### 2. calls on the commission to cease its strategies of identity politics , favouring groups based on sex , ethnicity , skin colour , group history or self-perception; notes that so-called ‘positive discrimination’ includes negative discrimination towards those not in that particular group; further notes that intersectional discrimination does not solve the problems of underprivileged people , but rather multiplies a victim mentality for people in every applicable category; urges the commission and the member states to take a meritocratic viewpoint , whereby people are judged on individual merit; ### deleted


### 2. calls on the commission to cease its strategies of identity politics , favouring groups based on sex , ethnicity , skin colour , group history or self-perception; notes that so-called ‘positive discrimination’ includes negative discrimination towards those not in that particular group; further notes that intersectional discrimination does not solve the problems of underprivileged people , but rather multiplies a victim mentality for people in every applicable category; urges the commission and the member states to take a meritocratic viewpoint , whereby people are judged on individual merit; ### 2. stresses with concern that discriminatory practices continue to occur , based on grounds such as sex , race , colour , ethnic or social origin , genetic features , language , religion or belief , political or any other opinion , membership of a national minority , property , birth , disability , age or sexual orientation; emphasises the obvious link between deteriorating rule of law standards and violations of fundamental rights;


### 4. condemns governmental politicisation of the media , whereby governments use it as a tool for their own propaganda; urges the member states to decouple broadcasting councils from political parties , ensuring independence of financing , editorial freedom and journalistic integrity; notes that the german broadcasters ard and zdf are firmly in the hands of politicians , despite decades of appeals by the german constitutional court to try and change this; ### deleted


### 4. condemns governmental politicisation of the media , whereby governments use it as a tool for their own propaganda; urges the member states to decouple broadcasting councils from political parties , ensuring independence of financing , editorial freedom and journalistic integrity; notes that the german broadcasters ard and zdf are firmly in the hands of politicians , despite decades of appeals by the german constitutional court to try and change this; ### 4. condemns governmental politicisation of the media , whereby governments use it as a tool for their own propaganda; urges the member states to decouple broadcasting councils from political parties , ensuring independence of financing , editorial freedom and journalistic integrity;


### 4. condemns governmental politicisation of the media , whereby governments use it as a tool for their own propaganda; urges the member states to decouple broadcasting councils from political parties , ensuring independence of financing , editorial freedom and journalistic integrity; notes that the german broadcasters ard and zdf are firmly in the hands of politicians , despite decades of appeals by the german constitutional court to try and change this; ### 4. regrets the fact that that the safety of journalists is not universally guaranteed; underlines the importance of media pluralism and the need to protect journalists against threats and attacks in order to prevent self-censorship and to assure freedom of expression and the right to information and safeguard the journalistic profession; calls on the commission to improve the instruments for assessing measures taken by governments that may undermine freedom of information and pluralism;


### rule of law ### rule of law and fundamental rights


### 5. highlights the seeming impunity of some national governments to rule of law scrutiny , especially germany , where political parties continue to exert influence in the appointment of judges , and seek to eliminate political opposition parties by intimidation and spurious court cases; ### deleted


### 5. highlights the seeming impunity of some national governments to rule of law scrutiny , especially germany , where political parties continue to exert influence in the appointment of judges , and seek to eliminate political opposition parties by intimidation and spurious court cases; ### 5. underlines that the rule of law is a cornerstone of democracy , maintains the separation of powers , ensures accountability , contributes to trust in public institutions and guarantees the principles of legality , legal certainty , prohibition of arbitrariness of the executive powers , judicial independence , impartiality , and equality before the law; stresses that the rule of law and judicial independence in particular are critical for citizens’ ability to enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms;


### 5. highlights the seeming impunity of some national governments to rule of law scrutiny , especially germany , where political parties continue to exert influence in the appointment of judges , and seek to eliminate political opposition parties by intimidation and spurious court cases; ### 5. highlights the rule of law backsliding in many member states over different periods and by different levels of authority , from the executive level through procedures such as fast-tracking laws in periods of state emergencies , to the local level such as pervasive abuse by policing authorities;


### right to congregate , free movement and freedom of conscience ### deleted


### right to congregate , free movement and freedom of conscience ### situation and fundamental rights violations at the eu’s external borders


### right to congregate , free movement and freedom of conscience ### rights of minorities and vulnerable groups


### 6. condemns the violence of antifa rioting in the midst of peaceful vaccine passport protests across europe; notes the allegations that they are working in cooperation with police authorities to create headlines and discredit the protests; ### deleted


### 6. condemns the violence of antifa rioting in the midst of peaceful vaccine passport protests across europe; notes the allegations that they are working in cooperation with police authorities to create headlines and discredit the protests; ### 6. condemns push backs and violence against migrants and asylum seekers at the external borders; calls on the commission and the member states to set up a fully-fledged fundamental rights monitoring system at the external borders; calls on the commission to start infringement procedures where there are indications of push backs and violence; calls on frontex to suspend all operations in member states where such instances take place and to provide full transparency and accountability of its operational activities;


### 7. recognises that freedom of conscience includes the right to conscientious objection; notes with concern that there are still member states in which competent and well-qualified medical staff are denied employment , or have their employment terminated , because of their conscientious objection to life-ending procedures; urges sweden and finland to end their practice of compelling midwives to perform abortions even if this is against their conscience; ### deleted


### 8. deplores the vaccine mandates , which coerce and oblige all citizens to take part in a medical trial of experimental gene therapies , some of which were tested on the kidneys of aborted babies (moderna and pfizer) , contrary to article 10 of the charter of fundamental rights of the european union and article 9 of the european convention on human rights; ### deleted


### freedom of expression ### rights of minorities and vulnerable groups


### freedom of expression ### combatting hate crime and hate speech


### 9. reiterates that freedom of speech is a fundamental right , vital for the development of a pluralistic and democratic society; emphasises that any restriction to the online or offline exercise of this freedom , such as the removal of content , must be exceptional , prescribed by law and justified by the pursuit of a legitimate aim , in accordance with article 11 of the charter of fundamental rights of the european union and article 10 of the european convention on human rights; ### deleted


### 9. reiterates that freedom of speech is a fundamental right , vital for the development of a pluralistic and democratic society; emphasises that any restriction to the online or offline exercise of this freedom , such as the removal of content , must be exceptional , prescribed by law and justified by the pursuit of a legitimate aim , in accordance with article 11 of the charter of fundamental rights of the european union and article 10 of the european convention on human rights; ### 9. deplores the fact that a significant number of roma people in the eu still live in marginalised settlements in extremely precarious conditions and in very poor socio-economic circumstances , often lacking access to clean drinking water , electricity , safe and adequate housing , education , employment , healthcare , sewage facilities and waste collection; recalls that the situation in roma settlements is in clear violation of human rights and fundamental rights and has serious ramifications , especially for roma children; urges the member states to follow the council recommendation on roma equality , inclusion and participation as well as the eu roma strategic framework on equality , inclusion and participation for 2020 - 2030 and to make full use of eu and national funding towards this end; calls on the commission to intensify the monitoring of member states’ progress and take further steps accordingly;


### 10. is concerned about the use of the vague notion of ‘hate speech’; calls on the commission and the member states to work , in cooperation with internet companies , to provide adequate safeguards , in particular to ensure that any interference is limited to what is necessary and proportionate , and to include the possibility of judicial redress; ### deleted


### 10. is concerned about the use of the vague notion of ‘hate speech’; calls on the commission and the member states to work , in cooperation with internet companies , to provide adequate safeguards , in particular to ensure that any interference is limited to what is necessary and proportionate , and to include the possibility of judicial redress; ### 10. calls on the member states to ensure proper involvement of social-legal protection bodies regarding children and social guardianship in marginalised roma communities in order to ensure that children receive the protection and care necessary for their well-being and development , while respecting their best interests and to put in place procedures tailored to the different needs of marginalised roma communities in order to carry out their duties in the same way as for children from the majority population;


### 10. is concerned about the use of the vague notion of ‘hate speech’; calls on the commission and the member states to work , in cooperation with internet companies , to provide adequate safeguards , in particular to ensure that any interference is limited to what is necessary and proportionate , and to include the possibility of judicial redress; ### 10. highlights the growing racist and xenophobic sentiments by opinion leaders , politicians and the media that have created a hostile climate for advocates and organisations working against racism;


### 11. calls for transparent implementation and public review of the eu guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief , adopted by the council on 24 june 20137 , as called for by parliament in its resolution of 15 january 2019 on eu guidelines and the mandate of the eu special envoy on the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the eu8 ; calls for progress reports on the implementation of the guidelines to be communicated regularly to parliament and the council; ### deleted


### 11. calls for transparent implementation and public review of the eu guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief , adopted by the council on 24 june 20137 , as called for by parliament in its resolution of 15 january 2019 on eu guidelines and the mandate of the eu special envoy on the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the eu8 ; calls for progress reports on the implementation of the guidelines to be communicated regularly to parliament and the council; ### 11. deplores the fact that the practice of segregation of children from minority groups in schools remains a significant issue in europe; emphasises that such practices often stem from misdiagnosing these children with intellectual disabilities based on their social or personal circumstances; calls on the member states to strengthen their inclusive policies to prevent these discriminatory practices , both intentional and non-intentional and to put in place supervisory mechanisms in order to review and where necessary reverse diagnostic decisions;


### promoting the european way of life ### deleted


### promoting the european way of life ### fundamental rights of migrants , asylum seekers and refugees


### promoting the european way of life ### environmental protection


### promoting the european way of life ### structural racism


### 12. fully supports the work of frontex in their difficult task protecting the eu external borders against floods of illegal migrants; ### deleted


### 12. fully supports the work of frontex in their difficult task protecting the eu external borders against floods of illegal migrants; ### 12. highlights article37 of the charter of fundamental rights of the european union , which affirms that measures towards achieving a high level of environmental protection and the improvement of the quality of the environment must be integrated into the policies of the union;


### 13. strongly condemns ngos masquerading as aid agencies while facilitating the smuggling of unqualified migrants into the eu; urges the commission to cease funding such entities; ### deleted


### 13. strongly condemns ngos masquerading as aid agencies while facilitating the smuggling of unqualified migrants into the eu; urges the commission to cease funding such entities; ### 13. calls on the commission to adopt the respective legislative initiatives without delay , and to follow with the adoption of further planned legislation in accordance with the original timeline; emphasises the urgent need of including relevant environmental concerns into the decision-making process of all policies and initiatives and believes that sustainability must be the guiding principle for all macroeconomic policies to ensure the just transition to an environmentally sustainable economy , while protecting and creating sustainable employment; and in order to deal with one of the most significant threats facing humanity;


### 13. strongly condemns ngos masquerading as aid agencies while facilitating the smuggling of unqualified migrants into the eu; urges the commission to cease funding such entities; ### 13. stresses that the saving of lives is a legal obligation under international law and eu law; strongly condemns criminal proceedings initiated in some member states against civil society organisations and individuals for providing humanitarian assistance to migrants; calls on member states to ensure that prosecution is not pursued against individuals and civil society organisations assisting migrants for humanitarian reasons;


### 14. urges the commission to adhere to its competences under the treaties , and not seek to encroach on member state sovereignty , especially in the area of health legislation; ### deleted


### 14. urges the commission to adhere to its competences under the treaties , and not seek to encroach on member state sovereignty , especially in the area of health legislation; ### 14. calls for the eu wide implementation of the aarhus convention that links environmental rights and human rights; highlights that environmental impairment and the failure of some public authorities to provide information about serious environmental risks to which individuals are exposed , may have severe harmful consequences for individuals; calls for the protection of journalists , activists , ngos , rights defenders , whistleblowers and public watchdogs acting in these fields.


### 15. condemns the intolerant rhetoric that describes any conservative voice as being ‘anti-vax’ , anti-choice , racist , bigoted or misogynistic; urges the commission and the council to live up to our motto of ‘united in diversity’ by encouraging lively debate on topics with an open mind , rather than ad hominem attacks; ### deleted


### right to protect bodily autonomy ### deleted


### right to protect bodily autonomy ### women rights


### 16. deeply regrets the draconian imposition of the eu digital covid certificate , which has seen the fundamental rights of every eu citizen damaged or lost; notes that the costs (financial as well as psychological) far outweigh any health benefits , as healthy people and those at low risk of death from covid-19 are forced to obey ever-changing , unreasonable , disproportionate and ineffective legal mandates in order to meet their family , enter their workplace (including the premises of the european parliament) , cross schengen borders , attend a place of worship , or enter a concert hall , shopping centre or social club; notes that the costs of these unprecedented governmental controls will be regretted by many for decades to come; ### deleted


### 16. deeply regrets the draconian imposition of the eu digital covid certificate , which has seen the fundamental rights of every eu citizen damaged or lost; notes that the costs (financial as well as psychological) far outweigh any health benefits , as healthy people and those at low risk of death from covid-19 are forced to obey ever-changing , unreasonable , disproportionate and ineffective legal mandates in order to meet their family , enter their workplace (including the premises of the european parliament) , cross schengen borders , attend a place of worship , or enter a concert hall , shopping centre or social club; notes that the costs of these unprecedented governmental controls will be regretted by many for decades to come; ### 16. calls on the council to urgently conclude the eu ratification of the istanbul convention on the basis of a broad accession without any limitations , and to advocate its ratification by all the member states , in particular bulgaria , czechia , hungary , latvia , lithuania and slovakia which haven’t ratify it ; strongly condemns the attempts in some member states , in particular poland , to revoke measures already taken in implementing the istanbul convention and in combating violence against women and to step out of the convention.


### 17. expresses grave concern about the excessive lockdown measures , which have put businesses into debt and closure , seen people separated from their loved ones and families (often during their final hours) , increased mental illness through isolation , led to rises in domestic violence , as people are imprisoned in their homes and prevented from having external contact , and seen children unnecessarily masked and vaccinated; urges the member states to encourage early treatment of the sars-cov-2 infection9 ; ### deleted


### 17. expresses grave concern about the excessive lockdown measures , which have put businesses into debt and closure , seen people separated from their loved ones and families (often during their final hours) , increased mental illness through isolation , led to rises in domestic violence , as people are imprisoned in their homes and prevented from having external contact , and seen children unnecessarily masked and vaccinated; urges the member states to encourage early treatment of the sars-cov-2 infection9 ; ### 17. condemns the continuous and persistent backlash in some member states , particularly poland , slovakia , croatia or lithuania , against women’s rights , including sexual and reproductive health and rights; emphasises that restrictive abortion laws do not only represent a flagrant violation of the human rights of women and girls and their bodily autonomy , but their effects are also contra-productive and in direct opposition to their proclaimed goal of saving lives , as illustrated by the cases of two polish women who died of sepsis after having been denied life-saving abortion; urges the member states to take effective steps to remedy such existing violations of human rights and women´s rights and to put necessary mechanisms in place to prevent their occurrence in the future; calls on the commission to put greater emphasis on sexual and reproductive health and rights in its annual rule of law report;


### 17. expresses grave concern about the excessive lockdown measures , which have put businesses into debt and closure , seen people separated from their loved ones and families (often during their final hours) , increased mental illness through isolation , led to rises in domestic violence , as people are imprisoned in their homes and prevented from having external contact , and seen children unnecessarily masked and vaccinated; urges the member states to encourage early treatment of the sars-cov-2 infection9 ; ### 17. recalls that during the pandemic of covid-19 some member states restricted access to sexual and reproductive health and rights services , including abortion; strongly emphasizes that sexual and reproductive health and rights services must be recognized as essential and be available even during global health emergencies , given the time-sensitivity of the nature of these services;


### 18. urges the president of parliament to rescind the obligation for parliament staff to show their eu digital covid certificate in order to access their workplace , as this is in contravention of the gdpr , whereby personal data collected for one purpose (crossing borders) cannot be repurposed for another (entering parliament’s premises) , with the privacy contraventions this entails; further urges her to seek assurance that dna data has not been collected , stored and transferred to third parties; ### deleted


### 18. urges the president of parliament to rescind the obligation for parliament staff to show their eu digital covid certificate in order to access their workplace , as this is in contravention of the gdpr , whereby personal data collected for one purpose (crossing borders) cannot be repurposed for another (entering parliament’s premises) , with the privacy contraventions this entails; further urges her to seek assurance that dna data has not been collected , stored and transferred to third parties; ### 18. 1. is alarmed by the significant increase in domestic violence during the pandemic of covid-19; commends prompt responses by some national , regional and local governments to put in place measures to help victims of domestic violence , such as expansion of helplines and information sharing , introduction of codeword schemes at pharmacies , pop-up counselling centres at grocery shops or concealed applications to facilitate reporting of domestic violence and abuse; points out , however , to the general lack of shelters or other safe accommodation options for survivors of domestic violence; therefore urges the member states to allocate adequate funding to existing shelters to help them increase their capacities , as well as to facilitate the setting-up of additional shelters and safe housing facilities for survivors , including for accompanying minors; moreover calls on the member states to ensure that services for survivors are regarded as essential and remain open , and are complemented by adequate and specialized training for police forces as well as targeted justice responses with the aim to increase preparedness for the future;


### 19. calls on the commission to present full details of contracts concluded for the purchase of covid-19 vaccines , without redactions , and calls for full transparency of health data associated with the vaccines’ efficacy and side effects; notes that manufacturers of harmful vaccines are liable under directive 85/374/eec; ### deleted


### 20. calls on the member states to take urgent action against acts of modern slavery or reproductive exploitation through surrogacy agreements; ### deleted


### — having regard to article 2(1) of the charter of fundamental rights of the european union , which enshrines the right to life for all persons , ### deleted


### — having regard to article 2(1) of the charter of fundamental rights of the european union , which enshrines the right to life for all persons , ### — having regard to article 2(1) of the charter of fundamental rights of the european union ,


### — having regard to article 20 of the charter of fundamental rights of the european union , which states that everyone is equal before the law , ### deleted


### — having regard to article 20 of the charter of fundamental rights of the european union , which states that everyone is equal before the law , ### — having regard to article 20 of the charter of fundamental rights of the european union ,


### — having regard to article 21 of the charter of fundamental rights of the european union , which prohibits all forms of discrimination , ### deleted


### — having regard to article 21 of the charter of fundamental rights of the european union , which prohibits all forms of discrimination , ### — having regard to article 21 of the charter of fundamental rights of the european union ,


### — having regard to regulation (eu) 2016/679 of the european parliament and of the council of 27 april 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data , and repealing directive 95/46/ec (general data protection regulation)1 , ### deleted


### — having regard to council directive 2002/90/ec of 28 november 2002 defining the facilitation of unauthorised entry , transit and residence2 , ### deleted


### — having regard to the ruling of the court of justice of the european union (cjeu) of 21 june 2017 in case c-621/15 , n. w and others v sanofi pasteur msd snc and others , regarding directive 85/374/eec3 , ### deleted


### — having regard to the cjeu ruling of 18 october 2011 in case c-34/10 , oliver brüstle v greenpeace ev4 , ### deleted


### — having regard to the exchange of views held on 30 june 2021 at the german chancellor’s office with the german federal constitutional court , during which more than 750 constitutional complaints about excessive lockdown measures were dismissed5 , ### deleted


### — having regard to the political instrumentalisation of the german public prosecutor’s office , whereby political opponents are subjected to spurious legal claims designed to waste their time , energy and resources , thereby harming their chances in elections , ### deleted


### — having regard to president von der leyen’s heavily redacted disclosure of vaccine purchase contracts to meps , ### deleted


### a. whereas the years 2020 and 2021 saw the most draconian loss of fundamental rights in the history of the eu , whereby citizens were forced to stay at home , close businesses , remain distant from friends and family , maintain physical distance and go untreated for ‘non-urgent’ medical issues , were prevented from attending places of worship and from travelling within and outside the eu , and were forced to show a historically worrisome pass to enter premises or vehicles; ### deleted


### a. whereas the years 2020 and 2021 saw the most draconian loss of fundamental rights in the history of the eu , whereby citizens were forced to stay at home , close businesses , remain distant from friends and family , maintain physical distance and go untreated for ‘non-urgent’ medical issues , were prevented from attending places of worship and from travelling within and outside the eu , and were forced to show a historically worrisome pass to enter premises or vehicles; ### a. whereas in many member states , the lockdown and social distancing measures during the covid-19 pandemic have been associated with an exponential increase in the prevalence and intensity of cases of intimate partner violence , psychological violence and coercive control and cyber violence , and with a 60 % increase in emergency calls reported by victims of domestic violence(18); whereas requirement to stay at home and the alarming upsurge in the ‘shadow pandemic’ made it difficult for women and children to access effective protection , support services and justice and revealed that support resources and structures were insufficient and that victims had limited access to support services , leaving many of them without adequate and timely protection; whereas best practices in specific measures to provide timely and accessible assistance to victims , including setting up emergency texting systems or creating contact points to seek help in pharmacies and supermarkets should be shared among the member states; whereas in spite of the prevalence of the phenomenon , intimate partner violence against women remains under-reported in the eu by the victims , their families , friends , acquaintances and neighbours , for various reasons , especially during the covid-19 pandemic , and whereas there is a significant lack of comprehensive , comparable and gender-disaggregated data , making it difficult to fully assess the impact of the crisis;


### a. whereas the years 2020 and 2021 saw the most draconian loss of fundamental rights in the history of the eu , whereby citizens were forced to stay at home , close businesses , remain distant from friends and family , maintain physical distance and go untreated for ‘non-urgent’ medical issues , were prevented from attending places of worship and from travelling within and outside the eu , and were forced to show a historically worrisome pass to enter premises or vehicles; ### a. whereas in the years 2020 and 2021 restrictive measures to combat the covid-19 pandemic interfered with a wide range of fundamental rights , such as to movement and assembly , to private and family life , including personal data protection , and to education , work and social security; whereas the pandemic exacerbated existing challenges and inequalities in all areas of life , especially affecting vulnerable groups , and sparked an increase in racist incidents;


### b. whereas more than 325 000 illegal crossings were detected by the european border and coast guard agency (frontex) and member state border controls between january 2020 and december 20216 , with untold numbers of illegal migrants , traffickers and smugglers entering , remaining in and destabilising the security of our union; ### deleted


### c. whereas eu law , as upheld in the case of brüstle v greenpeace , affirms the right to life and dignity of every human embryo , and this right should therefore be protected under article 2 of the charter of fundamental rights of the european union; ### deleted


### right to equal treatment ### right to equal treatment: multiple and intersectional discrimination.


### media freedom ### media freedom and the protection of journalists


### media freedom ### media freedom and right to information


### 3. condemns attempts by governments to silence media outlets that criticise them and to eliminate media freedom and pluralism; also condemns social media platforms that censor , deplatform or intimidate independent journalists and free citizens who express a narrative differing from that of mainstream media; ### deleted


### 3. condemns attempts by governments to silence media outlets that criticise them and to eliminate media freedom and pluralism; also condemns social media platforms that censor , deplatform or intimidate independent journalists and free citizens who express a narrative differing from that of mainstream media; ### 3. calls on member states to protect and develop an independent , pluralist and free media sector; condemns in this respect any measures aimed at silencing critical media and undermining media freedom and pluralism;


### 1. recalls that regulation (eu , euratom) 2020/2092 of the european parliament and of the council of 16 december 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the union budget (the conditionality regulation) integrated the conditionality mechanism into a wider framework , requiring the commission to use its own annual rule of law reports as a source for its assessments under the regulation; calls on the commission to implement the conditionality regulation without any further delay; recalls that for budget-related measures in the event of violations of the rule of law in a member state , the competences of parliamentary committees should be determined on the basis of annex vi of parliament’s rules of procedure if the infringements under the conditionality regulation procedure are dealt with in parliament; ### 1. recalls that regulation (eu , euratom) 2020/2092 of the european parliament and of the council of 16 december 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the union budget (the conditionality regulation) integrated the conditionality mechanism into a wider framework , requiring the commission to use its own annual rule of law reports as a source for its assessments under the regulation; calls on the commission to implement the conditionality regulation without any further delay by sending written notifications within the meaning of article 6(1) of the regulation to concerned member states; recalls that for budget-related measures in the event of violations of the rule of law in a member state , the competences of parliamentary committees should be determined on the basis of annex vi of parliament’s rules of procedure if the infringements under the conditionality regulation procedure are dealt with in parliament;


### 2. recalling its resolution of 8 july 2021 on the creation of guidelines for the application of the general regime of conditionality for the protection of the union budget2 , insists that the commission include in its annual rule of law report a section dedicated to cases where breaches of the rule of law in a member state could affect or seriously risk affecting the sound financial management of the union budget or the protection of the financial interests of the union in a sufficiently direct way; ### 2. recalling its resolution of 8 july 2021 on the creation of guidelines for the application of the general regime of conditionality for the protection of the union budget2 , insists that the commission include in its annual rule of law report a section dedicated to cases where breaches of the rule of law in a member state could affect or seriously risk affecting the sound financial management of the union budget or the protection of the financial interests of the union in a sufficiently direct way; furthermore insists that findings published in the annual rule of law report should not be subject to further informal exchanges with the concerned member state for sending a notification under article 6(1) of the rule of law conditionality regulation;


### 2. recalls its resolution of 8 july 2021 on the creation of guidelines for the application of the conditionality regulation; insists that the commission include in its annual rule of law reports a section dedicated to cases where rule of law breaches in a member state could affect or seriously risk affecting the sound financial management of the union budget or the protection of the union’s financial interests in a sufficiently direct way; ### 2. recalls its resolution of 8 july 2021 on the creation of guidelines for the application of the conditionality regulation; insists that the commission include in its annual rule of law reports a section dedicated to cases where rule of law breaches in a member state affect or seriously risk affecting the sound financial management of the union budget or the protection of the union’s financial interests in a sufficiently direct way;


### 2. recalls that respect for the rule of law entails compliance with eu primary and secondary law , and with the core principle of the primacy of eu law; ### 2. recalls that respect for the rule of law entails compliance with eu primary and secondary law , and with the core principle of the primacy of eu law; calls on the commission to closely monitor the rulings of national courts regarding the primacy of eu law over national constitutional norms and to promote a systematic dialogue between national courts and the cjeu on issues of potential conflict;


### 3. recalls that the rule of law conditionality regulation applies both to individual breaches of the principles of the rule of law and to ‘systemic’ breaches that are widespread or are a result of recurrent practices or omissions by public authorities , or general measures adopted by such authorities; regrets that the structure of the 2021 rule of law report does not always lend itself to the effective identification of such systemic breaches and calls on the commission for improvements in this respect. ### 3. recalls that the rule of law conditionality regulation applies both to individual breaches of the principles of the rule of law and to ‘systemic’ breaches that are widespread or are a result of recurrent practices or omissions by public authorities , or general measures adopted by such authorities; regrets that the structure of the 2021 rule of law report does not always lend itself to the effective identification of such systemic breaches and calls on the commission to draft the report for 2022 to ensure that the scrutiny of such systemic breaches is fully reflected in the annual rule of law report.


### 4. notes that the covid-19 pandemic has also shown that high levels of digitalisation have increased the resilience and efficiency of justice systems; agrees with the commission that digitalisation should be fostered and investment in human and financial resources prioritised in some member states in order to increase the efficiency of their justice systems; welcomes the fact that digitalising the public administration and the judiciary is a priority in many member states’ recovery and resilience plans; ### 4. notes that the covid-19 pandemic has also shown that high levels of digitalisation have increased the resilience and efficiency of justice systems in accelerating judicial procedures; agrees with the commission that digitalisation should be fostered and investment in human and financial resources prioritised in some member states in order to increase the efficiency of their justice systems , with the aim of strengthening the rule of law and the fundamental rights guarantees in the union , particularly by facilitating access to justice; notes that such efforts should not hamper procedural rights of suspects or parties , including the right of defence or principle of equality of arms; welcomes the fact that digitalising the public administration and the judiciary is a priority in many member states’ recovery and resilience plans; highlights the growing importance of complaint-and-redress mechanisms put in place in relation to the digital market sphere , implying the need for judicial institutions to be properly staffed , trained and involved in order to be able to render decisions on technical matters within a short timeframe;


### 6. calls on the commission and the member states to use the commission’s annual rule of law reports to resolutely fight against systemic corruption and devise effective instruments for preventing , combating and sanctioning corruption and fighting fraud , as well as for regularly monitoring the use of public funds , including recovery and resilience facility funds. ### 6. calls on the commission and the member states to use the commission’s annual rule of law reports to resolutely fight against systemic corruption and devise effective instruments for preventing , combating and sanctioning corruption and fighting fraud , as well as for regularly monitoring the use of public funds , including recovery and resilience facility funds; reiterates that in member states with identified systemic corruption , where national preventive measures are not effective , the commission must make full use of all tools available to protect the eu budget , including through suspensions of funds where necessary


### 10. welcomes the opinion of the advocate general of the cjeu of 2 december 2021 to dismiss the action for annulment lodged by hungary and poland in march 2021 against regulation (eu , euratom) 2020/2092 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the union budget1 ; applauds the continued , thorough and consistent defence by the cjeu of the rule of law; ### 10. welcomes the opinion of the advocate general of the cjeu of 2 december 2021 to dismiss the action for annulment lodged by hungary and poland in march 2021 against regulation (eu , euratom) 2020/2092 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the union budget1 ; asks the commission to include in the report a distinctive part with an analysis of cases where breaches of the principles of the rule of law in a particular member state could affect or seriously risk affecting the sound financial management of the union budget in a sufficiently direct way;


### 11. considers that the language of the horizontal part of the report is inadequate as regards the systematic character of the attacks on the independence of justice systems in hungary and poland; reiterates its calls on the commission to provide a meaningful and easily readable comparison between the different national justice systems as regards the situation of the rule of law; ### 11. considers that the language of the horizontal part of the report is inadequate as regards the systematic character of the attacks on the independence of justice systems in hungary and poland; reiterates its calls on the commission to provide a meaningful and easily readable comparison between the different national justice systems as regards the situation of the rule of law and to highlight where best practices for comparable systems might be applied and how similar deficiencies could be addressed;


### 12. urges the commission , furthermore , to make robust use of its toolkit , including infringement procedures and the conditionality mechanism , where appropriate , to quickly and efficiently address any backsliding on the rule of law in national justice systems; ### 12. urges the commission , furthermore , to make robust use of its toolkit , including infringement procedures and the conditionality mechanism , where appropriate , to quickly and efficiently address any backsliding on the rule of law in national justice systems; urges the commission to ensure an immediate and adequate response to a refusal to implement and respect cjeu judgments , such as court actions under article 260 tfeu; calls on the commission to formally trigger the applicable procedures against any member state responsible of breaches of the rule of law , notably the procedure provided under article 6(1) of the conditionality regulation , inter alia by sending a written notification to the relevant member state;


### 13. urges the council to resume all pending procedures under article 7(1) teu and to inform parliament thereof; underlines that any further delaying of such action would amount to a breach of the rule of law principle by the council itself; ### 13. urges the council to resume all pending procedures under article 7(1) teu , ensuring that hearings under article 7(1) teu also address new developments , and to inform parliament thereof; underlines that any further delaying of such action would amount to a breach of the rule of law principle by the council itself;


### 14. recalls the important role of journalists and civil society in raising the alarm about , and drawing attention to , any breaches of the rule of law , including with regard to the proper functioning of justice systems , and calls for them to be given enhanced protection against intimidation or violence; condemns the instrumental use of justice to undermine freedom of information , notably through the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (slapps) in the eu; ### 14. recalls the important role of journalists and civil society in raising the alarm about , and drawing attention to , any breaches of the rule of law , including with regard to the proper functioning of justice systems , and calls for them to be given enhanced protection against intimidation or violence; is concerned that an increasing number of member states adopt measures which severely constraint the freedom of association and expression for civil society organisations , thus contributing to shrinking space for civil society; also condemns the instrumental use of justice to undermine freedom of information , notably through the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (slapps) in the eu; calls on the commission to meet civil society alongside with national authorities during country visits online and offline , and to take their contributions seriously into account;


### 15. similarly , recalls the role of whistleblowers in denouncing breaches of the rule of law and the need to protect whistleblowers; ### 15. similarly , recalls the role of whistleblowers in denouncing breaches of the rule of law and the need to protect whistleblowers according to the minimum protection rules enshrined in directive (eu) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of union law;


### 5. calls for impact assessments to be performed on all acts , without exception; regrets that this was not the case for several politically sensitive proposals in the past; recalls that on several occasions parliament has carried out its own impact assessments in replacement of the commission’s; nevertheless , recalls that impact assessments help to inform but do not replace political decision-making; ### 5. calls for impact assessments to be performed on all acts , without exception; regrets that this was not the case for several politically sensitive proposals in the past; recalls that on several occasions parliament has carried out its own impact assessments in replacement of the commission’s; nevertheless , recalls that impact assessments help to inform but do not replace political decision-making; calls for impact assessments to be published immediately upon their completion , and not only when the policy proposal is presented , thus ensuring greater transparency of how eu decisions are taken , as stated by the cjeu in case c-57/16p;


### 9. takes note of the use of instruments such as the regulatory fitness and performance programme (refit) and the ‘fit for future’ platform to identify opportunities for simplification and reducing unnecessary costs before the commission proposes a revision , while ensuring the highest standards of protection and enhancing compliance with eu law; recalls that the ‘fit for future’ platform’s role is also to assess whether specific union legislation and its objectives remain future-proof and adapted to new challenges; ### 9. takes note of the use of instruments such as the regulatory fitness and performance programme (refit) and the ‘fit for future’ platform to identify opportunities for simplification and reducing unnecessary costs before the commission proposes a revision , while ensuring the highest standards of protection and enhancing compliance with eu law; recalls that the ‘fit for future’ platform’s role is also to assess whether specific union legislation and its objectives remain future-proof and adapted to new challenges; recalls that making regulation which is ‘fit for the future’ above all entails ensuring its economic , social , and environmental sustainability; considers the commission to develop and to bring into use a more integrated approach on sustainability that would better take into account the interplay of economic , social and environmental impacts of eu policies and legislation recommends that the fit for future platform identify and explore legislation that runs counter the european green deal and wider sustainable development goal objectives , including by adopting a ‘think sustainability first’ approach in the better regulation guidelines;


### 12. takes note of the ‘one in , one out’ approach by which the commission aims to offset newly introduced burdens by relieving citizens and businesses of equivalent burdens at eu level in the same policy area; regrets the unilateral introduction of this approach by the commission , without a prior impact assessment or consultation; underlines that the implementation of this approach should not affect political imperatives or the objectives of better regulation , and emphasises that it should not lead to mechanical or mathematical decisions to repeal legislation , lower its standard or result in a chilling effect on legislation; recalls that the need for new legislation should not automatically imply that current legislation is no longer needed; calls for this approach to be based on a transparent and evidence-based methodology giving balanced consideration to all sustainability aspects , both in terms of benefits and costs , including the costs of non-compliance and inaction; calls on the commission , in this regard , to make its ‘one in , one out’ calculator public before applying this approach; ### 12. takes note of the ‘one in , one out’ approach by which the commission aims to offset newly introduced burdens by relieving citizens and businesses of equivalent burdens at eu level in the same policy area; regrets the unilateral introduction of this approach by the commission , without a prior impact assessment or consultation , and contrary to the position preconised by the previous commission; underlines that the implementation of this approach should not affect political imperatives or the objectives of better regulation , and emphasises that it should not lead to mechanical or mathematical decisions to repeal legislation , lower its standard or result in a chilling effect on legislation; stresses that this approach should not be translated into deregulation or “no-regulation” nor prevent member states from maintaining or taking more ambitious measures and adopting higher social , environmental and consumer protection standards in cases where only minimum standards are defined by union law; recalls that the need for new legislation should not automatically imply that current legislation is no longer needed; in this regard , is of the opinion that a thorough impact assessment must equally be conducted for any potential repeal , to avoid unexpected consequences and undesirable effects; calls for this approach to be based on a transparent and evidence-based methodology giving balanced consideration to all sustainability aspects , both in terms of benefits and costs , including the costs of non-compliance and inaction; calls on the commission , in this regard , to make its ‘one in , one out’ calculator public before applying this approach;


### b. whereas the number of petitions remained modest in relation to the total population of the eu; whereas on average around 1 200 petitions are submitted to the european parliament each year; ### b. whereas the number of petitions remained modest in relation to the total population of the eu confirming the need for major efforts and tailored measures to increase public awareness and achieve significative improvements concerning the exercise of the right to petition; whereas on average around 1 200 petitions are submitted to the european parliament each year;


### m. whereas one of the eu’s priority objectives must be to strengthen the democratic legitimacy of its institutions; ### m. whereas one of the eu’s priority objectives must be to strengthen democratic legitimacy of its institutions ensuring effective protection of citizens' fundamental rights , an enhanced citizens' involvement in shaping the eu political agenda and full transparency of the eu decision-making processes;


### 3. notes that there is a mismatch between citizens’ expectations as to the eu institutions’ powers to solve individual problems and the limitations the treaties impose on the eu institutions; so as to prevent situations in which the public have unrealistic expectations and then feel disappointed in the eu institutions , calls for more information to be provided to citizens on the union’s competences and the limits of the right to petition; ### 3. notes that major improvements are needed to meet citizens’ expectations when they exercise the right to petition; asks the eu institutions to exploit the full potential of the petition tool ensuring a proper treatment and follow-up of petitions received and doing their utmost to solve individual problems so as to prevent situations in which the public feel disappointed in the eu institutions; calls for more information to be provided to citizens on the right to petition and for enhancing cooperation with member states' authorities to fully protect citizens' rights arising from eu law;


### 5. draws attention to the potential that the right to petition has when it comes to warning the eu institutions about possible loopholes in union law , or breaches or poor implementation thereof , both systemically and as regards specific cases; calls on the commission , as guardian of the treaties , to pay closer attention to the issues raised in petitions and to ensure that they give rise to proper inquiries so that genuine improvements can be made; emphasises that , in cases where the commission does not have legislative powers , the commission still has and should use the possibility to act by providing coordination or support; ### 5. draws attention to the potential that the right to petition has when it comes to warning the eu institutions about possible loopholes in union law , or breaches or poor implementation thereof , both systemically and as regards specific and individual cases; calls on the commission , as guardian of the treaties , to pay closer attention to the issues raised in petitions and to ensure the correct application of eu law throughout the union by conducting effective inquiries so that genuine solutions can be achieved; emphasises that , in cases where the commission does not have legislative powers , the commission must effectively use the possibility to act by providing coordination or support;


### 10. calls on civil society as a whole to tap the full potential of the right to petition when it comes to effecting policy and legislative changes at eu level; calls on civil society organisations to make better use of petitions as instruments of direct democracy; ### 10. calls on civil society as a whole to tap the full potential of the right to petition when it comes to effecting policy and legislative changes at eu level; calls on civil society organisations to make a more frequent use of petitions as instruments of direct democracy;


### 11. calls on the conference on the future of europe to reflect on and debate the right to petition , and , along with members of the public , to look at ways to improve knowledge of and access to the right to petition; ### 11. calls on the conference on the future of europe to reflect on and debate the right to petition , and , along with members of the public , to look at ways to improve its knowledge and access for citizens and residents in the eu as well as its implementation at eu level;


### 23. welcomes the recent changes made to the statute of the european ombudsman , which will further enhance the right of eu citizens and residents to complain about maladministration , in particular in the areas of whistle-blower protection , harassment and conflicts of interest; ### 23. welcomes the recent changes made to the statute of the european ombudsman , which will further enhance the right of eu citizens and residents to complain about maladministration , in particular in the areas of whistle-blower protection , harassment and conflicts of interest; strongly believes that the ombudsman must be awarded an increased budget providing her with the necessary resources to effectively handle the overall workload;


### 24. congratulates the ombudsman on the work she has done on the accessibility of documents , in particular the application of the fast-track procedure to deal with such requests; calls on the ombudsman to continue her efforts in this direction , because timely access to documents is essential to ensure proper engagement of citizens and civil society in the decision-making process; ### 24. congratulates the ombudsman on the remarkable work she has done on the accessibility of eu documents , in particular the application of the fast-track procedure to deal with such requests; notes with concern that the current legislation on public access to eu documents is severely obsolete; considers a priority the revision of regulation (ec) n. 1049/2001 to guarantee full transparency and full public access to the documents held by the eu institutions; calls on the ombudsman to continue her efforts in this direction , because full and timely access to documents , including when the legislative process is ongoing , is essential to ensure proper engagement of citizens and civil society in the decision-making process;


### 30. calls on the commission to improve the eci tool to make citizens’ participation more accessible , given the low number of ecis that have ultimately been successful; ### 30. stresses the need for a revision of the eu treaties' provisions on the eci to greatly improve rules on the legislative follow-up to be given to successful ecis; urges the commission , under the current treaties , to commit itself to submitting a legislative proposal following parliament’s adoption of a legislative own-initiative report (inl) based on a successful eci which initially had no legislative follow-up by the commission; calls on the commission to improve the eci tool to make citizens’ participation more accessible , given the low number of ecis that have ultimately been successful;


### 35. emphasises the role of these three participatory instruments , which is to facilitate and encourage the engagement of citizens and residents of the eu; calls for the establishment and promotion of a large-scale , one-stop interinstitutional website to provide information on all the instruments that enable the public to participate directly in and influence decision-making at eu level; ### 35. emphasises the role of these three participatory instruments , which is to facilitate and encourage the engagement of citizens and residents of the eu achieving a concrete direct impact on the eu political agenda and on the eu decision-making processes; calls for the establishment and promotion of a large-scale , one-stop interinstitutional website to provide information on all the instruments that enable the public to participate directly in and influence decision-making at eu level;


### 43. emphasises how important transparency is in the process of dealing with citizens’ initiatives and complaints; calls on the commission to take the necessary steps to guarantee transparency; expresses its support for the european ombudsman’s efforts to make all the eu institutions and bodies more transparent; ### 43. emphasises how important transparency is in the process of dealing with citizens’ initiatives and complaints; calls on the commission to take the necessary steps to guarantee full transparency; expresses its support for the european ombudsman’s efforts to make all the eu institutions and bodies much more transparent and accountable to eu citizens;


### 6. ‘considers it essential that citizens be able to contribute to the exercise of the union’s competences; considers it key , therefore , that valid ecis should lead to the initiation of concrete proposals for both legislative and non-legislative acts referred to in article 288 tfeu; recalls parliament’s obligation to assess the measures taken by the commission in line with article 16 of regulation (eu) 2019/788 and rule 222(9) of parliament’s rules of procedure , particularly when the commission fails to put forward any such proposals or fails to implement them’; ### 6. ‘considers it essential that citizens be able to contribute to the exercise of the union’s competences; considers it key , therefore , that valid ecis should lead to the initiation of concrete proposals for both legislative and non-legislative acts referred to in article 288 tfeu; recalls parliament’s obligation to assess the proposals included in the eci and the measures taken by the commission in line with article 16 of regulation (eu) 2019/788 and rule 222(9) of parliament’s rules of procedure , particularly when the commission fails to put forward any such proposals or fails to implement them’;


### 7. ‘calls on the commission to clearly inform the public about the division of competences between the union and the member states to make sure that ecis concern subjects and issues that fall within the remit of eu competences to propose legal acts , and to provide practical and timely advice to the organisers on the drafting of ecis and make adequate use of the possibility to partially register an eci; emphasises that recently registered and ongoing ecis have called for the eu to take more action , particularly in the fields of environmental protection , human and animal health , and civil and political rights’; ### 7. ‘calls on the commission to clearly inform the public about the division of competences between the union and the member states to make sure that ecis concern subjects and issues that fall within the remit of eu competences to propose legal acts , and to provide practical and timely advice to the organisers on the drafting of ecis and make adequate use of the possibility to partially register an eci; emphasises that recently registered and ongoing ecis have called for the eu to take more action , particularly in the fields of environmental protection , health , animal welfare , and civil and political rights’ , including minority rights';


### b. whereas approximately 1 % of all petitions received each year by the committee on petitions relate to various disability issues; whereas social protection and employment rights , use of the european structural and investment funds in compliance with eu regulations and the un convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (un crpd) , and other issues falling within the competences of the committee on employment and social affairs , are among the most common disability equality concerns voiced in the petitions received by parliament; ### b. whereas approximately 1 % of all petitions received each year by the committee on petitions relate to a variety of problems persons with disabilities encounter every day; whereas among the reported problems social protection and inclusion , employment and workers rights , discrimination , ensuring equality , children’s' rights and protection , the use of the european structural and investment funds in compliance with eu regulations and the un convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (un crpd) , are among the most common disability equality concerns voiced in the petitions received by parliament falling within the competences of the committee on employment and social affairs;


### 1. calls on the commission to ensure that the member states comply with the relevant eu and un obligations on the rights of persons with disabilities , in particular the un crpd and the crpd committee’s general comments to the convention , and with the relevant eu measures and funding rules , and to provide support to them in this regard; ### 1. calls on the commission to ensure that the member states comply with all relevant eu and un obligations on the rights of persons with disabilities , in particular the un crpd and the crpd committee’s general comments to the convention , and with the relevant eu measures and funding rules , and to provide support to them in this regard;


### a. whereas the committee on employment and social affairs highly appreciates the role of the committee on petitions as a bridge between the union’s citizens , parliament and the other eu institutions; ### a. whereas the committee on employment and social affairs highly appreciates the role of the committee on petitions as a bridge between the union’s citizens , parliament and the other eu institutions; whereas the committee on petitions plays a crucial part in ensuring a participatory democracy , citizens orientated parliamentary activities and citizen involvement , revealing infringements that fall within the european union's fields of competencies and activities and which affects citizens directly , but also wrongdoing that falls out of scope of eu competences thereby revealing possible loopholes and weaknesses in eu law that need to be tackled;


### c. whereas it is generally acknowledged that persons with disabilities continue to face multiple obstacles and discrimination in everyday life and that they do not enjoy the fundamental freedoms and rights laid down in numerous eu and un documents , such as mutual recognition of disability status between member states , access to public transport , accessibility of the built environment , use of sign languages , financing of and equal access to education and vocational training , access to personal assistance and community inclusion; ### c. whereas it is generally acknowledged that persons with disabilities continue to face multiple and intersectional obstacles and discrimination in everyday life and that they do not enjoy the fundamental freedoms and rights laid down in the applicable eu and un normative and legal frameworks , such as mutual recognition of disability status between member states , access to public transport , accessibility of the built environment , use of sign languages , financing of and equal access to education and vocational training , access to personal assistance and community inclusion , equality in opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation;


### 1. notes with satisfaction the overall positive evolution of inclusion measures during the erasmus+ 2014-2020 programming period; ### 1. notes with satisfaction the overall stakeholders’ perception on the positive evolution of inclusion measures during the erasmus+ 2014-2020 programming period;


### 2. highlights that erasmus+ should support stakeholders’ and programme participants’ internationalisation plans that remove the physical , psychological , social , socio-economic , linguistic and other types of barriers to learning mobility and that offer clear and detailed information and qualitative support for participants from under-represented groups and those with specific needs; ### 2. highlights that erasmus+ should support stakeholders’ and programme participants’ internationalisation plans that address structural discrimination and remove the physical , psychological , social , socio-economic , linguistic and other types of barriers to learning mobility and european projects that offer clear and detailed information and qualitative support for participants from under-represented groups and those with specific needs;


### 3. stresses the crucial need for adapted funding and grants , such as pre-financing and lump sums , as financial barriers continue to be one of the biggest obstacles faced by people with fewer opportunities in erasmus+; ### 3. stresses the crucial need for adapted funding and grants , such as top-up grants and lump sums , as financial barriers continue to be one of the biggest obstacles faced by people with fewer opportunities in erasmus+; highlights the need to simplify the administrative burden in order to access the funds;


### 5. acknowledges the role of teachers , youth workers and staff as the driving forces behind participating institutions in raising awareness of the programme , in informing and supporting future learners , and identifying people with fewer opportunities , and notes that without them , most participants with fewer opportunities would not be able to take part; calls on the commission , the member states and national agencies to value and acknowledge their often voluntary work , to support them by facilitating their own mobility and to provide them with adequate funding , while accompanying participants with fewer opportunities and offering them specific training adapted to their needs; ### 5. acknowledges the role of civil society organisations , self-led organisations , teachers , youth workers and staff as the driving forces behind participating institutions in raising awareness of the programme , in informing and supporting future learners; notes that without them , most participants belonging to marginalised groups , with special needs or with fewer opportunities would not be able to take part; calls on the commission , the member states and national agencies to value and acknowledge their often unpaid work , to support them by facilitating their own mobility and to provide them with adequate funding and accompanying ongoing support , while accompanying participants belonging to marginalised groups , with special needs or with fewer opportunities and offering them specific training adapted to their needs;


### 6. stresses the need for the commission , the member states and national agencies to provide better support for grassroots organisations in all areas , particularly in the outermost regions and rural areas , and to ensure that resources and projects are distributed fairly in each member state; ### 6. stresses the need for the commission , the member states and national agencies to provide better support for grassroots organisations in all areas , particularly those that are community led and those in the outermost regions and rural areas , and to ensure that resources and projects are distributed fairly in each member state; asks the member states to consider the deployment of mobility programme engagement officers to ensure that national agencies engage with civil society , local and grassroot organisations , who have well established experience in reaching out to people belonging to marginalised groups , with special needs or with fewer opportunities;


### 7. stresses the importance of providing better financial and material support to staff , so that they can engage with participants and their families , in order to give them more confidence , while ensuring that mobility projects run smoothly; ### 7. stresses the importance of providing better financial and material support to staff in national agencies and key stakeholder organisations , so that they can engage with participants and beneficiaries , improving access , success and impact of the project , while ensuring that mobility and projects run smoothly;


### 9. asks all national agencies to organise targeted information campaigns , both online and offline , and to appoint dedicated inclusion and diversity officers in order to reach out to learners with special needs and/or fewer opportunities; ### 9. asks all national agencies to organise targeted information campaigns , both online and offline , and to appoint dedicated inclusion and diversity officers in order to reach out to learners with special needs and/or fewer opportunities; and asks national agencies to thoroughly consider a diverse outreach scheme , both in terms of information material and spatial locations;


### b. whereas the erasmus+ 2014-2020 regulation puts emphasis on promoting social inclusion and on the participation of people with special needs or with fewer opportunities , as defined in the ‘erasmus+ inclusion and diversity strategy’ , encompassing persons with disabilities , health problems , educational difficulties , cultural differences , and facing economical , geographical and social obstacles; ### b. whereas the erasmus+ 2014-2020 regulation puts emphasis on promoting social inclusion and on the participation of people belonging to marginalised groups , with special needs or with fewer opportunities , as defined in the ‘erasmus+ inclusion and diversity strategy’ , encompassing persons with disabilities , health problems , educational difficulties , and facing economical , geographical and social obstacles;


### 11. recognises the important role of support , advanced learning and training opportunities (salto) inclusion & diversity for the implementation of inclusion measures for the erasmus+ youth strand , and notes that the extension of inclusion strategies to the education & training strand in the current programming period will have to be followed closely , as the target groups are different; stresses the need for national agencies to work more closely with employment agencies to facilitate the integration of adult learners into the erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme; ### 11. recognises the important role of support , advanced learning and training opportunities (salto) inclusion & diversity for the implementation of inclusion measures for the erasmus+ youth strand , and notes that the extension of inclusion strategies to the education & training strand in the current programming period will have to be followed closely , as the target groups are different; stresses the need for national agencies to work more closely with employment agencies and other adult education stakeholders to facilitate the integration of adult learners into the erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme;


### 12. regrets the lack of reliable data on the participation of people with fewer opportunities in the erasmus+ programme; underlines the need to gather and monitor a critical mass of reliable data in order to create a management and steering tool for inclusion measures , using methods which respect privacy and do not add undue administrative burdens for organisations and participants; ### 12. regrets the lack of reliable data , both quantitative and qualitative , on the participation of organisations and people with fewer opportunities in the erasmus+ programme; requests the commission and national agency gather , monitor and disclose reliable data related to the participation of learners in the programme in order to create a management and steering tool for inclusion measures , using methods which respect privacy and do not add undue administrative burdens for organisations and participants; reaffirms the need for more capacity building of staff on indicators and monitoring systems for inclusion;


### 15. asks the member states to adopt targeted policies for learners with fewer opportunities and special needs in order to increase participation in erasmus+ and to foster exchanges of good practices in this field; ### 15. asks the member states , the council and the commission to establish new learning mobility targets and inclusive mobility strategies at national levels , prioritising access to mobility for learners with fewer opportunities and special needs in order to increase participation in erasmus+ and to foster exchanges of good practices in this field;


### — having regard to the copenhagen criteria and the body of union rules that a candidate country must fulfil if it wishes to join the union (the acquis) , ### — having regard to article 49 teu , the copenhagen criteria and the body of union rules that a candidate country must fulfil if it wishes to join the union (the acquis) ,


### — having regard to the european convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms , the european social charter , the case law of the european court of human rights and the european committee of social rights , and the conventions , recommendations , resolutions , opinions and reports of the parliamentary assembly , the committee of ministers , the human rights commissioner , the european commission against racism and intolerance , the steering committee on anti-discrimination , diversity and inclusion , the venice commission and other bodies of the council of europe , ### — having regard to the european convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms , the european social charter , the case law of the european court of human rights and the european committee of social rights , the council of europe framework convention for the protection of national minorities (fcnm) and the european charter for regional or minority languages (ecrml) and the conventions , recommendations , resolutions , opinions and reports of the parliamentary assembly , the committee of ministers , the human rights commissioner , the european commission against racism and intolerance , the steering committee on anti-discrimination , diversity and inclusion , the venice commission , the advisory committee on the fcnm , the committee of experts of the ecrml and other bodies of the council of europe ,


### — having regard to the memorandum of understanding between the council of europe and the european union of 23 may 2007 , ### — having regard to the memorandum of understanding between the council of europe and the european union of 23 may 2007 and council conclusions on eu priorities for cooperation with the council of europe 2020-2022 ,


### a. whereas the union is founded on the values set out in article 2 of the treaty on european union (teu); whereas democracy , the rule of law and fundamental rights are mutually reinforcing values which , when undermined , may pose a systemic threat to the union; ### a. whereas the union is founded on the values set out in article 2 of the treaty on european union (teu) , values which are common to the eu member states and which eu candidates countries must adhere to in order to join the eu; whereas democracy , the rule of law and fundamental rights are mutually reinforcing values which , when undermined , may pose a systemic threat to the union; whereas respect of the rule of law binds the union as a whole , and its member states at all levels of governance;


### d. whereas while the 2020 report raises concerns and awareness , it does not provide a sufficient assessment of the effectiveness of the reforms carried out by each country , nor any concrete country-specific recommendations , which could jeopardise its intended preventive effects; ### d. whereas while the 2020 report raises concerns and awareness , it does not provide a sufficient assessment of the effectiveness of the changes carried out by each country , nor any concrete country-specific recommendations or an examination of a country’s adherence to the rule of law over time , which could jeopardise its intended preventive effects;


### e. whereas without effective follow-up under an annual monitoring cycle , the 2020 report may fail to address systemic challenges and backsliding on the rule of law as witnessed in several eu member states in recent years; ### e. whereas without effective follow-up under an annual monitoring cycle , the 2020 report may fail to detect or address systemic challenges and backsliding on the rule of law as witnessed in several eu member states in recent years;


### f. whereas backsliding on the rule of law and fundamental rights in some countries is seriously affecting mutual trust in the functioning of the area of freedom , security and justice and threatening the union objectives as enshrined in article 3 of the teu; ### f. whereas backsliding on the rule of law and fundamental rights in some countries is seriously affecting mutual trust in the functioning of the area of freedom , security and justice and threatening the union objectives as enshrined in article 3 of the teu , as illustrated by several cases where the european arrest warrant was put under a strain due to profound doubts about the independence of the judiciary;


### 3. asks the commission to provide information in its future reports about the way member states respect the rule of law and effectively protect the union’s financial interests , for both eu budget revenue and expenditure , and to highlight serious risks to the union budget; insists that the reports should provide specific assessments and recommendations to the member states; ### 3. asks the commission to provide information in its future reports about the way member states respect the rule of law and effectively protect the union’s financial interests , for both eu budget revenue and expenditure , and to highlight which specific rule of law shortcomings pose a serious risks to the sound financial management of the union budget , which can then serve as a basis for triggering the rule of law conditionality mechanism; insists that the reports should go beyond monitoring and provide specific assessments and country-specific recommendations for preventive and corrective elements to the member states and mention potentially applicable tools for the commission to use in case of non-compliance with the recommendations;


### 3. stresses , in line with the report , that effective justice systems which are independent and efficient are essential for upholding the rule of law; highlights , in particular , the need for the judiciary to be able to exercise its functions with full autonomy , without intervention from any other institution or body , in accordance with the principle of separation of powers; ### 3. emphasizes that the rule of law means safeguarding fundamental and human rights of all members of the society , not just the will and might of the majority; notes that the democracy , fundamental and human rights and functioning institutions are the cornerstones of a flourishing society and that it is crucial to guarantee the the rule of law , access to justice and functioning of the institutions also in exceptional circumstances; stresses , in line with the report , that effective justice systems which are independent and efficient are essential for upholding the rule of law; highlights , in particular , the need for the judiciary to be able to exercise its functions with full autonomy , without intervention from any other institution or body , in accordance with the principle of separation of powers; suggests that member states together with the commission assess possible needs to reinforce the constitutional guarantees of the independence of courts and judiciary in each respective member state so that the proper functioning of the rule of law can be guaranteed and the rights of individuals and minorities can be protected also in exceptional circumstances and that the court system and the judiciary are able to withstand actions and measures that aim to weaken and undermine the rule of law;


### 4. calls on the commission to assess the effectiveness of the national anti-corruption strategies and to use that knowledge to update and enhance the union’s anti-corruption framework; ### 4. welcomes that one of the four chapters of the report is dedicated to the anti-corruption framework in place in member states; notes , however , that the assessment of these frameworks remains mainly descriptive and calls on the commission to assess the effectiveness of the national anti-corruption legislation , policies and strategies , outline best practices , identify areas particularly sensitive to corruption and comes up with country-specific recommendations for improvement and to use that knowledge to update and enhance the union’s anti-corruption framework in future reports , similar to how this was done in the commission’s anti-corruption report in 2014;


### 4. is deeply preoccupied by the fact that judicial independence continues to be a subject of serious concern in some member states; expresses its regret that hungary and poland lodged an action for annulment of regulation (eu , euratom) 2020/2092 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the union budget in march 2021 , which aims to address breaches of the rule of law with an impact on the union’s financial interests; ### 4. is deeply preoccupied by the fact that judicial independence continues to be a subject of serious concern in some member states; expresses its regret that hungary and poland lodged an action for annulment of regulation (eu , euratom) 2020/2092 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the union budget in march 2021 , which aims to address breaches of the rule of law with an impact on the union’s financial interests; asks the commission to include in the report a distinctive part with an analysis of cases where breaches of the principles of the rule of law in a particular member state could affect or seriously risk affecting the sound financial management of the union budget in a sufficiently direct way;


### 5. considers that the periodic review of the rule of law is of great significance and commends the efforts of the commission to encourage structural reforms in the areas covered by the report; believes , however , that while it is an essential monitoring tool , clear recommendations on the challenges identified and the required follow-up action is indispensable; urges the commission to make robust use of infringement procedures where appropriate , to prevent backsliding on the rule of law in national justice systems and urges the council to resume all pending procedures under article 7(1) of the tfeu and to inform the parliament thereof; ### 5. considers that the periodic review of the rule of law is of great significance and commends the efforts of the commission to encourage structural reforms in the areas covered by the report; believes , however , that while it is an essential monitoring tool , clear recommendations on the challenges identified and the required follow-up action is indispensable; urges the commission to make robust use of infringement procedures where appropriate , to prevent backsliding on the rule of law in national justice systems; urges the commission to ensure an immediate and adequate response to a refusal to implement and respect cjeu judgments , such as court actions under article 260 tfeu; urges the council to resume all pending procedures under article 7(1) of the tfeu and to inform the parliament thereof , and calls on the council to ensure that hearings under article 7(1) of the teu also address new developments;


### 6. notes with satisfaction that the report contains separate national chapters attempting to lay down a common methodology; calls on the commission , however , to provide a meaningful comparison between the different national justice systems , to underline where best practices for comparable systems might be applied and how similar deficiencies could be addressed; ### 6. notes with satisfaction that the report contains separate national chapters attempting to lay down a common methodology; calls on the commission , however , to provide a meaningful comparison between the different national justice systems , to underline where best practices for comparable systems might be applied and how similar deficiencies could be addressed; also recommends that the commission mentions potentially applicable tools immediately next to each country-specific recommendation;


### 7. reiterates that regulation (eu , euratom) 2020/2092 has been in force since 1 january 2021 and is not subject to the adoption of any guidelines or judicial interpretation. ### 7. reiterates that regulation (eu , euratom) 2020/2092 has been in force since 1 january2021 and is not subject to the adoption of any guidelines or judicial interpretation; regrets that the commission has not yet made use of this tool despite many breaches of the rule of law identified in the report which have an impact on the sound financial management of the budget; calls on the commission to make use of the mechanism immediately to address these deficiencies;


### 7. notes that the report rightfully addresses the necessary digitalisation of justice proceedings and training for judges , including on the rule of law and the charter of fundamental rights (the charter); regrets that the report is silent on training for advocates; regrets that the report does not cover the rights laid down in article 47 of the charter , such as the right to be defended and represented and the right to legal aid; calls on the commission to extend the scope of its next report to those areas. ### 7. insists on the crucial importance of ensuring a strict implementation of the rule of law in the digital public and private space; warns against the use of algorithm-based tools in the judicial system and requires the sovereign discretion of judges and decision-making on a case-by-case basis to be upheld; calls on the commission to impose a ban on the use of ai and related technologies for proposing judicial decisions; notes that the report rightfully addresses the necessary digitalisation of justice proceedings and training for judges , including on the rule of law and the charter of fundamental rights (the charter); regrets that the report is silent on training for advocates; regrets that the report does not cover the rights laid down in article 47 of the charter , such as the right to be defended and represented and the right to legal aid; calls on the commission to extend the scope of its next report to those areas.


### 1. underlines that in all proceedings concerning the child’s well-being and future life arrangements , the rights of the child should be respected and implemented in full and the best interests of the child should be given priority; ### 1. underlines that in all proceedings concerning the child’s well-being and future life arrangements , the rights of the child should be guaranteed and implemented in full and the best interests of the child should be given the highest priority;


### 3. underlines that such guidelines or similar non-legislative tool must clearly state that a child involved in civil , administrative or family law proceedings should be informed at any stage of the process and that the decision given by the authority should be explained to the child in a manner befitting of their age and maturity by a specially trained professional; ### 3. underlines that such guidelines or similar non-legislative tool must clearly state that a child involved in civil , administrative or family law proceedings should be informed at any stage of the process and that the decision given by the authority should be explained to the child in a manner befitting of their age , maturity and language skills by a specially trained professional;


### 5. calls on the member states to enable access to high-quality legal representation for children involved in civil , administrative and family disputes , especially when parents do not exercise full parental responsibility or when there is a suspicion that their interests may conflict with the best interests of the child; ### 5. calls on the member states to ensure access to high-quality , personalised , free and publicly financed legal representation for children in their personal capacity involved in civil , administrative and family disputes , especially when parents do not exercise full parental responsibility or when there is a suspicion that their interests may conflict with the best interests of the child;


### 6. calls on the member states to provide training on the rights and specific needs of the child for judges , other legal professionals , enforcement authorities , social workers and all other relevant parties involved in court and administrative proceedings concerning children; ### 6. calls on the member states to implement a multidisciplinary approach to ensure meaningful cooperation and provide training on the rights and specific needs of the child for judges , other legal professionals , enforcement authorities , social workers and all other relevant actors involved in court and administrative proceedings concerning children. calls on the member states to provide training on the rights and specific needs of the child for judges , other legal professionals , enforcement authorities , social workers and all other relevant parties involved in court and administrative proceedings concerning children;


### 7. call on the member states to make sufficient resources available to ensure that family law proceedings involving children are handled with the utmost compliance with the standards of child-friendly justice and without undue delay; ### 7. calls on the member states to make sufficient resources available to ensure that civil , administrative and family law proceedings involving children are handled with the utmost compliance with the standards of child-friendly justice and without undue delay. recalls that member states shall make best use of the justice programme to finance actions and organisations facilitating effective and non-discriminatory access to justice for all children , and effective remedy , including by electronic means. further more encourages member states to financially support organisations working with and for children through the citizens , equality , rights and values programme;


### 15. calls on the commission and the council to duly inform and include parliament in any new or revised legislative proposal in the field of cross-border civil and family law , as such rules directly influence the lives and well-being of eu citizens and above all children; ### 15. calls on the commission and the council to duly inform and include parliament in any new or revised legislative proposal in the field of cross-border civil and family law , as such rules directly influence the lives and well-being of people in the eu and above all children;


### 17. calls on the member states to establish pre-mediation offices in order to provide parents with all the information they need about the conduct of mediation and its possible costs and benefits; highlights that some member states have already established such offices or are seeking to do so; ### 17. calls on the member states to establish pre-mediation offices in order to provide parents and children concerned with all the information they need about the conduct of mediation and its possible costs and benefits; highlights that some member states have already established such offices or are seeking to do so;


### f. whereas courts , administrative bodies and social welfare institutions should make the best interests of the child a primary consideration when taking any decision concerning the child; whereas such decisions should be made on an individual basis , taking into consideration the specific circumstances of the child and their family; ### f. whereas courts , administrative bodies and social welfare institutions should make the best interests of the child the primary consideration when taking any decision concerning the child; whereas such decisions should be made on an individual basis , taking into consideration the specific circumstances of the child and their family;


### 2. calls on the commission to present , without undue delay , a set of common guidelines or similar non-legislative tool , which should include recommendations and best practices for the member states to follow in order to ensure that the hearing of the child is conducted either by a judge or trained expert and that no pressure is applied , including from the parents; stresses that such hearings should take place in a child-friendly setting and be appropriate for the age and maturity of the child in terms of language and content , while providing for all guarantees that ensure the emotional integrity and the best interests of the child are respected and ensuring that the competent authority gives due consideration for the child’s views in accordance with their age and maturity; ### 2. calls on the commission to present , without undue delay , a set of common guidelines or similar non-legislative tool , which should include recommendations and best practices for the member states to follow in order to ensure that the hearing of the child is conducted either by a judge or trained expert and that no pressure is applied , including from the parents; stresses that such hearings should take place in a child-friendly setting and be appropriate for the age , maturity and language skills of the child in terms of language and content , while providing for all guarantees that ensure the emotional integrity and the best interests of the child are respected and ensuring that the competent authority gives due consideration for the child’s views in accordance with their age and maturity;


### 4. calls on the member states to provide easily accessible , child-friendly information on the rights of the child in civil , administrative and family law proceedings; ### 4. calls on the member states to provide easily accessible , child-friendly information on the rights of the child in civil , administrative and family law proceedings , including online targeted information for children about the judicial system and interactive education on legal rights;


### 16. calls on the commission to put forward a new proposal for a regulation on cross-border mediation , which should establish guidelines for the cross-border procedure , rules on the enforcement of mediated agreements , requirements for the establishment of a european certificate for mediators to ensure the quality of expertise in cross-border cases , and common standards for mediation contracts; considers that such common standards should ensure respect for the confidentiality rules of each member state and provide the parties with enough legal information about the concept , limits and consequences of mediation; ### 16. calls on the commission to put forward a new proposal for legislation on cross-border mediation , which should establish minimum standards for the cross-border procedure , requirements for the establishment of a european certificate for mediators to ensure the quality of expertise in cross-border cases , and common standards for cross-border mediation contracts;