Activities of Gwendoline DELBOS-CORFIELD related to 2021/0227(BUD)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2022 - all sections
Amendments (12)
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. FindsIs extremely concerned about the proposed reduction in the budget of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) by 0,5 % very disappointing; calls i; calls instead for a budgetary increase of EUR 29,6 million in order to effectively implement the new mandate and the projects that respond to identified needs, as well as to compensatead for a budgetary increase of EUR 27,1 million and the considerable extra efforts required to monitor the impact of fundamental rights during the COVID-19 pandemic; deplores the fact that the budget for FRA has barely increased in the last years, and underlines that this can affect the quality of work that the Agency provides, which has proved to be extremely valuable for the Union policy; further calls for the addition of twoen temporary agents and twofive contractual agents to function group IV in the establishment plan to allow FRA to continue to operate effectively; ; highlights that without adequate financial and staff resources, FRA will not be able to carry out all the tasks assigned to it and fully implement its new mandate;
Amendment 9 #
2. Welcomes the proposed increase of the budget of the European Asylum Support Office by 11,2 %; calls for adjustments to the establishment plan as regards the distribution of posts across different grades to enable reclassification needs and for the publication of planned posts for 2022; emphasises that the latter will not impact the total budget or the total number of staff proposed; further calls for 46 additional staff which are necessary to carry out all the tasks the Agency is entrusted to and to effectively operationalise the transition towards an European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) and the new Regulation once it enters into force, as expected later in 2021; stresses, however, that further additional human resources and budget will be required once the Regulation on the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) enters into force;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Is deeply concerned that gender equality is suffering from continuous backsliding across the EU and it has been exacerbated due the COVID-19 pandemic; proposes, therefore, to reinforce the funding and human resources of EIGE to support the work of the Agency in the promotion of gender equality in order to counteract this worrying trend and to ensure gender mainstreaming in all EU policies;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is concerned with the serious and repeated allegations made against European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) related to pushbacks at external borders and the conclusions reached by the investigations of the Frontex Management Board, the Court of Auditors, the European Ombudsman and the Frontex Scrutiny Group in the European Parliament; takes note of the ongoing investigation OLAF; is disappointed to note that, according to the Court of Auditors, Frontex has not managed to implement its mandate from 2016, let alone its updated mandate of 2019, and that serious and multiple deficiencies regarding its effectiveness have been identified; stresses that substantialany budget and staff increases for Frontex are conditional on its accountability and transparency, on its commitment to Union law, and on its fulfilment of its mandate; proposurges, therefore, to make the budget allocations conditional upon Frontexrestore the budget allocations to its level of 2021, and to make the budget allocations any budget and staff increase conditional upon all the ongoing investigations are completed as well as Frontex finalisation of the recruitment of at least recruiting 40 fundamental rights monitors at AD grade, adopting a clear procedure for the implementation of Article 46 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 of the European Parliament and of the Council1 , and swiftly appointing deputy executive directors in line with Frontex’ 2019 mandate; recalls that the fulfilment of these conditions are in line with Frontex’ 2019 mandate; expresses its deep concern that Frontex is the JHA Agency that has been receiving more significant budget increases in the last years; _________________ 1Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 November 2019 on the European Border and Coast Guard and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1052/2013 and (EU) 2016/1624 (OJ L 295, 14.11.2019, p. 1).
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls the estimate made by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) that it will process 3 000 investigations in 2022; emphasises that EPPO is a prosecutorial body with mandatory competences and obligations to investigate irrespective of budgetary provision; is concerned that the funding proposed for 2022 does not include a meaningful increase as compared with 2021; stresses that a substantial funding increase to EUR 565,76 million and 59 additional members of staff are required;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Stresses the need at least to maintain the funding as per Commission proposal, and to reinforce the staff of the EDPS in order to allow the EDPS to carry out all the tasks it is entrusted to and to cope with the increase in workload; considers the work of the EDPS crucial to ensure there is compliance with EU data protection rules, especially in the context of digitalisation, including the increased use of AI and the risks it entails, the conclusions of the Schrems II judgement and the new mandates of some JHA Agencies;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Regrets the decrease of 3,3 % in commitment and payment appropriations for the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) and requests rather additional funding of EUR 750 000 and additional five posts in the establishment plan, which would contribute to support CEPOL in providing effective fundamental rights and anti- racism trainings to law enforcement officials; considers it essential to address police violence and institutional racism in law enforcement;
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Is deeply concerned by the continuing loss of lives in the Mediterranean Sea, which have increased 56,6 % with respect to last year; considers thatis of the opinion that a more long-term approach to search and rescue (SAR) operations is necessary as SAR cannot be exclusively left to non-state actors; urges the Commission shouldto present a legislative proposal to set up a Search and Rescue Fund to support search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean Sea; proposes, therefore, the creation of a new budget line for such a fund to encourage the saving of lives and to show solidarity among Member States in the carrying out of SAR operations in accordance with international law and fundamental rights, including the right to life and the principle of non-refoulement;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Reiterates its call for the creation of a separate budget line per specific objective set out in the legal bases of AMIF and the Instrument for Border Management and Visa Policy (BMVI); believes that a separate budget line per specific objective would help to ensure transparency, better budgetary scrutiny, and adequate funding for all objectives of AMIF and BMVI;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Welcomes the proposed increase in commitment appropriations for the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme; highlights the importance of that programme for the promotion ofto support civil society, to sustain and promote an open, democratic and inclusive society, as well as for the promotion of gender equality, citizens participation and European citizenship education; calls for an increase in commitment appropriations for the Promote equality and rights, rights and gender equality budget line of EUR 15 millions, the Promote citizens engagement and participation in the democratic life of the Union budget line of EUR 1,5 million, the Daphne budget line of EUR 15 millions and the Protection and promotion of Union values budget line of EUR 1.5 million; at least 6 millions; stresses that two new budget lines on gender-based violence and on gender mainstreaming should be created, which correspond to specific objectives of the CERV Programme, in line with Regulation (EU) 2021/692; recalls that appropriate funding for the CERV Programme is essential particularly to address the pressing need to protect and promote Union values which are under increasing pressure across the EU and the alarming number of victims of gender- based violence, which has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Urges the Commission, the Council and Member States to implement gender budgeting in all public expenditure; recalls that gender budgeting should be an integral part of the budgetary procedure at all its stages and budget lines;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes with regret the decrease in commitment and payment appropriations of 6 % and 16 % respectively for the Justice Programme; proposes rather to maintain the funding in 2022 at least at the level of the 2021 Budget, giving particular attention to access to justice and judicial training;