14 Amendments of Maria GRAPINI related to 2020/2072(INL)
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU); whereas those values are values which are common to the Member States and to which all Member States have freely subscribed and which form the basis of the rights enjoyed by all people living in the Union;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises the urgent need for the Union to develop a robust and positive agenda for protecting and reinforcing democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights for all its citizens; insists that the Union must remain a champion of freedom, security and justice in Europe and the world;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recognises that the Union remains structurally ill-equipped to tackle democratic and rule of law backsliding in the Member States and therefore we should have a clear definition of the rule of law and of the instruments used to measure it; regrets the inability of the Council to make meaningful progress in enforcing Union values in ongoing Article 7 TEU procedures; notes with concern the disjointed nature of the Union’s toolkit in that field;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Proposes the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (the ‘Mechanism’), building on Parliament’s 2016 proposal and the Commission’s 2020 Rule of Law Report, to be governed by an interinstitutional agreement between Parliament, the Council and the Commission, consisting of an Annual Monitoring Cycle on Union values, covering all aspects of Article 2 TEU, and applying equally, objectively and fairly to all Member States and based on reliable evidence;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines that the Annual Monitoring Cycle must contain country- specific recommendationsimpartial recommendations applied equally to all Member States, based on reliable evidence, which should be objectives adapted to each country in the EU, with timelines and targets for implementation, to be followed up in subsequent annual or urgent reports; stresses that failures to implement the recommendations must be linked to concrete Union enforcement measures;
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Points out that the Mechanism should consolidate and supersede existing instruments, in particular the Annual Rule of Law Report, the Commission’s Rule of Law Framework, the Council’s Rule of Law Dialogue and the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), while increasing complementarity and coherence with other available tools, including infringement procedures under Article 7 TEU, budgetary conditionality once in force, and the European Semester; is of the opinion that the Annual Monitoring Cycle can fulfil the objectives of the CVM for Bulgaria and Romania, thus contributing to equal treatment of all the EU Member States, a treatment which should be objective, impartial and non- discriminatory; considers that the three institutions should use the findings from the Annual Monitoring Cycle in their assessment for the purposes of triggering Article 7 TEU and Regulation (EU) 2020/xxxx 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 States11; _________________ 11[instead of xxxx insert final number of 2018/136(COD) in the text and correct OJ reference in footnote] OJ C ..., …, p. …
Amendment 223 #
(2) Pursuant to Article 49 TEU, respect for and commitment to promoting Union values is a fundamental condition of Union membership. In accordance with Article 7 TEU, the existence of a serious and persistent breach by a Member State, based on reliable evidence, of Union values can lead to the suspension of voting rights of the representative of the government of that Member State in the Council. Respect for Union values forms the basis of a high level of confidence and mutual trust between Member States.
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – paragraph 4 – point 3
Annex I – paragraph 4 – point 3
(3) The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission (‘the three institutions’) recognise the paramount importance of respect for Union values. Respect for Union values is necessary for the good functioning of the Union and the achievement of its objectives as set out in Article 3 TEU. The three institutions are committed to mutual sincere and active cooperation with the aim of promoting and ensuring respect for Union values.
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – paragraph 4 – point 4
Annex I – paragraph 4 – point 4
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – paragraph 4 – point 5
Annex I – paragraph 4 – point 5
(5) The three institutions agree that an Annual Monitoring Cycle on Union Values is necessary to reinforce the promotion and respect for Union values. The Annual Monitoring Cycle should be comprehensive, objective, impartial, based on reliable evidence-based and applied equally and fairly to all Member States. The primary objective of the Annual Monitoring Cycle should be to prevent violations of and non- compliance with Union values, while providing a shared basis for other actions by the three institutions. The three institutions also agree to use this Interinstitutional Agreement to integrate existing instruments and initiatives relating to the promotion of and respect for Union values, in particular the Annual Rule of Law Report, the Council’s Annual Rule of Law Dialogue and the Commission’s Rule of Law Framework, in order to avoid duplication and strengthen overall effectiveness.
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – paragraph 4 – point 6
Annex I – paragraph 4 – point 6
(6) The Annual Monitoring Cycle should consist of a preparatory stage, the publication of an annual monitoring report on Union values including recommendations, and a follow-up stage. The Annual Monitoring Cycle should be conducted in a spirit of transparency and openness, applied equally and honestly to all EU Member States.
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – paragraph 4 – point 7
Annex I – paragraph 4 – point 7
(7) The three institutions share the view that the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism for Bulgaria and Romania should be terminated in its existing form in the interest of avoiding duplication of tasks and to strengthen equal, objective and non- discriminatory treatment of all Member States. The Annual Monitoring Cycle should therefore replace Commission Decisions 2006/928/EC1 and 2006/929/EC2 and fulfil, inter alia, the objectives of those Decisions with respect to Bulgaria and Romania. This Interinstitutional Agreement is without prejudice to the 2005 Act of Accession, in particular Articles 37 and 38 thereof. _________________ 1 Commission Decision of 13 December 2006 establishing a mechanism for cooperation and verification of progress in Romania to address specific benchmarks in the areas of judicial reform and the fight against corruption (OJ L 354, 14.12.2006, p. 56). 2 Commission Decision of 13 December 2006 establishing a mechanism for cooperation and verification of progress in Bulgaria to address specific benchmarks in the areas of judicial reform and the fight against corruption and organised crime (OJ L 354, 14.12.2006, p. 58).
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part 2 – point 2
Annex I – part 2 – point 2
2. The three institutions agree to organise in sincere, active, transparent and mutual cooperation an Annual Monitoring Cycle on Union Values, covering issues and best practices in areas of Union values. The Monitoring Cycle shall consist of a preparatory stage, the publication of an annual monitoring report on Union values (‘Annual Report’) including recommendations, and a follow- up stage.
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Annex I – part 2 – point 9
Annex I – part 2 – point 9
9. The Commission shall draft the Annual Report based on information gathered during the preparatory stage. The Annual Report should cover both positive and negative developments, determined on the basis of clearly defined criteria, relating to Union values in the Member States. The Annual Report shall be impartial, based on objectively compiled evidence and respect equality of treatment between all Member States. The depth of reporting should reflect the gravity of the situation in question.