Activities of Jana TOOM related to 2021/0373(CNS)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a Council directive laying down detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to vote and stand as a candidate in municipal elections by Union citizens residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals (recast)
Amendments (15)
Amendment 9 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The electoral procedure related to municipal elections falls within the competences of the Member States that organise them reflecting their specific traditions and in accordance with international and European standards. In line with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the law of the European Convention on Human Rights, Member States should not only recognise and respect the right of Union citizens to vote and to stand as a candidate but also ensure easy access to their electoral rights by removing as manyll obstacles to their participation in elections as possible.
Amendment 18 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) In order to facilitate the exercise by non-national Union citizens of their right to vote and to stand as a candidate in their country of residence, suchMember States should be encouraged to allow for automatic registration. Where automatic registration is not available, non-national Union citizens should be entered on the electoral roll in sufficient time in advance of polling day. The formalities applicable to their registration should be as simple and as similar across Member States as possible. It should be sufficient for the Union citizens concerned to produce a valid identity card and a formal declaration that include elements evidencing their entitlement to participate in the elections. Once registered, non- national Union citizens should remain on the electoral roll under the same conditions as Union citizens who are nationals of the Member State concerned, for as long as they satisfy the conditions for exercising the right to vote. Additionally, Union citizens should provide the competent authorities with contact information, enabling those authorities to keep them informed on a regular basis.
Amendment 21 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9a) Determining the right to vote or stand as a candidate for municipal elections as regards non-nationals who reside within their territory falls within the competences of the Member States that organise them. In line with Article 40 of the Charter, Member States must uphold the principle of non- discrimination on the basis of nationality. For this reason, nationality should not in itself constitute grounds for the prohibition of voting or standing as a candidate for municipal elections.
Amendment 44 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) In order to improve the accessibility of electoral information, such information should be made available in at least onetwo other official languages of the Union than that or those of the host Member State, broadly understood by the largest possible number of Union citizens residing on its territory. Member States may use different official languages of the Union in specific parts of their territory or their regions depending on the language understood by the largest group of Union citizens residing therein.
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) Data regarding the exercise of rights and the application of this Directive can be useful in the identification of measures necessary to ensure the effective exercise of Union citizens’ electoral rights. In order to improve and harmonise the collection of data for municipal elections, it is necessary to introduce regular monitoring and reporting of implementation by Member States, which should include, besides statistical data based on common indicators, information on the measures taken to support participation in elections of non- national Union citizens. The Commission should assess the application of the Directive , including any changes in the electorate that have taken place since its entry into force and submit a report in this connection to the European Parliament and to the Council.
Amendment 71 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Where Member States decide to grant third-country nationals who reside within their territory the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in municipal elections, such rights shall not be taken away from certain third-country nationals solely on the basis of their nationality.
Amendment 114 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Member States tshatll endeavour to provide for the possibility for nationals toies to vote by means of vote by means of advance voting, postal voting, and electronic and internet voting in municipal elec. Member States that provide such means of voting for nationals shall ensure that such means of voting are also available under the same conditions to voters pursuant to Article 3.
Amendment 128 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall designate a national authority with responsibility for taking the necessary measures to ensure that non-national Union citizens are informed in a timely mannermmediately upon their registration and in a timely manner ahead of elections of the conditions and detailed rules for registration as a voter or candidate in municipal elections.
Amendment 132 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The Member States shall ensure that the designated authority pursuant to paragraph 1, shall, immediately upon their registration, directly and individually communicate to voters and persons entitled to stand as candidates pursuant to Article 3, the following information:
Amendment 143 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 12 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. The information on conditions and detailed rules for registration as a voter or candidate in municipal elections and theany information referred to in paragraph 2communicated pursuant to the provisions of this Directive shall be provided in clear and plain language.
Amendment 153 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 4
Article 12 – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall ensure that information on conditions and detailed rules for registration as a voter or candidate in municipal elections and any information referred to in paragraph 2communicated pursuant to the provisions of this Directive is made accessible to persons with disabilities and older persons by using appropriate means, modes and formats of communication.
Amendment 159 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. Within three years of the entry into force of this Directive and every four years thereafter, the Member States shall report to the Commission on the application of this Directive in their territory, including on the application of Article 5(3) and (4). The report shall contain statistical data on the participation in municipal elections of voters and candidates pursuant to Article 3 and a summary of measures taken in that regard. The statistical data shall be based on common indicator and harmonised at Union level.
Amendment 166 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Commission is empowered to adopt implementing acts concerning the form of the data referred to in paragraph 1. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 16a, (2).
Amendment 169 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Article 15 – paragraph 1
Within two years after the 20294 elections to the European Parliament, the Commission shall assess the application of this Directive and produce an evaluation report on the progress towards achievement of the objectives contained herein. The evaluation shall be accompanied, if appropriate, by a legislative proposal to amend this Directive.
Amendment 176 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 16 a (new)
Article 16 a (new)
Article 16a Committee procedure 1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. 2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.