Activities of György SCHÖPFLIN related to 2015/2041(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Transparency, accountability and integrity in the EU institutions (short presentation)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on transparency, accountability and integrity in the EU institutions PDF (643 KB) DOC (122 KB)
Amendments (41)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 8 May 2008 on the development of the framework for the activities of interest representatives (lobbyists) in the European institutions (2007/2115(INI));
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Union ‘shall observe the principle of the equality of its citizens, who shall receive equal attention from its institutions’ (Article 9 of the Treaty on European Union), and whereas ‘every citizen shall have the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union’ and ‘decisions shall be taken as openly and as closely as possible to the citizen’ (Article 10(3)) and that ‘the Union’s institutions, bodies, offices and agencies shall conduct their work as openly as possible’ (Article 15(1) of the TFEU);
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas EU institutions have been becoming more open and are in most respects already ahead of national and regional political institutions in terms of their transparency, accountability and integrity;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the adequate representation of different interests in the legislation process represents a significant source of information for Members and is crucial for the properly functioning of pluralistic societies;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas, in view of the greater distance between the EU and its citizens and lower levels of media interest in the EU affairs, EU institutions must strive for the highest possible standards of transparency, accountability and integrity;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas in consequence of the ambiguous definitions and interpretations of transparency, the integrity and the accountability of EU institutions may be compromised in a volatile security environment;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. BelievEncourages that the Commission, Parliament and the Council should record and disclose allrelevant input received from lobbyists/interest representatives on draft policies, laws and amendments as a ‘legislative footprint’; suggests that this legislative footprint should consist of a form annexed to reports, detailing all the lobbyists with whom those in charge of a particular file have met in the process of drawing up each report and a second document listing all written input received;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to expand and improve its existing initiativeWelcomes the initiative of the Commission as laid out in its decision of 25 November 2014 on the publication of information on meetings held between Members of the Commission and organisations or self-employed individuals; considers that the recording of meeting data should be expanded to include everyone involved in the EU’s policy-making processalls on the Commission to continue with the increase of transparency in regard to meetings of decision makers in the EU’s policy-making process, while taking into account necessary data protection;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that an amendment should introduce mandatory monthlyannual updates on lobby expenditures;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Reiterates its longstanding call to back up the EU lobby register with a legal act to close all loopholes anhich would achieve a fully mandatory register for all lobbyists; considers that the proposal for this legal act could take into account the progress achieved by changes in the inter- institutional agreement and Parliament’s Code of Conduct;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers lobby transparency through monthlyannual reporting by lobbyists about their meetings as a key element for future EU legislation;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that, when interpreting ‘inappropriate behaviour’ within the meaning of point (b) of the Code of Conduct, this expression shcould be taken to include turning down formal invitations to hearings or committees without sufficient reason;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Recalls the position of the EP adopted in the Gualtieri report on the modification of the interinstitutional agreement on the Transparency Register(2014/2010(ACI)), with regard to professional organisations, and their readiness to work in partnership to ensure that, in the interest of their profession the withholding of information is confined exclusively to what the legislation objectively permits;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Asks the Bureau to restrict access to Parliament’s premises for non-registered organisations or individuals by making all visitors to its premises sign a declaration that they are not lobbyists falling within the scope of the register or otherwise declare their registrationthat undertake lobbying activities;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Believes it to be necessary, as a matter of urgency,Reiterates the necessity to introduce a proper monitoring system for submitted information in order to ensure that the information that registrants provide is meaningful, accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Believes that representations of national, regional and local governments should not fall under the EU lobby register if they have their own mandatory lobby register and do not offer workspace for private or corporate actors within their representations;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Is of the opinion that further steps need to be taken both to tackle ethical issues relating to the political role of lobbies, their practices and their influence and to promote safeguards for integrity, in order to raise the level of transparency of lobbying activities;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 209 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Believes that Article 3 of the Code of Conduct for Members should be rephrased to include a clear ban on MembersReiterates that MEPs should declare if they are holding side jobs or other paid work that could lead to a conflict of interest;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Considers it regrettable that the Council has still not adopted a code of conduct;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4
Subheading 4
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Underlines the need to enhance integrity and improve the ethical framework through clear and reinforced codes of conduct and ethical principles, so as to allow the development of a common and effective culture of integrity for all EU institutions and agencies;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Recognises that revolving door effect can be detrimental to the relations between the institutions and interest representatives; calls on the Commission to develop a systematic and proportional approach for this challenge throughout the European institutions;
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6
Subheading 6
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
Amendment 302 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Recalls the provisions of Regulation 2014/1141, that will entry into force in January 1, 2017, stipulating that control over the financing of European Political Parties shall be exercised on the basis of annual certification by an external and independent audit, as well as by the Court of Auditors, in accordance with Article 287 TFEU;
Amendment 305 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
Amendment 335 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Regrets that the Council’s lack of transparency is preventing citizens and national parliaments form holding governments fully accountable owing to a lack ofinsufficient information on the positions of individual Member States;
Amendment 343 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Believes, therefore, that preparatory meetings within the Council should be as public as meetings of Parliament’s committepossible, while taking into consideration reasonable need for confidentiality during the negotiations between Member States;
Amendment 356 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
Amendment 370 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Takes the view that Members should have the right to request access to all Commission documents, where necessary under exceptional circumstancesich relate to any of the Parliament’s competences, where necessary through a reading room;
Amendment 387 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. RecognisWelcomes the progress made in the transparency of trade negotiations, but insists that these advances with respect to TTIP must be extended to all trade negotiation and the Commission's efforts to ensure greater openness; recognises that TTIP negotiations procedure is now among the most transparent public international negotiations ever; understands at the same time that a degree of confidentiality in the process of negotiations is often necessary for their success;
Amendment 415 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Believes that decisions taken or prepared in the Eurogroup, in the Economic and Financial Committee, ‘"informal’" Ecofin Council meetings and Euro summits must becomehave to be as transparent and accountas possible, fincluding through the publication of their minutesa right balance between desirable transparency and necessary data protection;
Amendment 462 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48