2013/2013(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas, subject to Protocol 30 of the Treaty, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union has already acquired legally binding force through the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon1 ; whereas the right of citizens to submit petitions to the European Parliament has already been enshrined in the Treaty since the entry into force of the Maastricht Treaty on 1 November 1993; whereas Parliament objects to the restrictive interpretation of the scope of application of the Charter put forth by the European Commission; whereas the same Treaty also establishes the legal basis for the EU to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as the European Citizens’ Initiative;

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas, in the field of fundamental rights, the Committee devoted much attention in 2012 to the rights of persons with disabilities, the rights of children, consumer rights, property rights, the rights of free movement without discrimination on any grounds, protecting freedom of expression and privacy, and the right of access to documents and information as well as the rights to freedom of political association and to join a trade union;

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Draws attention, in that regard, to the Eurobarometer of public opinion which indicates that only 36% of EU citizens consider themselves well informed about their rights and only 24% feel well informed about what they can do if their rights are not respected; stresses, therefore, the urgent need for improved access to information and for a clearer distinction between the functions of the various national ~~and European institutions~~institutions and the European Commission, the European Ombudsman and the Parliament's competent committee, so that petitions and complaints can be addressed to the right bodies;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Draws attention, in that regard, to the Eurobarometer of public opinion which indicates that only 36% of EU citizens consider themselves well informed about their rights and only 24% feel well informed about what they can do if their rights are not respected; stresses, therefore, the urgent need for improved access to information and for ~~a clearer distinction between the functions of the various na~~the establishment of a widely advertised single live point of contact in all Member States to which citizens can turn directly with any EU- related questionals and ~~European institutions, so that pe~~concerns and which will forward the questions internally to the relevant bodies in the EU institutions ~~and complaints can be addressed to the right bodie~~, including the Committee on Petitions;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Is determined to put in place a more practical and visible petitions web portal by the end of 2013, in order to facilitate access to the petitions process and to provide valuable information on petitions, its public dissemination and an interactive approach to the petitions process, as well as on other redress mechanisms; calls for the right of petition to be given greater visibility on the Parliament website homepage;

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Is determined to put in place a ~~more~~ practical and visible petitions web portal accessible to all citizens by the end of 2013, in order to facilitate access to the petitions process and to provide valuable information on petitions, as well as on other redress mechanisms; calls ~~for the right of petition to be given greater visibility on the Parliament website homepage~~, given that in 2012 70% of all registered petitions were already received in electronic form, for all institutions and other bodies of the EU to place on the homepages of their websites and social media channels a clearly visible link to the online form for submitting a petition;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Emphasises that the Committee on Petitions, along with other institutions, bodies and instruments such as the European Citizens' Initiative, the European Ombudsman, the European Commission, and the committees of inquiry, play an independent and clearly defined role as points of contact for each individual citizen; further stresses that the Committee on Petitions must continue to be a point of reference for citizens whose rights are allegedly being infringed;

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Emphasises that the Committee on Petitions, along with other institutions, bodies and instruments such as the European Citizens’ Initiative, the European Ombudsman, the European Commission, and the committees of inquiry, play an independent and clearly defined role as must remain a central points of contact for ~~each individual citizen; further stresses that the Committee on Petitions must continue to be a point of reference for citizens whose rights~~citizens when their rights guaranteed in EU law are being infringed;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Welcomes the constructive cooperation between the Committee and the European Ombudsman, as for instance in the case of the Ombudsman's Special Report on Vienna Airport, regarding the appropriate application of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive; supports the activities of the Ombudsman concerning instances of maladministration in the activities of EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies;

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Welcomes the constructive cooperation between the Committee and the European Ombudsman, such as in the Special Report on the Vienna airport extension; supports the activities of the Ombudsman concerning instances of maladministration in the activities of EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies; expects this task to be continued on the grounds of full independence, as has been the case until now;

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Points out that EU citizens do not all have a national Ombudsman with extensive powers, which means that all EU citizens do not have the same access to redress; believes that with a national Ombudsman in each Member State, the European Network of Ombudsmen would provide considerable support for the European Ombudsman;

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Welcomes the continued cooperation with the European Commission with regard to the examination of petitions in the field of the application of EU law by Member States; stresses, nevertheless, that the Committee expects to be kept well and promptly informed about developments concerning infringement proceedings; asks the Commission to give equal consideration to petitions and complaints as regards the functioning of infringement procedures; calls, in addition, upon the Commission to also provide the Committee with details and a statistical analysis of all complaints it investigates;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas, in the field of fundamental rights, the Committee devoted much attention in 2012 to the rights of persons with disabilities, the rights of children, property rights, the rights of free movement without discrimination on any grounds, protecting freedom of expression and privacy, and the right of access to documents and information; whereas the situation of economic crisis has prompted a number of petitions concerning social problems, such as housing;

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Welcomes the continued cooperation with the Commission; stresses, nevertheless, that the Committee expects to be kept well and promptly informed about developments concerning infringement proceedings; asks the Commission to give equal consideration to petitions and complaints as regards the functioning of infringement procedures; calls, in addition, upon the Commission to also provide the Committee with details and a statistical analysis of all complaints it investigates; stresses that, for the right of petition to be fully respected, a thorough analysis and answer from the Commission is fundamental when requested, providing an assessment not only about the formal or procedural issues but also on the essential content of the matter;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Emphasises that access to information held by the EU institutions, as specified by Regulation 1049/2001, is the primary interest of citizens aiming to better understand the ~~political and economic deliberations behind~~ decision-making process; takes the view that greater access to information on investigations and infringement files could be provided by the Commission without jeopardising the purpose of the investigations and that an overriding public interest might well justify access to these files, particularly in cases where fundamental rights, human or animal health and the protection of the environment against irreversible damage may be at stake, or where proceedings are under way regarding discrimination against a minority or violations of human dignity, as long as protection of trade secrets and sensitive information relating to court cases, competition cases and personnel files are safeguarded;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Emphasises that access to information held by the EU institutions is the primary interest of citizens aiming to understand the political and economic deliberations behind decision-making, particularly when it concerns projects with an impact on the environment; takes the view that greater access to information on investigations and infringement files could be provided by the Commission without jeopardising the purpose of the investigations and that an overriding public interest might well justify access to these files, particularly in cases where fundamental rights, human or animal health and the protection of the environment against irreversible damage may be at stake, or where proceedings are under way regarding discrimination against a minority or violations of human dignity, as long as protection of trade secrets and sensitive information relating to court cases, competition cases and personnel files are safeguarded;

Amendment 113 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Asks for a precautionary and preventive-aimed approach by the Commission when assessing projects with potential negative environmental or public health impact, in an early cooperation with the Member States concerned; notes the possibility of injunction measures to be established during deliberations in cases where irreversible damage is anticipated;

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Takes note, in particular, of the important contribution of the SOLVIT network in uncovering and solving issues related to the implementation of internal market legislation; encourages the enhancement of this EU tool by ensuring that Member States provide adequate staffing to the SOLVIT National Centres; adds that collective action is needed to resolve disputes brought by consumers and their associations;

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Underlines that, as confirmed by the Legal Service in its Opinion of 29 February 2012, the fields of activity of the European Union institutions, as contained in the Treaty, are wider than the mere sum of the competences exercised by the Union; ~~calls on the European Commission to interpret petitions in light of this fundamenta~~takes into account that, whereas Article 227 TFEU does not provide for a definition of a petition, petitions are to be declared inadmissible only if they do not fulfil the conditions mentioned in Article 227 TFEU; takes also into account the view of Parliament's Legal Service that Parliament is entitled to adopt internal administrative decisions which aim to establish a procedure for the processing of submissions from citizens, and, more specifically according to the Legal Service, it is possible for Parliament's staff to prepare the ground for the work of Members of the Petitions Committee, taking into account that, for the legality of the procedure, it is essential that Parliament's responsible committee exclusively adopts decisions on the admissibility of petitions; regrets in this respect the failure of the appropriate service of the Parliament to follow through Parliament's Resolution of 21 November 2012 with regard to submissions from citizens on issues that fall outside the EU's area of competence pursuant to Article 227 of the Treaty as well bas~~is;~~ Article 51 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights; finally, takes note of the legal ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (Case T-280/09), specifying that a petition must be drafted in a sufficiently clear and precise manner so as to be properly understood, in the light of the conditions set out in Article 227 of the TFEU.

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. ~~Deplores the negligence of many Member States in transposing and enforcing European legislation, a persistent failing which continues to give relevance to the work of this Committee; u~~Urges Member States~~, consequently,~~ to transpose and apply EU legislation in full transparency and, with that objective in mind, considers it indispensable to improve cooperation with Member States' parliaments and governments, on a reciprocal basis;

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Deplores the negligence of many Member States in transposing and enforcing European legislation, a persistent failing which continues to give relevance to the work of thise Committee on Petitions; urges Member States, consequently, to transpose and apply EU legislation in full transparency and, with that objective in mind, considers it indispensable to improve the Commission's early cooperation with Member States' parliaments and governments, on a reciprocal basis;

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Deplores the bureaucratic obstacles placed before European Citizens’ Initiatives due to a lack of IT support; regrets, above all, that such a tool for citizens is being used so disparately in the different administrations, due to the different operating procedures in the Member States;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Welcomes the Year of European Citizenship in 2013; calls on all institutions and bodies both of the European Union and of the Member States to enhance and advertise more widely their service to European citizens and residents during this year, in light of the principles contained in the Treaties and the facts revealed in this report;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the austerity policies the EU has imposed on Member States are curtailing the exercise of European citizens’ fundamental rights – especially the right to food, healthcare, education and housing – as never before;

Amendment 120 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Notes that the petitions mechanism is not merely a service, but a right for all European citizens and residents; pledges to make the petition procedure more efficient, transparent, and impartial~~, while preserving the participatory rights of the Members of the Committee on Petitions, so that the handling of petitions stands up to judicial review even at a procedural level~~;

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Notes that the petitions mechanism is not merely a service, but a right for all European citizens and residents; pledges to make the petition procedure more efficient, transparent, and impartial, while preserving the participatory rights of the Members of the Committee on Petitions, so that the handling of petitions stands up to judicial review even at a procedural level; notes that the petition procedure should be absolutely independent to any national court process, enabling parallel conclusions;

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Calls on the Committee on Petitions to continue examining the effects of the ERT case law on the interpretation of Article 51 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and its consequences concerning petitions and to investigate the question of what actual obstacles lie in the way of EU citizens applying for a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice in order to obtain reliable interpretations of central issues under European legislation in cases before the national courts;

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Emphasises the essential role of fact- finding visits in the petitions procedure, ~~not just as a participatory parliamentary right, but also as an obligation~~as a duty in relation to petitioners; reaffirms, as already stated in this Committee's previous report, the need for more precise, written, procedural rules in relation to the preparation, implementation and evaluation of visits, ensuring on the one hand that all members of a fact-finding visit have the right to present the facts from their point of view while, on the other hand, guaranteeing all Committee Members the opportunity to participate in the decision- making process concerning the conclusions and recommendations to be drawn by the Committee on Petitions;

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Calls on the European Parliament's Conference of Presidents to reinforce this Committee's investigatory role ~~and to take into account the Committee's specific nature by giving its full and prompt support to the fact- finding visits proposed~~;

Amendment 125 #

Sandrine BÉLIER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Considers the organisation of public hearings a useful way of studying issues raised by petitioners in depth; wishes to bring attention, for instance, to the public hearing held on the exploration and exploitation of unconventional energy sources, which took note of the concerns raised in this respect by EU citizens through their petitions; ~~notes that, as long as EU legislation is fully observed, decisions are ultimately the preroga~~recognises Member States' right to choose their energy mix and the need for better EU-wide coordination, when realising the threefold objectives of ~~the Member States~~EU energy policy as a whole, namely competitiveness, sustainability and security of supply;

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Considers the organisation of public hearings a useful way of studying issues raised by petitioners in depth; wishes to bring attention, for instance, to the public hearing held on the exploration and exploitation of unconventional energy sources, which took note of the concerns raised in this respect by EU citizens through their petitions; notes that, as long as EU legislation is fully observed, decisions are ultimately the prerogative of the Member States; adds that, similarly, the public hearing on the impact of GMOs in food on public health remains on hold;

Amendment 128 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. ~~Looks forward to~~Mandates the Committee on Petitions with the primary responsibility in organising public hearings for successful European Citizens' Initiatives, alongside the legislative Committee responsible; reaffirms its belief that this new tool will strengthen the democratic institutions of the Union and will give meaning to the notion of European citizenship;

Amendment 129 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Looks forward to organising public hearings for successful European Citizens’ Initiatives, alongside the legislative Committee responsible; reaffirms its belief that this new tool will strengthen the democratic institutions of the Union and will give meaning to the notion of European citizenship;Does not affect English version. Linguistic correction to German.

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas petitions submitted by citizens give evidence that there is persisting discrimination against citizens as a result of their ~~religion or belief,~~ disability, belonging to a minority or certain ethnic group, age or sexual orientation;

Amendment 130 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Looks forward to organising public hearings for successful European Citizens' Initiatives, alongside the legislative Committee responsible in accordance with Rule 197A of the European Parliament's Rules of Procedure; reaffirms its belief that this new tool will strengthen the democratic institutions of the Union and will give meaning to the notion of European citizenship;

Amendment 131 #

Mariya GABRIEL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 а (new)

27а. Notes that the Committee on Petitions receives information and suggestions from citizens on possible ways of improving the European Citizens’ Initiative procedure, and believes that consideration should be given to these;

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)

27a. Is nevertheless concerned about the red tape and technical obstacles which have emerged during the first months of the practical application of the Citizens' Initiative; calls therefore on the Commission to seriously consider bringing forward the date of the review prescribed in Article 22 of Regulation (EU) 211/2011;

Amendment 133 #

Mariya GABRIEL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)

27b. Stresses the need for regular review of the state of play with the European Citizens’ Initiatives, with the aim of improving the procedure and enabling effective solutions to be found as swiftly as possible to any obstacles at every stage of the procedure;

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Believes that the role and responsibilities of the Petitions Committee would be best performed, and its visibility, efficiency, accountability and transparency best enhanced, by improving its means for bringing issues of importance to European citizens to plenary, and upgrading its abilities to call witnesses, conduct investigations and organise ~~on-site~~ hearings;

Amendment 135 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Calls on the ~~Conference of Presid~~Parliaments to examine the extent to which amendments to the Rules of Procedure would be appropriate for the implementation of the above formal requirements concerning fact-finding visits and plenary resolutions under Article 202 of its Rules of Procedure;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas petitions submitted by citizens give evidence that there is persisting discrimination against citizens as a result of their religion or belief, disability, belonging to a minority or certain ethnic group, gender, age or sexual orientation;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas, in relation to the protection of the environment, the threat posed by pollution and environmental malpractice can never be overstated, due to the ensuing risks to biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as public health risks, all of which are long-lasting and often life-threatening; whereas in 2012 the Committee devoted much attention to the implementation of legislation on waste and water, as well as to the assessment of the impact of projects and activities on the environment and on public health;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas, in relation to the protection of the environment, the threat posed by pollution and environmental malpractice can never be overstated, due to the ensuing risks to biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as public health risks, all of which are long-lasting and often life-threatening; whereas due account should be taken of the aims of combating pollution and climate change; whereas in 2012 the Committee devoted much attention to the implementation of legislation on waste and water, as well as to the assessment of the impact of projects and activities on the environment and on public health, such as shale gas extraction projects;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas, in relation to the protection of the environment, the threat posed by pollution and environmental malpractice can never be overstated, due to the ensuing risks to biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as public health risks, all of which are long-lasting and often life-threatening; whereas regarding biodiversity some Member States have not yet determined the totality of minimum Natura 2000 protection areas nor fully implemented their effective protection; whereas in 2012 the Committee devoted much attention to the implementation of legislation on waste and water, as well as to the assessment of the impact of projects and activities on the environment and on public health;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas we must conserve our natural resources with a view to safeguarding the earth’s future; whereas the principle of precaution must be applied in respect of technological innovations such as GMOs and nanotechnology;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas on the waste management issue, the fact-finding visit to Italy highlighted the urgent need for all Italian authorities involved to find a sustainable solution for the waste management needs in Roma Province ensuring respect for the citizens' health and dignity; whereas, despite the end of the emergency situation in the city of Naples, many challenges on a comprehensive approach to waste management remain in the Campania region in connection with the waste Framework Directive hierarchy and the CJEU ruling of March 2010;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas, subject to Protocol 30 of the Treaty, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union has already acquired legally binding force through the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon1 ; whereas Parliament objects to the restrictive interpretation of the scope of application of the Charter put forth by the European Commission; whereas the same Treaty also establishes the legal basis for the EU to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as theo launch a European Citizens' Initiative appealing to the Commission to come up with a new legislative proposal on a given matter;

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas, although the Commission can fully check compliance with EU law only when a final decision has been taken by national authorities, it is important – particularly in relation to environmental matters – to verify at an early stage that local, regional and national authorities correctly apply all relevant procedural requirements under EU law, including implementation of the principle of precaution;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)

Fb. whereas the works of the committee have led to water's being declared as a public good which has to be managed according to the general interest; whereas the European Citizens' Initiative "Right to water" has already reached the threshold of a million signatures of European citizens;

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)

Fb. whereas further irreparable losses in biodiversity must be averted, especially inside Natura 2000 designated sites; whereas Member States have undertaken to ensure the protection of special conservation areas under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Birds Directive (79/409 EEC);

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital F c (new)

Fc. whereas in the resolution tabled by the Petitions Committee and adopted by the plenary on 13 December 2012 on the environmental recuperation of the surrounding of the ILVA steel plant in Taranto, this Parliament advocated the 'polluter-pays principle'1 1 P7_TA(2012)0510

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas in spite of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the Parliament and the Commission, the latter appears reluctant to provide prompt information on the nature of its deliberations, as well as decisions taken, in infringement proceedings related to petitions and concerning the implementation of environmental legislation; whereas this is an important source of concern given the irreversible damage and destruction that could be inflicted on our ecosystems and health;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas in spite of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the Parliament and the Commission, the latter appears reluctant to provide prompt information on the nature of its deliberations, as well as decisions taken, in infringement proceedings concerning the implementation of environmental legislation; whereas this is an important source of concern given the irreversible damage and destruction that could be inflicted on our ecosystems and health; whereas the European institutions ought to supply more information and be more transparent with regard to EU citizens;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas 2013 has been designated the European Year of Citizens, and it is precisely the citizens and residents of the EU, individually or in association with others, who are ~~best~~well placed to both assess the effectiveness of European legislation as it is applied, and to signal possible loopholes which impair the proper implementation of legislation and the full exercise of rights;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas 2013 has been designated the European Year of Citizens, and it is precisely the citizens and residents of the EU, individually or in association with others, who are best placed to both assess the effectiveness of European legislation as it is applied, and to signal possible loopholes which impair the proper implementation of legislation and the full exercise of rights; whereas due account should be taken of the contents of the ‘European Consumer Agenda to boost confidence and growth’;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas 2013 has been designated the European Year of Citizens, and it is precisely the citizens and residents of the EU, individually or in association with others, who are best placed to both assess the effectiveness of European legislation as it is applied, and to signal possible loopholes which impair the proper implementation of legislation and the full exercise of rights; whereas a fundamental precondition for this is that information about European legislation should be made available to citizens in a practical fashion;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas, for that reason, the Committee on Petitions devoted a great amount of time and effort in 2012 to discussing the meaning of citizenship, which is closely associated with the freedom of movement in the EU but which also comprises many other rights and is of benefit to citizens who do not leave their home country; whereas petitions give evidence that Union citizens still face widespread and tangible obstacles to exercising their cross-border rights in particular, a situation which has a direct and daily impact on the lives and welfare of thousands of households;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas, subject to Protocol 30 of the Treaty, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union has already acquired legally binding force through the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon1; and whereas ~~Parliament objects to the restrictive interpretation of the scope of application of the Charter put forth by the European Commission~~pursuant to Article 51 the Charter applies to the institutions and bodies of the EU and the Member States, only when they are implementing Union law; whereas the same Treaty also establishes the legal basis for the EU to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights, a~~s well as~~nd to introduce the European Citizens’ Initiative;

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas, for that reason, the Committee on Petitions devoted a great amount of time and effort in 2012 to discussing the meaning of citizenship, which is closely associated with the freedom of movement in the EU, as defined in Part III of TFEU; whereas petitions give evidence that Union citizens still face widespread and tangible obstacles to exercising their cross-border rights, a situation which has a direct and daily impact on the lives and welfare of thousands of households;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas, for that reason, the Committee on Petitions devoted a great amount of time and effort in 2012 to discussing the meaning of European citizenship, which is closely associated with a complethe freedom of movement and residence within the EU; whereas petitions give evidence that Union citizens and residents still face widespread and tangible obstacles to exercising their cross-border rights, a situation which has a direct and daily impact on the lives and welfare of thousands of households;

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas, for that reason, the Committee on Petitions devoted a great amount of time and effort in 2012 to discussing the meaning of citizenship, which is closely associated with the freedom of movement in the EU; whereas petitions give evidence that Union citizens still face widespread and tangible obstacles to exercising their cross-border rights, a situation which has a direct and daily impact on the lives and welfare of thousands of households; whereas the accessibility of public sector bodies' websites still cannot be guaranteed;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)

Ia. whereas the petitions process can be complementary to other European instruments available to citizens, such as the option to address complaints to the European Ombudsman or to the European Commission; whereas the Committee on Petitions works closely with the European Ombudsman, other European Parliament committees, European bodies, agents and networks and Member States;

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas the petitions process can, and should, remain complementary to other mechanisms of redress available to citizens, such as lodging complaints with the European Commission or the European Ombudsman; whereas SOLVIT, in particular, is an important tool which may be used by EU citizens in order to find speedy solutions to problems caused by the misapplication of internal market law by public authorities; whereas progress must therefore be made in jointly resolving legal cases brought by consumers and their associations; whereas the single web portal ‘Exercise your rights’ contains important information for citizens who wish to lodge complaints on the rightful application of EU law;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

Ja. whereas the field of action, and the modus operandi, of the right to petition granted to all EU citizens and residents under the terms of the Treaty differs from other remedies available to citizens, such as, for instance, the submission of complaints to the Commission or to the Ombudsman, and whereas the Member States, using the crisis as a pretext, are increasingly choosing to neglect this right, which is an important concern for European citizens;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

Ja. whereas it is necessary to increase citizen participation in the EU decision- making process, with a view to reinforcing its legitimacy and accountability;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas a new instrument for a participatory democracy, the ‘European Citizens’ Initiative‘, entered into force on 1 April 2012 and registered a total of sixteen (16) initiatives during the course of the year; whereas relevant concerns have been raised by diverse initiators of European Citizens' Initiatives on the technical barriers encountered for the actual collection of signatures; whereas the Committee on Petitions will play a primordial role in the organisation of the public hearings for successful initiatives;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas a new instrument for a participatory democracy, the ‘European Citizens’ Initiative’, entered into force on 1 April 2012 and registered a total of sixteen (16) initiatives during the course of the year; whereas the Committee on Petitions will play a primordial role in the organisation of the public hearings for successful initiatives; whereas due account should be taken of European Citizens’ Initiative (2012) 000003: Water and sanitation are a human right! Water is a public good, not a commodity!;

Amendment 39 #

Sandrine BÉLIER

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

~~L. whereas petition 630/2006 with more than one million signatures from EU citizens on the subject of the European Parliament’s two-seat arrangement has been kept on hold;~~deleted (Justification: the debate to which this petition refers is currently being held in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO))

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the Committee on Petitions has a duty to constantly review and, where possible, to enhance its role, notably with regard to the development of democratic principles, such as the increased participation of citizens in the EU decision-making process and the enhancement of transparency and accountability and whereas, in its regular activity, the committee works closely with Member States, the Commission, the European Ombudsman and other bodies in order to ensure that EU law is fully respected in both letter and spirit;

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas petition 630/2006 with more than one million signatures from EU citizens on the subject of the European Parliament’s two-seat arrangement has been kept on hold when it is not up to the Committee on Petitions to deal with this subject, which would call into question the Treaties, and when, moreover, there is already a single seat;

Amendment 41 #

Angelika WERTHMANN

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas petition 630/2006 with more than one million signatures from EU citizens on the subject of the European Parliament’s two-seat arrangement has been kept on hold and urgently needs resolving in view of the persistent structural crisis in Europe;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas petition 630/2006 with more than one million signatures from EU citizens on the subject of the European Parliament's two-seat arrangement has been kept on hold by the European Parliament's Conference of Presidents pending consultation of Member States;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital M

M. whereas it remains evident that there is both a lack of clearly structured and widely publicised information and a lack of awareness amongst EU citizens about their rights; whereas these constitute decisive obstacles to exercising active EU citizenship and whereas in this connection the Member States should comply more fully with their obligation to provide information and cultivate awareness;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital M

M. whereas it remains evident that there is both a lack of clearly structured and widely publicised information and a lack of awareness amongst EU citizens about their rights; whereas these constitute decisive obstacles to exercising active EU citizenship; whereas citizens are as good as powerless in the face of the opaque and/or speculative practices of the financial system;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. whereas European citizens and residents are legitimately entitled to expect that the issues they raise with the Committee on Petitions may find a solution without undue delay within the legal framework of the European Union, and in particular that the Members of the Committee will defend the ~~petitioner’s natural environment, health, freedom of movement, dignity and fundamental rights and freedoms~~legitimate wishes of all petitioners, irrespective of the area of life which they concern, with the requisite consistency and perseverance;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. whereas European citizens and residents are legitimately entitled to expect that the issues they raise with the Committee on Petitions may find a solution without undue delay within the legal framework of the European Union, and in particular that the Members of the Committee will defend the petitioner's natural environment, health, freedom of movement, dignity and fundamental rights and freedoms; whereas the efficiency of the committee's work is largely the result of swiftness and thoroughness of its Secretariat; whereas, in view of the progressively increasing number of petitions received yearly, more resources and committee meeting time should be devoted for this purpose;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. whereas European citizens and residents are legitimately entitled to expect that the issues they raise with the Committee on Petitions may find a solution without undue delay within the legal framework of the European Union, and in particular that the Members of the Committee will defend the petitioner’s natural environment, health, freedom of movement, dignity and fundamental rights and freedoms; whereas several petitions have been submitted by victims of the Franco regime and concerning abducted children in Spain;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital O

O. whereas certain petitions~~, such as one of the oldest outstanding petitions concerning discriminatory treatment against foreign-language lecturers (‘lettori’) in Italy,~~ are pending between the Commission, Parliament and national authorities without any solution found, leaving the petitioners on uncertain ground with no sign of a conclusion;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital O

O. whereas certain petitions, such as one of the oldest outstanding petitions concerning discriminatory treatment against foreign- language lecturers (‘lettori’) in Italy, are pending between the Commission, Parliament, European Court of Justice and national authorities without any solution found, leaving the petitioners on uncertain ground with no sign of a conclusion;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas in 2012 the Committee on Petitions registered 1 984 petitions, mostly referring to the themes of fundamental rights, the environment, and the internal market; whereas there is a cause-and- effect relationship between the worsening of the economic and social crisis in which the EU is mired and the increasing number of petitions from citizens;

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital O

O. whereas certain petitions, such as ~~one of~~ the oldest outstanding petitions concerning discriminatory treatment against foreign- language lecturers (‘lettori’) in Italy, are pending between the Commission, Parliament and national authorities without any solution found, leaving the petitioners on uncertain ground with no sign of a conclusion;

Amendment 51 #

Csaba Sándor TABAJDI

Motion for a resolution
Recital O a (new)

Oa. Whereas there has been a considerable increase in the number of petitions concerned with violations of the principles of fundamental democratic rights and the rule of law protected by the Treaty on European Union in the Member States (such as those dealing with ex post facto legislation in Hungary and the Beneš decrees in Slovakia, which aggravate the violation of minority rights), which shows that European citizens have increasing faith in the Community institutions to uphold their fundamental rights;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital O a (new)

Oa. whereas individuals and local communities, as well as voluntary organisations and businesses, are well placed to assess the effectiveness of European legislation as it applies to them, and to signal possible loopholes that need to be analysed in order to ensure better, more uniform and comparable implementation of EU law in all the Member States;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital O b (new)

Ob. whereas the Judgment of 14 September 2011 in Case T-308/07 made it clear that procedural decisions by Parliament in petition cases are also subject to judicial review;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital O c (new)

Oc. whereas the efficiency of the Committee’s work is largely the result of swiftness and thoroughness, and this could be improved further, in particular by optimising the time taken to process petitions and by systematising the procedure for their assessment;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Takes note that petitions received in 2012 from European Union citizens and residents focused on alleged breaches of EU law in the fields of fundamental rights, the environment, the internal market and property rights, which are directly affected by the deepening economic and social crisis in some EU countries; considers that petitions give evidence that there are still frequent and widespread instances of incomplete transposition or of misapplication of EU law; takes the view therefore that, ultimately, the European Union’s body of law does not fully deliver the expected results;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Takes note that petitions received in 2012 from European Union citizens and residents focused on alleged breaches of EU law in the fields of fundamental rights, the environment, the internal market and property rights; considers that petitions give evidence that there are still frequent and widespread instances of incomplete transposition or of misapplication of EU law; ~~takes the view therefore that, ultimately, the European Union's body of law does not fully deliver the expected results;~~

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Takes note that petitions received in 2012 from European Union citizens and residents focused on alleged breaches of EU law in the fields of fundamental rights, the environment, the internal market and property rights; considers that petitions give evidence that there are still frequent and widespread instances of incomplete transposition or of misapplication of EU law; takes the view therefore that, ultimately, the European Union's body of law does not fully deliver the expected results and that the Commission is the ultimate responsible to guarantee that both the letter and spirit of it is well respected;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that ~~fundamental rights~~, although the admissibility processing of the petitions was still not concluded by the end of June 2013, fundamental rights, as defined by the Treaties, remain a key subject of the petitions submitted in 2012, notably raising issues related to the rights of persons with disabilities, children's rights, property rights, the right of free of movement without discrimination on any grounds, the protection of freedom of expression and privacy, freedom of association, and the right of access to documents and information; calls on Member States to respect those rights as set out in the Treaty and calls on the European Commission to take the necessary measures to oblige non- compliant Member States to close the gap between national laws and the fundamental rights of EU citizens;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas in 2012 the Committee on Petitions registered 1 984 petitions, mostly referring to the themes of fundamental rights, the environment, and the internal market; whereas 1650 petitions were processed by the end of May 2013, of which 414 were declared admissible and closed and 465 declared inadmissible; whereas the petitions led to the delivery of a reasoned opinion from the Commission, according to Article 258 of TFEU and one case was brought before the Court of Justice of the European Union; whereas 340 other petitions are pending under the infringements proceedings, 118 of them are pending before the European Court of Justice;

Amendment 60 #

Ismail ERTUG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

Amendment 61 #

Csaba Sándor TABAJDI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that fundamental rights remain a key subject of the petitions submitted, notably raising issues related to the rights of persons with disabilities, children’s rights, property rights, the right of free of movement without discrimination on any grounds, the protection of freedom of expression and privacy, freedom of association, and the right of access to documents and information; calls on Member States to respect those rights as set out in the Treaty and calls on the European Commission to take the necessary measures to oblige non-compliant Member States to close the gap between national laws and the fundamental rights of EU citizens; urges in addition the immediate withdrawal of provisions which violate the fundamental rights laid down in the Treaty on European Union and the Copenhagen Criteria undertaken upon accession, since compliance with these also remains a requirement of EU membership following accession, so that failure to comply with them also constitutes failure to comply with EU law;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that fundamental rights remain a key subject of the petitions submitted, notably raising issues related to the rights of persons with disabilities, children’s rights, property rights, the right of free of movement without discrimination on any grounds, the protection of freedom of expression and privacy, freedom of association, ~~and the right of access to documents and information~~including the rights to freedom of political association and to join a trade union, and the right of access to documents and information, the right to historical memory and the rights of the families of the victims of Nazism, fascism and Francoism to truth, justice and redress, as well as the right of Spain’s abducted children to know the identity of their biological parents; calls on Member States to respect those rights as set out in the Treaty and calls on the European Commission to take the necessary measures to oblige non-compliant Member States to close the gap between national laws and the fundamental rights of EU citizens; invites, furthermore, the Commission to take the necessary steps to implement the ‘European Consumer Agenda to boost confidence and growth’ immediately and correctly;

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Regrets, however, the Parliament administration's backlog of several hundred petitions received in 2012, which have not yet been considered; considers that the 2012 backlog is likely to grow in the following years and thus exacerbate the lack of confidence in the institutions;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Deplores the fact that the austerity policies the EU has imposed on Member States are curtailing the exercise of European citizens’ fundamental rights – especially the right to food, healthcare, education and housing – as never before;

Amendment 65 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Considers that an interactive guide placed on the Internet by the European Parliament, by analogy with what the European Ombudsman has placed on the Internet, could reduce the number of petitions submitted which do not fall within the field of activity of the EU;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Confirms the key role of the Committee on Petitions in identifying non-judicial remedies for citizens, thus providing a reality check on the way in which the European Union is seen by the people of Europe, enabling conclusions to be drawn regarding whether European legislation actually delivers the expected results and responds to what people expect of the Union;

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Calls on the Committee on Petitions to examine the effects of the Equal Rights Trust case law on the admissibility of petitions and to investigate the question of what actual obstacles exist for citizens of the Union in obtaining a reliable interpretation of central issues under European legislation in cases before the national courts by applying for a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice;

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)

2d. As part of the efforts to improve the work of the Committee, calls for a procedure involving fact-finding missions that on the one hand ensures the right of all members of a fact-finding mission to present the facts from their point of view, while also guaranteeing all Committee members the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process in regard to the conclusions to be drawn by the Committee on Petitions;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 e (new)

2e. Emphasises the need for continuity in processing petitions, despite the changes in legislative periods and the resulting changes in personnel;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas in 2012 the Committee on Petitions registered 1 9845 petitions, mostly referring to the themes of fundamental rights, the environment, and the internal market; whereas 1 408 petitions were declared admissible, and of those 854 were forwarded to the Commission for further investigation pursuant to Articles 258 and 260 of the Treaty; and 577 petitions were declared inadmissible; whereas the judgment of the General Court of 14 September 2011 in case T- 308/07 made it clear that in declaring petitions inadmissible, Parliament must give good reasons for doing so;

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 f (new)

2f. Is determined to make the petition procedure more efficient, transparent, and impartial, while preserving the participatory rights of the Members of the Committee on Petitions, so that the handling of petitions will stand up to judicial review even at a procedural level;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Draws attention to persisting discrimination against citizens as a result of their religion or belief, disability, belonging to a minority group, age or sexual orientation; warns, in particular, that the Roma population across the EU continues to face obstacles to inclusion; calls therefore on the Commission to facilitate inter-governmental cooperation in this area, to ~~provide adequate funding~~ensure that the substantial funding provided for the implementation of national strategies for Roma inclusion is being properly used, and to actively monitor whether these strategies are being effectively implemented in Member States;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Commission to come up with a proposal for legislation to ~~finally~~ solve the problems relating to the mutual recognition by Member States of civil status documents and their effects;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Commission to come up with a proposal for legislation to finally solve the problems relating to the mutual recognition by Member States of civil status documents and their effects while at the same time respecting the social policy traditions of the individual Member States in accordance with the subsidiarity principle;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Repeats its previous calls to Member States to ensure freedom of movement for all EU citizens and their families, without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or nationality; repeats its call to Member States to implement fully the rights granted under Articles 2 and 3 of Directive 2004/38/EC not only to different-sex spouses, but also to the registered partner, member of the household or partner with whom an EU citizen has a duly attested, stable relationship, including members of same- sex couples, on the basis of the principles of mutual recognition, equality, non- discrimination, dignity and respect for private and family life; calls on the Commission, in that connection, to ensure that the directive is strictly applied;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Repeats its previous calls to Member States to ensure freedom of movement for all EU citizens and their families, without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or nationality; repeats its call to Member States to implement fully the rights granted under Articles 2 and 3 of Directive 2004/38/EC not only to different- sex spouses, but also to the registered partner, member of the household or partner with whom an EU citizen has a duly attested, stable relationship, including members of same-sex couples, on the basis of the principles of mutual recognition, equality, non-discrimination, dignity and respect for private and family life; calls on the Commission, in that connection, to ensure that the directive is strictly applied and ultimately reviewed accordingly for this purpose, if necessary;

Amendment 76 #

Ismail ERTUG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Repeats its previous calls to Member States to ensure freedom of movement for all EU citizens and their families, without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or nationality; repeats its call to Member States to implement fully the rights granted under Articles 2 and 3 of Directive 2004/38/EC not only to different- sex spouses, but also to the registered partner, member of the household or partner with whom an EU citizen has a duly attested, stable relationship, including members of same-sex couples, on the basis of the principles of mutual recognition, equality, non-discrimination, dignity and respect for private and family life; calls on the Commission, in that connection, to ensure that the directive is strictly applied and that Treaty infringement proceedings are brought where necessary against Member States which fail to apply it;

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Observes that the environment remains another key subject of petitions, giving evidence that public authorities repeatedly fail to ensure the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, and that the highest standards of public health are guaranteed; points, in particular, to the numerous petitions submitted on waste management, on water, on the possible dangers of nuclear energy and genetic engineering and on the assessment of the impact of projects and activities on the environment and on public health; urges the Commission to strengthen the environmental legislative framework and, specifically, its correct implementation; regrets that some Member States, despite their efforts, have not been able to find sustainable solutions for problems related to waste management;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Observes that the environment remains another key subject of petitions, giving evidence that public authorities repeatedly fail to ensure the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, and that the highest standards of public health are guaranteed; points, in particular, to the numerous petitions submitted on waste management, on water, on protected species and on the assessment of the impact of projects and activities on the environment and on public health; urges the Commission to strengthen the environmental legislative framework and, specifically, its correct implementation; regrets that some Member States, despite their efforts, have not been able to find sustainable solutions for problems related to waste management;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Observes that the environment remains another key subject of petitions, giving evidence that public authorities repeatedly fail to ensure the preservation of biodiversity, natural resources and ecosystems, and that the highest standards of public health are guaranteed; points, in particular, to the numerous petitions submitted on waste management, on water, and on the assessment of the impact of projects and activities on the environment and on public health~~; urges the Commission to strengthen the environmental legislative framework~~, such as shale gas extraction by means of fracking; urges the Commission to strengthen the legislative framework on the environment and combating climate change and, specifically, its correct implementation; regrets that some Member States, despite their efforts, have not been able to find sustainable solutions for problems related to waste management;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas, regarding the statistical analysis contained in this report, the highest number of petitions refer to the EU as a whole (27.3%), followed by Spanish (15.0%), German (12.5%) and Italian (8.6%) cases;

Amendment 80 #

Lena KOLARSKA-BOBIŃSKA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Observes that the environment remains another key subject of petitions, giving evidence that public authorities repeatedly fail to ensure the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, and that the highest standards of public health are guaranteed; points, in particular, to the numerous petitions submitted on waste management, on water, and on the assessment of the impact of projects and activities on the environment and on public health; urges the Commission to strengthen the implementation of the environmental legislative framework ~~and, specifically, its correct implementation~~; regrets that some Member States, despite their efforts, have not been able to find sustainable solutions for problems related to waste management;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Observes that the environment remains another key subject of petitions, giving evidence that public authorities in the Member States repeatedly fail to ensure the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, and that the highest standards of public health are guaranteed; points, in particular, to the numerous petitions submitted on waste management, on water, and on the assessment of the impact of projects and activities on the environment and on public health; urges the Commission to strengthen the environmental legislative framework and, specifically, its correct implementation; regrets that some Member States, despite their efforts, have not been able to find sustainable solutions for problems related to waste management;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Urges the Commission to take action to ensure that the Member States understand that water is a public good; takes the view that the precautionary principle must be stringently applied in respect of the use of biotechnology and nanotechnology in products that could seriously affect the health of consumers;

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Expects that the reviewed Environmental Impact Assessment Directive will not only be strengthened by providing clearer parameters as regards the independence of expert studies, common EU thresholds, a maximum timeframe for the process, including effective public consultation, the requirement to justify decisions, the mandatory assessment of reasonable alternatives and a quality control mechanism but will, above all, be duly implemented by the Member States,

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Takes the view that procedures must be developed for urgent petitions whereby fact-finding missions can also be carried out in the long ‘white’ period with no parliamentary business during the European elections and also – if the nature of the petition suggests it – during the ‘white’ period in summer (e.g. Damüls, where the summer months were the only possible time for a fact-finding mission);

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Welcomes the end of the emergency situation in Naples city and the new initiatives concerning the waste management and expects that the persisting challenges in Campania region will be duly addressed, namely by means of a comprehensive regional waste management plant in accordance with the EU Waste Framework directive hierarchy and the TJEU ruling of 2010; still has serious concerns on the waste management approach in Lazio Region, particularly the follow-up of the close- down of the Malagrotta landfill;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Notes, in addition, that citizens in the European Union continue to face barriers within the internal market, notably while exercising their freedom of movement as individuals, ~~as workers, and~~ as providers and consumers of goods and services and as workers, such as, for instance, the case of Romanian and Bulgarian workers who continue to face restrictions on the labour market in some Member States; signals, in particular, that cross-border judicial cooperation and effectiveness remains an area of primary concern; concludes, overall, that strengthened cross- border cooperation and harmonisation provides marked benefits for the protection of citizens' rights and economic stimulation;

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Urges the Commission to take action to facilitate consumer access to ICT, ensuring that the requisite security and transparency guarantees are in place, and in particular to make sure that the websites of public sector bodies are accessible;

Amendment 88 #

Tiziano MOTTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Points to the efforts made by this Committee to convey the request by many citizens for an EU legal framework that offers more thorough protection and improvements in animal welfare, including for pets and stray animals; hopes that the Commission will adopt a policy which, based on Article 13 of the Treaty of Lisbon which defines animals as 'sentient beings', goes as far as to recognise the mutual emotional value of the relationship between humans and animals;

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses the importance of the creation of the experience gained by the Spanish Coastal Law Working Group, which could pave the way for other such initiatives, and which has been closely studying related petitions and the modification of the law; reiterates the importance of direct contact with ~~the Spanish~~ national authorities in ~~this respect~~cases such as this and welcomes ~~further~~ cooperation ~~to find a better~~with a view to finding a balance between property ~~rights~~, its social function and the protection of the environment;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas in 2012, 577 petitions were submitted which did not come within the EU’s field of activities; Or. de (See amendment 6)

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses the importance of the creation of the Spanish Coastal Law Working Group, which has been closely studying related petitions and the modification of the law; ~~reiter~~appreciates the importance of direct contact with the Spanish national authorities in this respect and welcomes further cooperation to find a better balance between property rights and the protection of the environment;

Amendment 91 #

Angelika WERTHMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses the importance of the creation of the Spanish Coastal Law Working Group, which has been closely studying related petitions and the modification of the law; reiterates the importance of ~~direct~~effective contact with the Spanish national authorities in this respect and ~~welcomes furthe~~calls for cooperation to find a better ~~balance between property rights and the protection of~~ solutions to property rights when the ultimate goal of the protection of the environment requires expropriation; expresses its fears that the new Coastal law approved by the Spanish Parliament is not solving the concerns of petitioners, nor are there any plans for further environmental protection of the coastal areas in Spain;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Stresses the need to regulate coastal protection effectively, but notes that the Costal Law is not consistent with the objectives sought, since it is affecting historic heritage and traditional communities, punishing the inhabitants of coastal villages who have always coexisted sustainably with the sea and its ecosystems;

Amendment 94 #

Angelika WERTHMANN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the Committee’s conclusions from the fact-finding visit to Berlin on youth and family welfare matters, particularly in cross-border custody cases; notes, however, based on the continuing inflow of petitions of this nature, that it is clear the issue of cross- border custody cases is ongoing, and that similar cases have also been brought to the Committee’s attention from other Member States, notably Denmark; further notes that in Denmark some of these cases have involved foreign nationals living in the country itself and that there have been proven instances of child abduction there (including from outside Denmark);

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the Committee’s conclusions from the fact-finding visit to Berlin on youth and family welfare matters, particularly in cross-border custody cases; notes, however, ~~based on the continuing inflow of petitions of this nature, that it is clear the issue is ongoing, and that similar cases have also been brought to the Committee’s attentio~~that the Committee is still receiving similar petitions from other Member States, particularly Denmark; therefore urges the Member States to scrutinise thoroughly all statutory rules and judicial rulings which could be contrary to the interests of the child in fcro~~m other Member States, notably Denmark~~ss-border custody cases;

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Welcomes the Committee's conclusions from the fact-finding visit to Berlin on youth and family welfare matters, particularly in cross-border custody cases; notes, however, based on the continuing inflow of petitions of this nature, that it is clear the issue is ongoing, and that similar cases have also been brought to the Committee's attention from other Member States~~, notably Denmark~~;

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Takes the view that better governance and more efficient redress mechanisms are directly linked with transparency and access to information in accordance with Regulation 1049/2001;

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Takes the view that better governance and more efficient redress mechanisms are directly linked with transparency and access to information; takes the view that action needs to be taken to empower citizens to deal with the opaque and/or speculative practices of the financial system;

Amendment 99 #