6 Amendments of Lara WOLTERS related to 2020/2142(DEC)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. NotWelcomes that the Court of Auditors (the ‘Court’), in its annual report for 2019, observed that no significant weaknesses had been identified in respect of the audited topics relating to human resources and procurement for the European Council and Council (the ‘Council’);
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Reminds the Council that conducting impact assessments is one of the key factors set out in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making, together with the promise of the Council to carry out impact assessments in relation to its substantial amendments to the Commission’s proposals; regrets that the Council has so far not carried out any impact assessment on one of its amendments;
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Is aware of the key role of the Council in nominations and appointments procedures for the Union institutions and bodies, in particular the European Council, the Commission, the Court and the consultative Committees (the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committees); strongly recommends a review of these prerogatives in the view of ethical principles adopted by the Union, such as integrity and dignity; recalls the Court's statement that ethical conduct 'contributes to sounder financial management and increased public trust, which is indispensable if public policies are to succeed' and, in particular, that 'any unethical behaviour by staff and Members of the EU institutions attracts high levels of public interest and reduces trust in the EU'; considers it thus necessary to avoid the appointment as Members of Union institutions and bodies candidates who represent a reputational risk for the entire Union, such as candidates with unethical behaviour confirmed by OLAF or with legal proceedings underway against them;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23 a. Reiterates its concerns about the alarming information reported by the media regarding the construction of the new Europa building; calls on the Council to thoroughly research the main contractor and the whole chain of subcontractors (up to 12 according to the media), as well as the working conditions of the workers employed, and to provide Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control with all its findings;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Encourages the Council to advise the presidencies properly in establishing clear and transparent rules on sponsorship; urges the Council to make progress with respect to the guidelines without delay andNotes that the Member States are expected to finance their own presidencies and regrets that they resort to corporate sponsorship to cover some of their expenses; is highly concerned about the possible reputational damage that this practice might cause to the Council and the Union; urges Council presidencies to avoid resorting to corporate sponsorship to cover expenses; asks the Council, in that regard, to envisage the budgetisation of the presidencies; calls on the Council to reflect on the currently non-binding character of the guidance;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Recalls the statements by Vice- President Věra Jourová and Commissioner Johannes Hahn in their hearings before Parliament in 2019 that they are willing to engage in this matter so as to help achieve more transparency on the implementation of the Council’s budget; considers that the negotiations could be extended to include the Commission so as to ensure that Parliament is provided with the necessary information on how the Council is implementing its budget, either directly or via the Commission.