Amending Regulations (EU) No 1024/2012 and (EU) 2018/1724 as regards certain requirements laid down by Directive (EU) XXXX/XXXX

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

Amendment 2

Alexandra Geese

Proposal for a regulation

–

	Proposal for rejection
	The European Parliament rejects the Commission proposal.

Or. en

Justification

The EU Commission does not know the extent of the “problem” it is trying to address. In its Impact Assessment, the Commission states that “the scale of interest representation activities carried out on behalf of third countries in the member states is largely unknown.” Secondly, there is no evidence in the Impact Assessment demonstrating that transparency measures have been effective in holding foreign actors to account for their activities and protecting democratic integrity. The proposed Directive only aims at legal interest representation activities. Illegal activities, however, seem to be at the core of the issue, but will not be tackled by this Directive. It is largely unclear how the Directive would ensure that bad actors are identified by Member State authorities. Thirdly, the Directive overlooks the fact that covert foreign interference may come from diverse sources, both within and outside the EU (letterbox organisations) thereby creating loopholes. Fourth, the definitions are unclear and would lead to legal uncertainty. Finally, the proposal stigmatises civil society organisations in Europe, it would shrink the space of CSOs and allow for an abuse of the proposal to further crack down on CSOs in certain Member States.

Amendment 3

Alex Agius Saliba

on behalf of the S&D Group

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 1

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(1) Directive (EU) [XXXX/XXXX] of the European Parliament and of the Council3 lays down harmonised requirements in relation to economic activities of interest representation carried out on behalf of a third country entity, with a view to improving the functioning of the internal market by achieving a common level of transparency across the Union.	(1) Directive (EU) [XXXX/XXXX] of the European Parliament and of the Council3 lays down harmonised requirements in relation to economic activities of interest representation, with a view to improving the functioning of the internal market by achieving a common level of transparency across the Union.
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3 Directive (EU) XXXX/XXXX of the European Parliament and of the Council European Parliament and of the Council of XXXX establishing harmonised requirements in the internal market on transparency of interest representation carried out on behalf of third countries and amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 (OJ L […], […], p. […], ELI: …).	3 Directive (EU) XXXX/XXXX of the European Parliament and of the Council European Parliament and of the Council of XXXX establishing harmonised requirements in the internal market on transparency of interest representation and amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 (OJ L […], […], p. […], ELI: …).

Or. en

Amendment 4

Alex Agius Saliba

on behalf of the S&D Group

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1

Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012

Annex – point 17

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Directive (EU) [XXXX/XXXX] of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing harmonised requirements in the internal market on transparency of interest representation carried out on behalf of third countries and amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937*: Article 11(4), Article 16(5) and (6), Article 17(2), (4) and (5) and Article 18.	Directive (EU) [XXXX/XXXX] of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing harmonised requirements in the internal market on transparency of interest representation and amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937*: Article 11(4), Article 16(5) and (6), Article 17(2), (4) and (5) and Article 18.

Or. en

Amendment 5

Alex Agius Saliba

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a

Regulation (EU) 2018/1724

Annex II – second column

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
* Directive (EU) XXXX/XXXX of the European Parliament and of the Council of XXXX establishing harmonised requirements in the internal market on transparency of interest representation carried out on behalf of third countries and amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 (OJ L […], […], p. […], ELI: …).;	* Directive (EU) XXXX/XXXX of the European Parliament and of the Council of XXXX establishing harmonised requirements in the internal market on transparency of interest representation and amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 (OJ L […], […], p. […], ELI: …).;

Or. en