Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2023

Wording as published by the EP, in English.

1. Amendment 1Rejected

   Paragraph 13 a (new)

   Tabled by Gordan Bosanac · Verts/ALE

   Added: 13a. Highlights the fact that the Ombudsman’s inquiry in case OI/3/2023/MHZ concerning the role of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in search and rescue operations has shown the existence of severe shortcomings in complying with the obligation to protect fundamental rights as well as the duty to save lives at sea; stresses that this inquiry was launched by the Ombudsman following the Adriana shipwreck in June 2023, which resulted in over 600 people drowning off the coast of Greece; endorses the Ombudsman’s suggestions aimed at ensuring that Frontex complies with its fundamental rights obligations with regard to search and rescue in the context of its maritime surveillance activities; supports the Ombudsman’s call on Parliament, the Council and the Commission to establish an independent commission of inquiry to assess the reasons for the large numbers of deaths in the Mediterranean Sea and make the necessary changes to prevent any tragic loss of life from reoccurring;

2. Amendment 2Rejected

   Paragraph 19 a (new)

   Tabled by Gordan Bosanac · Verts/ALE

   Added: 19a. Underlines the fact that the EU has planned unprecedented levels of investment, involving both the public and private sectors, under NextGenerationEU, thus making it even more crucial to have in place at EU level a decision-making process based on full transparency and on the strongest ethical rules; calls on the Ombudsman to strengthen oversight of the implementation of the rules and procedures concerning the allocation and use of EU funds under NextGenerationEU to ensure the integrity, full transparency and democratic accountability of the EU institutions, as well as helping to prevent conflicts of interest, breaches of the rule of law and cases of corruption;

3. Amendment 3Adopted

   Paragraph 27

   Tabled by Gordan Bosanac · Verts/ALE

   … EU institutions, guaranteeing transparency and handling cases of non-compliance with Union law; Added: welcomes the joining of ENO by the Institution of the Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina; calls on the Ombudsman to strengthen cooperation with the national ombudsmen’s offices of EU candidate countries in order to enhance the capacity of those countries’ public authorities to align themselves with EU standards in terms of good administration, integrity and accountability;

4. Amendment 4Rejected

   Paragraph 12

   Tabled by Nikos Pappas, Damien Carême · The Left

   12. Appreciates the Ombudsman’s commitment to upholding Removed: fundamental rights in migration-related actions; notes Added: the fundamental and human rights of migrants in the EU’s border management activities by launching inquiries into the actions of Frontex and the Commission in this area; highlights that the Ombudsman Added: asked the Commission how it ensures that EU funds granted to Greece for border management do not contribute to fundamental rights violations; welcomes the fact that the Ombudsman, in an effort to ensure that the EU complies with its human rights obligations, asked for further clarification from the Commission as to how it intends … for human rights in the context of the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding, Removed: in an effort to ensure that the EU complies with its human rights obligations; Added: which has provided Tunisia EUR 105 million in EU funding for border management; welcomes also the Ombudsman inquiry into how the European External Action Service assesses human rights risks before providing support to non-EU countries to develop surveillance capabilities, as well as the other inquiry into Frontex’s assistance in this area; stresses that all EU institutions, bodies and agencies have an obligation to …

5. Amendment 5Rejected

   Paragraph 13

   Tabled by Nikos Pappas, Damien Carême · The Left

   … to draw up a fundamental rights impact assessment of EU-funded migration management Removed: facilities, Added: facilities in Greece (multi-purpose reception and identification centres), to make this assessment public and to review it periodically, following a relevant own-initiative inquiry by the Removed: Ombudsman; stresses that local residents also have rights; Added: Ombudsman into how the Commission ensures respect for fundamental rights in these facilities;

6. Amendment 6Rejected

   Paragraph 13 a (new)

   Tabled by Nikos Pappas, Damien Carême · The Left

   Added: 13a. Welcomes the opening of an own-initiative inquiry aimed at clarifying Frontex’s role in search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea, following the Pylos shipwreck in 2023, which resulted in at least 700 people drowning off the Greek coast; highlights the fact that the Ombudsman asked Frontex to do more to ensure that it complies with its fundamental rights obligations with regard to search and rescue in the context of its maritime surveillance activities; recalls that the Ombudsman decision mentions that Frontex units should respond when they detect boats in potential emergency situations in the context of their specific and unique activities, including regarding the issuance of emergency signals; notes that the inquiry also demonstrated the need for greater clarity on roles and responsibilities and, importantly, on the nature of Frontex’s cooperation with national authorities; highlights the opening of a separate inquiry aiming at ensuring that the fundamental rights of migrants are respected during ‘debriefing interviews’; recalls that Frontex, like all EU institutions, bodies and agencies, has an obligation to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms as outlined in the Treaties and the Charter;

7. Amendment 7Rejected

   Paragraph 12 a (new)

   Tabled by Cristian Terheş · ECR

   Added: 12a. Calls on the Commission to ensure full transparency by publishing without further delay the non-redacted versions of all the advance purchase agreements and the purchase agreements for COVID-19 vaccines;