17 Amendments of Domènec RUIZ DEVESA related to 2020/2133(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Welcomes the commitment taken by the European Commission before the European Parliament for the establishment of an independent EU ethics body;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Underlines the need to review and align relevant EU legislation and codes of conduct, requiring full transparency on employment or projects taken up by high- ranking and senior officials of EU institutions and agencies, including after leaving public office;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the important role that the European Ombudsman plays in ensuring high standards of transparency and integrity in the EU institutions; stresses its key role at monitoring the proper functioning of the European public administration, which should continue after the establishment of the EU ethics body; calls on its Committee on Constitutional Affairs committee to consider and to take into account the experience provided by the European Ombudsman when reflecting on the possible establishment of an independent ethics body; suggests the setting up of an EU interinstitutional working group that is tasked with discussing and formulating recommendations on all aspects related to the subject mattersuch body, which should be holding a clear mandate, and operating at a technical level with a permanent, independent, impartial, collegiate and gender-balanced structure;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the important role played by Parliament as representative of the citizens of the EU, including in its oversight of the political evaluation of the Commission and other institutions on behalf of the public, as well as to ensure suitability of certain senior positions; recalls that the European Parliament should continue holding this role after the establishment of the EU ethics body;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – introductory part
Paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Considers that the new EU Ethics Body should be delegated ahave an agreed list of competences to implement ethics rules for Members and staff which should be foreseen in the necessary changes to the existing legislation; takes the view that this list should include by way of a minimum the competences provided for in:
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – introductory part
Paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Considers that the new EU Ethics Body should be delegated a list of competences to implement ethics rules for Commissioners, Members and staff; takes the view that this list should include by way of a minimum the competences provided for in:
Amendment 77 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines the fact that strengthening the existing procedures on the basis of analysis and evaluation of their effectiveness and public response is generally more effective that the future ethics body should take on the role of the ethics committees operating in the different EU institutions and agencies; and work towards the harmonization of the different interpretations of the norms and terms within the EU institutions, such as “conflict of interest”, to avoid divergences and in pursuit of the clarity that citizens demand the introduo continue growing their trust in the functioning of new the EU institutiones;
Amendment 83 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers, as that, from the viewpoint of the committee most directly engaged with the public opinion and public response to the institutions’ transparency and integrity, that the democratic approach and political responsibility remains the strongest control mechanism in any constitutional democracy, as well as in the EU; stresses the need for further strengthening of the democratic accountability mechanisms at EU levele future ethics body should operate in a depoliticised manner and perform in an independent way, to further strengthen and guarantee the highest standards of accountability, transparency and integrity at EU level, to continue growing trust of the citizens in the EU institutions.
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Insists that the IIA should be open to the participation of all EU institutions and bodies; believes that the IIA should allow the Ethics Body to conclude agreements with national authorities with a view to ensuring the exchange of information necessary for the performance of its tasks as well as to explore best practices and peer to peer reviews;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Insists that the IIA should be open to the participation of all EU institutions and bodies; believes that the IIA should allow the Ethics Body to conclude agreementsexchange information with national authorities with a view to ensuring the exchange of informationthat are necessary for the performance of its tasks;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that the EU Ethics Body should be entrusted with advisory tasks in order to provide advice to any individual and/or institution covered by its scope who wishes to request interpretation of an ethical standard in relation to appropriate conduct in a specific case;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. 14. Considers that the composition of the Ethics Body should be accompanied by a framework for the exercise of the mandate as well as a procedure to end the mandate.
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Proposes a two-step approach whereby, in the event that the EU Ethics Body becomes aware of a breach or possible breach of ethics rules, it first recommends actions to put an end to the breach; considers that this first preventive step should ensure confidentiality and secrecy and the right of the person to be heard and present allegations to the accusations; suggests that in the event that the individual concerned refuses to take the appropriate actions, the EU Ethics Body should make relevant information about the case publicly available and decide, if appropriate, on sanctions; considers that this two-step approach should apply provided that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the individual acted in bad faith and recommends that intentional breach, gross negligence, the concealment of evidence and non- compliance with the obligation to cooperate should be, as such, subject to sanctions, even when the breach itself has ceased;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Considers that the Ethics Body procedures should be accompanied by a complementary proposal to ensure procedural guarantees to the people and institutions subject to these procedures, as well as the adequate data protection protocol.
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Is of the opinion that one year after its establishment, the EU Eethics Bbody should publish an annual report containing both information about the fulfilment of its tasks and, whereall adopt a general assessment of its activities, including analysis of the functioning of the rules and procedures and the experience acquired in applying them (review clause). In particular, the EU ethics body should focus on the assessment of: - the effectiveness on the implementation of its mandate and delegated powers, - the monitoring competences over ethics standards, - the application and efficiency of procedures. The EU ethics body shall submit appropriate, recommendations for improving ethics standards; amendments, including, if necessary, proposal to amend its competences and to present it before the EP.
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Insists that the decisions of the EU Ethics Body should be legally binding, without prejudice of the Parliament's competences refer to in paragraph 11, reviewable before the CJEU and subject to possible complaints to the EU Ombudsman;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. The powers and activities of the Ethics Body are to be exercised without prejudice of European Parliament’s right of inquiry in accordance to article 226TFEU, and the necessary improving of the legal framework for the operation of the said right, which represents a cornerstone of the parliamentary democracy