21 Amendments of Olivier CHASTEL related to 2021/2120(DEC)
Amendment 1 #
Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Grants the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2020 / Postpones its decision on granting the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2020;
Amendment 2 #
Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) for the financial year 2020 / Postpones the closure of the accounts of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) for the financial year 2020;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Regrets that one irregular payment of EUR 5 335 was found by the Court; notes that that payment represents a cancellation fee for a hotel booking done in late June 2020, for an event in September 2020; considers that in view of the evolution of the situation generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Agency did not show sufficient foresight to prevent that outcome;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes with concern that, according to the Court’s report, the Agency paid a cancellation fee for a hotel booking for a training event in Budapest due to the COVID-19 restrictions; notehighlights the Court’s finding that if the Agency had invoked the "force majeure" clause in the framework contract instead, it could have cancelled the reservation without cost; notes in addition that the event had been planned on 29 June 2020, when the situation in Hungary was already uncertain; notes with regrets that the Agency did not take the necessary steps to protect the financial interests of the Union and that the related payment is therefore deemed irregular by the Court;
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. NotesWelcomes the fact that, despite the COVID-19 outbreak, the Agency continued to increase its outreach with the number of training participants increasing by 13%; notes that, on 30 April 2020, the Agency launched a new Law Enforcement Education (LEEd) platform; notes that the pilot CEPOL Knowledge Centre on Counter Terrorism was set up, having the mandate to elaborate a comprehensive multiannual training portfolio;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Notes with regret the weaknesses in the Agency's internal control system in relation to budgetary commitments, including the signing of three legal commitments before the budgetary commitments had been approved;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Expresses its satisfaction that the Agency's trainings are closely aligned with the requirements voiced by the EU Policy Cycle EMPACT groups, while expertise was secured from Member States, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol), the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, the European Judicial Training Network, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, the European Asylum Support Office, the European Cybercrime Centre, the European Cybercrime Training and Education Group, the International Criminal Police Organization and other stakeholders;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Observes that there were 16 resignations in 2020 (versus 6 in 2019) due to either the closure of Western Balkans project or due to new job opportunities in and outside the Agency; reiterates its concern that the Agency continues to suffer from a high staff turnover and a limited number of applications from Member States other than the host Member State; notes that the higher staff fluctuation had a significant impact on the organisation, on top of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that interim staff and seconded national experts have been contracted to fill in for staff absences and to cope with peak periods; calls on the Commission to engage in an active dialogue with the Agency in order to address those issues;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Underlines that insufficient office space and uncertainty about the Agency's headquarters premises creates further operational difficulties; calls on the Commission to engage in an active dialogue with the Agency and the host Member State in order to address those shortcomings;
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. NotWelcomes the Agency’s existing measures and ongoing efforts to secure transparency and the prevention and management of conflicts of interest; expresses satisfaction that the Agency has set up and implemented a code of administrative behaviour in 2019, the Anti- Fraud Sub-Strategy and Policy on Management of Conflict of Interest in 2020; notes with satisfaction that declarations of interests and CV’s of management board members and senior management are published on the Agency’s website; notes that the declarations on conflicts of interest and confidentiality for the remunerated experts are collected and screened before signature of contract;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. NoteRegrets that the Agency does not have a policy regarding cyber security and the protection of the digital records; notes with concern that the Agency was subject to a cyberattack that led to a temporary shutdown of online training activities for approximately 3 weeks; calls on the Agency to inform the discharge authority regarding its efforts in the area of cyber security;
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22 a. Welcomes the introduction of new IT tools, namely SPEEDWELL for financial workflow, SYSPER for human resources and ARES for document management, in an effort to increase administrative efficiency;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Notes that the two-step residential activity on Fundamental rights, Police Ethics and Management of Diversity was cancelled due to the pandemic, calls on the Agency to increase the number of training activities in this field;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Notes that the European Anti- Fraud Office (OLAF) launched an investigation in 2020 into a case of external fraud in the Agency; notes that this investigation was launched at the request of the Agency and that following the investigation conclusions from early 2021, the Agency has already started to implement the recommendations of OLAF;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. Expresses its satisfaction that the Agency's training activities are closely aligned with the needs identified by the EU Policy Cycle EMPACT groups while expertise was secured from Member States, Europol, Eurojust, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, the European Judicial Training Network, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, the European Asylum Support Office, the European Cybercrime Centre, the European Cybercrime Training and Education Group, Interpol and other stakeholders;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4 c. Expresses its satisfaction that the Agency has completed one outstanding recommendation of the Court, namely the one concerning the publications of the vacancy notices on the website of the European Personnel Selection Office;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4 d. Welcomes the introduction of new IT tools, namely SPEEDWELL for financial workflow, SYSPER for human resources and ARES for document management, in an effort to increase administrative efficiency;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4 e. Notes with appreciation the establishment in 2020 of the pilot CEPOL Knowledge Centre on Counter Terrorism;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 f (new)
Paragraph 4 f (new)
4 f. Notes with satisfaction the Agency’s commitment to enhancing its international presence through the successful implementation of two international projects, namely the EU/MENA Counter Terrorism Training Partnership 2 and the Financial Investigation In-Service Training programme in the Western Balkans, as well as through the negotiation of a EUR 23.5 million project portfolio in the Union enlargement and neighbourhood policy areas;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 g (new)
Paragraph 4 g (new)
4 g. Highlights that structural deficits in the budget and human resources of the Agency in certain areas may impact its ability to perform all duties under its mandate and fulfil Member States’ training needs; underlines moreover that insufficient office space and uncertainty about the Agency's headquarters create further difficulties; calls on the Commission to engage in an active dialogue with the Agency and the host Member State in order to address these shortcomings and allocate adequate financial and human resources to the Agency;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 h (new)
Paragraph 4 h (new)
4 h. Notes that the European Anti- Fraud Office (OLAF) launched an investigation in 2020 into a case of external fraud in the Agency; notes that this investigation was launched at the request of the Agency and that following the investigation conclusions from early 2021, the Agency has already started to implement the recommendations of OLAF;