### 32. appreciates that the supervisor is closely following the emas initiatives and has started to convert human resources processes (selections , appraisal) and financial and administrative processes (payments , mips) into paperless procedures; agrees to the supervisor’s strategy in providing more flexible ways of working for its staff (occasional and structural teleworking) which helps to reduce energy as well as to use office space in a more optimal way; ### 32. appreciates that the supervisor is closely following the emas initiatives and has started to convert human resources processes (selections , appraisal) and financial and administrative processes (payments , mips) into paperless procedures; agrees to the supervisor’s strategy in providing more flexible ways of working for its staff (occasional and structural teleworking) which helps to reduce energy as well as to use office space in a more optimal way; invites the supervisor to consider actions reducing further the carbon footprint , such as choosing clean and renewable sources of energy;


### 33. agrees that data controllers and processors within the union now benefit from one single set of rules bringing a single interlocutor through the one-stop-shop mechanism to an increasing extent; agrees that the gdpr also contributes to an increased global visibility of the union legal framework ### 33. agrees that data controllers and processors within the union now benefit from one single set of rules bringing a single interlocutor through the one-stop-shop mechanism to an increasing extent; agrees that the gdpr also contributes to an increased global visibility of the union legal framework; appreciates that the supervisor has greatly contributed to creating a culture of data protection in the union institutions and has elevated the status of data protection as a fundamental right under article 8 of the eu charter of fundamental rights;


### 35. calls on the supervisor to strengthen further its efforts on ensuring that the union institutions are able to effectively implement the data protection rules; notes that the supervisor launched four investigations in 2019 with the objective of improving data protection practices; notes in particular the investigation into the use of microsoft products and services by union institutions , providing so a platform for discussion both on how to take back control over the it services and products offered by the big it service providers and the need to collectively create standard contracts instead of accepting the terms and conditions as they are written by these providers; ### 35. calls on the supervisor to strengthen further its efforts on ensuring that the union institutions are able to effectively implement the data protection rules; notes that the supervisor launched four investigations in 2019 with the objective of improving data protection practices; welcomes in particular the investigation into the use of microsoft products and services by union institutions , providing so a platform for discussion both on how to take back control over the it services and products offered by the big it service providers and the need to collectively create standard contracts instead of accepting the terms and conditions as they are written by these providers;


### 1. regrets that the court of auditors’ (the court’s) report on the implementation of the budget concerning the financial year 2020 does not contain any remarks about the european data protection supervisor (edps); ### 1. notes that the court of auditors’ (the court’s) report on the implementation of the budget concerning the financial year 2020 does not contain any remarks about the european data protection supervisor (edps);


### 12. notes that in 2020 the working processes were adjusted to the new situation resulting from the covid-19 pandemic , and all paper signatures and procedures were digitalised , resulting in more efficient and rapid administrative processes; understands that the supervisor was obliged to postpone the on-site audits as the management of sensitive data prevented them from being carried out remotely; ### 12. welcomes that in 2020 the working processes were adjusted to the new situation resulting from the covid-19 pandemic , and all paper signatures and procedures were digitalised , resulting in more efficient and rapid administrative processes; understands that the supervisor was obliged to postpone the on-site audits as the management of sensitive data prevented them from being carried out remotely;


### 19. notes the very low occupation rate of 86.90 % of the establishment plan; understands that the supervisor used the reserve list of (33) data protection experts resulting from the 2018 competition and also hired contract staff to fill specific needs or positions temporarily free due to long absences; encourages the supervisor to implement good practices in recruitment procedures validated by other institutions , in particular remote interviews and online tests; ### 19. notes the very low occupation rate of 86.90 % of the establishment plan; understands that the supervisor used the reserve list of (33) data protection experts resulting from the 2018 competition and also hired contract staff to fill specific needs or positions temporarily free due to long absences; encourages the supervisor to implement good practices in recruitment procedures validated by other institutions , in particular remote interviews and online tests; notes the challenges faced by the union institutions in attracting specialists with expertise in specific domains , which are due to limited competitiveness and attractiveness of salaries;


### 27. notes that in march 2020 the supervisor adopted guidelines to recognise , prevent and manage burnout and that training focused on managing stress and building resilience with a particular focus on prevention of burnout on the agenda for 2021; ### 27. welcomes that in march 2020 the supervisor adopted guidelines to recognise , prevent and manage burnout and that training focused on managing stress and building resilience with a particular focus on prevention of burnout on the agenda for 2021;


### 37. notes that in 2020 the supervisor decided to launch the ‘it gap analysis’ to analyse the need to support its tasks in terms of it support , map the existent tools and systems , and then identify possible gaps; ### 37. welcomes that in 2020 the supervisor decided to launch the ‘it gap analysis’ to analyse the need to support its tasks in terms of it support , map the existent tools and systems , and then identify possible gaps;


### 47. welcomes the interest of the supervisor in social media and other platforms to ensure greater dissemination of information; underlines in particular the public pilot projects mastodon (alternative to twitter / instagram) and peertube (alternative to youtube) and understands that the aim is to find a consensus for a common union platform with other union institutions while exploring other opportunities , such as theunion hosting of the open source social media; ### 47. welcomes the interest of the supervisor in social media and other platforms to ensure greater dissemination of information; underlines in particular the public pilot projects mastodon (alternative to twitter / instagram) and peertube (alternative to youtube) and understands that the aim is to find a consensus for a common union platform with other union institutions while exploring other opportunities , such as theunion hosting of the open source social media; believes that providing information to citizens on non-proprietary platforms is essential to maintain independence and transparency of public institutions;


### 57. observes that the supervisor also issued several opinions in 2020 as part of its duty to advise the european commission , the european parliament and the council on legislation and policy initiatives with impact on personal data protection; ### 57. welcomes that the supervisor also issued several opinions in 2020 as part of its duty to advise the european commission , the european parliament and the council on legislation and policy initiatives with impact on personal data protection; notes that after the departure of the uk from the eu , the edps was consulted on the free flow of personal data with the uk and expressed a number of concerns in its opinion 14/2021 , which were taken into account by the commission in the uk gdpr and led adequacy decisions;


### 63. underlines the crucial role of the supervisor in protecting personal data and privacy , two fundamental rights in the union , in the context of the covid-19 pandemic , particularly the relevance and influence of its assessment of compliance with data protection of the numerous contact tracing and warning apps widespread during the pandemic; acknowledges the subsequent additional workload that has faced the supervisor in addition to its regular tasks; observes that the supervisor established a special covid-19 task force , created to deal with all these requests , the supervision and advice as regards those measures put in place to fight the pandemic (contact-tracing apps , temperature checks , vaccination); points out that in march 2020 , in response to the commission’s consultation on the use of telecommunications data for the monitoring of the pandemic spread , the supervisor suggested to focus on the minimisation of the collection and retention of personal data , data anonymisation , data security and data access , adequacy of data retention periods , and a decentralised approach to data storage and processing; ### 63. underlines the crucial role of the supervisor in protecting personal data and privacy , two fundamental rights in the union , in the context of the covid-19 pandemic , particularly the relevance and influence of its assessment of compliance with data protection of the numerous contact tracing and warning apps widespread during the pandemic; acknowledges the subsequent additional workload that has faced the supervisor in addition to its regular tasks; welcomes that the supervisor established a special covid-19 task force , created to deal with all these requests , the supervision and advice as regards those measures put in place to fight the pandemic (contact-tracing apps , temperature checks , vaccination); points out that in march 2020 , in response to the commission’s consultation on the use of telecommunications data for the monitoring of the pandemic spread , the supervisor suggested to focus on the minimisation of the collection and retention of personal data , data anonymisation , data security and data access , adequacy of data retention periods , and a decentralised approach to data storage and processing;


### 1. considers that , in order to face demographic challenges , the union needs third-country workers of all skill levels to increase its economic competitiveness and its global influence as the champion of democracy , inclusion , human rights , free trade in goods and services and the rule of law , and as the leader in the fight against climate change; ### 1. considers that , in order to enhance the union’s global attractiveness and competitiveness , address inequalities and vulnerabilities migrant workers face , ensure decent working and living conditions for all , and allow migrant workers to play an active workforce , which can offset a shrinking workforce , and fill labour market ad skill shortages , the union needs a holistic european migration code; to achieve this , the union should harmonise and approximate fundamental rights and improve access to social rights for migrant workers and their families , as well as create new avenues for third-country workers of all skill levels; without which the eu cannot maintain its global influence as the champion of democracy , inclusion , human rights , free trade in goods and services;


### 1. considers that , in order to face demographic challenges , the union needs third-country workers of all skill levels to increase its economic competitiveness and its global influence as the champion of democracy , inclusion , human rights , free trade in goods and services and the rule of law , and as the leader in the fight against climate change; ### 1. considers that , in order to enhance the union’s global attractiveness and competitiveness , address inequalities and vulnerabilities migrant workers face , ensure decent working and living conditions for all , and allow migrant workers to play an active role in the workforce , which can offset a shrinking workforce , and fill labour market and skill shortages , the union needs a holistic european migration code; to achieve this , the union should harmonise and approximate and improve access to social rights for migrant workers , as well as create new avenues for third-country workers of all skill levels; without this the eu cannot maintain its global influence as the champion of democracy , inclusion , human rights , free trade in goods and services;


### 1. notes that the 'new pact on migration and asylum' is a holistic attempt to address europe's migration challenges; stresses however that these challenges originate outside europe and urges that the root causes and drivers of migration be effectively addressed; ### 1. notes that the 'new pact on migration and asylum' is a holistic attempt to address europe's migration challenges , taking into account both internal and external dimensions; urges that the root causes of poverty , while working with and for migrants and local communities according to their needs and vulnerabilities , be effectively addressed; notes that despite the fact that most migration to europe is a regular phenomenon , the union has devoted only limited attention and resources to seizing the positive contributions that migration can make to sustainable development and societies in countries of origin and destination; calls on the commission and the member states to make of the new pact a tool for harnessing the benefits of migration and for developing and increasing safe and regular legal mobility channels;


### 2. requests that the commission submit , by 31 january 2022 , on the basis of article 79(2) , in particular points (a) and (b) , of the treaty on the functioning of the european union , a proposal for an act that would serve as a package of proposals to facilitate and promote entry into and mobility within the union for legally migrating third-country nationals applying for work and to reduce bureaucracy and promote equal treatment , following the recommendations set out in the annex hereto; ### 2. requests that the commission submit , latest by 31january 2022 , on the basis of article 79(2) , in particular points (a) and (b) ,of the treaty on the functioning of the european union , a proposal for an act that would serve as a package of proposals to facilitate and promote entry into and mobility within the union for third-country nationals , henceforth referred to as tcns , for the purpose of work or applying for work , and to reduce bureaucracy and promote equal treatment , fundamental and social rights , following the recommendations set out in the annex hereto;


### 2. recalls member states’ right to determine their own migration policies; underlines that facilitating labour migration at union level undermines member states’ unique and diverse labour market policies; considers that increasing regular migration channels will not reduce illegal migration or human trafficking; ### 2. recalls that article 79 tfeu provides for the management of legal migration at union level and commits the member states to developing a common immigration policy; underlines that facilitating labour migration at union level can benefit member states’ unique and diverse labour market policies by addressing skills gaps and demographic challenges and in this way can be a way forward to lower irregular migration in the long term; considers that well-designed and well-managed legal migration policies can be a source of innovation and economic and social development , beneficial for both countries of origin and host countries; stresses that development support for policies favouring migration through regular channels can be more effective for the long-term and sustainable development of countries in the global south than policies to modify and control migration;


### 3. considers that the creation of a union-wide talent pool for third-country nationals who wish to apply for work with a view to migrating legally to a member state , as well as for employers to search for potential employees in third countries , would be an essential tool for achieving the purpose of the proposed act and calls on the commission to include the creation of such a talent pool in its proposal; ### 3. considers that the creation of a union-wide talent pool for third-country nationals who wish to apply for work with a view to migrating regularly to a member state , as well as for employers to search for potential employees in third countries , would be an essential tool for achieving the purpose of the proposed act and calls on the commission to include the creation of such a talent pool in its proposal , and create a frame work for the validation and recognition of both hard and soft skills and qualifications , based on objective and uniform criteria;


### 3. points out that external borders must be secured and that migrants who lack the right to stay or enter the member states must be swiftly returned; supports proposals for an accelerated border procedure to apply to persons whose asylum applications have been rejected; ### deleted


### 4. supports the commission’s statement in its communication of 23 september 2020 on a new pact on migration and asylum regarding the enhancement of short-term mobility as a complement to legal pathways , especially for the purposes of research or study in order to improve upstream cooperation with third countries , for example to stem irregular migratory flows , and asks the commission to explore this direction further; ### 4. supports the commission’s statement in its communication of 23 september 2020 on a new pact on migration and asylum regarding the enhancement of pathways , especially for the purposes of research or study in order to improve cooperation with third countries , and asks the commission to explore this direction further;


### 4. underlines that emigration of highly qualified citizens deprives countries of origin of their human capital and an educated workforce (“brain drain”) and seriously hampers their economic and social development; calls for the future eu talent partnerships to address this issue and take on board lessons from the recent eu pilot projects on legal migration; ### 4. underlines that in order to prevent that emigration of citizens deprives countries of origin of their human capital and essential workforce (“brain drain”) and seriously hampers their economic and social development in the long term , it is necessary to provide countries of origin with development assistance in the education and health sector , as well as for better governance and the protection of human rights; calls for the future eu talent partnerships to address adequately the issue of brain drain and take on board lessons from the recent implementation of union-funded pilot projects on legal migration; stresses that moving beyond the “pilot” phase , which implies scaling up the amount of projects and funding , will require sustained political and financial support from member states as well as close cooperation with partner countries to ensure that eu talent partnerships can truly reflect shared priorities around mobility and skills and do not focus on destination countries needs only; calls on upcoming eu talent partnerships to overcome the shortcomings of the pilot projects and therefore: to expand the scope of participants , duration and purpose of trainings , to ensure better social protection and labour rights of participants , not to make such mobility schemes conditional on cooperation of third countries on union migration management , readmission and return policies , to target more projects towards subsaharan africa - in particular in the framework of the eu-africa partnership;


### 5. welcomes directive (eu) 2021/...15 , but considers it insufficient due to the fact that the labour markets of the union are also in need of low- and medium-skilled workers; calls , therefore , on the commission to include in its proposal an admission scheme for low- and medium-skilled third-country workers , including the creation of a framework for the validation and recognition of their skills and qualifications , based on objective and uniform criteria; ### 5. welcomes directive (eu) 2021/...15 , but considers it insufficient due to the fact that the labour markets of the union are also in need of low- and medium-skilled workers; calls , therefore , on the commission to include in its proposal an admission scheme for low- and medium-skilled third-country workers , including the creation of a framework for the validation and recognition of their skills and qualifications , based on objective and uniform criteria; calls the commission to implement targeted campaigns and promote through other means , the revised blue card directive , including in start-up and it sector , where skills are recognised equivalently to qualifications;


### 5. welcomes directive (eu) 2021/...15 , but considers it insufficient due to the fact that the labour markets of the union are also in need of low- and medium-skilled workers; calls , therefore , on the commission to include in its proposal an admission scheme for low- and medium-skilled third-country workers , including the creation of a framework for the validation and recognition of their skills and qualifications , based on objective and uniform criteria; ### 5. welcomes directive (eu) 2021/...15 , but considers it insufficient due to the fact that the labour markets of the union are also in need of low- and medium-wage sectors; notes that the union is already highly dependent on them in essential sectors such as agriculture and healthcare; calls , therefore , on the commission to make it a priority to include in its proposal an ambitious legislative framework for low- and medium-wage tcn workers in consultation with social partners and civil society.


### 5. calls for strengthening international law enforcement efforts , in cooperation with local governments , to combat criminal networks of smugglers contributing to illegal migration; ### deleted


### 6. considers that the union is in need of more self-employed people and entrepreneurs in order to remain competitive; calls on the commission to include in its proposal an admission scheme for entry and residence of self-employed people and entrepreneurs , in particular those who establish small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups , based on objective and uniform criteria; ### 6. considers that the union is in need of more self-employed people , and entrepreneurs in order to remain competitive and enhance innovation , as well as younger tcns with no formal qualifications , through for example , youth mobility schemes , job-seeker and training visa; calls on the commission to include in its proposal an eu-wide scheme for entry and residence of self-employed people and entrepreneurs , in particular those who establish small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups , based on objective and uniform criteria;; recommends the schemes proposed include measures that enhance rights and safeguards for tcn workers , including to promote fundamental , social and employment rights for all , including the right to family reunification and intra-eu mobility;


### 6. considers that the union is in need of more self-employed people and entrepreneurs in order to remain competitive; calls on the commission to include in its proposal an admission scheme for entry and residence of self-employed people and entrepreneurs , in particular those who establish small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups , based on objective and uniform criteria; ### 6. considers that the union is in need of more self-employed people and entrepreneurs in order to remain competitive; calls on the commission to include in its proposal an admission scheme for entry and residence of self-employed people and entrepreneurs , in particular those who establish small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups , based on objective and uniform criteria; calls on the commission to introduce eu-wide 10 year multiple-entry visa allowing to enter for up to 90 days per year;


### 6. calls for the appropriate use of the ndici-global europe to contribute to reducing migration flows by stimulating economic growth and development in third countries; ### 6. deplores the fact that less than 1% of union spending for asylum and migration has been dedicated to expenditure on migration facilitation and mobility including pathways to protection , and in particular to the union between 2014 and 2019 , while around 13% was allocated to addressing migration restriction and reduction measures; notes that there is no long-term assessment of the consequences of the measures on migratory routes and the security situation; calls for the appropriate use of the ndici-global europe to allocate a significant part of its 10% spending earmarked for migration to developing and expanding legal migration policy options including developing new channels for migrants to enter the union , supporting the freedom of movement within regions outside of europe , supporting labour mobility schemes , promoting education and study mobility schemes , in particular through the budget line allocated to erasmus+ , facilitating safe arrival in the union for asylum and non-asylum migration , facilitating the recognition of professional qualifications , supporting pilot projects on legal migration within third countries and in the union;


### 7. requests the commission to include in its proposal a framework for talent partnerships between member states and third countries , tailored to the situation of the third country in question , which should include vocational training programmes based on skills , in particular aptitude tests , workplace observation and simulations , and that member states could opt into on a voluntary basis; calls on the commission to ensure that the framework allows for parliament to be able to fully exercise its scrutiny and evaluation role; ### 7. requests the commission to include in its proposal a framework for talent partnerships between member states and third countries , tailored to the situation of the third country in question , which should include vocational training programmes based on skills , in particular aptitude tests , workplace observation and simulations , and that member states could opt into on a voluntary basis; calls on the commission to ensure that the framework allows for parliament to be able to fully exercise its scrutiny and evaluation role; highlights that inspiration could be found in existing skills-based agreements on the development of talent partnerships that allow the destination country to be directly involved in shaping the skill sets of tcns potentially interested in migrating to the eu , including by establishing training facilities and programmes for third countries , and address the need for transparency of partnerships with third countries , including through the need to involve social partners;


### 7. requests the commission to include in its proposal a framework for talent partnerships between member states and third countries , tailored to the situation of the third country in question , which should include vocational training programmes based on skills , in particular aptitude tests , workplace observation and simulations , and that member states could opt into on a voluntary basis; calls on the commission to ensure that the framework allows for parliament to be able to fully exercise its scrutiny and evaluation role; ### 7. requests the commission to include in its proposal a framework for talent partnerships with third countries that member states could opt into on a voluntary basis , tailored to the situation of the third country in question and designed to prevent brain drain , which should include vocational training programmes based on hard and soft skills , in particular aptitude tests , workplace observation , intercultural skills and simulations; calls on the commission to ensure that the framework allows for parliament to be able to fully exercise its scrutiny and evaluation role and that the proposal includes mechanisms to ensure equal treatment , prevent abuse and protect employees’ rights , including simplified procedures to facilitate claims against employers;


### 7. stresses the need to involve all stakeholders in europe and partner countries in the definition and evaluation of new and existing legal migration strategies; highlights the importance of religious entities , which play a key role in partner countries , including in conflict resolution. ### 7. stresses the need to involve all relevant stakeholders , including parliaments , ngos , local authorities and the private sector in europe and partner countries as well as diaspora organisations in the definition and evaluation of new and existing legal migration strategies; highlights the importance of a structured dialogue with civil society , which play a key role in partner countries.


### 8. notes that the objective of directive 2011/98/eu to simplify and harmonise the rules concerning permits currently applicable in the member states has not been fully achieved with some of the provisions being implemented in different ways across union; requests the commission to take the necessary steps to ensure that the member states implement that directive fully; further considers that that directive should be amended to allow applications for a single permit to be lodged from within both a member state and a third country , and , in order to further simplify and harmonise the rules , to clearly regulate the procedure for obtaining an entry visa so as to avoid applicants having to submit the documents needed to obtain a single permit twice , and calls on the commission to include such amendments in its proposal; ### 8. notes that the objective of directive 2011/98/eu to simplify and harmonise the rules concerning permits currently applicable in the member states and promote equal treatment has not been fully achieved with some of the provisions being implemented in different ways across union; requests the commission to take the necessary steps to ensure that the member states implement that directive fully; welcomes the european commission’s planned review of the directive , which presents an opportunity to increase labour market coherence and increase rights for a broader category of tcns; recommends that the directive should be amended to require that applications for a single permit may be lodged both from within a member state and from a third country , in order to further simplify and harmonise the rules , to clearly regulate the procedure for obtaining an entry visa so as to avoid applicants having to submit the documents needed to obtain a single permit more than once , and to reduce the dependency of workers and risks of exploitation , and calls on the commission to include such amendments in its proposal; suggests that to reach a broader category of tcn workers , the scope and the application of the directive should be expanded , to include seasonal workers and self-employed;


### 9. requests that the commission includes in its proposal the establishment of a transnational advisory service network , to be managed by the commission , for legally migrating third-country workers , with each member state designating a lead authority to process applications and to coordinate the advice and information provided to third-country nationals applying for work in the union; insists that the lead authorities should be responsible for the sharing of information among member states on third-country workers and should act as contact points for the talent pool; asks that the lead authorities be responsible also for close coordination with one another with regard to applications lodged for a single permit to reside and work in accordance with directive 2011/98/eu in order to avoid double submissions; ### 9. requests that the commission includes in its proposal the establishment of a transnational advisory service network , to be managed by the commission , for migrating third-country workers , with each member state designating a lead authority to process applications and to coordinate the advice and information provided to third-country nationals applying for work in the union; insists that the lead authorities should be responsible for the sharing of information among member states on tcn workers and should act as contact points for workers and employers with regard to the talent pool , including in third countries in which not all member states have presence; asks that the lead authorities be responsible also for close coordination with one another with regard to applications lodged for a single permit to reside and work in accordance with directive 2011/98/eu in order to avoid double submissions and to encourage and support employers to consider the possibility of applying for this permit;


### 10. calls on the commission to include in its proposal an amendment to directive 2014/36/eu to allow holders of work permits under that directive a period of three months to seek new employment after having left their previous employer without having their work permit revoked; ### 10. calls on the commission to include in its proposal an amendment to directive 2014/36/eu to allow holders of work permits under that directive a period of six months to seek new employment after having left their previous employer and guarantee their right to stay within the eu during that time; in order to avoid labour exploitation , the eu commission should encourage member states to fully apply the provision on changing employers , thereby delinking residence permits from single employers and jobs; furthermore , the directive should amend the length of stay for a period longer than 9 months;


### 11. requests the commission to include in its proposal an amendment to directive 2009/52/ec to adapt its scope to include exploited legally residing third-country nationals working in the union; ### 11. requests the commission to include in its proposal provisions obliging member states to ensure that victims of labour exploitation have access to existing schemes of state compensation , to improve the enforcement of equal treatment and employment rights , including accessible and effective complaints mechanisms and legal procedures for all workers; calls on the commission to improve the regulation of private agencies involved in international recruitment;


### 12. is of the view that directive 2003/109/ec should be amended to allow third-country nationals who are long-term residents of a member state to reside permanently within another member state from the day their permit is issued on terms similar to the terms applicable to union citizens and to reduce the number of years of residence required to acquire union long-term residence status from five to three years; calls on the commission to include those amendments in its proposal; ### 12. is of the view that directive2003/109/ec should be amended to allow tcns who are long-term residents of a member state to reside permanently within another member state from the day their permit is issued on terms equivalent to the terms applicable to union citizens and to reduce the number of years of residence required to acquire union long-term residence status from five to three years; the directive should facilitate intra- and extra-eu mobility by introducing more flexible rules for onward mobility similar to the blue card directive , allowing for the tcn to accumulate years of stay throughout the eu towards the long-term residency; notes that the directive should extend the period of absence to allow tcns to travel to their home countries and provide them the right to re-entry; suggests simplifying procedures for residence permit holders by removing provisions on labour market tests and on other restrictive measures that hamper access to the labour market; calls on the commission to include those amendments in its proposal and to take steps to ensure compliance with the terms of the directive;


### recommendation 1 (on the establishment of a union-wide talent pool for legally migrating third-country nationals) ### recommendation 1 (on the establishment of a eu talent pool and matching platform for third-country national workers)


### - the european parliament considers that the legislative act to be adopted should establish a union-wide talent pool for third-country nationals who wish to apply for work in and migrate legally to a member state , as well as for union-based employers to search in third countries for potential employees , and should facilitate the admission and free movement of third-country workers. the european parliament considers that such a union-wide talent pool should establish synergies with the existing framework and the legislative act should therefore amend regulation (eu) 2016/589 in order to expand the current scope of the eures portal , established by that regulation; ### - the european parliament considers that the legislative act to be adopted should establish a union-wide talent pool for third-country nationals who wish to apply for work in and migrate legally to a member state , as well as for union-based employers to search in third countries for potential employees , and should facilitate the admission and free movement of third-country workers. the european parliament considers that such a union-wide talent pool should explore synergies with the existing framework under regulation (eu) 2016/589 and the eures portal;


### - the european parliament considers that the legislative act to be adopted should establish a union-wide talent pool for third-country nationals who wish to apply for work in and migrate legally to a member state , as well as for union-based employers to search in third countries for potential employees , and should facilitate the admission and free movement of third-country workers. the european parliament considers that such a union-wide talent pool should establish synergies with the existing framework and the legislative act should therefore amend regulation (eu) 2016/589 in order to expand the current scope of the eures portal , established by that regulation; ### - the european parliament considers that the legislative act to be adopted should establish a union-wide talent pool and matching platform for third-country nationals workers , as well as for union-based employers to search in third countries for potential employees , and should facilitate the admission and free movement of third-country workers. the european parliament considers that such a union-wide talent pool should establish synergies with the existing framework and the legislative act should therefore amend regulation (eu) 2016/589 in order to expand the current scope of the eures portal , established by that regulation;


### - the talent pool , as established by the legislative act , would allow third-country nationals to express their interest in and apply for work , while also enabling employers to search for potential employees. third-country nationals would be able to apply for work where there is a shortage in the member states’ domestic labour markets , after having gone through an application and pre-screening process. the talent pool would serve as an optional tool that member states could use to meet the demands of and shortages in the member states’ labour markets that cannot be met by the domestic workforce. the talent pool should be complemented by increased coordination between participating national authorities , and it should take into account national specificities and the different demands of national labour markets. in that spirit , the union-wide transnational advisory service network , as referred to in recommendation 5 , should facilitate the running of the talent pool and serve as a contact point for the talent pool in the member state. ### - the talent pool , as established by the legislative act , would allow third-country nationals to express their interest in and apply for work , while also enabling employers to search for potential employees. third-country nationals would be able to apply for work where there is a shortage in the member states’ domestic labour markets , after having gone through an application and pre-screening process facilitate by the eu. the talent pool would serve as an optional tool that member states could use to meet the demands of and shortages in the member states’ labour markets that cannot be met by the domestic workforce. the talent pool should be complemented by increased coordination between participating national authorities , and it should take into account national specificities and the different demands of national labour markets. the talent pool could help to reduce bureaucracy at member state level. the promotion of this tool and its usage could be enhanced if there is a targeted information dissemination , which promotes the talent pool and matching platform in third countries and participating member states. notes that the involvement of public employment services and local authorities in such a platform in both the eu and countries of origin could help to improve partnerships and build trust between eu member states and third countries , as well as help respond more adequately to local level employment needs or labour market shortages. in that spirit , the union-wide transnational advisory service network , as referred to in recommendation 5 , should facilitate the running of the talent pool and serve as a contact point for the talent pool in the member state.


### - the talent pool , as established by the legislative act , would allow third-country nationals to express their interest in and apply for work , while also enabling employers to search for potential employees. third-country nationals would be able to apply for work where there is a shortage in the member states’ domestic labour markets , after having gone through an application and pre-screening process. the talent pool would serve as an optional tool that member states could use to meet the demands of and shortages in the member states’ labour markets that cannot be met by the domestic workforce. the talent pool should be complemented by increased coordination between participating national authorities , and it should take into account national specificities and the different demands of national labour markets. in that spirit , the union-wide transnational advisory service network , as referred to in recommendation 5 , should facilitate the running of the talent pool and serve as a contact point for the talent pool in the member state. ### - the talent pool , as established by the legislative act , would allow tcns to express their interest in and apply for work , while also enabling employers to search for potential employees. third-country nationals would be able to apply for work where there is a shortage in the member states’ domestic labour markets , after having gone through a transparent and non-discriminatory application and pre-screening process. the talent pool would serve as an optional tool that member states could use to meet the demands of and shortages in the member states’ labour markets that cannot be met by the domestic workforce. the talent pool should be complemented by increased coordination between participating national authorities , and it should take into account national specificities and the different demands of national labour markets. in that spirit , the union-wide transnational advisory service network , as referred to in recommendation 6 ,should facilitate the running of the talent pool and serve as a contact point for the talent pool in the member state as well as in third countries , including in particular those in which not all member states have a presence


### recommendation 2 (on an admittance scheme for low and medium-skilled third-country workers) ### recommendation 2 (on an admittance scheme for low and medium-waged third-country workers)


### - it is a pressing need for the union to improve its attractiveness for all skilled third-country workers , not only for highly-skilled workers. with the revision of the directive (eu) [eu blue card] , the union has taken further steps to achieve that goal for highly-skilled third-country workers. however , it is imperative to achieve that goal for low- and medium-skilled third-country workers in order to fill vacancies and improve matching on the member states’ labour markets , further enhancing the union’s economic competitiveness. ### - it is a pressing need for the union to improve its attractiveness for and allow for the admission of third-country workers across all skill levels , not only for highly-skilled workers. with the revision of the directive (eu) [eu blue card] ,the union has taken further steps to achieve that goal for highly-skilled tcn workers. however , it is imperative to also achieve that goal for low- and medium-wage tcn workers , in order to be consistent in practising eu values , fill vacancies and improve matching on the member states’ labour markets , further enhancing the union’s economic competitiveness.


### - to properly address that issue , the european parliament calls on the commission to , within the legislative act to be adopted , include provisions setting up an admission scheme with conditions of entry and residence for low- and medium-skilled third-country workers. the scheme should include the creation of a framework within which third-country workers are able to have their skills and qualifications properly recognised and validated for use on the member states’ labour markets. ### - to properly address that issue , the european parliament calls on the commission to , within the legislative act to be adopted , include provisions setting up an admission scheme with conditions of entry and residence for low- and medium-wage third-country workers. the scheme should ensure equal treatment in line with the existing eu acquis on labour migration , and include the creation of a framework within which third-country workers are able to have their hard and soft skills and formal and non-formal qualifications properly recognised and validated for use on the member states’ labour markets. in order to prevent any abuse of tcn migrant workers and to ensure their equal treatment when working or applying for work in the eu , the proposal should include the setting up of monitoring mechanisms and labour market inspections , equivalent to those established in directive2009/52/ec with a specific focus on preventing the abuse of migrant workers.


### - traditionally , a work permits has only been issued where the third-country national already has an employment contract or a firm offer of employment. however , the european parliament is of the view that the basis for issuing work permits could be improved and developed further. along the same lines , the commission has stated that its objective is to encourage more people to become entrepreneurs , thereby improving europe’s economic performance1 . third-country nationals working as entrepreneurs or as self-employed people might experience that the environment in their country of origin is not conducive for their start-up or for their efforts as entrepreneurs. through a union-wide admittance scheme such third-country nationals could be given an opportunity to migrate legally to the union and establish themselves and their businesses. ### - traditionally , a work permits has only been issued where the tcn already has an employment contract or a firm offer of employment. however , the european parliament is of the view that the basis for issuing work permits could be improved and developed further. along the same lines , the commission has stated that its objective is to encourage more people to become entrepreneurs , thereby improving europe’s innovation , creativity and economic performance[1].third-country nationals working as entrepreneurs or as self-employed people might experience that the environment in their country of origin is not conducive for their start-up or for their efforts as entrepreneurs. through a union-wide admittance scheme such tcns could be given an opportunity to migrate legally to the union and establish themselves and their businesses. eu level action should promote a favourable environment for entrepreneurship of third-country nationals and strive for high common standards on the rights of entrepreneurs and self-employed workers


### - to that end , the european parliament considers that the legislative act to be adopted should include an admission scheme with conditions of entry and residence for self-employed people and entrepreneurs , in particular for third-country nationals who establish small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups. the definitions of ‘self-employed person’ and ‘entrepreneur’ should be based on objective and uniform criteria set by the commission. ### - to that end , the european parliament considers that the legislative act to be adopted should include an admission scheme with conditions of entry and residence for self-employed people and entrepreneurs , in particular for third-country nationals who establish small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups , which ensures robust rights and safeguards to promote social and employment standards for all workers. furthermore , the european parliament considers that the legislative act to be adopted should include flexible measures to not marginalise self-employed and entrepreneurs who are hired by european employers in third countries , and require travel to eu offices. such measures can include 10-year multiple-entry business visas , which allow tcn workers to travel to and within the eu for up to 90 days. the definitions of ‘self-employed person’ and ‘entrepreneur’ should be based on objective and uniform criteria set by the commission.


### - to that end , the european parliament considers that the legislative act to be adopted should include an admission scheme with conditions of entry and residence for self-employed people and entrepreneurs , in particular for third-country nationals who establish small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups. the definitions of ‘self-employed person’ and ‘entrepreneur’ should be based on objective and uniform criteria set by the commission. ### - to that end , the european parliament considers that the legislative act to be adopted should include an admission scheme with conditions of entry and residence for self-employed people and entrepreneurs , in particular for tcns who establish small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups , which ensures robust rights and safeguards to promote social and employment standards for all workers. the definitions of ‘self-employed person’ and ‘entrepreneur’ should be based on objective and uniform criteria set by the commission.


### - the european parliament calls on the commission to prepare a tailor-made framework for talent partnerships in which member states can voluntarily participate and to include this in the legislative act to be adopted. those partnerships would be open to third-country workers of all skill-levels , as well as students and graduates , and would serve as an efficient tool for member states to match the skills of workers in third countries with the demands of the member states’ labour markets which the domestic workforce cannot meet. the aim of those partnerships is to add another legal channel as a mobility-option for third-country nationals who wish to migrate to the union for work and to tackle the issues of labour market shortages and mismatches across the union. the practical implementation of the partnerships would rely on close cooperation with national authorities , labour market institutions and partners. the commission should ensure that the european parliament is able to , on a regular basis , scrutinise and evaluate the functioning of the partnerships , as well propose recommendations to improve the overall functioning of the framework. ### - the european parliament calls on the commission to prepare a tailor-made framework for talent partnerships in which member states can voluntarily participate and to include this in the legislative act to be adopted. those partnerships would be open to third-country workers of all skill-levels , as well as students and graduates , and would serve as an efficient tool for member states to match the skills of workers in third countries with the demands of the member states’ labour markets which the domestic workforce cannot meet. the aim of those partnerships is to add another legal channel as a mobility-option for tcns who wish to migrate to the union for work and to tackle the issues of labour market shortages and mismatches across the union , creating a ‘quadruple win’ for the eu , third countries , employers and migrant workers. the practical implementation of the partnerships would rely on close cooperation with national authorities , labour market institutions , civil society actors and social partners. the commission should ensure that the european parliament is able to , on a regular basis , scrutinise and evaluate the functioning of the partnerships , as well as propose recommendations to improve the overall functioning of the framework.


### - a reinforced and more comprehensive approach would offer cooperation with partner countries and help boost mutually beneficial international mobility. those talent partnerships should be inclusive and build strong cooperation between the institutions concerned , for example national ministries of labour and education , employers , social partners and education and training providers. however , it is important that member states strongly engage with those talent partnerships , that the private sector , in particular european businesses , and the social partners be involved , and that partner countries have a sense of ownership. ### - a reinforced and more comprehensive approach would offer cooperation with partner countries and help boost mutually beneficial international mobility in a way that prevents brain drain or other adverse effects , for example by promoting training and creating a re-entry system. importantly , third countries must have a strong sense of ownership and be able to co-create partnerships from the outset. those talent partnerships should be inclusive and build strong cooperation between the institutions concerned , for example national ministries of labour and education , employers , social partners and education and training providers. however , it is important that member states strongly engage with those talent partnerships , that the private sector , in europe and in partner countries , the social partners and relevant civil society actors be involved , and that partner countries always retain a significant and meaningful sense of ownership.


### recommendation 5 (on the simplification of directive 2011/98/eu) ### recommendation 5 (on the simplification and improvement of directive 2011/98/eu)


### - the european parliament is of the view that procedures with respect to directive 2011/98/eu should be further harmonised for that directive to be fully efficient , therefore considers that the legislative act to be adopted should amend that directive in order to allow applications for a single permit to be lodged both from within the territory of a member state and from a third country , while engaging both the member states and the third countries in a system that shares information on , and coordinates with respect to , the applications lodged. the european parliament moreover calls for , inter alia , the clear regulation and streamlining of the procedure for applying for an entry visa in order to avoid applicants having to submit the documents needed to obtaining a single permit twice , and also requests the commission to propose changes that would alleviate the difficulties facing third-country national holding work permits when changing employment , thus making the permit holder too dependent on the employer. ### - the european parliament is of the view that procedures with respect to directive2011/98/eu should be further harmonised for that directive to be fully efficient , therefore considers that the legislative act to be adopted should amend that directive in order to require that applications for a single permit may be lodged both from within the territory of a member state and from a third country. the european parliament moreover calls for , inter alia , the clear regulation and streamlining of the procedure for applying for an entry visa in order to avoid applicants having to submit the documents needed to obtain a single permit more than once: requests the commission to analyse and reduce the administrative requirements and inefficiencies in permit procedures which prevent pathways from responding to real labour market needs and in particular to propose changes that would eliminate the difficulties facing third-country national holding work permits when changing employment through work and residence permits that are independent from the employer.


### recommendation 6 (on the establishment of a union-wide transnational advisory service network for legally migrating workers) ### recommendation 6 (on the establishment of a union-wide transnational advisory service network for migrating workers)


### - the european parliament is of the view that systematic cooperation between and engagement with the authorities of member states and of third countries is required to enhance legal pathways for migration. to achieve that goal , the european parliament considers that the legislative act to be adopted should establish a transnational advisory service network , managed by the commission , for third-country workers , with each member state designating a lead authority to coordinate the advice and information provided to legally migrating third-country nationals applying for work in the union. the authorities in each member state should also be responsible for closely coordinating with one another with regard to applications lodged for a single permit to reside and work in the union in accordance with directive 2011/98/eu in order to avoid double submissions. that network should also take into account national specificities and different demands of national labour markets. ### - the european parliament is of the view that systematic cooperation between and engagement with the authorities of member states and of third countries is required to enhance legal pathways for migration. to achieve that goal , the european parliament considers that the legislative act to be adopted should establish a transnational advisory service network , managed by the commission , for third-country workers , with each member state designating a lead authority to coordinate the advice and information provided to migrating third-country nationals applying for work in the union. diaspora communities and migrant workers residing in the eu should be actively involved in the design and implementation of the network. the authorities in each member state should also be responsible for closely coordinating with one another with regard to applications lodged for a single permit to reside and work in the union in accordance with directive 2011/98/eu in order to avoid double submissions. that network should also take into account national specificities and different demands of national labour markets. this transnational advisory service network should facilitate the running of the talent pool , as outlined in recommendation 1.


### - in addition , each member state should be responsible for requesting from employers information on third-country workers , in full respect of union data protection law , in order to enable third-country nationals to be connected with the relevant authorities and in order to facilitate the strengthening of the equal rights of third-country workers. this transnational advisory service network should facilitate the running of the talent pool , as outlined in recommendation 1. ### - in addition , each member state should use information on third-country workers , in full respect of union data protection law , in order to enable tcns to be connected with the relevant authorities and support services , in order to facilitate the protection and strengthening of the equal rights and treatment of third-country workers; and should ensure that employers provide accurate and timely information about their rights , relevant authorities and available services to third country nationals


### - promoting professional mobility for legally residing third-country nationals working in a member state also means protecting them from exploitation. numerous third-country nationals , in particular low-skilled third-country nationals , hesitate to leave an exploitative employer because it would mean that they would lose their work permit and right to stay in the union. holders of a work permit issued under the directive 2014/36/eu are , in particular , prone to exploitation , seeing how they often tend to work within sectors mainly employing low-skilled workers. ### - promoting professional mobility for tcns residing and working in a member state also means protecting them from exploitation. numerous third-country nationals , in particular low-skilled tcns , hesitate to leave an exploitative employer because it would mean that they would lose their work permit and right to stay in the union. this is currently evident in the disparaging situation of many care workers across europe and those in the catering , hotel , and entertainment sectors. holders of a work permit issued under the directive 2014/36/eu are , in particular , prone to exploitation , seeing how they often tend to work within sectors mainly employing low-skilled workers.


### - therefore , the european parliament considers that the legislative act to be adopted should amend directive 2014/36/eu to allow holders of work permits under that directive a period of three months to seek new employment after having left their previous employer without having their permit revoked. the european parliament recommends that the commission , at the same time , consider other appropriate amendments to that directive in order to bring it up to date and in line with other more recent union legal acts dealing with legal migration. ### - therefore , the european parliament considers that the legislative act to be adopted should amend directive 2014/36/eu to allow holders of work permits under that directive a period of six months to seek new employment after having left their previous employer. the european parliament recommends that the commission , at the same time , consider other appropriate amendments to that directive in order to bring it up to date and in line with other more recent union legal acts dealing with legal migration , including delinking residence permit from a single employer or a job and allowing application within the territory of the member state.


### recommendation 8 (on amending the directive 2009/52/ec to include legally residing third-country nationals ### recommendation 8 (on provisions to increase coherence and address labour exploitation)


### - directive 2009/52/ec contains several tools that can be used to support irregularly staying third-country nationals working within the union. the fact that it only covers irregularly staying third-country workers is , however , a substantial flaw. while regularly staying third-country workers enjoy a higher level of protection , mainly by virtue of their legal right to stay within the union , as well as through other means , they too can be exploited and remain more vulnerable than union citizens. consequently , the european parliament sees a need to amend directive 2009/52/ec to make it applicable to all third-country nationals working in the union. ### - while the single permit directive establishes a common set of rights for third-country workers and the right to equal treatment , it does not include any provisions to reinforce enforcement of these rights.


### - therefore , the european parliament considers that the legislative act to be adopted should amend directive 2003/109/ec to allow third-country nationals who are long-term residents of a member state to reside permanently within another member state from the day their permit is issued on terms similar to the terms applicable to union citizens. the european parliament recommends that the commission , at the same time , consider other appropriate amendments to that directive to bring it up to date and in line with other more recent union legal acts dealing with third-country nationals legally staying in the union. the european parliament requests the commission to , as a minimum , include in its proposal reducing the number of years required for acquiring a union long-term residence permit from five to three years. ### - therefore , the european parliament considers that the legislative act to be adopted should amend directive 2003/109/ec to allow third-country nationals who are long-term residents of a member state to reside permanently within another member state from the day their permit is issued on terms similar to the terms applicable to union citizens. the european parliament recommends that the commission , at the same time , consider other appropriate amendments to that directive to bring it up to date and in line with other more recent union legal acts dealing with third-country nationals legally staying in the union. the european parliament requests the commission to , as a minimum , include in its proposal reducing the number of years required for acquiring a union long-term residence permit from five to three years , particularly to enhance mobility and simplify and harmonise procedures. with this in mind , the directive should facilitate intra- and extra-eu mobility by reducing the time required to obtain long-term residence status , by introducing more flexible rules for onward mobility and by extending the period of absence to allow tcns to travel to their home countries and provide them with the right to re-entry. the european parliament suggests that the directive is amended in order to simplify procedures for residence permit holders by removing provision on labour market tests and other restrictive measures that hamper access to the labour market , including for family members. the directive should allow for tcn to accumulate years of stay throughout the eu towards their long-term residency. the european parliament requests the commission to , as a minimum , include in its proposal reducing the number of years required for acquiring a union long-term residence permit from five to three years.


### g. whereas freedom of expression has been restricted in some member states; whereas strategic lawsuits against public participation (slapps) have also been used to target civil society organisations (csos) and human rights defenders; whereas these exert a severe chilling effect on freedom of expression; ### g. whereas freedom of expression and access to information has been restricted in some member states; whereas strategic lawsuits against public participation (slapps) have also been used to target civil society organisations (csos) and human rights defenders; whereas these exert a severe chilling effect on freedom of expression;


### i. whereas in some member states , restrictions have been imposed with the deliberate aim of limiting civic space and are accompanied by legal , administrative and fiscal harassment , criminalisation and negative rhetoric aimed at stigmatising and delegitimising csos and draining their capacity to carry out their legitimate work; whereas hate speech , harassment and attacks also emanate from non-state actors; whereas csos working on women’s rights , including sexual and reproductive health and rights , environmental issues and the protection of minorities and lgbti rights , as well as those providing assistance to asylum seekers and those involved in search and rescue operations , are particularly exposed; ### i. whereas in some member states , restrictions have been imposed with the deliberate aim of limiting civic space and are accompanied by legal , administrative and fiscal harassment , criminalisation and negative rhetoric aimed at stigmatising and delegitimising csos and draining their capacity to carry out their legitimate work; whereas hate speech , online and offline harassment and attacks also emanate from non-state actors; whereas csos and human rights defenders working on women’s rights , including sexual and reproductive health and rights , environmental issues and the protection of minorities and lgbti rights , as well as those providing assistance to migrants and asylum seekers and those involved in search and rescue operations , are particularly exposed;


### l. whereas the right to peaceful assembly has been restricted due to necessary social distancing rules in a majority of member states; whereas in some member states , the powers of law enforcement authorities are increasing , generating concerns over their necessity and proportionality; ### l. whereas the right to peaceful assembly has been restricted due to necessary social distancing rules in a majority of member states; whereas some member states have passed laws restricting the right to peaceful assembly in the past years , also concerning permission and notification requirements; whereas in some member states , the powers of law enforcement authorities are increasing , generating concerns over their necessity and proportionality;


### o. whereas foreign funding has been the target of legal and political attacks in some member states; ### o. whereas foreign funding has been the target of legal and political attacks in some member states; whereas any restrictions imposed on civil society organisations receiving foreign funding is contrary to union law , namely on free movement of capitals (article 63 tfeu) and the charter of fundamental rights of the european union , including the rights to freedom of association and public participation , as recently found by the cjeu in c-78/18;


### 1. asserts the crucial role played by csos in the realisation of eu values and fundamental rights , and the implementation of eu policies and strategies; stresses their key contribution to informed public debate , articulating aspirations present in society , giving a voice to vulnerable and marginalised people , providing expertise in policy-making , promoting active citizenship and acting as schools of democracy; ### 1. asserts the crucial role played by csos in the realisation of eu values and fundamental rights , and the implementation of eu policies and strategies; stresses their key contribution to informed public debate , articulating aspirations present in society , giving a voice to vulnerable and marginalised people , giving access to crucial services , providing expertise in policy-making , promoting active citizenship and acting as schools of democracy and being indispensable watchdogs exercising democratic control over state institutions and ensuring accountability for public action;


### 2. emphasises that for civil society organisations to thrive , civic space must be an enabling and safe environment free from undue interference , intimidation , harassment and chilling effects; ### 2. emphasises that for civil society organisations to thrive , civic space must be an enabling and safe environment free from undue interference , intimidation , harassment and chilling effects; reminds member states of their positive obligation to ensure an enabling environment for civil society organisations , where they can exercise their fundamental watchdog role freely and without hindrance from both state and non-state actors;


### 2. emphasises that for civil society organisations to thrive , civic space must be an enabling and safe environment free from undue interference , intimidation , harassment and chilling effects; ### 2. emphasises that for civil society organisations to thrive , civic space must be an enabling and safe environment free from undue interference , intimidation , harassment and chilling effects , such as slapps , incitement to hatred and/or violence against rights defenders and organisations , and the creation of legal or administrative hurdles affecting their daily operations;


### 2. underlines that the main responsibility for this regression lies with member states; ### 2. underlines that the main responsibility for this regression lies with member states as they must enable civil society to thrive;


### 4. agrees with the commission that when civil society’s space to operate shrinks , it is a sign that the rule of law is at risk; urges the commission , therefore , to step up and structure its monitoring of the situation of civic space in the member states by creating a ‘european civic space index’ based on existing frameworks for measuring civic space , and by dedicating to civic space a fully-fledged chapter including country recommendations in its annual rule of law report; ### 4. agrees with the commission that when civil society’s space to operate shrinks , it is a sign that the rule of law is at risk; welcomes the fact that the commission has put environment for civil society under scrutiny as part of the annual rule of law report , which rightly indicates that the rule of law cannot function without a vibrant civil society operating in a secure and enabling environment; urges the commission , to step up and structure its monitoring of the situation of civic space in the member states by creating a ‘european civic space index’ based on existing frameworks for measuring civic space , and by dedicating to civic space a fully-fledged chapter including country recommendations in its annual rule of law report , which should also cover fully fundamental rights;


### 4. strongly condemns , in particular , the adoption by hungarian and polish authorities of acts that restrict the access of non-governmental organisations to funding and that target lgbtiq+ persons and activists; ### 4. strongly condemns , in particular , the adoption by hungarian and polish authorities of acts that restrict the access of non-governmental organisations to funding and that target in particular lgbtiq+ persons , migrants , refugees , ethnic minorities and women as well as the activists defending their rights;


### 6. urges the commission , therefore , to adopt a comprehensive civil society strategy that integrates all existing tools , fills monitoring , support and protection gaps , and gives genuine political recognition to the crucial role played by csos in the realisation of eu values and policies; ### 6. urges the commission , therefore , to adopt a comprehensive civil society strategy for protection and development of civic space within the union that integrates all existing tools , fills monitoring , support and protection gaps , and gives genuine political recognition to the crucial role played by csos in the realisation of eu values and policies , while clearly linking monitoring and reporting tools to enforcement mechanisms to ensure timely and effective follow-up action;


### 6. condemns the severe restrictions imposed by member states on the right to protest , the disproportionate use of violence by public authorities , and the arbitrary arrests of protesters; ### 6. condemns the severe restrictions imposed by member states on the right to protest , the disproportionate use of violence by public authorities , and the arbitrary on- and offline surveillance and arrests of protesters;


### 7. stresses that the ability of csos to act depends on the existence of an enabling legal and political environment , in particular on the exercise of freedom of association , peaceful assembly and expression; urges member states to guarantee the exercise of these rights in conformity with international standards; ### 7. stresses that the ability of csos to act depends on the existence of an enabling legal and political environment , in particular on the exercise of freedom of association , peaceful assembly and expression and the right to public participation; urges member states to guarantee the exercise of these rights in conformity with international standards;


### 7. underlines that civil society actors are increasingly subjected to targeted violence , whether by police forces or private parties; ### 7. underlines that journalists and civil society actors are increasingly subjected to targeted violence , hate speech and other forms of harassment whether by police forces or private parties , both on- and offline; highlights also the chilling effects that surveillance targeting journalists and civil society actors can have in that regard;


### 8. condemns the increasing criminalisation and judicial harassment of civil society actors; is concerned about the growing use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (slapps) by powerful public and private actors , and strongly recommends the adoption of an anti-slapps directive protecting all parties legitimately engaging in public participation; ### 8. condemns the increasing criminalisation and judicial harassment of civil society actors; is concerned about the growing use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (slapps) by powerful public and private actors , and strongly recommends the adoption of an anti-slapps directive protecting all actors legitimately engaging in public participation;


### 9. calls on the commission to include a systematic civic space check in its impact assessments in order to prevent planned legislation from having negative effects on civic space; ### 9. calls on the commission to include a systematic civic space check in its impact assessments in order to prevent planned legislation from having negative effects on civic space; calls on the commission to monitor the implementation of eu law to ensure it does not negatively affect civic space and provide remedies when it is the case;


### 9. supports the commission in launching infringement procedures against member states that unduly restrict the freedoms of assembly and association; ### 9. supports the commission in launching infringement procedures against member states that unduly restrict the fundamental freedoms of expression , assembly and association and believes an extensive annual rule of law assessment will enhance the commission’s timeliness and effectiveness;


### 10. calls on the member states to limit peaceful assemblies only if strictly necessary and in a proportionate way; condemns any unnecessary use of force against protesters , as well as their criminalisation and surveillance; calls on the commission to issue guidelines for the protection of freedom of peaceful assembly; ### 10. calls on the member states to respect and facilitate the exercise of the right to peaceful assemblies which can only be limited in exceptional circumstances if strictly necessary and in a proportionate way; condemns any unnecessary use of force against protesters , as well as their criminalisation , prosecution and surveillance; calls on the commission to issue guidelines for the protection of freedom of peaceful assembly;


### 10. supports the creation of an eu alert mechanism for attacks on civil society; ### 10. supports the creation of an eu alert and response mechanism for attacks on civil society , which should also provide input to the commission’s annual rule of law assessment. calls in this context on the commission and member states to ensure regular and meaningful contact with civil society actors , both at national and eu-level;


### 11. denounces the extreme inequality in access to information and decision-makers between industry representatives on the one hand , and civil society actors on the other , including within the eu institutions; ### 11. denounces the extreme inequality in access to information , decision-makers and official commission expert groups and fora , between industry representatives on the one hand , and civil society actors on the other , including within the eu institutions;


### 12. condemns any threats and attacks perpetrated on csos by state actors; equally condemns all instances of attacks and threats perpetrated by non-state actors , including , but not limited to slapps; ### 12. condemns any threats , smear campaigns , abusive litigation and attacks perpetrated on csos by state actors; equally condemns all instances of attacks and threats perpetrated by non-state actors , including , but not limited to slapps; recalls the importance of adequate and objective information on the activities of csos in media , especially public media;


### 13. urges member states to unequivocally condemn such acts , adopt preventive measures and systematically investigate any related allegations; ### 13. urges member states to unequivocally condemn such acts , adopt preventive measures and systematically , promptly , thoroughly , independently and impartially investigate any related allegations;


### 15. urges the commission to propose a comprehensive set of measures and recommendations to ensure long-term financing for csos; stresses the importance of securing complementary sources of funding; emphasises that public funding should cover all types of civil society activities; ### 15. urges the commission to propose a comprehensive set of measures and recommendations to ensure long-term financing for csos including the funding of their operational activities related to advocacy and monitoring; stresses the importance of securing complementary sources of funding; emphasises that public funding should cover all types of civil society activities; underlines that issue campaigns of csos should not be subject to funding limitations under the pretext of overlapping with elections and other political campaigns; notes that often funds available for csos require co-financing , which in turn mans that the beneficiary needs to raise a share of the required funds from other sources which can be detrimental to the organisation; therefore believes that the share of required co-financing should be limited and that different means need to betaken into account which could be monetarised such as volunteer time or contributions in kind;


### 16. is gravely concerned by the emergence of gongos and related discriminatory and often opaque public funding practices; warns against their detrimental effect on the perceived legitimacy of csos and hence on citizens’ willingness to engage in active citizenship; ### 16. is gravely concerned by the emergence of gongos and related discriminatory and often opaque public funding practices; warns against their detrimental effect on pluralism and diversity within civil society , the perceived legitimacy of csos and hence on citizens’ willingness to engage in active citizenship; calls on member states to investigate and take action against groups instigating hate; urges the commission to address allegations of unequal distribution of eu funding to civil society organisations in the context of the implementation of the new conditionality regulation;


### 17. welcomes the adoption with an increased budget of the citizens , equality , rights and values programme; calls on the commission to actively consult csos in the definition of work programmes and funding mechanisms so as to ensure transparency , flexibility and user-friendliness; welcomes re-granting mechanisms in the union values strand; ### 17. welcomes the adoption with an increased budget of the citizens , equality , rights and values programme; calls on the commission to actively consult csos in the definition of work programmes and funding mechanisms so as to ensure transparency , flexibility and user-friendliness; welcomes re-granting mechanisms in the union values strand; calls for specific emergency funding and practical support for civic actors and human rights defenders at risk;


### 18. urges the commission to ensure that eu funds are only awarded to organisations that are strictly independent from any government and fully adhere to eu values; ### 18. urges the commission to ensure that eu funds earmarked to support civil society are only awarded to organisations that are strictly independent from any government and fully adhere to eu values;


### 19. condemns attempts by certain member states to impose limitations on foreign funding and the related political narratives they have promulgated and measures they have taken with the aim of stigmatising csos; ### 19. condemns attempts by certain member states to impose limitations on foreign funding and the related political narratives they have promulgated and measures they have taken with the aim of stigmatising csos; recognises the importance of compliance with national rules in the field of taxation and fight against money laundering but reminds that such rules and transparency of funding in general cannot be abused to obstruct activities of csos and create a chilling effect affecting their members and donors;


### 20. calls for an eu-level definition of the concept of public benefit , as that would boost cross-border donations insofar as it would enable mutual recognition of public benefit status and equal treatment in terms of the related advantages; ### 20. calls for an eu-level definition of the concept of public benefit , as that would boost cross-border donations insofar as it would enable mutual recognition of public benefit status and equal treatment in terms of the related advantages; invites the commission to set up measures to remove obstacles to cross border philanthropy and ensure equal treatment of donations across borders in line with cjeu rulings;


### 21. stresses the importance of civil dialogue in informed policy-making and emphasises that the privileged position of csos in contact with citizens , and their expertise , confers on them a key role in civil dialogue; ### 21. stresses the importance of civil dialogue in informed policy-making and emphasises that csos play a key role as intermediaries between citizens and authorities at all levels , by ensuring a structured dialogue , and empowering those furthest away to participate and voice their concerns , while exercising democratic control over and ensuring accountability for public action;


### 22. regrets that civil dialogue often remains an ad hoc process; calls on the member states to develop coherent policy frameworks that ensure structured , predictable and long-term processes , inclusive participation and systematic review; calls on the commission to provide recommendations based on the analysis of existing practices; ### 22. regrets that civil dialogue often remains an ad hoc process; calls on the member states to develop coherent policy frameworks that ensure structured , predictable and long-term processes , inclusive participation and systematic review; calls on the commission to provide recommendations prepared in close cooperation with civil society , based on the analysis of existing practices;


### 23. welcomes the attribution to a commission vice-president of the responsibility to maintain an open , transparent and regular dialogue with civil society; stresses that civil dialogue should be further operationalised; ### 23. welcomes the attribution to a commission vice-president of the responsibility to maintain an open , transparent and regular dialogue with civil society; stresses that civil dialogue should be further operationalised; calls on the commission to set up within each directorate general specific focal points for civil society to be in close contact with the vice-president and the coordination of the secretariat general; invites the commission to set up a participatory status with civil society;


### 24. calls on the commission to leverage the definition of national programmes implementing eu funds and the implementation by member states of eu strategies and action plans to require member states to put in place effective civil dialogue mechanisms; ### 24. calls on the commission to leverage the definition of national programmes implementing eu funds and the implementation by member states of eu strategies and action plans to require member states to put in place effective civil dialogue mechanisms; calls for reinforcing civil society participation within the european semester process and in the monitoring of the european recovery package;


### — having regard to recommendations 01/2020 of the european data protection board on measures that supplement transfer tools to ensure compliance with the eu level of protection of personal data and 02/2020 on the european essential guarantees for surveillance measures8 ; ### — having regard to recommendations 01/2020 of the european data protection board (edpb) on measures that supplement transfer tools to ensure compliance with the eu level of protection of personal data and 02/2020 on the european essential guarantees for surveillance measures8 , as well at the edpb statement on eprivacy of 19 november 20201a;


### 1. takes note of the ecj ruling of 16 july 2020 , in which the court upheld the validity of decision 2010/87 on standard contractual clauses (sccs) deeming them an effective mechanism to ensure compliance with the level of protection provided in eu law; notes further that the court invalidated the commission decision 2016/1250 on the adequacy of the protection provided by the eu-us privacy shield; ### 1. takes note of the cjeu ruling of 16 july 2020 , in which the court upheld the validity of decision 2010/87 on standard contractual clauses (sccs) , while obliging the controller or processor intending to transfer personal data to the us to verify that the data subjects and their transferred data are not at risk of beings subjected to mass surveillance; notes further that the court invalidated the commission decision 2016/1250 on the adequacy of the protection provided by the eu-us privacy shield;


### 2. believes that the ecj ruling has significant implications for adequacy decisions concerning third countries; reaffirms the need for legal clarity and certainty; ### 2. believes that the cjeu ruling has significant implications for adequacy decisions concerning third countries , including the united kingdom; reaffirms the need for legal clarity and certainty;


### 3. is concerned that the whole “schrems ii” case was started by the irish data protection commissioner , instead taking a decision within its powers pursuant to article 58 gdpr; shows deep concern that several complaints against breaches of the gdpr filed on 25th may 2018 , have not yet been decided by the irish data protection commissioner , which is the lead authority for these cases; strongly condemns the attempt of the irish data protection authority to shift the costs of the judicial procedure to maximilian schrems , which would have created a massive chilling effect; calls on the commission to start infringement procedures against ireland for not properly enforcing the gdpr; ### 3. is concerned that the whole “schrems ii” case was started by the irish data protection commissioner , who took maximilian schrems and facebook to court as defendants instead taking a decision within its powers pursuant to article 4 of decision 2010/87/eu and article 58 gdpr; shows deep concern that several complaints against breaches of the gdpr filed by or in cooperation with maximilian schrems on 25th may 2018 , the day the gdpr became applicable , but also other complaints from consumer groups and others , have still not been decided by the irish data protection commissioner (dpc) , which is the lead authority for these cases; is concerned that the dpc interprets “without delay” in article 60(3) gdpr – contrary to the legislators intent - as more than a matter of months , is concerned supervisory authorities have not taken proactive steps under article 61 and 66 gdpr to force the irish data protection commission to comply with its obligations under the gdpr , strongly condemns the attempt of the irish data protection authority to shift the costs of the judicial procedure to maximilian schrems , which would have created a massive chilling effect; calls on the commission to start infringement procedures against ireland for not properly enforcing the gdpr;


### 4. urges the commission to publish further guidance on international data transfers for companies , in particular for smes , including on the additional safeguards required for transfers using sccs; ### 4. urges the edpb to publish further guidance on international data transfers for companies , in particular for smes , including on the supplementary measures required for transfers using sccs , and to fund independent academics to provide neutral guidance on potentially conflicting national law of major trading partners;


### 1. grants the executive director of the european border and coast guard agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the agency’s budget for the financial year 2019 / postpones its decision on granting the executive director of the european border and coast guard agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the agency for the financial year 2019; ### 1. postpones its decision on granting the executive director of the european border and coast guard agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the budget of the agency for the financial year 2019;


### 1. approves the closure of the accounts of the european border and coast guard agency for the financial year 2019 / postpones the closure of the accounts of the european border and coast guard agency for the financial year 2019; ### 1. postpones the closure of the accounts of the european border and coast guard agency for the financial year 2019;


### 1. grants/refuses to grant the executive director of the european border and coast guard agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the agency’s budget for the financial year 2019; ### 1. refuses to grant the executive director of the european border and coast guard agency discharge in respect of the implementation of the agency’s budget for the financial year 2019;


### 2. welcomes the fact that the court of auditors (‘the court’) has declared the transactions underlying the annual accounts of the agency for the financial year 2019 to be legal and regular in all material respects and that its financial position on 31 december 2019 is fairly presented; ### 2. welcomes the fact that the court of auditors (‘the court’) has declared the transactions underlying the annual accounts of the agency for the financial year 2019 to be legal and regular in all material respects and that its financial position on 31 december 2019 is fairly presented; recalls that the budget of the agency increased from eur 406 to 446 million and its staff from 630 to 749 compared to 2018; reminds that frontex is by large the agency that has been receiving more significant budget increases in the last years;


### 2. notes from the court’s report that in 2019 the agency had financing agreements with cooperating countries for operational activities , representing 55 % of the agency’s budget; notes that the agency has taken steps to improve the ex ante verifications and has re-introduced ex post verifications on reimbursements in 2019; highlights the court’s emphasis that the reimbursement of equipment-related expenditure is still based on actual costs and that the project to move to unit-cost based reimbursements is still not completed; further notes from the court’s report that cooperating countries had not always presented cost claims supported by invoices , or by other evidence , duly substantiating the actual costs incurred in operations and that there were delays for providing supporting documents; at the same time , the court’s report stresses that the duty to submit accurate and timely supporting evidence together with the cost claims lies with the cooperating countries; notes from the agency’s reply that during ex post control the agency ascertained the questioned expenditure with bank statements and the beneficiary was notified that pro-forma invoices would no longer be accepted as supporting documents even if such invoices respected the applicable national regulatory framework; furthermore , delays in providing supporting documents were associated with the implementation of a simplified grant scheme for the deployment of officers , and the final payment procedure in 2019 was therefore much extended in order to ensure sound financial management; ### 2. notes from the court’s report that in 2019 the agency had financing agreements with cooperating countries for operational activities , representing 55 % of the agency’s budget; notes that the agency has taken steps to improve the ex ante verifications and has re-introduced ex post verifications on reimbursements in 2019; expresses its concern as regards the court’s findings that the reimbursement of equipment-related expenditure is still based on actual costs and that the project to move to unit-cost based reimbursements is still not completed; further notes from the court’s report that cooperating countries had not always presented cost claims supported by invoices , or by other evidence , duly substantiating the actual costs incurred in operations and that there were delays for providing supporting documents; at the same time , the court’s report stresses that the duty to submit accurate and timely supporting evidence together with the cost claims lies with the cooperating countries; notes from the agency’s reply that during ex post control the agency ascertained the questioned expenditure with bank statements and the beneficiary was notified that pro-forma invoices would no longer be accepted as supporting documents even if such invoices respected the applicable national regulatory framework; furthermore , delays in providing supporting documents were associated with the implementation of a simplified grant scheme for the deployment of officers , and the final payment procedure in 2019 was therefore much extended in order to ensure sound financial management;