Activities of Jana TOOM related to 2022/2024(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Deliberations of the Committee on Petitions in 2021 (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the outcome of the Committee on Petitions’ deliberations during 2021
Amendments (12)
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the high number of petitions submitted in 2021 reveals that, also in the second year of the pandemic, citizens placed significant trust in Parliament, choosing to address their concerns and complaints directly to their elected representatives at EU level, whom they considered to be the source of decision-making; whereas the Parliament must do its utmost to validate this trust;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas, as of May 2022, 433 petitions submitted in 2021, representing just under a third of petitions submitted in 2021, still remained opened; whereas more than 2000 petitions submitted prior to 2021 still remained opened; whereas most of these petitions remained opened because they relate to environmental issues and ongoing infringement proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Stresses that petitioners often address the Committee on Petitions about topics that are pressing to them; underlines that in such situations a delayed treatment of petitions provides little value to the petitioners; believes that the Committee on Petitions should take action to clear the backlog of open petitions; invites the Committee on Petitions to review its working methods, in order to ensure that all petitions are treated with a consistent and transparent set of criteria that guarantees a timely and effective process;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Points out that the Committee on Petitions shall deal with petitions relating to matters that fall within the Union’s field of activity, as enshrined in TFEU; emphasises that the activity of the Committee should not be a proxy for national political debates and must always be aimed at responding to the matter directly affecting the petitioner; calls on the Committee to ensure that the petitions it examines reflect a proportionate geographical balance and that its treatment of petitions respects the European dimension of its mandate;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that petitions constitute a unique opportunity for Parliament and the other EU institutions to directly connect with EU citizens and maintain a regular dialogue with them, particularly in cases where they are affected by the misapplication or breach of EU law; stresses the need for enhanced cooperation between the EU institutions and national, regional and local authorities on inquiries regarding the implementation of and compliance with EU law; believes that such cooperation is crucial to address and resolve citizens’ concerns over the application of EU law and contributes to strengthening the democratic legitimacy and accountability of the Union; calls, therefore, for the more active participation of Member States’ representatives in committee meetings and for swiftertimely and detailed responses to requests for clarification or information sent by the Committee on Petitions to national authorities;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that petitions contribute considerably to the Commission’s role as guardian of the Treaties by providing the citizens with an additional opportunity to notify alleged breaches of EU law; stresses that reinforced cooperation between the Committee on Petitions and the Commission through timely and detailed answers from the Commission, which are based on thorough examination of the issues raised in petitions, are essential to ensure the successful treatment of petitions: reiterates its call on the Commission for regular updates on developments in infringement proceedings and for access to relevant Commission documents on infringements and EU Pilot procedures which have been closed; stresses that such updates and other relevant information are necessary for the treatment of petitions that concern an open infringement procedure
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Draws attention to the significant number of petitions discussed in relation with various aspects of the protection of the rights of rainbow families in the EU, in particular the different stances regarding the free movement and mutual recognition rights of LGBTI+ families in the EU; recalls the workshop of 22 March 2021 on LGBTI+ rights in the EU, which the Committee on Petitions held to discuss the situation of LGBTI+ persons, to examine the new strategy on LGBTIQ equality presented by the Commission, and to address the problem represented by obstacles to the free movement of rainbow families; draws attention to the report of the Committee on Petitions of 15 July 2021 on LGBTIQ rights in the EU (2021/2679(RSP))7 , wherein it calls for the Commission to take concrete measures to ensure protection for LGBTI+ families in line with the Coman &; Hamilton, Maruko, Römer, and Hay judgments7a of the CJEU and the Taddeucci & McCall judgment7b of the ECtHR; _________________ 7 Adopted by Parliament as a resolution on 14 September 2021. OJ C 117, 11.3.2022, p. 2. 7a Case C 673/16, Coman, EU:C:218:385; Case C-267/06, Maruko, EU:C:2008:179; Case C-147/08, Römer, EU:C:2011:286; Case C-267/12, Hay, EU:C:2013:823. 7b ECHR Taddeucci and McCall v Italy, No 51361/09.
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls that increased attention should be given to multilingualism in the EU; encourages in this sense the EU institutions to make use of as many official languages as possible and to implement their multilingualism policies coherently;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Recalls the fact that relations with the European Ombudsman are one of the responsibilities conferred by Parliament’s Rules of Procedure on the Committee on Petitions; welcomes Parliament’s constructive cooperation with the European Ombudsman, as well as its involvement in the European Network of Ombudsmen; acknowledges the European Ombudsman’s regular contributions to the work of the Committee on Petitions throughout the year; firmly believes that the Union’s institutions, bodies and agencies must ensure consistent and effective follow-up to the recommendations of the Ombudsman; strongly supports the Ombudsman’s work on upholding public access to EU documents, which encompassed 214 inquiries in 2021; reiterates its calls on the Commission to submit a proposal for a revision of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 as adopted in previous resolutions; stresses that such revision must enhance transparency and accountability by promoting good administrative practice10a; _________________ 10a European Parliament resolution of 16 December 2021 on the deliberations of the Committee on Petitions in 2020 (2021/2019(INI)). OJ C 251, 30.6.2022, p. 96–103
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses that the ECI is an important instrument for active citizenship and public participation; welcomes the discussion in several meetings as petitions of some unsuccessful ECIs, which gave citizens the opportunity to expose their ideas and hold a constructive debate, as well as facilitating the participation of EU citizens in the democratic process of the Union; takes note of the significant number of new ECIs registered by the Commission in 2021, which shows that citizens are seizing the opportunity to use participatory instruments to have a say in policy and law-making processes; calls on the Commission to better engage with citizens and give adequate follow-up to successful ECIs, including through legislative proposals;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Underlines that the Petitions Web Portal is an essential tool for ensuring a smooth, efficient and transparent petitions process; welcomes, in this regard, the improvements to data protection and security features which have made the portal more user-friendly and secure for citizens; stresses that efforts must be continued to make the portal more accessible, including to persons with disabilities considers that the Petitions Web Portal must provide short descriptions in clear and plain language of all EU participatory instruments, thereby helping users to identify the most appropriate channel and reduce the number of inadmissible petitions;