116 Amendments of Monika PANAYOTOVA
Amendment 357 #
2013/2195(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 177
Paragraph 177
177. Observes that European citizens and tax-payers cannot be shown what has been achieved by making payments amounting to billions from the ESF and Structural Funds to combat youth unemployment; draws attention to the fact that those carrying out labour market measures on the ground dispute the alleged failure to keep statistics on them; in this regard notes the important role of the Member States in providing statistics and regular reports on the basis of impact indicators of Union funds used for tackling youth unemployment; reminds the Commission of its accountability for the use of European tax revenue for young unemployed people, and considers the results of European subsidy policies to be inadequate, particularly in relation to the expectations which have been aroused in terms of reducing youth unemployment;
Amendment 361 #
2013/2195(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 177 a (new)
Paragraph 177 a (new)
177a. Notes the need for integrated approach and complementarity of measures tackling youth unemployment at Union and national level as well as with other Union funded programmes and instruments that could help decrease the levels of youth unemployment, such as Horizon 2020, Erasmus+ and Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs; considers that this will ensure the effective and efficient use of Union funds and the added value of national policies to efforts at Union level.
Amendment 12 #
2013/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas 18-28 % of students in the EU have few possibilities to access and use the internet either at school or at home; whereas only 30 % of students in the EU can be considered as digitally competent and 70% of teachers do not consider themselves digitally confident;
Amendment 34 #
2013/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes that new technologies and OERs allow for a more interactive learning experience and are valuable instruments for placing the learner at the centre of the educational process;
Amendment 66 #
2013/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Member States to ensure coordinated and progressive education on internet safety in schools; notes that parents should be regarded as partners in ensuring web safety and recommends that complementary strategies be developed targeting parentsthem, thereby strengthening the role of parental mediation; insists that the protection of the individual integrity and personal data of teachers and learners using OER must be assured;
Amendment 94 #
2013/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Underlines that digital skills and knowledge are vital for citizens in an information-driven society that has the ambition to become the most dynamic knowledge-based economy;
Amendment 95 #
2013/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Notes that digital literacy by opening up new channels for communication and education reflects positively on strengthening social cohesion, personal development, intercultural dialogue and active citizenship;
Amendment 98 #
2013/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Reminds that innovative teaching methods enabled through ICT and OER contribute to developing soft and transversal skills such as critical thinking, decision-making, communication skills and problem-solving, which are crucial for employability and job market realization;
Amendment 115 #
2013/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Notes that it is important to keep a fair balance between quality and accessibility of education; highlights that new technologies can be used to make sure that more accessible education does not mean reduced quality of education;
Amendment 121 #
2013/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Stresses that the use of new technologies in education should be well targeted to respond to the needs of the job market and overcome the present skills gap; stresses the need of improved communication and cooperation between educational and training institutions and the business sector;
Amendment 122 #
2013/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Reminds that new technologies can contribute to the competitiveness of European education on the global stage, offer opportunities for the internationalization of European higher education, and respectively increase Europe's attractiveness as an educational destination;
Amendment 123 #
2013/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18c. Notes that new technologies and e- learning have the added-value of providing an international learning experience for those who do not participate in mobility schemes;
Amendment 135 #
2013/2182(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on the Member States to use the available funding through the European Structural and Investment Funds for improving the digital infrastructure, taking into account the needs of educational institutions, in particular in rural and remote regions; notes that a smart and comprehensive use of EU funding requires synergy between the different programmes and instruments - Erasmus+, Horizon 2020 and the Structural and Investment Funds;
Amendment 56 #
2013/2167(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Reminds that the cultural aspect of diplomatic and foreign relations gives the possibility for a more targeted image projection of the EU on the global stage and the creation of a common external European cultural identity based on the principle "united in diversity"; highlights that a strategic approach to the cultural aspect of EU foreign affairs is necessary in order to fully utilise this potential;
Amendment 57 #
2013/2167(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Notes that culture is a potent instrument that can have an added value to EU diplomatic and foreign relations and calls for strengthening capacity building in terms of cultural skills through training of EU diplomats so as to guarantee that they are well equipped to be EU's cultural ambassadors.
Amendment 8 #
2013/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes the significant and ongoing changes in the geopolitical environment characterised by multidimensional and asymmetric threats, by the rise of emerging powers and a strategic shift in attention by the US towards the Pacific region, by increased instability in the EU's southern neighbourhood, by maritime challenges, by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, by the global risks indicated by the World Economic Forum of widening income disparities and major systemic financial failure and by a severe and long- lasting financial and economic crisis with a major impact on the GDP of many EU Member States and, consequently, on national defence budgets on both sides of the Atlantic; notes that no single member of the EU is able to overcome these multifaceted challenges by itself;
Amendment 17 #
2013/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that reassessing and strengthening Europe's role in the world constitutes one of the major challenges of the second decade of the 21st century and that the time has come for the Member States of the Union to decide whether the EU should be a relevant global actor and security provider with strategic autonomy; considers that a change of mindset is required in order to anchor a European approach to security and defence;
Amendment 28 #
2013/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises in this regard the possibility of establishing permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) among Member States (Article 46.6 TEU), of entrusting CSDP missions and operations in particular to that group of Member States (Articles 42.5 and 44.1 TEU), and of establishing a start-up fund for preparatory activities for missions which are not charged to the Union budget (Article 41.3 TEU) and are not incorporated into the ATHENA mechanism; highlights in this context the importance of leveraging those EU policies which have an impact on security and defence, like industrial research and innovation, market, trade and space policies, in order to support those Member States which are engaged in further strengthening the CSDP;
Amendment 35 #
2013/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that the main asset of the European Union is the availability of various policies and instruments, combined through the so-called ‘comprehensive approach’, and that it is possible to achieve better results at all levels by better integrating the CSDP into this approachmplementing this approach into CSDP crisis management; welcomes in this respect the review of the organisation and functioning of the EEAS published by the HR/VP in July 2013, which recognises the problems of coordination and those related to the speed and effectiveness of decision- making in the area of the CSDP; looks forward to specific decisions being taken at the December Summit and expects the further integration of the CSDP to be analysed thoroughly in the upcoming joint Communication by the HR/VP and the Commission on the implementation of the comprehensive approach;
Amendment 40 #
2013/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on Member States to make more reference to the concept of Human Security that is a distinctive element of the European defence and security identity; notes the need to take account of the peculiarities of CSDP and the EU which necessitate integration of defence with Development, Neighbourhood and Enlargement policies for the sake of greater consistency and effectiveness.
Amendment 50 #
2013/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Believes that the introduction of a mutual defence clause and a solidarity clause by the Treaties (Article 42.7 TEU and Article 222 TFEU) reinforces the sense of common destiny among European citizens; calls on the Heads of State and Government to reaffirm their commitment to mutual political solidarity and to provide a clear operative interpretation of the two clauses;
Amendment 57 #
2013/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Expresses its concern, based on experience in the recent past, that the comprehensive approach to crisis management has not yet reached its full potential; asserts that the full utilization of the comprehensive approach could serve as a common source of the Euro-Atlantic strategic culture and identity in the field of security and defence; considers that missions and operations are more meaningful when they are embedded into a regional strategy, as the positive example of the Horn of Africa demonstrates; takes note of the ‘Suggestions for crisis management procedures for CSDP crisis management operations’ endorsed by the Member States on 18 June 2013;
Amendment 86 #
2013/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Invites Member States to exploit the possibilities offered by PESCO and to start implementing this Treaty provision in order to tackle the prevailing ‘CSDP fatigue’ and deepen military cooperation and integration; calls on the European Council to deliver clear guidelines for its implementation, including clear criteria and requirements for the capabilities that can be included, and invites Member States that are not interested to act constructively; stresses that the possibility of joining at a later stage should be left open;
Amendment 107 #
2013/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Notes the need for a new framework for consultation and cooperation between NATO and the EU in the sphere of non- military aspects of security.
Amendment 139 #
2013/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Reiterates the need for a strong and less fragmented European defence industry that is capable of sustaining the CSDP and, enhancing the EU's strategic autonomy and creating an integrated and competitive defence industrial and technological base; highlights the importance of certification and standardisation for improving the interoperability of the armed forces; calls on the European Council to mandate the EDA to prepare a roadmap for the development of defence industrial standards, and on the Member States to streamline European certification procedures with the mutual recognition of certificates and to harmonise their certification procedures;
Amendment 145 #
2013/2105(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)
Paragraph 42 a (new)
42a. Stresses the need to ensure new sources of financing for research and innovation in the defence field, e.g. through Horizon 2020, or once CSDP becomes more integrated by setting up a Defence Fund as part of a future MFF; reminds that steps in this direction will also increase the democratic and parliamentary control over the sector by means of the budgetary powers of the European Parliament.
Amendment 22 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recognises and supports the various forms of volunteering practised in the Member States; in this respect, calls for a multicultural approach from Member States and a deep analysis from the Commission on national volunteer practices and traditions to foster a common European approach;
Amendment 23 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes that further consolidating a common European approach for volunteering will create more opportunities for youth mobility and young people's employability by acquiring valuable skills.
Amendment 25 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Encourages Member States to continue creating an enabling environment for volunteering with less administrative burden, especially by means of a legal framework where one is still lacking;
Amendment 35 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Draws attention to the fact that skills and abilities acquired during volunteer work, which may be counted as non-formal and informal learning and work experience, are a plus point on CVs and in working life; notes the importance of those for motivating young people to volunteer and for generating social capital and boosting societal development;
Amendment 59 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Highlights the need to ensure continuity between EYV 2011 and subsequent EYVs, as part of efforts to ensure that volunteering is seen as a valuable means of taking an active part in society; calls on Member States to ensure the sustainability of results achieved at the national level during EYV 2011;
Amendment 71 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Encourages Member States to set up national coordination web sites and search engines that will allow easy and well-structured access to volunteering opportunities for single individuals and cooperation possibilities for organizations;
Amendment 93 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Member States to facilitate volunteering through the provision of formal, informal and non-formal training to enhance volunteers' skills and empower them in their work; encourages Member States to introduce volunteering training courses as electives in educational institutions;
Amendment 95 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to further promote the European Voluntary Service at universities and other higher education institutions.
Amendment 97 #
2013/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Notes that volunteering experience can serve as admission criterion for some university programs;
Amendment 9 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph A a (new)
Paragraph A a (new)
Amendment 19 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph B a (new)
Paragraph B a (new)
Ba. whereas both school and university teachers face unprecedented challenges of the rapidly changing global economic environment, which requires the development of new skills and set of competencies, innovative approaches and modern methods of teaching as a key factor for prosperous education and employability of youth;
Amendment 23 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph C a (new)
Paragraph C a (new)
Ca. whereas with a view of the MFF 2014-2020, a comprehensive analysis of EU funds, invested in education, training and tackling youth unemployment during the 2007-2013 program period, is needed. An integrated approach and synergy effect among the various programmes and resources of national and EU funding will contribute to the successful implementation of the youth employment measures;
Amendment 34 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Is strongly concerned at the budget cuts by Member States in the field of education, training and youth, and recalls that budget allocations to education and training should be perceived as a necessary and invaluable investment for the future. Therefore, emphasizes the need for reforms in the educational systems of the Member States through national and EU resources, for a more cost-effective and competitive youth education;
Amendment 41 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls for the establishment of a common system of result and impact indicators to evaluate the progress achieved under the different programmes, containing employment measures in the context of their effectiveness and efficiency and not only in terms of their financial quantitative implementation;
Amendment 45 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Calls on the Member States and the respective institutions to prioritise in their educational programmes the sectors of sciences, technologies, engineering and mathematics in their educational programs in order to meet the expected needs for highly-qualified labour force;
Amendment 46 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Calls on the Member States to foster youth participation in shaping sectoral policies, related to their development. Being real participants and not only observers and/or beneficiaries of the processes will contribute to the better legitimacy and added value of the youth policy-making;
Amendment 59 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls for a further promotion of the triangle of knowledge - education, business, science in the EU regions, which would enable young people to be more competitive on the EU labour market. Emphasises the importance of studying foreign languages as a prerequisite for further capacity-building, mobility and better realization of young people in the Single Market;
Amendment 73 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas, despite the high youth unemployment rate in the EU, a human resources gap exists in certain fields, such as the increasing demand for highly- qualified labour force in IT and R&D sectors.
Amendment 83 #
2013/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the Youth Guarantee Scheme; highlights the Commission's EU Loan Guarantee Scheme for full-time Masters' students in the EU and third countries for further facilitating the youth mobility and multi-dimensional university ranking; calls on Member States to commit themselves to implementing the scheme in an efficient and timely manner; highlights the need for sufficient funding for the initiative through the European Social Fund and other EU structural funds. ;
Amendment 102 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Suggests that sustainable employment of youths in the European labour market could be achieved by applying the "3R" formula - restart, reforms, regions. Restart the potential of the European Single Market by educating people in an entrepreneurial spirit, by mutual recognition of diplomas and qualifications, by improving the conditions for starting up business in Europe and elimination of the existing constraints for workers coming from certain EU countries. There is a need for a reform in the relationship between education and business. By promoting the triangle of knowledge - education, business, science in the EU regions, young people will be given the opportunity to acquire more competitive advantages and potential prospects for further realization on the labour market.
Amendment 133 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that the involvement of all relevant stakeholders, including training and education providers, individual employers, public and private employment services, social partners, third-sector organisations, and health and other authorities, is essential for the successful implementation of a variety of measures fostering youth employment and employability in an integrated fashion; emphasises that measures must be flexible so as to meet the continuously evolving needs on the labour market. Notes the need for a flexible and at the same time reliable contract relations, effective and active labour market policies and modern social security systems;
Amendment 134 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls the Member States to undertake measures to prioritise sectors of sciences, technologies, engineering and mathematics in their educational programs in order to meet expected future developments on the labour market.
Amendment 139 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls the Member States to recognize the unprecedented challenges of the rapidly changing global economic environment, which both school and university teachers are facing. Notes that a key factor for prosperous education of youths and their prospects for work is the development of new skills and set of competencies, innovative approaches and modern methods of teaching and learning.
Amendment 217 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Welcomes the Commission's initiatives to create an EU Loan Guarantee Scheme for full-time Masters' students studying in a different European country which will further facilitate the youth mobility and foster the competitiveness between the European universities.
Amendment 239 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls forthe Commission in cooperation with the Member States to create and implement an ambitious holistic policy approach which looks at education, training, employment and self-employment initiatives, for all young people at all the various levels, in an integrated way. The application of an integrated approach among the various programmes and sources of national and EU funding in order to obtain synergy effect contributes to the successful implementation of the youth employment measures. In a view of the forthcoming programming period 2014-2020, suggests the Commission to make a comprehensive analysis on the EU programmes and the financial sources invested in education, training and tackling youth unemployment in the program period 2007-2013;
Amendment 323 #
2013/2045(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises that all financial resources invested in actively combating youth unemployment should be spent effectively; calls on the Member States to introduce a monitoring and evaluation system for employment measures implemented, as well as a system of verification of the effectiveness of those measures, with a view to working increasingly towards evidence-based policies that can also be shared at EU level. In this regard, notes that the establishment of a common system of result and impact indicators would contribute to the evaluation of the progress achieved under the different programmes, containing employment measures in the context of their effectiveness and efficiency and not only in terms of their financial quantitative implementation;
Amendment 9 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital В
Recital В
В. whereas the persisting economic crisis and austerity measures aimed at fiscal consolidation in several Member States challenge the lives of EU citizens in terms of unemployment, social exclusion and poverty;
Amendment 85 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the Member States to promote the attractiveness of VET, and calls for a stronger focus on transversal and basic skills, in particular on entrepreneurial and ICT skills thatthrough the introduction of entrepreneurial training and the bolstering of ICT training, which help young people to enter the labour market and to create their own businesses;
Amendment 116 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Urges the Member States to make full use of the European Youth Guarantee, and to take urgent steps to ensure its effective implementation; recalls that these types of temporary employment should act as stepping stones towards permanent work;
Amendment 123 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10а. Calls for an integrated approach that harnesses the financing possibilities offered by the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and national sources of financing for achieving smart growth;
Amendment 125 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Welcomes the creation of the new European Alliance for Apprenticeships, and calls on the Member States to include vocational practices in their reforms and actions as part of the plans for delivering on the Youth Guarantee, and to mobilise European and national financing to achieve that end;
Amendment 136 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls for more cooperation between educational institutions, the business sector, social partners, and regional authorities in order to exchange best practices and to promote partnerships as a means of transition from education to work; stresses the need to ensure the compatibility of these practices with the measures and initiatives taken at EU level;
Amendment 156 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Recalls the importance of high-quality teacher education that needs to be complemented with career-long professional training, due in particular to the rapid changes in ICT and digital media; notes that teachers need to be more adaptable in their new role and educational and careers advisors more flexible, in response to the changing nature of education;
Amendment 164 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16а. Emphasises the importance of introducing uniform and objective criteria for assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of teachers’ work and their influence on students’ academic results and personal development;
Amendment 170 #
2013/2041(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses the need to mainstream gender equality, and calls for policies to attract vulnerable and disadvantaged groups into learning; in this context, encourages the Member States to introduce specific measures in the form of financial support to people from lower socio-economic backto support, and ensure the social inclusion of, people from the most vulnerable groundps;
Amendment 29 #
2012/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point g a (new)
(ga) apply the principle of proportionality - without underestimating the rules to reduce administrative burdens and facilitate streamlining of procedures; additional step towards simplification is the obligatory use of the electronic project application and reporting as well as the unification and standardization of documents and procedures for management and implementation of the operational programmes;
Amendment 122 #
2012/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58
Paragraph 58
58. Emphasises that the President of the Court of Auditors observed that ‘national authorities operate the first – and most important – line of defence in protecting the financial interests of EU citizens and that there needs to be a greater degree of commitment on the part of national authorities to the management and control of EU money’*1 ; underlines in this context the co-responsibility of the Member States for better spending; 1 Introductory remarks made by Mr Caldeira on 6 November 2012 when presenting the Annual report of the European Court of Auditors concerning the financial year 2011 to the European Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control. considers, in addition, that the active involvement of the national parliaments, through respective committees for oversight the use of Union taxpayer's money in the Member States (following the example of the Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control), not only at the level of the political and expert monitoring, but also in the programming process of the new cohesion policy, would lead to a lower error rate level, better transparency and democratic legitimacy of the process of Union funds absorption;
Amendment 130 #
2012/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
Paragraph 64
64. Urges the Member States to identify, in coordination with the Commission and the Court of Auditors, those unnecessarily complex national rules in order to simplify them; notes that in this regard, the potential for elaboration of standard tender documentation on the public procurement procedures should be further explored;
Amendment 132 #
2012/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65 a (new)
Paragraph 65 a (new)
65a. Urges the Commission to develop additional instruments to facilitate the process of consultation with beneficiaries and to strengthen their direct feedback to the national authorities, in line with the efforts to simplify the national rules and to reduce the error rate;
Amendment 156 #
2012/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 88
Paragraph 88
88. Calls on the Commission to strengthen its coordination with the Member States in order to collect reliable data on the customs and VAT gap in the Member Statrespective countries and to report on a regular basis to Parliament in that regard;
Amendment 174 #
2012/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 116
Paragraph 116
116. Is particularly concerned by the fact that DG AGRI considers that ‘in general Member States are improving their management and control systems for rural expenditure’*1 while the audit of the Court shows that 5 of the 6 selected supervisory and control systems assessed were not effective or partially effective*2 ; is of the opinion that such a big divergence between the assessments of the Commission and the Court of Auditors makes it difficult for the discharge authority to reach objective conclusions; calls therefore on both institutions to establish a data exchange mechanism in order to provide the discharge authority with coherent and credible data; insists on synchronized performance evaluation and/or backcasting for past periods in order to ensure a reliable database for future comparisons; is convinced of the usefulness of tripartite meetings between the Court, the Commission and representatives from Member States concerned when looking for common analysis; 1 DG AGRI, annual activity report, page 79. 2 The Court's 2011 Annual report, annex 4.2.Or. en
Amendment 199 #
2012/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 132
Paragraph 132
132. Calls on the Commission to assist Member States in drafting comprehensive, meaningful and comparable audit control reports, including a chapter on the contribution EU funds made in the respective country to attain the EU 2020 objectives, both at national and regional level, considering each region's individual potential for development and its possible transformation in an economic growth centre;
Amendment 201 #
2012/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 133
Paragraph 133
133. In this context draws the attention of the Commission and the Member States to the fact that under the EU 2020 objectives operational programmes should increasingly be designed in such a way that its sub-objectives are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely and, consequently, the programme lends itself to performance audits; notes that the establishment of a common system of result and impact indicators would contribute to the evaluation of the progress achieved under the different programmes in the context of their effectiveness and efficiency and not only in terms of their financial implementation;
Amendment 202 #
2012/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 133 a (new)
Paragraph 133 a (new)
133a. Reminds the Member States that due to the strict time limits for project execution, a mature project pipeline is required, especially for major infrastructure projects, in order to start their implementation at the beginning of the next programming period 2014-2020;
Amendment 206 #
2012/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 136
Paragraph 136
136. Calls on the Commission to assist Member States in rendering first-level controls and national audit authorities more effective by exchange of best practice and closer cooperation between the Commission, the Court and national authorities (‘tripartite meetings’); considers, in addition, that the national audit authorities could put extra emphasis on the follow-up of the achieved results and effectiveness of Union funds absorption, rather than applying only a quantitative approach, regardless of the final project goals;
Amendment 208 #
2012/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 136 a (new)
Paragraph 136 a (new)
136a. Calls on the Commission to start the preparation of a "best practices" manual from the current programming period, incorporating practical results, achieved effect and lessons learnt in order to optimize the absorption process and to decrease the level of error rates. In this regard the potential future beneficiaries for the next programming period 2014- 2020, incl. Croatia, as well as the candidate and potential EU candidate countries, would profit;
Amendment 213 #
2012/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 140
Paragraph 140
140. Emphasises that it is the task of the national audit authorities to develop the necessary "internal immunity" of rules and measures in order to detect and correct errors committed at the ‘first level’;
Amendment 273 #
2012/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 201
Paragraph 201
201. Regrets that the launching of the Strategy Europe 2020 in 2010 did not coincide with the time frame of the new programming period 20134-2020 and deplores that this will cause some delay in the achievement of the strategy, in those cases where the Member States have not managed to adapt their national and European funded programmes for sustainable, smart and inclusive growth;
Amendment 284 #
2012/2167(DEC)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas in a situation of limitation of resources, caused by the economic and financial crisis, considers the need for the so-called "Intelligent solidarity" - the use of Union funds to implement reforms, observe financial discipline and ensure political and economic stability;
Amendment 3 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the European Court of auditors, as a professional audit institution must apply international audit standards applicable to public sector;
Amendment 4 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas public auditors, like the Court and the SAIs of the Member States, play an essential role in restoring confidence and trust in and improving EU public accountability, which is carried out in line with the goals of restoring economic growth and strengthening public finances; whereas it is therefore important to situate any discussion of possible reforms of the Court in the broader context of the challenge of improving EU public accountability;
Amendment 6 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas it is importantessential that the Court of Auditors beis composed of figuremembers who provide, to the highest degree, guarantees of professional competence and independence as required by the Treaty, while avoiding any risks to the reputation of the Court;
Amendment 8 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas Parliament's opinion falls subject to intense media interest; whereas should persons who had their candidacy previously been publicly and formally repudiatedturned down by Parliament take office as Members of the Court, trust in the institutions concerned would be weakened;
Amendment 10 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas the Peer Review 2013 calls for shorter internal procedures in the Court, clarification of the role and mandate towards external stakeholders and underlines that the auditees influence the Court's findings and audit opinions too much;
Amendment 11 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L b (new)
Recital L b (new)
Lb. whereas Parliament focusses mainly on proposals that avoid the necessity of changes in the Treaty Changes;
Amendment 14 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3 a (new)
Subheading 3 a (new)
Parliament's vision for the ECA: The future role of the Court
Amendment 15 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
Amendment 18 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. believes that the European Court of Auditors as an external auditor to the Union's institutions may provide the legislators not only with a statement of assurance as to the reliability of the accounts and the legality and regularity of the underlying transactions in a respective budgetary year, but also that the Court is in an eminent position to provide the legislator and the Budgetary Authority, especially Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee, with valuable opinions on results achieved by the Union's policies, in order to improve the performance and effectiveness of Union financed activities, identify economies of scale and scope as well as spill over effects among national policies of Member State and provide Parliament with external assessments to the Commission's evaluation of public finances in the Member States;
Amendment 19 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 23 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that Parliament and its elected Members should be particularly rigorous when examining the implementation of the EU budget and that the Court should remain committed toIs of the opinion that independence, integrity, impartiality and professionalism of the Court are key for the credibility of the Court in assisting Parliament and the Council into overseeing and to contributinge to the improvement of EU financial management, and into protecting the financial interests of citizens from programming stages throughup to the closing of accounts;
Amendment 50 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. welcomes the fact that, since 2009, the Court has focused considerable efforts on developing its products and services as well as its annual report; believes, however, that greater effort should be made and more resources used to improve quality further, primarily with respect to the Court's performance audit work, which provides information on the EU budget results; considers that the Court should build upon the DAS model to determine whether results have been achieved and to explain how they have been achieved, so that lessons can be learned and applied in other contexts;
Amendment 56 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 66 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Recalls that the one of the best way to improve the control of the European Union accounts and to enhance both performance and effectiveness of EU spending is to have a discharge voted before the 31st of December of the year following the financial year controlled; underlines that that would force the Court to present its annual report the 30th of June;
Amendment 68 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 74 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 81 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 85 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Believes that preparatory tripartite meetings betweenthe current form of meetings of the Court with Parliament, and the Council and the Court could form a basis upon which to establishprovide valuable advice to the drawing up of the Court's annual work programme; stresses that such structured preparatorythese dialogue coulds greatly assists in ensuring the effective and democratic accountability to citizens of the public funds put at stake to meet EU objectives; emphasizes that despite an increased advisory collaboration with Parliament and the Council, the Court should, independent of political or national influence, decide on its annual work program;
Amendment 89 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Notes that issues of major interests to external stakeholders, such as the European Parliament, and subsequent audit requests are neither collected in a structured way nor fully treated as preferential; considers this as detrimental to the relevance and impact of the Court's audit results; notes, furthermore, that the added value of the Court is directly linked to the use made of its work by Parliament and other stakeholders in the accountability process; insistvites, therefore, that the Court'e Court to take into consideration in its annual work programme be aligned with the political priorities of the legislators and presented, in this connection, to Parliament's speciaissues of major interest to the EU citizens communicated by the Parliament's Budgetary Control cCommittee as a channel of the EU citizens' concerns;
Amendment 100 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Notes that the regulations covering the main areas of expenditure for the period 2014-2020 have substantially changed the financial and legal frameworks governing the implementation of the EU budget; points out that these reforms imply significant changes that will alter the landscape of financial management risk by simplifying funding rules, increasing conditionality and leveraging the EU budget; insists, therefore, that the Court increase its focus on results providing adequate reporting on risks and performance of such new instrumentsSuggests to the Court to synchronize its multiannual work programme with the MFF and include a midterm review as well as a comprehensive review of the Commission's closure of accounts to the respective MFF;
Amendment 102 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. expects from the Court full transparency about the Court's time needs for its products and calls on the Court to publish within each respective Performance Audit the time schedule and the different phases the respective product underwent in its development, i.e. the time that was needed to go through each of the different phases in place, currently these phases are: - Preliminary Study - Issue Analysis - Audit Planning Memorandum - Statement(s) of Preliminary Findings - Drawing Conclusions - Draft Report - Contradictory Procedure;
Amendment 103 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. notes that Performance Audits including a preliminary study of the Court take two years which made in several cases the audit findings outdated and prevent the implementation of adequate measures; expects the Court to streamline the drawing up of its Performance Audits and cut down on redundant procedural steps ,
Amendment 104 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. expresses its wish that the Court should in the future not only publish the Commission's comments on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, but shall clearly express a final counter reply where appropriate;
Amendment 106 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 c (new)
Paragraph 23 c (new)
23c. emphasis that despite the need to be fair and to refer to arguments of the auditee in the respective report, it is not necessary to reach consensus with the auditee;
Amendment 107 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 d (new)
Paragraph 23 d (new)
23d. notes that in some cases parliamentary deliberations about issues addressed by special reports were already concluded, therefore, it was not possible to put the results of the Court's audit to effective use; notes furthermore, that in some cases key recommendations of the Court had already been implemented by the Commission once a Court's report was presented; expects from the Court to bear all external time constraints and developments in mind when conducting its audits;
Amendment 110 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
Amendment 116 #
Amendment 119 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
Amendment 125 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
Amendment 130 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 – introductory part
Paragraph 32 – introductory part
32. Proposes, therefore, that the Court should be composed of the following bodies:have the same number of members as the Commission; members should have at least professional experience in auditing as well as in management; members of the Court should be especially qualified for their function and their independence must be assured beyond doubt;
Amendment 133 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 – point 1
Paragraph 32 – point 1
Amendment 136 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 – point 2
Paragraph 32 – point 2
Amendment 139 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 – point 3
Paragraph 32 – point 3
Amendment 146 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 – point c
Paragraph 33 – point c
(c) in the Committee on Budgetary Control, hearings will be public and the discussions will be relayed via video. At public hearings, discussion will be kept to a minimum, so as to prevent candidates from being subjected to to personal criticism in public;
Amendment 156 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 – point b
Paragraph 34 – point b
Amendment 158 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 – point c
Paragraph 34 – point c
(c) an impeccable management record, in the case of those who have performed management duties in the public or private sectors good auditing record and evidence of very good knowledge of at least one of the working language of the European Union;
Amendment 159 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 – point c a (new)
Paragraph 34 – point c a (new)
(ca) where necessary, proof of prior discharge of applicants from management duties previously carried out;
Amendment 161 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 – point d a (new)
Paragraph 34 – point d a (new)
(da) recognised high standards of integrity and morality of the candidate;
Amendment 163 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 – point e
Paragraph 34 – point e
(e) in view of the nature of the work to be done, the age of candidates will also be taken into account, with it being deemed reasonable, for example, to stipulate that Members should not be over 65 years of age at the endtime of their first term of office or over 70 years of age at the end of their secondappointment;
Amendment 166 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 – point f
Paragraph 34 – point f
(f) it would be desirable for members shall not to serve for more than two terms of office;
Amendment 168 #
2012/2064(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 – point g
Paragraph 34 – point g
(g) finally, further to its assessment of individual merit and good character, Parliament will ensure that a balance is maintained in the composition of the Court as a whole in tParliament will take the issue of gender balance among the Court's Memberms of gender representation among its Membervery serious;