Activities of Tomáš ZDECHOVSKÝ related to 2022/2096(DEC)
Shadow reports (1)
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 2021
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) for the financial year 2021
Amendments (13)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the establishment of the Expert Group on Fundamental Rights with the purpose tof improveing the Agency’s training strategy in this area and of the Expert Group on the Enhancement of Cooperation between the Agency and the Member States aiming to improve the quality and efficiency in cooperation matters; welcomnotes the Expert Group suggestion to add Fundamental Rights as a cross- cutting issue to the trainings offered where applicable in both Member States and third countries with particular emphasis on fundamental rights and crime prevention ;
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Encourages the Agency to better tailor its training methodologies to its target audience: urges the Agency to follow the results of the Commission's evaluation and adjust the training of the law enforcement officials who respond better to hands-on practical training (joint exercises, simulations, table-top exercises) than (virtual) theoretical classroom training;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Underlines that in spite of a significant widening of the Agency’s work with the entry into force of its current mandate, this aspect has still not been followed up with a similar increCEPOL directly reaches only a small fraction of its target population through its training activities; highlights that given CEPOL’s relatively small size and its annual budget CEPOL cannot be expected to directly reach a sizeable proportion of the target audience through residential training activities ase in staff numberstended by its current mandate; notes with concern the suggestions made by the Commission to the Agency not to request new posts for the upcoming years, in spite of the necessity of more staff; highlights in addition that in the absence of additional human resources, the Agency is using Contract Agents on a number of tasks that would normally be executed by Temporary Agents; urges the Commission to reconsider its position concerning the grading of posts in order for them to reflect the workload and responsibilities of staff;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the creation of the Expert Group on Fundamental Rights with the aim to integrating a fundamental rights dimension in all CEPOL training and events; Welcomes the signature of the working Arrangement with the Fundamental Rights Agency and ongoing negotiations with European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and European Union Agency for Asylum; further appreciates CEPOL's working arrangements with Europol, Eurojust, Frontex, EJTN, European Commission, EASO, Interpol and other relevant stakeholders;
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes with concern that the staff turnover rate remained high in 2021, at 11.8%; notes that staff fluctuation in 2021 was lower than in 2020 and did not have a significant impact on the organisation; appreciates the efforts undertaken by the Agency to address this issue, including by introducing a new structured exit interview; highlights that the results of conducting such interviews have revealed that the high turnover is mostly caused by the high workload and low grading of posts; underlines in addition that the Agency has been experiencing difficulties with the recruitment process, caused by both a low number of applications and a high number of successful candidates refusing the job offers; highlights that the salary correction coefficient applied to remunerations offered for positions within the Agency has an extremely negative impact on the Agency’s ability to reduce staff turnover, to recruit the necessary staff it requires for the optimal implementation of its mandate, as well as to become attractive for highly skilled candidates; calls on the Commission to revise the correction coefficient in order to better reflect the economic realities of relocating to and living in the Agency host city; further calls on the Commission and the Agency to make available additional facilities such as access to international schools, child and healthcare, in order to make working for the Agency more attractive;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the Agency’s reported gender breakdown for 2021 with 3 men and 3 women in management functions (1 senior manager and 5 middle managers), with 16 men (59%) and 11 women (41%) in the management board, and overall staff with 39 men (45%), and 48 women (55%); commends the Agency for the gender balance achieved in 2021; Is however concerned about the lack of geographical balance and that the Agency does not employ any staff from Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta and Slovenia; urges the Agency to consider with uttmost priority geographical balance in its recruitment procedures and report to the Discharge authority any development in this regard;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7
Subheading 7
Digitalisation and green transitionsustainability
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. ReinstHighlights thate the importance of law enforcement training on strategies to fight racism and discriminat EU level needs to reflect the EU security threats in line with CEPOL’s mandate including strategies to counter terrorism, migration, and to prevenfight racialsm and ethnic profiling and violence.discrimination4a; Underlines the urgent need for specialised training focusing on the dangers and the proper use of AI technologies, by police authorities; as a key enabling technology to ensure safety and security of citizens; _________________ 4a Source: Consolidated Annual Activity Report (CAAR) of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) for financial year 2021. p 19.
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31 a. Notes with concern that the Agency does not have working arrangement with the Directorate-General Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) which prevents the Agency from expanding the target audience of its activities to include customs and border officials; encourages the agency to ensure that working arrangements are in place with all key bodies;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 b (new)
Paragraph 31 b (new)
31 b. Calls on the Agency to step up its efforts and report relevant performance information to the EU citizens and general public in clear and accessible language; urges the Agency to ensure greater transparency and public accountability by better-utilizing media and social media channels;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. NoteRecalls that the Court observed weaknesses in CEPOL’s internal control environment, in relation to the management of budgetary commitments, and welcomes CEPOL taking concrete steps to address those errors including regular contract management training for project managers and other relevant staff to increase awareness and reduce occurrence of such cases;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Regrets that there have been irregularities in payment of expenses related to organisation of CEPOL events in non-EUWelcomes CEPOL’s significant role in the achievement of the EU’s policy objectives in the JHA area and its external aspects; encourages CEPOL to continue cooperation with law enforcement partners outside the EU and further implementation of projects in third countries aimed at prevention of security threats such as terrorism; regrets that there have been irregularities in payment of expenses related to organisation of CEPOL events in non-EU countries associated with uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic; welcomes that in January 2022 CEPOL signed a new framework contract covering events in those countries; notes that the weaknesses identified in relation to the CEPOL procurement procedure can compromise the principle of transparency and expose the agency to reputational and legal risks;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. CRecalls onthat the Agency toshould ensure full transparency and full respect with fundamental rights in all its activities, including those with third countries.