Activities of Konstantinos ARVANITIS related to 2023/2169(DEC)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) for the financial year 2022
Amendments (3)
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. NotesDeeply regrets that the stronger role attributed to Europol under Regulation 2016/794 lacks sufficient safeguards and oversight, particularly on its processing of large sets of personal data; is deeply concerned that on 16 September 2022, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) requested that the Court of Justice of the European Union annul two provisions of the amended Europol Regulation, namely Articles 74a and 74b; further which seriously undermine legal certainty for individuals’ personal data and threaten the independence of the EDPS; reiterates deep concerns that Europol is now able to collect large amounts of data concerning individuals with no established link to criminal activity, and to do so retroactively; recalls that EDPS is mandated to supervise the legality of personal data processing of Europol under Regulation (EU) 2016/794; notes that the Oorder of the General Court in Case T-578/22 from 6 September 2023 by which the action brought by EDPS against the amended Europol regulation was deemed inadmissible thereby upholding the objection of inadmissibility raised by the Council; further recalls, as regards any effects of the contested provisions on the EDPS’s decision of 3 January 2022, EDPS cannot rely on them in support of his action, since an administrative decision cannot affect legislative acts, such as the amended Europol regulation, or affect the content thereof; welcomes the efforts by, revealing the weakness of the EDPS’s mandate to preserve high standards of data protection in the EU agencies; notes that the EDPS has appealed the Case T-578/22; calls on Europol to fully address EDPS recommendations which substantially increased in 2022;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. AcknowledgNotes that Europol continueds to work closely with eu-LISA on establishing automated checks of travel application data from the European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) against Europol data; notes that entry into opraises concerns that this would involve mass personal data processing that will be checked against a wide range of of EU and internation of the ETIAS was postponed to November 2023 by the decision of the Councilal databases and subject to automated screening; fears that these databases are part of the EU’s attempt to expand its harmful surveillance practices at the borders that mainly targets migrants; reiterates concerns that automated profiling will lead to discrimination and the violation of fundamental rights of people entering the EU; notes that entry into operation of the ETIAS has been subject to repeated delays due to a wide range of issues pertaining to its operational complexity;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. WelcomesRegrets that the amended Europol Regulation which entered into force on 28 June 2022, and in particular the increased oversight of its activities such as through did not contain strong data protection, oversight and fundamental rights safeguards; expresses concerns with the lack of independence surrounding the establishment and the appointment of a Fundamental Rights Officer (FRO) withinby Europol, and at the same time welcomes the extension of Europol’s competences as regards support to Member States and possible cooperation with may propose opening investigations into a specific crime which concerns only one Member State, private parties, third countries and international organisa’s Management Board, and is obliged to “report directly to the Executive Director”; calls for the expansion of independent external oversight by the EDPS and FRO in order to strengthen fundamental rights protections;