Activities of Damian BOESELAGER related to 2020/2088(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Stocktaking of European elections (continuation of debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on stocktaking of European elections
Amendments (50)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union, in particular articles 39 and 52(1) thereof,
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)
Citation 16 a (new)
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the right choice of an electoral system creates the right environment for citizens to believe in their basic democratic right to vote for their democratic representatives and at the same time for the political representatives to listen to their voters and represent their interest and as such creates a self-efficacy amongst citizens;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the higher turnout was ultimately linked to both gains by Eurosceptics, which should be considered as a warning for European integration, especially in several founding Member States where far- right extremists and anti-European forces won the elections and gains by pro- European parties receiving votes from younger generations;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the gender equalitygap among Members of the European Parliament has improvbeen reduced (41 % women in 2019, up from 37 % in 2014) without however reaching a gender balanced parliament;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas Europe´s diverse and multicultural society needs to be represented better in the European Parliament;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas on 14 June 2019, the Spanish Electoral Commission published a decision proclaiming the names of the elected Members of the European Parliament, 54 in total for Spain, and the name of Oriol Junqueras i Vies was on the list;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
F b. whereas, according to the Court of Justice of the European Union (C- 502/19), a person elected Member of European Parliament enjoys, as a result of and from the time of the declaration of the election results, the immunities guaranteed by Article 9 of the Protocol on the privileges and immunities of the European Union; whereas the primary objectives pursued by the Protocol consist of ensuring that the proper functioning and independence of the EU institutions are protected; whereas it is in the powers and prerogatives of the European Parliament to decide on the immunity of its Members;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the reform of the Electoral Act of 1976, as adopted by the European Parliament in its legislative resolution of 4 July 2018 on the draft Council decision amending the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, annexed to Council Decision 76/787/ECSC, EEC, Euratom of 20 September 197614 , is still not fully ratified owing to the unwillingness of Germany, Spain and Cyprus to take the last necessary steps in their national legisl, which constitutes an opportunity to restart the negotiation,s and thereby blocking the evolution of the regulatory framework for European electionsimprove the Electoral Act of 1976; _________________ 14 J C 118, 8.4.2020, p. 246.
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the amended Electoral Act, still pending ratification by some Member States, already requires further improvements (i.e. regarding parental leave for MEPs and zip lists);
Amendment 60 #
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
I a. whereas, despite the large turnover of Members and new parties joining the European Parliament, the European Parliament aggregates political positions efficiently, suggesting that no electoral thresholds do not impede the functioning of the policy-making process in the European Parliament;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the 2019 elections failed to culminate in the choice of a Commission President from among the various Spitzenkandidaten, resulting in a backward step from the process which was established in 2014 consequently reducing the trust in the process;;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas institutional improvements such as placing European political parties at the centre European elections, as intended in article 10(4) of the Treaty on European Union, transnational lists, as acknowledged by Parliament in its resolution of 7 February 2018 on the composition of the European Parliament, or the transformation of the Council into a second legislative chamber of the Union, as proposed in its resolution of 16 February 2017 on possible evolutions of and adjustments to the current institutional set- up of the European Union, would radically transform the European elections into one true European election, as opposed to the collection of 27 separate national elections that it is today;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas the intensified political exchanges in Parliament have improved in comparison to previous iterations, but also highlighted the shortcomings of several standing procedures such as the hearings of Commissioners-designate, with particular regard to the conditions for the legal assessment of their applications (e.g. declarations of financial interests);
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital P
Recital P
P. whereas the Commission’s requests to social media platforms ahead of the elections created confusion and had unintended consequences such as the ban on Europe-wide political advertisements, which is the only way for European political parties to advertise during European election campaigns; whereas especially on that matter, the institutions should develop an interinstitutional approach in order to have a positive impact on the security and stability of the electoral process; whereas the Code of Practice is purely voluntary and focuses on transparency rather than on actual limits like targeted political advertisement;
Amendment 113 #
R. whereas European political parties face various restrictions to campaigning during European elections, including the limited possibility to finance campaigns and shared activities with their national member parties and are prohibited from campaigning in national referendums on European matters;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital R a (new)
Recital R a (new)
R a. whereas the European Parliament is composed of representatives of the Union's citizens; whereas the lack of a genuine European electoral law leads to differing electoral procedures and practices in different Member States, infringing on the principle of equal suffrage;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital R b (new)
Recital R b (new)
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital R c (new)
Recital R c (new)
R c. whereas diverging national rules for establishing parties and accessing the European elections remain a significant obstacle for political innovation and for creating a true pan-European political debate;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital R d (new)
Recital R d (new)
R d. whereas conditioning the accession to the status of Member of the European Parliament to certain national procedures, such us swearing an oath on a national constitution, produces an unjustified distortion of the system of guarantees established by EU law;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital R e (new)
Recital R e (new)
R e. whereas it has been reported that due to the organization of the registration of voters in the United Kingdom, around a million European citizens were deprived of the possibility to exercise their right to vote in the European elections;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Takes note of the higher turnout in the 2019 European elections; considers that this shows that an increasing proportion of citizens consider the EU to be the appropriate level at which to address the challenges of our time such as climate change and environmental concerns, social and gender inequalities, sustainable growth, and geopolitical concerns such as migration and foreign policy; urges all the European institutions, therefore, to take responsibility and to act upon the mandate they have been given, directly or indirectly, by the citizens; regrets both the lack of decisiveness by the Council on rules governing the European elections and the lack of clear intent to achieve solutions based on a common approach;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Is confident that the trend of growing voter turnout can be repeated, if the connection and the accountability between voters and candidates are strengthened and EU-wide challenges and political programmes are debated across Member States;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Deplores the fact that the outcome of the elections did not lead to genuine gender balance in Parliament; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with Parliament and other bodies such as the Venice Commission, to formulate recommendations to Member States with a view to increasing the representation of women in the European Parliament; Calls on the European Parliament to initiate a revision of the electoral law, notably with a view to introduce mandatory zipped list
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Considers that a 96% white Parliament cannot ensure a satisfactory representation of the plural and diverse European society; Deplores the fact that, while some groups experience structural racism on an everyday basis, no measure is being taken to improve the representation of racialized persons in the European Parliament; Believes that the elimination of exclusions and of intersectional discrimination is a duty that derives from EU values and from the Charter of fundamental rights; Calls on Member States and on political parties participating in European elections to adopt proactive policies to ensure equal opportunity and increase the representation of racialized persons and of all underrepresented and marginalized groups;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Deplores that Oriol Junqueras was not able to take his rightful seat, thus leaving the European Parliament incomplete; reminds that the European Parliament is the only competent body to waive the immunity of its Members and that while doing so, it shall act in accordance with the Charter; therefore calls upon the European Parliament President in particular, to apply the Court of Justice of the European Union judgement (C-502/19), by asserting the immunity of Oriol Junqueras and therefore protecting the independence of the European Parliament;
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Notes that diverging electoral cultures have resulted in a range of different electoral systems; recommends that clear regulations, recommendations and guidelines ensure an approximation of a unified electoral law and equality of the vote for European citizens, notably when it comes to the right register a party and to stand for elections, access to ballots, fielding candidates, accessibility, proxy or remote voting, and days of election;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Notes that under Art. 223(1) TFEU, it is the Parliament’s prerogative to propose a change to the electoral law; notes that under Art. 223 (1) subparagrah 1 it is the Council’s prerogative to alter the proposed text; takes note of the Council Legal Service interpretation of Art. 223 (TFEU) from 2016; recommends that both institutions work together in an organized and collaborative spirit from the beginning to come forward with the best solutions for the European elections and to implement the result in Member States ahead of the 2024 elections;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Considers that an electoral threshold in the European elections is not required and that its introduction would decrease the representation of political forces that play a constructive and innovative role in European decision- making process;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Deplores that based on a lack of strong European election campaigns and debate, the European Parliament was not able to build a constructive majority behind a leading candidate of a European political party for President of the Commission;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Deplores that EU citizens cannot directly become members of European political parties and the limited resources for campaigning by European political parties that would be able to make leading candidates known in all Member States to strengthen the lead candidate principle and the European quality of debate and elections;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Deplores the limited campaign time horizon that candidates have to engage with the general public before the elections;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Considers that the outcome of the European elections has reinforced the political dimension of the election of the European Commission, and therefore the need for more accurate and objective scrutiny of the declarations of interests of the Commissioners-designate; calls for the creation of an independent ethics body, endowed with the appropriate means, to have this scrutiny included in its responsibilities;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Regrets that the attribution of portfolios in the Commission follows solely a logic where national interests and representation take priority over the European common interest and asks for a reflection of this process and a distribution based on expertise and political priorities; recalls that under Article 17 (TEU) the amount of portfolios should be dependent on principles of good governance.;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Insists that all European voters should be allowed to vote for their preferred candidate for the President of the Commission ; reiterates, therefore, that the Spitzenkandidaten should be able to stand as official candidates at the next elections in a joint European constituency across all Member States; elected by a European Political Party or movement and standing for a unified European electoral program available in at least all official languages of the EU; believes a limited number of elected Members of the European Parliament in such European constituency would be likely candidates for the posts of Commission President, Commissioners and political group presidents or vice presidents with a high accountability towards all EU citizens, whereas a larger number of such representatives would likely strengthen the role of European political parties and establish a division of constituency responsibilities as is already today the case in bigger multi-person constituencies, assuring in either case the desirable accountability of elected representatives by citizens in their constituencies;
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Believes that granting European voters a second vote for transnational lists in a joint European constituency, drawn up by European political parties andor movements, would elevate the European elections above purely national campaigns based on national interests, particularly if such lists were headed by the respective Spitzenkandidaten; ultimately aiming to strengthen European political parties to be able to present their own election lists for both the transnational and national constituencies, particularly if such lists were headed by the respective Spitzenkandidaten; Considers that rules concerning the constitution of these transnational lists can easily ensure geographical balance;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Proposes to reform the Electoral Law Act and the decision on the composition of the European Parliament, envisaging both immediate improvements for the upcoming elections as well as an agreed and obligatory roadmap of improvements beyond the upcoming elections;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Acknowledges that despite the fact that the agreed reform of the Electoral Law has not yet been ratified by some Member States, further improvements are required, such asincluding provisions for remote voting operations in defined or exceptional circumstances, as well as onthe insertion of provisions for the elections in thea joint European constituency, provisions to ensure parental leaves for Members, common election admission rules of candidates, common campaign and funding rules, as well as harmonised standards for passive and active voting rights across EU Member States, including by decreasing to 16 the minimum age of voters in all Member States;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Welcomes the grown participation of young voters in the 2019 European elections; deplores the average age of Members does not reflect yet fully this grown interest of young voters; encourages political parties to consider that the age of candidates should reflect the diversity of voters ; calls on those 13 Member States requiring a higher minimum age of candidates than 18 to lower this minimum age to 18;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Believes that the increase in young voter turnout, the emergence of new political debates, parties and movements requires the modernisation of the Electoral Law Act to facilitate access to the European elections without electoral thresholds thereby allowing for political innovation to take place also at a European level and offering more choice to voters in the European elections;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13 c. Recommends the establishment of a European Electoral Authority with a mandate to monitor the implementation of the guidelines and provisions related to the European electoral law, to register the lists running in the joint constituency and to monitor their compliance with the applicable rules; recommends further strengthening the exchange mechanisms between national electoral offices under the coordination of the European Electoral Office;
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Takes note of the efforts by the Commission and other institutions to tackle foreign interference during the electoral campaign, notably through the EEAS' East StratCom task force and the new Electoral Authority; points out, nevertheless, that the financial and human resources needed to counter these attacks on European democracy, including at national level, are many times superior to the combined designated European resources; urges the Commission and the Member States to raise significantly the financing they make available for the fight against foreign interference;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Considers that illegitimate interference in electoral processes is not an exclusively foreign phenomenon; believes that the content promoting algorithms of social media platforms have to be scrutinised and, if necessary, regulated in order to ensure that the information available to citizens is not biased and protects their right to information during and beyond electoral campaigns;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14 b. Believes that the difficulties encountered with political advertisement on social media platforms demonstrate the need to harmonize campaign rules throughout the Union, especially while the European elections de facto lead to pan-European campaigns where the need to comply with 27 different legal regimes in a digital space creates hurdles and legal uncertainty for political parties and movements;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Urges the Commission and the Council to consider, in accordance with the work of Parliament’s Special Committee on Foreign interference and Disinformation, the urgent creation of a strong European organisationElectoral Authority dedicated to the fight against foreign interference; encourages the Commission and the Council to work much more closely with Parliament on these matters, as the protection of our democratic institutions is a core competence of the European Parliament;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Recognises the important role of European political parties, political movements and foundations in fostering a European political debate; points out, however, that owing to restrictive measures at European and national levels, European political parties cannot fully participate in European election campaigns; stresses, moreover, that they are not allowed to campaign in referendums that concern European matters, including such as international trade agreements or the UK’s 2016 referendum on EU membership;
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Proposes to amend Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1141/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations16 to allow European political parties and foundations to fully participate in the European political space while at the same time, to campaign and be able to receive campaign funds across borders and stand in European elections, to increasinge the transparency of their funding, especially when funding comes from member parties outside the EU; _________________ 16 OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 1. and to prohibit donations from legal entities; stresses nonetheless that membership fees from parties from third countries should be allowed in view of fostering bonds with national parties from current and future candidate countries;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Calls for a coordinated strategy at European level to ensure media coverage of the European elections, notably by ensuring that the political platforms of the different European political forces are debated, that candidates standing for the European elections in different Member States are invited and that campaign events are covered;
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17 b. Encourages public broadcasters to host and broadcast debates between leading candidates as well as between candidates running for the European Parliament as part of their mandate to inform the public;