161 Amendments of Nikola BARTŮŠEK
Amendment 11 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)
Citation 19 a (new)
– having regard to the European Commission evaluations of the European Social Fund (ESF) since 2014,
Amendment 16 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) supports, complements and adds value to the policies of the Member States in order to ensure equal opportunities, equal access to the labour market, fair and high-quality working conditions, fight against social dumping, social protection and inclusion;
Amendment 17 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the ESF+ is the onlymain EU fund primarily focused on social policies, and is therefore unique in itself and is strongly effective in achieving social inclusion, together with the cohesion policyimportant, together with the cohesion policy, in achieving the promotion of employment, improved living and working conditions, so as to make possible their harmonisation while the improvement is being maintained, proper social protection, dialogue between management and labour, the development of human resources with a view to lasting high employment and the combating of exclusion;
Amendment 29 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas different vulnerable groups have different needs, such as women in poverty, labour migrants, children, people with disabilities and elderly people; whereas the digital and green transition is much needed but also brings challenges for all people and all workers, and whereas to succeed in this endeavour, the EU must ensure a just transition that does not lose sight of workers and vulnerable people;
Amendment 45 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the availability and affordability of decent housing is decreasing because of over-liberalisation of the market; whereas the EU will have; whereas housing its first ever Commissioner for tackling the housing crises, and the first ever European affordable housing plan, expected in 2025a Member States competence;
Amendment 56 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the European Commission has not yet published an evaluation of the ESF+ after 2022;
Amendment 68 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. InsiRequests that the ESF+ must continues to be the key and primary instrument for supporting the Member States, people and regions in strengthening the social dimension of the Union, if the ESF+ proves to have been an efficient instrument after careful evaluation;
Amendment 77 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Insists that the objectives of the ESF+ should be to achieve high employment levels with adequate wages, decent working conditions, and healthy working environments and social security coverage, in order to develop a skilled, competitive and resilient workforce, ready for the twin transition and the future world of work, and to build fair social protections and inclusive and cohesive societicomplement and add value to the social policies of Member States, with the aims of eradicating poverty and delivering on the principles and the headline targets set out in the EPSR;
Amendment 91 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for a strong, reinforced, stand-alone ESF+ with significantly increaESF+ that is focused on public support for existing instruments aimed at providing for mployment and social affairs, rather than other poorest in our societential public objectives; insists, therefore, on doubling the funding for the ESF+ post-2027 such as climate action, European fiscal equalisation or foreign policy;
Amendment 95 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Expresses strong concerns over attemptsthe need to analyse whether to split or merge the existing ESF+ with other funds, si enhances that would create serious riskse efficiency of the ESF+ for the implementation of its objectives and those of the EPSR and its, of the principles of the EPSR and of the objectives of the EPRS action plan, ands well as the reaching of the ESPR’s headline targets;, warnith a particular focus that a unifying or simplifying funds may not improve their effectivenesication and/or simplification of ESF+ helps reach its beneficiaries;
Amendment 101 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that a different ESF+ governance wshould lead to the loss of priority given tofocus on results regarding improvements of social aspects, including employment and social inclusion projects, and to the funding not reaching local levels and those most in need, while increasing the risk of reallocaend beneficiaries, in connection ofwith funds for other purposes;
Amendment 113 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure the participation of social partners, civil society organisations (CSOs) and representatives of the target groups in all design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation stages of the ESF+, to allocate adequate funding for this purpose and to prevent the exclusion of smaller actors;
Amendment 117 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that the current ESF+ programme was adopted before the emergence of crises that have caused high inflation and increased costs of living, and therefore require higher public and social investment such that the existing ESF+ cannot meet current needs; callthat ESF+ focuses oin the Commission to ensure that a comprehensive, stablping people afind large-scale needs- and rights-based budget is guaranteed for the ESF+a job or gain a qualification in the next multiannual financial framework;
Amendment 124 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines that the ESF+ post-2027 should invest in tackling enduring social challenges and stay close to the general and specific objectives set out in the current ESF+; emphasises the importance of the fund’s principles of shared management, clear objectives and thematic concentrations, and that most of the fund should be spent as close as possible to those using the fundend beneficiaries;
Amendment 131 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that the ESF+ should not beis further used to respond to current emergencies or crises;, insists that a social rescue facility capable of reacting to social emergencies and crisis situations should supplement the ESF+ connection with other EU available funds; calls on the Commission to build on the success of the temporary EU instrument launched in 2020, entitled ‘Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE)’, in fighting temporary unemployment, and to put forward an EU unemployment reinsurance scheme wistrategy based on the results of thoutse further delaynds and in support of Member States policies;
Amendment 137 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines that horizontal principles, such as gender equality, anti- discrimination, and freedom of movement, should be integral to the ESF+; stresses the importance of an intersectionalefficiency approach throughout the entire development and implementation of the fund;
Amendment 145 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Insists that the ESF+ should target, among other, the most disadvantaged people in our societies, regardless of their sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief, or racial or ethnic origin – in particular marginalised communities such as Roma people, people with disabilities or chronic diseases, homeless people, children and elderly people; underlines that the ESF+ must be inclusive, with special attention given to all kinds of families, including single-parent families, families with more than two parents and rainbow families, with a results based approach in terms of their employment and social integration;
Amendment 163 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission, in the light of current challenges, to include in the specific objectives of the ESF+ the promotion of the just transition, the socio- economic integration of legal migrants, including labour migrants, the social inclusion of women who are victims of gender-based violence and the integration of older people;
Amendment 173 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses that reachingit is important to revise the EPSR’s targets on poverty becomes challenging, unless specific support is dedicated to alleviating the pressure on social protection systems and mitigating the social impact of crisesin order to render them realistic; insists on dedicating support to ensure decent living conditions for all legal residents, with access to high- quality essential services; calls for the EU anti-poverty strategy, outlined in Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s political guidelines for the 2024- 2029 term, to be implemented via the ESF+, with its binding poverty-reduction targets, national living wage indices and reference budgets used as benchmarks, applying a multidimensional approach and other EU funds, in support of national social policies;
Amendment 183 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that addressing child poverty requires appropriately funded, comprehensive and integrated measures, together with the implementation of the European Child Guarantee at national level, and insists that it constitute a central pillar of the EU anti-poverty strategy; repeats its previous demands for the ESF+ post-2027 to include a dedicated budget of at least EUR 20 billion forcalls for an evaluation of the European Child Guarantee as a pre-condition to dedicating ESF+ post-2027 funds to this goal; recalls that the European Child Guarantee; insists that recommends all the Member States shouldto allocate at least 5 % of their ESF+ resources to ithe European Child Guarantee and at least 10 % for those Member States with a higher portion of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion;
Amendment 188 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Urges the Commission to raise theeplace the 25 % earmarking for social inclusion beyond the current 25 % and the earmarking for food aid and basic material assistance for the most deprived persons to 5 %, in response to rising living and food coststo fostering good quality employment;
Amendment 200 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Shares the ambition to prioritise the tackling of the housing crises, and insists that the ESF+ post-2027 should enhance timely and equal access to affordable, decent, sustainable and high- quality services promoting access to housing; believes that all the Member States must invest at least 5 % of their ESF+ resources into tackling homelessnessRecalls that housing is Member States' competence and that Member States should enhance access to affordable and decent housing;
Amendment 211 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises the need to ensure sufficient financinga focus of the ESF+ post-2027 for high- quality and, public education for all,and private education and training for all legal residents, fostering skills development, upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning, and for the addressing of skills shortages, ensuring that individuals can successfully navigate labour market transitions;
Amendment 222 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls for a strengthening of efforts to support the implementation of the Youth Guarantee with an increased earmarking for all Member States that dedicate at least 15 % of their ESF+ resources; repeats in this context its call on the Member States to ban unpaid traineeshipensure a regulation of traineeships offering the best possible options for the youth to develop their skills in the workplace, taking into account small and medium enterprises;
Amendment 238 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines the importance of the ESF+ in focusing on different groups with different needs; stresses, therefore, the importance of allocating support to projects on the socio-economic position of legal migrants, including labour migrants, the social inclusion of people with disabilities, the ageing population in society, women and children, and female-headed households; insists that the ESF+ post- 2027 incorporate other aspects of social inclusion, such as housing, health and family circumstances and the support of community-based services;
Amendment 244 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses that the Employment and Social Innovation strand of the ESF+ provides support regarding the precarious situation of mobile workers and secures funding for trade union-related counselling; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure permanent funding for national and transnational trade union counselling services for such workers;
Amendment 259 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses that the implementation of the EPSR and the reforms needed to comply with the country-specific recommendations in the European Semester are also dependant on the strong support of the ESF+ for certain policy measures, especially those related to strengthening social welfare systems, ensuring inclusive and high-quality public education, reducing child povertyfostering good quality employment and etradicating homelessnessining;
Amendment 267 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
Amendment 277 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Underlines that it is of the utmost importance that small social enterprises and CSOs continue to have access to all aspects of the ESF+; calls for an increased co-financing rate of at least 90 % for measures targeting the most deprived implemented by CSOs, and at least 70 % for those implemented by social enterprisethe ESF+ under the same current conditions;
Amendment 285 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
Amendment 294 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Insists that the rules governing the use of the ESF+ must ensure and enhance compliance with the rule of law, the EU acquis, the highest EU social standards, social rights and democratic principles, and be aligned with the EPSR, the UN’s sustainable development goals and and with fundamental human and workers’ rights;
Amendment 299 #
2024/2077(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls for strong and more effective social conditionalities in rules on public procurement and concessions, with effective sanctions; encourages the Commission to create a comprehensive database, supplementing the Eurostat data, to allow for timely and reliable monitoring of the developments in employment, living conditionsthe strict compliance of rules on public procurement and concessions, including on behalf of the European Institutions and Agencies, with effective corrections in case of non- compliance and, industrial relaf that be the case, of sanctions;
Amendment 1 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
– having regard to the Court of Auditors’ annual report on the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2023, together with the institutions’ replies , and to the Court of Auditors’ special reports,
Amendment 2 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Expresses its satisfaction that the European Court of Auditors (ECA) has declared the transactions underlying the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), the European Training Foundation (ETF), and the European Labour Authority (ELA) annual accounts for the financial year 2023 to be overall legal and regular, and that their financial position as at 31 December 2023 is fairly representedDenounces that the multiplication of EU agencies, including those in the fields of employment and social affairs, goes against the principle of proportionality established in the Treaty on European Union;
Amendment 4 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Emphasises that even a 2% materiality threshold can represent a significant financial amount, given the size of the General budget and the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), including in headings related to employment and social matters; therefore, requests an analysis of the feasibility of applying a lower materiality threshold; warns that maintaining the 2% threshold without significant reduction undermines accountability and transparency; recommends that the report be signed by a physical person, in accordance with sound auditing practices, to ensure personal accountability and to enable European Parliament committees, including the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, to properly hold individuals accountable for the findings presented;
Amendment 10 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the five agencies’ continued and growing cooperation and sharing of resources amoCalls for big spending cuts, including in the agencies dealing with em and with other institutions, including other EU agencies, the Commission and the Parliamployment and social affairs, in order to make the system of decentralised agencies efficient;
Amendment 10 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes with satisfaction the strongthe collaboration with the Justice and Home Affairs Agencies, notably the conclusion of a new working arrangement with European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the opening of 15 new cases where Eurojust supported European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) as well as the cooperation on 42 cases with European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) including on a pilot project for the systematic and structural exchange of data for link detection purposes;
Amendment 12 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Recalls that according to the Court of Auditors’ annual report on the implementation of the budget for the financial year 2023, the question of the size of the management board of the agencies dealing with employment is of particular relevance in their cross-cutting evaluation;
Amendment 18 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Highlights the necessity for the Agency to report on the specific impacts and significant improvements achieved through its work;
Amendment 20 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Recommends that, in the absence of demonstrable improvements, a thorough evaluation of the EU Agencies necessity and efficiency is to be conducted;
Amendment 21 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3 c. Underlines the need for concrete, tangible and measurable outcomes and that complete transparency about the improvements resulting from the Agencies activities is essential to enhance citizens trust in the European Union;
Amendment 22 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3 d. Recalls that from the year 2000 onwards, thirty-two out of forty-three agencies have been set up, including one on employment and social affairs;
Amendment 23 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Acknowledges that the high inflation rate in 2023, and the related increase in various costs and utilities, affects significantly the agencies’ budget dedicated to operational expenditure, in particular for agencies located in Member States experiencing the highest inflation rateRecalls the warning issued by the European Court of Auditors’ Annual report that there is a high operational expenditure risk in EU agencies, including those relating to employment and social affairs;
Amendment 25 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Commends the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights’ (Acknowledges the FRA)’s assistance to policymakers implementing existing EU law and policies in the field of equality and anti-discrimination, such as EU law and policies combating racism and antisemitism, supporting the collection of equality data and the implementation of national Roma strategic frameworks, and providing input for to the mid-term review of the 2020–2025 LGBTIQ equality strategy, the protection of civil society and of human rights defenders at risk, as well as supporting the revision of the victims’ rights directive, and advising on the implementation of the horizontal enabling conditions related to fundamental right for the use of EU fund; emphasizes the importance of addressing all forms of discrimination, including anti-European discrimination, to ensure a balanced approach that reflects the diversity of challenges faced by EU citizens; regrets however that the FRA was not able to elaborate more precisely on the reasons triggering a skyrocketing rise of antisemitism in EU Member States;
Amendment 28 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Acknowledges that the total budget of the agencies, including those in the fields of employment and social affairs, amounts to 12% of the EU’s general budget;
Amendment 28 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises FRA’s guidance and engagement in the area of asylum and migration, including cooperatioUrges FRA to enhance transparency and accountability in with the European Union Asylum Agency (EUAA) to enhancing the understanding of guardians and legal representatives assisting unaccompanied children seeking international protection within the Union and the training provided to staff of Europol enhancing awareness and understanding of fundamental rights considerations in relevant operational contexts; welcomes FRA’s timely input on the temporary protection directive implementation in the context of refugees fleeing from Ukraine, as well as os reporting mechanisms, ensuring that its activities provide clear and measurable outcomes that directly benefit EU citizens; calls for an indentifying the challenges with regard to the implementation of Union law on long- term residence, and the list of actions the Union and its Member States can take to reduce fatalities at seapendent evaluation of FRA’s added value in areas where its mandate overlaps with other EU agencies or national bodies;
Amendment 30 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Appreciates the Foundation’s work on enhancing and disseminating knowledge, and providing evidence-based expertise to support the development of better informed social, employment and work-related policies in Europe, to analyse policy options to improve working conditions, industrial relations, employment and living, and to produce expertise on right to disconnect, telework, hybrid work and related impacts on work– life balance and quality of working conditionsNotes that Eurofound’s budget has increased from EUR 26 million in 2022 to EUR 30 million in 2023 (16% increase), more than double the inflation rate (6.3%);
Amendment 38 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Expresses its satisfaction for the positive ECA’s opinion on the Foundation’s accounts and invites the Foundation to address the ECA’s remarksrelief that Eurofound’s staff has not increased from 2022 to 2023;
Amendment 39 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes FRA's contribution toQuestions the competence of FRA in the evaluation of the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation (‘the EBCG Regulation’)3 , participation in European Border Coast Agency (Frontex) Management Board meetings and co- chairing the Frontex Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights, and cooperation with the Fundamental Rights Office at Frontex; _________________ 3 Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 November 2019 on the European Border and Coast Guard and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1052/2013 and (EU) 2016/1624 (OJ L, 2019/1896, 14.11.2019, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1896/oj ).considering that the agency already has Fundamental Rights monitoring;
Amendment 40 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 41 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes the 16,8 % of carryover rate, above the 15 % benchmark, and the Foundation’s reply making a distinction between planned and unplanned carry- overs, the latest being assessed at 4 % by the Foundationat Eurofound has made a payment of EUR 38.6 thousand to a contract provider for quality assessment of survey data without collecting some key supporting documents relating to the contractual deliverables;
Amendment 44 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Appreciates the Agency’s activities to develop, gather and provide reliable and relevant information, analysis and tools on national and EU priorities in the field of occupational safety and healthat EU-OSHA’s budget has not been increased from 2022 to 2023, despite the fact that inflation has been 6.3%;
Amendment 47 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with dismay that in 2023, over 1,1 million applications for international protection (+18 % compared to 2022) were submitted, and more than 1 million decisions granting temporary protection were issued in 29 EU+ countries; highlights the substantial support EUAA has provided tostresses the urgent need for the EUAA to assist Member States ion that context;4 _________________ 4 EU+ countries include the Member States of the European Union (EU) as well as Schengen associated countrmeasures to prevent illegal migration and processing returns efficiently, in line with their national policies.;
Amendment 48 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Appreciates that EU-OSHA’s staff has decreased from 65 employees in 2022 to 63 in 2023;
Amendment 50 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Notes that EU-OSHA split two contracts of €14.7 thousand and €15 thousand, respectively, in order to avoid a tender competition and award them directly;
Amendment 53 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. AppreciaNotes theat Cedefop’s activities to provide research, analyses and technical advice and expertise in vocational education and training (VET), qualifications and skills policies, to compile and disseminate research on skills mismatches, and to ensure digital skills are integrated into VET across the Union, as well as, the Cedefop involvement in the 2023 European Year of Skillsbudget has increased from EUR 26 million in 2022 to EUR 28 million in 2023 (9% increase), fifty per cent higher than the inflation rate (6%);
Amendment 56 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Expresses its satisfaction for the positive ECA’s opinion on the Agency’s accounts and invNotes that Cedefop’s staff has increased from 108 employees in 2022 to 109 employees in 2023, despites the Agency to address the ECA’s observationsfact that its functions remain the same;
Amendment 61 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes the Cedefop’s corrective action taken regarding the daily subsistence allowances paid to Greek seconded national experts, but regrets that the corrective action does not include the monthly subsistence allowances;
Amendment 61 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes with satisfaction that 1 000 training sessions were organised by EUAA, and that there is a constant increase in terms of the number of asylum and reception officials and civil society actors trained (+6 % compared to 2022); welcomes the further development of the European asylum curriculum, with training modules such as the ones addressing gender-based violence and the situation of children in the asylum process in an attempt to offset the constant increase in the unstoppable migratory influx encouraged by the European Commission for almost 10 years now;
Amendment 64 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. AppreciaNotes theat ETF’s activities in helping the Union, Member States and its partner countries to harness the potential of their human capital and to improve the employment prospects through the reform of education, vocational training, skills and labour market systems, as well as, the ETF role in the 2023 European Year of Skillsbudget has increased from EUR 25 million in 2022 to EUR 31 million in 2023 (22% increase), more than triple the inflation rate (6.3%);
Amendment 65 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Expresses its satisfaction for the positive ECA’s opinion on the Agency’s acNotes that ETF illegally awarded an in-country support services counts and invract for €4 million, despites the Agency to address the ECA’s remarks, especially concerning open procurement procedurefact that the economic and financial capacity of the awarded tenderer had not been demonstrated;
Amendment 67 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Notes theat ETF’s confirmation that it has reviewed its methodologies on financial solvency in the tendering evaluation process and on financial assessment illegally awarded a EUR 1 million framework contract for content support services to a provider that did not reach the financial turnover required in the tender;
Amendment 68 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Notes the Commission’s recommendation to improve the geographical and gender balance among its staff, and to further cooperate with the ELA and the European Institute for Gender EqualityUnder the foregoing circumstances, manifests an impossibility to discharge the implementation of ETF’s budget for the financial year 2023;
Amendment 69 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Appreciates the Authority’s work to assist Member States and the Commission in ensuring a fair and effective enforcement of Union rules on labour mobility and coordination of social security systems, in facilitating effective labour mobility in Europe through European Employment Services (EURES) activities, and to raising awareness, through training and information campaigns, about the rights and obligations of workers and employersNotes that ELA’s budget has increased from EUR 35 million in 2022 to EUR 39 million in 2023 (13% increase), more than double the inflation rate (6.3%);
Amendment 73 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes the significantWelcomes the increase in returns, with Frontex exceeding its target of 20 000 by assisting 39 239 returns in total, including an impressive 87% increase in voluntary returns and a 20% rise in forced returns compared to 2022; welcomes the enhanced support provided to Member States in post-return and post- arrival assistance, with Frontex exceeding its target of 5 000 cases in the Joint Reintegration System, successfully managing 6 438 cases in 2023notes, however, that the overall return rate in the European Union remained below 30%, indicating that current initiatives remain insufficient in the light of scale of illegal migration flows; emphasizes the need for Frontex to further prioritize and expand its return operations as a central element of its mandate and to work closely with Member States to enhance the effectiveness of return and reintegration programs;
Amendment 76 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Expresses its satisfaction for the overall positive ECA’s opinion on the Authority’s accounts; notes, however, the ECA’s remarks on a basis for qualified opinion on the legality and regularity of payments underlying the accountsNotes that ELA’s staff has increased from 117 employees in 2022 to 141 employees in 2023 (21% increase), despite the fact that its functions have not been legally increased;
Amendment 78 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. In this regards, notes the ECA’s opinion on an irregular contract awarding and the Authority’s reply that the concerned contract was not renewed and ran until the end to avoid disruption in the Authority’s activitiesNotes that ELA illegally awarded a contract for EUR 12.9 million, despite the fact that the tender specifications had established a maximum value of EUR 6 million, thereby allowing for the irregular allocation of public funds at an amount of EUR 6.9 million;
Amendment 82 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Notes theat ECLA’s opinion on shortcomings in ELA’s ex-ante checks and the 3,8 % of irregular expenditure above the materiality threshold; takes note of the Authority’s commitment to enhance its ex-ante checks by reviewing and formalising the process for assessing key parameterspaid EUR 261.5 thousand to a training contractor that had already been paid via a monthly flat rate and that were not included in his financial offer, thereby allowing for the irregular allocation of public funds that have not been recovered;
Amendment 82 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Acknowledges the essential role Frontex plays in Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, with maritime and aerial assets deployed in joint operations responding to 785 incidents involving 43 508 migrants, underscoring the critical contribution of Frontex to humanitarian efforts; recalls that in line with expectations expressed by many Member States, a sustainable EU border management policy should effectively explore the possibilities for Frontex to disembark rescued migrants in coastal third countries of departure;
Amendment 84 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Notes the 26 % of carryover rate, way above the 15 % benchmark, and the 19 % of Title II appropriations cancelled, and takes note of the Agency’s reply committing to make efforts to enhance budget implementationat ELA overpaid EUR 37.6 thousand in favour of a communication services contractor who exceeded the contractual limit in his invoice, thereby allowing for the irregular allocation of public funds that have not been recovered;
Amendment 89 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Expects the Authority to deliver on its commitments and address allUnder the foregoing circumstances, manifests an impossibility to discharge the implementation of ECLA’s remarks without delaybudget for the financial year 2023;
Amendment 89 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights the positive progress in implementing Fundamental Rights targets, including the ongoing execuAcknowledges the implementation of the Fundamental Rights Action Plan and the independent evaluation of the Agency’s compliance with the Fundamental Rights Framework, in line with the EBCG Regulation; welcomes the proactive follow-up by Frontex on complaints related to fundamental rights, with the majority being dismissed for non- admissibility; welcomes Frontex's reinforced commitment to transparency and accountabilitynotes, however, that the emphasis on fundamental rights must not divert resources from Frontex’s core operational tasks, particularly its mandate to manage returns effectively; calls for a balanced approach where fundamental rights compliance supports, rather than hinders, the execution of operational priorities;
Amendment 90 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Asks the Agencies and the CommissionCouncil to reduce the number of decentralised agencies related to iempleoyment as sond social affairs from five to one as possible all outstanding ECA's recommendnd their staff to a total of one hundred employees, reducing in the same number the staff dedicated in the European Commission to employment and social affairs in order to avoid duplications;
Amendment 92 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Recommends, based on the facts available, that discharge will not be granted to the Executive Directors of the Eurofound, EU- OSHA, the CEDEFOP, the ETF, and the ELA in respect of the implementation of the Authorities’ budget for the financial year 2023.
Amendment 93 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. SupportNotes Frontex’s continued efforts to strengthen its FRO, notincluding the employment of 46 Fundamental Rights Monitors (FRM) in 2023; stresses the importance of ensuring that all FRMs are recruited in AD grade, to further enhance their capacity and independence; recognises that Frontex has taken significant steps in responding to the opinions of the FRO, particularly on issues such as gender mainstreaming and human trafficking, however, that these efforts must not detract from Frontex’s primary mission to safeguard Europe’s borders and increase the efficiency of its return operations; encourages Frontex to develop a clearer division of responsibilities between the FRO and operational units, ensuring that fundamental rights monitoring enhances, rather than impedes, the effectiveness of border management and return operations;
Amendment 119 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the Commission, in light of the challenging migration crisis, to follow up on Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s statement of July 2024 declaring that Frontex is well-positioned to further increase its staff to up to 30 000 agents; underlines that this expansion would significantly enhance Frontex’s capacity to manageaddress migration flows and ensure security at the Union’s external borders, reinforcing its vital role in the Union’s broader migration strategy.
Amendment 124 #
2024/2030(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes with regret that the training activities in the area of fundamental rights and data protection decreased in 2023 (when 19 activities were implemented with 2063 participants) in comparison to 2022 (30 activities with 4 014 participants); underlines that the core objective of CEPOL is to support, develop, implement and coordinate training for law enforcement officials, while putting particular emphasis on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the context of law enforcement; acknowledges at the same time that the total number of participants increased to 46 431.
Amendment 10 #
2024/2029(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the increase in appropriations for the EPPO’s budget in 2023, amounting to EUR 64,6 million in total, which allowed for an 11 % increase in staff in that year; acknowledgeregrets that the acceleration of the disbursement of NextGenerationEU funding and the increase in the EPPO’s membership are projected to put further strain on the EPPO’s resources; underline instead of acknowledging the EC's responsibility for the negligent management of NextGenerationEU; questions the importance of additional funding for the EPPO’s budget in order for it to have the necessary means to carry out its tasks;
Amendment 16 #
2024/2029(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Acknowledges the importance of taking a holistic approach to combating white-collar crime, such as fraud and corruption, and more conventional types of crime, such as drug trafficking and human trafficking, as they are often linked; recalls the fact that, in its upcoming evaluation report, the Commission should carefully analyse whether and to which categories of crimes the EPPO’s mandate needs to be extended in order for it to be best equipped to fulfil its role; regrets that this is being done to the detriment of, and instead of, strengthening controls and criteria for the allocation of funds by the EC;
Amendment 2 #
2024/2028(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the 2023 operating budget of the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) amounted to EUR 22 711 559 and compared to the 2022 final budget, is concerned that the operating budget increased by 12 %; welcomes that, in 2023, the implementation rate of the commitment appropriations by the EDPS was 96 %;
Amendment 13 #
2024/2028(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Expresses concern about the significant increase in EDPS staff mission costs, from EUR 28 789 in 2021 and EUR 176 903 in 2022, to EUR 284 580 in 2023; calls on the EDPS to assess whether the resources spent on missions are being used appropriately and effectively; notesexpresses deep concern that the EDPS ceased making public the number of missions funded by organisers, as well as information on which unit or sector participated in each mission, thus reducing transparency regarding mission expenses; calls on the EDPS to, even though transparency is the cornerstone of its mission; calls on the EDPS to retroactively and sustainably reinstate this practice.
Amendment 1 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Expresses its dissatisfaction that the Court of Auditors has declared that the budget expenditure in the consolidated accounts of the Union for the year 2023 present fairly, in all material respects, the Union’s financial position at this dateillegal and/or irregular and/or not in line with the principles of sound financial management, with a special incidence in the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) expenditure heading 2 'Cohesion, resilience and values', including energy efficiency in buildings;
Amendment 1 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. WelcomNotes the progress in the implementation of Member States' national programmes in 2023; notes with concern that, despite the requirement to spend all funds for the programming period 2014- 2020 by June 2024, 18% of AMIF funds and 25% of ISF funds allocated to Member States for that period remain undeclared; is concerned about the improper use of some funds, and calls on the Commission to account for them;
Amendment 2 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Observes that the level of error in MFF heading 2 ‘Cohesion, resilience and values’ is 9.3% out of a total expenditure of €67 billion, that is, €6.2 billion, more than four times the materiality threshold, where the Court of Auditors has found 49 errors out of 238 transactions, numerous weaknesses and irregularities declared by beneficiaries;
Amendment 3 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Emphasises that a 2% materiality threshold can represent a significant financial amount, given the size of the General budget and the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), including in headings related to employment and social matters; therefore, requests an analysis of the feasibility of applying a lower materiality threshold; warns that maintaining the 2% threshold without significant reduction undermines accountability and transparency; recommends that the report be signed by a physical person, in accordance with sound auditing practices, to ensure personal accountability and to enable European Parliament committees, including the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, to properly hold individuals accountable for the findings presented;
Amendment 7 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Observes that the total outstanding commitments reached a record high of EUR 543 billion by the end of 2023, mainly due to an increased commitment of shared management funds, as well as NextGenerationEU (NGEU), but notwarns that the European Commission has not addressed research and development (R&D) policies that the total outstanding commitments are expected to decrease in the 2024-2026 periodin the European Semester, despite the NGEU opportunity to boost investments in research and development to 3% of GDP in each Member State;
Amendment 9 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Warns that the European Commission has not provided assurance that Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) expenditure complies with EU and national rules; observes that seven out of the 23 RRF payments to member states are affected by quantitative findings, as well as payments for which no essential documentation was provided in MFF heading 2 ‘Cohesion, resilience and values’, to a level which is more than double than in 2022; warns that the European Commission has not provided assurance that Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) expenditure complies with EU and national rules; observes that seven out of the 23 RRF payments to member states are affected by quantitative findings, as well as payments for which no essential documentation was provided in MFF heading 2 ‘Cohesion, resilience and values’, to a level which is more than double than in 2022;
Amendment 9 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. WelcomStrongly opposes the Commission’s timely proposal to increase the ceilings of Headings 4 and 6 as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework mid- term revision with a view to ensuring sufficient funding for the implementation of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum; stresses the need to ensure adequate and timely Union funding for Member States and Union agencies to facilitate the smooth implementation of Union law in the areas of asylum and migration; calls on the Commission to monitor and assist in the timely progress of the administrative, operational and legal steps required by Member States and Union agencies for the full implementation of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum by Summer 2026; reiterates that the New Pact on Migration and Asylum will only exacerbate migration flows into Europe; calls instead for a redirection of resources toward stricter border controls, effective returns, and measures to address root causes of migration in cooperation with third countries;
Amendment 12 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Warns that the European Commission’s estimate of error for expenditure is significantly outside the range of the Court of Auditors’ confidence interval, particularly in MFF heading 2 ‘Cohesion, resilience and values’;
Amendment 14 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Expresses concerns that the Commission forecast decommitments forabout the limitations of the Commission's and Member States' ex post cohesion policy funds, includcks withing the European Social Fund Plus, at EUR 2,2 billion for the 2024-2027 period, five times higher its 2022 forecast, mainly due to persistent low absorption;Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), particularly under Heading 2, 'Cohesion, Resilience and Values.'
Amendment 17 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Warns that competition in public procurement has decreased, due to the fact that procurement procedures have not been simplified and shortened;
Amendment 18 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes with concern that the number of migrants arriving irregularly in the Union increased again in 2023 as compared to previous years; further notes the Commisshighlights that Search and Rescue (SAR) operation’s ongoing efforts to assist Member States in addressing irregular arrivals and in successfully integin the Mediterranean, while vital for saving lives, may act as a pull factor encouratging legally residing third-country nationals; recalls that, while the Commission should continue to take action on migration andfurther dangerous crossings; stresses that the current framework, which combines the right to asylum within the framework of external action, the functioning of the ‘Team Europe’ approach must be clarified while safeguarding the role of Parliament; calls on the Commission to increase the transparency and accountability of the programming and implementation of the Union home affairs funds right to residence in Europe, incentivizes perilous journeys, leading to increased deaths at sea; warns that the New Migration Pact, by facilitating pathways to Europe, risks exacerbating third countries; renews its call on the Commission to support the Union agencies and the Member States in coordinating effective search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean,ese trends, resulting in more dangerous crossings, higher mortality rates, and a rise in illegal migration; calls for a thorough reassessment of the Pact to ensuringe that such actions are carried out in accordance with international and Union lawit does not unintentionally encourage irregular migration or undermine Member States’ control over their borders;
Amendment 19 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that high inflation (6,4 %) continued to affect the Union budget; warns that, based on the Commission’s inflation forecast, the Union budget could lose about 13 % of its purchasing power by end of 2025; warns that EU debt from borrowing increased in 2023, particularly for funding for NGEU, while the bulk of repayment is deferred to future MFFs;
Amendment 20 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Notes the limitation in the European Commission’s annual activity report, which lacks conclusions on the effectiveness of Member State controls over RRF funds; calls for a comprehensive reliability statement from the Commission, based on a thorough assessment of control mechanisms at both EU and national levels, to provide European taxpayers with full assurance that RRF expenditures including in social affairs are in compliance with EU rules; demands enhanced transparency from the Commission and improvements in control systems to safeguard the financial integrity of EU recovery funds;
Amendment 22 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Warns that EU debt repayment from higher borrowing in 2023 relies on higher taxes on company profits;
Amendment 22 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Acknowledges the Commission’s continuous monitoring of rule of law benchmarks through the rule of law toolbox, including the annual rule of law report, while remaining concerned that, by adopting an overly diplomatic approach and failing to distinguish between individual and systemic issues, the annual rule of law report risks trivialising some of the most serious breaches of the rule of law; repolitical and arbiterates its regret and serious concern with respect to the lawfulness of the Commission’s decision concluding that, in Hungary, the horizontal enabling condition of the Charter had been fulfilled in relation to judicial independence which decision enabled the Hungarian authorities to start claiming reimbursements of up to approximately EUR 10,2 billion from Union funds; calls on the Commission to take steps towards the full implementation of Parliament’s recommendations on the establishment of an EU mechanism for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, contained in its resolution of 25 October 20161 , and to ensure that assessments of rule of law benchmarks are more precise and qualitative than is presently the case, relying not only on legislative changes, but also on real and independent evidence of their implementation in practice; _________________ 1 European Parliament resolution of 25 October 2016 with recommendations to the Commission on the establishment of an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (2015/2254(INL)) (OJ C 215, 19.6.2018, p. 162).ry monitoring of rule of law benchmarks through the rule of law toolbox;
Amendment 23 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Recalls that the estimate of error in MFF expenditure has increased from 2022 to 2023 by 33%, mainly due to the increase in MFF heading 2 ‘Cohesion, resilience and values’;
Amendment 24 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Concludes that the European Commission merely correlates spending in MFF heading 2 ‘Cohesion, resilience and values’ to a reduction of unemployment in Central and Eastern Europe, but fails to do it in the rest of the Union; warns that the European Commission completely fails to justify how the expenditure on the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) contributes effectively to a reduction of employment in the youth;
Amendment 25 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Emphasizes the importance of a rigorous planning and control cycle for EU agencies, whereby the outcomes and evaluations of expenditures are carefully considered in the budgeting process; aims to ensure a realistic and accountable budget based on demonstrated results and performance; therefore urges the European Commission to use the annual report of the European Court of Auditors as input for establishing the budget of the EU agencies, and requests that the available budget not be increased until identified shortcomings are fully addressed;
Amendment 32 #
2024/2019(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reiterates its great concern over the persistent delays in the Commission’s procedures for granting access to documents; urges the Commission to address these deficiencies promptly, in line with Parliament’s recommendations, and to apply first and foremost the rules of transparency it imposes on others entities;
Amendment 6 #
2024/0187(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) The specifications of ICAO Document 9303, which ensure global interoperability including in relation to machine readability and use of visual inspection, should be taken into accounthe benchmark for the purpose of this Regulation.
Amendment 11 #
2024/0187(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) Where difficulties are encountered in the collection of biometric identifiers, Member States should ensure that appropriate procedures are in place to respect the dignity of the person concerned. Therefore, specific considerations relating to gender and to the specific needs of children and of vulnerable persons should be taken into account.
Amendment 16 #
2024/0187(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 23 #
2024/0187(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(e a) sex of the holder
Amendment 37 #
2024/0187(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point a
Amendment 15 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls to double the budget allocated to the development of capabilities under the Common Security and Defence Policy in order to ensure the safety of its citizens, and maintain stability both within Europe and globally; reaffirming that the national defence and the employment of national armed forces represent a pure expression of national sovereignty;
Amendment 31 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that the unprecedented challenges in the global environment, along with the threats the EU is facing must be met by a substantial EU reaction, matched by appropriate and sufficient budgetary means for the EU to protect itself and the citizens and live up to the geopolitical challenges; welcomes the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) earlier this year which led to an increase in Heading 6; furthermore welcomes the adoption of two new instruments, namely the Ukraine Facility and the Western Balkans Facility, which will provide additional targeted support to Ukraine and the six Western Balkans countries;
Amendment 40 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is particularly concerned abouNotes that the approach taken in the MFF revision to only have a net increase of Heading 6 of EUR 3,1 billion whereas the other EUR 4,5 billion shall be covered through redeployments within this heading; is not convinced that these redeployments will actually materialise to that extent;
Amendment 48 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that the Commission presented a budget proposal of EUR 16 258 million, close to MFF ceiling in Heading 6 with a remaining available margin of EUR 44,8 million; notes furthermore that Council increased the budget for humanitarian aid by EUR 30 million, believes however that this amount will not be sufficient to be able to respond to emerging crises;
Amendment 56 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes with concern the reductions for the Neighbourhood East in NDICI which is underfunded by EUR 150 million for the remainder of this MFF; considers it therefore necessary for the 2025 Union budget to increase this budget line by EUR 50 million;
Amendment 66 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that further targeted reinforcements are needed in areas such as the fight against disinformation, which must not turn into censorship or further disinformation, capacity development, enlargement, election observation, nuclear safety, support for civil society organisations, even if this will require the use of flexibility instruments;
Amendment 90 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recognises that is stillConsiders not necessary to increase the financial support of the EU to UNRWA in 2025, due to the agency’s critical financial situation that jeopardizes its ability to fulfil its important role effectivelyin light of the alarming reports indicating the involvement of individuals associated with UNRWA in the 7 October attacks in Israel, which prompted the European Commission to suspend funding;
Amendment 113 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Strongly believes that a considerable reinforcement of humanitarian aid, accompanied by clear objectives in terms of the rule of law and governance, and measures to discourage and limit illegal migration, is needed for the Union to be able to respond to emerging crises.; calls that the recipients and use of such aids have to be carefully monitored and that the European Parliament have to be constantly informed about their use;
Amendment 85 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Addressing labour shortages requires a comprehensive approach at Union and national level which includes, as a priority, better realising the full potential of groups with lower labour market participation, reskilling and upskilling the existing workforce, facilitating intra-EU labour mobility including by making better use of Council Directive 2003/109 and Directive 2021/1883 of the European Parliament and the Council as well as the EURES-network, as well as improving working conditions and the attractiveness of certain occupations. Due to the current scale of the labour market shortages and the demographic trends, measures targeting the domestic and Union workforce alone are likely to be insufficient to address existing and future labour and skills shortages. Therefore, legal migration is key to complement those actions and must be part of the solution to fully support the twin transition.
Amendment 86 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Addressing labour shortages requires a comprehensive approachmanagement of data on supply and demand at Union and national level which includes, as a priority, better realising the fullproviding Member States with a platform containing all the data required to realise the potential of groups with lower labour market participation, reskilling and upskilling the existing workforce, facilitating intra-EU labour mobility, as well as improving working conditions and the attractiveness of certain occupation if and only if that does not constitute unfair competition to the actors within the relevant sectors. Due to the current scale of the labour market shortages and the demographic trends, measures targeting the domestic and Union workforce alone are likely to be insufficient to address existing and future labour and skills shortages. Therefore, legal migration is key to complement those actions and must be part of the solution to fully support the twin transition.
Amendment 91 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Addressing labour shortages requires a comprehensive approach at Union and national level which includes, as a priority, better realising the full potential of groups with lower labour market participation, reskilling and upskilling the existing workforce, facilitating intra-EU labour mobility, as well as improving working conditions and the attractiveness of certain occupations. Due to the current scale of the labour market shortages and the demographic trends, measures targeting the domestic and Union workforce alone are likely to be insufficient to address existing and future labour and skills shortages. Therefore, legal migration is keymay be envisaged to complement those actions and must be part of the solution to fully support the twin transition, if all national mechanisms have been exhausted and subject to complete respect for differing national migration policies.
Amendment 99 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to facilitate international recruitment and provide opportunities for third-country nationals to work in EU-wide shortage occupations, an EU Talent Pool should be established in the form of a Union-wide platform that brings together and supports the matching of profiles of registered jobseekers from third countries residing outside the Union and job vacancies of employers established in the participating Member States. The platform shall, however, at no point have any goal other than providing information to Member States.
Amendment 106 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
Amendment 108 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The EU Talent Pool should aim at supporting participating Member States to address existing and future skills and labour shortages via the recruitment of third country nationals to the extent the activation of the domestic workforce and intra-EU mobility are not sufficient to achieve this objective, and in accordance with the national immigration procedures of the Member States concerned. As a voluntary tool to facilitate international recruitment, the EU Talent Pool should offer additional support at Union level to interested Member States. To this end, complementarity and interoperability with existing national initiatives and platforms should be ensured Member States’ specific needs should be taken into account in the development of the EU Talent Pool in order to ensure the widest participation possibParticipation in the EU Talent Pool shall remain a voluntary choice of Member States and may not imply any obligation that limits national powers to manage migration. Member States shall retain the right to suspend participation in the EU Talent Pool or make changes to conditions if national interests so require. To this end, complementarity and interoperability with existing national initiatives and platforms should be ensured Member States’ specific needs should be taken into account in the development of the EU Talent Pool. Jobseekers from third countries must agree to comply with the requirements of the national immigration rules and procedures of the Member State in which they are seeking work, and participation in the EU Talent Pool may not be regarded as a replacement for or a relaxation of these rules. Hence, ‘Talent’ is an encompassing term referring to the entire range of skills that might be needed by the Member States’ labour markets, on the understanding that these needs are in accordance with national priorities and are confirmed by the Member States on the basis of objective criteria, such as labour market tests.
Amendment 115 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) The EU Talent Pool should aim at supporting participating Member States to address existing and future skills and labour shortages via the recruitment ofby giving Member States the opportunity to access data on supply from third country nationalies to the extent the activation of the domestic workforce and intra-EU mobility are not sufficient to achieve this objective. As a voluntary tool to facilitate international recruitment, the EU Talent Pool should offer additional support at Union level to interested Member States. To this end, complementarity and interoperability with existing national initiatives and platforms should be ensured. Member States’ specific needs should be taken into account in the development of the EU Talent Pool in order to ensure the widest participation possible. Hence, ‘Talent’ is an encompassing term referring to the entire range of skills that might be needed by the Member States’ labour markets.
Amendment 121 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The EU Talent Pool aims at providing information services to employers that are established in the participating Member States, including private employment agencies, temporary work agencies and labour market intermediaries as defined by the International Labour Organisation Convention 181 from 1997.
Amendment 124 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The EU Talent Pool aims at providing services to employers that are establishedparticipating employers in the participating Member States, including private employment agencies, temporary work agencies and labour market intermediaries as defined by the International Labour Organisation Convention 181 from 1997.
Amendment 125 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) The EU Talent Pool must be an optional tool only that supports Member States in addressing labour and skills shortages. Participation in this tool must remain entirely voluntary and have no implications that undermine the national powers of Member States. Moreover, steps must be taken to prevent free movement within the Schengen area being used to grant migrants who have been admitted to one Member State via the EU Talent Pool access to other Member States.
Amendment 126 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) Registered jobseekers from third countries are considered as selected for a job vacancy in the EU Talent Pool when they are being offered an employment in the Member State participating in the EU Talent Pool.
Amendment 127 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
Amendment 139 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) The format of jobseekers' profiles and job vacancies should be established using the existing European classification of occupations, skills, competencies and qualifications (ESCO) as foreseen in Regulation (EU) 2016/5898 which provides for a standardised terminology for occupations, skills and competences and facilitates the transparency of skills and qualifications. The ESCO classification should support jobseekers from third countries, participating employers, and the EU Talent Pool National Contact Points in providing comparable information on work experiences, occupations covered by a vacancy, as well as the skills offered by the jobseekers and required by the participating employers, thereby enabling a high-quality matching process. Where applicable, the EU Talent Pool National Contact Points should use the ESCO format for the transfer of job vacancies to the EU Talent Pool IT platform. Member States not adopting the ESCO classification for national job vacancies, should produce mapping tables comparing the classification used in the national systems and the ESCO classification to allow interoperability. The mapping tables should be made available to the Commission and should be used for automatic transcoding of information on job vacancies or jobseekers’ profiles for the purpose of automated matching through the common IT platform. __________________ 8 Regulation (EU) 2016/589 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 April 2016 on a European network of employment services (EURES), workers' access to mobility services and the further integration of labour markets and amending Regulations (EU) No 492/2011 and (EU) No 1296/2013 (OJ L 107, 22.4.2016, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/589/oj).
Amendment 151 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) TIn view of the current scale of illegal migration and the pressure it is exerting on certain sectors, the EU Talent Pool should contribute to the objective of discouraging irregular migration including by facilitating access to existing legal pathways. Jobseekers from third countries who are subject to a judicial or administrative decision refusing the entry or stay in a Member State or an entry ban in accordance with Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, should not be allowed to register their profiles in the EU Talent Pool IT platform, given that they will not be permitted to enter and stay in the Union. To this end, jobseekers from third countries should be required, before registering their profiles inmust be put in direct contact with the immigration services of the country issuing the job offer in order to prevent the EU Talent Pool, to declare that they are not currently subject to a refusal of entry or stay from becoming a Member State or an entry ban to the territory of the Union. Information should also be provided on the consequences for making a false declaration in this respect.separate branch of immigration services. __________________ 11 Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals (OJ L 348, 24.12.2008, p. 98, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2008/115/oj).
Amendment 152 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The EU Talent Pool should contribute to the objective of discouraging irregular migration including by facilitating access to existing legal pathways. Jobseekers from third countries who are subject to a judicial or administrative decision refusing the entry or stay in a Member State or an entry ban in accordance with Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council11 , should not be allowed to register their profiles in the EU Talent Pool IT platform, given that they will not be permitted to enter and stay in the Union. To this end, jobseekers from third countries should be required, before registering their profiles in the EU Talent Pool, to declare that they are not currently subject to a refusal of entry or stay in a Member State or an entry ban to the territory of the Union. Information should also be provided on the consequences for making a false declaration in this respect. including on the deletion of the profiles of these jobseekers from the EU Talent Pool IT Platform. In addition, during the immigration procedures carried out by the Member States, necessary checks in relevant national and EU databases such as the Schengen Information System, which contains alerts on third country nationals who are not entitled to enter or stay in the Schengen area, may be conducted. __________________ 11 Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals (OJ L 348, 24.12.2008, p. 98, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2008/115/oj).
Amendment 181 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) The principles of the European Pillar of SIn the context of the EU Talent Pool, the social Rrights should apply for all activities conducted in the context of the EU Talent Pool, in particular with regard to the right to fair and equal treatment with respect to working conditions,of each Member State should be set out in each notification, in particular the local minimum wages, and access to slocial protection, training, and protection of youth people at work. In accordance with those principles, the EU Talent Pool should ensure quality employmentsocial protection, so that the offer is transparent and not misleading.
Amendment 186 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) The principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights should apply for aAll activities conducted in the context of the EU Talent Pool, in particular with regard to should respect the right to fair and equal treatment with respect to working conditions, minimum wages, access to social protection, training, and protection of youth people at work. In accordancAlso in line with those principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the EU Talent Pool should ensure quality employment and fair competition.
Amendment 209 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) The EU Talent Pool platform should meet established needs on the labour market and should not serve as a means to displace or negatively affect the existing workforce or otherwise undermine decent work or fair competition. To better support Member States’ efforts in addressing existing and future labour shortages, the EU Talent Pool should target specific occupations at all skills levels, based on the most common shortage occupations in the Union and on the occupations with a direct contribution to the green and digital transitions, set out in the Annex to this Regulation. In order to adapt the job vacancies to the specific needs of the national labour markets and taking as a starting point the list of EU- wide shortage occupations set out in the Annex, participating Member States shall be allowed to notify to the EU Talent Pool Secretariat the addition or removal of specific shortage occupations. Such notifications should only impact the matches for job vacancies submitted by the respective Member State. Neither the list of EU-wide shortage occupations nor the Member States’ notifications should affect the principle of preference for Union citizens or preference for citizens of Member States, should the latter be adopted.
Amendment 213 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) Participating Member States should make information concerning the EU Talent Pool and its functioning easily accessible to jobseekers from third countries if they have fully legal status and employers, in particular with regard to information on the competent authorities in the participating Member States. Such information should include the conditions and procedures for the participation in the EU Talent Pool.
Amendment 215 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
Amendment 229 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30
Recital 30
(30) Upon request from registered jobseekers from third countries and employers participating in the EU Talent Pool, the EU Talent Pool National Contact Points could provide additional support. Additional support should include tailored information on relevant visas and residence permits for work purposes in the participating Member State including with regard to third country nationals’ rights and obligations such as access to social benefits, health assistance, education, and housing and the limits and restrictions linked to Member States’ capacity to take in migrants. Specific guidance and information may also be provided on family reunification procedures and family members’ rights, and existing measures to facilitate integration in the host Member State such as language courses and vocational training. Such information should also include available redress mechanisms for cases of labour exploitation and unfair recruitment practices in the participating Member States. The EU Talent Pool National Contact Points should provide information to employers participating in the EU Talent Pool on their rights and obligations relating to social security, active labour market measures, taxation, issues relating to work contracts, pension entitlements and health insurance.
Amendment 235 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
Recital 31
Amendment 238 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) To achieve the objective of this Regulation, the effective implementapplication of the EU legal migration acquis should be ensured. In addition, to make the recruitment of jobseekers from third countries residing outside the Union easier and faster for employers, participating Member States may put in place accelerated immigration procedures in particular as regards the obtention of visas, in particular the legislation and procedures, in accordance with national law, in view of obtaining a work permit and a residence permits for work purposes and the exemption from in a Member State for work purposes. This Regulation should furthermore not affect the principle of preference for Union citizens. The implementation of accelerated immigration procedures could be discussed in the context of the EU Talent Pool Steering Group, notably in view of supporting the exchange of best practices among Member Statesght of Member States to determine volumes of admission of third country nationals in accordance with Article 79(5) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
Amendment 243 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31 a (new)
Recital 31 a (new)
(31a) The main purpose of the EU Talent Pool is supporting the recruitment of registered jobseekers from third countries residing outside the Union and job vacancies of participating employers and other participating entities established in the participating Member States. Therefore, on the EU Talent Pool IT Platform the EU Talent Pool Secretariat should provide clear information that the registration in the EU Talent Pool by jobseekers from third countries and the selection for a job vacancy through the EU Talent Pool IT Platform is not a guarantee that following the selection process a work permit, a visa or a residence permit will be issued by the participating Member State in which the participating employer or other participating entity is established.
Amendment 244 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32
Recital 32
Amendment 246 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 33
Recital 33
Amendment 251 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 34
Recital 34
Amendment 255 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 37
Recital 37
(37) Participating Member States should implement this Regulation in full compliance with all EU Charter of Fundamental Rights obligations and in particular without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, languages, religious or belief, political or any other opinions, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation. The respect of fair and just working conditions and the protection of young people at work should be ensured.
Amendment 258 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article premier – paragraph 2 – point d
Article premier – paragraph 2 – point d
Amendment 263 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation applies to jobseekers from third countries residing outside the Union and participating employers established in the participating Member States.
Amendment 265 #
Amendment 268 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Member States that participate in the EU Talent Pool shall retain full control over their immigration policy at all times and may suspend or terminate their participation in it if they consider it necessary to do so to protect national interests, public order or labour market objectives.
Amendment 270 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. A participating Member State may withdraw its participation from the EU Talent Pool at any time.
Amendment 271 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Jobseekers from third countries who have been admitted to a Member State via the EU Talent Pool shall not acquire any right to free movement within the Schengen area. Such jobseekers shall be bound by the national immigration rules and residence conditions of the Member State that has admitted them.
Amendment 280 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 3
(3) ‘participating employer’ means any natural person, or any leg employer whose job vacancies are available on the EU Tal entity, established in a participating Member State under the direction or supervision of whom Pool IT Platform as transmitted by the National Contact Point of the Memployment is undertaken as well as private employment agencies, temporary work agencies and labour market intermediariesber State where the employer is established;
Amendment 287 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 4 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 4 a (new)
(4a) ‘job vacancy’ means an offer of employment which would allow the jobseeker who has been selected to enter into an employment relationship in the participating Member State where the participating employer or the other participating entity is established and where the jobseeker will normally work;
Amendment 324 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
Amendment 345 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) transferringmake available job vacancies ton the EU Talent Pool IT platform through the single coordinated channel and facilitating the matching between registered jobseekers from third countries and employers participating in the EU Talent Pool;
Amendment 385 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Participating Member States shall retain the right to reject applications by jobseekers from third countries who do not comply with national immigration procedures. Jobseekers who infringe national rules shall be excluded from further participation in the EU Talent Pool.
Amendment 388 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3
Article 11 – paragraph 3
3. Profiles of jobseekers from third countries registered in the EU Talent Pool shall subsequently be visible to employers participating in the EU Talent Pool in order to promote the principle of preference for Union citizens as set out in the relevant provisions of the 2003 and 2005 acts of accession.
Amendment 410 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Before posting a job vacancy to the EU Talent Pool, employers must ask the competent national employment service to perform a labour market test. This test must demonstrate objectively that there are no suitable candidates available within the EU. The test results shall be verified by the National Contact Point.
Amendment 466 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2
Article 16 – paragraph 2
2. Employers participating in the EU Talent Pool may use a specific filter available on the EU Talent Pool IT platform to search for profiles of registered jobseekers having obtained an ‘EU Talent Partnership pa, governed by the principles of non-discrimination, legality and fairness’.
Amendment 490 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – point b a (new)
(ba) explanatory information making jobseekers aware that participation in the EU Talent Pool does not automatically lead to a residence or work permit and that they must follow the regular national procedures.
Amendment 531 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19
Article 19
Amendment 536 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 1
1. Participating Member States may, in accordance with national law, decide to put in place accelerated immigration procedures to allow for a faster recruitment of registered jobseekers from third countries who have been selected for a job vacancy in the EU Talent Pool.
Amendment 538 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2
Article 19 – paragraph 2
Amendment 540 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point a
Amendment 542 #
2023/0404(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point b