekozen voor maximale harmonisatie. Daarmee wordt het praktisch onmogelijk gemaakt voor Nederland om in te spelen op nieuwe ontwikkelingen die nog niet te overzien zijn. Minimale harmonisatie had dan ook mijn voorkeur gehad.
Report on financial crimes, tax evasion and tax avoidance (A8-0170/2019 - Jeppe Kofod, Luděk Niedermayer) NL
De SP is een groot voorstander van de bestrijding van belastingontwijking, ook in Europees verband door betere samenwerking tussen de lidstaten. Dit verslag bevatte echter een aantal rode lijnen voor de SP, waaronder de steun voor een Europese financiële politiemacht en voor de gebruikmaking van gekwalificeerde meerderheidsbesluiten in plaats van besluiten op basis van unanimiteit. Deze voorstellen ondermijnen de soevereiniteit van de lidstaten en daarom heb ik tegen het verslag gestemd.
Protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States (A8-0469/2018 - Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, Petri Sarvamaa) NL
Ombudsman’s strategic inquiry OI/2/2017 on the transparency of legislative discussions in the preparatory bodies of the Council of the EU (A8-0420/2018 - Jo Leinen, Yana Toom) NL
. – Ik vind het belangrijk dat de burgers en de nationale parlementen de besluitvorming in de Raad van Ministers goed kunnen volgen en controleren. Daarom stemde ik voor openbare vergaderingen van de Raad, inclusief de voorbereidende vergaderingen en openbaarheid over de onderliggende stukken. Ik verwerp echter het idee om van de Raad een soort senaat te maken.
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) (A8-0461/2018 - Verónica Lope Fontagné) NL
Ik ben van mening dat doelstellingen die onder het ESF+-fonds vallen belangrijk zijn, zoals bijvoorbeeld armoedebestrijding onder kinderen. Toch heb ik tegen gestemd bij de eindstemming over het verslag, gezien het feit dat ik van mening ben dat we het Brusselse subsidiecircus niet nog meer hoeven in te zetten bij het bereiken van deze doelen. Geen Europees geld naar plaatsen waar het niet nodig is. Alleen voor de armste lidstaten is financiële steun via de EU-begroting verantwoord. Alleen op die wijze stoppen we het rondpompen van geld en kan hulp effectiever worden geboden. Verhoging van budgetten is daarom ook helemaal niet nodig.
Corporate taxation of a significant digital presence (A8-0426/2018 - Dariusz Rosati) NL
Mijn onthouding tijdens de eindstemming heeft ermee te maken dat ik het niet eens ben met enkele wijzigingsvoorstellen. Het verslag vormde oorspronkelijk een goede balans tussen de juiste belastingmaatregelen aan de ene kant en het behouden van de macht van lidstaten op het heffen van belastingen aan de andere kant. Helaas worden in de eindstemming bevoegdheden van lidstaten om belastingen te heffen overgedragen aan de Europese Commissie. Ik ben wel voor samenwerking tussen de lidstaten op dit gebied, maar tegen het overdragen van bevoegdheden.
Education in the digital era: challenges, opportunities and lessons for EU policy design (A8-0400/2018 - Yana Toom) NL
In het algemeen ondersteun ik het aanleren van digitale vaardigheden aan onder andere leerlingen en studenten. Dit is handig gezien de toenemende rol van digitale vaardigheden in de maatschappij. Daarom heb ik voor het verslag gestemd. Ik blijf echter kritisch over het oprichten en het sponsoren van leerinstellingen door bedrijven zoals in het verslag wordt verwelkomd. Het is namelijk erg belangrijk dat onderwijs onafhankelijk is. In het bijzonder geldt dit voor het hoger onderwijs.
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) (A8-0273/2017 - Anne Sander) NL
Ik heb mij van stemming onthouden, aangezien er ten opzichte van de oprichtingsverordening verbeteringen zijn, bijvoorbeeld dat er geactualiseerde verklaringen over het ontbreken van belangenvestrengeling voor experts moeten zijn, maar een verwijzing naar het EU-Handvest van de grondrechten is er niet in opgenomen.Daarnaast wordt gepleit voor de oprichting van een nieuw kantoor voor het agentschap, terwijl ik van mening ben dat onderzocht moet worden of agentschappen die soortelijke taken uitvoeren, kunnen fuseren.
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) (A8-0274/2017 - Czesław Hoc) NL
Ik heb mij van stemming onthouden, aangezien er ten opzichte van de oprichtingsverordening verbeteringen zijn, bijvoorbeeld dat er geactualiseerde verklaringen over het ontbreken van belangenvestrengeling voor experts moeten zijn, maar een verwijzing naar het EU-Handvest van de grondrechten is er niet in opgenomen. Daarnaast wordt gepleit voor de oprichting van een nieuw kantoor voor het agentschap, terwijl ik van mening ben dat onderzocht moet worden of agentschappen die soortelijke taken uitvoeren, kunnen fuseren.
European Foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions (Eurofound) (A8-0275/2017 - Enrique Calvet Chambon) NL
Ik heb mij van stemming onthouden, aangezien er ten opzichte van de oprichtingsverordening verbeteringen zijn, bijvoorbeeld dat er geactualiseerde verklaringen over het ontbreken van belangenvestrengeling voor experts moeten zijn, maar een verwijzing naar het EU-Handvest van de grondrechten is er niet in opgenomen. Daarnaast wordt gepleit voor de oprichting van een nieuw kantoor voor het agentschap, terwijl ik van mening ben dat onderzocht moet worden of agentschappen die soortelijke taken uitvoeren, kunnen fuseren.
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2018/001 NL/Financial service activities (A8-0294/2018 - Ivana Maletić) NL
De SP heeft voor toekenning van financiële steun uit het globaliseringsfonds gestemd op basis van de aanvraag door de Nederlandse autoriteiten gericht op een sociaal plan voor ontslagen bankmedewerkers in Friesland, Drenthe en Overijssel. Van belang is daarbij dat het niet gaat om nieuw geld, maar om bestaande middelen van het fonds. Tegelijkertijd zetten wij grote vraagtekens bij de manier waarop de aanvraag tot stand is gekomen. De banken waar het hier om gaat, hebben over het algemeen in 2018 megawinsten geboekt. Wij zouden dan ook verwacht hebben dat de banken en niet de overheid het sociaal plan zouden hebben gefinancierd. Wij verwachten van de Nederlandse autoriteiten dat ze hierover opnieuw het gesprek met de banken aangaan, temeer daar het sluiten van hun vestigingen in genoemde provincies ook negatieve gevolgen heeft voor de leefbaarheid in de regio.
A European Strategy for Plastics in a circular economy (A8-0262/2018 - Mark Demesmaeker) NL
Ik heb vóór de resolutie gestemd. Als SP zijn wij voorstander van een verbod op wegwerpplastic (roerstaafjes, wattenstaafjes) waar duurzame alternatieven voorhanden zijn. Ook een verbod op microplastic juichen we toe. Wel benadrukken we dat de rekening van zo'n omschakeling niet bij de consumenten moet worden neergelegd maar bij de vervuilers: de producenten.
Europe on the Move: an agenda for the future of mobility in the EU (A8-0241/2018 - István Ujhelyi) NL
Dual quality of products in the Single Market (A8-0267/2018 - Olga Sehnalová) NL
De SP onderkent het probleem van verschillen in voedselkwaliteit en is van mening dat misleiding van consumenten door het gebruik van identieke marketing en verpakking voor producten van verschillende kwaliteit moet worden tegengaan. We hebben echter onthouding op dit verslag gestemd omdat we het probleem van uiteenlopende kwaliteit willen aanpakken zonder bevoegdheden over te dragen aan de Commissie.
Autonomous weapon systems (RC-B8-0308/2018, B8-0308/2018, B8-0309/2018, B8-0355/2018, B8-0359/2018, B8-0360/2018, B8-0361/2018, B8-0362/2018) NL
Measures to prevent and combat mobbing and sexual harassment at the workplace, in public spaces, and in political life in the EU (A8-0265/2018 - Pina Picierno) NL
De SP veroordeelt elke vorm van (seksuele) intimidatie en ondersteunt van harte de noodzaak om intimidatie te voorkomen en indien al gebeurd hard aan te pakken. Daarom heb ik voor deze resolutie gestemd. Wel wil ik benadrukken dat we voor aanpak op het juiste niveau zijn; dat wil zeggen dat eventuele nieuwe, of verscherping van huidige wetgeving aan de lidstaten is, en niet aan de EU.
Annual report on the implementation of the Common Commercial Policy (A8-0166/2018 - Tokia Saïfi) NL
Ik heb vooral tegen het jaarlijkse verslag over de uitvoering van het gemeenschappelijk handelsbeleid gestemd omdat het steun uitspreekt voor alle nieuwe vrijhandelsverdragen, inclusief TiSA, alsmede voor het multilateraal gerecht voor de beslechting van investeringsgeschillen (MIC). Ook het gebrek aan een kritisch perspectief op vrijhandel in het algemeen, handel in diensten (inclusief e-commerce) en de Wereldhandelsorganisatie (WTO) waren redenen om tegen te stemmen.Ik heb vóór de paragraaf gestemd waarin de EU en de lidstaten worden opgeroepen om zich sterk te maken voor een bindend VN-verdrag inzake het bedrijfsleven en mensenrechten.
Posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services (A8-0319/2017 - Elisabeth Morin-Chartier, Agnes Jongerius) NL
. – De SP-fractie is diep teleurgesteld over het uiteindelijke onderhandelingsresultaat. Het is een gemiste kans om sociale dumping daadwerkelijk bij de wortel aan te pakken. De door linkse parlementariërs zwaarbevochten garantie dat werknemersbelangen minstens zo belangrijk zijn als het vrij verkeer van diensten is in de onderhandelingen met de Raad en de Commissie weggegeven, waardoor uitgebuite werknemers bij de rechter opnieuw zwak zullen staan. Daarnaast kent het uiteindelijke compromis nog een grote groep verliezers, namelijk de vrachtwagenchauffeurs. Zij zijn door het Europees Parlement keihard in de steek gelaten en hebben niets aan deze deal, omdat transport wordt uitgezonderd van de richtlijn.Uiteraard erkent de SP-fractie dat de nieuwe richtlijn een verbetering is ten opzichte van de vorige richtlijn. Dit geldt vooral voor de regels over beloning en de toepasbaarheid van cao's. Omdat er zowel negatieve als positieve punten zijn, zullen wij niet voor stemmen maar ons onthouden van stemming.
Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2017/010 BE/Caterpillar (A8-0148/2018 - Eider Gardiazabal Rubial) NL
Ik heb voor de inzet van het Europees Fonds voor aanpassing aan de globalisering (EFG) ten behoeve van de werknemers van Caterpillar in België gestemd. Tegelijkertijd wil ik wel benadrukken dat deze manier van EU-subsidies verstrekken volledig krom is en grondig herzien moet worden. Op dit moment is het immers mogelijk voor multinationals om aan de ene kant EU-subsidies op te strijken voor innovatie of infrastructuur en dan vervolgens, wanneer elders meer winst gemaakt kan worden, nogmaals subsidie op te strijken voor afvloeiingsregelingen voor werknemers. Dit is zelfs mogelijk voor gezonde bedrijven die gewoon winstgevend zijn. Wat de SP betreft moeten multinationals die gebruik willen maken van het EFG eerst alle eerder ontvangen EU-subsidies terugbetalen voordat zij aanspraak kunnen maken op het fonds.
Statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (A8-0373/2017 - Mercedes Bresso, Rainer Wieland)
I voted against the provisional agreement because I am not in favour of public funding of European political parties and foundations: the agreement upholds that principle. Instead of receiving public money, the organisations involved should obtain their funding from their members and, if necessary, private donors. They need to be fully accountable and transparent about the funding received.
Energy performance of buildings (A8-0314/2017 - Bendt Bendtsen) NL
Ik heb tegen dit voorstel gestemd omdat het voorstel op zichzelf sympathiek is wat betreft de intentie om de doelstellingen van het Parijs-akkoord te halen, maar de Europese Commissie in de uitwerking dwingende maatregelen oplegt aan de lidstaten, hetgeen indruist tegen de eigen bevoegdheden van deze lidstaten.
A European strategy on Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (A8-0036/2018 - István Ujhelyi) NL
Ik heb voor gestemd, omdat coöperatieve communicerende en geautomatiseerde voertuigen zich in de nabije toekomst binnen Europa snel zullen ontwikkelen. Een Europese strategie past daarbij. Wel wil ik aantekenen dat in de resolutie aandacht voor het sociale aspect en de menselijke maat nagenoeg afwezig is. In de toekomstige uitwerking zal dit voor ons een speerpunt vormen.
The role of EU regions and cities in implementing the COP 21 Paris Agreement on climate change (A8-0045/2018 - Ángela Vallina) NL
Jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of decisions in matrimonial matters and matters of parental responsibility, and international child abduction (A8-0388/2017 - Tadeusz Zwiefka) NL
Ik heb voor het verslag gestemd, aangezien ik voorstander ben van de aanpak van internationale ontvoering en de bescherming van de belangen van kinderen.Ik ben echter geen voorstander van de onnodige Brusselse bureaucratie, die in dit verslag tot uiting wordt gebracht in de vorm van scholingen en rechters op EU-niveau.
Promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (A8-0392/2017 - José Blanco López) NL
Het pakket "Schone energie" moet ervoor zorgen dat in de EU de doelen van de Overeenkomst van Parijs worden gehaald. Ik heb daarom gestemd voor zo ambitieus mogelijke doelstellingen, zowel op Europees als op nationaal niveau.Wel is van groot belang dat er geen inmenging komt vanuit de Europese Commissie in de bevoegdheid van de lidstaten voor wat het bepalen van de energiemix betreft. Bovendien zijn wij tegen het toepassen van marktwerking in klimaat- en energiebeleid.
Energy efficiency (A8-0391/2017 - Miroslav Poche) NL
Het pakket "Schone energie" moet ervoor zorgen dat in de EU de doelen van de Overeenkomst van Parijs worden gehaald. Ik heb daarom gestemd voor zo ambitieus mogelijke doelstellingen, zowel op Europees als op nationaal niveau.Wel is van groot belang dat er geen inmenging komt vanuit de Europese Commissie in de bevoegdheid van de lidstaten voor wat het bepalen van de energiemix betreft. Bovendien zijn wij tegen het toepassen van marktwerking in klimaat- en energiebeleid.
Governance of the Energy Union (A8-0402/2017 - Michèle Rivasi, Claude Turmes) NL
Het pakket "Schone energie" moet ervoor zorgen dat in de EU de doelen van de Overeenkomst van Parijs worden gehaald. Ik heb daarom gestemd voor zo ambitieus mogelijke doelstellingen, zowel op Europees als op nationaal niveau.Wel is van groot belang dat er geen inmenging komt vanuit de Europese Commissie in de bevoegdheid van de lidstaten voor wat het bepalen van de energiemix betreft. Bovendien zijn wij tegen het toepassen van marktwerking in klimaat- en energiebeleid.
Deliberations of the Committee on Petitions 2016 (A8-0387/2017 - Notis Marias) NL
Ik heb voor amendement 7 op het verslag over de beraadslagingen van de Commissie Verzoekschriften in 2016 gestemd, omdat het amendement tot doel heeft de toegang tot EU-documenten te vergemakkelijken. Dit doet echter niets af aan het feit dat de beste oplossing in mijn ogen nog steeds te vinden is in het standpunt over de tweede lezing van het voorstel van de Commissie tot wijziging van verordening 1049/2001, dat het Europees Parlement op 29 november 2011 op basis van het verslag Cashman innam.
Combating sexual harassment and abuse in the EU (RC-B8-0576/2017, B8-0576/2017, B8-0577/2017, B8-0578/2017, B8-0579/2017, B8-0580/2017, B8-0581/2017, B8-0582/2017) NL
Ik ondersteun van harte het feit dat het Europees Parlement eindelijk erkent dat er meer moet worden gedaan om seksuele intimidatie en misbruik aan te pakken. Zeker wat betreft het verbeteren van het beleid in de instelling zelf. Daarom heb ik voor dit verslag gestemd, ondanks de oproep voor Europese wetgeving met betrekking tot geweld tegen vrouwen dat in strijd is met het subsidiariteitsbeginsel.
Renewing the approval of the active substance glyphosate (Objection pursuant to Rule 106) (B8-0567/2017) NL
Ik ben erg blij dat er eindelijk ingezien wordt dat het kankerverwekkende glyfosaat uitgefaseerd moet worden. Hoe sneller hoe beter. Daarom ben ik erg teleurgesteld dat het Parlement wederom de industrie de ruimte geeft om dit product nog vijf jaar in gebruik te hebben. Aangezien ik dat niet wil steunen, heb ik mij onthouden van de stemming.
EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS): continuing current limitations of scope for aviation activities and preparing to implement a global market-based measure from 2021 (A8-0258/2017 - Julie Girling) NL
Ik heb tegen dit verslag gestemd, omdat de EU leidend moet blijven in de strijd tegen klimaatverandering en niet kan wachten tot de internationale luchtvaartorganisatie met een akkoord komt. Zodoende moeten we ons houden aan de afspraak dat vluchten uit en naar derde landen ook onder het ETS-systeem gaan vallen en gaan we niet akkoord met een verlenging van de uitzondering. Voorts zijn wij van mening dat marktgerichte instrumenten zoals ETS niet de oplossing zullen bieden.
Inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry into the 2030 climate and energy framework (A8-0262/2017 - Norbert Lins) NL
Ik heb mij van stemming over dit verslag onthouden, omdat het een verbetering van een beleidsinstrument betreft waarvan ik vind dat het onvoldoende de oorzaak van klimaatverandering aanpakt. Ik steun de verbetering die dit verslag nastreeft, maar het principe dat landgebruik en emissiereductie samen weer op nul moeten uitkomen is geen solide aanpak van klimaatverandering, aangezien echte terugdringing van de uitstoot van broeikasgassen nodig is.
EU-Iceland Agreement concerning additional trade preferences in agricultural products (A8-0256/2017 - David Borrelli) NL
Academic further and distance education as part of the European lifelong learning strategy (A8-0252/2017 - Milan Zver)
In principle I agree with the intentions and objectives of this report to enhance academic and distance education, even though I question the references to closer links with businesses. But based on the principle of subsidiarity, these policies should be taken up by Member States themselves and do not require European policies. For this reason I abstained at the final vote.
Promotion of internet connectivity in local communities (A8-0181/2017 - Carlos Zorrinho) NL
Ik ben van mening dat iedereen toegang tot internet moet hebben. Gemeentes, provincies en landen kunnen dit beter zelf regelen. Het is niet de rol van de Europese Commissie om hiervoor te zorgen. Daarnaast houdt dit Europese fonds geen rekening met al bestaande initiatieven en biedt het geen langetermijnoplossing.
Impact of international trade and EU’s trade policies on global value chains (A8-0269/2017 - Maria Arena) NL
De SP vindt het hoog tijd dat er regels worden opgesteld om mensenrechtenschendingen door multinationale bedrijven tegen te gaan. Wij hebben daarom voor dit rapport gestemd. Echter zijn wij van mening dat deze regelgeving niet door de Europese Unie zou moeten worden opgesteld, maar dat zowel de lidstaten als de Commissie zich actief moeten inzetten om te komen tot een bindend VN-verdrag waarover wordt onderhandeld in de Open-ended Intergouvernmental Working Group on International Corporations and Human Rights.
Building blocks for a post-2020 EU cohesion policy (A8-0202/2017 - Kerstin Westphal) NL
Ik heb tegen dit verslag gestemd omdat de SP kritisch is over het huidige stelsel van structuurfondsen. Wij zijn voorstander van fondsen die de armste landen van de Unie ten goede komen en zijn daarom tegenstander van het huidige stelsel dat vooral geld rondpompt. Ook ben ik het niet eens met het koppelen van het ontvangen van structuurfondsen aan de economische eisen binnen het Europees semester.
Resource efficiency: reducing food waste, improving food safety (A8-0175/2017 - Biljana Borzan) NL
Draft recommendation following the inquiry into emission measurements in the automotive sector (B8-0177/2017) NL
Ik heb tegen paragraaf 33 van het verslag gestemd, omdat ik er geen voorstander van ben dat inspecties die op het grondgebied van de lidstaten plaatsvinden, worden uitgevoerd door Europese inspecteurs. Wel ben ik voorstander van collegiale toetsing tussen lidstaten over de kwaliteit van het nationale toezicht. Indien blijkt dat deze onvoldoende is, kan de nationale toezichthouder gedwongen worden herkeuringen te verrichten overeenkomstig de methodologie die de lidstaten en de Commissie zijn overeengekomen.Ondanks het feit dat paragraaf 33 is aangenomen, heeft de SP besloten voor het verslag te stemmen, omdat dit overigens een goed beeld geeft van het falen van zowel de Commissie als de lidstaten om de sjoemelsoftware in dieselauto’s aan te pakken.
Common Commercial Policy in the context of wildlife sustainability imperatives (A8-0012/2017 - Emma McClarkin) NL
Written questions (67)
Labour migration and depopulation PDF (41 KB) DOC (19 KB)
Coca-Cola's sponsorship of Romania's Presidency PDF (48 KB) DOC (19 KB)
Impact of sharing platforms in city centres PDF (6 KB) DOC (18 KB)
Cost of cash withdrawals PDF (6 KB) DOC (19 KB)
EU trade with Israeli settlements PDF (101 KB) DOC (18 KB)
Appointment of Martin Selmayr as Secretary-General of the Commission PDF (98 KB) DOC (18 KB)
VP/HR - Persecution of Baha'ís in Yemen PDF (100 KB) DOC (16 KB)
Open software on Apple products PDF (100 KB) DOC (17 KB)
Statements by President Poroshenko of Ukraine PDF (99 KB) DOC (19 KB)
Reduction in US funding for UNRWA PDF (104 KB) DOC (19 KB)
VP/HR - Italian arms exports to Saudi Arabia PDF (98 KB) DOC (18 KB)
VP/HR - Leyla Zana dismissed from the Turkish Parliament PDF (103 KB) DOC (18 KB)
Decision-making by the European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA) PDF (101 KB) DOC (18 KB)
Reasons why emissions of toxic substances have been permitted to rise PDF (105 KB) DOC (19 KB)
Safety aspects of transport to the United Kingdom PDF (5 KB) DOC (18 KB)
EU Anti-Corruption Report PDF (192 KB) DOC (20 KB)
Lack of rules governing the chemical industry PDF (5 KB) DOC (17 KB)
Car insurance during protracted stays abroad PDF (5 KB) DOC (15 KB)
'CE' marks PDF (104 KB) DOC (16 KB)
Follow-up question on rights of children in Ukraine PDF (102 KB) DOC (15 KB)
VP/HR - Commission plans to cooperate with Libya on migration issues PDF (193 KB) DOC (18 KB)
Request for publication of the decision on the merger between Vodafone and Ziggo PDF (5 KB) DOC (15 KB)
New legislation on road transport PDF (102 KB) DOC (17 KB)
Fresh NOx scandal involving trucks PDF (5 KB) DOC (17 KB)
Remuneration of former Commissioners PDF (103 KB) DOC (17 KB)
Bahamas Leaks PDF (100 KB) DOC (16 KB)
Rights of children in Ukraine PDF (98 KB) DOC (15 KB)
Jose Manuel Barroso and Goldman Sachs PDF (193 KB) DOC (16 KB)
Air transport agreements and Gulf carriers PDF (5 KB) DOC (15 KB)
Scheme to circumvent the rules on driving and rest periods PDF (5 KB) DOC (15 KB)
Alliances between distributors at national and European levels PDF (103 KB) DOC (15 KB)
REFIT of Regulations 1071/2009 and 1072/2009 (cabotage rules) PDF (99 KB) DOC (15 KB)
Toll collection devices for trucks PDF (5 KB) DOC (16 KB)
Compliance of EU-Turkey deal with the non-refoulement principle PDF (193 KB) DOC (26 KB)
Resolving the escalating situation at Calais PDF (102 KB) DOC (24 KB)
Implementation of Council decisions on the relocation of 160 000 asylum seekers from Italy and Greece PDF (195 KB) DOC (25 KB)
Influence of the banking industry over the ECB's policy PDF (101 KB) DOC (23 KB)
Breaches of the Code of Conduct PDF (102 KB) DOC (24 KB)
EU membership in GRECO PDF (102 KB) DOC (24 KB)
Invitation from Business Europe to the European Commission to attend a meeting in the Berlaymont Building PDF (101 KB) DOC (25 KB)
New crockery and cutlery for the EEAS PDF (4 KB) DOC (23 KB)
Length of administrative detention PDF (6 KB) DOC (25 KB)
European measures to tackle itinerant criminality PDF (102 KB) DOC (24 KB)
Investigation into state aid for football clubs PDF (5 KB) DOC (23 KB)
Problems encountered by stand-builders in Germany PDF (5 KB) DOC (23 KB)
The unbalanced composition of the European Science and Technology Network on Unconventional Hydrocarbon Extraction PDF (103 KB) DOC (24 KB)
Implementation of the Council framework decision (2008/913/JHA) on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law PDF (99 KB) DOC (26 KB)
Implementation of the Council framework decision (2008/913/JHA) on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law PDF (195 KB) DOC (26 KB)
Afghan refugees PDF (102 KB) DOC (24 KB)
Global Khartoum Process and the forthcoming EU-Horn of Africa Migration Route Initiative PDF (102 KB) DOC (24 KB)
Global Khartoum Process and forthcoming EU-Horn of Africa Migration Route Initiative PDF (101 KB) DOC (24 KB)
VP/HR - Case of Ahmed Douma and other political prisoners in Egypt PDF (99 KB) DOC (28 KB)
Rights of staff and ethical standards at the European Patent Office PDF (6 KB) DOC (25 KB)
Transposition of pre-Lisbon measures in the domains of judicial and police cooperation PDF (6 KB) DOC (24 KB)
LGBT-phobic event sponsored by EXPO 2015 PDF (103 KB) DOC (24 KB)
Life-saving innovations in the cruise shipbuilding sector PDF (5 KB) DOC (24 KB)
Ongoing case between the United States and Microsoft PDF (105 KB) DOC (25 KB)
VP/HR - Abduction and forced conversion of Hindu girls in Pakistan PDF (101 KB) DOC (24 KB)
Simplification of the application procedure for a Schengen Certificate PDF (5 KB) DOC (23 KB)
Transcription of same-sex marriages in Italy PDF (103 KB) DOC (26 KB)
Violation of freedom of expression and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in Lithuania PDF (101 KB) DOC (25 KB)
Text messages during the European elections: follow-up question PDF (4 KB) DOC (23 KB)
Action to combat tachograph fraud website PDF (5 KB) DOC (28 KB)
Action to combat tachograph fraud website PDF (5 KB) DOC (28 KB)
Implications of judgment by the Court of Justice concerning the free movement of workers PDF (104 KB) DOC (24 KB)
Freedom of expression, assembly and association for LGBT people in Russia PDF (101 KB) DOC (24 KB)
Text messages during the European elections PDF (100 KB) DOC (23 KB)
Individual motions (1)
PROPOSAL FOR AMENDMENT OF PARLIAMENT'S RULES OF PROCEDURE Amendment of Rule 49 (Legislative Reports) PDF (131 KB) DOC (165 KB)
Written declarations (8)
Amendments (1692)
Amendment 8 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas in this regard also Parliament's own senior management recruitment procedures should be fully transparent and based solely on merit thereby excluding any kind of political deal-making,
Amendment 11 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Recital B b (new)
B b. whereas Parliament often publishes senior management posts externally and whereas the criteria determining internal/external publication are not transparent,
Amendment 12 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Recital B c (new)
B c. whereas posts published externally frequently result in the selection of internal candidates that do not meet the requirements for applying under internal rules thereby circumventing regular career progression;
Amendment 17 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Requests the Commission, and in particular its President, its First Vice- President as well as the Commissioner responsible for Budget and Human Resources, to publicly apologise for their lack of responsiveness to the public disapproval of the procedure followed;
Amendment 18 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Is not convinced that the transfer procedure as followed by appointing the former Head of Cabinet to Deputy Secretary-General and a few minutes later to Secretary-General served the interests of the service, and thus its legality, let alone its legitimacy are at least questionable;
Amendment 19 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Expresses the opinion that against this background the new Secretary- General should be called upon to voluntarily suspend his activities, so that the Commission has the opportunity of conducting a new and transparent recruitment procedure based upon an open call for applications;
Amendment 47 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Notes that so far the Budget Control Committee only invited Commissioner Oettinger for a hearing; underlines that in the interest of hearing both sides, not only management should be heard but also the most directly affected, including the staff; requests the committee to conduct further hearings of, amongst others, representatives of the Staff Associations and representatives of the Staff Unions;
Amendment 48 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Considers that the European Ombudsman has received a complaint on the promotion of Mr. Selmayr and is currently conducting an investigation; believes that the European Ombudsman should also be heard by the committee, at the latest once she has been able to formulate her recommendations in this respect;
Amendment 57 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Paragraph 12
12. Underlines that by opting for the procedure under transfer of Article 7 of the Staff Regulations in the form of reassignment of the newly appointed Deputy Secretary-General with his post to the position of Secretary-General, it was possible to avoid publishing the vacant post of the retiring former Secretary- General; notes that the same procedure was used for the appointments of previous was avoided; questions, however, whether this procedure was in the interest of the service especially since the former Head of Cabinet was informed beforehand about the intentions of the Secretariesy-General; stresses, however, that to retire soon after 1 March 2018 whereas potential other candidates withisn tradition of non-publication has reached its limits insofar as ithe civil service were deprived of the possibility to apply; stresses that this idea of non- publication does not correspond anymore to modern standards of transparency;
Amendment 84 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Considers that, should the Staff Committee or Staff Union of the European Commission file suit against the appointment of the Secretary General of the European Commission at the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Parliament joins the suit of the Staff Committee as complainant;
Amendment 89 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18 b. Considers that the Commission's spokespersons should address journalists’ concerns adequately in an open and transparent manner; regrets journalists were treated as opponents by Commission spokespersons rather than as valuable allies in the quest for ethical governance;
Amendment 106 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on all the institutions and bodies of the European Union, in this context, also to put an end to the practice of cabinets and political “parachuting” in order to protnot to adversely affect the regular career progress of traditional European civil service; calls, furthermore, on all institutions and bodies, to cease making recourse to external recruitment procedures to recruit internal candidates who do not meet the statutory eligibility requirements for internal procedures thereby circumventing regular career progression; stresses that political influence and cronyism must not undermine the application of the Staff Regulations;
Amendment 108 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Proposes that officials from staff representative bodies sit on Parliament’s senior management selection panels;
Amendment 109 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22 b. Considers Parliament should appoint one or two Vice-Presidents responsible for staff matters and that this or these Members should be involved in senior management appointments under clearly defined rules and procedures;
Amendment 110 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Paragraph 22 c (new)
22 c. Insists that Parliament only publishes senior management posts externally when it is satisfied there are no suitable in-house candidates and/or if the post is highly technical or requires special qualifications;
Amendment 111 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Paragraph 22 d (new)
22 d. Considers the letter of the Staff Committee to President Tajani of 27 March 2018(D101954) on the imminent appointment of directors; recalls that on 28 February2018 the Staff Committee has had a meeting with President Tajani and Secretary-General Klaus Welle on this issue; requests the Secretary-General of the European Parliament to draw up an action plan to prevent political appointments and ‘parachuting’ in the European Parliament;
Amendment 112 #
2018/2624(RSP)
Paragraph 22 e (new)
22 e. Requests President Tajani, in the light of the uproar of political appointments, to withdraw the proposed package of 9 appointments of directors;
Amendment 1 #
2018/2210(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that the Agencies are highly visible in the Member States and have significant influence on policy, decision making and programme implementation in areas of vital importance to European citizens, such as security, safety, health, research, economic affairs, freedom and justice; reiterates the importance of the tasks performed by the agencies and their direct impact on the daily lives of Union citizens; reiterates also the importance of the autonomy of the agencies, in particular of the regulatory agencies and those with the function of independent collection of information; recalls that the main reasons for establishing the agencies were for the purpose of operating Union systems, facilitating the implementation of the European Single Market and making independent technical or scientific assessments; welcomes in this regard the effective overall performance of the agencies, and the progress made in enhancing their visibility to European citizenwhilst recognising that stakeholders have found their way to the agencies, is concerned that in general the visibility of agencies for European citizens is still limited, precisely because of their decentralised nature, whereas for their democratic accountability a high level of visibility is required; reiterates its call for more visibility in Member States by developing a comprehensive plan to reach out to more Union citizens; calls upon the Commission to take more seriously its mandate, confirmed by the IIWG, to look into the possibility of colocation and mergers of agencies with similar or parallel activities and responsibilities;
Amendment 4 #
2018/2210(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Emphasizes to take into account the efficiency when (re)locating agencies in Member States; emphasizes that there are two locations for the Railways Agency, four agencies on social policies and nine agencies on Justice and Home Affairs issues; expresses its disappointment with the outcome in this respect of the IIWG on decentralised agencies, as no specific proposals were developed to merge or co-locate agencies concentrating on related policy fields; urges the Commission to submit without delay an evaluation of agencies with multiple locations, as recommended by the IIWG, as well as proposals for possible mergers, closures and/or transfers of tasks to the Commission, on the basis of a careful in-depth analysis and using clear and transparent criteria, as was envisaged in the IIWG’s terms of reference but which was never properly examined owing to a lack of proposals to that effect from the Commission;
Amendment 7 #
2018/2210(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Observes that the decentralised agencies increased the use of contract staff to implement new tasks to partially compensate for the 5 % staff cut and for the levy for the creation of the redeployment pool; calls on the Network to develop a general policy to not replace permanent staff by more expensive external consultants;
Amendment 11 #
2018/2210(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24 a. Encourages the Union agencies to consider adopting a fundamental rights strategy, including a reference to fundamental rights in a code of conduct that could define the duties of their staff and training for staff; setting up mechanisms ensuring that any violation of fundamental rights be detected and reported, and that risks of such violations be swiftly brought to the attention of the main bodies of the agency; establishing, whenever relevant, the position of a fundamental rights officer, reporting directly to the management board to ensure a certain degree of independence vis-a-vis other staff, in order to ensure that threats to fundamental rights are immediately addressed, and that a constant upgrading of the fundamental rights policy within the organization takes place; developing a regular dialogue with civil society organisations and relevant international organizations on fundamental rights issues; making compliance with fundamental rights a central component of the terms of reference of the collaboration of the agency concerned with external actors, including in particular members of national administrations with whom they interact at operational level;
Amendment 14 #
2018/2210(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Notes that 77 % of agencies had already set up and implemented internal rules or guidelines on whistleblowing and the other 23 % are in the process of adopting them; urges the remaining agencies to set up and implement internal rules on whistleblowing without further delay; calls on the Network to report to the discharge authority on the adoption and implementation of these measures;
Amendment 15 #
2018/2210(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Welcomes the fact that 29 agencies (94%) have guidelines in place for granting public access to documents; calls on the remaining agencies who do not have such guidelines to adopt them without further delay; approves the development of internal systems in place to handle the requests, including specially trained access-to-document teams, dedicated to handling the incoming requests in agencies facing a higher frequency and complexity of requests; calls on the Network to develop common guidelines for applying public access to documents to be implemented by the agencies;
Amendment 16 #
2018/2210(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Notes that Declarations of Interest (DoI) of the management board members and senior management are in place in almost all agencies and that these are published by most of the agencies on their website , along with relevant CVs; calls on the Network to continue reporting to the discharge authority on this issue; stresses that management board members and senior management should submit declarations of interest instead of declarations of the absence of conflict of interests; reiterates that it is not for the members or management to declare themselves out of conflict of interest; recalls that a neutral body should assess the existence of conflict of interest; notes with appreciation that some Union agencies, such as EFSA, succeeded in implementing a reliable policy on conflict of interest; notes with regret that since 2012 the European Court of Auditors failed to publish any special report on the management of conflict on interest in selected Union agencies, namely EASA, ECHA, EFSA, EMA; notes that for agencies working with industries a risk of conflict of interest is higher than in other Union agencies;
Amendment 17 #
2018/2210(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29 a. Recalls that a number of agencies, in particular those issuing authorisations to third parties for bringing products on the market, are vulnerable if they do not have and implement clear and effective rules to prevent conflicts of interest; calls on all agencies to participate in the inter- institutional agreement on the transparency register that is currently subject of negotiations between the Commission, the Council and the Parliament;
Amendment 18 #
2018/2210(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 b (new)
Paragraph 29 b (new)
29 b. Calls on the Agencies to implement a comprehensive and horizontal policy concerning the avoidance of conflicts of interest; and, to use the European Chemicals' Agency's (ECHA) Independence Policy as a best practice and an exemplary system of monitoring and preventing any conflicts of interest; recalls that in accordance with this Independence Policy annual declarations of interests of all staff and experts concerned are compulsory and should be updated if the situation changes, and anyone with a declared interest in an issue is excluded from the decision or opinion making on that matter; encourages, furthermore, the agencies to set up a Conflicts of Interest Advisory Committee;
Amendment 19 #
2018/2210(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 c (new)
Paragraph 29 c (new)
29 c. Emphasizes that the IIWG2 also examined the European Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) pilot case for fee- financed agencies; states that even if agencies are fully fee-funded, they are still fully accountable to the discharge authority considering the reputational risks involved; expresses, moreover, its concerns with the quality indicators used in the EASA pilot, as these are heavily focusing on customer satisfaction and lesson air safety; expresses concern at the potential conflict of interest that can arise if agencies have to rely on membership fees as their main source of income; emphasizes the need for a steady and predictable flow of income from the Union budget, which is crucial also to planning, rather than having to rely on fees, which are unpredictable and vary from year to year; urges the Commission to submit a proposal for the fees to be paid directly to the Commission and for the agencies to be provided with a regular subsidy from the Union budget in return;
Amendment 23 #
2018/2210(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Regrets that the new Financial Regulation9 does not foresee a reduction of the administrative burden that continues to be borne by the decentralised agencies; notes that the audit of the decentralised agencies "remain under the full responsibility of the Court, which manages all administrative and procurement procedures required"; reiterates that the new audit approach involving private sector auditors has resulted in a significant increase in the administrative burden on the agencies, and that the time spent on procurement and administration of audit contracts has resulted in additional expenditure thus straining further the limited resources of the agencies; emphasises that it is necessary to resolve this issue; calls on the parties involved to provide solutions on the issue so as to significantly reduce the administrative burden; calls on the Court to take action by doing random checks; _________________ 9 Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union
Amendment 4 #
2018/2209(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes with concern from the Court’s report that although the Agency paid the full price for construction works for its new premises in Strasbourg in 2016, the work is still not finalised, due to the inability of the contractor to deliver, and only 70 % of the works were covered by the accepted works progress reports; acknowledges that prepayments to the contractor were covered with bank guarantees, released progressively upon acceptance of works; takes note that the contractor submitted a financial claim and filed a court case against the Agency; notes from the Agency that it registered a statement of defence with the Administrative Court of Strasbourg, and that the Court’s decision is pending; calls on the Agency to report to the discharge authority on the final decision of the Administrative Court of Strasbourg;
Amendment 14 #
2018/2209(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes with concern that, according to the Court’s report, the small number of staff creates significant risks for the continuity of the Agency’s operations, particularly considering that the head of the Application Management and Maintenance unit also occupied ad interim the posts of Head of the Operations Department and Head of the Operations and Infrastructure Unit and thereby combined the three highest management posts in the Operations Department; welcomes in this regard the Agency’s countermeasure to appoint a different staff member as interim Head of the Operations and Infrastructure Unit; urges the Agency to fulfil all posts with permanent staff without further delay;
Amendment 17 #
2018/2209(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes with regret that the audit undertaken by the Commission’s Internal Audit Service (IAS) with respect to the Agency’s procurement processes found significant weaknesses, including two ‘very important’ issues regarding the estimation of contract values and key controls and three other findings rated as ‘important’; acknowledges that many of the weaknesses are related to the insufficient staffing of the Financial and Procurement Unit (FPU) and the procurement sector in particular; notes that the Agency has put in place an action plan addressing the audit findings and the IAS’s recommendations; calls on the Agency to report to the discharge authority on the measures taken to mitigate these weaknesses;
Amendment 18 #
2018/2209(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that, according to the Court’s report, the Agency uses extensively external contractors and that 90 % of the work relating to the development and implementation of IT projects is carried out by the Agency in a combined effort with the external contractors; notes with concern that although all phases of IT projects are under the Agency’s control, outsourcing the development of such sensitive IT systems to that extent creates considerable risk of over-reliance and over-dependency on contractors; acknowledges the Agency’s reply that the reducing outsourcing of tasks would require additional staffcomplete development of those systems in- house and reducing outsourcing of tasks would require a substantial increase of the staff of the Agency and that in order to ensure proper segregation of duties, contractors involved in quality assurance are not involved in providing external support to the operational management of large-scale IT systems;
Amendment 20 #
2018/2209(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that, according to the Court’s report, 90 % of the work relating to the development and implementation of IT projects is carried out by external contractors; notes with concern that although all phases of IT projects are under the Agency’s control, outsourcing the development of such sensitive IT systems to that extent creates considerable risk of dependency on contractors; acknowledges the Agency’s reply that the reducing outsourcing of tasks would require additional staff and that in order to ensure proper segregation of duties, contractors involved in quality assurance are not involved in providing external support to the operational management of large-scale IT systems; therefore, calls on the Agency to limit dependency on external contractors by better use of its own resources and to set up a proper policy to limit the use of external contractors;
Amendment 21 #
2018/2209(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Acknowledges the Agency’s existing measures and ongoing efforts to secure transparency, prevention and management of conflicts of interests, and whistleblower protection; notes with concern that the Agency does not publish the CVs of the members of its Management Board, nor of its managerial staff in general, only of its Executive Director; calls on the Agency to publish the CVs of all members of its Management Board and of its managerial staff; encourages the Agency to use the Independence Policy of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) as a best practice and an exemplary system of monitoring and preventing any conflicts of interest;
Amendment 24 #
2018/2209(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Regrets that despite previous calls, the Agency does not publish the declarations of interests of the members of its Management Board, of its managerial staff in general, and of its executive director; calls for the publication of declarations of interests listing membership to all other organisations; stresses that it is not for the members of the Management Board, the managerial staff or the executive director to declare themselves out of conflict of interest but that a neutral body should assess the existence of conflicts of interest;
Amendment 3 #
2018/2208(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2017 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 96,88 %, representing a decrease of 2,25 % compared to 2016; notes furthermore that the payment appropriations execution rate was 92,03 %, representing an increase of 5,79 % compared to 2016; notes that the Office only implemented 29% of the associate countries’ contributions and grants for operational expenditure; calls on the Office to implement this amount fully;
Amendment 5 #
2018/2208(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes with concern that, on 31 December 2017, the establishment plan was only 89,68 % filled, with 139 temporary agents appointed out of 155 temporary agents authorised under the budget of the Union (91 authorised posts in 2016); notes that in addition 72 contract agents and 4 seconded national experts were working for the Office in 2017; urges the Office to hire permanent staff instead of more expensive contract agents;
Amendment 6 #
2018/2208(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Regrets to note that, according to the Court’s report, as from the end of 2017, the human resources situation at the Office has deteriorated exponentially: for the Office’s management, 4 out of 10 head of unit posts and 18 out of 27 head of sector posts were vacant; urges the Office to publish all vacant positions; notes, in addition, that in the administrative department, 3 out of 4 head of unit posts and 5 out of 10 head of sector posts were vacant; expresses its grave concern that this creates considerable managerial challenges for the Office and poses a significant risk to the continuation of the Office’s operations at the current scale; regrets that, despite repeated attempts, the Office did not succeed in recruiting or retaining enough staff in 2017; acknowledges from the Office’s reply that it is investing in staff satisfaction and taking measures in order to diminish staff turnover, such as implementing flexible ways of working, also to compensate the low correction coefficient of Malta; calls on the Office to keep the discharge authority up to date on the corrective measures taken to mitigate those risks; urges the Office to give priority to filling the vacant mid management posts with highly qualified permanent staff, in order to train the other new staff members;
Amendment 8 #
2018/2208(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Acknowledges from the Office that, in 2018, it began to implement the Commission decision regarding whistleblowing and developed a practical guide for the management and prevention of conflicts of interests as well as rules for the protection of whistleblowers; calls onencourages the Office to report to the discharge authority on the implementation of those measuuse ECHA’s Independence Policy as a best practice and an exemplary system of monitoring and preventing any conflicts of interest;
Amendment 14 #
2018/2208(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Notes that the Office amended its lease agreement in Malta and that, in the second half of 2016, it expanded its office space to an additional block of the building where its premises are situated; emphasises that, as a consequence of the increase in responsibilities and tasks, the number of staff should increase to 500 by the end of 2020 thus creating a considerable demand for more office space; repeats its calls on the Office to report to the discharge authority on the expected budgetary consequences of this increase and on the measures planned to address the demands; regrets that the Office did not manage to reach an agreement with Transport Malta, the owners of the headquarters, for the lease of additional premises within the complex and that this had a direct impact on rental costs and on other related costs, such as building maintenance and security; calls upon the Office to provide the discharge authority with a full breakdown of the consequences of the lack of agreement with a plan for the future in relation to housing of the Office;
Amendment 15 #
2018/2208(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the appointment of the new ad interim Executive Director, who took office in 6 June 2018; acknowledges the new management’s commitment to ambitious reforms and warmly welcomes in this regard the Governance Action Plan, endorsed by the Management Board, which proposes a set of measurable objectives and deliverables aimed at reinforcing the internal governance of the Office, rebuilding internal capacity and restoring trust; calls on the new management to continue its determined and transparent efforts to develop a more accountable, trustworthy and efficient governance structure, and related procedures, for the Office, reminds the Office to be fully transparent in procedures and processes across the board in the Office in order to rebuild the trust and certainty among staff members; and to report to the discharge authority on the developments as regards the implementation of the new Governance Action Plan;
Amendment 1 #
2018/2207(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 1
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to the Court of Auditors’ Special Report No 4/2016: The European Institute of Innovation and Technology must modify its delivery mechanisms and elements of its design to achieve the expected impact;
Amendment 4 #
2018/2207(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the budget monitoring efforts during the financial year 2017 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 91,23 %, representing a decrease of 3,8 % compared to 2016; observes that this low number is linked to the low implementation rate of commitments appropriations of grants; acknowledges from the Institute that it will try to improve its budgetary processes to enhance the implementation; notes that the payment appropriations execution rate was 99,5 %, representing a slight increase of 0,36 % compared to 2016; notes that there was a low implementation rate due to an unforeseen delay in introducing Sysper for human resource management as well as overestimation of other maintenance costs; particularly calls on the Institute to enhance the implementation in this area;
Amendment 9 #
2018/2207(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Notes that the Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation introduced in 2015 the concept of ’Open Innovation’ as the key policy concept to frame innovation policy at Union level; considers that it is not clear which role the Institute plays in this concept; emphasises that this concept does not provide a clear framework for the development of a coherent and coordinated action by the Commission, given the number of policies and instruments in the mix and number of Directorate Generals involved in supporting the innovation; understands the Institute’s mission to promote cooperation among higher education, research and innovation; takes the view that companies may be in the end the main beneficiary as being the legal owner of the innovative product being brought to the market and have the financial profits; stresses the need in this situation to incorporate in the cooperation-model a structure in which funds received by industry in the context of the KICs will flow back to the Institute, once the innovation concerned becomes profitable for the companies concerned;
Amendment 10 #
2018/2207(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that, on 31 December 2017, the establishment plan was 92,68 % filled, with 38 temporary agents (TAs) appointed out of 41 TAs authorised under the Union budget (39 authorised posts in 2016); notes that in addition 20 contract agents and two seconded national experts have been working for the Institute in 2017; urges the Institute to refrain from relying too heavily on temporary contracts;
Amendment 13 #
2018/2207(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Regrets to note from the Court’s report that the Institute’s current interim Ddirector was appointed in 2014, and has held the post ever since as ad interim; points out that that practice is at odds with the Staff Regulations which limits the duration to a maximum of one year; regrets that a selection procedure for the nomination for a new Ddirector launched in 2016 was unsuccessful; takes note that a vacancy notice was again published in June 2018; urges the Institute to replace the interim director by a new director, without further delay; calls on the Institute to report to the discharge authority on the results of the ongoing selection process;
Amendment 3 #
2018/2200(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that following the growth prognosis for Europol an additional permanent building will be required as of 2023; asks the Agency to consider to be vigilant in relation to the additional costs;
Amendment 4 #
2018/2200(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes with concern that the cancellations of carry-overs from 2016 to 2017 amounted to EUR 834 972, representing 9,08 % of the total amount carried over, showingof EUR 9 194 476 carried over; welcomes the fact that this represents a notable decrease of 6,35 % in comparison to 2016, and indicating a better use of carry-overs;
Amendment 5 #
2018/2200(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Emphasizes that the Agency is one of the nine agencies on justice and home affairs; expresses its disappointment with the outcome in this respect of the IIWG on decentralised agencies, as no specific proposals were developed to merge or co- locate agencies concentrating on related policy fields; asks the Agency to cooperate with the eight other agencies on justice and home affairs to investigate possible mergers;
Amendment 6 #
2018/2200(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes with satisfaction that the Agency monitored its performance through 363 Key Performance Indicators, 360 other performance indicators and the implementation of around 140 specific actions planned in its Work Programme, with the performance reporting framework in general aimed at assessing the added value the Agency’s activities and at enhancing its budget management;
Amendment 8 #
2018/2200(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes with appreciation that the Agency carries out security tasks side-by- side with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, the European Asylum Support Office and national authorities; notes moreover that the Agency shared legal advice with other Union agencies located in the Netherlands and joined in multiple interinstitutional-interagency procurement procedures; encourages the Agency to further develop its cooperation with the other institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union in the field of justice and home affairs;
Amendment 9 #
2018/2200(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that, on 31 December 2017, the establishment plan was 97,27 % executed, with 535 temporary agents appointed out of 550 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget (compared with 505 authorised posts in 2016); notes that, in addition, 159 contract agents and 71 seconded national experts worked for the Agency in 2017; urges the Agency to refrain from relying too heavily on contract agents and to not replace permanent staff by more expensive contract agents;
Amendment 10 #
2018/2200(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that, on 31 December 2017, the establishment plan was 97,27 % executed, with 535 temporary agents appointed out of 550 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget (compared with 505 authorised posts in 2016); notes that, in addition, 159 contract agents and 7109 seconded national experts worked for the Agency in 2017, with a vacancy rate of 0% at the end of the year;
Amendment 12 #
2018/2200(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Regrets the gender imbalance within the Agency’s senior management members, with 13319 out of 15138 members being of the same gender; notes that by the end of 2017, female staff made up 32% of all Agency personnel, being at the top of the statistics concerning women employed in law enforcement around the world; encourages the Agency to continue the efforts of its internal steering group on diversity and inclusion;
Amendment 14 #
2018/2200(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes with concern that four formal procedures in the form of administrative inquiries were opened with regard to sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour during the course of 2017; notes that the Agency initiated corresponding actions to address the matter and that no case was taken to courtcompleted the administrative inquiries with disciplinary action swiftly, where applicable and initiated corresponding actions to address the matter and that no case was taken to court; takes note of the fact that no administrative inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment was brought forward in the Agency in 2018; calls on the Agency to do its utmost to avoid structural deficiencies as regards inappropriate behaviour in order to prevent such cases from happening in the first place;
Amendment 17 #
2018/2200(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Encourages the Agency to consider adopting a fundamental rights strategy; including a reference to fundamental rights in a code of conduct that could define the duties of its staff and training for staff; setting up mechanisms ensuring that any violation of fundamental rights be detected and reported, and that risks of such violations be swiftly brought to the attention of the main bodies of the Agency; establishing, whenever relevant, the position of a fundamental rights officer, reporting directly to the management board to ensure a certain degree of independence vis-a-vis other staff, in order to ensure that threats to fundamental rights shall be immediately addressed, and that a constant upgrading of the fundamental rights policy within the organization; developing a regular dialogue with civil society organisations and relevant international organizations on fundamental rights issues; making compliance with fundamental rights a central component of the terms of reference of the collaboration of the Agency concerned with external actors, including in particular members of national administrations with whom it interacts at operational level;
Amendment 18 #
2018/2200(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes the Agency’s existing measures and ongoing efforts to secure transparency, prevention and management of conflicts of interest and whistleblower protection; takes note of the proactive measures taken against the 4 potential conflict of interest cases identified in 2017; notes that the Agency has published declarations of absence of conflicts of interest rather than declarations of interest; acknowledges however the adoption in October 2018 of a new model declaration on the declaration of interests, by the Management Board , on the basis of a proposal from the Agency; notes with satisfaction that this new model declaration is being applied for all Management Board members, as well as for the Executive Director and deputy executive directors; notes, however, that to this date not all declarations have been updated to the new model; calls on the Agency to swiftly proceed in this sense and publish the new declarations;
Amendment 8 #
2018/2198(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Notes that while the 2018 registration deadline was the final regulatory deadline of the REACH registration for phase-in substances, the Agency’s registration activity is expected to remain at a high level during the remaining period of this strategy; furthermore, notes that following the Agency’s strategic analysis of its future direction, the Agency has identified certain existing activity areas that are expected to grow and a number of potential new tasks that the Agency may assume; stresses that undercapacity of staff should be avoided;
Amendment 9 #
2018/2198(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. According to the Agency, its budgeted fee income for 2017 represents 35 % of the total income; acknowledges the Agency’s exemplary system of monitoring and preventing any conflicts of interest and its view that because of the measures taken there is no danger of such conflicts due to the cost-covering purpose of the fees and the regular assessment of the Agency’s staff involved in the opinion making to ensure independence; notes that the Agency would welcome a solution where the Commission collected the fees on behalf of the Agency, which would facilitate the Agency’s financial management and help in mitigating the risks of shortfalls;
Amendment 3 #
2018/2195(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes with satisfaction that the Agency uses various Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure the added value provided by its activities; takes note that the Agency plans to revise its indicators in 2019; invites the Agency to further develop the KPIs for enhancing its budget management, particularly taking into account the extension of its mandate and the continuously increasing budget, and report to the discharge authority on the developments made in this regard; expresses its concerns as regards the part of the budget that could not be absorbed by the Agency;
Amendment 6 #
2018/2195(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Urges the Agency to develop a comprehensive business continuity plan;
Amendment 7 #
2018/2195(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Regrets that, on 31 December 2017, the establishment plan was only 74,43 % filled, with 262 temporary agents appointed out of 352 temporary agents authorised under the Union budget (275 authorised posts in 2016); notes that in addition 139 contract agents and 113 seconded national experts have been working for the Agency in 2017; notes with concern that the initial recruitment objective could not be reached and that return operations proved to be over- estimated with regard to real developments and that the financial reserve had to be kept until the end of the year, leading to cancellations of the appropriations concerned;
Amendment 8 #
2018/2195(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that 2017 was the second year of the five-year growth plan following the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2016/162414 that significantly increased resources in the area of budget and staff; notes from the Court’s report that, following the extension of its mandate, the Agency’s staff will more than double from 365 in 2016 to 1 000 in 2020; notes moreover that the planned increase in staff will require additional office space; calls on the Agency to report to the discharge authority on the measures taken in order to address the challenges concerning the increasing staff and to keep it closely informed of the further steps, including financial calculations, relating to the construction of the new headquarters; _________________ 14 Regulation (EU) 2016/1624 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2016 on the European Border and Coast Guard and amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EC) No 863/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 and Council Decision 2005/267/EC (OJ L 251, 16.9.2016, p. 1).
Amendment 9 #
2018/2195(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes with concern that the Agency experiences difficulties in finding staff with the required profile, often because of the low salary correction coefficient (66,7 %); calls on the Agency to report to the discharge authority on the outcome of the discussions with the Commission on possible mitigating measures, and the Agency’s plans for other possible measures to attract new staff, particularly taking into account the Agency’s extending mandate and increasing amount of recruitments; calls on the Agency to appoint a new fundamental rights officer without further delay in order to ensure that threats to fundamental rights related issues shall be immediately addressed, and that a constant upgrading of the fundamental rights policy within the organisation;
Amendment 12 #
2018/2195(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Acknowledges the Agency’s existing measures and ongoing efforts to secure transparency, prevention and management of conflicts of interest, and whistle-blower protection; takes note from the Agency that it drew up draft internal rules on whistleblowing, but after being advised to do so by the Commission, it will implement the Commission model decision once notified to the agencies; calls on the Agency to report to the discharge authority on the implementation of this decision and to adopt its whistleblowing policy without further delay;
Amendment 5 #
2018/2194(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Regrets the fact that the Agency is geographically located at long distance from Europol, which undermines the possibility of finding synergies with this other agency specialised in police matters; calls upon the Agency to provide the discharge authority with a report outlining the possible obstacles in its interactions with Europol and the measures taken and to be taken to overcome these challenges;
Amendment 7 #
2018/2194(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes the fact that the College adopted a revised anti-fraud strategy during 2017; regrets that the College had not set up and implemented internal rules on whistleblowing by 31 December 2017; notes however that agency-specific internal rules are expected to be adopted by the end of 2018; encourages the College to use the European Chemicals Agency's (ECHA) Independence Policy as a best practice and an exemplary system of monitoring and preventing any conflicts of interest; furthermore, urges the College to set up and implement internal rules on whistleblowing without further delay; calls on the College to report to the discharge authority on their implementation;
Amendment 3 #
2018/2190(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 16 January 2019 on the Union’s authorisation procedure for pesticides (P8_TA(2019)0023);
Amendment 6 #
2018/2190(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Acknowledges the Authority’s existing measures and ongoing efforts to secure transparency, prevention and management of conflicts of interest, and; welcomes the recent Authority's decision on implementing rules laying down guidelines on whistle-blower's´ protection and confidentiality of their identity; welcomes the Authority’s updated policy on independence, which was adopted in 2017 after stakeholder and public consultation and which aims to build on from the policy it replaces in order to ensure that the Authority may reach a correct balance between attracting the relevant expertise from the scientific community but at the same time guarding its activities against any undue influence; welcomes also the new definition of what constitutes a conflict of interest which was adopted in the new Authority's policy on independence; welcomes further the publication on the Authority's website of the declarations of interest by the members of the Management Board; regrets that the publication of their CVs is still missing; notes with appreciation that the Authority implemented rules on competing interest management as of July 2018 replacing the rules on the declarations of interest of 2014;
Amendment 7 #
2018/2190(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Recalls recommendations of the European Parliament in its resolution of 16 January 2019 on the Union’s authorisation procedure for pesticides, and in particular its call on the Authority: to improve its risk communication in order to inform the public in an appropriate, understandable and easily accessible way; to regularly update its guidance documents in line with the most recent developments in all relevant fields, with a view to assessing the short- and long-term effects of residue levels of active substances, formulations and mixtures in surface waters, soil, wind and dust; to increase the user-friendliness of the information provided on its website and to facilitate data mining; to publish its opinions in peer-reviewed journals in order to intensify constructive discussion and incentivise and encourage more national experts and other scientists to participate in its work;
Amendment 6 #
2018/2189(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Notes that the travel expenditure increased again slightly; asks the Agency to provide a comprehensive list of these expenses;
Amendment 12 #
2018/2189(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Acknowledges from the Agency that in 2017 it reviewed the process in place concerning its “Policy on impartiality and independence: prevention and mitigation of Conflict of Interest” to extend the completion, review and update of Declarations of Interest to all staff members; calls on the Agency to report to the discharge authority on the comprehensive review of its current system for prevention and mitigation of Cconflict of interest in 2018/2019; welcomes the Agency’s new guidelines on whistleblowing;
Amendment 13 #
2018/2189(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that 70% of the Agency`s income consist of fees; takes note of the Agency`s view that the fact that applicants pay fees does not necessarily imply a conflict of interest; calls on the Agency to report to the discharge authority on measures taken in order to ensure that no conflict of interest occurs as regards fee financing and to develop to this effect quality indicators that do not measure mainly customer satisfaction but especially the Agency’s contribution to aircraft safety;
Amendment 5 #
2018/2186(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes with satisfaction that in 2017, Eurojust contributed to counter-terrorism projects of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and other justice and home affairs partners and furthermore participated in two joint tender procedures with Europol; notes with satisfaction that Eurojust intends to develop a procurement strategy aimed at further reaping the benefits of inter-agency and inter-institutional joint procurement procedures; strongly encourages Eurojust to further develop cooperation projects with the other institutions, agencies, offices and bodies of the Union, in the field of Justice and Home Affairs;
Amendment 6 #
2018/2186(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes with satisfaction that Eurojust has adopted a policy on preventing harassment and organised trainings and enabled confidential counselling;
Amendment 9 #
2018/2186(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Encourages Eurojust to consider adopting a fundamental rights strategy, including a reference to fundamental rights in a code of conduct that could define the duties of its staff and training for staff; setting up mechanisms ensuring that any violation of fundamental rights be detected and reported, and that risks of such violations be swiftly brought to the attention of the main bodies of Eurojust; establishing, whenever relevant, the position of a fundamental rights officer, reporting directly to the management board to ensure a certain degree of independence vis-a-vis other staff, in order to ensure that threats to fundamental rights shall be immediately addressed, and that a constant upgrading of the fundamental rights policy within the organization; developing a regular dialogue with civil society organisations and relevant international organizations on fundamental rights issues; making compliance with fundamental rights a central component of the terms of reference of the collaboration of the Eurojust concerned with external actors, including in particular members of national administrations with whom it interacts at operational level;
Amendment 10 #
2018/2186(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Acknowledges Eurojust’s existing measures and ongoing efforts to secure transparency, and prevention and management of conflicts of interest; noteregrets that Eurojust adopted its internal rules on whistleblowing on the basis of the Commission’s model rules in June 2018the Agency's policy is to publish declarations of absence of conflict of interest rather than declarations interests for the Administrative Director and the members of the Management Board; calls for the publication of declarations of interests listing membership to any other organisations; stresses that it is not for the members of the board and the director to declare themselves out of conflict of interest; reiterates that a neutral body should assess the existence of conflicts of interest;
Amendment 11 #
2018/2186(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Notes that Eurojust adopted its internal rules on whistleblowing on the basis of the Commission’s model rules in June 2018; asks the Agency to provide details on whistleblowing cases in 2017, if any, and on how they were handled; underlines the importance of awareness- raising and training of staff as means of fostering a positive and trusting environment in which whistleblowing is an accepted part of the corporate culture;
Amendment 3 #
2018/2185(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 6 #
2018/2185(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that the Agency’s clients - the pharmaceutical industry - pay for the procedure, not for the outcome of the Agency’s assessments; understands that according to the Agency it considers its recommendations to be made independently and that they, therefore, do not create conflicts of interest, in respect of which any potential risks are however duly considered, prevented and mitigated; expresses, however, concern at the potential conflict of interest that can arise if the Agency have to rely on membership fees as its main source of income; emphasizes the need for a steady and predictable flow of income from the Union budget, which is crucial also to planning, rather than having to rely on fees, which are unpredictable and vary from year to year;
Amendment 7 #
2018/2185(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Welcomes the fact that the Agency also requests all IT consultants to sign individual declarations of interest and confidentiality undertaking at the beginning of their assignment;
Amendment 9 #
2018/2185(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Welcomes the inquiry that the European Ombudsman opened into the arrangements that the Agency has in place for engaging with medicine producers before they apply for authorisations to market their medicines in the Union and welcomes the fact that all interested parties are invited to put forward their comments on this issue, especially since the Agency’s income on fees and charges related to marketing authorisations increased by 14 million euros;
Amendment 10 #
2018/2185(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Acknowledges from the Agency that Pre-submission meetings contribute to the development of medicines; notes that in the light of the pre-submission meetings, the experts of CHMP perform both the role of consultant as of evaluator of the marketing authorisation applications; calls upon the Agency to at least publish a list of pre-submission activities, once the marketing authorisation has been given;
Amendment 5 #
2018/2180(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Encourages the Agency to intensify its co-operation with international organisations, such as the Council of Europe and the United Nations, in order to find and use synergies, whenever possible;
Amendment 3 #
2018/2178(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Expresses its regrets regarding the significant increase in expenditure on equipment and furniture (215%); notes that if most of the furniture is perfectly serviceable and presentable, and that there is no need to change it, the Centre should consider using the old furniture;
Amendment 6 #
2018/2178(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes the Centre’s close cooperation with the European Training Foundation and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, formalised in collaboration; notes with appreciation that the Centre and the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security signed a service-level agreement which enables them to share conference facilities and storage space among other synergies; emphasises in this context that the Centre is one of the four Agencies on social policies; expresses its disappointment with the outcome in this respect of the Interinstitutional Working Group (IIWG) on decentralised agencies, as no specific proposals were developed to merge or co-locate agencies concentrating on related policy fields; asks the Centre to cooperate with the three other Agencies on social policies to investigate possible mergers;
Amendment 8 #
2018/2178(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that the Centre has a dignity at work policy in place and that in 2017 a mandatory session on dignity at work and prevention of harassment was delivered, and furthermore workshops and counselling skill session were offered; regrets that in 2017 it was decided to decrease the training budget by EUR - 30 000 due to the need to set negative priorities;
Amendment 19 #
2018/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Is of the opinion that progress is necessary in this regard and therefore invites the EEAS to both identify and reflect on the reasons for this imbalance, and subsequently possibly refine its conditions and recruitment policies in order to attract all genders equally for management positions; encourages the EEAS to cooperate with national universities offering courses dedicated to a diplomatic career in order to promote the European diplomatic service at an early stage, and suggests to envisage promoting the creation of an academy dedicated to the education of future European diplomats;
Amendment 20 #
2018/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Calls for the creation of an institute dedicated to the education of future European diplomats and suggests to study the possibility of using the facilities of the European Parliament in Strasbourg to house this diplomatic institute;
Amendment 29 #
2018/2173(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Calls for a mediation between the former internal auditor of the Committee and the Committee with the aim to find an amicable settlement in the ongoing dispute in the interest of both parties; points out that such a mediation should also address the bona-fide whistle-blower status of the former internal auditor (as recognised by the Parliament in its resolution of 2004) and the fact that he was acting in the interests of the EU by reporting wrongdoings to the EU institutions;
Amendment 7 #
2018/2171(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Welcomes the launch of the online portal ‘Public Audit in the European Union’ containing information on the work and role of the 29 Union Supreme Audit Institutions and the Member States; calls on the Court to publish short activity reports on the online portal, containing concrete data on the analyses performed by the Court and the Supreme Audit Institutions and the concrete results, including cost-benefits analyses and the amounts recovered;
Amendment 8 #
2018/2171(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Deplores that since 2012 the Court failed to publish any special report on the management of conflict of interest in selected Union agencies; urges the Court to publish annual special report on the management of conflict of interest in Union agencies working with industries, namely the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the European Chemicals Agency (EFSA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA); notes that for Union agencies working with industries the risk of conflict of interest is higher than in other Union agencies;
Amendment 9 #
2018/2171(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that the audit risk in the area of administrative expenditure is low and that error rate estimates have been below the level of materiality for several years; notes that the Court therefore considers that the number of transactions tested is sufficient to reach conclusions for its audit; regrets, however, that the scope of considerations iwhile it acknowledges that the audit risk for administrative expenditure is low, it regrets that the Court's analysis of the progress made by Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee in comparison with the 2014 recommendations for 'Administration' is to a large extent devoid of meaning, given Cthapter 10 of the annual repot the Court's on ‘Administration’ allows for only a very limited review of weaknesses inaudit for 2017 did not include the examination of administrative expenditure in eachfor these institutions; calls on the Court to follow- up these recommendations soon;
Amendment 10 #
2018/2171(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the factNotes that, according to the Financial Regulation, the Court shall ensure that special reports are drawn up and adopted within an appropriate period of time which shall, in general, not exceed 13 months; notes that in 2017 it took an average of 14,6 months from the commencement of an audit task to adoption of the special report; notes that this was the shortest ave while also the year before the 13-month target timefragme duration since the start of the 2013-2017 period; regrets, however,for producing special reports was not met; regrets that only eight of the special reports (29 %) published during the year2017 complied with the 13 months target timeframe set out in the Financial Regulation; calls on the Court to continue improving its performance in this regard, while not compromising the quality of the special reports and the targeted nature of its recommendations;
Amendment 12 #
2018/2171(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the achievements of the Court in terms ofCourt's strategy for communication, 'Get clear messages across to our audience', and the communication activities aimed at increasing its visibility and media impact, including an increase of its outreach on social media; welcomes the use of extensive social media analytics to better understand to what extent target groups are reached and whether media campaigns have been successful; encourages the Court to continue striving for the best use of various communication channels to raise awareness of its work among citizens;
Amendment 13 #
2018/2171(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the detailed review of the use of official cars by members of the Court and the Secretary General broken down by user, distance travelled and cost paid, provided by the Court in the framework of the discharge procedure 2017; observes that different regimes apply to journeys covered by a mission order and other journeys undertaken in the course of performance of official duties, up to a limit for reimbursement of 10 000 km per year; notes, moreover, that for all other journeys, members and the Secretary-General shall bear any other related cost; notes with concern that 17 % of all utilisation of official vehicles are for non-professional use; calls on the Court to put in place measures to prevent and avoid abuse for journeys under the category 'Other journeys undertaken in the performance of official duties'; notes with concern that drivers tasked with driving members on official missions and protocol journeys are also employed in various administrative tasks, as declared by the Court in the framework of the discharge procedure 2017; calls on the Court to carry out a detailed analysis of the journeys under the category 'Other journeys undertaken in the performance of official duties' and to ensure that members having used official vehicles for non-professional use to pay back to the Court by 30 June 2019 any amounts reimbursed for those travels undertaken in 2017;
Amendment 15 #
2018/2171(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the fact that Decision 81-2016, which decreased the annual limit for reimbursement for journeys undertaken in the performance of official duties from 15 000 to 10 000 km, resulted in savings of approximately 15%; is concerned, however, that the current regime still results in a disproportionate burden in terms of administration and documentation; calls on the Court to make further simplifications while improving the reliability of the system for settlements; suggests that members of the Court are paid a monthly allowance, calculated in proportion to the list price of their respective official vehicle, instead of the current system which is based on travelled distance;
Amendment 17 #
2018/2171(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes that the Court obtained certification under the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS); welcomes the Court’s measures to improve its waste management, increase its energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint and encourages it to continue with its efforts in this direction; welcomes the remarkable reduction in energy costs;
Amendment 18 #
2018/2171(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes that the reduction of 5 % in staff numbers over the period 2013-2017 has been achieved in compliance with the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management7 with an overall contribution of 45 posts; notes that the Court cut one post more than the target for the period 2013-2017; notes that the number of contractual agents increased from 59 to 73 over the same period, which is mainly due to the reinforcement of security measures at the Court premises; notes that the Court streamlined procedures by using IT tools and digitalisation and by outsourcing various tasks to the Pay Master Office of the Commission in order to implement staff reduction objectives; _________________ 7 OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1 OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1
Amendment 22 #
2018/2171(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. WNotes that no case of harassment was reported, investigated or concluded during 2017; welcomes the fact that the Court takes various measures to raise awareness regarding harassment in the working environment, including training for newcomers; notes with appreciation that procedures and penalties are envisaged to follow-up on complaints against members of staff as well as against members of the Court; encourages the Court to closely monitor the effectiveness of its policy in this regard, to continue raising awareness about harassment in the workplace and to foster a culture of zero tolerance towards harassment;
Amendment 23 #
2018/2171(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Notes that there were no cases of whistle-blowing in 2017; notes that the Legal Service of the Court acts as a disclosure, advice and referral body for internal and external whistle-blowers; notes, furthermore, that a network of ethics advisors is in place to advise on the provision of information in cases of serious irregularities, as specified in the Court’s rules of procedures; calls on the Court to ensure that all members of staff are properly informed of their rights, for example during induction procedures for new staff; underlines that every member of staff are obliged to report on irregularities, both fraudulent and non- fraudulent, to the Legal Service of the Court; calls on the Court to protect the identity of members of staff reporting irregularities as to enable proper investigations; calls on the Court to ensure that all members of staff are properly informed of their rights, for example during induction procedures for new staff; welcomes the Court's opinion published in October 2018, following the Commission’s proposed Directive on the protection of persons reporting on breaches of Union law as published on 23 April 2018; underlines the importance of awarenessraising and training of staff as means of fostering a positive and trusting environment in which whistleblowing is an accepted part of the corporate culture;
Amendment 25 #
2018/2171(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. RegDeplorets that members of the Court can be absent from the Court without justification and without having to request leave for one or more days; notes the absence of specific rules to control of the members’ absences; calls on the Court to establish procedures for keeping a register of members’ annual leave as to ensure that all leave taken by members is effectively recorded; stresses that the current practice strongly undermines the trust of Union citizens and institutions in the good faith of the Court;
Amendment 28 #
2018/2171(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Recalls that, in accordance with Article 285 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, members of the Court shall be completely independent in the performance of their duties and shall act solely in the Union’s general interest; is concerned by the current self-declaratory nature of compliance with this criteria and urges the Court to develop stronger controls on the external activities of members to ensuurges the members of the Court to submit declarations of interest instead of declarations of the absence of conflict of interests; stresses that it is not for the members of staff to declare themselves out of conflict of interest; reiterates that a neutral body should assess the existence of conflict of interest; deplores that they complete declarations of interests and attest to the absence Court, as the institution in charge of identifying and combating conflicts of interest in other Union institutions, is failing to implement itself a strong and reliable policy ofn conflicts of interest;
Amendment 36 #
2018/2171(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Urges the Court, in relation to the period 2011-2017, to complete a comprehensive audit of mission expenses by members of the Court in order to identify potential irregularities and to recover the amounts affected by such irregularities; furthermore, calls on the Court to provide a list with the missions undertaken, including, for each mission, the dates, the full cost and a cost-benefit analysis;
Amendment 38 #
2018/2171(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Notes that the United Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from the European Union will not have a major impact on the structure and human resources of the Court; welcomes the fact that the Court has decided to follow a case-by-case approach to deciding on the extension of contracts for British temporary and contract agents and not to dismiss them on the sole ground that they are no longer nationals of a Member State; calls on the Court to swiftly develop a coherent strategy to provide certainty for the persons concerned; notes, moreover, that the member of the Court from the United Kindom will not be in service as of 1 April 2019 and that the budgetary impact of his departure, eight months earlier than the termination of the mandate, will amount to about EUR 108 000.
Amendment 14 #
2018/2168(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that Parliament submitted a Proposal for a cooperation procedure between both institutions on 9 November 2018; notes that the Council replied to Parliament’s proposal on the Council discharge exercise procedure on 2 May 2018 with an amended proposal, and that Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control sent its reaction to Council’s amended proposal on 21 July 2018; urges the Council to react to the latest proposals from the Budgetary Control Committee swiftly, so that the new arrangements for the discharge exercise can be applied as soon as possible;
Amendment 15 #
2018/2168(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 29 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that, following the Secretary- General’s request, all Parliament’s DGs developed management tools to comply with the principle of performance-based budgeting; observes that some of the existing quantitative targets armay be difficult to implement in the DGs, which work to the timeframe of the political cycle; invites the Secretary-General to take this fact into consideration when evaluating performance based budgeting across DGs, without disregarding the focus on added value;
Amendment 31 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Calls on the Parliament's administration to provide an overview of the 2017 appointments of high-officials; and encourages the Secretary-General to initiate additional measures to improve the transparency of and equality during appointment procedures at the European Parliament, taking into account the findings and recommendations of the European Ombudsman in joint cases 488/2018/KR and 514/2018/KR;
Amendment 34 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 – introductory part
Paragraph 30 – introductory part
30. Still strongly regrets that, accordingRegrets that, despite repeated calls from the European Parliament for establishing a single seat, and the fact that citizens of the Union do not understand why the European Parliament should divide its activities over two the Court,seats, so far the European Council did not even commence a discussion on how to meet Parliament´s requests in this respect; recalls the 2014 ECA analysis which estimated the costs of the geographic dispersion of the Parliament amount to EUR 114 million per yearto be EUR 114 million per year; notes, furthermore, the finding from its resolution of 20 November 2013 on the location of the seats of the European Union’s Institutions1a that 78 % of all missions by Parliament statutory staff arise as a direct result of the Parliament's geographic dispersion; emphasises that the report also estimates the environmental impact of the geographic dispersion to be between 11 000 to 19 000 tonnes of CO2 emissions; reiterates the negative public perception caused by that dispersion; reiterates its call on the Council to develop a comprehensive strategy in order to agree on a single seat for Parliament; takes note of the additional costs linked to Parliament’s 12 journeys per year to Strasburg, which can be broken down as follows for 2017: _________________ 1a OJ C 436, 24.11.2016, p. 2.
Amendment 37 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Notes that the creation of an institute dedicated to the education of future European diplomats within the EEAS could be an example to repurpose the premises of the European Parliament in Strasbourg to house this diplomatic institute;
Amendment 47 #
2018/2167(DEC)
35a. Stresses that it is difficult to find out the result of Parliament’s votes on the website of the European Parliament and that VoteWatch, a commercial website, is much more practical since the voting results are easier to find; calls on the Secretary-General to build a more advanced system for Parliament’s website, registering plenary roll-call votes with easy search options to seek voting behaviour of individual Members and to compare these with other members of their group and with members of other groups;
Amendment 49 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Recognises the attempts of DG COMM to also reach out to those citizens who are not automatically interested in Parliament’s work; encourages the Secretary-General to build a truly interactive communication strategy, going beyond target groups such as journalists and students, and including a ‘listening mode’ to collect and answer possible critical voices;
Amendment 50 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. WelcomesTakes note of the opening of the House of European History in May 2017 and the Simone Veil Parlamentarium in Strasbourg in July 2017; notes that between May and December the House of European History welcomed 99 344 visitors; regrets that its opening was delayed for more than one year; is concerned that 99 344 visitors seems few relative to costs of EUR 4,4 million in staff costs: EUR 2,7 million for permanent staff and EUR 1,7 million for contract agents (including the cost of the security agents); invites the Bureau to undertake a cost-benefit analysis and assess whether this significant amount of money is being spent wisely; considers, moreover, that the number of visitors is flattered as it largely represents group visits organised with subsidies from the European Parliament; invites the Bureau to undertake a cost-benefit analysis and assess whether this significant amount of money is being spent wisely; reiterates its call on the Bureau to continue the dialogue with the local authorities to see how the latter can further contribute to the financing of the House of European History;
Amendment 53 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)
Paragraph 40 a (new)
40a. Expresses its deep concerns regarding the working conditions of the Expo Crew members working in the HEH and the Parlamentarium; regrets that before replacing the existing framework contract for the provision of guided tours and learning services with a new one, through a tender procedure in January 2019, no comparative study was conducted on the potential advantages for both staff and Parliament of proceeding to in-house staffing of the current EXPO crew members; urges the Secretary- General to take a far more active role in ensuring that the new contractor offers better remuneration to EXPO Crew members than is done by the current contractor who applies the lowest possible salary levels under Belgian law (based on Commission Paritaire 200) and that the new contractor provides for proper, respectful working conditions , improving the working hours and breaks, and providing EXPO Crew members with proper attire; ; urgently requests the Secretary-General to keep the CONT committee closely informed on the requirements for the new tender;
Amendment 57 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Takes note of the reform approved by the Bureau in November 2017 of the European Parliament Liaison Offices (EPLO) where the revised mission statement aims at engaging with citizens, media and stakeholders in order to reach out to citizens; calls on the Liaison Offices to ensure that citizens are aware of the work undertaken by the European Institutions and to ensure that they are aware of the existence of the Liaison Offices;
Amendment 68 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Notes that DG PERS’s lead indicator in 2017 is time to deliver; notes with satisfaction that targets and methods of data collection were refined with a general positive assessment of the results; notes that objectives to improve the procedures for recruiting APAs and for admitting children to the Parliament’s kindergarten were not met, but that the difficulties that had been encountered were resolved in 2018; underlines that the process of recruiting APAs at the beginning of the next parliamentary term can be challenging and that delays have to be avoided in the interest of Members and APAs;
Amendment 70 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47a. Recognises that, for certain activities such as running the canteens and cleaning, outsourcing has been Parliament’s preferred option and that, as a consequence, for certain DG’s, the number of external staff on Parliament’s premises may even exceed the number of officials;
Amendment 71 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 b (new)
Paragraph 47 b (new)
47b. Notes, however, that such outsourcing decisions cannot provide an explanation for the use of all external staff and that, for example in the Directorate-General Innovation and Technological Support (DG ITEC), the ratio between external staff and officials is difficult to explain;
Amendment 72 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 c (new)
Paragraph 47 c (new)
47c. Reiterates the opinion that external staff should not be used to compensate for the reduction of the number of posts as agreed in the context of the 2014 revision of the Staff Regulations and the current MFF;
Amendment 76 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 a (new)
Paragraph 49 a (new)
49a. Reiterates its concern about the alleged practice of Members obliging APAs to undertake missions, particularly to Strasbourg, without mission orders, without mission costs or simply without travel costs; is of opinion that such a practice leaves room for abuse: where APAs travel without a mission order they not only have to pay for the costs by their own means, they are also not covered by workplace insurance; calls on the Secretary-General to investigate this alleged practice and to report on this by the end of the year;
Amendment 78 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 b (new)
Paragraph 49 b (new)
49b. Reiterates the vulnerable position APAs and interns employed by Members hold in respect to internal whistleblower protection rules; notes with great concern the Secretary-General’s acknowledgement that ‘whistleblowing rules are applicable to APAs but the Parliament cannot provide employment protection’; urges the Secretary-General to address this situation immediately and fulfil the Parliament’s legal obligations under the Staff Regulation to protect whistleblowers for all EU staff classifications;
Amendment 79 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 c (new)
Paragraph 49 c (new)
49c. Recognises that whistleblowing is crucial in preventing and deterring unlawful activities and wrongdoing; notes there were no parliamentary whistleblower cases in 2017 and of the three in 2016, all were APAs and were dismissed by their respective MEPs; believes that the Parliament may not be inspiring confidence in their staff generally, nor granting requisite legal protection to APAs specifically, to those who wish to report wrongdoing; calls on the Secretary-General to remedy this situation as a matter of urgency;
Amendment 98 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)
Paragraph 53 a (new)
53a. Reiterates its call on the Conference of Presidents and the Bureau to reconsider the possibility for APAs, at certain conditions to be set, to accompany Members in official Parliament Delegations and Missions, as already requested by several Members; calls on the Secretary-General to investigate the budgetary consequences, and the organisation and logistics of these missions;
Amendment 103 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55
Paragraph 55
55. Notes that the creation of Europe House in several Information Offices has been approved by the Bureau and is being implemented throughout the coming years; calls on the Secretary-General, to see to it that new locations for the Information Offices are selected on a careful cost- benefit analysis and regrets that in certain cities, such as Paris, locations were selected at the most expensive streets without proper justification; calls for detailed information on the progress of works be included in the DG’s annual activity report;
Amendment 108 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58
Paragraph 58
Amendment 109 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59
Paragraph 59
59. Notes that in 2017, EUR 75 000 were committed to the pilot installation of innovative furnishing and office equipment models for Members; notes also that the refurbishment of Members’ offices and corridors in the Louise Weiss building, which was the only Parliament’s building undergoing works in 2016 and 2017, totalled EUR 1 157 975 (compared to EUR 840 260 in 2016); reiterates its deep regrets regarding the decision to change the furniture in the offices of Members and their assistants in Brussels; notes that most of the furniture is perfectly serviceable and presentable, and that there is therefore absolutely no need to change it; reconsiders that feedback from a number of Members – as opposed to a general survey – is not, on its own, sufficient justification for the change, while arguments put forward by the administration on matters of taste, fashion or outdated style are equally inadequate; individual items of furniture should only be changed if there are clear signs of deterioration, major wear and tear or health risk at the workplace of a specific or general nature (such as the possible development of more ergonomic office desks or chairs);
Amendment 113 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59 a (new)
Paragraph 59 a (new)
59a. Expresses its deep concerns regarding the costs involved in the Jean Monnet House and the proposed additional accommodation that will be used as facility for Away Days for the European Parliament, and questions the need to have such a facility at yet another prime location in Paris; regrets the future use of another building, the House of the artist Wiertz, by the European Parliament, especially since there seems to be no objective need for acquiring this building;
Amendment 124 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
Paragraph 63
63. Notes that the overall average number of hours per week that staff interpreters spent delivering interpretation services in their booth increased to 14 in 2017; welcomes this increase when compared to 13 hours and 25 minutes spent delivering interpretation services in the booth in 2016; regretsunderstands the fact that the change in working patterns, that started with the new Staff Regulation, culminated in a strike that provoked disturbances in the provision of interpretation to Members; commends the work to maintain core interpretation services in order to keep legislative work running;
Amendment 136 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
Paragraph 68
68. Takes note of the Bureau’s decision with regard to the General Expenditure Allowance to apply the agreed modifications only after the 2019 elections; takes note of the activities of the Bureau in relation to the General Expenditure Allowance, in particular by creating an ad hoc working group for defining and publishing the rules concerning the use of this allowance; regrets, however, that the only decision taken by the Bureau relates to a non-exhaustive list of eligible expenses which will, moreover, only apply to the newly elected Members after the 2019 elections;
Amendment 139 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68 a (new)
Paragraph 68 a (new)
68a. Furthermore, regrets that the Bureau did not implement the additional proposals that were adopted by the plenary in its resolution on the Discharge 2016 (P8_TA(2018)0124), and its resolution on the General budget of the EU for 2019 (P8_TA(2018)0404), namely: – the need to define, expand and publish the rules concerning the use of the GEA (which requires, inter alia, an exhaustive list of eligible expenses); – that all receipts pertaining to the GEA be kept by Members; – that the unspent share of the GEA be returned at the end of a Member’s mandate;
Amendment 142 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68 b (new)
Paragraph 68 b (new)
68b. Calls in addition on the Bureau to make the following, additional changes concerning the GEA on top of those already adopted by the plenary: – A 5% sample checks of the GEA spending by the European Parliament's internal auditing; the final results and the findings should be part of the annual internal audit report published by the European Parliament; – The need for Members to publish, on an annual basis, an overview of their expenditures by category (communication costs, office rental, office supplies ...); – The admission of an independent auditor in charge of the annual check of the accounts and the publication of an auditor’s opinion;
Amendment 145 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68 c (new)
Paragraph 68 c (new)
68c. Urges the Bureau to implement the democratic will of the plenary concerning the GEA as soon as possible; furthermore, urges the Bureau to immediately reconvene the working group in order to reform the GEA by developing new rules for greater transparency and financial accountability;
Amendment 158 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71 a (new)
Paragraph 71 a (new)
71a. Welcomes the proposals of the Secretary-General in this context, including the agreement that the Secretary-General will re-examine the situation in 2020 to see whether the measures have sufficiently brought back the actuarial deficit; welcomes the fact that the Secretary-General has consulted the Legal Service;
Amendment 164 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72 a (new)
Paragraph 72 a (new)
72a. Calls on the Secretary-General to investigate the legal foundations and potential ramifications of the Voluntary Pension Fund and in particular, whether the European Parliament as guarantor is legally and financially sustainable, as the Voluntary Pension Fund is a Luxembourg investment fund, rather than a regular pension fund; underlines that this investigation should be carried out by an independent party;
Amendment 178 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 78 a (new)
Paragraph 78 a (new)
78a. Reiterates the call for the creation of an emergency rapid alert system which allows DG ITEC, in collaboration with the Directorate-General for Security and Safety (DG SAFE),to send swift communications by SMS to Members and staff that agree to their contact details being included on a communication list for use in specific emergency situations;
Amendment 181 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81 a (new)
Paragraph 81 a (new)
81a. Calls on DG SAFE’s security staff, in the case of evacuations, to carefully check the entire building for which they are responsible, to ensure that it has been evacuated and provide assistance to persons who are hearing-impaired or who have any other form of disability, when people have to be evacuated; underlines that when it comes to security, emergencies no privileged treatment should be given to Members, nor should any distinction be made between any type of staff of the European Parliament;
Amendment 188 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83
Paragraph 83
83. Commends the Parliament’s commitment to green public procurement; notes that in 2017, 40,71 % of the contracts were classified as green, 10,96 % as light green and 48,33 % did not have any environmental dimension; encourages the Parliament to further increase the proportion of green public procurement commitments;
Amendment 190 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 84 a (new)
Paragraph 84 a (new)
84a. Welcomes, in the context of the energy and climate policy of the Union for 2030 and beyond, additional measures to decrease the emissions and offset unavoidable emissions in order to become 100 % carbon neutral institution; calls on the Parliament to lead by example and develop further CO2 offsetting policies for the European Parliament's premises;
Amendment 192 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 92 a (new)
Paragraph 92 a (new)
Amendment 194 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 94 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Parliamentary Associations
Amendment 195 #
2018/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 a (new)
Paragraph 94 a (new)
94a. Expresses its concerns regarding Associations that are subsidised by the European Parliament and about the fact that EPA provides Members with discounts in certain shops, while the EPA was created for ‘social and information activities’; calls on the Secretary-General to make their financial accounts and activity reports available;
Amendment 272 #
2018/2166(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 132 a (new)
Paragraph 132 a (new)
132a. Welcomes the fact that the Commission publishes meetings of Commissioners with interest representatives; regrets, however that the subject matter discussed during the meetings is not included in the Register, calls on the Commission to complete the register by including the content of the meetings;
Amendment 273 #
2018/2166(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 132 b (new)
Paragraph 132 b (new)
132b. Notes that according to the Corruption Perceptions Index 2018, the situation in a large number of Member States has not improved or has even deteriorated; calls on the Commission to finally submit to Parliament a follow-up to its anticorruption report of 2015, describing, preferably on an annual basis, the situation with respect to anti- corruption policies in the Member States as well as in the European Institutions;
Amendment 274 #
2018/2166(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 132 c (new)
Paragraph 132 c (new)
132c. Underlines that former Commissioners shall not lobby Commissioners or their staff on behalf of their own business, that of their employer client, on matters for which they were responsible within their portfolio for a period of two years after ceasing to hold their office; calls on the Commission to bring this cooling off period in line with that for the President, i.e. three years;
Amendment 275 #
2018/2166(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 132 d (new)
Paragraph 132 d (new)
132d. Stresses that the opinions of the Ethical Committee on conflicts of interest must be proactively produced by the Committee, especially for Commissioners who leave the service; furthermore, stresses that the composition of the Ethical Committee should be strengthened with members from international organisations, such as OECD, and NGOs with expertise in the field of integrity policies;
Amendment 276 #
2018/2166(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 132 e (new)
Paragraph 132 e (new)
132e. Recalls that in its resolution of 18 April 2018 on the Integrity Policy of the Commission, Parliament expressed its concerns with the appointment procedures for its senior officials; urges the Commission to continue the discussion with Parliament on the implementation of the various recommendations contained in Parliament´s resolution;
Amendment 14 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is a human right inherent to all human beings and a fundamental right of individuals which should be subjected to no kind of discrimination, as enshrined by international and European founding texts, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;
Amendment 20 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
Amendment 28 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas FoRB isall human rights and fundamental freedoms are indivisible, is interdependent on and interrelated to fundamental freedoms , and freedom to manifest one’s religion or belief includes and is dependent on elements of mandy other human rights, and is a cornerstonefundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly and association and should be considered a basic human right that protects the core of human dignitying one’s fundamental outlook on life;
Amendment 35 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas respect for FoRB directly contributes to democracy, development, the rule of law, peace and stability; whereas violations of FoRB are increasingly widespread, affect people in all parts of the world and may exacerbate intolerance, often constituting early indicators of potential violence and conflicts;
Amendment 44 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the EU has promoted FoRB, at international level and through multilateral fora, in particular by taking the lead on thematic resolutions on FoRB at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and supporting the mandate of and engaging with the UN Special Rapporteur on FoRB, but also through cooperation with those third countries that have similar FoRB guidelines and special envoys, such as the United Statlike-minded third countries;
Amendment 45 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the promotion of FoRBfreedom of thought, conscience and religion , including through civil society support for the protection of the rights of believers and non-believers, individuals belonging to religious and belief minorities in particular, support for human rights defenders (HRDs) and the fight against discrimination on grounds ofsuch as religion and belief , as well as the promotion of intercultural and interreligious dialogue, is a funding priority under the 2014-2020 European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR); whereas the European Development Fund (EDF) and EU financial instruments such as the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI), the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI), the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) and the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) have also supported projects that are conducive to improving the environment for FoRBfreedom of thought, conscience and religion ;
Amendment 48 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that religion or belief is an important undeniable pillar of human identity, greatly impacting individuals and societies, and is therefore a reality thatfor anyone who professes either, is one of the fundamental elements in one conception of life and must not be neglected or denied in policies but requires proper recognition and addressing;
Amendment 66 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Expresses its deep concern at the fact that recent years have seen a dramatic rise in violations of FoRBfreedom of thought, conscience and religion worldwide, including persecution based on religion or belief; condemns the exploitation of religious issues for political ends in numerous countries in recent years; stresses that these violations are frequently at the root of or increasingly exacerbate wars or other forms of armed conflict, resulting in violations of humanitarian law, including mass murders or genocide; stresses that violations of FoRBfreedom of thought, conscience and religion undermine democracy, impede development, and negatively affect the enjoyment of other fundamental freedoms and rights; emphasises that this obligates the international community, the EU and its Member States to reaffirm their determination and strengthen their actions in promoting FoRB;
Amendment 71 #
2018/2155(INI)
4. Stresses that, in accordance with Article 21 TEU, the EU and its Member States have pledged to enhance respect for human rights, as a principle guiding EU foreign policy; strongly welcomes the fact that the 2013 EU Guidelines mainstream this fundamental freedome promotion and protection of FoRB into EU foreign policy and external actions, and in this regard calls for its further strengthening activities aimed at awareness raising and implementation of the Guidelines;
Amendment 76 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that, in accordance with Article 17 TEU, the EU is committed to maintaining open, transparent and regular dialogues with churches and religious, philosophical and non-confessional organisations; highlights the supporting effect of these dialogues for respect for other human rights, equal rights for women, children’s rights, as well as for democracy, development, the rule of law, good governance, peace and stability, and environmental and labour standards; stresses that such interreligious and intercultural dialogues are often met by greater openness by some EU international partners and create a starting-point for progress in other areas;
Amendment 83 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the enhancement of the promotion of FoRB in EU foreign policy and external actions over recent years, in particular through the EU Global Strategy for foreign policy and security and the 2015-2019 EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy; welcomes the fact that this enhancement is being met with an increased commitment on the part of many partner countries to comply with the respective Articles 18 of the UDHR and ICCPRrefers in this respect to the activities of the EU Special Representative for Human Rights who consistently raised FoRB, inter alia, during High Level Human Rights Dialogues with third countries;
Amendment 88 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses the importance of linking up efforts to promote FoRB and inter- and intra-religious dialogues withwith religious and belief literacy in general; recognises in this respect the positive role religious and belief communities and their organisations can play for the prevenomotion of violent extremism on a complementary and mutually reinforcing basis, in particular within neighbouring and other countries with which the EU has special relationsdevelopment, good governance, humanitarian aid and peace-keeping through reconciliation activities; is convinced of the usefulness of inter- and intra-religious and belief dialogues for the prevention of violent extremism;
Amendment 102 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Deplores the fact that some countries have, enforce or seek to introduce penal laws providing punishment for blasphemy, conversion or apostasy, including the death penalty; also draws attention to the situation of some other countries facing or being at risk of conflicts of ain which religious dimensionissues are most frequently exploited; calls for the EU to prioritise in its foreign policy efforts towards all the countries concerned with a view to the repeal of such discriminatory laws;
Amendment 110 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the fact that the Special Envoy has developed effective working networks within the Commission, as well as with the Council, and the European Parliament, as well as withnd other stakeholders; deploregrets, however, the fact that the Special Envoy’s mandate was not established and consolidated with sufficientat due to his place within the Commission, and despite attempts to come to informal arrangements, co-operation between the Special Envoy and the EEAS was not optimal and made it difficult for the Special Envoy to draw upon the EEAS’ human and financial resources;
Amendment 114 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 126 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 – introductory part
Paragraph 12 – introductory part
12. Calls on the Council and the Commission to creflect on creating the EU Special Representative for FoRBate, beginning during the new legislative term a post for a truly EU Special Envoy on Religion or Belief and Society, working closely together with the EU Special Representative for Human Rights and acting as Special Advisor and in this capacity reporting directly to the High Representative/Vice-President; considers that the competences and mandate of this Special RepresentativeEnvoy should include:
Amendment 136 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 – point e a (new)
Paragraph 12 – point e a (new)
(ea) acting as focal point for all issues relating to religion or belief and society insofar as these emerge in the relations with third countries;
Amendment 137 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 – point e b (new)
Paragraph 12 – point e b (new)
(eb) organising training and awareness-raising activities on religious and belief literacy for staff in the EEAS, including the EU Delegations, and in the Member States’ Ministries of Foreign Affairs, including their embassies;
Amendment 148 #
2018/2155(INI)
Amendment 155 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recommends the setting up of a regular advisory working group of Member States’ FoRB institutions and European Parliament representatives together with experts, scholars, and representatives of civil society, including churches and other faith-based organisations, providing advice on FoRB issues to assist the Special Envoy;
Amendment 160 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Recommends that the Special Envoy further develops cooperation with counterparts outside the EU, in particular by working in close cooperation with the UN Special Rapporteur on FoRB, as well as exploring the possibility of EU-UN joint annual reporting on discrimination against religious minorities, also formulating common proposals on how to put an end to such acts;
Amendment 178 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Commends, in this respect, the efforts made to date by the EEAS and the Commission to provide training on religious and belief literacy to EU officials and national diplomats; stresses, however, the need for broader and more systematic training programmes which would raise awareness of and increase the use of the EU Guidelines among the EU’s and Member States’ officials and diplomats and strengthen cooperation with the Special Envoy; asks for churches and religious communities and associationorganisations based on religions or beliefs to be involved in this training process; calls on the Commission and the Council to earmark resources for establishing such training programmes;
Amendment 182 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to produce EU Annual RepoHR/VP to submit annual progress reports in respect of the implementation of the EU Guidelines, as parts on FoRB in the world, to be communicaf the general human rights report , to be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council; notes that the EU Guidelines provide for an evaluation of their implementation by COHOM after a period of three years, and that no such evaluation has been communicated or made public; calls for the evaluation to be made public without delay; considers that the evaluation should highlight best practices, identify areas for improvement, and provide concrete recommendations on implementation in accordance with a specified timeline and milestones subject to regular annual evaluation; calls for the evaluation to be includsubmitted into the EU Annual Reports on FoRB in the worlduropean Parliament and the Council;
Amendment 189 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Underlines the responsibilities fulfilled by human rights focal points within all EU Delegations and CSDP Missions; calls for the designating of FoRB-specific focal points for freedom of thought, conscience and religion in every EU Delegation and CSDP Mission; calls for more resources to be allocated to EU Delegations and CSDP Missions so as to allow them to carry out their work of promoting FoRBfreedom of thought, conscience and religion, including non-belief;
Amendment 203 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Recommends the EU Special Representative for Human Rights and the Special Envoy to pursue their efforts to bring forward the Istanbul Process on promoting tolerance and inclusion, ending violence and discrimination based on religion or belief, following the UN Rabat Plan of Action and to offer hosting the next round of this process; welcomes the ‘Faith for Rights’ initiative of March 2017 of the OHCHR, that led to the adoption by religious leaders and civil society actors of the Beirut Declaration and its eighteen commitments; recommends the EU institutions to support and mobilise all the actors of the ‘Faith for Rights’ initiative to promote the universal and uniform goals of the Declaration, across the world;
Amendment 214 #
2018/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses that the EU’s policies in the fields of peace, security and conflict prevention and development and cooperation face challenges, for which solutions can be devised with the participation of churches, religious leaders, academics, religious communities and associations or faith-based organisreligious and belief communities and their associations that are a critical part of civil society; acknowledges the importance of being mindful of the diversity of churches, religiousreligious and belief communities and associations and faith-based organisations which perform actual development and humanitarian work for and with communities; calls on the Council and the Commission to incorporate, where relevant, objectives and activities relating to the promotion and protection of FoRB into the programming of funding instruments linked to those policies, namely the EDF, the DCI, the ENI, the IcSP and the IPA;
Amendment 51 #
2018/2151(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)
Paragraph 46 a (new)
46 a. Welcomes the revision of the EIB Complaints Mechanism policy and the inclusion of the examples given by the European Ombudsman for the definition of maladministration, that includes forms of poor or failed administration such as administrative irregularities, unlawful discrimination, unjustified refusals of information, abuse of power and unnecessary delay, however, expresses its concern with the remaining part of the outcome of the revision; calls on the EIB to ensure that the Head of the EIB Complaints Mechanism is able to take all decisions concerning admissibility and eligibility of the complaint, independently from the other EIB services, and that the recruitment procedures for the Head of the CM become more transparent;
Amendment 7 #
2018/2113(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that no real legal sanction is available if Parliament decides not to grant discharge to the Commission; but that not granting discharge is nevertheless a strong political signal, as it means that Parliament has not sufficient confidence in the Commission’s accountability and therefore should not be left unanswered by the Commission but should lead to definite follow-up actions aimed at improvement of the situation;
Amendment 12 #
2018/2113(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal to reduce the number of spending programmes by a third and to make the rules more coherent; stresses that in order to actually achieve simplification for beneficiaries, all unnecessary rules, requirements and procedures should be eliminated, without, however, putting at risk the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions;
Amendment 14 #
2018/2113(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 30 – point b a (new)
Paragraph 30 – point b a (new)
b a) an assessment of all preventive and corrective measures taken against funding falling prey to corruption or conflicts of interest.
Amendment 16 #
2018/2113(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Recalls that the close political links between Parliament and the Commission were recently strengthened by the so-called Spitzenkandidaten system; welcomes this attempt to address the democratic deficit of the EU, to strengthen its legitimacy and build trust among EU citizens; recalls, however, the inherent risk related to party financing and calls on the Commission to address the shortcomings of the current political party financing model, in order to prevent fraud and ensure that the financing of electoral campaigns is fully transparent.
Amendment 131 #
Amendment 132 #
2018/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Regrets the fact that LGBTI people keep experiencing bullying, harassment and violence, and suffer multiple discrimination indifferent aspects of their lives;
Amendment 133 #
2018/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Condemns firmly the promotion and the practice of LGBTI conversion therapies and pathologisation of trans and intersex identities; urges all Member States to adopt similar measures that respect and uphold the right to gender identity, gender expression, physical integrity and self-determination;
Amendment 134 #
2018/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Regrets that non-consented sex normalising treatments on intersex people, especially children, are only prohibited in two EU countries to this date; calls on all Member States to adopt legislation prohibiting intersex genital mutilations as soon as possible;
Amendment 136 #
2018/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5e. Reiterates the importance of making accessible, quality healthcare a reality for trans people and calls upon Member States to end gender identity related discrimination in accessing healthcare services and insurance coverage; to this end, calls upon the Commission to study discriminatory practices by insurance providers and support Member States in their efforts develop and implement quality trans- specific healthcare that is based on informed consent and accessible without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, ethnicity, HIV status or economic means; calls upon Member States to ensure HIV prevention, education, testing and treatment measures recognise trans women and trans men respectively as particularly vulnerable target groups;
Amendment 137 #
2018/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 f (new)
Paragraph 5 f (new)
5f. Is concerned over the continuous experiences of gender-based stigma, violence and discrimination by LGBTI people and the lack of knowledge and interventions by law enforcement authorities particularly towards trans people and marginalised LGBTI people; reminds that combating violence related to the gender identity, gender expression, sex characteristics or sexual orientation of a person falls in the EU gender-based violence remit; calls upon the Commission to mainstream gender identity perspective in it; calls upon Member States to combat impunity in anti-trans crimes as a threat to the rule of law on the one hand, and develop together with civil society effective measures protecting trans people effectively against stigma, discrimination and violence;
Amendment 138 #
2018/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 g (new)
Paragraph 5 g (new)
5g. Welcomes the implementation of some actions contained in the list of actions by the Commission to advance LGBTI equality (2014-2019); calls on the European Commission to renew an ambitious multi-annual list for the period 2019-2024 in close cooperation with civil society organisations working in this field;
Amendment 336 #
2018/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Expresses concern about persistent fundamental rights challenges in the area of migration, with regard to access to territory, reception conditions, asylum procedures, immigration detention and protection of unaccompanied children; notes with concern that fast-track procedures, safe-country-lists, but also deportation to other unsafe Member States in Dublin procedures put LGBTI asylum seekers at a heightened risk to be deported before being able to substantiate their claim for asylum to foreign or other Member States, where they fear prosecution on grounds of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics;
Amendment 365 #
2018/2103(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Emphasises that the EU and the Member States should develop credible and effective systems that would make it unnecessary to detain children for asylum or return purposes; stresses the importance of taking the principle of the best interests of the child into consideration in all aspects concerning children as well as of the practical implementation of the right to be heard; recalls that Article 14 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and Article 28 of the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child guarantee the right to education to every child, including migrant and refugee children, both unaccompanied and accompanied and avoiding separated schooling and segregation; stresses that Member States should ensure that migrant and refugee children are effectively supported through linguistic, social and psychological support based on individual assessment of their needs; is concerned over the specific needs and vulnerabilities of asylum seekers from marginalised groups, such as LGBTI asylum seekers; calls upon Member States to ensure that the specific needs for safety, healthcare, legal recognition of trans asylum seekers are met;
Amendment 172 #
2018/2098(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Reaffirms that freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, andwhich includes the rights to apostasy and to espouse atheistic views, must be enhanced unconditionally through support for interreligious and intercultural dialogue; condemns the persecution of and attacks against ethnic and religious groups in 2017; deplores the attempts by state actors to limit freedom of religion and belief, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression by adopting and implementing blasphemy laws, among other means; requests that further action be taken to protect religious minorities, non-believers and atheists, including the victims of blasphemy laws, and calls for the EU and its Member States to increase their engagement in political discussions to repeal such laws; supports the EU’s efforts to implement the Guidelines on the promotion and protection of fother violations of freedom of religion or belief; Calls for the EU to strengthen efforts to implement the Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief; Requests that the EEAS publishes its Guidance Note on the Guidelines; calls for the relocation of the Special Envoy on Freedom of rReligion or bBelief outside of the EU from the Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development to the EEAS, to report directly to the HR/VP;
Amendment 3 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the Ombudswoman has contributed greatly to highlight issues of transparency in the life of the Union through inquiries and cases brought before her;
Amendment 4 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas the European Ombudswoman opined that the lack of transparency regarding EU Member States’ positions during negotiations amount to maladministration and a violation of Article 41 of the Charter;
Amendment 5 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas the treaties (Article 15(3) of TFEU) and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (Article 42) have attributed constitutional value to the principle of transparency;
Amendment 8 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the Charter introduces third general rights, as is the one to transparent administration and access to documents (Article 42).
Amendment 9 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas the CJEU has decided that increased openness enabled citizens to participate more closely in the decision- making process and guarantees that the administration enjoys greater legitimacy and is more effective1a; __________________ 1a CJEU, Joined Cases C-39/05 P and C- 52 P, Kingdom of Sweden and Maurizio Turco v. Council of the European Union, European Court Reports 2008 I-04723.
Amendment 10 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the Union function lies on a dual structure of legitimacy as provided in Article 10(2) of the TEU. The Union is founded on representative democracy as stipulated in Article 10(1) and should operate on principles and mechanisms of participatory democracy as per Article 11, paragraphs 1-3 TEU. Transparency is a sine-qua-non component of this dual legitimacy as it is only when citizens know who, why and how decisions have been made they participate in the electoral process and in other forms of political participation beyond elections in an informed and enlightened manner;
Amendment 12 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the principle of transparency firstly was elucidated in 1995 by the Court of First Instance of the European Communities in a case against the Council 1a, the institution almost three decades later has not ensured a high level of adherence to the principle; __________________ 1a Judgement of the Court of First Instance of 19 October 1995, John Carvel and Guardian Newspapers Ltd. v. Council of the European Union, Case T-194/94.
Amendment 13 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas following the inquiry, the Ombudsman found that the Council’s current practices with regard to transparency of its decision-making process, in specific regards to preparatory discussions that take place at Coreper and National Working group level, constitute maladministration;
Amendment 16 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the Council did not reply to the recommendations contained in the Ombudsman’s report within the legally prescribed timeline of three months, and, because of the importance of the issue of legislative transparency, the Ombudsman decided not to grant the Council any extensions beyond this deadline, and submitted the report to the European Parliament;
Amendment 17 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas the European Parliament has regularly requested more transparency from the Council, for example in its resolutions of 18 April 20181a and 28 April 20161b on the discharge of the Council as well as in its resolution on 14 September 2017 on Transparency, accountability and integrity in the EU institutions1c; __________________ 1a European Parliament resolution of 18 April 2018 with observations forming an integral part of the decision on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2016, Section II - European Council and Council (2017/2138(DEC)),P8_TA(2018)0125 1b European Parliament decision of 28 April 2016 on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014 Section II – European Council and Council (2015/2156(DEC)). 1c European Parliament resolution of 14 September 2017 on transparency, accountability and integrity in the EU institutions (2015/2041(INI)), P8_TA(2017)0358.
Amendment 18 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)
Recital J b (new)
Jb. whereas the Ombudswoman also ruled in Complaint 1271/2017/ANA that the Council was not justified in holding back access to an opinion of its Legal Service concerning an inter-institutional agreement;
Amendment 19 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J c (new)
Recital J c (new)
Jc. whereas the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union adopted during its Plenary Meeting in Sofia on 17/19 June 2018 its resolution in which it urges the Council to reflect on the proposals made by 26 national parliaments of Member States to enhance the openness of legislative deliberations at EU-level 1a; __________________ 1a Contribution of the LIX COSAC, articles 2.6 and 2.7
Amendment 21 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Is deeply convinced that democratic and transparent decision-making at the European level is indispensable to increase citizens’ trust in the European project and the EU institutions, especially in the run-up to the European elections in May 2019, and is therefore determined to defend and enhance European democracyenhance the democratic accountability of all EU institutions;
Amendment 26 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Believes that there is currently a distinct gap between formal transparency, i.e. the legal recognition and insertion of transparency in the EU legal foundations as a self-standing principle closely linked to the rule of law, and of substantial transparency, i.e. steps to effectively materialise in a corresponding level;
Amendment 27 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Reiterates that the Inter- institutional Agreement on a mandatory Transparency which is being negotiated, is a first good step; notes that the current text only covers high ranking officials of the Council;
Amendment 28 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Deeply regrets the fact that the Council has blocked the revision of the Regulation 1049/2001 and urges the Council to re-open its discussions based on the position adopted by Parliament in second reading as laid down in resolution of 12 June 2013 1a. __________________ 1a European Parliament resolution of 12 June 2013 on the deadlock on the revision of Regulation (EC) No. 1049/2001 (2013/2637(RSP))
Amendment 29 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. Shares the viewpoint of the Ombudswoman’s strategic inquiry; deplores the fact that the Council did not reply within the deadline in the findings. Regrettably this is a recurring topic and is constantly showcased also from complaints submitted to the Ombudswoman. This matter should be considered of high importance in the democratic life of the Union and the effective participation of citizens across the continent hindering the fulfilment of the constitutional treaties and the Charter;
Amendment 33 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls that transparency has four distinct aspects that are intertwined, namely (a) openness of the legislative process (b) right to access to documents (c) transparency of the legal norm as concomitant to legal certainty (d) offering wide reasoning and sufficient explanation of the motives of a legislative text;
Amendment 37 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Strongly believes transparency is an essential ingredient of the rule of law, while ensuring that it is observed throughout the legislative process affects the effective materialization of the right to vote and the right to stand in elections and a handful of rights, i.e. right of expressions and its particular aspect the freedom of speech and the right to receive information. Considers also that forging an active European citizenship necessitates margin for public scrutiny, review and evaluation of the process and the prospect to challenge the outcome. Underlines that this would contribute to the gradual familiarization with basic concepts of the legislative process and foster the participatory elements of the democratic life of the Union.
Amendment 38 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Reminds that the principles of publicity, openness and transparency are inherent to the EU Legislative process, in order to allow citizens to find out the considerations underpinning legislative actions and therefore ensures effective exercise of their democratic rights 1a. __________________ 1a Joined Cases C-39/05 and C-52/05 P, Kingdom of Sweden and Maurizio Turco v. Council of the European Union, European Court Reports 2008 I-04723
Amendment 41 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that the European Parliament represents the interests of European citizens in a fully open and transparent manner, and welcomes the substantial progress made by the Commission in improving its transparency standards, inter alia in the conduct of international negotiations and its interactions with interest representatives whereas ‘revolving-door’ still remains an alarming issue; notes that the Council does not yet follow comparable transparency standards;
Amendment 42 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Reiterates its call on the Council, including its preparatory bodies, to join the Transparency Register as soon as possible; calls on all Member States to introduce binding rules advancing the transparency of interest representation; calls on the Member States to introduce rules for their representatives including but not limited to, at COREPER and Working Group Levels;
Amendment 43 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Points out that the work of the preparatory bodies of the Council, i.e. the Committees of Permanent Representatives (Coreper I + II) and more than 150 working groups, is an integral part of the Council’s decision-making procedure; argues that these structures must proactively improve the transparency of decision-making procedures at working group and Coreper levels, as to improve the overall transparency of the legislative process in the European Council;
Amendment 45 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Considers that the Committees of Permanent Representatives (COREPER I- II) meeting documents should be made publicly available as well as the general position of each member state before the beginning of negotiations.
Amendment 46 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Considers it regrettable that the Council and the European Council have still not adopted a code of conduct for their members; recalls its call to the Council to introduce a specific code of ethics, including sanctions, which addresses the risks specific to national delegates; insists that the Council must be just as accountable and transparent as the other institutions;
Amendment 47 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Strongly believes that informal formations, subsidiary organs or other affiliated informal organs related to the European Council (i.e., the Euro Group, the Euro Summit, and the EU-27) should be properly formalized and engulfed properly in the constitutional structure of the Union. Transparency obligations should be applicable indiscriminately to their activities and publicity of documents should include analytical agendas and working documents (non-papers) that are circulated prior to meetings.
Amendment 48 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Deplores the fact that, unlike committee meetings in the European Parliament, meetings of the preparatory bodies of the Council as well as the majority of debates in the Council are held in camera; proposes that citizens, media and stakeholders should have access by appropriate means to the meetings of the Council and its preparatory bodies, includ via livestreaming viaand web-streaming, as well as making the minutes of these meeting publically available in order to make all stages of the legislative process in both components of the European legislature fully transparent;
Amendment 52 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Opines that denying the access to documents to Members of the European Parliament, has the potential to threaten the principle institutional balance and to negate the essential practice of the mutual sincere cooperation. Notes that it is an excessive burden for the effective function of parliamentary duties, having to pursue an ex post check on an ad hoc basis after every refusal of a request to access documents.
Amendment 54 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that the Council does not proactively publish most documents related to legislative files, and that available information is presented in a register which is incomplete and not user-friendly; calls on the Council to act on the Ombudsman’s proposals to list all the documents available on its registrar, irrespective of their format and whether or not they are partially or accessible at all; welcomes in this regard the progress made by the Commission, Parliament and the Council in the creation of a joint database for legislative files;
Amendment 56 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Considers that all documents (legislative, intergovernmental conferences and meeting documents) from the period before 1999 should be de- classified and uploaded to the Document Archive of the Council being available publicly;
Amendment 58 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. ConsiderDeplores the Council’s endemic practice of systematically classifying all documents distributed in its preparatory bodies relating to legislative files as ‘LIMITE’ to be a violation of CJEU case law1 and of the legal requirement that there should be the widest possible public access to legislative documents; observes that in 2015, 84% of requests for public access to documents marked as “LIMITE”, and related to on-going legislative procedures in 2015 were granted; __________________ 1 For the principle of the widest possible public access, see: Joint Cases C-39/05 P and C-52/05 P Sweden and Turco v. Council [2008] ECLI:EU:C:2008:374, para 34; Case C-280/11 P Council v. Access Info Europe [2013] ECLI:EU:C:2013:671, para 27; and Case T-540/15 De Capitani v. Parliament [2018] ECLI:EU:T:2018:167, para 80.
Amendment 60 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Exceptions of Article 4 of the Regulation No 1049/2001 pending its revision should not be applied by default and whereas jurisprudence does not require justification for limiting access to a document, institutions shall strive to offer the fullest reasoning possible for taking such a decision that is a restriction of Article 42 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and as such should adhere by the principle of proportionality. Further supports that a decision to restrict access should be accompanied by an argumentation why, in a specific and actual manner relating to the document at hand;
Amendment 63 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Deems it unacceptable that the positions taken in the preparatory bodies of the Council by individual Member States are neither published nor systematically recorded, making it impossible for citizens, media and stakeholders to effectively scrutinise the behaviour of their elected governments; calls for a systematic record of Member State governments to be kept and made publically available, where appropriate, when they express positions in council preparatory bodies;
Amendment 66 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Points out that this lack of information also hampers the ability of national parliaments to control the actions of national governments in the Council, and enables members of national governments to distance themselves in the national sphere from decisions made at the European level which they shaped and took themselves; considers it irresponsible on the part of members of national governments to undermine trust in the European Union by ‘blaming Brussels’ for decisions they themselves were involved in; demands an immediate endargues that a systematic record of the positions of Member States in Preparatory Bodies would act as a positive disincentive to this practice;
Amendment 69 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Amendment 74 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Considers it incompatible with democratic principles that, in interinstitutional negotiations between the co-legislators, the lack of transparency in the Council leads to an imbalance with regard to available information and thus to a structural advantage of the Council over the European Parliament; reiterates its call for the improvement of the exchange of documents and information between Parliament and the Council and for access to be grantedpublically available, as well as to representatives of Parliament, as observers to meetings of the Council and its bodies, in particular in the case of legislation;
Amendment 76 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Reminds that the institutions have agreed in the inter-institutional agreement of 13 April 2016 1a to promote the utmost transparency of the legislative process and that according to the constitutional setting of the Union, the European Parliament and the Council exercise as the co-legislators their powers on an equal footing. That being said equality of the two institutions should also extend unequivocally to the obligations prescribed by the primary European law. __________________ 1a Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on Better Law-Making, OJ L 123, 12.05.2016, par. 1.
Amendment 78 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that the practices of the European Parliament, has been identified by the Ombudsman as having high standards of transparency; Demands that the Council, as one of the two components of the European legislature, aligns its working methods with the standards of a parliamentary democracy, rather than acting like a diplomatic forum; transparency that exist in the European Parliament;
Amendment 83 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Reiterates that following the strategic inquire concerning the transparency of the trilateral negotiations1a, some progress was made but there are still recommendations that have not taken up largely due to the reluctance of the Council. Taking into account the fact that trilogues have diminished significantly the need to have a second and third reading, overtaking the majority of legislative files to be the default decision-making process. Opines that this has led to expedited procedure, which accelerate legislation making on the one hand but have significantly hampered transparency and integrity of the institutions. The recommendations of the Ombudswoman included publication of the ‘‘trilogue calendar’’, publication of the four-column documents and list of attendees. __________________ 1a Decision of the European Ombudsman setting out proposals following her strategic inquiry OI/8/2015/JAS concerning the transparency of Trilogues, 12 July 2016.
Amendment 84 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Considers that in order to achieve transparency in the trilogues all three institutions should contribute because as per the settled case law trilogues form part of the legislative process, there is no general presumption against non- disclosure based on article 13 TEU and article 294 TFEU 1a and finally trilogues cannot represent a space for European organs to think. __________________ 1a Judgement of the General Court of 22 March 2018, Emilio De Capitani v. European Parliament, Case T-540/15, Digital Reports (unpublished).
Amendment 85 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 86 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Considers voting in public to be a fundamental characteristic of democratic decision - making; urges the Council to make use of the possibility of qualified majority voting (QMV), and to refrain, where possible, from the practice of taking decisions by consensus and thus without a formal vote in publicvote publicly and record voting positions;
Amendment 89 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 – point b
Paragraph 16 – point b
b) to develop clear andimmediately develop a systematic and clear criteria, which is publically available criteria for how it, and detail how the Council designates documents as ‘“LIMITE’,” and that is in line with relevant EU law;
Amendment 90 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Recommends that the principles of transparency and openness should apply to all democratic processes in Member States; notes that the British EU Referendum in 2016 was not a fully transparent process due to allegations of the leave campaign breaking electoral law; as an effect of this, notes that 1.8 million citizens in the north of Ireland may be disenfranchised from their democratic rights as citizens which limits European participative democracy; considers that forging a participative citizenship necessitates full transparency and participation in the democratic process for all European citizens;
Amendment 101 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Takes note of the statement made by the Austrian Presidency to the joint committee on Constitutional Affairs and on Petitions on keeping the European Parliament informed on the progress of the Council’s ongoing reflections on how to improve its rules and procedures as regards legislative transparency, and expressing readiness to engage with Parliament at the appropriate level in a joint reflection on those topics that require interinstitutional coordination; and regrets that no input has been so far submitted to the European Parliament.
Amendment 102 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Further recommends that the Council: (a) enlists documents regardless of their status in the Document Register even those that are not available to the public with the relevant indication that corresponds to the level of publicity; (b) provides justification for the level of classification on the basis of the criteria developed; (c) provides in an easily comprehensible manner for all citizens votes, explanation of votes and minutes , materializing the obligation provided in article 8 and 9 of the internal rules of procedure1a; __________________ 1a Council Decision of 22 March 2004 adopting the Council’s Rules of Procedure, 2004/338/EC, Euratom;
Amendment 103 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Considers that, in order to provide the widest possible public access to legislative documents, each document that is not made public in full has to be accompanied by an argumentation why, in a specific and actual manner relating to the document at hand the document would undermine either (a) the institutions’ decision-making process or (b) the protection of institutions interest in seeking legal advice, as well as accompanied by an argumentation why there is no overriding public interest;
Amendment 104 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Regrets the Draft Policy Paper on legislative transparency produced by the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union and addressed to the Permanent Representatives Committee, was classified as ‘LIMITE’1a; considers that the milestone approach presents no added value whatsoever and puts forward a scheme that allows selective publication of documents only after they have been considered by the competent bodies; Considers that certain elements of the new approach are mutually exclusive (i.e. built-in flexibility and greater standardization) and incompatible with the constitutional norms of the Union; Deplores the fact that the Council proclaimed it will strive to strike a balance between the case law and various calls for greater transparency and the need to preserve the necessary flexibility for effective legislative work, which implies not conforming with the jurisprudence of the CJEU as it stands; __________________ 1a General Secretariat of the Council, Draft Polity Paper on Legislative Transparency, 11099/18, Brussels, 13 July 2018.
Amendment 105 #
2018/2096(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Notes that according to the jurisprudence of the CJEU the “space to think” is to be viewed as an exception and not the norm and consequently as a restriction of the principle of transparency1a; reiterates that giving the public the widest possible right of access entails, that the public must have a right to full disclosure of the requested and thus application of exception should be strict; __________________ 1a Judgement of the General Court of 22 March 2011, Access Info Europe v. Council of the European Union, Case T- 233/09, par. 56.
Amendment 33 #
2018/2056(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Maintains that there is no one-size- fits-all approach to tackling the issue of late payments, as in some sectors longer payment deadlines, beyond 30 or 60 days, are in line with the needs of businesses and an accepted practice, taking into account the specificities of each sector; considers that it is also important to respect the freedom of contract between undertakings on the market, although for some sectors tailor-made voluntary initiatives may have their merit, particularly if longer payment deadlines, beyond 30 or 60 days, are still an accepted practice, the Late Payment Directive does not foresee sector-specific exceptions to the general rules on payment deadlines and thus a zero tolerance enforcement policy is called for;
Amendment 39 #
2018/2056(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that in sectors particularly vulnerable to long payment terms, Member States could consider establishing stricter payment terms; notes that some Member States have limited the standard payment term to 30 days (instead of the 60 days set out in the Late Payment Directive), while only a few Member States have introduced maximum payment terms (from which the parties cannot derogate); notes furthermore that at sector level the introduction of maximum payment terms is more common as foreseen in the Directive; considers that legislation setting out stricter payment terms would be effective in reducing payment terms to some extent and, provided that it is enforced, would create a level playing field between large and small companies; believes that legislation defining payment terms differentiated by category of products or services is relevant in promoting fair practices and addressing sectoral specificities;
Amendment 86 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34 a. Regrets that after the publication, on 3 February 2014, of its first EU Anti- Corruption report, the Commission refused to continue this practice of annual reports and instead integrated anti-corruption policies in the Economic Semester; notes that the country-specific reports in the context of the economic semester do not contain a clear description of the state of play, nor do they contain recommendations on anti- corruption measures for all Member States; urges the Commission once more to submit to Parliament a second EU Anti-Corruption report, and in this context not to evaluate anti-corruption efforts only in terms of economic loss but to also analyse the detrimental effects of corruption for the fundamental rights of European citizens;
Amendment 107 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 a (new)
Paragraph 50 a (new)
50 a. Considers that in its resolution of 18 April 2018 on the Integrity Policy of the Commission, Parliament expressed its concerns with the appointment procedures for its senior officials, reiterates its call on the Commission to review before the end of 2018 its administrative procedure for the appointment of senior officials with the objective of fully ensuring that the best candidates are selected within a framework of maximum transparency and equal opportunities; calls on the Commission to also review its recruitment policies for officials more generally with a view to avoid conflicts of interest, such as were noted by NGO’s (https://corporateeurope.org/power- lobbies-revolving- doors/2018/04/financial-regulators-and- private-sector-permanent-revolving);
Amendment 113 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. Endorses, as a general rule, the Commission's estimates of the budgetary needs of agencies; considers, therefore, that any further cuts proposed by the Council would endanger the proper functioning of the agencies and would not allow them to fulfil the tasks they have been assigned; is concerned that in general the visibility of agencies for European citizens is still limited, whereas for their accountability and independence a high level of visibility is required;
Amendment 114 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 a (new)
Paragraph 51 a (new)
51 a. Recalls that most of the agencies pointed out that they do not want to be dependent on fees, which do not guarantee a steady flow of income; furthermore, stresses that conflicts of interest as a consequence of having to rely on fees should be avoided; calls upon the Commission to examine the possibility of introducing a system whereby the fees are paid to the Commission instead of to the agencies directly and that the agencies continue to be funded through the EU- budget;
Amendment 137 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61 a (new)
Paragraph 61 a (new)
61 a. Acknowledges that, according to the European Court of Auditors, the costs of the geographic dispersion of Parliament amount to EUR 114 million per year and notes the finding, in its resolution of 20 November 2013 [Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0498] on the location of the seats of the European Union’s Institutions, that 78 % of all missions by Parliament staff coming under the Staff Regulations arise as a direct result of the fact that Parliament’s services are geographically dispersed; recalls that the estimate of the environmental impact of that dispersal is between 11 000 to 19 000 tonnes of CO2 emissions; reiterates its call on the Council to develop a comprehensive strategy in order to agree on a single seat for Parliament;
Amendment 138 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62 a (new)
Paragraph 62 a (new)
62 a. Takes note of the Bureau decision to decide to select two options, structural renovation and redesign, for further elaboration of the PHS building; urges the Secretary-General and the Bureau to publish a detailed budget for each of these options in addition to all technical specifications;
Amendment 144 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 a (new)
Paragraph 64 a (new)
64 a. Takes note of the decision of 25 September 2018 of the General Court confirming the Parliament’s refusal to grant access to documents relating to MEPs’ subsistence allowances, travel expenses and parliamentary assistance allowances (Judgment in Cases T-639/15 to T-666/15 Maria Psara and Others vParliament and T-94/16 Gavin Sheridan vParliament); reminds the Bureau that the plenary has appealed for greater transparency and an urgent need to audit the General Expenditure Allowance; welcomed, in this regard, the creation of an ad hoc working group for defining and publishing the rules concerning the use of the general expenditure allowance; regrets, however, that the based on the report of its working group the Bureau could only agree on a non-exhaustive list of eligible expenses, and on the need for each Member of Parliament to have a separate bank account dedicated to funds received as part of the General Expenditure Allowance; reiterates its call on the Bureau to make the following additional changes concerning the General Expenditure Allowance: - all receipts pertaining to the General Expenditure Allowance shall be kept by Members; - the unspent share of the General Expenditure Allowance shall be returned at the end of the mandate;
Amendment 150 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
Paragraph 66
66. recalls that, in a note to the Bureau dated 8 March 2018, its Secretary-General accepted that the pension fund linked to the Member’s voluntary pension scheme “will exhaust its capital well before the end of the pension obligations and possibly already by 2024”; recalls furtherefmore upon the Secretary-General and the Bureau, while respecting fully the Statute for Members, to urgently establish with the pension fund a clear plan for the Parliament assuming and taking over its obligations and responsibilities for itsthat Parliament is the guarantor for the payment of pension rights when and if this fund is unable to meet its obligations; expresses its serious concerns with the fact that this way tax-payers money is wasted; asks the Secretary-General to develop proposals for dissolving the fund, while returning to participating (former) Member’s voluntary pension scheme immediately after the 2019 electionthe contributions they paid themselves;
Amendment 154 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68 a (new)
Paragraph 68 a (new)
68 a. Recalls the 2014 ECA analysis which estimated the costs of the geographic dispersion of the Parliament to be EUR 114 million per year; furthermore, notes the finding from its resolution of 20 November 2013 on the location of the seats of the European Union’s Institutions1a that 78 % of all missions by Parliament statutory staff arise as a direct result of the Parliament's geographic dispersion; emphasises that the report also estimates the environmental impact of the geographic dispersion to be between 11 000 to 19 000 tonnes of CO2 emissions; reiterates the negative public perception caused by this dispersion and calls therefore for a roadmap to a single seat and a reduction in the relevant budget lines; _________________ 1a OJ C 436, 24.11.2016, p. 2.
Amendment 157 #
2018/2046(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76
Paragraph 76
76. Maintains unchanged the overall level of the Ombudsman’s budget for 2019 as proposed by the Commission in the DB; stresses that the number of cases at the European Ombudsmanhas increased significantly and that the Office of the European Ombudsman risks of becoming quickly understaffed and underfunded; stresses that, moreover, this lack of resources may hinder the Ombudsman taking up new and highly necessary tasks, such as the assistance of whistleblowers inside the EU-institutions, which the Ombudsman expressed her willingness to take upon herself, if Commission and Parliament were to decide that an EU referral body for whistle blowers is required;
Amendment 37 #
2018/0254(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
–
–
The Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection calls on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, as the committee responsible, to reject this proposal.
Amendment 44 #
2018/0231(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The internal market is a cornerstone of the Union. Since its inception, it has proved a major contributor to growth, competitiveness and employment. It has generated new opportunities and economies of scale for European businesses, notably micro, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), and strengthened their industrial competitiveness. The internal market contributed to the creation of jobs and offered greater choice at lower prices for consumers. It continues to be an engine for building a stronger, more balanced and fairer econom economy, even though its benefits should be spread more evenly as not all citizens, especially workers, benefitted similarly. It is one of the Union's major achievements and its best asset in an increasingly global world.
Amendment 68 #
2018/0231(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The Programme should support the design, implementation and enforcement of Union legislation underpinning the proper functioning of the internal market. The Programme should support the creation of the right conditions to empower all actors of the internal market: businesses, citizens including consumers and employees, civil society and public authorities. To that end, the Programme should aim to ensure the competitiveness of businesses, notably SMEs, but also supporting the enforcement of consumer protection and safety rules and by raising the awareness of businesses and individuals by providing them with the right tools, knowledge and competence to make informed decisions and strengthen their participation in Union’s policy- making. Furthermore, the Programme should aim to enhance regulatory and administrative cooperation, notably through exchange of best practices, building of knowledge and competence bases, including the use of strategic public procurement. The Programme should also aim to support the development of high- quality international standards that underpin the implementation of Union legislation. This also includes standard setting in the field of financial reporting and audit, thereby contributing to the transparency and well-functioning of the Union’s capital markets and to enhancing investor protection. The Programme should support rulemaking and standard setting also by ensuring the broadest possible stakeholder involvement. The objective of the Programme should also be to support the implementation and enforcement of Union legislation providing for a high level of health for humans, animals and plants along the food chain and the improvement of the welfare of animals.
Amendment 73 #
2018/0231(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) A modern internal market promotes competition and benefits consumers, businesses and employees. Making better use of the ever evolving internal market in services, while avoiding and combatting abuses, such as the setting up of letterbox companies, should help European businesses create jobs and grow across borders, offer wider choice of services at better prices, and maintain high standards for consumers and workers. To achieve this, the Programme should contribute to the removal of remaining barriers, and to ensure a regulatory framework that can accommodate new innovative business models.
Amendment 95 #
2018/0231(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) In order to meet the objectives of the Programme and to facilitate the lives of citizens and businesses, high-quality user-centric public services need to be put in place. This implies that public administrations will need to start working in new ways, bring down silos between the different parts of their administrations, and to engage in the co-creation of these public services with citizens and businesses. Moreover, tThe continuous and steady increase of cross-border activities in the internal market requires provision of up-to-date information on the rights of businesses and citizens, but also information explaining the administrative formalities. In addition, provision of legal advice and helping to solve problems which occur at cross national level becomes essential. Furthermore, connecting national administrations in a simple and efficient manner as well as evaluating how the internal market works on the ground is necessary. The Programme should therefore support the following existing internal market governance tools: the Your Europe Portal which should be a backbone of the upcoming Single Digital Gateway, Your Europe Advice, SOLVIT, the Internal Market Information system and the Single Market Scoreboard in order to improve citizens' daily lives and businesses' ability to trade across borders.
Amendment 113 #
2018/0231(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) The Programme should provide effective support for SMEs throughout their life-cycle and to this effect become better visible to SMEs, inter alia by renewed communication strategies and by reducing red tape. It should build on the unique knowledge and expertise developed with regard to SMEs and industrial sectors and on a long experience in working with European, national and regional stakeholders. This support should build on the successful experience of the Enterprise Europe Network as a one-stop-shop to improve SMEs competitiveness and develop their business in the Single Market and beyond. The Network plans to continue delivering services on behalf of other Union programmes, notably for the Horizon2020 programme, using the financial resources of these programmes. Also the mentoring scheme for new entrepreneurs should remain the tool to enable new or aspiring entrepreneurs to gain business experience by matching with an experienced entrepreneur from another country and thus allow strengthening entrepreneurial talents. The Programme should further strive to grow and extend its geographical coverage and thus offer wider range of matching possibilities to entrepreneurs in complementarity with other Union initiatives where relevant.
Amendment 153 #
2018/0231(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 79
Recital 79
(79) In accordance with the Financial Regulation, Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council85 , Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2988/9586 ,Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/9687 and Council Regulation (EU) 2017/193988 , the financial interests of the Union are to be protected through proportionate measures, including the prevention, detection, correction and investigation of irregularities and fraud, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, the imposition of administrative sanctions. In particular, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 and Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out administrative investigations, including on- the-spot checks and inspections, with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, for participating Member States the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) may investigate and prosecute fraud and other criminal offences affecting the financial interests of the Union as provided for in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council89 . In accordance with the Financial Regulation, any person or entity receiving Union funds is to fully cooperate in the protection of the Union’s financial interests, to grant the necessary rights and access to the Commission, OLAF, whenever applicable, the EPPO and the European Court of Auditors (ECA) and to ensure that any third parties involved in the implementation of Union funds grant equivalent rights.
Amendment 169 #
2018/0231(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) to improve the functioning of the internal market, and especially to protect and empower citizens, consumers and businesses, in particular micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and their employees, by enforcement of Union law, facilitation of market access, standard setting, and by promoting human, animal and plant health and animal welfare; as well as to enhance cooperation between the competent authorities of Member States and between the competent authorities of Member States and the Commission and the decentralised Union agencies;
Amendment 173 #
2018/0231(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) making the internal market more effective, facilitating the prevention and removal of obstacles, supporting the development, implementation and enforcement of the Union law in the areas of the internal market for goods and services, public procurement, market surveillance as well as in the areas of company law and contract and extra- contractual law, anti- money laundering, free movement of capital, financial services and competition, including the development of governance tools;
Amendment 188 #
2018/0231(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) contributing to athe highest level of health for humans, animals and plants along the food chain and in related areas, including by preventing and eradicating diseases and pests, and to support the improvement of the welfare of animals as well as a sustainable food production and consumption;
Amendment 205 #
2018/0231(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) creation of the right conditions to empower all actors of the internal market, including businesses, employees, citizens and consumers, civil society and public authorities through transparent information and awareness raising campaigns, best practice exchange, promotion of good practices, exchange and dissemination of expertise and knowledge and organization of trainings;
Amendment 209 #
2018/0231(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) provision of mechanisms for citizens, consumers, end-users, civil society, trade unions and businesses representatives, in particular those representing SMEs, from the Union to contribute to political discussions, policies and decision making process, notably by supporting the functioning of representative organisations at national and the Union level;
Amendment 222 #
2018/0231(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c
Amendment 223 #
2018/0231(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Amendment 224 #
2018/0231(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
The entities participating in the actions referred to in points a) and b) shall not be entitled to receive Union financial contributions, except where it is essential for the Programme, in particular in terms of competitiveness and access to markets for Union enterprises or in terms of protection of the consumers residing in the Union. That exception shall not apply to profit-making entities.
Amendment 225 #
2018/0231(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 6 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 23 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1 a) In accordance with Article 151 TFEU, the Union and the Member States, having in mind fundamental social rights such as those set out in the European Social Charter signed at Turin on 18 October 1961 and in the 1989 Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers, shall have as their objectives the promotion of employment, improved living and working conditions, so as to make possible their harmonisation while the improvement is being maintained, proper social protection, dialogue between management and labour, the development of human resources with a view to lasting high employment and the combating of exclusion. The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) should serve the realisation of these objectives.
Amendment 29 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Globalisation and technological change is likely to further increase the interconnectedness and interdependence of world economies. Labour reallocation is an integral and inevitable part of such economic change. If the benefits of change are to be distributed fairly, offering assistance to displaced workers and those threatened by displacement is of utmost importance. The ‘EU Quality Framework for anticipation of change and restructuring’22 , is the Union policy instrument that sets the framework of best practice for anticipating and dealing with corporate restructuring. It offers a comprehensive framework on how the challenges of economic adjustment and restructuring and their employment and social impact should be addressed by adequate policy means. IWithout prejudice to the social responsibilities of the business community, it also calls upon Member States to use EU and national funding in a way to ensure that the social impact of restructuring, especially the adverse effects on employment, can be cushioned more effectively. The main Union instruments to assist workers affected are the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), which is designed to offer assistance in an anticipatory way, and the EGF, which is designed to offer assistance in the case of unexpected major restructuring events in a reactive manner. _________________ 22 COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS EU Quality Framework for anticipation of change and restructuring, (COM(2013)882 final, 13.12.2013).
Amendment 32 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) The Commission carried out a mid- term evaluation of the EGF to assess how and to what extent the EGF achieves its objectives. The EGF proved to be effective, attaining a higher reintegration rate of displaced workers than in the previous programming period. The evaluation also found that the EGF generated European added value. This is particularly true in terms of its volume effects, meaning that EGF assistance not only increases the number and variety of services offered, but also their level of intensity. Moreover, EGF interventions have high visibility and demonstrate the EU added value of the intervention directly to the general public However, several challenges were identified. On the one hand, the mobilisation procedure was considered to be too long. Furthermore, mit should be clear that for the development of social plans aimed at the reintegration of the workers concerned into the labour market, the businesses concerned and the Member States bear the primary responsibility. The EGF can only fulfill a complementary role and should concentrate on those regions, where neither the businesses concerned, nor the national and regional authorities have the resources to provide for the necessary measures. Also, European added value has been questioned in those cases, where a company first received national and European subsidies (for instance, for its innovation activities), then decides to relocate a profit-making establishment to another Member State or even to third countries, without taking its responsibility for funding the reintegration of the workers affected by the closure of its establishment, and instead, especially in cases of relocation within the EU, may once more benefit from subsidies at the new location. In addition, the mobilisation procedure was considered to be too long. Many Member States reported problems putting together the extensive background analysis of the event that triggered the redundancies. The main reason that keeps Member States that would have had a potential EGF case from applying are financial and institutional capacity problems. On the one hand, it could simply be a lack of manpower – Member States currently can ask for technical assistance only if they implement an EGF case. Since redundancies can happen unexpectedly, it would be important that Member States are ready to react immediately and can submit an application without any delays. Furthermore, in certain Member States, more profound institutional capacity building efforts seem necessary in order to ensure an efficient and effective implementation of EGF cases. The threshold of 500 displaced jobs was criticized as being too high, especially in lesser populated regions26 . _________________ 26 COM (2018) 297 final and accompanying SWD (2018) 192 final.
Amendment 34 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The Commission underlines the continuing importance of the role of the EGF as a flexible fund to support workers who lose their jobs in large-scale restructuring events and to help them to find another job as rapidly as possible. The Union should continue to provide specific, one-off support to facilitate the re- integration into employment of displaced workers in areas, sectors, territories or labour markets suffering a shock of serious economic disruption. Considering the interplay and mutual effects of open trade, technological change or other factors like the transition to a low carbon economy, and therefore considering that it is increasingly difficult to single out a specific factor that causes job displacements, the mobilisation of the EGF shall in the future only be based on the significant impact of a restructuring event. Given its purpose, which is to provide support in situations of urgency and unexpected circumstances, complementing the more anticipatory assistance offered by the ESF+, the EGF shallould remain a flexible and special instrument outside the budgetary ceilings of the Multiannual Financial Framework, as set out in the Commission's communication.' A Modern Budget for a Union that Protects, Empowers and Defends - The Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021 – 2027'and its annex27 . _________________ 27 Commission SWD (2018) 171 final and its annex COM (2018) 321 final.
Amendment 35 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) As stated, in order to maintain the European nature of the EGF, an application for support should be triggered when a major restructuring event causes a significant impact on the local or regional economy, and neither the business concerned, nor the national or regional authorities have the resources to provide for the necessary measures. Such an impact should be defined by a minimum number of job displacements within a specific reference period. Taking into account the findings of the mid-term evaluation, the threshold shall be set at 250 jobs displacement within a reference period of four months (or 6 months in sectoral cases). Taking into account that waves of dismissals in different sectors but the same region have an equally significant impact on the local labour market, regional applications shallould be possible as well. In small labour markets, such as small Member States or remote regions, including the outermost regions as referred in Article 349 of the TFEU, or in exceptional circumstances, applications could be submitted in case of a lower number of job displacements.
Amendment 36 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Displaced workers and self- employed persons whose activity has ceased should have equal access to the EGF independently of their type of employment contract or employment relationship. Therefore, displaced workers as well as self-employed persons whose activity has ceased should be regarded as possible EGF beneficiaries for the purposes of this Regulation.
Amendment 37 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) Financial contributions from the EGF should be without prejudice to the social responsibility of the businesses concerned and should be primarily directed at active labour market measures aimed at reintegrating beneficiaries rapidly into sustainable employment, either within or outside their initial sector of activity. Measures should reflect the prospected needs of the local or regional labour market. However, whenever relevant, the mobility of displaced workers should also be supported in order to help find new employment elsewhere. A particular focus shall be laid on the dissemination of skills required in the digital age. The inclusion of pecuniary allowances in a coordinated package of personalised services should be restricted. Companies cshould be encouraged to participate in the national co-funding for the EGF-supported measures.
Amendment 38 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) In compliance with the principle of sound financial management, financial contributions from the EGF should not replace but should, where possible, complement support measures which are available for beneficiaries within the Union funds or other Union policies or programmes complement support measures businesses concerned are required to take within the context of a social plan, and measures national or regional authorities can fund themselves as well as measures which are available for beneficiaries within the Union funds or other Union policies or programmes. Situations in which businesses first receive Union subsidies for their activities, such as for innovation, and then close down profit-making establishments should be avoided; especially in these cases, contributions from the EGF should be made conditional upon cofunding by the businesses concerned.
Amendment 39 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) In the interest of the beneficiaries, assistance should be made available as quickly and efficiently as possible. The Member States and the Union institutions involved in the EGF decision-making process should do their utmost to reduce processing time and simplify procedures so as to ensure the smooth and rapid adoption of decisions on the mobilisation of the EGF. Therefore, the Budgetary Authority shallould in the future decide on transfer requests submitted by the Commission, not requiring a Commission Proposal for the mobilisation of the EGF anymore.
Amendment 40 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
The EGF shall contribute to a better distribution of the benefits of globalisation and technological advance by helping displaced workers adapt to structural change. As such, the EGF shall contribute to the implementation of the principles defined under Article 151 TFEU, the European Pillar of Social Rights and enhance social and economic cohesion among regions and Member States.
Amendment 43 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the programme is to demonstrate solidarity with and offer support to displaced workers and self-employed persons whose activity has ceased in the course of unexpected major restructuring events, referred to in Article 5.
Amendment 44 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. The specific objective of the EGF is to offer assistance in case of unexpected major restructuring events, particularly those caused by globalisation-related challenges, such as changes in world trade patterns, trade disputes, financial or economic crises, the transition to low- carbon economy or as a consequence of digitisation or automation. Particular emphasis shall lie on measures that help the most disadvantaged groups and on Member States and regions having been hit hardest and where the national and regional authorities lack adequate resources for taking the necessary measures. The EGF is without prejudice to the social responsibilities of the companies concerned, in particular where it concerns their contribution to the social plans for displaced workers.
Amendment 48 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
Amendment 50 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. Member States may apply for financial contributions from the EGF for measures targeting displaced workers and self-employed persons in accordance with the provisions laid down in this Article.
Amendment 51 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) the cessation of activity of more than 250 displaced workers or self- employed persons, over a reference period of four months, in an enterprise in a Member State, including where that cessation applies in its suppliers or downstream producers;
Amendment 52 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) the cessation of activity of more than 250 displaced workers or self- employed persons, over a reference period of six months, particularly in SMEs, where all operate in the same economic sector defined at NACE Revision 2 division level and located in one region or two contiguous regions defined at NUTS 2 level or in more than two contiguous regions defined at NUTS 2 level provided that there are more than 250 workers or self-employed persons affected in two of the regions combined;
Amendment 54 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) the cessation of activity of more than 250 displaced workers or self- employed persons, over a reference period of four months, particularly in SMEs, operating in the same or different economic sectors defined at NACE Revision 2 division level and located in the same region defined at NUTS 2 level.
Amendment 56 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Whenever the cessation of activity concerns a profit-making enterprise, the company concerned shall contribute to the reintegration of displaced workers, preferably in the context of a social plan; funding under the EGF shall be made conditional upon such a contribution.
Amendment 58 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
1. The applicant Member State shall specify the method used for calculating the number of workers and self-employed persons defined in Article 4 for the purpose of Article 5.
Amendment 59 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Amendment 60 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point e
Amendment 61 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) displaced workers and self- employed persons whose activity has ceased, calculated in accordance with Article 6, within the reference periods provided for in Article 5;
Amendment 62 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) displaced workers and self- employed persons whose activity has ceased, calculated in accordance with Article 6, outside the reference period provided for in Article 5; namely 6 months before the start of the reference period or between the end of the reference period and the last day before the date of the completion of the assessment by the Commission.
Amendment 63 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
The workers and self-employed persons referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph shall be considered eligible provided that a clear causal link can be established with the event which triggered the redundancies during the reference period.
Amendment 65 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) measures which are the responsibility of enterprises by virtue of national law or, collective agreements or are part of a social plan enterprises have agreed to contribute to.
Amendment 68 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – point b
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – point b
(b) the confirmation that, where the dismissing enterprise has continued its activities after the lay-offs, it has complied with its legal obligations governing the redundancies, as well as with those resulting from collective agreements or negotiations on a social plan;
Amendment 69 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – point b a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – point b a (new)
(b a) a clear indication of the activities already undertaken by the Member States themselves for the assistance of displaced workers and of the complementary nature of the requested funds under the EGF due to lack of resources available to national or regional authorities;
Amendment 70 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – point b b (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – point b b (new)
(b b) an overview of EU funds the dismissing enterprise already benefitted from in the five years preceding the collective redundancies;
Amendment 72 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. A financial contribution from the EGF shall not replace measures which are the responsibility of companies by virtue of national law or collective agreements. , collective agreements or resulting from negotiations on a social plan. Especially, if the companies concerned already benefitted in the preceding five years of EU funding, and the collective redundancies concerned a profit-making establishment, they will be expected to take their social responsibility by making a substantial contribution to the relevant measures receiving support by the EGF.
Amendment 83 #
2018/0202(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Article 23 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 56 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) In accordance with Article 7 TEU, the Union has the possibility to act in cases of there being a clear risk of a serious breach by a Member State of the values referred to in Article 2 TEU. Member States, Union institutions, bodies, office and agencies, as well as candidate countries are obliged to respect, protect and promote those principles and values.
Amendment 73 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The independence of the judiciary presupposes, in particular, that the body concerned is able to exercise its judicial functions wholly autonomously, without being subject to any hierarchical constraint or subordinated to any other body, and without taking orders or instructions from any source whatsoever, and that it is thus protected against external interventions or pressure liable to impair the independent judgment of its members and to influence their decisions. The guarantees of independence and impartiality require rules, particularly as regards the composition of the body and the appointment, length of service and the grounds for abstention, rejection and dismissal of its members, in order to dismiss any reasonable doubt in the minds of individuals as to the imperviousness of that body to external factors and its neutrality with respect to the interests before it.
Amendment 111 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In order to ensure uniform implementation of this Regulation and in view of the importance of the financial effects of measures being imposed pursuant to this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Council which should act on the basis of a Commission proposal. To facilitate the adoption of decisions which are required to protect the financial interests of the Union, reversed qualified majority voting should be used.
Amendment 114 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) In order to ensure a swift decision on the measures which are required to protect the financial interests of the Union, provisional application should be made possible in the event of protracted discussions in the Council.
Amendment 138 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Appropriate measuresMeasures referred to in Article 4 shall be taken where a generalised deficiency as regards the rule of law in a Member State affects or risks affecting the principles of sound financial management or the protection of the financial interests of the Union, in particular:
Amendment 150 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) the effective and timely cooperation with the European Anti-fraud Office and, subject to the participation of the Member State concerned, with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in their investigations or prosecutions pursuant to their respective legal acts and to the principle of loyal cooperation.
Amendment 159 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – title
Article 4 – title
Amendment 163 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. OWhen the conditions of Article 3 are fulfilled, one or more of the following appropriate measures may be adopted
Amendment 189 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Unless the decision adopting the measures provides otherwise, the imposition of appropriate measuresThe imposition of the measures referred to in paragraph 1 shall not affect the obligation of government entities referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1 or of Member States referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1 to implement the programme or fund affected by the measure, and in particular the obligation to make payments to final recipients or beneficiaries. Article 68, paragraph 1, point b of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No XXXX (Common Provisions Regulation) shall not apply.
Amendment 193 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 3
3. The measures taken shall be proportionate to the nature, gravity, duration and scope of the generalised deficiency as regards the rule of law. They shall, insofar as possible, target the Union actions affected or potentially affected by that deficiency.
Amendment 208 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 5
Article 5 – paragraph 5
5. The Commission shall take into account the information received and any observations made by the Member State concerned, as well as the adequacy of any proposed remedial measures, when deciding whether or not to submit a proposal for a decision on the appropriate measuresany of the measures referred to in Article 4.
Amendment 214 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 6
Article 5 – paragraph 6
6. Where the Commission considers that the generalised deficiency as regards the rule of law is established, it shall submit a proposal for an implementing act on the appropriate measuresmeasures referred to in Article 4 to the Council.
Amendment 217 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. At the same time as it adopts its proposal for an implementing act, as referred to in paragraph 6 of this Article, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a proposal to transfer to a budgetary reserve an amount equivalent to the value of the measures adopted.
Amendment 222 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 7
Article 5 – paragraph 7
Amendment 231 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 8
Article 5 – paragraph 8
8. The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may amenddopt the Commission’s proposal and adopt the amended text, amended or otherwise, as a Council decision.
Amendment 232 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 8 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Where the Council reaches no decision within two months after the submission of the proposal by the Commission referred to in paragraph 6 of this Article, and until such time as the Council has decided, the Commission shall be empowered to apply the proposed measures provisionally.
Amendment 234 #
2018/0136(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
1. The Member State concerned may, at any time, submit to the Commission evidence to show that the generalised deficiency as regards the rule of law has sufficiently been remedied or has ceased to exist.
Amendment 134 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Ensuring transparency in the general terms and conditions can be essential to promoting sustainable business relationships and to preventing unfair behaviour to the detriment of business users. Providers of online intermediation services should therefore also ensure that the terms and conditions are easily available at all stages of the contractual relationship, including to prospective business users at the pre-contractual phase, and that any modifications to those terms are notified to business users within a set notice period which is reasonable and proportionate in light of the specific circumstances and which is at least 15 days. That notice period should not apply where, and to the extent that, it is waived in an unambiguous manner by the business user concerned or where, and to the extent that, the need to implement the modification without respecting the notice period stems from a legal obligation incumbent on the service provider under Union or national law.
Amendment 157 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) A provider of online intermediation services can have legitimate reasons to decide to restrict, suspend or terminate the provision of its services, in whole or in part, to a given business user, including by delisting individual goods or services of a given business user or effectively removing search results. However, given that such decisions can significantly affect the interests of the business user concerned, they should be properly informed of the reasons thereof. The statement of reasons should allow business users to ascertain whether there is scope to challenge the decision, thereby improving the possibilities for business users to seek effective redress where necessary. In addition, requiring a statement of reasons should help to prevent or remedy any unintended removal of online content provided by business users which the provider incorrectly considers to be illegal content, in line with Commission Recommendation (EU) No 2018/33422. The statement of reasons should identify the objective ground or grounds for the decision, based on the grounds that the provider had set out in advance in its terms and conditions, and refer in a proportionate manner to the relevant specific circumstances that led to that decision. _________________ 22 Commission Recommendation (EU) No 2018/334 of 1 March 2018 on measures to effectively tackle illegal content online (OJ L 63, 6.3.2018, p. 50).
Amendment 178 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) Where a provider of online intermediation services itself offers certain goods or services to consumers through its own online intermediation services, or does so through a business user which it controls, that provider may compete directly with other business users of its online intermediation services which are not controlled by the provider. In such situations, in particular, it is important that the provider of online intermediation services acts in a transparent manner and provides a description of any differentiated treatment, whether through legal, commercial or technical means, such as default settings, that it might give in respect of goods or services it offers itself compared to those offered by business users. To ensure proportionality, this obligation should apply at the level of the overall online intermediation services, rather than at the level of individual goods or services offered through those services.
Amendment 195 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) Providers of online intermediation services might in certain cassometimes restrict in the terms and conditions the ability of business users to offer goods or services to consumers under more favourable conditions through other means than through those online intermediation services. In those cases, the providers concerned should set out the grounds for doing so, in particular with reference to the main economic, commercial or legal considerations for the restrictions. This transparency obligation should however not be understood as affecting the assessment of the legality of such restrictionSuch restrictions should not be admissible, as they deprive business users in a disproportionate manner from exercising their entrepreneurial freedom to set the conditions of sale of their own products uander other acts of Union law or the law of Member States in accordance with Union law, includ services, and may also harm consumers by preventing in them areas of competition and unfair commercial practices, and the application of such lawsccess to a wider choice.
Amendment 203 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) In order to enable business users, including those whose use of the relevant online intermediation services might have been suspended or terminated, to have access to immediate, suitable and effective redress possibilities, providers of online intermediation services should provide for an internal complaint-handling system. That internal complaint-handling system should be transparent, non-discriminatory and simple, supported by external expertise, whenever relevant, and should be aimed at ensuring that a significant proportion of complaints can be solved bilaterally by the provider of the online intermediation services and the relevant business user. In addition, ensuring that providers of online intermediation services publish information on the functioning and effectiveness of their internal complaint- handling system should help business users to understand the types of issues that can arise in the context of the provision of different online intermediation services and the possibility of reaching a quick and effective bilateral resolution.
Amendment 205 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) The requirements of this Regulation regarding the internal complaint-handling systems aim at allowing providers of online intermediation services a reasonable degree of flexibility when operating those systems and addressing individual complaints, so as to minimise any administrative burden. In addition, the internal complaint-handling systems should allow providers of online intermediation services to address, where necessary, in a proportionate manner any use in bad faith which certain business users might seek to make of those systems. In cases other than any alleged non-compliance with the legal obligations of this Regulation, the internal complaint-handling systems should moreover not be open to complaints involving only negligible negative effects on the business user concerned. In light of the costs of setting up and operating such systems, it is appropriate to exempt from those obligations any providers of online intermediation services which constitute small enterprises, in line with the relevant provisions of Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC25. _________________ 25 Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003 concerning the definition of micro, small and medium- sized enterprises (OJ L 124, 20.5.2003, p36).
Amendment 209 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) Mediation can offer providers of online intermediation services and their business users a means to resolve disputes in a satisfactory manner, without having to use judicial proceedings which can be lengthy and costly. Therefore, providers of online intermediation services should facilitate mediation by, in particular, identifying mediators with which they are willing to engage. Mediators which provide their services from a location outside the Union should only be identified where it is guaranteed that the use of those services does not in any way deprive the business users concerned of any legal protection offered to them under Union law or the law of the Member States, including the requirements of this Regulation and the applicable law regarding protection of personal data and trade secrets. In order to be accessible, fair, and as swift, efficient and effective as possible, those mediators should meet certain set criteria. Mediators should be encouraged to resolve disputes as soon as reasonably practicable and to resolve the most complex disputes within a maximum period of 60 days from the date the matter is referred for mediation, and routine disputes in a significantly shorter period of time.
Amendment 306 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) set out the reasonable and objective grounds for decisions to restrict, suspend or terminate, in whole or in part, the provision of their online intermediation services to business users.
Amendment 311 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) do not oblige business users to give up control fully or partially over their intellectual property rights.
Amendment 359 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. Where a provider of online intermediation services decides to restrict, suspend or terminate, in whole or in part, the provision of its online intermediation services to a given business user, it shall provide the business user concerned, without undue delay, with a statement of reasons for that decision.
Amendment 367 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. The statement of reasons referred to in paragraph 1 shall contain a reference to the specific facts or circumstances that led to the decision of the provider of online intermediation services, as well as a reference to the applicable reasonable and objective ground or grounds for that decision referred to in Article 3(1)(c).
Amendment 462 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) ranking and default settings;
Amendment 486 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Providers of online intermediation services and providers of online search engines shall include in their terms and conditions a description of the technical and contractual access, or absence thereof, of business users to any personal data or other data, or both, which business users or consumers provide for the use of the online intermediation services concerned or which are generated through the provision of those services.
Amendment 493 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Through the description referred to in paragraph 1, providers of online intermediation services and online search engines shall adequately inform business users at least of the following:
Amendment 501 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) whether the provider of online intermediation services or of online search engines has access to personal data or other data, or both, which business users or consumers provide for the use of those services or which are generated through the provision of those services, and if so, to which categories of such data and under what conditions;
Amendment 507 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) whetherunder which conditions a business user has access to personal data or other data, or both, provided by that business user in connection to his or her use of the online intermediation services concerned or generated through the provision of those services to that business user and the consumers of his or her goods or services, and if so, to which categories of such data and under what conditions;
Amendment 514 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) whetherunder which conditions, in addition to point (b), a business user has access to personal data or other data, or both, including in aggregated form, provided by or generated through the provision of the online intermediation services to all of the business users and consumers thereof, and if so, to which categories of such data and under what conditions.
Amendment 517 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(ca) under which conditions a business user has access to personal or other data generated through the display of search results linking to the website of the business user concerned and under which conditions a business user has access to data in aggregated form generated through the provision of search results in general and to which categories of such data.
Amendment 528 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Amendment 543 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Amendment 555 #
2018/0112(COD)
That internal complaint-handling system shall be easily accessible and free of charge for business users. It shall allow them to lodge complaints directly with the provider concerned regarding any of the following issues:
Amendment 559 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point b
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point b
(b) technological issues which relate directly to the provision of online intermediation services, and which negatively affect the complainant in a non- negligible manner;
Amendment 561 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point c
(c) measures taken by, or behaviour of, that provider which relate directly to the provision of the online intermediation services, and which negatively affect the complainant in a non-negligible manner.
Amendment 571 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) communicate to the complainant the outcome of the internal complaint- handling process, in an individualised manner and drafted in clear and unambiguous language, and involving external independent expertise, whenever relevant.
Amendment 645 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Providers of online intermediation services shall annually report in a manner that is easy to access and to understand for the general public and the business users concerned, the information on the functioning and effectiveness of mediation related to their activities. This information shall include the total number of mediation cases, the subject- matter of the complaints, the time period needed to process the complaints and the decisions taken on the complaints.
Amendment 694 #
2018/0112(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 3
Article 12 – paragraph 3
3. The right referred to in paragraph 1 shall be without prejudice to the rights of business users and corporate website users to individually take action before competent national courts, in accordance with the rules of the law of the Member State where the action is brought, to address any non-compliance by providers of online intermediation services and search engines with the relevant requirements laid down in this Regulation.
Amendment 172 #
2018/0106(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that legal entities in the private and in the public sector establish internal channels and procedures for reporting and following up on reports, and protecting reporting persons, following consultations with social partners, if appropriate.
Amendment 181 #
2018/0106(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) (f) the prompt acknowledgement of receipt of written reports to the postal or electronic address indicated by the reporting person
Amendment 203 #
2018/0106(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 3
Article 13 – paragraph 3
3. A person reporting to relevant bodies, offices or agencies of the Union on breaches falling within the scope of this Directive shall qualify for protection as laid down in this Directive under the same conditions as a person who reported externally in accordance with the conditions set out in paragraph 21.
Amendment 207 #
2018/0106(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 2
Article 15 – paragraph 2
2. Comprehensive and independent information and advice shall be easily accessible to the public, free of charge, on procedures and remedies available on protection against retaliation. This role should be independent and could be performed by civil society organisations and/or trade unions.
Amendment 213 #
2018/0106(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) (e) do not fulfil their obligation to follow-up on a report; (f) do not fulfil their obligation to provide feedback to the reporting person about the follow-up to the report.
Amendment 80 #
2018/0082(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) When deciding whether an individual trading practice is considered unfair it is important to reduce the risk of limiting the use of fair and efficiency- creating agreements agreed between parties. As a result, it is appropriate to distinguish practices that are foreseen in clear and unambiguous terms in supply agreements between parties from practices that occur after the transaction has started without being agreed in advance in clear and unambiguous terms, so that only unilateral and retrospective changes to those relevant terms of the supply agreement are prohibited. Member States, supplier organizations or associations of such organizations should assist individual suppliers with drafting and negotiating agreements as their negotiation power and experience in negotiations are often lagging as opposed to the buyers. However, certain trading practices are considered as unfair by their very nature and should not be subject to the parties’ contractual freedom to deviate from them.
Amendment 202 #
2018/0082(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Member States shall ensure that the following trading practices are prohibited, if they are not agreed in clear and, unambiguous and easy to understand terms at the conclusion of the supply agreement:
Amendment 209 #
2018/0082(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) a supplier pays for the promotion of food products sold by the buyer. Prior to a promotion and if that promotion is initiated by the buyer, the buyer shall specify the period of the promotion, the type of promotion, the frequency of the promotion and the expected quantity of the food products to be ordered;
Amendment 221 #
2018/0082(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. If an agreement is reached as described in points (b), (c) and (d) of paragraph 2, the buyer shall provide evidence of the actual marketing activities to the supplier, regarding the stocking, displaying, listing, promoting and marketing of food products.
Amendment 242 #
2018/0082(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. Producer organisations or associations of producer organisations whose member(s) or member(s) of their members consider(s) that they are affected by a prohibited trading practice, not-for- profit non-governmental and civil society organisations shall have the right to submit a complaint.
Amendment 260 #
2018/0082(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 a (new)
Article 5 a (new)
Article 5 a Agreements Member States shall encourage the signing of agreements between suppliers and buyers. In order to help suppliers sign fair agreements, Member States, supplier organizations or associations of such organizations shall be able to assist individual suppliers with drafting and negotiating agreements, as suppliers often lack negotiation power and experience in negotiating.
Amendment 268 #
2018/0082(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) to take a decision establishing an infringement of the prohibitions laid down in Article 3 and require the buyer to terminate the prohibited trading practice. The authority may abstain from taking any such decision, if such decision would risk revealing the identity of a complainant against its will or disclosing any other information in respect of which the complainant considers disclosure harmful to his interests, provided that the complainant has identified that information in accordance with Article 5(3);
Amendment 16 #
2017/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas according to the Commission communication on making Public Procurement work, 55% of the public procurement procedures still use the lowest price as the only award criterion, instead of, for instance, strategic social and environmental criteria;
Amendment 20 #
2017/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas SMEs are important to the functioning of the internal market and SMEs should have better access to public procurement;
Amendment 70 #
2017/2278(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. While acknowledging that in some cases the low price reflects innovative solutions and efficient management, is concerned about the excessive use of the lowest price as an award criterion in a number of Member States and therefore calls on the Commission and the Member States to analyse and report on the reason behind this situation;
Amendment 44 #
2017/2191(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Points out that one form of social dumping can arise through crowdsourcing, the practice in which platforms offer contracts to so-called ´independent contractors´, irrespective of their location globally, at the lowest price;is concerned that this can undermine existing EU legislation, in particular Directive 2008/104/EC, as it can lead to bogus self-employment and may undermine the position of workers in the EU.
Amendment 51 #
2017/2191(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Reiterates its request to the Commission to explain how it defines the minimum of market players necessary for fair competition in the EU, how it retains the possibility for new companies, in particular start-ups, to enter highly concentrated markets and how it avoids the emergence of companies that are ´too big to fail´ and would require State support, in order to avoid major employment losses in the case of their closing down.
Amendment 58 #
2017/2191(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7 c. Requests the Commission to explain how under the current competition policies, small market-players can work together when they are all facing big market-players, for example in the food supply chain, or in the case of the franchising model.
Amendment 63 #
2017/2191(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 d (new)
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7 d. Calls on the Commission to examine the dominant role of certain on- line platforms in relation to SMEs and any unfair terms and conditions imposed by these platforms in respect of SMEs.
Amendment 61 #
2017/2190(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 a (new)
Paragraph 60 a (new)
60 a. Expresses its concern with the proposed revision of the EIB Complaints mechanism Policy and calls on the EIB to ensure, in particular, that:- the Head of the EIB CM registers all complaints duly and inform the complainants of the reception of their complaint before a decision on admissibility has been taken;- the Head of the EIB CM is independent from other parts of the Bank's governance structure and should be able to take all decisions concerning admissibility of the complaint without having to consult the services of the EIB Group, and should take decisions with regard to the eligibility of the complaint for an investigation/compliance review or mediation, even if there is no agreement with the EIB services, the Inspector General or the Management Committee;- follow the examples given by the European Ombudsman for the definition of maladministration, so that it includes forms of poor or failed administration such as administrative irregularities, unfairness, discrimination, abuse of power, failure to reply, refusal of information and unnecessary delay;- the procedure is as transparent as possible with the CM disclosing information on its procedures, operations and cases proactively;- recruitment procedures for the Head and staff of the CM become more transparent;
Amendment 67 #
2017/2190(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
Paragraph 62
62. Recalls the need to provide for more stringent rules on conflicts of interest and for clear, strict and transparent criteria to prevent any form of corruption; reiterates fact that the EIB must revise its Code of Conduct in order to make sure that its Vice-Presidents are not in charge of operations in their home countries, since this poses a risk to the independence of the institution; stresses the importance of the European Ombudsman exerting public scrutiny over the EIB; is deeply concerned at the shortcomings identified in the EIB’s existing mechanisms to prevent possible conflicts of interest within its governing bodies; calls on the EIB, in this regard, in order to better prevent conflicts of interest in its governing bodies and potential ‘revolving door’ issues, to take into consideration the Ombudsman’s recommendations and to revise its Code of Conduct as soon as possible; and to revise its Code of Conduct as soon as possible; calls on the EIB to join the inter- institutional agreement on the EU Transparency Register, as soon as the negotiations between the Commission, the Parliament and the Council have been concluded;
Amendment 2 #
2017/2179(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that the agencies are highly visible in the Member States and have significant influence on policy and decision making and programme implementation in areas of vital importance to European citizens, such as health, safety, security, freedom and justice; reiterates the importance of the tasks performed by agencies and their direct impact on the daily lives of Union citizens; reiterates also the importance of the autonomy of the agencies, in particular of the regulatory agencies and those with the function of independent information collection; recalls that the main reasons for establishing agencies was for the purpose of making independent technical or scientific assessments, operating Union systems and facilitating the implementation of the Union Single Marketwhilst recognising that stakeholders have found their way to the agencies, it is concerned that in general the visibility of agencies for European citizens is still limited, whereas for their accountability and independence a high level of visibility is required;
Amendment 4 #
2017/2179(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that, according to the Court of Auditors’ summary of results of the Court’s 2016 annual audits of the Union agencies and other bodies (“the Court’s summary”), the agencies’ 2016 budget amounted to some EUR 3,4 billion, representing an increase of about 21,42 % compared to 2015 and about 2,4 % (2015: 2%) of the Union’s general budget; points out that the increase is mainly related to agencies working on matters related to industry, research and energy (additional EUR 358 000 000) and civil liberties, justice and home affairs (additional EUR 174 000 000); notes moreover that of the EUR 3,4 billion budget, some EUR 2,4 billion were financed by the Union general budget, whereas some EUR 1 billion were financed by fees and also by direct contributions from Member States, the European Free Trade Association countriesRecalls that the main reasons for establishing agencies was for the purpose of making independent technical or scientific assessments, which make clear and effective rules to prevent conflicts of interest indispensable, operating Union systems and facilitating the implementation of the Union Single Market; calls on all agencies to participate in the inter-institutional agreement on the transparency register that is currently subject of negotiations between the Commission, the Council and other sources Parliament;
Amendment 7 #
2017/2179(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. NotEmphasises that the agencies employ 10 364 (2015: 9 848) permanent, temporary, Interinstitutional Working Group on decentralised agencies examined, in particular, the EASA pilot case for fee- financed agencies; states that even if agencies are fully fee-funded, they are still fully accountract or seconded staff, representing an incable to the discharge authority considering the reputational risks involved; expreasse of 5,24 % compared with the previous year; points out that the number of staff increased the most in agencies dealing with matters related to industry, research and energy (110), civil liberties, justice and home affairs (177) and economic and monetary affairs (85)s, moreover, its concerns with the quality indicators used in the EASA pilot, as these are heavily focusing on customer satisfaction and less on air safety; calls upon the Commission to examine how the independence of fully fee-funded agencies can be ensured and to consider in this regard a system that the fees are paid to the Commission instead of to the agencies directly and that the agencies continue to be funded through the Union budget;
Amendment 12 #
2017/2179(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that the Network provides for concrete added value in the relations between the Union Institutions and the decentralised agencies; considers that it would be an asset to support the management of the Network´s Shared Support Office in Brussels; strongly supports its request for one temporary agent post, whose cost would be shared amongst the agencies in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) 2019 budget request, especially if the competences of the EU Agency’s Network are clarified and, whilst respecting the autonomy of the agencies, are strengthened, whenever possible;
Amendment 26 #
2017/2179(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes with satisfaction that some agencies already cooperate according to their thematic grouping, such as the justice and home affairs agencies5 and the European supervisory authorities6 ; encourages other agencies which have not already started, to cooperate further with other agencies within the same thematic grouping whenever possible, not only in establishing shared services and synergies, but in their common policy areas as well; emphasizes that there are two locations for the Railways Agency, four agencies on social policies and six agencies on Justice and Home Affairs issues; expresses its disappointment with the outcome so far in this respect of the Inter-Institutional Working Group on decentralised agencies, as no specific proposals were developed to merge or co-locate agencies concentrating on related policy fields and calls upon the Commission to prepare a survey of possible steps in this direction; encourages the Court to consider presenting landscape reviews of the agencies’ common policy areas; _________________ 5 European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), European Agency for the Operational Management of Large- Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA), European Asylum Support Office (EASO), European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), European Monitoring Centre for Drugsand Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), European Police College (CEPOL), European Police Office (Europol), European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), The European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit(Eurojust) 6 European Banking Authority (EBA), European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)
Amendment 34 #
2017/2179(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Observes that decentralised agencies increased the use of contract staff by 718 full-time equivalents to implement new tasks, in partial compensatation for the 5 % staff cut and the levy for the creation of the redeployment pool; urges the agencies to not replace permanent staff by more expensive external consultants; notes that this mostly concerns Frontex, Europol, EASO and EASA, the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) and the European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency (GSA); is of the opinion that the use of contract staff is not in line with the targets set to achieve the staff reductions and should be used only as a temporary measure, in agencies with the greatest demand for new staff due to an increase in workload; calls on the Commission to deliberate again on its plans for a further 1 % annual staff reduction;
Amendment 41 #
2017/2179(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Welcomes the fact that 26 Agencies (84 %) have guidelines in place for granting public access to documents; calls on the remaining agencies who don’t yet have such guidelines to adopt them without further delay; approves the development of internal systems in place to handle the requests, including specially trained access-to-documents teams, dedicated to handling the incoming requests in agencies facing a higher frequency and complexity of requests; calls on the agenciesNetwork to develop common guidelines for applying public access to documents to be implemented by the agencies, especially as regards intellectual property rights;
Amendment 43 #
2017/2179(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Notes that the agencies are actively promoting their work through various channels but reiterates its call for more visibility in Member States by developing a comprehensive plan to reach more Union citizens, in particular by regularly updating their websites to provide information and promote the work they have delivered; notes in addition that social media is increasingly becoming a standard communication tool for the agencies; observes that open days, targeted campaigns and videos explaining the core work of agencies are some of the activities used in educating citizens and providing them with opportunities to learn more about the work of the agencies and the Union institutions; acknowledges that the general or specialised media relations activities are regularly measured through different indicators, as well as that each Agency has its communication plan with specific activities tailored for its needs;
Amendment 45 #
2017/2179(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Takes note of the Court’s opinion No 1/2017 on the revision of the Financial Regulation, in which it is proposed to update the arrangement for the audit of the decentralised agencies; regrets that the legislative proposal does not foresee any reduction of the excessive administrative burden that continues to be borne by the decentralised agencies; notes that the audit of the decentralised agencies “remains under the full responsibility of the Court, which manages all administrative and procurement procedures required”; reiterates moreover that the new audit approach involving private sector auditors has resulted in a significant increase of the administrative burden on the agencies, as well as that the time spent on procurement and administration of audit contracts created additional expenditure, thus straining further the diminishing resources of the agencies; emphasises that it is imperative to resolve this issue, in accordance with the Common Approach, within the context of the current revision of the Financial Regulation and the subsequent revision of the Framework Financial Regulation; calls on all parties involved in these revisions to provide clarity on this issue as a matter of urgency so as to significantly reduce the excessive administrative burden; calls on the Court to take action by doing random checks;
Amendment 4 #
2017/2178(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Grants the Executive Director of the European Agency for the Οperational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2016 / Postpones its decision on granting the Executive Director of the European Agency for the Οperational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2016;
Amendment 9 #
2017/2178(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Notes from the Agency's reply that carry-overs for Title I and II appropriations are constantly revised and planned with the objective of reducing them over time to the strict and necessary minimum, and that of the EUR 19,5 million non-differentiated appropriations carried over to 2016, only EUR 474 000 were cancelled, representing 2,42 %;
Amendment 13 #
2017/2178(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Observes with concern that the growing operational risk facing the Agency’s operations is related to understaffing of the Agency so that while tasks allocated to it continuously increase, the staffing levels have been reduced as a result of the requirement to reduce staff by 5%; observes that there are a number of functions in the Agency which are either understaffed or have no embedded business continuity (only one staff member performs the tasks and holds the know-how on operations); notes with concern that reducing staff and outsourcing work increase the risks for 'revolving doors' and information leaks; notes with satisfaction that the Agency has published the general principles regarding obligations after leaving service in its code of ethical behaviour and conduct;
Amendment 17 #
2017/2178(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that the Management Committee of the Agency has approved its Guidelines on Whistleblowing on 23 May 2016 and that the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) gave a positive opinion on the text; notes, however, that the Directorate-General for Human Resources of the Commission was not in favour of it and informed the Agency that the Commission is working on new guidelines; notes with satisfaction that in the meantime the Agency has published the general principles relevant for whistleblowing in its code of conduct published on its website; reiterates that transparency is a key issue for creating and maintaining a trusting relationship between the citizens, the Union and its institutions;
Amendment 18 #
2017/2178(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes that all members of the management board are obliged to issue an annual public statement of interest in writing, which is published on the Agency’s website; notes that the CV of the executive director and the chairperson of the management board are also published and kept up to date; notes that the Agency is preparing new rules on the prevention and management of conflicts of interest; callregrets that the members onf the Agency to report to the discharge authority on their adoption and implementationManagement Board and of the Advisory Group have published declarations of 'absence of conflict of interest' and not declarations of interest, while it is not for the members to declare themselves out of conflict of interest, but to ensure independent verification of the declarations of interest, by third parties; calls on the members of the Management Board and of the Advisory Group to publish declarations of interest listing their membership in any other organisation; calls on the Agency to report to the discharge authority on this matter by the end of July 2018;
Amendment 4 #
2017/2177(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that the Office’s work programme was amended three times and its budget four times in order to take into account significant changes that took place during 2016, in particular the significant increase in the operational support activities of the Office in the “hotspots” in some Member States and the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement; asks the Office to take into account the ECA Special Report 6/2017 entitled "EU response to the refugee crisis: the “hotspot” approach", and calls upon the Court to give priority to the follow-up report to this Special Report, that was asked for by the Parliament in order to take account of the hotspots as part of the wider asylum system of the EU and its Member States;
Amendment 10 #
2017/2177(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the action already undertaken by the ad interim Executive Director in order to improve the governance structure of the Office, restore transparency and build trust; calls on the Office to prepare a comprehensive and detailed roadmap presenting the way forward; furthermore, calls on the Office in this respect to include in the roadmap a clear plan for restoring the trust in management, especially taking into account that competent and effective management is key in view of the challenges the Office is facing in general, and in particular to make sure that the recruitment and training of the significant number of new staff foreseen for 2018 and 2019 is of such a level that the Office will have at its disposal well-motivated and high quality personnel and that there will be less turn-over of staff and its knowledge and experience are retained;
Amendment 4 #
2017/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to the Court of Auditors' Special Report No 4/2016: 'The European Institute of Innovation and Technology must modify its delivery mechanisms and elements of its design to achieve the expected impact';
Amendment 9 #
2017/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes that the latest calls for new knowledge and innovation communities (KICs), for which the thematic areas were defined in the strategic innovation agenda of the Institute for the years 2014 to 2020 showed limited competition; notes that the 2016 call for two additional KICs (food and added-value manufacturing) received three proposals, whereby the single proposal for added-value manufacturing KIC was not selected for quality reasons; notes that an excellent partnership has been designated except for EIT Manufacturing; notes with satisfaction that the Institute has concluded on several mitigating measures, which will reduce the risk of receiving only one proposal for a theme in the future; calls on the Institute to report to the discharge authority on the content and efficiency of those measures; notes that the Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation introduced in 2015 the concept of ’Open Innovation’ as the key policy concept to frame innovation policy at EU level; considers that it is not clear which role the Institute plays in this concept; emphasises that this concept does not provide a clear framework for the development of a coherent and coordinated action by the Commission, given the number of policies and instruments in the mix and number of Directorate Generals involved in supporting the innovation; calls on the Commission to ensure a coordinated and efficient innovation policy, in which the responsible Directorate Generals tune up the activities and instruments, and to inform the Parliament on these efforts; understands the Institute’s mission to promote cooperation among higher education, research and innovation; takes the view that companies may be in the end the main beneficiary as being the legal owner of the innovate product being brought to the market and have the financial profits; stresses the need in this situation to incorporate in the cooperation-model a structure in which given funds will flow back to the Institute;
Amendment 15 #
2017/2169(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes with satisfaction that on 1 May 2017 the Europol’s management board adopted rules for the prevention and management of conflicts of interest in respect of its members, including in relation to their declarations of interests; notes with regret that Europol's approach has been to declare that there is no conflict of interest; notes with concern that the management board members have continued to publish declarations of absence of conflict of interest; calls for the management board members to publish their declarations of interests instead of declarations of absence of conflict of interest which will list their membership to any other organisations; stresses that it is not for the management board members to declare themselves out of conflict of interest; notes that management board members and alternate members have been invited to complete, sign and submit their respective declarations of interests together with their curricula vitae by 15 December 2017 for subsequent publication on the Europol’s website; welcomes the publication of the management board members' curricula vitae on the Europol´s website; calls on Europol to report back to the discharge authority if management board members did sohave actually published their declarations of interests by the set deadline;
Amendment 17 #
2017/2169(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes that Europol launched an additional ‘ethics package’ communication campaign in October 2017 to raise awareness among all Europol staff and seconded national experts about the updated versions of the Europol’s Code of Conduct and guidance documentation on the handling of gifts, conflicts of interest and whistleblowing; notes with satisfaction that the guidance on whistleblowing underlines that Europol commits itself to protect the identity of whistleblowers; welcomes the publication of the guidance on whistleblowing arrangements on the Europol website; asks Europol to provide details on whistleblowing cases in 2016, if any, and how they were handled;
Amendment 3 #
2017/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that in 2016, the fees and charges collected covered 46 % of the Agency’s expenditure including for the first time a high proportion of fees from authorisation applications; acknowledges that managcalls ing the annual budget was more challenging for the Agency than in previous years, as the magnitude of the fee-based financing was difficuis respect for safeguards to be built into foresee, particularly for the biocide applications; notes that, as a result, a considerable amount of the initially- foreseen Union subsidy financing was not necessary due to more favourable fee income receipts and a slight downward revision of the expenditure; calls on the Agency to report to the discharge authoritythe Agency´s work so that it can remain independent vis-à-vis the industry, and, in particular, to retain a critical, independent attitude towards industry´s own the measures taken to face this challenge in the coming yearsresearch;
Amendment 3 #
2017/2164(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Grants the executive director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2016 / Postpones its decision on granting the executive director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency’s budget for the financial year 2016;
Amendment 8 #
2017/2163(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Observes that, as a consequence of the relocation from the United Kingdom to Hungary, due to the significantly lower correction coefficient applied to staff salaries in the new location, the number of resignations has increased; notes that a number of mitigating actions have been implemented; notes, however, that the low grading of posts combined with low correction coefficient, does not encourage foreigners (especially from West and Northern Europe) to move to Hungary; therefore, the geographical balance is not always ensured; notes from the Court’s report that the high staff turnover may impact business continuity and the Agency’s ability to implement the activities foreseen in its work programme; expresses its concerns regarding the rule of law in Hungary and, in that regard, regarding the quality of the College in the long-term; emphasizes to take into account the efficiency when (re)locating agencies in Member States; stresses that the College, along with another judicial agency, should be located in The Netherlands;
Amendment 4 #
2017/2162(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Acknowledges that it is not in the Agency’s power to decide to centralize all the Agency’s operations into one location; recalls that when it was created in 2004, the Agency’s double seat (Lille/Valenciennes) was decided by the Council; takes note of the analysis made by the Agency on the budgetary impact of having a double seat and of its recommendation to keep that double seat; calls on the Council to reconsider its previous decision and opt instead for centralising all the Agency’s operations into one location;
Amendment 17 #
2017/2159(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes with concern that, according to the Corporate Europe Observatory, 46% of Authority´s experts working at the Authority since 2015 are in conflict of interest with direct or indirect ties with lobbies and companies whose products are evaluated by the Authority; welcomes that of the 17 statutory staff members that left the Authority in 2016, in two cases restrictions were applied in order to prevent the individuals from becoming contact points between the Authority and their new employer, exercising lobbying activities, and performing activities related to on-going the Authority’s fil; acknowledges that internal procedures are not sufficient to ensure independence between the Authority and industries; notes that staff leaving are obliged to inform the Authority about their future employment on any potential conflict of interest; urges the Authority to enforce stricted rules on revolving doors and apply highly dissuasive sanctions in such cases;
Amendment 18 #
2017/2159(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that the Authority in January 2016 adopted the standard operating procedures on “Handling complaints submitted by whistleblowers” and recommends to undertake consistent training on whistle-blowing rules rights and the Authority rules; calls on the Authority to commit itself to strictly protect the identity of whistle-blowers and their intimidation; asks the Authority to provide details on whistle-blower cases in 2016, if any, and how they have been handled;
Amendment 23 #
2017/2159(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes that a group of Members of the European Parliament filed a lawsuit against the Authority on grounds of limiting of access to documents in the “glyphosate” case; calls on the Authority to fully implement the court’s ruling immediately once it is known; welcomes the recent establishment of the ad-hoc parliamentary committee on EU authorization procedure on pesticides, which came as a response to the concerns raised about the risk posed by the herbicide substance glyphosate;
Amendment 25 #
2017/2159(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Regrets that the Authority assessments on glyphosate was drafted from Monsanto documents and that, consequently, the Authority has classified glyphosate as not linked to cancer, breaking with long-standing practice of aligning with the IARC cancer hazard assessments, as documented by the Natural Resources Defense Council;
Amendment 11 #
2017/2158(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Welcomes the factNotes that the Agency published the declarations of absence of conflicts of interests and the CVs of their respective management board members on its website, taking into account remarks made by the Parliament; urges the Agency to verify if there is any case of conflict of interest for all in-house and seconded staff who is currently working at the Agency since 2012;
Amendment 10 #
2017/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Acknowledges from the Agency that pre-submission meetings contribute to the development of medicines; notes that in the light of the pre-submission meetings, the experts of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use perform both the role of consultant as of evaluator of the marketing authorisation applications; calls upon the Agency to at least publish a list of pre-submission activities, once the marketing authorisation has been given;
Amendment 11 #
2017/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16 b. Acknowledges that approvals of marketing authorisation applications are based on three criteria: efficacy, quality and safety; notes that a fourth requirement should be added: Added Therapeutic Value (ATV), comparing a medicine with the best available drug, instead of comparing it to placebos;
Amendment 12 #
2017/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Notes with satisfaction that the CVs and declarations of interests of all Management Board members are published on the Agency's website; notes that no breach of trust procedures were initiated for Management Board members in 2016;
Amendment 13 #
2017/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Asks the Agency for clarification concerning the hiring of and dependence on IT consultants for IT projects; notes that no methodology had been put in place prior to the start of the projects, affecting the supervision and monitoring by the management; is concerned about the limited supervision of the external consultants as a result of the contracts used and the fact that performance takes place off-site and in other Member States, resulting, therefore, in delays in the projects’ implementation;
Amendment 14 #
2017/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Notes that the relocation of the Agency could lead to staff leaving the Agency; calls therefore on the Agency to make sure that revolving door rules are strictly applied in each case;
Amendment 23 #
2017/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Points out from the Court’s report that the Agency’s 2016 budget was financed 95 % by fees from pharmaceutical companies and 5 % from Union funds; takes note that a future decrease of the Agency’s revenue resulting from the UK’s decision to leave the Union is possiblstresses that the funding from pharmaceutical companies has increased in 2016, comparing to 2015 and is concerned about the influence of the industry on the Agency as of this dependence;
Amendment 31 #
2017/2145(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Is aware, in that context, of the creation of the task forces on ‘Career Development’ and ‘Gender and Equal Opportunities’ as important milestones for improving the functioning of the EEAS by defining a more attractive career path, streamlining recruitment and the adequacy of competences as well as gender and equal opportunities; welcomes in this regard the High Representative´s intention to ensure that the frequency of rotation of staff does not undermine continuity of specific knowledge and competences available both at headquarters and at the delegations;
Amendment 46 #
2017/2145(DEC)
36a. Emphasises the need for exposing disinformation, especially in the Eastern Neighbourhood, the Western Balkans and the South, and notes the work of the East Stratcom Task Force in this respect; is concerned, however, by the activities undertaken by the Task Force in respect of media literacy within the Union itself, as this is dependent on a handful of active volunteers. Calls for a more professional and reticent approach in this regard, based on objective criteria, thus avoiding the impression of arbitrariness;
Amendment 30 #
2017/2142(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Observes that the communication strategy of the Committee is geared towards reconnecting Europe with its citizens, with activities organised in several Member States and online surveys; supports the organisation of citizen dialogues and asks for a regular improvement of those initiatives, in order to duly involve Union citizens, whilst avoiding overlap with the activities of other EU-institutions; invites the Committee to communicate detailed results in this regard in its annual activity report for 2017;
Amendment 40 #
2017/2142(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. RegretsConsiders it unacceptable that the whistleblower file of the Committee’s former internal auditor is still not closed; insists that the Committee do its utmost tomust find a just, honourable and equitable settlement of the case as soon as possiblewithout delay; requests that the Committee keep Parliament informed of its progress;
Amendment 9 #
2017/2141(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Takes note of the launching of reflections about the modernisation of the Committee; asks to be informed of the initiative and its developments; asks the Committee to provide the discharge authority with clarifications of expenditure in connection to this modernisation, in order to boost transparency and accountability and publish the cost-benefits assessment;
Amendment 10 #
2017/2141(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concerned with the high amount of expenditure related to travel expenses and allowances of the Committee members; notes that the final appropriations for travel and subsistence allowances for members were EUR 19 561 194 which accounted for 97,01 % (EUR 18 975 764 out of EUR 19 561 194) as well as for the delegates which accounted for 96,40 % (EUR 455 354 out of EUR 472 382 ); calls on the Committee to provide a detailed breakdown of members’ and delegates’ expenditure, particularly those concerning item 1004, in its next annual activity report, and asks for the adoption of by the end of June 2018; urges the Committee to immediately adopt appropriate measures in order to make savings and reduce environmental pollution; urges the Committee membersto reduce travel expenditure for members and delegates and asks for the cost-benefits assessment of those missions for the Union and visited countries; asks the Committee to provide the discharge authority with a list of the visited countries in 2016; asks the Committee to increase the use of video-conference and telepresence facilities, which may contribute to economic savings, such as on travel expenses;
Amendment 15 #
2017/2141(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concerned with the high amount of expenditure related to travel expenses and allowances of the Committee members; notes that the final appropriations for travel and subsistence allowances for members were EUR 19 561 194; calls on the Committee to provide a detailed breakdown of members’ expenditure, particularly those concerning item 1004, in its next annual activity report, and asks for the adoption of appropriate measures in order to make savings and reduce environmental pollution, whenever feasible; urges the Committee members to consider the option of increaseing the use of videoconference and telepresence facilities, which may contribute to economic savings, such as on travel expenses;
Amendment 31 #
2017/2141(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Is concerned that for 9 out of 22 tenders in 2016 the contracts were awarded without competition to the only company that had applied for the tender; asks the Committee to take the necessary measures to ensure a competition among tenders so that the contracts can be attributed on a competitive basis;
Amendment 34 #
2017/2141(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Regrets the fact that the Committee is only now preparing draft guidelines on the prevention of conflicts of interest in the context of social dialogue; notes that the draft guidelines are currently being finalised through a dialogue with the socio-professional organisations; asks the Committee to speed-up the finalisation process, to timely adopt the guidelines on the preventing of the conflict of interest including listing membership to any other organisation and to publish them on the website;
Amendment 35 #
2017/2141(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Deplores the fact that neither the President, nor the Vice-Presidents and the Secretariat have published declarations of interest on the Committee’s website and urges the Committee to publish them by the end of June 2018 listing membership to any other organisations; deplores the fact that members declarations of interest are published in various languages and different formats limiting the public access to them; urges the Committee to publish them in an unique format and in one of the three languages of the Union by the end of June 2018;
Amendment 36 #
2017/2141(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Is concerned that pursuant to Article 11 of the Staff Regulations, each new recruit is obliged to provide a statement of absence of conflicts of interest instead of declaration of conflicts of interest; underlines that it is not for any person to state her/his absence of conflicts of interest; reiterates that a neutral body should assess the existence of conflicts of interest; urges therefore the Committee to put forward a unique and complete form of declaration of conflicts of interest to replace the declaration of absence of interest;
Amendment 37 #
2017/2141(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)
Paragraph 17 c (new)
17c. Regrets the absence of provisions against “revolving doors” and urges the Committee to establish and implement severe rules against such practices;
Amendment 39 #
2017/2141(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Regrets the case linked to harassment in the Committee which cost it EUR 55 772; regrets that 20 other staff members contacted the Committee's network of confidential counsellors with a perceived harassment-related issue; calls on the Committee to improve its policy in this regard in order to further prevent any form of psychological and sexual harassment.; asks the Committee to report the discharge authority on the measures envisaged to implement in improving this aspect;
Amendment 11 #
2017/2139(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Is concerned that the CJEU consistently overestimates the commitments required for missions and calls on the CJEU to reassess the amount allocated to the corresponding budgetary item when preparing its estimates for the 2019 budget;
Amendment 13 #
2017/2139(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Requests the CJEU to introduce a more targeted performance based approach in respect of the external activities of judges for the dissemination of EU law, as the criterion used seems rather general and the effects of these activities are not clearly measured;
Amendment 20 #
2017/2139(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Urges the CJEU to publish curricula vitae and declarations of interest for all CJEU members, listing membership to any other organisations;
Amendment 21 #
2017/2139(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9 b. Regrets the absence of rules on 'revolving doors' and urges the CJEU to establish and implement strict obligations in regard thereto;
Amendment 55 #
2017/2139(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the CJEU’s adoption of guidelines on information for and protection of whistleblowers in the beginning of 2016 and recalls that the protection of whistleblowers is one of the main issues in public administration.; calls on the CJEU to provide its staff with training on the 2016 guidelines, highlighting whistleblowers' vital role in bringing wrongdoing to light; calls on the CJEU to encourage its staff to take advantage of the 2016 guidelines in appropriate cases;
Amendment 2 #
2017/2138(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Grants/Refuses to grant the Secretary- General of the Council discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Council and of the Council for the financial year 2016;
Amendment 6 #
2017/2138(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Deeply regrets that the recommendations of the Parliament have not been followed up at all and that no reason or justification has been given; insists that the Council implements the observations made in Parliament resolution 18 April 2018 (P8_TA- PROV(2018)0125), in particular the below mentioned observations, and immediately reacts to the observations;
Amendment 8 #
2017/2138(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Regrets that the Council has not provided information on its response and progress made following the European Ombudsman strategic report on the ‘Transparency of the Council legislative process’ (OI/2/2017/TE)Notes that Council is still working on the reply to the European Ombudsman strategic report on the ‘Transparency of the Council legislative process’ (OI/2/2017/TE), despite the fact that the European Ombudsman requested a reply to her recommendations and suggestions for improvements by 9 May 2018; acknowledges that Council engages in serious and thorough research in preparing its reply but nevertheless urges Council to respect the request of the Ombudsman; recalls that the European Ombudsman also sent her findings to Parliament and that two of its committees are currently working on a report on the findings for which reason Council is called upon to transmit its reply and findings to Parliament as soon as possible;
Amendment 11 #
2017/2138(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that the Council replied to the Parliament proposal on the Council discharge exercise procedure on 2 May 2018 with an amended proposal, and that coordinators from Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control decided that exploratory exchanges should takWelcomes the informal exchanges that took place between Parliament and Council in order to discuss solutions to the current impasse in respect of the discharge procedure and to improve their relationship; notes that Council replied to the Parliament proposal on the Council discharge exercise procedure on 2 May 2018 with an amended proposal, and that following an informal meeting between Parliament and Council on 10 July, the Budgetary Control Committee sent its reaction to Council’s amended proposal on 21 July 2018; urges Council to react to the place before a formal meeting between representatives of the two institutions is held; test proposals from the Budgetary Control Committee swiftly, so that the new arrangements for the discharge exercise can be applied as soon as possible;
Amendment 12 #
2017/2138(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 13 #
2017/2138(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 4 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 a (new)
Subheading 1 a (new)
Oversight over Parliament’s budgetary and financial management
Amendment 5 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph –1 (new)
Paragraph –1 (new)
-1 Notes that the formal oversight system of Parliament’s budgetary and financial management consists of four main components: (a) the certification of the final accounts by Parliament’s accounting officer; (b) the annual reports of the internal auditor and his opinion on the internal control system; (c) the assessment of administrative and other expenditure for all the Union institutions, including Parliament, by its external auditor, the Court of Auditors (the “Court”);and (d) the discharge procedure prepared by CONT resulting in a decision of Parliament on granting the President of Parliament discharge.
Amendment 6 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph –1 a (new)
Paragraph –1 a (new)
-1a Notes that the annual report of the internal auditor contains findings based on specific audit work; aims to improve budgetary and financial management but not to provide a comprehensive picture of Parliament’s budgetary and financial management; notes, similarly, that the Court’s report represents the results of a small sample (41 transactions) in respect of Parliament’s transactions;
Amendment 7 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph –1 b (new)
Paragraph –1 b (new)
-1b Welcomes the fact that the Court has increased the sample relating to the number of Parliament´s transactions, and encourages the Court to continue on this path, as the reputational risk is relatively high, given that financial and budgetary errors might impact negatively on the standing of the institution;
Amendment 8 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph –1 c (new)
Paragraph –1 c (new)
-1c Encourages the Court to consider issuing more special reports on specific areas of Parliament’s operations, such as its communication policies and its management of the grants for European political parties and foundations with a special focus on performance based budgeting;
Amendment 9 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph –1 d (new)
Paragraph –1 d (new)
-1d Welcomes the follow-up that is given by the administration to strengthen the in-house expertise on accounts and auditing by setting up an additional service for Members involved in the discharge procedures relating to Union institutions thus providing help and support on how to understand and interpret the outcome of annual accounting and audit reports;
Amendment 16 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 18 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Notes the specific findings concerning Parliament contained in the annual report of the Court for 2016; notes that for one payment to a political group, the Court found weaknesses in checks on the authorisation and settlement of expenditure made in 2015 but cleared in 2016; notes, in addition, that the Court found that payments were made without being covered by contracts resulting from a procurement procedure; notes, finally, that the Court detected similar shortcomings in a transaction relating to another political group in 2015;
Amendment 19 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Takes note of the Court’s recommendation that the ParliamentNotes the responses given by Parliament to the Court during the adversarial procedure; asks the Court to keep the responsible committee informed on the implementation of its recommendation to review itsthe framework for monitoring the implementation of budget appropriations allocated to political groups, and to provide better guidance and monitorto political groups and monitor more effectively how they application of the rules more effectivelyy the rules for authorising and settling expenditure, and how they carry out procurement procedures;
Amendment 20 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 28 #
2017/2137(DEC)
18a. Regrets, however, that many of the recommendations in the 2015 discharge resolution have not been followed up and that no reason or justification has been given; expresses its deep concern that neither the Bureau, nor the Secretary- General published a progress report or did not make sufficient progress on the following requests for action or decision by the Bureau or the Secretary-General: - the call for Bureau agendas to be published on the Intranet well in advance of the meetings and for the minutes of the meetings to be published more promptly, without waiting until they are available into all languages and the call to publish on Parliament’s website the relevant documents submitted to the Bureau by the Secretary-General in a machine-readable format, unless the nature of the information contained therein makes this impossible, as is the case, for example for the protection of personal data; - the call on the Secretary-General to develop a system that Members can use to publish details of their meetings with interest representatives; - the call on the Secretary-General to make it possible for Members who wish to publish on their own websites details of payments to them of Parliament allowances, with appropriate data records that can be easily reprocessed; - the call on Parliament´s administration to produce a report on the use of Parliament´s premises by interest representatives and other external organisations; - its concerns about the current code of conduct for Members that may need to be further improved in order to avoid conflicts of interests paying specific attention to: - paid side-jobs for Members; - lobbying activities directed towards the European institutions of former Members while they are entitled to a transition allowance; - the registration of declarations of Members´ Interests; - the composition and competences of the advisory committee; - the call on the Bureau to enter into dialogue with the local authorities to see how the latter can contribute to the financing of the House of European History; - the call on the Bureau to ensure that social and pension rights are guaranteed for APAs that have worked with no interruption for the last two legislative parliamentary terms; - the call on the Bureau to reconsider the possibility for APAs, at certain conditions to be set, to accompany Members in official Parliament Delegations and Missions;
Amendment 29 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Reiterates its call to the Bureau to follow-up all discharge decisions as follows from rule 25 of the Rules of Procedure, Article 6, Annex IV of the Rules of Procedure and Article 166 of the Financial Regulation;
Amendment 38 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Notes that attention paid to performance based budgeting still varies between the directorates-general, and is still at a preliminary stage in parts of the administration; calls upon the Secretary- General to ensure that clear, measurable targets are set and monitored throughout the administration;
Amendment 39 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 c (new)
Paragraph 23 c (new)
23c. Acknowledges that, according to the Court, the costs of the geographic dispersion of Parliament amount to EUR 114 million per year and notes the finding, in its resolution of 20 November 2013 on the location of the seats of the Union’s Institutions, that 78 % of all missions by Parliament staff coming under the Staff Regulations arise as a direct result of the fact that Parliament’s services are geographically dispersed; recalls that the estimate of the environmental impact of that dispersal is between 11 000 to 19 000 tonnes of CO2 emissions; calls on the Council to find a solution for this waste of taxpayers money;
Amendment 61 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Notes that DG COMM launched a new multi-annual work programme for grants in the area of media and events organisation covering the period 2016- 2019; acknowledges that for the award of a grant in the media category, 102 framework partnership agreements were established and 48 grant applications were selected for a total amount of EUR 3,99 million; notes that in the area of events organisation, 18 projects were selected for the award of a grant for a total amount of EUR 0,8 million; calls on DG COMM to concentrate on a more active approach towards those who are not automatically interested in Parliament’s activities or who may even be sceptical about its functioning;
Amendment 77 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Notes that the amount of spectators of the LUX Prize is still very low and raises the question whether the Prize is justifiable;
Amendment 78 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 b (new)
Paragraph 31 b (new)
31b. Reiterates its call on the Bureau to stay into dialogue with the local authorities to see how the latter can further contribute to the financing of the House of European History;
Amendment 79 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 c (new)
Paragraph 31 c (new)
31c. Expresses its deep concerns about the risk of the House of European History, in particular relating to the large number and complexity of loans and acquisition contracts for the permanent collection; is, furthermore, deeply concerned about the shortage of appropriate storage rooms inside and near the House of European History and the Parliament premises that pose a real risk to the preservation of artworks; calls on the Bureau to request the Secretary- General to investigate the possibility of using replica in order to avoid costly consequences for the Parliament due to any damage to artworks;
Amendment 80 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 d (new)
Paragraph 31 d (new)
31d. Notes that, by 31 December 2016, a total of 5 375 officials and temporary staff were employed within the Secretariat (a decrease of 16 compared with 31 December 2015) and a total of 806 officials and temporary staff were employed within the political groups (an increase of 35 compared with 31 December 2015); notes that, together with contract agents, DG PERS was responsible for 9.617 staff (an increase of 264 compared with 31 December 2015);
Amendment 81 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 d (new)
Paragraph 31 d (new)
31d. Notes that at 1 January 2016, 57 posts were deleted from Parliament’s establishment plan in accordance with the 2014 revision of the Staff Regulations and the MFF for 2014-2020;
Amendment 90 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Recognises that, for certain activities, such as running the canteens and cleaning, outsourcing has been Parliament’s preferred option and that, as a consequence, for certain DGs, the number of external staff on Parliament’s premises may even exceed the number of officials;
Amendment 91 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)
Paragraph 35 b (new)
35b. Notes, however, that such outsourcing decisions cannot provide an explanation for the use of all external staff and that, for example in the Directorate-General Innovation and Technological Support (DG ITEC), the ratio between external staff and officials is difficult to explain;
Amendment 92 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 c (new)
Paragraph 35 c (new)
35c. Reiterates the opinion that external staff should not be used to compensate for the reduction of the number of posts as agreed in the context of the 2014 revision of the Staff Regulations and the current MFF;
Amendment 93 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 d (new)
Paragraph 35 d (new)
35d. Notes that, at the end of 2016, there were 1 924 accredited parliamentary assistants (APAs) working at Parliament, compared to 1 791 a year before; calls for special consideration of the rights of APAs and local assistants, as their contracts are directly linked to the mandate of the Members they support, bearing in mind that APAs are members of staff holding Parliament employment contracts, while local assistants are subject to various national legislations;
Amendment 94 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 e (new)
Paragraph 35 e (new)
35e. Reiterates its concern about the alleged practice of Members obliging APAs to undertake missions, particularly to Strasbourg, without mission orders, without mission costs or simply without travel costs; is of opinion that such a practice leaves room for abuse: where APAs travel without a mission order they not only have to pay for the costs by their own means, they are also not covered by workplace insurance; calls on the Secretary-General to investigate this alleged practice and to report on this by the end of the year;
Amendment 95 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 f (new)
Paragraph 35 f (new)
35f. Reiterates its call on the Bureau to ensure that social and pension rights are guaranteed for APAs that have worked with no interruption for the last two legislative parliamentary terms; in this regard, reiterates its invitation to the administration to put forward a proposal that takes into account the decision to have early elections in 2014 and the time spent in the recruitment procedure, when calculating the 10 year service period required by the Staff Regulations;
Amendment 96 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 g (new)
Paragraph 35 g (new)
35g. Reiterates its call on the Conference of Presidents and the Bureau to reconsider the possibility for APAs, at certain conditions to be set, to accompany Members in official Parliament Delegations and Missions, as already requested by several Members; calls on the Secretary-General to investigate the budgetary consequences, and the organisation and logistics of these missions;
Amendment 97 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 h (new)
Paragraph 35 h (new)
35h. Notes that Parliament is providing a budget to the Staff Committee, calls for a similar budget for the Accredited Parliamentary Assistants Committee , since they fulfil tasks provided by the statute, useful for all institutions and Members;
Amendment 98 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 i (new)
Paragraph 35 i (new)
35i. Calls on the administration to involve the Accredited Parliamentary Assistants Committee in the decision making process of all rules that might concern Accredited Parliamentary Assistants Committee exclusively or commonly with all the other categories of staff represented by the Staff Committee;
Amendment 99 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 j (new)
Paragraph 35 j (new)
35j. Welcomes the interest in keeping staff with British citizenship who have become European civil servants, asks the Secretary-General to report on the potential risks for British staff and on how to ensure that British staff do not become victims of Brexit, and that their statutory, contractual and acquired rights are fully safeguarded;
Amendment 100 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 k (new)
Paragraph 35 k (new)
35k. Welcomes the exchange of views of the Bureau on changing Parliaments rules governing internships offered by Members and political groups, asks the Secretary-General to report on the developments on this issue, asks the Bureau to investigate a modification of the Rules on the Use of Appropriations from Budget Item 400;
Amendment 120 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Notes that the updated proposal for the Parliament’s medium-term building strategy, taking into account recent developments on the Luxembourg and Strasbourg premises, should be focused on the Brussels premises and in particular on the future of the Paul-Henri Spaak building; notes in addition that crucial Brexit-related factors defining the future of the building policy, such as potential consequences of Brexit on multilingualism, on the number of posts for officials in the establishment plan and on the number of Members of the European Parliament are still unknown; acknowledges that reliable planning can be done only after the Brexit process has come to its conclusion; asks the Secretary-General to propose a detailed plan on how the staff will be handled;
Amendment 129 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Notes that the revision of prices in Parliament’s self-service canteen was required in order to move away from subsidised services and towards a concession type of contract, where the catering provider bears the full economic and commercial risk; welcomhowever, expresses its concerns about the unjustified price increases in the restaurants, requests an internal audit on the price raise with an average of 6%, notes the fact that trainees in the Parliament continue to be entitled to a discount of EUR 0,50 on the main dishes in all self-service restaurants in Brussels and Luxembourg, considers, however, that, taking into account their average pay levels and the high prices charged, these discounts are not sufficient to have even a minimal impact on their finances; reiterates its call on the Secretary-General to grant price reductions in line with their earnings; asks DG INLO to monitor future price increases to ensure the services remain appropriately and fairly priced;
Amendment 131 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Paragraph 43 a (new)
43a. Reiterates its deep regret regarding the decision to change the furniture in the offices of Members and their assistants in Brussels; notes that most of the furniture is perfectly serviceable and presentable, and that there is therefore absolutely no need to change it; reconsiders that feedback from a number of Members – as opposed to a general survey – is not, on its own, sufficient justification for the change, while arguments put forward by the administration on matters of taste, fashion or outdated style are equally inadequate; individual items of furniture should only be changed if there are clear signs of deterioration, major wear and tear or health risk at the workplace of a specific or general nature (such as the possible development of more ergonomic office desks or chairs);
Amendment 134 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 b (new)
Paragraph 43 b (new)
43b. Reminds the Secretary-General to the outcome of the survey of the Staff Committee regarding shared offices for staff that resulted in 3000 reactions and 80% of the staff who are against shared offices; calls the Secretary-General to prepare a solution for the consultation and to follow up the results of the survey;
Amendment 136 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 c (new)
Paragraph 43 c (new)
43c. Calls on the Secretary-General to develop a voluntary and transparent mobility policy that takes interests and skills of staff into account in the framework of a genuine career development strategy; several jobs are to be excluded from the mobility exercise given the specialised qualifications, e.g. the Translation assistants, sufficiently long transitional measures should be put in place and the specific situation of colleagues in the Information Offices must be taken into account, the accelerated mobility for newly recruited staff should be abolished;
Amendment 139 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Notes that the overall average number of hours per week staff interpreters spent delivering interpretation services in their booth increased from 11:54 in 2014 to 13:25 in 2016; recalls that, when the staff regulations were revised in 2013, the weekly working time for all staff of the European institutions increased from 37,5 to 40-42 hours which resulted in an increase in the weekly working time in the interpretation service as well; encourages future cooperation between the trade unions and the Secretary-General; notes that the increase in the committed appropriations for ´other staff´ was partly explained by the increased need for external interpretation in 2016 (EUR 2,2 million up over 2015), moreover, for meetings of political groups, as well as for committee meetings, increasingly there is a lack of interpretation for all languages, finally, also the scheduling of committee meetings at irregular hours is partly attributed to the need for efficient use of interpretation capacity;
Amendment 140 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 a (new)
Paragraph 45 a (new)
45a. Calls for an urgent solution for the risk of technical and functional obsolescence of the IT systems used by DG Finance;
Amendment 149 #
Amendment 152 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47a. Notes that the voluntary pension fund increased its actuarial deficit to EUR 326,2 million at the end of 2016; further notes that at the end of 2016, the amount of net assets to be taken into account and the actuarial commitment amount to EUR 146,4 million and EUR 472,6 million respectively;
Amendment 155 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 b (new)
Paragraph 47 b (new)
47b. Recalls that these projected future liabilities are spread over several decades but notes that the total amount paid in 2016 by the voluntary pension fund amounts to EUR 16,6 million;
Amendment 167 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 c (new)
Paragraph 47 c (new)
47c. Points out that this raises concerns about the possible exhaustion of the fund and that Parliament is the guarantor for the payment of pension rights when and if this fund is unable to meet its obligations;
Amendment 168 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 d (new)
Paragraph 47 d (new)
Amendment 169 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 e (new)
Paragraph 47 e (new)
47e. Recalls Paragraph 108 of last year’s discharge resolution that calls for an assessment of the current situation of the pension fund; welcomes the Secretary- General´s announcement that he will submit to the Bureau a plan of action concerning the Pension Fund and requests the Bureau to consider in this respect also the functioning of the Insurance Company administering the Fund, as well as to consider publishing the names of those who benefit of the Fund, insofar as this is in line with Union legislation on the protection of personal data;
Amendment 176 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 f (new)
Paragraph 47 f (new)
47f. Welcomes the decision of the Bureau to create an ad-hoc Working Group for defining and publishing the rules concerning the use of the general expenditure allowance (GEA); reminds the Bureau that the plenary has already appealed for greater transparency and an urgent need to audit the GEA; believes any revision of the GEA should incorporate previously adopted discharge recommendations concerning transparency and financial accountability;
Amendment 183 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
49. Acknowledges that, in the framework of the cybersecurity action plan, the “cybersecurity culture” pillar focuses on awareness-raising and training activities to ensure that the Parliament’s ICT users are informed of the risks and contribute to its first line of defence in this regard; takes note of the awareness-raising campaign concerning cybersecurity risks, which includes visual reminders throughout the Parliament’s premises, articles published on the Parliament’s internal newsletter concerning cybersecurity and information sessions for MEPs, assistants and staff; however, expresses its concern regarding the threats against cyber security; welcomes the appointment of the Chief Information Security Officer, the creation of an ICT Security Unit with a Security Management and a Security Operations team; calls on the Secretary-General to investigate the possibility of adopting a 100% in-house expertise system, also in order to avoid a high turnover rate;
Amendment 184 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 a (new)
Paragraph 51 a (new)
51a. Reiterates the call in its 2014 and 2015 discharge resolution for the creation of an emergency rapid alert system which allows DG ITEC, in collaboration with the Directorate-General for Security and Safety (DG SAFE), to send swift communications by SMS or e-mail to Members and staff that agree to their contact details being included on a communication list for use in specific emergency situations;
Amendment 187 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 a (new)
Paragraph 52 a (new)
Amendment 188 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 b (new)
Paragraph 52 b (new)
52b. Calls on DG SAFE’s security staff, in the case of evacuations, to carefully check the entire building for which they are responsible, to ensure that is has been evacuated and provide assistance to persons who are hearing-impaired or who have any other form of disability, when people have to be evacuated;
Amendment 201 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 a (new)
Paragraph 64 a (new)
64a. Notes with concern that, in the cases of the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists, the European Alliance for Freedom and the Alliance for Peace and Freedom (major) irregularities have been detected, relating to prohibited direct or indirect financing of national parties and to donations;
Amendment 203 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 b (new)
Paragraph 64 b (new)
64b. Expresses its concern about the reputational risk for Parliament any such irregularities constitute and is convinced of the need for quick and effective action to prevent and address any similar irregularities in the future; considers however that these irregularities are limited to a limited number of political parties and foundations; is of the opinion that these irregularities should not question the financial management of the other political parties and foundations;
Amendment 205 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 c (new)
Paragraph 64 c (new)
64c. Is aware of the new regulations, namely Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 and Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1142/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014, which will start to affect the funding of European political parties and foundations for the financial year 2018, and of the important role of the newly established Authority for European political parties and European political foundations, as well as of the on-going discussions in the Bureau of the proposals of the Secretary-General to address a number of issues not resolved by those Regulations; acknowledges that the Commission proposal to amend the Regulation No 1141/2014 is an improvement, calls on Parliament’s internal auditor to make a new audit report on the financing of the European political parties and foundations as soon as possible after the entry into force of the new Regulation;
Amendment 207 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 d (new)
Paragraph 64 d (new)
64d. Calls on the Bureau, in so far as the principle of confidentiality allows it, to facilitate access to the underlying documents contained in the final reports of European political parties and foundations and, in particular the accounts and the audits undertaken;
Amendment 209 #
2017/2137(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 e (new)
Paragraph 64 e (new)
64e. Requests the new established Authority to submit a progress report to Parliament after its first year of activity, namely 2017; and calls on the Secretary- General to ensure that the authority will have at his disposal all necessary resources to fulfil its tasks;
Amendment 52 #
2017/2136(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Commission to ensure a balanced composition of expert groups; takes note of the Corporate Europe Observatory report of 14 February 2017 “Corporate interests continue to dominate key expert groups” 1a ; is concerned with its conclusion, specifically of the imbalance in the expert groups GEAR2030, Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information, Joint Transfer Pricing Forum, Platform for Good Tax Governance and the Working Group on Motor Vehicles subgroup Real Driving Emissions - Light Duty Vehicles; considers that the European Parliament has still not received a formal answer to its resolution on “Control of the Register and composition of the Commission’s expert groups” of 14 February 2017 1b; calls upon the Commission to yield a thorough response without delay; _________________ 1ahttps://corporateeurope.org/expert- groups/2017/02/corporate-interests- continue-dominate-key-expert-groups 1b (2015/2319(INI))
Amendment 26 #
2017/2131(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Emphasises that whistleblowers and investigative journalists play an essential role in helping Member States prevent and tackle any breaches of the principle of integrity or misuse of power at national level; stresses that, in this regard, whistleblowers and investigative journalists contribute greatly to increasing the democratic quality of, and the trust in, public institutions by making them directly accountable to citizens and more transparent; calls on Hungary to adopt provisions protecting whistleblowers and investigative journalists in its national law and to apply such provisions consistently and without delay;
Amendment 30 #
2017/2131(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes with concern that the share of contracts awarded after public procurement procedures that received only a single bid remains very high, at 36%, in Hungary, which is the second highest number in the Union; calls on the Hungarian government to publish a complete annual list on its website of all contractors who obtained contracts with a value of more than EUR 15 000, and to include on this list the name and address of the contractor, the type and subject of the contract, its duration, its value, the procedure followed and the responsible authority;
Amendment 37 #
2017/2131(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that Hungary has the highest percentage in the Union of financial recommendations from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) regarding the Structural Funds and Agriculture for the 2013-2016 period; stresses that the overall financial impact of OLAF cases in Hungary is four times higher than that of national investigations; calls on the Commission and on Hungary to take the necessary efforts to combat fraud with respect to Union funds.
Amendment 24 #
2017/2089(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Expresses its concern about the lack of systematic human rights impact assessments preceding the adoption by the Commission of its legislative proposals and calls on the Commission to provide for systematic forms of consultation of bodies and institutions with expertise on human rights in general and on the European Charter of Fundamental Rights in particular; refers in this respect to the Fundamental Rights Agency, but also to the relevant bodies of the Council of Europe and of the United Nations:
Amendment 38 #
2017/2089(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that Article 51, paragraph 1 of the Charter calls for the promotion of the rights and principles of the Charter and regrets that so far the EU does not have at its disposal a mechanism that would allow to systematically screen developments within the EU institutions and bodies as well as within Member States that would call for action to protect and fulfil the rights, freedoms and principles of the Charter; calls on the Commission to submit its ideas in this respect to Parliament and Council through a specific Communication;
Amendment 39 #
2017/2089(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that the Charter’s application also extends to the EU agencies; e. States that, whenever regulations or decisions setting up Agencies are drafted or revised, a reference should be included to the need for Agencies to respect, within their respective mandates, the Charter as well as international human rights law. Calls upon all Agencies to adopt a fundamental rights strategy, including a code of conduct for their staff and a mechanism for dealing with the detection and reporting of any violation of fundamental rights. Encourages in particular Frontex and the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) to work on a culture of fundamental rights, not only for application in their general policies but also in the daily activities of the border and coast guards, as well as the asylum officers, assigned to these agencies;
Amendment 55 #
2017/2089(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Commission to systematically carry out human rights impact assessments before concluding external agreements, in particular, trade agreements.
Amendment 176 #
2017/2068(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Notes with concern that there is a lack of qualified IT professionals working on cybersecurity; urges Member States to invest in education;
Amendment 184 #
2017/2068(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on all Member States to create or assign a national focal point to which businesses and consumers can report malicious e-mails and websites; considers that each focal point should maintain a database recording all types of cybercrime and including easy-to- understand examples; calls on the Commission to ensure coordination of a smooth exchange of information from the national databases, inter alia by facilitating the setting up of a rapid alert system identifying new practices and an easy-search system making it possible to identify a specific type of cybercrime before having become a victim of it;
Amendment 195 #
2017/2068(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to launch awareness-raising campaigns to ensure that citizens, in particular children and other vulnerable users, and the private sector, especially small and medium sized enterprises, are aware of the risks posed by cybercrime, and to promote the use of security measures such as encryption;
Amendment 211 #
2017/2068(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that businesses should conduct regular vulnerability assessments, fix existing vulnerabilities in their products or services and consistently report cyber- attacks; underlines that SMEs should have access to objective information and assistance in cases of (attempts of) cybercrime;
Amendment 168 #
2017/2044(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62 a (new)
Paragraph 62 a (new)
62 a. Stresses that the need for greater transparency regarding GEAs for MEPs makes it advisable for each MEP to submit end-of-year public reports of the accounts relating to those allowances; calls, in addition, for such public reporting to become mandatory as from 2019 following the revision of the Statute for Members;
Amendment 173 #
2017/2044(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65 a (new)
Paragraph 65 a (new)
65 a. Recalls the 2013 Fox-Häfner report, which estimated the costs of the geographic dispersion of the Parliament to be between EUR 156 million and EUR 204 million and equivalent to 10 % of the Parliament's budget; notes the finding that 78 % of all missions by Parliament statutory staff arise as a direct result of the Parliament's geographic dispersion; emphasises that the report also estimates the environmental impact of the geographic dispersion to be between 11,000 to 19,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions; reiterates the negative public perception caused by this dispersion and calls therefore for a roadmap to a single seat and a reduction in the relevant budget lines;
Amendment 129 #
2017/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 12 a (new)
(12 a) 'high-speed rail passenger service' means rail passenger service using lines that operate in excess of 200 kilometres per hour during the complete journey or parts of the journey;
Amendment 142 #
2017/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Passengers shall be entitled to take bicycles on board the train, where appropriate for a reasonable fee. They shall keep their bicycles under supervision during the journey and ensure that no inconvenience or damage is caused to other passengers, mobility equipment, luggagAll new or refurbished rolling stock shall include a designated space for rail operations. Tthe carriage of bicycles may be refused or restricted for safety or operational reasons, provided that r. Railway undertakings, ticket vendors, tour operators and, where appropriate, station managers inform passengers of the conditions for such a refusal or restrictionbicycle carriage on all services in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 454/2011.
Amendment 179 #
2017/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. In order to make passengers aware of all options before buying an international through-ticket, railway undertakings shall jointly set up a European on-line platform indicating all possible connections between European cities and their time schedules;
Amendment 269 #
2017/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Article 18 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. In case of a missed connection due to delay or cancellation of a train on an earlier leg of the journey the passenger should, regardless of the type of ticket a passenger is travelling with, be allowed to take the next service enabling them to reach their destination.
Amendment 282 #
2017/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1
Article 22 – paragraph 1
1. On departure from, transit through or arrival at, a staffed railway station of a person with disabilities or a person with reduced mobility, the station manager or the railway undertaking or both shall provide assistance free of charge in such a way that that person is able to board the departing service, or to disembark from the arriving service for which he or she purchased a ticket, without prejudice to the access rules referred to in Article 20(1). The booking of assistance shall always be free of charge, irrespective of the communication channel being used.
Amendment 71 #
2017/0228(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Under Regulation (EU) 2016/679, Member States may neither restrict nor prohibit the free movement of personal data within the Union for reasons connected with the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data. This Regulation establishes the same principle of free movement within the Union for non-personal data except when a restriction or a prohibition would be justified for security reasons. Regulation (EU)2016/679 requires, inter alia, that personal data should be processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner, collected for specified, explicit purposes and not further processed in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes, and that the controller shall be responsible for, and be able to demonstrate compliance with these requirements. The principle of integrity and confidentiality as set out in the General Data Protection Regulation stipulates that personal data be processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of the personal data, including protection against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage, using appropriate technical or organisational measures. Therefore, where personal data and non-personal data are inextricably linked in a data set, Regulation(EU) 2016/679 is applicable to the whole set.
Amendment 143 #
2017/0228(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. This Regulation shall not apply to all data that falls under Regulation (EU)2016/679; in the case of data sets which contain personal and non-personal data, these data sets shall be excluded from the scope of this Regulation.
Amendment 29 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Title 0
Title 0
Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on combating fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment, including fraudulent payment requests, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/413/JHA (This amendment applies throughout the text.)
Amendment 37 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
Amendment 40 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Common definitions in this area are important to ensure a consistent approach in Member States’ application of this Directive. The definitions need to cover new types of payment instruments, such as electronic money and virtual currencies, as well as fraudulent payment requests.
Amendment 41 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Effective and efficient criminal law measures are essential to protect non-cash means of payment against fraud and counterfeiting. In particular, a common criminal law approach is needed to the constituent elements of criminal conduct that contribute to or prepare the way for the actual fraudulent use of means of payment. Behaviour such as the collection and possession of payment instruments with the intention to commit fraud, through, for instance, phishing or skimming, and their distribution, for example by selling credit card information on the internet, should thus be made a criminal offence in its own right without being directly linked to the actual fraudulent use of means of payment. So such criminal conduct should also cover circumstances where possession, procurement or distribution does not necessarily lead to fraudulent use of such payment instruments, if the offender is aware of such a possibility (dolus eventualis). This Directive does not sanction the legitimate use of a payment instrument, including and in relation to the provision of innovative payment services, such as services commonly developed by fintech companies.
Amendment 60 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) A number of instruments and mechanisms exist at Union level to enable the exchange of information among national law enforcement authorities to investigate and prosecute crimes. To facilitate and speed up cooperation among national law enforcement authorities and make sure that those instruments and mechanisms are used to their fullest extent, this Directive should strengthen the importance of the operational points of contact introduced by Council Framework Decision 2001/413/JHA. Member States may decide to make use of the existing network of operational points of contact, such as that set up in Directive 2013/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council48 . They should provide effective assistance, for example facilitating the exchange of relevant information and the provision of technical advice or legal information. To ensure the network runs smoothly, each point of contact should be able to communicate quickly with the point of contact of another Member State. Given the significant trans-border dimension of this area of crime and in particular the volatile nature of the electronic evidence, Member States should be able to promptly deal with urgent requests from this network of points of contact and provide feedback within eight hours. In addition, the operational national points of contact should be used to report and exchange information regarding fraudulent payment requests. The Commission should facilitate the setting-up of a rapid alert system identifying new fraudulent practices. _________________ 48 Directive 2013/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 August 2013 on attacks against information systems and replacing Council Framework Decision 2005/222/JHA (OJ L 218, 14.8.2013, p. 8).
Amendment 70 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) Fraud and counterfeiting of non- cash means of payment can result in serious economic and non-economic consequences for its victims. Where such fraud, for example, involves identity theft, its consequences are often aggravated because of reputational damage and serious emotional harm. Member States should adopt measures of assistance, support and protection aimed at mitigating these consequences.
Amendment 73 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) Member States should establish or strengthen policies to prevent fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment, and measures to reduce the risk of becoming victims of such offences, for example, by means of information and awareness- raising campaigns and research and education programmes.
Amendment 74 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) There is a need to collect comparable data on the offences laid down in this Directive. Relevant data should be made available to the competent specialised Union agencies and bodies, such as Europol, and the Commission in line with their tasks and information needs. The aim would be to gain a more complete picture of the problem of fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment and issues relating to payment security at Union level, and so contribute to formulating a more effective response. Member States should make full use of Europol's mandate and capacity to provide assistance and support to relevant investigations, by submitting information on the offenders’ modus operandi to Europol for the purpose of conducting strategic analyses and threat assessments of fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/794 of the European Parliament and of the Council52 . . Providing information can help better understand present and future threats and assist the Council and the Commission in laying down strategic and operational priorities of the Union for fighting crime and in the ways of implementing those priorities. _________________ 52 Regulation (EU) 2016/794 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and replacing and repealing Council Decisions 2009/371/JHA, 2009/934/JHA, 2009/935/JHA, 2009/936/JHA and 2009/968/JHA (OJ L 135, 24.5.2016, p. 53).
Amendment 77 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2 a Fraudulent payment requests For the purpose of this Directive ‘fraudulent payment requests’ means: 1. misleading payment forms disguised as invoices for services the victim has purportedly already ordered, where in fact the victim has not; 2. payment requests purporting to come from public authorities or companies, where in fact they are not; 3. advertising which intentionally deceives or is likely to deceive victims whom it reaches in order for the perpetrator to economically benefit from the victim.
Amendment 78 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – title
Article 3 – title
Fraudulent use of payment requests and instruments
Amendment 82 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) fraudulent payment requests
Amendment 83 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – title
Article 4 – title
Offences preparatory to the fraudulent use of payment instruments and requests
Amendment 94 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) preparing or executing fraudulent payment requests.
Amendment 101 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) (re)directing payment service users to imitation websites.
Amendment 118 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point a
Amendment 120 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) temporary or permanent disqualification from the practice of commercial activities;, including barring the legal person from public procurement in Member States and by the Union
Amendment 138 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. If multiple Member States have established jurisdiction over an offence, Member States shall consult each other in order to determine which of the Member States has final jurisdiction over the offence, bearing in mind the principle of ne bis in idem.
Amendment 150 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The operational national points of contact shall play an active role in sharing information between citizens, companies and public authorities about fraudulent practices as referred to in Articles 3 to 7. In addition, the operational national contact points shall regularly inform the public about the general findings in examples that are easy to understand.
Amendment 152 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 2
Article 13 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall inform the Commission, Europol and Eurojust of their appointed point of contact referred to in paragraph 1 and update this information as necessary. The Commission shall forward that information to the other Member States.
Amendment 153 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. When dealing with data as referred to in this Article, competent authorities shall comply with applicable Union data protection rules.
Amendment 160 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Operational national contact points shall inform the Commission of new fraudulent practices. The Commission shall set-up a rapid alert system to identify new fraudulent practices and to inform the operational national contact points and Europol as soon as possible about such new fraudulent practices.
Amendment 169 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 2
Article 17 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall ensure that a system is in place for the recording, production and provision of statistical data measuring the reporting, investigative and judicial phases concerning the offences referred to in Articles 3 to 7. The operational national point of contacts shall be responsible, given that their knowledge on fraudulent practices is most up to date.
Amendment 172 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 3
Article 17 – paragraph 3
3. The statistical data referred to in paragraph 2 shall, as a minimum, cover the number of offences referred to in Articles 3 to 7 reported to the Member States, the number of cases investigated, the number of persons prosecuted for and convicted of the offences referred to in Articles 3 to 7, the number of requests that are made through the operational national points of contact and data on the functioning of the reporting, investigative and judicial phases concerning these offences.
Amendment 174 #
2017/0226(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by [24 months after entry into force]. They shall immediatwithout undue delay inform the Commission thereof.
Amendment 99 #
2017/0225(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 55
Recital 55
(55) The purpose of European cybersecurity certification schemes should be to ensure that ICT products and services certified under such a scheme comply with specified requirements. Such requirements concern the ability to resist, at a given level of assurance, actions that aim to compromise the availability, authenticity, integrity and confidentiality of stored or transmitted or processed data or the related functions of or services offered by, or accessible via those products, processes, services and systems within the meaning of this Regulation. It is not possible to set out in detail in this Regulation the cybersecurity requirements relating to all ICT products and services. ICT products and services and related cybersecurity needs are so diverse that it is very difficult to come up with general cybersecurity requirements valid across the board. It is, therefore necessary to adopt a broad and general notion of cybersecurity for the purpose of certification, complemented by a set of specific cybersecurity objectives that need to be taken into account when designing European cybersecurity certification schemes. The modalities with which such objectives will be achieved in specific ICT products and services should then be further specified in detail at the level of the individual certification scheme adopted by the Commission, for example by reference to standards or technical specifications. Depending on the certification scheme, the specified requirements of the scheme could, in principle, make use of existing best practices where applicable.
Amendment 117 #
2017/0225(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 57
Recital 57
(57) RThe baseline ICT secourseity should be regulated in a to European cybersecurity certification should remain voluntaframework that should be mandatory, unless otherwise provided in Union or national legislation. However, with a view to achieving the objectives of this Regulation and avoiding the fragmentation of the internal market, national cybersecurity certification schemes or procedures for the ICT products and services covered by a European cybersecurity certification scheme should cease to produce effects from the date established by the Commission by means of the implementing act. Moreover, Member States should not introduce new national certification schemes providing cybersecurity certification schemes for ICT products and services already covered by an existing European cybersecurity certification scheme.
Amendment 356 #
2017/0225(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 47 – paragraph 1 – point m a (new)
Article 47 – paragraph 1 – point m a (new)
(ma) a mechanism and tools to efficiently manage minor version releases(s) or security updates (e.g. in relation to patching);
Amendment 371 #
2017/0225(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 48 – paragraph 2
Article 48 – paragraph 2
2. The certification shall be voluntary mandatory, unless otherwise specified in Union law.
Amendment 50 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) This objective requires that information on convictions handed down in the Member States be taken into account outside the convicting Member State, both in the course of new criminal proceedings, as laid down in Council Framework Decision 2008/675/JHA19, as well as in order to prevent new offences. _________________ 19 Council Framework Decision 2008/675/JHA of 24 July 2008 on taking account of convictions in the Member States of the European Union in the course of new criminal proceedings (OJ L220, 15.8.2008, p. 32).
Amendment 70 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) The ECRIS-TCN system should contain only the identity information of third country nationals convicted by a criminal court within the Union, to the extent that the decision is entered in the criminal record of the convicting Member State. Such identity information should include alphanumeric data, and fingerprint data in accordance with Framework Decision 2009/315/JHA, and facial images in as far as they are recorded in the national criminal records databases of the Member States.
Amendment 77 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
Amendment 79 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
Amendment 86 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Member States shouldmay also create records in the ECRIS-TCN system regarding third country nationals convicted prior to the entry into force of the Regulation in order to ensure the maximum effectiveness of the system. However, for this purpose Member States should not be obliged to collect information which was not already entered into their criminal records prior to the entry into force of this Regulation.
Amendment 88 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Improving the circulation of information on convictions should assist Member States in their implementation of Framework Decision 2008/675/JHA, which obliges the Member States to take account of previous convictions in other Member States in the course of new criminal proceedings, to the extent previous national convictions are taken into account in accordance with national law.
Amendment 91 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Member States should be obliged to make use of the ECRIS-TCN system in all cases where they receive a request for information on previous convictions of third country nationals in accordance with national law, and follow up on any hits with the Member States identified through the ECRIS system. This obligation should not be limited only to requests in connection with criminal investigations.
Amendment 107 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) Rules on the liability of the Member States and Union agencies making use of the ECRIS-TCN system in respect to damage arising from any breach of this Regulation should be laid down .
Amendment 113 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the establishment and operational management of the ECRIS- TCN system, implementing and delegated powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and the Council28 . _________________ 28 Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p.13)
Amendment 123 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point g
(g) 'third country national' means a national of a country other than a Member State regardless of whether the person also holds the nationality of a Member State, or a stateless person or a person whose nationality is unknown to the convicting Member Stateperson who is not a citizen of the Union within the meaning of Article 20(1) TFEU;
Amendment 128 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point l
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point l
(l) 'fingerprint data' means the data relating to plain and rolled impressions of the fingerprints of all ten fingersthat have been collected during criminal proceedings in accordance with national law;
Amendment 130 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point m
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point m
Amendment 140 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. For each convicted third country national, the central authority of the convicting Memberwhose data have been entered in the criminal record of the convicting Member State, the central authority of that State shall create a data record in the Central System. The data record shall include the following data:
Amendment 148 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Amendment 159 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6
Article 6
Amendment 166 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. When criminal records information on a third country national is requested in a Member State for the purposes of criminal proceedings against that third country national or for any purposes other than that of criminal proceedings in accordance with its national law, the central authority of that Member State shall use the ECRIS-TCN system to identify the Member State(s) holding criminal record information on that third county national in order to obtain information on previous convictions through ECRIS.
Amendment 173 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4
Article 7 – paragraph 4
Amendment 181 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
2. Upon expiry of the retention period referred to in paragraph 1, the central authority of the convicting Member State shall immediately and permanently erase the individual data record without delay from the Central System, and in any event no later than one month after the expiry of that retention period.
Amendment 186 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. If a Member State has reason to believe that the data it has recorded in the Central System are inaccurate or that data were processed in the Central System in contravention of this Regulation, it shall check the data concerned and, if necessary, immediately amend them or delete them from the Central System without delay. It shall immediately inform the European Data Protection Supervisor and the national supervisory authority for data protection of any such incidents.
Amendment 189 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4
Article 9 – paragraph 4
4. If a Member State other than the Member State which entered the data has reason to believe that data recorded in the Central System are inaccurate or that data was processed in the Central System in contravention of this Regulation, it shall immediately contact the central authority of the convicting Member State without delay. The convicting Member State shall promptly check the accuracy of the data and the lawfulness of its processing within one month, and in any event not later than within one month. In these cases, the convicting Member State shall immediately inform the European Data Protection Supervisor and the national supervisory authority for data protection of any such incidents.
Amendment 198 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point d
Amendment 202 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point f
Amendment 204 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point g
Amendment 206 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point h
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point h
Amendment 208 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point i
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – point i
Amendment 214 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 a (new)
Article 10 a (new)
Article 10a Adoption of delegated acts by the Commission The Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 35a concerning: (a) entering the data in accordance with Article 5; (b) accessing the data in accordance with Article 7; (c) amending and deleting the data in accordance with Articles 8 and 9; (d) keeping and accessing the logs in accordance with Article 29;
Amendment 215 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. eu-LISA shall be responsible for the development andof the ECRIS-TCN system in accordance with the principle of data protection by design and by default. In addition, eu-LISA shall be responsible for the operational management of the ECRIS-TCN system. The development shall consist of the elaboration and implementation of the technical specifications, testing and overall project coordination.
Amendment 227 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 5
Article 11 – paragraph 5
5. Prior to the design and development phase, a Programme Management Board composed of a maximum of ten members shall be established by the Management Board of eu-LISA. It shall be composed of eightseven representatives appointed by the Management Board, the Chair of the ECRIS-TCN system Advisory Group referred to in Article 36 and, one member appointed by the Commission and one member appointed by the European Data Protection Supervisor. The members appointed by the Management Board shall be elected only from those Member States which are fully bound under Union law by the legislative instruments governing the ECRIS and which will participate in the ECRIS-TCN system. The Management Board shall ensure that the representatives it appoints shall have the necessary experience and expertise in the development and management of IT systems supporting judicial and criminal records authorities. The Programme Management Board shall meet at least once every three months, and more often when necessary. It shall ensure the adequate management of the design and development phase of the ECRIS-TCN system. The Programme Management Board shall submit written reports every month to eu-LISA’s Management Board on progress of the project. It shall have no decision-making power nor any mandate to represent the members of the Management Board.
Amendment 242 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the data are collected lawfully and fully respect the human dignityfundamental rights of the third country national;
Amendment 243 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2
Article 13 – paragraph 2
2. eu-LISA shall ensure that the ECRIS-TCN system is operated in accordance with this Regulation and, the implementing acts referred to in Article 10 and the delegated acts referred to in Article 10a, as well as in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 [or its successor Regulation]. In particular, eu- LISA shall take the necessary measures to ensure the security of the Central System and the Communication Infrastructure between the Central System and the national central access point, without prejudice to the responsibilities of each Member State.
Amendment 267 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Member States shall ensure that each central authority takes the measures necessary to comply with this Regulation and cooperates, where necessary, with the supervisory authority and national supervisory authority.
Amendment 278 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2
Article 23 – paragraph 2
2. If a request is made to a Member State other than the convicting Member State, the authorities of the Member State to which the request has been made shall check the accuracy of the data and the lawfulness of the data processing in the ECRIS-TCN system within a time limit of one month if that check can be done without consulting the convicting Member State. Otherwise, the Member State other than the convicting Member State shall contact the authorities of the convicting Member State within 14 days and the convicting Member State shall check the accuracy of the data and the lawfulness of the data processing and respond within one month from the contact.
Amendment 281 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 3
Article 23 – paragraph 3
3. In the event that data recorded in the ECRIS-TCN system are factually inaccurate or have been recorded unlawfully, the convicting Member State shall correct or delete the data in accordance with Article 9. The convicting Member State or, where applicable, the Member State to which the request has been made shall immediately confirm in writing to the person concerned without delay that action has been taken to correct or delete data relating to that person.
Amendment 282 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 4
Article 23 – paragraph 4
4. If the Member State to which the request has been made does not agree that data recorded in the ECRIS-TCN system are factually inaccurate or have been recorded unlawfully, that Member State shall adopt an administrative decision explaining in writing to the person concerned without delay why it is not prepared to correct or delete data relating to him or her. Such cases shall be communicated to the European Data Protection Supervisor and the national supervisory authority for data protection.
Amendment 285 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 2
Article 24 – paragraph 2
2. In each Member State, the supervisory authority shall, be able to audit the central authorities, shall be informed of all incidents referred to in Article 9(3) and (4) and Article 23(4), and upon request, assist and advise the person concerned in exercising his or her right to correct or delete data relating to him or her.
Amendment 287 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1
Article 25 – paragraph 1
1. In each Member State any person shall have the right to an effective remedy and, in this respect, the right to bring an action or a complaint in the Member State which refused the right of access to or the right of correction or deletion of data relating to him or her, provided for in Article 23.
Amendment 291 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 2
Article 26 – paragraph 2
2. The supervisory authority shall ensure that an audit of the data processing operations in the national criminal records and fingerprints databases is carried out in accordance with relevant international auditing standards at least every four yearsnnually from the start of operations of the ECRIS- TCN system.
Amendment 309 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the measures referred to in Articles 10 and 10a have been adopted;
Amendment 310 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 4
Article 34 – paragraph 4
4. TwoOne years after the start of operations of the ECRIS-TCN system and every year thereafter, eu-LISA shall submit to the Commission a report on the technical functioning of the ECRIS-TCN system and the ECRIS reference implementation, including the security thereof, based in particular on the statistics on the functioning and use of ECRIS-TCN system and on the exchange, through the ECRIS reference implementation, of information extracted from the criminal records.
Amendment 314 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 5
Article 34 – paragraph 5
5. Threewo years after the start of operations of the ECRIS-TCN system and every fourtwo years thereafter, the Commission shall produce an overall evaluation of the ECRIS-TCN system and the ECRIS reference implementation. That overall evaluation shall include an assessment of the application of the Regulation, an examination of results achieved against objectives and the impact on fundamental rights, and an assessment of the continuing validity of the underlying rationale, the application of the Regulation, the security of the system and any implications on future operations, and shall make any necessary recommendations. The Commission shall transmit the evaluation report to the European Parliament and the Council.
Amendment 315 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 6
Article 34 – paragraph 6
6. The Member States, Eurojust, Europol[, and the European Public Prosecutor's Office], the European Data Protection Supervisor and the national supervisory authorities for data protection shall provide eu-LISA and the Commission with the information necessary to draft the reports referred to in this Article according to the quantitative indicators predefined by the Commission or eu-LISA or both. That information shall not jeopardise working methods or include information that reveals sources, staff members or investigations of the designated authorities.
Amendment 316 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 7
Article 34 – paragraph 7
7. eu-LISA shall provide the Commission with the information necessary to produce the overall evaluations referred to in paragraph 5this Article.
Amendment 318 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 a (new)
Article 35 a (new)
Article 35a Exercise of the delegation 1. The power to adopt the delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article. 2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 10a shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from ... [the date of entry into force of this Regulation]. 3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 10a may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force. 4. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making. 5. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council. 6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 10a shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.
Amendment 319 #
2017/0144(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 36 – paragraph 1
Article 36 – paragraph 1
An Advisory Group, including a representative of the European Data Protection Supervisor and a representative of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights shall be established by eu-LISA and provide it with the expertise related to the ECRIS-TCN system and the ECRIS reference implementation, in particular in the context of preparation of its annual work programme and its annual activity report. During the design and development phase, Article 11 applies.
Amendment 144 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
–
–
The Committee on [IMCO] calls on the Committee on [ECON], as the committee responsible, to propose rejection of the [Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP)].
Amendment 151 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Personal pensions are important in linking long-term savers with long-term investment opportunities. A larger, European market for personal pensions willmight support the supply of funds for institutional investors and investment into the real economy.
Amendment 155 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
Amendment 159 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Among personal pension products, the development of a PEPP will contribute to increasing choices for retirement saving and establish an EU market for PEPP providers. It will provide households with betteradditional options to meet their retirement goals.
Amendment 162 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) A legislative framework for a PEPP will lay the foundations for a successful market in affordable and voluntary retirement-related investments that can be managed on a pan-European scale. By complementing the existing pension products and schemes, it will contribute to meeting the needs of people wishing to enhance the adequacy of their retirement savings, addressing the demographical challenge and the pension gap and providing a powerful new source of private capital for long-term investment. This framework will not replace or harmonise existing national personal pension schemesroducts or occupational pension schemes. Nor should it be assessed as an incentive to replace or harmonise existing national occupational schemes in the future.
Amendment 167 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) The Regulation harmonises a set of core features for the PEPP, which concern key elements such as distribution, investment policy, provider switching, or cross-border provision and portability. The harmonisation of these core features will improve the level playing field for personal pension providers at large and help boost the completion of the CMU and the integration of the internal market for personal pensions. It will lead to the creation of a largely standardised pan- European product, available in all Member States, empowering consumers to make full use of the internal market by transferring their pension rights abroad and offering a broader choice between different types of providers, including in a cross- border way. As a result of fewer barriers to the provision of pension services across borders, a pan-European Personal Pension Product will increase competition between providers on a pan-European basis and create economies of scale that should benefit savers.
Amendment 169 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) PEPP providers should have access to the whole Union market with one single product authorisation issued by the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (“EIOPA”), on the basis of a single set of rulesnational competent authorities responsible for the authorisation of a PEPP.
Amendment 171 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) The way in which institutions for occupational retirement provision (IORPs) are organised and regulated varies significantly between Member States. In some Member States these institutions are only allowed to carry out occupational pension activities whereas in other Member States they are allowed to carry out occupational and personal pension activities. This has not only lead to different organisational structures of IORPs but is also accompanied by different regulation on national level. In particular, prudential regulation of IORPs which carry out occupational and personal pension activities is broader than of those IORPs which only carry out occupational pension activities.
Amendment 172 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 b (new)
Recital 14 b (new)
(14b) In order not to jeopardise financial stability and to take into account the different organisational structure and regulation, only those IORPs should be allowed to provide PEPPs which, pursuant to national law, are authorised to provide personal pension products. Moreover and to further safeguard financial stability, all assets and liabilities corresponding to PEPP provision business should be ring-fenced, managed and organised separately from the other activities of occupational retirement provision, without any possibility of transfer for the provider.
Amendment 188 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) Taking into account the nature of the pension schemeproduct established and the administrative burden involved, PEPP providers and distributors should provide cleareasy to understand and adequate information to potential PEPP savers and PEPP beneficiaries to support their decision-making about their retirement. For the same reason, PEPP providers and distributors should equally ensure a high level of transparency throughout the various phases of a scheme comprisproduct including pre- enrolment, membership (including pre- retirement) and post- retirement. In particular, information concerning accrued pension entitlements, projected levels of retirement benefits, risks and guarantees, and costs should be given. Where projected levels of retirement benefits are based on economic scenarios, that information should also include an unfavourable scenario, which should be extreme but plausible.
Amendment 193 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) Before joining a PEPP scheme, potential PEPP savers should be given all the necessary information to make an informed choice. This information should be easy to understand.
Amendment 195 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) In order to ensure optimal product transparency, PEPP manufacturers should draw up the PEPP key information document for the PEPPs that they manufacture before the product can be distributed to PEPP savers. They should also be responsible for the accuracy of the PEPP key information document. The PEPP key information document should replace and adapt the key information document for packaged retail and insurance-based investment products under Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council33 which would not have to be provided for PEPPs. _________________ 33Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 November 2014 on key information documents for packaged retail and insurance-based investment products (PRIIPs), OJ L 352, 9.12.2014, p. 1.
Amendment 198 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
Amendment 200 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) PEPP providers should draw up a Pension Benefit Statement addressed to PEPP savers, in order to present them with key personal and generic data about the PEPP schemedevelopment and to ensure continuous information on it. The Pension Benefit Statement should be clear and comprehensive and should contain relevant and appropriate information to facilitate the understanding of pension entitlements over time and across schemeproducts and serve labour mobility. The Pension Benefit Statement shall be provided annually to the PEPP saver.
Amendment 209 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32
Recital 32
(32) In order to protect adequately the rights of PEPP savers and PEPP beneficiaries, PEPP providers should be able to opt for an asset allocation that suis in line witsh the precise nature and duration of their liabilities. Therefore, efficient supervision is required as well as an approach to investment rules that allows PEPP providers sufficient flexibility to decide on the most secure and efficient investment policy, while obliging them to act prudently. Compliance with the prudent person rule therefore requires an investment policy geared to the customers’ structure of the individual PEPP provider.
Amendment 212 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 34
Recital 34
Amendment 214 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 35
Recital 35
(35) In the context of deepening the CMU, the understanding of what constitutes instruments with a long-term economic profile is broad. Such instruments are non-transferable securities and therefore do not have access to the liquidity of secondary markets. They often require fixed term commitments which restrict their marketability and should be understood to include participation and debt instruments in, and loans provided to, non-listed undertakings. Non-listed undertakings include infrastructure projects, unlisted companies seeking growth, real estate or other assets that could be suitable for long term investment purposes. Low carbon and climate resilient infrastructure projects are often non-listed assets and rely on long term credits for project financing. Considering the long-term nature of their liabilities, PEPP providers are encouraged to allocate a sufficient part of their asset portfolio to sustainable investments in the real economy with long- term economic benefits, in particular to infrastructure projects and corporates.
Amendment 219 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 36
Recital 36
(36) Environmental, social and governance factors, as referred to in the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment, are important for the investment policy and risk management systems of PEPP providers. PEPP providers should be encouraged to consider such factors in investment decisions and to take into account how they form part of their risk management system. PEPP providers should always indicate how the options they offer meet the environment, social and governance factors.
Amendment 226 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 41
Recital 41
(41) Where tThe PEPP provider is an institution for occupational retirement provision or an investment firm, it should appoint a depositary in relation to the safe- keeping of its assets. This is necessary for protecting consumers, since the sectorial legislation applicable to institutions for occupational retirement provision and investment firms does not provide for the appointment of a depositary.
Amendment 228 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 41 a (new)
Recital 41 a (new)
(41a) Institutions for occupational retirement provision provide occupational pensions in many Member States. In some Member States they represent a very substantial part of national pension systems, and benefit from arrangements that make participation quasi-mandatory for many workers and/or benefit from other fiscal incentives to ensure a very broad participation that facilitates solidarity between different groups of workers and different age categories. In several Member States restrictions apply to the schemes IORP scan offer and/or their beneficiaries. These restrictions can be closely linked to the design of national pension systems, and are recognised in Directive2016/2341/EU (IORP II).
Amendment 229 #
2017/0143(COD)
(41b) In order to reflect the additionality of PEPP to existing national pension systems, Member States that wish so, should be free to maintain restrictions that are in conformity with the IORP II Directive, while at the same time enabling other Member States to allow IORPs to provide PEPPs wherever this is possible without unduly upsetting their national pension systems.
Amendment 235 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 47
Recital 47
(47) In order to find better conditions for their investments, thus also stimulating the competition among PEPP providers, PEPP savers should have the right to switch providers durto a different provider located ing the accumulationsame or and othe der Member State during the accumulation phases, through a clear, quick and safe procedure.
Amendment 238 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 48
Recital 48
(48) The switching process should be straightforward for the PEPP saver. Accordingly, the receiving PEPP provider should be responsible for initiating and managing the process on behalf of the PEPP saver and upon his request. PEPP providers should be able to use additional means, such as a technical solution, on a voluntary basis when establishing the switching service.
Amendment 239 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 49
Recital 49
(49) Before giving the authorisation for switching, the PEPP saver should be informed of all the steps of the procedure necessary to complete the switchingThe PEPP provider should inform the PEPP saver of all the steps of the procedure necessary to complete the switching, in order to enable the PEPP saver to make an informed decision about the switching service.
Amendment 241 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 51
Recital 51
(51) In order to facilitate cross-border switching, the PEPP saver should be allowed to ask the new PEPP provider to provide the PEPP saver with information giving details of the new PEPP account, preferably within a single meeting with the new PEPP provider.
Amendment 251 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 58
Recital 58
(58) In order to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Regulation by financial undertakings that manufacture PEPP, as well as by financial undertakings and persons thatPEPP providers and distribute PEPP,ors and to ensure that they are subject to similar treatment across the Union, administrative sanctions and other measures which are effective, proportionate and dissuasive should be provided.
Amendment 258 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 70
Recital 70
(70) An evaluation of this Regulation is to be carried out, inter alia, by assessing market developments, such as the emergence of new types of PEPPs, as well as developments in other areas of Union law and the experiences of Member States. Such an evaluation has to take account of the different aims and purposes of establishing a well- functioning PEPP- market, and in particular should evaluate whether this Regulation has contributed to the development of multi-pillar pension systems in the Member States and has resulted in more European citizens saving for sustainable and adequate pensions.
Amendment 265 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2
(2) “pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP)” means a long-term savings personal pension product, which is provided under an agreed PEPP scheme by a regulated financial undertaking authorised under Union law to manage collective or individual investments or savings,offered by a PEPP provider or distributor and subscribed to voluntarily by an individual PEPP saver in view of retirement, with no or strictly limited redeemability;
Amendment 268 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 4
(4) “PEPP schemeproduct” means a contract, an agreement, a trust deed or rules stipulating which retirement benefits are granted and under which conditions on the basis of an individual retirement savings plan agreed with a PEPP provider;
Amendment 271 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 14
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 14
(14) “provider of a PEPP” or “PEPP provider” means a financial undertakingentity authorised to manufacture a PEPP and distributing it;
Amendment 272 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 15
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 15
(15) “distributor of a PEPP” or “PEPP distributor” means a financial undertakingentity authorised to distribute PEPPs not manufactured by it, as well as an insurance, reinsurance or ancillary insurance intermediary;
Amendment 273 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 18
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 18
(18) “home Member State of the PEPP provider” means the Member State in which the PEPP provider has its registered office;
Amendment 282 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Amendment 284 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. A PEPP may only be manufactured and distributed in the Union where it has been authorised by EIOPAthe national competent authority in accordance with this Regulation.
Amendment 285 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Authorisation of a PEPP shall be valid in all Member States. It entitles the authorisation holder to manufacture and distribute the PEPP as authorised by EIOPAthe national competent authority.
Amendment 286 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Only the following financial undertakingentities may apply for authorisation of a PEPP:
Amendment 288 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
Amendment 290 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) institutions for occupational retirement provision registered or authorised in accordance with Directive 2016/2341/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council45 or those authorised entities responsible for operating them and acting on their behalf, where, under national law, IORP’s do not have legal personality, which, pursuant to national law, are authorised to provide personal pension products. In that case, all assets and liabilities corresponding to PEPP provision business shall be ring-fenced, managed and organised separately from the other activities of occupational retirement provision, without any possibility of transfer for the provider; _________________ 45 Directive 2016/2341/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2016 on the activities and supervision of institutions for occupational retirement provision (IORPs) (recast) (OJ L 354, 23.12.2016, p. 37).
Amendment 295 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)
(fa) other entities registered or authorised in accordance with provisions of Member States’ law to provide personal pension products as defined by Article 2(1) of this Regulation, provided that these are deemed sufficient after a previous assessment by EIOPA, according to the procedure laid down in Article 5(6) of this Regulation.
Amendment 296 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Financial undertakingEntities listed in paragraph 1 shall submit their applications for authorisation of a PEPP to EIOPAtheir national competent authority. The application shall include the following:
Amendment 303 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The national competent authority shall transfer to EIOPA the information received under paragraph 2 promptly after its receipt.
Amendment 304 #
2017/0143(COD)
3. EIOPA may requestThe national competent authority may request the entities list in paragraph 1 clarification and additional information as regards the documentation and information provided under paragraph 12.
Amendment 307 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
4. EIOPA may ask the competent authority of the financial undertakingentities applying for the authorisation for clarification and information as regards the documentation referred to in paragraph 2. The competent authority shall reply to the request within 10 working days from the date on which it has received the request submitted by EIOPA.
Amendment 308 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 5
Article 5 – paragraph 5
5. Any subsequent modifications to the documentation and information referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be immediately notified to EIOPAthe national competent authority.
Amendment 309 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. The national competent authority for entities laid down in Article5(1)(g) will request EIOPA to assess compliance of these type of entities as well as the reasons why an authorisation is justified. EIOPA shall adopt a decision within two months of receipt of the competent authority’s request. If the competent authority does not agree with EIOPA’s decision, it shall give full reasons in its request and shall explain any significant deviation therefrom.
Amendment 310 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Within two months from the date of submission of a complete application, EIOPAthe national competent authority shall grant authorisation of the PEPP only where EIOPAthe national competent authority is fully satisfied that the following conditions are met:
Amendment 311 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the applicant is authorised by its competent authority to manufacture products that follow investment strategies of the type covered by this Regulation;
Amendment 317 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. Before taking a decision on the application, EIOPA shall consult thethe national competent authority of the applicantshall consult EIOPA.
Amendment 320 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. EIOPAThe national competent authority shall communicate to the applicant the reasons for any refusal to grant authorisation of a PEPP.
Amendment 321 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. EIOPAThe national competent authority shall withdraw the authorisation of a PEPP in the event that the conditions for granting this authorisation are no longer fulfilled.
Amendment 328 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 5
Article 6 – paragraph 5
5. EIOPA shall, on a quarterly basis, inform the competent authorities of the financial undertakings listed in Article 5(1)The national competent authority shall, on a quarterly basis, inform the EIOPA of decisions to grant, refuse or withdraw authorisations pursuant to this Regulation.
Amendment 330 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. The designation “PEPP” or “pan- European Personal Pension Product” in relation to a personal pension product may only be used where the personal pension product has been authorised by EIOPAthe national competent authority to be distributed under the designation “PEPP” in accordance with this Regulation.
Amendment 331 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. Existing personal pension products may be converted into “PEPPs” following authorisation by EIOPAthe national competent authority.
Amendment 335 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Before proceeding to the conversion, the provider shall adequately inform the PEPP saver about the consequences of the conversion and the PEPP saver shall agree that his or her assets are transferred into a PEPP.
Amendment 337 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. Financial undertakingEntities referred to in Article 5(1) may distribute PEPPs which they have not manufactured upon receiving authorisation for distribution by the competent authorities of their home Member State.
Amendment 360 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Article 15 – paragraph 1
1. Without prejudice to the deadline under Article 13(3), iImmediately after being informed about the PEPP saver’s intention to exercise his right of mobility between Member States, the PEPP provider shall inform the PEPP saver about the possibility to open a new compartment within the PEPP saver’s individual PEPP account and about the deadlintimeframe within which such a compartment could be opened, or where no such compartment is available, about the possibility to switch provider in accordance with the conditions referred to in Article 13(3).
Amendment 363 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. TIf the PEPP saver intends to make use of thise possibility to open a compartment, the PEPP saver shall send to the PEPP provider a request, which shall include the following information:
Amendment 366 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) the date from which the investmentcontributions should be directed to the newly-opened compartment;
Amendment 372 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Article 17 – paragraph 1
1. All contractual arrangements for providing the portability service shall be notified by the PEPP provider to the respective national authority exercising prudential supervision over itEIOPA.
Amendment 377 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The information under paragraph 1 shall be filed electronically in a central database held with the national supervisory authority within one month of opeEIOPA within one month of opening the new compartment. The database shall be accessible to the national competent authorities, who shall automatically receive information concerning the newlocal compartment ands in the case of any changes. The database shall contain at least:
Amendment 380 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
For the distribution of PEPPs, the different types of PEPP providers and distributors shall comply with the following rules:all the provisions of this Chapter.
Amendment 381 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point a
Amendment 382 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point b
Amendment 383 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point c
Amendment 387 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1
Article 23 – paragraph 1
1. Before a PEPP is proposed to a potential PEPP savers, the PEPP provider shall draw up for that product a PEPP key information document in accordance with the minimum requirements of this Chapterset in Annex I of this Regulation, and shall publish the document on its website.
Amendment 394 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 3
Article 23 – paragraph 3
Amendment 414 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 5
Article 23 – paragraph 5
5. Potential PEPP savers shall also be provided with information on the past performance of investments related to the PEPP scheme covering a minimum of fiveten years, or, where the schemePEPP has been operating for fewer than fiveten years, covering all the years that the schemePEPP has been operating, as well as with information on the structure of costs borne by PEPP savers and PEPP beneficiaries.
Amendment 418 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 6
Article 23 – paragraph 6
Amendment 458 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 1
Article 27 – paragraph 1
1. PEPP providers shall draw up a concise personalised document containing key information for each PEPP saver taking into consideration the specific nature of national pension systems and of relevant national social, labour and tax law (“PEPP Benefit Statement”). The title of the document shall contain the words “PEPP Benefit Statement” and the documents shall include at least the information listed in Annex I.
Amendment 460 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2
Article 27 – paragraph 2
Amendment 461 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 27 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) the name of the PEPP provider’s undertakingentity, its legal form or the address of its head office and, where appropriate, of the branch which concluded the contract;
Amendment 464 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28
Article 28
Amendment 502 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 2
Article 29 – paragraph 2
2. For PEPP schemeproducts where PEPP savers bear investment risk and where an investment option is imposed on the PEPP saver by a specific rule specified in the PEPP schemeproduct, the PEPP Benefit Statement shall indicate where additional information is available.
Amendment 505 #
2017/0143(COD)
Amendment 515 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 32 – paragraph 6
Article 32 – paragraph 6
6. Upon request addressed to the competent authorities, EIOPA shallmay have access to the information submitted by PEPP providers.
Amendment 522 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 1
Article 34 – paragraph 1
1. PEPP providers shall offer up to five investment options to PEPP savers. They will clearly indicate the environmental, social and governance factors for each of these options.
Amendment 532 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 37 – paragraph 1
Article 37 – paragraph 1
1. The default investment option shall ensure capital protection for the PEPP savertake the form of either an investment strategy directed at preserving the invested capital, on the basis of a risk-mitigation technique that results in a safe investment strategy, such as life-cycle strategies, or a guarantee on the capital invested, as provided in the applicable legislation of the PEPP provider.
Amendment 536 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 37 – paragraph 2
Article 37 – paragraph 2
Amendment 539 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 37 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 37 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. When a capital guarantee is provided, it should be a long-term guarantee provided at the end of the accumulation period and should not apply on investment switches in between.
Amendment 556 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 41 – paragraph 1
Article 41 – paragraph 1
1. Where tThe PEPP provider is an institution for occupational retirement provision or an investment firm as referred to in Article 5(1), it shall appoint one or more depositaries for the safe- keeping of assets and oversight duties.
Amendment 569 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 45 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 45 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The switching service may be provided byPEPP saver may request to switch to PEPP providers established in the same Member State (domestic switching) or in different Member States (cross-border switching).
Amendment 573 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 45 – paragraph 2
Article 45 – paragraph 2
2. The PEPP saver mayshall be allowed to switch PEPP providers no more frequently than onceat least every five years afterfrom the conclusion of the PEPP contract, without prejudice to Article 14(2). The PEPP provider may allow the PEPP saver to switch PEPP provider more frequently.
Amendment 576 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 46 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
The receiving PEPP provider shall initiate the switching service upon receipt of the authorisation from the PEPP saverquest from the PEPP saver shall be drawn up in an official language of the Member State where the switching service is being initiated or in any other language agreed between the parties.
Amendment 577 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 46 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Where the saver holds different compartments, the request shall indicate for which compartments the switching service is requested.
Amendment 578 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 46 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 580 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 4
Article 46 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 4
Amendment 581 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 46 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. Within twofive working days from receipt of the authorisationrequest referred to in paragraph 2, the receiving PEPP provider shall request the transferring PEPP provider to carry out the following tasks, if provided for in the PEPP saver’s authorisationrequest:
Amendment 582 #
2017/0143(COD)
(a) transmit to the receiving PEPP provider and, if specifically requested by the PEPP saver in the authorisation, to the PEPP saver, a list of the existing assemounts that are being switched;
Amendment 583 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 46 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) transfer any remaining positive balance to the PEPP account opened or held with the receiving PEPP provider onfrom the date specified by the PEPP saver; and
Amendment 584 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
Article 46 – paragraph 4 – introductory part
4. Upon receipt of a request from the receiving PEPP provider, the transferring PEPP provider shall carry out the following tasks, if provided for in the PEPP saver’s authorisation:
Amendment 585 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 4 – point b
Article 46 – paragraph 4 – point b
(b) where the transferring PEPP provider does not provide a system for automated redirection of the incoming payments to the PEPP account opened by the PEPP saver with the receiving PEPP provider, stop accepting incoming payments on the PEPP account with effect from the date specified inby the authorisationPEPP saver. Member States may require the transferring PEPP provider to inform the PEPP saver of the reason for not accepting the incoming payments;
Amendment 586 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 4 – point c
Article 46 – paragraph 4 – point c
(c) transfer the remaining positive balance from the PEPP account to the new PEPP account opened with the receiving PEPP provider on the date specified inby the authorisationPEPP saver;
Amendment 587 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 4 – point d
Article 46 – paragraph 4 – point d
(d) close the PEPP account on the date specified inby the authorisationPEPP saver if the PEPP saver has no outstanding obligations on that PEPP account and provided that the actions listed in points (a), (b) and (c) of this paragraph have been completed. The transferring PEPP provider shall immediately inform the PEPP saver where such outstanding obligations prevent the PEPP saver’s account from being closed.
Amendment 588 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 46 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Within five working days of receipt of the information requested from the transferring PEPP provider as referred to in paragraph 3, the receiving PEPP provider shall, as and if provided for in the authorisationrequest and to the extent that the information provided by the transferring PEPP provider or the PEPP saver enables the receiving PEPP provider to do so, carry out the following tasks:
Amendment 589 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 46 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) make any necessary preparations to accept incoming payments and accept them with effect from the date specified inby the authorisationPEPP saver;
Amendment 590 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 46 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) inform payers specified in the authorisation of the details of the PEPP saver’s PEPP account with the receiving PEPP provider and transmit to the payers a copy of the PEPP saver’s authorisationccepted request.
Amendment 591 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 46 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 3
Article 46 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 3
Where the PEPP savers chooses to personally provide the information referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph to the payers rather than provide specific consent in accordance with paragraph 2 to the receiving PEPP provider to do so, the receiving PEPP provider shall provide the PEPP saver with standard letters providing details of the PEPP account and the starting date specified inby the authorisationPEPP saver within the deadline referred to in the first subparagraph.
Amendment 597 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 48 – paragraph 3
Article 48 – paragraph 3
3. The total fees and charges applied by the transferring PEPP provider to the PEPP saver for the closure of the PEPP account held with it shall be limited to no more than 1,5 % of the positive balance to be transferred to the receiving PEPP provider.
Amendment 606 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 51 – paragraph 2
Article 51 – paragraph 2
2. Such conditions may include in particular the setting of the retirement age, of a mandatory link between reaching the retirement age and commencing the decumulation phase, of a minimum period of belonging to a PEPP scheme, of a maximum period before reaching the retirement age for joining a PEPP scheme, as well as conditions for redemption in case of particular hardship.
Amendment 619 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 53 – paragraph 2
Article 53 – paragraph 2
2. EIOPA shall monitor pension schemePEPP providers established or distributed in the territory of the Union to verify that they do not use the designation "PEPP" or suggest that they are a PEPP unless they are authorised under, and comply with, this Regulation.
Amendment 640 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I a (new)
Annex I a (new)
Amendment 641 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex - 1 – PEPP Key Information Document and PEPP Benefit Statement – Table A (new)
Annex - 1 – PEPP Key Information Document and PEPP Benefit Statement – Table A (new)
Annex - 1 – PEPP KEY INFORMATION DOCUMENT AND PEPP BENEFIT STATEMENT – TABLE A Type of information Description 1 Name of the PEPP 2 Name of the provider 3 Type of PEPP 4 Investment options - Default option - Alternative option 1 - Alternative option 2 - Alternative option 3 - Alternative option 4 5 Costs and charges 6 Guarantee (if any) 7 Decumulation phase 8 Past performances - Pay-out option 1 - Pay-out option 2 - Pay-out option 3 9 Portability service 10 Switching service 11 Applicable law 12 Minimum investment period 13 Target retirement age 14 Conditions for modification of the chosen investment option 15 Depository (if any) 16 Applicable national social and tax law(s) 17 Early withdrawal 18 Competent authority 19 Mediation mechanisms
Amendment 642 #
2017/0143(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex - 1 – PEPP Key Information Document and PEPP Benefit Statement – Table B (new)
Annex - 1 – PEPP Key Information Document and PEPP Benefit Statement – Table B (new)
Annex - 1 – PEPP KEY INFORMATION DOCUMENT AND PEPP BENEFIT STATEMENT – TABLE B Type of information Description 1 Personal details of PEPP saver 2 Name of the provider 3 Information on pension benefit projections 4 Pay-out option 5 Accrued entitlements or accumulated capital 6 Contributions 7 Funding level of the PEPP scheme 8 The Member State in which the PEPP is authorised or registered 9 Name of the national competent authority 10 Information on full or partial guarantees under the PEPP product 11 Past performance 12 Costs
Amendment 84 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Where detailed, comparable, up-to- date, and often confidential market information could only be obtained from market players in a timely manner, it appears therefore appropriate, as a last resort, to empower the Commission, within the limits and under the conditions laid down in this Regulation, to requespublish a call for information directed at undertakings and associations of undertakings to directly provide it, in a timely manner, with comprehensive, accurate and reliable quantitative and qualitative market information where other sources of information have proven unavailable, insufficient or inadequate. To this effect, the Commission should first adopt a decision stating why other means to obtain the necessary information have proven ineffective. It is understood that the notion of undertaking has the same meaning as in other areas of EU law, in particular competition law.
Amendment 91 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) For this investigative tool to be effective, the information sought should relate to the application of relevant Union law. This may consist, for example, of factual market data, including cost structure, pricing policy, products or services characteristics or geographical distribution of customers and suppliers. It may also consist of undertakings’ or associations of undertakings’ fact-based analysis of the functioning of the internal market, such as in relation to perceived regulatory and entry barriers or to costs of cross-border operations. In order to minimise costs of replying to requests for information, such requests should only cover information that is likely to be at the disposal of the undertaking or association of undertakings concerned.
Amendment 112 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The investigative tool provided for in this Regulation is particularly useful for ensuring the application of Union law in the area of the internal market by the Commission. It is also useful, for any subsequent enforcement action by the Member States concerned that would require the use of the relevant information collected using this power and disclosed by the Commission to the Member States concerned. Moreover, where difficulties in the application of existing rules are experienced, including situations where undertakings are not able to comply with the legislation due to lack of legal clarity, this investigative tool could also be useful after the use of other tools and sources of relevant information have proven inadequate, for contributing to the conception or design of regulatory solutions. It is also appropriate not to allow the use of such information for other purposes, in particular the application of the competition rules of the TFEU, without prejudice to the reuse of information made public.
Amendment 114 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
Amendment 126 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) The disclosure of information about an undertaking’s business activity could result in a serious harm to the same undertaking. Therefore, the Commission should take due account of the legitimate interests of undertakings, in particular the protection of their businesstrade secrets. To ensure that businesstrade secrets and other confidential information provided to the Commission are treated in compliance with Article 339 TFEU, any undertaking or association of undertaking submitting information should clearly identify which information it considers to be confidential and why it is confidential. The Commission should not be able to disclose confidential information provided by such respondents to the Member State concerned by the request unless it has previously obtained their agreement to disclose that information to that effect. The respondent concerned should be required to provide the Commission with a separate non- confidential version of the information that could be disclosed to the relevant Member State. In cases where information marked as confidential does not seem to be covered by obligations of professional secrecy, it is appropriate to have a mechanism in place according to which the Commission can decide the extent to which such information can be disclosed. Any such decision to reject a claim that a piece of information is confidential should indicate a period at the end of which it may be disclosed, so that the respondent can make use of any judicial protection available to it, including any interim measure. The rights of the respondent should be safeguarded by giving it the opportunity to make known its views before any decision to reject the confidentiality claim is taken.
Amendment 143 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the conditions under which the Commission may requespublish a call for information directed at undertakings and associations of undertakings to provide information required for the performance of tasks entrusted to the Commission in relation to the areas referred to in Article 2;
Amendment 147 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the procedure to be followed for requesting such informationby the Commission for publishing such a call.
Amendment 148 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) the procedure to be followed by undertakings and associations of undertakings for answering to such a call for information.
Amendment 180 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – title
Article 4 – title
Amendment 191 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Amendment 197 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The Commission shall only use the power to requestpublish a call for information from undertakings and associations of undertakings provided for in Article 4 where the information available to the Commission, required for the purpose referred to in Article 4, is not sufficient or adequate and cannot be obtained in a timely manner due to the following reasons:
Amendment 201 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the information has not been provided by a Member State upon request by the Commission; orand
Amendment 204 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Prior to requestingpublishing the call for information in accordance with Article 64, the Commission shall adopt a decision stating its intention to use the power to request information from undertakings or associations of undertakings under this Regulationdo so.
Amendment 213 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point e
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – point e
Amendment 217 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 224 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 236 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
In the cases provided for in Article 4 and under the conditions laid down in Article 5, the Commission may, by simple request or by decision, requir invite undertakings and associations of undertakings via an open call to provide information.
Amendment 238 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 240 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 249 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. The simple requestcall referred to in paragraph 1 shall state the legal basis and its purpose, specify what information is required and prescribe a proportionate time limit within which the information is to be provided. It shall also refer to the fines provided for in Article 9(1) for supplying incorrect or misleading information.
Amendment 262 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 269 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 270 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 272 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
The Commission shall simultaneously provide a copy of the simple request or of the decisioncall referred to in this Article to the Member State in whose territory the registered seat of the undertaking or association of undertakings is situat(s) concerned.
Amendment 275 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Where the Commission has launched a formal infringement procedure pursuant to Article 258 TFEU, the Commission shall provide the Member State concerned by the procedure with a copy of all simple requestcalls for decisinformations referred to in this Article issued in the context of that procedure, irrespective of where the registered seat of the undertaking or association of undertakings is situated.
Amendment 279 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 5
Article 6 – paragraph 5
Amendment 283 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – title
Article 7 – title
Answers to requestcalls for information and protection of confidential information
Amendment 288 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. The undertakings or associations of undertakings providing information following a Commission’s requestcall for information based on Article 5 shall submit their answers to the Commission in a clear, complete and accurate manner.
Amendment 292 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
The Commission shall give the addresseerespondents to the call the opportunity to indicate which information it considers to be covered by the obligation of professional secrecy.
Amendment 296 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
The undertaking or association of undertakings submitting information pursuant to Articles 5 and 6 shall clearly indicate which information it considers to be confidential, stating the reasons for such confidentiality claim, and provide the Commission with a separate non- confidential version of the submission. When information is to be provided by a certain deadline, the same deadline shall apply for providing the non-confidential version.
Amendment 300 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
The Commission shall verify whether the confidentiality claim of the information transmitted made by the respondentand Member States, including their officials, shall not reveal any information received pursuant to this Regulation for which confidential treatment has been claimed, without the specific permission from the undertakings or associations of undertakings under subparagraph 2 of paragraph 2 is well-founded and proportionateconcerned.
Amendment 304 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 308 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 316 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point c
Amendment 322 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Amendment 328 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9
Article 9
Amendment 357 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10
Article 10
Amendment 368 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11
Article 11
Amendment 374 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12
Article 12
Amendment 382 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13
Article 13
Amendment 385 #
2017/0087(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15
Article 15
Amendment 136 #
2017/0086(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) It is clear that citizens and businesses ('users') from other Member States can be at a disadvantage due to their lack of familiarity with the national rules and administrative systems, the differences in languages used and their lack of geographic proximity to the public authorities in those Member States. The most efficient way to reduce the ensuing obstacles to the internal market, is to enable cross-border users to get access to information online, in a language they can understand, to enable them to complete procedures for compliance with national rules fully online, where applicable, and to offer them assistance where rules and procedures are not clear enough or where they encounter obstacles in exercising their rights.
Amendment 140 #
2017/0086(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) This Regulation should establish a single entry point through which citizens and business should be able to access information about the rules and requirements they have to comply with, by virtue of Union and/or national law. It should simplify citizens' and businesses’ contact with the assistance and problem solving services, established at the Union or national level and make it more effective. The gateway should also facilitate access to and completion of procedures, where applicable. Therefore, this Regulation should require Member States to enable users to fully complete certain procedures online that are of key importance to the majority of citizens and businesses moving across borders, without affecting in any way the existing substantive requirements by virtue of Union and/or national law within those policy areas. In this context, the Regulation should support the use of the “once-only” principle for the purpose of the exchange of evidence between competent authorities in different Member States.
Amendment 208 #
2017/0086(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that where a procedure, referred to in Article 2(2)(b), established at national level, can be accessed and completed online by users of that Member State, it can be also accessed and completed by users of other Member States in a non-discriminatory way, where applicable.
Amendment 1 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe,
Amendment 24 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Paragraph 9
9. Urges the Commission to review in 2017 the conformity factor for RDE tests of NOx emissions, as provided for by the 2nd RDE package, and to phase-out the conformity factor, allowing only for the measuring accuracy;
Amendment 29 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Asks the Commission to set more strict limits for NOx emissions since air pollution is the largest environmental health hazard in Europe, resulting in a lower quality of life due to illnesses and an estimate of thousands premature deaths per year;
Amendment 40 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Calls upon Member States to introduce or strengthen the regulation of lobby activities of, in particular, the car manufacturing industries and thus to ensure that public health and other public interests are well represented in their national decision-making procedures;
Amendment 74 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Urges the Commission in this respect to examine how competition among type approval authorities and among testing services can be eliminated, for example, by restricting the choice of car manufacturers to authorities and testing services to those in the Member State in which the car manufacturers' main offices are located.
Amendment 75 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Paragraph 21
21. Believes that the new framework for EU type-approval should empower the Commission to verify type approvals by asking Member States to retesting vehicles and to initiate corrective measures where necessarynever Member States do not follow up any such requests;
Amendment 89 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Paragraph 23
23. Draws attention to the US type- approval system – whereby fees collected from manufacturers to cover the cost of certification and compliance programmes are sent to the US Treasury, and the US Congress in turn allocates funds to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement its programmes – as a paradigm that may be useful for improving the independence of the EU system of Member States;
Amendment 119 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Paragraph 28
28. Calls for stricter and more effective enforcement of vehicle emission measurement rules in the EU; considers that only stronger oversight at EU level can ensure that the EU law on emissions is properly enforced; proposes that the governance structure on car emissions be reformed without delay and brought into line with the other transport sectors;
Amendment 126 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Paragraph 31
Amendment 144 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Asks the Commission and Member States to take all necessary measures to ensure that consumers will be adequately compensated, including through mechanisms of collective redress;
Amendment 163 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Paragraph 38
38. Considers that the powers of Parliament’s committees of inquiry should be better aligned with those of the national parliaments, in particular as regards the summoningto ensure the effective summoning and participation of individuals and the application of sanctions in the event of refusal to cooperate; calls on the Commission and the Member States to support the related provisions in Parliament’s current proposal;
Amendment 165 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Considers that the operating period of any inquiry committee should be synchronised with the legislative processes relating to the subject under investigation;
Amendment 171 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Paragraph 45
45. Notes that Rule 198 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure should define more clearly when the 12-month duration of a committee of inquiry should start; suggests to have enough flexibility to ensure that there is enough time for the investigations; calls for the inquiry committee work to start only after the requested documents are received from the EU institutions;
Amendment 172 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Paragraph 46
Amendment 174 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Paragraph 47
Amendment 177 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Paragraph 48 a (new)
48a. Notes that inquiry committees are temporary committees overlapping with the members' standing committee work and therefore requests flexibility of using members outside of the inquiry committee to cover the absence of any member or substitute member;
Amendment 179 #
2016/2908(RSP)
Paragraph 48 b (new)
48b. Considers that the inquiry committee mandate should be able to be altered according to the findings during the investigation in order to have full picture of the issues under investigation;
Amendment 19 #
2016/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the evolving use of internet and mobile devices has created new business opportunities and challenges, and business models;
Amendment 89 #
2016/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that there is currently no consensus on the definition of online platforms due to the multitude of different types of platforms, which may lead to fragmentation of the EU’s internal market; believes, therefore, that in addition to rules laying down some general principles covering all types of platforms, it will be necessary to specify within any legislative initiative how this will work out for individual types of platforms;
Amendment 117 #
2016/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that certaiommon features often characterise online platforms, such asamong online platforms are very limited, but may include operating in multi-sided markets, enabling parties belonging to two or more distinct user groups to enter into direct contact by electronic means, offering online services based on the classification or referencing of content, goods or services proposed or put on-line by third parties, the bringing together of several parties with a view to the sale of a good, the provision of a service or the exchange or sharing of content, goods or services;
Amendment 162 #
2016/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recognises the potential benefits that online platforms offercan have for SMEs; notes, on the one hand, that online platforms allow SMEs to access global markets without excessive investments in costly digital infrastructure; notes, on the other hand, the concerns by SMEs raised in the public consultation, such as the unfair terms and conditions imposed by platforms, refusing market access to SMEs, unfair 'parity' clauses and a lack of transparency;
Amendment 285 #
2016/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Urges the Commission to ensure a level playing field for and between online platforms; stresses that regulatory certainty is essential to creating a thriving digital economy; notes that competitive pressures vary between different sectors and therefore ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions are rarely appropriate;
Amendment 313 #
2016/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Points out that due to the cross- border nature of the internet, online platforms are able to circumvent national legislation; underlines the example of Belgium, which forbids making a profit on the reselling of tickets, but online platforms acting as a market place located in neigbouring countries still target Belgian consumers; points out that the Netherlands is on the point of adopting similar legislation to limit prices for reselling to a 20% raise of the original price; stresses in this regard the need for online platforms to respect national legislation; calls on Member States to cooperate more closely to monitor online platforms that target cross-border audiences to ensure national legislation is respected;
Amendment 315 #
2016/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27 b. Stresses that unfair trading practices have been identified by online platforms that lead to negative consequences for consumers; points in this respect specifically to the reselling of entertainment tickets, whereby online platforms acting as a market place are established by companies that are enabled to buy up popular tickets immediately and resell them at extortianate prices, for which the company then claims a percentage of the profit; calls for proper enforcement of competition law in this regard;
Amendment 323 #
2016/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Underlines that the Internet of the future cannot succeed without users’ trust in online platforms, greater transparency, a level playing field, better control of ranking systems and advertising, and online platforms respecting all applicable legislation;
Amendment 384 #
2016/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35 a. Notes that 'crowdsourcing', whereby tasks are outsourced to an undefined crowd of people, can lead to a race to the bottom in terms of cheap labour;
Amendment 385 #
2016/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)
Paragraph 35 b (new)
35 b. Points out that plaforms offering services that require intermediary labour often only use 'independept contractors' or self-employed; stresses that this may lead to bogus self-employment, if the platform acts as employer for the same self-employed on a semi-permanent basis; underlines, therefore, the need for platforms depending on labour in order to provide their service to respect the labour conditions as laid down in Directive 2008/104/EC as the minimum standard;
Amendment 401 #
2016/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
Amendment 421 #
2016/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Is concerned about problematic B2B practices by online platforms, such as a lack of transparency (e.g. in search results) and possible abuses of the dual role of platforms as intermediaries and competitors; notes that this dual role can create economic incentives for online platforms to discriminate in favour of their own products and services and impose discriminating B2B terms, such as pricing policies; stresses, therefore, that there is a risk that online platforms start functioning as gatekeepers;
Amendment 434 #
2016/2276(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Underlines that EU competition law and authorities need to guarantee a level playing field where appropriate, including in respect of consumer protection and tax issues;
Amendment 2 #
2016/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
- having regard to the audit report 'products sold on the European market: unravelling the system of CE marking', performed by the Dutch Court of Audit;
Amendment 7 #
2016/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
B a. whereas a system of standardisation for all, stakeholders, users and consumers is based on a system of trust and therefore compliance and proper enforcement mechanisms form the basis of the standardisation system;
Amendment 36 #
2016/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Regrets the fact that the Joint Initiative on Standardization and the AUWP pay no attention to conformity to standards; Calls on the Commission to provide a holistic approach and take into account all aspects of when laying down new initiaves in this regard;
Amendment 37 #
2016/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Regrets the fact that the current system of market surveillance provides insufficient guarantees that all products on the market conform to European standards;
Amendment 38 #
2016/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3 c. Stresses its concerns that the current system of conformity asssessments leads to competion on quality instead of competition on price;
Amendment 39 #
2016/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3 d. Points out that the current system of certification and markings is unclear to consumers, who can't tell the differences in quality between accredited testing institutions;
Amendment 100 #
2016/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Regrets that it was not consulted prior to the adoption of the package, and urges the European institutions to align the different initiatives into a single strategic, holistic work programme, which also includes market surveillance, avoiding duplication of actions and policies; Stresses that the relevant committee of the European Parliament can play an important role the public scrutiny of harmonised standards mandated by the Commisison;
Amendment 103 #
2016/2274(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Calls on the Commission to launch an in-depth investigation into the functioning of the CE-marking system on EU level in order to improve protection for consumers, provide better compliance with EU rules and improve trust in standards;
Amendment 127 #
2016/2244(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Requests the Commission to draft guidelines reflecting best practices on the functioning of franchising in the retail sector and to submit these to Parliament by January 2018 at the latest; invites the Commission in this respect to make an analysis of the existing self-regulatory instruments as well as of legislative practices of Member States in the field of franchising in the retail sector and to submit its findings to Parliament, including recommendations for further action, focusing on the need for effective enforcement;
Amendment 27 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that the definition of whistleblowing includes the protection of those who disclose information with a reasonable belief that the information is true at the time it is disclosed, including those who make inaccurate disclosures in honest error;
Amendment 28 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Expresses the need to establish an independent information-gathering, advisory and referral EU body, with offices in Member States which are in a position to receive reports of irregularities, with sufficient budgetary resources, adequate competences and appropriate specialists, in order to help internal and external whistleblowers in using the right channels to disclose their information while protecting their confidentiality and offering needed support and advice;
Amendment 35 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that protection of whistle- blowers should be harmonised at EU level; is of the opinion that a horizontal EU legal instrument providing protection for whistle-blowers in the public and private sectors and complemented by sectoral rules would be the most efficient approach in order to ensure comprehensive and genuine protection of whistle-blowers; reiterates in this regard its call on the Commission to present by the end of 2017 a legislative proposal defining whistle-blowing and setting out common rules for the protection of whistle-blowers1 ; _________________ 1and to immediately submit a legislative proposal establishing an effective and comprehensive European whistle-blower protection programme which includes mechanisms for companies, public bodies and non-profit organisations2a; _________________ 1 Text adopted P8_TA(2016)0403. Text adopted P8_TA(2016)0403. 2a Text adopted P8_TA(2017)0022
Amendment 36 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Underlines that the EU institutions must be interested and show strong willingness to support the role of whistle- blowers and the benefits they bring in correcting wrongdoing; reminds the lack of follow-up and proper settlement regarding whistle-blowing cases at this level; considers a matter of urgency, before a Directive on the protection of whistle-blowers would be adopted, that the Commission Guidelines on the protection of whistle-blowers within the EU institutions are properly implemented and urges all institutions, including Agencies, to establish clear rules for the protection of whistle-blowers, as well as measures against ´´revolving doors´´;
Amendment 38 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Urges the European Court of Auditors and the European Ombudsman to publish, each, by the end of 2017: 1) special reports containing statistics and a clear track record of whistle-blowing cases identified in the European institutions, businesses, associations, organisations and other bodies registered in the Union; 2) the follow-up of the institutions concerned in relation to the cases revealed, based on the current Commission guidelines and rules; 3) the outcome of each investigation open as a result of the information received from whistle-blowers; 4) the measures foreseen in every case for the whistle-blowers´ protection;
Amendment 43 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the EU institutions, in cooperation with all relevant national authorities, to introduce and take all necessary measures to protect the anonymity and confidentiality of the information sources in order to prevent any discriminatory actions or threats;
Amendment 52 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for the creation of legal and secure disclosure channels at national level to facilitate reporting to the competent authorities of information on threats to the public interest; reiterates in this regard its call for the need for an independent information-gathering, advisory and referral EU body, with offices in Member States which are in a position to receive reports of irregularities, with sufficient budgetary resources, adequate competences and appropriate specialists, in order to help internal and external whistle-blowers in using the right channels to disclose their information; highlights in this regard the potential role of the Office of the European Ombudsman;
Amendment 55 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for the creation of legal and secure disclosure channels at national and European level to facilitate reporting to the competent authorities of information on threats to the public interest; underlines the importance of confidentiality in all whistle-blowing related files and recalls that basic rules for the protection of anonymous whistle-blowers should be put in place, in cases where such protection is required;
Amendment 58 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Reminds the crucial role played by investigative journalists in revealing wrongdoing and stresses that they are an exposed group of professionals, often paying with their jobs, freedom and even their lives disclosures of massive irregularities and corruption schemes; calls for the inclusion of special measures to protect investigative journalists in a horizontal Proposal for the protection of whistle-blowers;
Amendment 61 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses that in accordance with Articles 22a, 22b and 22c of the Staff Regulations all EU institutions should have in place robust and comprehensive internal rules on whistle-blower protection;
Amendment 71 #
2016/2224(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises that freedom of expression and information, as well as the strong substrate component of civic morality, must be taken into account when assessing the protection of the public interest. must be fully respected and recalls in this regard the important role of investigative journalism; recalls in this regard that the Directive on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets)3a against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure, should not be interpreted in a way as reducing protection of whistle- blowers and investigative journalism; _________________ 3aDirective (EU) 2016/943 of the European Parliament and the Council of 8 June 2016
Amendment 19 #
2016/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
- having regard to the EU Guidelines on the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief1a, __________________ 1ahttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52013 IP0279
Amendment 256 #
2016/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls the importance of the mandate of the EUSR in enhancing the EU’s effectiveness in advancing human rights and democratic principles around the world; reiterates its call for this mandate to become a permanent one ; whilst acknowledging the important role of the EUSR for Human Rights, regrets that Freedom of Religion or Belief is not listed as one of the key EU priorities raised1a; __________________ 1a http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/docu ment/ST-10255-2016-INIT/en/pdf
Amendment 274 #
2016/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Reiterates its demand that the Members of the European Parliament be given access to the HRCSs and obtain information on how the EU implements these strategies, and that these are presented in a format that enables the Members to fulfil their duty of scrutiny properly;
Amendment 494 #
2016/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 d (new)
Paragraph 48 d (new)
48d. Stresses that certain trade benefits, in particular those granted under GSP+, are inherently and legally conditional upon the continued implementation of international human rights conventions;
Amendment 499 #
2016/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 a (new)
Paragraph 49 a (new)
49a. Calls on the EU to include respect for Freedom of Religion or Belief in Human Rights Impact Assessments that are carried out before the EU decides to conclude new trade and investment agreements;
Amendment 524 #
2016/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54 a (new)
Paragraph 54 a (new)
54a. Reaffirms that Women's rights cannot be sacrificed due to specific proscription by any religion or belief;
Amendment 663 #
2016/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73
Paragraph 73
73. Condemns, in keeping with Article 10 TFEU, all acts of violence and discrimination on the basis of ideology, religion or belief; expresses its serious concern over the continued reports of violence and discrimination against religious or belief minorities around the world; urges the EU also to continue the implementation of the EU Guidelines on the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief;
Amendment 667 #
2016/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73 c (new)
Paragraph 73 c (new)
73c. Requests concrete action towards the effective implementation of the EU Guidelines on the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief, including: ensuring systematic and consistent training of EU staff at Headquarters and in Delegations; reporting on country and local situations; engaging in close cooperation with local actors, and especially with their leaders of religious or belief groups;
Amendment 668 #
2016/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73 d (new)
Paragraph 73 d (new)
73d. Calls on the EEAS and the European Commission to look to the European Parliament's Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious Tolerance Annual Report and determine an annual strategy for the focal countries where there are grave violations to ensure suitable EU development funding and monitoring programmes as well as assistance to the respective EU Delegations. This year these countries include Burma, China, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Brunei and The Maldives;
Amendment 676 #
2016/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74 b (new)
Paragraph 74 b (new)
Amendment 677 #
2016/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74 c (new)
Paragraph 74 c (new)
74c. Is deeply concerned that in some parts of the world the position of religion or belief communities is endangered with entire religious communities disappearing or fleeing;
Amendment 681 #
2016/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75
Paragraph 75
75. Calls on the EU and its Member States to ensure that religious or belief minorities are respected worldwide, including in the Middle East, where Yazidis, Christians and Muslim minorities and atheists are being persecuted by ISIS and other terrorist groups;
Amendment 766 #
2016/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 89 a (new)
Paragraph 89 a (new)
89a. Deplores the abuse of religion or belief for terrorist purpose;
Amendment 797 #
2016/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 100
Paragraph 100
100. Condemns in the strongest possible terms the torture and ill-treatment caused by ISIS; expresses its solidarity with the families and communities of all victims affected by the violence; condemns practices by ISIS to discriminate against and to target minority groups; calls on the EU, its Member States and the international community to step up their efforts to address the urgent need to prevent further suffering in an effective way;
Amendment 1 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe,1a _________________ 1a OJ L 152, 11.6.2008, p.1.
Amendment 14 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. There are large discrepancies between the NOx emissions of most Euro 3-6 diesel cars measured during the type- approval process with the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) laboratory test, which meet the legal emission limit, and their NOx emissions measured in real driving conditions, which substantially exceed the limit. Those discrepancies affect most diesel cars and are not limited to Volkswagen vehicles equipped with prohibited defeat devices.
Amendment 17 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. The existence of the discrepancies, and their significant negative impact on attaining air quality objectivestandards, in particular with regard to urban areas, had been known to the Commission, to the responsible authorities of the Member States and to many other stakeholders since at least 2004-2005 when the Euro 5/6 Regulation was being prepared. The discrepancies have been confirmed by a large number of studies by the Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) and other researchers since 2010-2011.
Amendment 19 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Before September 2015, the discrepancies were generally attributed to the inadequacy of the NEDC laboratory test, which is not representative of real world emissions, and to the optimisation strategies put in place by car manufacturers to pass the laboratory test, not to the use of prohibited. The discrepancies were not recognised to originate from the use of prohibited defeat devices because there were no authorities looking into the illegal use of defeat devices.
Amendment 27 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. The excessive length of the process leading to the introduction of regulatory RDE tests can be explained only in part by the complexity of the development of a new test procedure, the time needed for the technological development of PEMS, and the length of the decision-making and administrative processes at the EU level. The delays were also due to choices of political priorities, such as the focus ofmainly the result of lobby influence, and of the political priority given by the Commission and the Member States ton avoiding burdens on industry in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
Amendment 36 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6 d. Notwithstanding the reasons mentioned the Commission lacked the political will and decisiveness to act upon the seriousness of the high NOx emissions and to give priority to the protection of public health of citizens that was at stake;
Amendment 38 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. The Member States’ failure to take an active part in the “Real Driving Emissions - Light Duty Vehicles” (RDE- LDV) working group constitutes maladministration. With the exception of a few Member States, such as the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Denmark and Spain, the vast majority did not participate in the RDE-LDV working group, despite voicing criticisms of the Commission’s proposals. Given the lead role played by the Member States in the enforcement of the Regulation, and given the known discrepancies in the NOx emissions of diesel vehicles and their significant negative impact on air quality objectives, Member States should have participated in the group’s proceedings. This would also have helped to achieve a better balance within the other participants in the working groupworking group instead of having a central role played by the overrepresented industry.
Amendment 49 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. The Commission did not use all possiblfailed to use the means at its disposal, at the level of the TCMV and of the RDE-LDV working group, to advance the decision making process and ensure a timely adaptation of the type-approval tests to reflect real world conditions, as required by Article 14(3) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2007.
Amendment 58 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Better coordinCoordination and cooperation between the different Commission departments involvedservices, including the JRC, was unstructured and neglectful. Better coordination could have been instrumental in accelerating the process of adapting the tests.
Amendment 63 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Over half of the RDE-LDV working group participants consisted of experts from car manufacturers and other automotive industries. This can inter alia be attributed to the lack of sufficient technical expertise in the Commission departments. While the Commission consulted a wide range of stakeholders and ensured open access to the RDE-LDV group, it leading to imbalanced composition of the working group where research institutes, civil society and NGO's were heavily underrepresented. The Commission should have taken further steps to “as far as possible, ensure a balanced representation of relevant stakeholders, taking into account the specific tasks of the expert group and the type of expertise required”, as required by the horizontal rules for Commission expert groups of 10 November 2010.
Amendment 72 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Defeat devices were generally not considered among the possible reasons behind the discrepancies between laboratory and on-road NOx emissions and it was not generally suspected that they could be in actual use in any passenger car produced in the EU before the Volkswagen revelations in September 2015. However, the Commission and the Member States were informed about the possibility of the use of defeat strategies under normal conditions of use ever since the conclusions of the JRC's 2013 report titled "A complementary emissions test for light-duty vehicles" were presented to them.
Amendment 108 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21 a. After the warnings of the JRC in 2013 regarding the possibility of the use of defeat strategies under normal conditions of use, the Commission should have taken additional measures to monitor and ensure that Member States carry out all necessary checks and that there is no infringement of EU legislation.
Amendment 112 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. The Commission had no legal basis to search for defeat devices itself, but had the legal obligation to oversee the Member States’ enforcement of the ban on defeat devices. However, in spite of the awareness of, and communication between the relevant Commission services on, possible illegal practices by manufacturers, the Commission neither undertook any further technical or legal research or investigation on its own nor requested any information or further action from the Member States to verify whether the law may have been infringed. This constitutes maladministration.
Amendment 116 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Even if there was no concrete evidence that indicated cheating in emissions tests, the Commission should have launched an investigation to check if the car manufactures were using defeat devices in contravention with Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 and should have taken measures to prevent the fraud.
Amendment 117 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22 b. The Commission failed to monitor the development of national policies and the enforcement of the EU legislation by national authorities ensuring that there is no infringement of EU legislation. This constitutes maladministration.
Amendment 118 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 c (new)
Paragraph 22 c (new)
22 c. The Commission failed to give a mandate to the JRC to investigate the possible illegal use of defeat devices as a possible explanation for the discrepancies between the laboratory and road emissions.
Amendment 125 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. The Commission should have ensured that the JRC’s research findings and concerns discussed among the Commission services with regard to possible illegal practices by manufacturers reach the level of the hierarchy and lead to actions needed to correct the situation. Altogether, the Commission's lack of action constitutes maladministration.
Amendment 129 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. The level of technical expertise and human and financial resources may vary substantially between type-approval authorities and technical services, and the fact that car manufacturers are free to choose any of the existing type-approval authorities combined with a lack of a harmonised interpretation of the rules can leads to competition among them, especially since the authorities act in this respect as commercial parties and not as bodies serving only the public interest. Car manufacturers are, in principle, free to address the type-approval authority and technical service with the most flexible and least stringent interpretation of the rules, as well as the lowest fees.
Amendment 138 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. The Member States should have ensured that their type-approval authorities have sufficient human and financial resources to either perform in-house testing or purchase reliable testing services. They should have not relied on tests performed in the car manufacturers’ certified laboratories under the supervision of technical services. The potential conflicts of interest arising from the contracting of technical services by car manufacturers for carrying out tests is a direct result of the current system set out in the EU type- approval framework directive and cannot therefore be considered maladministration. The Commission proposal for a new market surveillance and type-approval regulation addresses this weakness by proposing a fee structure for the financing of type-approval tests, although under the system proposed by the Commission it remains possible for car manufacturers to choose the testing service and type approval authority of their preference in any of the Member States. It is regrettable that the Commission did not consider a complete overhaul of the system by eliminating competition among testing services and among type approval authorities by making it obligatory for car manufacturers to use the national testing services and national type approval authorities.
Amendment 142 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. However, wWhere technical services also offer consultancy services to car manufacturers on obtaining type-approval, as is the case in certain Member States, a potential conflict of interest arises due to the existence of an additional financial link between technical services and car manufacturers related to the provision of advice on how to successfully acquire type-approval. Member States should have investigated such potential conflicts of interests. This constitutes maladministration.
Amendment 146 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. The Member States should have ensured that type-approval authorities adequately audit technical services. This constitutes maladministration. TUnfortunately, the choice of the technical service is primarily the choice of the car manufacturer, and the role of the type- approval authority is often just to validate the procedure at the end. The possibility available to type-approval authorities to audit technical services and to challenge the choice of technical service is very rarely used.
Amendment 150 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. The Member States’ failure to organise an efficient and reliable market surveillance system constitutes a contravention of EU law. The verification of the conformity of production and in- service conformity of light-duty vehicles is often based only on laboratory tests performed on the car manufacturers’ premises.
Amendment 156 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37 a. In particular, the Commission should have examined how competition among type approval authorities and among testing services worked out in practice and should have submitted alternatives for this type of unnecessary and harmful competition.
Amendment 157 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 b (new)
Paragraph 37 b (new)
37 b. The Commission failed to make use of the provision of Regulation (EC) No 692/2008, to request Member States type approval authorities for information on the functioning of emission technology at low temperatures.
Amendment 161 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38 a. The initial test results performed by the national authorities in the framework of the diesel emissions screening campaign give credence to suspicions that Volkswagen case is not the only violation but the emissions scandal is more widespread and prevents the efficient enforcement of EU legislation.
Amendment 167 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. The majority of the Member States did not launch or participate to any investigations. Some Member States were very reluctant to share the results of their investigations and the technical test data with the Commission and this committee of inquiry. or they published only parts of their findings.
Amendment 181 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)
Paragraph 46 a (new)
46 a. Furthermore, the Member States have not taken up their role to actively inform and support consumers to claim their rights in respect of the Volkswagen emissions case and possible involvement of other car-brands.
Amendment 183 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Following a strict interpretation of Regulation (EC) No 715/2007, the Commission considered that it is the sole duty of the Member States, and not part of its responsibility as guardian of the Treaties, to investigate the possible illegal use of defeat devices. On this basis, the Commission did notThe Commission failed to undertake furtherany technical research, did not request additional information from the Member States and did not askor request the responsible national type-approval authorities to undertake further investigative and corrective actions regarding the possible illegal use of the defeat devices.
Amendment 187 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 a (new)
Paragraph 48 a (new)
48 a. The Commission should have asked for the emissions tests to be done in real driving conditions as set in the Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 since it was known that there was a difference between the results of the emissions in the laboratory and in the real driving conditions.
Amendment 192 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
Paragraph 53
53. The participation of sSome former Commissioners was further complicated byrefused to cooperate and contribute to the research of this committee of inquiry using as an excuse the lack of a clear obligation in the current Code of Conduct for Commissioners that former Commissioners must cooperate with ongoing inquiries and in general remain accountable for actions undertaken during their term in office.
Amendment 204 #
2016/2215(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
Paragraph 61
61. Given the temporary nature of committees of inquiry, collecting evidence in an efficient and timely manner is essential. The approach taken by the committee to devote the first months of its mandate to hearing technical experts before moving on the political level proved successful. Ideally, the hearings should start only once the first phase of evidence collection, including receiving all the relevant documents from the parties under inquiry, is concluded.
Amendment 1 #
2016/2160(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 1
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
- having regard to the Special report no 07/2016 of the European Court of Auditors: The European External Action Service's management of its buildings around the world;
Amendment 9 #
2016/2160(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Reminds the EEAS that there is a silver lining between economic diplomacy and lobbying; calls therefore on the EEAS to set up rules on lobbying in order to distinguish between the two, join the future Inter-Institutional Agreement on a Mand ato enhance try Transparency for lobbying both in the headquarter and the delegationsRegister, including for the Union delegations, insofar as this is legally possible;
Amendment 11 #
2016/2160(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Calls on the EEAS for an overhaul of its building policies in line with the recommendations made by the Court of Auditors in its Special Report no. 07/2016, in particular concerning: - the need for consistency and full costs recovery of the charges paid by Member States or other Union institutions or bodies hosted in delegation office buildings; - the improved selecting of delegation buildings; - direct involvement of headquarters before renting (or renewing a rental agreement) or buying office buildings; - the improvement of its real-estate management information system, so that the EEAS has more reliable and relevant information to feed into the planning process;
Amendment 6 #
2016/2159(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that the Supervisor has organised different after-work events, successfully set up the well-being activities like running club and yoga class which are organised free of charge for and by the staff members; calls on the Supervisor to check for ways to reward the individual staff contributing most to the institution’s well-being activities, continue with such activities and try to include as many staff as possible; calls on the Supervisor to share its experience with regard to improving the staff’s well-being with other Union institutions;
Amendment 10 #
2016/2159(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Calls on the Supervisor to join the future Inter-Institutional Agreement on a Mandatory Transparency Register;
Amendment 3 #
2016/2158(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Acknowledges the importance of the Ombudsman’s strategic and own initiatives and invites the Ombudsman to inform regularly inform the discharge authority about the impact of its inquiries; reiterates, however, that the Ombudsman’s first priority should be to address complaints from citizens within a reasonable time frame and that own-initiative inquiries should under no circumstances infringe that objective; asks the Ombudsman to interpret maladministration as widely as possible when performing its duties; invites the Ombudsman to develop closer cooperation with Parliament’s Committee on Bbudgetary Ccontrol in its strategic work;
Amendment 4 #
2016/2157(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes with concern that none of the targets set by the Committee in 2015 to increase involvement of Parliament and Council in activities related to the Committee opinions were achieved; states that this may give rise to reasonable doubts as to the Committee's rationale, moreover, considering that the Committee's mission is to involve regional and local authorities in the European decision-making process, which is also being promoted by the Member States themselves and the Council, an analysis of the costs and benefits of the Committee's work based on clear performance indicators is necessary;
Amendment 9 #
2016/2157(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Calls on the Committee to join the future Inter-Institutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register;
Amendment 4 #
2016/2156(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Notes that the opinions of the Committee are not well integrated in the Parliament's work and calls upon the Committee to develop proposals together with the Secretary-General of the Parliament to streamline the procedures of the Committee and Parliament in this respect;
Amendment 10 #
2016/2156(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes the Committee’s plan to comply with the inter-institutional agreement to reduce staff by 5 % over a period of five years; asks to be informed as to how this reduction matches the situation in 2016 that includes three new posts, in addition to the increasing number of temporary agents employed by the Committee; suggests that the Committee reports back to Parliament on any alternative savings achieved to compensate the possible delay in the reduction of staff;
Amendment 12 #
2016/2156(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Takes note that, according to the Committee’s rules of procedure, its members are completely independent in the performance of their duties, in the general interest of the Union; notes that the declarations of interests of the members are available on the Committee’s website; invitescalls on the Committee to set up the lobbyists’ register on its website and by doing so make all meetings between the Committee’s members and third parties publicjoin the future Inter- Institutional Agreement on a Mandatory Transparency Register;
Amendment 16 #
2016/2156(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Takes note of the Committee’s efforts and achievements in stepping up its information and communication policy, although it is more important in the light of the Committee's mandate that the effectiveness of its opinions on European decision-making is improved than its general publicity;
Amendment 8 #
2016/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reminds the Court that the audit of the decentralised agencies remains “under the full responsibility of the Court, which manages all administrative and procurement procedures required”6 ; encourages the Court to put forward proposals to resolve the audit of the agencies issue within the context of the ongoing revision of the Financial Regulation, and the subsequent revision of the Framework Financial Regulation; is of the opinion that this matter should be clarified so as to significantly reduce theany excessive administrative burden on the decentralised agencies, without impairing the necessity and effectiveness of the Court’s work; _________________ 6 Agreement of the Parliament, the Council and the Commission, paragraph 54 of the Common Approach.
Amendment 14 #
2016/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Takes the view that the special reports of the Court should be given more prominence by the recipient institutions and should have yearly dedicated reports; emphasizes that the effectiveness of the separate special reports could be enlarged if they were grouped together in time in relation to specific policy areas, thus making it possible for Parliament to devote ad hoc reports to these special reports of the Court outside the discharge cycle;
Amendment 26 #
2016/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the creation of the transparency portal on the Court’s websiCalls on the Court to join the future Inter-Institutional Agreement on a Mandatory Transparency Register;
Amendment 19 #
2016/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Supports the review of expenditure and of the conditions for use of official cars jointly conducted by the internal audit services of the Court of Justice and of the Court of Auditors; calls on the Court of Justice to consider, within the frame of that review, the possibility of reducing the number of official cars at the disposal of its members and staff; calls, moreover, on the Court to improve its checks against the use of official cars for private purposes;
Amendment 20 #
2016/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Notes that on the commitments of Missions of 295.500,- euro only 41.209,- euro has been used; points out that this under-investment could be avoided; requests the Court to improve its budgeting and accountability in regard to the mission budget and emphasizes the principle of missions to be cost-effective;
Amendment 965 #
2016/2114(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 49 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Rule 49 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. After the vote in the committee, coordinators shall decide on the desirability of an Impact Assessment (including the SME-test) concerning the amendments adopted by the committee
Amendment 966 #
2016/2114(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 49 – paragraph 3 – point c a (new)
Rule 49 – paragraph 3 – point c a (new)
(ca) If available, the Impact Assessment by Parliament;
Amendment 1009 #
2016/2114(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 94 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Rule 94 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
The provisions governing the procedure for granting discharge to the Commission in accordance with Article 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in respect of the implementation of the budget, shall likewise apply to the procedure for granting discharge to:
Amendment 1012 #
2016/2114(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 94 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Rule 94 – paragraph 1 a (new)
The discharge to the bodies referred to in the fourth indent of the first paragraph shall be dealt with in a single report per body.
Amendment 4 #
2016/2100(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Expresses its concern with the level of concentration in some sectors, such as in the chemical sector, in light of the recent mergers between, for example, Dow Chemical and Dupont, and between Bayer and Monsanto; requests the Commission to explain how it defines the minimum of market players necessary for fair competition in the EU, how it retains the possibility for new companies, in particular start-ups, to enter highly concentrated markets and how it avoids the emergence of companies that are 'too big to fail' and would require State support, in order to avoid major employment losses in the case of their closing down;
Amendment 59 #
2016/2100(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Emphasises the importance of lively city centres and expresses its concern with the number of shops that have recently had to close down; invites the Commission to examine how it intends to apply certain, less restrictive, competition rules in order to make it possible for municipalities, real estate owners, electricity and gas suppliers, as well as retailers to work together in order to revitalise the 'high street'; emphasises in this respect that national, regional and local authorities should be free to introduce restrictions for the establishment of outlet centres, shopping malls etc., outside the city centres, if this is needed for the revitalisation of city centres.
Amendment 68 #
2016/2100(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Calls on the Commission to examine and correct the situation of independent retailers who are allowed under competition law to work together through their brick-and-mortar shops, but are accused of unfair competition if they provide joint e-commerce offerings.
Amendment 74 #
2016/2100(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Invites the Commission to allow in its competition policies for certain forms of co-operation between independent food suppliers, in order to avoid and counter any unfair trading practices on the part of supermarkets.
Amendment 75 #
2016/2100(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Requests the Commission to explain how it applies the rules on state support in respect of social housing schemes, and, in particular, in regard of the definition of social housing; points in this regard to the differences between rental prices in big cities as opposed to the general level of housing rental prices and asks the Commission to allow for raising the income ceilings in order to qualify for social housing in areas where the general level of rental prices is relatively high.
Amendment 61 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Notes that following the European Parliament Resolution of 9 March 2016 on the PMI Agreement the Commission has to come forward with an action plan for tackling illicit tobacco trade, including the high proportion of non-branded cigarettes ('cheap whites'); urges the Commission to submit to the Parliament a proposal for such an action plan without further delay;
Amendment 79 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Welcomes the Commission's recommendation that Member States should strike the right balance between trade facilitation and the protection of the EU's financial interests; points in this respect to the fast-lane procedures of customs authorities for companies that are considered low-risk, which in itself can be a good system for quick clearance of goods, but has proven vulnerable to corruptive practices by customs officers;
Amendment 94 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Refers in this regard to the Special Report No. l0/2015 of the European Court of Auditors recommending, inter alia, that the Commission and Member States invest in systematic analysis of public procurement errors and requests the Commission to submit to Parliament such a detailed analysis; invites the Commission, in particular, to express its views in regard of recurrent errors and to explain why such errors would not be considered as indications of potentially fraudulent activities; calls upon the Commission to swiftly finalise the Guidelines on public procurement in line with the newly adopted Directive on Public Procurement;
Amendment 118 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the fact that the ex-ante and ex-post 'Community Controls' are detecting more and more cases of irregularities; considers however, that prevention is easier than recovery of losses; urges therefore on Member States to better carry out the ex-ante controls with the assistance of the Commission; recalls in this respect that budget constraints cannot be invoked as reasons for reducing the staff attributed to these ex-ante controls, as preventing irregularities pays itself back;
Amendment 123 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Supports the Hercule III programme, which is a good example of “best use of every euro” approach; asks the Commission to give an interim evaluation on the results achieved of Hercule III in relation to its objectives;
Amendment 142 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Recalls the Resolution of European Parliament on the protection of whistleblowing of 14 February 2017 and calls on the Commission to inform Parliament on the follow up of this Resolution;
Amendment 144 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Deplores thatCondemns the Commission did's decision not to keep its word to publish an EU Anti- Corruption rReports biannually, as there has been no report published in 2016; as was promised; regrets, in particular, that this decision was taken without any discussions with the Parliament; note that, notwithstanding the Commission's intention to reflect corruption in the context of the European Semester and in legislative actions, a comprehensive report on anti-corruption in the Member States and within the EU Institutions is still needed; moreover, reminds the Commission of its reporting obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption, to which the EU is a party, and to the offer made by both UNODC and GRECO to help the Commission in this respect; thus calls on the Commission to reconsider its decision and to draw up a report as promised without any further delay;
Amendment 180 #
2016/2097(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Calls for the Commission to clarify the main reasons that Member States are not following up alleged cases of fraud affecting the EU’s financial interests, as submitted to them by OLAFgive a comprehensive reaction on OLAF's recently published analysis on Member States' follow-up to OLAF's judicial recommendations;
Amendment 33 #
2016/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Regrets, in particular, the negative response by the President of the Commission to the request of the European Ombudsman to proactively publish its decisions on the authorisation of post term-of-office activities of former Commissioners, as well as the opinions of the Ad Hoc Ethical Committee; emphasises in this respect that the mere publishing of the minutes of Commission meetings is insufficient to offer the Parliament and civil society an insight in the interpretation in practice of 'potential conflicts of interest' and the integrity policies developed in this respect by the Ad Hoc Ethical Committee;
Amendment 50 #
2016/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 – point e
Paragraph 10 – point e
(e) that Commissioners designate submit their declarations within a specific time frame before theirso that the Ad Hoc Ethical Committee can submit to Parliament its views on potential conflicts of interests well in time for the hearings in Parliament;
Amendment 56 #
2016/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 – point e a (new)
Paragraph 10 – point e a (new)
(ea) that Commissioners designate include in their declarations all professional EU interest representation activities and all their financial interests in such activities in the past three years;
Amendment 63 #
2016/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 – point i a (new)
Paragraph 10 – point i a (new)
(ia) that the decisions on the authorisation of post term-of-office activities of former Commissioners, as well as the opinions of the Ad Hoc Ethical Committee are proactively published;
Amendment 65 #
2016/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 – point i b (new)
Paragraph 10 – point i b (new)
(ib) that the Ad Hoc Ethical Committee is composed of independent experts who have not themselves fulfilled positions as Commissioner or as Member of the European Parliament;
Amendment 66 #
2016/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 – point i c (new)
Paragraph 10 – point i c (new)
(ic) that the Ad Hoc Ethical Committee shall draw up and publish an annual report on its activities and may include any recommendations on the improvement of the Code of Conduct or of its implementation, as it may see fit;
Amendment 67 #
2016/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 – point i d (new)
Paragraph 10 – point i d (new)
(id) that, as a matter of priority, the duty to behave with integrity and discretion pursuant to Article 245 of the Treaty (TFEU) even beyond a period of 18 months after ceasing to hold office is elaborated and that the Ad Hoc Ethical Committee develops a manual providing guidelines on the basis of practical examples indicating which type of positions could be at odds with this duty both during and beyond the period of 18 months after ceasing to hold office; that the 'cooling off' period of 18 months is considerably extended, as long as such a manual has not yet been developed;
Amendment 30 #
2016/2062(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Takes note of the Commission's recommendation to the Council to issue authorisation to negotiate 'comprehensive EU-level air transport agreements' with, amongst other countries, Gulf States; emphasises, however, that substantive negotiations should not commence before a solution has been found in respect to the massive state aid provided to the Gulf Carriers by their states;
Amendment 37 #
2016/2062(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Welcomes the Commission's ambition to strengthen the regulatory responsibility of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); however, underlines that safety cannot be compromised, especially from consumer perspective, and is therefore worried regarding the Commission's intention to introduce competition as a relevant factor in this regard; furthermore, notes that competition has led to degrading working conditions for aviation crew, which indirectly influences the safety of crew and passengers alike;
Amendment 46 #
2016/2062(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Regrets that the Commission does not mention Passenger Rights (PR) in their Communication; calls on the Council to find a solution to the current impasse regarding the proposed directive on Passenger Rights (COM(2011)0898) and avoid that any further delays causes consumers to remain in an uncertain situation regarding their rights;
Amendment 4 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
Citation 9 a (new)
- having regard to the inquiry of the European Ombudsman of 2 March 2015 and its call on EU Institutions to adopt the required rules on whistleblowing;
Amendment 35 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)
Recital N a (new)
N a. whereas the European Ombudsman has a clear competence in relation to the investigation of complaints of EU citizens about maladministration in the EU institutions, but in itself plays no role in the protection of whistleblowers in the Member States;
Amendment 68 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Expresses the need to establish an independent EU institution with sufficient budgetary resources, in order to help whistle-blowers use the right channels to disclose their information on possible irregularities affecting the financial interests of the Union, while protecting their confidentiality and offering assistance against possible retaliatory measuresneeded support and advice;
Amendment 99 #
2016/2055(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Reiterates its call on all EU institutions who have not yet done so to implement Article 22c of the Staff Regulations without further delay; urges all institutions to ensure their respective adopted internal rules on whistleblower protections are robust and comprehensive;
Amendment 191 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 b (new)
Paragraph 60 b (new)
60 b. stresses that the Parliament and the Council, in order to create long term savings in the Union budget, must address the need for a roadmap to a single seat, as requested by the large majority of this Parliament in several resolutions;
Amendment 86 #
2016/2019(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Considers that the structural and organisational reforms aimed at achieving greater efficiency, environmental sustainability, and effectiveness should continue through the thorough examination of possible synergies and savings; recalls the substantial savings that could be made by having only one place of work instead of three (Brussels, Strasbourg, Luxembourg); underlines that this process should be lead without endangering Parliament's legislative excellence, its budgetary powers and powers of scrutiny, or the quality of working conditions for Members, assistants, and staff;
Amendment 129 #
2016/2019(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Recalls the its resolution of 20 November 2013 on the location of the seats of the European Union’s Institutions1, which estimated the costs of the geographic dispersion of the Parliament to be between EUR 156 million and EUR 204 million and equivalent to 10% of the Parliament's budget; emphasises that the report also estimates the environmental impact of the geographic dispersion to be between 11,000 to 19,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions; reiterates the negative public perception caused by this dispersion; calls therefore for a roadmap to a single seat; __________________ 1 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2013)0498.
Amendment 18 #
2016/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission to monitor the evolving postal sector, including the growth of e-commerce and e-substitution, and to respond where necessary to ensure the sustainability of the USO and emphasises the right of Member States to make use of the flexibility offered by the Postal Services Directive in this respect;
Amendment 22 #
2016/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Expresses its concern with the tendency to offer rebates, discounts and special prices for big customers like bulk mailers that no longer reflect the real labour costs, which still comprise 80% of the total costs of postal services, as well as the costs relating to maintenance and improvement of the network; b. Reiterates that transparency concerning all special prices, discounts, conditions or rebates for big customers, is one of the key elements of the Postal Services Directive, in order to ensure non- discriminatory treatment of all postal users; c. Calls upon the National Regulatory Authorities to closely monitor pricing policies and to take action in those cases, where these prices no longer reflect the real costs of the postal services concerned;
Amendment 23 #
2016/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Stresses the need to counter cherry- picking by new entrants in the postal sector, for example, by offering financial compensation to the incumbents, in particular, to the universal service providers;
Amendment 33 #
2016/2010(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Points in this respect to the tendency to replace postal workers with self- employed persons and the often precarious working conditions of the latter; calls upon the Commission to co- operate with Member States to put an end to false self-employment, i.e. self- employed working for mainly one service provider, and to encourage self-employed to organise themselves in such a manner that they receive a fair compensation for their services;
Amendment 48 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 a (new)
Citation 29 a (new)
- having regard to the Guidelines to promote and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons, adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council on 24 June 2013,
Amendment 53 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 32
Citation 32
— having regard to its resolution of 4 February 2014 on the EU Roadmap against homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity13 , being followed up by the List of actions by the European Commission to advance LGBTI Equality, presented at the EPSCO Council on 7 December 2015, __________________ 13 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2014)0062.
Amendment 72 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 41 a (new)
Citation 41 a (new)
- having regard to Fundamental Rights Agency's EU LGBT Survey (2013), its report "Being Trans in the EU - Comparative analysis of the EU LGBT survey data" (2014), to its focus paper on the Fundamental Rights Situation of Intersex people (2015) and to its report "Professionally speaking: challenges to achieving equality for LGBT people" (2016),
Amendment 189 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas racism, xenophobia and hate crimediscrimination, hate crime and hate speech, motivated by racism, xenophobia, or bias against a person's religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, threaten the values of the EU and its Member States; whereas there is an increase in hate speech among political forces and increasing xenophobia and other bias in important sectors of the population;
Amendment 206 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas violence against women and gender-based violence is still ‘silently’ tolerated in many places and a zero tolerance approach is necessary;
Amendment 279 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Amendment 281 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Recalls, in line with international law, that human rights are universal and indivisible; this means that the human rights of one group cannot be used to undermine the rights of others. Human rights are always complementary, and a fair balance must be struck between the rights of all in a rich and diverse society;
Amendment 290 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Strongly deplores the fact that the Council has still not adopted the 2008 proposal for a directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation; welcomes the prioritisation of this directive by the Commission; reiterates its call to the Council to adopt the proposal as soon as possible;
Amendment 350 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Urges Member States to guarantee decent reception conditions in compliance with existing fundamental rights and asylum legislation, with special attention paid to vulnerable people and to reducing the risk of social exclusion of asylum seekers; calls on the Commission to monitor the implementation of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), and in particular of Directive 2013/32/EU, with specific attention to asylum seekers in need of special procedural guarantees;
Amendment 444 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that appropriate treatment of victims, including victims of terrorism, is a demonstration of our societies’ solidarity with each victim and recognition that such treatment isensuring victims' fundamental rights, essential to the moral integrity of society; recalls in this regard that the rules that have applied across the EU since November 2015for robust policies to prevent violence and which meet the needs of victims, including a thorough assessment of the implementation of the EU Victims' Directive (2012/29/EU) which guarantees that people who fall victim to crime in the EU benefit from a minimum set of rights;
Amendment 559 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Expresses its concern that several Member States have insufficiently transposed provisions of Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA and calls on the Member States to fully transpose and implement EU standards and to ensure the enforcement of national legislation punishing all forms of hate crime, incitement to hatred and harassment, and systematically triggering the prosecution of those criminal offences; calls on the Commission to monitor the full transposition of the Framework Decision and to launch infringement procedures against those Member States that fail to transpose it;
Amendment 564 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Welcomes the fact that some EU Member States have extended the protection granted to victims of discrimination based on other grounds, such as sexual orientation or gender identity, when implementing the Framework Decision; calls on the Commission to start a dialogue with those Member States whose legislation does not cover homophobic and transphobic hate motives, aimed at filling the remaining legislative gap;
Amendment 597 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the EU and the Member States to strengthen the role of human rights education in national curricula as a tool for preventing racism and related intolerance, homophobia and transphobia, and calls for greater rights awareness;
Amendment 634 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Highlights that improvements are still needed to combat violence against women and gender-based violence, and calls on the Member States and the EU to sign and ratify the Istanbul Convention following the launch of the procedure by the Commission in March 2016;
Amendment 656 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on the Commission to share Member States' best practices for addressing gender stereotypes at school.
Amendment 714 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Welcomes the adoption by the Council of Europe of its Strategy for the Rights of the Child (2016-2021) and in particular its focus on the need to counter discrimination against children with disabilities, children affected by migration, Roma children and LGBT and intersex children;
Amendment 718 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for a focus on violence against children at all levels, from homes to schools, public places and detention centres for migrants; encourages the European Commission to strengthen peer-learning between Member States on how to best address school bullying, in particular when it affects specific groups such as children with disabilities, LGBTI children or children from ethnic minority background;
Amendment 745 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Highlights that child protection should be enhanced in the digital world and calls for further cooperation between the private and public sectors; encourages those involved to follow good examples of prevention and complaint mechanisms in online social media and to implement these EU-wide; calls on Member States to take measures to address cyber-bullying, and in particular, when it affects specific groups such as children with disabilities, LGBTI children or children from ethnic minority background;
Amendment 772 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Calls on Member States to prohibit unnecessary medical treatments on intersex children when they can be deferred, until the child can provide fully informed consent;
Amendment 856 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Highlights that discrimination on the basis of age is often combined with other forms of discrimination, such as discrimination on grounds of race and ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, health or socio- economic conditions;
Amendment 868 #
Amendment 869 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39 a. Condemns all forms of discrimination and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people (LGBTI) in the EU;
Amendment 870 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 b (new)
Paragraph 39 b (new)
39 b. Welcomes the List of actions by the European Commission to advance LGBTI Equality, presented at the EPSCO Council on 7 December 2015 as an internal working document following up on the Parliament's resolution of 4 February 2014 on the EU Roadmap against homophobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity; calls, in this regard, on the Commission to make specific proposals in the evaluation of the list of actions, on how in the future to ensure coherence between external and internal EU policies, considering that the Foreign Affairs Council adopted the Guidelines to promote and protect the enjoyment of all human rights by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons on 24 June 2013;
Amendment 871 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 d (new)
Paragraph 39 d (new)
39 d. Calls on Member States to continue implementing the Employment Equality Directive 2000/78/EC and Gender Recast Directive 2006/54/EC, ensuring non-discrimination in the workplace, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender reassignment respectively; calls on the Commission to follow CJEU case law and to include the perspective of trans people throughout its gender equality work; encourages EU Member States to support trade unions and employers' organisations in their efforts to adopt diversity and non-discrimination policies with a focus on LGBTI people;
Amendment 872 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 e (new)
Paragraph 39 e (new)
39 e. Reiterates that any legal recognition procedure which imposes forced sterilisation on transgender people is violating human rights standards; welcomes the recent adoption by a number of Member States of new legal gender recognition procedures more respectful of the fundamental rights of trans people. Calls on the European Commission to strengthen peer-learning among Member States to ensure their practices are in line with human rights standards;
Amendment 873 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 f (new)
Paragraph 39 f (new)
39 f. Deplores the fact that transgender people are still considered mentally ill in the majority of Member States and calls on respective states to review national mental health catalogues, and to develop alternative stigma-free access models ensuring that medically necessary treatment remains available for all trans people;
Amendment 874 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 g (new)
Paragraph 39 g (new)
39 g. Welcomes the initiative shown by the Commission in pushing for depathologisation of transgender identities in the review of the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases (ICD); calls on the Commission to intensify efforts to prevent gender variance in childhood from becoming a new ICD diagnosis;
Amendment 875 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 h (new)
Paragraph 39 h (new)
39 h. Strongly regrets that genital "normalisation" surgeries of intersex infants are widespread, despite not being medically necessary and being considered as a violation of the right to bodily integrity, by a number of UN bodies as well as the Fundamental Rights Agency; welcomes the fact that a few Member States have already adopted measures contributing to better protect the human rights of intersex people and calls on the European Commission to encourage the exchange of good practices amongst member states in protecting intersex human rights.
Amendment 938 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Notes that civil society organisations, including volunteering and youth work, play a key role in social and civic participation and calls on the EU and the Member States to support and to promote their work; calls on Member States and on the EU to uphold the freedom of assembly and of association as part of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
Amendment 62 #
Amendment 79 #
Amendment 30 #
2016/0398(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The Commission has received an increasing number of notifications from Member States regarding newly introduced requirements under Directive 2006/123/EC. However, not all of those national requirements arseem to be non- discriminatory with regard to nationality or residence, justified and proportionate, thus resulting in a significant number of structural dialogues launched by the Commission vis-à-vis Member States. This shows that the existing notification procedure ismay not be sufficient to avoid discrimination on the grounds of nationality or residence, unjustified or disproportionate requirements. This is to the detriment of citizens and businesses in the internal market for services. Moreover, it appears that some new or modified requirements related to services falling within the scope of Directive 2006/123/EC have not been notified at all.
Amendment 41 #
2016/0398(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The notification obligation established by this Directive should apply to regulatory measures of Member States, such as laws, regulations, administrative provisions of general nature or any other binding rule of general nature, including rules adopted by professional organisations to regulate in a collective and legally binding manner access to service activities or the exercise thereof. The notification obligation should on the other hand not apply to individual decisions issued by national authorities.
Amendment 42 #
2016/0398(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7 a) Amendments or modifications to draft measures introduced by legislative assemblies or local, regional or national parliaments during the parliamentary procedure should not be covered by the notification obligation laid down by this Directive. For the purposes of this Directive, the notification obligation should be considered to have been fulfilled when the draft measure is implemented and finally adopted at the end of the parliamentary procedure.
Amendment 53 #
2016/0398(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7 b (new)
Recital 7 b (new)
(7b) The notification obligation should not apply to rules laid down in collective agreements negotiated by social partners which shall not be considered as requirements within the meaning of this Directive. This Directive applies only to requirements which affect the access to, or the exercise of, a service activity. Therefore, it does not apply to requirements, such as road traffic rules, rules concerning the development or use of land, town and country planning, building standards as well as administrative penalties imposed for non- compliance with such rules which do not specifically regulate or specifically affect the service activity but have to be respected by providers in the course of carrying out their economic activity in the same way as by individuals acting in their private capacity.
Amendment 70 #
2016/0398(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The information to be submitted by the notifying Member State should be sufficient to assess compliance with Directive 2006/123/EC and, in particular, the proportionality of a notified authorisation scheme or requirement. Therefore, in accordance with the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), such information should clarify the public interest objective pursued, set out how the notified authorisation scheme or requirement is necessary and justified to meet this objective and explain how it is proportionate in doing so; thus, it should include explanations on why it is suitable, why it does not go beyond what is necessary and why no alternative and less restrictive means would be available. The reasons which may be invoked by the Member State concerned by way of justification should be accompanied by appropriate evidence and by an analysis of the proportionality of the notified measure.
Amendment 85 #
2016/0398(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Where follow, during the consultation period, the Commission still hahas expressed its concerns about the compliance with Directive 2006/123/EC of the notified draft measure, it may alert, before the closure of that period issue a notice to the notifying Member State, giving it the opportunity to provide further explanations or to bring its draft measure into conformity with EU law. That alertnotice should include an explanation of the legal concerns identified by the Commission. Reception of such an alert entails that the notifyingSuch notice should not prevent Member State shall nots from adopting the notified measure for three months.
Amendment 93 #
2016/0398(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
Recital 15
Amendment 131 #
2016/0398(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Amendment 147 #
2016/0398(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 4
Article 3 – paragraph 4
Amendment 165 #
2016/0398(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 177 #
2016/0398(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
Amendment 194 #
2016/0398(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 5
Article 5 – paragraph 5
5. Where neither the Commission nor other Member States have submitted comments to a notified draft measure within the two months referred to in paragraph 3, the consultation period shall end immediately. The notifying Member State may then proceed to adopt the draft measure without this constituting a breach of Article 3(3).
Amendment 197 #
Amendment 198 #
2016/0398(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
1. Before the closure of the consultation period referred to in Article 5(2), the Commission may alert the notifying Member State ofissue a notice to the Member State explaining in detail its concerns about the compatibility with Directive 2006/123/EC of the draft measure notified and of its intention to adopt a Decision referred to in Article 7.
Amendment 206 #
2016/0398(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. UponWithin one month from receipt of such an alert notice, the notifying Member State shall not adopt the draft measure for a period of three months after the closure of the consultation periodsubmit to the Commission an explanation of why it considers the draft measure to be in conformity with Directive 2006/123/EC or shall amend or withdraw the draft measure so as to ensure compliance with that Directive.
Amendment 222 #
2016/0398(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Where the Commission has issued an alert notice in accordance with Article 6(1), it may, within a period of three months after the date of the closure of the consultation period referred to in Article 5(2), adopt a DRecision finding the draft measure to be incompatible with Directive 2006/123/EC andommendation requiresting the Member State concerned to refrain from adopting the draft measure or, if such measure has been adopted in breach of Article 3(3) or Article 6(2), to repeal it.
Amendment 490 #
2016/0222(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Member States shall ensure that a guardian is not placed in charge of a disproportionate number of unaccompanied minors at the same time that would render him or her unable to perform his or her tasks effectively. Member States shall appoint entities or persons responsible for monitoring at regular intervals that guardians perform their tasks in a satisfactory manner. Those entities or persons shall also have the competence to review complaints lodged by unaccompanied minors against their guardian. To this end, unaccompanied minors shall be given information, in a child-friendly manner and in a language they understand, about who these entities or persons are and how to file complaints against their guardians in confidence and safety.
Amendment 98 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) This Regulation aims to clarify Article 20 of Directive 2006/123/EC. It should not be construed as replacing Directive 2006/123/EC, either as regards the scope of that Directive, where this Regulation abides by the same principles, excluding the activities referred to in Article 2(2) of Directive 2006/123/EC from the scope of its application, or as regards its effect, as the application of Directive 2006/123/EC is independent of, and complementary to, that of this Regulation. This Regulation should not restrict the entrepreneurial freedom and freedom of contract as defined in Article 16 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
Amendment 110 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) The non-discrimination provisions in this Regulation regarding access to online interfaces on the basis of customers' residence, do not impose a general obligation on traders to sell their goods or services.
Amendment 136 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
Amendment 147 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Both consumers and undertakings should be safeguarded from discrimination for reasons related to their nationality, place of residence or place of establishment when acting as customers for the purposes of this Regulation. However, that protection should not extend to customers purchasing a good or a service for resale, because it would affect widely used distribution schemes between undertakings in a business to business context, such as selective and exclusive distribution, which generally allow for manufacturers to select their retailers, subject to compliance with the rules on competition.
Amendment 265 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) where the trader or supplier sells goods, provides services, or seeks to do so, in a Member State other than the Member State in which the customer has the place of residence or the place of establishment;
Amendment 271 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) where the trader or supplier sells goods, provides services, or seeks to do so, in the same Member State as the one in which the customer has the place of residence or place of establishment, but the customer is a national of another Member State;
Amendment 276 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) where the trader or supplier sells goods or provides services, or seeks to do so, in a Member State in which the customer is temporarily located without residing in that Member State or having the place of establishment in that Member State.
Amendment 285 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. This Regulation shall not affect the rules applicable in the field of copyright and neighbouring rights, notably the rules provided for in Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council1a. _______________ 1a Directive2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society (OJ L 167, 22.6.2001, p. 10).
Amendment 287 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 5
Article 1 – paragraph 5
5. This Regulation shall not affect acts ofbe without prejudice to Union law concerning judicial cooperation in civil matters. Compliance with this Regulation shall not be construed as implying that a trader directs his or her activities to the Member State where the consumer has the habitual residence or domicile within the meaning of point (b) of Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 593/2008 and point (c) of Article 17(1) of Regulation (EU) 1215/2012and commercial matters.
Amendment 298 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 a (new)
Article 1 a (new)
Article 1a Scope 1. This Regulation does not apply to purely internal situations in which all activities are confined in all respects within a single Member State. 2. This Regulation does not apply to the activities referred to in Article 2(2) of Directive 2006/123/EC. 3. This Regulation shall be without prejudice to the rules applicable to the field of taxation. 4. Insofar as the provisions of this Regulation conflict with the provisions of Article 20(2) of Directive 2006/123/EC, the provisions of this Regulation shall prevail. 5. This Regulation shall not result in an obligation for the trader to bear additional costs in cases where a consumer exercises his right of withdrawal pursuant to Directive 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council1a. The necessary costs to bring the goods into conformity do not entail costs of postage or transport which are additional to those costs necessary to deliver the goods as specified in the general conditions of access or as agreed upon. _______________ 1aDirective 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on consumer rights, amending Council Directive 93/13/EEC and Directive 1999/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directive 85/577/EEC and Directive 97/7/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 304, 22.11.2011, p. 64).
Amendment 303 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) 'customer' means a consumer who, or an undertaking which, is a national of a Member State or has his or her place of residence or place of establishment in a Member State, and intends to purchase or purchases a good or a service within the Union, other than for resale;
Amendment 313 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point h a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point h a (new)
(ha) 'supplier' means any natural or legal person that supplies goods or services.
Amendment 349 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Traders shall not apply different general conditions of access to their goods or services, for reasons related to the nationality, place of residence or place of establishment of the customer, in the following situations where the customer seeks to:
Amendment 352 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) where the trader sells goods and those goods are not delivered cross-border to the Member State of the customer by the trader or on his or her behalfbuy goods from a trader and those goods are delivered to a location in a Member State to which the trader offers delivery in his general conditions of access or, are collected at a location agreed upon between the trader and the customer in a Member State in which the trader offers such option in his general conditions of access;
Amendment 357 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) where the trader providesreceive electronically supplied services from a trader, other than services the main feature of which is the provision of access to andor use of copyright protected works or other protected subject matter, or the selling of copyright protected works or protected subject matter in an intangible form;
Amendment 365 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) where the trader provides services, other than those covered by point (b), and those services are supplied to the customer in the premises of the trader orreceive services, other than electronically supplied services in a physical location whereithin the trader operates, inerritory of a Member State otwher than that of which the customer is a national or in which the customer has the place of residence or the place of establishmente the trader operates.
Amendment 373 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The prohibition set out in paragraph 1 shall not prevent traders from offering general conditions of access, including sale prices, which differ between Member States or within a Member State and which are offered to customers on a specific territory or to specific groups of customers.
Amendment 385 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. TradersWithin the range of payment means, namely credit transfers, direct debits or a card-based payment instrument of a specific brand and category, traders accept, they shall not, for reasons related to the nationality, place of residence or place of establishment of the customer, the location of the payment account, the place of establishment of the payment service provider or the place of issue of the payment instrument within the Union, apply different conditions ofor payment for any sales of goods or provision of services,transactions where:
Amendment 390 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
Amendment 393 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the payee can requestidentity of the payer or the validity of the use of the payment instrument is verifiable by strong customer authentication by the payer pursuant to the Directive (EU) 2015/2366; and
Amendment 397 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) the payment transactions are in a currency that the payeetrader accepts.
Amendment 416 #
Amendment 417 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. Each Member State shall confer responsibility for providing practical assistance to consumers and traders to a body or bodies in case of a dispute between a consumer and a trader or between traders arising from the application of this Regulation. Each Member State shall designate a body or bodies responsible for that task.
Amendment 419 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
2. The bodies referred to in paragraph 1 shall offer consumers aCommission shall adopt delegated acts setting out the requirements for uniform model forms to file complaints to the bodies referred to in paragraph 1 and in Article 7(1). The Commission shall assist those bodies in developing this model form.[If this amendment is adopted, the text will require further modifications as a corresponding recital and an article on delegation of powers need to be added.]
Amendment 423 #
2016/0152(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. By [date: twofive years after the entry into force of this Regulation] and every five years thereafter, the Commission shall report on the evaluation of this Regulation to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee. That report shall, where necessary, be accompanied by a proposal for an amendment of this Regulation, in light of legal, technical and economic developments.
Amendment 52 #
2016/0151(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Citation 1
Citation 1
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 53(1), 62 and 62168 thereof,
Amendment 177 #
2016/0151(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new)
Directive 2010/13/EU
Article 4 – paragraph 8 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 8 a (new)
(5a) A new paragraph is added as follows: 8a. This Directive is without prejudice to the ability of Member States to impose obligations to ensure access to and appropriate prominence of content of general interest under defined general interest objectives such as media pluralism, freedom of speech and cultural diversity.;
Amendment 179 #
2016/0151(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Directive 2010/13/EU
Article 6
Article 6
Member States shall ensure by appropriate means that audiovisual media services provided by media service providers under their jurisdiction do not contain any incitement to violence or hatred directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or beliefe, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation.;
Amendment 188 #
2016/0151(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 – point -a a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 – point -a a (new)
Directive 2010/13/EU
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c – point ii
(-aa) paragraph 1, point c, point ii is amended as follows: ‘(ii) include or promote any discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation;’ (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32010L0013)e, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation;’ Or. en
Amendment 189 #
2016/0151(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 -aa (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 -aa (new)
Directive 2010/13/EU
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv a (new)
(11 -aa) The following point is added : ‘(iva) be targeted at minors;’
Amendment 191 #
2016/0151(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 -ab (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 -ab (new)
Directive 2010/13/EU
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(11 -ab) The following point is added: ‘(ga) Any audiovisual commercial communications, accompanying or included in programmes with a significant children's audience shall be prohibited.’
Amendment 192 #
2016/0151(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 – point a
Amendment 202 #
2016/0151(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 11 – point b
Directive 2010/13/EU
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. Commercial communications for alcoholic beverages and gambling activities shall be kept to a minimum. Member States and the Commission shall encourage the development of self- and co- regulatory codes of conduct regarding inappropriate audiovisual commercial communications for alcoholic beverages. Those codes should be used to effectively limit the exposure of minors to audiovisual commercial communications for alcoholic beveragesin order to achieve this objective.
Amendment 210 #
2016/0151(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 12
Directive 2010/13/EU
Article 10 – point b
Article 10 – point b
Amendment 212 #
2016/0151(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 13
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 13
Directive 2010/13/EU
Article 11
Article 11
Amendment 220 #
2016/0151(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 14
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 14
Directive 2010/13/EU
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Member States shall take appropriate measures to ensure that programmes provided by audiovisual media service providers under their jurisdiction, which may impair the physical, mental or moral development of minors, such as advertising for alcoholic beverages or gambling, are only made available in such a way as to ensure that minors will not normally hear or see them. Such measures may include selecting the time of the broadcast, age verification tools or other technical measures. They shall be proportionate to the potential harm of the programme.
Amendment 243 #
2016/0151(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 16
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 16
Directive 2010/13/EU
Article 20 – paragraph 2
Article 20 – paragraph 2
The transmission of films made for television (excluding series, serials and documentaries), cinematographic works and news programmes may be interrupted by television advertising and/or teleshopping once for each scheduled period of at least 230 minutes. No television advertising or teleshopping shall be inserted during religious services or during children's programmes.;
Amendment 248 #
2016/0151(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 17
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 17
Directive 2010/13/EU
Article 23
Article 23
Amendment 273 #
2016/0151(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 19
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 19
Directive 2010/13/EU
Article 28a – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 28a – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) protect all citizens from content containing incitement to violence or hatred directed against a group of persons or a member of such a group defined by reference to sex, race, colour, relethnic or social origion, descent or national or ethnic origigenetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation.;
Amendment 47 #
2016/0149(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
–
–
The Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection calls on the Committee on Transport and Tourism, as the committee responsible, to propose rejection of the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on cross-border parcel delivery services.
Amendment 57 #
2016/0149(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The market for cross-border parcel delivery services is diverse and complex and competitive, with different providers offering different services and prices depending on weight, size and format of the items sent as well as destination, added value features, such as traceability solutions, and the number of items sent. That diversity makes parcel delivery services hard to compare between different providers, both in terms of quality and price. Furthermore, low volume senders, such as small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals are often not aware of the existence of different parcel delivery services offered.
Amendment 68 #
2016/0149(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
Amendment 94 #
2016/0149(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) SignificantIn case of a price differences between the domestic and cross-border tariffs for parcel delivery services that is higher than 1.5 times the average tarriff between the parcel delivery services of the originating Member State and the destination Member State, this should be justified by objective criteria, such as additional costs for transport and a reasonable profit margin. UniversaParcel service providers providing parcel delivery services should be required to provide such justification without delay.
Amendment 113 #
2016/0149(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of the obligation for parcel delivery providers to submit information to national regulatory authorities, implementingdelegated powers should be conferred on the Commission to establish a form for the submission of such information. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council50 . _________________ 50 Regulation (EU) 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by the Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13 - 18).
Amendment 114 #
2016/0149(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23 a (new)
Recital 23 a (new)
(23 a) In order to study the effects of this Regulation the Member States shall report on the developments of the working conditions of all persons working in the parcel delivery sector, as well as the environmental effects caused by increased road traffic and subsequent increased emissions.
Amendment 116 #
2016/0149(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
Amendment 182 #
2016/0149(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) the number of persons working for the provider and involved in the provision of parcel delivery services in the Member State in which the provider is established in the previous calendar year, including an overview of the working conditions for all persons working for the provider.
Amendment 217 #
2016/0149(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Amendment 224 #
2016/0149(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Amendment 228 #
2016/0149(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5
Article 5
Amendment 236 #
2016/0149(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The national regulatory authority shall assess the affordability of cross- border tariffs included in the public lists of tariffs obtained in accordance with Artwhen the costs are higher than 1.5 times the average between the domestic tariffs of the parcel delivery servicle 4(1) within 3 months of receipt of that informationof the orginating Member States and the parcel delivery service in the destination Member State. In that assessment, in particular the following elements shall be taken into account:
Amendment 270 #
2016/0149(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6
Article 6
Amendment 214 #
2016/0132(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Amendment 430 #
2016/0132(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 37 – paragraph 3
Article 37 – paragraph 3
3. No information regarding the fact that an application for international protection has been made in a Member State shall be disclosed to any third- country for persons related to Article 10(1), particularly where that country is also the applicant's country of origin.
Amendment 436 #
2016/0132(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 38
Article 38
Amendment 38 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Almost twenty years after its adoption, it is necessary to assess whether the Posting of Workers Directive still strikes the right balance between the need to promote the freedom to provide services and ensure a level playing field for undertakings operating in the internal market and the need to protect the rights of posted workers.
Amendment 50 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The Rome I Regulation provides that the country where the work is habitually carried out shall not be deemed to have changed if he is temporarily employed in another country. It deems work carried out in another Member State to be temporary if the employee is expected to resume work in his or her Member State of origin after carrying out tasks abroad.
Amendment 62 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) In view of the long duration of certain posting assignments, it is necessary to provide that, in case of posting lasting for periods higher than 24two months, the host Member State is deemed to be the country inapplicable terms and conditions of employment should be those established by the host Member State, without prejudice to terms and conditions of employment which thare wmork is carried oute favourable to the worker. In accordance with the principle of Rome I Regulation, the law of the host Member Sates therefore applies to the employment contract of such posted workers if no other choice of law was made by the parties. In case a different choice was made, it cannot, however, have the result of depriving the employee of the protection afforded to him by provisions that cannot be derogated from by agreement under the law of the host Member State. This should apply from the start of the posting assignment whenever it is envisaged for more than 24two months and from the first day subsequent to the 24two months when it effectively exceeds this duration. This rule does not affect the right of undertakings posting workers to the territory of another Member State to invoke the freedom to provide services in circumstances also where the posting exceeds 24 months. The purpose is merely to create legal certainty in the application of the Rome I Regulation to a specific situation, without amending that Regulation in any way. The employee will in particular enjoy the protection and benefits pursuant to the Rome I Regulation.
Amendment 81 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Because of the highly mobile nature ofThis Directive also applies to posted workers working in international road transport, the implementation of the posting of workers directive raises particular legal questions and difficulties (especially where the link with the concerned Member State is insufficient). It would be most suited for these challenges. In addition, particular legal questions and difficulties in that sector will have to be addressed through sector- specific legislation together with other EU initiatives aimed at improving the functioning of the internal road transport market.
Amendment 89 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In a competitive internal market, service providers compete not only on the basis of a labour costs but also on factors such as productivity and efficiency, or as well as the quality and innovation of their goods and services.
Amendment 98 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) It is within Member States' exclusive competence to set rules on remuneration in accordance with their law and practice. However, national rules on remuneration applied to posted workers must be justified by the need to protect posted workers and must not disproportionately restrict the cross-border provision of servnational law and practices.
Amendment 113 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The elements of remuneration under national law or universally applicable collective agreements should be clear and transparent to all service providers and posted workers. It is therefore justified to impose on Member States the obligation to publish the constituent elements of remuneration on the single website provided for by Article 5 of the Enforcement Directive as transparency and access to information are key elements for service providers. The provision of information on the single website should be in line with International Labour Organisation standards, the Council of Europe's European Social Charter, and the law and practice of the host Member State, and should respect the autonomy of the social partners. Travel, board, lodging and accommodation expenses should not be considered to be part of service providers' or the posted workers' remuneration, and expenses should not be deducted from their salaries.
Amendment 133 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) Undertakings providing cross- border services may post their workers in another Member State provided that the posted worker was employed by the undertaking concerned in his or her Member State of origin for 90 days during the 12-month period prior to the posting, and provided that those undertakings prove that they have substantial economic activities in that Member State.
Amendment 150 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 2a – title
Article 2a – title
Posting exceeding twenty-fouro months
Amendment 155 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 2a – paragraph 1
Article 2a – paragraph 1
1. When the anticipated or the effective duration of posting exceeds twenty-fouro months, the Member State to whose territory a worker is posted shall be deemed to be the country in which his or her work is habitually carried out.
Amendment 194 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
For the purpose of this Directive, remuneration means all the elements of remuneration rendered mandatory by national law, regulation or administthe concept of remuneration shall be determined by the national law and practivce provision, collective agreements or arbitration awards which have been declared universally applicable and/or, in the absence of a system for declaring collective agreements or arbitration awards to be of universal application, other collective agreements or arbitof the Member State where the worker is posted. Travel, board, lodging and accommodation expenses shall not be considered to be part of remuneration, awards within the meaning of paragraph 8 second subparagraph, in the Member State to whose territory the worker is postednd expenses shall not be deducted from salary.
Amendment 216 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 1b
Article 3 – paragraph 1b
1b. Member States shall providensure that the undertakings referred to in Article 1(3)(c) guarantee posted workers the terms and conditions which apply pursuant to Art. 5icle 5 of Directive 2008/104/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on temporary agency work to temporary workers hired-out by temporary agencies established in tto temporary workers employed by temporary agencies established in the Member State where the work is carried out. Undertakings providing cross-border services may post their workers in another Member State provided that the posted worker was employed by the undertaking concerned in his or her Member State where the work is carried outof origin for 90 days during the 12-month period prior to the posting, and provided that those undertakings prove that they have substantial economic activities in that Member State.
Amendment 224 #
2016/0070(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c a (new)
Directive 96/71/EC
Article 3 – paragraph 7a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 7a (new)
(ca) the following paragraph is inserted: "7a. This Directive shall not affect the exercise of fundamental rights as recognised in the Council of Europe's European Social Charter, the International Labour Organisation's conventions and the law and practice of the host Member State."
Amendment 233 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Designation and monitoring of technical services by the Member States, in accordance with detailed and strict criteria, should therefore be subject to supervisory controls at Union level, including independent audits as a condition for the renewal of their notification after five years. The position of technical services vis-à-vis manufacturers should be strengthened, including their right and duty to carry out unannounced factory inspections and to conduct physical or laboratory tests on products covered by this Regulation, in order to ensure continuous compliance by manufacturers after they have obtained a type-approval for their products.
Amendment 244 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The Member States should use funds and levy fees for the designation and monitoring of technical services to ensure sustainability of the monitoring of those technical services by Member States and to establish a level playing field for technical services. In order to ensure transparency, the Member States should inform the Commission and the other Member States before they adopt the level and structure of the feemake public the costs involved in and the methods for monitoring the technical services, as well as the fees levied from the manufacturers.
Amendment 248 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) When, in spite of the measures taken to ensure a coherent application and follow up of the requirements by the Member States, the competence of a technical service is in doubt, the Commission should have the possibility to investigate individual caseslaunch a peer review audit.
Amendment 253 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) The independence of technical services vis-à-vis manufacturers should be ensured, including by avoiding direct or indirect payments by the manufacturers for the type-approval inspections and tests they have carried out. Therefore the Member States should establish a type-approval fee structurecharge fees from the manufacturers and use own funds that should cover the costs for carrying out all type-approval tests and inspections carried out by the technical services designated by the type-approval authority, as well as the administrative costs for issuing the type- approval and the costs for carrying out ex- post compliance verification tests and inspections.
Amendment 284 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
Amendment 325 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 42
Recital 42
Amendment 335 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 2
(2) ‘market surveillance’ means the activities carried out and measures taken by the market surveillance authorities to ensure that vehicles, systems, components or separate technical units as well as parts and equipment made available on the market comply with the requirements set out in the relevant Union legislation and do not endanger health, safety, the environment or any other aspect of public interest protection including consumer rights;
Amendment 398 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Approval authorities shall only approve such vehicles, systems, components or separate technical units that comply with the requirements of this Regulation. The authority shall ensure that the vehicles and systems, components, or separate technical units tested for approval are equivalent to those that will be placed on the market.
Amendment 413 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 5
Article 7 – paragraph 5
5. The Commission may adopt implementingdelegated acts to lay down the common criteria to appoint, review and assess the approval authorities at national level. Those implementingdelegated acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 87(2)8.
Amendment 462 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 10
Article 8 – paragraph 10
10. The Commission may adopt implementingdelegated acts to lay down the criteria for setting out the scale, scope and frequency with which the compliance verification checks of samples taken referred to in paragraph 1 have to be performed. Those implementingdelegated acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 87(2)8.
Amendment 471 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – title
Article 9 – title
Compliance verification by the Commission, and enforcement co- ordination withof Member States
Amendment 474 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The CommissionMember States shall organise and carry out, or require to be carried outby means of their market surveillance authorities, on an adequate scale, tests and inspections of vehicles, systems, components and separate technical units already made available on the market, with a view to verifying that those vehicles, systems, components and separate technical units conform to the type approvals and to applicable legislation as well as to ensure the correctness of the type approvals.
Amendment 486 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. Manufacturers holding type- approvals or the economic operators shall, upon request, supply to the Commission a statistically relevant number of production vehicles, systems, components and separate technical units selected by the Commission that are representative for the vehicles, systems, components and separate technical units available for placing on the market under that type- approval. Those vehicles, systems, components and separate technical units shall be supplied for testing at the time and place and for the period the CommissionMember State may require.
Amendment 490 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 510 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Where the CommissionMember State establishes that the vehicles tested or inspected do not comply with the type-approval requirements laid down in this Regulation or any of the regulatory acts listed in Annex IV or that the type approval has been granted on the basis of incorrect data, it shall require in accordance with Article 54(8) without delay the economic operator concerned to take all appropriate corrective measures to bring the vehicles in compliance with those requirements, or it shall take restrictive measures, either by requiring the economic operator to withdraw the vehicles concerned from the market, or to recall them within a reasonable period of time, depending on the seriousness of the established non- compliance.
Amendment 513 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Where those tests and inspections put into question the correctness of the type approval itself, the CommissionMember State shall inform the approval authority or authorities concerned as well as the Forum for Exchange of Information on Enforcement.
Amendment 521 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 3
The CommissionMember State shall publish a report of its findings following any compliance verification testing it has carried out.
Amendment 541 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
This Forum shall be composed of members appointed by the Member States, including all relevant stakeholders.
Amendment 624 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – title
Article 15 – title
Obligations of importers concerning their vehicles, systems, components or separate technical units that are not in conformity or concerning their vehicles, systems, components, separate technical units, parts or equipment that present a serious risk
Amendment 657 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Article 21 – paragraph 1
1. The manufacturer shall submit to the national approval authority of the Member State respective of the procedure an application for EU type-approval and the information folder referred to in Article 22, to be determined as follows: (a) step-by-step type-approval; the application for EU-type approval shall be submitted to the approval authority of the Member State where the system, component and separate technical unit has been produced; for the final stage, the whole-vehicle type approval, the place of assembly determines which type approval authority the application shall be submitted to. (b) single-step type-approval; the application for EU-type approval shall be submitted to the approval authority of the Member State where the type of vehicle, system, component or separate technical unit as a whole has been assembled. (c) mixed type-approval; the application for EU-type approval shall be submitted to the approval authority of the Member State where the system(s) has been produced and for the final stage, the whole-vehicle type approval, the place of assembly determines which type approval authority the application shall be submitted to.
Amendment 703 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 3
Article 28 – paragraph 3
3. The required tests shall be performed on those vehicles, systems, components and separate technical units that are strictly representative of the type to be approved.
Amendment 728 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – title
Article 30 – title
Amendment 732 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 1
Article 30 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall establish a national fee structureuse funds to cover the costs for their type-approvals and market surveillance activities as well as for the type-approval testing and conformity of production testing and inspections carried out by the technical services they have designated.
Amendment 744 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 2
Article 30 – paragraph 2
2. Those national fees shall be levied on the mManufacturers who have applied for type-approval in the Member State concerned shall bear the costs of the type- approval and ex-post conformity tests and will do so directly with the Member State. Fees shall not be levied directly by technical services.
Amendment 747 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 3
Article 30 – paragraph 3
Amendment 750 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 4
Article 30 – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall notify the details of their national fee strufees on the manufacturer to the other Member States and the Commission. The first notification shall be effected on [date of entry into force of this Regulation + 1 year]. Subsequent updates of the national fee structures shall be notified to the other Member States and to the Commission on a yearly basis.
Amendment 756 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 30 – paragraph 5
Article 30 – paragraph 5
Amendment 828 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 51 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 51 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 831 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 51 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 51 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 832 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 51 – paragraph 2
Article 51 – paragraph 2
2. Where the Commission considers the national measure to be justified, aAll Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the non- compliant vehicle, system, component or separate technical unit is withdrawn from their market, and shall inform the Commission accordingly. Where the Commission considers the national measure to be unjustified, the Member State concerned shall withdraw or adapt the measure, in accordance with the Commission decision referred to in paragraph 1an infringement of this regulation, in accordance with Article 97, the Member State concerned shall withdraw or adapt the measure.
Amendment 835 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 51 – paragraph 3
Article 51 – paragraph 3
Amendment 857 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 54 – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 1
Article 54 – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 1
Where, within one month after the notification of the restrictive measures taken by an approval authority or a market surveillance authority in accordance with Article 53(1), an objection has been raised by another Member State in respect of the notified restrictive measure or where, the Commission establishes a non-compliance in accordance with Article 9(5), the Commission shall consult without delay the Member States and the relevant economic operator or operators and, in particular, the approval authority that granted the type-approval, and shall evaluate the national measure taken. On the basis of that evaluation, the Commission may decide to take the necessary restrictive measures foreseen in Article 53(1) by means of implementing acts. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 87(2)may initiate a peer review procedure as laid down in Article 71 (8) to (10) to investigate the objection.
Amendment 883 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 58 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 58 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Where an approval authority or the Commission considers that the remedies referred to in Article 57(3) are insufficient or are not implemented quickly enough, they shall notify their concern to the approval authority that granted the EU type-approval and the Commission without delay.
Amendment 889 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 58 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 58 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
The Commission shall hold appropriate consultations with the parties involved and shall decide whether the restrictive measures taken by the approval authority that granted the EU type-approval are sufficient and timely enough, and where necessary, propose appropriate measures to ensure that the conformity is restored and/or the serious risk referred to in Article 57(3) is effectively neutralised. That decision shall also address the suitability of the restrictive measures taken by approval authorities who considered the action taken by the approval authority that granmay initiate a peer review procedure as laid down in Article 71(8) to (10) to investigated the EU type-approval as not sufficient or timely enough. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 87(2)objection.
Amendment 928 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 71 – paragraph 1
Article 71 – paragraph 1
1. The type approval authority designated by the Member State in accordance with Article 7(3), hereinafter referred to as the ‘type-approval authority'’, shall be responsible for the assessment, designation, notification and the monitoring of technical services in the respective Member State, including, where appropriate, the subcontractors or subsidiaries of those technical services.
Amendment 930 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 71 – paragraph 4
Article 71 – paragraph 4
4. The type-approval authority shall not perform any activities that technical services perform and shall not provide consultancy services on a commercial or competitive basis.
Amendment 931 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 71 – paragraph 6
Article 71 – paragraph 6
6. The type-approval authority shall have a sufficient number of competent personnel and other resources at its disposal for the proper performance of the tasks foreseen by this Regulation
Amendment 968 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 72 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 72 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) category B: supervision of the tests referred to in this Regulation and in the acts listed in Annex IV, where those tests are performed in the manufacturer’s facilities or in the facilities of a third party;
Amendment 973 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 72 – paragraph 3
Article 72 – paragraph 3
3. A technical service shall be established under the national law of a Member State and have legal personality, except for an accredited in-house technical service of a manufacturer, as referred to in Article 76.
Amendment 976 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 72 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 72 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The technical service shall not perform any activities on a commercial or competitive basis.
Amendment 979 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 73 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 73 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
A technical service shall be a third-party organisation or body that is not involved in the process of design, manufacturing, supply or maintenance of the vehicle, system, component or separate technical unit it assesses, tests or inspects, or has any legal ties with manufacturers or suppliers.
Amendment 983 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 73 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 73 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
An organisation or body belonging to a business association or professional federation representing undertakings that are involved in the design, manufacturing, supply or maintenance of the vehicles, systems, components or separate technical units that it assesses, tests or inspects, may not be considered as fulfilling the requirements of the first subparagraph, provided that its independence and the absence of any conflict of interest are demonstrated to the designating approval authority of the relevant Member State.
Amendment 987 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 76
Article 76
Amendment 1012 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 77 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1
Article 77 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1
The type-approval authority shall notify the assessment report to the Commission and to designating authorities of the other Member States with documentary evidence regarding the competence of the technical service and the arrangements in place to regularly monitor the technical service and ensure that it continues to comply with the requirements of this Regulation.
Amendment 1018 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 77 – paragraph 10
Article 77 – paragraph 10
10. The type-approval authorities of the other Member States or the Commission may individually or jointly with the Commission may address recommendations to the type-approval authority of the Member State where the applicant technical service is established within four weeks following the receipt of the response referred to in paragraph 9. That type-approval authority shall take account of the recommendations when it takes the decision on the designation of the technical service. Where that type-approval authority decides not to follow the recommendations addressed by the other Member States or the Commission, it shall give the reasons therefor within two weeks after taking its decision.
Amendment 1026 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 78 – paragraph 3
Article 78 – paragraph 3
Amendment 1042 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 80 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 80 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
At least every 30 months after the notification of a technical service, and every 30 months thereafter, the type- approval authority shall assess whether eachthe technical service under its responsibility continues to satisfy the requirements set out in Articles 72 to 76, in Articles 84 and 85 and in Appendix 2 to Annex V. The assessment shall be carried out by the type-approval authority of the Member State in which the technical service is established and a joint assessment team designated in accordance with the procedure described in Article 77(1) to (4). This assessment shall include an on-site visit to each technical service under its responsibility.
Amendment 1046 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 80 – paragraph 4
Article 80 – paragraph 4
Amendment 1048 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 81 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 81 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The CommissionMember States shall investigate all cases where concerns have been brought to its attention regarding the competence of a technical service or the continued compliance by a technical service with the requirements and responsibilities to which it is subject under this Regulation. It may also commence such investigations on its own initiative.
Amendment 1051 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 81 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 81 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The CommissionMember States shall investigate the responsibility of the technical service in the case where it is demonstrated or where there are justified grounds to consider that a type approval has been granted on the basis of false data or that the test results have been falsified or that data or technical specifications have been withheld that would have led to the refusal to grant the type approval,.
Amendment 1054 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 81 – paragraph 2
Article 81 – paragraph 2
Amendment 1060 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 81 – paragraph 3
Article 81 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that all sensitive information obtained in the course of its investigations is treated confidentially.
Amendment 1061 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 81 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 81 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Where the CommissionMember States ascertains that a technical service does not or no longer comply with the requirements for its designation or that it is responsible for any of the wrong-doings referred to in paragraph 1, it shall inform the Member State and the Commission of the type- approval authority thereof.
Amendment 1066 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 81 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3
Article 81 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3
Where the Member State fails to take the necessary restrictive measures, the Commission may, by means of implementing acts, suspend, restrict or withdraw the designation of the technical service concerned. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 87(2). The Commission shall notify the Member State concerned of its decision and shall update the information published address the shortcomings of this regulation in the Member State concerned in accordance with the reporting procedure referred to in Article 78(4) accordingly95(2).
Amendment 1075 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 84 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 84 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) allow their approval authority or the joint assessment team as described in Article 77(1) to witness the performance of the technical service during the conformity assessment;
Amendment 1078 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 86 – paragraph 1
Article 86 – paragraph 1
1. The Member States shall levy fees onuse funds for technical services applying to be designated established in their territory to cover wholly or partly, the costs relating to the activities exercised by the national authorities responsible for technical services in accordance with this Regulation.
Amendment 1080 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 86 – paragraph 2
Article 86 – paragraph 2
Amendment 1119 #
2016/0014(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 97 – paragraph 2
Article 97 – paragraph 2
2. On the basis of the information supplied under paragraph 1, the Commission shall present an evaluation report to the European Parliament and the Council on the application of this Regulation, including on the functioning of the compliance verification in accordance with Article 9 by 31 December 20yy. [PO: please insert the year, which should be the year 20xx as mentioned in paragraph 1 + 1 year] Where the Commission establishes shortcomings of this regulation, the Commission shall propose appropriate measures as follows: (a) where regulatory acts are concerned, the Commission shall propose the necessary amendments to the act concerned; (b) where UNECE regulations are concerned, the Commission shall propose the necessary draft amendments to the relevant UNECE regulations in accordance with the provisions of Annex III of Council Decision 97/836/EC.
Amendment 40 #
2016/0002(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Council Framework Decision 2009/315/JHA
Article 4 a – paragraph 1 – point j
Article 4 a – paragraph 1 – point j
(j) fingerprints of the person, if the convicting Member State also includes fingerprints of its own convicted nationals and of convicted nationals of other Member States for similar offences;
Amendment 1 #
2015/2287(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3
Citation 3
– having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001its legislative resolution of 15 December 2011 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents1 , __________________ 1 OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43. (recast) (P7_TA(2011)0580),
Amendment 3 #
2015/2287(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
– having regard to the Annual Report 2014 of the Ombudsman,
Amendment 5 #
2015/2287(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
Citation 9 a (new)
– having regard to the resolution on public access to documents for the years 2011-2013 1 a, __________________ 1a PE524.641v02-00
Amendment 9 #
2015/2287(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 0 (new)
Paragraph 0 (new)
Amendment 47 #
2015/2287(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers it regretunacceptable that the revision of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 is still stalled in the Council and hopes that progress will be achieved as soon as possibleurges the Council to adopt a constructive position, taking into account the Position of the European Parliament adopted at first reading on 15 December 2011 with a view to the adoption of Regulation (EU) No .../2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents defining the general principles and limits governing the right of access to documents of Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies;
Amendment 60 #
2015/2287(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Rejects the position taken by the Council in its letter to the Ombudsman in regard of this own-initiative inquiry that the organisation of trilogues is a political responsibility and falls outside the Ombudsman's mandate;
Amendment 68 #
2015/2287(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the institutions involved to ensure in future that negotiations will be transparent and, to that end, to allow meetings to be held in public and webstreamed and to arrange for agendas, minutes, and the main documents relating to issues discussed to be published;
Amendment 72 #
2015/2287(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on Parliament to make in principle all documents referred to in the agendas of the Bureau and the Conference of Presidents available by publishing them on the Parliament's website;
Amendment 75 #
2015/2287(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. WelcomesCalls upon the Commission’s intention of to submit without any further delay its proposingal for an interinstitutional agreement establishing a mandatory interinstitutional register of interest group representatives operating within the institutions and calls for that matter to be given the highest priority;
Amendment 81 #
2015/2287(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on Parliament as a first step in this regard to make available for those MEPs who wish to report on their contacts with lobbyists a template for Rapporteurs that can be annexed to their reports as well as space for this type of information on the webpages of the Parliament referring to individual MEPs;
Amendment 111 #
2015/2287(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Follow up Requests the Commission and calls upon the Secretary-General of the European Parliament to inform the European Parliament about the implementation of the recommendations in this resolution;
Amendment 30 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 - point a - point iii
Paragraph 2 - point a - point iii
iii. to ensure that the TiSA provides reciprocal access, notwithstanding the right of countries to adopt regulations which are duly justified on public policy grounds; therefore calls on the Commission to oppose any type of standstill or ratchet clauses affecting public services and services of general interest;
Amendment 49 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 - point b - point i
Paragraph 2 - point b - point i
i. to ensure that the negotiations maintain and strengthen the fundamental role played by public services and services of general interest in the European Union, which provide an essential safety net for citizens and contribute to social cohesion, growth and employment; safeguards for public services and services of general interest should be part of the agreement;
Amendment 88 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 - point c - point iv a (new)
Paragraph 2 - point c - point iv a (new)
iva. to ensure that all signatories of the TiSA agreement have ratified the core labour standards from the ILO which include freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining; the effective abolition of child labour; the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation;
Amendment 89 #
2015/2233(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 - point c - point iv b (new)
Paragraph 2 - point c - point iv b (new)
ivb. to ensure protection of EU small and medium sized service providers from unfair trading practices from services providers from outside the EU, for example by an article ensuring strict supervisory authorities and competition authorities which should at least contain the GATS Art. IX on 'Business practices';
Amendment 6 #
2015/2229(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
- having regard to the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief,
Amendment 78 #
2015/2229(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas Article 18 of UDHR recognises the freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief must be unconditionally enhanced through inter- relig; whereas this right remains widely under threat, and the number of violatiouns and inter-cultural dialogueshas sharply risen;
Amendment 292 #
2015/2229(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60
Paragraph 60
60. Recalls that freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is a fundamental human right, as recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, interrelated with other human rights and fundamental freedoms encompassing the rights to believe or not to believe, the freedom to practice theistic, non-theistic or atheistic belief alike, and the right to adopt, change and abandon or return to a belief of one's choice;
Amendment 296 #
2015/2229(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 b (new)
Paragraph 60 b (new)
60b. Calls on the EEAS to create an office to act as focal contact point for religion or belief matters, which would be responsible for the promotion and protection of freedoms of religion or belief, and for facilitating dialogue between EU delegations and relevant religious and belief organisations;
Amendment 297 #
2015/2229(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 c (new)
Paragraph 60 c (new)
60c. Welcomes the EU's commitment to promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief at international platforms including the UN, OSCE and the Council of Europe; commends the HR/VP for her determination to protect freedom of religion or belief, and for stating that it is one of three special human rights priorities; encourages the HR/VP in her chairmanship of the Foreign Affairs Council, to raise freedom of religion or belief as a special issue for the Council twice a year;
Amendment 298 #
2015/2229(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 d (new)
Paragraph 60 d (new)
60d. Is concerned about the increase in violence against religious or belief minorities around the world; calls for the special protection of refugees who have been forced to flee their place of origin as a result of discrimination on the basis of their religion or belief; asserts that all states have a duty to protect minorities against discrimination and violence;
Amendment 303 #
2015/2229(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
Paragraph 61
61. Calls on the EU and the Member States to step up their efforts to guarantee access to and enhance respect for freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief and to promote inter- religious dialogue when engaging with third countries; fully supports the EU practice of taking the lead on thematic resolutions at the UNHRC and at the UNGA on freedom of religion and belief; encourages the EU to support the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; requests concrete action towards the effective implementation of the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief, including by ensuring systematic and consistent training of EU staff at Headquarters and in Delegations, reporting on country and local situations, engaging in close cooperation with local actors, especially with leaders of religious or belief groups including respect for freedom of religion or belief rights in Human Rights Impact Assessments that are carried out before the EU decides to conclude new trade and investment agreements and urging countries not currently accepting requests for visits from the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief to do so;
Amendment 325 #
2015/2229(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
Paragraph 66
66. Condemns in the strongest terms all forms of discrimination, including those based on race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, language, culture, religion or belief, social origin, caste, birth, age, disability or any other status; urges the EU to intensify its efforts to eradicate all types of discrimination, racism and xenophobia through human rights and political dialogues, the work of the EU Delegations and public diplomacy; urges the EU also to continue promoting the ratification and full implementation of all UN Conventions that support this cause, such as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination or the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
Amendment 401 #
2015/2229(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 80
Paragraph 80
80. Calls on the EU and its Member States to constantly monitor and raise cases of violations of freedom of assembly and association, including through various forms of bans and limitations on civil society organisations and their activities and of unlawful damages to assembly sites such as properties used for religion or civil assembly;
Amendment 2 #
2015/2210(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the single market remains fragmented and the great potential for growth, innovation and jobs largely untapped; calls on the Commission and the Member States to honour their commitments and to safeguard the revival of the single market as one of the Union’s main prioritiere are important differences in the level of implementation of existing single market legislation by Member States; reiterates its call for swift implementation of all relevant EU- legislation and urges the Commission to introduce accelerated infringement procedures, whenever the lack of implementation has a particularly negative impact on growth, innovation and jobs;
Amendment 14 #
2015/2210(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls upon the Commission to explicitly consider in its CSRs their impact on the implementation of the rights listed in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as well as of the international obligations of the Member States concerned, in particular in respect of the European Social Charter;
Amendment 42 #
2015/2210(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises that the European Semester is a great opportunity to urge Member States to step up their efforts towards the digital single market (DSM); welcomes, in this context, the Commission’s communication on the roadmap for completing the DSM; considers it essential to remedy the current fragmentation of national rules on digital services and to build a more innovative and transparent DSM based on soundfair competition and providing a high level of accessibility and consumer protection;
Amendment 2 #
2015/2205(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Takes note that a high level of cancellations of carry-overs from previous years was noted by the Court of Auditors only in eight cases; observes that such carry- overs indicate that the appropriations carried over were made on the basis of over-estimated needs or were otherwise not justified; urges these agencies to take action to avoid this issue in future; acknowledges from the Network that the level of cancellation is indicative of the extent to which the agencies have correctly anticipated their financial needs and is a better indicator of good budgetary planning than the level of carryovers; acknowledges from the Network that the agencies concerned have implemented various measures to improve their budgetary monitoring systems and address this issue;
Amendment 4 #
2015/2205(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Expresses its concern towards those Agencies which are partly financed by fees paid by industry, whereas these financial ties may affect their independency; calls upon all Agencies to install measures that safeguard the independency of their internal and external policies;
Amendment 8 #
2015/2205(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Takes note of the Network's opinion regarding the merging of Agencies; recalls the remit of the Inter-Institutional Working Group on decentralized agencies to consider efficiencies in this regard; encourages the Network to initiate a long term impact analysis on the merging of EU decentralized Agencies that operate in the same broad policy domain or perform similar tasks;
Amendment 10 #
2015/2205(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recalls that paragraph 27 of the interinstitutional agreement6 calls for a progressive reduction of staff by 5 % in all institutions, bodies and agencies to be effected between 2013 and 2017; welcomes the fact that most agencies have already met or exceeded the 5 % reduction based on their respective 2012 establishment plans; recalls that the Commission started to implement the 5 % reduction in its 2013 establishment plan, basing the calculation on the level of posts in 2012; deeply regretstates that the Commission applied an additional levy of 5 % of staff to the agencies in order to create a redeployment pool from which it would allocate the posts to the agencies with new tasks entrusted to them or in a start-up phase; acknowledges from the Network that with the additional levy, fulfilmentcalls upon the Commission to run a SWOT analysis ofn the aAgencies’, taking into account their mandates and annual work programmes, is proving increasingly difficult; calls on the Commission to look into other options to make these posts available, in order not to hinder the agencies' ability to fulfil their mandaten order to come to an informed decision which Agencies need more staff and which do not; __________________ 6 Interinstitutional agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (OJ C 373, 20.12.2013, p. 1).
Amendment 18 #
2015/2205(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls upon all European Agencies to use the framework to be created by the new Inter Institutional Agreement on a Mandatory Transparency Register and use it as a guiding instrument for their interaction with organisations and self- employed individuals engaged in EU policy-making and policy implementation in order to create more transparency on lobby activities;
Amendment 19 #
2015/2205(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Notes that the principle of “value for money” and “EU added value” also holds for agencies while ensuring that citizens are well informed of the results of the agencies’ activities; notes that achieving results is important; emphasizes that many Agencies do not explicitly include in their annual reports information on the effectiveness and efficiency of their activities in an accountable manner; reiterates that it is important for the Network to become a member of the new Inter-institutional Working Group on Performance in order to reach a common understanding of performance-based and results-oriented budgeting principles, as well as to identify possible improvements to the performance models currently applied in the agencies; requests that the Court of Auditors provide an evaluation of the agencies' performance and results in time for the review of the 2016 Multiannual Financial Framework;
Amendment 3 #
2015/2176(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. GPostpones its decision on grantsing the Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority discharge in respect of the implementation of the Authority’'s budget for the financial year 2014;
Amendment 7 #
2015/2176(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. ApprovPostpones the closure of the accounts of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2014;
Amendment 10 #
2015/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Reminds the Authority that the first objective of its independence policy should be its reputation and therefore to make sure that the Authority is free from real or perceived conflicts of interests, in particular with the economic sectors it is de facto regulating;
Amendment 11 #
2015/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Fails to understand why the Authority's Executive Director chose to appoint a food industry lobbyist as the Authority's new Communications Director, especially in the light of the rising public concerns on the independence of the Authority from regulated industry and previous requests from the discharge authority in particular in 2011 and the Article 11 of the EU Staff Regulations stating that "the appointing Authority shall examine whether the candidate has any personal interest such as to impair his independence or any other conflict of interest";
Amendment 12 #
2015/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Acknowledges that the Authority launched a project to modify the way it screens and processes the annual declarations of interest in order to ensure better coherence and overall compliance with its rules on declarations of interest; notes, furthermore, that this new system, scheduled to be completed in the course of 2016, foresees centralised screening of the annual declarations of interest and transfer of responsibility from the Authority’s scientific departments to its legal and regulatory department; calls on the Authority to include in its policy the prohibition to work with any expert including Member States' delegated experts who do not properly and meaningfully fill in the declaration of interests(DoI); calls on the Authority to include in its policy an obligation for experts to inform the Authority of any eventual changes while working for the Authority;
Amendment 14 #
2015/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. AscertainsNotes with concern that, in order to attain both working with the top academics in the industry and having the most effective conflicts of interest policy possible, the Authority uses a system to assess the experts’ interests, which takes into account the role of the experts and the mandate of the scientific working group or panel of which the expert would be a member against a number of different criteria; notes, furthermore, that in 2016 the Authority will undertake an examination of the systems it has in place to detect conflicts of interest as part of the regular cycle of review of its independence policy; asks the Authority to inform the discharge authority about the outcomes of the review;
Amendment 15 #
2015/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Is of the opinion that the current independence policy of the Authority only banning evident and general conflicts of interests and solely assessing interest according to the specific manifest of the scientific panels and working group interests is not a sophisticated and robust way to avoid potential conflicts of interests; the Authority's current independence policy and implementing rules are neither ''robust'' nor ''sophisticated'' but remain costly and ineffective and its limited intention of implementing a cooling-off period with the scope of the panel mandate is largely insufficient;
Amendment 17 #
2015/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Calls on the Authority to review both its independence policy and related implementing rules in a way that guarantees that no relevant economic interests are falling within Authority's remit; reminds in this respect the Authority to the repeated requests from the discharge authority to take into account the mandate of the Authority and not the panel in question when assessing whether there is conflict of interest;
Amendment 18 #
2015/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Reiterates its call for the Authority to apply a two-years cooling-off period; does not accept the Authority's justification for its refusal to implement the discharge authority's repeated demands of establishing a two-years cooling-off period on all material interests related to companies it regulates;
Amendment 20 #
2015/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that, in order to improve its independence and conflicts of interest policy concerning expert groups, the Authority performed in 2014 an ex-post analysis of its rules on declarations of interests; notes with concern that despite the fact that this analysis led to a review and the adoption of a new, and simpler and more sophisticated version of these rulesversion of these rules without substantial changes however; and in particular, reminds with great concern the Authority the main changes requested by the discharge authority have not been taken into account;
Amendment 21 #
2015/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Reminds the Authority of the European Ombudsman's ruling stating that the Authority "should revise its conflict of interest rules" to ensure that those experts who work for academia declare all relevant information to EFSA"; is of the opinion that if this would affect around one third of the experts as stated by the Authority, then the Authority should dedicate special attention to the issue and work on specific measures together with the concerned academic institutions to safeguard the integrity of both institutions;
Amendment 24 #
2015/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Points out that several EU regulations including amongst others the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union gives individuals the right to access public documents; reminds the Authority that scientific rigour is ensured best by transparency and accountability of the results; highlights that the Authority should make therefore all data used to reach any scientific conclusions public in a machine readable format so as to enable scientific scrutiny and constant progress;
Amendment 25 #
2015/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Acknowledges the Authority's efforts to improve the transparency of its work as well as the data it uses for it; acknowledges the existing legal limitations it faces for increasing data transparency; stresses that the aim of the disclosure is to make reproducibility of the Authority's work possible and therefore the steps taken towards process transparency in risk-assessment are a welcomed first step, however data transparency should also be ensured;
Amendment 26 #
2015/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Reminds the Authority that commercial confidentiality clauses must not be allowed to impair disclosure of data due to the overriding public interest of health and safety; encourages it to interpret existing legal protection of commercial interest as restrictively as possible;
Amendment 30 #
2015/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Is looking forward to results of the Authority's systemic review of its Policy on Independence and Scientific Decision- Making Process in 2016; welcomes the Authority's commitment to consider the publication of remunerations for experts' declared activities;
Amendment 31 #
2015/2176(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Calls on the Authority to make more extensive use of a new status for hearing experts following the example of the invited experts from World Health Organization's International Agency for Research Against Cancer; calls on the Authority to report to the discharge authority on use of hearing experts;
Amendment 6 #
2015/2175(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes that only one-third of the budget of the Agency comes from the public sector and the other two-third from the industry; expresses its concern as these financial ties with the industry might affect the independence of the Agency; calls upon the Agency to build in safeguards to ensure its independence and the avoidance of conflicts of interests;
Amendment 9 #
2015/2175(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. States that the objective of the Agency is aviation safety, which is to be considered as a public good; urges the Agency to keep this objective in the Agency's strategy, performance based budgeting and management-decisions as the leading principle towards its stakeholders and which should never be sacrificed for reasons of competitiveness, efficiency or deregulation;
Amendment 28 #
2015/2161(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Takes note of the Ombudsman´s calculations with regard to potential savings of EUR 195 000 should there be only one seat of the institution; takes into account that the seat of the Ombudsman is tied with the seat of the Parliament and therefore deems it necessary that the Ombudsman is included in any debate on centralisation of the Parliament´s seat; stresses that such centralization should be actively promoted;
Amendment 6 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Takes note ofEmphasises the Court of Auditors’ recommendation that Parliament reinforce its checks on the costs reimbursed by European political parties to their affiliated organisations and develop appropriate rules for European political parties on public procurement and monitor their application through appropriate checks and better guidance and insists that there will be full transparency on the expenditure by European political parties and that in future the competent committee will examine and discuss this information in detail in the context of the ordinary discharge procedure;
Amendment 17 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes with concern that, as price levels have risen, this has led to unjustified disadvantageous pricing, especially for assistants, interns and visitors; stresses that the increases mean that prices in Parliament are now practically equivalent to the ones in the surrounding restaurants and bars;
Amendment 19 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Considers that the numerous constituency and plenary weeks represent periods during which the canteens and cafeteria facilities are not fully employed; suggests that the staff of these facilities be employed gainfully elsewhere; calls for a proposal by the administration that aligns procurement and subsidy proceduagreements with the caterers take into account the option of employing the staff of these facilities elsewheres, with the subsidy practices of other international organisations and national parliamentshen during the above- mentioned weeks not all canteens and cafeteria facilities are open;
Amendment 23 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Stresses that the Court of Auditors report adopted on 11.07.2014 states that the potential saving for the EU budget would be about 114 million EUR per year if the European Parliament centralised its activities; reiterates the call on Parliament and the Council to address, in order to create long term savings, the need for a roadmap to a single seat, as stated by Parliament in several previous resolutions;
Amendment 32 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Points out that the administrative burden for the offices of Members have also increased more generally and requests a rationalisation of the forms that have to be used for internal parliamentary procedures, such as recruitment of new assistants;
Amendment 37 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes that after considerable delay, internal whistleblowing rules have been adopted and are in force since January 2016; expresses concern at the protection afforded to whistleblowers and calls on Parliament to ensure that their rights are fully upheld; calls on the Bureau to extend internal whistleblowing rules to accredited parliamentary assistants and local assistants;
Amendment 65 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. RegretNotes that the budget line for the provision of drinking water in meeting rooms will expire in July 2016; regards the availability of mineral water during long meetings as appropriate, both in summer and winter; criticises the excessive savings in service provision (such as paper, coffee, drinking water, canteens); calls for a rethinking of the saving targets for the committee weeks of the Parliament that doesn't harm its working environment;
Amendment 73 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Recalls that the GEA is intended to cover expenditure in the Member State of election, such as a Members’ office rent, equipment, supplies, documentation or logistical organisation of events; takes note that a comprehensive system of control of the Member's parliamentary mandate allowance would represent 40 to 75 new administrative posts in the area of financial management; regrets that despite various requests the Secretary General did not elaborate a proposal for a more selective control system, for example by concentrating on larger expenditure, or a system of random checks, and requests such a proposal to be elaborated without further delay;
Amendment 75 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Supports the need for more transparency as regards the GEAfull transparency regarding the GEA in order to allow the European citizens to have an insight on the general expenditure of the Members of the European Parliament; urges the Bureau to revise the list of expenses which may be defrayed from the GEA;
Amendment 87 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 10
Subheading 10
Transparency Rregister and conflicts of interest
Amendment 88 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Welcomes the revised Transparency register approved by Parliament on April 2014fact that the Commission has started a public consultation procedure in respect of the revision of the current Transparency register of the Commission and Parliament, and its extension to the Council; requests that immediately after the public consultation an Inter- Institutional Working Group be set up for preparing proposals concerning the revision of the Register, the accompanying Code of Conduct for interest representatives, and the functioning thereto;
Amendment 94 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)
Paragraph 35 b (new)
35b. Urges the Parliament to adopt rules in order to disclose all input received from lobbyists/interest representatives on draft policies, laws and amendments as a 'legislative footprint'; suggests that this legislative footprint should consist of a form annexed to reports, detailing all the lobbyists with whom those in charge of a particular file have met in the process of drawing up each report, clearly indicating which lobbyists had a substantial effect on that file and a second document listing all written input received, online on their official webpage of Parliament, directly linked to the Transparency Register, and for rapporteurs to publish a legislative footprint;
Amendment 95 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 c (new)
Paragraph 35 c (new)
35c. Calls on the Bureau to create the technical possibility for Members who wish to do so to publish on their official webpage which lobbyists they have met;
Amendment 96 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 d (new)
Paragraph 35 d (new)
35d. Strongly believes that Article 3 of the Code of Conduct for Members should be rephrased to include a clear ban on Members holding side jobs or other paid work;
Amendment 97 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 e (new)
Paragraph 35 e (new)
35e. Recalls the judgment of the Romanian court, in which a former MEP was sentenced to 3,5 years in jail following the cash for amendments scandal; strongly condemns such illegal practices;
Amendment 99 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Calls for a report by the administration on the extent to which -various permanent forums between the beusidnes economic panels - environmental and social associations, NGOs and interest groups organise events ins and financial sectors and Parliament; wonders if there are guidelines that exclude the disproportionate presence of such organisations in Parliament;
Amendment 115 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)
Paragraph 42 a (new)
42a. Is concerned with the lack of actual results of the Parliament's communication activities, considering the ever decreasing turn-out during European elections, as well as the general lack of knowledge in society about the role of Parliament and its activities;
Amendment 132 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55 a (new)
Paragraph 55 a (new)
55a. Regrets the fact that Parliament has not yet published information on an annual basis about senior officials who left the Parliament's administration, as well as a list of the cases of potential conflict of interest that have been addressed, as required by Article 16, paragraph 4 of the Staff Regulations;
Amendment 158 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that according to the Secretary General the average number of hours per week that staff interpreters spent in their booths in 2014 delivering interpretation services was 10,7 hours/week, but that this figure has been contested by the interpretation services themselves;
Amendment 172 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67
Paragraph 67
67. Insists that large efficiency gains are still possible in the supply of interpretation, notably by enhancing the efficiency of a service currently hampered by rules dating from 2005 that are no longer compatible with the current meeting patternin seeking additional efficiency gains, solutions be sought that take also into account the social rights of the institutionterpreters;
Amendment 178 #
2015/2155(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
Paragraph 68
68. Calls upon the secretary general to modernise the framework for the management of interpretation, with a view to increasing individual productivity and to bringing the working practices of interpreters into line with the changed needs of the house, whilst fully respecting their social rights;
Amendment 86 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Underlines that the level of error rate does not necessarily mean a case of fraud, inefficiency, or waste, but an estimate of financial flows that should not have been paid out as they were not used in line with rules and regulations; emphasizes, however, that the sharp increase of serious errors in the context of public procurement procedures is a matter of grave concern, as Member States have had years of experience with the existing procurement rules, and if they already face difficulties with these rules, this does not bode well for when they have to adapt national legislation and procedures to the new directives on procurement and concessions;
Amendment 109 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66 a (new)
Paragraph 66 a (new)
66a. Urges the Commission to strengthen the negotiations with the Member States regarding the necessity of publishing national declarations and annual summaries;
Amendment 114 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68 a (new)
Paragraph 68 a (new)
68a. Urges the Commission to join the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption (ETS No. 173) of the Council of Europe and speeding up the negotiations on the participation of the Union in the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), in order to contribute to more co-ordinated anti-corruption policies in Europe;
Amendment 119 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70
Paragraph 70
70. Stresses that Member States are not following up alleged cases of fraud affecting the financial interests of the Union as submitted to them by OLAF; calls on the Commission to take appropriate measures and on OLAF to continue and accelerate its analysis of the reasons why Member States do not follow up alleged cases, to provide the Parliament with its findings in this respect and to continue to support the Member States in improving their performance in the prevention and detection of fraud against European funds;
Amendment 122 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71
Paragraph 71
71. Invites the Commission to develop a system of strict indicators and easily applicable uniform criteria based on the requirements set out in the Stockholm Programme to measure the level of corruption in the Member States and evaluate the Member States’ anti- corruption policies; is concerned about the reliability and quality of data coming from the Member States; calls on the Commission, therefore, to work closely with Member States to guarantee comprehensive, exact and reliable data keeping in mind the goal of full implementation of the Single Audit Scheme; invites the Commission to work out a corruption index to categorise Member States based on the effectiveness of their anti-corruption policies;
Amendment 145 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 96
Paragraph 96
96. Asks the Commission to provide analysis regarding the future of Union funding evaluating the adequacy of the own resource base, instruments that would strengthen the own resource base, a possible restructuring of the revenue side and the relevance of the Union budget/EU GDP ratio;
Amendment 189 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 144
Paragraph 144
144. Shares the Commission's opinion that unemployment rates (especially long-term unemployment) and the percentage of young persons not in employment, education or training (NEETs), are indications of mismatch in the labour market., as well as a lack of consumer demand and public investment due to excessive austerity policies;
Amendment 235 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 187
Paragraph 187
187. Welcomes the trend for simplification, eliminareduction of gold-plating and improvement of shared management hand in hand with the new elements of cohesion policy for the 2014 – 2020 programming period, which seems to be a methodological best practice and which is reflected in many concrete steps like finding complementarity with the Investment Plan for Europe through a practical coexistence of ESIFs and the EFSI (European Fund for Strategic Investments), doubling the scope for FEI, providing targeted initiatives, for example for SMEs, creating task forces for better implementation, introducing thematic focus on smart growth and implementation of research and innovative strategies respecting the smart specialisation strategies, or cohesion policy contribution to relevant Union policies in the areas of digital economy, energy, social affairs among others;
Amendment 309 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 270 a (new)
Paragraph 270 a (new)
270a. Believes that the Commission should pro-actively disclose documents regarding the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Ethical Committee on post-term-of- office jobs of former Commissioners, editing the commercial or personal information in accordance with Regulation 1049/2001;
Amendment 311 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 271
Paragraph 271
271. Calls on the Commission to report onask from Member States that they current status of Member State's legislation concerninglearly indicate any potential conflicts of interests of their candidate member of the Commission and to explain how conflicts of interests and to present recommendre defined in their national legislation; in the case of diverging interpretations, of considering that the same princiflicts of interests between national legislation and the rules the Commission applies should apply to candidate members and members of the Commissionitself in this regard, the latter interpretation should be followed by Member States;
Amendment 314 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 272
Paragraph 272
272. Points out that an important step with regard to conflicts of interest is to increase the transparency of the ad hoc ethical committee of the Commission which reviews situations of potential conflict; notes that only if the opinions of the ethical committee are published proactively, cancalls upon the Commission to proactively publish the opinions of the ethical committee in accordance with Regulation 1049/2001in order to let the public hold the Commission accountable for the decision made;
Amendment 315 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 272 a (new)
Paragraph 272 a (new)
272a. Estimates that the Code of Conduct for Commissioners should include a clearer task description of the Ad Hoc Ethical Committee, and include the requirement that the members of the Committee are independent experts;
Amendment 321 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
New subheading after paragraph 272 and paragraph 272 a (new)
New subheading after paragraph 272 and paragraph 272 a (new)
272a. Transparency Believes that all data on the implementation of the budget within the EU should be transparent and accountable through publication, including the spending of Member States related to shared management;
Amendment 322 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 272 b (new)
Paragraph 272 b (new)
272b. Emphasises the principle that the Commission on all levels should end contacts with unregistered lobbyists;
Amendment 323 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 272 c (new)
Paragraph 272 c (new)
272c. Calls on the Commission to expand the recording of meeting data with lobbyists to everyone involved in the Union's policy-making process by requesting from their DG's regular reports on the meetings taking place within their respective services and by putting this information in an easily accessible manner on the Commission's website;
Amendment 324 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 272 d (new)
Paragraph 272 d (new)
272d. Believes that the Commission should be obliged to record and disclose all input received from lobbyists/interest representatives on draft policies and laws as a 'legislative footprint'; suggests that this legislative footprint should contain detailed information about lobbyists who had a substantial effect on the Commission's proposals;
Amendment 325 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 272 e (new)
Paragraph 272 e (new)
272e. Welcomes the publication of a list of senior officials leaving the Commission and calls on the Commission to include all members of the Cabinet in the definition of senior officials;
Amendment 326 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
New subheading after paragraph 272 and paragraph 272 a (new)
New subheading after paragraph 272 and paragraph 272 a (new)
272a Expert Groups Urges the Commission to follow up on the Ombudsman's recommendations against conflicts of interest in expert groups and to postpone the adoption of new horizontal rules, until the Parliament has been able to express its opinion on the basis of the ongoing work on a joint CONT-JURI own initiative report;
Amendment 346 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 280 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 280 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Urges OLAF to draw up Internal Rules on Whistleblowing in accordance with the new Staff Regulations 2014;
Amendment 348 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 280 a (new)
Paragraph 280 a (new)
280a. States that in OLAF's annual report 2014 the investigative activities and results per sector are specified; requests OLAF to provide in the next annual report detailed information on the type of investigation and results in all sectors;
Amendment 349 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 281
Paragraph 281
Amendment 352 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 283
Paragraph 283
283. Urges all the relevant Union institutions to implement Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC and Article 8.12 of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in accordance with the recommendations contained in the guidelines thereto; urges the Commission to publish immediately the assessment agreements with tobacco companies and an impact assessment on the implementation of the WHO FCTC and the Protocol;
Amendment 354 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 283 a (new)
Paragraph 283 a (new)
283a. Urges the Commission not to have any negotiations with the Tobacco Industry on the renewal of the Agreements, until Parliament has had the opportunity to adopt its final position;
Amendment 356 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 283 b (new)
Paragraph 283 b (new)
283b. Asks the Commission to full betting on the combinations of the Tobacco Directive 2014 and the WHO FCTC and the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products which foresee track and trace provisions and introduce security features facilitating law enforcement, and are the best instruments to fight illicit trade in the EU;
Amendment 2 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the need for compliance with data protection legislation of all initiatives developed under the Digital Single Market Strategy; underlines the fact that respect for fundamental rights and data protection are key elements in building citizens’ trust and security, which are necessary for a balanced approach allowing the development of the economy and should thus be considered as creating opportunities and a competitive advantage;
Amendment 15 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for measures to tackle illegal content on the internet that will be in compliance with the rule of law and fundamental rights, in particular the right to freedom of expression and information, and the right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial; considers that, in order to achieve that goal, it is necessary to provide appropriate law enforcement tools, to support public- private partnerships and cooperation, to consider the role of intermediaries and to promote education and awareness-raising campaigns;
Amendment 28 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Urges the Commission and Member States not to undermine the rule of law, legal certainty, and freedom of expression by encouraging or coercing intermediaries to interfere arbitrarily with online communications for public policy goals;
Amendment 32 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Stresses that the removal of websites and the deletion of content on the internet should be based on judicial authorisation;
Amendment 36 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Considers that the mass surveillance of electronic communications by intelligence agencies both in Europe and the U.S. has severely damaged citizens' trust in the safety and security of digital services;
Amendment 37 #
2015/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the use of the internet and mobile communications has changed the way users communicate, invent, consume and share; whereas this has expanded the market place, facilitating access by small companies to a customer base of 500 million customers and the development by entrepreneurs of new ideasmade it possible for small companies to access far more potential consumers than before;
Amendment 64 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that big data, cloud services, the Internet of Things, research and innovation are key to economic development; believes that data protection safeguards andcompliance with data protection legislation and the use of state of the art IT security are crucial for building trust in the data-driven economy sector; stresses the need to raise awareness of the role of data and data- sharing in the economy and to clarify data ownership rulesat the essence of data protection is control over personal data and that the generation of new personal data through profiling is one of the biggest challenges for privacy and trust in the digital economy; underlines the role ofat personalisation of services and products that should be developed as a balanced solution in compliance with data protection requirements; calls for the promotion of privacy by default and by design; underlines the importance of a risk-based approach in ddopting the General Data pProtection lRegisulation, especially for SME by the end of 2015, both in the interest of data subjects and businesses;
Amendment 87 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that any processing of personal data through solutions based on interoperability, i.e. operated by the ISA² programme, must comply with the requirements of EU data protection laws; calls for common open standards to be developed for the data-driven economy, which should includprioritize security, respect for privacy and data protection;
Amendment 93 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Emphasises the importance of data protection as a fundamental right, and more precisely the purpose limitation principle, in any e-government action plan that includes 'once only principles'; is concerned that a widespread adoption of 'once only principles' could make it easier for member state governments to process personal data for other purposes, including profiling of citizens without their explicit consent using the existing public interest exception in European data protection law;
Amendment 107 #
2015/2147(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Welcomes the ruling of the ECJ of 6 October 2015 in its case C-362/14 where the court has invalidated the Safe Harbour decision;
Amendment 180 #
2015/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Believes that the Digital Single Market should primarily serve the interests of citizens and SMEs;
Amendment 298 #
2015/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concerned aboutTakes note of the different national approaches taken to regulating the internet and the sharing economy; urgeasks the Commission to take action to preserve the integrity of the single market and the internet as an open and global platform for communication and innovationencourage a debate among Member States to coordinate their approaches, if necessary;
Amendment 409 #
2015/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes that a fullminimum harmonisation of the legal frameworkmost essential rules governing online sales irrespective of whether they are cross- border or domestic sales, while maintaining the coherence of online and offline rules regarding legal remedies, constitutes the most practical and proportionate approach;
Amendment 478 #
2015/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission to explore the possibilities of introducing an EUncourage the introduction of trustmarks for online sales in order to induce trust, particularly in relation to cross-border online sales;
Amendment 561 #
2015/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Considers that ambitious actions are needed to improve access to legal digital content, in particular by ending unjustified geo- blocking practices and unfair price discrimination based on geographical location;
Amendment 610 #
2015/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Stresses that a ban on geo-blocking should never oblige a retailer to deliver goods from his web shop to a certain Member State when he has no interest in selling his products to all Member States and prefers to stay small or only sell to consumers close to his shop;
Amendment 623 #
2015/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls on the Commission to examine the situation of independent retailers who nevertheless are allowed under competition law to work together through their brick-and-mortar shops, to also provide joint e-commerce offerings;
Amendment 733 #
2015/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls as a prioNotes that the radio spectrum is used by a large variety for a harmonised framework for spectrum allocation to boost long-term infrastructure investmentsof suppliers varying from (digital) TV and radio to mobile communication; considers that the framework for spectrum allocation reflects the various national traditions in the Member States and therefore should remain a national competence; stresses that any policy decision to assign spectrum use should be based on a solid assessment of the cost and benefits of such change as well as of the actual market demand justifying such change;
Amendment 771 #
2015/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses that uniform enforcement ofthe Commission and all Member States should rigorously defend the net neutrality principle; stresses that the Connected Continent package, including the end of roaming surcharges and the net neutrality principle, requires the establishment of a single European telecommunications regulatorshould be uniformly enforced throughout all Member States;
Amendment 811 #
2015/2147(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Urges the Commission to develop an innovation-friendly policy that fosters competition between, and innovation in,between online platforms; considers that the priorities should be transparency, facilitation of switching between platforms or online services, access to platforms, and identifying and addressing barriers to the emergence and scale- up of platforms should be priorities; Stresses the need to ensure sufficient levels of transparency for consumers regarding the practices of digital intermediaries, and proactive monitoring and effective "backstop" powers for regulatory authorities where platform practices become a threat to plurality/diversity;
Amendment 15 #
2015/2140(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recalls that in accordance with Protocol No. 26 to the EU Treaties, national, regional and local authorities play an essential role and have wide discretion in providing, commissioning and organising services of general economic interest as closely as possible to the needs of the users; and that the diversity between various services of general economic interest and the differences in the needs and preferences of users that may result from different geographical, social or cultural situations has been explicitly recognised in the same Protocol; thus, requests the Commission to take these considerations into account, when looking into state aid in regard of services of general economic interest;
Amendment 26 #
2015/2140(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Commission to examine the possibility for independent retailers, who are allowed under competition law to work together through their brick-and- mortar shops, to also provide joint e- commerce offerings;
Amendment 7 #
2015/2132(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. In this regard, calls on the Commission to pay particular attention to the functioning of the decentralised agencies of the EU and, in particular, to their visibility and democratic accountability, in light of their distant locations and of lack of awareness of EU citizens of their activities and even of their existence;
Amendment 9 #
2015/2132(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Calls on the Commission to explain in detail its transparency policies with regard to EU funding, and, in particular, its measures to provide for balanced decision-making, involving all relevant stakeholders, including consumer organisations, SME's, trade unions and general interest organisations, in particular environmental organisations;
Amendment 10 #
2015/2132(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Considering that due to its new 'better regulation' policies the Commission is proposing far less legislative initiatives than in the past, calls on the Commission to explain in detail the budgetary and staffing implications of this shift in emphasis from legislative to implementing activities and, in particular, to indicate whether economies can be made in this regard;
Amendment 98 #
2015/2132(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67 b (new)
Paragraph 67 b (new)
67b. Stresses that Parliament and the Council must address the need for a roadmap to a single seat, as requested by a large majority in this Parliament in several resolutions, in order to create long term savings in the Union budget;
Amendment 40 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls on the Commission to harmonize the framework of reporting 'suspected fraud' and to establish rules on reporting all judicial action undertaken in the Member states related to potential fraudulent use of community resources, indicating the judicial actions based on OLAF judicial recommendations specifically in the reporting
Amendment 43 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Invites the Commission to develop a system of strict indicators and easily applicable criteria based on the requirements set out in the Stockholm Programme to measure the level of corruption in the Member States; is concerned about the reliability and quality of data coming from the Member States; calls on the Commission, therefore, to work closely with Member States to guarantee comprehensive, exact and reliable data; invites the Commission to work out a corruption index to categorise Member Statsystem categorising the effectiveness of Member States' anti- corruption policies;
Amendment 44 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Invites the Commission to evaluate the performance of Member States in fighting corruption on a yearly basis; believes that these control mechanisms should reflect the performance of the Member States in fighting corruption (corruption index) and should incentivise Member States to improve their performance;
Amendment 57 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the positive results of the first annual overview of the Hercule III Programme; expresses concern that the budget reserved for it might be insufficient, but requests additional performance based information in particular on the contribution of the 55 conferences and training sessions to the effectiveness of the actions taken by Member States to counter fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities affecting the financial interests of the European Union;
Amendment 60 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Reiterates its strong views on the need to adopt the PIF Directive, with VAT included in its scope and with a clear definition of PIF offences, minimum and maximum applicable imprisonment penalties, and minimum rules on the statute of limitations as soon as possible; recalls the Taricco Case, in which the Court of Justice of the European Union draws attention to the fact that VAT is a TOR;
Amendment 63 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses that the EPPO Regulation should also be adopted swiftly and demands thatCalls for the Commission to clarify the main reasons why Member States are not giving follow-up to alleged cases of fraud affecting the Coufinancial explain its reasons for delaying the negotiationsinterests of the European Union, as submitted to them by OLAF;
Amendment 68 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Emphasises that the failure to comply with public procurement rules was a significant source of error for the 2009- 2013 programming period; points out that the new public procurement directives have to be implemented by April 2016; emphasises that reducing the incidence of irregularities requires correct implementation of the directives by the Member States; calls on the Commission to closely monitor the implementation of these directives; is of the belief that ex ante conditionalities have the potential to improve public procurement; calls on the Commission to develop a database on irregularities capable of providing a basis for meaningful analysis of public procurement errors;
Amendment 70 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Questions the non-fraudulent nature of the increasing number of serious errors made in the context of public procurement procedures and asks the Commission to be particularly vigilant in this regard, not only by engaging into a dialogue with Member States with a view of better application of the existing and new public procurement directives, but also by submitting relevant cases to OLAF for further consideration;
Amendment 76 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Stresses the importance of leading by example and warmly welcomes the inter- institutional approach to implement the Performance Based Budgeting; Calls on the Commission to adopt the planning, implementation and control phase of the MFF in accordance with the results-based budgeting principle;
Amendment 81 #
2015/2128(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Emphasises that EU added value must always be demonstrated, not only by pointing to results, but also by showing that the same results would not have been achieved without EU-funding and by including the costs of applying for EU- funding and of the accompanying lobbying activities of Member States and, in particular, of their local and regional authorities;
Amendment 20 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights in this regard that it is urgent that the Parliament and the Council find an agreement on the Directive on the fight against fraud to the Union’s financial interests by means of criminal law (PIF Directive) with VAT included in its scope;
Amendment 23 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Takes note of the on-going discussions in the Council on the draft regulation establishing the European public prosecutor’s office (EPPO) as an essential piecein the context of the action plan;
Amendment 28 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recommends that the EU become a Urges the Commission to submit to the Parliament as soon as possible a progress report on the preparations for the EU-membership of GRECO and to provide in this report a survey of the legal challenges and possible solutions in this respect;
Amendment 29 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recommends that the EU become a member of GRECO and request participation in the Open Government Partnership;
Amendment 32 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Regrets that the European Commission has not yet published its 2nd Anti-Corruption Report, which is due to be issued in 2016;
Amendment 33 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls upon the Commission to support the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in its efforts to monitor the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption, by meeting the EU's own reporting obligations as well as by co-funding UNODC's projects for technical assistance, whenever relevant;
Amendment 34 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Amendment 35 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for Member States to invest more heavily in fostering a culture of legality; onsidering that the legislative proposals for strengthening the rights of suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings as foreseen in the Stockholm Programme have almost all been dealt with, invites the Commission to come up with additional legislative initiatives, inter alia, with respect to pre-trial detention, in order to ensure the right to fair trial, as recognised in the European Convention on Human Rights and the Charter on Fundamental Rights;
Amendment 39 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for the EU to apply for membership for the Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption (GRECO); and to fulfil its reporting obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption, to which the EU is party; requests the Commission to submit its second report on corruption in the EU as soon as possible and to include also information in respect of the European institutions themselves, which was missing it its first report, or, if the second report will not be available in the coming months, to submit a separate report on the European institutions as an addendum to its first report;
Amendment 39 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that, in order to fight corruption effectively and ensure lasting outcomes, the EU and Member States need to adopt a political strategy and a list of priorities, which may comprise not only legislative action but also a set of concrete benchmarks that Member States commit to attain in order to tackle corruption in the public and private sector and organised crime; takes the view that these targets and benchmarks should be holistic, comprising at least measures to improve transparency of public acts, access to information, public officials' asset disclosure, judicial capacity and technical assistance, whistleblower protection and mechanisms for citizen engagement in decision-making;
Amendment 45 #
2015/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Welcomes the 18-month programme of the EU Council for the Dutch, Slovak and Maltese Presidencies, where a comprehensive and integrated approach to organised crime will be high on the agenda. In the area of justice, there will be a focus on combating fraud against the Union’s financial interests, including work on the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, data protection, and promoting and safeguarding the rule of law and fundamental rights.
Amendment 53 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Takes the view that the current round of EU proposals concerning the fight against organised crime should place thespecial emphasis on combating crimes of association (i.e. the fact of belonging tothe aspect of membership of a criminal organiszation), rather than simply combating so-called target crimes (i.e. crimes which such organisations are set up to commit) as aggravating circumstance or as separate criminal offence; reiterates that this round of proposals should also include the combating of money laundering among its priorities;
Amendment 57 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for the establishment of a specialist Europol unit to combat organised criminal groups which operate in several sectors at the same time; takes the view that the Member States should set up a body with responsibility forsecure and effective mechanisms in the current institutional framework to ensuringe that investigations into organised crime are properly coordinated and that mutual trust among law enforcement authorities in Member States is fostered;
Amendment 59 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Refers to the emerging trend of raids of shops by organised groups of criminals who work cross-border in the European Union and calls for special attention of both Member States and Europol for this particular form of organised crime;
Amendment 61 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Regrets that the European Commission has not yet published its second Anti-Corruption Report, which is due to be issued in 2016, and re-iterates its point of view that this report should not be confined to the situation in the Member States but should also include a section on the measures against corruption taken by the European institutions themselves;
Amendment 65 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – introductory part
Paragraph 10 – introductory part
10. Calls for a basic set of rules to be drawn up concerning the definition of criminal offences and penalties in the field of organised crime and corruption, in order to improve cross-border judicial cooperation; calls, in particular, forupon the Commission to submit the following proposals:
Amendment 67 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – point a
Paragraph 10 – point a
Amendment 83 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – point d a (new)
Paragraph 10 – point d a (new)
(da) Calls for the implementation of Directive 2008/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on the protection of the environment through criminal law. Invites the Member States to fully implement this directive, punishing with effective, proportionate and dissuasive criminal penalties any kind of unlawful behaviour having negative impacts on human health or the environment included: discharge, emission or introduction into air, soil or water of dangerous materials; burning of waste; illegal trade, collection and transport of hazardous waste. Invites Member States to consider waste combustion as a criminal offense punishable with criminal penalties, in the same way as those included in Directive 2008/99/EC.
Amendment 85 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – point d b (new)
Paragraph 10 – point d b (new)
(db) Invites, the EU Network for the Implementation and Enforcement of Environmental Law (IMPEL), to inform periodically the European Parliament about the actions of Member States in the implementation of Directive 2008/99/EC.
Amendment 86 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – point d c (new)
Paragraph 10 – point d c (new)
(dc) Whereas, according to environmental protection associations and NGOs wildlife and forest crime as well as the traffic and export of radioactive materials and hazardous waste to third countries plays a serious role financing organized crime, calls for a specific legislation to fight the export of radioactive materials, hazardous waste and the illegal trade in fauna and flora
Amendment 118 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Deplores the fact that cross-border police and judicial cooperation involves excessively lengthy, bureaucratic procedures that hamper its efficiency and jeopardise the effectiveness of the fight against organised crime, corruption and money laundering at EU level; calls on the Member States to increase the resources they devote to cross-border police and judicial cooperation, to ensure proper training and technical support, to guarantee the mutual admissibility of evidence between Member States, and to ensure that greater use is made of joint investigation teams and to employ a common system for communication and for exchanging information relevant to the fight against organised crime and corruption;
Amendment 120 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Deplores the fact that cross-border police and judicial cooperation involves excessively lengthy, bureaucratic procedures that hamper its efficiency and jeopardise the effectiveness of the fight against organised crime at EU level; calls on the Member States to increase the resources they devote to cross-border police and judicial cooperation, to guarantepromote the mutual admissibility of evidence between Member States, to ensure that greater use is made of joint investigation teams and to employ a common system for communication and for exchanging information relevant to the fight against organised crime and corruption;
Amendment 121 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Stresses the urgency of creating a more efficient system for communication and exchanging information among judicial authorities within the EU, replacing the traditional instruments of mutual legal assistance for criminal matters, if necessary; asks the Commission to assess the need for legislative action in this field, to create a proper EU system of exchange of information among EU judicial authorities;
Amendment 133 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7
Subheading 7
Preventing organised crime and corruption from infiltrating the legal economy
Amendment 136 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on Member States to implement public procurement monitoring instruments and to bar any undertaking which has proven links with organised crime from entering into an economic relationship with a public authority; calls on the Member States, accordingly, to introduce anti-organised crime certification for companies and calls for the relevant information to be exchanged at EU levelprovide the Commission with all necessary information to draw up a blacklist of companies which will be temporarily barred from European public procurement procedures as a consequence of their engagement in corruptive practices;
Amendment 145 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission to take legislative action with the aim of simplifying bureaucratic administrative procedures and thus improving transparency and reducfighting corruption;
Amendment 148 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Regards it as essential to strengthen legislative provisions designed to guarantee greater transparency and traceability of financial flows, in particular as far as EU funds are concerned, including by means of a final audit to check that the funds have been properly used; calls upon the Commission a. to correct payments in the case of irregularities by Member States in using EU funds; b. to temporarily debar institutions and companies who have been found guilty of abuse of EU funds; And calls upon Member States to submit national declarations on their control systems;
Amendment 151 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Takes the view that the Commission should impose the highest levels of integrity in the procurement processes for implementation of EU- funded projects; recalls that monitoring results of projects in cooperation with civil society organisations and holding local authorities accountable is essential to determine whether EU funds are used appropriately and that corruption is tackled;
Amendment 152 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Urges the Commission and Member States to demand contractors to reveal their full corporate structure and beneficial owners before awarding any contracts to them so as to avoid supporting companies which engage in aggressive tax planning, tax fraud and evasion and corruption;
Amendment 153 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19c. Emphasises the need for the EU and the Member States to take appropriate measures, including under criminal law, to monitor and eventually sanction companies based on their territory which are involved in corruption; calls on the Commission and Member States to aggregate data to formulate a public list of companies which have been convicted of corrupt practices or whose company officials are being indicted for corrupt practices in Member States; is of the opinion that such listing should prohibit those companies from participating in public procurement processes or benefit from EU funds in EU Member States in the case of conviction, and until a final court decision of exoneration; highlights the fact that 'blacklisting' can be effective in dissuading companies from engaging in corrupt activities and provides a good incentive for them to improve and reinforce their internal integrity procedures;
Amendment 154 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Condemns the increasingly widespread counterfeiting of goods, medicines and agri-food products in the EU; points out that this criminal activity, which involves distribution networks managed by transnational organised crime, has insinuated its way into the markets of the Member States; suggests that a holistic approach be taken inurges Member States to step up their co-operation in order to combating criminal organisations of this kind;
Amendment 156 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls, therefore, on the Commission to give food fraud, and counterfeiting of goods, medicines and agri-food products, the full attention it warrants and to take all necessary steps to make the prevention and combating of food fraud an integral part of EU policy;
Amendment 159 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Underlines the need to gain further insight into the scale and incidence of food fraud, and counterfeiting of goods, medicines and agri-food products in the EU; calls on the Commission and the Member States to collect data systematically on fraud and counterfeiting cases and to exchange best practices for identifying and combating these phenomenon;
Amendment 161 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)
Paragraph 20 c (new)
20c. Invites the Commission and Member States to consider other methods which aim to prevent and discourage food fraud, such as naming and shaming through a European register of convicted fraudulent food and medicines business operators;
Amendment 163 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 d (new)
Paragraph 20 d (new)
Amendment 166 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 e (new)
Paragraph 20 e (new)
20e. Calls for the entire food chain in Europe, including all stages of production, processing, sales and distribution to be transparent and fully open to scrutiny by inspectors in order to ensure that fraudulent food, medicines and agri-food products can be quickly identified;
Amendment 173 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Notes that the purchase of property in EU Member States is a way to launder the proceeds of criminal activity, whereby criminals shield their ultimate beneficial ownership through foreign shell companies; urges Member States to ensure that any foreign company intending to hold a property title in its territory be held to the same standards of transparency required of companies incorporated in its jurisdiction;
Amendment 179 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Asks, furthermore, for the Union's list of uncooperative jurisdictions to be accompanied by regulatory framework for sanctions against the blacklisted jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, the possibility of reviewing and, in the last resort, suspending free trade agreements and prohibiting access to Union funds; calls for the sanctions to apply also to companies, banks, accountancy, law firms and tax advisers proven to be involved with those jurisdictions or to have facilitated tax and corporate arrangements to other companies involving legal vehicles in those jurisdictions;
Amendment 191 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Recommends that Member States strive to ensure efficient transparency, monitoring and accountability mechanisms in their use of EU funds; whereas the positive impact of the EU funds rely on processes at national and EU level to ensure transparency, effective monitoring and accountability, consideration should be given as to how to make monitoring and evaluation ongoing processes and not only ex-post processes. Believes the role of the Court of Auditors should be strengthened in that regard;
Amendment 197 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Believes qualitative and quantitative indicators should be established and be comparable in order to measure the impact of EU funds and help to assess whether those funds achieved their objectives. Quantified data should be systematically collected and published;
Amendment 200 #
2015/2110(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 d (new)
Paragraph 25 d (new)
25d. Recognises that the discrepancies between Member States regarding protection from labour exploitation under criminal law reflect a lack of clear standards; reiterates the recommendations of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency regarding the need to strengthen the current legal framework to protect workers from exploitation, and for an EU-level consensus which states that labour exploitation is unacceptable and that all workers are entitled to effective protection.
Amendment 5 #
2015/2104(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that the approximation of the respective governance systems should focus on the definition and continuous exchange of good practices in order to establish similar and sustainable core principles of assurance in compliance with the EU financial regulations; calls in this regard for openness on both sides, so that European auditors get detailed access to the UN accounts;
Amendment 11 #
2015/2104(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that the UN must take appropriate measures to publicise the fact that actions have received EU funding, in order to secure visibility and recognition comparable to those of other international donors, whilst also disseminating Union values shared between the EU and the UN such as promoting human rights and the rule of law, raising environmental and social standards, and overall support for sustainable development and inclusive economic growth in all UN interventions;
Amendment 14 #
2015/2104(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Recalls that the principle of added value also applies to EU's funding for UN activities and calls on the Commission to report systematically and in detail what added value any such funding brings compared with direct funding from Member States and with the EU and/or Member States taking upon these activities itself;
Amendment 15 #
2015/2104(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Believes that the results-oriented approach, in light of the focus on the performance of Union aid, has to be improved through the introduction of a results accountability and measurement framework enabling the assessment of the soundness of projects in terms of economic and social sustainability; and the evaluation of projects in terms of effectiveness and efficiency;
Amendment 8 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 d (new)
Citation 1 d (new)
- having regard to the Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989,
Amendment 118 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H c (new)
Recital H c (new)
H c. whereas, according to Europol, at least 10,000 unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) seeking asylum have disappeared after arriving in Europe and are feared to have fallen into the hands of organised trafficking and criminal organisations.
Amendment 119 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H d (new)
Recital H d (new)
H d. whereas guardians are a key element of a protection system for children who are temporarily or permanently deprived of their family environment and cannot have their interests represented by their parents; whereas there are great disparities between the types of guardianship provided to children in and within EU Member States.
Amendment 166 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital P a (new)
Recital P a (new)
P a. whereas no forced returns to countries of origin or third-countries may take place if such returns may violate article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights;
Amendment 227 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Condemns seizing of valuables from asylum seekers in order to finance the cost of their stay during the asylum procedures in a Member State which constitutes an infringement of the human dignity of the persons concerned and violates the right to property enshrined in Article 1 of Protocol 1 to the ECHR.
Amendment 239 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that the saving of lives is an act of solidarity with those at risk, but that it is also a legal obligation under international law, as Article 98 of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea – ratified by all Member States and the Union itself – requires assistance to be given to any person in distress at sea; calls on Member States to align their national legislation accordingly;
Amendment 287 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Holds that any holistic approach to migration must necessarily contain measures aimed at disrupting the activities of criminal networks involved in the trafficking and smuggling of people, without criminalizing or otherwise interfering with humanitarian assistance offered by NGO's or individual persons;
Amendment 386 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Recalls that, for the purposes of the Relocation Decisions, relocation will cover only those nationalities for which the proportion of positive decisions granting international protection in the Union has been 75 % or more for the preceding three months, on the basis of Eurostat data, as well as for the complicated applications on which a decision can't be taken immediately; notes that the Relocation Decisions will affect a relatively small number of people, and will leave out the large numbers of applicants originating from other third countries who cannot be relocated under those decisions;
Amendment 393 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes, in addition, that Member States of first arrivalto where relocation has taken place will therefore have to handle the more complicated asylum claims (and appeals), will have to organise longer periods of reception, and will have to organise and coordinate returns for those ultimately not entitled to international protection;
Amendment 564 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Recommends that the criteria on which the Relocation Decisions are based should be built directly into the Union’s standard rules for allocating responsibility; emphasises that, in reviewing the Dublin Regulation, it is important to reflect on the value of describing certain asylum seekers as ‘applicants in clear need of international protection’, since those migrants and refugees who do not fall into that category would still – at least under the current system – have to be dealt with by the Member State of first arrival;
Amendment 596 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Points out that one option for a fundamental overhaul of the Dublin system would be to establish a central collection of applications at Union level – viewing each asylum seeker as someone seeking asylum in the Union as a whole and not in an individual Member State – and tosystem of European asylum centres in the EU, near its external borders, or in case of specific bottlenecks also at internal borders of a Member State, where a first examination of the asylum application takes place, viewing each asylum seeker as someone seeking asylum in the Union as a whole and not in an individual Member State; takes the view that in these centres priority should be given to applications of persons who are clearly in need of international protection and to ensure their protection; moreover, suggests to distribute more complicated applications among Member States by establishing a central system for the allocation of responsibility for any persons seeking asylum in the Unthese applications; suggests that such a system could provide for certain relative thresholds per Member State, above which no further allocation of responsibility could be made until all other Member States have met their own thresholds, which could conceivably help in deterring secondary movements, as all Member States would be fully involved in the centralised system and no longer have individual responsibility for allocation of applicants to other Member States; believes that such a system could function on the basis of a number of Union ‘hotspots’ from where Union distribution should take place; underlines that any new system for allocation of responsibility must incorporate the key concepts of family unity and the best interests of the child; finally, takes the view that manifestly unfounded asylum applications should be dealt with in the European asylum centres, without further re-allocation of responsibility among Member States, in order to facilitate the return of applicants whose claim has been rejected;
Amendment 675 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Takes the view that, where those persons granted international protection in the Union have an offer of employment in a Member State other than the one in which they have been granted international protection, they should be able to avail themselves of such an offer after a transitory period of a maximum of five years;
Amendment 720 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47 a. Points to the vulnerable position of unaccompanied minors who represent 9% of all asylum applicants and calls for special reception facilities, ensuring their safety and well-being upon arrival in the EU; regrets that the concept of 'hotspots' does not foresee any such special facilities yet and urges the Commission to earmark the necessary funding for this purpose;
Amendment 721 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 b (new)
Paragraph 47 b (new)
47 b. Refers to the recent information of Europol indicating that so far at least 10.000 minors are missing and that they may have become victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation; calls for urgent measures to protect minors during their stay and travel in the Member States, both by offering special assistance to minors and their families and by fighting the criminal networks targeting minors as a matter of the highest priority;
Amendment 826 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54
Paragraph 54
54. Underlines, in any event, that any list of safe countries of origin should not detract from the principle that every person must be allowed an appropriate individual examination of his or her application for international protection and should, in particular, have ample opportunity to raise personal circumstances why the country of origin concerned cannot be considered safe in his or her case;
Amendment 959 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74
Paragraph 74
74. Recognises that one of the main purposes of hotspots is to allow the Union to grant protection and humanitarian assistance in a swift manner to those in need; emphasises that great care needs to be taken to ensure that the categorising of migrants at hotspots is carried out in full respect for the rights of all migrants, including the provision to appeal in line with the EU Asylum Procedures Directive 2013/32/EU; acknowledges, however, that proper identification of applicants for international protection at the point of first arrival in the Union should help facilitate the overall functioning of any reformed CEAS;
Amendment 968 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74 a (new)
Paragraph 74 a (new)
74a. Underlines that the Member States should allow access for NGO's, lawyers and other relevant interest groups to the hotspots;
Amendment 1025 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 85
Paragraph 85
85. Calls on the Union to help third countries build up their asylum systems and integration strategies in order to allow third country nationals in need of international protection to seek protection there; believes that the Union must adopt a win-win approach to cooperation with third countries, that is, an approach that is beneficial to the Union, to the third country in question and to the refugees and migrants in that third country; calls, in this respect, for close co-operation with UNHCR;
Amendment 1092 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 92
Paragraph 92
92. Understands that, in the long term, greater impetus is needed in solving the geo-political issues that affect the root causes of migration, as war, poverty, corruption, hunger and a, demographic imbalances and a consequent lack of opportunities means that people will still feel forced to flee to Europe unless Europe looks at how to help re-build those countries; points out that this means that the Commission and the Member States must put up the money to help build capacity in third countries, such as by facilitating investment and education, strengthening and enforcing asylum systems, helping to manage borders better, and reinforcing legal and judicial systems there;
Amendment 1193 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 111
Paragraph 111
111. Takes the view that, in the long run, the Union will need to establish more general rules governing the entry and residence for those third-country nationals seeking employment in the Union to, whilst fiull the gaps identified in the Union labour markety recognizing that Member States retain the right to decide about admission for employment, as they are best suited to examine whether the need for legal migration is structural, or can also be met by investing in relevant training and educational programmes for the unemployed;
Amendment 1207 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 112
Paragraph 112
112. Calls for a comprehensive vision of the labour market in the UnionMember States as a necessary pre-condition for the development of labour market policies; points out that it is necessary to develop tools for identifying and forecasting present and future labour market needs in the UnionMember States in a better way; suggests, in that regard, that existing tools – such as those developed by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) or the OECD – could be improved upon, and even merged, with international statistics on potential labour supply from third countries in order to provide a more accurate picture of the situation;
Amendment 1210 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 113
Paragraph 113
113. Believes that better data and improved tools for analysing such data can only help policy-makers determine future labour migration policies, and that the Union and the Member States should identify gaps in their labour markets that could help them fill jobs that would otherwise remain vacant;
Amendment 1231 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 119
Paragraph 119
119. RecallNotes that in the Agenda on Migration, the Commission announced its intention to revise the Directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third- country nationals for the purposes of highly qualified employment (the ‘Blue Card Directive’), looking particularly at the issues of scope (possibly covering entrepreneurs willing to invest in Europe) and improving the rules on intra-EU mobility;
Amendment 1234 #
2015/2095(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 120
Paragraph 120
120. ReiteraNotes that the Commission’s Implementation Report on the current Blue Card Directive underlines its flaws, including the very limited level of harmonisation brought about by the wide discretion in implementation it gives the Member States, in particular the right for Member States to maintain parallel national schemes;
Amendment 8 #
2015/2089(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that improving single market regulation should be both a priority and a shared responsibility of the Union institutions; believes that good legislation should contribute tobe to the benefit of our citizens, including workers and consumers, while stimulating competitiveness, the creation of jobs and growth, and must do so in a way that stimulates, rather than frustrates, the European economy;
Amendment 37 #
2015/2089(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that single market legislation should be to the benefit of our citizens, including workers and consumers, while stimulating competitiveness, innovation and sustainable growth, and views effective impact assessments as an important tool for informing policymakers on how best to design regulation to achieve these aims and their single market objectives;
Amendment 54 #
2015/2089(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Reiterates its position that consultation processes should be opened up and expanded to include submissions on draft impact assessments by all stakeholders; believes this is equally important for secondary legislation, which is of great consequence for the implementation of single market regulation and which therefore requires greater transparency and scrutiny;
Amendment 75 #
2015/2089(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 114 #
2015/2089(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Considers also that improving single market regulation does not mean removing all regulation, but rather delivering a competitive regulatory environment that supports employment and enterprise within Europe and recognises that the protection of workers, consumers and the environment requires effective legislation;
Amendment 50 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas unfair trading practices do not only take place in the food supply chain, but just as often in the non-food supply chain like the garment industry or the automotive industry;
Amendment 67 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
Recital K a (new)
Ka. whereas the 'fear factor' means that small suppliers will not be able to effectively use their right, if created, to go to court, and that other, cheap and accessible mechanisms such as mediation by an independent adjudicator will better serve their interests;
Amendment 89 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the setting up of the Supply Chain Initiative, which has resulted in the adoption of a set of principles of good practice in B2B relations in the food supply chain and a voluntary framework for the implementation of those principles; believes that efforts to promote fair trading practices in the food supply chain can make a real impact; recommends the setting up of similar supply chain initiatives in other relevant non-food sectors;
Amendment 97 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the setting up of national platforms of organisations and businesses in the food and non-food supply chain to promote fair trading practices and seek to put an end to UTPs;
Amendment 166 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Acknowledges, nonetheless, that voluntary and self-regulatory schemes are not enough to put an end to UTPs once and for all, owing to the lack of effective enforcement mechanismsrequire independent and effective enforcement mechanisms to put an end to UTPs once and for all;
Amendment 216 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. UrgeSupports the Commission to submit specific proposals for EU legislation banning UTPs in the s efforts in assessing the effectiveness and credibility of available mechanisms for the enforcement of rules against UTPs in Member States; urges the Commission to take up its facilitating role drawing on best practices in Member States, like for example the UK Groceries Adjudicator, to make sure all Member States have credible and effective enforcement mechanisms against UTPs in both the food and non-food supply chain that will enable markets to operate as they should and fair and transparent relations to be maintained between food producers, suppliers and distributors;
Amendment 220 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Regrets that the Commission has so far refused to make available to the European Parliament the results of its own studies on UTPs; urges the Commission to make available all material from Member States, own research and other sources that it has at its disposal now, or in the future in the context of its facilitating role as described above;
Amendment 231 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Suggests that work should begin on EU rules on the establishment or recognition of national public agencieswith the facilitation at EU level of effective cooperation of national public agencies or dedicated bodies like an adjudicator, with responsibility for enforcing laws to combat unfair practices in the food supply chain; takes the view that public agencies of this kind should be empowered to conduct investigations on their own initiative and on the basis of informal information and complaints dealt with on a confidential basis (thus overcoming the fear factor), as well as to impose penalties;
Amendment 242 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Believes strongly that a single, clear, precise and bindinggenerally accepted and clear definition of UTPs should be drawn up, so as to allow effective rulesaction to be laid dowtaken with a view to combating such practices; notes however that this definition can never be exhaustive, as unfair practices can take new forms over time;
Amendment 252 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for due account to be taken, when draftconsidering rules in this area, of the specific features of each market and the legal requirements obtaining on it, the different situations and approaches in individual Member States, the degree of consolidation or fragmentation of individual markets, and other significant factors; takes the view that such regulatory efforts should ensure that there is relatively broad discretion to tailor the measures to be taken to the specific features of each market and should be based on the general principle of improving enforcement by involving the relevant public agencies;
Amendment 262 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls on the Commission to assess the voluntary and self-regulatory schemes put in place to date and the effectiveness of the regulatory action taken at national and EU level; calls for an assessment of the likely impact of the various types of EU regulatory action that have been proposed, with due account being taken of all the possible implications for the various stakeholders and for consumer welfare;
Amendment 273 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
- having regard to the report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on unfair business-to- business trading practises in the food supply chain (COM (2016) 32),
Amendment 288 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas unfair trading practices (UTPs) are a problem attested to by all entities in the food supply chain and by many national competition authorities; whereas the Commission's report of 29 January 2016 on unfair business-to-business trading practices in the food supply chain confirms that those practices can occur at every stage of the food supply chain; whereas the Commission and Parliament have repeatedly drawn attention to the problem of UTPs;
Amendment 304 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Welcomes the report by the Commission on unfair business-to- business trading practices in the food supply chain, as well as the long-expected accompanying study on the monitoring of the implementation of principles of good practices in vertical relationship in the food supply chain;
Amendment 352 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Acknowledges, nonetheless, that voluntary and self-regulatory schemes are not enough to put an end to UTPs once and for all, owing to the lack of effective enforcement mechanisms; require independent and effective enforcement mechanisms, as well as appropriate and impartial governance structures, in order to put an end to UTPs once and for all;
Amendment 354 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Urges the Commission to follow-up its recommendations from its report of 29 January 2016 on unfair business-to- business trading practices in the food supply chain, to increase the credibility and effectiveness of the Supply Chain Initiative (SCI) by requiring the relevant stakeholders to: a. improve awareness of the SCI, especially among SMEs, b. ensure the impartiality of the SCI's governance structure, c. allow alleged victims of UTPs to complain confidentially, and d. grant investigatory and sanctioning power to independent bodies;
Amendment 369 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. UrgeSupports the Commission to submit specific proposals for EU legislation banning UTPs in the food supply chain that will enable markets to oper's efforts in assessing the effectiveness and credibility of available mechanisms for the enforcement of rules against UTPs in Member States; agrees with the Commission thate as they should and fair and transparent relations to be maintained between food producers, suppliers and distributort this stage, there is no added value of a specific harmonized regulatory approach at EU level, given the fact that the large majority of Member States have introduced regulatory measures and public enforcement mechanisms;
Amendment 391 #
2015/2065(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls on the Commission to assesscontinue to assess closely the effectiveness of the voluntary and self-regulatory schemes put in place to date and the effectivenessand of the regulatory action taken at national and EU level; calls for an assessment of the likely impact of the various types of EU regulatory action that have been proposed, with due account being taken of all the possible implications for the various stakeholders and for consumer welfarelevel to combat unfair trading practices; expects the results of the review to be communicated before 2019, focusing in particular on the creation of national platforms and follow-up to the recommendations made in the report of 29 January 2016 (COM (2016) 32) by the various stakeholders, particularly the SCIs;
Amendment 20 #
2015/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Hopes, furthermore, that the Commission will submit without delay a legislative proposal with the aim of establishing a single European system of protection of geographical indications for non-agricultural products on a voluntary basis;
Amendment 26 #
2015/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that this system should be voluntary, and based on the general principles governing the system in force for agricultural and food products, and calls on the Commission to learn the necessary lessons from the experience gained in that sector, with the aim of creating a system based on best practices and transparent and non- discriminatory principles, and which is effective, responsive and free of unnecessary administrative burden for the operators involved;
Amendment 76 #
2015/2053(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses that this system must be accompanied by the creation of a single European register, that itwhilst avoiding any unnecessary administrative burdens. Stresses further that such a system should be characterised by a cross-cutting approach in order to maximise its economic and social impact, and that it should significantly enhance the existing link between products and their area of origin, in order to increase the credibility and authenticity of a product and guarantee its origin and traceability;
Amendment 2 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas transparency, accountability and integrity should be the leading principles for the culture within the European institutions;
Amendment 4 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls for an overall improvement in the prevention of, and the fight against, corruption in the public sector through a holistic approach, commencing with better public access to documents and more stringent rules on conflicts of interest and transparency registers, with a view to developing a coherent global approach to these issu, support for investigative journalism and for anti-corruption watchdogs, the introduction or strengthening of transparency registers, the provision of sufficient resources for law enforcement measures and through improved co- operation among Member States as well as with relevant third countries;
Amendment 4 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission's announcement of its intention to present, in 2016, a proposal for an inter-institutional agreement revising the Transparency Register for representatives of interest groups; insists that the consultations preceding the proposal take account, in a balanced way, of the different points of view expressed; believes that the level of transparency must be raised through the creation of a legislative footprint for EU lobbying, and by establishing a mandatory EU register for all lobbying activities for all of the EU institutions; points in this regard to the need for introducing annexes to Commission proposals and reports of the EP, clearly indicating which lobbyists had a substantial effect on the text of these proposals and reports, and for creating the possibility for Members of Parliament, who wish to do so, of publishing on their official webpage of the Parliament, which lobbyists they have met;
Amendment 5 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission's announcement of its intention to present, in 2016, a proposal for an inter-institutional agreement revising the Transparency Register for representatives of interest groups; insists that the consultations preceding the proposal take account, in a balanced way, of the different points of view expressedcalls upon the Commission to submit its proposals for a mandatory register without further delay; points in this regard to the need for introducing annexes to Commission proposals and reports of the EP, clearly indicating which lobbyists had a substantial effect on the text of these proposals and reports, and for creating the possibility for Members of Parliament, who wish to do so, of publishing on their official webpage of the Parliament, which lobbyists they have met;
Amendment 7 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Welcomes the Commission's intention to publish every two years a report on the state of play with regard to corruption in the EU; calls upon the Commission to submit without any further delay an addendum to its first anti-corruption report describing in detail the situation within the EU-institutions in this regard;
Amendment 8 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to continue with discussions on the EU's accession to the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO)Regrets that, despite many calls from the Parliament, the EU has not acceded yet to the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) and calls on the Commission to come forward with a timeline for the EU's accession to GRECO in order to ensure that the institutions uphold the anti-corruption standards of the Council of Europe;
Amendment 9 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Calls upon those European institutions who have introduced codes of conduct, including the Parliament, to step up their monitoring and implementation measures, such as the checks of declarations of financial interests; notes, in this regard, that monitoring and sanctioning bodies must be politically independent;
Amendment 10 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas EU institutions are in mostsome respects already ahead of certain national and regional political institutions in terms of their transparency, accountability and integrity;
Amendment 12 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls upon those European institutions who have introduced codes of conduct, including the Parliament, to step up their implementation measures, such as the checks of declarations of financial interests;
Amendment 13 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Feels that a strong and independent European Public Prosecutor's Office should be set up in order to combat offences against the UnCalls upon the Commission to examine in detail why cases of suspected fraud which OLAF brought to the attention of Member States, did not lead to conviction’s financial interests and to investigate, prosecute by national authorities and how the quality of OLAF cand brie streng the perpetrators ofned in order to effectively combat offences against the Union’'s financial interests to judgement; considers that any weaker solution would be detrimental to the Union budget;
Amendment 13 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas, in view of the greaterowing distance between the EU and its citizens, EU institutions must strive for the highest possible standards of transparency, accountability and integrity;
Amendment 15 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Requests that all EU institutions implement article 16 of the EU Staff Regulations by annually publishing information about senior officials who left the EU administration, as well as a list of conflicts of interests; requests that the aforementioned structure assess the compatibility of post- EU employment or the situation whereby civil servants move from the public to the private sector (the ‘revolving door’ issue) and the possibility of a conflict of interest, and define clear cooling-off periods during which officials are required to behave with integrity and discretion or to comply with certain conditions when taking up new duties, which will cover at least the time of transitional allowances;
Amendment 17 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Regrets the deadlock in the Council onConsiders it unacceptable that the revision of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 on access to documents; calls for an ambitious reform, which would be an undoubted step forwardis still stalled in the Council and urges the Council to adopt a constructive position, taking into account the Position of the European Parliament adopted at first reading on 15 December 2011;
Amendment 19 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas non-transparent, one-sided lobbying poses a significant threat to policy-making and to the public interest and to the trust of civilians in EU institutions;
Amendment 22 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Encourages the dissemination of the conflict-of-interest policy among officials alongside ongoing awareness-raising activities; and the inclusion of integrity and transparency as an obligatory item to be discussed during recruitment procedures and performance chats;
Amendment 22 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls the need to improve the transparency of legislative negotiations, including trialogues.including trialogues; rejects the position taken by the Council in its letter to the Ombudsman in regard of the own- initiative inquiry that the organisation of trilogues is a political responsibility and falls outside the Ombudsman's mandate;
Amendment 25 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Considers the Commission's first biennial anti-corruption report was a promising attempt to oversee corruption in Member States; calls on the Commission to include an analysis of corruption risks in the EU institutions in the forthcoming 2016 report, along with an overview of the greatest corruption problems in Member States, policy recommendations to tackle them and follow up measures to be taken by the Commission, taking specifically into account the detrimental impact of corrupt activities in the functioning of the Internal Market;
Amendment 26 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Calls on the institutions involved to ensure in future that negotiations will be transparent and, to that end, to allow meetings to be held in public and webstreamed and to arrange for agendas, minutes, and the main documents relating to issues discussed to be published;
Amendment 27 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the Commission’s agreement to incNotes with concern the findings of the rease transparency by improving its system of expert groups, particularly as regards the procedure for selecting experts, through the development of a new conflict-of-intearchers in the study ‘Composition of the Commission’s expert groups and the status of the register of expert groups’1 a; urges the Commission to take the recommendations of this study into account, when drafting amendments to the curresnt policy for experts appointed in a personal capacity; takes note of the requirement for experts to be registered in the transparency register where relevant;horizontal rules governing expert groups; requests the Commission to engage in a dialogue with the Parliament, before these rules are being formally adopted, especially in relation to the up-coming CONT/JURI report on this matter; __________________ 1aDirectorate General for Internal Policies, 10/09/2015. PE 552.301
Amendment 33 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Believes that the level of transparency couldmust be raised through the creation of a legislative footprint for EU lobbying, with the objective of switching from a voluntary toand by establishing a mandatory EU register for all lobbying activities for any of the EU institutions; points in this regard to the need for introducing annexes to Commission proposals and reports of the EP, clearly indicating which lobbyists had a substantial effect on the text of these proposals and reports, and for creating the possibility for Members of Parliament, who wish to do so, of publishing on their official webpage of the Parliament, which lobbyists they have met;
Amendment 34 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that the Commission, Parliament and the Council should be obliged to record and disclose all input received from lobbyists/interest representatives on draft policies, laws and amendments as a ‘legislative footprint’; suggests that this legislative footprint should consist of a form annexed to reports, detailing all the lobbyists with whom those in charge of a particular file have met in the process of drawing up each report, clearly indicating which lobbyists had a substantial effect on that file and a second document listing all written input received;
Amendment 39 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers, in this context, that a mandatory EU register should include clear provisions on the type of information to be recorded, i.e. accurate and regularly updated information on the nature of lobbying/legal activities, together with detailed records of contacts and input into EU law and policymaking; believes that a system of sanctions in the event of abuse should be envisaged under the supervision of Parliament; calls upon the Commission to submit its proposals for a mandatory register without further delay;
Amendment 41 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Demands that all those EU institutions that have not yet done so adopt internal rules on whistleblowing and assess the possibility of agreeing on a common approach to their obligations, focusing on the protection of whistleblowers; asks special attention for the protection of whistleblowers in the context of the Directive on the Protection of Trade Secrets;
Amendment 47 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. States that the annual reports of the European institutions could play an important role in the compliance regarding transparency, accountability and integrity; calls upon the European institutions to have a standard chapter in the annual reports on these components;
Amendment 48 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Considers the Commission’s first biennial anti-corruption report to be a promising attempt to better understand corruption in all its dimensions, to develop effective responses with a view to tackling it, and to pave the way for enhanced accountability of the public sphere to EU citizens; reaffirms, in this context, the importance of the EU’ zero-tolerance policy on fraud, corruption and collusion; regrets, however, that this report did not include anti-corruption policies of the EU institutions themselves;
Amendment 49 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Demands that at the latest in its second anti- corruption report the Commission carry out further analysis at the level of both the EU institutions and the Member States of the environment in which policies are implemented, in order to identify inherent critical factors, vulnerable areas and risk factors conducive to corruption;
Amendment 50 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Requests the Commission in this regard to pay particular attention to the prevention of conflicts of interest, as well as corruptive practises in the case of decentralised agencies who are particularly vulnerable, considering the fact that they are relatively unknown to the public and are also located throughout the EU;
Amendment 57 #
2015/2041(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls upon the Commission to fulfil without delay its reporting obligations under the UN Convention against Corruption;
Amendment 68 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Suggests that the Code of Conduct should be amended so as to make it mandatory for rapporteurs and committee chairs to adopt the same practice of exclusively meeting registered lobbyists and publish information on such meetings online on their official webpage of the Parliament, directly linked to the Transparency Register, and for rapporteurs to publish a legislative footprint;
Amendment 73 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls upon the European Parliament’s Bureau for creating the possibility for Members of Parliament, who wish to do so, of publishing on their official webpage of the Parliament, which lobbyists they have met;
Amendment 81 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that an amendment should introduce mandatory monthly updates on and control of lobby expenditures;
Amendment 85 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Emphasises the principle that European Commission, Council and Parliament should end contacts with unregistered lobbyists;
Amendment 115 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Insists that registered law firms and consultancies should declare in the lobby register all clients on whose behalf they perform coveredlobbying activities;
Amendment 123 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Asks the Bureau to restrict access to Parliament’s premises for non-registered organisations or individuals by making all visitors to its premises sign a declaration that they are not lobbyists falling within the scope of the register or otherwise declare their registration; considers that visitors’ groups should be excepted from this;
Amendment 137 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls for control and sanctions in case the information of registrants is incorrect;
Amendment 142 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Believes that at least 25 % of declarations should be checked each year;
Amendment 168 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Believes that the members of the Advisory Committee chosen from among Members of the European Parliament should be complemented by a majority of externally chosen members who must be qualified independent experts in the field of ethics regulation and should be drawn from an open call and include members of civil society;
Amendment 174 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Believes that the Advisory Committee should check the compliance of MEPs with the Code of Conduct, including all the declarations of financial interests and assessing the post term-of office activities of MEPs;
Amendment 176 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Believes that not only the President should be able to report possible breaches of the Code of Conduct, including the declaration of financial interests and an assessment of the post term-of-office activities, to the Advisory Committee, but also Members of the Parliament, as well as members of civil society;
Amendment 177 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Believes that the mandate of the Advisory Committee should be extended by including in the annual report recommendations for improving the compliance of Members of Parliament with the Code of Conduct, inter alia, by clarifying its contents, whenever necessary;
Amendment 194 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that the Rules of Procedure should be amended with regard to Members’ declarations of financial interests to task the Advisory Committee and the supportive administration with factual checks in sampleof all declarations and to empower them to ask for proof where necessary;
Amendment 206 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Believes that Article 3 of the Code of Conduct for Members should be rephrased to include a clear ban on Members holding side jobs or other paid work that could lead to a conflict of interest;
Amendment 264 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Believes that the Commission should pro-actively disclose documents regarding the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Ethical Committee on post-term-of-office jobs of former Commissioners, redacting the commercial or personal information in accordance with Regulation 1049/2001;
Amendment 268 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Estimates that the Code of Conduct for Commissioners should include a clearer task description of the Ad Hoc Ethical Committee, and include the requirement that the members of the Committee are independent experts;
Amendment 287 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
Amendment 319 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Recalls in this regard, the position adopted by the Parliament on 12 June 2013 concerning the revision of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001;
Amendment 353 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Calls on the institutions involved to ensure that trialogues will be transparent and, to that end, to allow meetings to be held in public and webstreamed;
Amendment 362 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Rejects the position taken by the Council in its letter to the Ombudsman in regard to the own-initiative inquiry that the organisation of trialogues is a political responsibility and falls outside the Ombudsman’s mandate;
Amendment 405 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)
Paragraph 41 a (new)
41 a. Transparency and accountability in the domain of public spending Believes that the data on budget and spending within the EU should be transparent and accountable through publication, including at the level of Member States in regard to shared management;
Amendment 431 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
Amendment 447 #
2015/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)
Paragraph 46 a (new)
46 a. Calls upon the Commission to examine in detail why cases of suspected fraud which OLAF brought to the attention of Member States, did not lead to convictions by national authorities and how the quality of OLAF can be strengthened in order to effectively combat offences against the Union's financial interests;
Amendment 219 #
2015/0288(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 4
Article 1 – paragraph 4
4. In so far as not regulated therein, tThis Directive shall not affect national general contract laws such as rules on the formation, the validity or effects of contracts, including the consequences of the termination of a contract.
Amendment 238 #
2015/0288(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Member States shall notmay maintain or introduin force provisions diverging fromwhich are more stringent than those laid down in this Directive including more or less stringent provisions to ensure a different level of consumer protectionfor the protection of consumers, and the implementation of this Directive shall under no circumstances constitute grounds for the reduction of protection for consumers in fields covered by the scope of Union law.
Amendment 241 #
2015/0288(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
This Directive shall be without prejudice to general substantive and procedural rights which consumers may invoke under national laws governing contractual or non-contractual liability.
Amendment 270 #
2015/0288(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the goods are handed over to the carrier chosen by the consumer, where that carrier was not proposed by the seller or where the seller proposes no means of carriage.
Amendment 276 #
2015/0288(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
2. In cases where the goods were installed by the seller or under the seller’'s responsibility, the time when the installation is complete shall be considered as the time when the consumer has acquired the physical possession of the goods. In a case where the goods were intended to be installed by the consumer, the time when the consumer had reasonable time for the installation but in any case not later than 30 days after the time indicated in paragraph 1 shall be considered as the time when the consumer has acquired the physical possession of the goods.
Amendment 281 #
2015/0288(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 3
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. Any lack of conformity with the contract which becomes apparent within two yearhe expected lifespan of the goods from the time indicated in paragraphs 1 and 2 ishall be presumed to have existed at the time indicated in paragraphs 1 and 2 unless this is incompatible with the nature of the goods or with the nature of the lack of conformity.
Amendment 289 #
2015/0288(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. In the case of a lack of conformity with the contract, the consumer shall be entitled to have the goods brought into conformity by the seller, free of charge, by repair or replacement, or to choose a price reduction in accordance with Article 11 and Article 12.
Amendment 323 #
2015/0288(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – title
Article 11 – title
Consumer's choice between repair and, replacement and price reduction
Amendment 326 #
2015/0288(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
The consumer may choose between repair and, replacement or price reduction unless the option chosen would be impossible, or unlawful or, compared to the other options, would impose costs on the seller that would be disproportionate, taking into account all circumstances, including:
Amendment 351 #
2015/0288(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 13 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) the consumer shall return, at the seller's expense, to the seller the goods without undue delay and in any event not later than 1428 days from sending the notice of termination;
Amendment 362 #
2015/0288(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
The consumer shall be entitled to a remedy for the lack of conformity with the contract of the goods where the lack of conformity becomes apparent within two yearshe expected lifespan of the product as from the relevant time for establishing conformity. If, under national legislation, the rights laid down in Article 9 are subject to a limitation period, that period shall not be shorter than two yearshe expected lifespan of the product from the relevant time for establishing conformity with the contract.
Amendment 390 #
2015/0288(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Where the seller is liable to the consumer because of a lack of conformity with the contract resulting from an act or omission by a person in earlier links of the chain of transactions, or for any other reason, the seller shall be entitled to pursue remedies against the person or persons liable in the chain of transactions. The person against whom the seller may pursue remedies, and the relevant actions and conditions of exercise, shall be determined by national law. Member States shall ensure that their national laws adequately protect the seller when determining the person against whom the seller may pursue remedies, the time periods and the relevant actions and conditions of exercise of the right of redress.
Amendment 403 #
2015/0287(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3
3. 'supplier' or 'seller' means any natural or legal person, irrespective of whether privately or publicly owned, who is acting, including through any other person acting in his name or on his behalf, for purposes relating to that person’s trade, business, craft, or profession;
Amendment 511 #
2015/0287(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Member States shall notmay maintain mor introducee stringent provisions diverging from those laid down in this Directive, including more or less stringent provisions to ensure a different level of consumer protectionalready in force for the protection of consumers, and the implementation of this Directive shall under no circumstances constitute grounds for the reduction of protection for consumers in fields covered by the scope of Union law. This Directive shall be without prejudice to general substantive and procedural rights which consumers may invoke under national rules governing contractual or non- contractual liability.
Amendment 633 #
2015/0287(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 a (new)
Article 8 a (new)
Article 8 a Relevant time for establishing conformity with the contract 1. The seller shall be liable for any lack of conformity with the contract which exists at the time when: (a) the consumer or a third party indicated by the consumer and other than the carrier has acquired the physical possession of the goods; or (b) the goods are handed over to the carrier chosen by the consumer, where that carrier was not proposed by the seller. 2. In cases where the goods were installed by the seller or under the seller's responsibility, the time when the installation is complete shall be considered as the time when the consumer has acquired the physical possession of the goods. In a case where the goods were intended to be installed by the consumer, after a the time period of 30 days shall be considered as the time when the consumer has acquired the physical possession of the goods.
Amendment 637 #
2015/0287(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. The burden of proof with respect to the conformity with the contract at the time indicated in Article 10 shall be on the supplier or the seller in the case of a tangible good with embedded software. Any lack of conformity with the contract which becomes apparent within the expected lifespan of the product from the time indicated in Article 8a (1) and (2) is presumed to have existed at the time indicated in Article 10 unless this is incompatible with the nature of the goods or with the nature of the lack of conformity.
Amendment 818 #
2015/0287(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 2 – point e – point i
Article 13 – paragraph 2 – point e – point i
(i) upon the request of the supplier, return, at the supplier's expense, the durable medium to the supplier without undue delay, and in any event not later than 1428 days from the receipt of the supplier's request; and
Amendment 847 #
2015/0287(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 a (new)
Article 13 a (new)
Article 13 a Time limits The consumer shall be entitled to a remedy for the lack of conformity with the contract of the goods where the lack of conformity becomes apparent within the expected lifespan, as from the relevant time for establishing conformity. If, under national legislation, the rights laid down in Article 12 are subject to a limitation period, that period shall not be shorter than the expected lifespan of the product from the relevant time for establishing conformity with the contract.
Amendment 963 #
2015/0287(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Where the supplier is liable to the consumer because of any failure to supply the digital content or a lack of conformity with the contract resulting from an act or omission by a person in earlier links of the chain of transactions, or any other reason, the supplier shall be entitled to pursue remedies against the person or persons liable in the chain of transactions. The person against whom the supplier may pursue remedies and the relevant actions and conditions of exercise, shall be determined by national law. Member States shall ensure that national law shall adequately protect the seller when determining the person against whom the seller may pursue remedies, the time periods and the relevant actions and conditions of exercise.
Amendment 350 #
2015/0277(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) facilitating, in the fields covered by this Regulation, the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital, providing a level playing field for all actors in the internal aviation market, and improving the competitiveness of the Union's aviation industry, whilst safeguarding the highest level of aviation safety;
Amendment 7 #
2015/0100(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Points out that since the conclusion of the tobacco agreements the seizure of genuine products of the four manufactures has fallen; notes that this reduction did not lead to an overall reduction of illicit products on the Union market as the share of the Member States' markets taken by illegal cheap whites cigarettes predominantly from non-Union countries increased and these countries may not ratify the Protocol; calls, therefore, on the Commission to come forward with an Action Plan before the end of 2016 of new measures to tackle this problem as a matter of urgency; stresses the need to take into account lessons learned from the EU Strategy of June 2013 in the fight against illicit tobacco trade, which, as seen the impact assessment of 24 February 20161a, did not fully achieve its objectives; __________________ 1aCommission staff working document, Technical assessment of the experience made with the Anti-Contraband and Anti- Counterfeit Agreement and General Release of 9 July 2004 among Philip Morris International and affiliates, the Union and its Member States, SWD(2016) 44 final.
Amendment 8 #
2015/0100(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Urges the Commission to focus all its efforts on convincing eastern European countries to sign and ratify the Protocol;
Amendment 13 #
2015/0100(NLE)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Urges the Commission and the Member States to put in place at UnioEuropean level, at the earliest possibility following the expiry of the PMI agreement, all the necessary measures to track and trace PMI tobacco products and to ensure effective investigation and enforcement, including fines and other appropriate civil and criminal penalties, for any seizures of this manufacturer's products in illicit channels, until all provisions of the Tobacco Products Directive are fully enforceable, so that there is no regulatory gap between the expiry of the PMI agreement and the entry into force of the Tobacco Products Directive and the WHO FCTC;
Amendment 11 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The economic and financial crisis has led to a lowering of the level of investments within the Union. Investment has fallen by approximately 15% since its peak in 2007. The Union suffers in particular from a lack of investment as a consequence of market uncertainty regarding the economic future and the fiscal constraints onausterity policies of the Member States. This lack of investment slows economic recovery and negatively affects job creation, long-term growth prospects and competitiveness.
Amendment 13 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The economic and financial crisis has led to a lowering of the level of investments within the Union. Investment has fallen by approximately 15% since its peak in 2007. The Union suffers in particular from a lack of investment as a consequence of market uncertainty regarding the economic future and the fiscal constraints onausterity policies of the Member States. This lack of investment slows economic recovery and negatively affects job creation, long-term growth prospects and competitiveness.
Amendment 14 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Comprehensive action is required to reverse the vicious circle created by a lack of investment. Structural reforms and fiscal responsibility are necessary preconditions for stimulating investment. Along with a renewed impetus towards investment financing, these preconditions can contribute to establishing a virtuous circle, whereAlong with a renewed impetus towards investment financing, investment projects help support employment and demand and lead to a sustained increase in growth potential.
Amendment 14 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Comprehensive action is required to reverse the vicious circle created by a lack of investment. Structural reforms and fiscal responsibility are necessary preconditions for stimulating investment. Along with a renewed impetus towards investment financing, these preconditions can contribute to establishing a virtuous circle, whereAlong with a renewed impetus towards investment financing, investment projects help support employment and demand and lead to a sustained increase in growth potential.
Amendment 19 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) The EFSI should support strategic investments with high economic value added contributing to achieving UnionMember States policy objectives.
Amendment 22 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) The EFSI should support strategic investments with high economic value added contributing to achieving UnionMember States’ policy objectives.
Amendment 24 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Decisions on the use of the EFSI support for infrastructure and large mid- cap projects should be made by an Investment Committee. The Investment Committee should be composed of independent experts who are knowledgeable and experienced in the areas of investment projectrepresentatives from all relevant stakeholders. The Investment Committee should be accountable to a Steering Board of the EFSI, who should supervise the fulfilment of the EFSI's objectives. To effectively benefit from the experience of the EIF, the EFSI should support funding to the EIF to allow the EIF to undertake individual projects in the areas of small and medium enterprises and small mid-cap companies.
Amendment 27 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Decisions on the use of the EFSI support for infrastructure and large mid- cap projects should be made by an Investment Committee. The Investment Committee should be composed of independent experts who are knowledgeable and experienced in the areas of investment projectrepresentatives from all relevant stakeholders. The Investment Committee should be accountable to a Steering Board of the EFSI, who should supervise the fulfilment of the EFSI's objectives. To effectively benefit from the experience of the EIF, the EFSI should support funding to the EIF to allow the EIF to undertake individual projects in the areas of small and medium enterprises and small mid-cap companies.
Amendment 35 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27 a (new)
Recital 27 a (new)
Amendment 36 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The Commission and the Council shall conclude an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) on the establishment of a European Fund for Strategic Investments ('EFSI').
Amendment 37 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30
Recital 30
Amendment 39 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The purpose of the EFSI shall be to support investments in the UnionMember States and to ensure increased access to financing for companies having up to 31000 employees, with a particular focus on small and medium enterprises, through the supply of risk bearing capacity to the EIB ('EFSI Agreement').
Amendment 46 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. The EFSI Agreement shall be open to accession by Member States. Subject to the consent of existing contributors, the EFSI Agreement shall also be open to accession by other third parties, including national promotional banks or public agencies owned or controlled by Member States, and private sector entities.
Amendment 50 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point g a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) provisions ensuring that SMEs and micro-enterprises get priority access to EFSI support;
Amendment 53 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) the governance arrangements concerning the EFSI, in accordance with Article 3, without prejudice to the Statute of the European Investment Bank, including a cap on managing costs of the EIB;
Amendment 55 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point g a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) provisions ensuring that SMEs and micro-enterprises get priority access to EFSI support;
Amendment 55 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
The Steering Board shall strive to make decisions by consensus. If the Steering Board is not able to decide by consensus within a deadline set by the Chairperson, the Steering Board shall take a decision by simplequalified majority.
Amendment 56 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 57 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
The Investment Committee shall be composed of six independent exprepresentatives from all relevant stakeholderts and the Managing Director. Independent experts shall have a high level of relevant market experience in project finance and be appointed by the Steering Board for a renewable fixed term of three years.
Amendment 59 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point j a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point j a (new)
(ja) provisions ensuring the external audit by the Court of Auditors of all projects funded under the EFSI.
Amendment 74 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
The Steering Board shall strive to make decisions by consensus. If the Steering Board is not able to decide by consensus within a deadline set by the Chairperson, the Steering Board shall take a decision by simplequalified majority.
Amendment 75 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 86 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
The Investment Committee shall be composed of six independent exprepresentatives from all relevant stakeholderts and the Managing Director. Independent experts shall have a high level of relevant market experience in project finance and be appointed by the Steering Board for a renewable fixed term of three years.
Amendment 89 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Amendment 91 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
1. In its financing and investment operations, the EIB shall take all necessary measures to ensure that its projects do not contribute to tax evasion. The EIB shall not support any activities carried out for illegal purposes, including money laundering, financing of terrorism, tax fraud and tax evasion, corruption, or fraud affecting the financial interests of the Union. In particular the EIB shall not participate in any financing or investment operation through a vehicle located in a non- cooperative jurisdiction, in line with its policy towards weakly regulated or non- cooperative jurisdictions based on policies of the Union, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development or the Financial Action Task Force.
Amendment 105 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. The Commission, the EIB, their subsidiary bodies and other bodies set up in this regulation shall not be liable for any possible damages or losses incurred by EFSI beneficiaries, including borrowers of EU-guaranteed financial instruments implemented by the EIB under the EFSI agreement.
Amendment 175 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Amendment 194 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
1. In its financing and investment operations, the EIB shall take all necessary measures to ensure that its projects are not contributing to tax evasion. The EIB shall not support any activities carried out for illegal purposes, including money laundering, financing of terrorism, tax fraud and tax evasion, corruption, or fraud affecting the financial interests of the Union. In particular the EIB shall not participate in any financing or investment operation through a vehicle located in a non- cooperative jurisdiction, in line with its policy towards weakly regulated or non- cooperative jurisdictions based on policies of the Union, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development or the Financial Action Task Force.
Amendment 1334 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Amendment 42 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
– having regard to the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 8 April 2014 in joined cases C-293/12 and C-594/12 (Digital Rights Ireland and Seitlinger and Others), which annulled Directive 2006/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the retention of data generated or processed in connection with the provision of publicly available electronic communications services or of public communications networks and amending Directive 2002/58/EC,
Amendment 50 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23
Citation 23
– having regard to the work, annual reports and studies of the FRA and the EIGE,
Amendment 54 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 a (new)
Citation 24 a (new)
– having regard to the report by the UN special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, published in April 2013, on ‘Management of the external borders of the European Union and its impact on the human rights of migrants’,
Amendment 55 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 b (new)
Citation 24 b (new)
– having regard to the UN Human Rights Council Resolution of 26 June 2014 calling for the establishment of an open- ended intergovernmental working group with the aim of drawing up ‘an international legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights’,
Amendment 59 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 a (new)
Citation 25 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 4 July 2013 on the US National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance programme, surveillance bodies in various Member States and their impact on EU citizens’ privacy, in which it instructed its Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs to conduct an in-depth inquiry into the matter, and to its resolution of 12 March 2014 on the NSA surveillance programme, surveillance bodies in various Member States and their impact on EU citizens’ fundamental rights,
Amendment 63 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 b (new)
Citation 25 b (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 25 November 2014 on seeking an opinion from the Court of Justice on the compatibility with the Treaties and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU-Canada PNR Agreement,
Amendment 64 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 c (new)
Citation 25 c (new)
– having regard to its resolutions of 11 September 2012 and 10 October 2013 on alleged transportation and illegal detention of prisoners in European countries by the CIA,
Amendment 65 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 d (new)
Citation 25 d (new)
– having regard to its resolutions on the Guantanamo detention centre,
Amendment 66 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25 e (new)
Citation 25 e (new)
– having regard to its studies into the impact of the crisis on fundamental rights in the Member States,
Amendment 72 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas European integration came about in part to prevent a recurrence of the tragic consequences of the Second World War and the persecution and repression by the Nazi regime, and also to avoid any decline or reversal of democracy and the rule of law by promoting, respecting and protecting human rights;
Amendment 73 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A a (new)
Recital -A a (new)
-Aa. whereas respect for and promotion of human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the values and principles enshrined in EU treaties and international human rights instruments (UDHR, ECHR, ICCPR, ICESCR, etc.) are obligations on the Union and its Member States and must be central to European integration;
Amendment 74 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A b (new)
Recital -A b (new)
-Ab. whereas those rights must be guaranteed for everyone living in the EU, including in response to abuse and acts of violence by authorities at whatever level;
Amendment 84 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the EU and its Member States are engaged in a global process of moving towards new sustainable development objectives under which human rights are universal, indivisible and inalienable;
Amendment 87 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the Charter of Fundamental Rights became a fully fledged component of the Treaties when the Treaty of Lisbon came into force, and is therefore now legally binding on the institutions, agencies and other bodies of the EU and on the Member States when EU legislation is applied; whereas a genuine fundamental rights culture must be developed, fostered and strengthened in EU institutions, but also in the Member States, in particular when they apply EU law domestically and in their relations with non-EU countries;
Amendment 89 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas the implementation of these values and principles must also be based on effective monitoring of respect for the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Charter, for example when legislative proposals are being drawn up;
Amendment 90 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Ad. whereas the EU’s credibility in its external relations will be bolstered by increasing consistency between its internal and external policies in relation to human rights; whereas the EU's human rights policy is being restricted, and even contradicted, by diplomatic, political or economic considerations, creating double standards which damage all EU policies in this field and are contradict a universal vision of human rights and the EU's principles and values;
Amendment 106 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the importance of social fundamental rights is acknowledged in Articles 8, 9, 10, 19 and 21 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, as it is in the case law of the Court of Justice of the EU, thus underscoring the fact that those rights, and in particular trade union rights, the right to strike, right of association and right of assembly, must be given the same safeguards as the other fundamental rights acknowledged by the Charter;
Amendment 107 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas being unemployed, poor or socially marginalised has major consequences as regards gaining and exercising fundamental rights and means that people in such vulnerable positions must continue to have access to basic services, in particular welfare services and financial services;
Amendment 118 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas, following recent terrorist attacks on EU territory, fundamental rights are at risk of being seriously compromised in the name of a supposed need for tighter security, and whereas necessity and proportionality must be the overriding principles in this area so as to prevent policy actions from infringing civil liberties;
Amendment 122 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas corruption perpetuates and aggravates unequal, unjust and discriminatory outcomes with regard to the equal enjoyment of fundamental rights, be these civil, political and economic or social and cultural rights; whereas corruption affects disproportionately the most disadvantaged and marginalised groups in society, namely by barring them from equal access to political participation, public services, justice, safety, land, jobs, education, health and housing; whereas corruption distorts the size and composition of government expenditure, seriously harming the state's capacity to harness to a maximum its available resources in order fully to realise economic, social and cultural rights, and whereas corruption diverts large amounts of funding from investment in the economy, hindering the recovery of Member States in economic hardship; whereas corruption fuels human rights violations of the whistleblowers and victims to cover up the implicit crimes and criminals;
Amendment 128 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas in accordance with the preamble of the Treaty on European Union, Member States have confirmed their attachment to social rights as defined in the European Social Charter, and also article 151 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union contains an explicit reference to the fundamental social rights such as those set out in the European Social Charter;
Amendment 138 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas manythere are more and more fundamental rights violations still occur in the EU and in Member States, as pointed out in reports by the Commission, the FRA, NGOs, the Council of Europe and the UNevidenced, for example, by the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and as pointed out in (annual and special) reports by the Commission, the FRA, NGOs, the Council of Europe and the UN; whereas the responses of the Commission, Council and Member States are falling short of what is required, given the gravity of these recurrent violations;
Amendment 147 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas personal data protection provisions should uphold the principles of purpose, necessity and proportionality, including in the context of negotiations and the conclusion of international agreements, as pointed up by the European Court of Justice judgment of 6 April 2014 quashing Directive 2006/24/EC and by the opinions of the European Data Protection Supervisor;
Amendment 150 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas the rapid pace of change in the digital world (including increased use of the internet, apps and social networks) necessitates more effective safeguards for personal data and privacy in order to guarantee confidentiality and protection;
Amendment 153 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G c (new)
Recital G c (new)
Gc. whereas almost 3 500 migrants died or went missing in 2014 while attempting to reach Europe, bringing the total number of dead and missing over the last 20 years to nearly 30 000; whereas, according to the International Organisation for Migration, the migratory route towards Europe has become the world's most dangerous route for migrants;
Amendment 272 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point d a (new)
Paragraph 6 – point d a (new)
(da) Calls on the Commission to give more priority to the preparation of the Union's accession to the European Social Charter, signed in Turin on 18 October 1961 and revised in Strasbourg on 3 May 1996;
Amendment 275 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recommends that all Member States lift their remaining reservations to the European Social Charter as soon as possible; a permanent dialogue on progress made in this respect should be stimulated by the European Parliament. The reference to the ESC in article 151 TFEU should be used more effectively, for example, by including a social rights test in the impact assessments of the Commission and the EP.
Amendment 278 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Expresses concern at the alarming increase in the number of violations of fundamental rights in the EU, in particular in the areas of immigration and asylum, discrimination and intolerance – especially towards certain communities – and in the number of instances of attacks being carried out and of pressure being exerted on the NGOs which defend the rights of these groups and communities; notes Member States’ unwillingness to ensure that these fundamental rights and freedoms are observed, in particular as regards Roma people, women, the LGBTI community, asylum seekers, immigrants and other vulnerable groups;
Amendment 280 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Emphasises that democracy and the rule of law are based on respect for fundamental rights and freedoms and that any steps taken to counter terrorism or crime must not undermine fundamental rights in the EU; expresses concern at the developments concerning fundamental rights in the context of cross-border cooperation and the constant creation of new digital databases containing personal data;
Amendment 282 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Expresses concern that in the name of fighting terrorism the public authorities are more and more frequently resorting to administrative measures that are incompatible with the principles and procedures which underpin the rule of law and that policies devised to combat terrorism are being used to address a growing number of crimes and offences, giving rise in particular to an increase in the number of summary judicial proceedings and the imposition of minimum sentences that must be served in full; emphasises the need for EU agencies operating in the field of security and intelligence to uphold fundamental rights, and calls for a revision of the laws governing these EU and Member State agencies which focuses, in particular, on judicial review prior to the imposition of penalties, parliamentary scrutiny, the right of appeal and the right to rectify data;
Amendment 284 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6d. Calls on the Council, the Member States concerned and the Commission to respond to Parliament’s recommendations on the consequences of letting the CIA programme operate in some Member States;
Amendment 285 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 e (new)
Paragraph 6 e (new)
6e. Calls, at the very least, in view of the violations of the right to data protection and the right to privacy which were committed as part of the NSA-Prism programme and uncovered by Edward Snowden, for the various agreements concluded with the USA in particular to be suspended, as they are not compatible with the data protection and privacy standards laid down by the EU and the Council of Europe; criticises the fact that the files held by institutions are not only multiplying, but are increasingly being used for purposes which bear no relationship to those for which they were originally intended; expresses concern for citizens’ rights in the context of the conservation and accessing of electronic communications data;
Amendment 286 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 f (new)
Paragraph 6 f (new)
6f. Expresses serious concern at the difficulty most internet users have in ensuring that their rights are respected on the internet and in the digital sphere; condemns the delay in adopting the revised EU legislation on data protection and the failure on the part of the EU and its Member States to push for the creation of an international framework to protect human rights in the digital sphere;
Amendment 287 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 g (new)
Paragraph 6 g (new)
6g. Deplores the pressure placed on private companies by both public and private bodies to hand over internet users’ data, control internet content or jeopardise the principle of net neutrality;
Amendment 344 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Regrets that antiterrorism policies have contributed to the introduction of a particularly repressive system of enforcement being applied to all citizens and not only those under suspicion or investigation for involvement in wrongdoing and is alarmed at the lack of concern for independent monitoring being shown at national and European level;
Amendment 356 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Condemns the weakness of the response by the Commission and Member States to revelations by Edward Snowden of massive spying operations using Internet and telecommunications networks as part of the NSA-PRISM programme targeting European countries also and is concerned their failure to enforce measures to protect European citizens or of third-country nationals living in Europe; regards it as urgent and imperative for the EU and its Member States to adopt a whistle-blower protection scheme;
Amendment 364 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Reaffirms freedom of thought, conscience, religion, belief and non- belief, and freedom to practise the religion of one’s choice and to change religion; condemns any form of discrimination or intolerance and believes that secularism, defined as strict separation between political and religious authorities, is the best means of guaranteeing non- discrimination and equality between religions and between believers and non- believers, whether they be atheists, agnostics, deists, etc.;
Amendment 420 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Condemns in particular the discrimination and persecution that Roma suffer; notes with satisfaction that the Council recommendation on effective Roma integration measures in the Member States has been adopted, but greatly deplores the fact that there has, for the most part, been no real progress in Member States and condemns the repeated violations of Roma people’s rights, their expulsion from their living space, racist and xenophobic prejudices and speech, and the violence against Roma and the feebleness of the response which such persecution elicits from the political authorities, both at EU level and in most Member States;
Amendment 483 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Condemns the growing phenomenon of human trafficking, especially for sexual exploitation, and calls on the EU and its Member States to take measures, in accordance with the EU directive, to combat the demand for exploitation that is fuelling trafficking in all its forms;
Amendment 489 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Calls on the Member States to ensure that women victims of gender-based persecution genuinely have access to international protection; calls on the Member States follow the Commission guidelines for the implementation of Directive 2003/86/EC on the right to family reunification, including the immediate issue of a residence permit valid in its own right to family members who have entered for reasons of family reunification when there are particularly difficult circumstances, such as domestic violence;
Amendment 552 #
Amendment 574 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. ECondemns in the strongest possible terms racial hate speech and remarks stigmatising groups of people on the basis of their social, cultural, religious or foreign origin; expresses its concerns regarding the small number of investigations and convictions in connection with hate crimes in the Member States; calls on the EU to make the fight against hate crimes a priority when drawing up European policies against discrimination and in the field of justice; calls for a review of the framework decision on racism and xenophobia;
Amendment 599 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Is deeply concerned at the numerous instances of mistreatment by police forces, particularly regarding the disproportionate use of force against peaceful demonstrators, violations of press freedom, and the small number of police and judicial investigations in this area; is also alarmed at the increase in the use of non-lethal weapons in the policing of demonstrations; notes out that demonstrating is a fundamental right and that police forces are principally there to serve the safety and protection of individuals; calls on the Member States not to adopt measures that call into question or even criminalise the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms such as the rights to demonstrate and strike, the rights of meeting and association and the right of free expression, and calls on them to take measures to ensure that the use of force remains exceptional and duly justified by a real and serious threat to public order; calls on Member States to put an immediate end to police checks based on racial profiling;
Amendment 621 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 d (new)
Paragraph 13 d (new)
13d. Stresses that the European Union and its Member States must respect the non-refoulement principle and the right of all asylum seekers to have access to an asylum procedure at both sea and land borders; condemns violations of these fundamental rights at borders; calls on the Commission to monitor compliance with these rights by Member States and to launch infringement proceedings in the event of non-compliance;
Amendment 625 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Roundly condemns the security protection at the EU’s borders, which now sometimes even takes the form of walls and barbed wire, and the lack of legal routes for entering the European Union, which results in many asylum seekers and migrants being forced to resort to increasingly dangerous methods, placing them at the mercy of people-smugglers and traffickers;
Amendment 626 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13c. Notes that ways and means exist of ensuring secure access to the European Union for migrants and refugees, and calls in particular for the creation of legal routes, easier access to international protection, the abolition of airport transit visas used by some Member States, the application of procedural guarantees as provided in the Community Code on Visas, the activation of the 2001 Temporary Protection Directive, and increased security for the sea and land access areas to the EU, not in order to intercept migrants but to ensure their safety; calls for the funding currently allocated to Frontex to be transferred to organising surveillance operations if Frontex is unable to take action in this area;
Amendment 641 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – introductory part
Paragraph 14 – introductory part
14. Deplores the repeated and tragic losses of life in the Mediterranean; reiterates the need to make every possiblfact that large numbers of asylum seekers and migrants seeking to reach the European Union are continuing to die in the Mediterranean; reminds Member States of their international obligations to help persons in distress at sea and respect the principle of non- refoulement, and of the need to make efforts to:
Amendment 648 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – indent 1
Paragraph 14 – indent 1
– save the lives of persons in danger; regrets, therefore, the ending of the ‘Mare Nostrum' operation and calls for the establishment of a multi-national rescue operation on at least the same scale;
Amendment 663 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – indent 2
Paragraph 14 – indent 2
– improve legal avenues open to refugeecreate legal and safe avenues for asylum-seekers, including the granting of humanitarian visas, the abolition of airport transit visas used by some Member States, the application of the procedural guarantees provided for in the Community Code on Visas and the activation of Directive 2001/55/EC on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons;
Amendment 677 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – indent 3 a (new)
Paragraph 14 – indent 3 a (new)
– carry out an in-depth assessment of the impact on migrants’ rights of interception and control mechanisms, such as Frontex, Eurosur and external cooperation on migration and border management with neighbouring countries;
Amendment 691 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 e (new)
Paragraph 14 e (new)
14e. Stresses the negative impact which the Dublin Regulation has on effective access to international protection in the absence of a genuine common European asylum system, particularly in light of ECJ and ECHR case law; condemns the fact that the revision of the Regulation did not lead to its suspension, or at least the abolition of return to the first country of entry into the EU, and the absence of action by the Commission and the Member States on a possible alternative based on solidarity between Member States;
Amendment 693 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 f (new)
Paragraph 14 f (new)
14f. Denounces laws under which ships’ captains who provide assistance to migrants in distress at sea are prosecuted and have their vessels confiscated, and demands a review of those laws as well as those penalising airlines which do not carry out police work; calls on the European Union and the Member States to implement the recommendations made in the report adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in April 2012 entitled ‘Lives lost in the Mediterranean Sea: who is responsible?’;
Amendment 694 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 e (new)
Paragraph 14 e (new)
14e. Calls on the Member States to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families;
Amendment 710 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Condemns the almost systematic practice of detaining irregular migrants, including asylum-seekers and unaccompanied minors, as a prelude to their expulsion; calls on Member States to comply with the provisions of the ‘Return Directive’; condemns the carrying out of expulsion measures without judicial control; reminds the Member States that, in accordance with the provisions of the ‘Return Directive’, detention is a measure of last resort and calls for detention centres which do not comply with procedural guarantees to be closed; calls on the Commission to pursue infringement proceedings against Member States which do not comply with EU legislation in this area;
Amendment 712 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Condemns the use of prisons, police stations and cells/enclosed areas in international airports, train stations and ports, as well as so-called ‘reception centres’, in particular at the external borders of the EU, for the purposes of detaining migrants and asylum-seekers;
Amendment 713 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to take the necessary measures to provide information and ensure transparency concerning the detention of migrants and asylum-seekers in numerous Member States, and urges the Commission to propose a revision of Regulation 862/2007 so that it will include statistical data on the operation of detention systems and facilities;
Amendment 714 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Stresses the importance of democratic control of all forms of deprivation of liberty pursuant to the laws on immigration and asylum; calls on Members of the European Parliament and of national parliaments to pay regular visits to reception and detention centres for migrants and asylum-seekers and calls on the Member States and the Commission to facilitate access to these centres for NGOs and reporters;
Amendment 733 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the Commission and the EU agencies (EASO, Frontex and Eurostat) to be particularly vigilant over the compilation and use of statistical data and figures when quantifying migration flows; points out, in this regard, that all such data must always be used in context; is particularly concerned at the fact that some of these statistics, especially where percentages are used, are increasingly being manipulated in such a way as to cause alarm, or are being taken out of context;
Amendment 751 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Deplores the way in which the financial and economic crisis and the measures taken to deal with it have had an impact – in some cases a drastic one – on economic, social and cultural rights, resulting in poverty, exclusion and isolation;isolation and exclusion especially in light of the fact that social exclusion determines marginalisation of individuals and makes them vulnerable to a parallel criminal or terrorist system which offers power, money and sense of belonging.
Amendment 759 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Deplores the way in which the financial and economic crisis and the measures takenRoundly condemns the effects of the austerity policies adopted ostensibly in response to the economic and financial crisis, which have led to violations of economic, social and cultural rights, specifically the right to employment, the right to social security, the right to dheal with it have had an impact – in some cases a drastic one – on economic, social and cultural rights, resulting in poverty, exclusion and isolationth, the right to housing, and the right to education, resulting in increased instances of poverty, precarious living conditions, atypical work, exclusion, and isolation, so much so that, as a recent Eurostat note points out, one European in four is today at risk at poverty and exclusion; points out that extremely poor living conditions affect women, children, and the elderly in particular and translate into a great deal of hardship and numerous violations of fundamental rights and freedoms;
Amendment 762 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Roundly condemns the fact that violations of these kinds are being combined with policies criminalising poverty in several Member States, especially where the homeless are concerned:
Amendment 763 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Condemns the fact that, at a time when economic and social rights are being destroyed, politicians are jeopardising universal access to entitlements and calling for specific groups, including migrants and asylum- seekers, to be excluded; condemns the utterances of politicians seeking to make scapegoats of those groups;
Amendment 771 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises that, in Member States subject to economic adjustment programmes, the EU institutions are also responsible for the associated conditions and consequences; stresses that the EU institutions are always under an obligation to observe the Charter, even when acting outside the framework of EU law;
Amendment 781 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the EU institutions to look into the impact on fundamental rights and freedoms, and on working conditions and pay, of the measures proposed or implemented to deal with the crisis and to take remedial action immediately;
Amendment 793 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the EU institutions, when adopting and implementing austerity measures, to guarantee that sufficient resources are still made available to ensure the satisfaction of minimum essential levels of economic and social rightsMember States to adopt policies predicated on social equality and solidarity in order to guarantee economic and social rights for all and combat the inequalities affecting the most disadvantaged;
Amendment 795 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Stresses the need to respect the right to protection against poverty and social exclusion as stated in Article 30 of the European Social Charter by providing effective access to employment, adequate housing, training, education, culture and social and medical assistance;
Amendment 816 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Deplores the fact that many Member States have imposed restrictions on the freedom to demonstrate and freedom of association in response to protests against austerity policies, one example being Spain and the adoption of its Security Act, and calls on Member States to fully respect fundamental rights as set out in the ECHR and the Charter of Fundamental Rights;
Amendment 818 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Underlines the need to protect the rights of workers in respect of their remuneration, guaranteeing a decent standard of living for themselves and the members of their families, as well as of other conditions of work and working conditions in accordance with the European Social Charter;
Amendment 819 #
Amendment 820 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Points to the need to enable civil society to participate fully in decision- making at European level, this being guaranteed by Article 11 of the Treaty on European Union, and stresses the importance of the principles of transparency and dialogue;
Amendment 832 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses that corruption represents a serious fundamental rights violation; calls on the Member States and institutions to devise effective instruments for combating corruption and to monitor regularly the use of public funds, be they European or natganized criminal groups, included mafia-style ones, are systems of exploitation based on privileges and on the deprivation of basic rights; these groups are fuelled by unemployment, by under-development, by corruption and also and especially, by social exclusional;
Amendment 838 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses that corruption represents a seriousin the public and private sectors may lead to serious violations of fundamental rights violation; calls on theall Member States and institutions to devise effective instruments for combating corruption and to monitor regularly the use of public funds, be they European or nathe EU to join the Open Government Partnership, and devise concrete strategies to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption; calls on Member States to follow up on the recommendations of the European Commission’s Anti-Corruption Report and strengthen police and judicial cooperation in fighting corruptional;
Amendment 846 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Ascertains that criminal organizations see their power increase through usury and money laundering which are two phenomena endorsed also by a liquidity and solvency crisis, ‘credit crunch’, social fragmentation and loss of trust in institutions which means that the more poverty increases, the more social inequity develops, the more criminal organizations, included mafia- style ones, are strengthened and the more corruption flourishes;
Amendment 850 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Calls on the Member States and institutions to devise effective instruments for combating corruption and to monitor regularly the use of public funds, be they European or national;
Amendment 853 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21c. Recognises that adequate social welfare provisions (such as minimum income) are one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty, to guarantee a standard of life which respects human dignity and to promote social integration which, in turn, determine freedom of choice and make individuals less liable to be blackmailed thus making these economic measures a fundamental tool in the fight to overcome organized crime and corruption;
Amendment 855 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 d (new)
Paragraph 21 d (new)
21d. Realises that continued efforts need to be made in order to implement and maintain the above mentioned measures in all Member States;
Amendment 869 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Deplores the conditions in the prisons and other custodial institutions of numerous Member States; regards it as essential that the EU should adopt an instrument which guarantees that the recommendations of the European Committee for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment (CPT) and the judgments of the ECtHR are implemented; calls on the Member States to pay particular heed to the fact marginalised persons or groups, or those who are discriminated against, can be placed in situations of great vulnerability;
Amendment 4 #
2014/2248(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Emphasizes that any change of competences of one or more EU institutions, should go hand in hand with measures safeguarding the democratic and financial accountability of these institutions, and should, in particular, be accompanied by measures ensuring full budgetary control by the Parliament, whenever the financial interests of the Union are affected;
Amendment 18 #
2014/2248(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses that all Member States should be obliged to provide an annual declaration to account for its use of EU funds;
Amendment 273 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the idea of a federal Europe is in total contradiction to the will of ordinary people who see the neighbourhood as basis; therefore calls to work towards a European Union where all people will be able to lead a life of dignity, where Member States will decide over their own public services, where national parliaments will determine the size and content of their national budget, where Member States will decide how to regulate their own labour market in order to address social dumping with extreme firmness, where trade and investment treaties will only be closed if they contribute to the mutual benefit of ordinary people in the participating countries, and where amendments to the EU Treaty or proposals for the enlargement of the Union, depending on national capacities, will be submitted to citizens via referenda; underlines the necessity of a European Union where not the market but the neighbourhood will serve as basis;
Amendment 374 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses that changes to treaties or proposals for enlargement of the European Union not only require approval from national parliaments, but, depending on national arrangements, sometimes need to be put to citizens via a referendum;
Amendment 393 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Stresses that Member States themselves must look at public services such as social housing, care, water, electricity, public transport, Internet and education and all other core functions that citizens consider to be of general interest;
Amendment 394 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Considers it essential in order to counter social dumping that Member States be able to regulate their own labour market, even if this means a temporary suspension of the free movement of workers in states of emergency; stresses that Member States themselves must see to controls in the work place to combat illegal and exploitative labour practices;
Amendment 467 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses the necessity for a European Union where human considerations rather than the interests of multinationals and financial institutions are central;
Amendment 471 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13b. states that national parliaments should determine the size and content of national budgets without being dictated by the European Union;
Amendment 775 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Stresses that there is no need for an EU minister of Foreign Affairs and disapproves of the use of a qualified majority vote with regard to foreign policy in the Council;
Amendment 796 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Stresses that for the Union to strengthen the defence of the EU territory, as a pillar within NATO, which remains the cornerstone of the European security architecture, and to enable the Union to act autonomously in operations abroad, mainly with a view to stabilising its neighbourhood, the Treaties should provide for the possibility ofCalls for an undertaking to guarantee the sovereignty of Member States and therefore to combat the creeping development towards a military Union by refraining from reinforcing the European Defence Agency and taking any steps towards establishing a European defence unionarmy;
Amendment 822 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Believes that Member States should jointly decide on international trade and that an end should be put to the exclusive competence of the Commission in this regard;
Amendment 848 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Proposes transforming the Commission into the principle executive authority or government of the Union with the aim of strengthening the ‘Union method’, increasingRejects the Commission in its current form and wants the Commission to be nothing more trhansparency and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of action taken at the level of an executive and serving body; proposes to transfer the right of initiative to the Member States and the European UnionParliament;
Amendment 853 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Proposes to allow Member States an ‘opt-out’ possibility in the case of new legislation in important areas such as criminal law;
Amendment 891 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Reiterates its commitment to initiating an ordinary treaty revision procedure under Article 48 TEU with a view to proposing the changes to Article 341 TEU and Protocol 6 necessary to allow Parliament to decide on the location of its seat and its internal organisation;
Amendment 901 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Reiterates its call for a single seat for the European Parliament; proposes that Parliament and the Council each decide the location of their own seat after having obtained the consent of the other; further proposes that the seats of all the other EU institutions, agencies and bodies be determined by Parliament and the Council on a proposal by the European executive, acting in accordance with a special legislative procedure;
Amendment 1025 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 a (new)
Paragraph 52 a (new)
52a. Underlines that European policy and decision-making pertaining to it should be transparent and open to the scrutiny of anyone; stresses that public access to policy papers should not be subject to the arbitrary decisions of European institutions;
Amendment 1027 #
2014/2248(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 b (new)
Paragraph 52 b (new)
52b. Notes that large companies currently have a disproportionately strong influence on European legislation; stresses that the influence of lobbyists should be transparent and that all interests, including those of for instance SMEs, the environment, trade unions and consumers, should be taken into equal account;
Amendment 32 #
2014/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Emphasises that criteria should be developed in order to define which Member States are identified as best/worst performers
Amendment 34 #
2014/2234(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Insists that the definition of performance in respect of controls should be based on a checklist and primarily entail the quality of the Member States' checks and administrative systems, i.e. the efficiency, consistency and reliability of the managing and certifying authorities;
Amendment 14 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Demandsto ensure that the main outcome of the negotiations be an ambitious and comprehensive agreement, bringing a significant market opening for EU companies, including SMEs;
Amendment 39 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is convinced, however,to aim that TTIP should not only cut down barriers but also aim at promoting European high levels of consumer protection; observes that in most sectors EU and US standards and regulatory environments ensure this high level; considers, therefore, that approximating our regulations represents a unique chancmust serve to establish high-quality standards and laws for consumers which will be the de facand to develop these into international standards;
Amendment 72 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. to ensure that any granting of access to service markets shall not undermine workers’ rights, and that enforcement of workers’ rights on these markets is sufficient, in accordance with and making full use of the measures included in and possible under directive 2014/67/EU;
Amendment 85 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 114 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. to ensure that any procedures in the context of regulatory co-operation fully respect the legislative competences of the European Parliament and of the Council in accordance with the EU Treaties and do not delay, directly or indirectly, the European legislative process;
Amendment 119 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. to ensure that any procedures in the context of regulatory co-operation do not undermine or delay, directly or indirectly, the legislative procedures of Member States;
Amendment 123 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. to provide information on the way agreements by either the USA or the EU with third countries may affect regulatory co-operation and, in particular, to clarify how these agreements would interact, if they provide for similar forms or regulatory co-operation;
Amendment 149 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. to ensure that standards remain affordable in the EU, in particular for SMEs; to emphasise that common EU-US standards can only follow after regulatory convergence, based on a system aimed at a single standard.
Amendment 173 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Sto supports the establishment of a mandatory structural dialogue and cooperation between regulators, in complete respect of regulatory autonomy, in particular in the engineering sector, comprising electrical and mechanical machinery, appliances and equipment; to stresses that this should involve early warning mechanisms and exchanges at the time of preparation of regulations; believes that regulatory divergences are the central non-tariff barrier (NTB) to trade, and that regulators should explore ways to promote compatibility, such as mutual recognition, harmonisation or alignment of requirements;
Amendment 180 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. to ensure that the structural dialogue between EU and US institutions may not limit, either directly or indirectly, the right of initiative of the European Commission, as laid down in the EU Treaties;
Amendment 185 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considto remembers that the recognition of equivalence of the greatest possible number of vehicle safety regulations would be one of the most important achievements of TTIP; stresses and that this will require verifying that the EU and US regulations provide for a similar level of protection; believe, without lowering the level of protection in the EU; to stress that this must be a step towards full regulatory convergence for the sector; to urges the strengthening of EU-US cooperation in the framework of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), especially regarding new technologies;
Amendment 220 #
2014/2228(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Stresses that, since the EU did not harmonise in a comprehensive manner intellectual property rights, including copyright, trademarks and patents, the European Commission should not discuss these issues in TTIP;
Amendment 57 #
2014/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)
Recital N a (new)
Na. Whereas Article 18 of the UDHR recognises the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; whereas the number of incidents relating to the freedom of religion or belief has sharply risen, inter alia, as a consequence of an increasing number of conflicts with a religious dimension;
Amendment 148 #
2014/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Reminds the EEAS and the Council, nevertheless, of the challenge of implementation and consequently of the need to evaluate the implementation of the EU Guidelines at the country level; encourages the EEAS and Member States also to engage in continued training and awareness-raising among EEAS and EU Delegation staff, as well as among Member State diplomats, so as to make sure that the EU human rights guidelines have the intended effect in shaping actual policies on the ground; requests the EEAS and Member States to involve, whenever possible, representatives from the European Parliament and from civil society in any such training activities
Amendment 324 #
2014/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)
Paragraph 53 a (new)
53a. Is concerned about the increased violence against religious and belief minorities in many parts of the world; calls for the protection of refugees who have been forced to flee their place of origin as a result of violence and discrimination directed against them on the basis of their religion or belief; expresses the view that in accordance with international human rights instruments, all States have to protect religious and belief minorities against any form of discrimination and violence; encourages the EEAS to establish a horizontal focal point for religion or belief matters;
Amendment 331 #
2014/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55
Paragraph 55
55. Welcomes the adoption during the reporting year 2013 of the EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief, and calls on the EU institutions and the Member States to pay particular attention to the implementation of these guidelines, both in international and regional forums and in bilateral relations with third countries; commends the new EU High Representative for stating that freedom of religion or belief is one of three human rights priorities; encourages the HR/VP and the EEAS to engage in a permanent dialogue with NGOs, religious or belief groups and religious leaders;
Amendment 332 #
2014/2216(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55 a (new)
Paragraph 55 a (new)
55a. Welcomes the EU's commitment to promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief within international and regional fora including the UN, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe (CoE) and other regional mechanisms; encourages the EU to continue tabling its yearly resolution on freedom of religion or belief at the UN General Assembly and supporting the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief;
Amendment 22 #
2014/2158(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Emphasises in this respect that fair competition does not only mean that there should be no abuse of market power, but also that there should be a sufficient number of market players and that markets should remain open for new entrants. Therefore calls on the Commission to investigate the nature of existing entry barriers to key sectors of the digital single market;
Amendment 30 #
2014/2158(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Commission to examine the situation of independent retailers who nevertheless are allowed under competition law to work together through their brick-and-mortar shops, to also provide joint e-commerce offerings;
Amendment 32 #
2014/2158(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Believes that for media plurality on the internet, a certain internet presence by public broadcasters is both necessary and justified.
Amendment 35 #
2014/2158(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Expresses its concern with the current competition policies of the Commission, which require from companies to get permission for mergers that may distort the Single Market whereas companies who by themselves have developed an overly dominant market position are not normally affected by European competition policies, unless they abuse their market position;
Amendment 36 #
2014/2158(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. Is of the opinion that not only financial institutions but also industrial companies can become too big to fail, as was the case with General Motors, which had to be saved by the US government. Calls on the Commission to examine when companies become too big to fail and to consider which measures can be taken at national or EU level to prevent companies becoming dependent on future government bailouts;
Amendment 3 #
2014/2156(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Requests in this respect more information on the precise nature of individual projects funded directly and indirectly through the EIB's lending activities, and, in particular, on their added value and impact on economic growth, recovery, and employment;
Amendment 5 #
2014/2156(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Notes that complaints from especially small businesses persist on the lack of access to funding originating in the EIB's external lending capacities, as well as funding supported by the EIF. Requests therefore an annual survey of how many SMEs, and in particular micro- enterprises, have benefited from these facilities and which measures the EIB has taken in respect of the policies of intermediaries used by the EIB to improve effective access to funding for SMEs;
Amendment 8 #
2014/2156(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Notes with concern that contrary to the commitments made under the IATI, the EIB is considering to change its rules on access to documents for stakeholders and citizens and make these more restrictive; Calls upon the EIB to ensure the full application of existing EU- legislation, and, in particular, Regulation (EC) No. 1049/2001, in respect of access to documents relating to its administrative tasks, whilst respecting the general principle of 'working as openly as possible' laid down in Article 15, paragraph 1, of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to all tasks of the EIB;
Amendment 10 #
2014/2156(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Notes that the Tripartite Agreement mentioned in Article 287 (3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU governing cooperation between the Bank, the Commission and the Court of Auditors with respect to the modes for controls exercised by the Court on Bank's activity in managing Union and Member States' funds, is up for renewal in 2015. Calls upon the EIB to update the remit of the European Court of Auditors in this respect, by including any new facilities of the EIB involving public funds from the EU or the European Development Fund.
Amendment 13 #
2014/2155(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates its call for an independent and efficient EPPO, operating as a single office which invesNotes the current delays in the Council´s negotigates, prosecutes and brings to cions abourt the perpetrators of criminal offences affecting the Union’s financial interests, while ensuring that procedural safeguards for the suspected and accused persons are protected; stresses the importance of a common agreement of Parliament and the Council in the selection and appointment procedures for independent prosecutors with invesEPPO Regulation and the unwillingness of a significant number of Member States to accept this proposal. Calls for a speedy conclusion of the negotigative powers in Member Statesons in the Council;
Amendment 14 #
2014/2155(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Commission to come up with a survey of the potential differences between the procedural safeguards laid down in the EPPO Regulation and those provided by the instruments concerning the rights of suspects and accused persons which have been or are being developed in the context of the Roadmap on Procedural Rights;
Amendment 15 #
2014/2155(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Calls on the Council and the Commission to clarify the role of OLAF and EPPO, if not all Member States participate in EPPO, and to explain how co-operation with national enforcement authorities will work in that case;
Amendment 16 #
2014/2155(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Calls on Member States to prosecute those who are suspected of fraud or other illegal activities affecting the financial interests of the Union, also if financial corrections have been made by the Commission;
Amendment 37 #
2014/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. (a) Notes that the Commission is not very clear about the reasons for the increase in the number of irregularities as fraudulent. At first, the Commission states in its Communication that this mainly reflects the increased resources made available to various spending programmes, more programmes being implemented, and the fact that European institutions and national audit services are paying more attention to the management of funds, whereas elsewhere it argues that the most likely factor causing the increase is the fact that the EU institutions (the European Commission and Court of Auditors) and national services have paid more attention to and exercised greater control over the management of EU funds; (b) Requests the Commission to examine in more detail which are the main underlying reasons for the increase in irregularities; (c) Calls for proposals to reduce the number of spending programmes, in particular, when they partly overlap, and to target programmes, whenever possible, to Member States who are in need of support most, so that not all programmes necessarily benefit activities in all Member States;
Amendment 57 #
2014/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Considers that Member States which detect and report irregularities, including cases of fraud, on their own should be supported and encouraged to further improve their reporting and management systems, avoiding the counterproductive practice of ‘naming and shaming’ ; expresses concern at the Commission’s inability to establish whether or not the low number of irregularities and cases of fraud detected by certain Member States and the wide gaps in the number of cases reported for different years are due to the ineffectiveness of these Member States’ control systems;
Amendment 64 #
2014/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Is of the opinion that effective action against corruption is possible if criminal law measures are complemented by other measures such as better transparency and accountability; insists, therefore, that Member States demonstrate firm political will in countering corruption and calls upon citizens to convincingly exert pressure on governments to vigorously pursue meaningful anti-corruption policies; urges the Commission to fulfil its obligations under the UN Convention Against Corruption and to submit regular reports on the implementation of this Convention by the EU institutions; Requests the Commission to submit a supplementary report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation by the European institutions of their internal anti- corruption policies;
Amendment 76 #
2014/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Urges the Commission to revert to interruptions and suspensions of payments only as a last resort for preventing irregularities since such measures increase the risk of errors due to the reduced time frames required for the proper absorption of EU funds; requests that the Commission report on the actual contribution from interruptions and suspensions of payments in reducing irregularities and errors;
Amendment 88 #
2014/2155(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. WelcomNotes the adoption of new working arrangements between OLAF and its supervisory committee and expects that they will contribute to better cooperation and mutual understanding between both bodiecalls for a speedy resolution of the remaining issues between these two institutions;
Amendment 16 #
2014/2150(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates that SMEs need careful consideration in EU legislation, and draws attention to recommendations made in its resolution of 27 November 2014 on this matter (2014/2967(RSP)); calls on the Commission, with a view to providing evidence on the added value of EU action and its costs and benefits, to include a mandatory SME test in the revised impact assessment guidelines;
Amendment 20 #
2014/2150(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that up to a third of the administrative burden related to EU legislation stems from national implementing measures, and reiterates the importance of ensuring the swift and consistent transposition, implementation and enforcement of legislation, alongside the proposed simplification, and the need to avoid ‘gold-plating’;
Amendment 22 #
2014/2150(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Is of the opinion that optional legislation, also known as 29th regimes, does not contribute to the efforts made in the REFIT exercise, as it creates uncertainty and adds to the complexity of legal frameworks, as is the case with the current proposals for a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base and for a Common European Sales Law;
Amendment 36 #
2014/2150(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for businesses andall stakeholders to be more closely involved in a balanced manner with subsidiarity checks, administrative burden assessment, and the monitoring of the implementation of EU legislation at national level; welcomes the Commission’s intention to establish a new High Level Group on better regulation under the responsibility of the responsible Vice-President;
Amendment 42 #
2014/2150(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to ensure that consultations with stakeholders are transparent and timely and their output is analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively to ensure that minority views are also duly taken into account; considers that feedback could already be given on draft impact assessments to the Impact Assessment Board, at the stage preceding the final legislative proposal and assessment; is of the opinion that public consultations via the Commission´s website cannot replace direct consultation with representatives from stakeholders, as the website is simply not known enough to be representative or balanced;
Amendment 56 #
2014/2150(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Considers that stakeholders and Member States should be more closely involved in identifying implementation difficulties at national level and should provide feedback to the Commission; calls for the use of indicators for measuring compliance costs as well as the costs of non-regulation (along the lines of the ‘Cost of non- Europe’); calls for these indicators to include which groups in society benefit most;
Amendment 1 #
2014/2139(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. Regrets in this regard, the lack of visibility and democratic accountability of the Agencies, as they are generally not well known with citizens and are vulnerable in respect of external influences from specialist lobbyists, in particular from those representing big businesses;
Amendment 2 #
2014/2139(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. Expresses its doubts about the geographical locations of Agencies, many of which are located far away from the other European institutions; is of the opinion that for the protection of the independence of the Agencies geographical distance is not necessary, nor is it in itself a safeguard against undesirable interferences from either the European Commission or Member States, but in all cases it brings with it additional travel costs, and it makes it more difficult to benefit from synergies, such as more centralised administrative and financial services shared by all or a number of Agencies;
Amendment 7 #
2014/2139(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reminds that the reputational risk related to the agencies is high for the Union, as they are highly visible in the Member States and have significant influence on policy and decision making and programme implementation in areas of vital importance to the Union citizens;
Amendment 8 #
2014/2139(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Notes that the principle of 'value for money' also holds for Agencies and that they should demonstrate that their performance is effective, ensuring that the citizens are well informed of the results of the Agencies' activities; requests the Network to keep the discharge authority closely informed of the use and added value of the common set of principles and handbooks on performance measurement systems and frameworks, multi-annual and annual programming documents, key performance indicators, reporting and evaluating tools;
Amendment 15 #
2014/2139(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes from the Court’s summary that a high level of committed appropriations carried over remains the most frequent issue of the budgetary and financial management and that that issue concerned 24 agencies; acknowledges that, although a high level of carryovers is usually considered to be at odds with the budgetary principle of annuality, it often resulted from events which were, completely or partly, beyond the agencies’ control, or was justified by the multiannual nature of operations, procurement procedures or projects;
Amendment 16 #
2014/2139(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Takes note that thein seven cases, the Court of Auditors still noted a high level of cancellations of carryovers from previous years was noted by the Court only in seven cases; observes that such carryovers indicate that the appropriations carried over were made on the basis of over-estimated needs or were otherwise not justified; acknowledges from the Network that the level of cancellation is indicative of the extent to which the agencies have correctly anticipated their financial needs, and is a better indicator of a good budgetary planning than the level of carryovecalls upon the Network to do everything in its power to prevent future carryovers, in particular concentrating on those Agencies, that cancelled carryovers from previous years;
Amendment 18 #
2014/2139(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Regrets the fact that in the case of EIT and Frontex, the Court of Auditors still had to issue qualified opinions on the legality and regularity of the transactions underlying their accounts; is concerned by the still high number (97) of comments by the Court of Auditors affecting 35 agencies; urges the Network to see to it that the agencies concerned take all necessary measures to follow up on the Court's observations;
Amendment 21 #
2014/2139(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Ascertains from the Network that most of the agencies have already implemented, although with great difficulty, the requested staff reduction of 5 % in their respective multiannual staff policy plans; regrets the fact that the Commission has created an additional redeployment pool of 5 % of the staff, thus effectively imposing additional cuts to the agencies’ establishment plans and going beyond the agreed 5 % targe and urges the Network to see to it that agencies have not yet done so, take the necessary measures to implement the staff reductions without further delays; welcomes the fact that the Commission has created an additional redeployment pool of 5 % of the staff and urges the Network to fully co-operate with the Commission in this respect;
Amendment 22 #
2014/2139(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
Amendment 27 #
2014/2139(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Notes that the Guidelines are not legally binding on the Agencies and calls upon the Commission to examine how more binding agreements with the Agencies can be concluded to promote transparency and to avoid conflicts of interest;
Amendment 32 #
2014/2139(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27 a. Notes, however, that seconded national experts, external and interim staff are not specifically mentioned in the guidelines and that especially in the case of so-called independent experts, there is still room for interpretation, for example, in the case of academics who have also undertaken research for individual companies or the business community at large; calls upon the Network to ensure a harmonised approach in this respect, which will also prevent any indirect conflicts of interest;
Amendment 11 #
2014/2086(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 12 #
2014/2086(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 16 #
2014/2086(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 5 #
2014/2078(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the Court of Auditors Report adopted on 11.07.2014 states that the potential saving for the EU Budget would be about 114 million euro a year if the European Parliament centralised its activities;
Amendment 35 #
2014/2078(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Notes that the implementing measures for the Code of Conduct for Members were adopted by the Bureau on 15 April 2013; is, however, concerned by the lack of implementation and differences of interpretation as reported by a coalition of NGOs[1] and calls for a strengthening of the position of the Advisory Committee by providing it with a right of initiative to start random checks of the declarations of interests provided by Members; [1] ALTER-EU: Mind the Gap (http://www.alter- eu.org/sites/default/files/documents/Mind %20the%20Gap%20briefing.pdf)
Amendment 36 #
2014/2078(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Furthermore, recommends the Bureau to consider augmenting the existing remedies and/or sanctions and applying these when conflicts of interest occur and to consider the current Code of Conduct as a rolling document which shall be clarified or modified in the light of any issues identified by the Advisory Committee or the Bureau itself; calls, in particular, for a clarification to the extent that it should be prohibited that entities involved in lobbying give support in terms of staff to Members;
Amendment 37 #
2014/2078(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Stresses that Members must be more transparent about the on-the-side activities they do while in public office; recalls, however, that Members, similarly to Members of national parliaments, do not have an exclusive mandate and may therefore exercise other professional activities; is of the opinion that a more comprehensive declaration template for Members would help to increase transparency and avoid potential conflicts of interests; requests the Secretary- General to set up a public database, to be accessible through the Parliament's website, of all the on-the-side activities of individual Members;
Amendment 42 #
2014/2078(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 c (new)
Paragraph 30 c (new)
30c. Regrets that until now the General Expenditure Allowance for Members is considered as a lump-sum amount and that there are no precise rules for the expenditures that may be covered by the Allowance; is astonished that Members do not have to account for the way they have used the allowance and that for Members who wish to do so, verification of their accounts by the internal auditor of the Parliament is not possible; calls for further clarifications in respect of the type of expenditure the GEA is to be used for and for the introduction of obligatory annual reporting by the Members of their expenditures paid out of the GEA, or, failing that, for at least opening a procedure for verification of the Members' accounts on a voluntary basis;
Amendment 44 #
2014/2078(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 e (new)
Paragraph 30 e (new)
30e. Is concerned with the lack of verification ex post of the use of service cars by Members and questions the availability of two service cars for the President of the Parliament;
Amendment 48 #
2014/2078(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 c (new)
Paragraph 33 c (new)
33c. Stresses that the Parliament and the Council, in order to create long term savings in the Union budget, must address the need for a roadmap to a single seat, as stated by the Parliament in several previous resolutions;
Amendment 57 #
2014/2078(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39a. Considers the Lux Prize not to be a core activity of the European Parliament and requests that a cost-benefit analysis be carried out in order for the Parliament to take a well-informed decision on the continuation of this Prize;
Amendment 70 #
2014/2078(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
Amendment 3 #
2014/2077(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the specific development policy objectives must be safeguarded under the EEAS; emphasises that other considerations such as trade policy and foreign and security policy considerations should not cut across the Union's development priorities;
Amendment 11 #
2014/2077(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas direct budget support remains highlcarries a considerable fiduciary risky as money introduced into the general budget of the state/country cannot be sufficiently monitored.nd should be given only if it provides sufficient transparency and accountability;
Amendment 43 #
2014/2077(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Is of the opinion that the Commission has to strongly support the development of parliamentary control and oversight bodies and capabilities in beneficiary countries; insists that an independent national audit body must be a condition for granting budget support;
Amendment 1 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Proposal for a decision 1
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
- having regard to the various decisions and recommendations of the Ombudsman concerning the Commission, together with the institutions' implementation of her recommendations in the interests of citizens;
Amendment 26 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, especially in a situation of scarce resources, greater importance should be attached to the need to observe budgetary discipline and to use funds economicallythe Commission should lead by example by showing the European added value of its expenditure and by making sure that the funds for which it carries shared or full responsibility, are spent in accordance with the applicable financial rules and regulations;
Amendment 93 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. ConsiderRegrets furthermore that those measures have still a limited impact on the Union budget since more than 40% of the financial corrections implemented in 2013 are not considered as assigned revenue84 but may be used by the same Member States having caused these corrections in cohesion policy, thus undermining the preventive effect of financial corrections; __________________ 84 See Commission communication COM(2014)0618, table 5.2: withdrawals in cohesion (EUR 775 million), rural development recoveries (EUR 129 million) and financial corrections implemented by de commitment /deduction at closure be it in cohesion policy (EUR 494 million of euro) or in the other policy areas than agriculture and cohesion policies (EUR 1 million).
Amendment 124 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Regrets furthermore that these instruments are complex and difficult to account for correctly, which also make public scrutiny more challenging; calls on the Commission for transparency and to regularly report on leverage, losses and risks like investment bubbles; urges the Commission to give a full overview of the number of projects financed under each of the financial engineering instruments and the results achieved, and to indicate clearly how much Union budget allocations were used to co-finance these FEI projects and to present a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of the instrument of FEIs compared with more direct forms of project funding;
Amendment 137 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Urges the Commission to submit a recommendation to the Council and the European Parliament to promote the use of national declarations in line with the recommendations contained in the inter- institutional working group for the establishment and use of national declarations;
Amendment 179 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Stresses that the fact that less than 2 % of Union farmers receive 31% of the CAP direct payments; believes that this endangerpoints out that CAP should be targeting especially small farmers and believes that the current practice further undermines the political acceptance of CAP;
Amendment 225 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 79 a (new)
Paragraph 79 a (new)
79a. Notes that the Commission states in its reply to the Court of Auditors that for the 2014-2020 programming period, the legal framework has been simplified, and requests the Commission to report by the end of 2015 how these simplification measures worked out in practice, and which additional measures could be taken with regard to any remaining complex rules and eligibility conditions;
Amendment 230 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 85
Paragraph 85
85. Urges the Commission to demonstrate the Union added valueExpresses its serious doubts about the effectiveness of the agricultural market measures bearing in mind the risk of potential losses affecting the budget of the Union and asks the Commission to consider their suppression if this risk is too high; asks the Commission to report in the 2013 Commission discharge follow-up report on the actions taken by the European Anti- Fraud Office (OLAF) in light of the audit mission for poultry export refunds in France;
Amendment 242 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 97
Paragraph 97
97. Recognises that as the largest source of Union funds to regions, localities and enterprises, representing 29% of the total Union budget in 2013 - regional policy has aimed at assisteding Member States to conciliate their fiscal consolidation constraints with the support toengage in long-term investments strategies which are necessary to recover from the crisis and return to a job-creating growth (EU2020 objective 1); regrets, however, that for the measurement of the national budget deficit in the context of European economic governance, long-term investments have not been exempted, thus making it extremely difficult for Member States to engage in any such investments, despite the potential support through the ERDF and CF, taking into account that these funds require co-funding by Member States for their projects;
Amendment 271 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 112
Paragraph 112
112. Takes note that the Courts of Auditors methodology has to be consistent and applied to all management areas; understands that further alignment could lead to inconsistencies in the Court of Auditors' definitions of an illegal transaction in direct and shared management;
Amendment 290 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 118
Paragraph 118
118. Is worried about theNotes the delays in and lack of implementation of the priority projects in Greece under the Task Force management; notes that 48 priority projects have to be accelerated; notes that the main problems are, according to the Commission: (a) delays at maturation stage, (b) delays in licensing, (c) dissolution of contracts due to lack of liquidity of contractors and (d) lengthy court appeals during awarding procedures; calls therefore on the Commission to provide an updateconsiders that this may be explained, at least partly, because these projects were not demand driven or had unrealistic ambitions to begin with, and therefore calls upon the Commission to reconsider the working methods onf the priority projects for the 2013 follow-up reportTask Force and to recognise the need for broad public support for these projects;
Amendment 303 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 126
Paragraph 126
126. Notes that the Union-financed the modernisation of a water distribution network in Skorkov (CZ) with EUR 1,1 million; is concerned about the fact that the communal authorities have let the exploitation of the water distribution system to a company which already manages the local sewerage system; notes that the latter was also co-financed with EUR 1,4 million from Union funds and that the price for the supply of drinking water increased by 45 %; notesconsiders that drinking water is a public good and that all citizens whose water quality is inferior must therefore continue to use local wells; calls on the Commission to ensure the success of the project; supports the establishment of an independent water authorityneed to have access to high quality drinking water at a reasonable price; calls on the Commission to ensure that Union-financed projects do not directly or indirectly limit access to high quality drinking water;
Amendment 351 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 145 a (new)
Paragraph 145 a (new)
145a. Urges the Commission to ensure that the Member State authorities in charge of managing structural funds address the issue of charging personnel costs at higher rates for EU projects compared to those financed by national funds, and to follow in this respect a zero tolerance approach instead of concentrating solely on those Member States in which the problems are of a systemic nature;
Amendment 360 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 151 a (new)
Paragraph 151 a (new)
151a. Asks the Commission to submit a special report on the added value of budget support and, in particular, on the way it has helped developing countries in realising the Millennium Development Goals; requests in this regard a survey of measures taken to avoid part of the funding to be wasted as a result of corruption and fraud and of the effectiveness of financial management systems in this regard;
Amendment 361 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 151 b (new)
Paragraph 151 b (new)
151b. Shares the criticisms of the Court of Auditors of the so-called 'notional approach' in the case of multi-donor projects and asks the Commission to examine the option of presenting, in its own accounts an analysis of these projects as a whole, instead of limiting itself to the consideration of whether the pooled amount includes sufficient eligible expenditure to cover the EU contribution;
Amendment 381 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 163
Paragraph 163
163. Appreciates that Ukraine finds itself currently in a particularly difficult situation (illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia and a separatist rebellion in Eastern Ukraine), but maintains that this may not be an excuse for not fulfilling the conditions under which budget support is given and, in particular, for not addressing the wide-spread corruption in the country;
Amendment 422 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 181
Paragraph 181
181. Notes the Commission replies on the progress made in implementing the Galileo project: four Galileo In-Orbit Validation (IOV) satellites were successfully launched in 2011 and 2012, the Galileo In-Orbit Validation phase was successfully concluded in 2014, the system design, the performance targets and the baseline for system operation were successfully confirmed, the ground infrastructure, with many groundIs concerned about the costs of the Galileo system which are estimated at €13 million will become yet higher because of the failure to correctly launch the latest two stations worldwide, has been completed for the initial operations, the Galileo Search-and- Rescue capability of the IOV-satellites was successfully demonstrated, the launch of two satellites (no. 5 and 6) on 22 August 2014 resulted in an injection of these satellites into incorrect orbit, and since December 2014 the satellites have been gradually moved to a more favourable orbit to allow their best possible use, and the testing of the satellites' navigation payload is on-going; expects to be informed about additional costs for these unforeseen measuresellites; considers that due to the ever-increasing costs of Galileo and taking into account that in 2007 the EU stepped into the project after a consortium of eight European companies withdrew their investment as they considered it not financially sound, there is every reason to re-examine the usefulness of this project;
Amendment 441 #
2014/2075(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 199 a (new)
Paragraph 199 a (new)
199a. Notes that the differences in pay levels for civil servants working for EU- institutions and for those working for national administrations, remain very high, leading, inter alia, to a lack of mobility between staff at European and at national levels; calls on the Commission to carry out an in-depth study on the reasons for these differences and to develop a long-term strategy to reduce these, whilst paying particular attention to the different allowances (family, expatriation, installation and resettlement allowances), annual leave, holidays, travel days, and compensation for over-time;
Amendment 30 #
2014/2059(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that a strong injection of EU funding is fundamental in order to stimulate the real economy and to foster recovery in all Member States; supports the Commission’s recommendation to give priority to public investment in infrastructure, research, innovation and human capital; calls on the Commission to focus on jobs, in particular for young people, by ensuring adequate training programmes;
Amendment 46 #
2014/2059(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises that the economic crisis has greatly worsened the living conditions of many European citizens and has led to a sharp increase in levels of inequality and poverty; points out that universal access to high- quality public services is key to fostering economic growth while guaranteeing social cohesion and poverty eradication and allowing for more resilient economies and societies;
Amendment 48 #
2014/2059(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Calls on the Commission in this regard to consider applying a solidarity check on its recommendations, thus measuring the effects on inequality and poverty, as well as social cohesion;
Amendment 56 #
2014/2059(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes that Member States have to step up their efforts to modernise their public administrations, by providing more and better digital services for citizens and businesses, reducing costs and enhancing efficiency; highlights that the proper and quick implementation of EU public procurement and concessions legislation would provide a great opportunity to modernise public administration, at both government and local levels, by enhancing the quality, effectiveness and transparency of public spending and investment.
Amendment 60 #
2014/0408(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) This Directive should be implemented taking into account the provisions of Directive 2012/13/EU and Directive 2013/48/EU. Information with regard to mHowever, infor offences should be provided under the same conditions as provided for by Article 2(2) of Directive 2012/13/EU. However, this Directive provides further complementary safeguards with regard to information to be provided to the holder of parental responsibility and mandatory acmation should also be provided with regard to minor offencess, to a lawyer in order to takeaking into account the specific needvulnerabilities of children.
Amendment 67 #
2014/0408(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) In some Member States an authority other than a public prosecutor and a court having jurisdiction in criminal matters has competence for imposing penalties other than deprivation of liberty in relation to relatively minor offences. That may be the case, for example, in relation to traffic offences which are committed on a large scale and which might be established following a traffic control. In such situations, it would be unreasonable to require the competent authorities to ensure mandatory access to a lawyer. WHowever, where the law of a Member State provides for the imposition of a penalty regarding minor offences by such an authority and there is either a right of appeal or the possibility for the case to be otherwise referred to a court having jurisdiction in criminal matters, mandatory access to a lawyer should therefore apply onin any case apply to the proceedings before that court following such an appeal or referral. In some Member States proceedings involving children may be dealt with by public prosecutors who may impose penalties. In such proceedings children should have mandatory access to a lawyer.
Amendment 75 #
2014/0408(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) In order to ensure the personal integrity of a child who is arrested or detained, to assess his or her general physical and mental state and any medical needs, and to determine whether he or she should be subjected to questioning, investigative or evidence-taking measures, or any special measures taken or envisaged concerning him or her, the child should have access to a medical examination. The medical examination should be carried out by a physician.
Amendment 86 #
2014/0408(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) Children should be judged in the absence of the public in order to protect their privacy and to facilitate their re- integration into society. IOnly in exceptional cases the court may decide that a hearing should be held publicly after it has taken due account of the best interests, if in the best interests of the child, should the court be allowed to hold a hearing in public. Member States should seek to protect the privacy of children in connection with criminal proceedings and their outcome, having regard also to breaches that might be committed through the media, including the Internet. Member States should facilitate the re-integration into society of children involved in criminal proceedings, and should actively take steps in order to prevent discrimination and marginalisation of these children.
Amendment 94 #
2014/0408(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 33
Recital 33
(33) In order to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of this Directive, there is a need for collection of data by the Member States with regard to the implementation of the rights set out in this Directive. Relevant data include data recorded by the judicial authorities and by law enforcement authorities and, as far as possible, administrative data compiled by healthcare and social welfare services as regards the rights set out in this Directive, in particular in relation to the number of children given access to a lawyer, the number of individual assessments carried out, the number of interviews audio- visually recorded and the number of children deprived of liberty.
Amendment 118 #
2014/0408(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 a (new)
Article 5 a (new)
Article 5a Member States shall ensure that the child has the right to meet with the holder of parental responsibility, or the appropriate adult where deemed necessary in accordance with Article 5(1), promptly following arrest or detention.
Amendment 127 #
2014/0408(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. The individual assessment shall take place at anthe earliest appropriate stage of the proceedings and in any event before indictmenquestioning or the imposition of measures involving deprivation of liberty, whichever is earliest.
Amendment 131 #
2014/0408(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 7
Article 7 – paragraph 7
7. Member States may derogate from the obligation in paragraph 1 when it is not proportionate to carry out an individual assessment taking into account the circumstances of the case and whether or not the child has previously come to the attention of Member State authorities in the context of criminal proceedingsto carry out an individual assessment if the derogation is in the best interests of the child.
Amendment 133 #
2014/0408(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. In case ofMember States shall ensure, when a child has been deprivationed of liberty of a child, Member States shall ensur whenever the best interests of the child so require, that the child has access without delay to a medical examination with a view, in particular, to assessing the general mental and physical condition of the child with the aim tof determineing any medical needs and, in particular, the capacity of the child to face questioning or other investigative or evidence gathering acts or any measures taken or envisaged against the child.
Amendment 141 #
2014/0408(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. Paragraph 1 is without prejudice to the possibility to ask questions solely for the purpose of personal identification of the child without such audio-visual recording.
Amendment 150 #
2014/0408(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) participation in educational measurprogrammes.
Amendment 160 #
2014/0408(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2 - point d a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 2 - point d a (new)
(da) ensure the freedom of the child to manifest his or her religion or belief.
Amendment 162 #
2014/0408(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that criminal proceedings involving children take place in the absence of the public, unless, after due consideration of in exceptional circumstances the best interests of the child, exceptional circumstances justify a derogation.
Amendment 178 #
2014/0408(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 20 – paragraph 2
Article 20 – paragraph 2
Amendment 18 #
2014/0217(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) To ensure that Union level training for law enforcement personnel is of high quality, coherent and consistent, CEPOL should strive to structure it in line with the principles of the Law Enforcement Training Scheme, whilst putting particular emphasis on the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights with regard to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of law enforcement. Union-level training should be available to law enforcement officers of all ranks. CEPOL should ensure that training is evaluated and that conclusions from training needs assessments are part of planning to enhance effectiveness of future actions. CEPOL should promote the recognition in Member States of training provided at Union level.
Amendment 21 #
2014/0217(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) To achieve its objectives, CEPOL, as a centre of Union learning activities, should maintain and encourage cooperation with the network of the training institutes of the Member States. It should further be supported by a ‘National Unit’ in each Member State. The activities of the National Units should be coordinated at the Union levelsupported by CEPOL.
Amendment 24 #
2014/0217(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) To ensure the scientific quality of CEPOL’s work, a Scientific Committee, composed of independent persons of the highest academic or professional standing in the subjects covered by this Regulation, in particular with regard to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of law enforcement, should be set up as an independent advisory body.
Amendment 25 #
2014/0217(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) It is important to seek the most efficient solutions for the location of agencies, and, whilst fully respecting the fundamental need to maintain CEPOL´s complete independence, it is logical to locate CEPOL in the Hague, the Netherlands, being the seat of EUROPOL, EU´s main agency for police co-operation.
Amendment 31 #
2014/0217(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. CEPOL shall support, develop and coordinateimplement training for law enforcement officers, in line with the Law Enforcement Training Scheme, in particular in the areas of the fight against serious crime affecting two or more Member States and terrorism, management of high-risk public order and sports events, planning and command of Union missions, as well as law enforcement leadership and language skills, in order to:
Amendment 65 #
2014/0217(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2
Article 15 – paragraph 2
2. The Scientific Committee for Training shall be composed of 11 persons of the highest academic or professional standing in the subjects covered by Articles 3 and 4 of this Regulation, in particular with regard to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of law enforcement. The Management Board shall appoint the members following a transparent call for applications and selection procedure to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The members of the Management Board shall not be members of the Scientific Committee for Training. The members of the Scientific Committee for Training shall be independent. They shall neither seek nor take instructions from any government, nor from any other body.
Amendment 69 #
2014/0217(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 3
Article 24 – paragraph 3
3. The seat of CEPOL shall be in Budapest, Hungarythe Hague, the Netherlands.
Amendment 72 #
2014/0217(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 34 – paragraph 1
Article 34 – paragraph 1
1. The necessary arrangements concerning the accommodation to be provided for CEPOL in Hungarythe Netherlands and the facilities to be made available by that Member State together with the specific rules applicable in the host Member State to the Executive Director, members of the Management Board, CEPOL staff and members of their families shall be laid down in a Headquarters Agreement between CEPOL and Hungarythe Netherlands, concluded after obtaining the approval of the Management Board and no later than 2 years after the entry into force of this Regulation.
Amendment 19 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 1 – point 1 a (new)
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 99 – paragraph 5
Article 99 – paragraph 5
(1a) Article 99(5) is replaced by the following: '5. Each year the institution shall forward a report to the European Parliament and the Council containing a summaryon internal audits carried out, including information ofn the number and type of internal audits carried outthese audits, the recommendations made and the action taken on those recommendations.'
Amendment 20 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 3
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 101 – paragraph 9
Article 101 – paragraph 9
Amendment 22 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 3
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 103 – paragraph 4
Article 103 – paragraph 4
Amendment 23 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 3
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 104 – paragraph 5
Article 104 – paragraph 5
Amendment 24 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 3
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 105 – paragraph 3
Article 105 – paragraph 3
Amendment 28 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 3
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 106 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 106 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
3. Except for cases provided for in point (d) of paragraph 1, the contracting authority may decide not to exclude the economic operator concerned where it has taken remedial measures to demonstratesafeguarding its reliability.
Amendment 29 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 3
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 106 – paragraph 8
Article 106 – paragraph 8
Amendment 30 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 3
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 107 – paragraph 2
Article 107 – paragraph 2
Amendment 37 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 3
Article 1 – point 3
4a. In order to determine the exclusion and its duration and/or financial penalties in compliance with the principle of proportionality, the panel shall take into account in particular the seriousness of the situation, including the impact on the Union's financial interests and image, its duration and its recurrence, the intention or degree of negligence and the measures taken to remedy the situation or any other mitigating circumstances.
Amendment 39 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 3
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 108 – paragraph 8
Article 108 – paragraph 8
Amendment 41 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 3
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 110 – paragraph 3
Article 110 – paragraph 3
Amendment 42 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 3
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 111 – paragraph 6
Article 111 – paragraph 6
Amendment 43 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 3
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 112 – paragraph 2
Article 112 – paragraph 2
Amendment 44 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 3
Article 1 – point 3
Amendment 45 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 4
Article 1 – point 4
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 114a – paragraph 3
Article 114a – paragraph 3
Amendment 46 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 4
Article 1 – point 4
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 115 – paragraph 2
Article 115 – paragraph 2
Amendment 47 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 4
Article 1 – point 4
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 116 – paragraph 4
Article 116 – paragraph 4
Amendment 48 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 5
Article 1 – point 5
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 117 – paragraph 2
Article 117 – paragraph 2
Amendment 49 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 5
Article 1 – point 5
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 118 – paragraph 3
Article 118 – paragraph 3
Amendment 50 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 6
Article 1 – point 6
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 119 – paragraph 2
Article 119 – paragraph 2
Amendment 52 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 11 a (new)
Article 1 – point 11 a (new)
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 163 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 163 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
(11a) In Article 163(1) subparagraph 2 is be replaced by the following: The institution or the body concerned shall inform the Court of Auditors, within two and a halfone months of transmission of those observations, of any replies it wishes to make in relation to those observations.
Amendment 56 #
2014/0180(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 13
Article 1 – point 13
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 191 – paragraph 4
Article 191 – paragraph 4
Amendment 66 #
2014/0124(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
(ba) A Member of the European Parliament from the Committee responsible of the European Parliament and/ or an independent representative, appointed by the European Parliament.
Amendment 71 #
2014/0124(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 3 – point c a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 3 – point c a (new)
(ca) a representative of the Administrative Commission for the Coordination of Social Security Systems established by Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Amendment 105 #
2014/0124(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
(4) Single points of contact shall liaise with all enforcemethe social partners and with all relevant authorities which are involved in the prevention and/or deterrence of undeclared work regarding the activities of the Platform and guarantee their participation at the meetings and/or contribution to the activities of the Platform or its working groups if issues discussed involve their field of competence.
Amendment 112 #
2014/0124(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
The Platform shall work, as appropriate, in cooperation with other relevant Union level expert groups and committees, whose work has a link with undeclared work, in particular the Senior Labour Inspectors Committee (SLIC), the Expert Committee on Posting of Workers, the Administrative Commission for Social Security Coordination, the H5NCP EU platform expert in combating social security fraud and error, the Employment Committee (EMCO), the Social Protection Committee (SPC) and the Working Group on Administrative Cooperation in the field of Taxation. Joint meetings may also be organised.
Amendment 35 #
2014/0000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Regrets that the CSRs have not been sufficiently aligned with the Europe 2020 targets; calls, therefore, for more determined efforts to guide and coordinate national and EU policies, in particular concerning tackling unemployment and poverty, and therefore welcomes the social impact assessments that were announced by President Juncker;
Amendment 46 #
2014/0000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Supports the emphasis in the CSRs for 2014 on the importance of removing unjustified restrictions and barriers to entry in the key sectors key sectors, while safeguarding services of general interest and public services; urges the Member States concerned to give those recommendations their utmost consideration and, as an immediate priority, to remove these obstacles to the growth of the Single Market;
Amendment 54 #
2014/0000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Is concerned that illegal practices, such as undeclared and falsely declared work, may undermine the well- functioning of the Single Market and are particularly harmful for SMEs who refrain from any such practices;
Amendment 86 #
2014/0000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Underlines that there is a clear need to update EU Single Market rules for the digital era, establishing a single area for online payments, e-invoicing, protecting intellectual property rights and clarifying VAT requirements, in order to generate trust in e commerce and afford adequsure a safe digital environment thate protection to EU consumers onlineeople can trust;
Amendment 94 #
2014/0000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Believes that the free movement of goods, capital, services and people still offers untapped potential for citizens and business, in terms of efficiency, growth and jobs creation; recalls that in the case of freedom of movement of workers and of services, the principle of equal pay for equal work needs to be fully respected;
Amendment 96 #
2014/0000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Reiterates its support for comprehensive trade and investment agreements that would support the creation of quality jobs for European workers, directly benefit European consumers and open up new opportunities for EU companies, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)Is concerned about the lack of transparency of the Regulatory Co- operation arrangements in comprehensive trade and investment agreements and expresses the view that the European Parliament must be closely involved in negotiations about the Single Market Acquis and any modification of existing legislation or any introduction of new legislation must fully respect the role of the Parliament as co-legislator;
Amendment 106 #
2014/0000(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines that specific policy actions should be included in the Europe 2020 strategy, aiming at addressing barriers in the services sectors covered by the Services Directive, and in financial services, for example, and putting more explicit emphasis on the deepening of the Single Market, whilst fully respecting fundamental rights, including social rights, of workers and service providers;
Amendment 60 #
2013/0407(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) This Directive should apply only to criminal proceedings. Administrative proceedings leading to sanctions such as competition, trade, tax, financial services proceedings and other investigations by administrative authorities in relation to these proceedings, and also civil proceedings are not covered by this Directiv, as well as administrative proceedings insofar as the sanctions are punitive in nature.
Amendment 63 #
2013/0407(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) The safeguards provided for by this Directive should therefore apply in all proceedings in which restrictive measures, including deprivation of liberty, are liable to be imposed as a punishment and to proceedings liable to give rise to a criminal record. At all events, application of the Directive should not be prevented by the fact that the proceedings were not initiated in response to acts regarded as criminal offences under national law, that they are not taking place before a criminal court and that they will not lead to the imposition of criminal penalties under national law.
Amendment 68 #
2013/0407(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
Recital 9
Amendment 114 #
2013/0407(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
Amendment 123 #
2013/0407(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) As this Directive establishes minimum rules, Member States may extend the rights set out in this Directive in order to provide a higher level of protection. Such higher level of protection should not constitute an obstacle to the mutual recognition of judicial decisions that those minimum rules are designed to facilitate. The level of protection should never fall below the standards provided by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union or the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as interpreted in the case law of the Court of Justice and of the European Court of Human Rights.
Amendment 172 #
2013/0407(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Member States may nevertheless allow for the cooperative behaviour of the suspect or accused person to be taken into account as a mitigating factor when deciding the concrete penalty to impose.
Amendment 16 #
2013/0402(COD)
Proposal for a directive
–
–
The Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection calls on the Committee on Legal Affairs, as the committee responsible, to propose rejection of the Commission proposal.
Amendment 20 #
2013/0402(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 1 a (new)
Recital 1 a (new)
(1a) Information that may qualify as trade secret may also be of direct importance to society as a whole, for example, in the field of health, environmental and food safety policies, and access to this type of information for public institutions should not be hampered by the mere fact of this type of information being classified as ´trade secret´. Similarly, special provision must be made for the protection of whistle-blowers, on which subject new EU-legislation remains essential.
Amendment 24 #
2013/0402(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Open iInnovation is an important lever for the creation of new knowledge and underpins the emergence of new and innovative business models based on the use of co-created knowledge. Trade secrets have an important rolebest promoted in an open environment. The role of open software for the development of additional, more targeted software applications, is a good example in this respect. Trade secrets may, however, have a role to play in protecting the exchange of knowledge between businesses within and across the borders of the internal market in the context of research and development and innovation, if an open environment is not sustainable. Collaborative research, including cross- border cooperation, is particularly important to increase the levels of business research and development within the internal market. Open innovation is a catalyst for new ideas to find their way to the market meeting the needs of consumers and tackling societal challenges. In an internal market where barriers to such cross-border collaboration are minimised and where cooperation is not distorted, intellectual creation and innovation should encourage investment in innovative processes, services and products. Such an environment conducive to intellectual creation and innovation is also important for employment growth and improving competitiveness of the Union economy. Trade secrets are amongst the most used form of protection of intellectual creation and innovative know-how by businesses, yet they are at the same time the least protected by the existing Union legal framework against their unlawful acquisition, use or disclosure by third parties.
Amendment 40 #
2013/0402(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In line with the principle of proportionality the measures and remedies intended to protect trade secrets should be tailored to meet the objective of a smooth functioning internal market for research and innovation without jeopardising other objectives and principles of public interest. In this respect, the measures and remedies ensure that competent judicial authorities account for the value of a trade secret, the seriousness of the conduct resulting in the unlawful acquisition, use disclosure of such information on grounds relating to public health, public order, public safety or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others. In this respect, the measures and remedies ensure that competent judicial authorities weigh all interests at stake, including the value of a trade secret, the impact of the disclosure for the businesses concerned on the one hand and the public interests calling for disclosure ofn the trade secret as well as the impact of such conductother hand. It should also be ensured that the competent judicial authorities are provided with the discretion to weigh up the interests of the parties to the litigation, as well as the interests of third parties including, where appropriate, consumers.
Amendment 44 #
2013/0402(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12a) This Directive should not limit the ability of public authorities to carry out their regulatory functions. Therefore this directive should provide for a general exemption regarding information necessary for public authorities to fulfil their legal obligations as supervisors. This is important in sectors such as the chemical industry, where public authorities need access to information on chemicals in products, in the food sector, where public authorities need access to information to toxicological studies, and in any other sector where public authorities rely on information that could be considered to contain trade secrets.
Amendment 54 #
2013/0402(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 20
Recital 20
Amendment 56 #
2013/0402(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 22
Recital 22
Amendment 127 #
2013/0402(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) for making legitimatwhenever the alleged acquisition, use or disclosure to the trade use ofcret is protected by the right to freedom of expression and information;
Amendment 145 #
2013/0402(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) for the purpose of protecting a public health, public order (ordre public), public safety or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, or any other legitimate interest.
Amendment 200 #
2013/0402(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Member States shall ensure that, in considering a request for the adoption of the injunctions and corrective measures provided for in Article 11 and assessing their proportionality, the competent judicial authorities weigh all interests at stake, into accountcluding the value of thea trade secret, the measures taken to protect the trade secret, the conduct of the infringer in acquiring, disclosing or using of the trade secret, the impact of the unlawfulimpact of the disclosure for the businesses concerned on the one hand and the public interests calling for disclosure or usn the of the trade secret,r hand, and in particular the legitimate interests of the parties and the impact which the granting or rejection of the measures could have on the parties, the legitimate interests of third parties, the public interest and the safeguard of fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and information.
Amendment 218 #
2013/0402(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 14
Article 14
Amendment 223 #
2013/0402(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 16
Article 16
Amendment 23 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) WhilstAs the European Public Prosecutor’s Office should have exclusive competence to investigate and prosecute crimes affecting the Union’s financial interestsis established by enhanced co-operation, the Regulation implementing enhanced co-operation on the establishment of the European Prosecutor’s Office is binding only for those Member States that participate in enhanced co-operation. Therefore, for those Member States not participating in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Eurojust remains fully competent for crimes affecting the Union’s financial interests. For those Member States participating in the European Prosecutor’s Office, Eurojust should be able to support national authorities when they are investigating and prosecuting these forms of crime in accordance with the Regulation establishing the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Amendment 39 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 34
Recital 34
(34) Co-operation between the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and Eurojust should be governed by Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999. 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)16 should apply to Eurojust. _________________ 16 concerning investigations conducted by OLAF16; _________________ 16Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 September 2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999 (OJ L 136, 31.5.1999, p.1).
Amendment 44 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. Eurojust’s competence shall cover the forms of crime listed in Annex 1. However, wits competence shall not include the crimes for which the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is competenth regard to the forms of crime affecting the Union’s financial interests, Eurojust remains fully competent only for those Member States not participating in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. In addition, for those Member States participating in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, Eurojust shall still be able to support national authorities when they are investigating and prosecuting these forms of crime in accordance with the Regulation establishing the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Amendment 46 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. In agreement with their competent national authority the national members shallmay in accordance with national law:
Amendment 47 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) order investigative measurissue and execute any mutual assistance or mutual recognition request;
Amendment 48 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) authorise and coorder or request and execute investigative measures, as provided ford inate controlled deliveries in the Member State in accordance with national legislation Directive 2014/41/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council1a; _________________ 1aDirective 2014/41/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 regarding the European Investigation Order in criminal matters (OJ L 130, 1.5.2014, p. 1).
Amendment 49 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
(ba) participate, as necessary, in joint investigation teams including in their setting up;
Amendment 53 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. The College shall hold at least one operational meeting per month. To exercise its management functions, the College shall hold at least two ordinary meetings a year. In addition, it shall meet on the initiative of the President, at the request of the Commission, or at the request of at least one third of its members.
Amendment 55 #
Amendment 57 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The Executive Board shall also:
Amendment 58 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) prepare the decisions to be adopted by the College in accapprove Eurojust’s annual and multi-annual work programme based on the draft prepared by the Administrative Directord ance with Article 14d forward it to the College for adoption;
Amendment 59 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point g
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point g
Amendment 60 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point h
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point h
(h) adopt its rules of procedure.undertake any additional administrative tasks assigned to it by the College under Article 5(4);
Amendment 61 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point h a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point h a (new)
(ha) approve the annual report on Eurojust’s activities and forward it to the College for adoption;
Amendment 62 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point h b (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point h b (new)
(hb) adopt the financial rules applicable to Eurojust in accordance with Article 52;
Amendment 63 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point h c (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point h c (new)
(hc) adopt, in accordance with Article 110 of the Staff Regulations, a decision based on Article 2(1) of the Staff Regulations and on Article 6 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants delegating the relevant appoint authority powers to the Administrative Director and defining the conditions under which this delegation of powers can be suspended; the Administrative Director shall be authorised to sub-delegate these powers;
Amendment 64 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3
Article 16 – paragraph 3
Amendment 65 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 8
Article 16 – paragraph 8
Amendment 66 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2
Article 17 – paragraph 2
2. The Administrative Director shall be appointed by the College on the grounds of merit and documented administrative and managerial skills, as well as relevant competence and experience, from a list of candidates proposed by the CommissionExecutive Board, following an open and transparent selection procedure, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of Eurojust. For the purpose of concluding the contract of the Administrative Director, Eurojust shall be represented by the President of the College. Before being appointed, the candidate selected by the College shall answer questions from the members of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the Committee on Budgetary Control of the European Parliament.
Amendment 67 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 3
Article 17 – paragraph 3
3. The term of office of the Administrative Director shall be fiveour years. By the end of this period, the CommissionExecutive Board shall undertake an assessment which takes into account an evaluation of the performance of the Administrative Director.
Amendment 69 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 4
Article 17 – paragraph 4
4. The College, acting on a proposal from the CommissionExecutive Board which takes into account the assessment referred to in paragraph 3, may extend once the term of office of the Administrative Director for no more than fiveour years.
Amendment 73 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Article 18 – paragraph 2
2. Without prejudice to the powers of the Commission, the College or the Executive Board, the Administrative Director shall be independent in the performance of his or her duties and shall neither seek nor take instructions from any government or from any other body.
Amendment 74 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 4 – point a
Article 18 – paragraph 4 – point a
(a) the day-to-day administration of Eurojust and staff management;
Amendment 75 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 4 – point c
Article 18 – paragraph 4 – point c
(c) preparing the programming documentannual and multi- annual work programmes and submitting ithem to the Executive Board and College after consultation of the Commissionfor approval;
Amendment 76 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 7
Article 24 – paragraph 7
Amendment 77 #
2013/0256(COD)
Amendment 87 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 41 – paragraph 1
Article 41 – paragraph 1
1. Eurojust shall establish and maintain a specialclose relationship with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office based on closemutual cooperation andwithin their respective mandates and competences and on the development of operational, and administrative and management links between them as defined belowin this Article. To this end, the European Public Prosecutor and the President of EurojustPresident of Eurojust and the European Chief Prosecutor shall meet on a regular basis to discuss issues of common concerninterest.
Amendment 88 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 41 – paragraph 7
Article 41 – paragraph 7
Amendment 98 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 41 – paragraph 8
Article 41 – paragraph 8
Amendment 99 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 42 – paragraph 2
Article 42 – paragraph 2
2. OLAF mayshall contribute to Eurojust’s coordination work regarding the protection of the financial interests of the Union, in accordance with its mandate under Regulation (EU, Euratom) of the European Parliament and of the Council No ...883/2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999.
Amendment 100 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 42 – paragraph 3
Article 42 – paragraph 3
3. For purposes of the receipt and transmission of information between Eurojust and OLAF, and without prejudice to Article 8, Member States shall ensure that the national members of Eurojust shall be regarded as competent authorities of the Member States solely for the purposes of Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/199919 . U, Euratom) of the European Parliament and of the Council No 883/2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).The exchange of information between OLAF and national members shall be without prejudice to the information which must be given to other competent authorities under those Regulations. _________________ 19OJ L 136, 31.5.1999, p. 8.
Amendment 105 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 49 – paragraph 1
Article 49 – paragraph 1
1. Each year the Administrative Director shall draw up a draft statement of estimates of Eurojust’s revenue and expenditure together, for the following financial year, including the establishment plan, and send it to the CollegeExecutive Board.
Amendment 106 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 49 – paragraph 2
Article 49 – paragraph 2
2. The CollegeExecutive Board shall, on the basis of that draft, producepare a provisional draft estimate of Eurojust’s revenue and expenditure for the following financial year which shall be forwarded to the College for adoption.
Amendment 107 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 49 – paragraph 6
Article 49 – paragraph 6
6. The budgetary authority shall authorise the appropriations for Eurojust’sthe contribution from the Union to Eurojust.
Amendment 110 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 51 – paragraph 5
Article 51 – paragraph 5
5. On receipt of the Court of Auditors’ observations on Eurojust’s provisional accounts pursuant to Article 148 of Regulation (EU, EURATOM) No 966/2012, the Administrative Director shall draw up Eurojust’s final accounts under his or her own responsibility and submit them to the CollegeExecutive Board for an opinion.
Amendment 111 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 51 – paragraph 6
Article 51 – paragraph 6
6. The CollegeExecutive Board shall deliver an opinion on Eurojust’s final accounts.
Amendment 112 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 51 – paragraph 7
Article 51 – paragraph 7
7. The Administrative Director shall, by 1 July following each financial year, send the final accounts to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Court of Auditors, together with the CollegeExecutive Board’s opinion.
Amendment 113 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 51 – paragraph 9
Article 51 – paragraph 9
9. The Administrative Director shall send the Court of Auditors a reply to its observations by 30 September of the following year at the latest. The Administrative Director shall also send this reply to the College and toExecutive Board, the European Parliament and the Commission.
Amendment 119 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 61 – paragraph 1
Article 61 – paragraph 1
1. In order to facilitate combating fraud, corruption and other unlawful activities under Regulation (ECU) No 1073/1999883/2013, within six months from the entry into force of this Regulation, iEurojust shall accede to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 25 May 1999 concerning internal investigations by the European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) and adopt the appropriate provisions applicable to all the employees of Eurojust using the template set out in the Annex to that Agreement.
Amendment 120 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 61 – paragraph 3
Article 61 – paragraph 3
3. OLAF may carry out investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, in accordance with the provisions and procedures laid down in Regulation (ECU) No 1073/1999883/2013 and Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/9622 with a view to establishing whether there have been any irregularities affecting the financial interests of the Union in connection with expenditure funded by Eurojust. _________________ 22 Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities’ financial interests against fraud and other irregularities (OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2).
Amendment 123 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 65 – paragraph 3
Article 65 – paragraph 3
Amendment 193 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) WhilstAs the European Public Prosecutor's Office should have exclusive competence to investigate and prosecute crimes affecting the Union's financial interestsis established by enhanced co-operation, the Regulation implementing enhanced co-operation on the establishment of the European Prosecutor's Office is binding only for those Member States that participate in enhanced co-operation. Therefore, for those Member States not participating in the European Public Prosecutor's Office, Eurojust remains fully competent for crimes affecting the Union's financial interests. For those Member States participating in the European Prosecutor's Office, Eurojust should be able to support national authorities when they are investigating and prosecuting these forms of crime in accordance with the Regulation establishing the European Public Prosecutor's Office.
Amendment 219 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 34
Recital 34
(34) Co-operation between the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and Eurojust should be governed by Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)16 should apply to Eurojust. _________________ 16OLAF; OJ L 136, 31.5.1999, p.1.
Amendment 229 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. Eurojust’s competence shall cover the forms of crime listed in Annex 1. However, wits competence shall not include the crimes for which the European Public Prosecutor's Office is competenth regard to the forms of crime affecting the Union's financial interests, Eurojust remains fully competent only for those Member States not participating in the European Public Prosecutor's Office. In addition, for those Member States participating in the European Public Prosecutor's Office, Eurojust shall still be able to support national authorities when they are investigating and prosecuting these forms of crime in accordance with the Regulation establishing the European Public Prosecutor's Office.
Amendment 253 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point a
a) order investigative measurissue and execute any mutual assistance or mutual recognition request;
Amendment 255 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b
b) authorise and coordinate controlled deliveries in the Member State in accordance with national legislation.order or request and execute investigative measures, as provided for in Directive 2014/41/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding the European Investigative Order in Criminal Matters;
Amendment 256 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
b a) c) participate, as necessary, in joint investigation teams including in their setting up;
Amendment 278 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The Executive Board shall also:
Amendment 279 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point a
a) prepare the decisions to be adopted by the College in accapprove Eurojust's annual and multi-annual work programme based on the draft prepared by the Administrative Directord ance with Article 14d forward it to the College for adoption;
Amendment 281 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point h
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point h
h) adopt its rules of procedure.undertake any additional administrative tasks assigned to it by the College under Article 5(4);
Amendment 282 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point h a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point h a (new)
h a) i) approve the annual report on Eurojust's activities and forward it to the College for adoption;
Amendment 283 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point h b (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point h b (new)
h b) j) adopt the financial rules applicable to Eurojust in accordance with Article 52;
Amendment 284 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point h c (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point h c (new)
h c) k) adopt, in accordance with Article 110 of the Staff Regulations, a decision based on Article 2(1) of the Staff Regulations and on Article 6 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants delegating the relevant appoint authority powers to the Administrative Director and defining the conditions under which this delegation of powers can be suspended; the Administrative Director shall be authorised to sub-delegate these powers;
Amendment 290 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2
Article 17 – paragraph 2
2. The Administrative Director shall be appointed by the College on the grounds of merit and documented administrative and managerial skills, as well as relevant competence and experience, from a list of candidates proposed by the CommissionExecutive Board, following an open and transparent selection procedure, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of Eurojust. For the purpose of concluding the contract of the Administrative Director, Eurojust shall be represented by the President of the College. Before being appointed, the candidate selected by the College shall answer questions from the members of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the Committee on Budgetary Control of the European Parliament.
Amendment 297 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 4 – point a
Article 18 – paragraph 4 – point a
a) the day-to-day administration of Eurojust and staff management;
Amendment 331 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 a (new)
Article 27 a (new)
Article 27 a Regulation (EU) 2017/xxx on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data and repealing Regulation EC 45/2001 shall apply to processing of personal data by Eurojust, as a Union agency carrying out activities which fall within the scope of Chapters 4 and 5 of Title V of the Treaty, including where the founding acts of these Union agencies lay down a standalone data protection regime for the processing of operational personal data. The provision in Regulation (EU) 2017/xxx establish the general data protection principles, which are complemented and detailed by Eurojust's standalone regime as provided in the Eurojust Regulation.
Amendment 408 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 51 – paragraph 9
Article 51 – paragraph 9
9. The Administrative Director shall send the Court of Auditors a reply to its observations by 30 September of the following year at the latest. The Administrative Director shall also send this reply to the College and toExecutive Board, the European Parliament and the Commission.
Amendment 414 #
2013/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 65 – paragraph 3
Article 65 – paragraph 3
Amendment 1 #
2013/0255(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph B a (new)
Paragraph B a (new)
B a. Whereas it is regrettable that until now the Commission has not been able to provide the Parliament with information on the reasons behind the low rate of indictment, and, in particular on the question of how much is due to lack of quality of the information provided by OLAF to Member States, as basis for its judicial recommendations;
Amendment 24 #
2013/0255(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Deems it equally important that the position of EPPO in relation to OLAF and Eurojust is further clarified, especially if EPPO will not become operational in all Member States;
Amendment 58 #
2013/0255(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the legislator to ensure streamlined procedures for the EPPO to obtain the authorisation of investigative measures in cross-border cases, in accordance with the law of the Member States where the measure in question is executed;, and with full respect for the procedural guarantees laid down in both European and national legislation.
Amendment 64 #
2013/0255(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Council to ensure the admissibility of the evidence gathered by the EPPO with full respect for the relevant European and national legislation throughout the Union, as this is crucial for the effectiveness of the prosecutions;
Amendment 72 #
2013/0255(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Affirms that the right to a judicial remedy should be upheld at all times in respect of the EPPO's activity and recognises also the need for the EPPO to operate effectively without undue delay;
Amendment 77 #
2013/0255(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Requests the Commission to ensure that procedural rights in cases investigated by the EPPO are in no way inferior to those established by European law on procedural rights in criminal law cases, and to provide the Parliament with additional information on this matter;
Amendment 82 #
2013/0255(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19 b. Requests the Commission to examine in detail which are the reasons for the low rate of indictment following OLAF's judicial recommendations and to submit proposals for improving the quality of the information provided by OLAF to Member States;
Amendment 85 #
2013/0255(APP)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19 c. Requests the Commission to submit additional information to the Parliament on how OLAF, Eurojust and the EPPO will work together in the future and how the EPPO can make use of the existing expertise in both OLAF and Eurojust;