2020/2190(DEC) | [ParlTrack]

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2020/2190(DEC) 2019 discharge: General budget of the EU - 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th EDFs
Next event: Debate in plenary scheduled 2021/04/27

Progress: Awaiting committee decision

Role	Committee	Rapporteur	Shadows
Lead	CONT	CZARNECKI Ryszard ( ECR)	FERNANDES José Manuel ( EPP), PENKOVA Tsvetelina ( S&D), CHASTEL Olivier ( Renew), RIVASI Michèle ( Verts/ALE), OMARJEE Younous ( GUE/NGL)
Committee Opinion	DEVE	BULLMANN Udo ( S&D)
Committee Opinion	BUDG

Lead committee dossier:

CONT/9/03947

Subjects

8.70.03.09 2019 discharge

Events

2021/04/27

Debate in plenary scheduled

2021/03/22

EP - Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading

2021/03/05

EP - Amendments tabled in committee

Documents

PE689.626

2021/02/11

EP - Committee opinion

Documents

PE663.022

2021/02/09

CSL - Supplementary non-legislative basic document

Documents

05282/2021

2021/02/09

CSL - Supplementary non-legislative basic document

Documents

05284/2021

2021/02/09

CSL - Supplementary non-legislative basic document

Documents

05286/2021

2021/02/09

CSL - Supplementary non-legislative basic document

Documents

05289/2021

2021/02/05

CSL - Document attached to the procedure

Documents

05292/2021

2021/01/20

EP - Committee draft report

Documents

PE657.249

2020/12/17

EP - BULLMANN Udo (S&D) appointed as rapporteur in DEVE

2020/09/15

EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading

2020/09/08

EP - CZARNECKI Ryszard (ECR) appointed as rapporteur in CONT

2020/06/26

EC - Non-legislative basic document

Documents

COM(2020)0290
EUR-Lex

2020/06/26

EC - Non-legislative basic document published

Documents

COM(2020)0290
EUR-Lex

Documents

Amendments tabled in committee: PE689.626
Committee opinion: PE663.022
Supplementary non-legislative basic document: 05282/2021
Supplementary non-legislative basic document: 05284/2021
Supplementary non-legislative basic document: 05286/2021
Supplementary non-legislative basic document: 05289/2021
Document attached to the procedure: 05292/2021
Committee draft report: PE657.249
Non-legislative basic document: COM(2020)0290
Non-legislative basic document: EUR-Lex
Non-legislative basic document published: COM(2020)0290
Non-legislative basic document published: EUR-Lex
Non-legislative basic document: COM(2020)0290 EUR-Lex
Committee draft report: PE657.249
Document attached to the procedure: 05292/2021
Supplementary non-legislative basic document: 05282/2021
Supplementary non-legislative basic document: 05284/2021
Supplementary non-legislative basic document: 05286/2021
Supplementary non-legislative basic document: 05289/2021
Committee opinion: PE663.022
Amendments tabled in committee: PE689.626

Amendments	Dossier
60	2020/2190(DEC) 2021/03/05 CONT 60 amendments... Amendment 1 # Michèle RIVASI Proposal for a decision 1 Paragraph 1 1. ~~Grants the Commission discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds for the financial year 2019 /~~ Postpones its decision on granting the Commission discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds for the financial year 2019; Amendment 10 # Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are core objectives to be pursued in cooperation instruments; Amendment 11 # Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER Motion for a resolution Recital C a (new) C a. Whereas the prerequisite for sustainable development is a transparent, inclusive and efficient participatory policy framing process; Amendment 12 # José Manuel FERNANDES Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas the alignment of Union development cooperation with partner countries’ own development priorities is a key element of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; whereas cultural and linguistic affinities between Member States and partner countries may encourage adherence to the SDGs set out in the 2030 Agenda; Amendment 13 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Recital E E. whereas the alignment of Union development cooperation with partner countries’ own development priorities should be always and fully respected and is a key element of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; Amendment 14 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Recital F F. whereas policy coherence and complementarity of various external policies should be carefully looked at, especially when several policies are being implemented in a single partner country, with the view to promoting synergies and trade-offs between existing policies and to avoiding possible damaging consequences of one single EU policy on an area otherwise dealt with by another policy and, as much as possible, unnecessary administrative burden; Amendment 15 # José Manuel FERNANDES Motion for a resolution Recital F F. whereas policy coherence and complementarity of various external policies should be carefully looked at, especially when several policies are being implemented in a single partner country, with the view to promoting cooperation between the public and private sectors, encouraging synergies and trade-offs between existing policies and to avoiding as much as possible unnecessary administrative burden; Amendment 16 # José Manuel FERNANDES Motion for a resolution Recital G a (new) Ga. whereas the standardisation of communication channels between partner countries, EDF-funded entities and the EU would facilitate Commission monitoring activity; Amendment 17 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Recital I I. whereas budget support, while playing a key role in driving change and in addressing the main development challenges, carries a considerable governance risk and should be granted only if the beneficiary state is able to demonstrate a sufficient level of transparency, accountability, respect for the Rule of Law and human rights prior to receiving budget support assistance, followed by thorough ex-post checks; Amendment 18 # Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER Motion for a resolution Recital I I. whereas budget support, for sustainable development while playing a key role in driving change and in addressing the main development challenges, carries a considerable governance risk and should be granted only if the beneficiary state is able to demonstrate a sufficient level of transparency, accountability and human rights prior to receiving budget support assistance; Amendment 19 # Tsvetelina PENKOVA Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Expresses ~~its growing~~ concern over the adverse opinion of the Court on the legality and regularity of expenditure due to the fact that the expenditure accepted in the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2019 is materially affected by error; Amendment 2 # Joachim KUHS, Jean-François JALKH Proposal for a decision 1 Paragraph 1 1. ~~Grants the Commission discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds for the financial year 2019 /~~ Postpones its decision on granting the Commission discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds for the financial year 2019; Amendment 20 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Is concerned that the estimated level of error surpassed the materiality threshold, with 3,5 % of expenditure affected for the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh EDF (compared to 5,2 % for 2018, 4,5 % in 2017, 3,3 % in 2016, 3,8 % in 2014 and 2015, 3,4 % in 2013 and 3 % in 2012); notes that the growing trend of the estimated level of error has temporary stopped; expects, nevertheless, that the Commission reflect on the root causes of the succession of adverse opinions and take all steps necessary to further reduce the estimated level of error; Amendment 21 # Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12 a. Agrees with the Court of Auditors that the controls carried out abroad remain insufficient; Amendment 22 # Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 b (new) 12 b. Regrets that, as in previous years, the Commission made more errors in transactions relating to estimates, grants, contribution agreements concluded with international organisations and delegation agreements concluded with the cooperation agencies of the EU Member States; Amendment 23 # Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 c (new) 12 c. Strongly regrets that additional measures are not being taken to increase ex ante controls; Amendment 24 # José Manuel FERNANDES Motion for a resolution Subheading 5 ETransparency and effectiveness of the monitoring and assurance systems Amendment 25 # Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Notes with concern that out of the 28 payments with quantifiable errors, in 9 cases (32 %) the Commission had sufficient information to prevent, or to detect and correct, the error before accepting the expenditure; calls on the Commission to substantially improve its processes to verify legality and regularity of transactions and to make sure the verifications are properly followed-up; Regrets to note that this lack of verification is similar to previous years. Amendment 26 # José Manuel FERNANDES Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Considers that monitoring activities will be more effective if Commission intelligence is regularly published and shared with the discharge authority in advance; Amendment 27 # José Manuel FERNANDES Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 14. Notes that the Court found that the Commission and its implementing partners committed more errors in transactions relating to programme estimates, grants, contribution agreements with international organisations and delegation agreements with Member States’ cooperation agencies than they did with other forms of support, such as those covering works, supply and service contracts; notes that of the 65 transactions of that type examined by the Court, 25 (38 %) contained quantifiable errors, which accounted for 71,7 % of the estimated level of error; calls on the Commission to publish comprehensive, updated and detailed information regarding funded projects and recipients, enhance its risk-based approach and invest control capacity in areas that are more error prone; Amendment 28 # José Manuel FERNANDES Motion for a resolution Paragraph 14 a (new) 14a. Calls on the Commission to proceed with a pre-established format for communication between partner countries, EDF beneficiaries and the EU with a view to reducing the errors found by the Court; Amendment 29 # José Manuel FERNANDES Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. Notes the Court’s observation, as in previous years, that the frequency of identified errors, including some contained in final claims which had been subject to ex-ante external audits and expenditure verifications, points to weaknesses in those checks; notes that this is not only problematic in terms of the effectiveness of the checks but also in terms of the efficiency of the management and control system because the checks performed did not prevent or correct the error; calls on DG INTPA to continue efforts to improve the assessment of both effectiveness and efficiency of its control system by identifying key performance indicators for both, to set realistic and ambitious targets and to monitor and improve its control system; calls, furthermore, on the Commission to set up a platform covering EDF-funded projects by country, focusing on the final recipients, general and specific project goals and, above all, their practical results in terms of the desired increase in development indices; Amendment 3 # Michèle RIVASI Proposal for a decision 2 Paragraph 1 1. ~~Approves the closure of the accounts of the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds for the financial year 2019 /~~ Postpones the closure of the accounts of the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds for the financial year 2019; Amendment 30 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 15 15. ~~Notes~~Is worried about the Court’s observation, as in previous years, that the frequency of identified errors, including some contained in final claims which had been subject to ex-ante external audits and expenditure verifications, points to weaknesses in those checks; notes with concern that this is not only problematic in terms of the effectiveness of the checks but also in terms of the efficiency of the management and control system because the checks performed did not prevent or correct the error; reiterates its expectation that the control system should be more rigorous and calls on DG INTPA to continue efforts to improve the assessment of both effectiveness and efficiency of its control system by identifying key performance indicators for both, to set realistic and ambitious targets and to monitor and improve its control system; Amendment 31 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 16 16. Notes DG INTPA’s eighth RER study, which resulted in an RER of 1,13 % , up from 0,85 % in 2018 and below the 2 % materiality threshold fixed by the Commission; notes the Court’s observation that four major factors distort the RER, contributing to the underestimation of the residual error rate, namely the insufficient coverage of certain aspects of procurement procedures, the very low number of on- the-spot-checks in the country of project implementation, which is deemed insufficient to detect errors that are not apparent in documents, the method for determining the RER, which results in a rate that does not necessarily reflect the actual residual errors, and possible overreliance on previous control work, which is contrary to the purpose of the RER study, namely to identify the errors that have evaded precisely those controls; calls on DG INTPA, as in previous years, to liaise with the Court and to address those issues in an update of the methodology and in a more thorough performance of next year’s RER study; Amendment 32 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 17 17. Notes with concern the Court’s statement that the absence of reservations in the 2019 annual activity report is unjustified; further notes the Court’s consideration that it results partly from the limitations of the RER study and partly from the introduction of a ‘de minimis rule’, which states that a reservation is not needed if the individual spending area it would cover represents less than 5 % of total payments and has a financial impact of less than EUR 5 million; consequently, reservations are no longer made in some cases where they were made in previous years, even if corresponding risks remains and the errors remain the same; recalls that a reservation is a keystone in the accountability construction and therefore constitutes a preventive and transparency instrument within the assurance building of DG INTPA, reflecting ongoing challenges or remaining and recurring weaknesses faced at headquarters or within Union delegations; Amendment 33 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 21 21. Notes with satisfaction the continued commitment of the United Kingdom to pay all its obligations under the current multiannual financial framework and previous financial perspectives as if it were still a Member State, as expressed in the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (the ‘Withdrawal Agreement’); notes furthermore that the Withdrawal Agreement states that the United Kingdom is to remain party to the EDF until the closure of the eleventh EDF and all previous unclosed EDFs, and is to, in this respect, assume the same obligations as the Member States under the Internal Agreement by which it was set up, as well as the obligations resulting from previous EDFs until their closure and that the United Kingdom may participate, as an observer, without voting rights, in the EDF Committee; Amendment 34 # Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER Motion for a resolution Paragraph 23 a (new) 23 a. Reiterates the necessity to ensure full transparency and access to data, in accordance with existing Union legislation, on projects implemented by international organisations and civil society organisations, as well as providing clear rules on governing control and monitoring; Amendment 35 # Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 24. ~~Recall~~underlines that entities entrusted with the implementation of Union funds must, as a general principle, respect the principles of sound financial management and transparency; stresses that any entity must fully contribute to the protection of the financial interests of the Union and must, as a condition for receiving the funds, grant the necessary rights and access required for that the authorising officer responsible, for the Court and for the European Anti-Fraud Office; notes, in that regard, the difficulty faced by the Court in getting visas for a duly announced and planned on-the-spot-visit to projects in Burundi and the resulting limitations faced by the Court; calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to raise that issue and remind their counterparts in Burundi of their obligations as recipients of Union funding; Amendment 36 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 a (new) 24 a. Recalls on the Commission to: - strictly respect and make applicable in contribution and framework agreements the aforementioned responsibilities of entities implementing Union funds and the obligation to provide the Court and OLAF with any requested document needed for audit completion; - pay regular attention to the pillar assessment requirements and reports of the international organisations and NGOs concerned by this lack of cooperation to review the appropriateness of their accountability tools; to reconsider related provisions or terms of reference when the pillar assessment methodology is to be reviewed to comply with the EDF Financial Regulation; calls for an adaptation, where necessary, of the existing delegation agreements in force with those international entities; Amendment 37 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 24 b (new) 24 b. Notes that there is still a need for a more systematic approach to the communication of Union´s grant-funded activities to enhance Union´s visibility, and to strengthen transparency, accountability and human rights due- diligence along the chain of funding; calls on the Commission to introduce in the framework agreements the obligation for the leading Agency to ensure the visibility of the Union in multi-donor projects; calls on the Commission to carry out sample-based on-the-spot controls years after the completion of the co- financed projects to check the continued impact of the EDF interventions and to take the necessary steps to ensure the long-term impacts of its operations; Amendment 38 # Joachim KUHS, Jean-François JALKH Motion for a resolution Paragraph 25 a (new) 25 a. Regrets that the Union is still practicing budget support to third Countries which is regulated by legal provisions of a broad scope creating a risk of loose interpretation by the Commission regarding the meeting of general conditions; that the Court cannot cover what happens beyond the moment the Commission pays aid to the recipient country, since these funds then merge with that country’s own budget resources; Amendment 39 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. Notes with appreciation that sub- Saharan Africa is still the largest recipient of budget support with a share of 36 %; observes ~~furthermore~~with concern that the share of low income countries decreased to 32 % (compared to 38% in 2018) and that lower middle income countries, with 47 % of the total ongoing commitments, represent the largest beneficiaries of budget support; Amendment 4 # José Manuel FERNANDES Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas Parliament will only be able to exercise properly its role as discharge authority if it is kept regularly and comprehensively updated by the Commission, with detailed information regarding EDF-funded projects and their recipients; Amendment 40 # Joachim KUHS, Jean-François JALKH Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 26. ~~Notes with appreciation~~Regrets that sub- Saharan Africa is still the largest recipient of budget support with a share of 36 %; observes furthermore that the share of low income countries decreased to 32 % (compared to 38% in 2018) and that lower middle income countries, with 47 % of the total ongoing commitments, represent the largest beneficiaries of budget support; Amendment 41 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 26 a (new) 26 a. Recalls that budget support aims at strengthening the partnership with the Union partner countries, to promote sustainable development, eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and consolidate peace and democracy, ultimately to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals; notes that the Union budget support shall be guided by the internationally agreed Busan effectiveness principles such as Ownership by partner countries, Results focus, Inclusiveness and accountability; highlights that, as it fosters transparency and good governance, budget support contributes also to the fight against corruption and fraud; Amendment 42 # José Manuel FERNANDES Motion for a resolution Paragraph 27 27. Notes that, in terms of relative contribution to the SDGs, budget support programmes strongly contribute to SDG 16 (peace, justice and governance), SDG 17 (partnerships), SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 1 (no poverty); welcomes the strong multi-dimensional scope of budget support programmes and considers that they should support entrepreneurship and private initiative in order to leverage economic and social development as advocated in SDG 9 ( build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation) and 17 (strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development); Amendment 43 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 28 a (new) 28 a. Recalls on DG INTPA, however, to strictly assess in its policy dialogue the risks related to corporate tax avoidance, tax evasion and illicit financial flows affecting particularly developing countries; encourages DG INTPA to assess the fiscal impact and to help to the definition of oriented investment objectives; Amendment 44 # José Manuel FERNANDES Motion for a resolution Paragraph 29 29. Welcomes the results achieved as regards the intention for inclusive public policies to promote shared growth and to help tackle social or geographical disparities (SDG 10), where statistics indicate that the income share of the bottom 40 % of the population in countries receiving Union budget support increased from 15.6 % to 17.4 % of gross national income between 2004 and 2019, while it decreased slightly in other developing or emerging countries; considers it also essential to raise awareness among local interlocutors about the growing importance of private partners in economic, social and territorial development; Amendment 45 # José Manuel FERNANDES Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 32. Calls for close monitoring and thorough policy dialogue with partner countries regarding objectives, progress towards agreed results and performance indicators; calls once more on the Commission to better define and measure expected development impact and, especially, to improve the control mechanism with regard to the conduct of the beneficiary state in the areas of corruption, respect for human rights, good governance and democracy; stresses the need to include the private sector in this strategic dialogue; remains deeply concerned about the use that could be made of Union budget support in recipient countries where there is no or only limited democratic control; Amendment 46 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 a (new) 32 a. Reiterates its call on the Commission to carry out an evaluation on a country-by-country basis of the long- term on-going EDF financed projects in order to demonstrate the true impact of decades-long Union investment on the ground and how it has effectively helped beneficiary countries’ economic, social and sustainable development; Amendment 47 # Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER Motion for a resolution Paragraph 32 b (new) 32 b. Asks the Commission to carry out an evaluation on a country-by-country approach of the long-time on-going EDF financed projects in order to demonstrate their impact on the economic, social and sustainable development of the country and calls the Commission to limit and/or terminate further funding of ineffective projects; Amendment 48 # Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 b (new) 35 b. Calls on the Commission to encourage international institutions, in particular in the case of co-funded and multi-donor initiatives, to approximate their results management frameworks with the Union; Amendment 49 # Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 a (new) 35 a. Believes that a better focus on local SMEs, private sector and civil society organisations should be a core axis of cooperation in the management of the Union delegations’ pipelines of projects; stresses that, given the funding gap required to reach the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals, strategic dialogue with the private sector and civil society organisations must play a crucial role for the development of local economies; Amendment 5 # Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER Motion for a resolution Recital A a (new) A a. Whereas Parliament is not involved in establishing and allocating EDF resources compared to other development instruments; Amendment 50 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Subheading 5 a (new) The European Union Trust Fund for Africa Amendment 51 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 a (new) 35 a. Is concerned that as a follow-up to the EDF’s 2018 discharge report the Commission hasn’t properly implemented Parliament’s numerous recommendations related to the EUTF; Amendment 52 # Michèle RIVASI 35 b. Recalls Parliament’s regular stance that the Commission should ensure that any trust fund established as a new development tool must always be in line with the Union’s overall strategy and development policy objectives, i.e. the reduction and eradication of poverty, and must, in particular, ensure that the security interests of European countries do not override the needs of the recipient populations; encourages the Commission to consider limiting financial aid to EUTF projects deflecting from this centreline; Amendment 53 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 c (new) 35 c. Stresses that in order to meet the policy objectives, the EUTF must address the root causes of destabilisation, forced displacement and irregular migration by promoting resilience, economic opportunities, equal opportunities, security of populations, and human and social development; observes with great concern that to the opposite of helping to address these causes of destabilisation, the EU funds in 2019 were increasingly being spent to help close borders, stiffen migration and push for returns of migrants back to Africa; Amendment 54 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 d (new) 35 d. Recalls that EUTF funding lines must not be used for security measures jeopardising migrants’ rights; calls the Commission to put in place tangible guarantees that migration-related EUTF projects are not used by the implementing authorities to violate migrants basic human rights; in that respect is appalled to learn that 91,3million EUR were paid for a border control project in Libya, which is planned to run until end of 2021, and includes training and the equipment for the Libyan Coast Guard which recently was accused1a of sending migrants to detention centres and subject them to torture, abuse and extortion;[1] _________________ 1aComplaint to the ECA concerning the mismanagement of EUTF funds IBM Libya Programme, Global legal action network, Association for juridical studies on immigration, Italian recreational and cultural association. Amendment 55 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 e (new) 35 e. Reiterates its calls on the Commission to follow-up on the 2018 EDF Discharge report regarding the project “Reconnecting Eritrea and Ethiopia through rehabilitation of the main arterial roads in Eritrea”, funded by the EUTF and managed by the United Nations Office for Project Services, which finances Eritrean national construction companies using forced labour via national service; notes with great concern that EUTF paid their first tranche of EUR 20 million in 2019, followed by additional EUR 60 million 2020 despite the clear opposition by the Parliament; also notes the answer by the commissioner responsible for international partnerships from 15 September 2020 where she informed the parliament that the Commission adopted the “no more roads” approach for Eritrea and has reallocated the remaining funds to other programs; demands that the Commission presents the full report on the case to the discharge authority; Amendment 56 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 f (new) 35 f. Considers that due care is needed to ensure better communication among the Commission, Parliament and Member States concerning the implementation of the EUTF and sufficient public reporting, oversight and audit of their operations and performance; invites the Court to consider an audit of the impact of the implementation of the EUTF for Africa on Union development policy both from a budgetary and results point of view; calls therefore on the Commission to draw conclusions from the audit and ensure that EUTF projects that have been inefficiently implemented are terminated or greatly limited in funding; Amendment 57 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 g (new) 35 g. Risks and challenges related to the EDF aid implementation Amendment 58 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 h (new) 35 h. Recalls that good governance, the rule of law and the respect for human rights are unavoidable preconditions concurring to the effectiveness of aid; calls upon the Commission to set the rule of law and the respect for human rights as the ultimate precondition for approving financial aid; invites the Commission to make more stringent use of the clause included into the financial agreements with partner countries that enables the Commission to suspend or to terminate the agreement in case of breach of an obligation relating to respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law e (art. 26.1 of the General conditions); Amendment 59 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 i (new) 35 i. Is concerned by the Commission rejection of Parliament recommendation to include in the next annual activity report a structured assessment of the impact of the activities of the EDF; invites the Commission to revise its position and respond positively to the Parliament specific request; Amendment 6 # Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER Motion for a resolution Recital A b (new) A b. Whereas effective pre- conditionalities and regular checks are key components in ensuring the effectiveness and sound financial management of the EDF Amendment 60 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Paragraph 35 j (new) 35 j. Reiterates its concerns about the inconsistency between the budgetary process of the EDF where the EP is not involved in establishing and allocating EDF resources, and the necessary accountability process where the Parliament is the discharge authority, except for the Investment Facility, which is managed by the EIB and therefore outside the scope of the audit; Amendment 7 # Michèle RIVASI Motion for a resolution Recital B B. whereas it is crucial to ensure that development aid is used in accordance with its original purpose, meaning to reduce and ultimately to eradicate poverty, as stated in Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, with due consideration for aid and development effectiveness principles; Amendment 8 # Arnaud DANJEAN Motion for a resolution Recital B a (new) B a. Whereas European development aid and public investments should promote joint priorities and policy objectives including eradicating poverty, climate and environmental action, economic and trade policies, migration management and be fully aligned with the principles of fundamental human rights, democracy and good governance; Amendment 9 # José Manuel FERNANDES Motion for a resolution Recital C C. whereas the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are core objectives to be pursued in cooperation instruments in both the public and private sector; source: 689.626

Amendments

Dossier

2020/2190(DEC)

2021/03/05 CONT 60 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Michèle RIVASI

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Grants the Commission discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds for the financial year 2019 /~~ Postpones its decision on granting the Commission discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds for the financial year 2019;

Amendment 10 #

Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are core objectives to be pursued in cooperation instruments;

Amendment 11 #

Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

C a. Whereas the prerequisite for sustainable development is a transparent, inclusive and efficient participatory policy framing process;

Amendment 12 #

José Manuel FERNANDES

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the alignment of Union development cooperation with partner countries’ own development priorities is a key element of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; whereas cultural and linguistic affinities between Member States and partner countries may encourage adherence to the SDGs set out in the 2030 Agenda;

Amendment 13 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the alignment of Union development cooperation with partner countries’ own development priorities should be always and fully respected and is a key element of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;

Amendment 14 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas policy coherence and complementarity of various external policies should be carefully looked at, especially when several policies are being implemented in a single partner country, with the view to promoting synergies and trade-offs between existing policies and to avoiding possible damaging consequences of one single EU policy on an area otherwise dealt with by another policy and, as much as possible, unnecessary administrative burden;

Amendment 15 #

José Manuel FERNANDES

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas policy coherence and complementarity of various external policies should be carefully looked at, especially when several policies are being implemented in a single partner country, with the view to promoting cooperation between the public and private sectors, encouraging synergies and trade-offs between existing policies and to avoiding as much as possible unnecessary administrative burden;

Amendment 16 #

José Manuel FERNANDES

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

Ga. whereas the standardisation of communication channels between partner countries, EDF-funded entities and the EU would facilitate Commission monitoring activity;

Amendment 17 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas budget support, while playing a key role in driving change and in addressing the main development challenges, carries a considerable governance risk and should be granted only if the beneficiary state is able to demonstrate a sufficient level of transparency, accountability, respect for the Rule of Law and human rights prior to receiving budget support assistance, followed by thorough ex-post checks;

Amendment 18 #

Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas budget support, for sustainable development while playing a key role in driving change and in addressing the main development challenges, carries a considerable governance risk and should be granted only if the beneficiary state is able to demonstrate a sufficient level of transparency, accountability and human rights prior to receiving budget support assistance;

Amendment 19 #

Tsvetelina PENKOVA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Expresses ~~its growing~~ concern over the adverse opinion of the Court on the legality and regularity of expenditure due to the fact that the expenditure accepted in the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2019 is materially affected by error;

Amendment 2 #

Joachim KUHS, Jean-François JALKH

Proposal for a decision 1
Paragraph 1

Amendment 20 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Is concerned that the estimated level of error surpassed the materiality threshold, with 3,5 % of expenditure affected for the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh EDF (compared to 5,2 % for 2018, 4,5 % in 2017, 3,3 % in 2016, 3,8 % in 2014 and 2015, 3,4 % in 2013 and 3 % in 2012); notes that the growing trend of the estimated level of error has temporary stopped; expects, nevertheless, that the Commission reflect on the root causes of the succession of adverse opinions and take all steps necessary to further reduce the estimated level of error;

Amendment 21 #

Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12 a. Agrees with the Court of Auditors that the controls carried out abroad remain insufficient;

Amendment 22 #

Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12 b. Regrets that, as in previous years, the Commission made more errors in transactions relating to estimates, grants, contribution agreements concluded with international organisations and delegation agreements concluded with the cooperation agencies of the EU Member States;

Amendment 23 #

Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)

12 c. Strongly regrets that additional measures are not being taken to increase ex ante controls;

Amendment 24 #

José Manuel FERNANDES

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5

ETransparency and effectiveness of the monitoring and assurance systems

Amendment 25 #

Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Notes with concern that out of the 28 payments with quantifiable errors, in 9 cases (32 %) the Commission had sufficient information to prevent, or to detect and correct, the error before accepting the expenditure; calls on the Commission to substantially improve its processes to verify legality and regularity of transactions and to make sure the verifications are properly followed-up; Regrets to note that this lack of verification is similar to previous years.

Amendment 26 #

José Manuel FERNANDES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Considers that monitoring activities will be more effective if Commission intelligence is regularly published and shared with the discharge authority in advance;

Amendment 27 #

José Manuel FERNANDES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Notes that the Court found that the Commission and its implementing partners committed more errors in transactions relating to programme estimates, grants, contribution agreements with international organisations and delegation agreements with Member States’ cooperation agencies than they did with other forms of support, such as those covering works, supply and service contracts; notes that of the 65 transactions of that type examined by the Court, 25 (38 %) contained quantifiable errors, which accounted for 71,7 % of the estimated level of error; calls on the Commission to publish comprehensive, updated and detailed information regarding funded projects and recipients, enhance its risk-based approach and invest control capacity in areas that are more error prone;

Amendment 28 #

José Manuel FERNANDES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Calls on the Commission to proceed with a pre-established format for communication between partner countries, EDF beneficiaries and the EU with a view to reducing the errors found by the Court;

Amendment 29 #

José Manuel FERNANDES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Notes the Court’s observation, as in previous years, that the frequency of identified errors, including some contained in final claims which had been subject to ex-ante external audits and expenditure verifications, points to weaknesses in those checks; notes that this is not only problematic in terms of the effectiveness of the checks but also in terms of the efficiency of the management and control system because the checks performed did not prevent or correct the error; calls on DG INTPA to continue efforts to improve the assessment of both effectiveness and efficiency of its control system by identifying key performance indicators for both, to set realistic and ambitious targets and to monitor and improve its control system; calls, furthermore, on the Commission to set up a platform covering EDF-funded projects by country, focusing on the final recipients, general and specific project goals and, above all, their practical results in terms of the desired increase in development indices;

Amendment 3 #

Michèle RIVASI

Proposal for a decision 2
Paragraph 1

1. ~~Approves the closure of the accounts of the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds for the financial year 2019 /~~ Postpones the closure of the accounts of the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh European Development Funds for the financial year 2019;

Amendment 30 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Notes~~Is worried about the Court’s observation, as in previous years, that the frequency of identified errors, including some contained in final claims which had been subject to ex-ante external audits and expenditure verifications, points to weaknesses in those checks; notes with concern that this is not only problematic in terms of the effectiveness of the checks but also in terms of the efficiency of the management and control system because the checks performed did not prevent or correct the error; reiterates its expectation that the control system should be more rigorous and calls on DG INTPA to continue efforts to improve the assessment of both effectiveness and efficiency of its control system by identifying key performance indicators for both, to set realistic and ambitious targets and to monitor and improve its control system;

Amendment 31 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Notes DG INTPA’s eighth RER study, which resulted in an RER of 1,13 % , up from 0,85 % in 2018 and below the 2 % materiality threshold fixed by the Commission; notes the Court’s observation that four major factors distort the RER, contributing to the underestimation of the residual error rate, namely the insufficient coverage of certain aspects of procurement procedures, the very low number of on- the-spot-checks in the country of project implementation, which is deemed insufficient to detect errors that are not apparent in documents, the method for determining the RER, which results in a rate that does not necessarily reflect the actual residual errors, and possible overreliance on previous control work, which is contrary to the purpose of the RER study, namely to identify the errors that have evaded precisely those controls; calls on DG INTPA, as in previous years, to liaise with the Court and to address those issues in an update of the methodology and in a more thorough performance of next year’s RER study;

Amendment 32 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Notes with concern the Court’s statement that the absence of reservations in the 2019 annual activity report is unjustified; further notes the Court’s consideration that it results partly from the limitations of the RER study and partly from the introduction of a ‘de minimis rule’, which states that a reservation is not needed if the individual spending area it would cover represents less than 5 % of total payments and has a financial impact of less than EUR 5 million; consequently, reservations are no longer made in some cases where they were made in previous years, even if corresponding risks remains and the errors remain the same; recalls that a reservation is a keystone in the accountability construction and therefore constitutes a preventive and transparency instrument within the assurance building of DG INTPA, reflecting ongoing challenges or remaining and recurring weaknesses faced at headquarters or within Union delegations;

Amendment 33 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Notes with satisfaction the continued commitment of the United Kingdom to pay all its obligations under the current multiannual financial framework and previous financial perspectives as if it were still a Member State, as expressed in the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (the ‘Withdrawal Agreement’); notes furthermore that the Withdrawal Agreement states that the United Kingdom is to remain party to the EDF until the closure of the eleventh EDF and all previous unclosed EDFs, and is to, in this respect, assume the same obligations as the Member States under the Internal Agreement by which it was set up, as well as the obligations resulting from previous EDFs until their closure and that the United Kingdom may participate, as an observer, without voting rights, in the EDF Committee;

Amendment 34 #

Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23 a. Reiterates the necessity to ensure full transparency and access to data, in accordance with existing Union legislation, on projects implemented by international organisations and civil society organisations, as well as providing clear rules on governing control and monitoring;

Amendment 35 #

Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. ~~Recall~~underlines that entities entrusted with the implementation of Union funds must, as a general principle, respect the principles of sound financial management and transparency; stresses that any entity must fully contribute to the protection of the financial interests of the Union and must, as a condition for receiving the funds, grant the necessary rights and access required for that the authorising officer responsible, for the Court and for the European Anti-Fraud Office; notes, in that regard, the difficulty faced by the Court in getting visas for a duly announced and planned on-the-spot-visit to projects in Burundi and the resulting limitations faced by the Court; calls on the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to raise that issue and remind their counterparts in Burundi of their obligations as recipients of Union funding;

Amendment 36 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24 a. Recalls on the Commission to: - strictly respect and make applicable in contribution and framework agreements the aforementioned responsibilities of entities implementing Union funds and the obligation to provide the Court and OLAF with any requested document needed for audit completion; - pay regular attention to the pillar assessment requirements and reports of the international organisations and NGOs concerned by this lack of cooperation to review the appropriateness of their accountability tools; to reconsider related provisions or terms of reference when the pillar assessment methodology is to be reviewed to comply with the EDF Financial Regulation; calls for an adaptation, where necessary, of the existing delegation agreements in force with those international entities;

Amendment 37 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)

24 b. Notes that there is still a need for a more systematic approach to the communication of Union´s grant-funded activities to enhance Union´s visibility, and to strengthen transparency, accountability and human rights due- diligence along the chain of funding; calls on the Commission to introduce in the framework agreements the obligation for the leading Agency to ensure the visibility of the Union in multi-donor projects; calls on the Commission to carry out sample-based on-the-spot controls years after the completion of the co- financed projects to check the continued impact of the EDF interventions and to take the necessary steps to ensure the long-term impacts of its operations;

Amendment 38 #

Joachim KUHS, Jean-François JALKH

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25 a. Regrets that the Union is still practicing budget support to third Countries which is regulated by legal provisions of a broad scope creating a risk of loose interpretation by the Commission regarding the meeting of general conditions; that the Court cannot cover what happens beyond the moment the Commission pays aid to the recipient country, since these funds then merge with that country’s own budget resources;

Amendment 39 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Notes with appreciation that sub- Saharan Africa is still the largest recipient of budget support with a share of 36 %; observes ~~furthermore~~with concern that the share of low income countries decreased to 32 % (compared to 38% in 2018) and that lower middle income countries, with 47 % of the total ongoing commitments, represent the largest beneficiaries of budget support;

Amendment 4 #

José Manuel FERNANDES

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas Parliament will only be able to exercise properly its role as discharge authority if it is kept regularly and comprehensively updated by the Commission, with detailed information regarding EDF-funded projects and their recipients;

Amendment 40 #

Joachim KUHS, Jean-François JALKH

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. ~~Notes with appreciation~~Regrets that sub- Saharan Africa is still the largest recipient of budget support with a share of 36 %; observes furthermore that the share of low income countries decreased to 32 % (compared to 38% in 2018) and that lower middle income countries, with 47 % of the total ongoing commitments, represent the largest beneficiaries of budget support;

Amendment 41 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)

26 a. Recalls that budget support aims at strengthening the partnership with the Union partner countries, to promote sustainable development, eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and consolidate peace and democracy, ultimately to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals; notes that the Union budget support shall be guided by the internationally agreed Busan effectiveness principles such as Ownership by partner countries, Results focus, Inclusiveness and accountability; highlights that, as it fosters transparency and good governance, budget support contributes also to the fight against corruption and fraud;

Amendment 42 #

José Manuel FERNANDES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Notes that, in terms of relative contribution to the SDGs, budget support programmes strongly contribute to SDG 16 (peace, justice and governance), SDG 17 (partnerships), SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 1 (no poverty); welcomes the strong multi-dimensional scope of budget support programmes and considers that they should support entrepreneurship and private initiative in order to leverage economic and social development as advocated in SDG 9 ( build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation) and 17 (strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development);

Amendment 43 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)

28 a. Recalls on DG INTPA, however, to strictly assess in its policy dialogue the risks related to corporate tax avoidance, tax evasion and illicit financial flows affecting particularly developing countries; encourages DG INTPA to assess the fiscal impact and to help to the definition of oriented investment objectives;

Amendment 44 #

José Manuel FERNANDES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Welcomes the results achieved as regards the intention for inclusive public policies to promote shared growth and to help tackle social or geographical disparities (SDG 10), where statistics indicate that the income share of the bottom 40 % of the population in countries receiving Union budget support increased from 15.6 % to 17.4 % of gross national income between 2004 and 2019, while it decreased slightly in other developing or emerging countries; considers it also essential to raise awareness among local interlocutors about the growing importance of private partners in economic, social and territorial development;

Amendment 45 #

José Manuel FERNANDES

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. Calls for close monitoring and thorough policy dialogue with partner countries regarding objectives, progress towards agreed results and performance indicators; calls once more on the Commission to better define and measure expected development impact and, especially, to improve the control mechanism with regard to the conduct of the beneficiary state in the areas of corruption, respect for human rights, good governance and democracy; stresses the need to include the private sector in this strategic dialogue; remains deeply concerned about the use that could be made of Union budget support in recipient countries where there is no or only limited democratic control;

Amendment 46 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)

32 a. Reiterates its call on the Commission to carry out an evaluation on a country-by-country basis of the long- term on-going EDF financed projects in order to demonstrate the true impact of decades-long Union investment on the ground and how it has effectively helped beneficiary countries’ economic, social and sustainable development;

Amendment 47 #

Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 b (new)

32 b. Asks the Commission to carry out an evaluation on a country-by-country approach of the long-time on-going EDF financed projects in order to demonstrate their impact on the economic, social and sustainable development of the country and calls the Commission to limit and/or terminate further funding of ineffective projects;

Amendment 48 #

Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)

35 b. Calls on the Commission to encourage international institutions, in particular in the case of co-funded and multi-donor initiatives, to approximate their results management frameworks with the Union;

Amendment 49 #

Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)

35 a. Believes that a better focus on local SMEs, private sector and civil society organisations should be a core axis of cooperation in the management of the Union delegations’ pipelines of projects; stresses that, given the funding gap required to reach the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals, strategic dialogue with the private sector and civil society organisations must play a crucial role for the development of local economies;

Amendment 5 #

Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

A a. Whereas Parliament is not involved in establishing and allocating EDF resources compared to other development instruments;

Amendment 50 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5 a (new)

The European Union Trust Fund for Africa

Amendment 51 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)

35 a. Is concerned that as a follow-up to the EDF’s 2018 discharge report the Commission hasn’t properly implemented Parliament’s numerous recommendations related to the EUTF;

Amendment 52 #

Michèle RIVASI

35 b. Recalls Parliament’s regular stance that the Commission should ensure that any trust fund established as a new development tool must always be in line with the Union’s overall strategy and development policy objectives, i.e. the reduction and eradication of poverty, and must, in particular, ensure that the security interests of European countries do not override the needs of the recipient populations; encourages the Commission to consider limiting financial aid to EUTF projects deflecting from this centreline;

Amendment 53 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 c (new)

35 c. Stresses that in order to meet the policy objectives, the EUTF must address the root causes of destabilisation, forced displacement and irregular migration by promoting resilience, economic opportunities, equal opportunities, security of populations, and human and social development; observes with great concern that to the opposite of helping to address these causes of destabilisation, the EU funds in 2019 were increasingly being spent to help close borders, stiffen migration and push for returns of migrants back to Africa;

Amendment 54 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 d (new)

35 d. Recalls that EUTF funding lines must not be used for security measures jeopardising migrants’ rights; calls the Commission to put in place tangible guarantees that migration-related EUTF projects are not used by the implementing authorities to violate migrants basic human rights; in that respect is appalled to learn that 91,3million EUR were paid for a border control project in Libya, which is planned to run until end of 2021, and includes training and the equipment for the Libyan Coast Guard which recently was accused1a of sending migrants to detention centres and subject them to torture, abuse and extortion;[1] _________________ 1aComplaint to the ECA concerning the mismanagement of EUTF funds IBM Libya Programme, Global legal action network, Association for juridical studies on immigration, Italian recreational and cultural association.

Amendment 55 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 e (new)

35 e. Reiterates its calls on the Commission to follow-up on the 2018 EDF Discharge report regarding the project “Reconnecting Eritrea and Ethiopia through rehabilitation of the main arterial roads in Eritrea”, funded by the EUTF and managed by the United Nations Office for Project Services, which finances Eritrean national construction companies using forced labour via national service; notes with great concern that EUTF paid their first tranche of EUR 20 million in 2019, followed by additional EUR 60 million 2020 despite the clear opposition by the Parliament; also notes the answer by the commissioner responsible for international partnerships from 15 September 2020 where she informed the parliament that the Commission adopted the “no more roads” approach for Eritrea and has reallocated the remaining funds to other programs; demands that the Commission presents the full report on the case to the discharge authority;

Amendment 56 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 f (new)

35 f. Considers that due care is needed to ensure better communication among the Commission, Parliament and Member States concerning the implementation of the EUTF and sufficient public reporting, oversight and audit of their operations and performance; invites the Court to consider an audit of the impact of the implementation of the EUTF for Africa on Union development policy both from a budgetary and results point of view; calls therefore on the Commission to draw conclusions from the audit and ensure that EUTF projects that have been inefficiently implemented are terminated or greatly limited in funding;

Amendment 57 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 g (new)

35 g. Risks and challenges related to the EDF aid implementation

Amendment 58 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 h (new)

35 h. Recalls that good governance, the rule of law and the respect for human rights are unavoidable preconditions concurring to the effectiveness of aid; calls upon the Commission to set the rule of law and the respect for human rights as the ultimate precondition for approving financial aid; invites the Commission to make more stringent use of the clause included into the financial agreements with partner countries that enables the Commission to suspend or to terminate the agreement in case of breach of an obligation relating to respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law e (art. 26.1 of the General conditions);

Amendment 59 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 i (new)

35 i. Is concerned by the Commission rejection of Parliament recommendation to include in the next annual activity report a structured assessment of the impact of the activities of the EDF; invites the Commission to revise its position and respond positively to the Parliament specific request;

Amendment 6 #

Olivier CHASTEL, Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Alin MITUȚA, Pierre KARLESKIND, Ramona STRUGARIU, Katalin CSEH, Gilles BOYER

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

A b. Whereas effective pre- conditionalities and regular checks are key components in ensuring the effectiveness and sound financial management of the EDF

Amendment 60 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 j (new)

35 j. Reiterates its concerns about the inconsistency between the budgetary process of the EDF where the EP is not involved in establishing and allocating EDF resources, and the necessary accountability process where the Parliament is the discharge authority, except for the Investment Facility, which is managed by the EIB and therefore outside the scope of the audit;

Amendment 7 #

Michèle RIVASI

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas it is crucial to ensure that development aid is used in accordance with its original purpose, meaning to reduce and ultimately to eradicate poverty, as stated in Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, with due consideration for aid and development effectiveness principles;

Amendment 8 #

Arnaud DANJEAN

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

B a. Whereas European development aid and public investments should promote joint priorities and policy objectives including eradicating poverty, climate and environmental action, economic and trade policies, migration management and be fully aligned with the principles of fundamental human rights, democracy and good governance;

Amendment 9 #

José Manuel FERNANDES

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are core objectives to be pursued in cooperation instruments in both the public and private sector;

source: 689.626

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

2021-03-31Show (2) Changes | Timetravel

events/3	date 2021-03-30T00:00:00 type Committee report tabled for plenary
procedure/stage_reached	Old Awaiting committee decision New Awaiting Parliament's vote

2021-03-30Show (1) Changes | Timetravel

docs/7/docs/0/url

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committees/0	type Responsible Committee body EP committee_full Budgetary Control committee CONT associated False rapporteur name: CZARNECKI Ryszard date: 2020-09-08T00:00:00 group: European Conservatives and Reformists Group abbr: ECR shadows name: FERNANDES José Manuel group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP name: PENKOVA Tsvetelina group: Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D name: CHASTEL Olivier group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew name: RIVASI Michèle group: Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE name: OMARJEE Younous group: The Left group in the European Parliament - GUE/NGL abbr: GUE/NGL
committees/0	type Responsible Committee body EP committee_full Budgetary Control committee CONT associated False rapporteur name: CZARNECKI Ryszard date: 2020-09-08T00:00:00 group: European Conservatives and Reformists Group abbr: ECR shadows name: FERNANDES José Manuel group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP name: PENKOVA Tsvetelina group: Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D name: CHASTEL Olivier group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew name: RIVASI Michèle group: Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE name: OMARJEE Younous group: GUE/NGL abbr: Confederal Group of the European United Left
events/2	date 2021-03-22T00:00:00 type Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body EP
forecasts	date: 2021-04-27T00:00:00 title: Debate in plenary scheduled

2021-03-16Show (2) Changes | Timetravel

docs/7/docs/0/url	Old https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE663.022&secondRef=01 New https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE663.022
docs/8/docs/0/url	https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE689.626

2021-03-06Show (1) Changes | Timetravel

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2021-03-02T00:00:00

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2021-03-03Show (4) Changes | Timetravel

committees/0	type Responsible Committee body EP committee_full Budgetary Control committee CONT associated False rapporteur name: CZARNECKI Ryszard date: 2020-09-08T00:00:00 group: European Conservatives and Reformists Group abbr: ECR shadows name: FERNANDES José Manuel group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP name: PENKOVA Tsvetelina group: Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D name: CHASTEL Olivier group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew name: RIVASI Michèle group: Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE name: OMARJEE Younous group: GUE/NGL abbr: Confederal Group of the European United Left
committees/0	type Responsible Committee body EP committee_full Budgetary Control committee CONT associated False rapporteur name: CZARNECKI Ryszard date: 2020-09-08T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group shadows name: FERNANDES José Manuel group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group name: PENKOVA Tsvetelina group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group name: CHASTEL Olivier group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew name: RIVASI Michèle group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group name: OMARJEE Younous group: GUE/NGL abbr: Confederal Group of the European United Left
committees/1	type Committee Opinion body EP committee_full Development committee DEVE associated False rapporteur name: BULLMANN Udo date: 2020-12-17T00:00:00 group: Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
committees/1	type Committee Opinion body EP committee_full Development committee DEVE associated False rapporteur name: BULLMANN Udo date: 2020-12-17T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group

2021-03-02Show (2) Changes | Timetravel

commission	body: EC dg: Budget commissioner: HAHN Johannes
docs/8	date 2021-03-02T00:00:00 docs title: PE689.626 type Amendments tabled in committee body EP

2021-02-24Show (4) Changes | Timetravel

committees/0	type Responsible Committee body EP committee_full Budgetary Control committee CONT associated False rapporteur name: CZARNECKI Ryszard date: 2020-09-08T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group shadows name: FERNANDES José Manuel group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group name: PENKOVA Tsvetelina group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group name: CHASTEL Olivier group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew name: RIVASI Michèle group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group name: OMARJEE Younous group: GUE/NGL abbr: Confederal Group of the European United Left
committees/0	type Responsible Committee body EP committee_full Budgetary Control committee CONT associated False rapporteur name: CZARNECKI Ryszard date: 2020-09-08T00:00:00 group: ECR - European Conservatives and Reformists Group abbr: ECR shadows name: FERNANDES José Manuel group: EPP - Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP name: PENKOVA Tsvetelina group: S&D - Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D name: CHASTEL Olivier group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew name: RIVASI Michèle group: Greens/EFA - Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE name: OMARJEE Younous group: GUE/NGL abbr: GUE/NGL - European United Left - Nordic Green Left
committees/1	type Committee Opinion body EP committee_full Development committee DEVE associated False rapporteur name: BULLMANN Udo date: 2020-12-17T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group
committees/1	type Committee Opinion body EP committee_full Development committee DEVE associated False rapporteur name: BULLMANN Udo date: 2020-12-17T00:00:00 group: S&D - Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D

2021-02-23Show (5) Changes | Timetravel

docs/2	date 2021-02-05T00:00:00 docs title: 05292/2021 type Document attached to the procedure body CSL
docs/3	date 2021-02-09T00:00:00 docs title: 05282/2021 type Supplementary non-legislative basic document body CSL
docs/4	date 2021-02-09T00:00:00 docs title: 05284/2021 type Supplementary non-legislative basic document body CSL
docs/5	date 2021-02-09T00:00:00 docs title: 05286/2021 type Supplementary non-legislative basic document body CSL
docs/6	date 2021-02-09T00:00:00 docs title: 05289/2021 type Supplementary non-legislative basic document body CSL

2021-02-17Show (5) Changes | Timetravel

committees/0	type Responsible Committee body EP committee_full Budgetary Control committee CONT associated False rapporteur name: CZARNECKI Ryszard date: 2020-09-08T00:00:00 group: ECR - European Conservatives and Reformists Group abbr: ECR shadows name: FERNANDES José Manuel group: EPP - Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP name: PENKOVA Tsvetelina group: S&D - Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D name: CHASTEL Olivier group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew name: RIVASI Michèle group: Greens/EFA - Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE name: OMARJEE Younous group: GUE/NGL abbr: GUE/NGL - European United Left - Nordic Green Left
committees/0	type Responsible Committee body EP committee_full Budgetary Control committee CONT associated False rapporteur name: CZARNECKI Ryszard date: 2020-09-08T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group shadows name: FERNANDES José Manuel group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group name: PENKOVA Tsvetelina group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group name: CHASTEL Olivier group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew name: RIVASI Michèle group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group name: OMARJEE Younous group: GUE/NGL abbr: Confederal Group of the European United Left
committees/1	type Committee Opinion body EP committee_full Development committee DEVE associated False rapporteur name: BULLMANN Udo date: 2020-12-17T00:00:00 group: S&D - Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
committees/1	type Committee Opinion body EP committee_full Development committee DEVE associated False rapporteur name: BULLMANN Udo date: 2020-12-17T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group
docs/2/docs/0/url	https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE663.022&secondRef=01

2021-02-16Show (5) Changes | Timetravel

committees/0	type Responsible Committee body EP committee_full Budgetary Control committee CONT associated False rapporteur name: CZARNECKI Ryszard date: 2020-09-08T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group shadows name: FERNANDES José Manuel group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group name: PENKOVA Tsvetelina group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group name: CHASTEL Olivier group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew name: RIVASI Michèle group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group name: OMARJEE Younous group: GUE/NGL abbr: Confederal Group of the European United Left
committees/0	type Responsible Committee body EP committee_full Budgetary Control committee CONT associated False rapporteur name: CZARNECKI Ryszard date: 2020-09-08T00:00:00 group: European Conservatives and Reformists Group abbr: ECR shadows name: FERNANDES José Manuel group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP name: PENKOVA Tsvetelina group: Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D name: CHASTEL Olivier group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew name: RIVASI Michèle group: Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE name: OMARJEE Younous group: Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left abbr: GUE/NGL
committees/1/rapporteur	name: BULLMANN Udo date: 2020-12-17T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group
docs/1	date 2021-01-20T00:00:00 docs url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE657.249 title: PE657.249 type Committee draft report body EP
docs/2	date 2021-02-11T00:00:00 docs title: PE663.022 committee DEVE type Committee opinion body EP

2020-12-09Show (2) Changes | Timetravel

committees/0

type: Responsible Committee

body: EP

committee_full: Budgetary Control

committee: CONT

associated: False

rapporteur: name: CZARNECKI Ryszard date: 2020-09-08T00:00:00 group: European Conservatives and Reformists Group abbr: ECR

shadows: name: FERNANDES José Manuel group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP name: PENKOVA Tsvetelina group: Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D name: CHASTEL Olivier group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew name: RIVASI Michèle group: Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE name: OMARJEE Younous group: Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left abbr: GUE/NGL

committees/0

type: Responsible Committee

body: EP

committee_full: Budgetary Control

committee: CONT

associated: False

rapporteur: name: CZARNECKI Ryszard date: 2020-09-08T00:00:00 group: European Conservatives and Reformists Group abbr: ECR

shadows: name: FERNANDES José Manuel group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP name: PENKOVA Tsvetelina group: Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D name: CHASTEL Olivier group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew name: RIVASI Michèle group: Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE name: OMARJEE Younous group: Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left abbr: GUE/NGL

2020-09-27Show (5) Changes | Timetravel

committees/0	type Responsible Committee body EP committee_full Budgetary Control committee CONT associated False rapporteur name: CZARNECKI Ryszard date: 2020-09-08T00:00:00 group: European Conservatives and Reformists Group abbr: ECR shadows name: FERNANDES José Manuel group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP name: PENKOVA Tsvetelina group: Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D name: CHASTEL Olivier group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew name: RIVASI Michèle group: Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE name: OMARJEE Younous group: Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left abbr: GUE/NGL
committees/0	type Responsible Committee body EP committee_full Budgetary Control committee CONT associated False
events/1	date 2020-09-15T00:00:00 type Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body EP
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee	CONT/9/03947
procedure/stage_reached	Old Preparatory phase in Parliament New Awaiting committee decision

2020-09-04Show (1) Changes

committees/2/opinion

False

Progress: Awaiting committee decision

Lead committee dossier:

CONT/9/03947

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Links

Events

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