8 Amendments of Jude KIRTON-DARLING related to 2018/2111(INI)
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that EU institutions should enhance efforts to ensure greater effectiveness of the electoral rights of Union citizens with the view to effectively tackle the problem of decreasing levels of voter turnout; highlights the fact that electoral laws in many Member States remain complex and urges the Commission to call on the Member States to actively uphold best practices which help citizens to vote in and stand for EU elections pursuant to Article 22(2) TFEU, including the publication of electoral laws one year before EU elections, the combating of fake news and any populist rhetoric, and the promotion of media pluralism;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers the exercise, pursuant to Article 22(1) TFEU, by Union citizens of electoral rights at municipal level to be a crucial corollary to the right to free movement and Union citizenship, and holds that participatory democracy at EU level would be rendered more effective were citizens first convinced of the effectiveness of political involvement in local communities; urges the Commission, in that regard, to further best practices in promoting higher voter turnout in municipal and local elections across the Union; recognises that the current situation by which citizens of some Member States lose their right to vote in national elections in their country of origin, while also not being entitled to vote in the national elections of their country of residence, must be addressed; This disenfranchisement of EU citizens is incompatible with their treaty right to "fully participate in the democratic life of the Union".
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls that freedom of movement for workers is one of the founding principles of the EU; calls on Member States to fully and effectively implement Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems in order to ensure the portability of social security benefits (e.g. state pensions, health insurance, unemployment benefits and family benefits) and consequently reduce barriers to labour mobility
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Regrets the existing opt-outs from parts of the EU treaties by some Member States which undermine and generate de facto differences in citizens' rights that are intended to be equal under the EU Treaties
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recognises that Brexit will be the first time EU citizens have been stripped of their EU citizenship and its associated rights, privileges and protections. Once EU citizenship has been granted we must ensure those who have utilised its privileges are not left in legal limbo when it is removed, particularly when against their own will, as we have witnessed during the UK´s withdrawal from the Union; Call for citizens’ rights to be secured in a separate agreement from the ongoing Brexit negotiations to remove them from the political process and ensure their protection even in a “no- deal” scenario; Consider the possibility of life long EU citizenship or a form of associate citizenship for those who have had EU citizenship removed from them
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Encourages Member States to give more space to political education on EU affairs, inter alia on EU citizens' rights, in their school curricula and to adapt teacher training accordingly
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Calls on Member States to better inform EU citizens as to their rights and duties, and to facilitate entitlement to these rights being respected equally both in their country of origin and in any other Member State
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Recalls Article 1 of the TEU which provides that decisions should be taken as openly and as closely as possible to the citizen; democratic and transparent decision-making at European level is indispensable to increase citizens' trust in the European project and the EU institutions; fully endorses the European Ombudsman's recommendations on the transparency of the Council legislative process