9 Amendments of Fabio Massimo CASTALDO related to 2020/2072(INL)
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the situation with regard of the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights has substantially deteriorated in a number of Member States; notes that the COVID-19pandemic has been used to limit citizens’ rights and fundamental freedoms as embedded in the Charter of fundamental rights of the EU, including unjustified censorships, fuelling discrimination, disinformation and hate speech; recalls in particular the importance of upholpromoting and defending the rule of law and the obligation of Member States to ensure effective judicial protection, which is a core value of the Union as a community based on law; s a precondition for any sound democratic systems as well as for ensuring the protection of fundamental rights and Union values and a prerequisite for upholding all rights and obligations deriving from the Treaties;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls that the EU still has no effective mechanisms to monitor, prevent and put an end to systemic threats to the rule of law and democracy in the Member States; welcomes, in this regard, the Commission communication on further strengthening the Rule of Law within the Union and the actions set out therein; calls on the Commission to implement the proposed rule of law framework without undue delay; considers necessary to put in place sanctions that could be effective, dissuasive and proportionate;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Recalls that the accession of the European Union to the European Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is a legal obligation foreseen under Article 6(2) TEU; recalls that the accession to ECHR will constitute a further step in the process of European integration and will enhance the coherence between the Union and the Council of Europe’s further strengthening the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms within the EU; regrets the lack of progress made so far to fulfil this Treaty obligation; calls on the Commission to step up efforts to respect the Treaties and conclude the negotiations without undue delay;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that for effective implementation, in accordance with Article 295 TFEU and their power of self- organisation, the three institutions should establish a joint body responsible for coordinating their cooperation in this field; notes,however, that unnecessary creation of new structures or duplication should be avoided and integration and incorporation of existing instruments should be the preferred option;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Insists that the Annual Monitoring Cycle should be governed by the principles of transparency, impartiality, and equality between Member States, be based on objective evidence and measurable indicators and criteria and lead to effective and realisticproportionate measures;
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that, both in the process of establishment of the Interinstitutional Agreement and in the operation of the Annual Monitoring Cycle, the institutions should, in accordance with Article 11 TEU, maintain an open dialogue with representativelevant stakeholders; the Annual Monitoring Cycle should therefore provide for compulsory consultations with organiserepresentatives of the national parliaments of the Member States and civil society organisations, and their views and contributions should be made public and taken in due account in that process;
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Insists that the Annual Monitoring Cycle be fully integrated with the Regulation on the protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States1 , linking budget transfers to the results of the monitoring process, while protecting the legitimate interests of the final recipients and beneficiaries of Union funds; considers necessary that, the afore mentioned Regulation, includes sufficiently defined and measurable criteria and indicators to assess breaches of the rule of law and trigger sanctions; _________________ 1Proposal for a Regulation on the protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States COM/2018/324 final
Amendment 72 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Considers that the assessment carried out in the context of the Annual Monitoring Cycle should inform Commission decisions about whether to launch systemic infringement procedures; calls on the Commission to make full use of its power in this regard;
Amendment 90 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. HRegrets that the Article 7 procedure will never be used to its full potential as the unanimity requirement in the European Council - de facto - hampers its application; regrets in this regard, the lack of progress made in the European Council on the current Article 7 procedures against Hungary and Poland; notes that without a Treaty change, the Union will hardly be able to impose sanctions on those Member States who do not respect the rule of law; highlights that the Conference on the Future of Europe provides a momentum for better understanding the need to protect Union values in this context; therefore, in the event of Treatystresses that only a mechanism that has broad support of Union citizens and allows them to take ownership of the process changes being made in the future, be effective; calls for a Treaty change to enhance the effectiveness of the Article 7 procedure should be enhanced by removing the requirement for unanimity and reinforcing the sanction mechanism;