Public access to documents – report covering the years 2022 - 2024

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 1PfEMotion for a resolution · Citation 13 a (new)
   Amendment

   – having regard to the reports and recommendations of the European Court of Auditors (ECA), in particular its special report 11/2025, entitled ‘Transparency of EU funding granted to NGOs’, published in April 2025;

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2. Amendment 2PfEMotion for a resolution · Recital E a (new)
   Amendment

   Ea. Whereas in its special report 11/2025, the ECA found that while non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have a strong influence on the EU’s decision-making processes, there is a lack of transparency regarding the EU funding granted to these entities; whereas the report found that important aspects of an NGO’s status were systematically not checked, leading to entities having an incorrect NGO classification in the Financial Transparency System;

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3. Amendment 3PfEMotion for a resolution · Recital E b (new)
   Amendment

   Eb. Whereas although the ECA report stressed that it is permitted for NGOs to receive grants to support their operating costs, including advocacy, in its audit, the ECA clearly states that the Commission does not disclose information on the advocacy activities financed; whereas private citizens and MEPs have repeatedly requested access to Commission contracts with NGOs without success;

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4. Amendment 4PfEMotion for a resolution · Recital E c (new)
   Amendment

   Ec. Whereas according to the ECA, the Commission did not conduct proper checks on NGOs’ financial dependency and funding sources, ignoring the real stakeholders behind entities that benefit from millions of euro in EU funding;

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5. Amendment 5PfEMotion for a resolution · Recital E d (new)
   Amendment

   Ed. Whereas the Commission has been evading responsibility for years and has failed to properly handle public access to documents; whereas the subsidies granted to NGOs are essentially non-transparent, even though this concerns EU taxpayers’ money; whereas the scandals of recent years have shown that the EU, including Parliament, has been funding NGOs for political lobbying;

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6. Amendment 6PfEMotion for a resolution · Recital E e (new)
   Amendment

   Ee. whereas following repeated requests, the Commission published a list of NGO grants for the period 2019-2023 and their total value amounts to EUR 17 billion, with over 37 000 contracts available at www.ngotransparency.eu; whereas neither the grant agreements nor the financial reports are publicly accessible;

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7. Amendment 7PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 12 a (new)
   Amendment

   12a. Notes with great concern the general lack of transparency and proper scrutiny in relations between the EU institutions and NGOs;

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8. Amendment 8PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 32 a (new)
   Amendment

   32a. Calls on the Commission to publish all grants, contracts and documents automatically, without any need for request, on a central online platform that is easily accessible, searchable and transparent;

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9. Amendment 9PfEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 32 b (new)
   Amendment

   32b. Urges the Commission to publish all documents relating to NGO funding under the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework;

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10. Amendment 10ESNMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 10 a (new)
    Amendment

    10a. Firmly believes that the Commission should lead by example as regards transparency, good governance, not spreading disinformation and not interfering with electoral integrity;

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11. Amendment 11ESNMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 26
    Current text

    26. Considers that the way in which the President of the Commission dealt with the access to document request in that case has decreased trust in the Commission; regrets the Commission’s persistent refusal to explain why no access could be granted to the requested documents; notes that the judgment underscores the duty to proactively retain documentation to ensure the effective exercise of the right of access;

    Amendment

    26. Considers that the way in which the President of the Commission dealt with the access to document request in that case has decreased trust in the Commission; regrets the Commission’s persistent refusal to explain why no access could be granted to the requested documents; notes that the judgment underscores the duty to proactively retain documentation to ensure the effective exercise of the right of access; calls for full clarification regarding the existence, preservation, deletion or recoverability of the requested messages; insists that internal record management rules cannot limit obligations under Article 15 TFEU and Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001;

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12. Amendment 12ESNMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 27 a (new)
    Amendment

    27a. Notes that the existence of a document within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 is independent of its registration; stresses that documents relating to EU policies or significant financial commitments cannot be deemed non-existent solely because they were not registered or were categorised as ‘short-lived’, and that any unjustified destruction, non-registration or loss of such documents constitutes a serious breach of the principles of transparency and good administration, as well as of the duties of integrity and loyalty binding EU officials and office-holders under the applicable legal framework;

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13. Amendment 13ESNMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 32 a (new)
    Amendment

    32a. Calls for a thorough and independent review of the conduct of the President of the Commission in relation to the preservation and handling of documents requested under Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001; stresses that members of the Commission are bound by the principles of transparency, integrity and good administration laid down in Article 17 TEU and Articles 41 and 42 of the Charter; considers that, where serious breaches of document preservation or transparency obligations are established, appropriate disciplinary or institutional measures must be examined in order to uphold the rule of law, safeguard the credibility of the EU’s legal order and restore public trust;

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14. Amendment 14ESNMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 37 a (new)
    Amendment

    37a. Notes that systemic delays and inadequate record preservation practices identified in Ombudsman inquiries and case-law demonstrate structural shortcomings in the current framework; calls for the revised transparency rules to include enforceable consequences where institutions fail to preserve documents or repeatedly disregard statutory deadlines, including proportionate administrative and disciplinary measures; stresses that transparency obligations must be effective in practice and not merely declaratory;

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