### ε. whereas access to education and educational attainment is an issue for racialised communities throughout europe; whereas segregation in education remains an issue in certain member states; ### ε. whereas access to education and educational attainment is an issue for racialised communities throughout europe; whereas segregation in education remains a significant issue in europe;


### f. whereas it is important for children and young people to see that they are represented throughout society , including in the classroom and on the media that they use; ### f. whereas it is important for children and young people to see that they are represented throughout society , including in the classroom , in their sports activities , on the internet and on the media that they use;


### f. whereas it is important for children and young people to see that they are represented throughout society , including in the classroom and on the media that they use; ### f. whereas it is important for children and young people to see that they are represented throughout society , including in the classroom , cultural and sport clubs and on the media


### g. whereas although sport has the power to unite communities , there is a serious issue of racism within sporting organisations across europe; ### g. whereas although sport has the power to unite communities , there is a serious issue of racism within some sporting organisations across europe; whereas the radicalisation occurring in these groups must be identified and combated;


### g. whereas although sport has the power to unite communities , there is a serious issue of racism within sporting organisations across europe; ### g. whereas although sport has the power to unite communities and to cultivate the values of equality , accessibility and respect , there have been cases of racism within sporting organisations across europe;


### g. whereas although sport has the power to unite communities , there is a serious issue of racism within sporting organisations across europe; ### g. whereas although sport has the power to unite communities , there have been racist incidents within sporting organisations across europe;


### g. whereas although sport has the power to unite communities , there is a serious issue of racism within sporting organisations across europe; ### g. whereas although sport has the power to unite communities , there have been several incidents of racism within sport across europe;


### 1. acknowledges the eu anti-racism action plan; welcomes the inclusion of specific sections on education and media; calls on the commission to provide adequate funding and resources to ensure the achievement of the outlined commitments; ### 1. stresses that racism exists in all areas of our daily life and can have many forms. recognizes that different groups , communities and individuals are subjects of racism , xenophobia and discrimination , including antigypsyism , afrophobia , islamophobia , antisemitism , racism against migrants and other forms of racism. each specific form of racism has distinctive features and some forms are more prominent in some member states than in others. reasons for such differences include historical or political factors.


### 1. acknowledges the eu anti-racism action plan; welcomes the inclusion of specific sections on education and media; calls on the commission to provide adequate funding and resources to ensure the achievement of the outlined commitments; ### 1. stresses that racism exists in all areas of our daily life and can have many forms. recognizes that different groups , communities and individuals are subjects of different forms of racism , xenophobia and discrimination. each specific form of racism has distinctive features and some forms are more prominent in some member states than in others. reasons for such differences include historical or political factors. acknowledges the eu anti-racism action plan; welcomes the inclusion of specific sections on education and media; calls on the commission and member states to follow a holistic approach and to provide adequate funding and resources to ensure the achievement of the outlined commitments;


### 1. acknowledges the eu anti-racism action plan; welcomes the inclusion of specific sections on education and media; calls on the commission to provide adequate funding and resources to ensure the achievement of the outlined commitments; ### 1. acknowledges the eu anti-racism action plan; welcomes the inclusion of specific sections on education and media; calls on the commission to provide adequate funding and resources to ensure the achievement of the outlined commitments; with the condition that the european funds will finance only organizations that strictly respect all european values , including freedom of thought , freedom of speech , equality between men and women;


### 1. acknowledges the eu anti-racism action plan; welcomes the inclusion of specific sections on education and media; calls on the commission to provide adequate funding and resources to ensure the achievement of the outlined commitments; ### 1. acknowledges the eu anti-racism action plan; welcomes the inclusion of specific sections on education and media; calls on the commission and member states to follow a holistic approach and to provide adequate funding and resources to ensure the achievement of the outlined commitments;


### 4. welcomes the publication and implementation of specific eu guidelines on the collection of equality data based on racial or ethnic origin; calls on the member states to adapt national statistics and to remove barriers in order to facilitate the collection of quality data on equality; calls on the commission and the member states to use this data to develop policies to attain racial justice; ### 4. welcomes the publication and implementation of specific eu guidelines on the collection of equality data based on racial or ethnic origin; calls on the member states to adapt national statistics and to remove barriers in order to facilitate the collection of quality data on equality; calls on the commission and the member states to use this data to develop policies to attain justice;


### 6. welcomes the commission’s acknowledgement of the need for an intersectional approach to policymaking; calls on the commission and the member states to ensure that the relevant anti-racism objectives are implemented across all policy areas; ### 6. calls on the commission and the member states to ensure that the relevant anti-racism objectives are implemented across the relevant policy areas;


### 7. acknowledges that racism is inherently a matter of culture , heritage and norms; highlights , therefore , the role that culture can play in combating discrimination and racism; ### 7. acknowledges that racism is inherently a matter of culture , heritage and norms; highlights , therefore , the role that culture can play in combating discrimination and racism; stresses the importance of development of inter-cultural learning


### 7. acknowledges that racism is inherently a matter of culture , heritage and norms; highlights , therefore , the role that culture can play in combating discrimination and racism; ### 7. acknowledges the important role that culture can play in combating discrimination and racism;


### 7. acknowledges that racism is inherently a matter of culture , heritage and norms; highlights , therefore , the role that culture can play in combating discrimination and racism; ### 7. acknowledges that racism is a matter of education; highlights , therefore , the role that culture , as a vector of education , can play in combating discrimination and racism;


### 8. calls for the commission and the member states to foster a more diverse cultural sector by removing barriers to participation in culture for racialised communities through funding from all the relevant programmes; encourages the creation of support networks and outreach activities , especially for those in rural and outermost regions; ### 8. calls for the commission and the member states to foster a more diverse cultural sector by removing barriers to participation in culture for socially and economically disadvantaged populations through funding from all the relevant programmes; encourages the creation of support networks and outreach activities , especially for those in rural and outermost regions;


### 8. calls for the commission and the member states to foster a more diverse cultural sector by removing barriers to participation in culture for racialised communities through funding from all the relevant programmes; encourages the creation of support networks and outreach activities , especially for those in rural and outermost regions; ### 8. calls for the commission and the member states to foster a more diverse cultural sector by removing barriers to participation in culture for racialised communities through funding from all the relevant programmes; encourages the creation of support networks and outreach activities , especially for those in disadvantaged , rural and outermost regions;


### 11. welcomes the acknowledgement by certain member states of the need to restore cultural works and artefacts to their places of origin; encourages the development of eu guidelines on restitution and calls for member states to continue or to initiate processes for the restitution of cultural works and artefacts in a more consistent and timely manner; ### deleted


### 12. underlines the lasting negative impact of european colonialism on today’s society , including in the development of educational curricula; ### 12. underlines the lasting negative impact of the dark sides of history that racism originates from , including holocaust , european slavery and colonialism on today’s society , including in the development of educational curricula;


### 12. underlines the lasting negative impact of european colonialism on today’s society , including in the development of educational curricula; ### 12. underlines the negative impact of racist manifestations on today’s society , including the education systems;


### 13. calls on the member states to foster the development of diverse educational curricula to ensure that authors , historians , scientists and artists among other figures from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds are included in key materials; ### 13. calls on the member states to foster the development of diverse educational curricula to ensure that authors , historians , scientists and artists among other figures from diverse intellectual , philosophical and social backgrounds are included in key materials;


### 14. calls for the history of all racial and ethnic communities living in europe to be included in all history curricula in order to encourage a broader perspective on world history centred on the interactions between different continents before and after european colonisation; ### 14. calls for a deepening in the study of common humanities , history , philosophy , languages and literature , that might help to promote the spirit of european concord , taking into account , in doing so , all racial and ethnic communities that lived in europe , who should be included in all history curricula in order to encourage a broader perspective on world history centred on the interactions between different continents;


### 14. calls for the history of all racial and ethnic communities living in europe to be included in all history curricula in order to encourage a broader perspective on world history centred on the interactions between different continents before and after european colonisation; ### 14. calls for deepening of common humanities studies , history , philosophy , languages , literature , that might help promote the spirit of european concord taking into account the history of all communities that lived in europe to be included in history curricula in order to encourage a broader perspective on world history taking into account their interactions between different continents;


### 15. deplores the practice of segregation in schools; calls on all member states to introduce policies to prevent children from minority groups from being placed in separate schools or classes , whether intentionally or not; ### 15. deplores the practice of segregation in schools; calls on all member states to introduce policies to prevent children from minority groups from being placed in separate schools or classes , whether intentionally or not , and to promote social inclusion with the guarantee of equal opportunities for all;


### 15. deplores the practice of segregation in schools; calls on all member states to introduce policies to prevent children from minority groups from being placed in separate schools or classes , whether intentionally or not; ### 15. deplores the practice of segregation in schools; calls on all member states to introduce policies to prevent children from minority groups from being placed in separate schools or classes , whether intentionally or not and to make sure that all children have an equal access to quality education


### 16. calls on the member states to ensure that teaching staff from minority groups are recruited at all levels and are protected from racial discrimination in the school system; ### 16. calls on the member states to ensure that the teaching staff recruited at all levels are competent in their subjects and adequately trained and that they have the knowledge to combat racial discrimination in the school system;


### 16. calls on the member states to ensure that teaching staff from minority groups are recruited at all levels and are protected from racial discrimination in the school system; ### 16. calls on the member states to ensure that teachers are equipped with cultural competences and that teaching staff from diverse minority groups are recruited at all levels and are treated equally


### 16. calls on the member states to ensure that teaching staff from minority groups are recruited at all levels and are protected from racial discrimination in the school system; ### 16. calls on the member states to ensure that qualified teaching staff are recruited and adequately trained at all levels as to combat discrimination in the school system;


### 19. welcomes the commission’s commitment to launching a communication campaign to foster diversity in the audiovisual sector; calls for this campaign to be centred on the diversity and history of racialised communities and on how achieving racial justice can contribute to a more democratic europe; ### 19. welcomes the commission’s commitment to launching a communication campaign to foster diversity in the audiovisual sector; calls for this campaign to be centred on intellectual , cultural and social diversity and on how achieving justice can contribute to a more democratic europe;


### 20. welcomes the practice established by certain international audiovisual providers to add disclaimers about harmful and racist content ahead of media broadcasts; encourages the development of such practices within the european audiovisual sphere; ### 20. considers that , when a content has not been banned by a proper judiciary decision , it should be opened to consultation , discussion and free criticism ; recalls that it is by an open public debate that democracies handle the disagreements that happen in a society ; is concerned about the new censorship implemented by certain international audiovisual providers , publishers or social networks , as well as in some schools and universities ;


### 22. recalls the acknowledgement of sport as a driver of social inclusion , equality and the promotion of eu values in the erasmus+ regulation; laments the fact that the most recent regulation does not make the same explicit reference to racism as the previous programme; ### 22. stresses that sports clubs and federations have a crucial role in combating racism , also by raising awareness of this phenomena.


### 23. calls on the commission to open a specific call for funding for grassroots sports initiatives focused on inclusion and the fight against racism; calls on the commission , furthermore , to systematically monitor the number and type of sports projects whose main focus is the fight against racism , and the amount of funding allocated to them; ### 23. recalls that sport is in itself a way to create a sense of belonging , connecting individuals and developing the social and civic conscience;


### 24. urges the commission to develop an eu code of ethics in sport in order to combat racism in sporting organisations and foster inclusion and respect at all levels of sport; invites sporting organisations at all levels to subscribe to such an eu code and to incorporate it within their statutes; encourages organisations to raise awareness of such a code and its content among their members and their families , and the wider public; ### 24. urges the commission to develop an eu code of ethics in sport in order to combat racism in sporting organisations at local , regional , national and european levels and foster inclusion and respect at all levels of sport; invites sporting organisations at all levels to subscribe to such an eu code and to incorporate it within their statutes; encourages organisations to raise awareness of such a code and its content among their members and their families , and the wider public;


### 24. urges the commission to develop an eu code of ethics in sport in order to combat racism in sporting organisations and foster inclusion and respect at all levels of sport; invites sporting organisations at all levels to subscribe to such an eu code and to incorporate it within their statutes; encourages organisations to raise awareness of such a code and its content among their members and their families , and the wider public; ### 24. urges the commission to develop recommendations or guidelines together with sport organisations in order to combat racism in sport and foster inclusion and respect at all levels of sport; invites sport stakeholders at all levels to subscribe to such recommendations and to incorporate them within their statutes; encourages sport stakeholders to raise awareness of such recommendations and their content among their members and their families , and the wider public;


### d. whereas the challenges the eu and its member states are faced with today , including climate change , various forms of extremism and populism , and the covid-19 pandemic , require appropriate educational answers and concerted european action; ### d. whereas the economic , social and political challenges the eu and its member states are faced with today , including lack of competitiveness , climate change , various forms of extremism and populism , and the covid-19 pandemic , necessitate appropriate high quality education and , where appropriate , concerted european action;


### e. whereas the realities of educational infrastructure , expertise and resources vary within and across member states , and whereas those differences have become further pronounced during the covid-19 pandemic; ### e. whereas the realities of educational infrastructure , expertise and resources vary within and across member states , and whereas those differences have become further pronounced during the covid-19 pandemic , in particular in the digital sphere;


### e. whereas the realities of educational infrastructure , expertise and resources vary within and across member states , and whereas those differences have become further pronounced during the covid-19 pandemic; ### e. whereas the realities of educational infrastructure , resources as well skills and expertise vary vastly within and across member states , and whereas those differences have become further pronounced during the covid-19 pandemic;


### f. whereas parliament has called on member states to prioritise investments in education and training , valuing education spending as an investment in our common future; ### f. whereas parliament has called on member states to prioritise investments in education and training , valuing education spending as an investment in our common future; whereas quality investment in education has a higher return and as such quantitative spending on education alone does not necessarily deliver the desired results; whereas a number of member states with modest educational spending have world-class competitive education systems;


### f. whereas parliament has called on member states to prioritise investments in education and training , valuing education spending as an investment in our common future; ### f. whereas parliament has called on member states to prioritise investments in education and training , including by allocating at least 10 % of their national recovery and resilience budgets to corresponding policies , and has requested a considerably higher budget for the erasmus+ programme , valuing education spending as an investment in our common future1a;


### h. whereas member states have not fully achieved the objectives and benchmarks of the education and training 2020 (et 2020) framework , in particular the aims of enhancing equitable and quality education , reducing the rate of early leavers from education and training , and bringing the share of 15-year-olds who are under-skilled in reading , mathematics and science below 15 %; ### h. whereas member states have not fully achieved the objectives and benchmarks of the education and training 2020 (et 2020) framework , in particular the aims of enhancing equitable and quality education , reducing the rate of early leavers from education and training , and bringing the share of 15-year-olds who are under-skilled in reading , mathematics and science below 15 %; whereas such targets cannot be achieved by zeroing in on education alone but must instead be tackled by a more comprehensive approach , inter alia , by ensuring adequate social safety nets and other mechanisms are in place to help avoid situations whereby social disadvantage and economic pressures translate into implicit obstacles to educational attainment;


### 1. emphasises the importance of quality education and that the european education area (eea) initiative should provide more and better opportunities for every single european citizen to study , train and work abroad , and cultivate an environment where skills and diplomas are recognised throughout europe; ### 1. emphasises the importance of quality and accessible education and that the european education area (eea) initiative should provide more , better and more accessible opportunities for every single european citizen to study , train , pursue research and work wherever one is;


### 2. stresses the role of the eea in fostering a sense of european belonging and in providing economic opportunities by addressing existing educational challenges; ### 2. stresses the role of the eea in fostering a sense of european belonging and in providing economic opportunities by addressing existing educational challenges , bearing in mind that high-quality and inclusive education should be accessible for everyone throughout life;


### 2. stresses the role of the eea in fostering a sense of european belonging and in providing economic opportunities by addressing existing educational challenges; ### 2. stresses the role of the eea in fostering a sense of european belonging and in providing economic opportunities by addressing existing and forthcoming educational challenges , including insufficient levels of digital education and training across the eu;


### 2. stresses the role of the eea in fostering a sense of european belonging and in providing economic opportunities by addressing existing educational challenges; ### 2. stresses the role of the eea in fostering a sense of european belonging and civic awareness , and in providing economic opportunities by addressing existing educational challenges;


### 3. considers education a driver for european economic and social prosperity , and for ensuring that the eu is a globally competitive player and leading the green and digital transitions; ### 3. considers education a driver for ensuring that the eu is a globally competitive player characterised by increased levels of entrepreneurship and leading innovations , thus also helping to drive the union's twin green and digital transitions;


### 5. takes note of the variety of visions of , and approaches to , an eea , which express a common wish to provide a new impetus for the ‘european project’; ### 5. takes note of the variety of visions of , and approaches to , an eea , which express a common wish to provide a new impetus for the ‘european project’; believes that the eu's role should primarily be focused on bridging the existing gaps and promoting solutions with transnational dimensions , while the educational content and methods of teaching remain a national competence;


### 6. appreciates the commission’s efforts to foster an eea , while noting the need for a more holistic approach , requiring meaningful cooperation and coordination between all actors and stakeholders; ### 6. appreciates the commission’s efforts to foster an eea , while noting the need for a more holistic approach , requiring meaningful cooperation and coordination between all actors and stakeholders and openness to novel ideas; is of the view that for the eea to be successful in the long term , its continuous evolvement , embracing additional and new concepts and priorities , is of the utmost importance;


### 7. cautions that the commission’s proposals are still mainly a strategic outline rather than a concrete policy roadmap , and thus suggests setting clear priorities and realistic deadlines for the actions that should be adopted , including clearly defined interim deliverables; ### 7. cautions that the commission’s proposals are still mainly a strategic outline rather than a concrete policy roadmap , and thus suggests setting clear mid and long-term priorities and achievable targets and deadlines for the actions that should be adopted , including clearly defined interim deliverables; considers that any larger-scale initiatives need to take into account the fiscal and other capacities of the member states and , where appropriate , be accompanied with adequate financing from the mff;


### 8. welcomes the council’s response to the commission’s proposals , in particular its focus on the importance of vocational education and training (vet) and lifelong learning opportunities; ### 8. welcomes the council’s response to the commission’s proposals , in particular its focus on the importance of vocational education and training (vet) and lifelong learning opportunities; stresses that due to digitalisation and other trends , vet systems need to become even more learner-centred and adaptive to align with the changing world of work and future challenges;


### 9. emphasises the urgent need to develop a common implementation strategy and roadmap that includes the european institutions , member states and all relevant stakeholders , and defines their respective responsibilities; ### 9. emphasises the urgent need to develop a common implementation strategy and roadmap that includes the european institutions , member states and all relevant stakeholders , and defines their respective responsibilities; believes that establishment of an eea platform can promote progress in this regard;


### 10. stresses the potential of using european policy coordination tools to achieve the common objectives of an eea; ### 10. stresses the potential of using european policy coordination tools as part of the means to achieve the common objectives of an eea; is of the view , however , that the european semester is a tool for coordination of economic policies across the european union and aims to ensure that governments observe fiscal responsibility;


### 10. stresses the potential of using european policy coordination tools to achieve the common objectives of an eea; ### 10. stresses the potential of using european policy coordination tools to achieve the common objectives of an eea , including by means of the open method of coordination and the european semester;


### 11. calls for all eu institutions and member states to agree on the same vision , priorities , targets and benchmarks regarding an eea , while acknowledging existing diversities in europe; ### 11. calls for all eu institutions and member states to agree on the same vision , priorities , targets and benchmarks regarding the eea , while acknowledging the different starting points and capacities of the member states as well as the prevailing gaps between and within the member states;


### 12. highlights inclusiveness as a central dimension of an eea and a prerequisite for achieving quality education for all , ensuring that no talent is left behind; ### 12. highlights inclusiveness as a central dimension of an eea and a prerequisite for achieving quality education for all , ensuring that no one is left behind , regardless of age , socioeconomic or professional status or geographical location; stresses in this regard the need to ensure that , where applicable , a tailored approach is taken towards vulnerable groups , including people with disabilities;


### 13. supports the use of quantitative indicators and benchmarks to allow the continuous comparison and monitoring of member states’ progress towards common objectives and to incentivise further policy actions , while at the same time reiterating the need for supplementary qualitative indicators and benchmarks; ### 13. supports with vigilance the use of quantitative indicators and benchmarks to allow the continuous comparison and monitoring of member states’ progress towards common objectives and to incentivise further policy actions , while at the same time cautioning against overambitious medium-term targets; is concerned that the eu-wide average targets and the means to achieve them risk concealing the great divergences between and within the member states , potentially implicitly increasing the gaps further; warns that individual progress achieved at the member states' level in any given timeframe is more important than the average eu-level improvement of quantitative relevant numbers; reiterates the need for supplementary qualitative indicators and benchmarks;


### 14. calls for synergies between the eea , the european research area and the european higher education area to be exploited and for a further strengthening of the erasmus+ programme for the benefit of all teachers and learners; ### 14. calls for synergies and cooperation between the eea , the european research area and the european higher education area as well as between the various union programmes , especially the erasmus+ , horizon europe , digital europe and creative europe; asks in particular for a further strengthening of the erasmus+ programme for the benefit of all teachers and learners;


### 15. aims to foster media literacy and critical thinking at all stages of learning as a central means to empower responsible european citizens; ### 15. aims to foster media and information literacy , digital literacy and critical thinking at all stages and formats of learning -- formal , non-formal and informal -- as a central means to empower responsible european citizens with the required skillset for the 21st century;


### 16. calls for a common framework on the development of digital competences and on learning about the eu throughout all appropriate levels and areas of education; ### 16. calls for a common framework devising that defines the minimum quantitative thresholds on the development of digital competences throughout all appropriate levels and areas of education;


### 16. calls for a common framework on the development of digital competences and on learning about the eu throughout all appropriate levels and areas of education; ### 16. calls for a common framework on the development of digital competences for both learners and educations throughout all appropriate levels and areas of education;


### 17. stresses the importance of enhancing competences and motivation in the education profession , especially supported through the improved recognition of educators’ value to society and by bolstering pedagogical autonomy; ### 17. stresses the importance of enhancing competences and motivation in the education profession , especially through supporting the improved recognition of educators’ value to society and by bolstering pedagogical autonomy; believes that teachers and educators more generally need to be adequately compensated for their work and their working conditions improved in order to prevent burnout and minimise the high turnover of these professionals; is of the view that , in addition to higher pay , automation in education , most notably through deploying artificial intelligence aided tools to take over or help with carrying out mundane tasks like test grading and registering attendance , is also part of the solution;


### 18. underlines the need for member states to take action to support the development of linguistic competences in primary and secondary education , to embrace the council of europe’s goal of ‘plurilingualism’ and to achieve the benchmark of all pupils having a sufficient knowledge of english at the end of lower secondary education; ### 18. underlines the need for member states to take action to support the development of linguistic competences at all levels , including in primary and secondary education , to embrace the council of europe’s goal of ‘plurilingualism’ and to achieve the benchmark of all pupils having a sufficient knowledge of english at the end of lower secondary education;


### 20. calls on the commission and member states to facilitate the expansion of automatic mutual recognition of learning outcomes and study periods abroad , including in vet; ### 20. considers that effective portability of educational attainment credentials is a necessary prerequisite to further promote intra-eu mobility and strengthen the single market as well as a cornerstone for the eea; calls on the commission and member states to facilitate the expansion of automatic mutual recognition of learning outcomes and study periods abroad , including in vet; believes that such mutual recognition framework has to gradually be expanded beyond the eu , especially with geographically close countries;


### 21. calls on the commission and the member states to establish a concrete european education area strategic framework 2030 (eeasf 2030) by the end of 2022 with a comprehensive steering , monitoring and evaluation mechanism , in line with un sustainable development goal 4 to ‘ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’; ### 21. calls on the commission and the member states to establish a concrete european education area strategic framework 2030 (eeasf 2030) by the end of 2022 with a comprehensive steering , monitoring and evaluation mechanism , in line with un sustainable development goal 4 to ‘ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’ and particularly sdg target 4.7 to 'ensure all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development';


### 23. seeks clarity on the level of involvement expected from stakeholders , education sectors that have been underrepresented so far , and relevant civil society actors; ### 23. seeks clarity on the level of involvement expected from stakeholders and relevant civil society actors , many of which have been underrepresented so far;


### 24. calls on the commission to establish an eea platform as an interactive public gateway to support member states and stakeholders in exchanging information and promoting cooperation and exchange of good practices; ### 24. calls on the commission to establish an eea platform as an interactive public gateway to support member states and stakeholders in exchanging information and promoting cooperation and exchange of good practices; believes that such a platform should be adequately funded and all its contents should be available in all official eu languages;


### 25. underlines the need for a european dimension in education by strengthening a distinct european perspective in students’ curricula and teachers’ training , including with support from jean monnet actions and teacher academies; proposes that these teacher academies be called ‘comenius teacher academies’; ### 25. underlines the need to also ensure a european dimension in education by strengthening a distinct european perspective in students’ curricula and teachers’ training , including with support from jean monnet actions and teacher academies; proposes that these teacher academies be called ‘comenius teacher academies’;


### 26. emphasises the need to provide learners with knowledge about european history and cultural heritage , both tangible and intangible , and to foster a critical european memory and historical consciousness; ### 26. emphasises the need to provide learners with comprehensive knowledge about the diverse european history and cultural heritage , both tangible and intangible , and to foster a critical european memory and historical consciousness; believes that targeted funding and initiatives to increase research on european history as well as promotion of public history are necessary;


### 26. emphasises the need to provide learners with knowledge about european history and cultural heritage , both tangible and intangible , and to foster a critical european memory and historical consciousness; ### 26. emphasises the need to provide learners with knowledge about european history and cultural heritage , both tangible and intangible , and to foster a critical european memory and historical consciousness , as well as civic awareness in the area of tolerance and respect for the values and pillars on which the eu is founded;


### 27. stresses the need to familiarise learners with the european integration process , the institutions and policies of the eu , the rights emerging from eu citizenship and how to actively participate in the eu’s democratic processes; ### 27. stresses the need to further familiarise learners with european politics , including the european integration process , the institutions and policies of the eu , the rights emerging from eu citizenship and how to actively participate in the eu’s democratic processes;


### strengthening visibility , cooperation and mainstreaming in eu policies ### strengthening visibility , cooperation and mainstreaming sport in eu policies;


### 8. calls for a european sports model that recognises the need for a strong commitment to integrating the principles of solidarity , sustainability , inclusiveness , open competition and sporting merit; ### 8. calls for a european sports model that recognises the need for a strong commitment to integrating the principles of solidarity , sustainability , inclusiveness , open competition , sporting merit , fairness and accordingly strongly opposes breakaway competitions that undermine such principles and endanger the stability of the overall sports ecosystem;


### 10. highlights the need for increased solidarity and financial redistribution , especially between professional and grassroots sport; ### 10. highlights the need for increased solidarity and financial redistribution , as well as exchanges in skills and know-how , especially between professional and grassroots sport;


### 10. highlights the need for increased solidarity and financial redistribution , especially between professional and grassroots sport; ### 10. highlights the need for more targeted and increased solidarity and financial redistribution , especially between professional and grassroots sport;


### 16. calls for the eu institutions to promote the fundamental rights of athletes , including freedom of association , collective bargaining and non-discrimination; ### 16. calls for the eu institutions to promote the fundamental rights of athletes , including athlete representation in decision-making , freedom of association , collective bargaining and non-discrimination;


### 24. calls on the commission to recognise the importance and support the social inclusion of refugees , ethnic minorities and the lgbtqi+ community in sport; ### 24. calls on the commission to recognise the importance and support the social inclusion of persons with fewer opportunities , refugees , ethnic minorities and the lgbtqi+ community in sport;


### 26. calls on the member states to step up efforts towards the inclusion in sports activities and programmes of persons with disabilities; ### 26. calls on the member states to step up efforts towards the inclusion in sport activities and programmes of persons with mental and physical disabilities , and to increase visibility in the media of competitions involving athletes with disabilities;


### 28. calls on the member states and public authorities to develop sports infrastructure and to increase the amount of physical education and extracurricular physical activities in schools; ### 28. calls on the member states and public authorities to develop sports infrastructure , especially in smaller remote regions and disadvantaged areas , and to increase the amount of physical education and extracurricular physical activities in schools;


### 29. welcomes initiatives and campaigns to encourage physical activity such as the european week of sport , #beactive and healthylifestyle4all; ### 29. welcomes initiatives and campaigns to encourage physical activity such as the european week of sport , #beactive and healthylifestyle4all , and encourages the commission to intensify communication about these events in the member states , particularly targeted towards schools;


### 30. calls for the eu guidelines on dual careers of athletes to be extended to all sport staff engaged in structured sport and for specific retraining initiatives; ### 30. calls for the eu guidelines on dual careers of athletes to be implemented and promoted in each member state , and extended to all sport staff engaged in structured sport and for specific retraining initiatives;


### 31. highlights the role of coaches and sport staff in developing the skills of and in educating young people; ### 31. highlights the role of coaches and sport staff in developing the skills of and in educating young people; notes with satisfaction the inclusion of sport staff mobility in the erasmus + 2021-2027 programme , and calls on the commission , the national agencies and the federations to raise awareness about this new opportunity;


### 31. highlights the role of coaches and sport staff in developing the skills of and in educating young people; ### 31. highlights the role of coaches and sport staff in developing the skills of and in educating children and young people and stresses that the adequate training plays a key role in encouraging participation in sport and in ensuring a safe environment for all;


### 33. calls on the commission and the member states to create a system for the recognition of qualifications gained by volunteers; ### 33. recognises the valuable contributions that sports volunteers bring to a society and calls on the commission and the member states to create a system for the recognition of qualifications gained by volunteers , including coaches working as volunteers;


### 34. insists on the need for support mechanisms to get the sport sector back on track in the wake of covid-19; ### 34. insists on the need for support mechanisms to get the sport sector back on track in the wake of covid-19 , including through national support funds , the recovery and resilience facility and the structural funds;


### 36. welcomes the higher budget for sport under the new erasmus+ programme and supports further synergies between programmes and funds; ### 36. welcomes the higher budget for sport under the new erasmus+ programme and supports further synergies between programmes and funds and make a better use of this tool to support recovery in sport;


### 38. calls on national , regional and local authorities to recognise the key role of sport and physical activity in fields such as urban regeneration , tourism and territorial cohesion and to prioritise them in cohesion policy and investments under the recovery and resilience facility; ### 38. calls on national , regional and local authorities to recognise the key role of sport and physical activity in fields such as urban regeneration , tourism and territorial cohesion and to prioritise them in cohesion policy , specifically on european social fund plus and on european regional and development fund investments and under the recovery and resilience facility;


### 41. underlines the need to ensure environmental sustainability when promoting the development of sport and the organisation of sporting events; ### 41. underlines the need to ensure environmental sustainability when promoting the development of sport and the organisation of sporting events; notes the important efforts already undertaken by clubs and federations;


### 8. notes that the centre only publishes declarations of interests on its website and that it does not publish the cvs of its management board on its website due to the size of the management board (approximately 130 members and alternate members); stresses the fact that other agencies publish the cvs of the members of their respective management boards , even where those management boards have more members than that of the centre; reiterates its call on the centre to publish the cvs of all the members of the management board and to report to the discharge authority on the measures taken in that regard; notes that the director’s cv and declaration of interests have been published on the centre’s website; ### 8. notes with concern that the centre only publishes declarations of interests on its website and that it does not publish the cvs of its management board on its website due to the size of the management board (approximately 130 members and alternate members); stresses the fact that other agencies publish the cvs of the members of their respective management boards , even where those management boards have more members than that of the centre; reiterates its call on the centre to publish the cvs of all the members of the management board and to report to the discharge authority on the measures taken in that regard; notes that the director’s cv and declaration of interests have been published on the centre’s website;


### 70. surveillance of a politician is highly unusual , and the greek constitution foresees special protection of politicians. the eyp denies any involvement in the surveillance with predator. the government initially floated suggestions about foreign powers that supposedly requested the wiretapping of androulakis , or they suggested that his membership of an ep committee in charge of relations with china might be the reason. none of these hypotheses were very credible. the surveillance occurred in a political context of upcoming elections. polls predicted that néa demokratía would lose its absolute majority. pasok would be the preferred coalition partner. in autumn 2021 , there were four candidates in the pasok leadership contest , each with different views on such a coalition. androulakis was said to be open to the idea , but not under the premiership of mitsotakis. another candidate , andreas loverdos , had served earlier as a minister in a néa demokratía - pasok coalition , and was thought to be more supportive. he was acquainted to dimitriadis. manolis othonas , the right hand of another candidate , was also said to be among those who had closer relations with néa demokratía and dimitriadis. the publication of the list of other alleged targets by documento , reinforces the suspicion of political reasons for the surveillance. there is no proof for any of these hypotheses , but it is essential that these avenues are investigated and eliminated where possible. ### 70. surveillance of a politician is highly unusual , and the greek constitution foresees special protection of politicians. the eyp denies any involvement in the surveillance with predator. the government initially floated suggestions about foreign powers that supposedly requested the wiretapping of androulakis , or they suggested that his membership of an ep committee in charge of relations with china might be the reason. none of these hypotheses were very credible. the surveillance occurred in a political context of upcoming elections. polls predicted that néa demokratía would lose its absolute majority. pasok would be the preferred coalition partner. in autumn 2021 , there were four candidates in the pasok leadership contest , each with different views on such a coalition. androulakis was said to be open to the idea , but not under the premiership of mitsotakis. another candidate , andreas loverdos , had served earlier as a minister in a néa demokratía - pasok coalition , and was thought to be more supportive. he was acquainted to dimitriadis. manolis othonas , the right hand of another candidate , was also said to be among those who had closer relations with néa demokratía and dimitriadis. it is essential that these avenues are investigated and eliminated where possible.


### 75. on 5 and 6 november 2022 documento reported on a list containing 33 names of persons targeted with predator spyware136 . among them many high profile politicians , including members of the current government , former prime minister samaras , former eu commissioner avramopoulos , the editor in chief of a national government-friendly newspaper , and persons in the entourage of vangelis marinakis , ship-owner , media mogul and owner of football clubs olympiakos and nottingham forest. the revelations of the list are highly disturbing not just because of the high profile names on it , but also because it suggests that the abuse of spyware is systematic , large-scale , and part of a political strategy. ### 75. on 5 and 6 november 2022 documento reported on a list containing 33 names of persons targeted with predator spyware136 . among them many high profile politicians , including members of the current government , former prime minister samaras , former eu commissioner avramopoulos , the editor in chief of a national government-friendly newspaper , and persons in the entourage of vangelis marinakis , ship-owner , media mogul and owner of football clubs olympiakos and nottingham forest.


### 78. cyprus seems to have a very close collaboration with israel in the area of surveillance technologies. cyprus consulted with israel and the us about the reform of its legal framework. cyprus is a popular destination for many israeli spyware companies. ### deleted


### 78. cyprus seems to have a very close collaboration with israel in the area of surveillance technologies. cyprus consulted with israel and the us about the reform of its legal framework. cyprus is a popular destination for many israeli spyware companies. ### 78. notes that bilateral relations between two countries , in this case collaboration between cyprus and israel , does not give any indication or proof of the israeli government’s involvement in spyware companies.


### 80. many israeli companies come to cyprus to start off their european activity141 . different sources reported furthermore that the country is home to approximately 29 israeli companies142 . the trade in spyware and diplomatic relations are closely connected. in return for the facilitation of licenses for israeli companies , cyprus has allegedly received some of the products these companies develop and export , like the pegasus spyware from nso143 as well as spyware materials from wispear144 . ### 80. many israeli companies come to cyprus to start off their european activity141 . different sources reported furthermore that the country is home to approximately 29 israeli companies142 . however , these are private sector companies , which are not related to the israeli government. furthermore , allegations of non-verified sources represent political speculations.


### 80. many israeli companies come to cyprus to start off their european activity141 . different sources reported furthermore that the country is home to approximately 29 israeli companies142 . the trade in spyware and diplomatic relations are closely connected. in return for the facilitation of licenses for israeli companies , cyprus has allegedly received some of the products these companies develop and export , like the pegasus spyware from nso143 as well as spyware materials from wispear144 . ### 80. many israeli companies come to cyprus to start off their european activity141 . different sources reported furthermore that the country is home to approximately 29 israeli companies142 . some sources point to a connection between the trade in spyware and diplomatic relations. in return for the facilitation of licenses for israeli companies , cyprus has allegedly received some of the products these companies develop and export , like the pegasus spyware from nso143 as well as spyware materials from wispear144 .


### 92. according to recent testimonies in light of the judicial investigations in the van case , lawyer aleksandros sinka has had significant influence in the move to greece. sinka - who formerly played a key role in the centre-right disy party - apparently had good relations with both dilian and avni174 . it appears that sinka was also an acquaintance of former general secretary of the greek government dimitriadis. both men held positions in the bureau of the european democrat students (eds) , the student organisation of the european people’s party (epp). between 2003 and 2004 , sinka served as chairman and dimitriadis as vice-chairman175 . dimitriadis allegedly introduced his friend and greek businessperson felix bitzios to sinka , in view of bitzios’ long-standing dispute in the cypriot court. sinka in turn recommended lawyer harris kyriakidis to help bitzios in his dispute. kyriakidis equally had good relations with the disy176 . ### deleted


### 99. cyprus appears to have a robust legal framework for the protection of personal data and privacy , for the authorisation of surveillance , and for exports. however , in practice it would seem that rules are easy to circumvent and there are close ties between politics , the security agencies and the surveillance industry. it seems to be the lax application of the rules that makes cyprus such an attractive place for the trade in spyware. cyprus is also of considerable strategic interest to russia , turkey and the us. furthermore , close relations with israel seem to be of particular mutual benefit with regard to the trade in spyware. export licenses for spyware have become a currency in diplomatic relations. ### 99. cyprus appears to have a robust legal framework for the protection of personal data and privacy , for the authorisation of surveillance , and for exports. however , in practice it would seem that rules are easy to circumvent and there are close ties between politics , the security agencies and the surveillance industry. it seems to be the lax application of the rules that makes cyprus such an attractive place for the trade in spyware. cyprus is also of considerable strategic interest to russia , turkey and the us.


### 99. cyprus appears to have a robust legal framework for the protection of personal data and privacy , for the authorisation of surveillance , and for exports. however , in practice it would seem that rules are easy to circumvent and there are close ties between politics , the security agencies and the surveillance industry. it seems to be the lax application of the rules that makes cyprus such an attractive place for the trade in spyware. cyprus is also of considerable strategic interest to russia , turkey and the us. furthermore , close relations with israel seem to be of particular mutual benefit with regard to the trade in spyware. export licenses for spyware have become a currency in diplomatic relations. ### 99. cyprus appears to have a robust legal framework for the protection of personal data and privacy , for the authorisation of surveillance , and for exports. however , in practice it would seem that rules are easy to circumvent and there are close ties between politics , the security agencies and the surveillance industry. it seems to be the lax application of the rules that makes cyprus such an attractive place for the trade in spyware. cyprus is also of considerable strategic interest to russia , turkey and the us. notes that good bilateral relations with israel give no proof with regard to the trade in spyware.


### 100. the july 2021 revelations by the pegasus project showed a large number of targets in spain. however , they seem to have been targeted by different actors and for different reasons. it is widely believed that the moroccan authorities targeted prime minister pedro sanchez , minister for defence margarita robles and minister of the interior fernando grande-marlaska , similarly to the case of the french president and government ministers185 . the targeting of a second group of victims is referred to as ‘catalangate’186 . it includes catalan parliamentarians , members of the european parliament , lawyers , civil society organisation members and some family and staff connected to those victims187 . the ‘catalangate’ surveillance scandal was first reported on in 2020 , but it was not until april 2022 that citizen lab completed their in-depth investigation that the scale of the scandal was revealed. the results of that probe showed that at least 65 persons were targeted188 . in may 2020 , the spanish authorities admitted to targeting 18 of those 65 victims with court authorisation189 . ### 100. the spanish government confirmed that prime minister pedro sanchez , minister of defence margarita robles and minister of the interior fernando grande-marlaska have been infected by pegasus software , while minister of agriculture luis planas was targeted but not infected185.


### 100. the july 2021 revelations by the pegasus project showed a large number of targets in spain. however , they seem to have been targeted by different actors and for different reasons. it is widely believed that the moroccan authorities targeted prime minister pedro sanchez , minister for defence margarita robles and minister of the interior fernando grande-marlaska , similarly to the case of the french president and government ministers185 . the targeting of a second group of victims is referred to as ‘catalangate’186 . it includes catalan parliamentarians , members of the european parliament , lawyers , civil society organisation members and some family and staff connected to those victims187 . the ‘catalangate’ surveillance scandal was first reported on in 2020 , but it was not until april 2022 that citizen lab completed their in-depth investigation that the scale of the scandal was revealed. the results of that probe showed that at least 65 persons were targeted188 . in may 2020 , the spanish authorities admitted to targeting 18 of those 65 victims with court authorisation189 . ### 100. since july 2021 a number of alleged targets have been reported in spain. in may 2022 , former director of the cni paz esteban appeared before the official secrets committee of the parliament to provide justification for the surveillance of 18 persons associated with the secessionist movement with court authorisation 199a.


### 101. the past purchase of various spyware products like sitel in 2001 and the spyware of hacking team in 2010 by the ministry of the interior , the spanish national intelligence centre (cni) and police has been widely publicised190 . it was also previously reported by citizenlab that spain was a suspected customer of finfisher191 . in 2020 , the spanish newspaper el pais reported that spain has done business with nso group and that the cni routinely uses pegasus192 . the spanish government allegedly purchased the spyware in the first half of the 2010s for an estimated amount of €6 million193 194 . in addition , a former employee of nso has further confirmed that spain has an account with the company despite the spanish authorities declining to comment or confirm195 . ### 101. the spanish authorities have acknowledged in the past the purchase of spyware software like sitel in 2001 and the contracting of spyware servics from hacking team in 2010 , to be used by the ministry of the interior , the spanish national intelligence centre (cni) and the national police. the purchase of sitel was confirmed by former vice-president de la vega in 2009190a , while he contracting of hacking team's services was acknowledged by the cni in a comment made to the newspaper el confidencial in 2015191a. in relation to pegasus , a former employee of nso , talking on the condition of anonimity , has alleged that spain has an account with the company193a. spanish authorities have declined to comment or confirm.


### 102. the right to privacy is protected under article 18 of the spanish constitution of 1978 , including the right to secrecy in ‘postal , telegraphic and telephone communication’196 . the use of spyware such as pegasus and candiru is a violation of article 18; however , there is an exception to this right in the case of a court granting authorisation197 . the constitution also provides further exceptions to those rights in part i section 55 by stating that some freedoms are eligible to be suspended with ‘participation of the courts and proper parliamentary control’ in the case of individuals under investigation for activities relating to armed groups or terrorist organisations198 . ### 102. the right to privacy is protected under article 18 of the spanish constitution of 1978 , including the right to secrecy in ‘postal , telegraphic and telephone communication’196 . however , there is an exception to this right in the case of a court granting authorisation197 . the constitution also provides further exceptions to those rights in part i section 55 by stating that some freedoms are eligible to be suspended with ‘participation of the courts and proper parliamentary control’ in the case of individuals under investigation for activities relating to armed groups or terrorist organisations198 .


### 104. much of the surveillance conducted in spain was carried out by the cni , a body that has been embroiled in a number of scandals relating to surveillance in the past202 . the cni was established under law 11/2002 may 6 and it authorises the cni to conduct ‘security investigations’203 . however , there is little clarification on the means or limitations of such activities204 . law 11/2002 also established parliamentary , executive and legislative oversight control over the cni205 parliamentary oversight is to be carried out by the official secrets committee of the spanish congress , which was established in 1995206 . the delegated committee for intelligence affairs is in executive control of the body , and co-ordinates the intelligence activities of the cni207 . lastly , the defence committee of the congress of deputies conducts legislative oversight over the cni208 . the annual intelligence directive dictates the intelligence priorities of the cni for the year209 . ### 104. the cni was established under law 11/2002 may 6 which regulates its activities and it authorises the cni to conduct ‘security investigations’203. according to article 4.b. of the aforementioned law , one of the main responsibilities of the cni is to prevent , detect and enable the neutralization of those activities of foreign services , groups or individuals that endanger , threaten or violate the constitutional order , the rights and freedoms of spanish citizens , the sovereignty , integrity and security of the state , stability of its institutions , the national economic interests and the welfare of the population. law 11/2002 also established parliamentary , executive and legislative oversight control over the cni205 parliamentary oversight is to be carried out by the official secrets committee of the spanish congress , which was established in 1995206 . the delegated committee for intelligence affairs is in executive control of the body , and co-ordinates the intelligence activities of the cni207 . lastly , the defence committee of the congress of deputies conducts legislative oversight over the cni208 . the annual intelligence directive dictates the intelligence priorities of the cni for the year209 .


### 105. the laws establishing the cni also established the defence committee of the congress of deputies and it is responsible for allocating the confidential funds for the cni and producing an annual report on the cni. however , the spanish constitution does not stipulate that access will be granted to documents or information relating to the work of the intelligence services and the requirement is also notably absent in the legal framework of the law on transparency. therefore , much of the work of the cni is kept secret and lacks transparency210 . ### 105. the laws establishing the cni also established the defence committee of the congress of deputies which is responsible for allocating the confidential funds for the cni and producing an annual report on the cni. while the information related to the operation of the intelligence services is subject to the requirements of secrecy and confidentiality contained in the law , all the bodies that are tasked with conducting oversight of the cni , such as the defence committee , the official secrets committee or the ombudsman have complete access to the necessary information to assess whether operations were lawfully and correctly pursued.


### 106. the official secrets committee is required to submit an annual report on the activities of the intelligence services , however when it was convened as a result of the surveillance by the cni , it was the first meeting of the body in more than two years. head of the cni paz esteban appeared before the committee on 5 may 2022 to present the court authorisations for the 18 victims that the authorities have taken responsibility for targeting.211 the hearing was not public and those present were not allowed to enter with any electronic on them whatsoever212 . ### 106. the official secrets committee is required to submit an annual report on the activities of the intelligence services. when it was convened as a result of the surveillance by the cni , it was the first meeting of the body in more than two years as a result of the disruption of parliamentary activity caused by covid-19. head of the cni paz esteban appeared before the committee on 5 may 2022 to present the court authorisations for the 18 figures associated with the secessionist movement that the authorities have taken responsibility for targeting197a. the hearing was not public and , with the exception of the number of figures surveilled , no specific information has transpired in any official capacity.


### 107. there has been a significant amount of public scrutiny on the ‘catalangate’ scandal since it came to light in april 2022. the spanish media and media outlets around the world have worked extensively in conjunction with civil society organisations to scrutinise the surveillance system in spain and advocate for the fundamental rights of the victims. inversely , some spanish politicians have tried to discredit citizenslab , suggesting their methods are unsound or that they are politically motivated. a collaborator of citizenslab , himself of catalan origin , was among the targets , along with his parents , who are not politically active at all213 . ### 107. there has been a significant amount of public scrutiny on the ‘catalangate’ scandal since it came to light in april 2022. the spanish media and media outlets around the world have worked extensively in conjunction with civil society organisations to scrutinise the surveillance system in spain. throughout these proceedings , it has been shown that an author of the report , who is of catalan origin and who also featured as a victim in the report , may have been politically motivated. an investigation in the national court is assessing the links between him and the members of the violent secessionist organization tsunami democratic198a , and according to the guardia civil he traveled multiple times to debrief mr. carles puigdemont , a fugitive leader of the secessionist movement , on the advances achieved on the digital voting software vocdoni and a virtual currency which could potentially enable the organization a second illegal referendum199a.


### 109. in contrast to the fast-paced nature of the case taken by sanchez et al. in madrid , the cases that have been filed in barcelona by catalonian victims of spyware are moving at a slow pace217 218 . the first case in investigative court number 32 in barcelona was filed by two pegasus victims in 2020; former president of the catalonian parliament and current minister of business and work , roger torrent , and former minister of foreign action , institutional relations and transparency of catalonia and current erc president in barcelona city council , ernest maragall219 . andreu van den eynde is one of the lawyers representing torrent and maragall in this case , and is a victim of pegasus himself. van den eynde has criticised the courts consistently delaying proceedings and virtually ‘paralysing’ the case220 . omnium cultural and the popular unity candidacy party (cup) have also filed a case in the same court in barcelona. lawyer benet salellas , who is involved in both cases , is asserting that the spanish government is behind the targeting221 . ### 109. as for the cases related to persons of catalonian origin , some of the alleged victims have filed their complaints before different investigative catalonian courts. overall , the cases have been processed by the competent judges , but most of them have been temporarily shelved until more evidence is gathered , since the key piece of evidence , meaning the allegedly infected mobile phones , were not available to the plaintiffs anymore218a.the first case in the investigative court number 32 in barcelona was filed in 2020 by former president of the catalonian parliament and current regional minister of business and work , roger torrent , and former regional minister of foreign action , institutional relations and transparency of catalonia and current erc president in barcelona city council , ernest maragall219a. andreu van den eynde is one of the lawyers representing torrent and maragall in this case , and is a victim of pegasus himself. omnium cultural and the popular unity candidacy party (cup) have also filed a case in the same court in barcelona.


### 111. there are a number of other pending legal cases linked to the 65 catalonian victims. one such case was filed by lawyer and pegasus victim gonzalo boye on behalf of at least 19 victims against nso , its three founders niv karmi , shalev hulio and omri lavie , q cyber technologies , and osy , a subsidiary company based in luxembourg224 225 . legal action is also underway in a number of other eu member states as a result of the surveillance carried out on those catalan separatists in exile , including france , belgium , switzerland , germany , and luxembourg226 . ### deleted


### 112. the targeting of catalan citizens with spyware reportedly began as early as 2015 , and has been carried out on a large scale since 2017227 . after initial media coverage in 2020 , the full scandal broke across europe in april 2022 with the publication of the university of toronto citizenlab report. given the significant passage of time since the beginning of the hacking and these revelations , a number of targets were unable to be identified or further investigated owing to various factors that occurred , including a number of targets who disposed of the phone in question228 . ### 112. according to the allegations of the university of toronto citizenlab , the targeting of spanish citizens of catalan origin with spyware reportedly has been carried out specially since 2017227 , coinciding with the illegal referendum for independence , its organization and the grave disturbances that ensued. after initial media coverage in 2020 , the full findings were reported in april 2022 with the publication of the citizenlab report.


### 113. spanish prime minister pedro sánchez , minister for defence margarita robles and minister of the interior fernando grande-marlaska were targeted with pegasus between may and june 2021229 . there is little information available so far on details of this hacking , as they were announced by the government and were not the result of an investigation of citizenlab or any other such research service or investigative journalists. sánchez and robles are the heads of the two government branches that oversee the cni , the body responsible for conducting surveillance in spain. the infected devices of sánchez and robles were government-issued and were being scanned for spyware occasionally230 . grande-marlaska was infected on his personal device231 . minister for agriculture luis planas , who formerly served as a diplomat in morocco , was also targeted with spyware but there was no successful infection. it has been reported that the moroccan government could potentially be responsible for this targeting , however that information has not been confirmed232 . ### 113. spanish prime minister pedro sánchez , minister for defence margarita robles and minister of the interior fernando grande-marlaska were targeted with pegasus between may and june 2021229 . there is little information available so far on details of this hacking , as they were discovered by the government and thus the contents of the ongoing investigation are subject to requirements of secrecy contained in the law. minister of defence robles is the head of the government branch that oversee the cni , the body responsible for conducting surveillance in spain. the infected devices of sánchez , robles and grande-marlaska were government-issued and were being scanned for spyware occasionally230a 231a. minister for agriculture luis planas was also targeted with spyware but there was no successful infection.


### 114. in total , 65 catalonians were confirmed to have been targeted with mercenary spyware , 63 with pegasus , four with candiru and at least two people were targeted by both233 . at least 51 individuals were successfully infected234 . the spanish government have refused to comment as to whether or not they were responsible for the surveillance any of the other victims outside of the 18 they admit to having targeted235 . the majority of those 18 persons were never charged with a crime , and yet were included on this list. minister for defence robles has relied heavily on the official secrets act rather than expand on what were the reasons for the surveillance of those specific targets236 . all 65 catalan targets have at some point in time been in contact with the catalan separatists living outside spain. ### 114. in total , 65 catalonians were alleged by the organization citizenlab to have been targeted with commercial spyware: 63 with pegasus , four with candiru and at least two people were targeted by both233 . at least 51 individuals were successfully infected234 . the spanish government has refused to comment as to whether or not they were responsible for the surveillance any of the other alleged victims outside of the 18 they admit to having investigated235a.minister for defence robles is forbidden by the official secrets act to disclose confidential information such as what were the reasons for the surveillance of those specific targets236.


### 114. in total , 65 catalonians were confirmed to have been targeted with mercenary spyware , 63 with pegasus , four with candiru and at least two people were targeted by both233 . at least 51 individuals were successfully infected234 . the spanish government have refused to comment as to whether or not they were responsible for the surveillance any of the other victims outside of the 18 they admit to having targeted235 . the majority of those 18 persons were never charged with a crime , and yet were included on this list. minister for defence robles has relied heavily on the official secrets act rather than expand on what were the reasons for the surveillance of those specific targets236 . all 65 catalan targets have at some point in time been in contact with the catalan separatists living outside spain. ### 114. in the parliamentary session of control conducted by the congress of deputies on april 27th , when confronted about the issue of pegasus , ms. robles replied “what must a state do when someone infringes on the constitution... when they block roads , when they carry out grave public disorders , when they have contacts with the leaders of the country that is invading ukraine?” 237a. the link between the secessionist organization tsunami democratic , that carried out disruptive and illegal takeovers of vital infrastructure in 2019 , and figures linked to the regime of russian president vladimir putin have been well documented by the ing2 committee of the european parliament238a , as well as the links between mr. puigdemont’s lawyer , lluis josep altay , and persons working for the russian regime239a.


### 115. one of the key groups revealed to have been targeted is the pro-independence catalan members of the european parliament. each of them were hacked with spyware either directly or indirectly through what citizenlab refer to as relational targeting237 : diana riba i giner , antoni comín i oliveres , jordi solé , carles puigdemont , and clara ponsati. ### 115. one of the key groups revealed to have been targeted is the pro-independence catalan members of the european parliament. each of them were hacked with spyware either directly or indirectly through what citizenlab refer to as relational targeting237 : diana riba i giner , jordi solé , carles puigdemont , and clara ponsati. in the case of antoni comin , who acussed the spanish state of having spied on him during a hearing of the pega committee , citizen lab acknowledged that his infection had been misatributted due to human mistake238a.


### 116. former president of the catalonian parliament and current minister of business and work roger torrent was among the first persons to come forward as a victim of the 2019 whatsapp pegasus infections238 . shortly after , leader of the pro-independence republican left of catalonia party , ernest maragall and anna gabriel who was previously a regional member of parliament for the popular unity candidacy party also came forward as victims of pegasus239 . all of the presidents of catalonia since 2010 have been targeted with spyware either during or after their term in office240 . as many as 12 erc members were among the 65 targets , including the secretary general of the party marta rovira who was hacked at least twice in june 2020 according to citizenlab. it is highly significant that both gabriel and rovira were living in switzerland at the time of their surveillance following the fall out after the 2017 referendum. ### 116. former president of the catalonian parliament and current regional minister of business and work roger torrent was among the first persons to come forward as a victim of the 2019 whatsapp pegasus infections238 . shortly after , leader of the pro-independence republican left of catalonia party , ernest maragall and anna gabriel who was previously a regional member of parliament for the popular unity candidacy party also came forward as victims of pegasus239 . all of the presidents of catalonia linked to the secessionist movement since 2010 have been targeted with spyware either during or after their term in office240 . as many as 12 erc members were among the 65 targets , including the secretary general of the party marta rovira who was hacked at least twice in june 2020 according to citizenlab. both gabriel and rovira were living in switzerland at the time of their surveillance following their flight from persecution after the 2017 illegal referendum.


### 117. jordi domingo was one of the first catalonian activists that was reported to be targeted in 2020. though a supporter of catalan independence , it was reported by the guardian that domingo believed himself to be a mistaken target. given that he did not play a major role in the events of 2017 , it is his belief that the intended target was a lawyer of the same name who contributed to the drafting of the constitution of catalonia241 . ### 117. jordi domingo was one of the first catalonian activists that was reported to be targeted in 2020. though a supporter of catalan independence , it was reported by the guardian that domingo believed himself to be a mistaken target. given that he did not play a major role in the events of 2017 , it is his belief that the intended target was a lawyer of the same name who contributed to the drafting of a document that would have served as a potential constitution for an independent catalonia241 .


### 118. gonzalo boye has represented many high profile catalan figures , including former presidents puigdemont and torras242 . over five months between january and may of 2020 , he was a victim of pegasus himself243 . boye was targeted as many as 18 times during that period via text messages that appeared as tweets from civil society organisations or prominent news outlets244 . citizenlab confirmed at least one successful infection on 30 october 2020. the infection came just 48 hours after the arrest of one of his clients245 . the targeting of boye has called in to question the legality of attacking the lawyer-client privilege. ### 118. gonzalo boye has represented many high profile catalan secessionist figures , including former presidents puigdemont and torras242 . over five months between january and may of 2020 , he was a victim of pegasus himself243 . boye was targeted as many as 18 times during that period via text messages that appeared as tweets from civil society organisations or prominent news outlets244 . citizenlab confirmed at least one successful infection on 30 october 2020. the infection came just 48 hours after the arrest of one of his clients245 .


### 120. similarly , prominent lawyer jaume alonso-cuevillas was also infected while representing key catalan figures such as carles puigdemont. however , citizenlab were unable to determine the precise date of the successful infection. ### 120. similarly , lawyer jaume alonso-cuevillas was also infected while representing key catalan figures such as carles puigdemont. however , citizenlab were unable to determine the precise date of the successful infection.


### 121. national authorities have so far shared very little official information about the acquisition and use of spyware in their countries , nor about the budgetary aspects or legal framework governing it. vendors and countries issuing export licenses (in particular israel) share no information about the customers. only austria , poland , cyprus have responded to the questionnaire sent by pega on 15 july 2022 , but mostly in a very general , even evasive way. ### 121. national authorities have so far shared very little official information about the acquisition and use of spyware in their countries , nor about the budgetary aspects or legal framework governing it. vendors and countries issuing export licenses (in particular israel) share no information about the customers. only austria , poland , cyprus have responded to the questionnaire sent by pega on 15 july 2022.


### 124. from information provided by nso group , we know that pegasus was sold in at least fourteen eu countries , until the contracts with two countries were terminated. it is not know which , but there is a general assumption it concerns poland and hungary. however , as long as nso group or the israeli government does not make any official statement regarding a termination of contract , it cannot be verified if this is true. ### 124. from information provided by nso group , we know that pegasus was sold in at least fourteen eu countries , until the contracts with two countries were terminated. it is not know which , but there is a general assumption it concerns poland and hungary. however , as long as nso group does not make any official statement regarding a termination of contract , it cannot be verified if this is true.


### 127. spyware is clearly also used by law enforcement , not just by intelligence agencies. there is no information about the material obtained with the use of spyware , and how that can be , and has been used to detect , investigate , and prosecute crime in the context of eu police and justice cooperation. there are big question marks over the admissibility in court of such material as evidence in the context of eu police and justice cooperation , including within europol and eurojust. ### 127. spyware is clearly also used by law enforcement , not just by intelligence agencies. there are concerns over the admissibility in court of such material as evidence in the context of eu police and justice cooperation , including within europol and eurojust , if such information were to originate from the investigation methods without judicial control. depending on the national legislation , the use of spyware is legitimate in investigations under judicial oversight.


### 131. in september 2021 , it was reported that the german federal criminal police office (bka) had acquired pegasus in late 2020. it is important to note here that german law distinguishes two forms of spyware use254 : access all information (online-durchsuchung255 ) and access only live communication (quellen-tkü256 ). since the original pegasus software could access all information on a device , and not just live communication , its use by the bka would violate the law. the bka therefore asked nso to write a source code , so that pegasus would only be able to access only what was allowed by law. initially , nso declined to do so257 . only after new negotiations , nso agreed , so the bka acquired a modified version258 . it has allegedly been deployed since march 2021. the version purchased by the bka had certain functions blocked to prevent abuse , although it is unclear how that works in practice. the bka has written a report about this modified version , which remains classified259 . ### 131. in september 2021 , it was reported that the german federal criminal police office (bka) had acquired pegasus in late 2020. it is important to note here that german law distinguishes two forms of spyware use254 : access all information (online-durchsuchung255 ) and access only live communication (quellen-tkü256 ). since the original pegasus software could access all information on a device , and not just live communication , its use by the bka would violate the law. the bka therefore asked nso to write a source code , so that pegasus would only be able to access only what was allowed by law. initially , nso declined to do so257 . only after new negotiations , nso agreed , so the bka acquired a modified version258 . the use of pegasus in any form by the bka is not confirmed. the version purchased by the bka had certain functions blocked to prevent abuse , although it is unclear how that works in practice. the bka has written a report about this modified version , which remains classified259 .


### 136. ireland has become the member state where some of the main spyware companies involved in scandals have registered , due to its fiscal laws. on 20 september 2022 , the currency , an irish investigative journalism publisher , revealed that both thalestris limited , the parent company of intellexa , and intellexa itself are headquartered in ireland , and registered at a law firm in the town of balbriggan. it is remarkable that the application to incorporate thalestris limited in ireland was submitted in november 2019 by a company formation specialist , only 12 days after the criminal investigation into dilian and his company wispear by the cypriot authorities was publicly revealed. tal dilian himself , ceo of intellexa , does not appear on irish company documents , but his reportedly second wife sara hamou is named as director of both thalestris and intellexa267 . ### 136. on 20 september 2022 , the currency , an irish investigative journalism publisher , revealed that both thalestris limited , the parent company of intellexa , and intellexa itself are headquartered in ireland , and registered at a law firm in the town of balbriggan. the application to incorporate thalestris limited in ireland was submitted in november 2019 by a company formation specialist 12 days after the criminal investigation into dilian and his company wispear by the cypriot authorities was publicly revealed. tal dilian himself , ceo of intellexa , does not appear on irish company documents , but his reportedly second wife sara hamou is named as director of both thalestris and intellexa267 .


### 139. in response to written questions by the national council of austria (the lower house) , former minister of interior karl nehammer stated that austria has not been a client of nso271 . however , its former chancellor sebastian kurz has close ties to the founder of nso group , and dsirf , a large spyware provider , is based in austria. ### 139. in response to written questions by the national council of austria , the austrian federal government stated that austria has not been a client of nso271. dsirf , a large spyware provider , is based in austria.


### 141. anatoly hurgin , a russian-israeli citizen , former israeli military engineer and co-developer of pegasus together with nso , reportedly owns a company in lithuania , called uab ‘communication technologies’ , in the area of ‘connection and telecommunication services’273 . he also acquired a maltese golden passport in 2015274 . ### 141. a lithuanian company uab 'communication technologies' , operating in the area of 'connection and telecommunication services' , is owned by anatoly hurgin. mr hurgin shares the same name as a russian-israeli citizen , former israeli military engineer and co-developper of pegasus together with nso 273 . he also acquired a maltese golden passport in 2015274 .


### targeting of former greek commissioner and representatives in the council ### deleted


### 147. on 6 november , greek newspaper documento published an extensive list of people who have allegedly been found to have traces of predator on their devices , including dimitris avramopoulos , european commissioner from 2014-2019 and néa dimokratía politician286 . it is not clear whether he was targeted while he was member of the college , and who was behind , but considering the long list of targeted people , including many politicians from both néa dimokratía and opposition , the most plausible hypothesis is that the orders came from the entourage of the prime minister. ### 147. on 6 november , greek newspaper documento published an extensive list of people who have allegedly been found to have traces of predator on their devices , including dimitris avramopoulos , european commissioner from 2014-2019 and néa dimokratía politician286 .


### 148. this case therefore demonstrates that (former) commissioners , including their communications with colleagues , can be targeted for domestic political reasons at any given moment from within their member states. moreover , among the list of targets published by documento , there are several current government ministers , including the ones of foreign affairs and finance. these ministers are also members of the council , deciding on eu foreign and finance policy. therefore , a single infected phone could also serve to wiretap in real-time all commission and council meetings. ### deleted


### 149. the european union is an attractive place for the trade in surveillance technologies and services , including spyware tools. on the one hand , there are the member state governments as potential customers. on the other hand , the notion of being ‘eu-regulated’ serves as a quality label , useful for the global market. the eu internal market offers freedom of movement and beneficial national tax regimes. procurement rules can be avoided with reference to national security , and governments may use proxies or middlemen , so that the purchase of spyware by public authorities is very hard to detect and prove. the eu has strict export rules , but they can be easily circumvented as member states seek to get a competitive advantage with deliberate lax national implementation , and enforcement by the european commission is weak and superficial. indeed , each time the regime for export licenses was tightened in israel , several companies moved their export departments to europe , in particular cyprus287 288 . moreover , several personalities from the spyware industry have obtained eu citizenship in order to be able to operate freely within and from the eu. ### 149. the european union is an attractive place for the trade in surveillance technologies and services , including spyware tools. on the one hand , there are the member state governments as potential customers. on the other hand , the notion of being ‘eu-regulated’ serves as a quality label , useful for the global market. the eu internal market offers freedom of movement and beneficial national tax regimes. procurement rules can be avoided with reference to national security , and governments may use proxies or middlemen , so that the purchase of spyware by public authorities is very hard to detect and prove. the eu has strict export rules , but they can be easily circumvented as member states seek to get a competitive advantage with deliberate lax national implementation , and enforcement by the european commission is weak and superficial. in recent years , there has been a clear trend of several cyber-security companies moving their export departments to europe , especially cyprus. moreover , several personalities from the spyware industry have obtained eu citizenship in order to be able to operate freely within and from the eu.


### 167. governments have targeted eu citizens with powerful spyware. this poses threats to democracy and individual citizens’ rights. the eu has powers to act on these threats , albeit very few. when member states , however , invoke ‘national security’ , the eu is basically out of the game. member states define national security unilaterally , and can shut the door at any time. in addition to these legal constraints , there are political reasons that amount to eu-passiveness. the european commission , as guardian of the eu treaties , has grown reticent when it comes to enforcing eu law331 . this is not because there are legal constraints , but rather because it is a political choice. the commission tends to interpret its powers in the narrowest possible way. when faced with flagrant violations of the rule of law and fundamental rights , this stance becomes very problematic. subsidiarity and respect for the exclusive national competences risks turning in to impunity. below we will examine the powers that the eu institutions have at their disposal. the parliament , commission and council have the power and the duty to legislate , regulate and enforce and they have to do so with vigour and ambition , putting defence of our democracy over short-term political considerations. ### 167. some eu governments have targeted eu citizens with powerful spyware , abusing their right to resort to surveillance in case of risk to national security. this poses threats to democracy and fundamental rights of eu citizens. the eu should act within the scope of its competences to act on these threats. one challenge , however , stems from the ambiguity related to national security , which under eu law remains exclusive competence of member states and the necessity to reconcile this principle with fundamental rights and democratic norms strongly embedded in eu law. below we will examine the powers that the eu institutions have at their disposal. the parliament , commission and council have the power and the duty to legislate , regulate and enforce and they have to do so with vigour and ambition to protect and implement european interests , norms and values.


### 168. the european commission , in its response to the spyware scandal , has so far limited itself to writing letters requesting clarification from the governments of poland , hungary , spain and greece. however , it would seem that this timid admonition by the commission will not be followed by further action. it is true that strictly speaking the commission has no powers to act in the area of national security. however , as the commission itself points out in those letters , ‘national security’ should not be interpreted as an unlimited carve out from european laws and treaties , and become an area of lawlessness. ### 168. the european commission , has no powers to act in the area of national security. thus , in its response to the spyware scandal , it has so far taken only few steps , which included requesting clarification from the governments of poland , hungary , spain and greece , launching inquiry into reported attempts to hack eu commissioners and members of commission staff , devoting more attention to reports of abuse of spyware in annual rule of law reports.


### 169. unlike the us , the commission has so far not undertaken an analysis of the situation nor an assessment of the companies that are active in the european market. there is no obvious legal objection against conducting such an analysis. ### 169. the commission has so far not undertaken an analysis of the situation nor an assessment of the companies that are active on the spyware market within the eu.


### 170. the eu does have several laws that might serve as regulatory tools with regard to spyware. in addition to laws protecting the rights of citizens , such as the laws on data protection and privacy of communications (gdpr , e-privacy) , there are laws on exports (dual use regulation) and procurement. however , enforcement by the commission is weak. it tends to limit itself to verifying if a member state has correctly transposed eu laws in national laws. however , that says very little about the actual situation on the ground. thus , the commission implementation report332 of the dual use regulation seems to conclude that implementation is well on track , whereas there is ample evidence to prove that in practice it is weak and patchy , and in some countries even deliberately so. despite the rules laid down in the dual use regulation , cyprus appears to have become an attractive export hub for spyware vendors. without proper and meaningful enforcement , eu laws are mere paper tigers that create ample space for the illegitimate use of spyware. ### deleted