2022/2024(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the high number of petitions submitted in 2021 reveals that, also in the second year of the pandemic, citizens placed significant trust in Parliament, choosing to address their concerns and complaints directly to their elected representatives at EU level, whom they considered to be the source of decision-making; whereas the Parliament must do its utmost to validate this trust;

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Recalls that increased attention should be given to multilingualism in the EU, including regional or minority languages; encourages in this sense the EU institutions to make use of as many official languages as possible, as well as regional or minority languages -especially those with official status in the territory of a Member State- where appropriate; underlines that the EU language policy should take into account that more than 40 million EU citizens speak regional or minority languages;

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Recalls that increased attention should be given to multilingualism in the EU; encourages in this sense the EU institutions to make use of as many official languages as possible and to implement their multilingualism policies coherently;

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Underlines the work of the Committee on Petitions in connection with petitions relating to alleged poor safety conditions in parking facilities for trucks and commercial vehicles on the European road network, in relation to attacks on carriers in truck parking areas; points, in this regard, to the motion for a resolution adopted by the Committee on Petitions on 6 October 2021 on the safety of truck parking lots in the EU (2021/2918(RSP))9 ; urges the Commission and the Council to take the necessary measures to establish and develop police cooperation involving the competent authorities of all Member States to prevent, detect and investigate criminal offences on roads and in parking areas; _________________ 9 Adopted by Parliament as a resolution on 25 November 2021. OJ C 224, 8.6.2022, p. 95.

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Underlines the work of the Committee on Petitions in connection with petitions relating to alleged poor safety conditions in parking facilities for trucks and commercial vehicles on the European road network, in relation to attacks on carriers in truck parking areas; points, in this regard, to the motion for a resolution adopted by the Committee on Petitions on 6 October 2021 on the safety of truck parking lots in the EU (2021/2918(RSP))9 ; expects the Commission to follow-up on this resolution with concrete actions and strengthen the monitoring of safety conditions in truck parking areas; _________________ 9 Adopted by Parliament as a resolution on 25 November 2021. OJ C 224, 8.6.2022, p. 95.

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Underlines the work of the Committee on Petitions in connection with petitions relating to ~~alleged~~ poor safety conditions in parking facilities for trucks and commercial vehicles on the European road network, in relation to attacks on carriers in truck parking areas; points, in this regard, to the motion for a resolution adopted by the Committee on Petitions on 6 October 2021 on the safety of truck parking lots in the EU (2021/2918(RSP))9 ; _________________ 9 Adopted by Parliament as a resolution on 25 November 2021. OJ C 224, 8.6.2022, p. 95.

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Welcomes the specific protection role played by the Committee on Petitions within the EU in the framework of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; points to the committee’s important ongoing work in connection with petitions concerning issues on disabilities; notes that the number of petitions on disability decreased in 2021 in comparison with the previous year; stresses that ~~discriminat~~accessibility and mobility in public spaces, discrimination, inclusion and access to education and employment remain among the main challenges faced by persons with disabilities;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Recalls the fact that relations with the European Ombudsman are one of the responsibilities conferred by Parliament’s Rules of Procedure on the Committee on Petitions; welcomes Parliament’s constructive cooperation with the European Ombudsman, as well as its involvement in the European Network of Ombudsmen; acknowledges the European Ombudsman’s regular contributions to the work of the Committee on Petitions throughout the year; firmly believes that the Union’s institutions, bodies and agencies must ensure consistent and effective follow-up to the recommendations of the Ombudsman; strongly supports the Ombudsman’s work on upholding public access to EU documents, which encompassed 214 inquiries in 2021; reiterates its calls on the Commission to submit a proposal for a revision of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 as adopted in previous resolutions; stresses that such revision must enhance transparency and accountability by promoting good administrative practice10a; _________________ 10a European Parliament resolution of 16 December 2021 on the deliberations of the Committee on Petitions in 2020 (2021/2019(INI)). OJ C 251, 30.6.2022, p. 96–103

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Stresses that the ECI is an important instrument for active citizenship and public participation; welcomes the discussion in several meetings as petitions of some unsuccessful ECIs, which gave citizens the opportunity to expose their ideas and hold a constructive debate, as well as facilitating the participation of EU citizens in the democratic process of the Union; takes note of the significant number of new ECIs registered by the Commission in 2021, which shows that citizens are seizing the opportunity to use participatory instruments to have a say in policy and law-making processes; calls on the Commission to better engage with citizens and give adequate follow-up to successful ECIs; considers that the Commission should always accept the initiation of legislative procedures proposed by successful ECIs and that at least it should better justify the cases in which it rejects the initiation of such legislative procedures;

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Stresses that the ECI is an important instrument for active citizenship and public participation; welcomes the discussion in several meetings as petitions of some unsuccessful ECIs, which gave citizens the opportunity to expose their ideas and hold a constructive debate, as well as facilitating the participation of EU citizens in the democratic process of the Union; takes note of the significant number of new ECIs registered by the Commission in 2021, which shows that citizens are seizing the opportunity to use participatory instruments to have a say in policy and law-making processes; calls on the Commission to better engage with citizens and give adequate follow-up to successful ECIs, including through legislative proposals;

Amendment 109 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22 a. Underlines that additional communication efforts should be guaranteed to increase the visibility of the activities of the Committee on Petitions in all the Member States of the EU, especially of its official missions;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas, however, the overall number of petitions remains modest in relation to the total population of the EU, revealing that efforts still need to be stepped up to increase citizens’ awareness about their right to petition; whereas, in exercising the right to petition, citizens expect that the EU institutions will provide added value in finding a solution to their problems; whereas failure to act at Union level to ensure full protection of citizens’ rights arising from EU law is likely to result into frustration and consequently discontent towards the Union;

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Underlines that the Petitions Web Portal is an essential tool for ensuring a smooth, efficient and transparent petitions process; welcomes, in this regard, the improvements to data protection and security features which have made the portal more user-friendly and secure for citizens; stresses that efforts must be continued to make the portal more accessible, including to persons with disabilities considers that the Petitions Web Portal must provide short descriptions in clear and plain language of all EU participatory instruments, thereby helping users to identify the most appropriate channel and reduce the number of inadmissible petitions;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Underlines that the Petitions Web Portal is an essential tool for ensuring a smooth, efficient and transparent petitions process; welcomes, in this regard, the improvements to data protection and security features which have made the portal more user-friendly and secure for citizens; stresses that efforts must be continued to make the portal more accessible, including to persons with disabilities; supports the creation of a single digital portal where citizens can access and find out about all the procedures for tabling petitions;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Underlines that the Petitions Web Portal is an essential tool for ensuring a smooth, efficient and transparent petitions process; welcomes, in this regard, the improvements to data protection and security features which have made the portal more user-friendly and secure for citizens; stresses that efforts must be continued to make the portal more accessible and known to citizens, including to persons with disabilities;

Amendment 113 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)

23a. Notes that although the number of people supporting one or more petitions is clearly on the rise, many petitioners are expressing concern at the complexity of the procedures to be completed on Parliament’s petitions web portal in order to manifest support for a petition;

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas, however, the overall number of petitions remains modest in relation to the total population of the EU, revealing that efforts still need to be stepped up to increase citizens’ awareness about their right to petition, or of its possible usefulness as a means of drawing the attention of the EU institutions and the Member States to matters that affect and concern them directly; whereas, in exercising the right to petition, citizens expect that the EU institutions will provide added value in finding a solution to their problems;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas, however, the overall number of petitions remains modest in relation to the total population of the EU, revealing that efforts still need to be stepped up to increase citizens’ awareness about their right to petition; and increase the geographical representation of petitions submitted per Member State; whereas, in exercising the right to petition, citizens expect that the EU institutions will provide added value in finding a solution to their problems;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas, however, the overall number of petitions remains modest in relation to the total population of the EU, revealing that efforts still need to be stepped up to increase citizens’ awareness about their right to petition and further encourage the use of this instrument; whereas, in exercising the right to petition, citizens expect that the EU institutions will provide added value in finding a solution to their problems;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas, however, the overall number of petitions remains modest in relation to the total population of the EU, revealing that efforts still need to be stepped up to increase citizens’ awareness about their right to petition; whereas, in exercising the right to petition, citizens expect that the EU institutions will reply timely and will provide added value in finding a solution to their problems;

Amendment 16 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas the criteria for the admissibility of petitions are laid down in Article 227 TFEU and Rule 226 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, which require that petitions must be submitted by an EU citizens or ~~residents directly affected by~~by a natural or legal person that is resident or has a registered office in a Member State, either individually or in association with others, on matters which fall~~ing~~ within the EU’s fields of activity and which affect the petitioners directly, with the latter condition having a very broad interpretation;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas, of the 1 392 petitions submitted in 2021, 368 were declared inadmissible and 17 were withdrawn; whereas the relatively high percentage (26.5 %) of inadmissible petitions in 2021 demonstrates that there is still a widespread lack of clarity about the scope of the Union’s areas of responsibility; whereas to remedy this situation, communication with citizens needs to be encouraged and improved;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas, of the 1 392 petitions submitted in 2021, 368 were declared inadmissible and 17 were withdrawn; whereas the relatively high percentage (26.5 %) of inadmissible petitions in 2021 demonstrates that there is still a widespread lack of clarity about the scope of the Union’s areas of responsibility or about the formal requirements to declare a petition admissible;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

G a. whereas, as of May 2022, 433 petitions submitted in 2021, representing just under a third of petitions submitted in 2021, still remained opened; whereas more than 2000 petitions submitted prior to 2021 still remained opened; whereas most of these petitions remained opened because they relate to environmental issues and ongoing infringement proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union;

Amendment 2 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)

- having regard to the report on engaging with citizens: the right to petition, the right to refer to the European Ombudsman and the European Citizens’ Initiative (2020/2275(INI)),

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

G a. whereas each petition is considered and examined carefully, efficiently and transparently;

Amendment 21 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)

G b. whereas petitioners tend to be citizens engaged in safeguarding fundamental rights and in the improvement and future wellbeing of our societies; whereas the experience of those citizens in regard to the processing of their petitions is very influential in determine their perception of the EU institutions and respect for the right to petition contained in EU law;

Amendment 22 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the right to petition the European Parliament is one of the fundamental rights of EU citizens set out in the Treaties and in the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union; whereas the right to petition provides EU citizens and residents with an open, democratic and transparent mechanism to address their elected representatives directly ~~and~~; whereas it is therefore essential to timely improve its respect and implementation in order to enable citizens to participate more actively and more effectively in the life of the Union;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the right to petition the European Parliament is one of the fundamental rights of EU citizens; whereas the right to petition provides EU citizens and residents with an open, democratic and transparent mechanism to address their elected representatives directly and is therefore essential to enable citizens to participate actively and effectively in the life of the Union; whereas, through petitions, EU citizens can complain about failures to implement EU law and help detect breaches of EU law;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the right to petition offers Parliament as well as other EU Institutions, notably the European Commission given its role to ensure the correct application of EU law throughout the Union, the opportunity to enhance ~~its~~their responsiveness to complaints and concerns relating to the respect for EU fundamental rights and compliance with EU legislation in the Member States; whereas petitions are therefore a useful source of information on instances of misapplication or breaches of EU law as well as on shortcomings and loopholes in the current EU law and, thus, enable Parliament and other EU institutions to assess the transposition and application of EU law and its impact on the rights of EU citizens and residents;

Amendment 25 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the right to petition offers Parliament the opportunity to enhance its responsiveness to complaints and concerns relating to the respect for EU fundamental rights and compliance with EU legislation in the Member States; whereas petitions are therefore a useful source of information on instances of misapplication or breaches of EU law and, thus, enable Parliament and other EU institutions to assess the transposition and application of EU law and its impact on the rights of EU citizens and residents; whereas the submitted petitions should indicate to the EU institutions the areas where major effort and action on the EU level is needed for the transposition and application of the EU law;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital I

I. whereas the European Parliament is the only EU institution directly elected by EU citizens; whereas the right to petition offers Parliament the opportunity to enhance its responsiveness to complaints and concerns relating to the respect for EU fundamental rights and compliance with EU legislation in the Member States; whereas petitions are therefore a useful source of information on instances of misapplication or breaches of EU law and, thus, enable Parliament and other EU institutions to assess the transposition and application of EU law and its impact on the rights of EU citizens and residents;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas Parliament has long been at the forefront of the development of the petitions process internationally and has the most open and transparent petitions process in Europe, allowing petitioners to participate fully in its activities; whereas participation of petitioners in the official missions organised by the Parliament remains restricted due to financing constraints;

Amendment 28 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Recital J

J. whereas Parliament has long been at the forefront of the development of the petitions process internationally and has the most open and transparent petitions process in Europe, allowing a significant amount of petitioners to participate fully in its activities;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)

J a. whereas the Committee on Petitions is best able to show citizens what the European Union does for them and what solutions it can provide at European, national or local level;

Amendment 3 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)

-A. whereas the purpose of the annual report on the outcome of the Committee on Petitions' deliberation is to present an analysis of the petitions received in 2021 and of relations with other institutions, and to present an accurate picture of the objectives achieved in 2021;

Amendment 30 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Recital J b (new)

J b. whereas the partisan use of the Committee on Petitions can lead to its inappropriate use and, therefore, to the deterioration of citizens' trust in this body and in the rest of the European institutions; whereas the discussions of the Committee on Petitions are sometimes used to address national or regional issues outside the scope of competence attributed by the Treaties and that the study of petitions is exclusively conditioned by criteria of majorities, ignoring the minorities and thus preventing serious debates or complaints;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas the Committee on Petitions carefully examines and deals with each petition submitted to Parliament; whereas each petitioner has the right to have his or her petition handled impartially and fairly in full compliance with the right to good administration enshrined in Article 41 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union; whereas each petitioner has the right to receive a reply informing him or her about the decision on admissibility and follow-up actions taken by the committee within a reasonable period of time, in his or her own language or in the language used in the petition;

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K

K. whereas the Committee on Petitions carefully examines and deals with each petition submitted to Parliament; whereas each petitioner has the right to receive a reply informing him or her about the decision on admissibility and follow-up actions taken by the committee within a reasonable period of time, in his or her own language or in the language used in the petition; whereas any petitioner is entitled to request that his or her petition be reopened on the basis of any relevant fresh developments;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)

K a. whereas the Parliament has already acknowledged that the Commission’s refusal to take action on issues raised in individual petitions constitutes a breach of the current EU Treaties’ provisions related to the right to petition, as it is not limited to issues of strategic importance or reflecting structural problems; whereas the Commission is still implementing its strategic approach in handling petitions on the basis of its 2017 Communication "EU law: Better results through better application", despite the request by the Parliament to revise it in a timely manner;

Amendment 34 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Recital K b (new)

K b. whereas the Commission is failing to provide comprehensive information to the Committee on Petitions on legislative and non-legislative measures taken following petitions received as well as on infringement procedures related to petitions; whereas there is no public register linking petitions with all follow- up actions taken on them;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital L

L. whereas the activities of the L. Committee on Petitions are based on the input provided by petitioners; whereas the information submitted by petitioners in their petitions and at committee meetings, along with the Commission’s assessment and the replies of the Member States and other bodies, are crucial for the work of the committee; whereas admissible petitions also provide valuable contributions to the work of the other parliamentary committees, given that they are forwarded by the Committee on Petitions to other committees for an opinion or for information; whereas, therefore, petitions are very important for the legislative process as they provide other Parliament committees with useful and direct input for their legislative work in their respective fields;

Amendment 36 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. whereas the main subjects of concern raised in petitions submitted in 2021 related to fundamental rights (in particular the impact of COVID-19 emergency measures on the rule of law and democracy, ~~as well~~ on the freedom of movement and the right to work, as well as a large number of petitions related to LGBTQ+ rights in the Union), health (notably questions on the public health crisis resulting from the persistence of the pandemic, ranging from the protection of citizens’ health, including vaccination policy, to the use, implementation and application of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in the Member States and the alleged discrimination between vaccinated and non-vaccinated persons), the environment (mostly concerning mining activities and their impact on the environment, nuclear safety, air pollution and the deterioration of natural ecosystems), minority rights and discrimination (including the rights of national or linguistic minorities), education (in particular questions related to discriminatory access to ~~education or contested national reforms of the law on~~ education), the situation of EU students in the UK after the UK’s withdrawal from Erasmus+, and employment (in particular questions relating to national treatment of work contracts), in addition to many other areas of activity;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. whereas the main subjects of concern raised in petitions submitted in 2021 related to fundamental rights (in particular the impact of COVID-19 emergency measures on the rule of law and democracy, as well on the access to education during the lockdowns, freedom of movement and the right to work), health (notably questions on the ~~public~~access to healthcare, on the health crisis resulting from the persistence of the pandemic, ranging from the protection of citizens’ health, including vaccination policy, to the use, implementation and application of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in the Member States and the ~~alleged~~ discrimination between vaccinated and non-vaccinated persons), the environment (mostly concerning mining activities and their impact on the environment, nuclear safety, air pollution and the deterioration of natural ecosystems), minority rights and discrimination (including the rights of national or linguistic minorities), education (in particular questions related to discriminatory access to education or contested national reforms of the law on education), the situation of EU students in the UK after the UK’s withdrawal from Erasmus+, and employment (in particular questions relating to national treatment of work contracts), in addition to many other areas of activity;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. whereas the main subjects of concern raised in petitions submitted in 2021 related to fundamental rights (in particular the impact of COVID-19 emergency measures on the rule of law and democracy, as well on the freedom of movement and the right to work), health (notably questions on the public health crisis resulting from the persistence of the pandemic, ranging from the protection of citizens’ health, including vaccination policy, to the use, implementation and application of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in the Member States and the alleged discrimination between vaccinated and non-vaccinated persons), the environment (mostly concerning mining activities and their impact on the environment, illegal logging, violence against environmental whistle-blowers, conservation of bears and wolves as legally protected species, illicit waste disposal, nuclear safety, air pollution and the deterioration of natural ecosystems), minority rights and discrimination (including the rights of national or linguistic minorities), education (in particular questions related to discriminatory access to education or contested national reforms of the law on education), lack of safety in truck parking areas, the situation of EU students in the UK after the UK’s withdrawal from Erasmus+, and employment (in particular questions relating to national treatment of work contracts), in addition to many other areas of activity;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital N

N. whereas the main subjects of concern raised in petitions submitted in 2021 related to fundamental rights (in particular the impact of COVID-19 emergency measures on the rule of law and democracy, as well on the freedom of movement and the right to work), health (notably questions on the public health crisis resulting from the persistence of the pandemic, ranging from the protection of citizens’ health, including vaccination policy, to the use, implementation and application of the EU Digital COVID Certificate in the Member States and the alleged discrimination between vaccinated and non-vaccinated persons), the environment (mostly concerning mining activities and their impact on the environment, nuclear safety, air pollution, wind farms, defective mica blocks and the deterioration of natural ecosystems), minority rights and discrimination (including the rights of national or linguistic minorities), education (in particular questions related to discriminatory access to education or contested national reforms of the law on education), the situation of EU students in the UK after the UK’s withdrawal from Erasmus+, and employment (in particular questions relating to national treatment of work contracts), in addition to many other areas of activity;

Amendment 4 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas in 2021, Parliament received 1 392 petitions, which represents around the half of those received in 2013 (2891) and 2014 (2715), namely when the total number of petitions received reached its peak; whereas petitions submitted in 2021 represent also a decrease of 11.5 % compared to the 1 573 petitions submitted in 2020 and an slight increase of 2.5 % compared to the 1 357 petitions submitted in 2019;

Amendment 40 #

Loránt VINCZE

Motion for a resolution
Recital N a (new)

N a. whereas the Committee on Petitions when adopting its meeting agenda, pays attention to petitions and topics with significant relevance for discussion at EU level and the need to maintain an equitable geographical coverage of topics according to the petitions received;

Amendment 41 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital R a (new)

R a. whereas the European Commission has an essential role in the Committee on Petitions as guardian of the Treaties and the information provided by the petitioners is useful to discover possible breaches or misapplications of the European law;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital T

T. whereas ~~ensur~~improving citizens’ participation ~~is a~~and ensuring full protection of citizens' rights arising from EU law are key elements for bringing the EU closer to its citizens; whereas the Committee on Petitions adopted the report on engaging with citizens: the right to petition, the right to refer to the European Ombudsman and the European Citizens’ Initiative (2020/2275(INI)) concluding that the Commission must revise its current strategic approach in handling petitions as it resulted in leaving untreated, inter alia, issues concerning serious violations of EU law detrimental to the protection of citizens’ rights and that the Conference on the Future of Europe should result in the improvement of the instruments of participatory democracy; whereas the Committee on Petitions considers the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) an very important instrument of participatory democracy, which should be enhanced to enables citizens to become more actively and directly involved in shaping the Union’s policies and legislation;

Amendment 43 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital T

T. whereas ensuring citizens’ participation is a key element for bringing the EU closer to its citizens; whereas the Committee on Petitions adopted the report on engaging with citizens: the right to petition, the right to refer to the European Ombudsman and the European Citizens’ Initiative (2020/2275(INI)) ~~concluding that the Conference~~, focusing on ways of raising citizens' awareness onf the ~~Future of Europe should result in the improvement of~~ ir rights, communication campaigns to draw attention to existing channels for participation, closer cooperation with other inst~~ruments of participatory democracy~~itutions and parliamentary committees and civic engagement on the part of young people; whereas the Committee on Petitions considers the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) an important instrument of participatory democracy, which enables citizens to become actively involved in shaping the Union’s policies and legislation;

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital T a (new)

T a. whereas the Committee on Petitions should gradually shift towards broader policy directions at the EU level which do not necessarily entail concrete legislative action;

Amendment 45 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Emphasises the fundamental role of the Committee on Petitions in protecting and promoting the rights of EU citizens and residents by ensuring that petitioners’ concerns and complaints are examined in a timely and effective manner, that the petitioners are informed about the actions and progress done on their petitions, and that they are resolved, wherever possible, through an open, democratic and transparent petitions process;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Emphasises the fundamental role of the Committee on Petitions in protecting and promoting the rights of EU citizens and residents by ensuring that petitioners’ concerns and complaints are examined in a timely ~~and~~, effective, appropriate and non- discriminatory manner and that they are resolved, wherever possible, through an open, democratic and transparent petitions process;

Amendment 47 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Emphasises the fundamental role of the Committee on Petitions in protecting and promoting the rights of EU citizens and residents by ensuring that petitioners’ concerns and complaints are examined in a timely and effective manner and that they are resolved~~, wherever possible,~~ through an open, democratic and transparent petitions process;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a (new)

(a) Recalls that, in 2021, there were considerable differences in number of petitions submitted to the Committee on Petitions from the 27 EU Member States, with most of the petitions concerning Spain (17%),followed by Germany (9,7%), Italy (9,2%), Greece (5,9%), Romania (4,1%), Poland(4,0%) and France (2,6%); the number of petitions concerning the remaining Member States was less than 2% per Member State;

Amendment 49 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Stresses that petitioners often address the Committee on Petitions about topics that are pressing to them; underlines that in such situations a delayed treatment of petitions provides little value to the petitioners; believes that the Committee on Petitions should take action to clear the backlog of open petitions; invites the Committee on Petitions to review its working methods, in order to ensure that all petitions are treated with a consistent and transparent set of criteria that guarantees a timely and effective process;

Amendment 5 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas in 2021, the number of users supporting one or more petitions on Parliament’s Petitions Web Portal was 209 272, which represents a very considerable increase from the 48 882 users recorded in 2020; whereas the number of clicks in support of petitions also increased in 2021, reaching a total of 217 876 (up from 55 129 in 2020); whereas petition No 0549/2021 by Adriana Muresan, bearing 22735signatures, on the alleged poor safety conditions in car parks for trucks and commercial vehicles on the European road network represents a record number of co-signatures for a petition in 2021;

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Is of the opinion that the Committee on Petitions is equally available to citizens and residents in all 27 Member States and that the treatment of petitions should be geographically balanced and proportionate to the size of each Member State; believes in this respect that the European Parliament should increase the efforts to promote the role and work of its Committee on Petitions and raise all EU citizens’ awareness of the possibility to address a petition to the European Parliament;

Amendment 51 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Points out that the Committee on Petitions shall deal with petitions relating to matters that fall within the Union’s field of activity, as enshrined in TFEU; emphasises that the activity of the Committee should not be a proxy for national political debates and must always be aimed at responding to the matter directly affecting the petitioner; calls on the Committee to ensure that the petitions it examines reflect a proportionate geographical balance and that its treatment of petitions respects the European dimension of its mandate;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1 b. Warns of the risk of potential reputational damage to the Committee on Petitions and the European Parliament as a whole if the treatment of petitions were politicised or used for domestic party- political objectives; recalls in this context the very European dimension of the Committee on Petitions whose role it is, in accordance with Article 227 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to treat petitions on matters which come within the European Union's fields of activity;

Amendment 53 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1 c. Recalls the agreements between the political groups represented in the Committee on Petitions are essential to provide a balanced and understandable response to the petitioners; regrets the lack of agreement experienced in the last year; expresses concern about the problems caused by partisan use of the Committee on Petitions;

Amendment 54 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates the importance of a continuous public debate on the Union’s field of activity in order to ensure that citizens are correctly informed about the scope of the Union’s competences and the different levels of decision-making; calls, in this regard, for broader awareness raising campaigns, through the active involvement of communications services, to help increase citizens’ knowledge about their right to petition, as well as the scope of the Union’s responsibilities, with a view to reducing the number of inadmissible petitions and better responding to citizens’ concerns; underlines that additional efforts need to be done to raise awareness on the right to petitions in those EU Member States from where proportionately less petitions are sent;

Amendment 55 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates the importance of a continuous public debate on the Union’s field of activity in order to ensure that citizens are correctly informed about the scope of the Union’s competences and the different levels of decision-making; calls, in this regard, for broader awareness raising campaigns, through the active involvement of communications services, to help increase citizens’ knowledge about their right to petition, as well as the scope of the Union’s responsibilities and the competences of the Committee on Petitions, with a view to reducing the number of inadmissible petitions and better responding to citizens’ concerns;

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates the importance of a continuous public debate on the Union’s field of activity in order to ensure that citizens are correctly informed about the scope of the Union’s competences and the different levels of decision-making; calls, in this regard, for broader awareness raising campaigns, through the active involvement of communications services at European and national level, to help increase citizens’ knowledge about their right to petition, as well as the scope of the Union’s responsibilities, with a view to reducing the number of inadmissible petitions and better responding to citizens’ concerns;

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Considers of utmost importance that the Commission revises its strategic approach on the handling of petitions currently based on its 2017 Communication "EU law: Better results through better application" in order to adopt clear rules and establish an administrative procedure to deal with admissible petitions, ensuring an adequate follow-up also on issues raised in individual petitions, which often denounce EU law’s violations affecting a large number of citizens or highlight further alleged EU law's violations concerning the same topic of ongoing infringement procedures;

Amendment 58 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Points out that petitions constitute a unique opportunity for Parliament and the other EU institutions to directly connect with EU citizens and maintain a regular dialogue with them, particularly in cases where they are affected by the misapplication ~~or breach~~ of EU law; stresses the need for enhanced cooperation between the EUnion institutions, bodies and agencies and national, regional and local authorities on inquiries regarding the implementation of and compliance with EU law; believes that such cooperation is crucial to address and resolve citizens’ concerns over the application of EU law and contributes to strengthening the democratic legitimacy and accountability of the Union; calls, therefore, for the more active participation of Member States’ representatives in committee meetings and for swifter responses to requests for clarification or information sent by the Committee on Petitions to national authorities;

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Points out that petitions constitute a unique opportunity for Parliament and the other EU institutions to directly connect with EU citizens and maintain a regular dialogue with them, particularly in cases where they are affected by the misapplication or breach of EU law as well as by shortcomings and loopholes in the current EU law; stresses the need for enhanced cooperation between the EU institutions and national, regional and local authorities on inquiries regarding the impact and the implementation of and compliance with EU law; believes that such cooperation is crucial to address and resolve citizens’ concerns over the application and effectiveness of EU law and contributes to strengthening the democratic legitimacy and accountability of the Union; calls~~, therefore,~~ for the more active participation of Member States’ representatives in committee meetings and for swifter responses to requests for clarification or information sent by the Committee on Petitions to national authorities;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the large number of petitions voicing citizens’ concerns over the public health and socio-economic emergencies, ~~vaccination, and the implementation of the EU Digital COVID Certificate, resulting from the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic~~the lack of transparency in the research, development and purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, vaccination, including the vaccination of children against COVID-19 and the abusive implementation of the EU Digital COVID Certificate, significantly contributed to the increase in the number of petitions registered in 2021 on this topic in comparison with the previous year; whereas 17.3 % of the petitions received in 2021 related to the COVID-19 pandemic;

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Points out that petitions constitute a unique opportunity for Parliament and the other EU institutions to directly connect with EU citizens and maintain a regular dialogue with them, particularly in cases where they are affected by the misapplication or breach of EU law; stresses the need for enhanced cooperation between the EU institutions and national, regional and local authorities on inquiries regarding the implementation of and compliance with EU law; believes that such cooperation is crucial to address and resolve citizens’ concerns over the application of EU law and contributes to strengthening the democratic legitimacy and accountability of the Union; calls, therefore, for the more active participation of Member States’ representatives in committee meetings and for ~~swifter~~timely and detailed responses to requests for clarification or information sent by the Committee on Petitions to national authorities;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3 a. Requests the setting up of a one- stop-shop interinstitutional IT tool between the Commission and the Parliament to share publicly information on all follow-up actions taken on petitions, including EU Pilot and infringement procedures, legislative proposals, recordings of Committee's meetings during which a petition is debated, replies by national authorities and Parliament's standing committees, and on any other related non-legislative action;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3 b. Stresses the paramount importance of revising the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure to improve the relevant rules concerning the petition process in order to include issues raised through petitions in the Parliament’s plenary activities as well as amongst the priorities of the EU’s political agenda, thus strengthening the visibility and the follow-up of petitions;

Amendment 63 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recalls that petitions contribute considerably to the Commission’s role as guardian of the Treaties; stresses that reinforced cooperation between the Committee on Petitions and the Commission through timely and detailed answers from the Commission, which are based on thorough examination of the issues raised in petitions, are essential to ensure the successful treatment of petitions:the Commission should be more actively involved in the work of the Committee on Petitions in order to ensure that petitioners receive a timely and precise response to their requests and complaints regarding the implementation of the EU law; reiterates its call on the Commission for regular updates on developments in infringement proceedings and for access to relevant Commission documents on infringements and EU Pilot procedures which have been closed;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recalls that petitions contribute considerably to the Commission’s role as guardian of the Treaties; stresses that reinforced cooperation between the Committee on Petitions and the Commission through a binding interinstitutional agreement on the handling of petitions as well as timely and detailed answers from the Commission, which are based on thorough examination of the issues raised in petitions, including individual petitions issues, are essential to ensure the successful treatment of petitions:, the consistent implementation of the right to petition established in the EU Treaties and the effective protection of citizens’ rights; reiterates its call on the Commission ~~for~~to regularly update the Committee on Petitions on developments in infringement proceedings and ~~for access to relevant Commission~~ to guarantee full and timely access to documents on infringements and EU Ppilot procedures ~~which have been closed~~related to petitions;

Amendment 65 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recalls that petitions contribute considerably to the Commission’s role as guardian of the Treaties; stresses that more structured means of collaboration and reinforced cooperation between the Committee on Petitions and the Commission through timely and detailed answers from the Commission, which are based on thorough examination of the issues raised in petitions, are essential to ensure the successful treatment of petitions: points out that the impact of petitions on the initiation of infringement proceedings should be duly recognized; reiterates its call on the Commission for regular updates on developments in infringement proceedings and for access to relevant Commission documents on infringements and EU Pilot procedures which have been closed;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recalls that petitions contribute considerably to the Commission’s role as guardian of the Treaties; stresses that reinforced cooperation between the Committee on Petitions and the Commission through timely and detailed answers from the Commission, which are based on thorough examination of the issues raised in petitions, are essential to ensure the successful treatment of petitions: ~~reiterates its c~~Calls on the Commission ~~for~~to regularly update the Committee on Petitions on developments in infringement proceedings and ~~for~~to ensure that the Committee on Petitions gets access to relevant Commission documents on infringements and EU Pilot procedures which have been closed;

Amendment 67 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Recalls that petitions contribute considerably to the Commission’s role as guardian of the Treaties by providing the citizens with an additional opportunity to notify alleged breaches of EU law; stresses that reinforced cooperation between the Committee on Petitions and the Commission through timely and detailed answers from the Commission, which are based on thorough examination of the issues raised in petitions, are essential to ensure the successful treatment of petitions: reiterates its call on the Commission for regular updates on developments in infringement proceedings and for access to relevant Commission documents on infringements and EU Pilot procedures which have been closed; stresses that such updates and other relevant information are necessary for the treatment of petitions that concern an open infringement procedure

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Reminds that the e-Peti database is an important internal tool that allows the Members of the Committee on Petitions to access all necessary information in order to follow up on the state of play of each individual petition and to being able to make informed decisions when it comes to the petitions’ ongoing treatment or possible closure; to this end, thee-Peti database should be regularly updated and, if possible, linked to the European Commissions’ list of infringements;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Underlines that increased attention should be given to the adoption of a European legislative act that seals the recognition of LGTB rights;

Amendment 7 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

C a. whereas the number of petitions received in 2021 asking for full compliance with the EU environmental law as well as effective and rapid measures, in line with the precautionary principle, in order to protect ecosystems and habitats of Union concern significantly increased, amounting to a total of 327 (23.5%);

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4 b. Finds it worrying that the European Commission does not provide updated information on petitions under infringement procedures and on their state of play; deplores in this regard the lack of systematic follow-up in the communication with the Committee on Petitions; therefore, calls on the Commission to provide the Committee on Petitions with regular and updated information on infringement procedures which were launched based on the petitions received;

Amendment 71 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Commission to assess more timely whether national authorities are taking the necessary measures to effectively respond to citizens’ concerns as expressed in their petitions where cases of ~~systemic~~ failure in compliance with EU law occur, detrimental to the full protection of rights of citizens and residents in the EU; firmly believes that a rapid action by the Commission against breaches of EU law is crucial to prevent that these breaches can become of a systemic nature;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Commission to ~~assess whether~~encourage national authorities ~~are~~to tak~~ing~~e the necessary measures, where they have not already done so, to respond to citizens’ concerns as expressed in their petitions where cases of systemic failure in compliance with EU law occur;

Amendment 73 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Commission to assess whether national authorities are taking the necessary measures to respond to citizens’ concerns as expressed in their petitions where cases of systemic failure in compliance with EU law occur, as well as to trigger infringement procedures where necessary;

Amendment 74 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Calls on the Commission to improve its system to collect information on petitions and to include in its annual report on monitoring the application of EU law direct reference to petitions, with a clear focus, inter alia, on the link between petitions, infringement procedures, EU legislative acts or any other EU legal act;

Amendment 75 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Encourages the European Parliament and the European Commission to develop a joint one-stop- shop IT tool which would include all the available information on the Commission’s follow-up actions taken on petitions, including the infringement procedures and other legislative or non- legislative actions;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5 b. Points out the need to prevent any inconsistency or lack of homogeneity in the treatment of petitions in order to guarantee the correct implementation of the right to petition;

Amendment 77 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5 c. Underlines that petitions can be also considered a strategic tool to trigger legislative initiatives of the European Parliament pursuant article 225 TFEU, thereby helping to address any shortcoming in the current EU law detrimental for citizens' rights;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Recalls that cooperation with other committees in Parliament is essential for the accurate and comprehensive treatment of petitions; notes that in 2021, 82 petitions were sent to other committees for opinion and 548 for information; welcomes the fact that 46 opinions and 176 acknowledgements of taking petitions into consideration in their work were received from other committees; notes that the public hearings organised jointly with other parliamentary committees facilitate a thorough examination of petitions; recalls that petitioners are informed of the decisions to request opinions from other committees for the treatment of their petitions; calls on parliamentary committees to step up their efforts to actively contribute to the examination of petitions – by proving their expertise – and thus enable Parliament to respond more swiftly and comprehensively to citizens’ concerns;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Believes that the petitions network is a useful tool for facilitating the follow- up of petitions in parliamentary and legislative work; takes the view that this network should enhance dialogue and cooperation with the Commission and other EU institutions; trusts that regular meetings of the petitions network are crucial in order to ensure more visibility for the Committee on Petition’s activities and strengthen cooperation with the other parliamentary committees through the exchange of information and sharing of best practices among the network’s members;

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

C a. whereas a large number of petitions received by the PETI committee demanded that full details of the COVID- 19 vaccine contracts signed between the Commission, the Member States and the vaccine producers, as well as patient-level clinical trial data to be published;

Amendment 80 #

Loránt VINCZE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8 a. Emphasizes that the Committee on Petitions when adopting its meeting agenda, as well as its hearings and missions follows its guidelines and objective criteria such as the contribution of selected petitions to the current EU debate and their balanced geographical coverage according to the petitions received;

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Draws attention to the large number of petitions on COVID-19 that the Committee on Petitions examined and replied to in 2021; stresses that most of these petitions ~~called for the protection of citizens’ health against the consequences of the virus, including questions on vaccination policy and allege~~are raising concerns regarding the violation of citizens' rights and freedoms due to restrictions and emergency measures imposed during the pandemic and called for the protection of citizens’ health, including questions on vaccination policy, vaccination adverse effects, the acquisition and distribution of vaccines and discrimination between vaccinated and non-vaccinated persons, as well as for assessment of the management of the health crisis in the Member States;

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Strongly regrets the Commission's failure to disclose all details of the contracts signed with pharmaceutical companies on COVID-19 vaccines in violation of citizens’ right to information; is seriously concerned about the maladministration by the Commission related to its refusal to grant public access to documents concerning 1.5 million medical masks which the Commission had purchased at an early stage in the COVID-19 pandemic and which did not meet the required quality standards 1a; _________________ 1a European Ombudsman's case 790/2021/MIG

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Takes note that, along with fundamental rights and environment, health was one of the main areas of concern for petitioners in 2021, while recognising that health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic were at the centre of the Committee on Petitions’ work; emphasises the attention paid by the Committee on Petitions to the consequences of COVID-19 in terms of internal market policy (in particular questions relating to national travel restrictions and their impact on the freedom of movement of persons within and outside the EU); points, in this regard, to the public hearing held by the Committee on Petitions jointly with the Committee on Transport and Tourism on 14 July 2021 entitled ‘How to improve air passenger rights during the COVID-19 crisis?’ Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 on 14 July 2021, in order to assess how effectively the Flight Compensation Regulation6 has been applied during the COVID-19 pandemic and if the EU legal framework on passenger rights was adequate to deal with such a crisis; _________________ 6 Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights. OJ L 46, 17.2.2004, p. 1.

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Takes note that, along with fundamental rights, health was the main area of concern for petitioners in 2021, while recognising that health concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, related to the restricted access to healthcare and to the adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccines were at the centre of the Committee on Petitions’ work; emphasises the attention paid by the Committee on Petitions to the consequences of COVID- 19 in terms of internal market policy (in particular questions relating to national travel restrictions and their impact on the freedom of movement of persons within and outside the EU); points, in this regard, to the public hearing held by the Committee on Petitions jointly with the Committee on Transport and Tourism on 14 July 2021 entitled ‘How to improve air passenger rights during the COVID-19 crisis?’ Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 on 14 July 2021, in order to assess how effectively the Flight Compensation Regulation6 has been applied during the COVID-19 pandemic and if the EU legal framework on passenger rights was adequate to deal with such a crisis; _________________ 6 Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and of cancellation or long delay of flights. OJ L 46, 17.2.2004, p. 1.

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10 a. 10a. Draws attention to the large number of petitions alleging violations of the Charter of Fundamental Rights; points out the limited outcome of the aforementioned petitions owing to the effective limitation of the scope of application of the Charter as outlined in its Article 51; reminds that the expectations of most petitioners in relation to the rights conferred on them by the Charter are high and go beyond their current scope of application; reiterates its call for consideration to be given to broadening the interpretation of Article 51 beyond the scope of Union law or deleting it altogether, as stated in previous resolutions6a; _________________ 6a Report on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union (2012) A7- 0051/2014

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Draws attention to the significant number of petitions discussed in relation with various aspects of the protection of the rights of rainbow families in the EU, in particular the different stances regarding the free movement and mutual recognition rights of LGBTI+ families in the EU; recalls the workshop of 22 March 2021 on LGBTI+ rights in the EU, which the Committee on Petitions held to discuss the situation of LGBTI+ persons, to examine the new strategy on LGBTIQ equality presented by the Commission, and to address the problem represented by obstacles to the free movement of rainbow families; draws attention to the report of the Committee on Petitions of 15 July 2021 on LGBTIQ rights in the EU (2021/2679(RSP))7 , wherein it calls for the Commission to take concrete measures to ensure protection for LGBTI+ families in line with the Coman &; Hamilton, Maruko, Römer, and Hay judgments7a of the CJEU and the Taddeucci & McCall judgment7b of the ECtHR; _________________ 7 Adopted by Parliament as a resolution on 14 September 2021. OJ C 117, 11.3.2022, p. 2. 7a Case C 673/16, Coman, EU:C:218:385; Case C-267/06, Maruko, EU:C:2008:179; Case C-147/08, Römer, EU:C:2011:286; Case C-267/12, Hay, EU:C:2013:823. 7b ECHR Taddeucci and McCall v Italy, No 51361/09.

Amendment 87 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Points out that petitions related to the rights of national minorities remained on the agenda of the Committee on Petitions, especially in the areas of discriminatory practices concerning their right to education in their autochthonous mother tongue, linguistic or cultural rights, and other rights such as the right to property, as outlined in petitions concerning land confiscation and restitution cases in some Member States;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Notes that environmental issues remained an area of serious concern for petitioners in 2021; regrets that environmental rules are not always correctly implemented in the Member States, as described in numerous petitions raising complaints about air pollution, the deterioration of natural ecosystems, nuclear safety and the alteration of biodiversity; points to the important work carried out by the Committee on Petitions to highlight the impact of mining activities on the environment, as demonstrated by the number of petitions received on this topic; draws attention to the public hearing of 2 December 2021 on the environmental and social impacts of mining activity in the EU, held by the Committee on Petitions in association with the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, in order to acquire scientific knowledge on various aspects including mining legislation, safety standards, the social and environmental impacts of mines, environmental citizenship, public participation and transparency in the mining sector;

Amendment 89 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Notes that environmental issues remained an area of serious concern for petitioners in 2021; regrets that environmental rules are not always correctly implemented in the Member States, as described in numerous petitions raising complaints about air pollution, conservation status of large carnivores, illegal logging, attacks on environmental activists, illicit plastic waste disposal, the deterioration of natural ecosystems, nuclear safety and the alteration of biodiversity; points to the important work carried out by the Committee on Petitions to highlight the impact of mining activities on the environment, as demonstrated by the number of petitions received on this topic; draws attention to the public hearing of 2 December 2021 on the environmental and social impacts of mining activity in the EU, held by the Committee on Petitions in association with the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, in order to acquire scientific knowledge on various aspects including mining legislation, safety standards, the social and environmental impacts of mines, environmental citizenship, public participation and transparency in the mining sector; stresses that the Commission should investigate as a matter of priority the cases of incorrect transposition and implementation of EU environmental legislation in order to efficiently address the concerns of the petitioners;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas the high number of petitions submitted in 2021 reveals that, also in the second year of the pandemic, citizens placed significant trust in Parliament, choosing to address their concerns and complaints directly to their elected representatives at EU level, whom they considered to be the source of decision-making; whereas the elected representatives were entangled in the performance of their duty because they did not have access to full details of the COVID-19 vaccine contracts concluded between the Commission, the Member States and the vaccine producers;

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Notes that environmental issues remained an area of serious concern for petitioners in 2021; regrets that environmental rules are not always correctly implemented in the Member States, as described in numerous petitions raising complaints about air pollution, the deterioration of natural ecosystems, nuclear safety and the alteration of biodiversity; points to the important work carried out by the Committee on Petitions to highlight the impact of mining activities on the environment, as demonstrated by the number of petitions received on this topic; draws attention to the public hearing of 2 December 2021 on the environmental and social impacts of mining activity in the EU, held by the Committee on Petitions in association with the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, in order to acquire scientific knowledge on various aspects including mining legislation, safety standards, the social and environmental impacts of mines, environmental citizenship, public participation and transparency in the mining sector; insists that Member States should always prioritize the implementation of the precautionary and do no harm principles when considering the authorisation of projects that have an impact on the environment;

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Notes that environmental issues remained an area of serious concern for petitioners in 2021; regrets that environmental rules are not always correctly implemented in the Member States, as described in numerous petitions raising complaints about air pollution, the deterioration of natural ecosystems, nuclear safety and the alteration of biodiversity, and also confirmed by EU pilot and infringement procedures launched by the Commission; points to the important work carried out by the Committee on Petitions to highlight the impact of mining activities on the environment, as demonstrated by the number of petitions received on this topic; draws attention to the public hearing of 2 December 2021 on the environmental and social impacts of mining activity in the EU, held by the Committee on Petitions in association with the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, in order to acquire scientific knowledge on various aspects including mining legislation, safety standards, the social and environmental impacts of mines, environmental citizenship, public participation and transparency in the mining sector;

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13 a. Stresses that illicit practices denounced in the petitions such as disposing the waste in illegal landfills, illegal logging and illegal timber trade, destruction of ecosystems, or illicit killing and trafficking of species protected under EU Habitats Directive constitute serious breaches of the EU law and amount to environmental crimes; highlights in this regard that the Commission should strengthen the tools to fight the environmental crime on the EU level to efficiently investigate and prosecute such crimes and bring the offenders to justice;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Draws attention to the joint hearing of the Committee on Petitions and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety of 25 February 2021 on plastics and waste management in the circular economy, which focused on the implementation of the current legislative framework on plastic waste, addressing the main challenges encountered by the Member States as well as highlighting the opportunities that the legal framework provides with a view to reducing the impact of plastic in the environment across Europe; calls on the Commission to trigger the appropriate legislative initiatives to strongly limit the production of consumer goods with plastics;

Amendment 94 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Stresses the importance of delivering on EU citizens’ expectations regarding the protection of the environment, and in particular of taking action in the field of water policy to reduce pollution and hazardous residues of chemical substances; points, in this regard, to the resolution of 23 March 2021 on chemical residues in the Baltic Sea, based on Petitions Nos 1328/2019 and 0406/2020 (2021/2567(RSP))8 ; welcomes, in this regard, the legislative proposal for a new Directive on environmental criminality and insists on the need to establish the crime of ecocide for unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts; _________________ 8 Adopted by Parliament as a resolution on 27 April 2021. OJ C 506, 15.12.2021, p. 9.

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Stresses the importance of delivering on EU citizens’ expectations regarding the protection of the environment, and in particular of taking action in the field of water policy to reduce pollution and hazardous residues of chemical substances; points, in this regard, to the resolution of 23 March 2021 on chemical residues in the Baltic Sea, based on Petitions Nos 1328/2019 and 0406/2020 (2021/2567(RSP))8 ; calls on the Commission to ensure that the issue of munitions dumped in European seas is included in the horizontal programmes in order to enable the submission of projects covering regions affected by the same problem and facilitate the exchange of experience and best practices; _________________ 8 Adopted by Parliament as a resolution on 27 April 2021. OJ C 506, 15.12.2021, p. 9.

Amendment 96 #

Alex AGIUS SALIBA, Cristina MAESTRE MARTÍN DE ALMAGRO, Andris AMERIKS, Alfred SANT, Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, Sylvie GUILLAUME

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Urges the Commission, together with the Member States, to ensure the correct implementation of EU legislation in the environmental field; calls on the Commission, in this regard, to propose a revision of the Directive 2004/35/EC on environmental liability that harmonizes the actions of the competent authorities of the Member States in relation to inspection activities, the initiation and development of sanctioning procedures, the specification in the criteria for assessing environmental damage, the mechanisms for attributing environmental damage or situations of imminent danger to the environment, as well as the prevention of insolvency situations through the implementation of a harmonized framework to guarantee the solvency of companies in the event of a sanction that reinforces the preventive function of said Directive;

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16 a. Considers that a binding inter- institutional agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission on treatment of petitions would be the best way forward in order to ensure a transparent and efficient process and thus to strengthen the citizens’ rights to address a petition to the European Parliament on a matter which comes within the Union's fields of activity, as enshrined in the Article 227 of the EU Treaty;

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16 a. Draws attention to the joint hearing of the Committee on Petitions and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development of 16 June 2021 on fair and equal treatment of farmers across the European Union which focused on the CAP reform, new EU rules for direct payments and rural development after 2022;

Amendment 99 #