8 Amendments of Anna Júlia DONÁTH related to 2023/2113(INI)
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reiterates that an independent judiciary is the backbone of the rule of law, as it is a precondition for an effective remedy when laws, rights and freedoms, democratic principles are withheld or violated; underlines that an independent and effective judiciary is vital for not only to maintain the rule of law and democracy in the Member States and in the Union, but it is key to the implementation of EU law, given that the Commission relies on the national judicial authorities to enforce EU law; expresses its concern that this ‘presumption of compliance’ becomes the ‘pretence of compliance’ when the Commission ignores national judicial authorities’ shortcomings; notes with concern that while some judicial systems may belook robust and satisfactory on paper, in some cases they are not immune to state capture, political interference or nepotism; is aware of the fact that this is difficult to detect by simply assessing the formal structures; therefore urges the Commission to conduct a more qualitative analysis, including contextual elements particularly about the long term implementation;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that the Commission finds that whereas certain Member States, including Finland, Austria, Slovenia, Cyprus, Sweden and Hungary, have taken or announced initiatives to improve judicial appointment processes and high courts’ functioning, considers that challenges still persist in appointing high-level judges in Malta, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, and Ireland; highlights that serious concerns persist in Hungary concerning the position of the President of the Kúria, highlights that serious concerns persist in Poland regarding previously appointed Supreme Court judges, including its First President, and regarding the continuous non-implementation of a CJEU preliminary ruling on a judicial appointment to the Chamber of Extraordinary Control; notes that the Commission finds that in Slovakia the crime of abuse of law introduced for judges as regards their judicial decisions continues to raise concerns, as it has a negative psychological impact on judges and is burdensome for the investigatory authorities;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates that corruption is a serious threat to the rule of law and severely undermines trust in democracy and equality before the law; calls on the Member States and the Commission to do much more to eradicate corruption;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines that Member State government and EU officials should set an example by refraining from any corrupt practices and that there should be no government or political interference in corruption investigations; points out that EU officials as well may be involved in corruption, as demonstrated by ‘Qatargate’, therefore reiterates its demand for the annual report to also cover the EU institutions; reiterates its call on the Commission to finalise negotiations on EU’s full membership in GRECO as soon as possible;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Highlights that checks and balances can only function when constitutional courts, ombudspersons, national human rights institutions, audit offices, equality bodies and all other independent authorities are able to function and have sufficiently broad mandates, independence, integrity and adequate funding;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Underlines the importance ofConsiders that transparency of media ownership is the basic minimum to preserve media pluralism; notes that the Commission finds that since the 2022 Rule of Law report new legislation increasing the transparency of media ownership or improving public availability of media ownership information has been adopted in Greece, Luxembourg, Sweden and that such legislation has been strengthened in Cyprus, while in Bulgaria, Czechia and France change remains pending; notes as well that the Commission finds that media regulators are protected by insufficient safeguards against undue political influence and that the authorities lack resources, particularly in Hungary, Slovenia, Poland, Greece and Romania;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses the importance of the editorial independence of public service media and the duty of all Member States to respect this; while it is continuously ignored in several Member States, particularly in Hungary and Poland;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Acknowledges the crucial role civil society and a healthy civic space play in upholding and protecting the rule of law, and reiterates its call for a separate chapter to be dedicated to the condition of civil society in Member States; notes that the Commission finds that Malta, Ireland, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Germany have announced or initiated efforts to improve the framework for civil society, and finds that civil society faces particular challenges in Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Italy and France, and continued Russian-type serious systemic restrictions in Hungary and Poland; calls on all Member States to accept civil society organisations (CSOs) as important stakeholders in democratic life and to create an enabling environment for civil society;