56 Amendments of Margaritis SCHINAS
Amendment 1 #
2009/2006(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the general direction of the 2010 budget and the challenges to which it should respond were outlined in its abovementioned resolution of 10 March 2009 on the budgetary guidelines; highlights particularly that optimal and equal access to language facilities for members and aspectctions relatinged to Parliament's enhanced legislative role will constitute fundamental elements of the 2010 budget;
Amendment 2 #
2009/2006(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises that timely cooperation between the Bureau and Committee on Budgets in jointly clarifying the budgetary consequences of decisions to be taken should be a fundamental part of how it deals with all major issues, while maintaining the formal prerogatives of each body;
Amendment 4 #
2009/2006(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Takes good note, within the context of considerable increases already granted for 2009, of the proposals for the restructuring of services and changes to the Establishment Plan as put forward by the Bureau; underlines its wish to consider the question of the related budgetary resources once a complete picture has been given of all the requests made, including those for groups, and stresses that it will be willing to carefully consider the package at that time; therefore decides not to authorise the creation of 30 new posts at this stagof their necessity in improving Parliament's functioning, particularly in respect of its legislative role; stresses that it will carefully consider the overall requests for posts in the autumn at first reading; therefore decides to put into reserve the 30 new posts at this stage and expects clear evidence that a major effort is being made in prioritising Parliament's legislative role; notes that the level of redeployment of posts suggested is very low and encourages further efforts on this issue;
Amendment 6 #
2009/2006(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers essential that the medium to long-term building strategy plan is presented in good time before the first reading in the autumn in order to be able to make the budgetary decisions; cannotproposes ag ree to anyduction of the buildings reserve at this stage of the budget procedure and deletes the corresponding appropriationsthe introduction of an appropriate level of appropriations once the strategy in this area has been more clearly defined;
Amendment 8 #
2009/2006(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Invites the Bureau and Committee on Budgets to urgently address the Inter- Institutional Working Group on multilingualism in order to prepare a proposal (technical level) in order to make sure that inter-institutional cooperation in this field, especially as concerns the use of any free capacity, is improved; is disappointed, for instance, that the system in place for better sharing of translation between institutions is hardly used at all; expects to see a proposal on where possibilities for improvement exist before the first reading; also takes a keen interest in new technical tools for its translation services and encourages full development of thoseasks for information on their development and the related financial consequences during 2010;
Amendment 9 #
2009/2006(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Asks the Secretary General to provide a cost/benefit analysis regarding the translation in peak times, including the outsourcing to freelancers and use of teleworking by internal staffan analysis of the possibility of applying alternative working methods;
Amendment 10 #
2009/2006(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. RequSuggests an updatethat the feasibility onf how such resource sharing could be applied, in all the fields, in which the Institutions might have temporarily unused capacities, without diminishing the Institutions' independence and operational capacities (interpretation, renting out the premises, copy services, etc.), be examined;
Amendment 11 #
2009/2006(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Welcomes the fact that the Bureau's proposal follows up on last year's main priority, namely legislative work, but is of the opinion that the posts suggested need to be further analysed and, as stated above, should be considered within an overall package; takes note ofwelcomes the fact that items linked to legislation, and co-decision in particular, were key beneficiaries of budgetaryconsidered in 2009 but expects further reinforcements to be made for 20109;
Amendment 12 #
2009/2006(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes theRecalls that clarification has been asked in the IT sector and expects a clear plan for an overall ICT strategy for Parliament and considers it, which is crucial in order to make best use of the resources at its disposal; strongly believes that such a plan must be coherent and strike a careful balance between the necessary 'centralisation' and economies- of-scale already implicit with the creation of a new and separate DG for this area, as well as the needs to maintain necessary flexibility at the level of the other DGs; wishes the Bureau to guard against overlaps and double spending; calls on Bureau to ensure that the ICT security and needs of the political groups be an integral part of such a plan;
Amendment 12 #
2009/2005(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Asks the Commission, in its preparation for the preliminary draft budget (PDB) for 2010, to produce clear, consistent and sound activity statements for each policy area in order to enable all relevant European Parliament committees to thoroughly scrutinise the implementation of the various EU programmes and policies; in that respect, expects to see the appropriate evolution and implementation of the major budgetary decisions previously undertaken such as Galileo, EIT and food aid;
Amendment 22 #
2009/2005(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Expresses its readiness to take into account the outcomes of the mid-term review covering all aspects of EU spending and resources, including the UK rebate, the Commission report on the functioning of the IIA by the end of 2009 provided for by the IIA of 17 May 2006 as well as of the mid-term evaluation of the ongoing multi-annual programmes;
Amendment 31 #
2009/2005(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Underlines that, in a time of a global financial and economic crisis, Member States have responded with their individual aid measures, mobilising more than EUR 2 000 000 000 000; strongly believes that the Union has to support them with accompanying actionreact rapidly with measures that have a direct impact on the economy and support the Member States with accompanying actions particularly those enhancing competitiveness, growth, jobs and SMEs;
Amendment 35 #
2009/2005(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the intention of the Commission to respond to the economic crisis and is ready to negotiate on finding a solutionwith Council the appropriate budgetary solution; believes that the decision on the projects to be financially supported would be facilitated by a geographically balanced proposal;
Amendment 66 #
2009/2005(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Highlights the need to maintain the commitments undertaken in previous budgetary procedures towards consolidating the reinforcement of external border protection, tackling illegal immigration, managing legal immigration and strengthening solidarity between Member States for managing legal immigration;
Amendment 1 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Cannot stress enough the fundamental democratic principle that all Members should be treated equally in terms of their possibilities to express themselves and to receive and deal with all relevant informationequally provided with full and quality service allowing them to work and express themselves and to receive all documents in their native language in order to be able to act on behalf of their electors in the best way possible; considers the new parliamentary term a crucialn opportunity to make sure this is the case and agrees that, in this sense, "equal access optimal and equal provision to language facilities for Members" will be aone of the crucial guidelines for the 2010 budget;
Amendment 2 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers that equal emphasis should be given to all aspects relating to Parliament's legislative role. In particular, the priority alignment of staff and related resources should primarily accommodate parliamentary work and decision-making in the areas of co- decision, as well as in new areas of competence likely to result from the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty;
Amendment 3 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that 2010 will be a year when the Parliament, following the 2009 European elections and the changes in its composition that that will bring, gradually resumes full activity during the year and notes that this will imply a certain number of budgetary adjustments; also notes that many items relating to the election year of 2009 specifically will no longer be neededhave to be adjusted accordingly;
Amendment 4 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that 2010 will be a year of continued adaptation for the Parliament as concerns the improvement of its working methods and modernisation, which go hand in hand with its political and legislative responsibilities, and as concerns a series ofof evaluation of certain major multi- annual initiatives launched during the past few years;
Amendment 6 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Takes note of the fact that the financial ceiling of heading 5, administrative expenditure, will theoretically allow for an increase of 4 % or EUR 311 000 000; consequently notes that, as a yardstick, the voluntary 20 % share of the Parliament would still imply an "automatic" additional room for manoeuvre of EUR 62 000 000 calculated on the ceilings and EUR 87 000 000 compared to the real budget adopted for 2009; nevertheless there are uncertainties as to the evolution of the EU-GNI and the circumstances that EP will have to operate in;
Amendment 7 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Takes the view that a significant margin should be kept in the budget estimates, rather than creating a specific reserve, in order to safeguard the possibility for the new Parliament to set its own priorities once in place or adapting to changing circumstances while taking into account the 20% of the overall administrative expenditure;
Amendment 8 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Welcomes the decision to prolong for a second year the pilot exercise on enhanced cooperation between its Bureau and Committee on Budgets, which should implement a streamlined budget procedure as well as allowing for more timely and transparent consultation on all parliamentary matters with significant financial implications; underlines that the practice as to when the Bureau consults the Committee on Budgets on matters with such financial implications seems fairly inconsistentcould be improved and wishes to clarify the current practicepractical arrangements in this regard;
Amendment 9 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Amendment 10 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Underlines that the growing co- decision powers put an additional strain to all Parliament's structures dealing with legislative work and will require the necessary prioritization of staff and related resources to enable Members to perform correctly their duties;
Amendment 11 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recognises that, in many instances and particularly at committee and group stages, impossible deadlines will bring huge pressure to deal with discussions, drafts, and even votes, in a limited number of languages, in order not to delay a 'political priority'restricted deadlines; increase the importance of negotiations among the main actors; stresses, nevertheless, thate democratic legitimacy through all its composite Members and their abilityright to fully participate in discussions, read documents in their own language and effectively deal with all issues put forward, on behalf of their electors, is surely the prime 'political priority' for any Parliament; therefore considers that this budget can and should be used to work towards this goal multilingualism; therefore considers that this budget can and should be used to work towards this goal and find the correct balance between the multilingualism restrictions and the smooth completion of the legislative procedures;
Amendment 13 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Emphasises that maximum care should be taken to ensure that the overall budgetary and staffing resources at the Parliament's disposal are used in the most cost-efficient way possible to enable the institution and its Members to fulfil their missultimate mission on legislation successfully; reiterates that this implies careful planning and organisation of its working methods and, whenever possible, the pooling together of functions and structures to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy, functional overlaps, and duplication of effort and, in order to rectify a typical error of big organisations, avoid producing the same information several times over because all actors were not aware, or could not access it, the first time around;
Amendment 15 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Recalls that a significantn increase of staffing levels was agreed for 2009 although, at the same time, it was generally agreed that staff resources had now entered a phase of consolidation and that redeployment should be a continuous process following the very significant increases made with the lasrecent enlargements; renews its call on all services and the political groups to provide full justifications for their requests from the outset of the procedure;
Amendment 17 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
Amendment 19 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Recalls the importance of the screening exercise that took place during 2008; wishes for this exercise to be continued and deepened so as to take it into account when deciding on the 2010 estimates; recalls that changing circumstances of the newly elected Parliament, increased co-decision powers as well as other changes resulting from the likely entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty should also be taken into consideration;
Amendment 20 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Dissemination of information to Members
Amendment 21 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Considers it important for the 2010 procedure to clarify the situation for the benefit of all Members, including those dealing with the budgetary aspects, in order to define more clearly the different responsibilities and how to best arrange these initiatives in the most efficient way; would therefore welcome a hearing insists that administration show these are to be used, the current thinking with regard to the different elements, and howuld ensure exhaustive information to the newly elected Members concerning also the se will relate to each otherrvices they are entitled to;
Amendment 22 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Communication policyng Parliament to citizens
Amendment 23 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Notes the Bureau's reference to the three major projects in the field of communication policy - Web TV, the Visitors' Centre and the new audiovisual centre in the JAN building -; the completion and consolidation of which reprequests an updated evaluation report on the state of play, budgetary impact and the resenults a qualitative improvement in the communication instruments at the service of the institutionobtained so far in broadening Parliament's image to the citizens; deplores the fact that the visitors' centre was not established before the 2009 elections and requires full information as to the reasons behind this delay; renews its commitment to monitor closely the development of these instruments to ensure that their potential is fulfilled to the maximumand to maximize the real impact to public opinion;
Amendment 25 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Takes note of the Bureau's informatdecision concerning the "House of European History" and emphasises the need for a full and transparent consultation on thewith the competent Committees on its concept, contents and budgetary aspects in line with the pilot procedure on enhanced cooperation between its Bureau and Committee on Budgets;
Amendment 29 #
2009/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Continues to stress that improvements in the IT sector should not lead only to a greater capability to manage key aspects "in house" but also to demonstrate a greater potential to organise this area in a more cost-effective way; including the revision of the balance between internal staff and consultants; calls on the Bureau to take a decision in order to get a clear strategy of what should be done in the future to provide better support to Membersasks for a report clarifying the current situation and prospects regarding the internalization of ICT experts and appropriate governance; calls on the Bureau to set out a clear strategy for Parliament's approach on ICT -including synergies with the political groups- before taking further steps in this area;
Amendment 2 #
2008/2103(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Welcomes the Commission's intention to launch a thorough horizontal evaluation of the regulatory agencies, examining the real implications of their creation and operation in the Union; believes that, in that framework, coherent evaluation rules need to be established;
Amendment 3 #
2008/2103(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that the EU agencies have been set up in successive waves in order to meet specific needs on a case-by-case basis and that they were thus created in an uncoordinated manner without a common framework; notes, however, that none of the efforts made over the past few years to establish some common rules and principles to be applied to all agencies have been very successful; regrets the time lost and calls on the Council to make every possible effort to achieve progress in this area;
Amendment 4 #
2008/2103(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Has some understanding forIs ready to consider the Member States' concerns thatregarding the draft Interinstitutional Agreement on the operating framework for the European regulatory agencies (IIA), presented by the Commission in 2005 and aiming at establishing a horizontal framework for the creation, structure, operation, evaluation and control of European decentralised agencies, iso as too rigid anestablish an appropriate instrument andthat could therefore not be appliedy successfully to all decentralised agencies because their tasks, objectives and working methods are too diverse;
Amendment 6 #
2008/2103(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Wishes to reiterate the importance of securing on a systematic basis at interinstitutional level the application of the procedure laid down in Point 47 of the IIA of 17 May 2006 and stresses the need to ensure appropriate follow up of the Joint Statement of 13 July 2007 by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on decentralised agencies;
Amendment 9 #
2008/2103(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Points out that, in times of scarce resourcesgiven the agencies' overall budgetary impact, the Commission has to demonstrate convincingly that European governance via the agencies is the most cost-effective, efficient and appropriate option to implement European policies at present and in the near future;
Amendment 11 #
2008/2103(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Recalls that the agencies' actions need to be governed by clear lines of accountability, in line with the provisions of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities; highlights the agencies' obligations concerning the discharge procedure;
Amendment 31 #
2008/2026(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Decides to maintain its first reading position as regards encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community; welcomes the support for the exhumation, identification and return of remains of missing persons in Cyprus and undertakes to monitor its implementation;
Amendment 37 #
2008/2026(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Decides to maintain the increase in the amounts for operational expenses of FRONTEX, in order to enable it to run permanent missions all year round; also decides to maintain the increase in the amounts for tackling illegal immigration, including bolstering the European Refugee Fund to facilitate solidarity between Members States;
Amendment 3 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – indent 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 – indent 4 a (new)
– Developing a common immigration policy with emphasis on common visa policy and integrated border management;
Amendment 29 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Stresses the importance of safeguarding the stability of financial markets, especially in the light of the current financial crisis; notes the clear need for the EU to develop measures in order to increase investor transparency, enhance prudential supervision and establish better valuation standards;
Amendment 34 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. States its interest in cooperating closely with the Council and the Commission to find an effective agreement on the energy and climate change package soon; notes that the EU needs to continue to demonstrate that economic growth and development can be reconciled with a low-carbon economy;
Amendment 35 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. WelcomesPoints to the fact that the PDB maintains the substantial increase of the appropriations voted in 2008 for the Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders (FRONTEX), but notes with some concern the rebalancing of the subsidy by shifting EUR 5,7 million from operational to administrative expenditure; calls for an increase in appropriations for 2009 for FRONTEX in order to enable it to sustain the commitment to permanent and uninterrupted missions, notably at the southern borders of the Union (Hera, Nautilus and Poseidon);
Amendment 36 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Stresses that a European pact on migration policy should include issues related to tackling illegal immigration, managing legal immigration and strengthening border protection, taking fully into account the principle of solidarity; in that framework intends to introduce pilot projects and preparatory actions;
Amendment 42 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)
Paragraph 40 a (new)
40a. Notes that the EU should enhance its efforts to ensure the security of EU citizens, including through civil protection mechanisms as well as initiatives for tackling organised crime and trafficking in human beings, especially at the external borders of the Union;
Amendment 58 #
2008/2025(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
Paragraph 68
68. Deplores the fact that the Commission has still not presented to the budgetary authority the details of how it proposes to finance the two new agencies currently under discussion, one of which is already included in the PDB for 2009 with a pm entry, and urges the Commission to set out clearly further information on this issue, as soon as possible; has come to the conclusion that, in the situation of current margins, for the financing of new bodies, which fulfil in part administrative tasks, all possibilities granted by the IIA of 17 May 2006 should be explored;
Amendment 108 #
2008/0217(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Credit rating agencies mayshall apply on a voluntary basis the Code of Conduct Fundamentals for credit rating agencies issued by the International Organisation of Securities Commissions, hereinafter the "IOSCO code". In 2006 a Communication from the Commission on Credit Rating Agencies invited the Committee of European Securities Regulators, hereinafter "CESR", to monitor compliance with the IOSCO Code and report back to the Commission on an annual basis.
Amendment 111 #
2008/0217(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Credit rating agencies are considered on the one hand to have failed to reflect early enough in their credit ratings the worsening market conditions and on the other to have failed to adjust their ratings in time following the deepening market crisis. This failure can be best corrected by measures related to conflicts of interest, the quality of the credit ratings, the transparency of the credit rating agencies, their internal governance and surveillance of the activities of the credit rating agencies. The users of credit ratings should not rely blindly on credit ratings. They should take utmost care to perform own analysis and conduct due diligence regarding their reliance on such credit ratings.
Amendment 166 #
2008/0217(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Credit rating agencies should use rating methodologies that are rigorous, systematic, and continuous and result in ratings that may be subject to validation based on historical experience. Credit rating agencies should ensure that methodologies, models and key rating assumptions used for determining credit ratings are properly maintained, up-to-date and subject to a comprehensive review on a periodic basis. In cases where the lack of reliable data or the complexity of the structure of a new type, in particular structured finance instruments, raises serious questions as to whether the credit rating agency can produce a credible credit rating, the credit rating agency should refrain fromnot issuinge a credit rating or withdraw an existing credit rating.
Amendment 320 #
2008/0217(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. A credit rating agency shall make available annually to the competent authority of the home Member State the information on matters set out in Annex I, Section E, Part II, point 2. Competent authorities of home Member States shall not disclose that information.
Amendment 434 #
2008/0217(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – Section B – point 3 – point c a (new)
Annex I – Section B – point 3 – point c a (new)
(c) credit rating is not based on sufficient and reliable data or the available information is not sufficient for a reliable credit rating to be given;
Amendment 14 #
2008/0143(CNS)
Proposal for a directive – amending act
Annex - point 5 a (new)
Annex - point 5 a (new)
Directive 2006/112/EC
Annex III - point 11
Annex III - point 11
(5a) Point (11) is replaced by the following text: (11) supply of goods and services of a kind normally intended for use in agricultural production, including machinery, with the exception of capital goods, such as buildings.
Amendment 27 #
2008/0051(CNS)
Proposal for a directive
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. Member States may exempt from payment of excise duty excise goods supplied by tax-free shops which are carried away in the personal luggage of travellers taking a flight or sea, sea-crossing or land-crossing to a third territory or to a third country.