Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2023

Amendments tabled for the plenary sitting on this text, in their own numbering series. This is a different set from the committee amendments tracked elsewhere on AmendEU, and is not counted in any of the site’s amendment totals.

1. Amendment 1Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 13 a (new)
   Amendment

   13a. Highlights the fact that the Ombudsman’s inquiry in case OI/3/2023/MHZ concerning the role of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in search and rescue operations has shown the existence of severe shortcomings in complying with the obligation to protect fundamental rights as well as the duty to save lives at sea; stresses that this inquiry was launched by the Ombudsman following the Adriana shipwreck in June 2023, which resulted in over 600 people drowning off the coast of Greece; endorses the Ombudsman’s suggestions aimed at ensuring that Frontex complies with its fundamental rights obligations with regard to search and rescue in the context of its maritime surveillance…

   Excerpt — full text in the official PDF.
   official amendment document ↗
2. Amendment 2Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 19 a (new)
   Amendment

   19a. Underlines the fact that the EU has planned unprecedented levels of investment, involving both the public and private sectors, under NextGenerationEU, thus making it even more crucial to have in place at EU level a decision-making process based on full transparency and on the strongest ethical rules; calls on the Ombudsman to strengthen oversight of the implementation of the rules and procedures concerning the allocation and use of EU funds under NextGenerationEU to ensure the integrity, full transparency and democratic accountability of the EU institutions, as well as helping to prevent conflicts of interest, breaches of the rule of law and cases of corruption;

   official amendment document ↗
3. Amendment 3Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 27
   Current text

   27. Stresses the importance of the European Network of Ombudsmen (ENO) and the annual meetings hosted with national and regional ombudsmen through the ENO in further raising awareness of what the European Ombudsman can do for European citizens; encourages the Ombudsman to continue to take part in exchanges of experience and best practice with national ombudsmen through the ENO; takes note of the fact that the 2023 ENO annual conference focused on the protection of human rights and addressing the benefits and potential drawbacks of the use of AI in public administration; encourages civil society organisations to better use the services of the European Ombudsman for carrying out scrutiny of th…

   Amendment

   27. Stresses the importance of the European Network of Ombudsmen (ENO) and the annual meetings hosted with national and regional ombudsmen through the ENO in further raising awareness of what the European Ombudsman can do for European citizens; encourages the Ombudsman to continue to take part in exchanges of experience and best practice with national ombudsmen through the ENO; takes note of the fact that the 2023 ENO annual conference focused on the protection of human rights and addressing the benefits and potential drawbacks of the use of AI in public administration; encourages civil society organisations to better use the services of the European Ombudsman for carrying out scrutiny of th…

   Excerpt — full text in the official PDF.
   official amendment document ↗
4. Amendment 4The LeftMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 12
   Current text

   12. Appreciates the Ombudsman’s commitment to upholding fundamental rights in migration-related actions; notes that the Ombudsman asked for further clarification from the Commission as to how it intends to guarantee respect for human rights in the context of the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding, in an effort to ensure that the EU complies with its human rights obligations; stresses that all EU institutions, bodies and agencies have an obligation to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms as outlined in the Treaties and the Charter;

   Amendment

   12. Appreciates the Ombudsman’s commitment to upholding the fundamental and human rights of migrants in the EU’s border management activities by launching inquiries into the actions of Frontex and the Commission in this area; highlights that the Ombudsman asked the Commission how it ensures that EU funds granted to Greece for border management do not contribute to fundamental rights violations; welcomes the fact that the Ombudsman, in an effort to ensure that the EU complies with its human rights obligations, asked for further clarification from the Commission as to how it intends to guarantee respect for human rights in the context of the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding, which has pr…

   Excerpt — full text in the official PDF.
   official amendment document ↗
5. Amendment 5The LeftMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 13
   Current text

   13. Notes the Commission’s decision to work with national and local authorities to draw up a fundamental rights impact assessment of EU-funded migration management facilities, following a relevant own-initiative inquiry by the Ombudsman; stresses that local residents also have rights;

   Amendment

   13. Notes the Commission’s decision to work with national and local authorities to draw up a fundamental rights impact assessment of EU-funded migration management facilities in Greece (multi-purpose reception and identification centres), to make this assessment public and to review it periodically, following a relevant own-initiative inquiry by the Ombudsman into how the Commission ensures respect for fundamental rights in these facilities;

   official amendment document ↗
6. Amendment 6The LeftMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 13 a (new)
   Amendment

   13a. Welcomes the opening of an own-initiative inquiry aimed at clarifying Frontex’s role in search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea, following the Pylos shipwreck in 2023, which resulted in at least 700 people drowning off the Greek coast; highlights the fact that the Ombudsman asked Frontex to do more to ensure that it complies with its fundamental rights obligations with regard to search and rescue in the context of its maritime surveillance activities; recalls that the Ombudsman decision mentions that Frontex units should respond when they detect boats in potential emergency situations in the context of their specific and unique activities, including regarding the issuance…

   Excerpt — full text in the official PDF.
   official amendment document ↗
7. Amendment 7ECRMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 12 a (new)
   Amendment

   12a. Calls on the Commission to ensure full transparency by publishing without further delay the non-redacted versions of all the advance purchase agreements and the purchase agreements for COVID-19 vaccines;

   official amendment document ↗