15 Amendments of Monika HOHLMEIER related to 2021/2146(DEC)
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Reiterates its call on the Commission to provide clear definitions and guidelines for the interpretation and implementation of the Agency's mandate, particularly border control aspects, to ensure an adequate and proper use of the Agency's financial means;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that one of the conditions not yet met is the recruitment of 40 fundamental rights monitors (FRMs), as on 1 June 2022, 31 FRMs were in service, with three more to take office on 1 September 2022, more than one and a half year after the deadline set in the Agency’s founding regulation (5 December 2020); notwelcomes that the Agency now strives to have 46 FRMs; notes the explanation provided by the Agency that the delay was due to lengthy recruitment procedures in Union institutions and acknowledges its commitment to recruit the remaining FRMs as quickly as possible; notes that the FRO has expressed content with the procedure;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that the second condition not yet met is the call on the Agency to suspend its support-related activities in Hungary, in accordance with Article 46 of Regulation (EU) 2019/18961 ; notes that the Agency, instead of suspending the support-related activities, rather takes additional safeguarding measures to get assurance from the Hungarian authorities that fundamental rights have been respected, and monitors this closely; notes that the Agency’s Fundamental Rights Officers recommend partially suspending return operations and additional safeguards when conductions return operations; recalls and supports the argument expressed by the Commission in the Committee on Budgetary Control meeting of 13 July that a presence of the Agency in Hungary allows the Agency to monitor and control possible violations of fundamental rights against refugees or asylum seekers by Hungarian authorities at the border; emphasises the importance of border control in the Agency’s mandate and the training of and cooperation with national authorities to implement the Union standards as foreseen in the legislation; _________________ 1 Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 November 2019 on the European Border and Coast Guard and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1052/2013 and (EU) 2016/1624 (OJ L 295, 14.11.2019, p. 1).
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with concern that the budget- monitoring efforts during the financial year 2020 resulted in a budget implementation rate of 78,42 %, representing a decrease of 21,42 % compared to 2019; highlights that EUR 360 mln of EUR 364 mln of the budget were committed; takes note that EUR 95 mln have been returned to the Union general budget; notes with concern that the payment appropriations execution rate was very low at 43,84 %, representing a decrease of 25,30 % compared to 2019;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes the Court’s observation that the pandemic has affected the Agency’s operations and budget implementation in 2020, with the Agency reducing its initial budget by EUR 95 000 000, through two amending budgets; notes that a provisional budgetary commitment of EUR 18 100 000 for the preparation of field deployments in 2021 was carried forward without the Agency having entered into legal commitments within the time limit laid down in Article 75 of the Agency’s Financial Regulation; notes that the Agency acknowledges the observation whilst working on remedial measures to prevent future occurrence, which entails the verification of carry forward tables for the associated legal commitments; acknowledges that the Agency issued an Administrative Notice with guidance on the annuality principle which explained the carry-over rules in detail;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that the serious concerns raised on the basis of the partial presentation of findings from the final report in the Committee on Budgetary Control meeting of 28 February 2022 are indeed confirmed in the final report; notes from the statements of the Chair of the Agency’s management board in the Committee on Budgetary Control meeting of 13 July 2022 that actions have been taken in follow-up to OLAF’s conclusions in the final report; notes the comments from the Chair of the Agency’s management board, and the Commission’s deputy director-general for Migration and Home Affairs that the report shows the failings of the individuals concerned, and that there is no structural issue; recalls further that it was reconfirmed at this meeting that the OLAF final report does not contain any financial implications or indications of violations of sound financial management at the Agency;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that the Agency’s surveillance aircraft services performed a total of 1 068 missions in 2020 out of which 1030 were surveillance flights and 38 related to fishery control; welcomes the fact that the number of surveillance aircraft services increased over the past years with a number of 177 missions in 2017 and a number of 1068 missions in 2020;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Notes that in 2020 COVID-19 related measures included the closure of borders and suspension of air traffic, which affected all operational activities coordinated by the Agency; notes that the number of return operations drastically dropped in 2020; calls on the Commission to introduce, in close cooperation with the Agency, an emergency plan that sets out certain safety measures, ensuring the safe continuation of return operations;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Acknowledges and highly welcomes the positive change in management style introduced by the Executive Director ad interim who promotes a team-based approach with a consultative and inclusive leadership with the full support of the Management Board and the Fundamental Rights Officer (FRO); welcomes the positive role of the new management board Chair and the important contribution by the FRO which has improved the intensity of meetings and support for the Agency;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Notes that the Executive Director of the Agency reports regularly on the progress of the implementation in each Management Board Meeting covering the recommendations addressed by the WG on Fundamental Rights and Legal Operations Aspects of Operations, Frontex Scrutiny Working Group of the European Parliament, the European Ombudsman and the Court;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Takes note that on 15 February 2022 OLAF concluded its investigation on allegations in relation to the exercice of professional duties and non-compliance with the rules in place; calls on OLAF and the Commission to make sure that the full investigation report will be shared with the discharge authority as soon as possible, while respecting its Regulation and all legal requirements on the protection of sensitive data and of the persons concerned; reminds that it is necessary to have clarity on all elements of the investigation, in order for the discharge authority to take an informed and correct decision in relation to the 2020 budgetary procedure;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16 a. Notes media reports that the OLAF report has been finalised and sent to the Frontex Management Board; recalls information from media reports that the recommendations in the OLAF report are of disciplinary nature; calls on the Management Board to make its decision within an adequate timeframe and inform the discharge authority about its decision including the reasoning;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16 b. Reminds the importance of the Agency and of its role as a border and coast guard of the Union; calls therefore on the Agency to step up its efforts to follow up and appropriately address all OLAF recommendations with a view to ensure full functionality, as well as effectiveness and credibility of its actions, especially in the context of the current situation in Ukraine, when the border control of the Union and proper management of the increasing migration flows become of paramount importance;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30 a. Notes that the Commission has informed the discharge authority about significant improvements in the organisation and administration of the Agency and that the cooperation and coordination between the Agency and the Commission as well as across the different areas, including the fundamental rights officer, functions much better compared to 2 years ago;