Sittings · Document
Draft report (2025/2147(DEC)) 2026-01-27
Discharge 2024: General budget of the EU - European Council and Council
Committee on Budgetary Control
Amendment 1
Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| A. whereas in the context of the discharge procedure, the discharge authority wishes to stress the particular importance of further strengthening the democratic legitimacy of the Union institutions by improving transparency and accountability, and by implementing the concept of performance-based budgeting and good governance of human resources; | A. whereas the democratic legitimacy of the Union institutions derives first and foremost from strict respect for the Treaties, which lay down the institutional balance and the clear distribution of competences; whereas transparency, accountability and sound financial management are essential obligations of all EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies when spending taxpayers’ money; whereas in the context of the discharge procedure, the discharge authority wishes to stress the particular importance of further strengthening the democratic legitimacy of the Union institutions by improving transparency and accountability, and by implementing the concept of performance-based budgeting and good governance of human resources; |
Or. en
Amendment 2
Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| B. whereas, under Article 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the Parliament has the sole responsibility of granting discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the Union, and whereas the budget of the European Council and of the Council is a section of the Union budget; | B. whereas, under Article 319 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the Parliament has the sole responsibility of granting discharge in respect of the implementation of the general budget of the Union, and whereas the budget of the European Council and of the Council is a section of the Union budget and is therefore legally bound by the Treaties and the Financial Regulation to ensure transparency, accountability and sound financial management, irrespective of its intergovernmental nature; |
Or. en
Amendment 3
Csaba Molnár
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| H. whereas, since the 2009 budget discharge, the Council’s lack of cooperation in the discharge procedure has compelled Parliament to refuse to grant discharge to the Secretary-General of the Council; | H. whereas, since the 2009 budget discharge, the Council’s lack of cooperation in the discharge procedure has prevented Parliament from exercising its democratic scrutiny role and has repeatedly compelled Parliament to refuse to grant discharge to the Secretary-General of the Council; |
Or. en
Amendment 4
Damian Boeselager
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| K a. whereas Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continued in 2024 and required sustained, timely Union decision-making and financial support; whereas repeated impediment linked to unanimity in the Council risk weakening the Union’s capacity to act decisively and transparently, undermining citizens’ trust and the Union’s credibility as a geopolitical actor; |
Or. en
Amendment 5
Andrey Kovatchev
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 4. Deeply regrets that since 2009 and again for the financial year 2023 Parliament has had to refuse discharge to the Council because the Council continues to refuse to cooperate with Parliament on the discharge procedure, preventing Parliament from taking an informed decision based on a serious and thorough scrutiny of the implementation of the Council’s budget; | 4. Deeply regrets that since 2009 and again for the financial year 2023 Parliament has had to refuse discharge to the Council because the Council continues to refuse to cooperate with Parliament on the discharge procedure despite Parliament’s repeated efforts to establish constructive cooperation, thereby preventing Parliament from taking an informed decision based on a serious and thorough scrutiny of the implementation of the Council’s budget; |
Or. en
Amendment 6
Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 9. Stresses the well-established and respected practice followed by Parliament over the course of more than 20 years of granting discharge to all Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, including the European Council and Council; recalls that the Commission has declared its inability to oversee the implementation of the budgets of the other Union institutions; stresses the reiterated view of the Commission that the practice of granting discharge to each Union institution for their administrative expenditure and implementation of the Union budget should continue to be pursued directly by Parliament to preserve the compliance of the principle of sound financial management; | 9. Stresses the well-established and respected practice followed by Parliament over the course of more than 20 years of granting discharge to all Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, including the European Council and Council; recalls that the Commission has declared its inability to oversee the implementation of the budgets of the other Union institutions; stresses the reiterated view of the Commission that the practice of granting discharge to each Union institution for their administrative expenditure and implementation of the Union budget should continue to be pursued directly by Parliament to preserve the compliance of the principle of sound financial management; recalls that all other institutions, bodies, offices and agencies cooperate fully with Parliament in the discharge procedure, and considers the Council’s refusal to do so unjustified and incompatible with the principle of institutional loyalty under the Treaties; |
Or. en
Amendment 7
Andrey Kovatchev
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 10. Stresses that the current situation implies that Parliament can only check the reports of the Court and of the Ombudsman as well as the publicly available information on the Council’s website, which makes it impossible for Parliament to make an informed decision on granting discharge; | 10. Stresses that the current situation implies that Parliament can only check the reports of the Court and of the Ombudsman as well as the publicly available information on the Council’s website, which makes it impossible for Parliament to make an informed decision on granting discharge; underlines that the lack of cooperation of the European Council and Council undermines Parliament’s prerogative to effectively fulfil its oversight role; |
Or. en
Amendment 8
Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 11. Deplores the lack of political willingness by the Council, for more than a decade, to collaborate with Parliament in the context of the annual discharge procedure and that this has had a lasting negative effect on both institutions and has discredited the management and democratic scrutiny of the Union budget and on the trust of citizens in the Union as a transparent entity; | 11. Deplores the lack of political willingness by the Council, for more than a decade, to collaborate with Parliament in the context of the annual discharge procedure and that this has had a lasting negative effect on both institutions and has discredited the management and democratic scrutiny of the Union budget and on the trust of citizens in the Union as a transparent entity; stresses that such persistent institutional obstruction undermines the principle of sincere cooperation laid down in the Treaties; considers that continued non-cooperation risks further eroding the legitimacy of the Union’s budgetary governance framework. |
Or. en
Amendment 9
Andrey Kovatchev
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 11. Deplores the lack of political willingness by the Council, for more than a decade, to collaborate with Parliament in the context of the annual discharge procedure and that this has had a lasting negative effect on both institutions and has discredited the management and democratic scrutiny of the Union budget and on the trust of citizens in the Union as a transparent entity; | 11. Deplores the lack of political willingness by the Council, for more than a decade, to collaborate with Parliament in the context of the annual discharge procedure and that this has had a lasting negative effect on both institutions and has discredited the management and democratic scrutiny of the Union budget and on the trust of citizens in the Union as a transparent entity; stresses that the European Council and the Council must adhere to the same standards of accountability and transparency, required from other Union institutions; |
Or. en
Amendment 10
Csaba Molnár
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 11. Deplores the lack of political willingness by the Council, for more than a decade, to collaborate with Parliament in the context of the annual discharge procedure and that this has had a lasting negative effect on both institutions and has discredited the management and democratic scrutiny of the Union budget and on the trust of citizens in the Union as a transparent entity; | 11. Deplores the lack of political willingness by the Council, for more than a decade, to collaborate with Parliament in the context of the annual discharge procedure and that this has had a lasting negative effect on both institutions and has discredited the management and democratic scrutiny of the Union budget and on the trust of citizens in the Union as a transparent entity; emphasises that the Council is bound to uphold the same transparency and accountability standards identical to those applied to the other Union institutions; |
Or. en
Amendment 11
Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 11. Deplores the lack of political willingness by the Council, for more than a decade, to collaborate with Parliament in the context of the annual discharge procedure and that this has had a lasting negative effect on both institutions and has discredited the management and democratic scrutiny of the Union budget and on the trust of citizens in the Union as a transparent entity; | 11. Deplores the lack of political willingness by the Council, for more than a decade, to collaborate with Parliament in the context of the annual discharge procedure, thereby creating a structural blind spot in the EU’s system of checks and balances, and that this has had a lasting negative effect on both institutions and has discredited the management and democratic scrutiny of the Union budget and on the trust of citizens in the Union as a transparent entity; |
Or. en
Amendment 12
Andrey Kovatchev
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 12. Reiterates that the Council’s continued refusal to engage in the discharge procedure is an unacceptable breach of democratic accountability; calls for legal and procedural amendments to withhold budgetary appropriations to any Union institution that fails to comply with transparency obligations; | 12. Reiterates that the Council’s continued refusal to engage in the discharge procedure is an unacceptable breach of democratic accountability; calls on the introduction of concrete and effective measures to ensure that any Union institution failing to comply with transparency obligations is held fully accountable; |
Or. en
Amendment 13
Damian Boeselager
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 12 b. Reiterates that the Council’s continued refusal to engage in the discharge procedure is an unacceptable breach of democratic accountability. Calls for legal and procedural amendments to withhold budgetary appropriations to any Union institution that fails to comply with transparency obligations; |
Or. en
Amendment 14
Damian Boeselager
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 12 a. Reiterates that the Council’s continued refusal to engage in discharge constitutes an unacceptable breach of democratic accountability; calls on the Commission, in line with Article 59(1) of the Financial Regulation and the principle of sound financial management, to explore practical measures to incentivise cooperation, including enhanced conditionality in administrative arrangements and reporting requirements, while ensuring the continuity of the Council’s essential functioning; |
Or. en
Amendment 15
Damian Boeselager
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 12 c. Calls on the European Commission to initiate infringement proceedings against the Council for persistent failure to respect democratic oversight in budgetary matters, in violation of the principles of transparency and good governance enshrined in the Treaties; |
Or. en
Amendment 16
Csaba Molnár
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 14. Notes that on 6 May 2025, during his intervention in Parliament’s plenary, the Representative of the Presidency of the Council expressed the latter’s willingness ‘to engage in a meaningful and pragmatic cooperation between our institutions’ when it comes to discharge in relation to the European Council and Council section of the Union budget, and calls for this intention to be translated into concrete steps in due time; calls therefore on the Council to resume negotiations with Parliament at the highest level as soon as possible, involving the Secretary-Generals and the Presidents of both institutions, in order to break the deadlock and find a solution while respecting the respective roles of Parliament and the Council in the discharge procedure and ensuring transparency and proper democratic control of budget implementation; reiterates its request that the Commission and the Council legal services provide an opinion on potential Treaty-based solutions to enforce Council’s accountability in the discharge procedure; | 14. Notes that on 6 May 2025, during his intervention in Parliament’s plenary, the Representative of the Presidency of the Council expressed the latter’s willingness ‘to engage in a meaningful and pragmatic cooperation between our institutions’ when it comes to discharge in relation to the European Council and Council section of the Union budget, and calls for this intention to be translated into concrete and immediate actions; calls therefore on the Council to resume negotiations with Parliament at the highest level as soon as possible, involving the Secretary-Generals and the Presidents of both institutions, in order to break the deadlock and find a solution that upholds the institutional competences of Parliament and the Council in the discharge procedure and ensures transparency and robust democratic control of the budget implementation; reiterates its request that the Commission and the Council legal services provide an opinion on potential Treaty-based solutions to enforce Council’s accountability in the discharge procedure; |
Or. en
Amendment 17
Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 16. Notes that, despite the Council’s longstanding unwillingness to cooperate in the discharge procedure, Parliament, nevertheless, highlights some political priorities and sets out some observations concerning the budgetary and financial management of the Council and other observations relevant for the discharge procedure in this report; | 16. Notes that, despite the Council’s longstanding unwillingness to cooperate in the discharge procedure, Parliament, nevertheless, highlights some political priorities and sets out some observations concerning the budgetary and financial management of the Council and other observations relevant for the discharge procedure in this report, in a manner that respects national sovereignty, the Treaties and the principle of sound financial management; |
Or. en
Amendment 18
Damian Boeselager
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 16 a. Recalls that in 2024 the EU agreed to provide predictable financial support to Ukraine through the Ukraine Facility for 2024–2027; stresses that, in this context, the Council and its Secretariat have a heightened responsibility to ensure transparency, integrity and sound financial management in all Council-related administrative spending connected to Ukraine-related decision-making, meetings and logistical arrangements, including clear reporting of related costs and contract management; |
Or. en
Amendment 19
Csaba Molnár
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 19. Regrets the Council’s tradition of not questioning the appointments of individual Member States for most positions which means that the professional qualifications of candidates are not thoroughly checked; insists, therefore, on the need for a review of the Council’s prerogative with a view to guaranteeing and strengthening the participation of the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies concerned and increasing the legitimacy of those appointed; suggests that one possibility that could be put in place to ensure that candidates have the necessary qualifications would be to apply the same screening by an external panel used for the nominations of the judges and advocates-general of the CJEU; | 19. Notes with concern the Council’s practice regarding appointments made by individual Member States for most positions which may limit the extent to which the professional qualifications of candidates are checked; insists, therefore, on the need for a review of the Council’s prerogative with a view to guaranteeing and strengthening the participation of the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies concerned and increasing the legitimacy of those appointed; suggests that one possibility that could be put in place to ensure that candidates have the necessary qualifications would be to apply the same screening by an external panel used for the nominations of the judges and advocates-general of the CJEU; |
Or. en
Amendment 20
Csaba Molnár
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 21. Stresses that the persistent gender imbalance among the Members of the Court has become increasingly anachronistic; reiterates its call on the Council to address this issue by revisiting the nomination procedure and taking concrete measures, such as requiring Member States to submit at least two candidates of different genders; | 21. Stresses that the persistent gender imbalance among the Members of the Court undermines the Union’s equality objectives; reiterates its call on the Council to address this issue by revising the nomination procedure and taking concrete measures, such as requiring Member States to submit at least two candidates of different genders ensuring a more balanced and representative composition of the Court; |
Or. en
Amendment 21
Andrey Kovatchev
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 21. Stresses that the persistent gender imbalance among the Members of the Court has become increasingly anachronistic; reiterates its call on the Council to address this issue by revisiting the nomination procedure and taking concrete measures, such as requiring Member States to submit at least two candidates of different genders; | 21. Stresses that the persistent gender imbalance among the Members of the Court has become increasingly anachronistic; reiterates its call on the Council to address this issue by revisiting the nomination procedure and taking concrete measures, in line with the principles of merit, excellence and equal opportunities; |
Or. en
Amendment 22
Eero Heinäluoma
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 22 a. Reaffirms its call for the creation of a Council of Defence Ministers as an institutional forum for political and strategic coordination; considers that a permanent and dedicated Council configuration on defence would reflect the need for the Union to assume greater responsibility for its own security and defence, complementing the establishment of a Security and Defence Committee in the European Parliament and a Commissioner for Defence and Space in the European Commission; |
Or. en
Amendment 23
Andrey Kovatchev
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 24. Calls on the rotating Council Presidencies to stop using corporate sponsorship to contribute to covering their expenses as this entails a risk of creating conflicts of interest, in line with the conclusions of the workshop held by Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control on 27 June 2023; notes that, in her decision of 9 September 2024 on the strategic initiative on sponsorship of the presidency of the Council of the EU, the European Ombudsman encouraged the Council to take stock of how the non-binding rules adopted by the Council for the use of sponsorship by its presidency (‘the Guidance’) have been implemented and to explore other possible measures that could help mitigate the risks associated with the use of sponsorship, which include the risk of conflicts of interest, as well as reputational risks; notes with concern from the annual report of the European Ombudsman for 2024 that the Council has still not fully addressed public concerns around the use of corporate sponsorship, as there is a recurrent “lack of transparency around the identity of sponsors, the nature of their support, and what they gain in return” and sponsors were still able to use the presidency logo for commercial purposes; calls on the Council to render the Guidance binding; reiterates its call on the Council to provide a budget for the Council Presidencies to ensure adequate and uniform standards of efficiency and effectiveness in the work in the Council in general; | 24. Notes that, in her decision of 9 September 2024 on the strategic initiative on sponsorship of the presidency of the Council of the EU, the European Ombudsman encouraged the Council to take stock of how the non-binding rules adopted by the Council for the use of sponsorship by its presidency (‘the Guidance’) have been implemented and to explore other possible measures that could help mitigate the risks associated with the use of sponsorship, which include the risk of conflicts of interest, as well as reputational risks; notes with concern from the annual report of the European Ombudsman for 2024 that the Council has still not fully addressed public concerns around the use of corporate sponsorship, as there is a recurrent “lack of transparency around the identity of sponsors, the nature of their support, and what they gain in return” and sponsors were still able to use the presidency logo for commercial purposes; calls on the Council to render the Guidance binding; reiterates its call on the Council to provide a budget for the Council Presidencies to ensure adequate and uniform standards of efficiency and effectiveness in the work in the Council in general; |
Or. en
Amendment 24
Damian Boeselager
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 24. Calls on the rotating Council Presidencies to stop using corporate sponsorship to contribute to covering their expenses as this entails a risk of creating conflicts of interest, in line with the conclusions of the workshop held by Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control on 27 June 2023; notes that, in her decision of 9 September 2024 on the strategic initiative on sponsorship of the presidency of the Council of the EU, the European Ombudsman encouraged the Council to take stock of how the non-binding rules adopted by the Council for the use of sponsorship by its presidency (‘the Guidance’) have been implemented and to explore other possible measures that could help mitigate the risks associated with the use of sponsorship, which include the risk of conflicts of interest, as well as reputational risks; notes with concern from the annual report of the European Ombudsman for 2024 that the Council has still not fully addressed public concerns around the use of corporate sponsorship, as there is a recurrent “lack of transparency around the identity of sponsors, the nature of their support, and what they gain in return” and sponsors were still able to use the presidency logo for commercial purposes; calls on the Council to render the Guidance binding; reiterates its call on the Council to provide a budget for the Council Presidencies to ensure adequate and uniform standards of efficiency and effectiveness in the work in the Council in general; | 24. Calls on the rotating Council Presidencies to stop using corporate sponsorship to contribute to covering their expenses as this entails a risk of creating conflicts of interest, in line with the conclusions of the workshop held by Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control on 27 June 2023; notes that, in her decision of 9 September 2024 on the strategic initiative on sponsorship of the presidency of the Council of the EU, the European Ombudsman encouraged the Council to take stock of how the non-binding rules adopted by the Council for the use of sponsorship by its presidency (‘the Guidance’) have been implemented and to explore other possible measures that could help mitigate the risks associated with the use of sponsorship, which include the risk of conflicts of interest, as well as reputational risks; notes with concern from the annual report of the European Ombudsman for 2024 that the Council has still not fully addressed public concerns around the use of corporate sponsorship, as there is a recurrent “lack of transparency around the identity of sponsors, the nature of their support, and what they gain in return” and sponsors were still able to use the presidency logo for commercial purposes; calls on the Council to render the Guidance binding; calls, furthermore, for the systematic publication in a single searchable register of all sponsors, in-kind contributions, valuation methodology, and any associated visibility/branding rights, and for an ex post assessment of reputational and conflict-of-interest risks for each Presidency, in line with the Ombudsman’s recommendations; reiterates its call on the Council to provide a budget for the Council Presidencies to ensure adequate and uniform standards of efficiency and effectiveness in the work in the Council in general; |
Or. en
Amendment 25
Ondřej Knotek, Virginie Joron, Tamás Deutsch
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 25. Expresses its deep concern about the European Council’s growing involvement in legislative files, despite the fact that it holds neither legislative nor executive powers and does not adhere to the same transparency standards as the Council, resulting in a lack of accountability; | deleted |
Or. en
Amendment 26
Andrey Kovatchev
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 25. Expresses its deep concern about the European Council’s growing involvement in legislative files, despite the fact that it holds neither legislative nor executive powers and does not adhere to the same transparency standards as the Council, resulting in a lack of accountability; | 25. Recognises the European Council as a key institution in shaping EU decisions; stresses that, given its role, the European Council should ensure that its actions are carried out with transparency and accountability, in line with the standards applicable to other Union institutions, to maintain citizens’ trust; |
Or. en
Amendment 27
Ondřej Knotek, Virginie Joron, Tamás Deutsch
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 25 a. Recalls that, pursuant to Article 15 of the Treaty on European Union, the European Council plays a central strategic role in providing the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and in defining its general political directions and priorities, while not exercising legislative functions; emphasises the unique added value of the European Council as a forum for high-level political coordination among Member States; |
Or. en
Amendment 28
Csaba Molnár
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 25 a. Deeply regrets the Hungarian government’s misuse of its role in the 2024 rotating Presidency of the Council by engaging in high-level international meetings that undermined the Union’s core values and agreed common positions; calls on the Council to firmly condemn any conduct by a Member State holding the Presidency that is not in conformity with Union values, and to take all necessary measures to ensure that future Presidencies discharge their functions in full compliance with EU principles, thereby safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the Union; |
Or. en
Amendment 29
Ondřej Knotek, Virginie Joron, Julien Sanchez, Tamás Deutsch
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 26. Stresses that the use of the unanimity voting procedure in the Council in certain policy areas is paralysing the Union’s decision-making process and therefore making it prone to blackmail by Member States, especially those who fail to respect the rule of law; reiterates in this sense its regret regarding the Hungarian government’s obstructive stance within the European Council; notes that ongoing political deadlocks and insufficient progress on transparency reforms continue to undermine trust and the European Council’s effectiveness; calls for targeted treaty reforms to enhance democratic decision-making and transparency within the European Council; | 26. Stresses that of the unanimity voting procedure in the Council is a Treaty-based safeguard of national sovereignty in sensitive policy areas; notes that ongoing political deadlocks and insufficient progress on transparency reforms continue to undermine trust and the European Council’s effectiveness; calls for targeted treaty reforms to enhance democratic decision-making and transparency within the European Council; stresses that its use constitutes a legitimate expression of democratic accountability by Member States’ governments towards their national parliaments and citizens; underlines that any debate on decision-making efficiency must fully respect the Treaties and cannot undermine the principle of conferral or the constitutional balance between the Union and its Member States; |
Or. en
Amendment 30
Andrey Kovatchev
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 26. Stresses that the use of the unanimity voting procedure in the Council in certain policy areas is paralysing the Union’s decision-making process and therefore making it prone to blackmail by Member States, especially those who fail to respect the rule of law; reiterates in this sense its regret regarding the Hungarian government’s obstructive stance within the European Council; notes that ongoing political deadlocks and insufficient progress on transparency reforms continue to undermine trust and the European Council’s effectiveness; calls for targeted treaty reforms to enhance democratic decision-making and transparency within the European Council; | 26. Stresses that while unanimity remains a core Treaty principle, its application can, in certain circumstances, affect the timelines and effectiveness of Union decision-making; reiterates in this sense its regret regarding the Hungarian government’s obstructive stance within the European Council; calls for practical improvements, within the existing Treaty framework, to strengthen transparency, accountability and the efficiency or the European Council’s work; |
Or. en
Amendment 31
Csaba Molnár
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 26. Stresses that the use of the unanimity voting procedure in the Council in certain policy areas is paralysing the Union’s decision-making process and therefore making it prone to blackmail by Member States, especially those who fail to respect the rule of law; reiterates in this sense its regret regarding the Hungarian government’s obstructive stance within the European Council; notes that ongoing political deadlocks and insufficient progress on transparency reforms continue to undermine trust and the European Council’s effectiveness; calls for targeted treaty reforms to enhance democratic decision-making and transparency within the European Council; | 26. Stresses that the use of the unanimity voting procedure in the Council in certain policy areas is paralysing the Union’s decision-making process and therefore making it prone to blackmail by Member States, especially those who fail to respect the rule of law; reiterates in this sense its regret regarding the Hungarian government’s obstructive stance within the European Council; notes that ongoing political deadlocks and insufficient progress on transparency reforms continue to undermine trust and the European Council’s effectiveness; calls on the Council to apply the qualified majority voting procedures whenever possible and to consider targeted treaty reforms to enhance democratic decision-making and transparency within the European Council; |
Or. en
Amendment 32
Eero Heinäluoma
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 26 a. Reiterates its call for the Council of Ministers to move from unanimity to qualified majority voting for decisions in the field of foreign, security and defence policy; recalls that the EU Treaty framework already allows a number of different institutional forms of cooperation in CFSP/CSDP and notes with regret that the potential for rapid decision-making in this field, as provided for in the ‘passerelle clauses’ of the TEU, has been used only in a very limited manner; reaffirms, in this regard, its calls on the Council to make use of the untapped potential within the Treaties with a view to speeding up its decision-making in the common foreign, security and defence policy; |
Or. en
Amendment 33
Damian Boeselager
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 26 b. Raises concerns over the use of unanimity requirement in the Council and European Council, which impedes crucial decision-making in critical areas of foreign policy, enlargement procedures, budgetary matters and transparency; notes that unanimity requirement has caused significant impediment to effectively respond to Russia’s action, in particular on the imposition of sanctions which are subject to renewal every three months; expresses concern that efforts to support for Ukraine have been weakened due to the need for unanimity; calls on the Council to shift to qualified majority voting in critical areas in order for the Union to be able to act effectively in the face of global challenges. |
Or. en
Amendment 34
Damian Boeselager
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 26 a. Stresses that the protracted unwillingness and continued failure of the Council to respond and engage in legislative proceedings initiated by the Parliament constitutes a breach of its obligations under Article 265 TFEU; regrets, in particular, the deadlock and delays in negotiations with the Council on the right of inquiry and the European electoral law as well as the non-action of the European Council on the Article 48 TEU procedure on treaty changes; deplores the fact that the Council did not engage sufficiently with Parliament with the aim of holding formal discussions; calls on the Council to comply with the principle of mutual sincere cooperation enshrined in Article 13(2) TEU and to engage with Parliament in order to overcome the current institutional blockage; in the case of the right of inquiry, stresses the need to refer the case to the AFCO and JURI Committee for legal actions against the Council, as a clear case of the failure to act on the basis of Article 265 TFEU; |
Or. en
Amendment 35
Damian Boeselager
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 27. Regrets once again that the budget of the European Council and the Council has not been divided into two clearly separated budgets as recommended by Parliament in previous discharge resolutions in order to improve transparency and accountability, not least concerning the European Council, given that it is currently impossible to get reliable information about its costs; | 27. Regrets once again that the budget of the European Council and the Council has not been divided into two clearly separated budgets as recommended by Parliament in previous discharge resolutions in order to improve transparency and accountability, not least concerning the European Council, given that it is currently impossible to get reliable information about its costs; calls that this separation include distinct budget lines for meeting-related expenditure, travel, communication and representation costs, so that the discharge authority can distinguish between European Council and Council activities and assess trends over time; |
Or. en
Amendment 36
Damian Boeselager
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 35 a. Expresses concern over limited transparency on the Council’s use of consultancy services and external contractors; calls for proactive publication of all high-value contracts and framework contracts, including contract modifications, deliverables and performance indicators; urges risk-based transparency with particular scrutiny of contracts linked to IT, communications and reputational services, and calls for annual reporting on reliance on external contractors versus internal capacity; |
Or. en
Amendment 37
Csaba Molnár
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 35 a. Stresses the importance of procurement as a tool to advance policy objectives, including social and environmental goals; calls on the Council to strengthen the inclusion of strategic criteria on social responsibility and environmental sustainability in its procurement procedures; |
Or. en
Amendment 38
Damian Boeselager
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 35 b. Calls on the Council to publish an annual breakdown of travel and representation expenses of senior officials, including the President of the European Council, the High Representative, and the General Secretariat, in a user-friendly format accessible to the public; |
Or. en
Amendment 39
Damian Boeselager
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 40. Notes that the Council transmitted its annual report on internal audits carried out in 2024 to the discharge authority, in accordance with Article 118 of the Financial Regulation; notes that, at the end of 2024, 82 % of the recommendations issued during the years 2022-2024 had been implemented, 17 % were still open and for 1 %, risk had been accepted by management or the recommendations were no longer applicable; notes that four internal audits were finalised in 2024; notes that, for two of those audits (one on support to the European Peace Facility and the other on the accounting processes regarding the Secretariat’s intangible assets), the internal auditor issued several high priority recommendations which have been accepted by the audited services; | 40. Notes that the Council transmitted its annual report on internal audits carried out in 2024 to the discharge authority, in accordance with Article 118 of the Financial Regulation; notes that, at the end of 2024, 82 % of the recommendations issued during the years 2022-2024 had been implemented, 17 % were still open and for 1 %, risk had been accepted by management or the recommendations were no longer applicable; notes that four internal audits were finalised in 2024; notes that, for two of those audits (one on support to the European Peace Facility and the other on the accounting processes regarding the Secretariat’s intangible assets), the internal auditor issued several high priority recommendations which have been accepted by the audited services; requests that the Council provide the discharge authority with a public summary of the high-priority recommendations and a clear implementation timeline, notably where audits concern support to the European Peace Facility and the management of intangible assets, given the heightened public interest and reputational sensitivity of such spending; |
Or. en
Amendment 40
Csaba Molnár
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 47. Notes with satisfaction the Secretariat’s measures for persons with disabilities in the framework of its activities; notes that the Secretariat has put in place a simplified procedure for handling reasonable accommodation requests from trainees, members of staff and candidates with disabilities; notes further that follow-up training sessions for ushers on welcoming and accompanying visitors with different disabilities were organised in 2024; notes that the Secretariat welcomed 115 trainees in 2024, of which five were welcomed as part of the Secretariat’s positive action programme for trainees with disabilities; recalls that traineeships should be remunerated in compliance with Parliament's resolution of 14 June 2023 on quality traineeships in the Union (2020/2005(INL)), which calls for all internships in the Union to be paid; | 47. Notes with satisfaction the Secretariat’s measures for persons with disabilities in the framework of its activities; notes that the Secretariat has put in place a simplified procedure for handling reasonable accommodation requests from trainees, members of staff and candidates with disabilities; notes further that follow-up training sessions for ushers on welcoming and accompanying visitors with different disabilities were organised in 2024; notes that the Secretariat welcomed 115 trainees in 2024, of which five were welcomed as part of the Secretariat’s positive action programme for trainees with disabilities; recalls that traineeships should be remunerated in compliance with Parliament's resolution of 14 June 2023 on quality traineeships in the Union (2020/2005(INL)), which calls for all internships in the Union to be paid; emphasizes that unpaid traineeships constitute a form of exploitation of young workers and a barrier to equal opportunities; |
Or. en
Amendment 41
Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 49. Reiterates that ethical conduct contributes to sound financial management and increases public trust and that, as stressed by the Court in its Special Report 13/2019, there is scope for improvement in the ethical frameworks of the Union institutions; recalls, in particular, the recommendation issued by the Court with regard to improving the Council’s ethical framework; expresses concern about the lack of a common Union ethical framework governing the work of the representatives of Member States in the Council as identified by the Court; | 49. Reiterates that ethical conduct contributes to sound financial management and increases public trust and that, as stressed by the Court in its Special Report 13/2019, there is scope for improvement in the ethical frameworks of the Union institutions; recalls, in particular, the recommendation issued by the Court with regard to improving the Council’s ethical framework; expresses concern about the lack of a common Union ethical framework governing the work of the representatives of Member States in the Council as identified by the Court; stresses that no EU institution should be exempt from clear, binding and enforceable ethical rules when participating in Union decision-making that involve public expenditure; |
Or. en
Amendment 42
Andrey Kovatchev
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 51. Notes that the Secretariat publishes an annual report with information regarding the occupational activities of former senior officials of the Secretariat after leaving the service in accordance with Article 16, third and fourth paragraphs, of the Staff Regulations of officials of the Union; notes that, according to the report concerning 2024, one former senior official declared their intention to engage in occupational activities more than 12 months after having left the Secretariat; notes that commission paritaire was consulted before issuing a decision in this case; notes with regret a lack of information on the Council’s website as to whether the decision taken was in favour or against granting the permission to engage in the requested activity; reiterates its call on the Council to establish stricter post-term employment rules for senior officials, including an extended cooling-off period and mandatory public disclosure of private-sector affiliations; | 51. Notes that the Secretariat publishes an annual report with information regarding the occupational activities of former senior officials of the Secretariat after leaving the service in accordance with Article 16, third and fourth paragraphs, of the Staff Regulations of officials of the Union; notes that, according to the report concerning 2024, one former senior official declared their intention to engage in occupational activities more than 12 months after having left the Secretariat; notes that commission paritaire was consulted before issuing a decision in this case; notes with regret a lack of information on the Council’s website as to whether the decision taken was in favour or against granting the permission to engage in the requested activity; reiterates its call on the Council to establish a clear, proportionate and enforceable post-term employment rules for senior officials, building on the existing legal framework and to ensure appropriate transparency, including when relevant public disclosure of private-sector affiliations, in full respect of fundamental rights and proportionality principles; |
Or. en
Amendment 43
Ondřej Knotek, Julien Sanchez, Virginie Joron, Tamás Deutsch
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 51 a. Recalls that diplomatic activity carried out by Member States, including by their Permanent Representations, constitutes an exercise of public authority and interstate relations under the Treaties and international law; underlines that transparency requirements must be applied in a proportionate manner and in full respect of Member States’ institutional roles, sovereign prerogatives and responsibilities under the Treaties; |
Or. en
Amendment 44
Andrey Kovatchev
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 52. Regrets the fact that the participation of the Member States’ Permanent Representatives in the mandatory transparency register, set up by the interinstitutional agreement of 20 May 2021 between Parliament, the Council and the Commission, is completely voluntary as the application of the conditionality principle is left to the discretion of each Member State’s Permanent Representation; notes that only a limited number of Member States and the Union institutions abide by the best practice of applying a mandatory broad-scope definition of lobbyist in their regulatory framework and insists that all Permanent Representations should take an active part in the mandatory transparency register before, during and after their Member State’s Council presidency; recalls Parliament’s position that Member State representatives who benefit directly from Union subsidies through the businesses they own should not be allowed to participate in policy or budgetary discussions and votes related to those subsidies; regrets that the Council does not fully use the mandatory transparency register or accept proposals to improve it; reiterates its call on the Council to refrain from engaging with unregistered lobbyists and to make sure that its senior officials, including Permanent Representatives and Heads of Delegation, publicly disclose their meetings with interest groups and lobbyists in a standardised transparency register, similar to the obligations imposed on Members of Parliament and the Commission; | 52. Notes that the participation of the Member States’ Permanent Representatives in the mandatory transparency register, set up by the interinstitutional agreement of 20 May 2021 between Parliament, the Council and the Commission, is completely voluntary as the application of the conditionality principle is left to the discretion of each Member State’s Permanent Representation; notes that only a limited number of Member States and the Union institutions abide by the practice of applying a mandatory broad-scope definition of lobbyist in their regulatory framework; recalls Parliament’s position that Member State representatives who benefit directly from Union subsidies through the businesses they own should not be allowed to participate in policy or budgetary discussions and votes related to those subsidies; |
Or. en
Amendment 45
Ondřej Knotek, Virginie Joron, Tamás Deutsch
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 52. Regrets the fact that the participation of the Member States’ Permanent Representatives in the mandatory transparency register, set up by the interinstitutional agreement of 20 May 2021 between Parliament, the Council and the Commission, is completely voluntary as the application of the conditionality principle is left to the discretion of each Member State’s Permanent Representation; notes that only a limited number of Member States and the Union institutions abide by the best practice of applying a mandatory broad-scope definition of lobbyist in their regulatory framework and insists that all Permanent Representations should take an active part in the mandatory transparency register before, during and after their Member State’s Council presidency; recalls Parliament’s position that Member State representatives who benefit directly from Union subsidies through the businesses they own should not be allowed to participate in policy or budgetary discussions and votes related to those subsidies; regrets that the Council does not fully use the mandatory transparency register or accept proposals to improve it; reiterates its call on the Council to refrain from engaging with unregistered lobbyists and to make sure that its senior officials, including Permanent Representatives and Heads of Delegation, publicly disclose their meetings with interest groups and lobbyists in a standardised transparency register, similar to the obligations imposed on Members of Parliament and the Commission; | 52. Notes the fact that the participation of the Member States’ Permanent Representatives in the mandatory transparency register, set up by the interinstitutional agreement of 20 May 2021 between Parliament, the Council and the Commission, is completely voluntary as the application of the conditionality principle is left to the discretion of each Member State’s Permanent Representation; notes that only a limited number of Member States and the Union institutions abide by the best practice of applying a mandatory broad-scope definition of lobbyist in their regulatory framework and is of the view that all Permanent Representations should take an active part in the mandatory transparency register before, during and after their Member State’s Council presidency; recalls Parliament’s position that Member State representatives who benefit directly from Union subsidies through the businesses they own should not be allowed to participate in policy or budgetary discussions and votes related to those subsidies; notes that the Council does not fully use the mandatory transparency register or accept proposals to improve it; reiterates its call on the Council to refrain from engaging with unregistered lobbyists and to make sure that its senior officials, including Permanent Representatives and Heads of Delegation, publicly disclose their meetings with interest groups and lobbyists in a standardised transparency register, similar to the obligations imposed on Members of Parliament and the Commission; |
Or. en
Amendment 46
Csaba Molnár
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 52 a. Expresses deep concern over investigative findings revealing that the Hungarian government allegedly operated a covert intelligence network from within its Permanent Representation to the EU for several years, involving systematic espionage and recruitment attempts targeting EU officials; notes that these activities reportedly took place under the political responsibility of the then Head of the Permanent Representation, now Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi; underlines that such conduct constitutes a serious breach of mutual trust and loyal cooperation between Member States and exemplifies the broader pattern of state abuse of surveillance powers; calls on the Council to ensure full accountability for any misuse of diplomatic cover for intelligence or influence-seeking purposes and to reinforce safeguards preventing any Member State from using its Permanent Representation or Council Presidency for activities that conflict with the Union interest, the rule of law, and the values enshrined in Article 2 TEU; insists that Member States must refrain from employing their Permanent Representations and Council Presidencies for party-political or intelligence purposes that run counter to the Union’s principles and institutional integrity; |
Or. en
Amendment 47
Damian Boeselager
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 54. Notes that, the European Ombudsman opened a new own-initiative inquiry in 2023 and finalised it in 2024 regarding how the Council handles public access requests for legislative documents; notes the conclusions of that inquiry which found that the Council used the protection of ongoing decision-making processes as a reason for refusing access to documents with arguments that were “vague, abstract, and unsubstantiated”; recalls the fact that the CJEU dismissed arguments that included the need to avoid external pressure or public misinterpretation or the need to protect legal advice; is thus concerned that the Council fails to be consistent with Union case law; asks the Council to rectify these shortcomings by promptly disclosing legislative documents, even if doing so would give rise to external pressure as this is a factor in any democratic law-making process and refuse access to legislative documents only in truly exceptional circumstances; | 54. Notes that, the European Ombudsman opened a new own-initiative inquiry in 2023 and finalised it in 2024 regarding how the Council handles public access requests for legislative documents; notes the conclusions of that inquiry which found that the Council used the protection of ongoing decision-making processes as a reason for refusing access to documents with arguments that were “vague, abstract, and unsubstantiated”; recalls the fact that the CJEU dismissed arguments that included the need to avoid external pressure or public misinterpretation or the need to protect legal advice; is thus concerned that the Council fails to be consistent with Union case law; asks the Council to rectify these shortcomings by promptly disclosing legislative documents, even if doing so would give rise to external pressure as this is a factor in any democratic law-making process and refuse access to legislative documents only in truly exceptional circumstances; calls on the Council to implement without delay the Ombudsman’s conclusions and relevant case-law by ensuring that refusals under ‘protection of ongoing decision-making’ are strictly justified case-by-case, reasoned in a concrete manner, and subject to robust internal review; calls for proactive publication of key legislative documents (including working party documents and negotiating positions) as the default, and for annual public reporting on refusal grounds used; |
Or. en
Amendment 48
Pasquale Tridico
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 59
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 59. Notes that, in 2023, the Secretariat continued to pursue its goal of digital transformation, in line with its Digital Strategy priorities for 2022-2025; notes, that out of 103 IT related projects in the annual work plan for 2024, 11 % were completed at the end of the year while 3 % were cancelled or merged, with the majority of projects (62 %) still ongoing; | 59. Notes that, in 2024, the Secretariat continued to pursue its goal of digital transformation, in line with its Digital Strategy priorities for 2022-2025; notes, that out of 103 IT related projects in the annual work plan for 2024, 11 % were completed at the end of the year while 3 % were cancelled or merged, with the majority of projects (62 %) still ongoing; |
Or. it
Amendment 49
Csaba Molnár
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 63. Notes that the Secretariat tested various artificial intelligence-based tools to answer questions on Staff Regulations, build learning materials (structured content, case studies, quizzes or videos based on a specific prompt) or to assist managers in examining CVs; | 63. Notes that the Secretariat tested various artificial intelligence-based tools to answer questions on Staff Regulations, build learning materials (structured content, case studies, quizzes or videos based on a specific prompt) or to assist managers in examining CVs; stresses that the use of artificial intelligence must be carried out by guaranteeing strict principles of ethical use, transparency, data protection, human oversight, and protection against algorithmic bias or misuse; |
Or. en
Amendment 50
Csaba Molnár
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 66
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 66. Notes key projects executed in 2024 such as the renovation of Council’s meeting rooms, including new furniture, office corridors and the Justus Lipsius accreditation desk. | 66. Notes that key projects were executed in 2024 such as the renovation of Council’s meeting rooms, including new furniture, office corridors and the Justus Lipsius accreditation desk. |
Or. en
Amendment 51
Pasquale Tridico
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 68
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 68. Notes that the budget line 2011 for “Water, gas, electricity and heating” was reinforced by 33% through a budgetary transfer in 2023; notes that the Secretariat continued to reduce its energy consumption, such as by reducing the building heating and by replacing the boilers in the Justus Lipsius building; | 68. Notes that the budget line 2011 for “Water, gas, electricity and heating” was reinforced by 33% through a budgetary transfer in 2024; notes that the Secretariat continued to reduce its energy consumption, such as by reducing the building heating and by replacing the boilers in the Justus Lipsius building; |
Or. it
Amendment 52
Csaba Molnár
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 69. Notes that key projects were executed in 2023 such as the renovation of some meeting rooms in the LEX and Justus Lipsius buildings, the continuous renovation of office corridors in the Justus Lipsius building, improvements of facilities/infrastructures for bikes in GSC premises and modernisation of the Justus Lipsius reception desks; | deleted |
Or. en
Amendment 53
Pasquale Tridico
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 69
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 69. Notes that key projects were executed in 2023 such as the renovation of some meeting rooms in the LEX and Justus Lipsius buildings, the continuous renovation of office corridors in the Justus Lipsius building, improvements of facilities/infrastructures for bikes in GSC premises and modernisation of the Justus Lipsius reception desks; | 69. Notes that key projects were executed in 2024 such as the renovation of some meeting rooms in the LEX and Justus Lipsius buildings, the continuous renovation of office corridors in the Justus Lipsius building, improvements of facilities/infrastructures for bikes in GSC premises and modernisation of the Justus Lipsius reception desks; |
Or. it
Amendment 54
Andrey Kovatchev
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 70. Regrets that the Council has still not implemented a simplified accreditation procedure to facilitate the access of the other Union institutions’ members of staff to Council’s premises; | 70. Regrets that the Council has still not implemented a simplified accreditation procedure to facilitate the access of the other Union institutions’ members of staff to Council’s premises; calls on the Council to introduce such a procedure without further delay in the spirit of interinstitutional cooperation; |
Or. en
Amendment 55
Csaba Molnár
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 70. Regrets that the Council has still not implemented a simplified accreditation procedure to facilitate the access of the other Union institutions’ members of staff to Council’s premises; | 70. Regrets that the Council has still not implemented a simplified accreditation procedure to facilitate the access of the other Union institutions’ members of staff to Council’s premises; calls on the Council to swiftly adopt and apply such a mechanism; |
Or. en
Amendment 56
Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 76. Stresses the need for Article 319 TFEU to be revised as part of a change of that Treaty in order to explicitly stipulate that Parliament, besides granting discharge to the Commission, also grants discharge to other Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies in respect of the implementation of their sections of the budget or of their budgets; invites the Council to overcome the inter-institutional conflict and to resume talks with Parliament in order to reach a common agreement for a smooth resumption of the discharge procedure; | 76. Stresses the need for Article 319 TFEU to be revised as part of a change of that Treaty in order to explicitly stipulate that Parliament, besides granting discharge to the Commission, also grants discharge to other Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies in respect of the implementation of their sections of the budget or of their budgets, aiming to esure legal clarity, consistency and equal treatment among Union institutions; invites the Council to overcome the inter-institutional conflict and to resume talks with Parliament in order to reach a common agreement for a smooth and Treaty-compliant resumption of the discharge procedure; |
Or. en
Amendment 57
Andrey Kovatchev
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 76. Stresses the need for Article 319 TFEU to be revised as part of a change of that Treaty in order to explicitly stipulate that Parliament, besides granting discharge to the Commission, also grants discharge to other Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies in respect of the implementation of their sections of the budget or of their budgets; invites the Council to overcome the inter-institutional conflict and to resume talks with Parliament in order to reach a common agreement for a smooth resumption of the discharge procedure; | 76. Stresses the need for Article 319 TFEU to be revised as part of a change of that Treaty in order to explicitly stipulate that Parliament, besides granting discharge to the Commission, also grants discharge to other Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies in respect of the implementation of their sections of the budget or of their budgets; invites the Council to overcome the inter-institutional conflict and to resume talks with Parliament in order to reach a common agreement for a smooth resumption of the discharge procedure and calls for this intention to be translated into concrete steps in due time; |
Or. en
Amendment 58
Damian Boeselager
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 76 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 76 a. Calls on the Council to resume negotiations at the highest level to resolve the long-standing discharge impasse; requests the Commission and the Council Legal Service to provide a legal opinion on potential Treaty-based solutions to enforce Council accountability in the discharge procedure; |
Or. en
Amendment 59
Pasquale Tridico
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 77. Notes that, in 2023, the overall budget for communication, taking into account transfers implemented in the course of the year, was EUR 12 518 610, i.e. 5,45 % higher than the 2023 budget; | 77. Notes that, in 2024, the overall budget for communication, taking into account transfers implemented in the course of the year, was EUR 12 518 610, i.e. 5,45 % higher than the 2023 budget; |
Or. it