Deliberations of the Committee on Petitions in 2023

Wording as published by the EP, in English.

1. Amendment 16Rejected

   Paragraph 2 a (new)

   Tabled by Ana Miranda Paz · Verts/ALE

   Added: 2a. Highlights the vital activities carried out by the Committee on Petitions in dealing with petitions, submitted on behalf of 91 organisations that are part of the Fossil Free Politics coalition, calling for the fossil fuel industry to be held to account for its role in the energy and cost of living crises and for an end to fossil fuel influence in EU decision-making; underlines the overwhelming evidence brought to light by petitioners, on the basis of independent academic research, showing that the fossil fuel industry has long been fully aware of the dangers its products pose to the climate and that it has chosen to spread climate denialism and disinformation rather than supporting a transition to a future based on renewable energy;

2. Amendment 19Adopted

   Paragraph 2 d (new)

   Tabled by Ana Miranda Paz · Verts/ALE

   Added: 2d. Commends the essential work done by the Committee on Petitions on the petitions concerning the Akamas Peninsula, the most biodiverse area in Cyprus, which has for decades experienced repeated systemic violations of the Habitats Directive1a and the Birds Directive1b, in an overall context of a lack of effective and legally binding measures to protect this area and in view of recent plans brought forward by the Cypriot competent authorities, with devastating effects on the area’s very fragile natural ecosystems, in violation of EU environmental legislation; underlines that, following the Committee on Petitions’ work on this matter, on 13 March 2024 the Commission decided to bring Cyprus before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for the Cypriot authorities’ failure to comply with the Habitats Directive; regrets that in the time that has passed since that decision – over one year – the Commission has not submitted a file to the CJEU, and has thus failed to officially start legal proceedings; ______________ 1a Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1992/43/oj). 1b Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7 (ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2009/147/oj).

3. Amendment 20Adopted

   Paragraph 2 e (new)

   Tabled by Ana Miranda Paz · Verts/ALE

   Added: 2e. Underlines the key work performed by the Committee on Petitions on the protection of workers’ rights against discrimination and the abuse of fixed-term contracts in the public sector in Italy; appreciates that the Commission took into due account the very sound legal documents provided by the petitioners, which were carefully assessed in various meetings of the Committee on Petitions, when it decided to bring Italy before the CJEU for failing to end the abusive use of fixed-term contracts and discriminatory employment conditions, in breach of Council Directive 1999/70/EC;

4. Amendment 23Rejected

   Paragraph 10

   Tabled by Ana Miranda Paz · Verts/ALE

   Removed: 10. Strongly condemns the harassment and intimidation to which the official members of the Delegation of the Committee on Petitions were subjected during their fact-finding visit to Barcelona from 18 to 20 December 2023, with the aim of assessing in situ the language immersion model in Catalonia, its effects on families moving to and residing in the Autonomous Community, as well as on multilingualism and non-discrimination and the principle of the rule of law; Added: deleted

5. Amendment 24Adopted

   Paragraph 11

   Tabled by Ana Miranda Paz · Verts/ALE

   Removed: 11. Condemns the attempted ‘escraches’ (public shaming through doorstep demonstrations), violence and intimidation by separatist entities and groups in Catalonia that were intended to prevent the smooth running of the mission and with which they sought to coerce MEPs so that the outcome of the mission would favour their interests; Added: deleted

6. Amendment 25Rejected

   Paragraph 12

   Tabled by Ana Miranda Paz · Verts/ALE

   Removed: 12. Regrets that the competent education authorities in the region have not implemented the recommendations issued by the Committee on Petitions in its report of 19 March 2024 following the mission, aimed at protecting the linguistic rights of students and their families; Added: deleted

7. Amendment 26Rejected

   Paragraph 21

   Tabled by Ana Miranda Paz · Verts/ALE

   Removed: 21. Takes note of the sudden increase in petitions of Spanish origin in the second half of 2023 concerning the risks to the rule of law in Spain as a result of the Spanish Government’s intention to adopt an Amnesty Law contrary to constitutional and European law; Added: deleted

8. Amendment 27Rejected

   Paragraph 27

   Tabled by Ana Miranda Paz · Verts/ALE

   27. Following the fact-finding visit to Romania, stresses the need for Removed: a balance between wildlife protection and the citizens’ safety; underlines that each Member State should be allowed to take measures, including population control of the species, in order to prevent threats to the lives and property of its citizens; Added: full and consistent implementation of the Habitats Directive1a to improve the protection of valuable natural areas and wildlife as well as citizens’ well-being; _______________ 1a Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1992/43/oj.

9. Amendment 28Rejected

   Paragraph 19 a (new)

   Tabled by Christine Anderson · ESN

   Added: 19a. Recalls its criticism of the Commission for failing to disclose full details of the contracts signed with pharmaceutical companies regarding COVID-19 vaccines, thereby violating citizens’ right to information, as stated in its 2021 report on deliberations1a; notes that the Commission has claimed the messages exchanged between the President of the Commission and the CEO of Pfizer were deleted on the grounds that they were of a ‘short-lived and ephemeral nature’ and contained no ‘important information relating to policies, activities, and decisions of the Commission’; takes note of the court cases filed in 2023 against the President of the Commission for the alleged ‘destruction of public documents’; further notes that on 14 May 2025, the EU General Court ruled that the Commission was wrong to refuse access to these text messages, emphasising that such communications fall under EU transparency rules and should have been disclosed; reiterates its full commitment to complete transparency on this matter; ________________ 1a European Parliament resolution of 15 December 2022 on the outcome of the Committee on Petitions’ deliberations during 2021, OJ C 177, 17.5.2023, p. 129.

10. Amendment 28Rejected

    Paragraph 19 a (new)

    Tabled by Christine Anderson · ESN

    Added: 19a. Recalls its criticism of the Commission for failing to disclose full details of the contracts signed with pharmaceutical companies regarding COVID-19 vaccines, thereby violating citizens’ right to information, as stated in its 2021 report on deliberations1a; notes that the Commission has claimed the messages exchanged between the President of the Commission and the CEO of Pfizer were deleted on the grounds that they were of a ‘short-lived and ephemeral nature’ and contained no ‘important information relating to policies, activities, and decisions of the Commission’; takes note of the court cases filed in 2023 against the President of the Commission for the alleged ‘destruction of public documents’; further notes that on 14 May 2025, the EU General Court ruled that the Commission was wrong to refuse access to these text messages, emphasising that such communications fall under EU transparency rules and should have been disclosed; reiterates its full commitment to complete transparency on this matter; ________________ 1a European Parliament resolution of 15 December 2022 on the outcome of the Committee on Petitions’ deliberations during 2021, OJ C 177, 17.5.2023, p. 129.

11. Amendment 28Rejected

    Paragraph 19 a (new)

    Tabled by Christine Anderson · ESN

    Added: 19a. Recalls its criticism of the Commission for failing to disclose full details of the contracts signed with pharmaceutical companies regarding COVID-19 vaccines, thereby violating citizens’ right to information, as stated in its 2021 report on deliberations1a; notes that the Commission has claimed the messages exchanged between the President of the Commission and the CEO of Pfizer were deleted on the grounds that they were of a ‘short-lived and ephemeral nature’ and contained no ‘important information relating to policies, activities, and decisions of the Commission’; takes note of the court cases filed in 2023 against the President of the Commission for the alleged ‘destruction of public documents’; further notes that on 14 May 2025, the EU General Court ruled that the Commission was wrong to refuse access to these text messages, emphasising that such communications fall under EU transparency rules and should have been disclosed; reiterates its full commitment to complete transparency on this matter; ________________ 1a European Parliament resolution of 15 December 2022 on the outcome of the Committee on Petitions’ deliberations during 2021, OJ C 177, 17.5.2023, p. 129.

12. Amendment 28Rejected

    Paragraph 19 a (new)

    Tabled by Christine Anderson · ESN

    Added: 19a. Recalls its criticism of the Commission for failing to disclose full details of the contracts signed with pharmaceutical companies regarding COVID-19 vaccines, thereby violating citizens’ right to information, as stated in its 2021 report on deliberations1a; notes that the Commission has claimed the messages exchanged between the President of the Commission and the CEO of Pfizer were deleted on the grounds that they were of a ‘short-lived and ephemeral nature’ and contained no ‘important information relating to policies, activities, and decisions of the Commission’; takes note of the court cases filed in 2023 against the President of the Commission for the alleged ‘destruction of public documents’; further notes that on 14 May 2025, the EU General Court ruled that the Commission was wrong to refuse access to these text messages, emphasising that such communications fall under EU transparency rules and should have been disclosed; reiterates its full commitment to complete transparency on this matter; ________________ 1a European Parliament resolution of 15 December 2022 on the outcome of the Committee on Petitions’ deliberations during 2021, OJ C 177, 17.5.2023, p. 129.

13. Amendment 29Adopted

    Recital F a (new)

    Tabled by Cristian Terheş, Kosma Złotowski · ECR

    Added: Fa. whereas the Committee on Petitions (PETI) played a significant role in combating discrimination against Romanian and Bulgarian citizens during the period in which their countries had not yet joined the Schengen area; whereas PETI made a key contribution in advocating equal treatment and addressing the unjustified barriers faced by these citizens; whereas the starting point was Petition 0004/2023, submitted by Răzvan Eugen Nicolescu on behalf of the ‘Asociația pentru Energie Curată și Combaterea Schimbărilor Climatice’, as well as the subsequent plenary resolution on accession to the Schengen area, adopted under Rule 227(2) of the Rules of Procedure1a; _______________ 1a OJ C, C/2024/3999, 17.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/3999/oj.

14. Amendment 30Adopted

    Paragraph 2 a (new)

    Tabled by Cristian Terheş, Kosma Złotowski · ECR

    Added: 2a. Commends the PETI Committee for considering Petition 1168/2023, submitted by Mihai Igna on behalf of the Association ‘Together We Bring Prosperity’, which calls for the restitution of Romania’s national treasure and historical archives currently held in Russia; emphasises the profound historical significance of this debate for all Member States that have been historically impacted by Russia’s acts of looting, particularly in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine, as it highlights the broader challenges related to cultural preservation and safeguarding national heritage during times of geopolitical conflict; stresses that the PETI Committee’s engagement with this issue demonstrates its commitment to upholding the rights of EU citizens and Member States, and protecting Romania’s historical legacy and supporting its legitimate claims on the international stage; recalls the subsequent plenary resolution concerning the return of Romanian national treasure illegally appropriated by Russia1a; _______________ 1a OJ C, C/2024/6559, 12.11.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/6559/oj.

15. Amendment 31Rejected

    Paragraph 24 a (new)

    Tabled by Cristian Terheş, Kosma Złotowski · ECR

    Added: 24a. Recalls the significant number of petitions submitted by EU citizens highlighting abuses committed by the Commission and Member State authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic; regrets that the PETI Committee has failed to follow up with meaningful actions, leaving citizens unheard and unprotected during these unprecedented times; underlines that this lack of response undermines citizens’ trust in and the accountability they rightfully expect from the EU institutions in addressing such serious concerns;

16. Amendment 35Rejected

    Paragraph 7

    Tabled by Pál Szekeres, Virginie Joron, Mireia Borrás Pabón +3 · PfE

    … within the EU and to consult, where appropriate, the relevant national ombudsman; Removed: expresses its concerns about the way the Commission is handling some infringement procedures launched against Member States, including those related to issues raised in many petitions; encourages the Commission to put in place all necessary measures to improve … management of infringement procedures, which can be perceived as opaque by citizens; Added: stresses the need for the Commission to be more transparent in its work, in particular in the handling of petitions and infringement proceedings; calls for all reasons for decisions to be published in full, in a timely manner and in a way that is accessible to the public in order to ensure genuine democratic transparency;

17. Amendment 36Adopted

    Paragraph 8 a (new)

    Tabled by Virginie Joron, Pál Szekeres, Nikola Bartůšek +2 · PfE

    Added: 8a. Recalls that freedom of expression is a fundamental pillar of European democracy; condemns any attempt to censor, marginalise or intimidate citizens or their elected representatives on the basis of their political opinions; stresses also that respect for the results of elections, at national and European level, is essential for maintaining citizens’ trust in the democratic process;

18. Amendment 38Adopted

    Paragraph 21

    Tabled by Mireia Borrás Pabón, Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal +6 · PfE

    … intention to adopt an Amnesty Law contrary to constitutional and European law; Added: deplores the attacks on the rule of law and the separation of powers carried out by the Spanish Government;

19. Amendment 42Adopted

    Paragraph 33

    Tabled by Mireia Borrás Pabón, Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Pál Szekeres +3 · PfE

    … in the first place, inter alia by providing secure and affordable housing; Added: recalls that illegal squatting cannot be considered a solution to homelessness, as the right to property is enshrined in Article 17 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights; underlines that Member States should seek real solutions rather than promoting illegal squatting, as housing policy falls under the exclusive competence of the Member States;