Activities of Peter POLLÁK related to 2023/2129(DEC)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2022, Section III – Commission and executive agencies
Amendments (9)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Expresses concerns about the Commission’s reported plans to disburse the suspended 6.3 billion EUR from the RRF to Hungary in exchange for its endorsement of the aid for Ukraine; points out, that the suspended funds should not be released to Hungary until the remedial measures adopted by the Hungarian government have proven effective in practice;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reminds that, without prejudice to the need to support the authorities and, including in particular local and regional authorities, as well as beneficiaries to better comply with spending rules and minimise errors, the most pressing issues to be addressed in the area of cohesion policy are, on the one hand, the overly complex rules and procedures and the disproportionate administrative burden they entail and, on the other hand, the effective targeting of the funds;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Points out on importance of legality and regularity of cohesion spending; stresses further the importance of effective control by Member State audit and managing authorities; welcomes the adoption of national anti-fraud strategies by 24 Member States in total, as that should increase the protection of the EU´s financial interests;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights thea significant role of the EPPO in protecting the EU budgeturopean Anti-Fraud Office and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in relation to protecting the EU budget; expresses hope that more Member States will join the EPPO soon; reminds that, in her appearance before the Committee on Regional Development on 25 May 2023, the European Public Prosecutor noted that the management and control system for EU expenditure currently in place is not designed to detect fraud and that audits or administrative investigations rarely detect financial crime; stresses the need to provide the EPPO with the necessary means to carry out its duties; is of the opinion that a strengthened EPPO would make it possible for the legislator to further simplify the regulatory framework for cohesion;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the Commission’s error estimates are above the materiality threshold but are significantly lower than the Court’s1 ; draws attention to the different methodologies applied by the two institutions; is worried about[1], at 1,9 % as compared to 6.4 %; points out that, although both institutions apply different methodologies, the growing discrepancy between their assessments provided by the Court of Auditors and the Commission, especially in the area of cohesion; _________________ 1 European Court of Auditors, Annual report on the implementation of the EU budget for the 2022 financial year., especially in the area of cohesion, raises great concerns;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Draws attention to the increased risk of decommitments in the coming years and urges the Commission to continue its cooperation with the Member States and the regions to both speed up and ease thecomplete and correct good closure of the 2014-2020 programming period, allowing for these authorities to draw lessons for the implementation of the ongoing one;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concerned that the prioritisation of the RRF in the Member States is causing delays in the implementation of funds under the CPR 2021-2027.; stresses the need for further simplification of rules, greater use of simplified cost options and improved effectiveness of ex ante and ex- post checks;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 6 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Calls on the Member States to accelerate the investment of cohesion resources in support of creation of jobs, economic growth, business competitiveness as well as inclusion of socially vulnerable groups; to this end, requests the Commission to continue its cooperation with the Member States to contribute to responsible, appropriate and effective spending of funds as well as to, in particular, ensure the involvement of all relevant stakeholders at all levels of government and local government;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Calls on Member States to accelerate spending under Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps and Creative Europe to reach out to and involve young people, artists and professionals with fewer opportunities; requests the Commission to contribute to this aim by continuing close cooperation with Member States;