Sittings · Document
Report (2025/2138(INI)) 2026-03-04
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
4.3.2026 A10-0015/27
Amendment 27
Pál Szekeres, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, Sebastian Kruis, Virginie Joron
on behalf of the PfE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Recital AC
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| AC. whereas the Ombudsman conducted an inquiry following deaths in the Mediterranean Sea and suggested the establishment of an EU accountability mechanism that could independently investigate the respective roles of national authorities, Frontex and the Commission; | AC. whereas the Ombudsman conducted an inquiry in the context of the increase in illegal migration flows crossing the Mediterranean Sea and the disproportionate burden placed on the most affected EU regions; whereas the absence of effective border control and insufficient action against smuggling networks contribute to illegal migration flows and create a pull effect towards the EU’s borders; |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/28
Amendment 28
Pál Szekeres, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, Virginie Joron
on behalf of the PfE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 4. Is worried about the Commission’s breach of the legally binding deadlines for preparing authorisation decisions concerning dangerous chemical substances, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); underlines that respecting these deadlines is essential to ensure the protection of human health and the environment, and legal certainty and predictability in the EU’s decision-making process; stresses that, in order to address the health and environmental risks posed by PFAS, the Commission should not only coordinate with Member States, their national and local authorities, but also with relevant civil society organisations, academic and scientific institutions, which play an essential role in this field; | 4. Is worried about the Commission’s breach of the legally binding deadlines for preparing authorisation decisions concerning dangerous chemical substances, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); underlines that respecting these deadlines is essential to ensure the protection of human health and the environment, and legal certainty and predictability in the EU’s decision-making process; stresses that, in order to address the health and environmental risks posed by PFAS, the Commission should coordinate mainly with Member States, their national and local authorities and, when needed, relevant academic and scientific institutions, ensuring a balanced, evidence-based and non-ideological approach; |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/29
Amendment 29
Pál Szekeres, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, Virginie Joron
on behalf of the PfE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 6. Stresses that the Commission should improve the rules on the substitution of hazardous substances in pesticides in order to better take into account effective, safe non-chemical alternatives; calls on the Commission to ensure that the approval process is fully transparent and follows strict safeguards against conflicts of interest, duly taking into account the Ombudsman’s suggestions for improvement; | 6. Stresses that the Commission should improve the rules on pesticides in order to better take into account all scientifically validated alternatives, including chemical and non-chemical solutions, while safeguarding agricultural productivity, food security and farmers’ competitiveness; calls on the Commission to ensure that the approval process is fully transparent and follows strict safeguards against conflicts of interest, duly taking into account the Ombudsman’s suggestions for improvement; |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/30
Amendment 30
Pál Szekeres, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, Virginie Joron
on behalf of the PfE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 10. Notes the Ombudsman’s ongoing inquiry into how the Commission prepared a proposal to amend legislation related to the common agricultural policy without conducting an impact assessment and with limited consultation of stakeholders, in particular farmers; emphasises the need to uphold the principles of evidence-based decision-making, as enshrined in the Commission’s better regulation guidelines and toolbox, as well as in case-law; | 10. Notes the Ombudsman’s ongoing inquiry into how the Commission prepared a proposal to amend legislation related to the common agricultural policy without conducting an impact assessment and with limited consultation of stakeholders, in particular farmers; emphasises the need to uphold the principles of evidence-based decision-making, as enshrined in the Commission’s better regulation guidelines and toolbox, as well as in relevant case-law1a, with particular regard to the socio-economic impact on farmers, rural communities and food supply sovereignty ; |
| _________________ | |
| 1a Such as the judgment of the Court of Justice of 4 October 2024 in European Commission and Council v Front populaire pour la libération de la Saguia el-Hamra et du Rio de oro (Front Polisario), Joined Cases C-778/21 P and C-798/21 P, ECLI:EU:C:2024:833. |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/31
Amendment 31
Pál Szekeres, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, Sebastian Kruis
on behalf of the PfE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 13. Considers it essential that the Commission takes into consideration the Ombudsman’s suggestions for improving its handling of conflicts of interest involving its Commissioners, with a view to safeguarding the integrity of the decision-making process; highlights, in this context, the Ombudsman’s contribution towards enhancing the ethics and transparency of EU institutions in relation to revolving doors policy, cooling-off periods and potential conflicts of interest in cases where former Commissioners and former senior staff of EU institutions or agencies take up new jobs in the private sector; | 13. Considers it essential that the Commission takes into consideration the Ombudsman’s suggestions for improving its handling of conflicts of interest involving its Commissioners, with a view to safeguarding the integrity of the decision-making process; stresses that this is particularly relevant in light of the case concerning Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera, including the controversy linked to her husband’s position in Spain’s financial regulatory authority and her past involvement in the approval of environmental projects such as the Castor gas storage facility; highlights, in this context, the Ombudsman’s contribution towards enhancing the ethics and transparency of EU institutions in relation to revolving doors policy, cooling-off periods and potential conflicts of interest in cases where former Commissioners and former senior staff of EU institutions or agencies take up new jobs in the private sector; |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/32
Amendment 32
Pál Szekeres, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, Sebastian Kruis, Virginie Joron
on behalf of the PfE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 16. Stresses that Frontex must operate within the provisions enshrined in its regulation6 , including the obligations related to fundamental rights and compliance with relevant international law; takes note of the reform of the Frontex mandate announced by the President of the Commission for 2026; expects that reinforcing the mandate, resources and budget of Frontex will ensure that the agency can perform its work under the best possible conditions in order to better support the Member States, including in search and rescue operations; | 16. Stresses that Frontex must operate within the provisions enshrined in its regulation6; takes note of the reform of the Frontex mandate announced by the President of the Commission for 2026; expects that reinforcing the mandate, resources and budget of Frontex will ensure that the agency can perform its work under the best possible conditions in order to better support the Member States, in particular in the effective protection of the EU’s external borders; |
| _________________ | _________________ |
| 6 Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 November 2019 on the European Border and Coast Guard and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1052/2013 and (EU) 2016/1624 (OJ L 295, 14.11.2019, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1896/oj). | 6 Regulation (EU) 2019/1896 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 November 2019 on the European Border and Coast Guard and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1052/2013 and (EU) 2016/1624 (OJ L 295, 14.11.2019, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1896/oj). |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/33
Amendment 33
Pál Szekeres, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, Sebastian Kruis, Virginie Joron
on behalf of the PfE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 18. Notes the Ombudsman’s commitment to fundamental rights; notes that the Ombudsman asked for greater transparency with regard to the human rights information considered before signing the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding (MoU); | 18. Notes the Ombudsman’s commitment to fundamental rights; notes that the Ombudsman asked for greater transparency with regard to the human rights information considered before signing the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), while recalling the strategic importance of cooperation with non-EU countries in combating illegal migration and human trafficking; |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/34
Amendment 34
Pál Szekeres, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal
on behalf of the PfE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 20. Takes note of the Ombudsman’s decision to open an inquiry into the Commission’s data collection on the impact of the wolf population in the EU; notes, however, that in accordance with the Ombudsman’s statute, the inquiry had to be closed due to a pending case before the CJEU (T-634/24), where the same issues are raised; underlines the importance of basing any decision regarding the legal protection status of wolves on scientific evidence and the protection of rural communities; | 20. Takes note of the Ombudsman’s decision to open an inquiry into the Commission’s data collection on the impact of the wolf population in the EU; notes, however, that in accordance with the Ombudsman’s statute, the inquiry had to be closed due to a pending case before the CJEU (T-634/24), where the same issues are raised; underlines the importance of basing any decision regarding the legal protection status of wolves on scientific evidence and the effective protection of rural communities, livestock, farmers and traditional ways of life; |
Or. en
4.3.2026 A10-0015/35
Amendment 35
Pál Szekeres, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, Sebastian Kruis, Virginie Joron
on behalf of the PfE Group
Report A10-0015/2026
Bogdan Rzońca
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024
(2025/2138(INI))
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 27a. Recalls the Ombudsman’s conclusions regarding the Commission’s refusal to disclose key documents and communications relating to the EU’s vaccine contracts; points out that the Court of Justice of the European Union has also condemned this lack of transparency by the Commission1a; stresses that the Ombudsman’s repeated warnings must be followed by binding and enforceable measures to ensure full accountability in all future contracts of strategic importance; | |
| _________________ | |
| 1a Judgment of the General Court of 14 May 2025, Stevi and The New York Times v Commission, Case T-36/23, ECLI:EU:T:2025:483. |
Or. en