Activities of Maria GRAPINI related to 2020/2161(DEC)
Opinions (1)
OPINION on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency for the financial year 2019
Amendments (11)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the Agency’s annual budget for 20189 was EUR 196.4 million, of which EUR 37.6 million came from EU subsidy, EUR 109.6 million from fees and charges EUR 2.26 million from third countries contributions; is pleased that budget implementation rate remained very high at 97 %, significantly above the 95 % threshold set by the Commission; notes that the rate of cancellations of carry-over remains increased to 3.7% (1,8 % in 2018) but remains below the 5 % limit set by the Commission; welcomes the fact that achievement of budget implementation and cancellation of amounts carried over targets means that no penalties will be applied to the 2021 EU subsidy;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Notes with concern that an uneven gender balance is reported for 2019 with regard to the senior managers (18 men and 7 women) and the management board members (61 men and 20 women); asks the Agency to ensure gender balance at the management and staff levels in the future; asks the Commission and the Member States to take into account the importance of ensuring gender balance when nominating their members to the Agency’s management board;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Commends the continuous efforts of the Agency to increase its efficiency, which resulted into net tangible reductions of effort estimated at eight full time equivalents compared to 2018, leading to staffing cost savings of around 960 000 euros; notes that a further 13 FTE, also gained through efficiency initiatives, were reinvested in core activities;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes steps taken by the Agency to achieve gender balance, such as encouragement of female applications during selection procedures, offering favourable working conditions and flexible arrangements linked to maternity; welcomes the formation of a gender balance advocacy group to raise awareness of gender balance issues; reiterates its call on the Member States and the Commission to take into account gender balance when nominating members of the Board;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Acknowledges the Agency’s existing measures and ongoing efforts to ensure transparency; prevention and management of conflicts of interest, and whistleblower protection; notes that in 2019 the Agency identified several cases of potential conflicts of interest but in most cases the conflicts of interest risk were addressed through the application of specific mitigating measures, with the remaining cases not requiring any mitigating measure to be taken; acknowledges that CVs and declarations of interest of most board members are published on its website, however, points out that the Agency failed to publish the CVs and declarations of interest of all board members on its website; calls on the Agency to publish the CVs and the declarations of interests of all the members of the management board and to report to the discharge authority on the measures taken in this regard;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Salutes the efforts of the Agency to step its efforts to improve the environmental impact of aviation, including through the development of new CO2 standards, the monitoring of Environmental Fraud prevention, the concept of an EcoLabel as well as of LifeCycle Assessments;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes that 72 % of the Agency’s income consists of fees; takes note of the Agency’s view that the fact that applicants pay fees does not necessarily imply a conflict of interest; calls on the Agency to develop preventive measures and regularly assess the staff involved in opinion-making to ensure there is independence;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Welcomes the preparation of the EASA to all eventualities with regard to Brexit, in particular the establishment of a contingency plan in coordination with the European Commission;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Takes note that the ECA found instances of non-compliance in the management of the procurement procedures. Requests that the Agency make sure all procurement procedure are managed according to existing rules;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Acknowledges the Agency’s measures taken to mitigate all risks associated to the United Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from the European Union; notes that the Agency cooperated closely with the European Commission during the negotiations with the United Kingdom and that the risk of disruption of aviation activities disappeared with the conclusion of the withdrawal agreement, which entered into force on 31 JanFebruary 201920; notes that the Agency has evaluated the effect of the UK's withdrawal from the Union on human resources, concluding that only a relatively small number of staff members might be affected (less than 10);
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Notes with satisfaction that the Agency has taken many actions in 2019 in order to increase their cyber security and protection of the digital records in its possession;