Activities of István SZENT-IVÁNYI

10. ~~Disagrees with the intentions of shifting appropriations between headings in the event of shortfalls under one heading, and favours instead finding long- term s~~Is convinced that a long-term, transparent and stability-oriented budget has to be the main objective of the budgetary authorities; emphasises, however, that more flexibility within and across headings is essential, if the EU wants to remain able to react to new poluiti~~ons; consider~~cal challenges wit ~~more appropriate to add~~hout jeopardising current priorities; agreses ~~directly the insufficient category of expenditure in order to avoid hindering other expenditure areas~~consequently with the intentions of shifting appropriations between headings in the event of significant shortfalls under one heading;

2009/02/17
Committee: BUDG

2009/2005(BUD)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Recalls that enormous challenges should be met in the EU budget 2010~~; points out that the key objective is to give more safety and security to European citizens, which requires special attention to be given to challenges such as:~~, and that these include the recent financial and economic crisis and its impact on growth and competitiveness, jobs and cohesion and its social dimension; the question of energy and transport security, in terms of energy supply safety or transport safety; the strengthening of the EU’s role as a global player; the issue of internal security, meaning particularly immigration, demographic challenges, the fight against terrorism and promoting food safety and also the matter of climate change and environmental protection;

2009/02/17
Committee: BUDG

2009/2005(BUD)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Supports the further deepening of the different assistance instruments under heading 4; recalls that by strengthening the EU’s role as a global player, not only prosperity and jobs in the EU could be created, but in the context of stability- oriented macroeconomic policies the international financial crisis could be prevented from wiping out the results of continuous efforts of recent decades to improve the economic, social and environmental conditions in the developing world;

2009/02/17
Committee: BUDG

2008/2200(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Recalls its position that all IPA beneficiary countries must have equal access to the full range of policy tools available under that instrument;

2009/03/03
Committee: AFET

2008/2200(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Stresses the importance of a liberalisation of the Schengen visa regime for the citizens of the Western Balkans as a means for acquainting the people of the region with the European Union; welcomes the dialogue on visa liberalisation and urges the Council and the Commission to conduct the process in as transparent a manner as possible and with clearly defined benchmarks, in order to facilitate external monitoring and increase public accountability of the process; is of the opinion that the IPA should support the efforts made by the beneficiary countries to meet the requirements laid down in the roadmap for visa liberalisation;

2009/03/03
Committee: AFET

2008/2200(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. CEmphasises the importance of an effective framework for the protection and inclusion of ethnic and national minorities in a region that has a multi- ethnic character and has witnessed widespread and systematic ethnically motivated violence in the past; calls on the governments of the region to strengthen their efforts aimed at ensuring that all laws in the field of minority and human rights are properly respected in practice; urges that further efforts be made to ensure that initiatives aimed at improving minority inclusion and the situation of disadvantaged minority groups (notably the Roma) are properly financed and implemented;

2009/03/03
Committee: AFET

2008/2055(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Points out that a distinction should be made between the review of certain programmes within the current MFF based on~~: -~~ the mid-term evaluation of legislation to take place in 2010-2011 -, the existing challenges resulting from the insufficient financing of heading 4 and heading 1a, and the new challenges such as energy and climate change and other policies linked to the new competences provided by the Treaty of Lisbon and the preparation of the new MFF;

2009/02/16
Committee: BUDG

2008/2055(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Recalls that headings 1a and 4 are already under-financed in the current MFF; stresses that additional policies should not ~~change the balance between the main categories of the current MFF nor~~ jeopardise the existing priorities~~; stresses also~~ and that, should the Member States continue to insist on a "1 % approach", there will be no budgetary alternative, in order to finance new priorities, but to also contribute from the two main policies of heading 1b and heading 2;

2009/02/16
Committee: BUDG

2008/2055(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Considers that providing the Union with the means to fulfil its political ambition in the areas of foreign policy, energy security and fight against climate change should be part of a short-term review, independent of the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon; is ready to examine the possibility of the creation of a specific fund for that purpose;

2009/02/16
Committee: BUDG

2008/2055(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Recalls that heading 4 "The EU as a global p~~artn~~layer" remains chronically underfinanced; asks the Commission to make proposals for a long-term perspective financing for CFSP/ESDP in order to secure the means dedicated to this policy area and to avoid recurrent and endless negotiations with the Council during the annual budgetary procedures; is in favour of providing additional means for Defence Policy;

2009/02/16
Committee: BUDG

2008/2054(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Supports, therefore, the switch to a five-year MFF, but calls for a negotiating period of ~~at least~~ one year so that each new Parliament and each new Commission can take fundamental financial policy decisions during their terms of office;

2009/02/02
Committee: BUDG

2008/2054(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Emphasises that the switch to five-year financial programming, as referred to above, necessitates the extension of the current MFF to 20165 inclusive, so that the next five-year MFF can come into force in early 20176; considers that this extension could be envisaged when the next mid- term review is carried out in 2010 at the latest;

2009/02/02
Committee: BUDG

2008/2054(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)

53a. Points out that in the framework of the CFSP/CSDP the Lisbon Treaty provides for the establishment of new procedures to grant rapid access to the Union budget and to create a start-up fund of Member State contributions; stresses, however, that all external actions of the Union should as a rule be financed from Community appropriations, and only exceptionally – in the event of an emergency – from contributions outside the Union budget;

2009/02/02
Committee: BUDG

2008/2026(BUD)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Considers it necessary to set up a crisis management and reconstruction fund for the heavily damaged conflict areas in Georgia in order to provide humanitarian aid, facilitate the return of refugees and the reconstruction of homes and critical infrastructure, and offer instruments to mitigate the negative impacts of the conflict on the economy of Georgia;

2008/08/27
Committee: AFET

2008/2026(BUD)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Expresses its regret that, once more, heading 4 has been under steady pressure since its available margins are not sufficient to finance priorities that have arisen in the course of the year without jeopardising its traditional priorities; reiterates its concerns that the funds available in this heading do not, as they stand, allow the Union to assume its role as a global player despite its various declarations of intent; ~~asks~~calls on the Commission to present an evaluation of the situation regarding heading 4 in order to examine the Union's budgetary capacity to assume its role as a global partner within the constraints of the annual budgetary procedand the Council not to use the Flexibility Instrument or the Emergency Aid Reserve for programmable long-term activities and expects the ongoing mid-term review of the current MFF to provide additional resources ~~but also in a multiannual context~~for the growing commitments under heading 4; fears that the Union's credibility in third countries may be irreversibly altered for the worse if, year after year, the budgetary authority is not able to provide the adequate financing to its political commitments;

2008/11/27
Committee: BUDG

2008/2025(BUD)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2a(new)

2a. Considers the presented margin to be rather artificial and arbitrary; calls on the Commission not to use the Flexibility Instrument or the Emergency Aid Reserve for programmable long-term activities;

2008/05/30
Committee: AFET

2008/2025(BUD)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3a (new)

3a. Points out that, since the institutional set-up concerning the High Representative, the President of the European Council and the European External Action Service is not yet determined, the necessary budgetary appropriations should be made available gradually as the scope and the role of the new organisational structures become clearer; underlines that neither the institutional changes nor the new Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) provisions should further strain the current level of commitment appropriations under Heading 4;

2008/05/30
Committee: AFET

2008/2025(BUD)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Reaffirms its support for the implementation of a deepened and differentiated European Neighbourhood Policy; underlines the need to provide the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) with an adequate financial envelope reflecting the EU´s commitment vis-à-vis its east European and southern neigh bours; notes the modest increase in appropriations envisaged for 2009, and stresses that the recent initiative “Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean” must noteither hinder the efforts to establish a balance between the commitment appropriations for the Eastern and Southern European neighbours nor in any case increase the budgetary tensions within the ENPI;

2008/05/30
Committee: AFET

2008/2025(BUD)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Requests the Commission to continue its screening exercise started in 2007 and to set out clearly further information regarding human resources policy and redeployment strategy for 2009; takes note of the Commission's 2008 follow-up report on "Planning and optimising Commission human resources to serve EU priorities" whereby the Commission confirms its commitment not to request any new posts up to 2013, beyond ~~the last tranche of~~ enlargement-related ~~posts in 2009~~requirements;

2008/06/09
Committee: BUDG

2008/2025(BUD)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 13 a(new)

13a. Reaffirms its support for the activities of the working groups established by its Committee on Foreign Affairs to monitor the implementation of the external assistance instruments; looks forward to enhanced structured cooperation and consultation with the Commission on the implementation and revision of the multiannual indicative planning documents;

2008/05/30
Committee: AFET

2008/2025(BUD)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 a (new)

49a. Points out that, since the institutional set-up concerning the High Representative, the President of the European Council and the European External Action Service is not yet determined, the necessary budgetary appropriations should be made available gradually as the scope and the role of the new organisational structures become clearer; underlines that neither the institutional changes nor the new CSDP provisions should further strain the current level of commitment appropriations under Heading 4 and expects the upcoming budgetary review to provide additional resources for the new requirements under Headings 4 and 5;

2008/06/09
Committee: BUDG

2008/2025(BUD)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 b (new)

49b. Emphasises the political importance of pilot projects and preparatory actions adopted by the budgetary authority under Heading 4; calls for a timely and pro- active implementation thereof by the Commission with the full use of allocated commitments;

2008/06/09
Committee: BUDG

2007/2271(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Recalls that integration capacity reflects the Union’s ability at a given point in time to decide and thus to achieve its political objectives, in particular the aim of promoting economic and social progress and a high level of employment in its Member States, of asserting its identity and its ability to act on the international scene, of promoting the rights and interests of Member States’ nationals, of developing an area of freedom, security and justice, and of fully maintaining and building on its acquis communautaire and of upholding fundamental rights and freedoms, as laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;deleted

2008/04/28
Committee: AFET

2007/2271(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls, furthermore, that the economic structure and interests of each ~~new~~ Member State ~~could~~ have had an impact on the direction which the Union's policies and budget have taken and ~~could~~have therefore affected the nature of the Union itself and enriched the European project while creating both opportunities and challenges;

2008/04/28
Committee: AFET

2007/2271(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Considers that budgetary as well as broader economic and social implications of further possible enlargements must be taken into due consideration during the mid-term review of the 2007-2013 multi- annual financial framework and the drafting of subsequent financial frameworks;

2008/04/28
Committee: AFET

2007/2271(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

~~6. Is also convinced that any new Member State should try to resolve all its internal issues, particularly those concerning its territorial and constitutional set-up, before it can join the Union;~~deleted

2008/04/28
Committee: AFET

2007/2271(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Warns, therefore, that further enlargement without adequate consolidation could lead to~~Is concerned that enlargement is often used as a pretext to strengthen already existing tendencies to create a Union of multiple configurations, with core countries moving towards closer integration and others lying at its margins, and that this scenario would have seriously detrimental implications for the Union's capacity to act – since it would weaken its institutions, for the stability of some of its Member States – since it would make them more vulner; considers that social and fiscal tensions present in some Member States are not directly related to the widening of the European Union; is convinced that the increasing number and heterogeneity of Member States can to a reasonable to exte~~rnal pressure, and for its credibility as global actor – since it would undermine its already precarious unity in external affairs~~nt be managed by a proper institutional arrangement;

2008/04/28
Committee: AFET

2007/2271(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Suggests, therefore, that, as regards those eastern neighbours which, in view of their political, economic and social situation and of the Union's current integration capacity, at present do not enjoy membership prospects but at the same time fulfil certain democratic and economic conditions, the Union should establish an area based on common policies covering, in particular, economic and financial issues, trade, energy, transport, environmental issues, the rule of law, justice, security, migration and education; takes the view that these common policies, whilst striving gradually to achieve EU standards and opening the way for closer integration of these countries, should be shaped jointly with the participating countries on the basis of specific decision-making mechanisms, and should be underpinned by adequate financial assistance and a policy of gradual visa facilitation and liberalisation on the basis of an agreed timetable and benchmarks with the ultimate objective of visa-free travel;

2008/04/28
Committee: AFET

2007/2271(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Welcomes in this context the Commission Communication on the Western Balkans of 5 March 2008 (COM(2008)0127), which outlines a range of measures for supporting the countries in the region in their efforts towards EU integration and for deepening our relations with them, whether in the area of trade, energy, education and/or research; believes that such measures shcould include also the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia ~~and calls on all Member States to overcome their reservations in thi~~if the necessary political preconditions are~~spec~~ met;

2008/04/28
Committee: AFET

2007/2268(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a (new). Considers that all potential benefits offered to Serbia in the framework of a political agreement concerning political dialogue, free trade and visa liberalisation should also be simultaneously offered to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia;

2008/02/12
Committee: AFET

2007/2268(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Calls on all authorities and organisations within the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to stop using symbols which its neighbour Greece regards as closely associated with the history of the area in the north of Greece which is also designated Macedonia, in particular the name Alexander the Great or that of his father, Philip II, for inter alia the national airport at Petrovec, and erecting statues in the towns of Skopje, Prilep and Bitolaonsiders that the name dispute should not adversely affect the opening and conducting of EU accession negotiations;

2008/02/12
Committee: AFET

2007/2267(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)

- having regard to the visit and the report of a delegation of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in Croatia on 6-7 February 2008,

2008/02/13
Committee: AFET

2007/2267(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas Croatia’s EU accession process has wider regional implications and is seen as a test of the commitments made by the EU to the Western Balkans, and may become a significant incentive for all other countries concerned,

2008/02/13
Committee: AFET

2007/2267(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Considers that the objective of the ongoing accession negotiations is to agree on measures that may be necessary to facilitate integration with a clear commitment on behalf of the candidate country to accept and implement the acquis and adhere to the political objectives of the Treaties, and it should not be used as a leverage to settle bilateral political disputes falling outside the scope of the acquis and the objectives of the process;

2008/02/13
Committee: AFET

2007/2267(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Is aware of the negative impact which the judgments of~~Considers that Croatia continues to fully cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY); is aware of the negative impact which the judgments on the Vukovar war crimes cases have had on Croatia's public perception of the work of the ICTY; u~~rges the Croatian government to take steps to restore~~nderlines that popular support for the role of the ICTY in addressing the crimes perpetrated during the Yugoslav conflict would be significantly strengthened by full cooperation of all countries concerned;

2008/02/13
Committee: AFET

2007/2267(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the strengthening of the mandate of the Office for the Prevention of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK) and the increased number of corruption cases which are being prosecuted, and looks forward to successful investigations in high-level corruption cases; calls for these efforts to be maintained in order to eradicate the – in some cases unacceptably high – level of corruption, which undermines the economic development of the country;

2008/02/13
Committee: AFET

2007/2267(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Recalls the need to ensure adequate implementation of the Constitutional Law for National Minorities (CLNM), particularly with regard to bilingual teaching in schools and bilingualism in public administration and the planned employment guarantees concerning the adequate representation of minorities within the judiciary and public administration; welcomes the historical symbolic decision to appoint a representative of the Independent Democratic Serbian Party (SDSS) in the newly formed government as deputy prime minister responsible for regional development, reconstruction and return;

2008/02/13
Committee: AFET

2007/2267(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Has learned with concern about recent criticism voiced by the Commission with regard to the way in which EU funds are being managed by Croatian authorities and urges them, with the assistance of the Commission, to address as a matter of urgency the administrative weaknesses identified so as to allow the lifting of the temporary suspension of contracting under the PHARE 2006 programme (with a total financial envelope of € 68.5 million) and the reinstatement of the initial allocation for the financial year 2008 under IPA Component 1 following a reduction of € 5 million;

2008/02/13
Committee: AFET

2007/2267(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. RWhile noting its legal arguments based on the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, regrets the fact that the Croatian government has decided to introduce unilaterally the Ecological and Fishing Protection Zone (ZERP) in the Adriatic, thus reneging on the agreement reached in 2004 with the Italian and Slovenian authorities; ~~reminds Croatia that, unless a commonly agreed solu~~calls on all interested parties to engage in constructive negotiations i~~s found, this could have serious repercussions on the pace of the accession negotiations~~n order to find a solution to this outstanding issue;

2008/02/13
Committee: AFET

2007/2267(INI)

István SZENT-IVÁNYI, Andrew DUFF, Alexander Graf LAMBSDORFF

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Hopes that increased efforts on the part of Croatia and enhanced support by the EU institutions can ~~still~~ lead to the timely finalisation of an accession treaty ~~in time for Parliament to consider it before the next elections in June 2009,~~ so as to start the ratification process as early as possible;

2008/02/13
Committee: AFET

Activities of István SZENT-IVÁNYI

Plenary speeches (62)

Reports (1)

Opinions (7)

Written declarations (1)

Amendments (40)

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