Activities of Gerald HÄFNER
Plenary speeches (65)
Situation in North Korea
100 years on from the First World War: lessons to learn and future of Europe (debate)
Statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations (A7-0140/2013 - Marietta Giannakou)
European Parliament's right of inquiry (A7-0352/2011 - David Martin)
Interinstitutional agreement on the transparency register (debate)
Amendment of Rule 136 of the Rules of Procedure on the attendance of Members at sittings (A7-0038/2014 - Gerald Häfner)
Constitutional problems of a multitier governance in the EU (debate)
Relations between the European Parliament and the institutions representing the national governments (debate)
Location of the seats of the European Union's institutions (A7-0350/2013 - Ashley Fox, Gerald Häfner) (vote)
Location of the seats of the European Union's institutions (debate)
Location of the seats of the European Union's institutions (debate)
Location of the seats of the European Union's institutions (debate)
Location of the seats of the European Union's institutions (debate)
Europe for Citizens programme (debate)
Practical arrangements for the holding of the European elections in 2014 (debate)
Azerbaijan: Case of Ilgar Mammadov
Azerbaijan: Case of Ilgar Mammadov
Parliament's calendar of part-sessions – 2014
A macro-regional strategy for the Alps
A macro-regional strategy for the Alps
A macro-regional strategy for the Alps
Draft protocol on the application of the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union to the Czech Republic (consultation) - Draft protocol on the application of the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union to the Czech Republic (consent) (debate)
One year of European Citizens' Initiative in practice: evaluating experience and tackling obstacles (debate)
Nuclear threats and human rights in North Korea (debate)
Composition of the European Parliament with a view to the 2014 elections (debate)
Composition of the European Parliament with a view to the 2014 elections (debate)
Elections to the European Parliament in 2014 (debate)
Towards a genuine Economic and Monetary Union (debate)
Explanations of vote
Forwarding to and handling by the European Parliament of classified information held by the Council on matters other than those in the area of the common foreign and security policy
Forwarding to and handling by the European Parliament of classified information held by the Council on matters other than those in the area of the common foreign and security policy
Temporary judges of the European Union civil service tribunal - Protocol on the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union (debate)
Situation of North Korean refugees (debate)
Situation of North Korean refugees (debate)
European Parliament’s right of inquiry (debate)
Explanations of vote
Public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (debate)
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Explanations of vote
Annual report on monitoring the application of EU law (2009) - Better legislation, subsidiarity and proportionality and smart regulation - Public access to documents 2009-2010 (debate)
Modification of the Act concerning the election of the Members of the European Parliament (debate)
Misleading business directories (debate)
Stress tests of nuclear power plants in EU and nuclear safety in EU neighbourhood countries (debate)
Interinstitutional agreement on a common Transparency Register - Amendment of the Rules following the establishment of a common Transparency Register
Interinstitutional agreement on a common Transparency Register - Amendment of the Rules following the establishment of a common Transparency Register
Conclusions of the European Council meeting (24-25 March 2011) (debate)
Political parties at European level and rules regarding their funding (debate)
Explanations of vote
Amendment of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union with regard to a stability mechanism for Member States whose currency is the euro (debate)
Free trade agreement between the EU and the Republic of Korea (debate)
European initiative on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias - Asthma inhalers (debate)
European initiative on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias - Asthma inhalers (debate)
Citizens’ initiative (debate)
European Ombudsman's activity report for 2009 - Special Report from the European Ombudsman to the European Parliament following the draft recommendation to the European Commission in Complaint 676/2008/RT (According to Rule 205(2), 1st part) - 26th Annual Report on Monitoring the Application of European Union Law (2008) (debate)
Cambodia, in particular the case of Sam Rainsy
North Korea
Institutional aspects of accession by the European Union to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms - Review Conference of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in Kampala, Uganda (debate)
Revision of the Treaties – Transitional measures concerning the composition of the European Parliament - Decision not to convene a Convention for the revision of the Treaties with regard to transitional measures concerning the composition of the European Parliament (debate)
Development of the European Citizens’ Initiative based on Article 11(4) of the Treaty on European Union (debate)
Preparation of the European Council to be held on 10 and 11 December 2009 (debate)
Adaptation of the European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure to the Lisbon Treaty (debate)
Preparation of the European Council (29 and 30 October 2009) (debate)
Question Hour with the President of the Commission
Reports (3)
REPORT on amendment of Rule 136 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure on the attendance of Members at sittings PDF (153 KB) DOC (227 KB)
REPORT on the location of the seats of the European Union’s Institutions PDF (235 KB) DOC (115 KB)
REPORT on the conclusion of an interinstitutional agreement between the European Parliament and the Council concerning the forwarding to and handling by the European Parliament of classified information held by the Council on matters other than those in the area of the common foreign and security policy PDF (236 KB) DOC (121 KB)
Shadow reports (33)
REPORT on the modification of the interinstitutional agreement on the Transparency Register PDF (309 KB) DOC (185 KB)
REPORT on relations between the European Parliament and the national parliaments PDF (199 KB) DOC (104 KB)
REPORT on amendment of Rule 90 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure on international agreements PDF (199 KB) DOC (288 KB)
REPORT on amendment of Parliament's Rules of Procedure so as to allow for the possibility of electronic signatures PDF (139 KB) DOC (223 KB)
REPORT on amendment of Parliament's Rules of Procedure with regard to parliamentary questions PDF (200 KB) DOC (289 KB)
REPORT on the implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon with respect to the European Parliament PDF (271 KB) DOC (146 KB)
REPORT on amendment of Rule 166 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure concerning the final vote and Rule 195(3) concerning voting in committee PDF (155 KB) DOC (229 KB)
REPORT on amendment of Parliament's Rules of Procedure on the waiver and the defence of parliamentary immunity PDF (250 KB) DOC (344 KB)
REPORT on amendment of Rule 81 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure on the consent procedure PDF (198 KB) DOC (256 KB)
REPORT on constitutional problems of a multitier governance in the European Union PDF (283 KB) DOC (151 KB)
REPORT on relations between the European Parliament and the institutions representing the national governments PDF (138 KB) DOC (64 KB)
REPORT on the conclusion of an Interinstitutional Agreement (IIA) between the European Parliament and the European Central Bank on the practical modalities of the exercise of democratic accountability and oversight over the exercise of the tasks conferred on the ECB within the framework of the Single Supervisory Mechanism PDF (198 KB) DOC (95 KB)
REPORT on the draft protocol on the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to the Czech Republic (Article 48(3) of the Treaty on European Union) PDF (187 KB) DOC (92 KB)
REPORT 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 PDF (432 KB) DOC (611 KB)
REPORT on the draft Council decision fixing the period for the eighth election of representatives to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage PDF (136 KB) DOC (68 KB)
REPORT on the composition of the European Parliament with a view to the 2014 elections PDF (245 KB) DOC (527 KB)
REPORT on amendment of Rule 15(2) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure on the order of precedence of Vice-Presidents elected by acclamation PDF (136 KB) DOC (162 KB)
REPORT on the draft Council directive amending Directive 93/109/EC of 6 December 1993 as regards certain detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament for citizens of the Union residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals PDF (141 KB) DOC (78 KB)
REPORT on amendment of Rule 181 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure concerning verbatim reports of proceedings and Rule 182 concerning the audiovisual record of proceedings PDF (164 KB) DOC (179 KB)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2004/109/EC on the harmonisation of transparency requirements in relation to information about issuers whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market and Commission Directive 2007/14/EC PDF (437 KB) DOC (599 KB)
RECOMMENDATION on the European Council's proposal not to convene a Convention for the addition of a Protocol on the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to the Czech Republic, to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union PDF (131 KB) DOC (59 KB)
REPORT on amendment of Rule 70 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure on interinstitutional negotiations in legislative procedures PDF (203 KB) DOC (243 KB)
REPORT on amendment of Rules 123 and 42 of Parliament's Rules of Procedure: written declarations and legislative initiatives PDF (162 KB) DOC (177 KB)
REPORT on amending Parliament’s Rules of Procedure with regard to the implementation of the European citizens’ initiative PDF (214 KB) DOC (207 KB)
REPORT on the amendment of Rules 87a and 88 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure PDF (199 KB) DOC (222 KB)
SECOND REPORT on a proposal for a modification of the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage of 20 September 1976 PDF (196 KB) DOC (220 KB)
REPORT on amendment of Rule 48 (2) of Parliament's Rules of Procedure on own-initiative reports PDF (149 KB) DOC (162 KB)
REPORT PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION PDF (196 KB) DOC (244 KB)
REPORT on a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament on the detailed provisions governing the exercise of the European Parliament's right of inquiry and repealing Decision 95/167/EC, Euratom, ECSC of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission PDF (266 KB) DOC (162 KB)
REPORT on a proposal for a modification of the Act concerning the election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage of 20 September 1976 PDF (514 KB) DOC (547 KB)
REPORT on conclusion of an interinstitutional agreement between the European Parliament and the Commission on a common Transparency Register PDF (233 KB) DOC (181 KB)
REPORT on the amendment of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure following the establishment by the European Parliament and the Commission of a joint transparency register PDF (194 KB) DOC (227 KB)
REPORT on the draft European Council decision amending Article 136 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union with regard to a stability mechanism for Member States whose currency is the euro PDF (231 KB) DOC (157 KB)
Opinions (3)
OPINION on the proposal for a Council regulation establishing for the period 2014 – 2020 the programme "Europe for Citizens"
OPINION on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Year of Citizens (2013)
OPINION OPINION of the Committee on Petitions for the Committee on Constitutional Affairs on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the citizens' initiative
Shadow opinions (34)
OPINION on negotiations on the MFF 2014-2020: lessons to be learned and the way forward
OPINION on the enquiry report on the role and operations of the Troika (ECB, Commission and IMF) with regard to the euro area programme countries
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing uniform rules and a uniform procedure for the resolution of credit institutions and certain investment firms in the framework of a Single Resolution Mechanism and a Single Bank Resolution Fund and amending Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council
OPINION on 29th annual report on monitoring the application of EU law (2011)
OPINION on EU Regulatory Fitness and Subsidiarity and Proportionality - 19th report on Better Lawmaking covering the year 2011
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation and Training (Europol) and repealing Decisions 2009/371/JHA and 2005/681/JHA
OPINION on the location of the seats of the European Union’s Institutions
OPINION on the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2014 - all sections
OPINION on on Forward policy planning and long-term trends: budgetary implications for capacity-building
OPINION 2014 Budget – Mandate for the Trilogue
OPINION 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
OPINION on the proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EEC/Euratom) No 354/83, as regards the deposit of the historical archives of the institutions at the European University Institute in Florence
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European statistics on demography
OPINION on the European Semester for economic policy coordination: Annual Growth Survey 2013
OPINION on the proposal for a Council regulation conferring specific tasks on the European Central Bank concerning policies relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010 establishing a European Supervisory Authority (European Banking Authority) as regards its interaction with Council Regulation (EU) No .../.... conferring specific tasks on the European Central Bank concerning policies relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions
OPINION Towards a genuine Economic and Monetary Union
OPINION on the EU’s mutual defence and solidarity clauses: political and operational dimensions
OPINION on the law of administrative procedure of the European Union
OPINION on the interim report in the interests of achieving a positive outcome of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 approval procedure
OPINION on the European Semester for economic policy coordination: implementation of 2012 priorities
OPINION on the European Union general budget for the financial year 2013 – all sections
OPINION on the 28th annual report on monitoring the application of EU law (2010)
OPINION on the 18th report on Better legislation – Application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality (2010)
OPINION on the mandate for the trilogue on the 2013 draft budget
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union
OPINION on a jurisdictional system for patent disputes
OPINION on the EU Citizenship Report 2010 - Dismantling the obstacles to EU citizens’ rights
OPINION on the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy
OPINION on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents
OPINION Parliament's position on the 2012 draft budget as modified by the council - all sections
OPINION on better legislation, subsidiarity and proportionality and smart regulation
OPINION on the mandate for the trialogue on the 2012 draft budget
OPINION Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (Recast)
Amendments (238)
Amendment 2 #
2014/2010(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Regrets that the proposed modification of the Agreement of 23 June 2011 fails to successfully address the major shortcomings identified at the beginning of its review, e.g. the establishment of a mandatory lobby register and the non- compliance by law firms;
Amendment 3 #
2014/2010(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers the proposed modification of the Agreement of 23 June 2011 to be a reasonablelimited step forward at the present stage;
Amendment 9 #
2014/2010(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Considers that future reviews of the Transparency Register should be as transparent and inclusive as possible and should fully involve the relevant committee in the European Parliament and allow for strong civil society participation;
Amendment 16 #
2014/2010(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 7 – indent 3 a (new)
Paragraph 7 – indent 3 a (new)
– offer or grant support, whether financial or in terms of staff or material to Members or members of their office;
Amendment 28 #
2014/2010(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 12 – point a
Paragraph 12 – point a
(a) to encourage European Parliament officials or other staff, when approached by a representative of an organisation or individuals undertaking an activity falling within the scope of the Transparency Register, to check whether the organisation in question is registered, and, if it is not, to encourage it to register before meeting its representative;
Amendment 41 #
2014/2010(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Encourages the Commission to be equally ambitious, when it comes to introducing incentive measures in order to enhance participation in the Transparency Register. Such incentives could include: (a) restricting meetings with unregistered organisation or Lobbyists, (b) not allowing non-registered organisations or individual lobbyists to sit on Commission advisory groups, (c) encouraging Commissioners and Commission staff to refuse meetings with, and invitations to events organised by, non-registered organisations, (d) restricting the (co-)hosting of events by non-registered organisations in Commission buildings;
Amendment 45 #
2014/2010(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Requests the Joint Transparency Register Secretariat to provide at regularsix- month intervals a report on the functioning of the incentives system, with a view, ultimately, to the establishment of a mandatory register;
Amendment 25 #
2013/2186(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the European Union has created a new right for European citizens to organise and support a European Citizens’ Initiative by submitting their policy proposals to the European Institutions that has been used, since 1 April 2012, by millions of European citizens, but up to eleven million EU citizens were and partially still are denied this right only because they are residing outside of their Member State of origin and neither their home country nor the country of their residence is willing to validate their signatures;
Amendment 27 #
2013/2186(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas 2013 was designated as the ‘Year of Citizens’, but doubts remain if it really managed to achieve its objective to generate a broad, publicly visible debate on European Citizenship and, even more, on ways to improve existing as well as defining new instruments that allow all citizens to participate in the democratic life of the European Union (pursuant Article 10 (3) TEU) due to underfunding and apparent lack of political will by the relevant institutions to involve citizens and organised civil society at an appropriate level in such a debate;
Amendment 63 #
2013/2186(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Calls on Member States to implement the regulation on the European Citizens’ Initiative (EU 211/2011) in an inclusive way, by ensuring that they are ready to validate signatures of both their own citizens residing abroad as well as citizens from other Member States residing on their territory;
Amendment 68 #
2013/2186(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Member States to organise transparent public campaigns and effectively tackle the problem of falling voter participation rates and to promote the right of organising and supporting European Citizens’ Initiatives; calls on all Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies to further improve transparency and make access to documents easy and user- friendly, as well as to make it easier for citizens to support European Citizens’ Initiatives, as this enable citizens to participate more closely in the decision- making process;
Amendment 140 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Points out that such cooperation cannot be separated from the aim of contributing ‘actively to the good functioning of the Union’ and that interparliamentary meetings and cooperation arrangements therefore need to be better coordinated in order to enhance their effectiveness and quality, as well as the contribution they make to the integration procesUnderlines that interparliamentary meetings need to be organised in close cooperation with national parliaments in order to enhance their effectiveness and quality; recommends therefore their inclusion at the earliest stage possible in drafting the agenda of interparliamentary meetings;
Amendment 170 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
Amendment 180 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Recommends the establishment of a user-friendly searchable online database of all EP's documents to facilitate the exchange of information with national Parliaments;
Amendment 189 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
Amendment 196 #
2013/2185(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Believes that COSAC should serve primarily as a forum for in-depth discussion of the state of the Union, with a view to the gradual integration of the peoples and states of Europeevaluating the various forms of interparliamentary cooperation and making recommendations in this respect;
Amendment 28 #
2013/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Urges the next Convention to rethink the way in which the Commission’s President is elected in order to reinforce the Commission’s democratic legitimacy, including the possibility of its direct election through a sound parliamentary investiture;
Amendment 41 #
2013/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Requests that someas many Members of the next Commission as possible are chosen from among newly-elected Members of the European Parliament; invites the governments of the Member States to duly consider the votes of their fellow citizens when they propose personalities for appointment as members of the European Commission;
Amendment 48 #
2013/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is of the opinion that the elected President of the Commission should act more autonomously in the process of selecting the other Members of the Commission; calls upon the governments of the Member States to each propose a list of at least three candidates for the office of European Commissioner, allowing the elected Presidentmake gender- balanced proposals of candidates, taking into account the results of the Commisselections to choose one of the candidates from that listhe European Parliament; urges the newly elected President of the Commission to insist with the governments of the Member States that the list of candidates for the office of Commissioner must enable him to ensure the gender-balanced composition of thecompose a gender-balanced European Commission;
Amendment 51 #
2013/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Takes, the view, further to that the political understanding reached at the meeting of the European Council on 11 and 12 December 2013 and, following the decision of the European Council on 22 May 2013, concerning the number of Members of the European Commission, that additional measures should be envisaged for the more effective functioning of the Commission, without prejudice to the right to appoint one Commissioner per Member Statedo not allow for an effective functioning of the Commission;
Amendment 59 #
2013/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers that, under the Treaties in force, the solution to be adopted may involve the establishment of a rotation system of Commissioners with portfolio and Commissioners without portfolio, thus ensuring relative stability in the number and content of portfolios and guaranteeing at the same time that the representation of the specificities and interests of all Member States is well balanced in the Commission’s decision- making process; believes that, within this framework, Commissioners without portfolio should fully participate in the decision-making process and could undertake representative duties for the Commission at European levelArticle 17(5) TEU, which states that the number of Commissioners shall correspond to two thirds of the number of Member states, and Article 244 TFEU on the rotation system of Commissioners shall be fully implemented and calls therefore for the review of the decision of the European Council on the 22 May 2013 in order to abolish the principle of one Commissioner per Member State;
Amendment 63 #
2013/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Considers that, in a future revision of the Treaties, the majority currently required under Article 234 TFEU for a motion of censure against the Commission should be simplified so as to require only a majority of the component Members of the European Parliament, under the obligation of a constructive motion of censure, hence the election of a new President;
Amendment 73 #
2013/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Is concerned about the problems that still exist in applying the ordinary legislative procedure, especially in the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and, the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the Area of freedom, security and justice ("Stockholm Programme") as well as in aligning the acts of the former Third Pillar with the hierarchy of norms of the Lisbon Treaty and in general with regard to the continuing ‘asymmetry’ regarding the transparency of the Commission’s involvement in the preparatory work of the two branches of the legislative authority; in this regard, underlines the importance of the Council’s working methods being adapted so as to make it possible for Parliament representatives to participate in some of its meetings when duly justified under the principle of mutual sincere cooperation between the institutions;
Amendment 75 #
2013/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Regrets the lack of transparency of the Commission vis-à-vis the Parliament when it acts in its capacity as a member of the Troika and insists that its accountability in this respect shall be improved;
Amendment 88 #
2013/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Calls on the Commission not to misuse the choice of legal basis to illegally diminish the role and prerogatives of the Parliament, as it happened for the Frontex regulation;
Amendment 90 #
2013/2130(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Notes that the rejection of the SWIFT agreement was the firstnd ACTA agreements were demonstrations of Parliament using its newly acquired prerogatives;
Amendment 3 #
2013/2119(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. WelcomesIf of the opinion theat implementation of the EU Pilot platform as a way to solve existing problems and to enable timely resolutions of potential infringements; calls on the Commission to continue to develop and improve its opershall be enhanced in terms of transparency vis-à- vis complainants; requests to be given access to the database where all complaints are collected, in order to enable Parliament to carry out its function of scrutinising the Commission’s role as guardian of the Treationes;
Amendment 4 #
2013/2083(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 116
Rule 116
1. Question Time with the Commission shall be held at each part-session at times decided by Parliament on a proposal from the Conference of Presidents. 2. No Member may put more than one question to the Commission at any given part-session. 3. Questions shall be submitted in writing to the President, who shall rule on their admissibility and on the order in which they are to be taken. The questioner shall be notified immediately of this decfor a duration of ninety minutes on a specific horizontal theme decided upon by the Conference of Presidents in principle one month in advance of the part-session. 2. The Commissioners invited to participate by the Conference of Presidents shall have a portfolio related to the specific horizontal theme on which questions are to be put to them. The number of Commissioners shall be limited to two per part-session, with the possibility of adding a third being dependent on the specific horizontal theme chosen for the Question Time. 3. Members who put a question to one of the Commissioners shall be chosen, for the first half of the Question Time, as laid down in paragraph 1, from amongst the political groups in proportion to the total number of their members They shall be chosen for the second half of the Question Time, by means of a ballot system in the following way: – two ballot boxes are placed at the entrance of the Chamber one hour before the start of Question Time; – Members wishing to put a question write their name on a form and place that form in one of the ballot boxes; – the President opens Question Time and closes the ballot boxes; – the President draws one form at a time and calls on the Member whose name appears on that form to put his or her question to the competent Commissioner. The Member is given one minute in which to formulate the question and the Commission. 4. The detailed procedure shall beer two minutes in which to reply. The President may exceptionally accept a supplementary question of 30 seconds' duration from any Member present if the President considers that the answer goivernedn by the Commissioner merits it. The Commissioner shall then bye guidelines laid down in an annex to these Rules of Procedure17iven two minutes in which to give a supplementary reply; 4. The President may rule on the admissibility of a question should it not be directly related to the horizontal theme chosen. Supplementary questions shall likewise have a direct bearing on the main question. 5. In accordance with guidelines established by the Conference of Presidents, specific question hours may be held with the Council, with the President of the Commission, with the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and with the President of the Eurogroup. ___________ 17See Annex II.
Amendment 34 #
2013/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Takes the view, therefore, that a reform of the electoral procedure will be required in the future in order to enhance the legitimacy and effectiveness of Parliament by strengthening the democratic dimension of Europe and, dividing up the seats in Parliament more proportionally among the Member States, based on a clear and comprehensible mathematic definition of digressive proportionality, in accordance with the principles laid down in the Treaties, and introducing transnational lists of candidates; considers that a reform of this kind will encourage EU citizens to take part in European elections in their Member State of residence if they are not nationals of that State;
Amendment 40 #
2013/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes, nevertheless, as a first step, the adoption of Council Directive 2013/1/EU of 20 December 2012 amending Directive 93/109/EC as regards certain detailed arrangements for the exercise of the right to stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament for citizens of the Union residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals7 , in that it relaxes the requirements which EU citizens resident in a Member State of which they are not nationals must meet if they wish to stand as candidates in European elections; Reiterates that further steps need to be taken in order to guarantee every European citizen the right to vote regardless of their actual residence;
Amendment 45 #
2013/2024(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Deplores, however, the technical problems encountered by the organisers of citizens' initiatives and calls on the Commission to resolve the problems in question, notably with the open- source software for online signature collection, and that an estimated 11 million EU citizens residing outside their home country are being denied their right to support ECIs by Member States; calls on the Commission to resolve the problems in question and on the Member States to ensure the validation of all signatures by EU citizens as well as to reduce, to a sensible minimum, the amount of personal data citizens have to provide when signing an initiative;
Amendment 11 #
2013/2017(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Regrets the continued problems with the European Citizens' Initiative and emphasises the need for priority in the budget not only for the initiatives themselves but also for their communication, administration and support by the Commission; notes that the logistical problems have been immense and that these need to be solved in order to improve the popularity and trustworthiness of the ECIuropean Citizens' Initiatives;
Amendment 18 #
2013/2017(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that the administrative costs within the EUnion in times of austerity need to reflect the reality that European citizens live under; approves, therefore, the suggestions of lowering the expenditure on payments for EU staff as proposed by the Councilunderlines at the same time that with growing competences and increased responsibility, the Union needs the proper means and its own budgetary resources.
Amendment 11 #
2012/2309(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the modification hereby called for of the distribution of seats among the Member States should not be arbitrary but should be based on a mathematical principle, to be applied in a pragmatic manner, that limits the possible losses to at most one seat for all Member States,
Amendment 13 #
2012/2309(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas, in order to establish full legitimacy, it would be not appropriate to leave the allocation of seats within the European Parliament to ever new negotiations and legislation following every change in the population figures of the Member States, and whereas it is therefore imperative to calculate the distribution of seats on a longer-term basis, using a well- defined mathematical formula that establishes a clear, transparent and objective relationship between the population of each Member State and the number of seats in the European Parliament to which it is entitled, while fully complying with the requirements laid down by the Treaties,
Amendment 14 #
2012/2309(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Amendment 19 #
2012/2309(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Undertakes to submit sufficiently far in advance of the beginning of the 2019-2024 parliamentary term a new proposal for a decision of theCommits itself to submit, by 31 December 2015, a new proposal for amendment of the Treaties by way of an ordinary revision procedure pursuant to Article 48 of the Treaty on European CouncilUnion with the aim of establishing a system which in future, before each election to the European Parliament, will allow, whenever necessary, a reallocation of the seats amongst the Member States in an durable, objective manner, based onand transparent manner, based on a non-linear mathematic formula that satisfies the principle of degressive proportionality as set forth in Article 1 of the decision, taking account of any increase in their number and demographic trends in their population as duly ascertained, and without excluding the possibility of reserving a number of seats to members elected on transnational lists;
Amendment 38 #
2012/2309(INI)
Proposal for a Decision establishing the composition of the European Parliament
Article 1
Article 1
In the application of the principle of degressive proportionality provided for in the first subparagraph of Article 14(2) of the Treaty on European Union, the following principles shall be respected as far as possible: – the minimum and maximum numbers set by the Treaty: – the allocation of seats in the European Parliament shall be fully utilised to ensure that the allocation of seats in the European Parliamenthe minimum and maximum numbers set by the Treaty in order to reflects as closely as possible the sizes of the respective populations of the Member States; – the largerratio between the population of a Member State, the greater its entitlement to a large number of seats; – the larger the population of a Member State, the greater the number of inhabitants represented by each of its Members of the European Parliamentand the number of seats of each Member State before rounding to whole numbers must vary in relation to their respective populations in such a way that each Member from a more populous Member State represents more citizens than each Member from a less populous Member State and, conversely, that no less populous Member State has more seats than a more populous Member State.
Amendment 40 #
2012/2309(INI)
Proposal for a Decision establishing the composition of the European Parliament
Article 1 a (new)
Article 1 a (new)
Amendment 49 #
2012/2309(INI)
Proposal for a Decision establishing the composition of the European Parliament
Article 3
Article 3
Pursuant to Article 1, the number of representatives in the European Parliament elected in each Member State is hereby set as follows, with effect from the beginning of the 2014-2019 parliamentary term: Belgium 21 Bulgaria 17 Czech Republic 21 Denmark 13 Germany 96 Estonia 6 Ireland 112 Greece 21 Spain 54 France 74 Croatia 112 Italy 73 Cyprus 6 Latvia 8 Lithuania 11 Luxembourg 6 Hungary 21 Malta 6 Netherlands 26 Austria 198 Poland 510 Portugal 21 Romania 32 Slovenia 8 Slovakia 13 Finland 13 Sweden 19 United Kingdom 73
Amendment 62 #
2012/2309(INI)
Proposal for a Decision establishing the composition of the European Parliament
Article 4
Article 4
This Decision shall be revised sufficiently far in advance of the beginning of the 2019- 2024 parliamentary term with the aim of establishing a system which in future will make it possible, before each fresh election to the European Parliament, to reallocate the seats between the Member States in an durable, objective manner, based onand transparent manner, based on a non-linear mathematic formula that satisfies the principle of degressive proportionality set forth in Article 1, taking account of any increase in their number and demographic trends in their population as duly ascertained.
Amendment 15 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas the European Parliament plays a distinct and unique role as the only institution that is directly elected by and accountable to European citizens, and since its role has undergone the most significant changes amongst all institutions since its creation, this report will primarily focus on the seat and working arrangements of the European Parliament;
Amendment 16 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A a (new)
Recital -A a (new)
-Aa. whereas the decision by member states on these seats was reached in a broader deal, taking into account the historical development of the European Union and its institutions as well as considerations of geographical dispersion;
Amendment 17 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A b (new)
Recital -A b (new)
-Ab. whereas Member States have done so in Protocol 6 annexed to the Treaties, establishing Brussels as seat of the Commission, the Council - with its meetings to be held in Luxembourg during the months of April, June and October -, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the regions, Luxembourg as seat of the Court of Justice of the European Union, the Court of Auditors and the European Investment Bank, Frankfurt as seat of the European Central Bank and The Hague as seat of the European Police Office;
Amendment 18 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A c (new)
Recital -A c (new)
-Ac. whereas Article 341 TFEU establishes that the seat of the institutions of the Union shall be determined by common accord of the governments of the Member States;
Amendment 21 #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Article 341 TFEU and Protocol 6 annexed to the Treaties establishes that Parliament shall have its seat in Strasbourg where 12 periods of monthly plenary sessions, including the budget session, shall be held, that the periods of additional plenary sessions shall be held in Brussels, that its committees shall meet in Brussels, and that its General Secretariat and its departments shall remain in Luxembourg;
Amendment A #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11
Citation 11
- having regard to Rules 41, 48 and 74a5(3), 29, 41, 48, 74a, 201 and 202(4) of its Rules of Procedure,;
Amendment B #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10
Citation 10
- having regard to the petition gathered in 630/2006 by the One Seat campaign, which was signendorsed by more than 1.2one million EU citizens,
Amendment C #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas Article 232 TFEU allows Parliament to adopt its own rules of procedure aund toer which it may determine the length of plenary sessions, in accordance with the treaties and the case law of the ECJ;
Amendment D #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the ECJ has stated that the location of the seat is not to hinder the well-functioning of Parliament; whereas it has further stated that there are disadvantages and costs engendered by the plurality of working locations, but also that any improvement of the current situationmodification of the seat or working locations would requires a Treaty change and, thus, the consent of the Member States;
Amendment E #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas the additional annual costs resulting from the geographic dispersion of Parliament have conservatively been estimated to range between EUR 1569 million and EUR 204 million4, which is equivalent to between 15 % and 2approximately 10 % of Parliament’s annual budget, while the environmental impact is also significant, with the CO2 emissions associated with the transfers to and from the three working locations estimated to amount to at least 19 000 tonnes5; 4 Discharge 2010: EU general budget, European Parliament (Liberadzki Report) (A7-0120/2012), texts adopted, P7_TA(2012)0155. 5between 11 0005 and 19 000 tonnes6; 4 The 2002 report by the Secretary General of the European Parliament is the last comprehensive cost estimate that is available. The range of €169 - €204 million per year has been confirmed by the 2012 Joint Working Group Report of the Bureau and Budget Committee if the EUR 148 million estimate is complemented by the EUR 28.3 million annual amortisation cost for the Strasbourg buildings, that need to be taken into account since the purchase of those buildings. In a response provided by the Secretary General on 30 August 2013 to the requests made in Paragraph 10 of Parliament's resolution of 6 February 2013 on the guidelines for the 2014 budget procedure the additional costs of the Strasbourg seat are estimated at EUR 103 million, which would sum up to a total of EUR 156 million, when complemented with the same amortisation and the unused floor estimates as the Joint Working Group Report from 2012. 5 ‘The three places of work of the European Parliament - Financial, environmental and regional impacts of geographic dispersion , note prepared by the Secretary General of the European Parliament on 30 August 2013 in response to the request made in Paragraph 10 of the Parliament's resolution of 6 February 2013 on the guidelines for the 2014 budget procedure. 6 ‘European Parliament two-seat operation: Environmental costs, transport & energy’, report prepared by Eco- Logica Ltd. for the Greens/EFA, November 2007.
Amendment F #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital P
Recital P
P. whereas Parliament, since its suggestion in 1958 to be sited in proximity to the Council and the Commission, has via numerous reports, declarations and statements alwaysrepeatedly expressed its wish for a more practical and efficient working arrangement;
Amendment G #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Recital Q
Q. whereas the citizens of the EU – including the 1.27over one million citizens who signendorsed a petition asking for a single seat – have repeatedly expressed their discontent with the current arrangements;
Amendment I #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Commits itself, therefore, to initiate an ordinary treaty revision procedure under Article 48 TEU with a view to propose the changes to Article 341 TFEU and to Protocol 6 necessary to allow Parliament to decide fully over its internal organisation, including the setting of its calendar and the location of its seatthe location of its seat and its internal organisation;
Amendment J #
2012/2308(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6
Citation 6
– having regard to the Secretary-General’s report to the Bureau of September 2002s regarding the cost of maintaining three places of work of September 2002 and August 2013,
Amendment 13 #
2012/2124(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Article 81 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 81 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Where Parliament is asked to give its consent to a proposed act, it shall take aadopt its decision on the basis oftaking into account a recommendation from the committee responsible to approve or reject the act. The recommendation shall include citations and may include recitals.
Amendment 21 #
2012/2124(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Article 81 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 81 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Parliament shall take a decisiondecide on the act requiring its consent under the Treaty on European Union or the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union by means of a single vote on consent, taking into account the recommendation from the committee responsible, and no amendments may be tabled. The majority required for the adoption of the consent shall be the majority indicated in the article of the Treaty on European Union or the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union that constitutes the legal basis for the proposed act or, where no majority is indicated therein, the majority of the votes cast. If the majority required is not obtained, the proposed act shall be deemed not to have been approved.
Amendment 13 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. Whereas the systematic use of derogations and opt-outs by some Member States may jeopardise the unity, effectiveness and coherence of the European legal order;
Amendment 25 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S a (new)
Recital S a (new)
Sa. Whereas after a period of breathless decision-making on ever new emergency- packages, an increasingly re- governmentalised European Union, while focussing on the trust of markets and investors alone, is at high risk of losing the trust and confidence of its citizens, and therefore urgently needs a sound, democratic, and transparent process that leaves enough time for the debate on the necessary re-design of the European treaties required for the economic and social needs of the 21st century;
Amendment 42 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates that to beits conviction that an effective and democratic the governance of a genuine EMU must be placed within the institutional framework of the Unioncan only be achieved through the community method;
Amendment 44 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls therefore to integrate, as soon as possible, the ESM within the community acquis;
Amendment 53 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Is of the opinion that differentiation should preferably be done, when possible,all be done within a legal act addressed to all Member States by means of derogations and safeguard clauses, instead of excluding some Member States from the territorial scope of application of a legal act; underlines nevertheless that a high number of derogations and safeguard clauses undermine the unity of the EU as well as the consistency and effectiveness of its legal framework;
Amendment 81 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Regrets therefore the lack of parliamentary scrutiny of the Troika, the EFSF and the ESM;
Amendment 108 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Reiterates its call for the presentation of a legislative proposal to establish a competitiveness and convergence instrument under Article 121(6)75 TFEU, as an incentive-based mechanism of enhanced economic policy coordination for all Member States whose currency is the euro which is open to the voluntary participation of non-euro countri; deems that such instruments should apply to all euro area Member States and be open to all Member States of the Union, while taking into account the stronger interdependence of euro area Member States;
Amendment 131 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Insists that the contracting parties to the Fiscal CompactTSCG fully respect their commitment to integrate the Fiscal Compact, after a comprehensive assessment of its implementation, the relevant provisions of the Treaty into the legal framework of the European Union, within five years at the latest, ;
Amendment 138 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Reiterates theits call for euro-bills as well as the gradual roll- over of excessive debt into a redemption fund for the euro area basinspired onby the model of the German Economic Council of Experts; considers Article 352 TFEU to offer a legal basis for the establishment of such a fund for Member States whose currency is the euro, if necessary in conjunction with an enhanced cooperation of these Member States;
Amendment 142 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
49. Considers that any future treaty change should affirmllow for a differentiated integration as a principle and a means ofor achieving further integration without undermining the unity of the Union;
Amendment 153 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. ConsidersSuggests that a future Treaty change should affirm the Eurosummit to be an informal configuration of the European Council;
Amendment 157 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. ConsidersSuggests to make the Eurogroup to be an informal configuration of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council;
Amendment 177 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57
Paragraph 57
Amendment 179 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 58
Paragraph 58
Amendment 193 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60
Paragraph 60
60. Considers the reversed qualified majority voting in the Fiscal Compact as a merely political declaration without any legally binding effect on Member States, and calls instead for the integration of this voting rule into the Treaties and for the modification of Articles 121, 126 and 148 TFEU, in such a way that the proposals or recommendations submitted by the Commission may enter into force if no objection has been expressed by Parliament or the Council within a certain predefined period, in order to ensure fully-fledged legal certainty;
Amendment 202 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 62
Paragraph 62
62. Favours, while acknowledging that the multilateral surveillance procedure requires quick decision-making, inclusion in the decision-making procedures under Article 121(4) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU of the right of Parliament to propose amendments to a Commission proposal for a recommendation before its adoption by the Commission; the proposal can be rejected by a qualified majority of the Council if the Commission delivers a negative opinion; otherwise the recommendation shall be deemed to have been adopted by the Commission in its amended version;
Amendment 207 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
Paragraph 63
63. Calls for the inclusion of Parliament in the budgetary surveillance procedure under Article 126 TFEU, with the right to amend a Commission proposal for a recommendation which can be rejected by a qualified majority of the Council if the Commission delivers a negative opinion;
Amendment 247 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74 a (new)
Paragraph 74 a (new)
74a. Insists that the future Convention should have the greatest possible democratic legitimacy by also involving social partners, civil society and other stakeholders; reach its decisions in plenum according to full democratic rules; have adequate time for serious and thorough deliberation; operate with full transparency and have all its meetings open to the public;
Amendment 253 #
2012/2078(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 75
Paragraph 75
75. BelievesCalls for the entry into force of future Treaty amendments should enter into force throughout the Union followingafter their ratification by four- fifths of the Member States, representing a majority of the population of the Union, in accordance with their respective constitutional requirementand in the case of ordinary Treaty amendments also through a pan-European referendum taking place the same day in all the Member States;
Amendment 2 #
2012/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5
Citation 5
– having regard to Rules 48, 110 and 127 of its Rules of Procedure,
Amendment 6 #
2012/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas Parliament is fully aware of the independence of the European Council and of the important role conferred upon it by the treaties, and has no intention of calling this into question;
Amendment 9 #
2012/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Ca (new)
Recital Ca (new)
Ca. Whereas to enhance democratic legitimacy and accountability of the European Council proper parliamentary scrutiny arrangements shall be implemented;
Amendment 13 #
2012/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas, in agreement with Parliament’s authorities, and in particular through exchanges of letters, President Van Rompuy has sought to take account of information and transparency requirements as far as possible: he has personally met Parliament’s committee chairs, rapporteurs and sherpas to discuss a number of important topics; he has replied to written questions; he has provided regular reports on European Council meetings to the enlarged Conference of Presidents and had numerous contacts with group chairs;
Amendment 15 #
2012/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas this practice is worth formalising so that it can serve as a precedent for the future; whereas it should also be improved, given that: on the European patent system, the European Council called into question a legislative agreement concluded between Parliament and the Council; on economic governance, the European Council saw fit to renegotiate provisions identical to those which a previous regulation had already made applicable; on an EU banking supervisory authority, the European Council adopted two contradictory positions one year apart, which it could have avoided by taking greater account of Parliament’s position; whereas negotiations on the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework saw the legislative process held to ransom: the legally required unanimity in the Council could only be achieved by pre-empting certain major policy choices in the regulations on the policies to be financed, which, in some areas, reduces Parliament’s role to one of merely amending secondary provisions;
Amendment 29 #
2012/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that in the light of the experience gained over these four years, there is a need to formalise the working relations between the European Council and Parliament; considers thatalls therefore for thise could take the form of a joint statement or an exchange of lettersnclusion of an interinstitutional agreement between the European Parliament and the European Council;
Amendment 31 #
2012/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is of the opinion that, other than in cases of exceptional urgency, any meeting of the European Council should be preceded by a debate in Parliament, allowing the adoption of a resolution, with the President of the European Council coming to present the subjects on the agenda in person; believes that Parliament should organise its work so as to make known its opinion on these subjects in good time; and the European Council should organise their respective work so as to give to the Parliament the opportunity to make known its opinion on these subjects in good time and to allow the President of the European Council to report back after each meeting of the European Council in front of the plenary sitting;
Amendment 34 #
2012/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls onUrges the European Council, where an agreement is concluded between the representatives of Parliament and of the Council in the context of a legislative procedure, not to raise the matter again unless the Presidency-in-Office has specified that the agreement is ad referendum;
Amendment 41 #
2012/2034(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8a (new)
Paragraph 8a (new)
Amendment 9 #
2012/0336(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) While financial support is awarded without an annual work programme and estimated operating budget, European political parties should justify ex post the sound use of Union funds. In particular, the authorising officer should verify if the funds have been used to pay reimbursable expenditure as established in the call for contributions within the time limits laid down in this Regulation. European political parties should make public the use of the EU contributions in a citizen- friendly, searchable database. Contributions to European political parties should be spent within two financial years following the financial year it was awarded, after which, any unspent funds should be recovered by the authorising officer.
Amendment 23 #
2012/0336(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012
Article 204 l – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 204 l – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. European political parties shall publish, at least on their website, the final report and accounts referred to in the first paragraph.
Amendment 7 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) European political parties and their affiliated European political foundations, which wish to obtain recognition as such at the European level through a European legal status and to receive public funding from the general budget of the European Union, should respect certain principles and fulfil certain conditions. In particular, it is necessary for European political parties and their affiliated European political foundations to respect the values on which the European Union is founded, as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. In order to allow new formations to enter the political contest and thus contribute to a vibrant democratic life in the European Union, as well as to ensure that a maximum number of party alliances fall under the transparency and supervision rules of this Regulation, the threshold for registering a European political party should be easy to meet for formally well organised transnational political alliances, without the precondition of electoral success.
Amendment 8 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Principles and minimum requirements for the governance and internal organisation of European political parties should be laid down, in particular to ensure a commitment to and respect for high standards of internal party democracy, especially concerning the procedures for the selection of candidates and composition of electoral lists for the elections to the European Parliament through their constituent member parties. The statutes of a European political party or a European political foundation should also contain a series of basic administrative and legal provisions.
Amendment 9 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Eligibility for funding from the general budget of the European Union should be limited to European political parties and their affiliated European political foundations that have been recognised as such and obtained a European legal status. While it is crucial to ensure that the conditions to become a European political party are not excessive but can be readily met by organised and serious transnational alliances of political parties or natural persons or both, it is also necessary to establish proportionate criteria in order to allocate limited resources from the EU budget, which objectively demonstrate the European ambition and genuine electoral support of a European political party. Such a criterion is best based on the outcome of elections to the European Parliament, in which the European political parties are required to participate under this Regulation, providing a precise indication of the electoral recognition of a European political party. It should reflect the role the European Parliament has of directly representing the Union's citizens, assigned to it by Article 10(2) of the Treaty on European Union, as well as the objective for European political parties to participate fully in the democratic life of the Union and to become active actors of Europe's representative democracy, in order to effectively express the views, opinions and political will of the citizens of the Union. Eligibility for funding from the general budget of the European Union should therefore be limited to European political parties which are represented in the European Parliament by at least one of their members or have obtained a minimum level of electoral support across a significant number of Member States at the most recent elections to the European Parliament and to European political foundations which apply through a European political party that is represented in the European Parliament by at least one of its members.
Amendment 10 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) For reasons of transparency, and in order to strengthen the scrutiny and the democratic accountability of European political parties and European political foundations, information considered to be of substantial public interest, related notably to their statutes, membership, financial statements, donors and donations, [contributions] and grants received from the budget of the Union, as well as information related to decisions taken by the European ParliamentCommission on registration, funding and penalties, should be published. Establishing a regulatory framework to ensure that this information is publicly available is the most effective means of promoting a level playing field and fair competition between political forces, and of upholding open, transparent and democratic legislative and electoral processes, thereby strengthening the trust of citizens and voters in European representative democracy, and, more broadly, preventing corruption and abuses of power. In compliance with the principle of proportionality, the obligation to publish the identity of natural persons should not apply to those members of a European political party who have not given their express consent for publication or to donations equal to or below EUR 1 000 per year and per donor. Also in compliance with the principle of proportionality, information on donations should be published annually, except during election campaigns to the European Parliament or for donations exceeding EUR 12 000 where publication should take place expeditiously.
Amendment 11 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) For the sake of legal certainty, it is appropriate to clarify that the European ParliamentCommission, the European political parties and European political foundations, the national authorities competent for exercising control over aspects related to the financing of European political parties and European political foundations, and other relevant third parties referred to or provided for in this Regulation are the data controllers within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 or Directive 95/46/EC. It is also necessary to specify the maximum period for which they may retain the personal data collected for the purposes of ensuring the legality, regularity and transparency of the funding of European political parties and European political foundations and the membership of European political parties. In their capacity as data controllers, the European Parliament, the European political parties and European political foundations, the competent national authorities and the relevant third parties need to take all the appropriate measures to comply with the obligations imposed by Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Directive 95/46/EC, in particular those relating to the lawfulness of the processing, the security of the processing activities, the provision of information and the rights of data subjects to have access to their personal data, as well as to procure the correction and erasure of their personal data.
Amendment 12 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) Specific rules and procedures shall be laid down for distributing the appropriations available each year from the general budget of the European Union, taking into account, on the one hand, the number of beneficiaries and, on the other, the share of elected members in the European Parliament of each beneficiary European political party and, by extension, its respective affiliated European political foundation. These rules shall provide for strict transparency, accounting, auditing and financial control of European political parties and their affiliated European political foundations, and auditing provisions by the European ParliamentCommission and the Court of Auditors as well as proportionate sanctions, including in the event of a breach by a European political party or a European political foundation of the values on which the Union is founded.
Amendment 13 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) The European ParliamentCommission should verify regularly that the conditions and requirements related to the registration and funding of European political parties or European political foundations continue to be met. This verification should be carried out annually, or following a motivated request by any natural or legal person and should be carried out upon request by the European Parliament. Decisions related to respect for the values on which the Union is founded should only be taken in accordance with a procedure specifically designed to this effect, and in consultation with a committee of independent eminent persons. Decisions to revoke the status as European political party or European political foundation can be appealed before the Court of Justice of the European Union in accordance with Article 263 TFEU.
Amendment 14 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) Technical assistance to be afforded by the European ParliamentCommission to European political parties should be guided by the principle of equal treatment, should be supplied against invoice and payment and shall be subject to a regular public report.
Amendment 15 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 1
(b) it must be represented, in at least one quarter of the Member States, by Members of the European Parliament or in the national Parliaments,consist of member organisations that are legally recognised as national and/or regional Pparliaments or regional assemblies, orties in at least one quarter of the Member States,
Amendment 17 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – subparagraph 2
Amendment 20 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)
(ea) an obligation of its member parties to select candidates for the elections to the European Parliament in an open, democratic process that allows all party members to take part, actively and passively in the selection process and in the decisions about the order of candidates on the electoral lists,
Amendment 21 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
1. The European ParliamentCommission shall establish a registry (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Registry’) for the purposes of the registration of a European political party and a European political foundation.
Amendment 22 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. In order to register its statutes, the political alliance, as defined in Article 2 point (2), or the political foundation affiliated with a European political party shall file an application with the European ParliamentCommission.
Amendment 23 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 5
Article 6 – paragraph 5
5. Within three months following the reception of the application for registration, the European ParliamentCommission shall adopt a decision, which it shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Union, together with the party or foundation statutes or, where an application has not been approved, the grounds for rejection.
Amendment 24 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 6
Article 6 – paragraph 6
6. Any amendments to the documents or statutes submitted as part of the application for registration in accordance with paragraph 3 shall be notified to the European ParliamentCommission within four weeks.
Amendment 25 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7
Article 6 – paragraph 7
7. The updated list of members of a European political party, annexed to the party statutes in accordance with Article 4(2), shall be sent to the European ParliamentCommission on a yearly basis, but within four weeks of any changes following which the European political party may no longer satisfy the requirement in Article 3(1)(b).
Amendment 26 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 7 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. The Commission shall report, on an annual basis, to the European Parliament on all relevant information it has received as provided for in paragraphs 3 to 7 of this article. It shall inform the European Parliament immediately on any changes that might significantly affect the fulfilment of conditions for registration provided for in articles 3 to 5.
Amendment 27 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
1. The European ParliamentCommission shall verify annually that the conditions and requirements set out in Articles 3, 4 and 5 continue to be met by the European political parties and the European political foundations.
Amendment 29 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
2. Whenever requested to do so by one quarter of its members, representing at least three political groups in the European Parliament, the European Parliament shall decide by a majority of its members whether it considers the condition in Article 3(1)(c) for a European political party and in Article 3(2)(c) for a European political foundation continues to be met.
Amendment 32 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. Any natural or legal person may, at any moment, introduce a motivated request to the European ParliamentCommission to verify that one or more of the conditions and requirements referred to in paragraph 1 continue to be met. A breach of the values on which the Union is founded by a European political party, including its members, or a European political foundation can only be established in accordance with paragraph 2.
Amendment 33 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. If the Commission concludes that the conditions in Article 3(1)(c) for registering a European political party and in Article 3(2)(c) for registering a European political foundation cease to be met or upon request by the European Parliament pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Article, it shall take a decision whether or not to uphold the registration status.
Amendment 34 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 4
Article 7 – paragraph 4
4. If the European ParliamentCommission finds that any of the conditions or requirements referred to in paragraph 1 are no longer satisfied, the provisions provided for in Article 11 or in Article 22 or in both shall apply, having due regard to the provisions of Article 23.
Amendment 35 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 2
2. The European ParliamentCommission shall adopt a decision on the termination of the European legal status and the removal from the Registry.
Amendment 36 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. A European political party registered in accordance with the conditions and procedures laid down in this Regulation, which is represented in the European Parliament by at least one of its members or has obtained at least 1% share of the vote at the last elections to the European Parliament in at least one quarter of the Member States, and which is not in one of the situations of exclusion referred to in Article [93] of the Financial Regulation may apply for funding from the general budget of the European Union, in accordance with the terms and conditions published by the European Parliament in a call for [contributions].
Amendment 37 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 2
Article 15 – paragraph 2
2. European political parties and European political foundations shall, at the time of the submission of their annual financial statements to the European ParliamentCommission in accordance with Article 19, also transmit a list of all donors with their corresponding donations, indicating both the nature and the value of the individual donations. This paragraph shall also apply to the contributions made by members referred to in paragraphs 7 and 8.
Amendment 38 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3
Article 15 – paragraph 3
3. Donations received by the European political parties and European political foundations within six months prior to elections to the European Parliament shall be reported on a weekly basis to the European ParliamentCommission in writing and in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2.
Amendment 39 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 4
Article 15 – paragraph 4
4. Single donations exceeding a value of EUR 12 000 that have been accepted by the European political parties and European political foundations shall be immediately reported to the European ParliamentCommission in writing and in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2.
Amendment 40 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 6 – indent 2
Article 15 – paragraph 6 – indent 2
– when it is not possible to return it, be reported to the European ParliamentCommission. The Authorising Officer shall proceed to the establishment and authorisation of the recovery order in accordance with the provisions laid down in Articles [71] and [72] of the Financial Regulation. The funds shall be entered as general revenue in the European Parliament section of the Budget.
Amendment 41 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 20 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
The national authorities and the European ParliamentCommission shall agree practical arrangements in order to share information on the European political parties and the European political foundations.
Amendment 42 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 5
Article 20 – paragraph 5
5. The [contribution] and grant award decision or agreement shall expressly provide for auditing by the European ParliamentCommission and the Court of Auditors, on the basis of records and on the spot, of the European political party which has received a [contribution] or the European political foundation which has received a grant from the general budget of the European Union.
Amendment 43 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Article 21 – paragraph 1
All technical support from the European ParliamentCommission to European political parties shall be based on the principle of equal treatment. It shall be granted on conditions no less favourable than those granted to other external organisations and associations that may be accorded similar facilities and shall be supplied against invoice and payment.
Amendment 44 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
In accordance with Article 24, the European ParliamentCommission shall publish details of the technical support provided to each European political party in an annual report, within three months following the end of the financial year.
Amendment 45 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1
Article 22 – paragraph 1
1. If the European ParliamentCommission finds, in accordance with Article 7(2), that a European political party or a European political foundation has failed to respect the values on which the Union is founded or has been the subject of a judgement which has the force of res judicata for illegal activities detrimental to the financial interests of the Union as defined in Article [93(1)(e)] of the Financial Regulation, or that a European political party has failed to respect the minimum rules on internal democracy required by Article 4(2), the European political party or the European political foundation in question may be removed from the Registry, forfeit its status in accordance with Article 11, and have any ongoing decision on Union funding received under this Regulation withdrawn or any ongoing agreement on such funding terminated and any Union funding recovered, including any unspent Union funds from previous years.
Amendment 46 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The European ParliamentCommission shall impose on a European political party or a European political foundation a fine according to a scale determined by it:
Amendment 47 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) in the event of failure to provide the notification laid down in Article 6(6) and (7) or if the European ParliamentCommission finds that the European political party or the European political foundation has at any moment intentionally provided incorrect or misleading information,
Amendment 48 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 22 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) in the event of failure to transmit to the European ParliamentCommission the list donors and their corresponding donations in accordance with Article 15(2) or to report donations in accordance with Article 15(3) and (4),
Amendment 48 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) European political parties and their affiliated European political foundations, which wish to obtain recognition as such at the European level through a European legal status and to receive public funding from the general budget of the European Union, should respect certain principles and fulfil certain conditions. In particular, it is necessary for European political parties and their affiliated European political foundations to respect the values on which the European Union is founded, as set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. In order to guarantee a pluralistic democratic life in the European Union, as well as to ensure that a maximum number of alliances fall under the transparency and supervision rules of this Regulation, the threshold for registering a European political party should not be linked to previous electoral success but open the contest for all formally well organised transnational political alliances.
Amendment 49 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 3
Article 22 – paragraph 3
3. When setting the amount of a fine imposed on a European political party or a European political foundation pursuant to paragraph 2, the European ParliamentCommission shall take into account the gravity, duration and, where relevant, recurrence of the infringement, the time that has elapsed, the intention or degree of negligence, and any measures taken to comply with the conditions and requirements of this Regulation. Any fine must be effective and dissuasive, and may not exceed 10% of the annual budget of the European political party or the European political foundation in question corresponding to the year in which the sanction is imposed.
Amendment 49 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Principles and minimum requirements for the governance and internal organisation of European political parties should be laid down, in particular to ensure a commitment to and respect for high standards of internal party democracy, especially concerning the procedures for the selection of candidates and composition of lists for the elections to the European Parliament through their constituent member parties. The statutes of a European political party or a European political foundation should also contain a series of basic administrative and legal provisions.
Amendment 50 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 4
Article 22 – paragraph 4
4. A European political party or a European political foundation which, following an infringement described in paragraph 2 point (a), fails to introduce the measures requested by the European ParliamentCommission to remedy the situation, despite having been given the opportunity to do so pursuant to Article 23, may be removed from the Registry and forfeit its status in accordance with Article 11, and have any ongoing decision on Union funding received under this Regulation withdrawn or any ongoing agreement on such funding terminated and any Union funding recovered, including any unspent Union funds from previous years.
Amendment 50 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Eligibility for funding from the general budget of the European Union should be limited to European political parties and their affiliated European political foundations that have been recognised as such and obtained a European legal status. While it is crucial to ensure that the conditions to become a European political party are not excessive but can be readily met by organised and serious transnational alliances of political parties or natural persons or both, it is also necessary to establish proportionate criteria in order to allocate limited resources from the EU budget, which objectively demonstrate the European ambition and genuine electoral support of a European political party. Such a criterion is best based on the outcome of elections to the European Parliament, in which the European political parties are required to participate under this Regulation, providing a precise indication of the electoral recognition of a European political party. It should reflect the role the European Parliament has of directly representing the Union's citizens, assigned to it by Article 10(2) of the Treaty on European Union, as well as the objective for European political parties to participate fully in the democratic life of the Union and to become active actors of Europe's representative democracy, in order to effectively express the views, opinions and political will of the citizens of the Union. Eligibility for funding from the general budget of the European Union should therefore be limited to European political parties which are represented in the European Parliament by at least one of their members or have obtained a minimum level of electoral support across a significant number of Member States at the most recent elections to the European Parliament and to European political foundations which apply through a European political party that is represented in the European Parliament by at least one of its members.
Amendment 51 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1
Article 23 – paragraph 1
1. Before taking a final decision related to any of the penalties in Article 22, the European ParliamentCommission shall give the European political party or the European political foundation concerned the opportunity to present its observations and, where relevant and appropriate, to introduce the measures required to remedy the situation within a reasonable time period.
Amendment 52 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2
Article 23 – paragraph 2
2. If the Commission or the European Parliament considers it necessary, ithey may hear other natural or legal persons, including any complainants referred to in Article 7(3).
Amendment 53 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the names and statutes of all registered European political parties and European political foundations, together with the documents submitted as part of the application for registration in accordance with Article 6(3), at the latest four weeks after the European ParliamentCommission has adopted its decision and, beyond this date, any amendments notified to the European ParliamentCommission pursuant to Article 6(6) and (7),
Amendment 54 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) a list of those applications that have not been approved, together with the documents submitted as part of the application for registration in accordance with Article 6(3) and the grounds for rejection, at the latest four weeks after the European ParliamentCommission has adopted its decision,
Amendment 55 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point g
(g) the details of and reasons for any final decisions taken by the European ParliamentCommission pursuant to Article 22, including, where relevant, the opinions adopted by the committee of independent eminent persons in accordance with Article 7(2), having due regard to the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001,
Amendment 56 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point j
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point j
(j) the evaluation report of the European ParliamentCommission on the application of this Regulation and the activities funded as referred to in Article 27.
Amendment 57 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 2
Article 24 – paragraph 2
2. From the list of members of a European political party, annexed to the party statutes in accordance with Article 4(2) and updated in accordance with Article 6(7), the European ParliamentCommission shall publish the total number of members, the identity of the legal persons that are members, as well as the names of those natural persons who have given their express written consent to their publication. European political parties shall request this consent as a matter of course from all natural persons who are members.
Amendment 58 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 3
Article 24 – paragraph 3
3. European political parties and European political foundations shall, in a publicly available privacy statement, provide potential members and donors with the information required by Article 10 of Directive 95/46/EC and inform them that their personal data may be made public and may be processed for auditing and control purposes by the European ParliamentCommission, OLAF, the Court of Auditors, competent national authorities, and external bodies or experts authorised by these. The European Parliament, in application of Article 11 of Regulation (EC) 45/2001, shall include the same information in the calls for [contributions] or proposals referred to in Article 13(1).
Amendment 59 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1
Article 25 – paragraph 1
1. In processing personal data pursuant to this Regulation, the European Parliament, the Commission and the committee referred to in Article 7(2) shall comply with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001. For the purposes of the processing of personal data, they shall be considered as data controllers in accordance with Article 2(d) of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.
Amendment 60 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 3
Article 25 – paragraph 3
3. The European Parliament, the Commission and the committee referred to in Article 7(2) shall ensure that personal data collected by them pursuant to this Regulation are not used for any purpose other than to ensure the legality, regularity and transparency of the funding of European political parties and European political foundations and the membership of European political parties. They shall destroy those personal data at the latest 24 months after publication of the relevant parts in accordance with Article 24.
Amendment 61 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 4
Article 25 – paragraph 4
4. The competent national authorities and independent bodies or experts authorised to audit accounts shall use the personal data they receive only in order to exercise control over the financing of European political parties and European political foundations. They shall destroy those personal data in accordance with applicable national law after transmitting it to the European ParliamentCommission pursuant to Article 20(3).
Amendment 61 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) For reasons of transparency, and in order to strengthen the scrutiny and the democratic accountability of European political parties and European political foundations, information considered to be of substantial public interest, related notably to their statutes, membership, financial statements, donors and donations, [contributions] and grants received from the budget of the Union, as well as information related to decisions taken by the European Parliament on registration, funding and penalties, should be published. Establishing a regulatory framework to ensure that this information is publicly available is the most effective means of promoting a level playing field and fair competition between political forces, and of upholding open, transparent and democratic legislative and electoral processes, thereby strengthening the trust of citizens and voters in European representative democracy, and, more broadly, preventing corruption and abuses of power. In compliance with the principle of proportionality, the obligation to publish the identity of natural persons should not apply to those members of a European political party who have not given their express consent for publication or to donations equal to or below EUR 1 000 per year and per donor. Also in compliance with the principle of proportionality, information on donations should be published annually, except during election campaigns to the European Parliament or for donations exceeding EUR 12 000 where publication should take place expeditiously.
Amendment 62 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 7
Article 25 – paragraph 7
7. The European Data Protection Supervisor shall be responsible for monitoring and ensuring that the European Parliament, the European Commission and the committee referred to in Article 7(2) respect and protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of natural persons in the processing of personal data pursuant to this Regulation. Without prejudice to any judicial remedy, every data subject may lodge a complaint with the European Data Protection Supervisor if he or she considers that his or her right to the protection of their personal data has been infringed as a result of the processing of this data by the European Parliament, the European Commission or the committee.
Amendment 64 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Article 26 – paragraph 1
1. The European ParliamentCommission shall provide for administrative appeal procedures in relation to any decisions linked to the registration of statutes, funding or penalties.
Amendment 66 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 2
Article 26 – paragraph 2
2. Administrative appeal procedures shall not have suspensory effect. The European ParliamentCommission may, however, if it considers that circumstances so require, suspend the application of any decision it has taken.
Amendment 68 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28
Article 28
The European Parliament shall adopt a DecisCommission shall adopt an Implementing Regulation laying down the rules and procedures for implementing this Regulation, including for the establishment of the Registry.
Amendment 69 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) The European Parliament should verify regularly that the conditions and requirements related to the registration and funding of European political parties or European political foundations continue to be met. This verification should be carried out annually, or following a motivated request by any natural or legal person. Decisions related to respect for the values on which the Union is founded should only be taken in accordance with a procedure specifically designed to this effect, and in consultation with an advisory committee of independent eminent personsthe competent experts on party regulation and electoral procedures from the Member States (the Advisory Committee on European Party Regulation). Decisions on granting or revoking the status as European political party or European political foundation can be appealed before the Court of Justice of the European Union in accordance with Article 263 TFEU.
Amendment 89 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – paragraph 1
(b) it must be represented, in at least one quarter of the Member States, by Members of the European Parliament or in the national Parliaments, regional Parliaments or regional assemblies, orconsist of member organisations that are legally recognised as parties or allowed to participate in elections as parties at national or regional level in at least one quarter of the Member States,
Amendment 93 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – paragraph 2
Amendment 136 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)
(e a) an obligation of its Member parties to select candidates for the elections to the European Parliament in an open and democratic process through free, equal and secret ballot,
Amendment 157 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. An Advisory Committee on European Party Regulation that consists of one representative of each Member State's authority that has the mandate to decide about participation of parties in elections at national level shall duly review each application and make a recommendation whether it fulfils all conditions laid down in Articles 3, 4, and 5.
Amendment 161 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 5
Article 6 – paragraph 5
5. Within three months following the reception of the application for registration, the European Parliament shall adopt a decision based on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on European Party Regulation, which it shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Union, together with the party or foundation statutes or, where an application has not been approved, the grounds for rejection.
Amendment 193 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Before reaching its decision, the European Parliament shall hear the representatives of the European political party or European political foundation concerned and ask a committee of independent eminent persons to give an opinion on the subject within a reasonable time periodthe Advisory Committee on European Party Regulation, as defined in Article 6( 4a), to give a recommendation on the subject within two months from the request.
Amendment 199 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 231 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) a European political party no longer meets the requirements in Article 3(1)(b) following changes to its membership or following elections to the European Parliament,
Amendment 248 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
1. A European political party registered in accordance with the conditions and procedures laid down in this Regulation, which is represented in the European Parliament by at least one of its members or has obtained at least 1% share of the vote at the last elections to the European Parliament in at least one quarter of the Member States, and which is not in one of the situations of exclusion referred to in Article [93] of the Financial Regulation may apply for funding from the general budget of the European Union, in accordance with the terms and conditions published by the European Parliament in a call for [contributions].
Amendment 256 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 4
Article 12 – paragraph 4
4. Financial contributions or grants from the general budget of the European Union may not exceed 90% of the annual reimbursable expenditure of a European political party and 95% of the annual eligible costs indicated in the budget of a European political foundation. European political parties and European political foundations may use any unused part of the EU contribution awarded to cover reimbursable expenditure within the following two financial years after its award. Amounts unused following those two financial years shall be recovered in accordance with the Financial Regulation.
Amendment 275 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 4
Article 15 – paragraph 4
4. Single donations exceeding a value of EUR 12 000 that have been accepted by the European political parties and European political foundations shall be immediately reported to the European Parliament in writing and in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2.
Amendment 296 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 2
Article 17 – paragraph 2
2. Expenditure of parties and candidates linked to campaigns conducted in the context of elections to the European Parliament shall be clearly identified as such by the European political parties in their annual financial statements.
Amendment 306 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. At the latest within sixfour months following the end of the financial year, European political parties and European political foundations shall submit to the Registry and to the competent national authorities in the Member States:
Amendment 351 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1
Article 23 – paragraph 1
1. Before taking a final decision related to any of the penalties in Article 22, the European Parliament shall request an opinion from the Advisory Committee on European Party Regulation, as defined in Article 6(4a), and give the European political party or the European political foundation concerned the opportunity to present its observations and, where relevant and appropriate, to introduce the measures required to remedy the situation within a reasonable time period.
Amendment 361 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) the annual financial statements and external audit reports referred to in Article 19(1), and, for the European political foundations, the final reports on the implementation of the work programmes; this information shall be published at the latest six weeks upon their reception, with all financial information provided in comparable, table-based formats, including as open data,
Amendment 363 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) the names of donors and their corresponding donations reported by the European political parties and European political foundations in accordance with Article 15(2), (3) and (4), with the exception of donations from natural persons not exceeding a value of EUR 1 000 per year and per donor which shall be reported as ‘minor donations’; this information shall be published at the latest six weeks upon their reception, with all financial information provided in comparable, table-based formats, including as open data,
Amendment 371 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 24 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Any information published by the Registry on the basis of paragraph 1 (c) to (g) Article shall remain publicly accessible on the website for at least five years.
Amendment 401 #
2012/0237(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 1
Article 28 – paragraph 1
The European Parliament shall adopt a Decision laying down the rules and procedures for implementing this Regulation, including for the establishment of the Registry and the Advisory Committee on European Party Regulation.
Amendment 29 #
2011/2317(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the main concerns relating to the general theme of the environment are the poor and often misguided application by Member States and their sub-national entities of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive4 and the Waste Framework Directive5 ; whereas petitions alleging breaches of the Birds and Habitats Directives often raise concerns of serious biodiversity loss as a result of major projects planned in Natura 2000 sites and petitions on water management have revealed grave cases of pollution as well as raised concerns over possible impacts of projects on the sustainability and quality of aquatic resources;
Amendment 36 #
2011/2317(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)
Recital N a (new)
N a. whereas many petitions have claimed that EU funds have been misused or misappropriated and others allege malfunctioning in the EU administration including conflicts of interest within influential agencies or call for changes in EU policies such as the authorisation of GMOs or the use of nuclear energy;
Amendment 56 #
2011/2317(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes, therefore, that this role and responsibility should lead Parliament to consider ways of revitalising this fundamental part of parliamentary work both in terms of its visibility and in terms of improving its ability to raise issues of importance to European citizens in plenary, as well as by reinforcing its competence to call witnesses and investigate more independently issues raised by citizens; invites its Bureau to consider measures to this effect, including the possibility of organising on-site field hearings on important petitions;
Amendment 62 #
2011/2317(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes Parliament's decision to develop a much more practical and visible petitions portal on its website, which will facilitate access for citizens to the petitions process, provide them with information and allow them to submit petitions in a more user-friendly environment and sign electronically in support of petitions; considers that this portal should also provide practical links to other forms of redress which are available at European and national or regional level;
Amendment 95 #
2011/2317(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Urges the Spanish Government to revise the Ley dRecalls that Parliament has held that the Coastas in such a way as to guarantee title to those who havel Law has had a disproportionate impact on individual properlty and in good faith acquired property within the reach of the jurisdiction of the Ley de Costas; in particular, calls for a reform of the Ley de Costas whichowners while, at the same time, it has had insufficient impact on the real perpetrators of coastal destruction, who have in many instances been responsible for excessive urban developments along the coasts, including holiday resorts, and who had good grounds for knowing that they were invariably acting contrary to the provisions of the law in question; urges the Spanish Government to ensures due process, a right of appeal, proper compensation, and the right to information and which protectsion against retroactive or discriminatory actions;
Amendment 4 #
2011/2302(REG)
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Asks the Vice-President of Parliament responsible for matters relating to citizens’ initiatives, the Chair of the Conference of Committee ChairConference of Presidents to task the working group responsible for negotiations on interinstitutional issues and the rapporteur for the above report, together with representatives of the other political groups appointed by the Conference of Presidents, to come to an agreement with the Commission in respect of arrangements for implementing Regulation (EU) No 211/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 on the citizens’ initiative as regards cooperation between the two institutions in organising and conducting public hearings and inas reimbursing thegards a distribution of costs arising from such hearings; calls for these arrangements to be laid down in an interinstitutional agreement to be incorporated into the Framework Agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the Commission when it is next revised; is willing to bear the costs of providing meeting rooms and interpretation for the public hearings if the Commission will reimburse the travel and subsistence expenses incurred by participants;
Amendment 14 #
2011/2302(REG)
Rule 197 a (new) – paragraphs 1 to 6 (new)
Amendment 16 #
2011/2298(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 70 – paragraph 2
Rule 70 – paragraph 2
2. Before entering into such negotiaSuch negotiations shall not be entered into prior to the adoptions, by the committee responsible should, in principle, take a decision by a majority of its members and adopt a mandate, orientation, on a case-by-case basis for every legislative procedure concerned, of a decision on the opening of negotiations which shall determine the mandate and the composition of the negotiating team. The mandate shall consist of a report or a set of amendments adopted in committee and additionally, where appropriate, a set of clearly defined objectives or priorities.
Amendment 22 #
2011/2298(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 70 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Rule 70 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The negotiating team shall have a representative composition. It shall be chaired by the Chair of the committee responsible or by another member of the team designated by the Chair. The negotiating team shall comprise the rapporteur and, for each political group, the shadow rapporteur or the coordinator.
Amendment 38 #
2011/2298(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 70 – paragraph 3
Rule 70 – paragraph 3
3. If the negotiations lead to a compromise with the Council following the adoption of the report by the com, the committee responsible shall be informed without delay. The agreed draft legislative act shall be submittee,d to the committee shall in any case be reconsulted before the vote in plenaryresponsible, and if approved shall be tabled for consideration by Parliament in the form of a report or compromise amendments, which may take the form of a consolidated text.
Amendment 42 #
2011/2298(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 70 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Rule 70 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Where a draft legislative act is examined in the procedure with associated committees in accordance with Rule 50, or in the procedure with joint committee meetings pursuant to Rule 51, those Rules shall also apply to the decision on the opening of negotiations and to the conduct of such negotiations. In the event of disagreement between the committees concerned, the matter shall be submitted to the Conference of Presidents, which , without prejudice to Rule 70a , may decide on the modalities for the opening and conduct of negotiations in accordance with the principles set out in those Rules.
Amendment 45 #
2011/2298(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 70 a (new)
Rule 70 a (new)
Rule 70a Approval of a decision on the opening interinstitutional negotiations prior to the adoption of a report at first reading 1. Any decision by a committee on the opening of negotiations prior to the adoption of a report at first reading shall be translated into all the official languages, distributed to all Members of Parliament and submitted to the Conference of Presidents. The Conference of Presidents may decide to include the item, for consideration with a debate and vote, in the draft agenda of the part-session subsequent to the distribution. In the absence of such decision by the Conference of Presidents, the decision on the opening of negotiations shall be announced by the President at the opening of the subsequent part-session. 2. The item shall be included in Parliament's agenda of the part-session subsequent to the announcement for consideration with a debate and vote, and the President shall set a deadline for the tabling of amendments where two groups representing at least one-tenth of the component Members of Parliament so request within 48 hours after the announcement. Otherwise, the decision on the opening of the negotiations shall be deemed to be approved.
Amendment 46 #
2011/2298(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 70 a (new)
Rule 70 a (new)
Rule 70a Approval of a decision on the opening interinstitutional negotiations prior to the adoption of a report 1. Any decision by a committee on the opening of negotiations prior to the adoption of a report shall be translated into all the official languages, distributed to all Members of Parliament and submitted to the Conference of Presidents. The Conference of Presidents may decide to include the item, for consideration with a debate and vote, in the draft agenda of the part-session subsequent to the distribution. In the absence of such decision by the Conference of Presidents, the decision on the opening of negotiations shall be announced by the President at the opening of the subsequent part-session. 2. The item shall be included in Parliament's agenda of the part-session subsequent to the announcement for consideration with a debate and vote, and the President shall set a deadline for the tabling of amendments where two groups representing at least one-tenth of the component Members of Parliament so request within 48 hours after the announcement. Otherwise, the decision on the opening of the negotiations shall be deemed to be approved.
Amendment 6 #
2011/2275(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Underlines the importance of a good administration practice also with regard to infringement procedures and calls for the establishment of a 'procedural code' in the form of a regulation under the legal basis of Article 298 TFEU, setting out the various aspects of the infringement procedure;
Amendment 23 #
2011/2182(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Invites Member States, European Union institutions and relevant stakeholders to open discussions to see under which conditions it could be considered to grant voting rights to EU citizens inalso in national and regional elections when their regions are vested with legislative capacities;
Amendment 30 #
2011/2182(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls and welcomes the fact that the set of rights attached to EU citizenship are now complemented by a new right, the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), which will be applicable from April 2012; underlines that work needs to continue on further developing models and methods for participative and deliberative democracy on European level;
Amendment 6 #
2011/2176(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Is of the opinion that a Unified Patent Court can be created by means of an international agreement; stresses, however,in light of the abovementioned opinion by the Court and taking into account that the European Union is not party to the European Patent Convention, careful analysis is needed whether a Unified Patent Court can be created by means of an international agreement as currently proposed, especially also in view of the legal architecture contained in the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of the creation of unitary patent protection, notably article 1 thereof; stresses that the Unified Patent Court must respect Union law; believes that this respect for the primacy and proper application of Union law should be ensured inter alia by providing for the possibility of requesting preliminary rulings from the Court of Justice of the European Union in accordance with Article 267 of the TFEU;
Amendment 7 #
2011/2176(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Is of the opinion that in light of the abovementioned opinion by the Court careful analysis is needed how a Unified Patent Court can be created by means of an international agreement; stresses, however, that the Unified Patent Court must respect Union law; believes that this respect for the primacy and proper application of Union law should be ensured inter alia by providing for the possibility of requesting preliminary rulings from the Court of Justice of the European Union in accordance with Article 267 of the TFEU; calls in this regard for an in depth legal analysis to verify whether an international agreement to which the Union is not a party can confer on the European Court of Justice an obligation to hear preliminary ruling questions as well as whether such agreement can impose liability on Member States for infringements of Union law;
Amendment 21 #
2011/2174(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 153 – paragraph 3 – point c a (new)
Rule 153 – paragraph 3 – point c a (new)
(ca) submission to the Conference of Presidents of a proposal to deprive a Member of a rapporteurship;
Amendment 2 #
2011/2168(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 48 − paragraph 2
Rule 48 − paragraph 2
2. Motions for resolutions contained in own-initiative reports shall be examined by Parliament under the short presentation procedure set out in Rule 139. Amendments to such motions for resolutions shall only be admissible for consideration in plenary if tabled by the rapporteur to take account of new information or by at least one- tenth of the Members of Parliament. Political groups may table alternative motions for resolutions in accordance with Rule 157(4). Rules 163 and 167 shall apply to the voting on such motions and amendments. Rule 167 shall also apply tot the voting on such alternative motions. This paragraph shall not apply in cases where the subject of the report qualifies for a key debate in plenary, where the report is drawn up pursuant to the right of initiative referred to in Rule 41 or 42, or where the report can be consideredhas been authorised as a strategic report according to the criteria set out by the Conference of Presidents.
Amendment 3 #
2011/2168(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 48 − paragraph 2
Rule 48 − paragraph 2
2. Motions for resolutions contained in own-initiative reports shall be examined by Parliament under the short presentation procedure set out in Rule 139. Amendments to such motions for resolutions shall only be admissible for consideration in plenary if tabled by the rapporteur to take account of new information or by at least one-tenth of the40 Members of Parliament. Political groups may table alternative motions for resolutions in accordance with Rule 157(4). This paragraph shall not apply in cases where the subject of the report qualifies for a key debate in plenary, where the report is drawn up pursuant to the right of initiative referred to in Rule 41 or 42, or where the report can be consideredhas been authorised as a strategic report according to the criteria set out by the Conference of Presidents.
Amendment 3 #
2011/2152(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the overall package on both the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 and the interinstitutional agreement is far from the initial negotiating position of the European Parliament and fails to respond to any of the key demands of the European Parliament set out in its resolution of 13 March 2013 adopted by an overwhelming majority, such as a substantial increase in the future-oriented policies, a compulsory and comprehensive revision, a maximum overall flexibility and an agreement on own resources;
Amendment 8 #
2011/2152(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. ADoes not approves conclusion of the agreement below;
Amendment 9 #
2011/2152(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 16 #
2011/0817(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. Parliament attaches paramount importance to upholding the principle of equality before the law, as enshrined in Article 20 of the Charter, especially where it concerns the protection of fundamental rights,
Amendment 26 #
2011/0817(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S a (new)
Recital S a (new)
Sa. Parliament would encourage Member States not to start ratification procedures until the Czech Republic has completed its ratification procedure,
Amendment 31 #
2011/0455(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 5 a (new)
Article 1 – point 5 a (new)
Staff Regulations
Article 11 a
Article 11 a
Amendment 37 #
2011/0455(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 5 b (new)
Article 1 – point 5 b (new)
Staff Regulations
Article 16
Article 16
5b. Article 16 shall be replaced by the following: 'Article 16 An official shall, after leaving the service, continue to be bound by the duty to behave with integrity and discretion as regards the acceptance of certain appointments or benefits. Officials intending to engage in an occupational activity, whether gainful or not, within two years of leaving the service shall inform their institution thereof, using the form provided by their service, before commencing the occupational activity in question. If that activity will involve lobbying or providing advice on lobbying Union institutions, or could lead to the existence or possibility of a conflict with the legitimate interests of the institution, the Appointing Authority shall, having regard to the interests of the service, forbid him from undertaking it for a period of two years after he has left the service and apply any other conditions it thinks fit. The institution shall, after consulting the Joint Committee, notify its decision within 30 working days of being so informed formally and in writing to the official concerned. The Appointing Authority shall also apply sanctions in cases of breaches of this Article or of its decisions regarding specific occupational activities. Such sanctions shall include withholding, fully or in part, financial or non-financial benefits accrued by the (former) official. All institutions shall regularly publish a list of all cases assessed under this Article, without prejudice to the provisions of 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 data1, and shall produce an annual report which includes statistical information and details of emerging trends. Leave on personal grounds may not be granted to an official for the purpose of his engaging in an occupational activity, whether gainful or not, which will involve lobbying or providing advice on lobbying an Union institution or which could lead to the existence or possibility of a conflict with the legitimate interests of his service. During the two years following his retirement or early retirement, the Appointing Authority shall send the official an annual reminder about his obligations under this Article. _______________ 1 OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.';
Amendment 23 #
2011/0307(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In order to provide for enhanced transparency of payments made to governments, issuers whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market and which have activities in the extractive or logging of primary forest industries should disclose in a separate report on an annual basis payments made to governments in the countries in which they operate. The report should include types of payments comparable to those disclosed under the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and provide civil society with information to hold governments of resource-rich countries to account for their receipts from the exploitation of natural resources. The initiative is also complementary to the EU FLEGT Action Plan (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) and the Timber Regulation which require traders of timber products to exercise due diligence in order to prevent illegal wood from entering into the EU market and certain contextual information. The disclosure of these data is aimed at enabling investors to make better-informed decisions, improving corporate governance and accountability and contributing to the containment of tax evasion. The detailed requirements are defined in Chapter 9 of Directive 2011/../EU of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Amendment 27 #
2011/0307(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7a) For issuers active in the extractive or logging of primary forest industries the report on payments to governments should include more detailed information provided the payments are material to the recipient government as defined in Chapter 9 of Directive 2011/.../EU of the European Parliament and of the Council1. The reports should include types of payments comparable to those disclosed under the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and provide civil society with information to hold governments of resource-rich countries to account for their receipts from the exploitation of natural resources. The initiative is also complementary to the EU FLEGT Action Plan (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade)2 and the Timber Regulation3 which require traders of timber products to exercise due diligence in order to prevent illegal wood from entering into the EU market. ______________ 1 OJ L, , p.. 2 http://eur- lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do? uri=OJ:L:2005:347:0001:0006:EN:PDF 3 Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market (OJ L 295, 12.11.2010, p. 23). Companies that import wood products under EU voluntary agreements will be exempt from this requirement.
Amendment 44 #
2011/0307(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point 5
Article 1 – point 5
Directive 2004/109/EC
Article 6
Article 6
Member States shall require all issuers active in the extractive or logging of primary forest industries, as defined in […] to prepare, in accordance withto disclose, as part of the annual financial report and in accordance with Article 6a of this Directive and Chapter 9 of Directive 2011/.../EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, a report on payments made to governments on an annual basis. The report shall be made public at the latest six months after the end of each financial year and shall remain publicly available for at least five yearand certain contextual information on an annual basis. Payments to governments shall be reported at consolidated level.
Amendment 47 #
2011/0307(COD)
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – point 5 a (new)
Article 1 – point 5 a (new)
Directive 2004/109/EC
Article 6 a (new)
Article 6 a (new)
Amendment 5 #
2010/2291(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is of the opinion that the agreement meets, de facto, Parliament's demand for obligatory registration because it remainswill provide a strong incentive for registration since it will render it impossible for anyone to procure a badge giving access to Parliament without first registering;
Amendment 7 #
2010/2291(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Reaffirms, however, its call for the mandatory registration of all lobbyists on the Transparency Register and calls for the necessary steps to prepare for a transition to mandatory registration to be taken in the forthcoming review process;
Amendment 24 #
2010/2291(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Demands, however, that regional representation offices which are units of the public administration of their federal state or region and hence public authorities are exempted from the register; demands further that point 13 of the agreement is amended accordingly;
Amendment 32 #
2010/2291(ACI)
Proposal for a decision
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. ADoes not approves conclusion of the agreement below and decides to annex it to its Rules of Procedureunless the agreement is amended in accordance with paragraph 6a;
Amendment 3 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas Article 10(4) of the Treaty on European Union states that ‘'political parties at European level contribute to forming European political awareness and to expressing the will of citizens of the Union’', while Parliament and the Council, in accordance with Article 224 of the Treaty on the functioning of the European Union, lay down the regulations governing these parties and their affiliated European political foundations and in particular the rules regarding their funding,
Amendment 13 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)
Recital N a (new)
Na. whereas the regulation on political parties at the European level does not make a difference between the recognition and the funding of political parties,
Amendment 14 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N b (new)
Recital N b (new)
Nb. whereas the Bureau note of 10 January 2011 recommended tightening the criteria for the funding of European political parties; whereas this amounts to a restriction of party competition at the European level as long as the criteria for the legal recognition and funding of political parties are identical,
Amendment 15 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N c (new)
Recital N c (new)
Nc. whereas a common legal statute for European political parties allows separating the recognition of parties from their funding and counterbalancing the aforementioned restriction of party competition; whereas this makes the European political space more accessible to new parties,
Amendment 17 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
Recital R
R. whereas experience with the funding of European political parties and their affiliated European political foundations has shown that they need more flexibility and similar conditions with regard to the carry-over of funds to the following financial year and to building up reserves from own resources in excess of the prescribed minimum of their expenditure to be financed from their own funds,
Amendment 32 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the need for a European political party to be made up of national or regional parties that respect and implement internal democracy (in the democratic election of party bodies, and democratic decision- making including the selection of candidates);
Amendment 35 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the same internal democracy shouldmust be respected by the European party itself;
Amendment 48 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Emphasises the need to separate the legal recognition of European political parties from their funding; underlines that the proposed tightening of the criteria for the funding of political parties must be supplemented by less restrictive criteria of their legal recognition in order to keep the European political space accessible to new parties and parties not yet represented in Parliament;
Amendment 49 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Points out that a legal statute should reflect the outstanding role of political parties for democratic decision-making and for the mediation of interests between citizens and their representatives; stresses that political parties therefore should be granted special rights and obligations; notes that internal democratic structures and respect for democratic values are a sine qua non for the recognition as a political party; notes further that political parties which fulfil those criteria should be granted full political independence; their funding must not be made dependent on their work programmes or any other criteria as regards the substance of their activities;
Amendment 78 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Recalls a demand made long ago, namely to give the European political parties and foundations a legal statute, enabling them to acquire legal personality under EU law rather than the law of the State where they are established or recognised; considers that such a statute could at the same time lay down minimum requirements as to their functioning and structure; invites the Committee on Constitutional Affairs to draw up a legislative proposal with this aim at earliest convenience, to be submitted to the Commission in accordance with Article 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;
Amendment 81 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Notes that what is needed on a more short- term basis is to improve the regulatory environment of the European political parties and foundations, taking as a first step the adoption of the European legal statute; invites the Commission to take the steps necessary for amending Regulation 2004/2003 on the regulations governing political parties at the European level and the rules regarding their funding accordingly;
Amendment 94 #
2010/2201(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Emphasises, however, that the funding regime would have to be counterbalanced by providing for sanctions in the Funding Regulation where they are at present missing; considers that such sanctions could take the form of financial penalties in the case of infringement of the rules concerning, for example, the transparency of donations; underlines the necessity of providing the same conditions for building reserves and carry-over funds for both European political parties and their affiliated European political foundations;
Amendment 119 #
2010/2002(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45 a new
Paragraph 45 a new
45a. The European Parliament calls for extra budgetary means in order to facilitate the implementation of the European citizens' initiative for the citizens, with the aim of provide help and assistance to citizens who whish to make use of this new instrument;
Amendment 15 #
2010/0821(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas the future structure of economic governance in the Union and further economic coordination measures should be subject of a European Economic Governance Conference to be organised according to the convention model, with the participation of the European Parliament, national parliaments, the Council and the Commission so as to ensure a high level of participation and democratic legitimacy;
Amendment 56 #
2010/0821(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses that the establishment and functioning of the permanent stability mechanism must fully respect the core principles of democratic decision-making such as transparency, parliamentary scrutiny and democratic accountability; emphasises that it should not give rise to a new model of European governance which falls short of the level of democratic standards achieved in the Union;
Amendment 99 #
2010/0821(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 – point b – indent 3
Paragraph 9 – point b – indent 3
– the financial assistance under the mechanism will be subject to rigorous analysis and to a programme of economic and financial recovery; those Member States whose currency is the euro will act, when deciding to grant financial assistance, on the basis of an evaluation provided by the Commission, the European Central Bank and, in so far as it may be involved, the International Monetary Fund; with regard to the analysis and the conditions for financial and economic recovery, the Commission will report back to Parliament; and
Amendment 116 #
2010/0821(NLE)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Reiterates that Parliament is prepared to support the draft European Council decision only if condition (a) or at least condition (b) set out in paragraph 9 above is fulfilled; does not support a break with the Community method and its democratic principles;
Amendment 88 #
2010/0074(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) It is appropriate to ensure that statements of support for a citizens' initiative are collected within a specific time-limit. In order to ensure that proposed citizens' initiatives remain relevant, whilst taking account of the complexity of collecting statements of support across the European Unionable citizens to collect statements of support in as many Member States as possible, whilst ensuring that proposed citizens' initiatives remain relevant, that time-limit should not be longer than 12be 18 months from the date of registration of the proposed initiative.
Amendment 148 #
2010/0074(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
4. All statements of support shall be collected after the date of registration of the proposed initiative and within a period that shall not exceed 12 months8 months. At the end of that period, the register shall indicate that the period has expired and, where appropriate, that the Commission has ascertained that the necessary statements of support have not been submitted.
Amendment 30 #
2009/2195(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 87a – paragraph 2 a (new)
Rule 87a – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. In accordance with the provisions of the basic legislative act, the committee responsible may table a motion for a resolution to revoke a delegation, to oppose tacit renewal of a delegation of power, to give early approval or to object to a delegated act. In the latter case, the motion for a resolution shall state the reasons for the objection and may incorporate a request to the Commission to submit a new delegated act which takes account of Parliament's recommendations.
Amendment 40 #
2009/2195(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 87a – paragraph 2 b (new)
Rule 87a – paragraph 2 b (new)
Amendment 45 #
2009/2195(REG)
Parliament's Rules of Procedure
Rule 88 – paragraph 4 – point a a (new)
Rule 88 – paragraph 4 – point a a (new)
(aa) if the draft implementing act is based on paragraph 5 or 6 of Article 5a of Decision 1999/468/EC, which prescribes curtailed time-limits for opposition by Parliament, a motion for a resolution opposing the adoption of the draft act may be tabled by the chair of the committee responsible if that committee has not been able to meet in the time available and if such motion for a resolution clearly represents the opinion of a majority of the committee.
Amendment 1 #
2009/2142(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Lisbon Treaty, by introducing the European Citizens’ Initiative, gives EU citizens the right to initiaterequest a legislationve procedure,
Amendment 3 #
2009/2142(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. Whereas on 31 March 2010 the Commission submitted a proposal for a regulation setting out the procedures and conditions for the Citizens’ Initiative,
Amendment 7 #
2009/2142(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 32 #
2009/2142(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Points, furthermore, to a range of other institutional changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty that will affect lawmaking in the European Union; emphasises in particular the importance of the European citizens’ initiative and welcomestakes note of the Commission’s Green Paper on this matterproposal for a regulation setting out the procedures and conditions of that initiative;
Amendment 20 #
2009/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Proposes that 25 out of the total of 751 MEPs be elected by a single constituency formed of the whole territory of the European Union; pan- European lists would be composed of candidates drawn from at least one third of the States, and may ensure an adequate gender representation; each elector would be enabled to cast one vote for the EU- wide list in addition to their vote for the national or regional list:; and seats woulthus won would be counted within the number of national allocations so as not to alter the seat apportionment per Member State and be allocated without a minimum threshold in accordance with the D’Hondt method; further, proposes that an electoral authority be established at EU level in order to regulate the conduct and to verify the result of the election taking place from the pan- European list;
Amendment 46 #
2009/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Recital Q
Q. the redistribution of parliamentary seats among States needs to take place on a regular basis in order to reflect demographic change in the resident populations of the States and to strictly respect the principle of degressive proportionalitycomply with the rules and with the principle of degressive proportionality; it should be adapted regularly to reflect demographic change in the electorate of the States; it may be possible to reach agreement on an apolitical, mathematical formula which would respect the criteria laid down in the Treaties and spelt out in the Act21, 1 2Or. de Declaration No 5 annexed to the Final Act of the Lisbon Treaty IGC. Declaration No 5 annexed to the Final Act of the Lisbon Treaty IGC.
Amendment 49 #
2009/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q a (new)
Recital Q a (new)
Qa. in addition to the principle of degressive proportionality, the distribution of seats should also be guided by the following principles agreed by Parliament in its resolution of 11 October 2007: the principle of efficiency, whereby a ceiling is imposed on the number of Members at a level which is still compatible with the role of a legislative assembly; the principle of plurality, which guarantees the citizens of each Member State that the main constituents of the spectrum of political opinion – particularly the majority and the opposition – are represented; and the principle of solidarity, whereby the more populous States agree to be under-represented in order to allow the less populous States to be represented better,
Amendment 57 #
2009/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital W a (new)
Recital W a (new)
Wa. electoral equality must remain the overriding principle if transnational lists are introduced; the status of Members in Parliament should therefore remain equal regardless of whether they were elected from transnational or national lists,
Amendment 58 #
2009/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital W b (new)
Recital W b (new)
Wb. the introduction of transnational lists should not lead to further expansion of the Parliament; the number of seats will already increase by 15 Members with the impending implementation of the distribution of seats under the Lisbon Treaty; further expansion would not be compatible either with the aforementioned principle of efficiency or with the current constraints on public finances in the EU and its Member States,
Amendment 72 #
2009/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Proposes that an additional 2525 out of the total of 751 MEPs will be elected by a single constituency formed of the whole territory of the European Union; transnational lists will be composed of candidates drawn from at least one third of the States, and will be gender-balanced; candidates will be selected in accordance with democratic principles; each elector will be enabled to cast one vote for the EU-wide list in addition to their vote for the national or regional list: voting for the EU constituency will be in accordance with the preferential semi-open list system (whereby votes are allotted either to the party list or to individual candidates within a list); and seats will be allocated in accordance with the Sainte-Laguë method15; further, proposes that an electoral authority will be established at EU level in order to regulate the conduct and to verify the result of the election taking place from the EU- wide list;
Amendment 77 #
2009/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Proposes that a redistribution of the existing 751 seats among States will take place, if justified objectively by figures established by Eurostat, based on the total resident populationelectorate, before every election; the redistribution will be made in accordance with a mathematical formula respecting the criteria laid down in the Treaties, and willadvocates that both the redistribution of seats, arising from a change in population size, and also the necessary reform in seat allocation caused by the introduction of transnational lists be conducted in accordance with a mathematical formula respecting the criteria laid down in the Treaties; notes that the redistribution of seats calculated using this formula can also be introduced gradually; emphasises that on no account may there be any greater divergence in the redistribution of seats from the degressive proportional distribution calculated before; considers that the redistribution of seats should be announced at least twelve months before the end of the mandate;
Amendment 79 #
2009/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Considers it necessary to hold further discussions on a suitable formula that must ensure a degressive proportional distribution in which the ratio between the population and the unrounded number of seats of each Member State varies in relation to their respective populations in such a way that each Member from a more populous Member State represents more citizens than each Member from a less populous Member State and vice versa, but also that no less populous Member State has more seats than a more populous Member State; the formula should ensure a regular degressive proportional distribution for all countries with more than the minimum number of seats and there should be no blips in the graph; under the current conditions it should lead to a distribution which is as close as possible for all Member States to the number of seats set out in the current Treaty on European Union, with the emphasis on the principle of solidarity whereby smaller countries receive more seats than they would be due under a purely proportional system and larger countries receive correspondingly fewer seats; the formula must comply with the criteria enshrined in the Treaties, whereby no Member State may receive fewer than 6 or more than 96 seats and the total number of seats, including those awarded under transnational lists, may not exceed 751; the formula must at any rate produce a clear result in terms of seat distribution; it must also set out general rules and not establish special rules for any individual Member State;
Amendment 91 #
2009/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Places equal emphasis on urging political parties to adhere to democratic principles in the selection of candidates;
Amendment 95 #
2009/2134(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 15 #
2009/0813(NLE)
Paragraph 2
2. Regrets that the Council did not adopt the necessary measures in time to enable the additional MEPs to take up their seats as soon as the Lisbon Treaty entered into force, and that one of the soluthe proposed third options envisaged in the context of the amendment sought is not in keeping with the spirit of the 1976 Actclearly in breach of EU primary law, which wais designed to ensure that MEPs are elected directly, ra and not, as proposed in ther thanird option, indirectly through an election within a national parliament;
Amendment 19 #
2009/0813(NLE)
Paragraph 3
3. ADoes not agrees, however,therefore, at this stage to the convening of an intergovernmental conference, provided that it is confined to the specific issueand reserves its right to postpone its decision ofn the adoption of transitional measures concerning the composition of the European Parliament for the rest of the 2009-2014 parliamentary termconvening of a Convention until there is an agreement to withdraw the proposed inclusion of the third option in the amended Protocol No 36;
Amendment 48 #
0000/2013(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Insists that the political parties at all levels adopt democratic and transparent procedures through free, equal and secret ballot, for the selection of their candidates for the European Parliament and for the Presidency of the Commission;