6 Amendments of Erik MARQUARDT related to 2024/2019(DEC)
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Points to the findings of the European Court of Auditors Opinion (ECA) 03/2024 accompanying the Commission evaluation of the External Action Guarantee (EAG) which show a lack of evidence of the EFSD+’s contribution to NDICI-GE Regulation objectives, as well as concerns regarding the mobilisation of investments by the EAG and the estimates of the Commission in terms of how much private sector investments can be mobilised by EFSD+; calls on the Commission to respect ECA’s recommendations calling for an evaluation dedicated specifically to the EAG; calls on the Commission to implement ECA’s recommendations to increase the overall transparency of the EAG as required by the NDICI-Global Europe Regulation[1], including through a dedicated single website which will provide direct references to the complaints mechanisms of the relevant counterparts; [1] Article 39(1), 46(4), 46(5) 46(6) of the NDICI-Global Europe Regulation
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Considers that civil society and NGOs play an instrumental role in shaping policies that benefit society and our environment; recalls the commitment of the Commission in its political guidelines to step up its engagement with civil society organisations that have expertise and an important role to play in defending specific societal issues and upholding human rights; urges the Commission to revise its guidelines1a from May 2024 in order to ensure the continuation of the funding of NGO activities, including advocacy, under the LIFE programme; considers that discontinuation of this funding for all NGO activities would seriously undermine the voice of civil society in the public debate and would cause a severe reputational risk for the Commission; _________________ 1a Guidance on funding for activities related to the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of Union legislation and policy
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Is concerned about the allocation of EFSD+ funding under the new flexible 'Support to Investments' envelope, benefiting countries where the Global Gateway investments are easier to implement at the expense of prioritising LDCs, and fragile and conflict-affected countries where conditions are unsuitable for guarantees; calls for evidence of the volume of EFSD+ funding allocated and contractualised in these countries, and for transparency on how the quota of allocations to LDCs is respected within allocations of the regional MIPs; in line with recommendations in ECA’s Opinion 03/2024; calls on the Commission to implement the recommendations of the external study ‘Report on the EU’s External Action Financing Instrument (2014-2020, 2021-2027)[1]’ into the preparation of new MFF legislative proposals, in particular on increased use of grants in LDCs, fragile or conflict- affected countries, and to engage in coordination with relevant stakeholders including civil society actors; [1] https://op.europa.eu/en/publication- detail/-/publication/610eff32-1ef8-11ef- a251-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Recallst that, in compliance with European Parliament’s resolution on the implementation of the NDICI (12 December 2023), private-sector support is an addition to, rather than a replacement for, public investments, in particular in critical services, such as health, education and social protection, which provide crucial long-term prospects for exiting poverty; reiterates its call for EFSD+ not to finance investments that have a negative impact on the achievement of the SDGs, particularly as regards combating climate change;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6 d. Recalls that, in line with Article 11.2 TEU, EU institutions must maintain an open, transparent and structured dialogue with civil society organisations and representative associations and stresses, in particular, in this regard that access to structural funding is a prerequisite to ensure public participation, without which it would not be possible for citizens to have their voice channelled at the EU level through their representative associations, sustain a regular dialogue with EU institutions contributing to democratic participation in policy making, maintaining an open and wide-ranging dialogue ensuring that the diversity of views and concerns are taken into account, with equal access for public interest as compared to commercial interest, and to exercise a monitoring role on the implementation of EU policies, the SDGs, and the use of EU funds;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 e (new)
Paragraph 6 e (new)
6 e. Recalls the commitment of the Commission, in its political guidelines, to step up its engagement with civil society organisations that have expertise and an important role to play in defending specific societal issues, and upholding human rights; considers, therefore, that the independence of civil society organisations should be safeguarded and advocacy activities should remain eligible in the relevant EU-funding programmes, including through the NDICI-GE Regulation; urges the Commission to revise its Guidance on funding for activities related to the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of Union legislation and policy from May 2024, as the guidance is incompatible with the protection of the democratic right of public participation.