Protection of the European Union’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report 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 1S&DMotion for a resolution · Citation 21 a (new)
   Amendment

   – having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Budgetary Control, adopted on 4 September 2025 and submitted to Parliament’s Bureau, on the dissolution and final financial report 2024 of the political group Identity and Democracy; _________________

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2. Amendment 2S&DMotion for a resolution · Recital B a (new)
   Amendment

   Ba. whereas the Court of Justice of the European Union has established and confirmed, in various rulings, the clear relationship between respect for the rule of law and the efficient implementation of the EU budget, in accordance with the principles of sound financial management and the protection of the EU’s financial interests;

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3. Amendment 3S&DMotion for a resolution · Recital B b (new)
   Amendment

   Bb. whereas the Conditionality Regulation empowers the EU to adopt, in a timely manner, proportionate financial measures to safeguard its financial interests where breaches of the rule of law in a Member State affect, or seriously risk affecting, the sound financial management of the EU budget; whereas the regulation was adopted as part of the package on the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF), following long and difficult negotiations between the co-legislators, notably because of attempts by some of the Member States to link the negotiations on the MFF with the negotiations on the rule of law conditionality mechanism; whereas the Conditionality Regulation has been binding for a…

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4. Amendment 4S&DMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 2 a (new)
   Amendment

   2a. Recalls that the rule of law is one of the founding values of the EU and that respect for the rule of law is an essential prerequisite for the sound financial management and protection of the EU’s financial interests in all Member States; considers, furthermore, that, while the Conditionality Regulation is primarily designed to protect the EU budget from risks deriving from breaches of the rule of law, there is merit in exploring ways of strengthening the protection of the EU budget against violations of the other values enshrined in Article 2 TEU; recalls that the EU budget is not neutral to breaches of democracy, equality and fundamental rights, which can have tangible financial implic…

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5. Amendment 5S&DMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 25
   Current text

   25. Emphasises that independent media and investigative journalism could play a role in the fight against fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest, and other forms of misuse of public funds;

   Amendment

   25. Emphasises that free, independent and pluralistic media and investigative journalism are indispensable in the fight against fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest, and other forms of misuse of public funds as they enable citizens and institutions to hold those in power to account; emphasises the crucial role played by a strong and unhindered civil society, including grassroots movements and community organisations, trade unions, activist groups, human rights defenders and non-governmental organisations, and by independent authorities and ombudspersons, in ensuring the accountability of both state and private actors through their watchdog role;

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6. Amendment 6S&DMotion for a resolution · Subheading (new) – after paragraph 25
   Amendment

   Main threats – rule of law deficiencies

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7. Amendment 7S&DMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 25 a (new)
   Amendment

   25a. Regrets the fact that, under the Conditionality Regulation, only two formal notifications have been sent and measures have been decided in only a single case, despite successive worrying findings in the Commission’s annual rule of law reports, findings by OLAF that were made public in the Commission’s annual reports on the protection of the EU’s financial interests, and findings by the EPPO that point to budgetary risks in several Member States; underlines that the gap between findings and enforcement undermines the regulation’s credibility and weakens its preventive function in protecting the EU’s financial interests; recalls the ECA warning that decisions on blocking or releasing fund…

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8. Amendment 8S&DMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 25 b (new)
   Amendment

   25b. Emphasises that the Conditionality Regulation must not be used solely as a measure of last resort, since it also allows for partial suspensions at an early stage, namely as soon as rule of law breaches that could seriously risk affecting the EU budget have been identified; calls, in this regard, on the Commission to make full and timely use of the instrument;

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9. Amendment 9S&DMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 25 c (new)
   Amendment

   25c. Calls on the Commission to systematically perform cross-checks among infringement proceedings, measures adopted in accordance with Article 6 of the Financial Regulation, and pending conditionality screenings, so that the Member States cannot exploit procedural silos and so that the EU’s financial interests are protected, regardless of the legal instrument used;

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10. Amendment 10S&DMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 25 d (new)
    Amendment

    25d. Reiterates its warning that the reallocation or reshuffling of frozen appropriations to other programmes or objectives exposes EU financial interests to already determined risks; believes that the spirit of the Conditionality Regulation precludes any such transfer and therefore urges the Commission to reject any requests for transfer, to other programmes or to other priorities under the same programme, that would lead to a circumvention of measures under the Conditionality Regulation; reiterates its request that the Commission submit to Parliament the full text of any such transfer request so that democratic scrutiny can precede, not follow, the Commission decision;

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11. Amendment 11S&DMotion for a resolution · Subheading (new) after paragraph 31
    Amendment

    Additional threats – misuse of EU funds

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12. Amendment 12S&DMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 32 a (new)
    Amendment

    32a. Recalls that, in accordance with Articles 1.3.2, 2.7.1 and 2.7.2 of the Rules on the Use of Appropriations from Budget Item 400, the former political group Identity and Democracy (the ID Group) submitted its final financial report on 8 October 2024 covering the period from 1 January to 15 July 2024; recalls that Parliament’s administration received the ID Group’s full financial archive in both electronic and paper format and conducted a risk-based ex post verification of the 2024 accounts, focusing on consistency checks and sample testing of high-risk contracts and donations; recalls that Parliament’s administration found that at least EUR 4 333 635.78 of budget item 400 appropriations…

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13. Amendment 13S&DMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 32 b (new)
    Amendment

    32b. Notes that the EPPO announced in July 2025 that it had opened an investigation into the alleged misuse of EU funds by the ID Group between 2019 and 2024; stresses that Parliament’s administration has transmitted the case file and is cooperating fully with the EPPO’s investigation; notes that the Bureau wishes to know the outcome of the EPPO’s investigation before taking any recovery action; recommends that the Chief Prosecutor be invited to an in camera hearing with Parliament’s Bureau to provide specific information on the timeline of the investigation; considers that its administration should take urgent and relevant administrative measures to protect the EU’s financial interests and…

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14. Amendment 14S&DMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 32 c (new)
    Amendment

    32c. Calls for the Bureau to ensure that the external auditors comply fully with the letter of engagement; calls for the Bureau to strengthen the oversight of external auditors over the political groups by making more hours available for the external auditors to perform their oversight role, and to provide clearer guidance from DG FINS on the correct interpretation of rules for budget item 400 to avoid any discrepancy between the considerations of external auditors and those of DG FINS, in particular as regards procurement; calls for DG FINS to provide the political groups with more training and support on procurement;

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15. Amendment 15RenewMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 1 a (new)
    Amendment

    1a. Recalls that the annual PIF report is an important source of information on the protection of the EU’s financial interests; stresses that enhanced transparency is essential, notably through the active participation of civil society and media organisations; emphasises the importance of engaging civil society, the media in general, and investigative journalism in particular, to enhance awareness;

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16. Amendment 16RenewMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 3
    Current text

    3. Underlines that the rule of law is a cornerstone of the EU and is essential for protecting EU financial interests in all Member States; stresses that the rule of law conditionality mechanism must be applied where breaches directly affect the EU budget; underlines that decisions to protect EU financial interests must be based on technical and legal findings; calls on the Commission to ensure consistent and proportionate use of the mechanism, while respecting Member States’ primary responsibility for upholding rule of law principles and ensuring coherence across EU instruments;

    Amendment

    3. Underlines that the rule of law is a cornerstone of the EU, and is essential for protecting the EU’s financial interests in all Member States; emphasises that breaches have tangible implications for the EU budget, notably by weakening control systems, oversight mechanisms and judicial remedies; stresses that the rule of law conditionality mechanism must be applied where breaches directly affect the EU budget, including at an early stage; underlines that decisions to protect EU financial interests must be based on technical and legal findings and must not be subject to bargaining, in particular under the threat of blocking decisions requiring unanimity in the Council; calls for a consisten…

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17. Amendment 17RenewMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 25
    Current text

    25. Emphasises that independent media and investigative journalism could play a role in the fight against fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest, and other forms of misuse of public funds;

    Amendment

    25. Emphasises that independent media and investigative journalism play a role in the fight against fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest, and other forms of misuse of public funds; encourages the Commission to support these actors through training programmes, funding, and other measures in line with EU fundamental rights and the rule of law;

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18. Amendment 18RenewMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 53
    Current text

    53. Recalls that the budgetary conditionality mechanism established by the Conditionality Regulation is a legally regulated tool to prevent risks to the EU budget; notes that its application can, however, be justified only where there is a direct, real and demonstrated link between the failures found and the harm to the financial interests of the EU; expresses its concern that any extension of its scope beyond this budgetary purpose would be contrary to the spirit of the Treaties and the principle of proportionality; recalls that the legitimacy of this mechanism is based on a strictly objective application, free from any political considerations, and respectful of equal treatment between Mem…

    Amendment

    53. Recalls that the budgetary rule of law conditionality mechanism established by the Conditionality Regulation is a legally regulated tool to prevent risks to the EU budget; recalls that this mechanism is based on a strictly objective application, free from any political considerations, and respectful of equal treatment between Member States; notes that its implementation has raised practical and operational challenges, as highlighted by ECA special report 03/2024 on the rule of law in the EU; calls on the Commission to apply the mechanism consistently and transparently on the basis of objective evidence;

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19. Amendment 19RenewMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 54
    Current text

    54. Maintains that the integrity and reputation of the EU’s institutions, bodies, offices and agencies is a core element of citizens’ trust; believes that accountability in the use of EU budget resources is crucial for democratic legitimacy, and that requirements related to transparency and the protection of the EU’s financial interests must apply equally to every beneficiary and without exception within each EU institution, including Parliament, in order to guarantee sound financial management and effective controls for public funds;

    Amendment

    54. Reiterates the importance of preserving the integrity and reputation of the EU’s institutions, including Parliament, and of all EU bodies and entities as a core element of citizens’ trust; believes that accountability in the use of EU budget resources is crucial for democratic legitimacy; emphasises the urgency of ensuring that no political group, body or entity benefiting from EU funds can evade financial responsibility in cases of fraud investigations or serious irregularities involving the use of EU funds, including through the dissolution, succession or reconfiguration of a political group or legal structure; stresses that effective mechanisms must be in place to ensure the continuit…

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20. Amendment 20RenewMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 55
    Current text

    55. Stresses that at a time when the EU institutions are regularly debating new own resources, priority should instead be given to enhancing fraud prevention and detection through strengthened controls, which would reduce revenue losses and ensure the recovery of funds legitimately owed to the EU and currently lost; considers that a rigorous analysis of the potential for recovering revenue currently lost due to fraud and evasion should therefore be carried out;

    Amendment

    55. Stresses that, in parallel to ongoing discussions on new own resources, efforts should also focus on enhancing fraud prevention and detection through strengthened controls, which would reduce revenue losses and ensure the recovery of funds legitimately owed to the EU and currently lost; considers that a rigorous analysis of the potential for recovering revenue currently lost due to fraud and evasion should therefore be carried out;

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21. Amendment 21RenewMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 71
    Current text

    71. Appreciates the EU’s efforts, on the recommendation of the ECA, to ensure that anti-corruption measures are integrated into the EU’s external action instruments; maintains its recommendation to suspend budget support and withdraw funds from non-EU countries, including candidate countries, where the authorities fail to take effective action against widespread corruption, while ensuring support for citizens;

    Amendment

    71. Appreciates the EU’s efforts, on the recommendation of the ECA, to ensure that anti-corruption measures are integrated into the EU’s external action instruments; maintains its recommendation to suspend budget support and withdraw funds from non-EU countries, including candidate countries, where the authorities fail to take effective action against widespread corruption, while ensuring that support for citizens, civil society and humanitarian action is preserved;

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22. Amendment 22RenewMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 73
    Current text

    73. Stresses that Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction needs are considerable and must be urgently addressed to achieve a lasting peace;

    Amendment

    73. Stresses that Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction needs are considerable and will require sustained international support over the coming years;

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23. Amendment 23RenewMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 74
    Current text

    74. Expresses concern about recent reports of corruption cases, including allegations involving high-level officials in Ukraine; encourages Ukraine to continue its reforms, including efforts to address the influence of oligarchs, and calls on the Commission to further strengthen its oversight of EU-funded activities in the country;

    Amendment

    74. Expresses concern about recent reports of corruption cases, including allegations involving high-level officials in Ukraine, while acknowledging the progress made by Ukraine in advancing reforms on anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and accountability; highlights the fact that these efforts were undertaken by Ukraine in the midst of a fully fledged invasion; encourages Ukraine to continue its reforms, including efforts to address the influence of oligarchs, and calls on the Commission to further strengthen its oversight of EU-funded activities in the country;

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24. Amendment 24RenewMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 77
    Current text

    77. Appreciates the work of OLAF and the EPPO in protecting EU funds deployed in Ukraine, including recent investigations into serious irregularities in EU-funded procurement and recalls that EPPO competences extend to EU funds even when used in non-EU countries; underlines the role of the Member States, OLAF and the EPPO in preventing the circumvention of sanctions and in protecting the EU’s financial interests; calls for the Commission to further strengthen controls on EU support to Ukraine, including where fraud risks involve economic operators located outside Ukraine; encourages continued cooperation between EU bodies and the Ukrainian authorities;

    Amendment

    77. Appreciates the work of OLAF and the EPPO in protecting EU funds deployed in Ukraine, including recent investigations into serious irregularities in EU-funded procurement and recalls that EPPO competences extend to EU funds even when used in non-EU countries; underlines the role of the Member States, OLAF and the EPPO in preventing the circumvention of sanctions and in protecting the EU’s financial interests; reiterates the need to strengthen the enforcement of EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus; calls for the Commission to further strengthen controls on EU support to Ukraine, including where fraud risks involve economic operators located outside Ukraine; encourages continued cooper…

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25. Amendment 25The LeftMotion for a resolution · Citation 22 a (new)
    Amendment

    – having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Budgetary Control, adopted on 4 September 2025 and submitted to Parliament’s Bureau, on the dissolution and final financial report 2024 of the political group Identity and Democracy,

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26. Amendment 26The LeftMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 54 a (new)
    Amendment

    54a. Recalls that, in accordance with Parliament’s internal rules, Parliament’s administration has conducted a risk-based ex post verification of the 2024 accounts of the former political group Identity and Democracy (ID Group), and found that at least EUR 4 333 635.78 of budget item 400 appropriations were unduly spent by the group over the 2019-2024 term, exposing Parliament to significant financial and reputational risks; notes that the EPPO announced that it had opened an investigation into the alleged misuse of EU funds by the ID Group between 2019 and 2024; recalls that the Committee on Budgetary Control submitted an opinion to Parliament’s Bureau, which decided to wait for the outcome…

    Excerpt — full text in the official PDF.
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27. Amendment 27S&DMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 55
    Current text

    55. Stresses that at a time when the EU institutions are regularly debating new own resources, priority should instead be given to enhancing fraud prevention and detection through strengthened controls, which would reduce revenue losses and ensure the recovery of funds legitimately owed to the EU and currently lost; considers that a rigorous analysis of the potential for recovering revenue currently lost due to fraud and evasion should therefore be carried out;

    Amendment

    55. Reaffirms Parliament’s strong commitment to the introduction of new own resources supporting the broader ‘basket approach’ proposed by the Commission, and calls on the Council to unblock the stalemate, observed since 2020, on a basket of genuine new own resources to achieve revenue of at least EUR 60 billion per year; stresses that strengthening own resources and improving fraud prevention and detection are complementary, not competing, objectives; considers that the EU budget must be both adequately funded and effectively protected against fraud and misuse; considers that a rigorous analysis of the potential for recovering revenue currently lost due to fraud and evasion should therefore…

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28. Amendment 28ESNMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 74
    Current text

    74. Expresses concern about recent reports of corruption cases, including allegations involving high-level officials in Ukraine; encourages Ukraine to continue its reforms, including efforts to address the influence of oligarchs, and calls on the Commission to further strengthen its oversight of EU-funded activities in the country;

    Amendment

    74. Expresses serious concern about documented cases of corruption, including allegations involving high-level Ukrainian officials; recalls that the protection of the EU’s financial interests is a non-negotiable prerequisite for any disbursement of EU funds; calls on the Commission to immediately suspend further disbursements under the Ukraine Facility until a comprehensive and independent audit of all funds disbursed to date has been completed and published, and until the Commission has provided Parliament with verified evidence that Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutional framework – including the independent National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s…

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29. Amendment 29ESNMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 76
    Current text

    76. Recalls that the Ukraine Facility, established by Regulation (EU) 2024/79227 , is the EU’s main instrument to support Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction and reforms, providing up to EUR 50 billion for the period 2024-2027; underlines the conditionality linked to the implementation of agreed reforms and respect for EU values; notes the role of the Framework Agreement between the EU and Ukraine28 in setting out safeguards to prevent and address fraud and corruption affecting the EU’s financial interests, including cooperation with OLAF; takes note of the designation of the State Audit Service of Ukraine as the national anti-fraud coordination point; _________________ 27 27 Regulation (EU)…

    Amendment

    76. Recalls that the Ukraine Facility, established by Regulation (EU) 2024/79227, is the EU’s main instrument to support Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction and reforms, providing up to EUR 50 billion for the period 2024-2027; notes the role of the Framework Agreement between the EU and Ukraine28 in setting out safeguards to prevent and address fraud and corruption affecting the EU’s financial interests, including cooperation with OLAF; takes note of the designation of the State Audit Service of Ukraine as the national anti-fraud coordination point; considers, however, that the existing safeguards are manifestly insufficient in the light of the high-level corruption cases acknowledged in para…

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30. Amendment 30PPEMotion for a resolution · Recital E
    Current text

    E. whereas the description and analysis in the PIF Report of the measures adopted to combat fraud and irregularities should make it possible to identify and implement more targeted actions at both EU and national levels; whereas the detection of fraudulent irregularities continues to improve across the EU, but recovery actions remain uneven in some Member States; whereas effective protection of the EU’s financial interests would require both comprehensive detection and consistent judicial and administrative follow-up to prevent, correct, and deter the misuse of EU funds;

    Amendment

    E. whereas the description and analysis in the PIF Report of the measures adopted to combat fraud and irregularities should make it possible to identify and implement more targeted actions at both EU and national levels; whereas the detection of fraudulent irregularities continues to improve across the EU, but recovery actions remain uneven in some Member States; whereas effective protection of the EU’s financial interests would require both comprehensive detection and consistent judicial and administrative follow-up to prevent, correct, and deter the misuse of EU funds, including through the effective functioning of judicial systems and investigative authorities, which are essential for ens…

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31. Amendment 31PPEMotion for a resolution · Recital G
    Current text

    G. whereas considering the disparities between the Member States, in particular as regards the detection and reporting of irregularities, the diversity of administrative systems in the Member States hinders the implementation of the objective of a common level of national management, control and reporting systems in the EU; whereas a limited number of Member States have adopted fully comprehensive anti-fraud strategies covering all relevant sectors; whereas strengthening governance structures, ensuring coordination among authorities, and establishing measurable objectives at national level are essential to protect the EU budget and improve the effectiveness of EU-wide anti-fraud measures; wh…

    Amendment

    G. whereas considering the disparities between the Member States, in particular as regards the detection and reporting of irregularities, the diversity of administrative systems in the Member States hinders the implementation of the objective of a common level of national management, control and reporting systems in the EU; whereas a limited number of Member States have adopted fully comprehensive anti-fraud strategies covering all relevant sectors; whereas strengthening governance structures, ensuring coordination among authorities, and establishing measurable objectives at national level are essential to protect the EU budget and improve the effectiveness of EU-wide anti-fraud measures, as…

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32. Amendment 32PPEMotion for a resolution · Recital H
    Current text

    H. whereas the EU and its Member States share responsibility for the protection of the EU’s financial interests, which covers the deployment of funds under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)14 and the implementation of the national recovery and resilience plans; whereas the role of national authorities in ensuring an adequate level of protection of the EU’s financial interests has significantly increased under NextGenerationEU (NGEU) and the proposal for the future multiannual financial framework (MFF); _________________ 14 Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (the RRF Regulation)…

    Amendment

    H. whereas the EU and its Member States share responsibility for the protection of the EU’s financial interests, which covers the deployment of funds under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)14 and the implementation of the national recovery and resilience plans; whereas the role of national authorities in ensuring an adequate level of protection of the EU’s financial interests has significantly increased under NextGenerationEU (NGEU) and the proposal for the future multiannual financial framework (MFF), including through compliance with the applicable EU legal framework designed to protect the EU budget; _________________ 14 Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of…

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33. Amendment 33PPEMotion for a resolution · Recital O
    Current text

    O. whereas corruption is one of the most serious crimes with a cross-border dimension and affects all Member States to varying degrees; whereas it erodes citizens’ trust in the EU and undermines the EU’s financial interests and economy as a whole, as well as democracy and the rule of law in the EU;

    Amendment

    O. whereas corruption is one of the most serious crimes with a cross-border dimension and affects all Member States to varying degrees; whereas it erodes citizens’ trust in the EU and undermines the EU’s financial interests and economy as a whole, as well as democracy and the rule of law in the EU; whereas the effective prevention, detection and sanctioning of corruption depend on the proper functioning of public authorities, judicial independence and sufficient capacity to investigate and prosecute offences affecting the EU’s financial interests;

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34. Amendment 34PPEMotion for a resolution · Recital Q
    Current text

    Q. whereas the protection of the EU’s financial interests must be fully integrated into all EU external action instruments, given that financial support to non-EU countries inherently entails an increased risk of fraud, misappropriation and misuse of funds compared to direct implementation, and must therefore be accompanied by robust safeguard measures ensuring the consistent use of EU funds, as well as mechanisms allowing for protective interventions at all times in order to prevent, detect and correct possible breaches; whereas transparency in the allocation of EU funds to non-governmental organisations is essential to ensure the sound management of public resources and to prevent undue in…

    Amendment

    Q. whereas the protection of the EU’s financial interests must be fully integrated into all EU external action instruments, given that financial support to non-EU countries inherently entails an increased risk of fraud, misappropriation and misuse of funds compared to direct implementation, and must therefore be accompanied by robust safeguard measures ensuring the consistent use of EU funds, as well as mechanisms allowing for protective interventions at all times in order to prevent, detect and correct possible breaches, including through the application of appropriate conditionality and control requirements, in line with the EU’s legal framework; whereas transparency in the allocation of E…

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35. Amendment 35PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 2
    Current text

    2. Reiterates that the protection of the EU’s financial interests faces significant challenges in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving context and that its effectiveness can only be ensured through joint and coordinated actions by judicial and administrative authorities, the EU institutions and entities and the Member States; stresses that cooperation must include systematic information sharing, joint risk analysis and operational coordination; urges the Member States to adopt a proactive stance in safeguarding the EU’s financial interests and strengthening information exchange both among national authorities and with EU bodies and agencies, in order to detect and address emerging ri…

    Amendment

    2. Reiterates that the protection of the EU’s financial interests faces significant challenges in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving context and that its effectiveness can only be ensured through joint and coordinated actions by judicial and administrative authorities, the EU institutions and entities and the Member States; stresses that cooperation must include systematic information sharing, joint risk analysis and operational coordination; urges the Member States to adopt a proactive stance in safeguarding the EU’s financial interests and strengthening information exchange both among national authorities and with EU bodies and agencies, in order to detect and address emerging ri…

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36. Amendment 36PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 3
    Current text

    3. Underlines that the rule of law is a cornerstone of the EU and is essential for protecting EU financial interests in all Member States; stresses that the rule of law conditionality mechanism must be applied where breaches directly affect the EU budget; underlines that decisions to protect EU financial interests must be based on technical and legal findings; calls on the Commission to ensure consistent and proportionate use of the mechanism, while respecting Member States’ primary responsibility for upholding rule of law principles and ensuring coherence across EU instruments;

    Amendment

    3. Underlines that the rule of law is a cornerstone of the EU and is essential for protecting EU financial interests in all Member States; stresses that the rule of law conditionality mechanism must be applied where breaches directly affect the EU budget; underlines that decisions to protect EU financial interests must be based on technical and legal findings; calls on the Commission to ensure consistent and proportionate use of the mechanism, while respecting Member States’ primary responsibility for upholding rule of law principles and ensuring coherence across EU instruments; recalls that systemic deficiencies, including in judicial independence, prosecution capacity and anti-fraud enforc…

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37. Amendment 37PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 12
    Current text

    12. Notes that the ECA found that, in 40 cases, OLAF had independently concluded, without informing the EPPO, that no criminal conduct was suspected; points out that only the EPPO and national public prosecutors’ offices are competent to assess whether conduct is suspected of being criminal; notes that OLAF does not have access to reports closed by the EPPO, which, according to the ECA, hinders OLAF’s ability to take relevant administrative action; points out that the ECA has concluded that the procedures for exchanging reports between the EPPO and OLAF are not efficient enough and recommends that received reports of suspected fraud be centrally registered to ensure efficient procedures; str…

    Amendment

    12. Notes that the ECA found that, in 40 cases, OLAF had independently concluded, without informing the EPPO, that no criminal conduct was suspected; points out that only the EPPO and national public prosecutors’ offices are competent to assess whether conduct is suspected of being criminal; notes that OLAF does not have access to reports closed by the EPPO, which, according to the ECA, hinders OLAF’s ability to take relevant administrative action; points out that the ECA has concluded that the procedures for exchanging reports between the EPPO and OLAF are not efficient enough and recommends that received reports of suspected fraud be centrally registered to ensure efficient procedures; str…

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38. Amendment 38PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 14
    Current text

    14. Stresses that the fight against fraud requires a comprehensive and coherent governance approach, involving a wide range of actors and interconnected processes covering all main stages of the anti-fraud cycle, namely prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution, recovery and sanctions; stresses that weaknesses or fragmentation at any stage reduce the effectiveness of the entire system; insists that, without substantial progress at the stage of timely and effective recovery of funds and the application of appropriate sanctions, efforts in prevention and detection lose part of their deterrent effect; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with OLAF, the EPPO and the competent national…

    Amendment

    14. Stresses that the fight against fraud requires a comprehensive and coherent governance approach, involving a wide range of actors and interconnected processes covering all main stages of the anti-fraud cycle, namely prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution, recovery and sanctions, including where such weaknesses stem from insufficient judicial independence or insufficient enforcement capacity at national level; stresses that weaknesses or fragmentation at any stage reduce the effectiveness of the entire system; insists that, without substantial progress at the stage of timely and effective recovery of funds and the application of appropriate sanctions, efforts in prevention and…

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39. Amendment 39PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 20
    Current text

    20. Regrets that risk analyses relating to the common agricultural policy (CAP), cohesion policy and the fisheries sector contributed only marginally to fraud detection in the 2020-2024 period, with no improvement compared to the previous period (2015-2019); calls on the Commission to analyse the causes of this and develop an action plan to improve the quality of risk analyses in cooperation with the authorities responsible in the Member States; notes that fraud detection based on whistleblower reports remains low, with only one instance of fraud being detected based on information published in the media, in the context of direct payments, while the role of civil society in the cohesion and…

    Amendment

    20. Regrets that risk analyses relating to the common agricultural policy (CAP), cohesion policy and the fisheries sector contributed only marginally to fraud detection in the 2020-2024 period, with no improvement compared to the previous period (2015-2019); calls on the Commission to analyse the causes of this and develop an action plan to improve the quality of risk analyses in cooperation with the authorities responsible in the Member States; notes that fraud detection based on whistleblower reports remains low, with only one instance of fraud being detected based on information published in the media, in the context of direct payments, while the role of civil society in the cohesion and…

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40. Amendment 40PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 23
    Current text

    23. Emphasises that public authorities have a crucial role in fostering a zero-tolerance culture against fraud, and stresses, in particular, the importance of fraud prevention to ensure that fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest, and other types of misuse of funds do not occur in the first place;

    Amendment

    23. Emphasises that public authorities have a crucial role in fostering a zero-tolerance culture against fraud, and stresses, in particular, the importance of fraud prevention to ensure that fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest, and other types of misuse of funds do not occur in the first place; stresses that sound and accountable public administration is a prerequisite for a credible zero-tolerance policy against fraud;

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41. Amendment 41PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 29
    Current text

    29. Underlines the strategic role of the Anti-Fraud Coordination Services (AFCOS) at all stages of the anti-fraud cycle and calls on the Commission to strengthen their activities; considers that persistent disparities among Member States in terms of administrative capacity, human resources and analytical tools weaken the protection of the EU’s financial interests; calls on the Commission to assess the possibility of defining common minimum anti-fraud capacity standards for the competent national authorities, in particular AFCOS, while respecting the principle of subsidiarity;

    Amendment

    29. Underlines the strategic role of the Anti-Fraud Coordination Services (AFCOS) at all stages of the anti-fraud cycle and calls on the Commission to strengthen their activities; considers that persistent disparities among Member States in terms of administrative capacity, human resources and analytical tools weaken the protection of the EU’s financial interests; calls on the Commission to assess the possibility of defining common minimum anti-fraud capacity standards for the competent national authorities, in particular AFCOS, while respecting the principle of subsidiarity; stresses that effective administrative capacity must be supported by a functioning legal and judicial environment tha…

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42. Amendment 42PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 32
    Current text

    32. Acknowledges that EPPO investigations can only be launched if information has reached the prosecutors; expects the Member States to comply with their legal obligations and to report all relevant cases to the EPPO; notes with concern that some Member States have been declaring criminal offences affecting the financial interests of the EU as national cases instead of acknowledging the competences of the EPPO; expresses its concern that these conflicts of competence can have a possible negative impact on investigations, including the loss of evidence or the belated collection of evidence; observes that, in spite of the EPPO’s competences being clearly outlined in Article 22(1) and (2) and i…

    Amendment

    32. Acknowledges that EPPO investigations can only be launched if information has reached the prosecutors; expects the Member States to comply with their legal obligations and to report all relevant cases to the EPPO; notes with concern that some Member States have been declaring criminal offences affecting the financial interests of the EU as national cases instead of acknowledging the competences of the EPPO; expresses its concern that these conflicts of competence can have a possible negative impact on investigations, including the loss of evidence or the belated collection of evidence; observes that, in spite of the EPPO’s competences being clearly outlined in Article 22(1) and (2) and i…

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43. Amendment 43PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 33
    Current text

    33. Acknowledges that recovery is a powerful deterrent and an effective tool to tackle serious and organised crime and that it is a complex process that requires cooperation within the Commission and with other actors and national authorities as well; notes that the main obstacles to recovery stem from lengthy administrative and judicial proceedings, restrictive conditions for recovering funds under certain measures, and strict limitation periods in sector-specific legislation; calls on the Commission to develop a benchmarking system to measure recovery effectiveness, including indicators such as the ratio between amounts recommended for recovery and those established for recovery, the lengt…

    Amendment

    33. Acknowledges that recovery is a powerful deterrent and an effective tool to tackle serious and organised crime and that it is a complex process that requires cooperation within the Commission and with other actors and national authorities as well; notes that the main obstacles to recovery stem from lengthy administrative and judicial proceedings, restrictive conditions for recovering funds under certain measures, and strict limitation periods in sector-specific legislation; calls on the Commission to develop a benchmarking system to measure recovery effectiveness, including indicators such as the ratio between amounts recommended for recovery and those established for recovery, the lengt…

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44. Amendment 44PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 40
    Current text

    40. Notes that the EPPO reported 385 offences under investigation concerning PIF-focused criminal organisations in its active investigations up until the end of 2024 (the EPPO’s 2023 annual report referred to 209 investigations concerned PIF-focused criminal organisations); is aware that the true overall involvement of organised crime and its impact on the deployment of EU resources is not precisely quantifiable; notes that, according to data and analysis provided by the EPPO, in the majority of cases, the European Delegated Prosecutors focus their investigations on the underlying PIF offences (misappropriation, fraud, corruption) and not on the criminal organisation per se, as the EPPO Regu…

    Amendment

    40. Notes that the EPPO reported 385 offences under investigation concerning PIF-focused criminal organisations in its active investigations up until the end of 2024 (the EPPO’s 2023 annual report referred to 209 investigations concerned PIF-focused criminal organisations); is aware that the true overall involvement of organised crime and its impact on the deployment of EU resources is not precisely quantifiable; notes that, according to data and analysis provided by the EPPO, in the majority of cases, the European Delegated Prosecutors focus their investigations on the underlying PIF offences (misappropriation, fraud, corruption) and not on the criminal organisation per se, as the EPPO Regu…

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45. Amendment 45PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 41
    Current text

    41. Notes that there is an increasing number of reported cases of VAT fraud, that in 2023 it was present in around 20 % of the EPPO’s ongoing cases, with 873 cases, and that in 2024, there were a total of 1 287 VAT infringement cases, accounting for 20.29 % of all infringements, causing an estimated loss of EUR 13.5 billion, representing 53 % of the total estimated loss; observes that the current threshold of EUR 10 million, set in the PIF Directive, is not an effective criterion to establish the competence of the EPPO in VAT cases because of inconsistent approaches on interpretation, damage calculation methods and complexity of the cases, weakening the uniform and consistent handling of VAT…

    Amendment

    41. Notes that there is an increasing number of reported cases of VAT fraud, that in 2023 it was present in around 20 % of the EPPO’s ongoing cases, with 873 cases, and that in 2024, there were a total of 1 287 VAT infringement cases, accounting for 20.29 % of all infringements, causing an estimated loss of EUR 13.5 billion, representing 53 % of the total estimated loss; observes that the current threshold of EUR 10 million, set in the PIF Directive, is not an effective criterion to establish the competence of the EPPO in VAT cases because of inconsistent approaches on interpretation, damage calculation methods and complexity of the cases, weakening the uniform and consistent handling of VAT…

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46. Amendment 46PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 47
    Current text

    47. Stresses that, with regard to corruption cases, the EPPO reported 191 offences investigated at the end of 2024 (compared to 131 at the end of 2023 and 87 in 2022); notes that the 2024 PIF Report revealed that 56 cases were reported to the Commission through the IMS by seven countries between 2020 and 2024; stresses that the comparison of data from different sources and an analysis based on data from 2007 to 2023 clearly indicate that Member States do not report sufficient fraudulent irregularities related to corruption in the IMS; underlines that organised criminal groups are increasingly exploiting corruption to infiltrate public administrations to distort procurement processes and secu…

    Amendment

    47. Stresses that, with regard to corruption cases, the EPPO reported 191 offences investigated at the end of 2024 (compared to 131 at the end of 2023 and 87 in 2022); notes that the 2024 PIF Report revealed that 56 cases were reported to the Commission through the IMS by seven countries between 2020 and 2024; stresses that the comparison of data from different sources and an analysis based on data from 2007 to 2023 clearly indicate that Member States do not report sufficient fraudulent irregularities related to corruption in the IMS; underlines that organised criminal groups are increasingly exploiting corruption to infiltrate public administrations to distort procurement processes and secu…

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47. Amendment 47PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 53
    Current text

    53. Recalls that the budgetary conditionality mechanism established by the Conditionality Regulation is a legally regulated tool to prevent risks to the EU budget; notes that its application can, however, be justified only where there is a direct, real and demonstrated link between the failures found and the harm to the financial interests of the EU; expresses its concern that any extension of its scope beyond this budgetary purpose would be contrary to the spirit of the Treaties and the principle of proportionality; recalls that the legitimacy of this mechanism is based on a strictly objective application, free from any political considerations, and respectful of equal treatment between Mem…

    Amendment

    53. Recalls that the budgetary conditionality mechanism established by the Conditionality Regulation is a legally regulated tool to prevent risks to the EU budget; notes that its application can, however, be justified only where there is a direct, real and demonstrated link between the failures found and the harm to the financial interests of the EU; expresses its concern that any extension of its scope beyond this budgetary purpose would be contrary to the spirit of the Treaties and the principle of proportionality; recalls that the legitimacy of this mechanism is based on a strictly objective application, free from any political considerations, and respectful of equal treatment between Mem…

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48. Amendment 48PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 58
    Current text

    58. Notes that in 2024, the Commission estimated the 2022 VAT compliance gap at EUR 89.3 billion, representing 7.0 % of the total VAT liability; recalls that the VAT compliance gap measures the difference between the VAT revenue that would be collected in case of full compliance and the actual revenue collected and that it is not only the result of fraud, evasion or other misconduct, but also of insolvency, bankruptcy and administrative errors; maintains, however, that VAT fraud contributes significantly to VAT non-compliance and considers that digital tools and enhanced cooperation between national tax authorities and relevant EU investigative bodies are effective means to address this issu…

    Amendment

    58. Notes that in 2024, the Commission estimated the 2022 VAT compliance gap at EUR 89.3 billion, representing 7.0 % of the total VAT liability; recalls that the VAT compliance gap measures the difference between the VAT revenue that would be collected in case of full compliance and the actual revenue collected and that it is not only the result of fraud, evasion or other misconduct, but also of insolvency, bankruptcy and administrative errors; maintains, however, that VAT fraud contributes significantly to VAT non-compliance and considers that digital tools and enhanced cooperation between national tax authorities and relevant EU investigative bodies are effective means to address this issu…

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49. Amendment 49PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 70
    Current text

    70. Underlines that at the current expectedly advanced implementing stage of the RRF, the scarce information on results and the lack of information on actual costs is concerning; observes that the Commission mainly relies on Member States to detect and correct serious irregularities affecting the RRF and to ensure compliance with EU and national rules, but that national controls systems have weaknesses for which remedies could not be found at the implementation stage; stresses that this results in a substantial lack of sufficient assurance that control systems adequately protect the EU’s financial interests, in the context of an error-prone facility, weakened by ambiguities in the legal fram…

    Amendment

    70. Underlines that at the current expectedly advanced implementing stage of the RRF, the scarce information on results and the lack of information on actual costs is concerning; observes that the Commission mainly relies on Member States to detect and correct serious irregularities affecting the RRF and to ensure compliance with EU and national rules, but that national controls systems have weaknesses for which remedies could not be found at the implementation stage; stresses that this results in a substantial lack of sufficient assurance that control systems adequately protect the EU’s financial interests, in the context of an error-prone facility, weakened by ambiguities in the legal fram…

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50. Amendment 50Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Citation 23 a (new)
    Amendment

    – having regard to the judgments of the Court of Justice of the EU of 16 February 2022 in Cases C-156/21 Hungary v Parliament and Council and C-157/21 Poland v Parliament and Council1a confirming the legality of the Conditionality Regulation, 1a ECLI:EU:C:2022:97 & ECLI:EU:C:2022:98.

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51. Amendment 51Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Citation 25 b (new)
    Amendment

    – having regard to the ongoing investigation opened by the EPPO in July 2025 into the alleged misuse of Union funds by the former Identity and Democracy group of the European Parliament,

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52. Amendment 52Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 2 a (new)
    Amendment

    2a. Regrets that not all Member States participate in the EPPO, creating enforcement gaps that weaken the EU’s ability to protect its financial interests on a uniform basis; notes that the EPPO issued a significant number of European Investigation Orders and mutual legal assistance requests involving non-participating Member States in 2024, creating additional procedural burdens and risking the loss of evidence; reiterates the call on all remaining non-participating Member States to join the EPPO without further delay;

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53. Amendment 53Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 3
    Current text

    3. Underlines that the rule of law is a cornerstone of the EU and is essential for protecting EU financial interests in all Member States; stresses that the rule of law conditionality mechanism must be applied where breaches directly affect the EU budget; underlines that decisions to protect EU financial interests must be based on technical and legal findings; calls on the Commission to ensure consistent and proportionate use of the mechanism, while respecting Member States’ primary responsibility for upholding rule of law principles and ensuring coherence across EU instruments;

    Amendment

    3. Underlines that the rule of law is a cornerstone of the EU and is essential for protecting EU financial interests in all Member States; stresses that the rule of law conditionality mechanism must be applied where breaches of judicial independence, prosecutorial capacity, accountability or transparency affect or risk affecting the sound financial management of the EU budget, in line with the Court of Justice’s established case-law; underlines that decisions to protect EU financial interests must be based on technical and legal findings; calls on the Commission to ensure consistent and proportionate use of the mechanism, while respecting Member States’ primary responsibility for upholding r…

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54. Amendment 54Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 3 a (new)
    Amendment

    3a. Notes with grave concern the continued deterioration of the rule of law in certain Member States, in particular in Hungary, where systemic risks to the Union’s financial interests have repeatedly been identified, including by the European Court of Auditors, OLAF and the EPPO; recalls that in December 2022, the Council suspended EUR 6.3 billion in cohesion funds for Hungary under the Conditionality Regulation, and that substantial amounts remain frozen due to unresolved concerns over public procurement and anti-corruption frameworks; stresses that these findings are not political but based on objective, documented and repeatedly verified evidence; reiterates that rule-of-law conditionalit…

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55. Amendment 55Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 25 a (new)
    Amendment

    25a. Recognises the essential role played by civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and trade unions in monitoring the use of Union funds, reporting suspected fraud, supporting whistleblowers and providing independent scrutiny that complements the work of EU anti-fraud bodies; rejects any attempts to instrumentalise concerns about the use of Union funds by non-governmental organisations to justify generalised restrictions on civil society; recalls that disproportionate restrictions on civil society organisations are themselves a red flag for the deterioration of the rule of law;

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56. Amendment 56Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 43 a (new)
    Amendment

    43a. Stresses that AI-enabled disinformation campaigns targeting EU institutions, including coordinated content designed to undermine trust in anti-fraud bodies, the Union budget and the rule of law, represent a direct risk to the Union’s financial interests by eroding public support for protective mechanisms and by providing cover for fraudulent practices; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with OLAF, the EPPO and Europol, to develop EU-wide capacity to detect, document and counter AI-enabled disinformation campaigns targeting the Union’s financial governance;

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57. Amendment 57Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 53
    Current text

    53. Recalls that the budgetary conditionality mechanism established by the Conditionality Regulation is a legally regulated tool to prevent risks to the EU budget; notes that its application can, however, be justified only where there is a direct, real and demonstrated link between the failures found and the harm to the financial interests of the EU; expresses its concern that any extension of its scope beyond this budgetary purpose would be contrary to the spirit of the Treaties and the principle of proportionality; recalls that the legitimacy of this mechanism is based on a strictly objective application, free from any political considerations, and respectful of equal treatment between Mem…

    Amendment

    53. Recalls that the budgetary conditionality mechanism established by the Conditionality Regulation is a legally regulated tool to prevent risks to the EU budget; recalls that the Conditionality Regulation is a budgetary safeguard designed to protect the Union budget where breaches of the principles of the rule of law affect or seriously risk affecting the sound financial management of the Union’s financial interests; recalls that the Court of Justice in Cases C-156/21 and C-157/21 confirmed the legality of the Conditionality Regulation and the broad scope of its application in protecting the Union budget from rule-of-law breaches; recalls that the legitimacy of this mechanism is based on o…

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58. Amendment 58Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 54
    Current text

    54. Maintains that the integrity and reputation of the EU’s institutions, bodies, offices and agencies is a core element of citizens’ trust; believes that accountability in the use of EU budget resources is crucial for democratic legitimacy, and that requirements related to transparency and the protection of the EU’s financial interests must apply equally to every beneficiary and without exception within each EU institution, including Parliament, in order to guarantee sound financial management and effective controls for public funds;

    Amendment

    54. Recalls that the duty to protect the EU’s financial interests applies equally to all beneficiaries of Union funds, including political groups operating within the European Parliament; notes that investigations and recovery actions concerning the suspected misuse of Union funds by the former Identity and Democracy group highlight the importance of robust internal controls, effective ex post verification and swift recovery mechanisms within Parliament’s administration; calls on Parliament’s administration to complete all outstanding recovery proceedings without delay and to refer any evidence of irregular expenditure to OLAF and the EPPO; stresses that the credibility of the EU’s anti-frau…

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59. Amendment 59Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 54 a (new)
    Amendment

    54a. Notes that Parliament’s administration found that at least EUR 4 333 635.78 of budget item 400 appropriations were unduly spent by the former Identity and Democracy group over the 2019-2024 term, and that the EPPO opened an investigation in July 2025 into the alleged misuse of Union funds by the group; stresses that the credibility of the Union’s anti-fraud architecture requires the consistent application of transparency, accountability and recovery measures to all beneficiaries without exception; calls on Parliament’s administration, in parallel with the EPPO’s criminal investigation, to take administrative interim protective measures towards the Union’s financial interests; considers…

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60. Amendment 60Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 54 b (new)
    Amendment

    54b. Recalls that on 31 March 2025, the Paris Criminal Court convicted Marine Le Pen, eight other former Members of the European Parliament from the Rassemblement National party and 12 parliamentary assistants for the misappropriation of public funds, finding that, between 2004 and 2016, European Parliament funds intended for parliamentary assistants were systematically diverted to finance the party’s domestic political activities through fictitious contracts; notes that the total damage to the European Parliament’s budget was estimated at EUR 4.8 million; stresses that this ruling, together with the EPPO’s ongoing investigation into the now-defunct European Parliament political group, Ident…

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61. Amendment 61Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 55
    Current text

    55. Stresses that at a time when the EU institutions are regularly debating new own resources, priority should instead be given to enhancing fraud prevention and detection through strengthened controls, which would reduce revenue losses and ensure the recovery of funds legitimately owed to the EU and currently lost; considers that a rigorous analysis of the potential for recovering revenue currently lost due to fraud and evasion should therefore be carried out;

    Amendment

    55. Reaffirms Parliament’s strong commitment to introducing new own resources that support the broader ‘basket approach’ proposed by the Commission, and calls on the Council to break the stalemate that has persisted since 2020 on a basket of new genuine own resources to reach a level of revenue of at least EUR 60 billion per year; stresses that strengthening own resources and improving fraud prevention and detection are complementary, rather than competing, objectives; considers that the EU budget must be both adequately funded and effectively protected against fraud and misuse; considers that a rigorous analysis of the potential for recovering revenue currently lost due to fraud and evasion…

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62. Amendment 62Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 61 a (new)
    Amendment

    61a. Notes with concern that, according to the Commission’s 2024 PIF Report, the first detected fraudulent irregularities reported under national CAP strategic plans in 2024 were nearly all linked to climate and environmental schemes; stresses that fraud affecting climate- and environment-related EU funds not only harms the EU’s financial interests but also undermines the credibility of the green transition and citizens’ trust in the EU’s ability to deliver on its climate commitments; calls on the Commission to develop dedicated fraud-risk typologies and targeted controls for climate, biodiversity and green-transition spending across the new MFF, and to ensure that results-based payments in…

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63. Amendment 63Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 68
    Current text

    68. Stresses the need for greater transparency in the implementation of the RRF and recalls that the ‘final beneficiary’ is the ‘last entity’ that receives funds for an RRF measure, so that information on the ‘final beneficiary’ must be made available; regrets that Member States are only required to publish information on the 100 final beneficiaries receiving the highest amounts, which constitutes an arbitrary limit preventing any visibility of the actual majority of beneficiaries and of the potential risks; considers that publishing information beyond the 100 final beneficiaries is necessary and would support the effective identification of risks related to fraud, mismanagement or conflicts…

    Amendment

    68. Stresses the need for greater transparency in the implementation of the RRF and recalls that the ‘final beneficiary’ is the ‘last entity’ that receives funds for an RRF measure, so that information on the ‘final beneficiary’ must be made available; regrets that Member States are only required to publish information on the 100 final beneficiaries receiving the highest amounts, which constitutes an arbitrary limit preventing visibility regarding the actual majority of beneficiaries and regarding the potential risks of fraud, mismanagement or conflicts of interest; points out that the examination of national practices reveals significant discrepancies in disclosure methods and formats, maki…

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64. Amendment 64Motion for a resolution · Paragraph 40 a (new)
    Amendment

    40 a. Reiterates the importance of protecting the Union’s financial interests from infiltration by organised crime; underlines, in this regard, the need for robust preventive mechanisms based on systematic ex ante verification, including anti-mafia certification and enhanced due diligence checks on ownership structures and subcontracting chains; calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote the establishment of effective, proportionate and, where appropriate, harmonised screening measures applicable to all legal and natural persons participating in EU-funded projects, irrespective of the financial value involved, with a view to preventing the misuse of Union funds

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65. Amendment 65ECRMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 14
    Current text

    14. Stresses that the fight against fraud requires a comprehensive and coherent governance approach, involving a wide range of actors and interconnected processes covering all main stages of the anti-fraud cycle, namely prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution, recovery and sanctions; stresses that weaknesses or fragmentation at any stage reduce the effectiveness of the entire system; insists that, without substantial progress at the stage of timely and effective recovery of funds and the application of appropriate sanctions, efforts in prevention and detection lose part of their deterrent effect; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with OLAF, the EPPO and the competent national…

    Amendment

    14. Stresses that the fight against fraud requires a comprehensive and coherent governance approach, involving a wide range of actors and interconnected processes covering all main stages of the anti-fraud cycle, namely prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution, recovery and sanctions; stresses that weaknesses or fragmentation at any stage reduce the effectiveness of the entire system; insists that, without substantial progress at the stage of timely and effective recovery of funds and the application of appropriate sanctions, efforts in prevention and detection lose part of their deterrent effect; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with OLAF, the EPPO and the competent national…

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66. Amendment 66ECRMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 63
    Current text

    63. Is deeply concerned about the ECA’s findings that the stock of EU loans increased by more than 30 % in 2024, as a direct result of the use of capital markets to finance large-scale programmes such as SURE and NGEU; notes that the total outstanding debt of the EU could exceed EUR 900 billion by 2027, almost 10 times higher than the level observed in 2020 before the creation of NGEU; notes the absence of a clear, predictable and credible deleveraging strategy, even though the rapid and continuous growth of debt exposes the EU budget to increased sustainability risks, particularly in times of high interest rates; stresses that the dramatic increase in the EU’s indebtedness is automatically…

    Amendment

    63. Is deeply concerned about the ECA’s findings that the stock of EU loans increased by more than 30 % in 2024, as a direct result of the use of capital markets to finance large-scale programmes such as SURE and NGEU; notes that the total outstanding debt of the EU could exceed EUR 900 billion by 2027, almost 10 times higher than the level observed in 2020 before the creation of NGEU; notes the absence of a clear, predictable and credible deleveraging strategy, even though the rapid and continuous growth of debt exposes the EU budget to increased sustainability risks, particularly in times of high interest rates; stresses that the dramatic increase in the EU’s indebtedness is automatically…

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