89 Amendments of Sándor RÓNAI related to 2020/2140(DEC)
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. the Union budget is a significant instrument for achieving common policy objectives, and on average represents 2,1 % of the Member States’ general government expenditure and total public spending in the Union1.0% of EU gross national income;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights, with regard to the implementation of the Union budget, the importance of complying with the principle of sound financial management as enshrined in Article 317 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU);,), as well as the importance of achieving programmes priorities and objectives which contribute to strengthening the European integration and creating an ever closer Union .
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Encourage the Commission to continue attaching the highest importance to the sound financial management of the EU budget, in particular through putting in place multiannual control strategies designed to prevent, detect and correct errors, as well as to continue carefully monitoring the implementation of the EU budget and to take immediate steps to correct the errors and to recover the funds incorrectly spent by Member States, intermediaries or final beneficiaries;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Considers, in line with the Commission's endeavour, that it is of utmost importance to strike the right balance between low level of errors, fast payments, reasonable costs of controls and added value of the EU Budget;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1 c. Stresses the crucial role of the EU policies and instruments for their realisation in the areas of cohesion, agriculture and rural development, research and innovations, home affairs and external relations for reducing disparities between Member States and regions, for promoting economic growth and employment, for combating poverty and social exclusion, for upholding and promoting EU values, security and justice for its citizens within the Union and in the wider world;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1 d. Welcomes that the Commission, as manager of the EU budget, appropriately tailors its common methodology to the specificities of the risk, control and management environments of the different spending areas, in order to effectively fulfil its reporting obligations and protect the EU Budget;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Welcomes the major increase of the EPPO’s budget and staff with regard to the initial proposal; reminds the Commission the key role of the EPPO in protecting the EU recovery plan in the years to come; calls on the Commission and the budgetary authorities to secure sufficient resources for the EPPO as requested by the European Chief Prosecutor;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Acknowledges that the financial management of the EU budget has improved over time and that the error levels have decreased to ranges getting closer to the 2% materiality threshold in the recent years, except in some specific policy areas;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Deeply regrets, however,Is concerned that for the first time in four years the Court had tos issued an adverse opinion on the legality and regularity of the expenditure underlying the accounts;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – introductory part
Paragraph 8 – introductory part
8. Notes that the reasons for the adverse opinion are: on EU expenditure is the conclusion of the Court that the level of errors mainly in reimbursement-based payments is pervasive, and that due to the way the EU budget is composed and evolves over time, high risk expenditures in 2019 represents more than half of the audited spending (53,1%),in which the material error continues to be present at an estimated rate of 4,9% (compared to 4,5 % in 2018 and 3,7 % in 2017);
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point a
Paragraph 8 – point a
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 – point b
Paragraph 8 – point b
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Deeply regretsTakes note of the Court’s observation that the Commission’s particular role, as reflected in its methodology, and weaknesses in ex- post checks, which are a critical part of the control system, affects the Commission’s estimates of errors; notes that Commission’s risk at payment for 2019, set at 2,1% as reported in its Annual Management and Performance Report (AMPR), is within the range of the ECA’s estimated level of error for the three most significant spending areas - competitiveness, cohesion and natural resources;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that the Court provided in 2019 specific error rates for four MFF headings: ‘Competitiveness’ (4.0%), ‘Cohesion’, (4,4%),‘Natural resources’(1,9 %) and ‘Administration’; points out that, in 2019, the Court found the highest estimated level of error in spending under ‘Economic, social and territorial cohesion‘ (4,4 % (an estimated level of error below the materiality threshold);
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Draws attention that the general estimate of the level of error in the EU budget, as presented in the Court’s Statement of Assurance, is neither a measure of fraud nor of inefficiency or waste, but it is an estimate of the money that should not have been paid out because it was not used in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations; notes that in 2019 the Court reported to OLAF 9 instances of suspected fraud found during its audits (also 9 in 2018),from which OLAF has opened 5 investigations and decided not to open an investigation in 4 cases;.
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. RegretNotes the adoption of three amending budgets in 2019, adding EUR 0,4 billion to commitment appropriations and EUR 0,3 billion to payment appropriationswhich refer to the following;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point i (new)
Paragraph 15 – point i (new)
(i) Amending Budget (AB) No1/2019 entered the surplus of EUR 1 802 988 329, resulting from the implementation of the budget year 2018, as revenue in the 2019 budget; this amount has reduced the annual GNI contributions for Member States;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point ii (new)
Paragraph 15 – point ii (new)
(ii) Amending Budget (AB) No 2/2019 provided an additional EUR 100 million of commitment appropriations to Horizon2020 and Erasmus+ as decided by the European Parliament and the Council in their agreement on the budget 2019
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point iii (new)
Paragraph 15 – point iii (new)
(iii) Amending Budget (AB) No 3/2019 entered the necessary commitment and payment appropriations for the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) amounting to EUR 293 551 794 which aimed to provide assistance to Romania, Italy and Austria following natural disasters that took place in these Member States in the course of 2018:
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Acknowledges that given the multi-annual nature of its expenditure and of its control strategies, the Commission may apply corrections until the closure of the funding programme; notes furthermore that while errors may be detected in a given year, they are corrected in the current or in subsequent years after the payment was made – up until the moment of closure; calls therefore on the Commission and Member States to continue exercising their corrective capacity, and the Commission to use the supervisory tools at its disposal, in line with its obligations under the different sectorial legal bases, in order to bring the real risk at closure ultimately well below 2% and closer to 0%;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Notes that in 2019 the corrective measures confirmed by the Commission amounted to EUR 1.5 billion (25% higher than in 2018), relating mainly to errors affecting payments made in previous years.
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. RegretsNotes with concern the fact that outstanding commitments have continued to grow, reaching EUR 298,0 billion at the end of 2019 (compared to EUR 281,2 billion in 2018); notes that the Court has identified the reasons for the continuing rise, such as the overall increase in the size of the EU budget over time; notes that the level of payment appropriations in the annual budgets has been noticeably lower than the MFF ceiling in recent years, which might lead to higher payment needs in the future; notes the commitment of the Commission to conduct a thorough analysis of the payment appropriations needed until the end of the year during the global transfer exercise in order to make a proposal to the budgetary authority if reinforcements are needed;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Recalls that the absorption rate expresses the extent to which EU funds allocated to Member States have been spent on eligible projects, which is one of the preconditions and indications of effective future absorption; stresses, in this regards, that since the end of 2018 the project selection rate remains ahead of the same reference period in 2007-2013; emphasises, furthermore, that by end June 2020, nearly all (99,2%) the EUR 350 billion in total cost were allocated to nearly 515 000 projects;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Notes furthermore that by the start of 2019, after the current MFF had been in place for five years, only approximately 17 % of the total ESI funding committed through Financial Instruments under Shared Management (FISMs) had reached its final recipient; notes, however, that by mid-September 2020 the 42% of amounts allocated to financial instruments were effectively paid and, therefore, available for investments into final recipients; welcomes, furthermore, that 59% of the available capital for FISMs had reached final recipients or was used for eligible costs;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Notes that, as in previous years, substantial amounts of unused annual ESIF pre-financing, due mainly to delays in implementation, was returned to the Union budget (EUR 7,7 billion in 2019), due mainly to delayas assigned revenue; points out that EUR 5,0 billion of that amount was used to make payments ion implementationclaims from Member States over and above the approved budget for the year under the relevant ESIF budget lines, which has prevented them from being cancelled;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Acknowledges that shared management is instrumental for the implementation of the ESIF which in turn relays upon an efficient administrative collaboration between the Commission and the Member States; underlines the Court’s observation that the risk of error is high for expenditure subject to complex rules; welcomes the substantial improvements in this regard over the last ten years due inter alias to the Commission’s efforts and the recommendations of both the Court and the Parliament; encourages the Commission to move towards simplification and performance orientation;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Welcomes the Court's observation that the Commission has started making systemic performance assessments and analysis leading to conclusions on the achieving of the programmes’ objectives; notes with satisfaction that the Court considers this as a significant positive step towards clearer, more transparent and comprehensive annual reporting on programme performance;
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Underlines that according to the Financial Regulation, sound financial management implies effectiveness, efficiency and economy, and that the Commission and the Member States should ensure a focus on all three elements;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Observes that, for 2019, the Commission’'s estimate for the overall risk at closure was at 0,7 % (compared to 0,8 % in 2018) of the relevant expenditure; notes that due to the higher risk at payment in relation to cohesion spending, the overall risk at payment estimated by the Commission was higher than in previous years, at 2,1 % for 2019 (compared to 1,7 % in 2018), but as the estimated future corrections were also higher (1,4 %, compared to 0,9 % in 2018), the Commission arrived at a stable risk at closure, and with an estimate of risk at closure of less than 2 %, the Commission considered that its multiannual control systems ensured effective protection of the Union budget; points out furthermore that in the Commission’s own estimate, the expenditure with risk at payment above the materiality threshold was very high at EUR 67 billion;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38 a. Notes that the Commission subdivides its portfolio for 2019 into lower-risk and higher-risk strata, using criteria recognised also by the Court and related to the nature of the funding, notably the difference between rather complex reimbursement-based schemes (higher risk expenditure with risk at payment above 2%) and fairly straightforward entitlement-based payments (lower risk expenditure with risk at payment below 2%); points out furthermore that the Commission estimates that the higher risk expenditure stands at EUR 67 billion(46%), thus affecting smaller part of the budget than the lower risk expenditure, which stands at EUR 80 billion (54%);
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39 a. Notes the Court’s conclusion that the Commission's performance reporting is becoming more balanced and that both the AMPR and the programme statements complement their reporting on programme achievements including information on lagging behind areas and persisting challenges for programmes;
Amendment 383 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 110
Paragraph 110
110. Highlights that in this policy area all indicators are output ones: they mainly provide data about the programme’s implementation in terms of infrastructure built but there are no common indicators to measure results (Court’s report on Union co-funded roads4 indicates that the Commission does not report information such as time savings or higher average speed, even though this information is sometimes available); _________________ 4ECA, special report no 9/2020, The EU- core road network: shorter travel times but network not yet fully functional. as regards impacts of projects achieved (increase of traffic, economic impact for different actors, impact on congestions, emissions...); notes project promoters should collect and publish information and data on results and impacts of the investment; asks the Commission to collaborate with project promoters and work on common indicators to measure results of the projects;
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 111
Paragraph 111
111. Underlines that in the recent Court audit on TFI5 stated that it is unlikely that the Union core transport network will reach itsthe Commission acknowledged that there is a high risk for some of the TFIs not to operate at full capacity byin 2030, furthermore, in the landscape review the ECA indicated that since the scale of Union funding is limited compared to the overall needs, it is necessary to focus on priorities with the highest Union added value; _________________ 5 ECA, special report no 10/2020 EU transport flagship infrastructures: no timely completion of the transport network.
Amendment 386 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 112
Paragraph 112
112. Is of the opinion that, as stated in the Court’s audit on TFIs, the traffic forecasts were usually overoptimistic, not well coordinated, not based onneeds improvement and a better coordination; points out the traffic forecasts should take into account sound economic assessments, and sometimes very simplistic, and in particulars well as cost- benefit analyses had not been properly used as a tool for policy-makingand be periodically revised to take into account possible delays;
Amendment 389 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 113
Paragraph 113
Amendment 400 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 18 a (new)
Subheading 18 a (new)
Performance: European Social Fund (ESF) and Youth Employment Initiative (YEI)
Amendment 401 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 116 a (new)
Paragraph 116 a (new)
116 a. Notes that the Court has not selected ESF and FEAD to be covered by its first annual report on performance of the EU budget at the end of 2019;
Amendment 402 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 116 b (new)
Paragraph 116 b (new)
116 b. Welcomes the findings within the Commission Evaluation(February 2021) on of the 2014-2018 ESF support to employment and labour mobility, social inclusion and education and training; notes with satisfaction that for the period 2014-2018, approximately 23 million persons participated in ESF actions and that 52% of participants were women; notes furthermore that of those participating, nearly 3.2 million persons have already found employment and 3.9 million successfully gained a qualification;
Amendment 403 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 116 c (new)
Paragraph 116 c (new)
116 c. Notes that by 2018 EUR 10,4 billion have been spent - from both the ESF and the YEI, that 3.8 million people under age of 30 participated in youth- employment support projects and that 1.4 million people entered employment immediately after participation;
Amendment 404 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 116 d (new)
Paragraph 116 d (new)
116 d. Notes furthermore that by the end of 2018, EUR 33.8 billion from the ESF have been invested for social inclusion and nearly 6.2 million persons had participated in social-inclusion actions, and that out of them nearly 700,000 individuals have found employment, with nearly 400,000 achieving a qualification;
Amendment 519 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 128 a (new)
Paragraph 128 a (new)
128 a. Notes that in 2019 the Commission clarified the legal framework applicable for direct monitoring by imaging technologies128a; welcomes the Court’s observations128b that imagining technologies represent extraordinary advantages such as the reduction of field visits and consequently their administrative costs, an interactive monitoring approach that prevents non- compliance and the generation of useful data for smart farming; highlights in particular that imaging technologies would allow monitoring the whole population of aid recipients, which could be a game changer in terms of budgetary control; calls on the Commission to review the environmental and climate performance indicators in order to make them compatibles with checks by monitoring; urge the Commission to remove the obstacles to a wider use of the imaging technologies and to provide incentives and support to national paying agencies to use checks by monitoring; _________________ 128a Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1804 of 28 October 2019 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 809/2014 as regards amendments of aid applications or payment claims, checks in the integrated administration and control system and the control system in relation to cross compliance. 128bEuropean Court of Auditor’s Special Report 04/2020 Using new imaging technologies to monitor the Common Agricultural Policy: steady progress overall, but slower for climate and environment monitoring.
Amendment 704 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 171
Paragraph 171
Amendment 713 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 171 a (new)
Paragraph 171 a (new)
171 a. Notes that payments for ‘Administration’ amounted to EUR 10,4 billion in 2019 (6,5% of the MFF), of which the budget of the Commission represents 57,9% or EUR 6,1 billion;
Amendment 715 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 172
Paragraph 172
172. Notes that administrative expenditure comprises expenditure on human resources, accounting for about 60 % of the total, and on buildings, equipment, energy, communications and information technology, which is considered as a spending ofby the Court as a low-risk spending;
Amendment 720 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 173
Paragraph 173
173. Notes the results of transaction testing: of the only 45 transactions examined representing, designed to represent the full range of spending under this MFF heading by selecting transactions from each institution and body, 3 (6,7 %) contained quantifiable errors, led to an estimated level of error below the materiality threshold;
Amendment 722 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 174
Paragraph 174
Amendment 726 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 175
Paragraph 175
Amendment 732 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 176
Paragraph 176
176. Notes that concerning the Commission, severalthe Court found fewer errors relating to staff costs and the PMO’s management of family allowances were foundthan in previous years; welcomes that the PMO has already corrected the errors found this year; acknowledges the Commission’s clarification that the errors only concerns the national allowances while the ones paid directly by the Commission are correct;
Amendment 733 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 176 a (new)
Paragraph 176 a (new)
176 a. Notes that the Court also examines the regularity of the information in the annual activity reports of the Commission, including those of its directorates-general and offices primarily responsible for administrative expenditure; welcomes that the annual activity reports reviewed did not identify material levels of error;
Amendment 748 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 37
Subheading 37
Amendment 755 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 177
Paragraph 177
Amendment 758 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 178
Paragraph 178
Amendment 761 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 179
Paragraph 179
179. Notes with satisfaction that the Court mentions that the quality of the Aaccounts has improved compared to previous years but is deeply; notes with concerned that also for the financial year 2019, the Court concludes they arethe Court is unable to confirm that the Schools’ financial management in 2019 was compliant with the Financial Regulation of the European Schools and the Staff Regulations due to weaknesses revealed in the internal control systems of the Central Office and of the two Schools selected; urges the European Schools to swiftly follow up on the recommendations of the Court concerning the specific weakness founded in accounting, procurement and recruitment;
Amendment 762 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 180
Paragraph 180
Amendment 763 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 181
Paragraph 181
Amendment 764 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 182
Paragraph 182
Amendment 765 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 39
Subheading 39
Amendment 766 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 183
Paragraph 183
Amendment 767 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 39 a (new)
Subheading 39 a (new)
Human Resources
Amendment 768 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 183 a (new)
Paragraph 183 a (new)
183 a. Takes note that the Commission is investing in data mining of its IT medical system to overcome the absence of data on burnout cases; strongly encourages the Commission to prevent, identify and manage burnout cases in the larger context of staffing, workload and staff well-being in its Human Resources (HR) strategy; recalls, in this regard, the negative impact of the 2014 reform package on a number of crucial aspects of HR within the Union institutions and thus on their attractiveness as employer; reiterates the serious consequences that any budgetary cut in administration or staff reduction may have in the future of the European civil service and the implementation of the Union's policies;
Amendment 769 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 183 b (new)
Paragraph 183 b (new)
183 b. Is concerned that any temporary measure has been designed by the Commission to mitigate the growing problem of the purchase power disparity suffered by the European civil servants posted to Luxembourg; points out, as a relevant example, that 16 out of 200 suitable candidates selected by the EPPO have declined the job offer on account of the salary not being high enough to live in Luxembourg; emphasises that expects concrete proposals in the report on the salary method due by 31 March 2022;
Amendment 770 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 183 c (new)
Paragraph 183 c (new)
183 c. Supports the Commission’s intention to update the approach set out in its Communication of 2019 “The Workplace of the Future in the European Commission” in the light of the COVID- 19 crisis; expects the Commission to take into account on an equal footing the efficient use of office spaces and the health and well-being of the staff; reiterates that staff representatives shall always be involved in substantial changes of the work arrangements and spaces;
Amendment 771 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 183 d (new)
Paragraph 183 d (new)
183 d. Welcomes that the Commission adopted an action plan for equality and diversity in 2018 and its implementation in 2019; welcomes that specific actions were added in response to the staff survey; calls on the Commission to follow the same path with more specific measures with regard to the people awarded with internships in the Commission;
Amendment 772 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 183 e (new)
Paragraph 183 e (new)
183 e. Agrees with the Commission’s statement that “different cultural, social and professional expectations of men and women continue to exist with regard to the balance between paid work and unpaid (care) work”; notes with appreciation the Commission’s efforts to raise awareness on the measures that exist to enable a work-life balance such as courses for parents and the publication of positive examples in the Commission’s intracomm;
Amendment 773 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 183 f (new)
Paragraph 183 f (new)
183 f. Notes with appreciation that the Commission (2014-2019) met the target of 40 % of women in management functions by the end of its mandate in 2019; reminds the Commission (2019-2024) that in 2019 its President committed to reach gender equality at all levels of management by the end of the current mandate and reiterated this commitment in her mission letter to Commissioner for Budget and Administration;
Amendment 774 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 183 g (new)
Paragraph 183 g (new)
183 g. Takes note of the new guidelines for the implementation of aid for persons with a disability drafted in 2019 to financially assist staff and their dependant for non-medical costs linked to their independence, social integration and physical, mental, social and vocational ability; notes that the guidelines came into force in May 2020;
Amendment 775 #
183 h. Notes that in 2019 the number of cases for social-financial support increased by 28% compared to 2018; notes with appreciation that the disability funds used increased by 50% in comparison with 2018 (from approximatively EUR 2 to 3 million);
Amendment 776 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 183 i (new)
Paragraph 183 i (new)
183 i. Takes due note of the Court’s observations and recommendations regarding the European Personnel Selection Office183a; welcomes that the selection process is broadly effective for large-scale competitions but expresses its concern that the selection process is not adapted to small-scale, targeted competitions, which are those most suited to the current recruitment needs of the EU institutions; calls on the Commission to timely report on the implementation of those recommendations by the EPSO; _________________ 183aEuropean Court of Auditors’ Special Report 13/2020 “The European Personnel Selection Office: Time to adapt the selection process to changing recruitment needs”.
Amendment 778 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 40
Subheading 40
Amendment 780 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 184
Paragraph 184
184. Takes into accountAcknowledges the Court’s observation that the adoption in 2014 of the revised Staff Regulations was accompanied by a commitment by the institutions and bodies gradually to reduce the number of posts (officials and temporary staff) in their establishment plans by 5 % before 2018 compared with the situation in 2012;
Amendment 781 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 184 a (new)
Paragraph 184 a (new)
184 a. Takes note that the 2014 reform of the Staff Regulations brought savings of 4,2 billions on the 2014–2020 MFF, which represents 0,4% of the overall MFF; recalls that the 2014 reform generated unquestionable negative effects on the staff, which was confirmed by the Court184a in 2019, and regrets that it is nearly impossible to know their financial cost in order to have a realistic image of the savings; notes the several policies and actions designed by the Commission to help mitigate the negative effects and expects that the lessons learned will be reflected on the Commission’s new HR Strategy to be adopted in 2021; _________________ 184aEuropean Court of Auditors’ Special report no 15/2019: Implementation of the 2014 staff reform package at the Commission - Big savings but not without consequences for staff.
Amendment 783 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 185
Paragraph 185
185. Points out that the institutions and bodiesNotes that over the period from 2012 to 2018 the institutions and bodies, excluding the European Ombudsman and the EDPS, had reduced their establishment plans by 1 409 posts (3 %) and at the same time gradually increased the employment of contract staff. Over the period,; notes, in this regard, that the proportion of contract staff in total workforce forecasts rose from 17 % to 22 %;
Amendment 785 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 186
Paragraph 186
Amendment 791 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 186 a (new)
Paragraph 186 a (new)
186 a. Points out that the increase of contract staff reflects the impact on staffing levels of new tasks stemming from rapidly evolving priorities, such as the implementation of new programmes delegated by the Commission to the executive agencies which was neutral in budgetary terms and in terms of Commission staff transferred; notes the Court’s observation that the increase in contract staff was also a response to special or urgent situations, such as the migration crisis;
Amendment 792 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 187
Paragraph 187
Amendment 801 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 188
Paragraph 188
Amendment 807 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 190
Paragraph 190
190. Finds it highly problematicTakes note that at the end of 2018, the institutions, bodies and executive agencies employed 11 962 contract staff, (representing an increase of 37 % since 2012); points outnotes that most were employed by the European Commission, and mainly in FG IV, the best paid function group, similarly,; notes that a majority of contract staff at the executive agencies were in FG III and FG IV (763 and 715 respectively);
Amendment 818 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 41
Subheading 41
Amendment 819 #
191 a. Acknowledges that 2019 was a year of transition for the Commission, as it had to secure the transition from the Juncker Commission and the preparation for the arrival of the von der Leyen Commission, as well as launching its new priorities;
Amendment 824 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 191 b (new)
Paragraph 191 b (new)
191 b. Welcomes the inter-institutional cyber cooperation for which the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee receive the assistance of the Computer Emergency Response Team for the EU institutions, bodies and agencies; notes that many of the digitalisation projects concern the digitalisation of human resources and financial processes, where the Committees uses the SYSPER and ABAC systems provided by the Commission; asks the Commission to examine the possibility of negotiating better conditions to enhance and make the process of application sharing financially attractive;
Amendment 831 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 192
Paragraph 192
Amendment 835 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 41 a (new)
Subheading 41 a (new)
Ethical frameworks
Amendment 836 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 192 a (new)
Paragraph 192 a (new)
192 a. Echoes the Court’s conclusion that “any unethical behaviour by staff and Members of EU institutions and bodies is unacceptable and, even if it is only alleged, attracts high levels of public interest and reduces trust in the EU. Unethical behaviour is also linked to the risk of corruption and fraud”192a; _________________ 192aEuropean Court of Auditors’ Special Report 13/2019 “The ethical frameworks of the audited EU institutions: scope for improvement”.
Amendment 837 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 192 b (new)
Paragraph 192 b (new)
192 b. Welcomes that, to a large extent, the audited institutions have put in place for staff and Members adequate ethical frameworks with room for improvement; strongly supports the Court’s recommendations such as harmonising the ethical frameworks and improving staff awareness;
Amendment 838 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 192 c (new)
Paragraph 192 c (new)
192 c. Takes note of the second review of the Commission’s internal guidelines in relation to the provisions on Whistleblowing in the Staff Regulations; takes note with satisfaction the 6 recommendations contained in the 2019 review and calls on the Commission to report on the implementation to the budgetary authority; welcomes the update of the whistleblowing page on MyIntracomm in May 2019 and the addition of a direct link to OLAF’s whistleblowing procedure;
Amendment 839 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 192 d (new)
Paragraph 192 d (new)
192 d. Stresses the importance of reinforcing the Transparency Register and improving the quality of its data, in particular on the occasion of the Interinstitutional Agreement reached in December 2020; takes note of the quality checks performed by the Commission and the action of the Register Secretariat upon alerts received; calls on the Commission to improve the IT solution in order to perform stricter quality checks;
Amendment 840 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 192 e (new)
Paragraph 192 e (new)
192 e. Takes notes of the European Ombudsman’s conclusions and technical suggestions for improvement in her Decision of 28 February 2019 on how the Commission manages ‘revolving doors’ situations of its staff members; calls on the Commission to follow-up on both the Ombudsman’s decision and the Court’s relevant recommendations in its special report on the ethical frameworks of the EU institutions;