2017/2126(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)

– having regard to the Protocol (No 1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) on the role of national parliaments in the European Union,

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

Ja. whereas the relevance of these issues, in particular transparency and the access to information and documents, their role to strengthen citizens’ confidence, public trust, and the awareness that all the decisions are based and taken in light of the general interest of citizens;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

Ja. whereas the Ombudsman started a wide strategic inquiry into how the Commission carries out the appointment and conflict of interest assessment of its special advisers, who often concurrently work for private sector clients and for the EU;

Amendment 12 #

Jb. whereas the Ombudsman inquired about the European Investment Bank's Code of Conduct for Board members, noting that it does not provide for the obligation to file a declaration of interest or a financial interest disclosure;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J c (new)

Jc. whereas the Ombudsman receives yearly many complaints from individuals and organisations about the EU administration's failure to provide public access to documents;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J d (new)

Jd. whereas the Ombudsman found maladministration in that the 2009-2014 Commission had failed to deal with a former Commissioner's breach of the Code of Conduct for Commissioners and had not properly investigated the compatibility of the Commissioner's private sector work contract with the EU Treaty obligations;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J e (new)

Je. whereas former Commission President Mr Barroso was appointed as an adviser and non-executive chairman of Goldman Sachs International; whereas the Barroso case increased citizens' mistrust towards the Commission regarding its credibility and independence from private financial interests;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital ΙΑ a (new)

ΙΑa. whereas the financial crisis has brought about an economic and social crisis, thus justifiably undermining the credibility of the European institutions;

Amendment 17 #

3a. Stresses the need for the European Ombudsman to investigate compliance by the Troika with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses the need to improve the social dialogue;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Stresses that trust between citizens and the institutions is of paramount importance in today's difficult economic situation;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)

– having regard to the Protocol (No 2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality,

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Agrees that the current and unprecedented challenges facing the EU, such as ~~the~~ unemployment ~~crisis~~, economic and social inequalities, discriminations, poverty, the migration crisis and Brexit, compel all institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union, including the Ombudsman, to work ~~harder in strengthening~~in a way to ensure the highest levels of social justice, accountability ~~and~~, transparency and democracy at the European level;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Agrees that the current and unprecedented challenges facing the EU, such as the unemployment crisis, the migration crisis and Brexit, compel all institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union, including the Ombudsman, to work harder and with more determination in strengthening accountability and transparency at the European level;

Amendment 22 #

5a. Notes that the Ombudsman's office achieved the second highest compliance rate with its decisions and/or recommendations so far; recommends to the Ombudsman to stay alert and identify reasons for non-compliance with its recommendations and to inform the European Parliament of any recurrent non-compliance cases by the EU administration;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Welcom~~Notes the decreasing number of inquiries concerning the European institutions, bodies and agencies conducted by the Ombudsman in 2016 (245 in 2016, 261 in 2015); ~~reiterates its call on~~urges the EU institutions, bodies~~, offices~~ and agencies to respond and react within a reasonable time-frame to the critical remarks of the Ombudsman and to improve their compliance rate with the Ombudsman’'s recommendations and/or decisions;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the decreasing number of inquiries concerning the European institutions conducted by the Ombudsman in 2016 (245 in 2016, 261 in 2015); reiterates its call on the EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies to respond and react ~~with~~in a ~~reasonable time-frame~~timely fashion to the critical remarks of the Ombudsman and to improve their compliance rate with the Ombudsman’s recommendations and/or decisions;

Amendment 25 #

Virginie ROZIÈRE, Soledad CABEZÓN RUIZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the decreasing number of inquiries concerning the European institutions conducted by the Ombudsman in 2016 (245 in 2016, 261 in 2015); ~~reiterates its call on~~Urges the EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies to respond and react within a reasonable time-frame to the critical remarks of the Ombudsman and to improve their compliance rate with the Ombudsman’s recommendations and/or decisions;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. ~~Welcom~~Notes the decreasing number of inquiries concerning the European institutions conducted by the Ombudsman in 2016 (245 in 2016, 261 in 2015); reiterates its call on the EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies to respond and react within a reasonable time-frame to the critical remarks of the Ombudsman and to improve their compliance rate with the Ombudsman’s recommendations and/or decisions;

Amendment 27 #

Marlene MIZZI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Notes that in 2016, most of the cases handled by the Ombudsman were closed within 12 months and the average time needed to close an inquiry was 10 months, with only 30% of cases being closed after 12 or more months; urges the Ombudsman to further improve its working methods and shorten treatment of complaints, especially for cases still open after 12 months, without compromising her work efficiency;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Notes that transparency-related inquiries again account for the greatest proportion of cases in particular concerning issues related to transparency of decision-making process, lobbying transparency, access to EU documents, followed by other problems that arise in a range of issues from violation of fundamental rights to EU contracts and grants and ethical issues;

Amendment 29 #

Igor ŠOLTES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Emphasises the essential role of transparency, good administration and institutional checks and balances in the work of the EU institutions; regrets that inquiries related to transparency and access to information and documents consistently constitute more than 20 % of all inquiries submitted to the Ombudsman and remain the top concern among European citizens over the years; calls the Council and the Commission to proactively publish information and documents to increase transparency and reduce unnecessary maladministration;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital b a (new)

ba. whereas the quality of services offered to EU citizens and responsiveness to their needs and concerns by the EU administration is crucial in protecting citizens' rights and fundamental freedoms; whereas Article 15 TFEU states that, in order to promote good governance and ensure the participation of civil society, the Union's institutions, bodies, offices and agencies shall conduct their work as openly as possible;

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Emphasises the essential role of transparency, good administration and institutional checks and balances in the work of the EU institutions; regrets that inquiries related to transparency and access to information and documents cons~~istently constitute more than 20~~ titute almost 30% of all inquiries submitted to the Ombudsman and remain the top concern among European citizens over the years;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Emphasises the essential role of transparency, good administration and institutional checks and balances in the work of the EU institutions; regrets that inquiries related to transparency and access to information and documents consistently constitute more than 20 % of all inquiries submitted to the Ombudsman and remain the ~~top~~important concern among European citizens over the years;

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. highlights the pivotal role of the Ombudsman to help ensuring that decision-making processes and the administration at EU level are fully transparent and impartial with the view to successfully protect citizens' rights;

Amendment 33 #

Virginie ROZIÈRE, Soledad CABEZÓN RUIZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Encourages the Commiss~~Believes that full transparency and access to documents held by the EU institution’s ~~efforts to facilitate~~must be the rule in order to ensure that citizens can fully exercise their democratic rights; calls on the Commission to ensure full transparency and access to documents and information~~, particularly~~ with regard to the EU Pilot procedures in relation to petitions received and to the EU Pilot and infringement procedures that have already ended; encourages the continuation of the Ombudsman’s strategic inquiry into the Commission’s transparency in handling infringement complaints under the EU Pilot procedures, and urges the Ombudsman to be determined and vigilant in continuing to investigate the matter in 2017;

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Encourag~~Invites the Commission’s efforts to facilitate access to documents and information, particularly with regard to the EU Pilot procedures in relation to petitions received and to ensure full access once an EU-pilot procedure is closed; encourages the continuation of the Ombudsman’s strategic inquiry into the Commission’s transparency in handling infringement complaints under the EU Pilot procedures, and urges the Ombudsman to be determined and vigilant in continuing to investigate the matter in 2017;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. ~~Encoura~~Urges the Commission~~’s efforts~~ to facilitate access to documents and information, particularly with regard to the EU Pilot procedures in relation to petitions received; encourages the continuation of the Ombudsman’'s strategic inquiry into the Commission’'s transparency in handling infringement complaints under the EU Pilot procedures, and urges the Ombudsman to be determined and vigilant in continuing to investigate the matter in 2017;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Encourages the Commission’s efforts to facilitate access to documents and information, particularly with regard to the EU Pilot procedures in relation to petitions received; underlines the importance of a regular follow-up with the European Parliament by the Commission; encourages the continuation of the Ombudsman’s strategic inquiry into the Commission’s transparency in handling infringement complaints under the EU Pilot procedures, and urges the Ombudsman to be determined and vigilant in continuing to investigate the matter in 2017;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Deeply regrets the accumulated delays in connection with infringement procedure NIF 2014/4231 concerning the abuse of fixed-term contracts in the public sector in Italy in breach of Directive 1999/70/EC; calls on the Ombudsman to step up his efforts on this issue to effectively safeguard citizens' rights;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Commends the Ombudsman’s determination to achieve the highest level of transparency in the EU decision-making process; stresses the need to monitor the implementation of the Ombudsman’s recommendations for transparency in trilogues; reiterates, further, the need for full and enhanced transparency in trade agreements and negotiations, and calls on the Ombudsman to make continued efforts to monitor transparency in the negotiations for all EU trade agreements with third countries while keeping in mind that this transparency should not undermine the negotiating position of the EU;

Amendment 39 #

Igor ŠOLTES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Commends the Ombudsman’'s determination to achieve the highest level of transparency in the EU decision-making process; stresses the need to monitor the implementation of the Ombudsman’'s recommendations for transparency in trilogues; calls the Council and the Commission to publish relevant information regarding the decisions made in trilogues; reiterates, further, the need for full and enhanced transparency in trade agreements and negotiations, and calls on the Ombudsman to make continued efforts to monitor transparency in the negotiations for all EU trade agreements with third countries;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. Whereas Article 15TFUE which states that in order to promote a good governance and ensure the participation of civil society, the Union's institutions, bodies, offices and agencies shall conduct their work as openly as possible; and that any citizen of the Union, and any natural or legal person residing or having its registered office in a Member State, shall have a right of access to documents of the Union's institutions, bodies, offices and agencies;

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Commends the Ombudsman’s determination to achieve the highest level of transparency in the EU decision-making process; stresses the need to monitor continuously the implementation of the Ombudsman’s recommendations for transparency in trilogues; reiterates, further, the need for full and enhanced transparency in trade agreements and negotiations, and calls on the Ombudsman to make continued efforts to monitor transparency in the negotiations for all EU trade agreements with third countries;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Reiterates the importance of ~~full~~ transparency on the part of all EU institutions in the negotiations between the EU and the UK on the latter’s withdrawal from the Union without jeopardizing the negotiating position of the parties; calls on the Ombudsman to monitor adherence to ~~full~~ transparency across the process of the withdrawal negotiations;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls for greater transparency in the EU’s economic and financial decision- making process, in particular in the area of the banking supervision performed by the European Central Bank; supports, furthermore, the Ombudsman’s recommendations to increase transparency of the European Investment Bank and the Eurogroup ~~and to strengthen their internal ethics rul~~while recognising its recent efforts in this regard and the fact that Regulation (EU)No. 1049/2001 does not apply to the Eurogroup as it is not an institution or body within the meaning of the Treaties;

Amendment 43 #

Igor ŠOLTES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls for greater transparency in the EU’'s economic and financial decision- making process, in particular in the area of the banking supervision performed by the European Central Bank; supports, furthermore, the Ombudsman’'s recommendations to increase transparency of the European Investment Bank and the Eurogroup and to strengthen their internal ethics rules; calls on the compliance with the Ombudsman's recommendations on the European Investment Bank Complaints Mechanism Review and underlines the importance of an independent complaint mechanism;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls for greater transparency in the EU’s economic and financial decision- making process, in particular in the area of the banking supervision performed by the European Central Bank; supports, furthermore, the Ombudsman’s recommendations to increase transparency of the European Investment Bank and the Eurogroup and to strengthen their internal ethics rules; encourages the Ombudsman to monitor the implementation of the recommendations on transparency and change of ethical rules;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls for ~~greater~~full transparency in the EU’s economic and financial decision- making process, in particular in the area of the banking supervision performed by the European Central Bank; supports, furthermore, the Ombudsman’s recommendations to increase transparency of the European Investment Bank and the Eurogroup and to strengthen their internal ethics rules;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Supports the Ombudsman's recommendations for improving the current revision of the European Investment Bank Complaints Mechanism (EIB-CM); Calls on the European Ombudsman to play a more active role in exercising its scrutiny over the EIB and in particular in ensuring that the new EIB- CM remains credible and efficient respecting the principles of operational independence, transparency, accessibility, timeliness and adequate resources;

Amendment 47 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Notes that 14,5% of the closed inquiries were related to sound financial managements of EU contracts and grants, which is an important growth compared to previous years; calls on the Commission to revise its auditing procedures and improve the communication with beneficiaries in order to avoid the wrongful reclaiming of money;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Gives its full support to the Ombudsman’s stated ultimate goal, which is to help strengthen the structures and institutions of accountability and transparency at the European level, including the Eurogroup, the Troika and the ESM, and to improve the quality of democracy in the Europe;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Supports the Ombudsman's recommendations to further improve the transparency of the Eurogroup by publishing detailed and attributable minutes and by making its meeting documents and voting results available, including for its Working Group and its preparatory body;

Amendment 5 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas the EU is still facing the worst economic, social and political crisis since its foundation; whereas the solutions proposed by the EU institutions are further exacerbating the economic, democratic and social crisis in the EU;

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Notes the Ombudsman’s findings of maladministration with the Code of Conduct for Commissioners; stresses the importance of high moral and ethical standards within the EU administration~~, and welcomes the Commission’s decision to extend the cooling-off period to two years for former Commissioners and three years for former Commission Presidents~~; calls on the Commission to guarantee a proactive publication and full transparency regarding the post-term-of- office occupation of former Commissioners and on all related information; takes note of the Commission’s decision to extend the cooling-off period to two years for former Commissioners and three years for former Commission Presidents but strongly believes that stricter ethic rules need to apply throughout the EU institutions, including both the EU politicians and staff, with the aim of securing the respect of the duty of integrity and discretion as well as full independence from private sector; supports the Ombudsman’s recommendations for further revision of the Code in accordance with the Treaty obligations;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Notes the Ombudsman’'s findings of maladministration with the Code of Conduct for Commissioners; stresses the importance of high moral and ethical standards within the EU administration, and welcomes the Commission’'s decision to extend the cooling-off period to two years for former Commissioners and three years for former Commission Presidents; ~~supports~~urges the Commission to implement the Ombudsman’'s recommendations for further revision of the Code in accordance with the Treaty obligations;

Amendment 53 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. ~~Welcomes~~Takes note of the Commission’s steps in response to the Ombudsman’s recommendations on how the EU staff rules governing the so-called ‘revolving door’ phenomenon have been implemented, and looks forward to the Ombudsman’s follow-up inquiry assessing how the new rules work in practice;

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Calls on the Ombudsman to continue his work to help ensuring the timely publication of the names of all EU officials involved in revolving doors cases and to guarantee full transparency on all related information;

Amendment 55 #