BETA

Activities of Edit HERCZOG

Plenary speeches (194)

Electronic communications networks, personal data and the protection of privacy - Electronic communications networks and services - Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the Office - Frequency bands for mobile communications (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2007/0248(COD)
Facility providing mid-term financial assistance for Member States' balances of payments - Facility providing mid-term financial assistance for Member States' balances of payments (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2009/0053(CNS)
Common rules for the internal market in electricity - Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators - Access to the network: cross-border exchanges in electricity - Internal market in natural gas - Conditions for access to the natural gas transmission networks - Fuel efficiency: labelling of tyres - The energy performance of buildings (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2007/0198(COD)
Budget discharges 2007, (Vote will be held on Thursday) (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2008/2207(INI)
Community framework for nuclear safety (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2008/0231(CNS)
Preparation of the European Council (19-20 March 2008) - European Economic Recovery Plan - Guidelines for the Member States’ employment policies - Cohesion Policy: investing in the real economy (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2008/0252(CNS)
Statute for a European private company - Cross-borders transfers of companies' registered offices - Small Business Act - Workers' participation in companies with a European Statute (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2008/2196(INL)
Statute for a European private company - Cross-borders transfers of companies' registered offices - Small Business Act - Workers' participation in companies with a European Statute (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2008/2196(INL)
Steps towards improving the environment for SMEs in Europe - Small Business Act (debate)
2016/11/22
A facility providing financial assistance for Member States' balances of payments - Financial support to Member States (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2008/0208(CNS)
Protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2008/0047(COD)
Classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures - Classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (amendment of Directives 76/768/EEC, 88/378/EEC, 1999/13/EC, 2000/53/EC, 2002/96/EC and 2004/42/EC) - Classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (amendment of Regulation (EC) No 648/2004) (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2007/0121(COD)
Electronic communications networks and services - European Electronic Communications Market Authority - Common approach to the use of the spectrum released by the digital switchover - Electronic communications networks and services, protection of privacy and consumer protection (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2008/2099(INI)
Internal market in electricity - Conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity - Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators - Towards a European Charter on the Rights of Energy Consumers (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2007/0195(COD)
2006 discharge (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2007/2038(DEC)
Amendment of regulation on a standard financial regulation for executive agencies - Framework Financial Regulation for the bodies referred to in Article 185 of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2007/0901(CNS)
European Institute of Innovation and Technology (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2006/0197(COD)
Lisbon Strategy - Broad Economic Policy Guidelines for 2008-2010 (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2007/2275(INI)
Protection of the Communities’ financial interests – Fight against fraud – Annual reports 2005 and 2006 (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2006/2268(INI)
Adult learning: It is never too late to learn (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2007/2114(INI)
The European Interest: succeeding in the age of globalisation (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2007/2637(RSP)
Conventional energy sources and energy technology (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2007/2091(INI)
The Single Market Review (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2007/2024(INI)
Internal gas and electricity market (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2007/2089(INI)
Consumer confidence in the digital environment (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2006/2048(INI)
Roaming on public mobile networks (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2006/0133(COD)
Global Europe - External aspects of competitiveness (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2006/2292(INI)
The exclusion of health services from the Services Directive (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2006/2275(INI)
Discharge for the financial year 2005 (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2006/2071(DEC)
A European strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy – Biomass and Biofuels – Nuclear Safety and Security Assistance (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2006/2082(INI)
European Chemicals Agency – Amendment of Directive 67/548/EEC on dangerous substances (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2003/0257(COD)
Specific programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Seventh Research and Training Framework Programme, 2007-2011) (vote)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2005/0190(CNS)
Services in the internal market (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2004/0001(COD)
One-minute speeches on matters of political importance
2016/11/22
Seventh framework programme – Nuclear research and training activities (2007-2011) (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2005/0043(COD)
One-minute speeches on matters of political importance
2016/11/22
Financing of European standardisation (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2005/0157(COD)
Discharges for the implementation of the European Union general budget for the financial year 2004 (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2005/2115(DEC)
Monitoring the application of Community law (2003-2004) - Better lawmaking 2004: application of the principle of subsidiarity - The implementation consequences and impact of the internal market legislation in force - Strategy for the simplification of the regulatory environment (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2006/2006(INI)
Community action programme in the field of consumer protection (2007-2013) (continuation of the debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2005/0042B(COD)
Preparations for the European Council: the Lisbon Strategy (debate)
2016/11/22
A European information society for growth and employment (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2005/2167(INI)
Services (continuation of the debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2004/0001(COD)
Globalisation and the internal market (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2004/2225(INI)
SOLVIT (debate)
2016/11/22
Implementation of the European Charter for Small Enterprises
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2005/2123(INI)
Promoting and protecting consumers' interests in the new Member States
2016/11/22
Batteries, accumulators and their waste
2016/11/22
Energy end-use efficiency
2016/11/22
REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals)
2016/11/22
Nuclear power plants
2016/11/22
Renewable energy in the EU
2016/11/22
Patentability of computer-implemented inventions
2016/11/22
Internal market in the new Member States
2016/11/22
Mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy (continuation)
2016/11/22
European single market for electronic communications - Measures to reduce the cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications networks - Electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/0146(COD)
European single market for electronic communications - Measures to reduce the cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications networks - Electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/0146(COD)
Preparations for the European Council meeting (20-21 March 2014) (debate)
2016/11/22
European Semester for economic policy coordination: annual growth survey 2014 - European Semester for economic policy coordination: employment and social aspects - Single market governance (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2013/2194(INI)
Review of the Lithuanian Presidency (debate)
2016/11/22
Reindustrialising Europe to promote competitiveness and sustainability (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2013/2006(INI)
Preparations for the European Council meeting (19 - 20 December 2013) (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2013/2626(RSP)
Horizon 2020 - framework programme for research and innovation (2014-2020) - Rules for the participation and dissemination in Horizon 2020 - Specific programme implementing Horizon 2020 - Strategic innovation agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology - European Institute of Innovation and Technology (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/0384(COD)
Competitiveness of enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (2014 - 2020) - Entrepreneurship 2020 action plan - Reigniting the entrepreneurial spirit in Europe (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/0394(COD)
Multiannual financial framework 2014-2020 - Interinstitutional agreement on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/2152(ACI)
Connecting Europe Facility - Trans-European transport network (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/0436(APP)
Preparations for the European Council meeting (24-25 October 2013) (debate)
2016/11/22
Draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014 - all sections (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2013/2145(BUD)
Pressure exercised by Russia on countries of the Eastern Partnership (in the context of the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius) (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2013/2826(RSP)
Presentation by the Council of its position on the draft general budget - 2014 financial year (debate)
2016/11/22
Programme of activities of the Lithuanian Presidency (debate)
2016/11/22
EU trade and investment agreement negotiations with the US (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2013/2558(RSP)
Preparations for the European Council meeting (22 May 2013) - Fight against tax fraud, tax evasion and tax havens - Annual tax report: how to free the EU potential for economic growth (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2013/2025(INI)
Renewable energy in the European internal energy market (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/0309(COD)
2011 discharge (continuation of debate)
2016/11/22
Estimates of revenue and expenditure for 2014 - Section I - Parliament (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2013/2018(BUD)
Timing of auctions of greenhouse gas allowances (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/0202(COD)
Energy roadmap 2050 (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/2103(INI)
European Investment Bank - 2011 annual report (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/2286(INI)
Preparations for the European Council meeting (7-8 February 2013) (debate)
2016/11/22
Guidelines for the 2014 budget - sections other than the Commission (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2013/2003(BUD)
Preparations for the European Council meeting (13-14 December 2012) (debate)
2016/11/22
Draft amending budget No 6/2012 - Revenue from own resources and other resources - Increase in payment appropriations in headings 1a, 1b, 2, 3a and 4 of the Multiannual Financial Framework - Reduction in the level of commitment appropriations entered in the budget - New general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2013 - all sections (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/2281(BUD)
One-minute speeches (Rule 150)
2016/11/22
Preparations for the European Council meeting (22-23 November 2012) with particular reference to the Multiannual Financial Framework (debate)
2016/11/22
Towards a genuine Economic and Monetary Union (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/2151(INL)
Single Market Act II - Concerns of European citizens and business with the functioning of the Single Market (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/2044(INI)
Multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020 - Own resource based on the value added tax (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/0177(APP)
General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2013 - all sections (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/2092(BUD)
Azerbaijan: the case of Ramil Safarov
2016/11/22
Energy efficiency (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/0172(COD)
Conclusions of the European Council meeting (28-29 June 2012) (debate)
2016/11/22
2013 budget - mandate for trialogue (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/2016(BUD)
Preparation for the European Council meeting (28-29 June 2012) - Multiannual financial framework and own resources (debate)
2016/11/22
Energy policy cooperation with partners beyond our borders (A7-0168/2012 - Edit Herczog) (vote)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/2029(INI)
Energy policy cooperation with partners beyond our borders (short presentation)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/2029(INI)
Discharge 2010 (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/2204(DEC)
Discharge 2010 (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/2204(DEC)
Discharge 2010: performance, financial management and control of EU agencies (A7-0103/2012 - Monica Luisa Macovei) (vote)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/2232(DEC)
Future of Europe (debate)
2016/11/22
Draft amending budget no 1/2012: financing of ITER (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/2011(BUD)
Draft amending budget no 1/2012: financing of ITER (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/2011(BUD)
Taxation of energy products and electricity (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/0092(CNS)
Negotiations of the EU-Azerbaijan association agreement - Negotiations of the EU-Armenia association agreement (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/2316(INI)
European Investment Bank - annual report 2010 (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/2186(INI)
General guidelines for the 2013 budget: Section III - Commission (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/2000(BUD)
Preparation for the European Council meeting (1-2 March 2012) (debate)
2016/11/22
Guidelines for the 2013 budget - sections other than the Commission (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2012/2001(BUD)
Conclusions of the informal European Council meeting of 30 January 2012 (debate)
2016/11/22
Danish Presidency Programme (continuation of debate)
2016/11/22
Intelligent Energy Europe programme (debate)
2016/11/22
Review of the Polish Presidency (debate)
2016/11/22
Conclusions of the European Council meeting (8-9 December 2011) (debate)
2016/11/22
Revision of the multiannual financial framework to address additional financing needs of the ITER project (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/2080(ACI)
Revision of the multiannual financial framework to address additional financing needs of the ITER project (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/2080(ACI)
European semester for economic policy coordination (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/2071(INI)
Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for nuclear research and training activities (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/0046(NLE)
Parliament's position on the 2012 draft budget as modified by the Council - Mobilisation of the flexibility instrument (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/2126(BUD)
Financial rules applicable to the annual budget (continuation of debate)
2016/11/22
State of the Union (debate)
2016/11/22
EU research and innovation funding (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/2107(INI)
Economic crisis and the euro (debate)
2016/11/22
Energy market integrity and transparency (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/0363(COD)
Review of the Hungarian Presidency (debate)
2016/11/22
2012 draft budget trilogue (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/2019(BUD)
2012 draft budget trilogue (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/2019(BUD)
Spent fuel and radioactive waste (debate)
2016/11/22
Stress tests of nuclear power plants in EU and nuclear safety in EU neighbourhood countries (debate)
2016/11/22
A new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for a competitive, sustainable and inclusive Europe (continuation of debate)
2016/11/22
Small Business Act review (debate)
2016/11/22
Innovation Union: transforming Europe for a post-crisis world (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/2245(INI)
Nuclear safety 25 years after the Chernobyl disaster (debate)
2016/11/22
EIB annual report for 2009 (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/2248(INI)
Lessons to be drawn for nuclear safety in Europe following the nuclear accident in Japan
2016/11/22
Conclusions of the European Council meeting (24-25 March 2011) (debate)
2016/11/22
Question Hour with the President of the Commission
2016/11/22
Protection of Communities' financial interests – fight against fraud (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/2247(INI)
Preparation of 2012 budget (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/2042(BUD)
Situation in Japan, including the nuclear power plant alerts (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/2644(RSP)
Volcanic ash crisis (debate)
2016/11/22
Industrial policy for the globalised era (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/2095(INI)
Securing Europe’s supply of rare earth elements (debate)
2016/11/22
Possibility of using gas from alternative sources in Europe (debate)
2016/11/22
EU guarantee to the EIB against losses under loans and guarantees for projects outside the EU (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/0101(COD)
Order of business
2016/11/22
Implementation of the Services Directive (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/2053(INI)
Enhanced cooperation in the area of the creation of unitary patent protection (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/0384(NLE)
Practical aspects regarding the revision of EU instruments to support SME finance in the next programming period (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2011/2520(RSP)
Report on competition policy 2009 (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/2137(INI)
A sustainable EU policy for the High North (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2009/2214(INI)
The programme of activities of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council (debate)
2016/11/22
Patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2008/0142(COD)
Question Hour with the President of the Commission
2016/11/22
Parliament's position on the new 2011 Draft Budget as modified by the Council (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/2290(BUD)
Energy Efficiency Action Plan (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/2107(INI)
State aid to facilitate the closure of uncompetitive coal mines (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/0220(NLE)
2011 budget (debate)
2016/11/22
Presentation of the Commission work programme for 2011 (debate)
2016/11/22
Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 663/2009 establishing a programme to aid economic recovery by granting Community financial assistance to projects in the field of energy (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/0150(COD)
Upcoming EU-US summit and Transatlantic Economic Council - EU-US Data Protection Agreement (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/2898(RSP)
Implementation of the Research Framework Programmes (short presentation)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/2079(INI)
Opening of the sitting
2016/11/22
Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities as regards the European External Action Service - Draft amending budget No 6/2010: Section II - European Council and Council; Section III - Commission; Section X - European External Action Service - Amendment of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of those Communities (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/0054(COD)
Parliament's position on the 2011 draft budget as modified by the Council - all sections - Draft amending budget No 3/2010: Section III - Commission - BAM (Banana Accompanying Measures) (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/2048(BUD)
EU cohesion and regional policy after 2013 - Future of the European Social Fund (debate)
2016/11/22
Security of gas supply (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2009/0108(COD)
Multiannual financial framework for 2007-2013 (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/0048(APP)
State of the Union (debate)
2016/11/22
One-minute speeches on matters of political importance
2016/11/22
European External Action Service (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/0816(NLE)
Oil exploration and extraction - risks, liability and regulation (debate)
2016/11/22
Revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (debate)
2016/11/22
Mandate for the trilogue on the 2011 Draft Budget (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/2002(BUD)
Outcome of the summit of 7 May 2010 and the ECOFIN meeting - What is the political relevance of the EU 2020 strategy in the context of the current financial and economic crisis? - Consequences of the financial and economic crisis on the EU 2020 strategy and its governance - What is the relevance of the EU 2020 strategy in the framework of the current financial and economic crisis? (debate)
2016/11/22
2008 discharge: EU general budget, European Parliament
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2009/2069(DEC)
Europe 2020 - new European Strategy for Jobs and Growth (debate)
2016/11/22
2008 Discharge (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2009/2077(DEC)
2008 Discharge (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2009/2077(DEC)
2008 Discharge (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2009/2077(DEC)
Priorities for the 2011 budget – Section III – Commission - Budget guidelines: 2011 - other sections (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2010/2004(BUD)
2008 annual report on the CFSP - The implementation of the European Security Strategy and the Common Security and Defence Policy - Non-proliferation Treaty (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2009/2057(INI)
Investment projects in energy infrastructure within the European Community (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2009/0106(CNS)
Effects of the economic crisis on world trade (debate)
2016/11/22
Draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2010 as modified by the Council (all sections) - Draft amending budget No 10/2009 of the European Union for the financial year 2009, Section III – Commission - Mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument - Amendment to the multiannual financial framework 2007-2013: financing energy projects under the European Economic Recovery Plan (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2009/2207(BUD)
Responses to relaunch the economy in the Member States of the European Union in Central and Eastern Europe
2016/11/22
Presentation of the Court of Auditors’ annual report - 2008 (debate)
2016/11/22
Presentation of the Court of Auditors’ annual report - 2008 (debate)
2016/11/22
Google’s project to digitise the world’s book heritage (debate)
2016/11/22
Preparation of the European Council to be held on 10 and 11 December 2009 (debate)
2016/11/22
Implementation of the Services Directive (debate)
2016/11/22
Climate change and developing countries in the framework of the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen (debate)
2016/11/22
Passenger compensation in the event of airline bankruptcy (debate)
2016/11/22
Energy security (Nabucco and Desertec) (debate)
2016/11/22
Dossiers: 2009/2532(RSP)
G20 Summit in Pittsburgh (24-25 September) (debate)
2016/11/22

Reports (20)

REPORT Report on Small Business Act PDF (356 KB) DOC (257 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Dossiers: 2008/2237(INI)
Documents: PDF(356 KB) DOC(257 KB)
REPORT on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of the European Aviation Safety Agency for the financial year 2005 PDF (204 KB) DOC (166 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2006/2165(DEC)
Documents: PDF(204 KB) DOC(166 KB)
REPORT on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of Eurojust for the financial year 2005 PDF (194 KB) DOC (148 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2006/2162(DEC)
Documents: PDF(194 KB) DOC(148 KB)
REPORT on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for the financial year 2005 PDF (218 KB) DOC (240 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2006/2167(DEC)
Documents: PDF(218 KB) DOC(240 KB)
REPORT on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia for the financial year 2005 PDF (215 KB) DOC (167 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2006/2156(DEC)
Documents: PDF(215 KB) DOC(167 KB)
REPORT on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for Reconstruction for the financial year 2005 PDF (202 KB) DOC (142 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2006/2155(DEC)
Documents: PDF(202 KB) DOC(142 KB)
REPORT on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of the European Maritime Safety Agency for the financial year 2005 PDF (217 KB) DOC (178 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2006/2164(DEC)
Documents: PDF(217 KB) DOC(178 KB)
REPORT on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of the European Training Foundation for the financial year 2005 PDF (219 KB) DOC (181 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2006/2163(DEC)
Documents: PDF(219 KB) DOC(181 KB)
REPORT on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2005 PDF (227 KB) DOC (167 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2006/2166(DEC)
Documents: PDF(227 KB) DOC(167 KB)
REPORT on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work for the financial year 2005 PDF (224 KB) DOC (200 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2006/2159(DEC)
Documents: PDF(224 KB) DOC(200 KB)
REPORT on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2005 PDF (217 KB) DOC (197 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2006/2158(DEC)
Documents: PDF(217 KB) DOC(197 KB)
REPORT on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of the European Network and Information Security Agency for the financial year 2005 PDF (198 KB) DOC (148 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2006/2168(DEC)
Documents: PDF(198 KB) DOC(148 KB)
REPORT on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of the Translation Centre for the bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2005 PDF (196 KB) DOC (153 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2006/2160(DEC)
Documents: PDF(196 KB) DOC(153 KB)
REPORT on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2005 PDF (219 KB) DOC (174 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2006/2157(DEC)
Documents: PDF(219 KB) DOC(174 KB)
REPORT on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of the European Medicines Agency for the financial year 2005 PDF (218 KB) DOC (169 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2006/2161(DEC)
Documents: PDF(218 KB) DOC(169 KB)
REPORT on the discharge for implementation of the budget of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2005 PDF (214 KB) DOC (164 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2006/2154(DEC)
Documents: PDF(214 KB) DOC(164 KB)
REPORT on the discharge for the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the financial year 2005 PDF (221 KB) DOC (166 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2006/2153(DEC)
Documents: PDF(221 KB) DOC(166 KB)
REPORT Report on the effects of globalisation on the internal market PDF (150 KB) DOC (101 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: IMCO
Dossiers: 2004/2225(INI)
Documents: PDF(150 KB) DOC(101 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on measures to reduce the cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications networks PDF (334 KB) DOC (458 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Dossiers: 2013/0080(COD)
Documents: PDF(334 KB) DOC(458 KB)
REPORT on Engaging in energy policy cooperation with partners beyond our borders: A strategic approach to secure, sustainable and competitive energy supply PDF (281 KB) DOC (204 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Dossiers: 2012/2029(INI)
Documents: PDF(281 KB) DOC(204 KB)

Shadow reports (44)

REPORT on the Council position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014 PDF (562 KB) DOC (329 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: BUDG
Dossiers: 2013/2145(BUD)
Documents: PDF(562 KB) DOC(329 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 as regards the financing of European political parties PDF (268 KB) DOC (279 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: BUDG
Dossiers: 2012/0336(COD)
Documents: PDF(268 KB) DOC(279 KB)
SECOND REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2010 PDF (184 KB) DOC (105 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2217(DEC)
Documents: PDF(184 KB) DOC(105 KB)
SECOND REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2010 PDF (179 KB) DOC (94 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2226(DEC)
Documents: PDF(179 KB) DOC(94 KB)
SECOND REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Medicines Agency for the financial year 2010 PDF (181 KB) DOC (97 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2220(DEC)
Documents: PDF(181 KB) DOC(97 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Maritime Safety Agency for the financial year 2010 PDF (184 KB) DOC (116 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2223(DEC)
Documents: PDF(184 KB) DOC(116 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European GNSS Agency for the financial year 2010 PDF (174 KB) DOC (115 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2233(DEC)
Documents: PDF(174 KB) DOC(115 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Euratom Supply Agency for the financial year 2010 PDF (133 KB) DOC (84 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2236(DEC)
Documents: PDF(133 KB) DOC(84 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Network and Information Security Agency for the financial year 2010 PDF (174 KB) DOC (107 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2228(DEC)
Documents: PDF(174 KB) DOC(107 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Training Foundation for the financial year 2010 PDF (178 KB) DOC (110 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2222(DEC)
Documents: PDF(178 KB) DOC(110 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2010 PDF (182 KB) DOC (111 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2216(DEC)
Documents: PDF(182 KB) DOC(111 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union for the financial year 2010 PDF (192 KB) DOC (114 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2231(DEC)
Documents: PDF(192 KB) DOC(114 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Institute for Gender Equality for the financial year 2010 PDF (170 KB) DOC (102 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2264(DEC)
Documents: PDF(170 KB) DOC(102 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Community Fisheries Control Agency for the financial year 2010 PDF (177 KB) DOC (123 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2234(DEC)
Documents: PDF(177 KB) DOC(123 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the financial year 2010 PDF (180 KB) DOC (116 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2213(DEC)
Documents: PDF(180 KB) DOC(116 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of Eurojust for the financial year 2010 PDF (196 KB) DOC (138 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2221(DEC)
Documents: PDF(196 KB) DOC(138 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2010 PDF (192 KB) DOC (125 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2235(DEC)
Documents: PDF(192 KB) DOC(125 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2010 PDF (168 KB) DOC (118 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2219(DEC)
Documents: PDF(168 KB) DOC(118 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Aviation Safety Agency for the financial year 2010 PDF (193 KB) DOC (126 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2224(DEC)
Documents: PDF(193 KB) DOC(126 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for the financial year 2010 PDF (181 KB) DOC (119 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2227(DEC)
Documents: PDF(181 KB) DOC(119 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for the financial year 2010 PDF (177 KB) DOC (113 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2215(DEC)
Documents: PDF(177 KB) DOC(113 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Police College for the financial year 2010 PDF (219 KB) DOC (155 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2230(DEC)
Documents: PDF(219 KB) DOC(155 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Railway Agency for the financial year 2010 PDF (192 KB) DOC (125 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2229(DEC)
Documents: PDF(192 KB) DOC(125 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work for the financial year 2010 PDF (173 KB) DOC (111 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2218(DEC)
Documents: PDF(173 KB) DOC(111 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2010 PDF (190 KB) DOC (125 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2214(DEC)
Documents: PDF(190 KB) DOC(125 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2010 PDF (171 KB) DOC (98 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2239(DEC)
Documents: PDF(171 KB) DOC(98 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the SESAR Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2010 PDF (181 KB) DOC (108 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2238(DEC)
Documents: PDF(181 KB) DOC(108 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy for the financial year 2010 PDF (172 KB) DOC (95 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2237(DEC)
Documents: PDF(172 KB) DOC(95 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the ENIAC Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2010 PDF (182 KB) DOC (108 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2265(DEC)
Documents: PDF(182 KB) DOC(108 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Police Office for the financial year 2010 PDF (164 KB) DOC (91 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2255(DEC)
Documents: PDF(164 KB) DOC(91 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2010 PDF (166 KB) DOC (101 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2242(DEC)
Documents: PDF(166 KB) DOC(101 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the ARTEMIS Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2010 PDF (172 KB) DOC (94 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2240(DEC)
Documents: PDF(172 KB) DOC(94 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2010 PDF (174 KB) DOC (107 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2241(DEC)
Documents: PDF(174 KB) DOC(107 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Medicines Agency for the financial year 2010 PDF (219 KB) DOC (147 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2220(DEC)
Documents: PDF(219 KB) DOC(147 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2010 PDF (208 KB) DOC (150 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2226(DEC)
Documents: PDF(208 KB) DOC(150 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2010 PDF (194 KB) DOC (119 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2217(DEC)
Documents: PDF(194 KB) DOC(119 KB)
REPORT on discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the European Union Agencies for the financial year 2010: performance, financial management and control of European Union Agencies PDF (259 KB) DOC (205 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2011/2232(DEC)
Documents: PDF(259 KB) DOC(205 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a Council decision concerning the specific programme, to be carried out by means of direct actions by the Joint Research Centre, implementing the Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for nuclear research and training activities (2012 to 2013) PDF (177 KB) DOC (206 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Dossiers: 2011/0044(NLE)
Documents: PDF(177 KB) DOC(206 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a Council decision concerning the Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for nuclear research and training activities (2012 - 2013) PDF (260 KB) DOC (321 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Dossiers: 2011/0046(NLE)
Documents: PDF(260 KB) DOC(321 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a Council decision concerning the specific programme, to be carried out by means of indirect actions, implementing the Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for nuclear research and training activities (2012 - 2013) PDF (183 KB) DOC (219 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Dossiers: 2011/0043(NLE)
Documents: PDF(183 KB) DOC(219 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a Council regulation (Euratom) laying down the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in indirect actions under the Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community and for the dissemination of research results (2012-2013) PDF (169 KB) DOC (210 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Dossiers: 2011/0045(NLE)
Documents: PDF(169 KB) DOC(210 KB)
REPORT on the Green Paper: From challenges to opportunities: towards a common strategic framework for EU research and innovation funding PDF (424 KB) DOC (294 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Dossiers: 2011/2107(INI)
Documents: PDF(424 KB) DOC(294 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a Council directive on the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste PDF (599 KB) DOC (923 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Dossiers: 2010/0306(NLE)
Documents: PDF(599 KB) DOC(923 KB)
REPORT Report on discharge in respect of the implementation of the European Union general budget for the financial year 2008, Section I - European Parliament PDF (323 KB) DOC (372 KB)
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2009/2069(DEC)
Documents: PDF(323 KB) DOC(372 KB)

Opinions (11)

OPINION Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Community Ecolabel scheme
2016/11/22
Committee: IMCO
Documents: PDF(174 KB) DOC(481 KB)
OPINION Opinion on AFCO INI on regulatory agencies (enhanced cooperation).
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Documents: PDF(95 KB) DOC(80 KB)
OPINION Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Electronic Communications Market Authority
2016/11/22
Committee: IMCO
Documents: PDF(421 KB) DOC(915 KB)
OPINION on the draft Commission regulation (EC) amending Regulation (EC) No 1653/2004 on a standard financial regulation for the executive agencies pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003 laying down the statute for executive agencies to be entrusted with certain tasks in the management of Community programmes
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Documents: PDF(135 KB) DOC(322 KB)
OPINION Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Global Europe: A stronger partnership to deliver market access for European exporters
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Documents: PDF(88 KB) DOC(72 KB)
OPINION Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 2667/2000 on the European Agency for Reconstruction
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Documents: PDF(118 KB) DOC(86 KB)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations
2016/11/22
Committee: BUDG
Documents: PDF(195 KB) DOC(343 KB)
OPINION on the interim report in the interest of achieving a positive outcome of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 approval procedure
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Documents: PDF(121 KB) DOC(64 KB)
OPINION on the communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on Mid-term review of the European satellite radio navigation programmes
2016/11/22
Committee: BUDG
Documents: PDF(116 KB) DOC(89 KB)
OPINION Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of those Communities
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Documents: PDF(159 KB) DOC(466 KB)
OPINION on the mandate for the trilogue on the 2011 Draft Budget
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Documents: PDF(114 KB) DOC(86 KB)

Shadow opinions (10)

OPINION on implementation report 2013: Developing and applying carbon capture and storage technology in Europe
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Dossiers: 2013/2079(INI)
Documents: PDF(119 KB) DOC(270 KB)
OPINION on the proposal for a Council decision on the adoption of a Supplementary Research Programme for the ITER project (2014-2018)
2016/11/22
Committee: BUDG
Dossiers: 2011/0460(NLE)
Documents: PDF(161 KB) DOC(251 KB)
OPINION on the European Investment Bank - Annual Report 2011
2016/11/22
Committee: CONT
Dossiers: 2012/2286(INI)
Documents: PDF(111 KB) DOC(82 KB)
OPINION on the proposal for a Council regulation on Union support for the nuclear decommissioning assistance programmes in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia
2016/11/22
Committee: BUDG
Dossiers: 2011/0363(NLE)
Documents: PDF(189 KB) DOC(310 KB)
OPINION on the Council position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2013
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Dossiers: 2012/2092(BUD)
Documents: PDF(164 KB) DOC(96 KB)
OPINION on the mandate for the trilogue on the 2013 Draft Budget
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Dossiers: 2012/2016(BUD)
Documents: PDF(115 KB) DOC(90 KB)
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision No 1639/2006/EC establishing a Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (2007-2013) and Regulation (EC) No 680/2007 laying down general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of the trans-European transport and energy networks
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Dossiers: 2011/0301(COD)
Documents: PDF(203 KB) DOC(541 KB)
OPINION on Parliament's position on the 2012 Draft Budget as modified by the Council - all sections
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Dossiers: 2011/2020(BUD)
Documents: PDF(148 KB) DOC(103 KB)
OPINION on the mandate for the trilogue on the 2012 Draft Budget
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Dossiers: 2011/2019(BUD)
Documents: PDF(113 KB) DOC(90 KB)
OPINION Report from the Commission: Report on competition policy 2009
2016/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Dossiers: 2010/2137(INI)
Documents: PDF(112 KB) DOC(92 KB)

Written declarations (7)

Written declaration on a Small Business Act for Europe

2016/11/22
Documents: PDF(70 KB) DOC(35 KB)
Authors: Othmar KARAS, Edit HERCZOG, Wolf KLINZ, Olle SCHMIDT, Alexander RADWAN
Written declaration on the low-carbon energy future

2016/11/22
Documents: PDF(80 KB) DOC(38 KB)
Authors: Oldřich VLASÁK, Miroslav OUZKÝ, Herbert REUL, Edit HERCZOG
Written declaration in support of the memory of and in recognition of Václav Havel, former President of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic and defender of human rights

Written declaration on the heroic efforts of the workers and firemen at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant

Written declaration on the administrative burden on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)

2016/11/22
Documents: PDF(97 KB) DOC(44 KB)
Authors: Malcolm HARBOUR, Bendt BENDTSEN, Dennis de JONG, Edit HERCZOG, Olle SCHMIDT
Written declaration on the creation of standardised and comprehensible European energy invoices

2016/11/22
Documents: PDF(99 KB) DOC(47 KB)
Authors: Edit HERCZOG, Silvia-Adriana ȚICĂU, Lena EK, Rebecca HARMS, Alejo VIDAL-QUADRAS

Amendments (1825)

Amendment 80 #

2014/2005(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Recalls that the Horizon 2020 program will play a central role in the delivery of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, and stresses that the Commission must ensure that its budget will be entirely spent in line with the agreed principle of spreading excellence and widening participation, even in case of budgetary constraints;
2014/02/24
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 81 #

2014/2005(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Places particular emphasis on the new rules on flexibility that should allow maximum use of the respective MFF ceilings for commitments and payments; stresses that the practice of previous financial frameworks whereby the annual EU budget remained far below the MFF ceilings, particularly in payment appropriations, can no longer be sustained; emphasises the need to relieve and balance out the budgetary tension in the different headings and to appropriately align the budgetary means with the evolving circumstances;
2014/02/24
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 90 #

2013/2145(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77
77. Welcomes the efforts made by the institutions to find savings, where possible, without jeopardising the quality of their service; welcomes increased inter- institutional cooperation such as the ongoing negotiations between Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions to strengthen their political linkages, achieve efficiency gains and encourage staff mobility toachieve efficiency gains in supporting the core functions of the respective institutions;
2013/10/07
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 92 #

2013/2145(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 80
80. Points out that the level of its 2014 budget is 1,9 % above the 2013 budget; notes that the costs for Croatian accession of 0,17 % and the one-off costs for the change of legislature are 2,1 % of the increase; emphasises that despite the unavoidable costs related to the change of legislature following the 2014 European elections, there is a net decrease of 0,37 % in the operating budget with a further decrease by the expected rate of inflation; notes that a further decrease by 0,17 % stems from EUR 3 million in appropriations predicted to be covered by the contingency reserve to enable a transfer of up to 80 staff posts from the Committee of Regions and the Social and Economic Committee to Parliament, since those appropriations are expected to be reduced correspondingly in the budgets of the two advisory bodies over the period of 2014, pending the political agreement between the institutions, thus being considered budgetary neutral;
2013/10/07
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 94 #

2013/2145(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82 – indent 3
– reduce the appropriations for the House of European History due to the contribution of the Commission towards the operating costs and internal savings;
2013/10/07
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 97 #

2013/2145(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 85
85. Maintains that the reforms initiated in the deliberations of the working group - interinstitutional cooperation with the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee, measures to implement a «paperless Parliament» and e-meetings, more efficient structure of Parliament's working rhythm and outsourcing of payments and introduction of a new human resources management software - mustshould continue in order to bring real efficiency gains and free up resources to improve independent scientific advice to Members, to improve Parliament's capacity of scrutiny and to upgrade the local and logistical support to Members;
2013/10/07
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 98 #

2013/2145(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 88
88. Observes that the Commission's proposal to reduce total staffing level by 1 % per annum in the case of Parliament will result in the deletion of 67 posts in the 2014 establishment plan ; insists that the reduction in staff must not affect the political groups neither in 2014 nor in the years following the application of the 5 % reduction, given the freeze in their human resources since 2012 and the needs only partially covered in the two preceeding years;
2013/10/07
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 99 #

2013/2145(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 90
90. Welcomes closer interinstitutional cooperthe ongoing negotiations and efforts to exploit the scope for increased productivity in the translation sector betweenncourages the Parliament and the two advisory committees, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of Regions to develop an interinstitutional cooperation agreement in view of a deeper cooperation;
2013/10/07
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 100 #

2013/2145(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 91
91. IUnderlines that the estimated changes to the establishment plans of the Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, related to the interinstitutional cooperation agreement being under negotiation, are directly linked to and, consequently, are conditional to bringing the political agreement to a final conclusion; is of the opinion that the result of this cooperation wouldcan be a gradual transfer of qualified personnel from the Committee's translation services to Parliament's new DG for Parliamentary Research Services (including the respective increase of its establishment plan) of up to 80 posts on a voluntary basis and the respective deletion of a proportionate number of posts in the Committee's establishment plans in the year following the staff transfer;
2013/10/07
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 101 #

2013/2145(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 92
92. Decides, since neither the start nor the pace of this staff transfer can be established with the adequate degree of precision at the time of the annual 2014 budget procedure, to add EUR 1 million to Parliament's salary line, while placing a proportionate amount of appropriations of the Committee's salary lines in reserve, pending the progress of staff transfer; understands that up to EUR 3 million in appropriations could be ultimately transferred from the contingency reserve to the salary line, if needed, subject to the decision of its competent committee; expects the two Advisory Committees to reduce an adequate proportion of appropriations in their own budgets, pending the progress of transfer and the underlying political agreement with Parliament;
2013/10/07
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 105 #

2013/2145(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 95
95. Decides, in this spirit, to cut the followingdecrease the Parliament's expenditure: by EUR 7 005 000 in accordance with the outcome of the conciliation between the Committee on Budgets and the Parliament's Bureau on 24 September 2013;
2013/10/07
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 109 #

2013/2145(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 102
102. Welcomes the on-going negotiations between Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee on a Cooperation Agreement and awaitencourages its successful completion in time for the 2014 budget implementation; places into reserve a part of salary appropriations, pending the signature of the Ccooperation Aagreement with Parliament and a gradual transfer of up to 48 staff members, with an asterisk in the establishment plan that those posts wouldmay be deleted in the year following the completion of staff transfer, conditional to bringing final agreement to conclusion;
2013/10/07
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 111 #

2013/2145(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 104
104. Welcomes the on-going negotiations between Parliament and the Committee of Regions on a Cooperation Agreement and awaitencourages its successful completion in time for the 2014 budget implementation; places into reserve a part of salary appropriations, pending the signature of the Ccooperation Aagreement with Parliament and the transfer of up to 32 staff members, with an asterisk in the establishment plan that those posts wouldmay be deleted in the year following the completion of staff transfer., conditional to bringing final agreement to conclusion;
2013/10/07
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 112 #

2013/2145(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 105
105. Reinstatesstore the level of Draft budget for the travel lines for Members to ensure that the level of political activities is not reduced;
2013/10/07
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 49 #

2013/2135(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A
A. whereas security of supply,energy supply, economic and technological competitiveness and climate objectives are of the utmost importance for the EU, are inextricably linked and must be addressed and considered on an equal footing;
2013/11/15
Committee: ENVIITRE
Amendment 57 #

2013/2135(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the European Council has set the objective of substantially decarbonising the European economy by 2050;
2013/11/15
Committee: ENVIITRE
Amendment 108 #

2013/2135(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E
E. whereas the IEA estimates that the EU is responsible for only 11 % of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the proportion is set to decrease in the future so that, even if it has limited capacity in lowering global emissions by means of unilateral action, it has a significant role to play in particular; as regards the achievement of a binding agreement in Paris in 2015 whereas the EU therefore has to define a clear positionand also in the fields of energy knowledge creation and technology transfer;
2013/11/15
Committee: ENVIITRE
Amendment 177 #

2013/2135(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I
I. whereas studies indicate that upgrading the grids is the best way to improve the internal market, reduce energy costs and boost the competitiveness of industry, as long as a cost-benefit analysis is used to target the relevant investments;
2013/11/15
Committee: ENVIITRE
Amendment 212 #

2013/2135(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission Green Paper on a 2030 framework for climate and energy policies and expects the European Council to address these issues with realistic but ambitious responses, and to create and maintain a sustainable competitive advantage for the EU with its energy knowledge and expertise;
2013/11/15
Committee: ENVIITRE
Amendment 227 #

2013/2135(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Asks the Commission to take a multifaceted approach, the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of which ought to be enhanced by coordinated and coherent policies that address in equal measure issues such as competitiveness, energy security and climate objectives (e.g. GHG emission reduction, renewable energy sources and energy efficiency);
2013/11/15
Committee: ENVIITRE
Amendment 267 #

2013/2135(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the European Council to keep up the progress made at EU level and set ambitious but realistic objectives for the 2030 EU policies that take account of the economic, social, environmental, international and technological contexts, and to establish a clear, stable, long-term and cost-effective and technology neutral framework for industries and investors in which the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) should be the main instrument as it ensures a market-based approach to reaching our climate and energy goals;
2013/11/15
Committee: ENVIITRE
Amendment 338 #

2013/2135(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Is of the opinion that support schemes, if better used, could be an appropriate tool to incentivise the development of renewable energy sources (RES)all low- carbon energy technologies and energy efficiency; sees an important role for the Commission in providing guidance in this regard;
2013/11/15
Committee: ENVIITRE
Amendment 365 #

2013/2135(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that some RES should now be considered mature energy sources and their subsidies should therefore be phased out on time order to be able to reallocate these to research and development (R&D) programmes and RESother low-carbon energy technologies that are not yet cost- effective; asks the Commission to study the impact of RES priority dispatch on general energy costs;
2013/11/15
Committee: ENVIITRE
Amendment 444 #

2013/2135(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Asks the Commission to develop better methods and tools for calculating and monitoring progress which could help to draw up a more consistent EU approach to energy efficiency; believes that energy efficiency can also be a significant driver for material sciences and that more should be done to help EU industries to further reduce their energy intensity;
2013/11/15
Committee: ENVIITRE
Amendment 468 #

2013/2135(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that as one of the cornerstones of the EU’s climate and energy package, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) should be able to best fulfil its main function, the reduction of GHG emissions, andthe main instrument for reducing emissions from industry and energy in a cost-effective way, and should be able to respond efficiently to economic downturns and upturns; recalls that the main objective of the EU ETS is to reduce GHG emissions and not to provide investors with sufficient incentives to invest in low-carbon technologies, as these should be seen merely as a secondary objective and not as a basis for evaluating if the scheme works as intended;
2013/11/15
Committee: ENVIITRE
Amendment 591 #

2013/2135(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Commission to submit an analysis of how renewable energy sources can be developed sustainably and cost effectively, taking into account environmental impact, total system costs, aspects related to dependency on raw materials and life cycle and, above all, how to support stdispatchable sources of renewable energy such as hydropower, biomass or geothermal power;
2013/11/15
Committee: ENVIITRE
Amendment 897 #

2013/2135(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Calls for a pragmatic approach of the European Union to new market models, regulation and financing models for low-carbon energy solutions;
2013/11/18
Committee: ENVIITRE
Amendment 26 #

2013/2080(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital M
M. whereas issues regarding competition both between traditionalelectronic communications service providers, and between them and newer over-the-top providers deserve attentioninformation society services providers deserve attention¸ in particular threats to the open character of the Internet;
2013/09/04
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 31 #

2013/2080(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital N
N. whereas the framework should remain neutral and the same rules apply to equivalentfully substitutable electronic communications services;
2013/09/04
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 74 #

2013/2080(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point iv a (new)
(iva) that the overall aim of the framework should be to deliver an Internet ecosystem that best supports the EU's entire economy and society, and that this framework is designed and fit for the digital age, rather than based on legacy regulatory frameworks;
2013/09/04
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 13 #

2013/2079(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that CCS can enable Member States to exploit their indigenous, carbon- based energy supplies in a demand- responsive manner, thus also contributing to diversity and security of energy supply; points out, meanwhile, that any increase in fossil fuel usage in the energy sector must go hand in hand with the extensive deployment of CCS;
2013/09/06
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 31 #

2013/2079(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that supporting initial projects, learning lessons and sharing knowledge are a prerequisite for developing details of longer-term measures to support CCS and will result in reduced costs of CCS deployment; calls, therefore, for continued international collaboration between industry, including innovative SMEs, and institutions in order to ensure that best practices are applied; recalls, at the same time, the challenges of the different stages of R&D and in bringing new technologies to the markets;
2013/09/06
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 37 #

2013/2079(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to address the main regulatory, financial and social barriers to the deployment of CCS, such as the granting of permits and funding, the establishment of a CCS skills base and the development and testing of technologies for effective capture, transport and storage and stresses the need for better communication on the use of this technology;
2013/09/06
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 48 #

2013/2079(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
8. While the debate on long-term structural reform of the ETS continues, calls on the Commission and Member States to come forward with complementary policy measures and a more flexible financial model that will deliver the first operational CCS projects in the EU by 2020;
2013/09/06
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 6 #

2013/2018(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. RecallNotes that the level of the preliminary draft estimates for the 2014 budget, as suggested by the Secretary-General in his report to the Bureau, amounts to EUR 1 813 144 206; notes the, meaning a rate of increase of 3,58 % compared with the 2013 budget; notstresses that this proposed increase has to be seen in the context of its constitutive elements, specificallyas an exceptional one-year additional financing made up of an increase of 2,20 % stemming from the election of a new Parliament and the application of the Statutes for Members and Members' assistants, and of an increase of 1,30 % deriving from other legal obligations;
2013/03/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 8 #

2013/2018(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. RecallEmphasises that the financial implications of the European elections and the turnover of Members and their assistants during the changeover between the legislative terms are of an exceptional nature; welcomes the fact that the proposed rate of increase in the budget for 2014 is considerably lower than in 2009, the year of the last European elections, when the increase was 5,33 %, even though the above mentioned legal requirements which are related to elections have increased by almost 52 % between 2009 and 2014;
2013/03/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 13 #

2013/2018(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that pursuant to the agreement reached by the Bureau and the Committee on Budgets at the Conciliation meeting of 13 March 2013, the overall level of the draft estimates for 2014 is set at EUR 1 XXX XXX XXX corresponding to a rate of net increase of X % over the 2013 budget, of which some X % accounts for the compulsory expenditure linked to the election of a new Parliament, while inflation would accounts for some 1,9 %4 1of the increase, resulting in the real increase of X %; calls, however, for potential further savings and redeployments via structural reforms to be sought during the 2014 budgetary procedure and in the following years;
2013/03/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 17 #

2013/2018(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Proposes to analyse the possibility of moving the article 'Pensions' (article 103) and the transitional allowances for Members out of the sub-ceiling of administrative expenditure during the 2014 annual budgetary procedure;
2013/03/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 18 #

2013/2018(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Takes into consideration the proposed new measures to strengthen the institutional role of Parliament and its Members, based on the initial conclusions of the Joint Bureau and Committee on Budgets Working Group on the Parliament budget, by continuing to pursue structural and organisational reforms that aim to achieve greater efficiencies without endangering legislative excellence and the quality of working conditions, namely to strengthen the arrangement; welcomes the fact that the Joint Working Group looks for further provision of independent scientific advice, the enhancement of the Parliament's capacity to exercise scrutiny, as well as improvement of the logistical and local support provided to Membersotential savings and efficiencies, and expects the Joint Working Group to present its first findings by July 2013 in time for the preparation of the Parliament's 2014 budget reading;
2013/03/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 20 #

2013/2018(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that structural reforms, such as reforms in travel policy and management, reduced length and number of missions, increased use of video-conferencing and reorganisation of translation and interpretation services, some of which have been in place since 2011, are estimated to allow annual savings of approximately EUR 29 million, in addition to expected savings of more than EUR 10 million in forecast interest payments achieved by early advance payments for the Konrad Adenauer (KAD) and Trebel buildings;
2013/03/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 21 #

2013/2018(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that structural reforms, such as reforms in travel policy and management, reduced length and number of missions, increased use of video-conferencing and reorganisation of translation and interpretation services, some of which have been in place since 2011, are estimated to allow annual savings of approximately EUR 29 million, in addition to expected savings of more than EUR 10 million in forecast interest payments achieved by early advance payments for the Konrad Adenauer (KAD) and Trebel buildings;
2013/03/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 24 #

2013/2018(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the proposed decreases compared with the 2013 budget in the areas of translation (-56%) and interpreting costs (-23%), without endangeringlease payments (-60%), web TV (- 38%) and fitting-out of premises (-31%); reminds that savings proposed in the translation and interpretation services cannot jeopardize the principle of multi-lingualism, lease payments (- 60%), web TV (-38%) and fitting-out of premises (-31%); and insists on the facts that the Members' equal access to the linguistic services need to be ensured and that the right working conditions of the services concerned need to be upheld;
2013/03/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 27 #

2013/2018(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Notes the proposed earmarking of resources to continue the implementation of multiannual projects, such as the completion of the new global security approach, the continuation of the buildings strategy (the Trebel, Vaclav Havel and KAD projects, renovation policy and stop-gap building), the provision of support for the multi-annual ICT strategy, and the continuation of the House of European History project;deleted
2013/03/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 34 #

2013/2018(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that the plannedrocess of the internalisation of the security services as a part of the new global security concept will have a direct impact on the 2014 budgetbe carried on; welcomes the fact that the recruitment of the additional contract staff members will be budget- neutral since it will be offset by a reduction in appropriations for the outsourcing of security services;
2013/03/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 40 #

2013/2018(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls the cutstructural savings made in all travel- related budget lines in 2013; stresses that in terms of travel arrangements, Members cannot be discriminated on the basis of their home country;
2013/03/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 49 #

2013/2018(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that in the current climate of austerity long-term investments such as Parliament's building projects need to be handled prudently and transparently; insists on strict cost management, project planning and supervision; as well as on consulting the Committee on Budgets in advance on the financial framework of the financial implication of the building projects; recalls the Parliament's request in its resolution of 16 February 2012 on the guidelines for the 2013 budget procedure1 for precise information on the progress in buildings projects and its financial implications to be provided every six months and the Parliament's statement that no new unforeseen building projects should be undertaken during the current legislature; ______________ 1 Texts adopted, P7_TA(2012)0050.
2013/03/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 52 #

2013/2018(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Is aware that the KAD project is a significant undertaking for Parliament which aims to rationalise Parliament's administration in Luxembourg to obtain synergies; recognises the efforts to communicate the state of play of the KAD building to the Committee on Budgets and requests that this communication continue throughout the duration of the project; notes that adaptations and a downsizing of 8 000 m2 have been made and, therefore, welcomes that the second Call for Tender shows that the KAD project will most likely remain under and, in any case, not exceed the predetermined financial framework; welcomes the savings of more than EUR 10 million in interest payments in the coming years – relative to the 2012 financing estimates for the project – achieved by transfers for early advance payments for both the KAD and the Trebel buildings; notes that due to construction of the KAD building, the total payments per year in future would be lower than rent expenses of comparable property;
2013/03/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 53 #

2013/2018(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Is aware that the KAD project is a significant undertaking for Parliament which aims to rationalise Parliament's administration in Luxembourg to obtain synergies; recognises the efforts to communicate the state of play of the KAD building to the Committee on Budgets and requests that this communication continues throughout the duration of the project; notes that adaptations and a downsizing of 8 000 m2 have been made and, therefore, welcomes thatthe downsizing have been achieved following the Committee on Budgets requests and welcomes the fact that, following the second Call for Tender shows that, the KAD project will most likely remain under and, in any case, not exceed the predetermined financial framework; welcomes the savings of more than EUR 10 million in interest payments in the coming years – relative to the 2012 financing estimates for the project – achieved by transfers for early advance payments for both the KAD and the Trebel buildings; notes that due to construction of the KAD building, the total payments per year in future would be lower than rent expenses of comparable property;
2013/03/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 5 #

2013/2017(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Strongly opposes any attempt to cover the necessary resources through redeployment from Heading 1a to settle any future, potential failure to cover all unpaid payment claims of the actual financial year of the next MFF;
2013/05/22
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 12 #

2013/2017(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the need to address the problems faced by SMEs through an ambitious COSME programme; in view of the particularly difficult situation for accessing finance, calls for the allocation of at least 60% of the COSME budget to the most effective financial instruments;
2013/05/22
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 13 #

2013/2017(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Insists that the major EU infrastructure projects (such as Galileo and Copernicus) and the ITER project must be financed outsidever and above the MFF budget and insists that no EU funds must be used to cover additionceilings, so as to ensure that possible cost overruns do not threaten the funding and successful implementation of other Union policies particularly in the research area, while maintaining the full powers of both arms of the budgetary authority; on the basis of the overall cost overruns or to cover the costs of the ITER projectto be agreed, the funding should be ring fenced in commitment appropriations in the MFF regulation in order to guarantee the funding for these projects without jeopardising other EU priorities like Horizon 2020, COSME or the Erasmus Programme;
2013/05/22
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 18 #

2013/2017(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Believes that better governance and coordination of spending between the EU and the Member States is needed in order to implement the EU 2020 strategy; calls for optimal use of existing EU financing with a focus on EU added value, effective streamlining and leveraging effects, together with appropriate and urgent implementation in the Member States; asks for the European Semester process to monitor investments in research, innovation, industrial policy and SME, SMEs, energy and ICT infrastructures.
2013/05/22
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 134 #

2013/0340(NLE)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Directive/2009/71/Euratom
Article 8a – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Member States shall ensure that the national framework requires that nuclear installations arbe designed, sited, constructed, commissioned, operated and decommissioned with the objective of avoiding potential radioactive releasespreventing accidents and, should an accident occur, mitigating its effects and avoiding large, long term, off- site contamination by:
2014/02/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 141 #

2013/0340(NLE)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Directive 2009/71/Euratom
Article 8 a – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall ensure that the national framework requires that the objective set out in paragraph 1 applies to new reactors and shall be considered as a target for existing nuclear installations to the extent reasonably achievable.
2014/02/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 192 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
(18) The application of various national policies creates inconsistencies and fragmentation of the internal market which hamper the roll-out of Union-wide services and the completion of the internal market for wireless broadband communications. It could in particular create unequal conditions for access to such services, hamper competition between undertakings established in different Member States and stifle investments in more advanced networks and technologies and the emergence of innovative services, thereby depriving citizens and businesses of ubiquitous integrated high-quality services and wireless broadband operators of increased efficiency gains from large-scale more integrated operations. Therefore, action at Union level regarding certain aspects of radio spectrum assignment should accompany the development of wide integrated coverage of advanced wireless broadband communications services throughout the Union. At the same time, Member States should retain the right to adopt measures to organise their radio spectrum for public order, public security purposes and defence, or to pursue general interest objectives such as cultural diversity and media pluralism.
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 210 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
(25) Considering the massive growth in radio spectrum demand for wireless broadband, solutions for alternative spectrally efficient access to wireless broadband should be promoted. Thisencouraged and not be prevented. This currently includes the use of low-power wireless access systems with a small-area operating range such as so called 'hotspots' of radio local area networks (RLAN, also known as 'Wi-Fi'), as well as networks of low-power small size cellular access points (also called femto-, pico- or metrocells). Dynamic spectrum access, including on a licence- exempt basis and other innovative technologies and uses of spectrum should be encouraged and made possible.
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 243 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 45
(45) The internet has developed over the past decades as an open platform for innovation with low access barriers for end-users, content and application providers and internet service providers. The existing regulatory framework aims at promoting the ability of end-users to access and distribute information or run applications and services of their choice. This ability is best ensured when all types of traffic are treated equally by providers of electronic communications to the public. Recently, however, the report of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) on traffic management practices published in May 2012 and a study, commissioned by the Executive Agency for Consumers and Health and published in December 2012, on the functioning of the market of internet access and provision from a consumer perspective, showed that a significant number of end-users are affected by traffic management practices which block or slow down specific applications. These tendencies require clear rules at the Union level to maintain the open internet and to avoid fragmentation of the single market resulting from individual Member States' measures.
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 253 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 47
(47) In an open iInternet, providers of electronic communications to the public should, within contractually agreed limits on data volumes and speeds for iInternet access services, not block, slow down, degrade or discriminate against specific content, applications or services or specific classes thereof except for a limited number of reasonable traffic management measures. Such measures should be relevant, efficient, transparent, proportionate and non- discriminatory. Reasonable traffic management encompasses prevention or impediment of serious crimes, including voluntary actions of providers to prevent access to and distribution of child pornography. M, and in accordance with existing laws including, inter alia, privacy and data protection. Preserving the integrity and security of the network and minimising the effects of network congestion through traffic management measures should be considered reasonable provided that network congestionit occurs only temporarily or in exceptional circumstances and provided that equivalent types of traffic are treated equally.
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 254 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 47
(47) In an open internet, providers of electronic communications to the public should, within contractually agreed limits on data volumes and speeds for internet access services and the general characteristics of the service, not block, slow down, degrade or discriminate against specific content, applications or services or specific classes thereof except for a limited number of reasonable traffic management measures. Such measures should be transparent, proportionate and non- discriminatory. Reasonable traffic management encompasses prevention or impediment of serious crimes, including voluntary actions of providers to prevent access to and distribution of child pornography. Minimising the effects of network congestion should be considered reasonable provided that network congestion occurs only temporarily or in exceptional circumstancesMinimising the effects of network congestion should be considered reasonable provided that network congestion occurs only temporarily or in exceptional circumstances and if, upon request from the competent national authorities, the provider can demonstrate that equal treatment of traffic would be substantially less efficient. When a provider of electronic communications takes such measures, it should also inform the content, applications and services providers which are affected.
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 269 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 49
(49) There is also end-user demand for services and applications requiring an enhanced level of assured service qualityoptimisations in order to ensure adequate service characteristics offered by providers of electronic communications to the public or by content, applications or service providers. Such services may comprise inter alia broadcasting via Internet Protocol (IP-TV), video- conferencing and certain health applications. End-users should therefore also be free to conclude agreements on the provision of specialised services with an enhancoptimised quality of service with either providers of electronic communications to the public or providers of content, applications or services. Where such agreements are implemented alongside Internet access services, the responsible providers should ensure that the optimised quality service does not impair the general quality of internet access.
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 360 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 15
(15) ‘specialised service’ means an electronic communications service or any other service that provides the capability to access or use specific content, applications or services, or a combination thereof, and whose technical characteristics are controlled from end-to-end or provides the capability to in order to ensure adequate characteristics from end-to-end. A specialised service is operated within closend or receive data to or from a determined number of parties or endpoints; and thatelectronic communications networks and thus clearly separated from internet access services and is not marketed or widely used as a substitute for internet access service;
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 396 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2
2. This section shall be without prejudice to the right of the Member States to benefit from fees imposed to ensure the optimal use of radio spectrum resources in accordance with Article 13 of Directive 2002/20/EC and to organise and use their radio spectrum for public order, public security and defence, or to pursue general interest objectives such as cultural diversity and media pluralism.
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 405 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
TWithout prejudice to the safeguard of general interest objectives, the national competent authorities for radio spectrum shall contribute to the development of a wireless space where investment and competitive conditions for high-speed wireless broadband communications converge and which enables planning and provision of integrated multi-territorial networks and services and economies of scale, thereby fostering innovation, economic growth and the long-term benefit of end users.
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 426 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – point e a (new)
e a) preventing any harmful interference
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 478 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) determine a minimum duration for the rights granted in the harmonised bands; which will be appropriate to incentivise investment and competition, and discourage the under-use or ‘hoarding’ of spectrum by licence holders.
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 585 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
End-users shall be free to access and distribute information and content, run applications and use services and devices of their choice, irrespective of their origin or destination, via their internet access service.
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 604 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
End-users shall also be free to agree with either providers of electronic communications to the public or with providers of content, applications and services on the provision of specialised services with an enhanced quality of serviceoperated in closed electronic networks with an enhanced quality of service. Providers of electronic communications to the end-user shall not discriminate against contents, services or applications from other sources that are competing with their own specialised services.
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 629 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Within the limits of any contractually agreed data volumes or speeds for internet access services, p5. Providers of iInternet access services shall not restrict the freedoms provided for in paragraph 1 by blocking, slowing down, degrading or discriminating against specific content, appldiscriminating against, restricationsng, or services, or specific classes thereof,otherwise interfering with the transmission of Internet traffic except in cases where it is necessary to apply reasonable traffic management measures. Reasonable traffic management measures shall be transparent or to implement a court order. Traffic management measures shall be deemed reasonable when they are deployed to more efficiently manage traffic on the network in order to preserve the integrity and security of the network, and more efficiently manage traffic on the network in demonstrated punctual cases of acute congestion, provided that equivalent types of traffic are treated equally. These measures should be shown to comply with the general criteria of relevance, proportionality, efficiency, non- discriminatory, proportionate and necessary to:ion between parties and transparency, and in accordance with existing laws, including inter alia, privacy and data protection. Reasonable traffic management shall only entail processing of data that is necessary and proportionate to achieve the purposes set out in this article.
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 643 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) implement a legislative provision or a court order, or prevent or impede serious crimes;deleted
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 651 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) preserve the integrity and security of the network, services provided via this network, and the end-users' terminals;deleted
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 656 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) prevent the transmission of unsolicited communications to end-users who have given their prior consent to such restrictive measures;deleted
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 665 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) minimise the effects of temporary or exceptional network congestion provided that equivalent types of traffic are treated equally.deleted
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 676 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Reasonable traffic management shall only entail processing of data that is necessary and proportionate to achieve the purposes set out in this paragraph.deleted
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 753 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Directive 2002/21/EC
Article 2 – point c
In Article 2, point c is amended as follows ‘electronic communications service’ means a service normally provided for remuneration which consists wholly or mainlywhich consists in the conveyance of signals on electronic communications networks, including telecommunications services and, transmission services in networks used for broadcasting and Internet Protocol based substitutes using Applications or service platforms, but exclude services providing, or exercising editorial control over, content transmitted using electronic communications networks and services; it does not include information society services, as defined in Article 1 of Directive 98/34/EC, which do not consist wholly or mainly in the conveyance of signals on electronic communications networks. and do not provide a substitute to those. Or. en (http://eur- lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2002:108:0033:0033:EN:PDF)
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 801 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 38 – point 1 a (new)
Regulation (EU) No 531/2012
Article 4 – paragraph 6a (new)
(1a) In Article 3, a new paragraph 2a is added: BEREC’s advisory role upstream of any legislative proposals affecting the electronic communications sector should be made methodical
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 804 #

2013/0309(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 39 – paragraph 1
Regulation (EU) No 531/2012
Article 4 – paragraph 6a (new)
The Commission shall submit reports on thperform a comprehensive evaluation and review of this Regulation to the European Parliament and the Council at regular intervals. The first report shall be submitted no later than 1 July 2018. Subsequent reports shall be submitted every four years thereafter. The Commission shall, if nee entire regulatory framework for electronic communications, and shall submit a report with appropriate proposals to the European Parliament and the Council by 30 June 2015. The review shall be carried out in view of - assessing whether the asymmetric, SMP- based price and access regulation of the EU regulatory framework can be removed - evaluating the continued need for the remaining regulation which would apply symmetrically to all players on the market along the converging value chain - ensuring that users of digital servicess ary, submit appropriate proposals with a view to amending this Regule able to control their digital life and data by removing obstacles to switching operating systems without losing their application,s and aligning other legal instruments, taking account in particular of developments in information technology and of the state of progress in the information society. The reports shall be made publicdata - ensuring a level playing field with, and providing sufficient protection of consumers using ‘over the top’ online services compared to telecommunications services by establishing rules that ensure the application to ‘over the top’ online services of well-established principles for the provision of electronic communications services such as transparency, non-discrimination, openness, ease of switching providers, interoperability, any-to-any communication and portability to their services.
2013/12/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 50 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
(12) In view of their low degree of differentiation, physical facilities of such networks can often host at the same time a wide range of electronic communications network elements, including those capable of delivering broadband access services at speeds of at least 30 Mbps in line with the technological neutrality principle, without affecting the main service conveyed and with minimum adaptation costs. Therefore a physical infrastructure that is intended to only host other elements of a network without becoming itself an active network element, can be in principle used to accommodate electronic communications cables, equipment or any other element of electronic communications networks, regardless of its actual use or its ownershipin the absence of any security concerns or future business interests of the owners of the infrastructure. Without prejudice to the pursuit of the specific general interest linked to the provision of the main service, synergies across network operators should be encouraged in order to contribute at the same time to achieving the targets of the Digital Agenda.
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 55 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
(13) While this Regulation should be also without prejudice to any specific safeguard needed to ensure the safety, security and integrity of the networks as well as to ensure that the main service provided by the network operator is not affected, general rules in national legislation prohibiting network operators to negotiate access to physical infrastructures by electronic communications network providers could prevent the establishment of a market for access to physical infrastructures and should therefore be abolished. At the same time, the measures provided in this Regulation are without prejudice to the possibility of the Member States to render the provision of infrastructure access by utilities operators more attractive by excluding revenues stemming from this service from the basis for the calculation of end-users tariffs for their main activity or activities, in accordance with applicable EU law.
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 57 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
(15) When electronic communications networks providers request access in a specified area, network operators should make available an offer for the shared use of their facilities under fair terms and conditions, including price, unless access is refused based on objective reasons. Depending on circumstances, several elements could influence the conditions under which such access is granted, such as: any additional maintenance and adaptation costs; any impact on capacity and performance linked to the provision of the main service; any preventive safeguards to be adopted to limit adverse impacts on network safety, security and integrity; any specific liability arrangements in the event of damages; the use of any public subsidy granted for the construction of the infrastructure, including specific terms and conditions attached to the subsidy or provided under national law in compliance with Union law; the ability to deliver or provide infrastructure capacity to meet or service public service obligations, any constraints stemming from national provisions aiming at protecting the environment, public health, public security or to meet town and country planning objectives. The incremental costs that would arise when performing future civil works on a network, irrespective of who has initiated these works, and that are generated by the presence of elements of electronic communications networks, can be allocated to the undertakings to whom these elements of electronic communications networks belong.
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 58 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
(16) In the event of disagreement in commercial negotiation on technical and commercial terms and conditions each party should be able to call on a dispute resolution body at national level to impose a solution to the parties, in order to avoid unjustified refusals to deal or the imposition of unreasonable conditions. When determining prices for granting access, the dispute resolution body should take into account the investments made on the physical infrastructure, the potential for leakage of state aid, and the views of any relevant economic regulators for the infrastructure sectors concerned. In the specific case of access to physical infrastructures of electronic communications network operators, the investments made in this infrastructure may directly contribute to the objectives of the Digital Agenda for Europe and downstream competition may be influenced by free-riding. Hence, any access obligation should take into account the economic viability of these investments based on any time schedule for the return on investment. Dispute Resolution Bodies should also be mindful of any impact of access on capacity and performance in the provision of the main service, any impact of access on downstream competition, any depreciation of the network assets at the time of the access request, any business case underpinning the investment done, in particular in recently built physical infrastructures used for the provision of high-speed electronic communications services, and any possibility offered to the access seeker to co-deploy.
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 80 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. Every network operator shall have the right to offer access to its physical infrastructure in view of deployment of elements of high-speed electronic communications networks, reciprocally, electronic communications network operators shall have the right to offer access to its physical infrastructure in view of deployment of other networks.
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 83 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. Upon specific written request of an undertaking authorised to provide electronic communications networks, any network operator shall have the obligation to meet all reasonable requests for access to its physical infrastructure under fair terms and conditions, including price, in view of deploying elements of high-speed electronic communications networks. The obligation of network operators to meet all reasonable access requests under fair terms and conditions should be without prejudice to their obligation to respect the Union rules on state aid in case of government funded or guaranteed investment in infrastructure.
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 93 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) current and future availability of space to host the elements referred to in point (a);
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 94 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) integrity, safety and security of any network already deployed;
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 96 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point e
(e) the availability or planned availability under published deployment plans of alternative means of wholesale physical network infrastructure access provided by the network operator and suitable for the provision of high-speed electronic communications networks.
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 98 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) the high risk for the physical safety of workers accessing infrastructures other than those they were originally trained to operate with;
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 99 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point e b (new)
(eb) the proportional usage of the available space, so that a network operator that owns the physical infrastructure could reserve space for its own future investments.
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 100 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point e c (new)
(ec) the planned availability of alternative means of wholesale physical network infrastructure access, in the case national plans for the deployment of European Rail Traffic Management System exist.
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 101 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point e d (new)
(ed) conditions whereby granting access to underground transport systems could result in disruption to long term investment and upgrades and/or result in travel disruption with a disproportionate economic impact.
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 102 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point e e (new)
(ee) exclusive contractual arrangements between network operators and their customers exist;
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 106 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 5
5. The national dispute settlement body referred to in paragraph 4 shall, taking full account of the principle of proportionality, issue a binding decision to resolve the dispute initiated pursuant to paragraph 4, including the determination of fair terms, conditions and prices where appropriate, within the shortest possible time frame and in any case within four months, without prejudice to the possibility of any party to refer the case to a court. Any price set by the dispute settlement body, state aid law, national infrastructure output statement, member state infrastructure funding agreement and PSO contract shall take into account the impact of the requested access on the business plan underpinning the investments made by the network operator to whom access is requested, in particular in case of recently built physical infrastructures used for the provision of high-speed electronic communications services. The national settlement body in its decisions shall also take into account the economic viability of these investments based on any time schedule for the return on investment, any impact of access on capacity and performance, any impact of access on downstream competition, any depreciation of the network assets at the time of the access request, and any possibility offered to the access seeker to codeploy.
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 113 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
In order to request access to physical infrastructure in accordance with Article 3, every undertaking authorised to provide electronic communications networks shall have the right to access, upon request, via a single information point, the following set of minimum information concerning the existing physical infrastructure of any network operator provided this does not affect the safety, integrity and security of the network:
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 122 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
Access to the minimum information for the specified area shall be granted forthwith in electronic form under proportionate, non- discriminatory and transparent terms. Access to the minimum information may be limited by the single information point only when considered necessary in view of the security of the networks and their integrity or operating and business secrets. In view of safeguarding national security and the security and the integrity of certain elements of, and or areas on a network, Member States may decide to exempt certain areas from the obligation to grant the set of minimum information in electronic form. In these cases the access to minimum information may be limited to an examination in the offices of the network operator. Any such measure shall be notified to the Commission.
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 141 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. In all the cases listed in paragraphs 1, 2,3 4, 5 and 6, the undertaking requesting access to information should limit the number of persons having access to such data, guarantee the confidentiality of the data, and should not distribute it to any third-party.
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 143 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. Every network operator shall have the right to negotiate agreements concerning coordination of civil works with undertakings authorised to provide electronic communications networks in view of deploying elements of high-speed electronic communications networks, as well as, developing its own networks.
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 152 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. All newly constructed buildings at the end-user's location, including elements under joint ownership, for which applications for building permits have been submitted after [Publications Office: please insert the exact date of the entry into force of this Regulation], shall be equipped with a technology neutral, high-speed-ready in- building physical infrastructure, up to the network termination points. The same obligation applies in the event of major renovation works for which applications for building permits have been submitted after [Publications Office: please insert the exact date of the entry into force of this Regulation].
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 157 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. All newly constructed multi-dwelling buildings, for which applications for building permits have been submitted after [Publications Office: please insert the exact date of the entry into force of this Regulation], shall be equipped with a technology neutral concentration point, located inside or outside the building, and accessible to electronic communications networks providers, whereby connection to the high- speed-ready in-building infrastructure is made available. The same obligation applies in the event of major renovation works concerning multi- dwelling buildings for which applications for building permits have been submitted after [Publications Office: please insert the exact date of the entry into force of this Regulation].
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 173 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. The national regulatory authority which fulfils the tasks provided in Article 20 of Directive 2002/21/EC shall perform the function of the national dispute settlement body referred to in Article 3 (4), Article 4 (9), Article 5 (4) and Article 8(3), unless the Member State appoints other competent bodies. If the Member States decides to appoint the national regulatory authority which fulfils the tasks provided in Article 20 of Directive 2002/21/EC as the national dispute settlement body, this shall be obliged to seek the opinion of the sector regulators before adopting any binding decision concerning the determination of fair terms, conditions or prices.
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 176 #

2013/0080(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. The national regulatory authority which fulfils the tasks provided in Article 20 of Directive 2002/21/EC shall perform the functions of the single information point referred to in Article 4 and Article 6, unless the Member State appoints other competent bodies, in particular a body of the public sector at a national or local level.
2013/10/09
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 6 #

2013/0000(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Maintains that the institutions should continue to limit or freeze their administrative budgets in solidarity with the difficult economic and budgetary conditions in the Member States, without prejudice to the quality of core institutional operations and the quality of servicactivities, respect for legal obligations and the imperative of development investment; counterbalanced by savings in other areas.
2013/01/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 9 #

2013/0000(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Urges the institutions to strengthen their mutual cooperation, where possible and justified, to in view of sharing best practices and identifying savings through pooling and sharing of resources, for example in information technology systems, translation, interpretation and driving services and, possibly, other areas;
2013/01/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 13 #

2013/0000(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines the fact that institutional self- restraint has, considering the level of relevant inflation rates, resulted in reducing the EP budget in real terms; recalls that this was made possible mainly through strict budgetary planning and control,due to a strong involvement of the Committee on budgets and through work reorganisation in the form, for example, of, notably cuts in travel-related budget lines, reduced length and number of missions, increased use of video- conferencing and optimised translation and interpretation services; recalls that savings resulting from structural reforms have amounted to EUR XX million in recent years, even though the costs of 18 additional Members resulting from the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and the preparation for Croatia’s accession had to be absorbed;
2013/01/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 19 #

2013/0000(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Encourages the continuation of structural and organisational reforms, without sacrificjeopardising legislative excellence and the quality of working conditions, and ; supports organisational innovation to help improve Parliament’s efficiency and the Members’ quality of working conditions in 2014 and subsequent years, including, but not limited to, more efficient structuring of Parliament’s working rhythm, ‘demand- driven’ translation and interpretation services (without endangering the principle of multilingualism), optimal logistical solutiontransport logistics for Members and their assistants, further upgrading ofimproved in-house research assistance, and developing a paperless Parliament and e-meetings; paperless Parliament and e-meetings; recalls the request for a cost-benefit analysis of the paperless meetings and calls on the administration to present it to the Committee on budgets by mid-2013 at the latest.
2013/01/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 28 #

2013/0000(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Considers that the Joint Bureau and Committee on Budgets Working Group on the Parliament budget could play a useful role in this reform process, on the basis of its successful work throughout 2012 in identifying ways of economising and reflecting on possible reorganisation; notes that it has already largely achieved the objectives established for it at the end of 2011, for instance, as regards reduction of travel expenses; in the light of the Group’s preliminary findings based, inter alia, on comparative studies of Parliament’s budget with the budgets of the US Congress and a sample of Member States’ parliaments,- on the basis of its work started in 2012 play a useful role in this reform by identifying possible savings and reflecting on and presenting to the Committee on budgets ideas for improving efficiency; further encourages the continuation of its work and the development of a corresponding action plan;
2013/01/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 35 #

2013/0000(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Recognises the major efforts that have been made in 2012 to communicate transparently the state of play of the KAD building to the Committee on Budgets; and notes that adaptations and downsizing of 8 000 m2the project have been made, resulting in savings of EUR 80 million for the KAD project following the request of the Committee on budgets ; welcomes the savings of more than EUR 10 million in interest payments in the coming years - as compared to the projects costs' estimates of 2012 - achieved by transfers for early advance payments for both the KAD and the Trebel buildings; believes that, in the context of growing Parliament's majority in favour of new working arrangements1, the Parliament's building projects needs to be cautiously handled and that caution shall prevail on ambition; encourages a continuation of the fruitful dialogue; and trusts that the information requested will be delivered in a timely manner, given the strategic importance of these projects for Parliament;
2013/01/10
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 11 #

2012/2286(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Welcomes the EIB’s framework of structural programme loans which significantly contributes to the co-financing part in the national budgets in the context of the EU structural funds; encourages the Bank to widen this support in order to generate necessary investments in the Member States which are severely affected by the economic crisis; however this measure should remain separate from structural funds programs and should be phased out with the end of the crisis.
2012/12/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2012/2286(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Welcomes the Bank’s regional initiatives, especially in the Baltic Sea Region and the Danube Region, with a view to improving the overall sustainability and the competitiveness of those regions; considers these initiatives as best practice with regard to the possibility to widen the support to other regions in the EU;
2012/12/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2012/2286(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)
7c. Welcomes the Bank’s participation in the European Bank Coordination ‘Vienna’ Initiative (EBCI), aimed at preventing a large-scale and uncoordinated withdrawal of cross-border bank groups from the CEE and Baltic region as well as in the announced Joint International Financial Institutions Action Plan for Recovery and Growth for the Central, Eastern and South-Eastern European Member States and candidate countries;
2012/12/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2012/2286(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 d (new)
7d. Encourages the EIB to further improve its efforts to utilise its lending operations outside the EU and to intensify its cooperation with other global and regional development banks as well as the development finance agencies of Member States in order to reduce costs and to achieve more efficient use of resources;
2012/12/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2012/2286(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 e (new)
7e. With regard to the EIB’s ‘Policy towards weakly regulated, non-transparent and uncooperative jurisdictions’ of 15 December 2010, reminds the Bank of its commitment to keep this policy under review and to propose any appropriate updating in line with developments in other international financial institutions’ practices and regulatory frameworks; calls on the EIB to inform the Parliament on any decisions taken or foreseen in this respect;
2012/12/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2012/2103(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Recognises the benefits to Member States of working together for an energy system transformation which must start now; endorses, therefore, the Commission's Energy Roadmap 2050 as the basis for proposing legislative and other initiatives on energy policy with a view to developing a policy framework for 2030, including milestones and targets; notes that defining energy targets for 2050 assumes pan- European governance; pursues, within the spirit of the Union, a technology-neutral strategy that will allow Member States to cooperate and not feel repressed under the Roadmap;
2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 74 #

2012/2103(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that a clear policy and regulatory framework will stimulate the necessary investments for low-carbon energy investments; Underlines the importance of an energy strategy focused on increasing the EU's energy security and economic competitiveness through measures such as the diversification of supply routes and sources, the preservation of a European industrial base for energy technologies and energy efficiency;
2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 98 #

2012/2103(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that it is in the competence of each Member State to define its own energy mix; acknowledges that the Energy Roadmap 2050 complements national, regional and local efforts to modernise energy supply; acknowledges, therefore, the need for Member States to work together on the basis of common objectives, as well as the important role to be played by the EU; urges the Member States and the Commission to continue to pursue options which can meet the EU's decarbonisation objective in an technology-neutral economically efficient, safe and sustainable way, and to continue with efforts to fully tap the potential for cost-effective energy savings, supported, inter alia, by available Union financial instruments; recognises, at the same time, the merits of developing a coordinated and, where appropriate, common European approach;
2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 115 #

2012/2103(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Agrees with the Commission, however, that EU action is based on the assumption that global climate action is taken and should not be developed in isolation but by taking account of international developments, for example carbon leakage and adverse effects on competitiveness;
2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 121 #

2012/2103(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Recognises that the increasing importance of electricity in the future energy mix requires that all means of low- carbon electricity production (conversion efficiency, renewables, CCS and nuclear energy) will need to be harnessed if climate goals are to be achieved without jeopardising security of supply and competitiveness;
2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 123 #

2012/2103(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Stresses that ensuring a fully developed cross-border energy infrastructure and information exchange mechanism within the Union is the precondition of the success of the Roadmap; stresses, therefore, the need for strong coordination between Member States' policies and for joint action, solidarity and transparency in the fields of external energy policy, energy security and new energy infrastructure investments;
2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 125 #

2012/2103(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Acknowledges the conclusions reached in the Energy Roadmap 2050 that there are similarities between the actions that must be taken in the analysed scenarios in order to transform the EU's energy system, regardless of the specific path chosen to achieve a low-carbon 2050 energy system; believes that renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy infrastructure are ‘no regrets’ options, although the way and extent to which they are pursued can have profound cost implications to Member States and to consumers which should be taken into account;
2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 134 #

2012/2103(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls for the principle of energy-for- all, therefore, highlights that special attention should be paid to low-income households for which coping with the energy system transformation will be challenging if energy prices will increase as predicted; believes that specific measures should be defined at EU, national and local levels to avoid energy poverty;
2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 190 #

2012/2103(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Notes that EU and national financial potential together with EU budgetary and investment policies are prerequisite to building new energy infrastructure in Europe, while considering both the cost of new built and the cost of decommissioning of outdated facilities and environmental and social rehabilitation of their regions;
2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 222 #

2012/2103(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that a more European approach to renewable policy is key in the medium to long term; encourages Member States to work together in order to optimise the cost efficiency of renewables expansion and to ensure that investments are made where they will be most productive and efficient, taking into account the specific characteristics of Member States; highlights, in this context, the Commission's important role as a facilitator; points out that renewables willcould, in the long term, move to the centre of the energy mix in Europe, as they progress from technology development to mass production and deployment, from small- scale to larger-scale – integrating local and more remote sources – and from subsidised to competitive; emphasises that the changing nature of renewables requires changes in policy to be made with a view to achieving greater market integration; highlights the need for support schemes to be phased out as technologies and supply chains mature and market failures are resolved;
2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 321 #

2012/2103(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Believes that all types of technologies reducing CO2 emissions will be needed to achieve the ambitious goal of decarbonising the EU's energy sector in particular; it will remain uncertain which technologies will be technically and commercially proven within the required time scale, therefore, flexibility must be preserved in order to allow adaptation to the technological and socio-economic changes that will rise;
2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 364 #

2012/2103(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Agrees with the Commission that nuclear energy, used by the majority of Member States, contributes to secure, reliable and competitive electricity generation, lowers system costs and electricity prices as reflected in the scenario analysis;
2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 392 #

2012/2103(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Agrees with the Commission that nuclear energy continues to play a key role in Europe's energy supply, remains a key source for low-carbon electricity generation and provides a significant contribution to the transformation of the energy system in those Member States where it is pursued;
2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 472 #

2012/2103(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Believes that prices play a crucial role in energy-related investment and energy production; notes that the different Member States' policies to promote renewable energy show both successes and problems; takes the opinion that the recent relatively high prices of fossil fuels promote the development of renewable energy; notes, however, that in some Member States the promotion of renewable energy by means of financial support could lead to high energy prices with an increased risk of energy poverty, loss of industrial competitiveness and rising fiscal burdens;
2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 490 #

2012/2103(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Underlines the importance of research, both at EU and Member State level, for bringing forward new technology developments and advancements in the field of energy, for maintaining EU technology leadership and preventing dependence of technology coming from third countries, such that the energy transition will contribute to the European agenda for growth and jobs;
2012/10/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 35 #

2012/2042(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Emphasises that IT aptitude and digital infrastructure should be improved within the entrepreneurial sector thus promoting the integration of the SMEs operating in the different European regions into the international market; IT development should practically be realised from the Digital Support Funds of the European Union;
2012/05/15
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 38 #

2012/2042(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Supports the suggestion to enhance cooperation between the various business associations, chambers of commerce and other private actors active in non-EU countries; believes that regional roadshows should be organised for stimulating entrepreneurial spirit with the inclusion of local civil organisations for business ventures, where entrepreneurial culture could be demonstrated in the region by presenting Best Practices and through roundtable discussions with the participation of successful business persons;
2012/05/15
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 100 #

2012/2042(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Calls for reinforcement of the role of the SME Envoy network in communication and coordination between Member States, and between national and European level, when transposing legislation; calls for SME Envoys to be independent from individual ministries or directorates- general and to be strongly involved in the SME test procedures; furthermore encourages the strengthening of the civil organisations operating in given fields for the purposes of uniting 23 million SMEs working in the European Union, including them in the administrative and legislative processes;
2012/05/15
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 133 #

2012/2042(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. UEmphasises that the EU's SME activity is not substituting but complementing the Member States' and region's actions, thus to enforce this, based on a "more for more and less for less" principle, Member States giving more support for SMEs should receive more EU support; therefore, urges Member States to implement ambitious programmes based on incentives to further promote entrepreneurship; calls for such programmes to include measures that improve access to finance, to ease administrative requirements and to include more entrepreneurial education in school curricula;
2012/05/15
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 135 #

2012/2042(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Urges Member States to implement ambitious programmes based on incentives to further promote entrepreneurship; calls for such programmes to include measures that improve access to finance, to ease administrative requirements and to include more entrepreneurial education in school curricula; recommends that practice- oriented academic competitions should be organised regularly for students, where in addition to their lexical knowledge their entrepreneurial way of thinking can also be assessed;
2012/05/15
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 63 #

2012/2029(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers that every Member State should publish and submit to Eurostat its average bilateral import price for natural gas, at least on a quarterly basis, with a time lag of not more than two quarters;
2012/03/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 145 #

2012/2029(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Takes the view that while cooperating on exploitation, trade and transit of energy products to the EU, there is also a need to intensify cooperation and develop specific instruments concerning safety and security of energy technologies (such as in case of the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation), data sharing on know-how transfer, promotion of energy efficiency and energy savings as well as clean and renewable energy sources, particularly in relations with countries whose energy consumption is growing rapidly;
2012/03/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 158 #

2012/2029(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Asks the Commission to elaborate joint energy roadmaps, not only with all key energy suppliers such as Russia, but also with key partner, with strategically important transit countries, and partnerships with countries, who face similar energy challenges and share similar values such as the US, Canada, Australia and Japan, notably with the aim of promoting technological, research and industrial cooperation and to set common standards for renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, new and unconventional energy technologies, safety of offshore drilling as well as nuclear safety and non-proliferation;
2012/03/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 167 #

2012/2017(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55 a (new)
55a. Calls on the Court of Auditors to supplement its current special report with the evaluation of the need and rationale behind handing over the management of the EU funded nuclear decommissioning programs in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia to the EBRD and the added value of the cooperation with the bank;
2012/05/09
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2012/2016(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that EU policies and the EU budget should make a substantial contribution to the revitalisation of sustainable growth in the EU and to addressing major societal challenges such as secure, clean and efficient energy, resource scarcity and, climate change and inclusive, innovative societies;
2012/05/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 7 #

2012/2016(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recalls that the European Union's budget is a significant instrument of solidarity between Member States and generations, and that it provides a clear added value, given its extraordinary impact on the real economy, the daily lives and the future living conditions of European citizens;
2012/05/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 14 #

2012/2016(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Understands the Council's concern regarding economic and budgetary constraints at national level as a result of the global crisis that damaged Member States' economic growth, financial stability and worsened their debt position, but believes that in 2013 for measures to strengthen solidarity and boost sustainable growth and employment must be taken to achieve economic recovery;
2012/05/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 17 #

2012/2016(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Recalls that the annual European Union budget with its leverage effect, the priorities in national budgets and all other European instruments must support Member States' recovery policies and need to be aligned with the Europe 2020 Strategy for Growth and Jobs;
2012/05/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 19 #

2012/2016(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Acknowledges the need to strengthen and coordinate funding in order to implement the EU 2020 strategypromote competitiveness and employment, to implement the EU 2020 strategy; stresses the need to pay specific attention to the implementation of the EP's previous years' budgetary priorities; is concerned that the ceilings under Heading 1a within the current financial framework are insufficient to meet the EU's priority polices;
2012/05/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 39 #

2012/2016(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Emphasises the need of specific actions and enhanced budgetary efforts to support small and medium-sized enterprises, therefore the enhancement of entrepreneurial mindsets and business start-ups through concrete actions is of utmost importance and adequate resources should be provided for that purpose;
2012/05/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 40 #

2012/2016(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Acknowledges the need to prevent SMEs from cutting back their investments, in particular in research and development; considers that strengthening EIB support for SMEs and infrastructure should be considered a key priority thus the uptake of these financial supports must be maximised;
2012/05/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 51 #

2012/2016(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
8. Continues to firmly oppose the redeployment to the ITER project of funds allocated to FP7 or other Heading 1 flagship programmes.deleted
2012/05/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 56 #

2012/2016(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Welcomes the agreement reached on financing the additional costs of ITER in December 2011, but is the view that securing the amount of EUR 360 million in the 2013 budget should not threaten the successful implementation of other EU policies, especially those that contribute to achieving the goals of the EU 2020 strategy during this last year of the programming period, and specifically opposes any redeployments infringing upon this budgetary priority.
2012/05/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 61 #

2012/0288(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
(6) Liquid renewable fuels are likely to be required by the transport sector in order to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Advanced biofuels, such as those made from wastes and algae, provide high greenhouse gas savings with low risk of causing indirect land use change and do not compete directly for agricultural land for the food and feed markets. It is appropriate, therefore, to encourage greater production of such advanced biofuels as these are currently not commercially available in large quantities, in part due to competition for public subsidies with established food crop based biofuel technologies. Further incentives should be provided by increasing the weighting of advanced biofuels towards 10% target for transport set in Directive 2009/28/EC justifiable to make maximum use of waste as a raw material, for which reason it is desirable to provide extra support for waste-based feedstocks, and consideration should be given to the possibility of including further wastes, and to the use of new technologies. It is appropriate, therefore, to encourage greater production of such advanced biofuels provided that this is accomparnied to conventional biofuels. In this context, only advanced biofuels with low estimated indirect land use change impacts and high overall greenhouse gas savings should be supported as part of the post 2020 renewable energy policy frameworkby a comprehensive review of the feasibility of the 2020 targets and does not result in yet greater dependence of EU Member States on foreign sources of energy carriers and raw materials.
2013/05/08
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 91 #

2012/0288(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
(9) To prepare for the transition towards advanced biofuels and minimise the overall indirect land use change impacts in the period to 2020, it is appropriate to limit the amount of biofuels and bioliquids obtained from food crops as set out in part A of Annex VIII to Directive 2009/28/EC and part A of Annex V to Directive 98/70/EC that can be counted towards targets set out in Directive 2009/28/EC. Without restricting the overall use of such biofuels, the share of biofuels and bioliquids produced from cereal and other starch rich crops, sugar and oil crops that can be counted towards the targets of Directive 2009/28/EC should be limited to the share of such biofuels and bioliquids consumed in 2011set binding targets for advanced biofuels, in which connection there is a need for clear, effective, predictable rules, which must not result in premature closing down of existing production infrastructure entailing severe losses of value to Europe.
2013/05/08
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 128 #

2011/2309(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. CEmphasises the need to remain open towards all new, future technologies in the field of energy research; calls for further research and development into tools and technologies, including CCS, to support and enhance the sustainable and safe development of unconventional gas;
2012/05/15
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 2 #

2011/2265(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Executive Director of the ENIAC Joint Undertaking discharge in respect of the implementation of the Joint Undertaking's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2265(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the ENIAC Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2264(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. Grants the Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality discharge in respect of the implementation of the Institute's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2264(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Institute for Gender Equality for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2255(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Director of the European Police Office discharge in respect of the implementation of the Office's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2255(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Police Office for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2011/2255(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Considering the complementarities between the European Police College and Europol, as well as the potential synergies, calls on the Commission to prepare a comprehensive impact assessment regarding a potential merger of these two agencies setting out the cost, and benefits until March 2013). (Reason: if the discharge raises a potential merger of two agencies, the appropriate way is to introduce the same text in both motions.)
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2242(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Executive Director of the FCH Joint Undertaking discharge in respect of the implementation of the Joint Undertaking's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2242(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the FCH Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2011/2242(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Notes with great concern that the Joint Undertaking used one quarter of its envisaged duration, up to 31 December 2017, to achieve financial autonomy; insists that these delays should not however cause a prolongation of the 10 year period of its existence but should embolden the management of the Joint Undertaking to address all shortcomings and reach its objectives within the envisaged 10 year period;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2011/2242(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. RegretNotes that a list of the Joint Undertaking's beneficiaries has not been made available to the public; is of the opinion that this reflects a lack of transparency from the Joint Undertaking; urgescalls on the Joint Undertaking, therefore, to publish on its website a list of beneficiaries for each Call for Proposals launched until now;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2011/2241(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Executive Director of the Joint Undertaking for the implementation of the Joint Technology Initiative on Innovative Medicines discharge in respect of the implementation of the Joint Undertaking's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2011/2241(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the Joint Undertaking for the implementation of the Joint Technology Initiative on Innovative Medicines for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2011/2241(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that the 2010 final budget included commitment appropriations of EUR 107 150 584 and payment appropriations of EUR 29 000 000; acknowledges, with concern,notes that the utilisation rates for available commitment and payment appropriations were as low as 6 % and 35 % respectively;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2011/2241(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Is concerned aboutNotes the low implementation of the budget and moreover the underlying activities of the Joint Undertaking; underlines that the cash balance at year end stood at EUR 70 731 612,03 representing 65 % of the available payment appropriations in 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2011/2241(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Is concerned that the disagreements and delays in establishing the scientific priorities and topics cast doubt on the reasons and the necessity of establishing this Joint Undertaking;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2011/2241(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. RequiresCalls on the Joint Undertaking, therefore, to communicate to the discharge authority the measures adopted, with their implementation timeframe, to address the recommendations of the interim review and also to provide regular updates on the progress achieved;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2011/2240(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. Grants the Executive Director of the ARTEMIS Joint Undertaking discharge in respect of the implementation of the Joint Undertaking's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2011/2240(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. Approves the closure of the accounts of the ARTEMIS for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2011/2240(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with concern that the 2010 budget was not adopted by the end of the previous year; takes note of the Joint Undertaking's reply that the 2010 budget was adopted in January 2011 due to the fact that the operational part of the budget depends on the commitment of the Member States and that for most of them the amount of commitment can only be ascertained after the adoption of their national budgets; calls on the Joint Undertaking and the contributing Member States to reach an agreement on a timetable and practical arrangements for the disclosure of their respective commitments to enable the adoption of the Joint Undertaking's budget in due time and to keep the discharge authority informed on this matter;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2011/2240(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Is concerned aboutNotes the low implementation of the budget and moreover the underlying activities of the Joint Undertaking; underlines that the deposits in bank accounts at the end of the year totalled EUR 16 600 000 representing 60 % of the available payment appropriations in 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2011/2239(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Executive Director of the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking discharge in respect of the implementation of the Joint Undertaking's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2011/2239(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the Clean Sky Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2011/2239(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Is concerned aboutNotes the low implementation of the budget and regrets the EUR 53 000 000 cash balance, at the end of the year representing 41 % of the available payment appropriations for 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2011/2238(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Executive Director of the SESAR Joint Undertaking discharge in respect of the implementation of the Joint Undertaking's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2011/2238(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the SESAR Joint Undertaking for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2011/2237(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Director of the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy discharge in respect of the implementation of the Joint Undertaking's budget for the financial year 2010,
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2011/2237(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2011/2237(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Acknowledges with concernNotes that carryovers from 2009 amounted to EUR 106 800 000 in commitment appropriations and EUR 52 200 000 in payment appropriations and that these appropriations are mainly accruing from the ITER host state and assigned to the ITER construction;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2011/2237(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines with concern the high cash balance, which amounted to EUR 78 800 000 at the end of the year representing 26,8 % of the available payment appropriations in 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2011/2237(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes with concern that the Joint Undertaking's internal control systems have not yet been fully established and implemented as required by its Financial Regulation; further regrets that concerns have been voiced on the financial circuits and the separation of duties; recognises that a new organisational structure became operational on 1 January 2011; notes however that the responsibility for the financial circuits has still not been fully assigned and that Joint Undertaking's key posts were still vacantrecognises that a new organisational structure became operational on 1 January 2011; calls on the Joint Undertaking to address the issue of the responsibility for the financial circuits and to inform the discharge authority accordingly;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2236(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Director-General of the Euratom Supply Agency discharge in respect of the the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2236(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the Euratom Supply Agency for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2235(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Executive Director of the European Chemicals Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2235(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Chemicals Agency for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2011/2235(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Ascertains from the Agency's Report on Budgetary and Financial Management that the Agency committed to entirely reimburse the Union's temporary contribution to the Commission upon receipt of the corresponding debit note; calls on the Agency to inform the discharge authority on whether the reimbursement occurred as intended;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2011/2235(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Takes note of the Agency's reply which states that it will include a proposal for a mechanism to manage surplus revenue in the upcoming review of the Framework Financial Regulation; understands from the Agency's Annual Activity Report that an arrangement with an external, highly- rated custodian was set up and a second arrangement is being prepared to ensure the safe-keeping and risk diversification of the accumulated cash reserves that should be the principal source of finance for the Agency until the start of nextthe European Investment Bank and the Central Bank of Finlancial Perspectives Period in 2014; expects the Agency to regularly keep the discharge authority informed on this matterd was made to report to the discharge authority if the asset manager is changed;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2011/2235(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Regrets that the Court of Auditors does not mention the Agency's appropriations carried forward and cancelled in its report on the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2010;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2234(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Executive Director of the Community Fisheries Control Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2234(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approve the closure of the accounts of the Community Fisheries Control Agency for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2011/2234(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Acknowledges, in addition, from the IAS report that for the financial year 2010 the Agency's automatic carry forward to 2011 amounted to EUR 1 160 393 (commitments RAL) and EUR 629 517,41 (payment credit) and that the Agency's non-automatic carryovers amounted to EUR 530 875,59; regrets that the Court of Auditors does not mention this information in its report on the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2011/2234(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Urges the Agency to respect the principle of annuality; notes in particularNotes that some of the Agency's 2010 budget commitments related to expenditure for 2011 projects; regrets that the Court of Auditors' report on the annual accounts of the Agency for 2010 was not able to provide the discharge authority with further details on the matter;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2011/2234(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. UrEncourages the Agency, nevertheless, to align the access rights of the Authorising Officers by Delegation in ABAC with the Delegation Decision;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2011/2234(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. UrgesCalls on the Agency to rapidly take the necessary measures to ensure that procurement documents are duly signed and dated; notes in particular that the Court of Auditors noted this weakness in the Agency's procedures for public procurement;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2011/2234(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. UrEncourages the Agency to assurincrease transparency in its recruitment procedures; notes in fact that the Court of Auditors stated weaknesses in this respect; acknowledges in particular that with regard to staff selection procedures, neither the thresholds that candidates had to meet in order to be invited to the interview nor those necessary to be put on the reserve list were fixed in advance;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2011/2234(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Welcomes the initiative of the Agency's Internal Audit Capability which developed an internal training course and has provided the necessary training related to Ethics and Integrity at the Agency; it particularly welcomes that the training is obligatory to all staff to ensure awareness of ethical and organisational values, in particular ethical conduct, avoidance of conflicts of interest, fraud prevention and reporting of irregularities.
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2011/2234(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 – introductory part
17. Urges in this respectCalls on the Agency to take the necessary measures on the following issues:
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2011/2234(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 – subparagraph 1
notes that the two very important recommendations of the IAS, namely the adaptation of ABAC access rights for the AODs, and the establishment and implementation of a policy for exceptions handling and a central exception register, have been reported as implemented by the Agency and are currently under the IAS review; calls, nevertheless, on the Agency to promptly inform the discharge authority on the actions taken and the results achieved;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2011/2234(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 – introductory part
18. UrgesCalls on the Agency to take immediate action on the important items below and to inform the discharge authority on the actions taken:
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9
– having regard to its resolution of 15 September 2011 on the EU’s efforts to combat corruption, its Written Declaration 2/2010 on the Union’s efforts in combating corruption6, and to the Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee on Fighting corruption in the EU (COM(2011)0308);
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Recital B
B. whereas there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of Agencies over the last decade, from 3 in 2000 to 24 in 2010,
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas the Union contributions to the decentralised Agencies increased substantially between 2007 and 2010 from EUR 1 055 000 000 (for 21 Agencies) to EUR 1 658 000 000 (for 24 Agencies),deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. whereas the Union contributions to the decentralised Agencies for the financial year 2010 amounted to EUR 1 658 000 000689 947 000 in commitments of which EUR 51 667 000 had been assigned revenues,
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the Agencies budgets are subject to the same adoption formula as the general budget of the Union, involving scrutiny from both the Council and Parliament,
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas still awaiting the Court of Auditors planned to analyse the Agencies’ performance and issue a Special Report by 2011 on cost benchmarking of the European Union Agencies, but regretfully failed to issue this report before the end of 2011it welcomes the fact that the Court of Auditors has provided the discharge authority, by letter of 15 February 2012, with a synthesis document of the above-mentioned special report,
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H
H. whereas the 2011 Communication from the Commission ‘Fighting corruption in the EU’ estimated that EUR 120 billion per year is lost to corruption in the EU, inflicting financial damages, reducing public finances and undermining the trust in democratic institutions, and has established an anti- corruption mechanism at the Union level with focus on the use of Union funds, public procurement and conflict of interest,deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Recital I
I. whereas the abovementioned resolution of 15 September 2011 of the Parliament on the EU’s efforts to combat corruption states that corruption leads to the misuse of public money in general and of Union funds provided by the tax payer and distort the market, having played a role in the current economic crisis, and calls – along with its Written Declaration 2/2010 – on the Commission and the relevant Union bodies to ensure that the Union funds are not subject to corruption, and to adopt dissuasive sanctions where corruption and fraud are found,deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Calls on the Commission to provide annually the discharge authority with consolidated information on the total annual funding per Agency made from the general budget of the Unionas is the case for preparing the BUD; underlines that the document shall include the following information:
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to provide the information listed in paragraph 1 for the financial year 2010 as well as for the previous financial years to enable Parliament and the public to compare the Union’s contribution to each Agency over time; this will also ensure clarity, transparency and public control over the spending of the Union money, and it will contribute to restoring trust among the European taxpayers;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. UrgesCalls on the Council and the Commission, in suchespecially in times of financial crisis, to stop the increases in the Agencies’ budgets, to even consider reducconsider together with Parliament any changes ing the Union contribution to their budgets, in particular to the Agencies which mainly perform research; also urges the Agencies to reduce their running costs and establish mechanisms to show the clear use and accountability of each EUR and to make substantial savings of Union fundsAgencies’ budgets on a case by case basis taking into account the context of the EU 2020 strategy;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that in 2010 several Agencies introduced amending budgets and proceeded to make carryovers and transfers; noticed that some of the Agencies explain the purpose of those actions, for instance CDT and ERA; urges allCalls on the Agencies to justify, systematically, amending budgets, transfers and carryovers in their report on the final annual accounts and annual report on Budgetary and Financial management;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Notes once more a large volume of carryovers and cancellations of operational appropriations by several Agencies in the financial year 2010; regrets that the Court of Auditors failed to report the level of appropriations carried forward and/or cancelled by ECHA, EEA, EMSA and CEPOL in the Court of Auditors’ reports on annual accounts for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Points out that the high level of carryovers and cancellations is generally indicative of the inability of an Agency to manage a large increase in its budget; demands that the absorptive capacity and the time needed to carry out additional tasks should play a larger role in budgetary decisions;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the Agencies to improve their management of commitments as well as their internal planning and general revenue forecasting in order to optimise their carry over and cancellation rates as well as their spending; reminds the Agencies that they need to refine their programming and monitoring system and initiate contracting earlier in the calendar year to reduce the need to carry over appropriations; calls in addition on the Commission to provide guidance in this respect; calls on the budgetary authority, in the future, to take greater care in deciding on increases in an Agency’s budget in the light of the time needed to carry out the new activities; welcomes CEDEFOP’s intention to further reduce its carryovers by monitoring through standardised templates of budget execution (commitments, payments) and procurement progress; considers this measure to be a practice to be followed by the other Agencies;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Urges the Agencies, accordingly, to improve their internal planning and general revenue forecasting in order to reduce their high carry over and cancellation rates as well as their spending; reminds the Agencies that they need to refine their programming and monitoring system and initiate contracting earlier in the calendar year to reduce the need to carry over appropriations; calls in addition on the Commission to provide guidance in this respect;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Calls also on the Agencies to improve their management of commitments in order to align them with the real needs; points out that the high level of carryovers and cancellations is often indicative of the inability of an Agency to manage a large increase in its budget; considers that it would not be more responsible for budgetary authorities, in future, to take greater care in deciding on increases in an Agency’s budget in the light of the time needed to carry out the new activities;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 38 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes CEDEFOP’s intention to further reduce its carryovers by monitoring through standardised templates of budget execution (commitments, payments) and procurement progress; considers this measure to be a practice to be followed by the other Agencies;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls that the budget of the Agencies must be balanced; underlines that some Agencies generate profitshigher revenue through their activities, which sometimes lead to a surplus; is of the opinionasks the Commission to ensure that, for the Agencies fully financed from the budget of the European Union, the surplus generated in year n should be clearly deducted from the Union subsidy for year n+1, provided this is not jeopardizing the goals set for the Agencies;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. UrEncourages the Agencies to minimise the number of late payments by implementing corrective measures; is mainly concernedof the opinion that payment delays increase the risk of having to pay interest and charges for late payments for which no appropriations are foreseen in the budget;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Calls also on the Agencies to accurately and completely report on exceptions in line with the Internal Control Standard N. 16;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes once more the weaknesses in procurement procedures; is concerned that calls on the Agencies to increase the efficiency of their internal control system is not sufficiently efficient to avoid or detect persistent errors undermithreatening the legality and regularity of the Agencies’ transactions;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Urges, accordingly,Encourages the Agencies to strengthen their procurement procedures and, in particular, their procurement authorisation at the financing decision and work- programme level; notes, for example, that EMSA’s lack of underlying data to support the financing decision on planned operational procurement may put at risk the validity of the Agency’s decision;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Calls also on the Agencies to include in their Annual Work Programmes (AWP) clear information on the global budgetary envelope reserved for procurements and the indicative number and types of contracts envisaged; is concerned that often the Agencies’ AWP do not explicitly disclose all information referred to in the Financial Regulation and its implementing rules; notes that this weakness is mainly found in EMSA and ERA;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Urges, in addition, the Agencies to ensure that negotiated procedure, which should be used under strictly defined conditions, is duly and timely reported to the Administrative Board in order that it is fully informed about the extent of these procedures;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. UrEncourages the Agencies to draw up multiannual strategic programmes andor guidelines, tailored to the specificities of their activities; considers it important that such multiannual activity planning (objectives and means to reach them) is linked with multiannual resource planning (budget and staff in particular) and that it is clearly translated into the AWP; calls also on the Agencies to consult the Parliament in this respect;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 53 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Is concerned that the assignment of responsibility for the preparation and adoption of the AWP is not stated in the founding Decision of certain Agencies (e.g. in EUROJUST); considers that this may lead to confusion and lack of ownership for the preparation and adoption of the AWP; calls, therefore, on the Agencies concerned to rapidly address this deficiency and to inform the discharge authority on the actions takenEncourages the Agencies to provide the discharge authority with more information about the assignment of responsibility for the preparation and adoption of the AWP;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 55 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. UrEncourages the Agencies to standardise the structure of their AARs in accordance with the format used by the Commission’s Directorates-General (DGs) and, accordingly, to provide information on: the implementation of their AWP, budget and staff policy plan, management and internal control systems, internal/external audit findings, the follow- up to the audit recommendations, the discharge recommendation, and the statement of assurance of the Executive Director; calls also on the Agencies to provide in their AAR information resulting from the Financial Statements and from the report on budgetary and financial management foreseen in the context of the discharge procedure, provided the time constraints of the preparation of the Union annual consolidated accounts are respected;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 57 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Requires that theCalls on the Commission to develop an indicative template in cooperation with the Agencies to provide for a structure of the AAR of each Agency which would includes a number of common elements based on best practice across the Agencies, with a view to easing comparison; in this respect, urges the Commission to develop an indicative template in cooperation with the Agencies;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 60 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
35. Recalls that in accordance to Article 96 paragraph 2 of the framework Financial Regulation, the Agencies are requested to providereport to the discharge authority a report on the measures taken based upon thein the light of observations and recommendations made by the discharge authority in its previous discharge reports;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 62 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Notes that for the financial year 2010, the discharge authority has not received the Reports on Article 96 from six Agencies: EASA, EMEA, EMCDDA, EURATOM, EUROFOUND and GSA; calls therefore on these Agencies to submit these reports immediately;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 64 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Regrets that the information provided by the Agencies in the reports on Article 96 come from the Agencies themselves and that, as a consequence, the accuracy of their statements cannot be fully certified and taken as granted; calls therefore on the Interinstitutional Working Group on Agencies to consider including a provision on the creation and implementation of a verification mechanism regarding the information provided by the Agencies in the report on Article 96, in order to enable the discharge authority to be confident on the validity of the information received and to allow for a thorough follow-up of the observation and recommendations made by the Parliament in its previous discharge resolutions;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 65 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. UrEncourages the Agencies to provide, via their websites, information necessary to ensure transparency, especially financial transparency; urges in particular the Agencies to make available on their website the list of all contracts awarded over the last three years and the list of the Members of their Management Boards with their Declaration of Interests; calls on the Commission to continue its efforts to make this information fully accessible and integrate it into its financial transparency system;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 67 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
42. Urges the Agencies to strengthen the involvement of the key stakeholders (including Parliament) in their annual planning;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 69 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
43. Is deeply concerned by the allegations of conflict of interests existing within the Agencies and/or the Management Board, in particular in EASA, EEA and EFSA;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 72 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
43a. Welcomes the initiative of some Agencies, as for instance the Community Fisheries Control Agency whose Internal Audit Capability developed an internal training course and has provided the necessary training related to Ethics and Integrity at the Agency; it particularly welcomes that the training is obligatory to all staff to ensure awareness of ethical and organisational values, in particular ethical conduct, avoidance of conflicts of interest, fraud prevention and reporting of irregularities;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 73 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
44. Calls on the Agencies to carefully file and assess their control systems in order to prevent conflict of interests between their staff and experts working in their Agency; calls, in addition, on the Management Board of the Agencies to adopt and apply the strictest rules and verification mechanisms towards their Members to ensure their full independence from private interests; recalls once more that an Agency’s reputation will be damaged in cases where it is challenged on the ground of conflict of interests, with negative impact to the Union’s reputation;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 76 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
45. Recalls that the European Ombudsman criticised EFSA for the way it assesses potential conflicts of interest and ‘revolving door’ cases; is concerned that other Agencies experience similar situations, and failed to stop and prevent the conflict of interest situations;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 80 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
46. Urges the Agencies, therefore, to provide the responsible committees in Parliament with a detailed overview of the criteria and verification mechanisms applied to avoid ‘revolving door’ cases and to stop the existing conflicts of interest; where this role is ensured together with the national counterparts, urges the Agencies to clarify this sharing role to avoid responsibility- related loopholes in cases of conflicts of interest;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 83 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
48. Repeats its call on the Court of Auditors to make a comprehensive analysis of the Agencies’ approach and concrete practice for the management of the situations of the conflicts of interest, in order to stop the existing conflicts and prevent future ones;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 88 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
49. Recalls that in its abovementioned resolution of 15 September 2011 on the EU’s efforts to combat corruption, the Parliament called, inter alia, upon the Commission and the Union’s Agencies to ensure more transparency by drawing up codes of conduct or improving those existing codes, with as a minimum clear rules on conflicts of interest;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 89 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
50. Recalls that conflicts of interest are a cause of corruption, fraud, mismanagement of funds and human resources, favouritism and have a negative impact on the impartiality of the decisions and quality of work and undermines Union citizens’ trust in the Union institutions, including the Agencies;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 91 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
53. Calls on the Agencies to be more active in the area of fraud detection and prevention, and properly and regularly to communicate on these activities; stresses that the role of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) vis-à- vis Agencies should be formalised, enhanced and made more visible;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 92 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55 – subparagraph 1
Considers that these deficiencies reduce the ability of the Agencies to: respond to possible allegations of arbitrary decisions on staff recruitment;, and urges the Agencies to take the appropriate redressing decisions, and; increase the trust of the Union citizens in the Agencies’ recruitment procedure;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 94 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57
57. Believes that every year there are employees, including directors, who rotate between the Agencies; calls on the Commission to provide the Parliament with a table of all staff members, in particular Directors and persons in management positions who changed working places from one Agency to another Agency or to another Union institution, at least since 2008;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 95 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58
58. Calls on the Commission to provide the Parliament with a detailed table of the criteria applied in order to ensure the independence, impartiality, and proper qualification of the staff recruited, including those criteria aimed at stopping or preventing conflicts of interest, and to apply dissuasive sanctions for any irregularity found;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 97 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59
59. Calls once more on the Agencies to ensure that sensitive tasks are not assigned to interim staff knowing that interim staff are recruited subject to the establishment plan; deplores the fact that in some cases Agencies hired these staff to perform sensitive tasks or have access to sensitive information; stresses the risks of potential security breaches linked to interim staff’s access to sensitive information, and unawareness by them of the procedure to follow or indeed conflicts of interest;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 100 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Considers it a flaw in the legislation related to the Agencies that the findings and recommendations of the IAS are taken into consideration only subject the good will of the Directors of the Agencies and their Management Boards; stresses also that it is left to the Directors of Agencies to inform the discharge authority of the work and findings of the IAS without the possibility of the IAS to report directly to Parliament on the reliability of the information sent by the Agencies; urges the co-legislators , therefore, to face the problem and address this failure when discussing the modification of the Financial Regulation;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 102 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Calls, accordingly, on the Agencies’ Management Boards to duly take into account the recommendations made by the IAS, with a view to rapidly remedying the identified failings and to justify to the discharge authority rejections and delays in the implementation of the IAS recommendations;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 103 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that in reality both the IAS and to a large extent the Court of Auditors act as advisors to the Agencies and provide them with non-public recommendations to address their shortcomings; is seriously concerned that none of the audit institutions performs a control of the Agencies to be reflected in a public document; wonderWelcomes that the Court of Auditors has issued 32 public documents on EU Agencies in 2010 that were all published in the Official Journal of the European Union and are available on the websites iof both the IAS and the Court of Auditors internally support the Agencies to address their wrong, who is controlling them through public analyses and reports; calls therefore for a clear separation of tasks between the IAS and the Court of Auditorsand the Committee on Budgetary Control ;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 106 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Urges the Court of Auditors, therefore, to seriously and impartially exercise its controlling and auditing functions on the Agencies and reflect its findings and recommendations through its public annual or special reports to enable Parliament to fulfil its discharging function fully and for the public to know how the Agencies are managed and which the wrongs were identified;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 111 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
66. UrgesNotes that the Court of Auditors, in addition, during its audit covers procedures of the Agencies, to make sure that the Agencies’ calls for preparation, publication, evaluation and contract management phases respect in full the principle of maximum and open competition and the principle of value- for-money; urges, in addition, the Court of Auditors to verify the real turnover of the companies contracted by each Agency in order to ensure that the turnover is not related to changes occurring in the contractors’ official namment procedures as part of its annual audits of agencies, and reports the results; welcomes that the Court of Auditors’ audit programmes take account of the risk that contractors may provide incorrect information in the procurement procedure;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 116 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67 – introductory part
67. RecallWelcomes that in the previous discharges on the Agencies, the discharge authority called on the Court of Auditors to provide further information onCourt of Auditors publishes clear opinions on the reliability and the legality and regularity of Agencies’ accounts, as mandated by the Treaties:
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 117 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67 a (new)
67a. Notes the Court of Auditors’ aim to issue a special report on the management of conflict of interest situations in selected Agencies;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 118 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67 b (new)
67b. Welcomes that the Court of Auditors provided in its evaluation of Agencies’ Annual activity reports a specific annexed table containing a comparison of 2009 versus 2010 operations thus providing information to the public in relation to these activities;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 119 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
68. Is seriously concerned that despite Parliament’s requests, the Court of Auditors’ reports on the annual accounts for 2010 include only half of the information provided in previous years (in 2010: 38 comments for 24 Agencies, in 2009: 69 comments for 22 Agencies and in 2008: 69 comments for 23 Agencies) and that most of the Court of Auditors’ comments on the 2010’s reports include only general statements and not precise information and findings; is concerned that the Court of Auditors did not act as an independent controlling authority and acted against the interests of the Union and the European citizens’ right to know how their money is spent and how the Agencies are managed; recalls, in this context, that the Agencies serve the public interest and should be accountable to the citizens whose interest claim to serve;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 123 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69
69. Recalls moreover that the Court of Auditors failed at reporting the level of appropriations carried over from 2009 to 2010 and those cancelled, for at least ECHA, EEA, EMSA and CEPOL in its reports on the Agencies for the financial year 2010; finds that this failure is unacceptable;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 128 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70
70. Is seriously concerned that, despiteWelcomes the Court of Auditors’ inefformationts to provided in its Annual Work Programme and the persistent requests from Parliament, which is, after all, one of the European stakeholders, the two Special Reports related to Agencies dealing with: a) the discharge authority with an information on Agencies cost- benchmarking of Union Agencies and b)a conflicts of interest with thes management at the Agencies, are still not ready or made available; notes that the Special Report on cost benchmarking of the Agencies was initially planned by the Court of Auditors for October 2011 but has still not been issued, and that the Court of Auditors’ representative stated orally in Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control that it is still working on the 17th draft, but failed so far to send the final report or a draft to Parliament despite repeated requests; is concerned that in these circumstances the ‘conflict of interest management’ report will not be issued on time by the Court of Auditors and/or it will not reflect the real situationreport; awaits both reports to be delivered to Parliament in accordance with the Court of Auditors’ procedures and timetables and in line with professional standards on auditing;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 133 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71
71. Urges the Court of Auditors, once more, to provide the discharge authority with the report on cost benchmarking of Union Agencies in its current state in good time to allow the Parliament to consider it for the 2010 discharge and to issue within the deadline a serious and comprehensive report on the conflicts of interest management in the Union Agencies;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 136 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72
72. Considers that, if private sector auditors have to be involved in the external audit of Agencies’ accounts, the selection and appointment of the private auditors should be done in conformity with the applicable rules, including those on transparent public procurement, and appropriate control mechanisms should be put in place, in order to ensure that work on the legality and regularity of revenue and expenditure and the reliability of Agencies’ accounts is carried out in accordance with the required standards; considers also that aspects of such outsourced external audits, including the reported audit findings, have to remain the full responsibility of the Court of Auditors, which will have to manage all administrative and procurement procedures required and finance these from its own budget without asking for a supplementary budget, as this task is under the Court of Auditors competence; moreover, the current crisis does not allow for additional budgets to perform tasks which are under one Union institution, in this case the Court of Auditors;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 137 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 73
73. Urges the Court of Auditors to prevent any conflicts of interest when contracting an independent audit for the Agencies;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 138 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74
74. Considers also that if such outsourcing is to be used, the report of the independent auditors must be made public immediately by both the independent auditors and the Court of Auditors; to this end, the Parliament requires the Court of Auditors to abstain from imposing confidential clauses on the contract with the eventual independent contractor with regard to the publication of the reports in the form they are done by the independent contractor; at the same time, the Court of Auditors must take the responsibility of this independent audit and act accordingly;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 139 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75
75. Notes that the large size and cost of certain Agencies’ Governing Boards and the high turnover of their members can lead to anmay lead to a certain level of ineffective decision-making body; calls, accordingly, on the Interinstitutional Working Group on Agencies to address this issue; suggests in addition that consideration be given to the possibility of merging governing boards for Agencies working in related fields to reduce meeting costs;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 144 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76 – introductory part
76. Calls, in addition, on the Agencies to consider the following options when considering the possibility of administrative support to operate in the most efficient mannero share services between Agencies, either by proximity of locations or by policy area; praises in this respect the EMSA-CFCA initiative of sharing the Internal Audit function:
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 146 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77
77. Calls on the Commission to immediately carry out an evaluation of all the Agencies in order to detect occurrences of unnecessary oranalyse the potential synergies and overlapping of activities and to analyse the merger of some of the Agencies, and to inform Parliament about this issue by the 15 July 2012 at the latof Agencies and to prepare, until March 2013, a comprehensive costs and benefits and impact assessment analysis regarding a potential merger of the Agenciest;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 149 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 78
78. Urges the Commission and the Council to take into account the real necessity of each Agency and the need to save Union citizens’ tax-payers money in this time of financial and economic crisis, and not take into account that some Member States’ interests to have an Agency in their particular country for reasons other than the public interest of the Union;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 150 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 79
79. Recalls once more that the Parliament, since its 2006 discharge resolution, called on the Agencies to consider setting up an inter- Agency disciplinary board to apply, in an impartial manner, disciplinary sanctions up to exclusion; notes, however, that this project remains difficult to take forward; calls on the Agency responsible for coordinating the network of Agencies to establish a network of staff at the grade required to be impartial members of the disciplinary board;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 151 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 80
80. Welcomes the on-going work of the Interinstitutional Working Group on Agencies which has the objective of reviewing the role and position of decentralised Agencies in the Union’s institutional landscape, as well as the creation, structure and operation of those Agencies, together with funding, budgetary, supervision and management issues; requests the Working Group to rapidly come up with a satisfactorydraft proposal on Common Understanding between Parliament, Council and Commission on Agencies;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 155 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 81
81. Finds that the activities and results of some Agencies cast doubt on their true added-value to the Union’s objectives; considers that a large number of reports and papers and other related outputs, such as those of the EEA and others, can be seen as lacking substantial, innovative and practical input to the objectives and work on the Union; notes also that the EIGE outputs were rather limited in 2010; calls, therefore, on the Commission, Council and the Court of Auditors to report immediately on the real added- value of the Agencies’ activities and to focus primarily, but not exhaustively, on CEDEFOP, EEA, EIGE, EUROFOUND;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 159 #

2011/2232(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 82
82. Concludes by stating that in particular in this time of crisis the real added-value of the Agencies should be seriously and rapidly analysed in order to avoid any non mandatory and absolutely necessary spending, in order to properly answer to the strict needs of the Union and to its citizens’ needs, concerns and claims for trust in our institutions; stresses that the Union and its Member States cannot ask Union citizens to save money without doing it themselves; calls for fairness in respect of major savings by the Union bodies -Agencies included - along with requiring such savings to its citizens who are the tax-payers contributing to the Union budget;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2231(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Executive Director of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2231(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2011/2231(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Is concerned that the Court of Auditors has reported carryovers since 2006; notes in particular that for the year 2010 an amount of EUR 26 500 000, representing 28 % of the available budget, was carried forward to 2011 and that only EUR 12 000 000 of this amount was matched by accruals; to be submitted to the discharge authority at latest by 15 December 2012.
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2011/2231(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Points out once more that a high level of carryovers and cancellations is indicative of the inability of the Agency to manage such a large increase in its budget; wonders whether it would not be more responsible forCalls on the budgetary authorities to take greater care in the future when deciding on increases in the Agency's budget in the light of the time needed to carry out new activities; calls on the Agency therefore to provide it with fuller details on the feasibility of future commitments;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2230(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. Grants the Director of the European Police College discharge in respect of the implementation of the College's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2230(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Police College for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2011/2230(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Notes that the College and Europol are two Community bodies evolving in similar intervention fields and are performing complementary activities; believes that if these activities were brought together under a common agency unnecessary additional costs would be avoided; recalls that the Union budget shall be based on sound financial management requiring spending to be relevant, effective, and efficient and unnecessary expenditure to be properly addressed;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2011/2230(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Considering the complementarities between the College and Europol, as well as the potential synergies calls on the Commission to prepare a comprehensive impact assessment regarding a potential merger of these two agencies setting out the cost, and benefits until March 2013.
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2011/2230(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Reiterates its recommendation to merge the College with Europol in the near future; is convinced that the merger will engender greater rationality and efficiency in expenditure; is convinced that the cost of keeping the College and Europol separate would be higher than the cost of a merger; welcomes, therefore, the Commission's proposal that Europol could take over the training role of the College; regrets that the Member States rejected this proposal and calls for a re- evaluation;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2011/2230(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Is confident that merging the College within Europol would be beneficial for the activities performed currently by the two agencies; believes that a merger would not only provide concrete solutions to the aforementioned College's structural and chronic problems but would also enable the College to benefit directly from Europol's expertise regarding international organised crime and terrorism in order to fulfil its mission of providing training for senior police officers; believes that through the merger Europol would benefit from the network as well as the training expertise of the College, and would be able to take advantage of having on its premises a unit focusing solely on training-related issues;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2229(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Executive Director of the European Railway Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2229(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Railway Agency for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2011/2229(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. RegretNotes that the errors in budgetary forecasts resulted in the cancellation or delay of certain investments; urgescalls on the Agency to inform immediately the discharge authority of the measures implemented in order to allow for better expenditure forecasts;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2011/2229(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Is concerned that the situation was not reported by the Court of Auditors in its report on the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2010; calls on the Court of Auditors to explain this omission to the discharge authority;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2011/2229(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Regrets once more that the Agency has again failed toIs of the opinion that the Agency did not adequately address the problem of appropriations being carried forward from one year to the next; considers the carryover to represent a serious breach of the budgetary principle of annuality which shows delays in the implementation of the Agency's activitierecalls the importance of budgetary principle of annuality; calls on the Agency to inform the discharge authority about actions taken to improve the annual budget implementation and to decrease the carryovers of budget appropriations;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2011/2229(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Agency to informprovide the discharge authority whenith the report to be attached to each year's budget on the unspent appropriations carried over from previous years, will be ready; reminds the Agency that this request was already made during the previous discharge procedure;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2011/2229(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Urges moreoverCalls on the Agency to create a Multi- Annual Plan translating long-term objectives into multi-annual tasks and associated Key Performance Indicators; underlinesis of the opinion that this would better provide stakeholders with information on the objectives/activities, strategic priorities and resource allocation;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2011/2229(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. UrgesCalls on the Agency to implement without delay the IAS recommendations related to the audit on Human Resources (HR) management undertaken by the IAS in 2009; notes in fact that the implementation of three of these recommendations (on HR management in annual planning, on compliance with rules and principles of transparency in staff appraisal, on the disclosure of an exception to the staff regulation) have experienced a delay of 6-12 months or more; calls on the Agency to inform the discharge authority about the progress of implementation of these IAS recommendations;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2011/2228(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Is concerned by the fact that while ENISA has been found blameworthy by the EDPS for violating regulation 45/20011 on several occasions to the detriment of its staff, the Agency not only did not comply with the EDPS recommendation but sued the EDPS for his conclusions and the Court of Justice Tribunal decided against ENISA and ordered it to bear the expenses of the case2; urges ENISA's Executive Director to make sure that the Agency will immediately comply with the EDPS' recommendation; 1 Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data. 2 Infocuria-Case-law of the Court of Justice T-345/11
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2227(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control discharge in respect of the implementation of the Centre's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2011/2227(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Citation 11 a (new)
- having regard to the Joint Statement and Common Approach adopted (in June 2012) by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, resulting from the work of the Inter Institutional Working Group on decentralised agencies, and in particular the sections on governance, operations, programming, accountability and transparency;
2012/09/10
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority discharge in respect of the implementation of the Authority's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority discharge in respect of the implementation of the Authority's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/09/10
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Food Safety Authority for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Urges, however,Calls on the Authority to implement further actions to enable a satisfactory budget execution both in terms of commitment and payment appropriations and to inform the discharge authority of the progress achieved;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Urges, once more,Calls on the Authority to improve its budget management in order to reduce its high carryover amounts; notes, in particular, that this situation demonstrates weaknesses in the Authority' and also to improve its contract management and monitoring of the remittance of reports and cost statements;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Authority to develop and implement a common monitoring for the management of all its contracts; acknowledges, in particular, the absence of a central and coordinated capacity at the directorate level responsible for the monitoring of contracts; underlines that this entails a risk of inefficient use of resources and uncoordinated monitoring of contracts and therefore asks the Authority to centralise these responsibilities at the level of each directorate;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Is concernedNotes that the Authority delayed for over 12 months the Internal Audit Service (IAS)'s "very important'" recommendation which called on the Authority to define contract renewal process and ensure the transparency of decision making; calls, therefore, on the Authority to explain to the discharge authority the reasons behind this delay and rapidly address this deficiency;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Is highly concerned by the regular reports in the media that call into question the independence of the Authority and the Members of its Management Board; notes, in particular, that in September 2010 the Chair of the Management Board was reported to have direct links to the food industry, and to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the International Life Science Institute (ILSI) - Europe; understands that the declaration of interests of the Authority's Chair of the Management Board has been modified on 28 September 2010 to include her activity in ILSI; believes that suspicions of conflict of interest within the Authority might have a negative impact on the public confidence in the Authority and put at risk its mission and objectives;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Considers, therefore, that a thorough case-by-case analysis of these reports and possible and actual conflicts of interest situations should be carried out in order to evaluate the objectivity and impartiality of the Authority at all levels and the work it conveys; calls, moreover, on the Authority to make a thorough screening of the declarations of interest submitted by its staff, experts and by the Members of the Management Board followed concrete measures to stop conflicts of interest and information to the publicalls on the Agency to provide the discharge authority with the guidelines and assessment criteria on handling potential conflicts of interest of staff members, including the Members of the Management Board;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Notes moreover that the Court of Auditors have observed that the review process of the Declarations of Interests of the Members of the Management Board is insufficiently rigorous and detailed and puts at risk the completeness and transparency of this procedure;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Notes that in March 2010 a German non-governmental organisation turned to the European Ombudsman, complaining that the Authority did not adequately address a potential conflict of interest concerning the move of its Head of Genetically Modified Organisms Unit to a biotechnology company in 2008 less than 2 months after the staff member in question left the Authority, without a ‘cooling off’ period;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Underlines that the Ombudsman concluded that the Authority had not carried out a thorough assessment of the alleged potential conflict of interest and called on the Authority to improve the way it applies its rules and procedures in future 'revolving door' cases; stresses, moreover, that the Ombudsman also pointed out that negotiations by a serving member of staff concerning a future job which could amount to ‘revolving doors’ would themselves constitute a conflict of interest and recommended that the Authority should strengthen its rules and procedures accordingly; calls on the Authority to inform the discharge authority of the concrete measures adopted, and their respective deadlines, to properly address the conclusions of the Ombudsman;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Once more, urgesCalls on the Authority to take appropriate measures in cases of conflict of interests and 'revolving door' cases, including when cases occur within the Management Board, and to inform both the discharge authority and the public promptly on the measures taken;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Considers that, while a dialogue with industry on product assessment methodologies is legitimate and necessary, this dialogue should not undermine the independence of the Authority nor the integrity of risk assessment procedures; asknotes therefore the Authority to consider as a conflict of interest the current or recentanalysis carried out by the Authority of past participation of its Management Board, panel and working group members or staff in ILSI or other activities such as taskforces, scientific committees or chairs for conferand looks forward to measures on conflict of interest arising from the Common Approach agreed by the European Parliament, the Council and European Commission, which will provide a standard according to which all agencies can act;
2012/09/10
Committee: CONT
Amendment 55 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Welcomes the fact that the Authority has adopted a new definition of conflicts of interests, based on the OECD definition, but warns that furtherlooks forward to receiving reports on improvlements are necessary to strengthen the Authority's policy on independence; stresses in particular that the criteria that define a conflict of interests should be clarified and widened, and includeation, and notes that annual and specific declaration of interest forms now have to be completed by scientific experts and others, covering economic interests, employment, membership of specific bodies, consultancy or advisory work, research funding, and intellectual property for both current and recent past activities;
2012/09/10
Committee: CONT
Amendment 67 #

2011/2226(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
35. Notes from its AAR that aWelcomes the June 2012 update given to the European Parliament by EFSA on the review of its efficiency, led by external consultants, beganstarting in 2010 with the launch of the e3 programme; acknowledges that the inception phase of the programme concerned the establishment of the programme portfolio, structure and governance in preparation for the structural reorganisation that would bewhich was then implemented in 2011; invites the Authority to inform the discharge authority of the conclusions drawn by the review and of the measures it has adopted and implemented to address themlooks forward to future updates particularly regarding multi-annual planning, efficiency indicators and scorecard, and staff development policies;
2012/09/10
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Executive Director of the European Aviation Safety Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Aviation Safety Agency for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that two-thirds from the Agency's budget come from fees and charges paid by the industry, one-third comes from Union subsidy and the initial European Union contribution to the Agency for 2010 amounted to EUR 32 879 000; notes however that EUR 1 318 000, coming from the recovery of surplus, was added to it which, as a result, makes a total European Union contribution of EUR 34 197 000 for 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that under Article 3 of Commission Regulation N°593/2007 of 31 May 2007 on the fees and charges levied by the European Aviation Safety Agency15 the revenues from fees constitute assigned revenues which can be carried over by the Agency as long as they have not been used and that the positive budget result f; notes that industry receipts may be related to more the year is put into aan one financial year; notes that the reserve that can be used during the subsequent years, is adjusted based on the budget result for the year; notes that the amount of the reserve decreased over the last two years from EUR 29 000 000 at the end of 2008 to EUR 21 000 000 at the end of 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Calls once more on the Agency to further improve its monitoring system for certification projects to make sure that, over the entire project duration, the fees levied do not deviate significantly from the actual cost;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – introductory part
10. Acknowledges, in particular, from the Court of Auditors that, for two large procurement procedures, the evaluation method did notmight not have allowed tenders offering the best financial bid to achieve the highest price score; notes from the Agency that these two procurement procedures refer to:
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – indent 2
- A Framework Contract of maximum four years for studies on aircraft engine certification requirements and standards with a maximum value of EUR 2 500 000 for which the awarded contractor did not complete all cost elements in its application;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – subparagraph 1
Notes that the Agency replied that no negative impact on the outcome was to be reported and considers this answer to be incomplete; will nevertheless take into account the considerations of the Court and in the future address the risk identified through paying even more attention to financial evaluation formulas;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on the Agency to inform the discharge authority on the total value of the Framework Contract and to remedyfurther take the adequate measures in order to avoid deficiencies that put at risk the transparency of the procurement process as well as the principle of sound financial management;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Is concerned that, once more,Notes that the discharge authority fiounds deficiencies in staff selection procedures which put at risk the transparency of these procedures; acknowledges from the Court of Auditors that there was no evidence that thresholds for being invited to interview or put on the reserve list have been defined before the examination of the applications started; notes that this could be to cover up a situation of nepotism or conflict of interestsacknowledges that meanwhile the matter has been addressed;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Is concernedNotes that the Agency did not inform the discharge authority of the actions taken to redress this situation and make the selection procedures of its experts/staff more transparent as requested in 2009, and took action only in 2010, after the Court of Auditors re-underlined the issue in its report; stresses, once more, that the impact of these deficiencies is even more crucial when considering that the Agency has the following objectives, namely issuing certification specifications, taking decisions regarding airworthiness and environmental certification and conducting standardisation inspections of the competent authorities in the Member Stateslthough understands that the matter was addressed without delay;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Notes the Agency's reply to the Court that it has written in its guidelines for panel members the minimum threshold which candidates have to meet in order to be invited for interviews (50 %) or to be put on the reserve list (65 %) but that it reserves its right to decide on what constitutes a maximum reasonable number of candidates to be invited according to their rank of merit;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Reminds the Agency of the importance of ensuring adequate training and qualification criteria for inspection teams and team leaders; calls on the Agency to take concrete steps and inform the discharge authority thereof;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that the Agency's technical staff members arneed to be commonly recruited from national aviation authorities and the aviation industry; understands that the staff members must have sufficient and up-to- date technical experience of working in the field of aviation to perform a technical verification of compliance demonstration documents in order to be able to ensure the adequate level of aviation safety as requested by the applicable Union legislation; is concerned however that this situation could causes conflicts of interest if a staff member recruited from an aircraft manufacturer works and takes decisions at the Agency on the certification of the aircraft he/she used to work on while employed by the manufacturer; is seriously concerned that such cases have the potential to put aviation safety at risk in the cases concerned could, if not detected and adequately managed, result in a conflict of interests situation; recognises however that the Agency has put in place a certification procedure where impartiality of the decision-making process is guaranteed through the collegiality of the technical assessments and the decision-making process itself; also understands that the Agency is in the process to set up an Agency wide policy in the area of code of conduct including identification, prevention, monitoring and dealing with the consequences of potential conflict of interest cases which will help the Agency to further improve the identification and handling of conflict of interests situations in a way that aviation safety is not put at risk at any time;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Agency to take duly into consideration the professional background of its staff members in order to avoid any conflict of interest; is of the opinion that anthe Agency employee should not's conflict of interests policy should elaborate to which extent and under which conditions an Agency employee can be involved in the certification of an aircraft on which they worked prior to joining the Agency;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. UrgesCalls on the Agency to inform the discharge authority and the Commission of such cases of conflict of interest and to immediately appoint an independent expert/staff member to verify the decisions taken in these casesadopt effective processes that duly address potential cases of allegations of conflict of interests within the Agency;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. UrgesCalls on the Agency to further implement anthe existing activity-based structure for the operational budget in order to establish a clear link between the work programme and the financial forecasts and further improve performance monitoring and reporting;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Calls, for the third year, on the Agency to make a Gantt diagram part of the programming for each of its operational activities, in order to indicate in a concise form the amount of time spent by each staff member on a project and encourage an approach geared towards achieving results; calls on the Agency to inform the discharge authority of the concrete steps taken; stresses also how important it is for the Agency to set SMART objectives and RACER indicators in its programming in order to assess its achievements; is seriously concerned that the Agency did not provide any information on progress in this area yet where relevant; stresses also how important it is for the Agency to set SMART objectives and RACER indicators in its programming as it has done in the Annual Work Programme and Annual Activity Report since 2008;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. UrgesCalls on the Agency to further improve the documentation of inspection planning and inspection programming; reminds the Agency of the importance of documenting the risk assessment and criteria used when establishing its inspection planning in order to justify its internal decision-making process for cases presenting significant deficiencies affecting Union citizens' safety;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – introductory part
24. UrgeCalls moreover the Agency to further improve its effectiveness in managing key safety concerns by:
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 38 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – indent 2
- Reducing the length of the reporting and implementing timeframe, where feasible,
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 39 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – indent 4
- StoppingAdequately mitigating the risks of andy prevotenting anyal conflict of interest situation;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Calls moreover on the Agency to classify, monitor and follow up its inspection findings classified as "Observations"; is concernedtakes note that the Agency still did nothas developed an operating procedure to define those findings and to communicate them to the Commission; calls therefore on the Agency to rapidly remedy this deficiency and to inform the discharge authority on the action taken;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Acknowledges that several "very important" recommendations from the Internal Audit Service (IAS) aimed at reducing outstanding risks to the Agency are still open; urges, therefore, the Agency to inform the discharge authority of progress on these recommendations and on the reasons for delaying the implementation of the IAS; understands that those recommendations on human resources management (i.e. on appraisal reports of directors and on setting individual objectives) have been already implemented by the Agency and are currently under review by the IAS;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2011/2224(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes in particular that in 2010 the IAS performed an audit on the Standardisation Inspection Process in order to assess and provide an independent assurance on the internal control system related to the standardisation inspection process in the Agency, in order to monitor the application of the Regulations of the Union by the National Aviation Authorities and report to the Commission; also notes that the Agency has already developed a corrective action plan which was agreed by the IAS and already provided to the IAS for its review evidence of implementation regarding those recommendations addressed in paragraphs 23 to 25;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2223(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2223(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Maritime Safety Agency for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2011/2223(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Regrets that the Court of Auditors did not mention the Agency's appropriations carried over and cancelled in its report on the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2010;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2011/2223(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Acknowledges that following the request of the Parliament the Agency has included in its Annual Report specific information on a posteriori commitments (i.e. legal commitments that were entered into before the corresponding budgetary commitments were made); notes the Agency's efforts to reduce a posteriori commitments (from more than 20 in 2007 to 5 in 2010); but is concerned that such commitments are an infringement of Article 62(1) of the framework Financial Regulation and that the Agency has perpetuated this deficiency since 2006;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2011/2223(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. UrgesCalls on the Agency to correctly apply procurement procedures and ensure adequate data on planned public procurement in its Annual Work Programme (AWP); in particular, considers that it is a matter of concern that the AWP doesid not explicitly disclose all information referred to in the Financial Regulation and its implementing rules; reminds the Agency that if a financing decision on planned operational procurement is not adequately supported by underlying data then this may call into question the validity of the Agency's decision; notes from the Agency that as from 2011, a specific annex has been introduced in the Final Work programme, with an indication of the global budgetary envelope reserved for the procurements during the year, an indicative number of the contracts and indicative time-frames grouped per activities;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2011/2223(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Agency to ensure accurate and timely reporting on negotiated procedures to the Administrative Board; acknowledges, in fact, that the Agency's negotiated procedures, which should be used under strictly defined conditions, are not necessarily reported to the Administrative Boardnotes from the Agency that as from 2009, a specific annex has been introduced in its Annual Activity report, with the necessary information on negotiated procedures;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2011/2223(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 – introductory part
10. Is concernedNotes that the independence of the Accounting Officer of the Agency was reported to be at risk in 2010; notes, in fact, that during the year:
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2011/2223(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Underlines nevertheless that weaknesses remain with regard to the Accounting Officer of the Agency, notably concerning the definition of the responsibilities and the evaluation of the performance of his duties; urgnotes therefore,at the Agency to rapidly remedy the situation and inform regularly the discharge authority of the concrete actions and results in this matterhas taken the required actions to remedy the earlier reported situation;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2011/2223(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Regrets that in its annual report for 2010 the Court of Auditors did not make any reference to Agency's budget transfers; considers that the high number of budget transfers in the Agency was a matter of concern for the Parliament during the previous years (49 in 2009, 52 in 2008 and 32 in 2007); asks, therefore, the Court of Auditors to inform immediately the discharge authority of the situation as regards transfers in 2010;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2011/2223(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Acknowledges that the Agency still has to implement 15 ‘very important’ recommendations from the Internal Audit Service; is concerned that the implementation of 8 of these recommendations have been delayed by 6- 12 months, while one has been rejected; notes that the first 11 ‘very important’ recommendations concern the legal and financial decision-making process, the human resources management and the internal control standards; notes also that the rejected recommendation concerns the responsibility for the performance evaluation of the Accounting Officer; urges, therefore, the Agency to explain to the discharge authority the reasons behind this rejection and calls on the Agency to take action on the delayed recommendations; notes from the Agency that one recommendation (responsibility for the performance evaluation of the Accounting Officer) of the IAS was rejected due to different legal interpretations of the Staff Regulations; underlines that however, following mutual agreement between the IAS and the Agency, the Agency has fully complied with this IAS recommendation and has in the meantime adopted a specific Implementing Rule;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2222(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Director of the European Training Foundation discharge in respect of the implementation of the Foundation's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2222(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Training Foundation for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2011/2222(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Establishes from the Foundation's Annual Financial Statements that its budget for 2010 has been amended in November 2010; regrets the lack of informcalls on the Foundation to provided by to the Foundation to explaindischarge authority an explanation of the revision of its original budget for 2010; calls on the Foundation to remedy the situation and inform the discharge authority on this matter;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2221(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. Grants the Administrative Director of Eurojust discharge in respect of the implementation of Eurojust's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2221(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. Approves the closure of the accounts of Eurojust for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2011/2221(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Is concerned that the assignment of responsibility for the preparation and adoption of the Work Programme is not stated in its founding Decision 2002/187/JHA; considers that this may lead to confusion and lack of ownership for the preparation and adoption of the Work Programme; calls therefore on the Agency to rapidly address this deficiency and inform the discharge authority of the actions taken;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Citation 11 a (new)
- having regard to the Joint Statement and Common Approach adopted (in June 2012) by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, resulting from the work of the Inter Institutional Working Group on decentralised agencies, and in particular the sections on governance, operations, programming, accountability and transparency,
2012/09/12
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/09/12
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approve the closure of the accounts of the European Medicines Agency for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Is concerned thatAsks the Management Board of the Agency neverto sentd the Action Plan and insists on receiving it immediatelto the discharge authority;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Notes weaknesses in the Agency's system for validating creditor claims in respect of IT contractors; calls therefore on the Agency to promptly address the situation and inform the discharge authority on the actions taken;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Is concernedNotes that the Court of Auditors has once more reported a high carryover of EUR 17 600 000 in Title II (Administrative expenditure); stresses that this situation indicates delays in the implementation of activities financed from Title II of the Agency's budget and that the Agency is not in accordance with the budgetary principle of annuality;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Notes with concern the additional comment from the Court of Auditors that only 36 % of the appropriations carried forward to 2011 correspond to accrued expenditure of 2010 while the remaining 64 % of amounts carried over did not relate to the 2010 financial year;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Establishes from the Agency's Report on budgetary and financial management that, in 2010, appropriations totalling EUR 9 074 296.,49 were cancelled compared with EUR 7 693 276.,58 in 2009; urgescalls on the Agency to take immediate action to decrease the level of cancelled appropriations and to adopt an Action Plan with concrete measures and deadlines to address this persistent problem;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. UrgesCalls on the Agency to introduce a system of remuneration for services provided by national Member State authorities based on the Member States' real costs; calls also on the Agency to promptly inform the discharge authority when this system is put in place; notes in this regards that a new payment system was already presented to the Management Board at their meeting of 10 December 2009 but it, in the end, rejected the proposal;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that by refusing a new payment system, the Management Board accepts and takes direct responsibility for very important risks, such as the non- compliance with legislative requirements, the potential financial impact of the current remuneration system, and reputation; is therefore not ready to accept this questionable attitude from the Agency's Governing Board and calls upon them to take immediate action on this;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes with concern that also in the financial circuits there are potential conflict of interests in processing payments due to insufficient segregation of duties; urges the Agency therefore to duly take into account this very important risk and take immediate action to address this deficiency;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Is seriously concerned by the failure of the Agency and its Management Board to effectively address the matter of conflict of interests;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. ENotes that 80% of the Agency's budget derives from fees on services requested by the pharmaceutical sector and notes that the speed of these payments is variable and out of the Agency's control, nevertheless establishes from the Agency's Report on budgetary and financial management that in 2010, there was a cancellation rate of 4,35% of final appropriations totalling EUR 9 074 296,49 were cancelled compared with EUR 7 693 276,58 in 2009; notes the Agency's reply that the level of cancelled expenditure appropriations is a result of stringent monitoring of actual revenue and adjustments to expenditure; urgalso notes the Agency to take immediate's action to reduce thimprove fee lrevel of cancelled appropriations and to adopt an Action Plan with concrete measures - including aimed at a stricter estimation of the fee income and the period to be received - and deadlines to address this persistent problem by 30 June 2012nue forecasting and thereby reduce the level of cancelled appropriations in the future;
2012/09/12
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 – introductory part
28. Is concernedNotes that seven of these ‘very important’ recommendations have been delayed up to more than 12 months; notes that these recommendations concern:.
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 – indent 1
– the compliance with Article 110 of the Staff Regulations;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 – indent 2
– the recruitment process;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 38 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 – indent 3
– the use of databases;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 39 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 – indent 4
– the definition of rules on filing for products;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 – indent 5
– the guidelines on the management of potential conflicts of interest of staff;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 – indent 6
– the procedures on involvement of experts;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 – indent 7
– the segregation of duties in the financial circuits;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 – subparagraph 2
urgesCalls on the Agency therefore to promptlyo address these deficiencies identified by the IAS and to inform the discharge authority on the measures taken;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 70 #

2011/2220(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Is nevertheless concerned byNotes that the Agency's approach vis- à-vis the scrutiny of declarations of interest, which is primarily based on trust rather than on verification; is notably concerned by the fact that the comparison of the experts' declaration of interest published by the relevant national agencies and by the Agency reveals significant discrepancies in some cases; has been strengthened to include ex-post cross checks on their correctness, and also a breach-of-trust procedure, and furtherefmore calls on the Agency to establish a genuine mechanism enabling proper scrutiny of the declarations of interest received by the Agency and to inform the discharge authority on this matter by 30 June 2012looks forward to receiving information about the implementation of these new aspects;
2012/09/12
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2219(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Director of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union discharge in respect of the implementation of the Centre's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2219(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2011/2219(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the final accounts for the financial year 2010 have not been made publicly available on the Centre's website; calls on the Centre to remedy the situation as a matter of urgencypublish the final accounts for the financial year 2010 on its website;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2011/2219(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Centre to provide the discharge authority with information on how it ensures compliance with Article 60 of the Financial Regulation by establishing financing decisions for operational expenditure; asks the Centre in particular; encourages the Centre to establish stronger controls in the process of procurement planning;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2011/2219(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Acknowledges that, given that 8 staff members with higher points were not promoted whereas some other staff in the same grade were promoted, Article 45 of Staff Regulations was not respected, as additional discretionary elements were actually incorporated into the finalCalls on the Centre to inform the discharge authority about its decisions to award staff promotion; calls, therefore, on the Centre to inform the discharge authority on how the Centre improved the situation in this respects in respect of Article 45 of Staff Regulations;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2011/2219(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. UrEncourages the Centre to apply minimum requirements for forecasting information and enhance the cooperation and exchange on forecasting with selected clients, in order to avoid overestimate of expenditure and pricing;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2011/2219(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 – introductory part
18. Notes that 12 "very important" recommendations from the Internal Audit Service (IAS) were still open as at 31 December 2010; is concerne and that the implementation of 7 of these recommendations was delayed; acknowledges, in particular, that these delays concern the following important issues: - the quality of client forecast, - the disclosure of the 2008 exercise, - the assessment of the Internal Control System; calls thereforecalls on the Centre to explain this delay to the discharge authority and to remedy the situation;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2011/2219(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Notes that out of the 12 "very important" recommendations from the IAS, the Centre rejected a very importantthe recommendation on financial reporting; urgescalls on the Centre to explain this rejection to the discharge authorityinform the discharge authority about the reasons for this decision;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2218(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2218(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2011/2218(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Establishes from the Annual Accounts that the original 2010 budget of the Agency has been amended twice and that transfers have taken place; regrets the absence of information from the Agency on the reasons behind these calls on the Agency to provide the dischanrges; calls on the Agency to remedy the situation and inform the discharge authority on this matter authority with information on the reasons behind these changes;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2011/2218(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Notes an improvement in the Agency's carryover appropriations over the years; notes in particular, that in 2010 it reduced its cancellation rate to 11 % from 19 % in 2009; calls, nevertheless, onencourages the Agency to further improve the situation by avoiding delay in the implementation of its activities;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2011/2218(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Acknowledges from the Agency that the IAS undertook a follow-up on the open recommendations of past audits; welcomes in particular that in relation to the follow- up of earlier recommendations from the IAS, the internal auditor assessed that all very important recommendations are adequately implemented and closed except the one on validation of accounting systems, which was downgraded to "important" due to partial implementation; calls, therefore, on the Agency to fully implement this recommendation in addition and to inform the discharge authority oninform the discharge authority about the implementation progress of this recommendation and about the measures taken;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2011/2218(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 – subparagraph 1
Calls therefore on the Agency to promptly implementinform the discharge authority about the implementation progress of these two recommendations and to inform the discharge authority onabout the measures taken;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Citation 12 a (new)
- having regard to the Joint Statement and Common Approach adopted (in June 2012) by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, resulting from the work of the Inter Institutional Working Group on decentralised agencies, and in particular the sections on governance, operations, programming, accountability and transparency,
2012/09/10
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ....Grants the Executive Director of the European Environment Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Executive Director of the European Environment Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/09/10
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2010;
2012/09/10
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that agencies' level of budget execution in terms of committed appropriations and of payment appropriations provide important information to enable the discharge authority to assess their overall performance; notes, however, that in 2010 the Agency failed to provide this information in the documents presented; therefore, urges the Agency to inform the discharge authority of the exact level of its budget execution in terms of committed appropriations and of payment appropriationachieved a budget execution in terms of committed appropriations of 99,99 % and of 90,75 % in payment appropriations, as stated in its annual accounts;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. AcknowledgesTakes note from the Agency's Final Accounts that EUR 12 809 551,05 of the 2010 appropriations have been carried forward to 2011; reminds the Agency that this situation is at odds with the budgetary principle of annuality and can be reduced by correct and proper programming and monitoring of the implementation of its budget to minimise the carryover of appropriations; calls, therefore, on the Agency to take effective action in this respectacknowledges that out of the overall amount carried over EUR 8 941 279 are external assigned revenues which are multiannual and hence are not subject of the principle of annuality;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Notes from the Agency's Final Accounts that cancellation of unused payment appropriations carried over from the previous year amounted to EUR 585 282,87; understands from the Agency that this amount is lower to the amount cancelled in 2009, i.e. EUR 693 127,02; urgnotes, the Agency, nonetheless, to take concrete measures against cancellrefore, that a cancellation rate of only 1,5 % represents an improved anticipations of the amounts carried overfinancial needs;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Regrets that the Court of Auditors does not mention the Agency's appropriations carried forward and cancelled in its report on the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2010;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Raises doubts that,Notes that the Agency has carried out procurement procedures concerning canteen services, cleaning services, security services and furniture, the Agency failed to ensure the maximum competition and value-for-money during the procurement procedures but favoured ‘historical’ contractors even though these contractors changed their official name over time; recalls the audit by the Court of Auditors in October 2011 on this matter without finding any irregularities;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Is, moreover, concerned over alleged cases of ‘fictitious employment’ of people who work in the private service of some of the Agency's staff members but are paid by the Agency;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that, for five months, from 22 May 2010 to October 2010, the Agency covered its building with a green façcade which cost EUR 294 641 and that the contract was realised by the companies Ramboll, as general contractor, and Green Fortune; is surprised that there has been no public tcarried out by a consortium involving the University of Copenhagen, the company Ramboll, as gender; demands from the Agency's Director details on howal contractor, and the companies were chosen as contractorsy Green Fortune; takes note ofrom the Agency's Director, in her letter of 11 April 2012, that these costs were covered by the budget lines ‘2140 - Fitting-out of premises’ (EUR 180 872) and ‘3323 - Communications’ (EUR 113 769); underlines that the commitment appropriations under budget line 2140 increased from EUR 85 000 to EUR 271 049 against the opinion of reply of 15 June 2012 and acknowledges that the negotiated procedure to select the contractors was in compliance withe Agency's Head of Administration; notes that also in May 2010 the Head of Administration entered into sick leave and since then the position is occupied by an interim Head; notes from the Director's letter of 30 April 2012 that budget line 2140 has been reinforced by a budget transfer of EUR 180 872 from the budget line ‘2100 - Rent’; recalls that in December 2009 the Agency paid the rrticle 1261,b) of the implementing rules of the Financial Regulation; takes note of the Agency's explanation regarding the use of its budget to cover the greent for Q1 2010, thus avoiding reducing the amount to be repaid to the Commission; therefore calls on the Agency to explain the discharge authority why it has extracted EUR 180 872 from the budget line ‘Rent’, while rent is a fixed sum by contract, and to provide information and written evidence on the procedures with regards to the budgetary transfers; expects the Agency to complete all the requested actions by the end of Augustacade project; calls on the Agency to rigorously apply the principle of budget annuality following the Court of Auditors' findings in 2009 and the discharge resolutions of 2009 and 20120;
2012/09/10
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. 8. Calls on the Internal Audit Service (IAS) to investigate immediately the Agency's contracts in the area of canteen services, cleaning services, security services and furniture to establish whether the call preparation, publication, evaluation and contract management phases respect the two following principles: maximum competition and value-for-money and on the allegations of ‘fictitious employment’ and to inin general to continue its audit work on a risk assessment approach and to maintain the current practice of one audit per year form the discharge authority in due course on the Court of Auditors findingsAgency;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Is nevertheless concerned that most recruitment has been made in-house; notes that this could be a source or a situation of favouritism or conflict of interests;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Is informed that 7 internal candidates and 40 external applicants were recruited in 2010; acknowledges the split amongst categories of internal candidates of 1 official, 5 temporary agents and 1 contract agent and the split amongst externally recruited staff of 1 official, 13 temporary agents, 29 contract agents and 4 national experts;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Calls onFinds it important for the Agency to make a moren explicit link between measures, resources and results; acknowledges the efforts of the Agency to combine measures, resources and results in its Management Plan as well as in the Annual Activity Report;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets that the Court of Auditors did not consider the level of the Agency's appropriations carried forward and cancelled to be sufficiently high to warrant a mention in its report on the annual accounts of the Agency for the financial year 2010;deleted
2012/09/10
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that, until very recently, from March 2010 until April 2011 the Executive Director of the Agency was a Board Member of Earthwatch and a Mmember of the European Advisory Board of Worldwatch Europe, two environmental NGOsEarthwatch, an international environmental charity engaging people worldwide in scientific field research and education, alongside to her activities in the Agency;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Is seriously concerned that in 2010, while the Executive Director was still directly involved in the Management of Earthwatch, some staff members of the Agency, including the Executive Director, went for 5 - 10 days of research in different biodiversity projects in the Caribbean or Mediterranean managed by Earthwatch and that the Agency paid to the NGO about EUR 2 000 per participant; understands that this unacceptable situation was repeated in 2011aware that in 2010 29 staff members of the Agency undertook separate research-based citizen science training provided by Earthwatch in different biodiversity projects;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Considers the training as a necessity in order to support the Agency's commitment to the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010, as laid down in the Management Plan and Work Programme for 2010; notes that the main focus of this activity was to increase the understanding of how to establish citizen science programmes in response to policy requirements for greater citizen participation in the area of Biodiversity and Marine Protected Areas;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Recognises the special training of staff as part of the career development; takes note that the total amount paid, EUR 33,791, to Earthwatch represents less than 7 % of the overall envelope dedicated by the Agency to professional development;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Agency and its Executive Director to give the Budgetary Control Committee concrete information on these trips and to provlook into detail on the procedures for training requests and matching training partners in order to avoide the total amount paid by the EEA to Earthwatch and Worldwatch in the financial years 2009 and 2010o have them listed in the exceptions register, which may lead to misinterpretation;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Calls onWelcomes the Agency to make a more explicit link between measures, resources and results's Management Plan System (MPS) which provides for a clear link between measures, resources and results; welcomes especially the fact that the Agency's MPS has been cited as best practice by the European Court of Auditors (in its Special Report No 5/2008), the Internal Audit Service and the European Ombudsman;
2012/09/10
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Finds it unacceptable that afternoteworthy, however, that the Court of Auditors did not questioned the trips, instead of a thorough investigation on the allegedspecial trainings which confirms no misuse of funds and no conflict of interest with regard to the Agency's Executive Director, the participants – staff of the EEA - were asked to write notes on the usefulness of the research trips; reminds the Court of Auditors that its responsibility is to control the Agencby any party;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 52 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes that, fromin June 2010 until April 2011, the Executive Director of the Agency was voted to be a trustee and a member of the International Advisory Board of Earthwatch - an international environmental charity engaging people in scientific field research and education - and was erroneously reported to be a member of the European Advisory Board of Worldwatch Europe; acknowledges that, in accordance with the Executive Director's statement, she stepped down from her positions in Earthwatch in April 2011 following advice from the President of the Court of Auditors in the context of a possible conflict of interests;
2012/09/10
Committee: CONT
Amendment 54 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Is nevertheless concerned by the very large number of reports and papers or other related outputs prepared by the Agency; believes that this can be interpreted as a lack of substantial and innovative work from the Agency and that, as a consequence, the financial contribution of the Union to the Agency would be ill-used; calls therefore on the Agency to immediately inform in detail the budget authority, in particular the Budget Control Authority, of: – the sources used by the Agency to construct its reports, papers and other related outputs; – the evidence of the eventual added value brought by the Agency's reports compared with other bodies' reports on environmental matters; – the process – if any – of verification of the data sent by the Member States, the periodicity of this verification, the way the data sent by Member States is used by the Agency; – the total number of guest scientists working at the Agency premises and their respective qualifications for the last five years; – the costs related to the hosting of those guest scientists;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 57 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Is seriously concerned that inNotes that in February 2010, whilbefore the Executive Director was directly involved with Earthwatch, training was contracted for 29 staff members of the Agency, including the Executive Director, went for up to 10 days of research on different biodiversity projects in the Caribbean or Mediterranean managed by Earthwatch and that the Agency paid a total of EUR 33 791,28, to the NGO as stated by the Agency's Executive Director, and further notes that the ECA's final report for 2010 contained no findings about conflict of interest in this connection;
2012/09/10
Committee: CONT
Amendment 60 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Recognises the benefits of this special training of staff as part of the career development and takes note of the total amount paid for that trainingas a means to advance the Agency's biodiversity work in 2010/11 in the areas of climate change, invasive species effects and critically endangered species, takes note of the total amount paid for that training using normal training budget and the fact that it obviated the need for outside consultancy fees in the specialist areas;
2012/09/10
Committee: CONT
Amendment 60 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Acknowledges that in 2010 the IAS concluded an audit on the "management plan system (MPS)/monitoring of activities" whose objective was to assess and provide assurance on the adequacy of the planning and monitoring of the Agency's activities; notes, in particular, that the IAS raised eight recommendations, six of which were rated ‘important’ and two ‘desirable’one remains open; welcomes the annual report on the state of play of implementation in this regard via the public Annual Activity Report;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 61 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – introductory part
24. Calls in this respect on the Agency to: – promote guidelines for objectives and measurable indicators in project planning and monitoring of progress, – allocate costs on projects, – promote more effective project management and procedures for checking and verifying new data entered into the MPS;deleted
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 62 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 – introductory part
25. Calls, in addition, on the Agency to adopt without further delay measures to address the weaknesses foundHas taken note of the recommendations by the IAS in its previous audits on quality management and on grant management; in order to:s aware that for 3 out of 6 findings documentation has been provided to the IAS during the first half of 2011; calls on the Agency to continue its cooperation in this regard and asks the IAS to give notice on the state of play of the recommendations;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 63 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Is surprisedNotes the Agency's assurance that the Worldwatch Institute Europe founded on 5in November 2010 indicatregistered as its address that of the Agency and used its premises as its own without any rent to the Agency, thus using premises paid by the EU budget; regrets that the Director's letter of 30 April 2012 refers only to Worldwatch Institute US based and not to the Worldwatch Institute Europe which used the Agency's premises without any rent;; without the Agency's consent, takes further note that the executive director of Worldwatch Institute Europe was an Agency's guest scientist; calls on the Agency to provide the discharge authority with concrete details and documentary evidence on this matter, including the person in the Agency who authorised this, the concrete date when Worldwatch Institute Europe ceased to use the Agency's premises, as well as whether the work performed by the respective guest scientist of the Agency was published under the Worldwatch Institute Europe name or that of the Agency by the end of August 2012ensure absolute clarity in any future guest scientist arrangements;
2012/09/10
Committee: CONT
Amendment 64 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Draws attention to its recommendations from previous discharge reports, as set out in the Annex to this resolution; acknowledges the Agency's efforts to implement recommendations and to identify remedying actions;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 68 #

2011/2217(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Agency, in an effort to promote greater transparency in terms of preventing and combating cWelcomes the fact that the Agency prepared an updated Conflict of iInterests, to adopt immediatel policy and action plan to publish on its website the declarations of interest and, when they are not available,based on the findings and recommendations in the report from the cEurriculum vitae – including at least the educational and work background – for the management staff, the members of the scientific committee, the experts and the members of the Management Board by 30 June 2012; is of the opinion that such measures would allow the discharge authoropean Ombudsman; calls on the Agency to keep the discharge authority informed about the implementation of this policy following itys and the public to observe their qualificationdoption by the Agency's Mand to prevent potential conflict of interestagement Board on 27 June 2012;
2012/09/10
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2216(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Director of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction discharge in respect of the implementation of the Centre's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2216(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2215(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2215(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2011/2215(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the Agency's initiative to link MATRIX with ABAC, the budgetary system, in order to provide information on the level of commitICT software development for project management (i.e. MATRIX) that constitutes an effective computer-aided tool for setting up project plans and documenting them in a uniform manner and for implementing and payment appropriations executionmanaging projects, which, based on the IAS audit on planning and monitoring of March 2011, was indicated as best practice and strength;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2214(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Director of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions discharge in respect of the implementation of the Foundation's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2214(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2011/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – indent 4
– for staff selection procedures no evidence was found that thresholds which the candidates had to meet for invitation to interviews and for being part of the reserve list (were set before examining applications); the Foundation has now included these thresholds in the reports of its Selection Committee;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2011/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Takes note from entries in its Annual Accounts that the Foundation published an amended budget totalling EUR 20 848 000 very close to the year end 2010; regrets the absence of information from the Agency on the reasons behind these changes; calls on the Agency to remedy the situation and inform the discharge authority about this matter;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2011/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines that the main activity of the Foundation is to contribute to the establishment of better living and working conditions by increasing and disseminating knowledge relevant to this subject through networks and surveys; observes that 68 % of the Foundation's staff is allocated to thnotes the Foundation's use of activity-based budgeting approach (ABB) which separatese operativeonal activities while the rest of staff is allocated to administrative tasks; considerfrom administration and support; welcomes itn therefore of high importance for the discharge authority to assess the efficiency and the effectiveness of the surveys' management process in the Foundationis respect that 82 % of the Foundation's total budget is allocated to operational activities;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2011/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. UrgesCalls on the Foundation to register all the decisions of the Governing Board on surveys as the efficiency and effectiveness in communicating these decisions may be affected in the absence of proper standards for documenting decisions made; acknowledges, in particular, that the Foundation is deficient in this respect and that the Chairperson of the Governing Board does not necessarily sign and date the decisions taken;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2011/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 – subparagraph 1
Notes from the Foundation's Annual Activity Report that the three "very important" recommendations on Financial Management are reported as implemented by the Foundation while the Annual Internal Audit Report establishes that they suffer delay with respect to the original action plan of the Foundation; calls, therefore, on the IASFoundation to inform the discharge authority of the actual status of these particular recommendations;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2011/2213(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1
1. ...Grants the Director of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training discharge in respect of the implementation of the Centre's budget for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2011/2213(DEC)

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1
1. ...Approves the closure of the accounts of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the financial year 2010;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2011/2213(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. wWhereas the contribution of the Union to the budget of the Centre for 2010 was EUR 12 2656 920 000, which represents an increase of 4,92 % compared to 2009,
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2011/2213(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Notes also in the Centre's 2010 Annual Accounts that the representation expenses and the meeting expenses increased respectively by 233 % and 37 % compared to 2009; observes that the Centre has not justified these two significant variations from 2009 to 2010; calls, therefore, on the Centre to explain to the discharge authority the reason for the substantial increase in these particular areasacknowledges receipt of the justification of these expenditures' increases by letter of 23 February 2012;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2011/2213(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Observes that the Centre receives annual contributions from two non-Member States who benefit from the Centre's work; notes that Norway and Iceland's contribution to the Centre's 2010 budget amounted to EUR 421 308; recalls that these funds are managed as assigned revenue, requiring them to be committed for specific projects; notes that in 2010 the target for using these funds was not met by the Centre; underlines that, for the financial year 2009, the Court of Auditors already commented on the Centre's shortcomings in using these funds; urges the Centre, therefore, to explain these shortcomings to the discharge authority and to take immediate action to ensure the use of these contributionsacknowledges receipt of the explanation of this situation by letter of 23 February 2012; welcomes in this respect that, in 2011, the target was reached and 100 % of the planned budget was executed;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2011/2213(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Takes note from the Centre that it has still to implement certain IAS recommendations made in the context of the HR-management 2008 and the ethics 2009 audits; nevertheless, urges the Director of the Centre to provide the discharge authority with specific information on the action plan prepared by the Centre to implement theseacknowledges receipt of an explanatory information by letter of 23 February 2012; welcomes that for the 2008 HR-management audit 13 of the 14 recommendations have been implemented; welcomes in addition that for the 2009 Ethics audit 16 of the 17 recommendations have been implemented; calls on the Centre to inform the discharge authority about the implementation progress of the remaining recommendations;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2011/2213(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Notes from the Centre's Annual Report that the IAS performed in 2010 a risk assessment of ICT; calls therefore on the Centre to inform the discharge authority aboutwelcomes the implementation of all actions planned by the Centre, as at 31 December 2011, following the IAS findings and on the content of the action plan that the Centre put in place on 1 October 2010of this IT risk assessment;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2011/2213(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Also, takes note that in April 2010 the IAS made another audit on the Centre's Annual Activity Report and Building Block of Assurance within the Centre; acknowledges from the Centre that the IAS final report was made available to the Centre on 5 July 2010 and that this report provided reasonable assurance in respect of achieving of the annual reporting, including the Director's declaration of assurance; calls nevertheless on the Centre to inform the discharge authority of the contwelcomes the information provided by the Centre by letter of 23 February 2012 that all sevent of the very importantIAS recommendations in this respect and the actions taken by the Centrehave been implemented by end of December 2011;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2011/2213(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Observes from the Centre's Annual Activity Report that the Centre has started to implement new Internal Control Standards (ICS) in 2009 and baseline requirements were fully met by the end of 2010 with the exceptions of ICS 8 and ICS 10; welcomes the information received by letter on 23 February 2012 that all baseline requirements for ICS 8 were fully met by end of 2011; takes note of the Centre's commitment to meet the baseline requirements for ICS 10 in the first semester of 2012;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2011/2213(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Is concernedNotes that the IAC left the Centre on 31 August 2010; is of the view that IAC'takes note of the information provided by letter of 23 February 2012 that the IAC functions areports could lead to further improvements in the now covered either by external contractors or by an internal project group of the Centre; calls on the Centre to provide the discharge authority with more information about internal control measures for procurement and grant procedures currently put in place;
2012/03/07
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2011/2148(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas space is of strategic importance for Europe and a key element for its independent decision-making and action;
2011/10/13
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 19 #

2011/2148(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission's European space strategy as the first step towards a comprehensive and user-driven European Union space policy serving the interests of its citizens, its policies and its diplomacy;
2011/10/13
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 80 #

2011/2148(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Considers that the European Union needs a solid technological base if it is to act independently and have a competitive space industry capable of competing in fair conditions with non European ones; stresses that a legislative, administrative and financial framework is essential if industry is to invest in research and innovation;
2011/10/13
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 4 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A
A. whereas, based on the budget review, the European Commission has decided to launch a debate to improvmaximise the efficiency of research and innovation funding at national and EU levels and to handle the allocation of financial resources for EU research and innovation programs as a top-priority of the EU,
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 12 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. whereas we are currently experiencing an economic and social crisis (which is affecting EU Member States in very different ways), and whereas research, education and innovation are crucial instruments for both economic recovery and job creation, as well as for the definition of a sustainable and inclusive growth model; whereas the main EU priority should be to maximise the growth and jobs potential of the EU by achieving the aims of the EU 2020 flagship initiatives,
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 17 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E
E. whereas other regions and countries of the world are increasingly investing in R&D&I, and whereas EU investment in this domain should therefore be oriented towards a reinforcement of scientific capacity and an improvement in overall EU competitive capacity; whereas the creation of a consistent set of support tools along the whole “innovation chain" is needed, ensuring proper balance between the academically oriented research, the applied scientific research and innovation,
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 39 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H
H. whereas the great importance of SMEs for the EU economy and employment is not mirrored in their level of access to EU R&D&I funds; whereas the participation of SMEs in R&D&I projects should reach the level of 15%, thus promoting Europe's competitive base,
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 65 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Draws attention to the importance of maintaining convergence policies, and asks the Commission to build stairways to excellence for those MS and regions that are underrepresented in the FP by developing appropriate instruments to intensify cooperation between MS with a strong participation and those with a weaker participation, and to substantially increase human capacity building and infrastructure in the latter; takes the view that Structural Funds should be deployed to their full extent to support capacity building in the regions through dedicated activities aimed at founding centres of excellences, modernising universities, purchase of scientific equipment, local technology transfer, support to start-ups and spin-offs, and local interaction between industry and academia; believes that this will allow a stairway of excellence to be developed, leading these regions to fully participate in the Common Strategic Framework for Research and Innovation, based on quality and excellence;
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 66 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Draws attention to the importance of maintaining convergence policies, and asks the Commission to build stairways to excellence for those MS and regions that are underrepresented in the FP by developing appropriate instruments to intensify cooperation between MS with a strong participation and those with a weaker participation, and to substantially increase human capacity building and infrastructure in the latte as well as by creating more synergy between MS programs and European programs in order to avoid redundancy, and to substantially increase human capacity building and infrastructure in the latter; urges to maintain and to strictly comply with the 50%-50% financing ratio between the EU and the industrial sector;
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 84 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that although excellence is considered the main general criterion for funding, it must be borne in mindIs convinced that the principle of excellence within the European research area remains the basis for the future competitiveness of Europe; recalls that the nature of excellence differs with the type of participant or the very nature of the research and innovation project (the excellence; stresses that technical improvement, innovation and market creation should be the main criteriona for aindustry and applied research; institution is not the same as for an individual researcher or for an SME, and also differs between fundamental and applied projects)s convinced that cohesion instruments, such as structural funds, should strengthen the development of excellence and capacity building by a better compatibility with research and innovation at regional level;
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 101 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for a better articulation between local and regional, national and European cross-boarder research and innovation strategies, respecting the specificities of the different contexts and, at the same time, reinforcing the possibilities for complementarity and cooperation between them; believes that sharing information and results is of key importance here; emphasises at the same time the paramount importance of collaboration with other research entities and innovation clusters outside the EU;
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 115 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls the importance of assuring continuity of successful instruments (including JTIs) between the 7th Framework Programme and the next Common Strategic Framework in particular in the cooperation programmes that have proven their value; believes that the need of specific sectors must be taken into account in order to meet the European long term objectives and that enough room and opportunity should be left also for new players;
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 131 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Is convinced that different tasks within the CSF should be tackled separately but in close articulation: the European Institute of Technology (EIT) to operate mainly as a network of Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), the innovation related parts of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) to concentrate on its strength in supporting innovative SMEs and therefore not nec; the next FP to embrace ressearily to be included in the next FP; the next FP to embrace research as a wholech and innovation in accordance with the different nature of applicants; and the structural/cohesion funds to be used in closer cooperation but kept separate;
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 134 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Is convinced that different tasks within the CSF should be tackled separately but in close articulationrelationship with each other: the European Institute of Technology (EIT) to operate mainly as a network of Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) to concentrate on its strength in supporting innovative SMEs and therefore not necessarily to be included in the next FP; the next FP to embrace research as a whole; and the structural/cohesion funds to be used in closer cooperation but kept separate; takes the view that collaborative projects should remain the backbone of the CSF;
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 174 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses the need to fund large-scale projects, such as ITER, Galileo and Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) outside the FP, creating autonomous budget lines for them, in order to guarantee a transparent and reliable financing structure; suggests that they shcould be partially funded through the issuing of project Eurobonds by the EIB;
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 229 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. This layer is the space for marketing of products and services and generation of public wealth; innovative SMEs play a pivotal role here in developing and bringing to market novel products and services;
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 237 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Recognises that particular attention should be devoted to SMEs’ involvement, in order to enable the exploitation of new ideas and opportunities in a flexible and effective way as they emerge, opening new avenues for innovation; stresses that a sector-specific definition of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is a prerequisite for their successful participation in the CSF; recalls that heavy administrative burdens lead to a decrease in participation of SME;
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 247 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. The funding scheme within this layer is covered by EU funding associated with CIP, access to credit enhancement by the EIF and specific loans from the EIB (mainly covering projects under EUR 50 million), and cooperation with the Structural Funds associated with entrepreneurship; additionally, suggests the creation of a new funding instrument – the EU SME Bank – which should act in articulation with national contact points and financial institutions designated by the MSrecalls that the Risk Sharing Finance Facility (RSFF) has proven itself successfully as an instrument for innovation financing; believes that the RSFF should further be applied in such a way that a granting of funds at a small level is possible via national intermediates;
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 254 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Believes that the ERA would greatly benefit from the creation of an EU SME Investment Bank in order to reinforce the EU's innovation policy covering the missing link: the weak participation of SMEs in EU programmes;deleted
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 299 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Favours moving towards a 'science- valorisation and innovation based’ approach and calls for a trust-based and risk-tolerant attitude towards participants at all stages of the funding system;
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 312 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Calls for the Cooperation Programme to be kept at the heart of the FP, reinforcing collaborative transnational research; to achieve this objective, believes that the Cooperation Programme should cover the whole innovation chain from exploratory research to large scale demonstrations and dedicate ring fenced budgets to sectors having developed a strategic vision to address societal challenges with long term investment cycles;
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 351 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Calls for a balance to be kept between bottom-up (cooperative) and top-down projects (’greatand societal challenges’), as well as for smaller bottom-up projects to be facilitated; asks the Commission to prepare a study on the ideal ratio between these two kinds of projects from a social responsibility and from a financial feasibility point of view;
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 372 #

2011/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Calls for an intensification of international cooperation on a reciprocal basis and taking due account of Intellectual Property Rights through effective reinforcement of capacity building and the establishment of fair partnerships with developing countries in order better to tackle global challenges;
2011/06/21
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 30 #

2011/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for greater consistency with and among Community programmes and policies in order that the roadmap objectives can be achieved; and to achieve all the EU 2020 targets first, urges its priorities to be fully taken into consideration in the new, 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework;
2011/10/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 56 #

2011/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that the achievement of these objectives by 2050 could lead to a, without prejudging Member States’ preferences for an energy mix which reflects their specific national circumstances, could lead to more diverse and secure energy supply and higher rate of employment growth for the EU;
2011/10/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 69 #

2011/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls that the energy efficiency (EE) target of cutting current energy use by 20% will be difficult to achieve by 2020; calls for more resources and measures, particularly for increasing energy efficiency in buildings, in line with the new Energy Efficiency Directiveproposal; agrees with the 3% target for the renovation of public buildings;
2011/10/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 76 #

2011/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines the importance of R&D for the development of low emissions technologyies, with a special emphasis on the SET-plan, and requests that funds for all the types of energy research as part of the Horizon 2020 initiative be at least doubled;
2011/10/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 105 #

2011/2095(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
9. Invites the Member States to invest more in energy infrastructure, in particular in energy networks and smart meters and,smart grids, smart meters and in energy networks with regard to inter-regional connections, to launch an investment plan based on the European Energy Infrastructure Package;
2011/10/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 78 #

2011/2056(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the RM challenges are also an opportunity to invigorate the EU’s industrial base and increase competitiveness via an ambitious industrial innovation strategy; notes that in the medium to long term increasing efficiencies, recycling and lowering resource use and application of the ‘use-it- longer principle’ will be key to competitiveness, sustainability and supply security; remarks that social innovation, lifestyle changes and new concepts such as eco-leasing, chemical leasing and sharing should be supported by the Commission;
2011/04/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 152 #

2011/2056(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls the Commission to create the ‘use-it-longer’ principle and to apply it to all EU legislation; this principle would lie on two pillars: 1. an informative campaign for changing consumer habits towards making more responsible decisions when purchasing goods and towards using them longer; 2. pressurizing the industry for putting quality into focus at the product development and production phase; therefore asks the Commission and the Member States to raise the time limits of compulsory warranty concerning consumer durables by a minimum of 30%;
2011/04/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 130 #

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Is concerned that, in the absence of other measures, Community funding will be focused in Western Europe and the direct and indirect positive economic and social impact of investments will be concentrated in this region;
2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 226 #

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Stresses that fostering the building of infrastructure for efficient and intelligent integration of renewable energy is critical for the successful achievement of overall energy objectives and welcomes the priority given to the North Sea grid as an essential element of a future European super-grid; asks the Commission to consult all relevant stakeholders with a view to speeding up the identification of electricity highways and to present an outline to the European Parliament by 2014;
2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 254 #

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Is in favour of impact assessments being conducted on specific LNG investments which take into account their probable impact on natural gas prices, the long-term evolution of which is not clear, given, for example, the construction and maintenance costs and the advantages of fluctuations in bargaining power;
2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 306 #

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. UConsiders that the communication focuses disproportionately on large-scale new investments to the detriment of existing infrastructure developments; stresses that these planned projects must not be allowed to render improvements in Member State and regional capacity – planned at an earlier date – unfeasible; therefore urges the Commission to critically assess and review, wherever necessary, the figures for investment needs given in the communication on energy infrastructure priorities, and asks it to report to the Council and to the Parliament on the investments likely to be needed;
2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 354 #

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Welcomes the work carried out by the European Electric Grid Initiative (EEGI) and the Commission's Smart Grids Task Force; calls on the Commission to take outmost account of their conclusions on the specific legislation for smart grids that will be taken during the first half of 2011;
2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 362 #

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls upon the Commission to assess whether any further legislative initiatives for smart grid implementation are necessary under the rules of third internal energy market package; considers that the assessment must take into account the following objectives: i) ensuring the adequate open access and sharing of operational information between actors and their physical interfaces; ii) creating a well functioning energy services market; and iii) providing proper incentives for grid operators to invest in smart technologies for smart grids;
2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 376 #

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Asks the Commission to facilitate the urgent deployment of Large Smart Grids Demonstration Projects as the best way to measure the cost-benefit to the European Society; notes that in order to share the risk of the investment needed for these projects, public funding is needed, under a public-private partnership frame well offered by the European Electric Grid Initiative (EEGI);
2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 401 #

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 – indent 2 a (new)
- of particular importance for projects is consideration of the geographical principle, i.e. every region in the EU benefiting from improvements,
2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 428 #

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Urges the Commission to, in close cooperation with the European Data Protection Supervisor, assess the need for additional data protection measures, the roles and responsibilities of different actors concerning access, possession and handling of data, such as ownership, possession and access, read and change rights, and propose, if necessary, adequate regulatory proposals and/or guidelines;
2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 464 #

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Notes that Smart Grids are a result of the convergence between the electricity and Information and Communications technologies, consequently special attention must be given to the cooperation of the two sectors, such as with regards the efficient use of the radio spectrum across Europe and the understanding of the smart energy functions within the planning of the Future Internet of things; asks the Commission to establish a cooperation plan among the different units involved (DG Research, DG Energy, DG INFSO, etc.) so as to ensure the most coherent and overall efficient way to contribute to the Smart Grids deployment and operation, as a fundamental base for the energy policy activities;
2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 515 #

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Is of the view that priority projects can definitely contribute to the security of Europe’s energy supply and the development of the single market; it is, however, vital that the costs arising from investments be borne by those consumers who will really benefit from them, a precondition for which being that the advantages, disadvantages and costs expected to arise from each project must be properly examined and the probable consumer beneficiaries must be identifiable, for example in the case of two-way natural gas pipelines;
2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 531 #

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Notes that, whilst the costs of infrastructure development fall to the end users – companies and other users in the region – according to the ‘user pays’ principle, the ability of the EU’s eastern regions to bear financial burdens is lower than in the western countries which are encouraging such investment;
2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 536 #

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)
35b. Calls, on the basis of the strategic objectives, for the geographical principle to be taken into account in the case of future energy subsidies in the areas of infrastructure and R&D; insists furthermore that developed regions should receive further R&D subsidies only if the activity is conducted in conjunction with less-developed regions;
2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 546 #

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Stresses that the fullest possible use should be made of market-based tools, including project bonds, loan guarantees, risk-sharing facilities, incentives for funding public-private partnerships, partnerships with the EIB and the use of ETS revenue, in accordance with EU energy and climate objectives; in addition, calls for attention to be paid when developing new financial instruments to the ability of the economically less- developed Member States to bear financial burdens and the differing financial and capital market backgrounds of the Member States, and for the geographical principle to be complied with;
2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 575 #

2011/2034(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39a. Considers it important that more attention be paid in future to dealing with the financial guarantees of investments and that the projected financial framework be developed in conjunction with planning of the 2014-2020 budget period;
2011/03/28
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1 #

2011/2022(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Asks the Commission to carefully monitor that Member States use this assistance exclusively to cover expenditure incurred in relation to mitigation of the damage caused by severe flooding in the affected regions and for the benefit of the local population;
2011/02/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 1 #

2011/2021(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution and asks the Commission to carefully monitor that Member States use this assistance exclusively to cover expenditures occurred in relation to mitigation of the damage caused by severe flooding in the affected regions and for the benefit of the local population;
2011/02/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 3 #

2011/2019(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Points out that for speeding up the roll-out of high-speed internet and reaping the benefits of a digital single market for households and firms in line with the EU2020 digital agenda flagship initiative, financing of broadband infrastructure investments and infrastructure programmes should be better coordinated via improved planning at national, regional and local level and the EU should liaise more closely with regions to help them absorbing Structural and Rural Development funds for these purposes;
2011/05/11
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 6 #

2011/2019(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Highlights the importance of the Risk Sharing Financial Facility under FP7 and of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme under CIP that serve as models for European innovative financial instruments pooling EU Budget funds and EIB financial resources in assisting business development and in reaching the goals of the Innovation Union EU2020 flagship initiative; calls the Commission to enhance these instruments in the fields of research, innovation and energy;
2011/05/11
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 8 #

2011/2019(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that improving the conditions for R&D&I, notably as regards sustainable energy priorities, energy storage technologies, resource efficiency and green technologies, is vital to progress towards the goals of the EU 2020 strategy; calls not only for budget increases but also for the introduction of more sustainability criteria in EU R&D&I programmes; underlines that although for the TEN-Energy programme the Financial programming foresees a significant increase of the 2007-2013 budget compared to the initial envelope, the planned sum of EUR 22 million is still very limited compared to the challenges and to the TEN-Transport program;
2011/05/11
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 25 #

2011/2019(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Believes that investments in European energy infrastructure serve the best the aims of resource efficient Europe flagship initiative of the EU2020 strategy and that the SET-plan is the technology pillar of the EU's energy and climate policy; urges therefore the long-term financing of the development of this kind of innovative and sustainable energy technologies to be implemented immediately;
2011/05/11
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 30 #

2011/2019(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls that figures in the financial programming regarding EURATOM for the year 2012 are very indicative; emphasises therefore that EU allocations to nuclear safety and security projects must be identified to be sufficient to cover the costs of the stress-tests in all EU nuclear facilities;
2011/05/11
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 32 #

2011/2019(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. StresEmphasises that proper governance, accurate planning, sound financial management, clear limits on EU participation and a separate budget line must be ensured foremergency solutions are likely to jeopardise the success and added value of strategic, large-scale EU projects before any additional funding is allocated; emphasises that EU allocations to such projects shand undermine the political momentum aroulnd not result from the redeployment ofthem; long-term budgetary solutions must be founds from other EU R&D programmes and that any additional costs that may arise must be covered by the Member States or private stakeholders; points out, in connection with Galileo, that users of the Public Regulated Service and the Commercial Service should contribute towards the costs. instead, together with sustainable financing solutions which do not dwarf the funding allocated to research in other areas and which will provide EU-level funding in keeping with the technical demands of these programmes and with a timetable that ensures their viability;
2011/05/11
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 36 #

2011/2019(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Underlines that Galileo and GMES form an integral part of the industrial flagship initiative of the Europe 2020 strategy, as they are intended to push the EU to the forefront by developing innovative ways of exploiting satellite navigation, boosting economic activity in the market further downstream and generating knowledge; stresses therefore that proper financial measures need to be taken to facilitate the deployment of the Full Operational Capacity of Galileo and the development of GNSS-based products and services;
2011/05/11
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 38 #

2011/2019(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Opposes the planned redeployment from FP7 for the ITER program, suggests to finance the EUR 750 million, that is the share from the lacking EUR 1,3 billion for the project in the year 2012, from the remaining margins and not from FP7;
2011/05/11
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 89 #

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Draws attention to the energy saving potential of SMEs, as only up to 24% of European SMEs are actively engaged in actions reducing their environmental impact today, stresses that while there is at least one financial consultant available for each SME, they have no such an advice on energy saving and energy efficiency, thus SMEs would need the assistance of an environmental and energetic expert, too;
2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 179 #

2011/2012(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 29 – point 1 a (new)
·promote the improvement of low carbon literacy and energetic skills of small and medium entrepreneurs;
2011/03/22
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 8 #

2011/0455(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
(2) Consequently, it is necessary to provide a framework for the recruitment of high calibre staff in terms of productivity and integritystaff with the highest level of skills and competences, drawn on the widest possible geographical basis from among citizens of the Member States, and to enable such staff to carry out their duties as effectively and efficiently as possible.
2012/03/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 11 #

2011/0455(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
(6) The potential advantages for officials and other servants of the European Union of the application of the method should be balanced by the continuation of the system of special levy, to be renamed as 'solidarity levy'. While the rate of the special levy in force during the period from 2004 to 2012 increased gradually over time and averaged at 4.23 %, it seems appropriate in the present circumstances to increase the solidarity levy at the uniform rate of 6%, so as to help to finance the Union’s growth and employment policies from the Union's budget and to take account of a difficult economic context and its ramifications for public finances throughout the European Union., Such a solidarity levy should apply to all officials and other servants of the European Union for the same period as the 'method' itself.
2012/03/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 14 #

2011/0455(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
(11) Taking this request into account, it is appropriate that promotion to a higher grade should be made conditional on personal dedication, improving skills, and competences, and also on performing duties whose importance justifies the official's appointment to that higher grade.
2012/03/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 16 #

2011/0455(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
(14) Working hours applied in the institutions should be aligned to those in force in certain of the Member States of the European Union to compensate for the reduction of staff in the institutions. The introduction of a minimum number of weekly working hours will ensure that the staff employed by the institutions is able to carry out the work- load resulting from the European Union's policy objectives while, at the same time, harmonising working conditions in the institutions, in the interest of solidarity throughout the European Union's civil service.
2012/03/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 17 #

2011/0455(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 8
Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities
Article 27 – paragraphs 1 and 2
Recruitment shall be directed to securing for the institution the services of officials of the highest standard of skills, competences, ability, efficiency and integrity, recruited on the broadest possible geographical basis from among nationals of Member States of the European Union so as to ensure their proportionate representation in all grades of all function groups. No posts shall be reserved for nationals of any specific Member State. The principle of the equality of Union's citizens shall allowbinds each institution to adopt corrective measures following the observation of a long lasting and significant imbalance between nationalities among officials which is not justified by objective criteria. These corrective measures shall never result in recruitment criteria other than those based on merit. Before such corrective measures are adopted, the appointing authority of the institution concerned shall adopt general provisions for giving effect to this paragraph in accordance with Article 110.
2012/03/01
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 311 #

2011/0402(CNS)

Proposal for a decision
Annex 1 – point 1 – point 1.3 – paragraph 2
In accordance with Article 18 of Horizon 2020, dedicated measures as set out in the specific objective ‘Innovation in SMEs’ (dedicated SME instrument) shall be applied in the specific objective ‘Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies’ and Part III ‘Societal challenges’. This integrated approach is expected to lead to around 15 % of their total combined budgets goAt least 20% of the total combined budget for the specific objective on 'Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies' and the priority 'Societal challenges' shall be used withing tohe SMEs instrument.
2012/07/03
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 569 #

2011/0402(CNS)

Proposal for a decision
Annex 1 – section 2 – point 3 – point 3.1 – paragraph 4
The SME instrument will cover all fields of science, technology and innovation in a bottom-up approach with open calls (no predefined call topics) within a given societal challenge or enabling technology so as to leave sufficient room for all kinds of promising ideas, notably cross-sector and inter-disciplinary projects, to be funded.
2012/07/04
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 29 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
(5) The European Parliament has called for a radical simplification of Union research and innovation funding in its Resolution of 11 November 2010, has highlighted the importance of the Innovation Union to transform Europe for post-crisis world, in its resolution of 12 May 2011, has drawn attention to important lessons to be learned following the interim evaluation of the Seventh Framework Programme in its resolution of 8 June 2011 and has supported the concept of a common strategic framework for research and innovation funding and has called for doubling of the budget for research and innovation in the next MFF compared to the Seventh Framework Programme in its resolution of 27 September 2011.
2012/07/19
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 31 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
(11) Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation in the European Union (hereinafter ‘Horizon 2020’), focuses on three priorities, namely generating excellent science in order to strengthen the Union's world-class excellence in science, fostering industrial leadership to support business, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and innovation and tackling societal challenges, in order to respond directly to the challenges identified in the Europe 2020 strategy by supporting activities covering the entire spectrum from research to market. Horizon 2020 should support all stages in the innovation chain, especially activities closer to the market including innovative financial instruments, as well as non-technological and social innovation, and aims to satisfy the research needs of a broad spectrum of Union policies by placing emphasis on the widest possible use and dissemination of knowledge generated by the supported activities up to its commercial exploitThe Union added value lies mainly in funding pre-competitive, transnational, collaborative research, which should attain in Horizon 2020 at least the levels of the Seventh Framework programme. It is necessary to place as well emphasis on the widest possible use and dissemination of knowledge generated by the supported activities up to its commercial exploitation. Thus, Horizon 2020 should support all stages in the innovation chain, including innovative financial instruments, as well as non- technological and social innovation. The priorities of Horizon 2020 should also be supported through a programme under the Euratom Treaty on nuclear research and training.
2012/07/19
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 37 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 a (new)
(21a) To ensure the appropriate balance between consensus-based and more disruptive R&D&I, at least 15% of the budget of the "Societal challenges" priority and of the specific objective "Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies" within the "Industrial Leadership" priority should follow a bottom-up, research-driven logic. Furthermore, a right balance should be stricken within the "Societal challenges" and the "Industrial leadership" priorities between smaller and bigger projects, taking into account the specific sector structure, type of activity, technology and research landscape.
2012/07/19
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 42 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26 a (new)
(26a) Both Horizon 2020 and the Cohesion Policy seek a comprehensive alignment with the Europe 2020 objectives of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth through their respective Common Strategic Frameworks. This new strategic direction calls for an increased and systematised cooperation of both CSFs in order to fully mobilise the research and innovation potential at regional, national and European level. To exploit synergies, stairways to excellence instruments should be introduced in both Horizon 2020 and Cohesion Policy.
2012/07/19
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 43 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26 b (new)
(26b) European, local, regional as well as national authorities have an important role to play in implementing the European Research Area and in ensuring an efficient coordination of the Union financial instruments, in particular in fostering linkages between Horizon 2020 and the Structural Funds, within the framework of regional innovation strategies based on smart specialisation. Regions also have a key role in the dissemination and implementation of Horizon 2020 results and in offering complementary funding instruments, including public procurement.
2012/07/19
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 45 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
(31) In order to maintain a level playing field for all undertakings active in the internal market, funding provided by Horizon 2020 should be designed in accordance with state aid rules, including the Community framework for state aid for research and development and innovation currently under review, so as to ensure the effectiveness of public spending and prevent market distortions such as crowding-out of private funding, creating ineffective market structures or preserving inefficient firms.
2012/07/19
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 47 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Horizon 2020 shall play a central role in the delivery of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth by providing a common strategic framework for the Union's research and innovation funding, thus acting as a vehicle for leveraging public and private investment, creating new job opportunities, promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion and ensuring Europe's long-term sustainable growth and competitiveness.
2012/07/19
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 70 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. Linkages and interfaces shall be implemented across and within the priorities of Horizon 2020. Particular attention shall be paid in this respect to the development and application of key enabling and industrial technologies, to bridging from discovery to market application, to cross-disciplinary research and innovation, to social and economic sciences and humanities, to fostering the functioning and achievement of the ERA, to widening participation across the EU in research and innovation, to cooperation with third countries, to responsible research and innovation including gender, and to enhancing the attractiveness of the research profession and to facilitating cross-border and cross- sector mobility of researchers.
2012/07/19
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 73 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 a (new)
Human resources Horizon 2020 shall contribute to the promotion and attractiveness of researchers' careers across Europe. As a result it shall be implemented in a manner to promote the creation of a single market for researchers, in particular by providing for appropriate mechanisms aiming to decrease the disparities in researchers' remuneration under this programme.
2012/07/19
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 78 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Synergies with the Structural Funds Horizon 2020 shall contribute to the closing of the research and innovation divide within the European Union by enabling synergies with the Cohesion policy in support to research and innovation through the implementation of complementary measures in a coordinated way. Where possible, the interoperability of the two instruments will be promoted and cumulative or combined funding will be encouraged. Horizon 2020 shall contribute to evaluation of the potential, identification of the best centres and improvement of their visibility by providing the seal of excellence.
2012/07/19
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 419 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
The maximum overall amount for the Union financial contribution from Horizon 2020 to the non-nuclear direct actionsresearch of the Joint Research Centre shall be EUR 2212 million2,52% of the total Horizon 2020 budget.
2012/06/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 491 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. Linkages and interfaces shall be implemented across and within the priorities of Horizon 2020. Particular attention shall be paid in this respect to the development and application of key enabling and industrial technologies, to bridging from discovery to market application, to cross-disciplinary research and innovation, to social and economic sciences and humanities, to fostering the functioning and achievement of the ERA, to widening participation across the Union in research and innovation, to cooperation with third countries, to responsible research and innovation including gender, and to enhancing the attractiveness of the research profession and to facilitating cross-border and cross- sector mobility of researchers.
2012/06/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 529 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 a (new)
Article 15 a Human resources Horizon 2020 shall contribute to the promotion and attractiveness of researchers' careers across Europe. As a result it shall be implemented in a manner to promote the creation of a single market for researchers, in particular by providing for appropriate mechanisms aiming to decrease the disparities in researcher's remuneration under this programme.
2012/06/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 617 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 3
3. The integrated approach set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 is expected to lead to around 15At least 20% of the total combined budget for the specific objective on ‘Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies’ and the priority ‘Societal challenges’ goshall be used withing tohe SMEs instrument as set out in paragraph 2.
2012/06/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 731 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall annually monitor the implementation of Horizon 2020, its specific programme and the activities of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. This shall include information on cross-cutting topics such as sustainability and climate change, including information on the amount of climate related expenditure, and shall also monitor progress as far as SME participation and widening participation are concerned.
2012/06/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 772 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – broad lines of the specific objectives and activities – paragraph 6 a (new)
In order to help close the research and innovation divide in Europe, complementarity and close synergies will be developed with the Structural Funds both upstream (capacity-building in the Member States to better prepare their participation in Horizon 2020) and downstream (exploit and diffuse research and innovation results stemming from Horizon 2020 as well as evaluate, identify the potential and provide the seal of excellence for the best centres.). Where possible, the interoperability between the two instruments will be promoted. Cumulative or combined funding will be encouraged. Synergies will in particular be sought in the activities set out in the "Widening excellence and widening participation" objective, the regional partner facilities of research infrastructure of pan-European and regional interest, and the activities performed via the EIT and its KICs.
2012/07/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 979 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – Part 1 – point 4 a (new)
4a. SPREADING EXCELLENCE AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION 4a.3 Broad lines of the activities (m) Supporting the participation of additional partners located in countries not already present in the existing consortium, in on-going projects with the aim to increase the level of expertise, broaden the scope and speed up developments.
2012/07/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1239 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1 – Part 2 – point 3 – point 3.3 – point a – paragraph 1
SMEs shall be supported across Horizon 2020. For this purpose a dedicated SME instrument shall provide staged and seamless support covering the whole innovation cycle. The SME instrument shall include visible funding modules for simple and fast access and be targeted at all types of innovative SMEs showing a strong ambition to develop, grow and internationalise. It shall be provided for all types of innovation, including service, non- technological and social innovations. The aim is to develop and capitalise on the innovation potential of SMEs by filling the gap in funding for early stage high risk research and innovation, stimulating innovations and increasing private-sector commercialisation of research results. The SME instrument shall be implemented in a bottom-up logic with open calls (no pre- defined call topics).
2012/07/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1804 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – Breakdown of the budget – table
I Excellent science, of which: 27818 32,8% 1. The European Research Council 15008,7% 2. Future and Emerging Science and Technologies 35053,4% 3. Marie Curie actions on skills, training and career development 6503 9,1% 4. European research infrastructures (including eInfrastructures) 2802 II Industrial leadership, of which: 3,5% 5. Widening Excellence 20280 0,9% 6. Science and Society 15580 of which 500 for 1. Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies* 0,3% II Industrial leadership, of which: 24,0% 1. Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies* EIT17,2% 2. Access to risk finance** 4000 4,0% 3. Innovation in SMEs 700 2,8% III Societal challenges, of which: 358887,7% 1. Health, demographic change and wellbeing; 9077 of which 292 for EIT 10,2% 2. Food security, sustainable agriculture, marine and maritime research and the 4694 of which 150 for EIT,9% bio- economy; 3. Secure, clean and efficient energy 6537 of which 210 for EIT7,1% 4. Smart, green and integrated transport 7690 of which 247 for EIT 8,0% 5. Climate action, resource efficiency and raw materials 3573 of which 115 for EIT 6. Inclusive, innovative and secure societies 4317 of which 138 for EIT 3,6% 6. Understanding European societies and societal changes 2,0% 7. Protecting freedom and security in Europe 1,9% European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) 1542 + 1652*** 3,1% Non-nuclear direct actions of the Joint Research Centre 2212 2,5% TOTAL 87740 100%
2012/07/04
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1814 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – Breakdown of the budget – table – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
*Including EUR 8975 million for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) of which EUR 1795 million for photonics and micro-and nanoelectronics, EUR 4293 million for nanotechnologies, advanced materials and advanced manufacturing and processing, EUR 575 million for biotechnology and EUR 1737 million for space. As a result, EUR 6663 million will be available to support Key Enabling Technologies. A minimum of 20% of the total combined budget for the specific objective on ‘Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies’ and the priority ‘Societal challenges’ shall be earmarked for the SME instrument.
2012/07/04
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1817 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – Breakdown of the budget – table – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
** Around EUR 1131 million of this amount may go towards the implementation of Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) projects. Aroundt least one third of this mayshall go to SMEs.
2012/07/04
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1819 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – Breakdown of the budget – table – subparagraph 2
** Around EUR 1131 million of this amount may go towards the implementation of Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) projects. Aroundt least one third of this mayshall go to SMEs.
2012/07/04
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1822 #

2011/0401(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – Breakdown of the budget – table – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
a ** A minimum of 20% of the total combined budget for the specific objective on ‘Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies’ and the priority ‘Societal challenges’ shall be earmarked for the SME instrument.
2012/07/04
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 21 #

2011/0400(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
(3) By supporting nuclear research and innovation excellence the Research and Training Programme of the Community (hereinafter the ‘Euratom Programme’) will contribute to achieving objectives of the ‘Horizon 2020’ Framework Programme for Research and Innovation established by Regulation (EU XX/XXXX of [….] (hereinafter ‘Horizon 2020 Framework Programme’) and facilitate implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy and the creation and operation of the European Research Area; in addition, it should seek to make further use of Structural funds for nuclear research and ensure alignment of the funds with Community research priorities.
2012/07/18
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 27 #

2011/0400(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
(16) A greater impact should also be achieved by combining the Euratom Programme and private sector funds within public-private partnerships in key areas where research and innovation excellence could contribute to Union's wider competitiveness goals. Particular attention should be given to the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises. Moreover, the further use of Structural funds for nuclear research and the partial alignment of these funds with Community research priorities should be facilitated.
2012/07/18
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 39 #

2011/0400(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. The Community shall make further use of Structural Funds for nuclear research and ensure alignment of the funds with Community research priorities.
2012/07/18
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 41 #

2011/0400(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) initiatives aimed at widening awareness and facilitating access to funding under the Euratom Programme, in particular for those regions or types of participant that are underrepresented, notably for SMEs to increase their uptake of available funding and participation in the programme;
2012/07/18
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 16 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
(2) Horizon 2020 should be implemented with a view to contributing directly to developing a stairway to research and innovation excellence, creating industrial leadership, growth and employment in Europe and should reflect the strategic vision of the Commission Communication of 6 October 2010 to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Region ‘Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative Innovation’ whereby the Commission engages to radically simplify access of participants.
2012/07/20
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 32 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – title
Personnel costs of the owners of small and medium-sized enterprises and natural persons without salary
2012/07/20
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 33 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1
The owners of small and medium-sized enterprises who do not receive a salary and other natural persons who do not receive a salaryPersonnel costs may be charge personnel costsd on the basis of a scale of unit cost.
2012/07/20
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 34 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Direct eligible personnel costs may be financed on the basis of scale of unit costs determined accs reference rates for ding to the participant's usual cost accounting practices, provided that theyfferent categories of researchers, updated by the Commission on a yearly basis. Rates are differentiated by countries and are obtained by applying the correction coefficients for cost of living in the country. Scales of unit costs must comply with the following cumulative criteria:
2012/07/20
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 35 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) they are calculated on the basis of the total actual personnel costs recorded in the participant's general accounts which may be adjusted on the basis of budgeted or estimated elements according to the conditions defined by the Commission;deleted
2012/07/20
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 36 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) they comply with the provisions in Article 23;
2012/07/20
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 37 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) they ensure compliance with the non- profit requirement and avoidance of double funding of costs;
2012/07/20
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 38 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) they are calculated with due regard to the provisions on productive hours in Article 25.
2012/07/20
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 39 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 37 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 4
Appropriate measures shall be taken to seekensure gender balance and geographical diversitybalance to the largest extent possible when appointing independent experts.
2012/07/20
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 359 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. The Commission or the relevant funding body shall ensure that for grant agreements resulting from calls under the dedicated SME instrument the time between the deadline for proposals as established by the individual calls for proposals and the signature of the grant agreement, or where applicable the grant decision, shall be limited to a maximum period of five months.
2012/07/02
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 522 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – title
Personnel costs of the owners of small and medium-sized enterprises and natural persons without salary
2012/07/03
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 524 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1
The owners of small and medium-sized enterprises who do not receive a salary and other natural persons who do not receive a salaryPersonnel costs may be charge personnel costsd on the basis of a scale of unit cost.
2012/07/03
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 530 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. Direct eligible personnel costs may be financed on the basis of scale of unit costs determined accs reference rates for ding to the participant's usual cost accounting practices, provided that theyfferent categories of researchers, updated by the Commission on a yearly basis. Rates are differentiated by countries and are obtained by applying the correction coefficients for cost of living in the country. Scales of unit costs must comply with the following cumulative criteria:
2012/07/03
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 534 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) they are calculated on the basis of the total actual personnel costs recorded in the participant's general accounts which may be adjusted on the basis of budgeted or estimated elements according to the conditions defined by the Commission;deleted
2012/07/03
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 542 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) they comply with the provisions in Article 23;
2012/07/03
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 543 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) they ensure compliance with the non- profit requirement and avoidance of double funding of costs;
2012/07/03
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 546 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) they are calculated with due regard to the provisions on productive hours in Article 25.
2012/07/03
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 606 #

2011/0399(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 37 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 4
Appropriate measures shall be taken to seekensure gender balance and geographical diversitybalance to the extent possible when appointing independent experts.
2012/07/03
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 306 #

2011/0394(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(ca) support for the development of systems to help European citizens set up enterprises and access markets outside their own Member State in order better to tap the potential in the European single market;
2012/07/05
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 308 #

2011/0394(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point c b (new)
(cb) creation of a European enterprise knowledge-base and e-learning system in the languages of all 27 Member States together with a register of advisors and an online advisory platform, enabling Member State-specific information to be accessed quickly and easily.
2012/07/05
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 330 #

2011/0394(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
(2) Particular attention shall be paid to young entrepreneurs, new and potential entrepreneurs and female entrepreneurs, as well, therefore, as specific target groupsbodies with specialist knowledge which support them.
2012/07/05
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 333 #

2011/0394(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3
(3) The Commission may support Member States' measures to build- up entrepreneurial education, skills and attitudes, in particular among potential and new entrepreneurs., as well as programmes promoting self-employment and entry into entrepreneurship among young would-be entrepreneurs;
2012/07/05
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 336 #

2011/0394(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3 a (new)
(3 a) Particular attention must be paid to eliminating youth unemployment, motivating unemployed young people to become self-employed and entrepreneurs, taking into account the specialisations of the target group and making use of the target-group-specific knowledge of young people’s enterprise development organisations;
2012/07/05
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 350 #

2011/0394(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 a (new)
(2 a) In order to fill the financing gaps in the life-cycle of enterprises, there is a need to support assistance for start-up, innovative enterprises to enter the growth phase as soon as possible and to promote the progress of start-up enterprises to a stage where they can attract capital. This will be helped by new projects being ready to receive seed and venture capital as soon as possible, the objective being to promote the growth of the venture capital market and thus of business (and of the EU economy).
2012/07/05
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 448 #

2011/0394(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Specific Objective: To improve access to finance for SMEs in the form of equity and debt – Financial instruments for growth
Specific objective: To improve access to finance for SMEs in the form of equity and debt Result indicator Latest known result Medium term target (result) 2017 Financial Instruments for growth Number of firms receiving loan (credit) Proposed instruments are not yet launched and Number of firms receiving loan (credit) guarantees and value of lending not the same as current instruments, so data guarantees (+/- 95 000) and value of lending from current instruments may not be (+/- €10.7 billon) comparable Number of VC-backed firms and value of Number of VC-backed firms: (+/- 180) and investments (of which cross border deals) value of investments (+/- €220m) (new) Number of Member States Financial institutions from at least 20 (or all participating in the capital and loan 27) Member States should take part in the programmes programme.
2012/07/05
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 12 #

2011/0363(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
(4) In line with the Accession Treaty obligations and with the support of Community assistance, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia have closed the nuclear power plants and made significant progress towards their decommissioning. Further work is necessary in order to continue the progress with the actual dismantling operations until an irreversible state within the safe decommissioning process is reached, whilst ensuring that the highest safety standards are applied. Based on the available estimates, completion of decommissioning work will require substantial additional financial resources while taking into account the shared financial responsibility of the Union and these Member States.
2012/11/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 14 #

2011/0363(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) Although the shutdown of all units concerned took place within the respective deadlines, the decommissioning programmes continue to encounter delays that are economically damaging and politically unacceptable; this should be tackled by the revised detailed decommissioning plan.
2012/11/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 15 #

2011/0363(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 b (new)
(5b) As the programmes have not yet triggered the organisational changes needed for effective decommissioning, it should be ensured that the necessary transformation of organisational structures is performed.
2012/11/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 17 #

2011/0363(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
(6) Following the request for further funding from Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia, provision has been made in the Commission proposal for the next Multi- Annual financial framework for the period 2014-2020: ‘'A Budget for Europe 2020’‘ for a sum of EUR 7500 million in constant 2011 prices from the general budget of the European Union for nuclear safety and decommissioning. From this the amount EUR 500 million in 2011 prices which is about EUR 553 million in the current pricesdecommissioning. This amount is foreseen for a new Programme to further support the decommissioning of the Bohunice V1 units 1-2 and the Ignalina units 1-2 over the period from 2014 to 2017 and the Kozloduy units 1-4 nuclear power plants over the period from 2014 to 2020. Funding under this new Programme should be made available in a gradually decreasing manner.
2012/11/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 21 #

2011/0363(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
(9) The decommissioning of the nuclear power plants covered by this Regulation should be carried out with recourse to the best available technical expertise, and with due regard to the nature and technological specifications of the units to be shut down and with comprehensive assessments on the progress of the decommissioning and mitigation processes, in order to ensure the highest possible efficiency.
2012/11/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 27 #

2011/0363(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The financial envelopeindicative financial reference amount as defined in the point [18] of the Interinstitutional Agreement of xx/201z between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on cooperation in budgetary matters and sound financial management for the implementation of the Programme for the period 2014 to 2020 shall be EUR 552 947 000 in current00 million in constant 2011 prices.
2012/11/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 29 #

2011/0363(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority without prejudice to the provisions of the Regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014- 2020 and the Interinstitutional Agreement xxx/201z between the European Parliament, Council and the Commission on cooperation in budgetary matters and sound financial management.
2012/11/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 31 #

2011/0363(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – introductory part
That amount shall be indicatively distributed among the Kozloduy, Ignalina and Bohunice Programmes as follows:
2012/11/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 34 #

2011/0363(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission will review the performance of the Programme and, assess the progress of the Kozloduy, Ignalina and Bohunice Programmes against the milestones and target dates referred to in Art 2.3 by the end of 2015 within the framework of the interim evaluation referred to in Art. 8 in order to assure that financial programming and the allocation of financial resources are based on actual needs and absorption capacity. Based on the results of this assessment, the Commission may review the amount of the appropriations allocated to the Programme, as well as the programming period and distribution amongst the Kozloduy, Ignalina and Bohunice Programmes, while fully respecting prerogatives of the budget authority in the annual budgetary procedure.
2012/11/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 37 #

2011/0363(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
The financial allocation may also cover the technical and administrative assistance expenses necessary to ensure the transition between the Programme and the measures adopted under Council Regulation (EC) 1990/2006, Regulation (Euratom) No 549/2007 and Council Regulation (Euratom) 647/2010. The financial allocation shall not cover other measures than the ones listed under this Article and Article 2.
2012/11/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 40 #

2011/0363(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) Submit to the Commission a revised detailed decommissioning plan that includes the specific objectives, projects schedule, project cost structures, co- financing proportions and an overall financial plan identifying sources for the national part of the funding in the long term.
2012/11/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 55 #

2011/0363(NLE)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3
3. Evaluations shall take account of progress against performance indicators as referred to in Article 2(2) and fulfilment of requirements set out in Article 4(1)(c).
2012/11/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 25 #

2011/0301(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
(11) Europe's economic recovery should not be compromised by growing transport congestion, missing energy links and a slowing down of broadband penetration, outdated energy systems, deficiency in energy supply and a slowing down of broadband penetration, incapacitation of telecommunication services due to infrastructure projects' difficulties in gaining access to long-term private finance or public funding.
2012/03/05
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 32 #

2011/0301(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
(16) In light of the EIB's long-standing expertise and as the major financier of infrastructure projects and given its nature as the EU financial body established by the Treaty, the Commission should involve the EIB in the implementation of this pilot phase. The specific terms and conditions of the co-operation including risk-sharing and remuneration of the EIB, should be laid down in an agreement between the Commission and the EIB and disclosed to the Council and the European Parliament.
2012/03/05
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 34 #

2011/0301(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
(17) The pilot phase of the Europe 2020 Project Bond Initiative should be launched in preparation of the proposed Connecting Europe Facility. This pilot phase will help to pave the way for the risk-sharing financial instrument under the Connecting Europe Facility. The decision about the continuation of the Europe 2020 Project Bond Initiative after the end of the pilot phase should be taken after an in-depth evaluation of the pilot phase has taken place.
2012/03/05
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 31 #

2011/0177(APP)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines the strategic importance of large-scale infrastructure projects (such as ITER, Galileo, GLONASEGNOS, GMES) for the future of the EU’s competitiveness and for the reinforcement of EU industries; believes that industry financing should be secured in the EU budget on the basis of a fully autonomous and comprehensive multiannual budget, while improvements to the governance of industries should remain under EU Treaty rules; highlights that if any cost overruns arise in the course of the implementation of these projects, it should be covered in a manner that does not threaten the funding and the successful implementation of other Union policies that contribute to achieving the goals of the EU 2020 strategy;
2012/09/05
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 272 #

2011/0172(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 28
(28) Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions includes energy efficiency among the criteria for determining the Best Available Techniques that should serve as a reference for setting the permit conditions for installations within its scope, including combustion installations with a total rated thermal input of 50 MW or more. However, that Directive gives Member States the option not to impose requirements relating to energy efficiency on combustion units or other units emitting carbon dioxide on the site, for the activities listed in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community. To ensure that significant energy efficiency improvements are achieved in electricity and heat generation installations and mineral oil and gas refineries, actual energy efficiency levels should be monitored and compared with the relevant energy efficiency levels associated with the application of the Best Available Techniques. The Commission should compare energy efficiency levels and consider proposing additional measures if significant discrepancies exist between the actual energy efficiency levels and the levels associated with the application of the Best Available Techniques. The information collected on the actual energy efficiency values should also be used in reviewing the harmonised efficiency reference values for separate production of heat and electricity set out in Commission Decision 2007/74/EC of 21 December 2006.
2011/11/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 274 #

2011/0172(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 28 a (new)
(28 a) Any measure in this Directive, which applies to energy intensive industries recognized as exposed to significant risk of carbon leakage under ETS must consider the competitiveness of these industries and therefore should be cost effective.
2011/11/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 974 #

2011/0172(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 4
In case of heating and cooling, where a building is supplied from a district heating network, a heat meter shall be installed at the building entry. In multi-apartment buildings, individual heat consumption meters shall also be installed to measure the consumption of heat or cooling for each apartment. Where the use of individual heat consumption meters is not technically and economically feasible, individual heat cost allocators, in accordance with the specifications in Annex VI(1.2), shall be used for measuring heat consumption at each radiator.
2011/11/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1327 #

2011/0172(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Member States shall draw up an inventory of data in accordance with Annex X for all installations undertaking the combustion of fuels with total rated thermal input of 50 MW or more and installations undertaking the refining of mineral oil and gas within their territory. This shall be updated every three years. The annual installation-specific data contained in these inventories shall be made available to the Commission upon request. Member States shall include a non-confidential summary containing aggregated information of the inventories in the reports referred to in Article 19(2).
2011/11/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1526 #

2011/0172(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 19 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
The Commission's assessment of the first supplementary report shall include an assessment of the energy efficiency levels of existing and new installations undertaking the combustion of fuels with a total rated thermal input of 50 MW or more and installations undertaking the refining of mineral oil and gas, in the light of the relevant best available techniques as developed in accordance with Directive 2010/75/EU and Directive 2008/1/EC. Where this assessment identifies significant discrepancies between the actual energy efficiency levels of such installations and energy efficiency levels associated with the application of the relevant best available techniques, the Commission shall propose, if appropriate, requirements to improve the energy efficiency levels achieved by such installations or that the use of such techniques shall in future be a condition for the permitting of new installations and for the periodic review of the permits for existing installations.
2011/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1783 #

2011/0172(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Annex X – point d
(d) a non-nominative list of installations undertaking the refining of mineral oil and gas, indicating for each: – annual average installation energy input (MWth); – annual average installation energy output (energy content of the fuel mix, MWth); – annual average feedstock; – plant type and technology employed at the installation; – design efficiency (theoretical); – operation start date; – date of last substantial refurbishment; – the number of annual average operating hours; – annual average net operational efficiency.deleted
2011/11/22
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 21 #

2011/0092(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
(12) In the field of motor fuels, the more favourable minimum level of taxation applicable to gas oil, a product originally put to business use for the most part and thus traditionally taxed at a lower level, creates a distortive effect with regard to petrol, its main competing fuel. Article 7 of Directive 2003/96/EC therefore provides for the first steps of a gradual alignment to the minimum level of taxation applicable to petrol. It is necessary to complete this alignment and gradually move to a situation where gas oil and petrol are taxed at an equal level. The degree of gradualness should be geared to the average frequency with which people in the EU Member States replace their vehicles.
2011/11/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 37 #

2011/0092(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 20
(20) Article 15(3) of Directive 2003/96/EC allows Member States to apply to agricultural, horticultural and piscicultural works as well as to forestry not only the provisions generally applicable to business uses but also a level of taxation down to zero. An examination of that option has revealed that as far as general energy consumption taxation is concerned its maintenance would be contrary to the Union's wider policy objectives unless it is linked to a counterpart ensuring advances in the field of energy efficiency. As regards CO2 related taxation the treatment of the sectors concerned should be aligned to the rules applying to industrial sectors. The resultant tax revenue must be recycled to increase and develop the energy efficiency of the sector concerned.
2011/11/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 40 #

2011/0092(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 28
(28) Every five years and for the first time by the end of 2015, the Commission should report to the Council on the application of this Directive, examining in particular the minimum level of CO2-related taxation in the light of the evolution of the market price in the EU of the emission allowances, the success of efforts to use tax revenue to increase the sectors’ energy efficiency, the impact of innovation and technological developments and the justification for the tax exemptions and reductions laid down in this Directive, including for fuel used for the purpose of air and maritime navigation. The list of sectors or sub-sectors deemed to be exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage shall be the subject of regular review, in particular taking into account the availability of emerging evidence.
2011/11/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 72 #

2011/0092(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point 7
Directive 2003/96/EC
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. 2013. As from 1 January 2013, the minimum levels of taxation applicable to products used as motor fuels for the purposes set out in paragraph 2 of this Article shall be fixed as set out in Annex I, Table B, and the resultant tax revenue must be recycled to increase and develop the energy efficiency of the sector concerned.
2011/11/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 104 #

2011/0092(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point 21
Directive 2003/96/EC
Article 29 – paragraph 2
The report by the Commission shall, inter alia, examine the minimum level of CO2- related taxation, the impact of innovation and technological developments, in particular as regards energy efficiency, the use of electricity in transport and the justification for the exemptions and reductions, including for fuel used for the purpose of air and maritime navigation, laid down in this Directive. The report shall take into account the proper functioning of the internal market, the real value of the minimum levels of taxation and, the wider objectives of the Treaty and the success of efforts to use tax revenue to increase the sectors’ energy efficiency.
2011/11/18
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 557 #

2011/0062(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 14 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that, before the conclusion of the credit agreement, a thorough assessment of the consumer’s creditworthiness is conducted by the creditor, based on criteria including the consumer’s income, savings, debts and other financial commitmen in order to verify his continuous ability to repay his debts. That assessment shall be carried out on the basis of the necessary information, obtained by the creditor or, where applicable, credit intermediary from the consumer and from relevant internal or external sources and shall respect the requirements with regard to necessity and proportionality set out in Article 6 of Directive 95/46/EC. Member States shall ensure that creditors establish appropriate processes to assess the creditworthiness of the consumer. The risk assessment may not be restricted to classification or certification on the basis of statistical indicators, and must not take place only using certification based on credit history. These processes shall be reviewed at regular intervals and up-to-date records of those processes shall be maintained.
2011/10/06
Committee: ECON
Amendment 664 #

2011/0062(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. The Member States shall ensure that the consumer has the statutory or contractual right to have an existing credit agreement that is concluded in a foreign currency converted into his own national currency at any time, at a rate calculated on the basis of the official exchange rates set by the European Central Bank. The bank may not make any extra charge during the exchange transaction; however, Member States shall ensure that the creditor is entitled to compensation for justified costs of the exchange transaction.
2011/10/06
Committee: ECON
Amendment 13 #

2011/0046(NLE)

Proposal for a decision
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) The improvement of nuclear safety and, where relevant, security aspects, should be prioritised given the possible cross-border impact of nuclear incidents.
2011/09/13
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 16 #

2011/0046(NLE)

Proposal for a decision
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) In view of the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan resulting from the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011, additional research work in the field of nuclear fission safety is necessary in order to reassure Union citizens that the safety of nuclear facilities based in the Union continues to meet the highest international standards. Such additional work requires an increase in the budget allocation for nuclear fission.
2011/09/13
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 31 #

2011/0046(NLE)

Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1
1. The Framework Programme (2012- 2013) shall pursue the general objectives set out in Article 1 and Article 2(a) of the Treaty, placing particular emphasis on nuclear safety, security and radiation protection, while contributing towards the creation of the Innovation Union and building on the European Research Area.
2011/09/13
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 40 #

2011/0046(NLE)

Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a – indent 2
– nuclear fission and radiation protection 118 245200 000 000;
2011/09/13
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 19 #

2011/0043(NLE)

Proposal for a decision
Article 3
In accordance with Article 3 of Decision [Reference of Euratom FP Council Decision to be added when adopted], the amount deemed necessary for the execution of the specific programme is EUR 2 327 054408 809 000, of which up to 15 % shall be for the Commission's administrative expenditure. This amount is allocated as follows (in EUR): (a) fusion energy research: 2 208 809 000 (b) nuclear fission and radiation protection: 118 245200 000 000.
2011/09/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 32 #

2011/0043(NLE)

Proposal for a decision
Annex – part I – section I.B – point 2 – paragraph 2
Nuclear installation safety: Operational safety of current and future nuclear installations, especially plant life assessment and management, safety culture (minimising the risk of human and organisational error), advanced safety assessment methodologies, numerical simulation tools, instrumentation and control, and prevention and mitigation of severe accidents, with associated activities to optimise knowledge management and maintain competences. Additional work to be undertaken as a consequence of the Fukushima accident should include: improved seismic resistance, redefinition of ‘beyond design basis’ accidents, analysis of common failure modes, better emergency management, avoidance of hydrogen accumulation from hot metal/steam reactions, hydrogen recombination, design of filter/scrubber systems able to withstand gas overpressure.
2011/09/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 47 #

2010/2304(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Highlights the need to make best use of complementaryall available technologies to achieve broadband coverage in rural areas without undue burdens on consumers or the industryin the most cost efficient manner;
2011/03/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 66 #

2010/2304(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Notes that enabling access to broadband infrastructure including user ground equipment is crucial to facilitate users to adopt affordable satellite broadband in rural areas allowing access to all foreseeable Internet services;
2011/03/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 71 #

2010/2304(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses the need for innovative services to stimulate broadband take-up;
2011/03/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 80 #

2010/2304(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Invites Member States, in close cooperation with all stakeholders, to set national broadband plans and adopt operational plans with concrete measures to implement the EU 2020 broadband targets2013 and 2020 targets set in the European Digital Agenda;
2011/03/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 121 #

2010/2304(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Notes the need for clear guidelines to Member States to ensure funds are directed in a timely manner at key broadband objectives while respecting cost efficiency and proportionality of the measures;
2011/03/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 9 #

2010/2271(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls for the establishment of a system to cross-check between the agencies for instances of misconduct or mismanagement by an individual at an earlier agency-employer, when an application is made for employment by that individual at another agency;
2011/03/09
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2010/2248(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Requests the Commission to provide Parliament by 30 November 2011 with a legal analysis on the possible options for a prudential supervision of the EIB;
2011/02/02
Committee: CONT
Amendment 44 #

2010/2245(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Innovation Union flagship initiative, which is the most significant and concrete community attempt so far to introduce a strategic, integrated European innovation policy to supplement member state efforts, whose success though depends on the full cooperation of – and its implementation by –the Member States;
2011/03/08
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 53 #

2010/2245(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for a broad concept of innovation that goes beyond technological and product-oriented innovation and places the enabling role of citizens at the centre while realising a mindset change; recalls that innovation is applying ideas successfully in practice and targets products, processes, services or movements;
2011/03/08
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 65 #

2010/2245(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the Commission's focus on grand societal challenges, and stresses that innovation is needed in order to increase resource productivity and sustainable substitution while simultaneously reducingincreasing the efficiency of resource use and energy consumption;
2011/03/08
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 69 #

2010/2245(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the importance of the Resource- Efficient Europe flagship initiative and of efforts to decouple economic growth from the use of resources by supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy, increasing the use of renewable and clean energy sources, developing carbon reducing technologies and developing sustainable transport;
2011/03/08
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 94 #

2010/2245(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point 4 a (new)
· shaping proper business environment for innovation products for being able to react flexibly to market needs;
2011/03/08
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 173 #

2010/2245(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Commission to introduce a better method of financing innovation, by encouraging a more dedicated involvement of the financial sector, and by creating synergies and merging Research & Development & Innovation (R&D&I) support programmes where possible, for example the FPs, Joint Technology Initiatives, the CIP, Joint Programmes, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology and the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan, and to direct structural funding and parts of the Common Agricultural Policy funds and Emission Trading Scheme auction revenues to innovation; joins the Council in calling for a new balance between trust and control, and between risk-taking and risk avoidance;
2011/03/08
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 256 #

2010/2245(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Welcomes the Commission proposal to develop a European knowledge market for trading and licensing by the end of 2011, including facilitating accessthe licensing to unused intellectual property;
2011/03/08
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 3 #

2010/2143(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that DG ITEC was the most concerned, with 22 open actions; notes with satisfaction that, according to the Internal Auditor, the Directorate for Information Technology within DG ITEC, has implemented 19 of the 22 open actions and, in the process, has made significant progress in developing its control framework; encourages all its Directorates general concerned to continue their efforts to improve their respective management and control procedures; is of the opinion that for the remaining three open actions, an implementation deadline should be set;
2011/02/22
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2010/2143(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that 2009 was the first year of implementation for the Statute for Members of the European Parliament and for the Statute for Accredited Parliamentary Assistants; observes a certain number of initial problems with the implementing measures for the Assistants' Statute, welcomes however the fact that a Temporary Evaluation Group, set up within the Bureau, on the Members' and Assistants' Statutes has proposed amendments to the implementing measures for the Members' Statute concerning (i) Members' travel, (ii) Members' sickness insurance and reimbursement of medical expenses, (iii) travel by assistants on mission, (iv) duration and renewal of assistants' contracts, (v) assistants' professional training, and (vi) rules concerning Members' trainees as well as other amendments to the Assistants' Statute, in particular on (i) use of the parliamentary assistance and general expenditure allowances, (ii) paying agents, and (iii) revision of the complaints and appeals procedure for Members; stresses that these amendments should be implemented at the latest by 30 November 2011;
2011/02/22
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2010/2143(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Notes the significant increase in the workload registered by the administration, relating to the entry into force of the new Statutes; notes with concern the more complicated procedure as regards accredited assistants' missions outside the three places of work and considers that, in spite of considerable increase in staffing, there are insufficient staff members in the Members' service and the services dealing with assistants and requests, therefore, the redeployment by the administration of additional staff in order to cope with the increased workload; requests, moreover, that an evaluation/assessment be made and forwarded to its competent committees by 30 September 2011 on the experience gained of the implementation of the two Statutes following the first full year of their implementation, as well astogether with an action plan and an assessment onf their financial implications for Parliament's budget;
2011/02/22
Committee: CONT
Amendment 38 #

2010/2143(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a Considering the breaches of security on Parliament's premises, the final concept of the security strategy should be presented no later than 30 November 2011;
2011/02/22
Committee: CONT
Amendment 39 #

2010/2143(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 – point ii a (new)
ii)a who has access to the recordings;
2011/02/22
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2010/2143(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 – point ii b (new)
ii)b how visitors are informed about the video-surveillance system;
2011/02/22
Committee: CONT
Amendment 44 #

2010/2143(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Is of the opinion that the efforts aimed at increasing security should also include fire protection and fire alarm exercises and that such training should be organised at least twice a year for all users of Parliament's premises;
2011/02/22
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2010/2143(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Deplores the overdependence on external (technical) expertise, especially in the IT and buildings sectors resulting from structural imbalances between internal and external resources and calls for a cost- effective balance to be struck between in- house and external expertise in each area of parliamentary activity; therefore considers that a cost-benefit analysis should be carried out to inform decisions regarding the hire of external expertise;
2011/02/22
Committee: CONT
Amendment 52 #

2010/2143(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes the two priority projects necessitating important new office surfaces to be found: a second crèche in Brussels and a second assistant's office; stresses in this context the need for Parliament's buildings to be located close to each other in order to achieve more efficiency and also for environmental reasons; believes that an analysis of future building needs should include full financial assessments in addition to consideration of the most practical solutions;
2011/02/22
Committee: CONT
Amendment 62 #

2010/2143(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Draws attention to the fact that, for Parliament, the increasing use of external companies for implementing IT projects, in addition to being financially detrimental, runs the risk that it will lose important parts of its know-how as well as its ability to manage and supervise projects delivered by external contractors; furthermore calls for use of external companies to be based on a cost-benefit analysis; moreover because of the increasing role and importance of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) in the work of European Parliament, it deems to be important to raise the role of ICT management to a higher level, also to ensure higher security protection;
2011/02/22
Committee: CONT
Amendment 69 #

2010/2143(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Considers that an additional column should be added to the table containing the relevant data for the previous year in order to provide better transparency and facilitate comparisons;
2011/02/22
Committee: CONT
Amendment 109 #

2010/2143(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67
67. Deplores the fact that EuroparlTV cannot be considered to be a success story in view of its very low number of direct users (excluding viewers through partnership agreements with regional TVs) in spite of the considerable annual appropriations that it receives, amounting to some EUR 9 000 000; underlines the need for an Action Plan containing reasonable measures aimed at increasing the number of viewers;
2011/02/22
Committee: CONT
Amendment 114 #

2010/2143(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
68. Observes that, in the last few years, Parliament has greatly increased the number of and the budget for its prizes; expresses doubts as to whether those prizes represent at their best Parliament's core competences and the tasks which stem from its legislative, budgetary and budgetary control prerogatives; calls on its Bureau to refrain from initiating the funding of new prizes and to prepare a review of existing prize schemes;
2011/02/22
Committee: CONT
Amendment 139 #

2010/2143(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 83 a (new)
83a. Takes the view that the services and procedures of DG Finance should be simplified and streamlined in order to speed up the handling of invoices from local assistants based in Member States and to reduce queues and bureaucratic procedures; takes the view that DG Finance should provide quicker electronic information to Members concerning remaining available funds; furthermore takes the view that DG Finance should organise training courses for the staff of Members regarding the procedures; for these purposes DG Finance should elaborate an action plan by 30 September 2011 at the latest;
2011/02/22
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2010/2137(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Underlines that the modernisation of the European energy infrastructure is an essential objective of the energy policy, therefore welcomes the central focus of the "Energy Strategy for Europe 2011- 2020" on smart and modern infrastructure to bring forward modern EU-wide integrated grids as it improves competition in the European energy market, increases choice for consumers and the number of suppliers and strengthens Europe's security of supply; Invites Member States and the Commission to develop major investments and to complete the internal energy market;
2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 14 #

2010/2137(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Asks the Commission to elaborate an institutional supporting mechanism of quick and adequate response that would facilitate the use of state aid in case of serious infrastructural damages at a time of an unexpected and severe natural or industrial disaster in the Member States;
2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 34 #

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Considers that any future strategy should seek to fulfil the Lisbon Treaty objectives of a single energy market, security of supply, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the promotion of all forms of low-carbon energy production, energy efficiency and savings and the promotion of energy networks and lead to a reduced reliance on energy imports and an increase in domestic energy production;
2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 196 #

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses that, based on the conclusions of the task-force on smart grids, the Commission should assure a favourable regulatory framework at EU level for smart grids, with EU-wide common standards for their development ensuring that intermittent renewable energy can be accommodated alongside reliable base load electricity; supports pilot projects for the roll-out of smart meters;
2010/09/14
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 282 #

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Considers that security of supply and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions can only be secured simultaneously if all types of low-carbon electricity generation are supported: renewables, fossil fuels with carbon sequestration and safe nuclear power;
2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 331 #

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Believes that the creation of EU minimum standards for licensing and design certification for new nuclear power plants would be useful; as would further EU measures to encourage implementation of well-established technologies for the deep geological disposal of radioactive waste;
2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 354 #

2010/2108(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls for the close monitoring of the implementation of the SET-plan, the early launching of the European Industrial Initiatives and the identification of obstacles to mobilise public and private investments;
2010/09/15
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 25 #

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. whereas energy efficiency is a human issue, it is about people who do for it only if they are enough conscious about it; it is about skilled workers who make it happen even at household level; and it is about jobs as the payback period for investments in energy efficiency is short and investments create new jobs in rural as well as in urban areas which can to a large extent not be outsourced, in particular in the construction sector and within SMEs,
2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 77 #

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Calls on the Commission to present an evaluation of the result of the efforts made by Member States and the Commission; considers that, if the evaluation reveals unsatisfactory implementation of the strategy and the EU is therefore projected not to reach its 2020 target, by implementing the principle of "measurement is control" the EEAP should include a commitment by the Commission to propose further EU measures such as binding energy efficiency targets for the Member States which are fair, measurable and take into account their relative starting positions and national circumstances; stresses that the method should be based on absolute reductions in energy consumption to ensure transparency;
2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 94 #

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for a revision of the Energy Services Directive (ESD) to include a so- called scoreboard approach (with flexible targets), which leaves flexibility for Member States to choose in which areas they will focus their effort based on assumptions with regard to cost-efficiency and potential energy savings; as there exists a strong interaction between societal and sectoral expectations of energy services and the patterns of energy consumption and behaviour;
2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 204 #

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Believes that the European Parliament and the CommissU institutions should set an example by refurbishing their buildings to nearly zero level by 2020;
2010/10/11
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 355 #

2010/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Acknowledges that one of the greatest obstacles to realising energy savings at local and regional level is the need to invest upfront and is concerned about the low outflow of ERDF funds for energy efficiency measures in a number of Member States; taking due account of the implications for and budgetary restrictions of municipalities and regions, urges the Member States to make energy efficiency measures, such as the smart cities initiative, a priority in their operational programmes and calls on the Commission to develop ways to declare the use of existing Structural and Cohesion Funds such as the ERDF for energy efficiency measures as mandatory;
2010/10/12
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 28 #

2010/2004(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Recalls, in this respect, that research has always been identified as an activity able to provide exponential results in terms of economic activity, and is of the opinion that the EU should now be fully prepared to provide the necessary financial incentives; believes that this European added-value, on top of national efforts to support research activities, will generate increased spill-over effects for the benefit of all the Member States; therefore points out that concrete proposals are needed in order to provide research, including space programmes such as GMES, with significant financing commensurate with the issues at stake;
2010/02/26
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 53 #

2010/2004(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Underlines that the priorities for 2011, in view of the EU 2020 strategy, will be financed mainly from this heading, and that the Lisbon Treaty’s extension of EU competences (for example in space policy) is likely to have budgetary implications; emphasises that space policy seeking to promote European scientific and technological progress and industrial competitiveness needs increased EU budgetary means;
2010/02/26
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 22 #

2010/2002(BUD)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13a new
13a. Is very concerned about the decrease regarding CIP - Entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly given the key role that the SMEs have in driving the economic recovery; has taken note of the problems described by the Commission in keeping payments at a high level in times of crisis, but is not convinced that the payments need to be drastically reduced to the very low level that has been proposed; urges the Commission to look further into this issue;
2010/05/12
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 41 #

2010/0377(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 22 a (new)
(22a) A systematic assessment of the need to adapt Annex I to this Directive should be carried out following the adaptations to technical progress made to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 . This should ensure a workable link between the two pieces of legislation while maintaining a high level of protection of human health and the environment.
2011/07/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 92 #

2010/0377(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 23
Without prejudice to Article 4, in order to adapt Annexes I to VII to technical progress, the Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 24. Within six months of the adoption of an adaptation to technical progress made to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, the Commission shall assess whether Annex I needs to be adapted, taking into account the major accident hazard potential of a substance and the criteria for the application of Article 4.
2011/07/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 150 #

2010/0306(NLE)

Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – point 6
(6) ‘radioactive waste’ means radioactive material in gaseous, liquid or solid form, reduced to the technologically possible minimum volume, for which no further use is foreseen by the Member State or by a natural or legal person whose decision is accepted by the Member State, and which is controlled as radioactive waste by a competent regulatory authority under the legislative and regulatory framework of the Member State;
2011/04/15
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 209 #

2010/0306(NLE)

Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) obligations for licence holders on making radioactive waste management facility available for all market players on equal terms;
2011/04/15
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 16 #

2010/0282(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Recital 4
(4) Of the various services offered by European satellite navigation systems, the PRS is both the most secure and the most sensitive and is therefore vital for services where high precision and complete reliability must be ensured. It must ensure service continuity for its participants, even in the most serious crisis situations. The consequences of infringing the security rules when using this service are not restricted to the user concerned, but could potentially extend to other users. Use and management of the PRS is therefore the joint responsibility of Member States in order to protect the security of the European Union and their own security. Consequently, access to the PRS must be strictly limited to certain categories of user which are subject to continuous monitoring.
2011/02/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 19 #

2010/0282(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Recital 7
(7) Furthermore, in order to promote worldwide the use of European technology for secure government satellite radio navigation applications, thecommon minimum safety and security standards, along with specified terms and conditions under which certain non- member countries and international organisations may use the PRS should be laid down – compliance with security requirements being in all cases essential.
2011/02/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 29 #

2010/0282(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. The task of a Competent PRS Authority designated by a Member State shall be to manage and monitor the manufacture, ownership and use of PRS receivers by natural persons living on the territory of that Member State and legal persons established on the territory of the Member State, while ensuring common minimum safety and security standards.
2011/02/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 93 #

2010/0280(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) The preventive part of the Stability and Growth Pact that is meant to ensure that Member States follow prudent fiscal policy should be more stringently coordinated and enforced in order to ensure minimum quality and consistency with the economic and monetary union budgetary coordination framework.
2011/02/15
Committee: ECON
Amendment 513 #

2010/0280(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 8
Regulation (EC) No 1466/97
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 9
In periods of severe economic downturn of a general nature Member States the Council may be allowed to temporarily depart from the adjustment path implied by prudent fiscal- policy making referred to in the fourth subparagraph. Furthermore a clear and precise definition of severe downturn has to be inserted.
2011/02/15
Committee: ECON
Amendment 137 #

2010/0277(NLE)


Article 4 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall make public the official macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts prepared for fiscal planning, including the methodologies, assumptions, and parameters used. It has to be specified which institutions of the Member States should prepare the budgetary forecast: Ministry of Finance, Central Bank, Court of Audit, etc.
2011/02/16
Committee: ECON
Amendment 141 #

2010/0277(NLE)


Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall have the macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts for fiscal planning regularly audited, including ex post evaluation. The result of this auditing shall be made public. It has to be specified which institutions of the Member States should prepare the budgetary forecast: Ministry of Finance, Central Bank, Court of Audit, etc.
2011/02/16
Committee: ECON
Amendment 295 #

2010/0276(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 12
Regulation (EC) No 1467/97
Article 12 – paragraph 3
3. Any single fine referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not exceed the upper limit of 0,5 % of GDPNI, furthermore rationale for the 0,5% upper limit should be given.
2011/02/15
Committee: ECON
Amendment 140 #

2010/0252(COD)

Proposal for a decision
Recital 21
(21) To avoid the growing pressure on frequency band reserved for satellite navigation and satellite communication their bandwidth must be secured in the new planning of spectrum use; the 2012 WRC includes specific issues of Union relevance such as the digital dividend, scientific and meteorological services, sustainable development and climate change, satellite communications and the use of spectrum for GALILEO (established by Council Regulation (EC) No 876/20029 setting up the Galileo Joint Undertaking and Council Regulation (EC) No 1321/200410 on the establishment of structures for the management of the European satellite radio-navigation programmes), as well as the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security European programme11 for the improved use of Earth observation data.
2011/03/14
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 28 #

2010/0220(NLE)


Title
Proposal for a Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) No .../… on State aid to facilitate the closure or transition to competitivity of uncompetitive coal mines
2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 32 #

2010/0220(NLE)


Recital 2
(2) The small contribution of subsidised coal to the overall energy mix no longer justifies the maintenance of such subsidies with a view tof securing the supply of energy on a Union level, as long as that objective can not be guaranteed by other means.
2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 41 #

2010/0220(NLE)


Recital 3
(3) TIn view of the scarcity of autochthonous energy sources in the EU, the Union's policies of encouragfor promoting renewable and lower carbon fossil fuels for power generation do not justify the indefinite support for uncompetitive coal mines. The categories of aid permitted by Regulation (EC) No 1407/2002 should therefore not be continued indefinitely. fuels and the use of fossil fuel in an eco-efficient way in order to generate electricity justify the support to coal mines. The categories of aid permitted by Regulation (EC) No 1407/2002 should not be maintained indefinitely. In any event, all public aid aimed at reducing the effects of pollution caused by coal, should be maintained. Those mines that, after this period, are able to achieve competitiveness and require a financial boost from the public sector to enable them to make technological investments for environmental purposes, will also be exempt from the elimination of aid.
2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 48 #

2010/0220(NLE)


Recital 5
(5) Without prejudice to the general State aid rules, Member States should be able to take measures to alleviate the social and regional consequences of the possible closure of those mines, that is to say the orderly winding down of activities in the context of an irrevocable closure plan and/or the financing of exceptional costs, inherited liabilities in particular.
2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 62 #

2010/0220(NLE)


Recital 8 a (new)
(8a) A minimum level of coal production, together with other measures, especially those aiming at the promotion of renewable energy sources, will contribute to the maintenance of a quota of primary energy sources, which will allow energy security in the European Union to be reinforced significantly. In addition, a quota of autochthonous sources of primary energy will help to promote environmental goals in relation with sustainable development. In this framework of boosting autochthonous energy sources in Europe in order to counterbalance the continent's huge dependence on energy sources from outside its borders, consideration should be given to complementing autochthonous energy sources, which in many Member States are represented solely by coal, with non-fossil ones.
2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 64 #

2010/0220(NLE)


Recital 10
(10) In accomplishing its task, the European Commission should ensure that normal conditions of competition are established, maintained and complied with. With regard to more especially the electricity market, aid to the coal industry should not be such as to affect electricity producers' choice of sources of primary energy supply. Consequently, the prices and quantities of coal should be freely agreed between the contracting parties in the light of prevailing conditions on the world market. In any event, and in order to avoid social or environmental dumping, the Union authorities should ensure that the coal from third countries which is marketed in Europe is extracted in accordance with certain social and environmental standards which are equivalent to those required in respect of European mines.
2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 71 #

2010/0220(NLE)


Article 2 – paragraph 2
2. Aid shall cover only costs in connection with coal for the production of electricity, the combined production of heat and electricity, the production of coke and the fuelling of blast furnaces in the steel industry, research and investments in technology aimed at increasing energy efficiency and reducing polluting emissions from coal, where such use takes place in the Union.
2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 77 #

2010/0220(NLE)


Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the operation of the production units concerned must form part of a closure plan the deadline of which does not extend beyond 1 OctoSeptember 2014 22;
2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 83 #

2010/0220(NLE)


Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the production units concerned must be closed definitively in accordance with the closure plan, if they have not become competitive provided that Europe's energy needs do not require their continued operation;
2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 94 #

2010/0220(NLE)


Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) the overall amount of closure aid granted by a Member State for any particular undertaking must follow a downward trend, where the reduction between successive periods of fifteen months must not be less than 33 percent of the aid provided in the initial fifteen month period of the closure planmust follow a downward trend;
2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 99 #

2010/0220(NLE)


Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h
(h) the Member State must provide a plan to take measures aimed at mitigating the environmental impact of the use of coal, for example that provides for the creation of local, sustainable jobs and investment in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy or carbon capture and storage, paying particular attention to mono- industrialised regions where coal mines represent the major employers. The inclusion of measures constituting State aid within the meaning of Article 107 (1) in such a plan is without prejudice to the notification and standstill obligations imposed on the Member State with respect to these measures by Article 108 (3) TFEU, and to the compatibility of these measures with the internal market."
2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 102 #

2010/0220(NLE)


Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. If the production units to which aid is granted pursuant to paragraph 1 are not closed at the date fixed in the closure plan as authorised by the Commission, they have not become competitive and the energy autonomy conditions of that State do not require their continued operation, the Member State concerned shall recover all aid granted in respect of the whole period covered by the closure plan.
2010/10/29
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 30 #

2009/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Wholeheartedly supports the Commission’s assertion that key enabling technologies are vital prerequisites for enhancing the EU’s global competitiveness in a sustainable way; therefore emphasises that innovation should be based on two major drivers: the creation of a low- carbon economy and of intelligent systems;
2010/03/05
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 70 #

2009/2227(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Considers that, in the interests of user- friendliness and transparency, it is necessary to prevent overlap and duplication of effort between support programmes, resulting from poor coordination of the various operational levels; stresses the need to build an improved system of monitoring with better indicators to evaluate achievements;
2010/03/05
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 4 #

2009/2226(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the inadequatesufficient funding for the GNSS programmes led in 2007 to a revision of the current MFF which increased the ceiling for Heading 1a by €2.4 billion for the period 2007-2013; points out that again in 2010 the Commission proposed an MFF revision to increase the ceiling for Heading 1a, owing to a shortage of funding for the ITER project; emphasises that such ad hoc, emergency solutions are likely to jeopardise the success and added value of strategic, large-scale EU projects and undermine the political momentum around them ; considers that sound, global and long-term solutions for their funding must be devised instead;
2011/02/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 10 #

2009/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas the insufficient funding for the GNSS programmes led in 2007 to a revision of the current MFF which increased the ceiling for Heading 1a by €2.4 billion for the period 2007-2013, and again in 2010 the Commission proposed an MFF revision to increase the ceiling for Heading 1a, owing to a shortage of funding for the ITER project; emphasises that such ad hoc, emergency solutions are likely to jeopardise the success and added value of strategic, large-scale EU projects and undermine the political momentum around them, whereas, therefore, sound, global and long-term solutions for their funding must be devised instead,
2011/03/14
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 19 #

2009/2226(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that Galileo is the first EU- owned project and that to avoid uncertainties, reassure market players and bring it to full operability within the shortest possible period its budget must be steadily increased; supports, therefore, the proposal that in the future, where large- scale projects such as this are concerned, a predetermined annual amount should be covered from the EU budget and that the Member States should be responsible for financing any balanceadditional cost;
2011/02/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 22 #

2009/2226(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that the estimated figure (€1.9 billion)s included in the mid-term review for the period after 2013 isremain purely indicative and might represent a low estimate of the actual amount needed to complete, therefore, suggests to have a fix annual amount of €1.1 billion dedicated to Galileo in each year of the next MFF in order to increase the accountability, the predictability and the transparency of the project.
2011/02/16
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 28 #

2009/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that not only is Galileo actually the first major EU-owned project of this type but that it also addresses a requirement that is in the public interest at EU level, thus justifying recourse to public financing; emphasises, therefore, that in the future, where large-scale projects such as this are concerned, a predetermined annual amount should be covered from the EU budget and that the Member States should mainly be responsible for financing any additional cost by making available supplementary funding to the EU budget, meanwhile identifying underspent areas of the EU budget, which could contribute to financing additional needs of such large- scale projects;
2011/03/14
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 32 #

2009/2226(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Points out that the estimated figures included in the mid-term review for the period after 2013 remain purely indicative; therefore, suggests to have a fixed annual amount of €1.1 billion dedicated to Galileo in each year of the next MFF in order to increase the accountability, predictability and transparency of the project;
2011/03/14
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 7 #

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas Europe's return to economic growth in the next five to ten years may follow very different paths depending on the role of ICT-based innovation; whereas as the lack of human resources with the right skills remains a problem for Europe, there is an urgent need for effective and proactive policies to sustain ICT investments and insure that e-skills do not become a bottleneck for innovative organisations and enterprises in the public and private sector,
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 27 #

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E
E. whereas we have not yet achieved a fully functioning digital single market for online and communication services in Europe; whereas the free movement of digital services is today severely hindered by fragmented rules at national level; whereas European companies and public services will gain economic and social benefits from the use of advanced ICT services and applications,
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 42 #

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas, whilst the Internet is the fastest growing retail channel, the gap between domestic and cross-border e- commerce in the EU is widening,
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 85 #

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls that the universal service obligations should serve as an effective safety net for consumers while not distorting the market and not imposing an additional burden on consumers and operators;
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 119 #

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that, as Internet access rates are increasing, 50% of EU households should be connected to high-speed networks by 2015; calls, therefore, on Member States to take the necessary steps to achieve this European goal;
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 177 #

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Believes that e-skills should be a central aspect of EU policies as they are the main drivers of Europe's innovation society, and therefore the EU and the Member States, taking full advantage of the strategic and operational opportunities offered by information and communication technologies, need to ensure that the knowledge, skills, competence and creativity of the European workforce meet the highest global standard and are constantly updated through a process of effective lifelong learning;
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 179 #

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Draws attention to the fact that there is a lack of 400 000 IT professionals on the European labour market and calls on the Member States to take all necessary measures to inspire young professionals to choose ICT as a career; calls on Member States in the meantime to place more emphasis in their national education programmes on natural science subjects, such as maths and physics, for primary school pupils;
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 180 #

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Takes the view that, as there is a real and urgent need for action to meet the demand for ICT skills in Europe in even the short to medium term, a better data basis for e-skills monitoring will be needed; calls on the EU institutions to take further actions to create this data base;
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 184 #

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Emphasises that all EU citizens should be made aware of their basic digital rights and obligations through a European Charter of citizens' and consumers' rights and obligations in the digital environment, consolidating and updating the Community acquis as appropriate;
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 232 #

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Believes that Member States should ensure the necessary digital environment for enterprises, especially SMEs, to enable them to maximise their economic benefits by gaining access both to the digital single market and to a cheaper, more user- friendly e-administration;
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 262 #

2009/2225(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises the need to develop the free circulation of legitimate content and knowledge and to achieve, by 2015, a simple, consumer-friendly legal framework for accessing digital content in Europe, which would give certainty to consumers and ensure robust solutions that are balanced and attractive for users and rights-holders; urges the EU to accelerate thecontinue its debate on copyright and to establish an EU copyright title under Article 118 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU by 2013;
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 4 #

2009/2096(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that energy efficiency in the various modes of transport has increased over the past few years, resulting in a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions per kmk; considers, however, that the relative improvements with regard to harmful emissions have been neutraliszed by a constant increase in demand in the transport sector, especially road transport; points out that urban congestion is responsible for 40% of CO2² emissions and 70% of remaining pollutant emissions produced by vehicles; maintains that any new solutions to decrease CO2 emissions in road transport should be considered without any preconditions;
2010/02/03
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 22 #

2009/2096(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the logistical importance of intelligent information systems and transport development; welcomes the various initiatives taken at the Community level (such as SESAR, ERTMS, RIS and SafeSeaNet); calls on the Member States to step up their investment in infrastructure and intelligent transport systems, to promote the use of public transport and to introduce interoperable pricing with the issuing of multimodal tickets in order to optimisze the use and interoperability of the various transport modes, to reduce energy consumption and improve safetyroad and overall vehicle safety through the introduction of advanced technologies;
2010/02/03
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 5 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recalls that a draft report on Parliamentary control of the implementation of the budget by the policy department on budgetary affairs was issued on 12 March 2009 and recommends that a set of best practices be adopted by Parliament;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that complex governance structures and management procedures need more sophisticated internal control and risk management systems than less complex governance structures in order to ensurwill improve accountability and protect the political leadership and the administrative managers from financial and non-financial risks;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Recognises that it is unusual and requires high responsibility for a public institution to discharge itself; stresses that the added value of the parliamentary and public procedure leading up to Parliament's discharge of itself is the additional possibility for exercising, in public, a critical scrutiny of the institution's financial management and thereby facilitating European citizens' understanding of Parliament's particular set-up, governance structure and working methods;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Draws attention to the fact thatneed for further risk reduction in Parliament's financial management is an extremely vulnerable and high-risk area and thatwhere even non-material shortcomings may result in considerable reputational damage and may cast doubt on Parliament's overall poovershadowing Parliament's policy achievements and reminds Parliament's Members and staff of their personal responsibilicty achievin Parliament's proper financial managements;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses that critical scrutiny is necessary to ensure that Parliament's financial managers are held fully accountable, because only full and complete transparency offers European citizens an insight into Parliament's financial management and its use of taxpayers' money;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Further stressAcknowledges that Parliament's discharging of itself must be seen as an expression of its acknowledgement of its particular governance structures and management procedures as well as its political will and readiness: to ensure that: - 'appearance' does not substitute critical reality checks, and - ownership of any critical area is clear, and to avoid: - intrinsic oversight failure, and - a culture in which riding the waves becomes the rule and causing the waves the exceptionis due to particular governance structures in place in the Union and the process must always ensure that there is rapid ownership and rapid solution of any problems identified;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Invites its Committee on Budgetary Control, therefore, not only to continue but also to strengthen its critical analysis of whether Parliament's governance structures and management procedures are sufficient to ensure transparency, completeness, correct transactions, and sound financial management;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses that it is a distinctive feature of its internal organisation that Parliament's suppliers (Members) are also customers (Members) and that Parliament, as institution, has a fundamental interest in full transparency in regard to its financial management; expects its Committee on Budgetary Control, therefore, to comply fully with its specific and important parliamentary role by clearly highlighting where improvements can be donemade, as it does with other institutions;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 38 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses that the new wording of Article 317 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (introduced by the Lisbon Treaty) will bepresents very challenging tasks for Parliament's control activities and expects that the secretariat of its competent committee - the Committee on Budgetary Control - will receive additional resources so that it can continue to ensure a high-quality service for its Members;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that the reinforcement of the committee secretariats cannot be effected on the basis of purely quantitative parameters and invites the Secretary- General to include well-defined qualitative parameters as well;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Draws attention to the fact that as interface between the public and the private sector, public procurement is a high-risk area and that Parliament must devote even more efforts to ensure: - compliance with applicable laws, regulation and policies - including the principles of transparency, proportionality, equal treatment and non- discrimination, - reliability of management information and recording, and - economy, effectiveness and efficiency of operawhich requires continued close attentions;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 54 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Recalls that at each stage of the procurement process - initial assessment of needs, preparing the call for tender, drawing up the calls for tender and the specifications, contacts with tenderers, opening of tenders, evaluation of tenders, award decision, conclusion of contracts - there are significant risks to the achievement of the abovementioned objectives and that, action needs to be taken by the authorising officers by delegation, with the assistance of Parliament's central services, to reduce exposure to risk;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 64 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29d
29d. External staff - Code of Conduct: Recommends - on the basis of Article 57 of the Financial Regulation - that staff from external service providers should, as a general rule, be excluded from performing tasks or introduce appropriate controls to avoid conflict of interest situations, linked to management of the procurement process; notes that the former Secretary- General issued "Guidelines on relations with external staff" on 2 July 2008; invites the Secretary-General to clarify the status and enforceability of those 'guidelines' and to make them mandatory in all procurement procedures by having them adopted by the Bureau;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 66 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Takes the view that the increase registered between 2007 and 2008 clearly obliges the authorising officers to take measures to 'reverse the trend'; is unhappy withconcerned about the administration's remark that "it is difficult to reduce further the use of negotiated procedures" (Annual report on the contracts awarded by the European Parliament, 2008, paragraph 39);
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 72 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
44. Draws attention to the fact that the Financial Regulation as adopted by the EU legislator is a political text and not a professional one, that it is drafted by the Commission and that its wording mainlytext, drafted by the Commission, the wording of which tends to reflects the interests of the Commission's Directors-General which aremay not necessarilybe the same as the interests of Parliament's Secretary-General in his capacity as the institution's Principal Authorising Officer;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 79 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
47. Takes the view that management representations and declarations in general should be considered with healthy scepticism if a second opinion on such documents is not availableroutinely include a second opinion; invites its Committee on Budgetary Control to deal with this matter in the upcoming revision of the Financial Regulation;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 87 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
51. Recalls that the objective of an internal control system is to protect the institution's political and administrative leadership from unpleasant surprises;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 91 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
53. Stresses that in any system of financial management there must be a counterweight to those who authorise expenditureppropriate checks and balances when expenditure is authorised and is of the opinion that the present counterweight function only offers Parliament's political and administrative leadership a minimum degree of protection;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 95 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54
54. Invites the Secretary-General, therefore, to inform the discharge authority as soon as possible and no later than 31 JulyDecember 2010 about the precise measures - and deadline for implementation - he has taken or will take in view of reinforcing the internal control system and in particular as regards: - obtaining a second opinion at random on management representations, - reinforcing the Central Financial Unit allowing it fully to shoulder its central responsibility for the systemic adequacy of the internal control system on behalf of the Principal Authorising Officer by Delegation, - ensuringensuring activity reports fully compliancey with Article 60(7) of the Financial Regulation byfrom all Authorising Officers, - strengthening the counterweight function, - achieving clearer, shorter, more precise, more relevant, more professional annual activity reports aiming at providing the discharge authority with relevant information on the institution's use of public money, adopting any other measure necessary for the Secretary-General to issue a meaningful declaration of assurance;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 108 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60
60. Stresses that some reputational risks are much more dangerous than financial risks and invites the Secretary-General together with the authorising officers to take the opportunity to make Parliament the first public sector institution in the world to be up-front about its ownfully evaluate Parliament´s risk profile;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 111 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the creation of the post of risk manager is in the administrative work programme 2009 - 2011 and stresses that the post should be created as soon as possible and no later than 1 Maythe end of 2010 due to the size of Parliament's budget and the well-known, high reputational risk involved in the activities of Parliament;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 118 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70
70. Takes the view that this budget line should notonly be increased before an evaluation has provided evidence that the system in fact provides forin parallel with an evaluation of the system's transparency, legality and sound financial management;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 126 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 79
79. Notes the independent auditor's report according to which "the provision for pensions and similar obligations has been calculated based on a return of investment of 6,5% per year", which figure is not realistic;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 149 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 97 a (new)
97a. Believes that a review of Parliament's internal audit office should be conducted with a view to strengthening that service and thereby further improving financial scrutiny, and all the instruments should be provided that guarantee the fulfilment of the tasks of the Committee on Budgetary Control;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 152 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 98 a (new)
98a. Believes and recommends that the use of appropriations by the political groups should be discussed by the leaders and treasurers of the political groups, who should aim for a sound balance between independence, full transparency and high level of efficiency;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 183 #

2009/2069(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 134
134. Invites the Secretary-General to take measures aiming at creating - at all levels - greater understanding for the need to avoid unnecessary waste in general and in particular as regards the number of paper dossiers produced - but not used - for different meetings, especially in light of the great amount of effort in the field of economy and finance spent on the development of digital infrastructure; suggests, therefore, that the use of Parliament's existing digital equipment be improved;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 45
(45) In view of the benefits for the internal market and for the consumer, it is desirable to establish harmonised rules for parallel trade of substantially identical biocidal products that are authorised in different Member States.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 84 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) it contains a significant proportion of non-active isomers;deleted
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 87 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
2. Application for authorisation shall be made by, or on behalf of, the person who shall belding the authorisation, who may or may not be the person responsible for the placing on the market of a biocidal product in a particular Member State or in the Community.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 90 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3 a (new)
An applicant seeking authorisation for a group of products as part of a frame formulation may submit a single application for authorisation.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 121 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Articolo 23 – paragraph 1
1. The receiving competent authority shall, within twelvesix months after the validation referred to in Article 22, decide on the application in accordance with Article 16.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 125 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. The authorisation holder or his representative shall submit an application for renewal of a national authorisation to the receiving competent authority at least eighteentwelve months before the expiry date of the authorisation.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 126 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
In the event of mutual recognition, a single authorisation number shall be used in all Member States involved.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 127 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. In the case of mutual recognition procedures, the Commission shall adopt implementing measures laying down the criteria and procedures for assigning a single authorisation number in all Member States concerned.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 128 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
TAfter consulting the applicant, the Commission shall adopt a decision on whether the grounds set out by the competent authority justify refusal to recognise, or restriction of, the national authorisation in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 72(3).
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 130 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Within three months of receiving the notification, the Commission shall make a proposal for a decision. Should the Commission ask the Agency for an opinion under the procedure set out in Article 30, the three-month period shall be suspended until the Agency has forwarded its opinion.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 134 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
The Commission shall, after consultation with the applicant, adopt a decision on the proposed adjustment of the conditions of the national authorisation to local circumstances in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 72(3). The competent authority of the concerned Member State shall without delay adopt all appropriate measures to comply with that decision.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 136 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 29 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
The regulation should set out the time period for the resolution of disputes between Member States. Three months would seem to be appropriate timing time for the Commission to draw up a proposal for a decision on the refusal, or restriction, of authorisWithin three months of receiving the notification, the Commission shall make a proposal for a decision. Should the Commission ask the Agency for an opinion under the procedure set out in Article 30, the three-month period shall be suspended until the Agency has forwarded its opinion. Or. it Justification.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 139 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 33
1. The Community authorisation may be granted to the following categories of biocidal products: (a) biocidal products containing one or more new active substances; (b) low-risk biocidal products. 2. Following the report of the Commission on the implementation of this Regulation referred to in Article 54(4) and in light of the experience gained with the Community authorisations, the Commission may add otherany categoriesy of biocidal products in paragraph 1 of this Article. Those measures, designed to amend non- essential elements of this Regulation by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 72(4).
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 140 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The Community authorisation may be granted to the followingall categories of biocidal products:
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 141 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 2
2. Following the report of the Commission on the implementation of this Regulation referred to in Article 54(4) and in light of the experience gained with the Community authorisations, the Commission may add other categories of biocidal products in paragraph 1 of this Article. Those measures, designed to amend non- essential elements of this Regulation by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 72(4).deleted
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 145 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
3. Within ninthree months from the receipt of the conclusions of the evaluation, the Agency shall prepare and submit to the Commission an opinion on the authorisation of the biocidal product.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 146 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 5
5. If the decision referred to in paragraph 4 refuses to grant a Community authorisation to a biocidal product because it does not fulfil the criteria for a low-risk biocidal product in accordance with Article 17, the applicant may apply, if relevant, for a Community authorisation in accordance with point (a) of Article 33(1) or a national authorisation in accordance with Chapter V.deleted
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 148 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 36 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. The authorisation holder or his representative shall submit an application for renewal of a Community authorisation to the Agency at least 182 months before the expiry date of the authorisation.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 157 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 44 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
The application shall be accompanied by all the information necessary to demonstrate that the biocidal product is substantially identical to the reference product as defined in paragraph 3.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 158 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 44 – paragraph 3
3. A biocidal product shall be considered as substantially identical to the reference product if one ofall the following conditions isare met: a) the source of the active substances it contains is the same in terms of manufacturer and location of thit has been manufactured by the same company or one of its associate companies or under licence, following the same production plant; rocess; b) it is either the same or similar with regard to the non-specifications, the active substances present and the type of formulation; c) it is either the same or equivalent, as regards the co-formulants it contains and the format, materials and form of its packaging, in terms of the potential adverse impact on the safety of the product with regard to human or animal health or the environment.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 163 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 47 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) the name, using wherever possible common nomenclature (e.g. INCI), of all active substances that were used to treat the article or materials or that were incorporated in the articles or materials, where relevant, and of all active substances which are intended to be released under normal or foreseeable conditions of use from the treated article or material, unless labelling requirements or alternative means to meet information requirements already exist under sector-specific legislation;
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 165 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 47 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) where relevant, the biocidal property attributed to treated articles or materials;
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 167 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 47 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) the authorisation number of all biocidal products that were used for the treatment or were incorporated in the articles or materials;deleted
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 172 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 47 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) only for treated articles and where relevant, any hazard statement or precautionary statement set out in the authorisation for the biocidal product.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 187 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 55 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
2. Disclosure of the following information shall be deemed to undermine the protection of the commercial interests of the concerned person and may not be disclosed publicly: a) details of the full composition of a biocidal product; b) the precise use, function or application of a substance or mixture; c) the precise tonnage of the substance or mixture manufactured or placed on the market; d) links between a manufacturer of an active substance and the person responsible for the placing of a biocidal product on the market or between the person responsible for the placing of a biocidal product on the market and the distributors of the product; (da) manufacturers of the active substances (names and addresses including location of manufacturing sites); (db) the location of a biocidal product's manufacturing site; (dc) the date of issue of an authorisation and the expiry date; (dd) doses and instructions for use.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 191 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 58 – paragraph 2 – point e
e) directions for use and the dose rate, expressed in metric unita manner that is meaningful and comprehensible to users, for each use provided for under the terms of the authorisation;
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 201 #

2009/0076(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 77 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3
During the work programme, the Commission shall decide pursuant to the procedure laid down in Article 72(4) that an active substance shall be included in Annex I of this Regulation and under which conditions, or, in cases where the requirements of Article 4 are not satisfied or where the requisite information and data have not been submitted within the prescribed period, that such active substance shall not be included in Annex I of this Regulation. The decision shall specify the date on which the inclusion in Annex I becomes effective, which shall be two years after the decision.
2010/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 7 #

2009/0070(COD)

Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers that the financial envelope indicated in the proposed regulation is not compatible with the ceiling of heading 1a of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2007-2013 without jeopardising the financing of other priorities; calls therefore for the immediate opening of negotiations with the other arm of the budgetary authority on the basis of the mechanisms available under the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management, particularly those in points 21 to 23; points out that the annual amount will be determined during the annual budgetary procedure in accordance with the provisions of point 37 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006;
2010/02/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 8 #

2009/0070(COD)

Draft legislative resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Calls on the Commission when drafting its proposal on the evaluation of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 due to be published by April 2010 to take into account the introduction of new competences for the EU over space policy by the Treaty of Lisbon; calls on the Commission to make concrete proposals at that time to revise the current MFF 2007-2013 in order to provide space programmes such as GMES with financing commensurate with the issues at stake;
2010/02/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 9 #

2009/0070(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
16. For the entire duration of GMES initial operations, a financial envelope of EUR 107500 million constituting the prime reference, within the meaning of point 37 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management should be established. This financial envelope should in particular help to ensure funding for the remaining elements of the initial build-up phase of the GMES space component (sentinel 1, 2, 3 - A, B, C units) to ensure a seamless and cost effective transition, without postponing decisions to beyond 2013. It is envisaged that this financial envelope will be complemented by an amount oft least EUR 43 million from the space theme of the Seventh Framework Programme for research actions accompanying GMES initial operations.; these additional resources should be used for the implementation of the second and the third phase of the space component;
2010/02/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 11 #

2009/0070(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16 a
16a. In its financial planning, the Commission should ensure that data continuity is assured both during and after the end of the period of the initial GMES operations (2011-2013), and that the services can be used uninterruptedly and without restrictions.
2010/02/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 12 #

2009/0070(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. Public procurement should be the preferred funding instrument for implementing the GMES programme. Where this is justified, Community grants may be provided in specific forms, including framework partnership agreement, or co-funding of operating or action grants. Operating grants to bodies pursuing objectives of general European interest shall not be subject to the degressivity provisions of the Financial Regulation. For grants, the maximum rate of co-financing shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure of Article 11(3).
2010/02/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 13 #

2009/0070(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. The financial envelope allocated to the implementation of this Regulation shall be EUR 107500 million.
2010/02/04
Committee: BUDG
Amendment 1 #

2008/2256(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Underlines its high regard for the results achieved by the Agency and congratulates the Director and its staff for the work done in a very difficult environment, improving considerably the image of the EU and its visibility;
2009/02/23
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2008/2256(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Has seen ample evidence that the Agency had not only the systems (logistics, IT systems, and others) to swiftly implement large amounts of support in post-conflict situations, but that it also had the proven expertise and know-how to design and deliver high quality assistance that had real impact;
2009/02/23
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2008/2256(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Regrets that the Commission did not respect discharge resolutions for the financial years 2005 and 2006 asking to prolong the Agency’s activities which ended in 2008, and is concerned about the consequential risk that the EU may lose much of the expertise the Agency had acquired over the last eight years;
2009/02/23
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2008/2256(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. Is therefore convinced that the Agency should have been transformed into an Agency for the implementation of certain EU external actions, in particular the management of EU assistance in post- conflict situations;
2009/02/23
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2008/2256(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2e. Urges the Commission to now create a "RELEX external actions Agency” for assistance in post-conflict situations that would draw heavily on the systems, experience and expertise of the European Agency for Reconstruction;
2009/02/23
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2008/2256(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 f (new)
2f. Considers that this new Agency should play a crucial role in delivering EU assistance in situations in which traditional development assistance cannot be implemented by the Commission’s services in Brussels or its Delegations;
2009/02/23
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2008/2256(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 g (new)
2g. Believes that this new Agency would not only provide an efficient means of delivering well targeted assistance in these situations, but would also greatly increase the EU’s visibility and credibility;
2009/02/23
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2008/2256(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Notes the Commission's statement, in its follow-up to the 2006 Commission discharge, that the Agency would stop all operational activities by the end of September 2008; that the Agency would have three months, from October to December 2008, to finalise the administrative closure; and that in 2009, a closure cell attached to the Commission would undertake the closing of residual administrative activities during a limited period of a few months;deleted
2009/02/23
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the importance of innovation for SMEs and the difficulties in taking advantage of research opportunities; believes that the focus should not only be on high-tech innovation, but that also low, mid tech and informal innovation should be considered; is convinced that the European Institute for Innovation and Technology could have an important role in boosting R&D and innovation for SMEs;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 60 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to create better framework conditions aimed at promoting innovation by SMEs, in particular by introducing ways to improve the protection of intellectual property and to better fight against counterfeiting and fraud; emphasises that SMEs need support on how to ensure IPR protection, therefore, IPR related authorities and services must offer their services to SMEs;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 79 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Draws attention to the need for a coordination system with the lead of the National Academies of Science and research institutes for seeking innovation and to reduce barriers for SMEs;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 123 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Notes that there is a need for a system consultancy service that would assist the everyday operation of SMEs during their whole lifecycle with the aim of optimising their investments;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 141 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that there is an imperative need to cut red tape by at least 25% and to put in place a modern administration adapted to the needs of SMEs, therefore, encourages the better use of digital technology among SMEs to enable them to save time and money and, to devote the resulting resources to their development and to promote their ICT knowledge;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 148 #

2008/2237(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Emphasises the fundamental importance of evaluating the impact of future legislative initiatives on SMEs; therefore calls for systematic and targeted impact assessments for SMES, a so called ‘SME Test’ for all new proposals for EU legislation affecting business; urges the Commission also to apply the SME test when existing legislation is simplified and when assessments are made as to whether pending proposals for legislation should be withdrawn;
2008/11/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1 #

2008/2207(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Observes that in 2007 the European Court of Auditors (ECA) audited 273 decentralised agencies, 3 executive agencies and other EU decentralised bodies (2006: 24); notes that their budgets amounted to EUR 1 243 500 000 (2006:nergy Supply Agency, a body set up under the Euratom Treaty; notes that the subsidies from the Community budget in 2007 for decentralised agencies amounted to EUR 452 000 000; emphasises that more than EUR 1 0800 7000 000) and the total number of authorised posts was 3 626,5 (2006: 3 212) has been allocated to agencies' budgets through other revenues such as own revenues from fees, contributions from EFTA countries and special contributions of Community programmes and others;
2009/02/25
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2008/2207(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Points out that for decentralised agencies the budgetary authority has authorised 3 487,5 posts in the establishment plans; notes that, according to the documents provided by the ECA, 2 823 posts have been filled in addition to 961,5 posts by contractual agents or national experts;
2009/02/25
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2008/2207(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
1 See the arguments developed in the Study on the Agencies' discharge by the Budgetary Support Unit of the European Parliament, December 2006.2b. Welcomes the Report from the Commission to the European Parliament on the follow-up to 2006 Discharge Decisions (COM(2008)0629); points out again that Community law does not have a legal definition of an agency and supports the definition of agencies as "bodies set up by the Communities having legal personality"1; recalls the three categories of agencies that fit this definition: decentralised agencies, executive agencies and other bodies; reiterates in this context the term "decentralised agencies" as a general term for the traditional agencies; considers that the term "regulatory agency", which is increasingly used as a generic term, is misleading, as not all decentralised agencies have regulatory tasks; recalls that decentralised agencies are set up by the European legislator for a variety of reasons such as the provision of certain services, the employment of specialist expertise and the carrying-out of regulatory and monitoring tasks; considers the establishment of the budget of decentralised bodies and assessment of the implementation of the respective budget as core responsibilities of the competent committee of the Parliament ; Or. en
2009/02/25
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2008/2207(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Urges the ECA, for the sake of transparency, to consider the three categories of agencies in the next annual report;
2009/02/25
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2008/2207(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes, in this context, the difficulties of decentralised agencies in recruiting highly qualified staff and experts; invites the Commission and the European Personnel Selection Office to strengthen their supporting efforts;
2009/02/25
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2008/2207(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
115a. Welcomes the decision by the Conference of Presidents taken on 18 December 2008 to nominate 5 Members to the European Parliament delegation for the inter-institutional working group on the role of regulatory agencies; considers Parliament's resolution of 21 October 2008 on a strategy for the future settlement of the institutional aspects of Regulatory Agencies1 as a mandate for the Parliament's delegation working in the inter-institutional working group; insists on the need to establish minimum common standards with regard to the setting up of future decentralised agencies; Or. en Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2008)0495.
2009/02/25
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2008/2205(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to strengthen their policies to support the international development of their SMEs and to adopt tools to help improve financing, competencies and information in relation to access to the markets of third countries;
2008/11/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 2 #

2008/2205(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Points out that only 8% of all SMEs are involved in cross-border activities, which curtails their potential for growth; believes that Member States should cooperate in harmonising administrative requirements that affect intra-Community activities;
2008/11/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 4 #

2008/2205(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Commission continuously to enhance the framework requirements for the access of SMEs to third country markets and to support the provision of information; encourages the establishment of European business support centres in China and India, in close cooperation with national business support centres already operating there;
2008/11/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 6 #

2008/2205(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recognises that existing trade defence instruments such as anti-subsidy and anti- dumping measures need to be better adapted to SMEs; considers that in emergency situations it should be possible to take temporary “protective” measures;
2008/11/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 9 #

2008/2205(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Points out that standardisation can lead to innovation and competitiveness by facilitating access to markets and by enabling operability; encourages the Commission to increase the promotion of European standards internationally;
2008/11/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 11 #

2008/2205(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Points out that as an SME develops an area of technology it typically needs to increase its IPR protection to protect new uses and refinements of the technology, and to enable it to undertake international activities. In many sectors, it takes a number of years before new technologies are developed into innovations and reach the market and start to generate significant revenues;
2008/11/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 12 #

2008/2205(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Member States to create proper conditions for the implementation of the Services Directive, taking account in particular of the interests of the SMEs;
2008/11/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 177 #

2008/2186(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 251
251. Is concernedNotes that, according to the Court’s report, the recruitment practice in the executive agencies is to hire at lower grades for temporary posts, and to require contract staff to have more years of experience, than is the case as regards contract staff with similar tasks in the Commission; feelnotes that this might reduces the attractiveness of the job positions, despite the offer of renewable contracts in contrast to the maximum contract term of three years applicable to Commission contract staff, and warnnotes that this could affectresult in compromises in the quality of the operations of a gthe executiven agency; ies concerned;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 178 #

2008/2186(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 252
252. Considers that future examinRequests the Commission to provide information ofn this issue could include an evaluation of any possible negative impact on the work of the agencies of shorter-term contracts and higher staff turnovere different contractual time periods applicable for the different contractual tasks and the duration of the different contractual employments in the executive agencies;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 179 #

2008/2186(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 253
253. Considers that one of the major potential benefits of an executive agency is the recruitment of specialised staff, and therefore requests the Commission to review the recruitment criteria and conditions of the agencies’ stafftake measures to improve and simplify the recruitment of the agencies’ staff; moreover, requests the Commission to take the specific recruitment needs of the executive agencies into consideration;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 180 #

2008/2186(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 254
254. Requests the Commission to present a detailed comparative analysisinformation ofn the factors governnumber of contract staff employed ing the wage differential, taking into consideration the different requirements wiexecutive agencies and the tasks assigned to them and the salary levels corresponding th eregard to skills and educational qualifications, in respect of both the Commission staff and the staff of the executive agenciesto, as well as an overview on how much experience is required for each employment grade; moreover, requests the Commission to present information on the different cases in which suitable staff could not be rapidly found and on how much delay occurred in the staff recruitment, as well as an analysis of the reasons for the delay;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 181 #

2008/2186(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 255 – point b
(b) to undertake a peer-review with a view to identifying the success factors and conclusions which led to better results at the best performing executive agencies and to applying the lessons learned to all programmes which continue to be managed by the Commission services;
2010/03/03
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2008/2121(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers that digital copyright law requires multi-level, flexible regulation capable of keeping pace with the extremely rapid development of digital technologies without jeopardising legal certainty;
2008/10/16
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 6 #

2008/2121(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Observes that technological measures must not excessively or unjustifiably damage the rights of those lawfully consuming copyright-protected products;
2008/10/16
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 12 #

2008/2121(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Regrets that, in its report, the Commission disregards the legislative practice of the countries which joined the European Union after the adoption of the Directive;
2008/10/16
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 3 #

2008/2103(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8a (new)
8a. Is of the opinion that all agencies should give, together with their establishment plan, an overview of their permanent and temporary staff, as well as an overview of the number of contract staff and national experts, and the changes in relation to the previous two years;
2008/06/17
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2008/2056(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas unfair vantage can be attained by the evasion of certain directives and related to the lack of transposition or incorrect transposition,
2008/06/10
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 14 #

2008/2056(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls that for an open and competitive Internal Market more accurate and strict tools are needed to improve the fight against counterfeiting and piracy;
2008/06/10
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1 #

2008/2006(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A
A. whereas the principles of social inclusion and, equal opportunities for all and fair access to knowledge in the digital era mean that it is essential for every citizen of the Union to have affordable access to energy,
2008/04/14
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 2 #

2008/2006(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that it is absolutely necessary for more of the Charter to be given binding force in order to ensure and enforce consumer rights effectively;
2008/04/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 2 #

2008/2006(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas consumers -especially individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises- have limited tools and opportunities to represent their interests in an effective way,
2008/04/14
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 4 #

2008/2006(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Suggests, therefore, that the proposed Charter be incorporated into a legislative act, or at least into the annexes to the directives on the internal markets in electricity and natural gas, which are currently in the process of being amended;
2008/04/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 9 #

2008/2006(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Points out that, in accordance with the principles of social inclusion, equal opportunities for all and fair access to information in the digital era, it is essential that every citizen of the Union have access to affordable energy;
2008/04/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 11 #

2008/2006(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Whereas consumers – especially domestic customers and small and medium-sized enterprises – have limited tools and opportunities for having their interests represented effectively;
2008/04/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 15 #

2008/2006(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Points out that the Member States needs to go further in tackling energy poverty, since adequate energy provision constitutes one of the key elements in the successful participation of citizens in social and economic life;
2008/04/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 18 #

2008/2006(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Calls on the Commission to define the notion of energy poverty;
2008/04/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 22 #

2008/2006(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that electricity and gas prices in the EU must be reasonable, easily and clearly comparable, transparent and based on actual energy consumption; considers that the transparency and predictability of published prices, tariffs, indexation mechanisms and conditions must be further improved by means of the use of comprehensible and easily accessible calculation methods or through any other communication mechanisms communicated beforehand to, and monitored or approved by the independent national regulator;
2008/04/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 24 #

2008/2006(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Points out that the Commission needs to be asked to develop and finance pilot projects for the provision to individual consumers of "smart meters", accurately reflecting actual energy consumption and time of use;
2008/04/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 25 #

2008/2006(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Emphasises the need of to develop standard invoices that can be used by all suppliers, in order to increase the transparency and comparability of information, and the need to mention consumer rights on the websites of electricity and gas companies and of independent national regulators;
2008/04/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 26 #

2008/2006(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6d. Underlines the fact that, in order to increase individual contributions to achieving EU energy strategy goals and to enable consumers to influence the energy mix and the carbon dioxide emissions arising from their energy consumption, all suppliers should give this information in their invoices;
2008/04/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 27 #

2008/2006(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 e (new)
6e. Emphasises the need for the Commission to develop quality criteria in cooperation with national regulatory authorities to be applied to consumer- related services, included call-centres;
2008/04/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 28 #

2008/2006(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 f (new)
6f. Emphasises the need to require suppliers to inform consumers about the promulgation of the proposed Charter;
2008/04/16
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 32 #

2008/2006(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Underlines that all suppliers, in order to increase their contribution to the European energy strategy goals and to enable consumers to decide as to the energy mix and the carbon-dioxide emission of their energy consumption, should include this information on the energy invoice;
2008/04/14
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 35 #

2008/2006(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Underlines the need for the Commission to develop, in cooperation with the NRAs, quality criteria to be applied to consumer-related services, including call centres;
2008/04/14
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 37 #

2008/2006(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Underlines the need to oblige suppliers to inform consumers of the promulgation of this Charter;
2008/04/14
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 42 #

2008/2006(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on the Commission to define the notion of energy poverty;
2008/04/14
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 1 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on discharge
Paragraph 1
1. Postpones its decision on gGrantings the executive Director of the European GNSS Supervisory Authority discharge in respect of the implementation of the Authority's budget for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on the closure of accounts
Paragraph 2
2. PostponApproves the closure of the accounts of the European GNSS Supervisory Authority for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 39 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 44 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the agency's administrative spending in 2006 accounted for much too great a proportion of its overall expenditure, making the effective and efficient performance of its tasks impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
62. Notes the unacceptable and frequently criticised overlaps between this agency’s area of activity and that of other agencies; this is generating yet more additional costs, in particular as a result of the duplication of work in the administrative sphere;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Notes that it is not clear how this activity can be carried out more efficiently and more effectively in a decentralised agency and in this location than in the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that the cost of private travel for agency staff and members of their families is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2008/2000(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that the agency’s staff expenditure per post increased by 789% between the financial year 2006 and the 2008 preliminary draft budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 62 #

2008/0231(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Recital 13
(13) The provision of information to nuclear industry workers and the public in an accurate and timely manner about important nuclear safety matters should be based on high level of transparency on issues relating to the safety of nuclear installations.
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 72 #

2008/0231(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Directive aims at achieving, maintainingestablishing a nuclear safety regulatory framework in the European Union. It establishes principles on which the legislative and regulatory frameworks of the Member States in the field of nuclear safety shall be based in order to achieve, maintain and continuously improving e nuclear safety in the Community and to enhance the role of the national regulatory bodies.
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 78 #

2008/0231(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. It shall apply to the design, siting, construction, maintenance, operation and decommissioning of nuclear installations and to work carried out by subcontractors used by operators, for which consideration of safety is required under the legislative and regulatory framework of the Member State concerned.
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 87 #

2008/0231(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 3
(3) “radioactive materialsubstance” means any material containing one or more radionuclides the activity or concentration thereof cannot be disregarded as far as radiation protection is concerned;
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 118 #

2008/0231(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 3
3. The regulatory body shall grant licensces and monitor their application on siting, design, construction, commissioning, operation, or decommissioning of nuclear installations. The regulatory body shall also monitor subcontractors used by operators to ensure that they meet the required standards of safety and competence .
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 128 #

2008/0231(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Regulatory bodies of the Member States shall exchange best regulatory practice and develop a common understanding of internationally accepted nuclear safety requirements.
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 138 #

2008/0231(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. Member States shall respect: - the parts of the IAEA safety fundamentals (IAEA Safety Fundamentals: Fundamental sSafety pPrinciples, IAEA Safety Standard Series No. SF-1 (2006)). They shall observe th relevant to nuclear installation as listed in full in the Annex; and - observe the applicable obligations and requirements incorporated in the Convention on Nuclear sSafety (IAEA INFCIRC 449 of 5 July 1994).
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 153 #

2008/0231(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. Licence holders shallMember States shall ensure that licence holders are responsible for the design, construction, operateion and decommissioning of their nuclear installations in accordance with the provisions set out in Article 6(1) and (2).
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 155 #

2008/0231(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. Licence holders shall allocate adequate financial and human resources to fulfil their obligations.deleted
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 157 #

2008/0231(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. Licence holders shall allocate adequate financial and human resources to fulfil their obligations. The licence holder shall regularly present to the relevant regulatory authority an evaluation of employment issues such health and safety and the safety culture, qualifications and training, numbers of staff employed and use of subcontractors.
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 160 #

2008/0231(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The relevant regulatory authorities shall every three years present to the European Commission and the European social partners a report on nuclear safety and safety culture. The Commission, in consultation with the European social partners, may propose improvements to ensure nuclear safety including health protection at the highest possible level in the EU.
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 170 #

2008/0231(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Article 9
Appropriate education and training opportunities for continuous theoretical and practical training in nuclear safetyIn order to build adequate national human resources to take care of safety of nuclear installations, appropriate education and training opportunities shall be made available by Member States separately and through trans-national cooperation.
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 177 #

2008/0231(CNS)

Proposal for a directive
Annex (new)
Annex SAFETY OBJECTIVE The fundamental safety objective is to protect workers and the general public from harmful effects of ionising radiation, which may be caused by nuclear installations. 1. To ensure the protection of workers and the general public, nuclear installations shall be operated so as to achieve the highest standards of safety that can reasonably be achieved taking into account economical and social factors. In addition to the measures concerning health protection, laid down in the Euratom Basic Standards (Directive 96/29/Euratom), the following measures shall be taken: - restriction of the likelihood of events that might lead to a loss of control over a nuclear reactor core, nuclear chain reaction, radioactive source and - mitigation of the consequences of such events if they were to occur. 2. The fundamental safety objective shall be taken into account for all nuclear installations and for all stages over the lifetime of the nuclear installation. SAFETY PRINCIPLES Principle 1: Responsibility for safety Each Member State shall ensure that the prime responsibility for the safety of a nuclear installation rests with the holder of the relevant licence and shall take the appropriate steps to ensure that all such licence holders meet their responsibility. 1.1 Each Member State shall ensure that the licensee has implemented provisions for: - establishing and maintaining the necessary competences; - providing adequate training and information; - establishing procedures and arrangements to maintain safety under all conditions; - verifying appropriate design and the adequate quality of nuclear installations; - ensuring the safe control of all radioactive material that is used, produced or stored; - ensuring the safe control of all radioactive waste that is generated to fulfil the responsibility for the safety of a nuclear installation. These responsibilities shall be fulfilled in accordance with applicable safety objectives and requirements as established or approved by the regulatory body, and their fulfilment shall be ensured through the implementation of a management system. Principle 2: Leadership and management for safety Effective leadership and management for safety must be established and sustained in all organisations concerned with nuclear safety. 2.1 Leadership in safety matters shall be demonstrated at the highest levels in an organisation. An effective management system shall be implemented and maintained, integrating all elements of management so that requirements for safety are established and applied coherently with other requirements, including those relating to human performance, quality and security, and so that safety is not compromised by other requirements or demands. The management system also shall ensure the promotion of a safety culture, the regular assessment of safety performance and the application of lessons learned from experience. 2.2 A safety culture that governs the attitudes and behaviour in relation to safety of all organizations and individuals concerned shall be integrated in the management system. Safety culture includes: - individual and collective commitment to safety on the part of the leadership, the management and personnel at all levels; - accountability of organisations and of individuals at all levels for safety; - measures to encourage a questioning and learning attitude and to discourage complacency with regard to safety. 2.3 The management system shall recognise the entire range of interactions of individuals at all levels with technology and with organisations. To prevent safety, significant human, and organisational failures, human factors shall be taken into account and good performance and good practices shall be supported. Principle 3: Assessment of Safety Comprehensive and systematic safety assessments shall be carried out before the construction and commissioning of a nuclear installation and throughout its lifetime. A graded approach shall be used taking in account the magnitude of the potential risks arising from the nuclear installation. 3.1 The regulatory body shall require an assessment on nuclear safety for all nuclear installations, consistent with a graded approach. This safety assessment shall involve the systematic analysis of normal operation and its effects, of the ways in which failures might occur and of the consequences of such failures. The safety assessments shall cover the safety measures necessary to control the hazard, and the design and engineered safety features shall be assessed to demonstrate that they fulfil the safety functions required of them. Where control measures or operator actions are called on to maintain safety, an initial safety assessment shall be carried out to demonstrate that the arrangements made are robust and that they can be relied on. An authorisation for a nuclear installation shall only be granted by a Member State once it has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the regulatory body that the safety measures proposed by the licensee are adequate. 3.2 The required safety assessment shall be repeated in whole or in part as necessary later in the conduct of operations in order to take into account changed circumstances (such as the application of new standards or scientific and technological developments), the feedback of operating experience, modifications and the effects of ageing. For operations that continue over long periods of time, assessments shall be reviewed and repeated as necessary. Continuation of such operations shall be subject to these reassessments demonstrating that the safety measures remain adequate. 3.3 Within the required safety assessment precursors to accidents (an initiating event that could lead to accident conditions) shall be identified and analysed, and measures shall be taken to prevent the occurrence of accidents. 3.4 To further enhance safety, processes shall be put in place for the feedback and analysis of operating experience in own and other facilities, including initiating events, accident precursors, "near misses", accidents and unauthorised acts, so that lessons may be learned, shared and acted upon. Principle 4: Optimisation of safety Member States shall ensure that nuclear installations are optimised to provide the highest level of safety that can reasonably practicable be achieved without unduly limiting their operation. 4.1 The optimisation of safety shall require judgements to be made about the relative significance of various factors, including: - the likelihood of the occurrence of foreseeable events and the resulting consequences; - the magnitude and distribution of radiation doses received; - economic, social and environmental factors arising from the radiation risks. - The optimisation of safety also means using good practices and common sense as far as is practical in day to day activities. Principle 5: Prevention and mitigation Member States shall ensure that all practical efforts are made to prevent and mitigate nuclear incidents and accidents in its nuclear installations. 5.1 Each Member State shall ensure, that the licensees engage all practical efforts - to prevent the occurrence of abnormal conditions or incidents that could lead to a loss of control; - to prevent the escalation of any such abnormal conditions or incidents that do occur; and - to mitigate any harmful consequences of an accident. by implementing “defence in depth”. 5.2 The application of the defence in depth concept shall ensure that no single technical, human or organisational failure could lead to harmful effects, and that the combinations of failures that could give rise to significant harmful effects are of very low probability. 5.3 Defence in depth shall be implemented through the combination of a number of consecutive and independent levels of protection that would all have to fail before harmful effects could be caused to workers or the general public. The levels of defence in depth shall include: - an adequate site selection - an adequate design of the nuclear installation, consisting of High quality of design and construction High reliability of components and equipment Control, limiting and protection systems and surveillance features; - an adequate organisation with An effective management system with a strong management commitment to safety culture Comprehensive operational procedures and practices Comprehensive accident management procedures Emergency preparedness arrangements Principle 6: Emergency preparedness and response Members States shall ensure that arrangements are made for emergency preparedness and response for nuclear installations accidents according to Directive 96/29/Euratom.
2009/02/26
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 145 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – point 2
(2) "technical building system" means energy-using technical equipment for heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water, lighting and electricity production or for a combination of those;
2009/02/23
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 297 #

2008/0223(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 7
Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that when buildings undergo major renovation, their energy performance is upgraded in order to meet minimum energy performance requirements in so far as this is technically, functionally and economically feasible. Member States shall derive determine these minimum energy performance requirements in accordance with Article 4. The requirements may be set either for the renovated building as a whole or for the renovated systems or components when these are part of a renovation to be carried out within a limited time period, with the objective of improving the overall energy performance of the building or parts thereof.
2009/02/25
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 65 #

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
(ba) parts, products or systems intended to be incorporated into bigger systems already covered by an energy performance legislation;
2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 105 #

2008/0222(COD)

Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – point c
(c) carry out appropriate consultation with stakeholders, including manufacturers and their suppliers;
2009/02/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 26 #

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
(4) The Community Ecolabel scheme is part of the sustainable consumption and production policy of the Community, which aims at reducing the negative impact of consumption and production on the environment, health and natural resources. The scheme is intended to promote those products which have a high level of environmental performance through the use of the Ecolabel. To this effect, it is appropriate to require that the criteria which products must comply with in order to bear the Ecolabel be based on the best environmental performance achieved by products on the Community market. Those criteria should be simple to understand and to use and should therefore be limited to the most significant environmental impacts of products during their full lifecycle, including the phases of both manufacturing and use.
2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 27 #

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) The Community Ecolabel scheme should take into account existing Community legislation so as to avoid divergent approaches to safety assessment.
2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 28 #

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
(7a) In order to increase the use of the Community Ecolabel scheme in future revisions of this Regulation, there will be a need for a definite shift from the 10% best performing products criteria to the introduction of a gradation system in each product category to help consumers to make sustainable consumption choices and to create incentives to manufacturers constantly to improve their offer.
2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 32 #

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
(10) In order to facilitate the marketing of products bearing environmental labels at national and Community level and to avoid confusing consumers, it is also necessary to enhance the coherence between the Community Ecolabel scheme and national Ecolabel schemes in the Community, and to create an official EU internet site gathering together all EU ecolabelling information and practices for the information of consumers.
2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 34 #

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. The environmental performance of products shall be determined on the basis of the best performing products on the Community market. To this end, the most significant, scientifically proven environmental impacts during the full life cycle of products, in particular shall be considered, which may include the impact on climate change, impact on nature and biodiversity, energy and resource consumption, generation of waste, emissions to all environmental media, pollution through physical effects and use and release of hazardous substances, shall be consideredsubstances of potential risk to the environment, as defined by Community legislation. The existing Ecolabel criteria for the different product groups shall be reviewed within ...* to ensure their full compliance with the life cycle approach outlined in this Article. * 18 months after the adoption of this Regulation.
2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 36 #

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) indicate, where appropriate, the three key environmental characteristics that shallmay be placed on the Ecolabel;
2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 37 #

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) specify the period, not exceeding two years, of validity of the criteria and of the assessment requirements.
2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 38 #

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(ca) specify the degree of product variability allowed during the period of validity set out under point c).
2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 39 #

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. In order to use the Ecolabel, manufacturers, importers, service providers, wholesalers or retailers who wish to use the Ecolabel shall register with one of the competent bodies referred to in Article 4 in accordance with the following rules: (a) where a product originates in a single Member State, the registration shall be made with the competent body of that Member State; (b) where a product originates in the same form in several Member States, the registration may be made with a competent body in one of those Member States; (c) where a product originates outside the Community, the registration shall be made with a competent body in any of the Member States in which the product is to be or has beenny of the Member States in which the product has been or is to be placed on the market. The Ecolabel shall have one of the forms depicted in Annex II. The Ecolabel may only be used in connection with products covered by a registration and complying with the Ecolabel criteria applicable to the products concerned.
2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 40 #

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Provided that the documentation is completeapproved, the competent body shall assign a registration number to each product. The competent body shall conclude its approval procedure within four months of the date of the application.
2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 42 #

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 7
7. The Ecolabel may be used on the products covered by the registration and on their associated promotional material. The location of the Ecolabel shall be prominent and shall define the product concerned even if it is purchased along with other products.
2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 44 #

2008/0152(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – paragraph 4 a (new) (at the end of Annex II)
The lettering on the Ecolabel shall be determined by the competent bodies of each Member State using the official language or languages of that Member State in such a way that the text is equivalent to the English original.
2008/12/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 62 #

2008/0148(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. ERIs shall pay special attention to the patents and other valuable rights and interests arising from intellectual work which come about during their activities and shall inform the Commission of these by means of an annual report.
2009/01/06
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 70 #

2008/0148(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. In the case of infrastructures with a different legal form, the original legal person shall cease to exist by transformation when entered into the Commission’s records, and the ERI shall operate as its successor in title by legal succession;
2009/01/06
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 81 #

2008/0148(CNS)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – point j a (new)
(ja) an agreement on the individual authorised to deal with patents and other valuable rights and interests arising from intellectual work which come about during the activities of the ERI and the use to which the income deriving from such rights is put;
2009/01/06
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 1 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on discharge
Paragraph 1
1. Postpones its decision on gGrantings the executive Director of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on the closure of accounts
Paragraph 2
2. PostponApproves the closure of the accounts of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 39 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 44 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the agency's administrative spending in 2006 accounted for a substantial proportion of its overall expenditure, making the effective and efficient performance of its tasks difficult;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
62. Notes that no strict logic was applied to the choice of location for the agency and that as a result a substantial volume of unnecessary additional costs has arisen;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Notes that it is not clear how this activity can be carried out more efficiently and more effectively in a decentralised agency and in this location than in the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that the cost of privileges for agency staff is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that the cost of private travel for agency staff and members of their families is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2007/2214(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
66. Notes that the agency's staff expenditure per post increased by 400% between the financial year 2006 and the 2008 preliminary draft budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 38 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 39 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 44 #

2007/2063(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68 a (new)
68a. Invites the European Police College (CEPOL) to ensure without delay, and by June 2008 at the latest, that its financial management fully respects the provisions of the Financial Regulation.
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on discharge
Paragraph 1
1. Postpones its decision on gGrantings the executive Director of the European Railway Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on the closure of accounts
Paragraph 2
2. PostponApproves the closure of the accounts of the European Railway Agency for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37)
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the agency's administrative spending in 2006 accounted for much too great a proportion of its overall expenditure, making the effective and efficient performance of its tasks impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
62. Notes that no strict logic was applied to the choice of location for the agency and that as a result a substantial volume of unnecessary additional costs has arisen;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Notes that it is not clear how this activity can be carried out more efficiently and more effectively in a decentralised agency and in this location than in the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that in the financial year 2006 the cost of privileges for agency staff made up more than 11% of the agency's final budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that the cost of private travel for agency staff and members of their families is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 52 #

2007/2062(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
66. Notes that the agency's staff expenditure per post increased by 43.4% between the financial year 2006 and the 2008 preliminary draft budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on discharge
Paragraph 1
1. Postpones its decision on gGrantings the executive Director of the European Network and Information Security Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on closure of accounts
Paragraph 2
2. PostponApproves the closure of the accounts of the European Network and Information Security Agency for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 38 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 39 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 44 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the cost of privileges for agency staff in the financial 2006 accounted for at least 14% of the agency's final budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
62. Notes that the cost of private travel for agency staff and members of their families is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 52 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Notes that the agency's staff expenditure per post increased by 24.33% between the financial year 2006 and the 2008 preliminary draft budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 53 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that the Commission has breached the requirement to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 54 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that the agency's work and the funding provided for that work are not consistent with the subsidiarity principle and the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 55 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
66. Notes that no rational considerations can be seen for the location of the agency and that unnecessary additional costs are being caused;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 56 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67
67. Refuses to accept the fact that the Agency's Management Board has an unacceptably high number of members, thus preventing efficient decision-taking, notes in this connection that expenditure on members' daily allowances is very high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 57 #

2007/2061(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
68. Notes that the agency's administrative spending accounts for an unacceptably high proportion of overall costs; therefore calls on the Agency to evaluate and reduce administrative spending;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 1
1. Postpones its decision on gGrantings the Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control discharge in respect of the implementation of the Centre's budget for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 2
2. PostponApproves the closure of the accounts of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the agency's administrative spending in 2006 accounted for a substantial proportion of its overall expenditure, making the effective and efficient performance of its tasks difficult;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
62. Notes that no strict logic was applied to the choice of location for the agency and that as a result a substantial volume of unnecessary additional costs has arisen;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Notes that it is not clear how an activity to be performed on the basis of the small number of posts in the agency's establishment plan can be carried out more efficiently and more effectively in a decentralised agency and in this location than in the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that in the financial year 2006 the cost of privileges for agency staff made up more than 4% of the agency's final budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that the cost of private travel for agency staff and members of their families is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 52 #

2007/2060(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
66. Notes that the agency's staff expenditure per post increased by 16% between the financial year 2006 and the 2008 preliminary draft budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on discharge
Paragraph 1
1. Postpones its decision on gGrantings the executive Director of the European Food and Safety Authority discharge in respect of the implementation of the Authority's budget for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on the closure of accounts
Paragraph 2
2. PostponApproves the closure of the accounts of the European Food and Safety Authority for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC; deleted Or.
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the agency's administrative spending in 2006 accounted for much too great a proportion of its overall expenditure, making the effective and efficient performance of its tasks impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
62. Notes that no strict logic was applied to the choice of location for the agency and that as a result a substantial volume of unnecessary additional costs has arisen;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Notes that it is not clear how this activity can be carried out more efficiently and more effectively in a decentralised agency and in this location than in the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that in the financial year 2006 the cost of privileges for agency staff made up more than 7% of the agency’s final budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that the cost of private travel for agency staff and members of their families is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 52 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
66. Notes that the agency’s staff expenditure per post increased by 47% between the financial year 2006 and the 2008 preliminary draft budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 53 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67
67. Notes that in its report on the closure of the accounts for 2006 the European Court of Auditors stated that in connection with procurement procedures seven instances of irregularities involving an estimated EUR 670 000 had been identified, and that shortcomings included the fact that selection criteria were not indicated or were not complied with, that the price assessment method was laid down after the assessment procedure had already started, and that the description of the quality criteria was too vague;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 54 #

2007/2059(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
68. Recalls that, in its 2005 report, the Court of Auditors qualified its statement of assurance with an observation concerning the considerable number of anomalies revealed during its audits carried out on the award and conclusion of contracts;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on discharge
Paragraph 1
1. Postpones its decision on gGrantings the executive Director of the European Aviation Safety Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on the closure of accounts
Paragraph 2
2. PostponApproves the closure of the accounts of the European Aviation Safety Agency for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the agency's administrative spending in 2006 accounted for too great a proportion of its overall expenditure, making the effective and efficient performance of its tasks virtually impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
62. Notes that no strict logic was applied to the choice of location for the agency and that as a result a substantial volume of unnecessary additional costs has arisen;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Notes that it is not clear how this activity can be carried out more efficiently and more effectively in a decentralised agency and in this location than in the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that in the financial year 2006 the cost of privileges for agency staff made up more than 7% of the agency’s final budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that the cost of private travel for agency staff and members of their families is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 52 #

2007/2058(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
66. Notes that the agency’s staff expenditure per post increased by 44% between the financial year 2006 and the 2008 preliminary draft budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on discharge
Paragraph 1
1. Postpones its decision on gGrantings the executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on the closure of accounts
Paragraph 2
2. PostponApproves the closure of the accounts of the European Maritime Safety Agency for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution (general points)
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37)
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the agency's administrative spending in 2006 accounted for a high proportion of its overall costs, making the effective and efficient working virtually impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
62. Notes that no strict logic was applied to the choice of location for the agency and that as a result a substantial volume of unnecessary additional costs has arisen;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Notes that it is not clear how this activity can be carried out more efficiently and more effectively in a decentralised agency and in this location than in the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that in the financial year 2006 the cost of privileges for agency staff made up more nearly 6% of the agency's final budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that the cost of private travel for agency staff and members of their families is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 52 #

2007/2057(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
66. Notes that the agency's staff expenditure per post increased by 31% between the financial year 2006 and the 2008 preliminary draft budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on discharge
Paragraph 1
1. Postpones its decision on gGrantings the Director of the European Training Foundation discharge in respect of the implementation of the Foundation's budget for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on closure of accounts
Paragraph 2
2. PostponApproves the closure of the accounts of the European Training Foundation for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the Foundation's administrative spending in 2006 accounted for much too high a proportion of its overall costs, making effective and efficient working impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
62. Notes that no strict logic was applied to the choice of location for the Foundation and that as a result a substantial volume of unnecessary additional costs has arisen;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Notes that there are unacceptable overlaps between the Foundation's area of activity and that of other agencies, something which has been frequently criticised; this is generating even more additional costs, in particular through the duplication of work in the administrative sphere;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that it is not clear how this activity can be carried out more efficiently and more effectively in a decentralised agency and in this location than in the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that in the financial year 2006 the cost of privileges for agency staff made up more than nearly 6% of the Foundation's final budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 52 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
66. Notes that the cost of private travel for Foundation staff and members of their families is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 53 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67
67. Notes that the Foundation's staff expenditure per post increased by 29% between the financial year 2006 and the 2008 preliminary draft budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 54 #

2007/2056(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
68. Notes that the Governing Board has an unacceptably high number of members, so that efficient decision- making is impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37)
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 38 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 39 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 44 #

2007/2055(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
Motion for a resolution 61. Notes that Eurojust's administrative expenditure, as a proportion of overall expenditure, is higher than average; calls on Eurojust, therefore, to assess and reduce its administrative expenditure;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 38 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 39 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 44 #

2007/2054(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the Agency has by far the highest buildings-related costs; calls on the Agency to assess the overall costs under Chapter 20 of the budget and if possible reduce them;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on discharge
Paragraph 1
1. Postpones its decision on gGrantings the Director of the Translation Centre for the bodies of the European Union discharge in respect of the implementation of the Centre's budget for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on closure of accounts
Paragraph 2
2. PostponApproves the closure of the accounts of the Translation Centre for the bodies of the European Union for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the Centre's administrative spending in 2006 accounted for much too high a proportion of its overall costs, making effective and efficient working impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
62. Notes that no strict logic was applied to the choice of location for the Centre and that as a result a substantial volume of unnecessary additional costs has arisen;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Notes that it is not clear how this activity can be carried out more efficiently and more effectively in a decentralised agency and in this location than in the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that in the financial year 2006 the cost of privileges for Centre staff made up more than 5% of the Centre's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that the cost of private travel for Centre staff and members of their families is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 52 #

2007/2053(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
66. Notes that the Centre's staff expenditure per post increased by 24% between the financial year 2006 and the 2008 preliminary draft budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on discharge
Paragraph 1
1. Postpones its decision on gGrantings the Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on closure of accounts
Paragraph 2
2. PostponApproves the closure of the accounts of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the agency's administrative spending in 2006 accounted for a substantial proportion of its overall expenditure, making the effective and efficient performance of its tasks impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
Motion for a resolution 62. Notes that no strict logic was applied to the choice of location for the agency and that as a result a substantial volume of unnecessary additional costs has arisen;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Notes the unacceptable and frequently criticised overlaps between this agency's area of activity and that of other agencies; this is generating yet more additional costs, particularly as a result of the duplication of work in the administrative sphere;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that it is not clear how this activity can be carried out on the basis of the small number of posts in the agency's establishment plan more efficiently and more effectively in a decentralised agency and in this location than in the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that in the financial year 2006 the cost of privileges for agency staff made up more than 4% of the agency's final budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 52 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
66. Notes that the cost of private travel for agency staff and members of their families is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 53 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67
67. Notes that the agency's staff expenditure per post increased by 18% between the financial year 2006 and the 2008 preliminary draft budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 54 #

2007/2052(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
68. Notes that the administrative board has an unacceptably high number of members, so that efficient decision- making is impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on discharge
Paragraph 1
1. Postpones its decision on gGrantings the executive Director of the European Environment Agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on the closure of accounts
Paragraph 2
2. PostponApproves the closure of the accounts of the European Environment Agency for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the agency's administrative spending in 2006 accounted for too great a proportion of its overall expenditure, making the effective and efficient performance of its tasks virtually impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
62. Notes that no strict logic was applied to the choice of location for the agency and that as a result a substantial volume of unnecessary additional costs has arisen;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Notes that it is not clear how this activity can be carried out more efficiently and more effectively in a decentralised agency and in this location than in the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that in the financial year 2006 the cost of privileges for agency staff made up almost 5% of the agency’s final budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that the cost of private travel for agency staff and members of their families is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 52 #

2007/2051(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
66. Notes that the agency’s staff expenditure per post increased by 15% between the financial year 2006 and the 2008 preliminary draft budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on discharge
Paragraph 1
1. Postpones its decision on gGrantings the Director of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction discharge in respect of the implementation of the Centre's budget for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on the closure of accounts
Paragraph 2
2. PostponApproves the closure of the accounts of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the agency's administrative spending in 2006 accounted for much too high substantial proportion of its overall expenditure, making the effective and efficient performance of its tasks impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
62. Notes that no strict logic was applied to the choice of location for the agency and that as a result a substantial volume of unnecessary additional costs has arisen;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Notes that it is not clear how this activity can be carried out more efficiently and more effectively in a decentralised agency and in this location than in the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that in the financial year 2006 the cost of privileges for agency staff made up more than 13% of the agency's final budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that the cost of private travel for agency staff and members of their families is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 52 #

2007/2050(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
66. Notes that the agency's staff expenditure per post increased by 11.6% between the financial year 2006 and the 2008 preliminary draft budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on discharge
Paragraph 1
1. Postpones its decision on gGrantings the Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (formerly European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia) discharge in respect of the implementation of the Agency's budget for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on the closure of accounts
Paragraph 2
2. PostponApproves the closure of the accounts of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (formerly European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia) for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the agency's administrative spending in 2006 accounted for a substantial proportion of its overall expenditure, making the effective and efficient performance of its tasks difficult;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
62. Notes that no strict logic was applied to the choice of location for the agency and that as a result a substantial volume of unnecessary additional costs has arisen;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Notes that it is not clear how this activity can be carried out more efficiently and more effectively in a decentralised agency and in this location than in the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that in the financial year 2006 the cost of privileges for agency staff made up more than 6% of the agency's final budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that the cost of private travel for agency staff and members of their families is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 52 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
66. Notes that the agency's staff expenditure per post increased by 44% between the financial year 2006 and the 2008 preliminary draft budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 53 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67
67. Notes that, in January 2008, OLAF launched an investigation in connection with the Agency and that results are not yet available;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 54 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
68. Notes that the number of members of the Management Board is unacceptably high and, as a result, efficient decision- taking is impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 55 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69
69. Is of the opinion that because of direct and indirect financial contributions from the host country, cost transparency is difficult to achieve;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 56 #

2007/2049(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70
70. Notes that expenditure under budget Item 2050 was EUR 2109 per staff member and that this figure, by comparison with the other 19 agencies, is the second largest; calls therefore on the Agency to evaluate and reduce these costs immediately,deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 3 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 38 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 39 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Privilegesdeleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 44 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 a (new)
60a. Congratulates the Director and his staff for the work done in a very difficult environment, which has considerably improved the image of the EU and its visibility;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 b (new)
60b. Considers that the Agency has not only the systems (logistics, IT systems, and others) to implement swiftly large amounts of support in post-conflict areas, but that it has especially also proven high levels of expertise and know-how in post- war reconstruction;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 c (new)
60c. Is convinced that, at the point where the Commission takes over the management of the new Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance in view of the acquis-related tasks related to the Balkans, it should finally present to the Council a new mandate for the Agency, which should, as decided, finish its work in the Balkans by the end of 2008 and be converted into a truly European Agency for external actions;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 d (new)
60d. Considers that a new mandate for this successful agency would be the most efficient way to carry out the new tasks in external actions, which cannot be carried out by Commission services in Brussels or by Commission delegations;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2007/2048(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 e (new)
60e. Considers that, with this new mandate, the Agency could play a most efficient role in areas where traditional development assistance cannot be implemented; considers also that this would significantly increase the EU's visibility;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on discharge
Paragraph 1
1. Postpones its decision on gGrantings the Director of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions discharge in respect of the implementation of the Foundation's budget for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on the closure of the accounts
Paragraph 2
2. PostponApproves the closure of the accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 4 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 5 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 6 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 7 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 8 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 9 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 10 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 11 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 46 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 47 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the agency's administrative spending in 2006 accounted for too great a proportion of its overall expenditure, making the effective and efficient performance of its tasks almost impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
62. Notes that no strict logic was applied to the choice of location for the agency and that as a result a substantial volume of unnecessary additional costs has arisen;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Notes the unacceptable and frequently criticised overlaps between this agency’s area of activity and that of other agencies; this generates yet more additional costs, particularly as a result of the duplication of work in the administrative sphere;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that it is not clear how this activity can be carried out more efficiently and more effectively in a decentralised agency and in this location than in the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that in the financial year 2006 the cost of privileges for agency staff made up almost 10% of the agency's final budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 52 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
66. Notes that the cost of private travel for agency staff and members of their families is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 53 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67
67. Notes that the agency's staff expenditure per post increased by 9.3% between the financial year 2006 and the 2008 preliminary draft budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 54 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
68. Notes that the administrative board has an unacceptably high number of members, so that efficient decision- making is impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 55 #

2007/2047(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69
69. Notes that although the agency was set up as long ago as 1975, the rate of increase in the subsidy from the Community budget over the period from 2000 to 2006 was 27.13%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 1 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on discharge
Paragraph 1
1. Postpones its decision on gGrantings the Director of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training discharge in respect of the implementation of the Centre's budget for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 2 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Proposal for a decision on the closure of the accounts
Paragraph 2
2. PostponApproves the closure of the accounts of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for the financial year 2006;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 12 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1.Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of the limited conferral of powers, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and which stipulates that the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors exercise their powers under the conditions and for the purposes provided for, on the one hand, by the provisions of the Treaties establishing the European Communities and of the subsequent Treaties and Acts modifying and supplementing them and, on the other hand, by the other provisions of the TEU;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 13 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of subsidiarity, which, in the current documents providing the legal basis for the European Union, is enshrined, inter alia, in Article 5, second paragraph, of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) and which stipulates that in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence the Community shall take action only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can therefore, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action, be better achieved by the Community;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 14 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality for any proposed Community legislation the reasons on which it is based must be stated with a view to justifying its compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and the reasons for concluding that a Community objective can be better achieved at Community level must be substantiated by qualitative or quantitative indicators;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 15 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality Community action within the limits of its powers can be either expanded or restricted or discontinued where it is no longer justified;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 16 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises, in that connection, that pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality due account must be taken of the need for any financial or administrative burden falling on the Community to be minimised and proportionate to the objective to be achieved;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 17 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Emphasises that it unreservedly endorses the principle of sound financial management, as laid down, inter alia, in Article 274 TEC, and, hence, the objective of achieving the best possible result with a given volume of appropriations or achieving a given result using the smallest possible volume of appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 18 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises, in that connection, that in its White Paper on the reform of the Commission the Commission laid down as guidelines for the formulation of an externalisation policy cost-effectiveness and the ability to exercise its powers to implement the budget, pursuant to Article 274 TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 19 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasises that pursuant to Article 253 TEC regulations, directives and decisions adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council and such acts adopted by the Council or the Commission must state the reasons on which they are based and refer to any proposals or opinions which were required to be obtained pursuant to the TEC;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 20 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that decentralisation and devolution were key results of the process of reforming the Commission started in 1999, but that to date the Commission has submitted neither a study, nor an activity report nor an interim assessment of this form of administration; by the same token, the Commission has never given a convincing explanation of the added value provided by the agencies and of why their tasks could not equally well be performed within the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 21 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Emphasises, in that connection, that between the year 2000 (publication of the White Paper on the Reform of the Commission) and 2007 the staff complement of the Commission and agencies (excluding executive agencies) increased by a total of 85%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 22 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Notes, in that connection, that in recent years the pace at which decentralised agencies are being set up has steadily increased, and that they are being established unsystematically and with no uniform framework: whereas in 1990 only three, in 1995 six, and in 2000 seven agencies existed, the 2008 budget lists no fewer than 25, seven of which have been added since 2005 alone;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 23 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises, in that connection, that the agencies to which it grants discharge make up only a part of the total and that the increase in permanent and temporary posts for all the decentralised agencies from 166 in the year 2000 to a total of 3151 in 2007 (+1800%) clearly illustrates the problems in this area;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 24 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises further, in that connection, that average staff costs increased by more than 40% between 2006 and 2008;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 25 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises finally, in that connection, that the subsidies paid to the agencies from the Community budget have increased disproportionately in recent years, that the appropriations from the Community budget paid to agencies to which Parliament grants discharge, which were established between 1975 and 1997 and have thus gone well beyond the start- up and initial growth phases, increased by some 90% between 2000 and 2008, and that during that period the subsidies paid to some of these agencies increased by more than 210%;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 26 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
19. Emphasises that only two agencies are not in any way dependent on EU subsidies, whilst most of them are funded exclusively from EU budget appropriations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 27 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
20. Notes, in that connection, that a clear trend is emerging whereby the agencies revise their need for Community subsidies disproportionately upwards every six months, thus committing a steadily increasing proportion of the available appropriations, and that there are insufficient incentives to use financial resources sparingly;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 28 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
21. Takes the view that direct and indirect payments and subsidies to the agencies from host countries (e.g. funding for building projects, office facilities, municipal taxes, etc.) have made it impossible to draw up a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of the agencies and that this practice disguises the true costs;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 29 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
22. Takes the view that in most cases there has been no proper strategy underpinning the process of establishing agencies and that political considerations and factors, such as the attempt, with the help of the agencies, to influence the balance of power among the institutions, outweigh, and in some cases run entirely counter to, the original objectives, such as greater responsibility, transparency and efficiency in European administration;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 30 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
23. Takes the view that the lack of a proper strategy on setting up agencies has generated unnecessary costs and that the true costs have been hidden from taxpayers, since, for example, missing infrastructure has not been taken into account and additional costs – for instance for the construction of new office and conference buildings, the setting-up of new schools, the development of transport infrastructure in response to an increase in missions between places of work scattered throughout Europe, as a result of serious recruitment problems, etc. – have arisen as a result;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 31 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
24. Notes that the Commission's devolution policy has given rise to the duplication of work, above all in the area of administration, generating unnecessary additional costs and requiring the same know-how to be available several times over; notes, at the same time, that many agencies' administrative expenditure is far too high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 32 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
25. Takes the view that, with a few exceptions, no efforts have been made systematically to involve the agencies in the work of the Commission and that the agencies' spheres of responsibility frequently relate only to areas covered by 'open coordination' and bear no relation to the European Union's real needs and taxpayers' expectations;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 33 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
26. Takes the view that the Commission no longer regards the decentralised agencies as a means of implementing its policies and has attempted to shed all responsibility for them, for example by stipulating that the Commission's Internal Auditor should no longer be responsible for auditing the decentralised agencies and should in future only confirm that their internal audit practices are consistent with international standards;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 34 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
27. Notes that in the case of some agencies the number of members of the administrative board exceeds the total number of staff, ruling out efficient and cost-effective decision-making;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 35 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
28. Notes, on that basis, that the aim behind the practice of devolution - which is seen as one of the three main aspects of externalisation policy and was put forward as a reform strategy by the Commission in its White Paper - namely the more efficient, more rational and more effective provision of responsible administration, has not been achieved through the setting-up of decentralised agencies and that the Commission's reform efforts in this area have failed;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 36 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 37 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
30. Calls on the Commission to meet to the letter the requirements to justify compliance with the subsidiarity principle;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 38 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
31. Calls on the Commission to comply strictly with the principle of sound financial management;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 39 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
33. Calls for every decision on the final location of an agency to be taken when the regulation establishing that agency is adopted;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 40 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which provides for the number of full members of the administrative board of an agency to be reduced as quickly as possible to a figure equal to no more than 10% of the posts in that agency’s establishment plan and to no more than 20 in total;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 41 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Requests that the performance of the agencies be regularly (and on an ad hoc basis) audited by the Court of Auditors or another independent auditor; considers that this should not be limited to traditional elements of financial management and the proper use of public money, but should also cover administrative efficiency and effectiveness and should include a rating of the financial management of each agency;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 42 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Takes the view that in the case of agencies which are continually overestimating their respective budget needs, technical abatement should be made on the basis of vacant posts; is of the opinion that this will lead in the long run to less assigned revenue for the agencies and therefore also to lower administrative costs;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 43 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 b (new)
36b. Notes that it is a serious problem that a number of agencies is criticised for not following rules on public procurement, the Financial Regulation, the Staff Regulations etc.; considers that the principal reason for this is that most regulations and the Financial Regulation are designed for bigger institutions and that most of the small agencies do not have the critical mass to be able to cope with these regulatory requirements; therefore asks the Commission to look for a rapid solution in order to enhance the effectiveness by grouping the administrative functions of various agencies together, in order to achieve this critical mass (taking into consideration the necessary changes in the basic regulations governing the agencies and their budgetary independence), or urgently to draft specific rules for the agencies (in particular implementing rules for the agencies) which allow them to be in full compliance;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 44 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 c (new)
36c. Insists that the Commission, when drafting the Preliminary Draft Budget, take into consideration the results of budget implementation by the individual agencies in former years, in particular in year n-1, and, revise the budget requested by the particular agency accordingly; invites its competent committee to respect this revision and, if not undertaken by the Commission, to revise itself the budget in question to a realistic level matching the absorption and implementation capacity of the agency in question;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 45 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 d (new)
36d. Recalls its decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2005, in which it invited the Commission to present every five years a study on the added value of every existing agency; invites all relevant institutions in the case of a negative evaluation of the added value of an agency to take the necessary steps by reformulating the mandate of that agency or by closing it; notes that there has not been one single evaluation undertaken by the Commission in 2007; insists that the Commission should present at least 5 such evaluations before the decision on discharge in respect of the financial year 2007, starting with the oldest agencies;
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 48 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Calls on the Council to agree to a binding horizontal funding ceiling for the agencies;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 49 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
38. Acknowledges that Parliament, as the body responsible for financial control of the agencies, creates unacceptable conflicts of interest through its practice of appointing members of the agencies’ administrative boards and management bodies, and calls, therefore, for Parliament to halt this practice;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 50 #
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 51 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to submit as quickly as possible a proposal to abolish or drastically cut back privileges, in particular under budget Items 1101, 1102, 1141, 1182 and 1183;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 53 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
40. Refuses to accept that agency staff and members of their families should be able to undertake private travel paid for from the agency's budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 54 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to submit a proposal which seeks to amend the Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, so that private travel by staff and members of their families, as governed by Annex VII, Section 3 C, Article 8, can no longer be paid for from public funds, and to achieve drastic savings in the area of staff privileges; Specific pointsdeleted Or. en
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 55 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
61. Notes that the agency's administrative spending in 2006 accounted for much too great a proportion of its overall expenditure, making the effective and efficient performance of its tasks impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 56 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
62. Notes that no strict logic was applied to the choice of location for the agency and that as a result a substantial volume of unnecessary additional costs has arisen;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 58 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
63. Notes the unacceptable and frequently criticised overlaps between this agency’s area of activity and that of other agencies; this is generating yet more additional costs, particularly as a result of the duplication of work in the administrative sphere;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 60 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64
64. Notes that it is not clear how this activity can be carried out more efficiently and more effectively in a decentralised agency and in this location than in the Commission itself;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 62 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 65
65. Notes that in the financial year 2006 the cost of privileges for agency staff made up at least 8% of the agency's final budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 63 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
66. Notes that the cost of private travel for agency staff and members of their families is unacceptably high;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 64 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 67
67. Notes that the agency's staff expenditure per post increased by 26.13% between the financial year 2006 and the 2008 preliminary draft budget;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 65 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
68. Notes that the administrative board has an unacceptably high number of members, so that efficient decision- making is impossible;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 66 #

2007/2046(DEC)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69
69. Notes that although the agency was set up as long ago as 1975, the rate of increase in the subsidy from the Community budget was 29.25% over the period from 2000 to 2006;deleted
2008/03/06
Committee: CONT
Amendment 117 #

2007/0248(COD)


Recital 26 a (new)
(26a) Directive 2002/22/EC is without prejudice to reasonable network management by providers, for example to address congestion and capacity constraints, to ensure the security of the network and of users and to enable reliable performance of individual services. These practices should not hinder the competitive development of the information society and should respect the requirements set out in articles 20 and 21 of Directive 2002/22/EC.
2009/03/16
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 136 #

2007/0248(COD)


Article 1 – point 13
Directive 2002/22/EC
Article 22 – paragraph 3
3. In order to prevent theaddress unjustified degradation of service and the hindering or slowing down of traffic over networks, Member States shall ensure that national regulatory authorities are able to set minimum quality of service requirements on an undertaking or undertakings providing public communications networks.
2009/03/16
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 262 #

2007/0199(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 14
Regulation (EC) No 1775/2005
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point h
(h) details on the topics listed in Article 2c(3)deleted
2008/04/14
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 53 #

2007/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003
Article 2c – paragraph 4
4. The Agency shall monitor the implementation of the codes by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity shall monitor the implementation of the technical and market codes and include the results of its monitoring activities in the annual report referred to in paragraph 1(e).
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 86 #

2007/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003
Article 2 e a (new)
Article 2ea Development of guidelines 1. The Commission shall, after consultation with the Agency, establish an annual priority list identifying issues of prime importance for the development of the internal market in electricity. 2. Having regard to the priority list, the Commission shall mandate the Agency to develop within no more than six months draft guidelines setting basic, clear and objective principles for the harmonisation of rules, as set out under Article 2c . 3. In the drafting of these guidelines, the Agency shall consult extensively in an open and transparent manner and shall keep ENTSO and other stakeholders informed. 4. The Agency shall finalize the draft guidelines on the basis of the consultation. It shall make public all observations received, unless confidential, and explain how they have been taken into consideration in the final draft of the guidelines or justify their rejection. 5. The Commission shall submit the draft guidelines to the Committee referred to in Article 13(1) for their final adoption in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 13(2). 6. The Commission, at its own initiative or upon request of the Agency, may initiate the same procedure for the up-dating of guidelines.
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 88 #

2007/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 3
Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003
Article 2 e b (new)
Article 2eb Development of codes 1. On adoption of the guidelines in accordance with Article 2ea, the Commission shall mandate ENTSO to develop within six months draft codes, fully complying with the principles established in the guidelines. 2. In the drafting of these codes ENTSO shall take into consideration technical expertise from market participants and shall keep them informed. 3. ENTSO shall submit the draft codes to the Agency. 4. The Agency shall consult on the draft codes extensively in an open and transparent manner. 5. On the basis of the consultation, the Agency shall finalize and adopt the draft codes. It shall make public all observations received, unless confidential, and explain how they have been taken into consideration in the final draft codes or justify their rejection. 6. On the Agency own initiative or at the request of the ENTSO, a revision of the existing codes may be undertaken following the same procedure.
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 149 #

2007/0198(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 1 – point 8
Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point h
h) details on the topics listed in Article 2c (3).deleted
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 62 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – point c a (new)
(ca) a Permanent Market Stakeholders Group, which shall exercise the responsibilities set out in Article 14a.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 63 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – point c b (new)
(cb) a Permanent Consumers' Group, which shall exercise the responsibilities set out in Article 14b.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 77 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 a (new)
Article 5a Consultation The Agency shall consult extensively and at an early stage with market participants, consumers and end-users in an open and transparent manner, in particular with regard to its task vis-à-vis TSOs.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 85 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. The Agency may provide an opinion toshall approve the 10-year investment plan of the European Networks of Transmission System Operators for Electricity as provided fornd Gas, referred to in Article 2d(2)c of Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003 and to the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas as provided for in Article 2d(2)c of Regulation (EC) No 1775/2005 on the technical or market codes, on the draft annual work programme and the draft 10-year investment plan, ensuring non-discrimination, effective competition and the efficient and secure functioning of the market.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 95 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The 10-year investment plan should contain provisions for the transition to the smart grids within next 10 years after entry into force of this regulation. The Agency and the National Regulatory Agencies shall be consulted on the transmission system operators' progress towards the development of smart grids. To this end an incremental timetable shall be set, with the goal to complete.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 96 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The Agency, having regard to the priority list drawn up by the Commission, shall, at the request of the Commission, develop draft guidelines to be followed by the ENTSOs in the preparation of codes and other tasks set out under Article 2c of Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003 and in Article 2c of Regulation (EC) No 1775/2005. In the drafting of the above mentioned guidelines the agency shall consult extensively. The Agency shall submit the draft guidelines to the Commission which shall submit them to the Committee referred to in Article 13 (1) for their final adoption in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 13(2) of Regulation(EC) No 1228/2003 and in Art.13(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1775/2005. The ENTSOs shall prepare draft codes in a way that meets the objectives and any criteria set out in the Guidelines as adopted according to the above mentioned procedure. The Agency shall finalize and adopt the draft codes prepared by ENTSOs and shall be responsible also for monitoring their implementation by the ENTOs.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 118 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. The Agency shall monitor the authorisation process of the construction of new transborder capacities, and ensure the speeding up of this process within the confines of enhanced regional cooperation.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 125 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. The Agency shall promotensure cooperation between the national regulatory authorities and between regulatory authoritiesat European and at regional level. Where the Agency considers that binding rules on such cooperation are required, it shall make the appropriate recommendations to the Commission.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 130 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. The Agency shall monitor developments in the gas and electricity markets, and in particular the retail prices of gas and electricity and the consumers' rights specified in the proposals for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/55/EC and 2003/54/EC.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 132 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. The Agency shall monitor developments in the gas and electricity markets, in particular the access of renewables to the grid by ensuring a positive benchmarking of the national peculiarities on their access and by facilitating the take over of this practise in other Member States.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 137 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 a (new)
Article 8a Time limit for decisions on exemptions If the Agency doesn’t adopt a decision in the matters where the Agency has, according to Art. 8 of this Regulation, binding powers, within the maximum time-limit of three months from the date of the request by the interested parties, the decision shall be taken by the European Commission.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 140 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 a (new)
Article 8a Supervision, enforcement and penalties 1. The Agency, in consultation with the Commission may impose financial penalties on transmission system operators, who fail to honour its respective obligations under Article 7 or fail to provide information requested by the Agency to perform its tasks. Penalties shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. 2. The national regulatory authorities in co-operation with the Agency shall be responsible for verifying compliance by transmission system operators with obligations arising from the provisions described in this Regulation. 3. When penalties are imposed under this Article, the Authority shall publish the names of the transmission system operators involved and the amounts of and reasons for the financial penalties imposed.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 180 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 10
10. The Administrative Board shall adopt the annual report on the activities of the Agency, referred to in Article 14(8), and shall transmit ion the developments in the gas and electricity markets, including consumer issues, in which it shall identify remaining barriers to the completion of the single market for gas and electricity. The Agency shall transmit the Report to the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Court of Auditors by 15 June at the latest. This report shall contain an independent section, approved by the Board of Regulators, concerning the regulatory activities of the Agency during the year considered.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 194 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3
3. The Board of Regulators shall act by a simple majority of two-thirds of it members. Each member or alternate shall have one vote.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 204 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. The European Parliament and the Council may call upon the Chair of the Board of Regulators to submit a report on the performance of his duties.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 268 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 a (new)
Article 14a Permanent Market Stakeholders' Group 1. The Director shall establish a Permanent Market Stakeholders' Group composed of experts representing relevant stakeholders, in particular from generation, supply, trading and distribution system operators and academic experts from the similar fields. The Director shall determine the procedures regarding the number, the composition, the appointment of the members, and the operation of the group. 2. The Group shall be chaired by the Director. The term of office of its members shall be two-and-a-half years. Members of the Group may not be members of the Administrative Board and Board of Regulators. 3. Representatives of the Commission shall be entitled to be present in the meeting and participate in the work of the Group. 4. The Group shall advise the Director in the performance of his/her duties under this Regulation, in drawing up proposals for the relevant parts of the Agency's work programme, as well as in ensuring communications with stakeholders on all issues related to the work programme.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 269 #

2007/0197(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 b (new)
Article 14b Permanent Consumers' Group 1. The Director shall establish a Permanent Consumers' Group composed of consumers' representatives. The Director shall determine the procedures regarding the number, the composition, the appointment of the members, and the operation of the group. 2. The Group shall be chaired by the Director. The term of office of its members shall be two-and-a-half years. Members of the Group may not be members of the Administrative Board and Board of Regulators. 3. Representatives of the Commission shall be entitled to be present in the meeting and participate in the work of the Group. 4. The Group shall advise the Director in the performance of his/her duties under this Regulation, in drawing up proposals for the relevant parts of the Agency's work programme, as well as in ensuring communications with consumers on all issues related to the work programme. The Group shall ensure that the interest of consumers at the European level are appropriately protected and be responsible for providing advice, information and representation for consumer organisations. The Group shall assist the Commission and the National Regulatory Agencies in monitoring the effectiveness of the measures, which address energy poverty and the practise of the tariff system in the Member States.
2008/04/01
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 83 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 13
(13) Full separation of network and supply activities should apply throughout the Community, so that any network operator in the Community or its affiliated companies should be prevented from having any supply or production activities in any Member State. This should apply equally to EU and non-EU companies. To ensure that network and supply activities throughout the Community are kept separate, regulatory authorities should be empowered to refuse certification to transmission system operators that do not comply with the unbundling rules. To ensure a consistent application across the Community and the respect of the international obligations of the Community, the CommissionAgency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators ("Agency") should have the right to review the decisions on certification taken by the regulatory authorities.
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 91 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 16 a (new)
(16a) Any harmonisation of the powers of national regulatory authorities should include incentives that can be offered and sanctions that can be levelled against energy companies. The Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators ("Agency") should be given the appropriate powers to take the lead in ensuring there is parity in the incentives and sanctions across all Member States, and provide guidelines on such measures.
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 119 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 25 a (new)
(25a) The development of a truly European pipeline network should be the goal of this Directive and to this end regulatory issues on cross-border interconnections and regional markets should be the responsibility of the Agency.
2008/04/07
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 385 #

2007/0196(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 14
Directive 2003/55/EC
Article 24c – paragraph 1 – point (b)
(b) cooperating on cross-border issues with the regulatory authority or authorities of those Member States and the Agency;
2008/03/31
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 113 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) Complying with the regulations on an effective and efficient legal unbundling and provided that the network undertaking performs all the functions of the network operator and a detailed regulation and extensive regulatory control mechanism are put in place, vertical integrated undertakings may remain the owner of their network assets and ensure an effective separation of interests at the same time.
2008/03/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 122 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Recital 11
(11) Where the undertaking owning a transmission system is part of a vertically integrated undertaking, Member States should therefore be given a choice between ownership unbundling and, as a derogation, setting up system operators which are independent from supply and generation interests and effective and efficient legal unbundling of transmission system operators. The full effectiveness of the independent system operator solution needs to be assured by way of specific additional rules. To preserve fully the interests of the shareholders of vertically integrated companies, Member States should have the choice of implementing ownership unbundling either by direct divestiture or by splitting the shares of the integrated company into shares of the network company and shares of the remaining supply and generation business, provided that the requirements resulting from ownership unbundling are complied with.
2008/03/17
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 226 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 4
Directive 2003/54/EC
Article 8 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. In order to ensure the independence of transmission system operators, Member States shall ensure that as from [date of transposition plus one year] vertically integrated undertakings have to comply either with the following points (a) to (d) or with Article 10 or with the provisions of Article 10b:
2008/04/11
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 303 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 1 – point 8 a (new)
Directive 2003/54/EC
Article 10 b (new)
(8a) The following Article shall be inserted: "Article 10b Effective and efficient legal unbundling of transmission systems I. Assets, equipment, staff and identity 1. Transmission system operators shall be equipped with all human, physical and financial resources of the vertically integrated undertaking necessary for the regular business of electricity transmission, in particular: (i) transmission system operator shall own assets that are necessary for the regular business of electricity transmission; (ii) transmission system operator shall employ personnel necessary for the regular business of electricity transmission; (iii) appropriate financial resources for future investment projects shall be available in the annual financial plan. The activities deemed necessary for the regular business of electricity transmission mentioned in previous subparagraph shall at least include: - representation of the transmission system operator and contacts with third parties and national regulatory authorities, - granting and managing third party access to the grid, especially the access for new market operators and producers of renewable energies, - collection of the access charges, congestion rents and payments under the inter transmission system operator compensation mechanism in compliance with Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003, - operation, maintenance and development of the transmission system, - investment planning ensuring the long- term ability of the system to meet reasonable demand and guaranteeing security of supply, - legal services, - accountancy and IT services. 2. Leasing of personnel and rendering of services, from and to any branch of the vertically integrated undertaking performing functions of generation or supply, shall be prohibited. 3. The transmission system operator shall not engage in any business or activity outside transmission which could be in conflict with its tasks, including the holding of shares or interests in any undertaking or part of the vertically integrated company or in any other electricity and gas company. Exceptions require the prior consent of the national regulatory authority and shall be restricted to shares and interests in other network businesses. 4. The transmission system operator shall have its own legal identity, significantly different from the vertically integrated undertaking with separate branding, communication and premises. 5. The transmission system operator shall not share any commercially advantageous and sensitive information with any undertaking of the vertically integrated undertaking unless it does so with all market participants in a non- discriminatory way. The transmission system operator shall in cooperation with the national regulatory authority define this information. 6. Transmission system operators´ accounts shall be audited by another auditor than the one auditing the vertically integrated undertaking and all its affiliated companies. II. Independence of the transmission system operator management, chief executive officer / executive board 7. Decisions on the appointment and on any early termination of the employment of the chief executive officer / members of the executive board of the transmission system operator and the conclusion or early termination of the respective employment agreements with these persons shall be notified to the national regulatory authority. These decisions and agreements may become binding only if, within a period of 3 weeks after notification, the national regulatory authority has not used its right of veto. A veto may be issued in cases of appointment and conclusion of respective agreements if serious doubts arise as to the professional independence of the nominated chief executive officer / member of the executive board; in the case of early termination of employment and of respective agreements of the chief executive officer / member of the executive board, the veto may be used if serious doubts exist regarding the basis and justification of such termination. 8. Right of appeal to the national regulatory authority or to a court shall be guaranteed to the chief executive officer / member of the executive board of the transmission system operator in the case of early terminations of their employment. 9. The national regulatory authority shall decide on the appeal within six months. Exceptions shall be justified. 10. After termination of employment in the transmission system operator, former chief executive officers / members of the executive board shall not participate in any branch of the vertically integrated undertaking performing functions of generation or supply for a period of not less than 3 years. 11. The chief executive officer / members of the executive board shall not hold any interest in or receive any compensation from any undertaking of the vertically integrated company other than the transmission system operator. His/their remuneration shall in no part depend on activities of the vertically integrated undertaking other than those of the transmission system operator. 12. The chief executive officer or the members of the executive board of the transmission system operator may not bear responsibility, directly or indirectly, for the day-to-day operation of any other branch of the vertically integrated undertaking. 13. Without prejudice to the provisions above, the transmission system operator shall have all effective decision-making rights, independent from the integrated electricity undertaking, with respect to assets necessary to operate, maintain or develop the network. This should not prevent the existence of appropriate coordination mechanisms to ensure that the parent company is able to set global limits on the levels of indebtedness of its subsidiary. It shall not permit the parent company to give instructions regarding day-to-day operations, nor with respect to individual decisions concerning the construction or upgrading of transmission lines, that do not exceed the terms of the approved financial plan, or any equivalent instrument. III. Supervisory board / Board of directors 14. The chairman of the supervisory board/board of directors of the transmission system operator and all of its members shall not participate in any branch of the vertically integrated undertaking. They shall also not be members of the supervisory board/board of directors of any undertaking of the vertically integrated company. 15. The supervisory boards / boards of directors of transmission system operators shall include also independent members, appointed for a term of at least 5 years. Their appointment shall be notified to the regulatory authority and become binding under the conditions described in paragraph 6. 16. For the purpose of paragraph 15, a member of the supervisory board / board of directors of a transmission system operator shall be deemed independent if he is free of any business, or other relationship with the vertically integrated undertaking, its controlling shareholders or the management of either, that creates a conflict of interest, in particular: (a) has not been an employee of any branch of the vertically integrated undertaking performing functions of generation and supply in five years prior to their appointment as supervisory board / board of directors member; (b) does not hold any interest in and does not receive any compensation from the vertically integrated undertaking or any of its affiliates except the transmission system operator; (c) does not hold any relevant business relationship with any branch of the vertically integrated company performing functions of energy supply during his/her appointment as supervisory board / board of directors member; (d) is not a member of the executive board of a company in which the vertically integrated undertaking appoints members of the supervisory board /board of directors. IV. Compliance officer 17. Member States shall ensure that transmission system operators establish and implement a compliance programme which sets out measures to be taken to ensure that discriminatory conduct is excluded. The programme shall also set out the specific obligations of employees of the transmission system operator to meet this objective. It shall be subject to approval of the national regulatory authority. Compliance of the program shall be independently monitored by the compliance officer. The national regulatory authority shall have the power to impose sanctions in case of inappropriate implementation of the compliance program by the transmission system operator. 18. The chief executive officer/ executive board of the transmission system operator shall appoint a person or a body in a function of a compliance officer who shall be responsible for: (i) monitoring the implementation of the compliance programme; (ii) elaborating an detailed annual report, setting out the measures taken in order to implement the compliance programme and submitting it to the national regulatory authority; definition of measures for the implementation of the compliance program and presentation of the report to the regulatory authority; (iii) issuing recommendations on the compliance programme and its implementation. 19. The independence of the compliance officer shall be guaranteed in particular by the terms of his/her employment contract. 20. The compliance officer shall have the opportunity to regularly address the supervisory board/board of directors of the transmission system operator and of the vertically integrated undertaking and the national regulatory authorities. 21. The compliance officer shall participate at all meetings of the supervisory board / board of directors of the transmission system operator that address the following issues: (i) conditions for access and connection to the grid, including the collection of access charges, congestion rents, and payments under the inter transmission system operator compensation mechanism in compliance with Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003; (ii) projects undertaken in order to operate, maintain and develop the transmission grid system, including interconnection and connection investments; (iii) balancing rules, including reserve power rules; (iv) energy purchases in order to cover energy losses. 22. During these meetings, the compliance officer shall prevent information about generation or supply activities which may be commercially advantageous from being disclosed in a discriminatory manner to the supervisory board/board of directors. 23. The compliance officer shall have access to all relevant books, records and offices of the transmission system operator and to all the necessary information for the fulfilment of his/her tasks. 24. The compliance officer shall be nominated and removed by the chief executive officer / executive board only after prior approval by the national regulatory authority. 25. Following revocation of his/her mandate, the compliance officer should be barred from having business relations with the vertical integrated undertaking for a period of not less than five years. V. Grid development and powers to make investment decisions 26. Transmission system operators shall elaborate a 10-year network development plan at least every two years. They shall provide efficient measures in order to guarantee system adequacy and security of supply. 27. The 10-year network development plan shall in particular: (a) indicate to market participants the main transmission infrastructures that ought to be built over the next ten years, (b) contain all the investments already decided and identify new investments for which an implementation decision has to be taken in the next three years. 28. In order to draw up this 10-year network development plan, each transmission system operator shall make reasonable hypothesis about the evolution of generation, consumption and exchanges with other countries, and take into account regional and European-wide existing network investment plans. Transmission system operator shall submit in due time the draft of this plan to the national regulatory authority. 29. The national regulatory authority shall consult all relevant network users on the basis of a draft for the 10-year network development plan in an open and transparent manner and may publish the result of the consultation process, in particular possible needs for investments. 30. The regulatory authority shall examine whether the draft 10-year network development plan covers all investment needs identified in the consultation. This authority may oblige the transmission system operator to amend its draft. 31. If the transmission system operator rejects to implement a specific investment listed in the 10-year network development plan to be executed in the next three years, Members States shall ensure that the national regulatory authority has the competence to take one of the following measures: (a) request by all legal means the transmission system operator to execute its investment obligations using its financial capacities, or (b) invite independent investors to participate in a tender for a necessary investment in a transmission system and at the same time may oblige the transmission system operator: - to agree to financing by any third party, - to agree to building by any third party or to build the respective new assets, - to operate the respective new asset and - to oblige transmission system operator to accept a capital increase to finance the necessary investments and allow independent investors to participate in the capital. The relevant financial arrangements shall be subject to the approval of the national regulatory authority. In both cases, tariff regulation shall allow for revenues that cover the costs of such investments. 32. The national regulatory authority shall monitor and evaluate the implementation of the investment plan. VI. Decision-making powers regarding the connection of new power plants to the transmission grid 33. Transmission system operators shall be obliged to establish and publish transparent and efficient procedures for non-discriminatory connection of new power plants to the grid. Those procedures shall be subject to the approval of national regulatory authorities. 34. Transmission system operators shall not be entitled to refuse the connection of a new power plant on the grounds of possible future limitations to available network capacities, e.g. congestion in distant parts of the transmission grid. The transmission system operators shall be obliged to supply necessary information. 35. Transmission system operators shall not be entitled to refuse a new connection point on the sole ground that it will lead to additional costs linked with necessary capacity increase of grid elements in the close-up range to the connection point. VII. Regional cooperation 36. Member States choosing this path must place precise obligations on transmission system operators within a clearly defined time frame and progressively leading to the creation of a common regional dispatching centre responsible for security issues within six years after the entry into force of this Directive. 37. In case of a cooperation between several Member States at a regional level and following the joint request of these Member States, the Commission may designate a regional coordinator. 38. The regional coordinator shall promote, at a regional level, the cooperation of regulatory authorities and any other competent public authorities, network operators, power exchanges, grid users and market parties. In particular, the regional coordinator shall: (a) promote new efficient investments in interconnections. To this end, the regional coordinator shall assist transmission system operators by elaborating their regional interconnection plan and shall contribute to the coordination of their investments decisions and, where appropriate, of their open season procedure; (b) promote the efficient and safe use of the networks. To this end, the regional coordinator shall contribute to the coordination between transmission system operators, national regulatory authorities and other competent national public authorities with the elaboration of common allocation and common safeguard mechanisms; (c) annually submit a report to the Commission and Member States concerned on the progress achieved in the region and on any difficulty or obstacle that may hinder the progress. VIII. Sanctions 39. In order to carry out the duties assigned to it by this Article, the national regulatory authority: (i) shall have the right to request any information from the transmission system operator and to directly contact all staff of the transmission system operators; if doubts remain, the same rights shall apply for the vertically integrated undertaking and its subsidiaries; (ii) may conduct all necessary inspections of the transmission system operators and, if doubts remain, of the vertically integrated undertaking and its subsidiaries; the rules of Article 20 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty shall apply. 40. In order to carry out its duties assigned to it by this Article, the national regulatory authority shall have the power to impose effective, appropriate and dissuasive sanctions to the transmission system operator and/or the vertically integrated undertaking not complying with its obligations under this Article or any decisions of the national regulatory authority. This power shall include the right to: (i) impose effective, appropriate and dissuasive fines related to the turnover of the network company; (ii) issue orders to remedy a discriminatory behaviour; (iii) withdraw, at least partly, the licence of the transmission system operator in case of repeated breach of the unbundling provisions set out in this Article."
2008/04/11
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 574 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council annually on the formal and practical implementation of this Directive in each Member State."
2008/03/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 575 #

2007/0195(COD)

Proposal for a directive – amending act
Article 2 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. On the basis of public consultations and of discussions with the competent authorities and after having received an opinion by the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators, and six years following the entry into force of this Directive, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and the Council on the desirability of maintaining or amending this Directive. The several versions of restructuring electricity companies laid down in Articles 8a to 8d, 10 and 10b of Directive 2003/54/EC shall be verified in particular in terms of the effectiveness of their impact on network access and the necessary investments.
2008/03/19
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 22 #

2007/0121(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 31 – paragraph 1 – point (k)
(k) Chronically Aquatic Hazardous of category 1, 2, 3 and 42.
2008/02/14
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 23 #

2007/0121(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 31 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. For packaging containing 125 ml or less, precautionary statements need not be indicated on the label if the substance or mixture is classified as Chronically Aquatic Hazardous of category 3 or 4.
2008/02/14
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 24 #

2007/0121(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 31 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Single application, or single service, single portion or unit dose packs which are kept in packaging labelled pursuant to this Regulation and are removed only for single use in accordance with user instructions accompanying the packaging shall be exempted from the obligation to bear a label.
2008/02/14
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 24 #

2007/0121(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 23 a (new)
(23a) There is a need to provide appropriate information to consumers, a need to avoid the possibility of disproportionate measures such as child- resistant packaging stemming particularly from any over-classification of a mixture, and a need to avoid duplication of testing. A procedure that helps suppliers, particularly SMEs, in specific product sector groups to establish the appropriate classification and corresponding labelling and packaging for a mixture should be encouraged. Such a procedure would be open to any supplier within the specific sector group.
2008/02/11
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 25 #

2007/0121(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 36 – paragraph 1 - subparagraph 1
1. Where both an outer and an inner packaging isare used and the outer packaging does not bear a pictogramis labelled in accordance with rules on the transport of dangerous goods provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91, Directive 94/55/EC, Directive 96/49/EC or Directive 2002/59/EC, both the outer and the inner packaging shall be labelled in accordance with this Regulation.
2008/02/14
Committee: ITRE
Amendment 25 #

2007/0121(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 9 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Where a specific product sector group has established a Hazard and Classification Centre, which brings together expertise in the evaluation of information, test data, weight of evidence determinations, and bridging principles, any supplier within the product sector may rely on an evaluation from that centre for the establishment of the hazards associated with, and the corresponding classification of, the mixture.
2008/02/11
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 26 #

2007/0121(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 31 – paragraph 1 – point k
(k) Chronically Aquatic Hazardous of category 1,2, 3 and 42.
2008/02/11
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 27 #

2007/0121(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 31 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. For packaging containing 125 ml or less, precautionary statements need not be indicated on the label, if the substance or mixture is classified as Chronically Aquatic Hazardous of Category 3 or 4.
2008/02/11
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 29 #

2007/0121(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 31 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. No labelling is required for single application (or single service or single portion or unit dose) packs, which are kept in packaging, labelled pursuant to this Regulation, removed only for use according to operating or use instructions and emptied immediately.
2008/02/11
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 30 #

2007/0121(COD)

Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 36 – paragraph 1
1. Where both an outer and an inner packaging isare used and the outer packaging does not bear a pictogram, the labelling requirements shall be deemed to be satisfied if the outer package is labelled in accordance with rules on the transport of dangerous goods provided for in Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91, Directive 94/55/EC, Directive 96/49/EC or Directive 2002/59/EC, both the outer and the inner packaging shall be labelled in accordance with this Regulation. However, if the outer packaging bears a pictogram in accordance with rules on the transport of dangerous goods, only the inner packaging shall band if the inner package or packages are labelled in accordance with this Regulation.
2008/02/11
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 90 #

0249/2007(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – point d a (new)
(da) exchange experiences and promote innovation on the European market;
2008/05/15
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 91 #

0249/2007(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – point i a (new)
(ia) provide advice and assistance to market players and national regulatory authorities with regard to piracy and security issues.
2008/05/15
Committee: IMCO
Amendment 118 #

0249/2007(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Article 36 – paragraph 1
1. The revenues of the Authority shall consist of: (a) charges for services provided by the Authority; (b) a proportion of usage fees paid by applicants in accordance with the provisions of Article 17; (c) a subsidy from the Community, entered in the general budget of the European Communities (Commission Section); (d) any legacies, donations or grants as mentioned in Article 26(7). (e) any voluntary contribution from the Member States or from their regulatory authorities a grant from the Community, entered in the general budget of the European Union under Article 185 of the Financial Regulation.
2008/05/15
Committee: IMCO