Activities of Nils UŠAKOVS 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 (8)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the fact that the Court of Auditors (the ‘Court’) has declared the transactions underlying the annual accounts of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) for the financial year 2022 to be legal and regular in all material respects; notes that its accounting system was not validated for the second year in a row;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Acknowledges that the Central Mediterranean remains the main migratory route into the EU; is aware of the insufficient resources and procedures of the EU and Member States that must contribute to saving lives, in line also with the Search and Rescue Convention and at the same time, does not lead to disembarkation of migrants in unsafe ports;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that Frontex is the largest EU agency which received more significant 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; acknowledges that due to unclear legal basis and established practice contributions from Schengen associated countries were calculated around 7% than they should be; 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;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes that Frontex implemented 99,4% of its 2022 budget demonstrating the efficiency and effectiveness of internal controls put in place and the significant improvements made in the budget management; notes that public procurement rules need to be better implemented to avoid cases of irregularities in the implementation of procurement contracts;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes 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; notes the establishment of action plans with national authorities to right the wrongs of the past and present, and to engage in Structured Dialogue, bringing the Fundamental Rights Officers on both sides to the table further welcomes steps taken by Frontex to undergo a transition process and to improve the management culture and promote staff well-being;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Expresses concerns about the remaining outstanding legal cases and criticism on the agency´s involvement in human rights violations, particularly pushbacks at the EU’s external borders, which does not comply with its own regulations;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes with satisfaction thatthat following the recommendations for an effective border agency compliant with fundamental rights in order to improve accountability, regularity, and legality of all Frontex activities additional 22 Fundamental Rights Monitors (FROMs) were externally recruited, exceeding the obligation of 40 FROMs required by Article 110(6) of the Regulation; welcomes that the Fundamental Rights Office conducted 1 183 deployment days visiting 50 countries which is a substantial increase in comparison to the previous year; further appreciates that the monitors took place in in 37 return missions contributing to the full compliance of the activities with the legal framework in place;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Is concerned about the Agency’s activities involving increased processing and sharing of personal data, which do not comply with Regulation 2018/1725 following the opinions issued by the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS); calls on the Agency to report to the discharge authority on the progress on this matter;