Activities of Konstantinos ARVANITIS related to 2023/2172(DEC)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency for the financial year 2022
Amendments (7)
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Appreciates theNotes Frontex’s prompt response and support provided to Member States to deal with the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine particularly the vital role of Frontex against the instrumentalisation of migrants by the Belarussian and Russian regimes; welcom; notes the deployment of about 500 standing corps officers working along the eastern border from Finland to Romania, including more than 350 officers working at the EU-Ukraine borders and the signature of a grant agreement worth EUR 12 million between Frontex and the State Border Guard Service to support Ukrainian border officers in performing their duties;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Deplores the findings of the European Anti-Fraud Office’s (OLAF) investigative report which found Frontex responsible for human rights violations and the cover-up of pushbacks at the EU borders, including evidence that Frontex used European taxpayer money to fund pushbacks in at least six instances, the report revealed a corrupt top-down working culture, whereby employees were systematically intimidated, actively encouraged to avoid monitoring pushbacks and share incorrect or biased information with the EU institutions; deeply regrets that the OLAF report was kept from the public for months until being leaked by the press given the seriousness of allegations and abuse of EU funding;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. NotesIs alarmed that Frontex is the largest EU agency which has received more significantexponential budget increases in the last years, in line with its new responsibilities; recalls that EU contributed EUR 788 million in 2023 in comparison to EUR 704 million in 2022; recalls that Frontex has been strengthened in terms of staff and technical equipment with its new mandate in 2019; notes that in view of the complex geopolitical situation highlighted by unprovoked Russian aggression in Ukraine, the importance of Frontex in supporting Member States increased significantly and efforts must continue in terms of human and material resources despite evidence of the lack of implementation of its regulation and fundamental rights violations as reported by the 2022 OLAF Report;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Is concerned that since 2021, ECA found delays in Frontex payments process which are a serious deficiency in Frontex’s internal controls; deplores that this situation remains unresolved and has seen a deterioration of the late payments both in volume and in value in 2022;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. WelcomNotes that in 2022 the Frontex went through significant managerial changes, including a new fundamental rights officer (FRO), a new chair of its Management Board, three new deputy executive directors and a new executive director; further welcomes stepsollowing evidence of serious misconduct and other irregularities in the OLAF inquiry; calls for further steps to be taken by Frontex to undergo a transition process and undertake deep reforms to improve the management culture and promote staff well-being; notes that the FRO recommended for Frontex to withdraw its activities in Greece under Article 46 of Frontex’s Regulation due to “well- founded allegations of fundamental rights violations” in his Opinion of 1 September 2022; condemns Frontex for refusing to give public access to an opinion by its FRO concerning Greece to the EU Ombudsman; maintains that whilst Frontex continues to cooperate with EU Member States who have been found to violate fundamental rights of migrants at the borders, it is not complying to its obligations under the treaties, and is unable to act as a legitimate monitor;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. WelcomNotes Frontex’ measures on transparency and scrutiny, namely providing Parliament and the Council with an overview of its activities through a new reporting tool called the ‘dashboard’; encouragescalls for the chairpersons of the Management Board to continue inviting Parliament observers to its meetings and to consider extending the invitations to all agenda items, including in camera points, and to continue providinge all supporting documents without exception and, if deemed necessary, in a confidential manner; reiterates that there are existing systemic issues with transparency and access to public doucemnts within Frontex, including on the effectiveness of Frontex’s complaints mechanism and the independence of the FRO; calls on Frontex to adhere to the European Ombudsman’s recommendations to improve this, including by publishing summaries of its operational plans and providing more training for its fundamental rights officers; additionally agrees with further recommendations to introduce a public access portal and ensure it dedicates its resources to handle large numbers of access requests;