### 37. observes that chinese nationals have assumed leadership positions in the international organization for standardization , the international electrotechnical commission and the international telecommunication union , the three largest and best-established standard-setting organisations in the world , while the chinese government has also signed standards and cooperation agreements with 52 other countries through its belt and road initiative; warns that since several of their promoted standards , including on ai technologies and in particular in relation to government surveillance and individual liberties , are not in line with eu values , the chinese standard offensive poses a crucial geopolitical challenge for the eu , while also giving china a first-mover advantage in economic terms; ### 37. observes that the chinese government has signed standards and cooperation agreements with 52 other countries through its belt and road initiative; warns that several of their promoted standards , including on ai technologies and in particular in relation to government surveillance and individual liberties , are not in line with eu values , the chinese standard offensive poses a crucial geopolitical challenge for the eu , while also giving china a first-mover advantage in economic terms;


### 38. stresses that ai technologies , used in military command centres or in missile launch facilities , could escalate an automated reciprocal conflict before humans have the chance to detect what is happening , understand the causes and intervene; agrees with studies that warn that the impact of ai technologies on warfare could rival that of nuclear weapons24 ; ### 38. stresses that ai technologies that have not been designed and developed with the necessary control procedures in place and that are used in military command centres or in missile launch facilities , could escalate an automated reciprocal conflict before humans have the chance to detect what is happening , understand the causes and intervene; agrees with studies that warn that the impact of some ai technologies on warfare could rival that of nuclear weapons24;


### 38. stresses that ai technologies , used in military command centres or in missile launch facilities , could escalate an automated reciprocal conflict before humans have the chance to detect what is happening , understand the causes and intervene; agrees with studies that warn that the impact of ai technologies on warfare could rival that of nuclear weapons24 ; ### 38. stresses that ai technologies , used improperly and without oversight in military command centres or in missile launch facilities , could escalate an automated reciprocal conflict before humans have the chance to detect what is happening , understand the causes and intervene; agrees with studies that warn that the impact of ai technologies on warfare could rival that of nuclear weapons24;


### 39. notes that the use of ai systems in defence-related developments is considered a game changer in military operations; states that the key advantage lies in the potential to engage in armed conflicts with a reduced risk of physical harm to one’s own military personnel and as a means to reduce military response time; ### 39. notes that the use of ai systems in defence-related developments is considered a game changer in military operations; states that the key advantage lies in the potential to engage in armed conflicts with a reduced risk of physical harm to one’s own military personnel and as a means to reduce military response time , as well as in the analysis of masses of data for intelligence purposes or in the development of modes of action , such as wargaming , for example;


### 43. elaborates that the internet of things , as well as the fact that ai systems nowadays run a significant amount of key critical infrastructure , such as energy grids , the food chain , the atm network and hospital logistics , has created a massive ai cybersecurity threat; predicts that states will focus more and more on protecting their it logistics and care delivery as a domestic asset , which could in turn create the temptation to invoke ‘ai autarchy’; ### 43. elaborates that the internet of things , as well as the fact that ai systems nowadays run a significant amount of key critical infrastructure , such as energy grids , the food chain , the atm network and hospital logistics , has created a massive ai cybersecurity threat;


### 44. explains that the high level of accuracy that ai can achieve may pose security risks , as it can induce humans to place such confidence in ai as to trust it more than their own judgment; notes that experiments have shown that this can elevate the level of autonomy of ai beyond the supporting role for which it was originally designed and means that humans miss opportunities to gain experience and refine their skills and knowledge of ai systems; observes that this type of ai overuse has , for example , been cited as a major factor in several aircraft crashes25 ; ### 44. explains that the high level of accuracy that ai can achieve may pose security risks , as it can induce humans to place such confidence in ai as to trust it more than their own judgment; notes that experiments have shown that this can elevate the level of autonomy of ai beyond the supporting role for which it was originally designed and means that humans miss opportunities to gain experience and refine their skills and knowledge of ai systems; observes that this type of ai overuse has , for example , been cited as a major factor in several aircraft crashes25 ; stresses therefore that safety by design and meaningful human oversight are required in high risk ai systems in order to overcome such automation bias;


### 46. underlines , in particular , the potential inherent in enabling law enforcement agencies to proactively assess and predict ai misuse , as well as to counter it effectively by using ai technologies themselves; underlines that such ai-supported law enforcement activities do , however , require clear transparency rules , highly skilled employees and access to large amounts of relevant data; ### 46. underlines , in particular , the potential inherent in enabling law enforcement agencies to proactively assess and predict ai misuse , as well as to equip them with ai technologies themselves in order to facilitate their work; underlines that such ai-supported law enforcement activities do , however , require full respect for fundamental rights , clear transparency rules , human oversight , highly skilled employees and access to large amounts of relevant data;


### 46. underlines , in particular , the potential inherent in enabling law enforcement agencies to proactively assess and predict ai misuse , as well as to counter it effectively by using ai technologies themselves; underlines that such ai-supported law enforcement activities do , however , require clear transparency rules , highly skilled employees and access to large amounts of relevant data; ### 46. underlines , in particular , the potential inherent in enabling law enforcement agencies to proactively assess and predict ai misuse , as well as to counter it effectively by using ai technologies themselves; underlines that such ai-supported law enforcement activities do , however , require strict democratic oversight , clear transparency rules , highly skilled employees and access to relevant and high quality data;


### 63. acknowledges at the same time that the very same ai technologies used to address fundamental societal problems and achieve important public policy goals could also pose crucial ethical and legal questions; notes that there have already been documented instances which have led to serious wrongdoing within the eu; notes that in practice , member states rely heavily on the police to collect data , but also on private entities whose activities are often not supervised and who regularly sell the collected and highly sensitive data to other third parties; clarifies that this practice runs counter to european values and undermines the high level of fundamental rights in the eu , in particular the right to privacy; ### 63. acknowledges at the same time that the very same ai technologies used to address fundamental societal problems and achieve important public policy goals could also pose crucial ethical and legal questions; notes that there have already been documented instances which have led to serious wrongdoing within the eu; notes that in practice , member states rely heavily on law enforcement to collect data , but also on private entities whose activities are often not supervised , audited , and scrutinized and who regularly sell the collected and highly sensitive data to other third parties; clarifies that this practice runs counter to european values and undermines the high level of fundamental rights in the eu , in particular the right to privacy;


### 64. stresses that many authoritarian regimes apply ai systems to control , spy on , monitor and rank their citizens; believes that any form of unrestricted normative citizen scoring on a large scale by public authorities , especially within the field of law enforcement and the judiciary , leads to the loss of autonomy and is not in line with european values; highlights past cases of eu companies having sold biometric systems which would be illegal to use within the eu to authoritarian regimes in non-eu countries; ### 64. stresses that many authoritarian regimes apply ai systems to control , spy on , monitor and rank their citizens; believes that any form of unrestricted normative citizen scoring on a large scale by public authorities , especially within the field of law enforcement and the judiciary , leads to the loss of autonomy and is not in line with european values; is highly concerned about cases of eu companies having sold biometric systems which would be illegal to use within the eu to authoritarian regimes in non-eu countries and calls for strict rules against such practices;


### 65. notes that dominant tech platforms nowadays not only have significant control over access to information and its distribution , but they also use ai technologies to obtain more information on a person’s identity and knowledge of decisional history than is possessed by public authorities or close personal advisors such as doctors , lawyers or bankers; stresses that this development challenges the sovereignty of our nation states , the foundations of our democratic systems and the safeguarding of our fundamental rights; ### 65. notes that dominant tech platforms nowadays not only have significant control over access to information and its distribution , but they also use ai technologies to obtain more information on a person’s identity and knowledge of decisional history than is possessed by public authorities or close personal advisors such as doctors , lawyers or bankers; stresses that this development challenges the sovereignty of our nation states , the foundations of our democratic systems and the safeguarding of our fundamental rights; argues therefore that , beyond regulation , the european union should also develop norms and the proper institutional and technical capabilities for working with industry and influencing the development of ai technologies throughout the development cycle , including through jointly-developed industry guidelines and via regulatory sandboxes;


### 65. notes that dominant tech platforms nowadays not only have significant control over access to information and its distribution , but they also use ai technologies to obtain more information on a person’s identity and knowledge of decisional history than is possessed by public authorities or close personal advisors such as doctors , lawyers or bankers; stresses that this development challenges the sovereignty of our nation states , the foundations of our democratic systems and the safeguarding of our fundamental rights; ### 65. notes that dominant tech platforms nowadays not only have significant control over access to information and its distribution , but they also use ai technologies to obtain more information on a person’s identity and knowledge of decisional history than is possessed by public authorities or close personal advisors such as doctors , lawyers or bankers; stresses that this development challenges the foundations of our democratic systems and the safeguarding of our fundamental rights;


### 67. underlines that ai could , however , also be used to reduce anti-democratic and unethical activities on platforms and as a means to stop the distribution of fake news; notes that the effective use of ai for this purpose has so far been prevented by strongly diverging definitions of hate speech among member states and the lack of consensus on how to harness ai to effectively filter out illegal and harmful content; explains that it is also problematic that divisive language leads to greater user engagement , which is why removal of such language would be in direct conflict with the platform’s business model , based on maximising user engagement; ### 67. underlines that ai could , however , also be used to reduce anti-democratic and unethical activities on platforms and as a means to tackle the distribution of fake news; explains that it is also problematic that divisive language leads to greater user engagement , which is why removal of such language would be in direct conflict with the platform’s business model , based on maximising user engagement;


### 69. raises the question of whether certain biases can be resolved by using more diverse datasets , given the structural biases present in our society; specifies in this regard that algorithms learn to be as discriminatory as the society they observe and then suggest decisions that are inherently discriminatory , which again contributes to exacerbating discrimination within society; concludes that there is therefore no such thing as a completely impartial and objective algorithm; ### 69. raises the question of whether certain biases can be resolved by using more diverse datasets , given the structural biases present in our society; specifies in this regard that algorithms learn to be as discriminatory as the society they observe and then suggest decisions that are inherently discriminatory , which again contributes to exacerbating discrimination within society; concludes that there is therefore no such thing as a completely impartial and objective algorithm; notes , however , that ai biases can oftentimes be measured and , consequently , corrected; argues therefore that ai can and should be used to reduce the biases and discriminations in our societies to the widest extent possible , including through normative requirements on data sets used to train ai systems;


### 69. raises the question of whether certain biases can be resolved by using more diverse datasets , given the structural biases present in our society; specifies in this regard that algorithms learn to be as discriminatory as the society they observe and then suggest decisions that are inherently discriminatory , which again contributes to exacerbating discrimination within society; concludes that there is therefore no such thing as a completely impartial and objective algorithm; ### 69. stresses that structural biases present in our society should not be repeated or even increased through low-quality datasets; specifies in this regard that algorithms learn to be as discriminatory as the data they are working with and , as a result of low-quality training data or biases and discrimination observed in society , might suggest decisions that are inherently discriminatory , which again contributes to exacerbating discrimination within society; concludes that there is no such thing as a completely impartial and objective algorithm but that technical means which can contribute to a minimization of biases and discrimination should be applied;


### 76. notes that there are a number of transversal obstacles that the eu needs to overcome in order to achieve a widespread use of ai and to fully harness its benefits; states that in particular , legal uncertainty , insufficient digital infrastructure and a lack of ai skills can be observed as barriers to the successful application of ai in all fields analysed; ### 76. notes that there are a number of transversal obstacles that the eu needs to overcome in order to achieve a widespread use of ai and to fully harness its benefits; states that in particular , legal uncertainty , overlap of legislation , insufficient digital infrastructure and a lack of ai skills can be observed as barriers to the successful application of ai in all fields analysed;


### 78. states that while it is important to examine and categorise potential risks posed by ai , the case studies illustrated that ai technologies also enable us to apply , in most cases , very effective counter measures that are able to mitigate or eliminate the very same risks; underlines that , as ai is still in its early stages of development within a wider context of emerging technologies , its real potential can still only be imagined; stresses that the promise and potential benefits of ai in economic and societal terms appear to be tremendous; ### 78. states that while it is important to examine and categorise potential risks posed by ai , the case studies illustrated that ai technologies can also enable us to apply , in most cases , very effective counter measures that could mitigate or eliminate the very same risks; underlines that , as ai is still in its early stages of development within a wider context of emerging technologies , its real potential can still only be imagined; stresses that the promise and potential benefits of ai in economic and societal terms appear to be tremendous;


### 84. observes that on the global stage , china actively promotes international ai partnership as a way to export its own ai-based government surveillance practices , social scoring system and censorship strategies; emphasises that heavy investment abroad under the digital silk road initiative are also used as a means to spread chinese ai globally and to bring other countries under chinese influence; concludes that the chinese approach is therefore built upon deploying ai domestically as well as exporting ai technologies that follow predetermined standards that are in line with the ideology of the chinese communist party; ### 84. observes that on the global stage , china actively promotes international ai partnership as a way to export its own ai-based government surveillance practices , social scoring system and censorship strategies; emphasises that heavy investment abroad under the digital silk road initiative are also used as a means to spread chinese ai globally and to bring other countries under chinese influence; concludes that the chinese approach is therefore built upon deploying ai domestically as well as exporting ai technologies that follow predetermined standards that are in line with the ideology of the chinese communist party; notes with concern that china’s international ai strategy has far-reaching implications that go beyond imposing technological standards or maintaining technological competitiveness and is , in fact , a bid for global supremacy in the future digital world;


### 86. emphasises that central to the eu regulatory approach is a strong attention to ethical considerations in line with core human rights values and democratic principles; underlines that the commission thereby hopes to achieve another gdpr-like ‘brussels effect’ , meaning that the eu’s regulatory and market power leads to a competitive edge in ai; states that establishing the world’s first regulatory framework for ai could indeed leverage a first-mover advantage in setting international ai standards based on european values , as well as successfully exporting ‘trustworthy ai’ around the world; ### 86. emphasises that central to the eu regulatory approach is a strong attention to ethical considerations in line with core human rights values and democratic principles; underlines that the commission thereby hopes to achieve another gdpr-like ‘brussels effect’ , meaning that the eu’s regulatory and market power leads to a competitive edge in ai; states that establishing the world’s first regulatory framework for ai could indeed leverage a first-mover advantage in setting international ai standards based on european values , as well as successfully exporting ‘trustworthy ai’ around the world; underlines that this approach needs to be reinforced and supported by regulatory coordination and convergence with like-minded democratic partners;


### 87. is aware that that the vast majority of the 100 leading ai companies globally are domiciled in the us , whereas only three chinese companies and four eu companies fall into this category34 ; notes that the us also leads in the total number of ai start-ups , hosting 40 % of all new ai companies , followed by the eu with 22 % and china with 11 %35 ; ### 87. is aware that the vast majority of the 100 leading ai companies globally are domiciled in the us , whereas only three chinese companies and four eu companies fall into this category34 ; notes that the us also leads in the total number of ai start-ups , hosting 40 % of all new ai companies , followed by the eu with 22 % and china with 11 %35;


### 91. points also to the problem that inconsistencies in eu law , contradictions between eu and national laws , different legal interpretations and a lack of enforcement among member states is putting european companies in operational and financial jeopardy as they cannot determine whether their ai innovations are later likely to be assessed as non-compliant with eu law; ### 91. points also to the problem that inconsistencies in eu law , lack of coordination of different legislative initiatives , contradictions between eu and national laws , different legal interpretations and a lack of enforcement among member states is putting european companies in operational and financial jeopardy as they cannot determine whether their ai innovations are later likely to be assessed as non-compliant with eu law;


### 92. notes that the insufficient legal certainty for ai companies is further exacerbated by the fact that common standards and norms are missing in some sectors , while others are compromised by overregulation or the presence of legislative proposals that have been pending for long periods of time without being adopted; highlights as an example the fact that eu ai developers face a data challenge that neither their us nor chinese counterparts do; observes that they often do not have enough high-quality data to train their algorithms , struggle with strict data protection rules and are affected by a lack of sectoral data spaces and cross-sectoral interoperability , as well as constraints on cross-border data flows; ### 92. notes that the insufficient legal certainty for ai companies is further exacerbated by the fact that common standards and norms , including data interoperability , are missing in some sectors , while others are compromised by overregulation or the presence of legislative proposals that have been pending for long periods of time without being adopted; highlights as an example the fact that eu ai developers face a data challenge that neither their us nor chinese counterparts do; observes that they often do not have enough high-quality data to train their algorithms , struggle with strict data protection rules and are affected by a lack of sectoral data spaces and cross-sectoral interoperability , as well as constraints on cross-border data flows;


### 101. concludes that the eu is currently on the losing side , far from fulfilling its aspiration of becoming a global leader in ai; maintains that there is still a small window of opportunity to change this situation , even though it will close very soon; states that the special committee therefore proposes to swiftly implement the following eu roadmap for ai; ### 101. concludes that the eu is currently far from fulfilling its aspiration of becoming a global leader in ai; maintains that there is still a small window of opportunity to change this situation , even though it will close very soon; states that the special committee therefore proposes to swiftly implement the following eu roadmap for ai;


### 103. calls on the commission to propose only legislative acts in the form of regulations for new digital laws in areas such as ai , as the digital single market needs to undergo a process of genuine harmonisation; is convinced that due to rapid technological development , digital legislation should always be swiftly adaptable , principle-based and future-proof , while adopting a risk-based approach; stresses , furthermore , the importance of legal certainty and , consequently , the need for robust , practical and unambiguous applicability criteria , definitions and obligations in all legal texts; ### 103. calls on the commission to propose only legislative acts in the form of regulations for new digital laws in areas such as ai , as the digital single market needs to undergo a process of genuine harmonisation; is convinced that due to rapid technological development , digital legislation should always be swiftly adaptable , technology neutral , principle-based and future-proof , while adopting a risk-based approach; stresses , furthermore , the importance of legal certainty and , consequently , the need for robust , practical and unambiguous applicability criteria , definitions and obligations in all legal texts;


### 140. calls on the commission to improve knowledge transfer between ai research and the business world by setting up business networks , regulatory sandboxes and contact points with legal personnel and business consultants in universities; ### 140. calls on the commission to improve knowledge transfer between ai research and the business world by setting up business networks , and contact points with legal personnel and business consultants in universities; underlines the need to create sandboxes for companies to experiment with the technology in an unregulated space;


### 143. points out that the designation of european digital innovation hubs (edihs) under the digital europe programme is another important step in building up an ai ecosystem of excellence based on university-industry clusters; criticises , however , the fact that the hubs are dotted across the continent and that the interplay with other digital hubs designated by the european institute of innovation & technology (eit) and under the horizon europe framework remains unclear; suggests , consequently , that more coordination is needed , as is the establishment of a cooperating overall cluster of decentralised ai hubs based on an eu-wide framework for legal expertise , data , funding , and incentives; ### 143. points out that the designation of european digital innovation hubs (edihs) under the digital europe programme is another important step in building up an ai ecosystem of excellence based on university-industry clusters; criticises , however , the fact that the hubs are dotted across the continent , that criteria for edih designation remain vague and thus edihs across europe differ in their capabilities and development , and that the interplay with other digital hubs designated by the european institute of innovation & technology (eit)and under the horizon europe framework remains unclear; suggests , consequently , that more coordination and effort expenditure are needed , as is the establishment of a cooperating overall cluster of decentralised ai hubs based on an eu-wide framework for legal expertise , data , funding , and incentives;


### 145. proposes that on top of the suggested ai training , the eu and its member states should create awareness raising campaigns , including public discussions at local level , as an additional means to reach , inform and empower citizens to understand better the capabilities , limitations and impacts of ai; ### 145. proposes that on top of the suggested ai training , the eu and its member states should create awareness raising campaigns , including public discussions at local level , as an additional means to reach , inform and empower citizens to understand better the capabilities , limitations , impacts , and shortcomings of ai;


### 146. calls on member states to deliver on the tallinn declaration on egovernment and put mechanisms in place to provide borderless , interoperable , personalised , user-friendly , and end-to-end digital public services based on ai to all individuals and businesses at all levels of public administration; is of the opinion that the objective should be to increase the number of people that use egovernment services , with a focus on ai , to up to 80 % of all eu citizens over the next five years; ### 146. calls on member states to deliver on the tallinn declaration on egovernment and put mechanisms in place , end-users at the centre of services and provide borderless , interoperable , personalised , user-friendly , and end-to-end digital public services based on ai to all individuals and businesses at all levels of public administration; is of the opinion that the objective should be to increase the number of people that use egovernment services , with a focus on ai , to up to 80 % of all eu citizens over the next five years;


### 147. calls for human-centred design and an evidence-based approach to ai in health that focuses on patient-oriented and high-quality digital healthcare and that seeks consumer and user feedback throughout the development process; calls on the commission to set the global tone on cutting-edge healthcare and well-being , placing the benefits of ai at the centre of policy-making; urges the prioritisation of funding , the setting of strategic goals , the fostering of cooperation and the adoption of ai applications in healthcare as a critical sector; ### 147. calls for human-centred design , cost-effective and an evidence-based approach to ai in health that focuses on patient-oriented and high-quality digital healthcare and that seeks consumer and user feedback throughout the development process; calls on the commission to set the global tone on cutting-edge healthcare and well-being , placing the benefits of ai at the centre of policy-making; urges the prioritisation of funding , the setting of strategic goals , the fostering of cooperation and the adoption of ai applications in healthcare as a critical sector;


### 148. is convinced that the eu should implement an ambitious digital industrial strategy with a focus on ai , that attempts to reduce the eu’s dependence on non-european hardware , software and services while establishing sound ethical , technological and security standards for those elements that are not produced in the eu or where the purchasing of imports makes more sense from an economic point of view; declares that this approach does not aim to make the eu protectionist , but to strengthen its role as a champion of international cooperation and trade; ### 148. is convinced that the eu should implement an ambitious digital industrial strategy with a focus on ai , that attempts to reduce the eu’s dependence on non-european hardware , software and services while establishing sound ethical , technological and security standards for those elements that are not produced in the eu or where the purchasing of imports makes more sense from an economic point of view; declares that this approach must not aim to make the eu protectionist , but to strengthen its role as a champion of international cooperation and trade while reinforcing its open strategic autonomy;


### 149. proposes to offer an alternative to the buy-out vision of many ai start-ups by ensuring that government support is provided at all stages of their development; underlines in this regard that the eu should amplify its efforts at offering smes and start-ups development paths and services , especially by promoting the use of digital tools , developing ai transition plans and further expanding the exchange of best practices; urges the commission and the member states to provide better counselling and more concrete support through networks , digital hubs , ai trainers , business mentoring and site visits; ### 149. proposes to offer an alternative to the buy-out vision of many ai start-ups by ensuring that government support is provided at all stages of their development; underlines in this regard that the eu should amplify its efforts at offering smes and start-ups development paths and services , especially by promoting the use of digital tools , developing ai transition plans and further expanding the exchange of best practices; this could include the introduction of a buddy system that connects experienced ai oriented businesses with smaller businesses looking to implement the technology; urges the commission and the member states to provide better counselling and more concrete support through networks , digital hubs , ai trainers , business mentoring and site visits;


### 149. proposes to offer an alternative to the buy-out vision of many ai start-ups by ensuring that government support is provided at all stages of their development; underlines in this regard that the eu should amplify its efforts at offering smes and start-ups development paths and services , especially by promoting the use of digital tools , developing ai transition plans and further expanding the exchange of best practices; urges the commission and the member states to provide better counselling and more concrete support through networks , digital hubs , ai trainers , business mentoring and site visits; ### 149. proposes to offer an alternative to the buy-out vision of many ai start-ups by ensuring that government support is provided at all stages of their development , including by fostering strong ecosystems of venture capital accessible to start-ups and smes throughout their development process; underlines in this regard that the eu should amplify its efforts at offering smes and start-ups development paths and services , especially by promoting the use of digital tools , developing ai transition plans and further expanding the exchange of best practices; urges the commission and the member states to provide better counselling and more concrete support through networks , digital hubs , ai trainers , business mentoring and site visits;


### 150. points out that the eu should forge a strong international core value-based technology alliance , working together with like-minded partners in order to overcome regulatory divergence in the fields of privacy rights , data flows or competition rules and to remedy strategic vulnerabilities by building on each other’s assets and pooling resources in areas where it is mutually beneficial to do so; ### 150. points out that the eu should forge and lead by example a strong international core value-based technology alliance , working together with like-minded partners in order to overcome regulatory divergence in the fields of privacy rights , data flows or competition rules and to remedy strategic vulnerabilities by building on each other’s assets and pooling resources in areas where it is mutually beneficial to do so;


### 151. considers it to be of paramount importance for the safety and security of citizens that law enforcement agencies are well advanced in ai development , making full use of the potential of digital technologies to prevent and investigate serious crimes through real-time facial recognition in select locations; underlines that diligently developed algorithms for crime prevention and investigation , based on highly qualitative data , may provide a higher level of efficiency , neutrality and legal certainty than human law enforcement agents , and should thus be promoted; ### deleted


### 151. considers it to be of paramount importance for the safety and security of citizens that law enforcement agencies are well advanced in ai development , making full use of the potential of digital technologies to prevent and investigate serious crimes through real-time facial recognition in select locations; underlines that diligently developed algorithms for crime prevention and investigation , based on highly qualitative data , may provide a higher level of efficiency , neutrality and legal certainty than human law enforcement agents , and should thus be promoted; ### 151. considers it to be of paramount importance for the safety and security of citizens that law enforcement agencies are well advanced in ai development; underlines that diligently developed algorithms for crime prevention and investigation , based on highly qualitative data , may provide a higher level of efficiency , neutrality and legal certainty than human law enforcement agents , and should thus be promoted;


### 152. asks member states to confer competences in the field of cybersecurity to the european level in order to enable the eu to better pool resources , more efficiently coordinate and streamline national cybersecurity policies , further increase cybersecurity capacity building and awareness raising , and swiftly provide cybersecurity knowledge and technical assistance to smes as well as to other more traditional sectors; ### 152. asks member states to actively support more coordination of cyber security measures , including on combatting hybrid threats , at the eu level , , in order to better pool resources , more efficiently coordinate and streamline national cybersecurity policies , further increase cybersecurity capacity building and awareness raising , and swiftly provide cybersecurity knowledge and technical assistance to smes as well as to other more traditional sectors;


### 153. urges member states to pursue an active policy of european cyber diplomacy by denouncing and attributing foreign-supported ai-powered cyberattacks , while leveraging the full toolbox of eu diplomacy; advises that this should include diplomatic responses , the termination of financial aid and sanctions against those countries or proxies that engage in malicious cyber activities or that sponsor cybercrimes; believes that the eu , in close cooperation with nato , should consider using ai to execute cyber counter-strikes against repeat offenders; ### 153. urges member states to pursue an active policy of european cyber diplomacy by denouncing and attributing foreign-supported ai-powered cyberattacks , while leveraging the full toolbox of eu diplomacy; advises that this should include diplomatic responses , the termination of financial aid and sanctions against those countries or proxies that engage in malicious cyber activities , hybrid attacks including disinformation campaigns , or that sponsor cybercrimes; believes that the eu , in close cooperation with nato , should consider using ai to execute cyber counter-strikes against repeat offenders;


### 153. urges member states to pursue an active policy of european cyber diplomacy by denouncing and attributing foreign-supported ai-powered cyberattacks , while leveraging the full toolbox of eu diplomacy; advises that this should include diplomatic responses , the termination of financial aid and sanctions against those countries or proxies that engage in malicious cyber activities or that sponsor cybercrimes; believes that the eu , in close cooperation with nato , should consider using ai to execute cyber counter-strikes against repeat offenders; ### 153. urges member states to pursue an active policy of european cyber diplomacy by denouncing and attributing foreign-supported cyberattacks , including ai-powered ones , while leveraging the full toolbox of eu diplomacy; advises that this should include diplomatic responses , the termination of financial aid and sanctions against those countries or proxies that engage in malicious cyber activities or that sponsor cybercrimes; believes that the eu member states , in close cooperation with nato allies , should consider using ai to execute cybercounter-strikes against repeat offenders;


### 154. notes that exclusive military and national security uses of ai should be exempt from civilian ai legislation , since overregulation in the field of security and defence could pre-emptively restrict the eu’s capacity to innovate and deploy ai technologies , placing it at a disadvantage to its adversaries that do not have such constraints; ### 154. notes that exclusive military and national security uses of ai should be exempt from civilian ai legislation , since overregulation in the field of security and defence could pre-emptively restrict the eu’s capacity to innovate and deploy ai technologies , placing it at a disadvantage to its adversaries that do not have such constraints; recalls that issues related to emerging technologies in the military field are dealt with in the group of governmental experts on emerging technologies in the field of sala , including issues related to ai , and in which eu member states are represented;


### 155. believes that the ongoing digital transformation , where ai plays the key role , has triggered a global tech race that will determine the future political and economic power status of the european union; urgently stresses that the eu is so far falling further and further behind in this race with the result that current technological standards are being actively developed and determined outside of europe , presenting an existential threat to our democracy and prosperity; concludes that in order to remain both competitive and a global power , the eu needs to become a global leader in ai; ### 155. believes that the ongoing digital transformation , where ai plays the key role , has triggered a global tech race that will determine the future political and economic power status of the european union; urgently stresses that the eu is so far falling further and further behind in this race with the result that current technological standards are being actively developed and determined outside of europe and oftentimes by non- democratic actors , presenting an existential threat to our democracy and prosperity; concludes that in order to remain both competitive and a global power , the eu needs to become a global leader in ai;


### 157. highlights further that the eu , with its regulatory and market powers , has the potential to shape the international debate on ai and to push for common standards for the ethics-driven , sustainable and trustworthy development and use of this technology , fully in line with european principles and values; highlights , however , that the window of opportunity for consolidating such a distinctive european approach to ai on the international stage is closing fast , which is why the eu needs to join forces and agree on a joint ai strategy , including a balanced regulatory framework , very soon; ### 157. highlights further that the eu , with its regulatory and market powers , has the potential to shape the international debate on ai and to push for common standards for the ethics-driven , sustainable and trustworthy development and use of this technology , fully in line with european principles and values; highlights , however , that the window of opportunity for consolidating such a distinctive european approach to ai on the international stage is closing fast , which is why the eu needs to join forces and agree on a joint ai strategy , including a balanced regulatory framework , very soon; stresses that shaping international technology norms and standards can only be achieved through closer coordination and cooperation with like-minded democratic partners;


### 158. stresses that currently , the eu does not meet any of the preconditions that would allow us to fully capture the potential of ai , especially compared to the ai frontrunners china and the us; finds that a lack of legal certainty , access to and sharing of high-quality data , harmonised rules and standards , funding , research , skills and infrastructure for core technologies , as well as high regulatory burdens , have led to a situation in which the eu’s competitiveness is constantly decreasing; is convinced that only by executing a bold and comprehensive eu roadmap for ai will the eu manage to catch up; states that parliament needs an ad hoc digital committee with legislative powers in order to be able to respond effectively to these horizontal challenges , ; notes that as long as this committee is not established , clear competences among existing committees need to be defined in order to enable them to follow up effectively on all specific parts of this roadmap; ### 158. stresses that currently , the eu does not meet any of the preconditions that would allow us to fully capture the potential of ai , especially compared to the ai frontrunners china and the us; finds that a lack of legal certainty , access to and sharing of high-quality data , harmonised rules and standards , funding , research , skills and infrastructure for core technologies , as well as high regulatory burdens , have led to a situation in which the eu’s competitiveness is constantly decreasing; is convinced that only by executing a bold and comprehensive eu roadmap for ai will the eu manage to catch up; notes that clear competences among existing committees need to be defined in order to enable them to follow up effectively on all specific parts of this roadmap;


### 158. stresses that currently , the eu does not meet any of the preconditions that would allow us to fully capture the potential of ai , especially compared to the ai frontrunners china and the us; finds that a lack of legal certainty , access to and sharing of high-quality data , harmonised rules and standards , funding , research , skills and infrastructure for core technologies , as well as high regulatory burdens , have led to a situation in which the eu’s competitiveness is constantly decreasing; is convinced that only by executing a bold and comprehensive eu roadmap for ai will the eu manage to catch up; states that parliament needs an ad hoc digital committee with legislative powers in order to be able to respond effectively to these horizontal challenges , ; notes that as long as this committee is not established , clear competences among existing committees need to be defined in order to enable them to follow up effectively on all specific parts of this roadmap; ### 158. stresses that currently , the eu does not meet any of the preconditions that would allow us to fully capture the potential of ai , especially compared to the ai frontrunners china and the us; finds that a lack of legal certainty , access to and sharing of high-quality data , harmonised rules and standards , funding , research , skills and infrastructure for core technologies , as well as high regulatory burdens , have led to a situation in which the eu’s competitiveness is constantly decreasing; is convinced that only by executing a bold and comprehensive eu roadmap for ai will the eu manage to catch up; states that parliament needs a fully-fledged digital committee with legislative powers in order to be able to respond effectively to these horizontal challenges , ; notes that as long as this committee is not established , clear competences among existing committees need to be defined in order to enable them to follow up effectively on all specific parts of this roadmap;


### 162. concludes that in order to promote innovation in ai , it is necessary to provide eu citizens with the means to acquire digital skills; stresses that in order to increase digital literacy and resilience and to combat the digital divide among citizens in the digital age , digital and ai education needs to start at an early stage and remain available at all levels of employment; finds that initiatives to establish ai ecosystems of excellence , to increase the pool of ai talent in the eu and to combat brain drain are of vital importance; calls on the culture and education (cult) , employment and social affairs (empl) and itre committee to focus their resources on these fields; ### 162. concludes that in order to promote innovation in ai , it is necessary to provide eu citizens with the means to acquire digital skills; stresses that in order to increase digital literacy and resilience and to combat the digital divide among citizens in the digital age , digital and ai education needs to start at an early stage and remain available at all levels of employment , including a digital one-week ai exchange during the final years of high school for european students; finds that initiatives to establish ai ecosystems of excellence , to increase the pool of ai talent in the eu and to combat brain drain are of vital importance; calls on the culture and education (cult) , employment and social affairs (empl) and itre committee to focus their resources on these fields;


### 17. maintains that the lack of gender balance within the college of judges needs to be addressed; is aware of the fact that the members of the court of justice and of the general court are appointed by common accord of the governments of the member states and that the cjeu has no say over the selection of judges or advocate generals , just as neither the council nor parliament have any role in this respect; appreciates that , following the parliament call , on 26 march 2021 the president of the general court sent a letter to the president of the conference of the representatives of the governments of the member states concerning the expiry of the terms of office of 26 judges of the general court to underline the importance of ensuring gender balance within the general court and inviting the governments of the member states to take that objective into account when nominating candidates for the partial replacement of judges , consistently with recital 11 of regulation (eu , euratom) 2015/24221 ; ### 17. maintains that the lack of gender balance within the college of judges needs to be addressed; is aware of the fact that the members of the court of justice and of the general court are appointed by common accord of the governments of the member states and that the cjeu has no say over the selection of judges or advocate generals , just as neither the council nor parliament have any role in this respect; appreciates that , following the parliament call , on 26 march 2021 the president of the general court sent a letter to the president of the conference of the representatives of the governments of the member states concerning the expiry of the terms of office of 26 judges of the general court to underline the importance of ensuring gender balance within the general court and inviting the governments of the member states to take that objective into account when nominating candidates for the partial replacement of judges , consistently with recital 11 of regulation (eu , euratom) 2015/24221 ; urges the governments of the member states to take into account gender balance when nominating new members;


### 20. notes that the geographical balance is pursued by the cjeu by encouraging applications from underrepresented nationalities , by publishing its vacancy notices within the interinstitutional portal and by working closely with the staff selection and recruitment service of the commission (epso) to explore ways to improve the recruitment of personnel; remarks that the unbalance is still significant and encourages the cjeu to pursue a more even representation of member states among its staff; ### 20. notes with appreciation that the geographical balance is pursued by the cjeu by encouraging applications from underrepresented nationalities , by publishing its vacancy notices within the interinstitutional portal and by working closely with the staff selection and recruitment service of the commission (epso) to explore ways to improve the recruitment of personnel; remarks that the unbalance is still significant and encourages the cjeu to pursue a more even representation of member states among its staff;


### 22. notes that , in 2021 , the activities of the cjeu’s training and development unit , which runs the equal opportunities and diversity cell , included specific initiatives related to equal opportunities , diversity and inclusion , such as the participation of equal opportunities and diversity representatives in the various interinstitutional working groups in this area and , specifically , in the epso working group on diversity in recruitment procedures , awareness raising actions for staff and managers and redesign of the induction programme for newcomers to integrate aspects of the diversity and inclusion policy; ### 22. notes with satisfaction that , in 2021 , the activities of the cjeu’s training and development unit , which runs the equal opportunities and diversity cell , included specific initiatives related to equal opportunities , diversity and inclusion , such as the participation of equal opportunities and diversity representatives in the various interinstitutional working groups in this area and , specifically , in the epso working group on diversity in recruitment procedures , awareness raising actions for staff and managers and redesign of the induction programme for newcomers to integrate aspects of the diversity and inclusion policy;


### 24. is concerned by the increase in the number of cases of burnout in 2021 (34 estimated cases) in comparison to 2020 (27 estimated cases); notes that the cjeu has deployed more resources to prevent and to follow up cases of burnout by increasing the number of hours of the consulting psychologist , by recruiting an additional fourth nurse and an assistant with specific responsibility for developing and coordinating actions to enhance staff well-being and by organising numerous trainings for managers in order to enhance their management skills and to help them distribute workload fairly and avoid discrimination; reiterates its call on the cjeu to continue monitoring the impact of the ever-increasing workload on staff well-being and encourages the use of staff satisfaction surveys to get a better understanding of the origin of the problem and of the impact of the adopted measures; ### 24. is concerned by the increase in the number of cases of burnout in 2021 (34 estimated cases) in comparison to 2020 (27 estimated cases); welcomes that the cjeu has deployed more resources to prevent and to follow up cases of burnout by increasing the number of hours of the consulting psychologist , by recruiting an additional fourth nurse and an assistant with specific responsibility for developing and coordinating actions to enhance staff well-being and by organising numerous trainings for managers in order to enhance their management skills and to help them distribute workload fairly and avoid discrimination; reiterates its call on the cjeu to continue monitoring the impact of the ever-increasing workload on staff well-being and encourages the use of staff satisfaction surveys to get a better understanding of the origin of the problem and of the impact of the adopted measures;


### 25. notes that specific measures had been taken in order to ensure the physical and mental well-being of staff given the specific remote working conditions imposed by the covid-19 pandemic in 2021; observes that the flexible working arrangements available at the cjeu include part-time work , parental leave , family leave , flexitime and telework , that such options are accessible to all categories of staff in accordance with the provisions of the staff regulations , the conditions of employment of other servants and the applicable internal decisions , and that relevant updates are duly communicated to staff via intranet and internal newsletter; highlights , however , the still existing imbalance across the users of such working arrangements in favour of female members of staff: out of 205 persons applying for parental leave , 163 were female and only 42 men , and out of 98 persons applying for part-time work , 87 were women and only 11 men; reiterates its request for the cjeu to engage in an effective internal communication oriented at better clarifying the options offered to all members of staff; ### 25. commends the court for taking specific measures in order to ensure the physical and mental well-being of staff given the specific remote working conditions imposed by the covid-19 pandemic in 2021; observes that the flexible working arrangements available at the cjeu include part-time work , parental leave , family leave , flexitime and telework , that such options are accessible to all categories of staff in accordance with the provisions of the staff regulations , the conditions of employment of other servants and the applicable internal decisions , and that relevant updates are duly communicated to staff via intranet and internal newsletter; highlights , however , the still existing imbalance across the users of such working arrangements in favour of female members of staff: out of 205 persons applying for parental leave , 163 were female and only 42 men , and out of 98 persons applying for part-time work , 87 were women and only 11 men; reiterates its request for the cjeu to engage in an effective internal communication oriented at better clarifying the options offered to all members of staff;


### 28. observes that in 2021 the cjeu recruited 255 trainees , out of which 173 received a monthly income; notes that in 2021 the percentage of paid trainees (68 %) decreased in comparison to the previous year (72 % in 2020); welcomes the recent adoption , on 29 november 2021 , of an amending decision on traineeships according to which all trainees have to be remunerated by the cjeu , except those remunerated by other bodies , and are as well entitled to receive besides the flat-rate travel allowance a monthly grant similar to those granted by other union institutions; ### 28. observes that in 2021 the cjeu recruited 255 trainees , out of which 173 received a monthly income; deplores that in 2021 the percentage of paid trainees (68 %) decreased in comparison to the previous year (72 % in 2020); welcomes nevertheless the recent adoption , on 29 november 2021 , of an amending decision on traineeships according to which all trainees have to be remunerated by the cjeu , except those remunerated by other bodies , and are as well entitled to receive besides the flat-rate travel allowance a monthly grant similar to those granted by other union institutions;


### 30. welcomes the adoption of the new code of conduct for members of the court of justice and the general court that entered into force on 7 october 2021; observes that it brings specific focus on members’ declarations of interest , on their periodic update at every change of situation and at least every three years , and on their publication on the curia website , starting from end of 2021; stresses that the prevention of conflicts of interest is specifically targeted by the new provisions and agrees with the cjeu that the strict approach embraced is designed to strengthen public confidence in the independence of the union’s judiciary; ### 30. welcomes the adoption of the new code of conduct for members of the court of justice and the general court that entered into force on 7 october 2021; notes with satisfaction that it brings specific focus on members’ declarations of interest , on their periodic update at every change of situation and at least every three years , and on their publication on the curia website , starting from end of 2021; stresses that the prevention of conflicts of interest is specifically targeted by the new provisions and agrees with the cjeu that the strict approach embraced is designed to strengthen public confidence in the independence of the union’s judiciary;


### 54. notes that the cjeu cooperates also with the european anti-fraud office (olaf) , the edps and the european ombudsman and that active exchanges are carried out with the european public prosecutor's office (eppo) for knowledge-sharing purposes , including a training offer for the european delegated prosecutors to familiarise them with the court’s activities; ### 54. notes with appreciation that the cjeu cooperates also with the european anti-fraud office (olaf) , the edps and the european ombudsman and that active exchanges are carried out with the european public prosecutor's office (eppo) for knowledge-sharing purposes , including a training offer for the european delegated prosecutors to familiarise them with the court’s activities;


### 12. notes with concern that the court’s annual report on the implementation of the budget concerning the financial year 2021 presents specific findings on parliament , namely errors in two payments: (i) a minor over-payment for it services caused by an incorrect application of contract terms , and (ii) one payment by parliament to one of its political groups; is concerned that the internal procurement rules adopted by the bureau and parliament’s guidelines on their application allow the use of negotiated procurement procedures for high-value contracts whereas the financial regulation stipulates the use of open or restricted procurement procedures; notes with concern , furthermore , the court’s finding that the political group failed to fully follow these internal rules , as it did not seek enough tenders and did not adequately document the criteria used to award the contract; highlights that the court has previously reported shortcomings in transactions relating to procurement by political groups; ### 12. notes with concern that the court’s annual report on the implementation of the budget concerning the financial year 2021 presents specific findings on parliament , namely errors in two payments: (i) a minor over-payment for it services caused by an incorrect application of contract terms , and (ii) one payment by parliament to one of its political groups; notes that the internal procurement rules adopted by the bureau and parliament’s guidelines on their application allow the use of negotiated procurement procedures for high-value contracts whereas the financial regulation stipulates the use of open or restricted procurement procedures; notes furthermore , the court’s finding that the political group failed to fully follow these internal rules , due to the difficulty to seek enough tenders because of the specificity of the criteria used to award the contract; highlights that the court has previously reported shortcomings in transactions relating to procurement by political groups;


### 13. observes that the position of parliament’s administration is that article 175(1) and article 163(1) of the financial regulation defining the use of negotiated procurement procedures for high-value contracts only apply to direct management , while political groups manage the funds allocated to them according to the principles of indirect management in analogical application of article 62(1)(c) of the financial regulation; welcomes , however , that parliament accepted the court’s recommendation to revise its guidelines on the application of the rules on public procurement by the political groups to better align them with the financial regulation; notes the commitment of parliament’s administration to continue to support the political groups for the appropriations to be used in accordance with the applicable rules; ### 13. observes that the position of parliament’s administration is that article 175(1) and article 163(1) of the financial regulation defining the use of negotiated procurement procedures for high-value contracts only apply to direct management , while political groups manage the funds allocated to them according to the principles of indirect management in analogical application of article 62(1)(c) of the financial regulation; welcomes , however , that parliament accepted the court’s recommendation to revise its guidelines on the application of the rules on public procurement by the political groups to better align them with the financial regulation; and asks that parliament takes into account the technical specificity of some procurement procedures for which only limited number of tenders with high expertise is able to reply; notes the commitment of parliament’s administration to continue to support the political groups for the appropriations to be used in accordance with the applicable rules;


### 14. notes that , in particular , the court further examined a payment of eur 74.9 million related to the purchase of the scholl building on rue wiertz , the purchase of which was financed from funds that were not used during the covid-19 crisis and carried over from 2020; notes that , when seeking offers , parliament used award criteria that weighted 50% of points for both price and quality of the proposed building; notes that parliament received two offers and awarded the contract to the tenderer proposing the scholl building , significantly closer to parliament’s main site but 30% more expensive per square metre than the building proposed by the other tenderer; notes that the court considered that parliament’s award criteria significantly reduced the importance of price as a basis for the purchase decision , making it unlikely that any other offer could have been accepted; ### 14. notes that , in particular , the court further examined a payment of eur 74.9 million related to the purchase of the scholl building on rue wiertz , the purchase of which was financed from funds that were not used during the covid-19 crisis and carried over from 2020; notes that , when seeking offers , parliament used award criteria that weighted 50% of points for both price and quality of the proposed building; notes that parliament received two offers and awarded the contract to the tenderer proposing the scholl building , significantly closer to parliament’s main site;


### 15. notes the response given by parliament to the court’s observation that the distance criterion played a major role in the quality criteria (namely a weighting factor of 20/50 quality points) , and the possibility of interconnection with the central buildings received an additional weighting factor (4/50 quality points) , which led parliament to consider the scholl building on rue wiertz as the most economically advantageous offer despite the substantial price difference; ### 15. notes the response given by parliament to the court’s observation that the distance criterion played a major role in the quality criteria (namely a weighting factor of 20/50 quality points) , and the possibility of interconnection with the central buildings received an additional weighting factor (4/50 quality points) , which led parliament to consider the scholl building on rue wiertz as the most economically advantageous offer; understands that the purchase of the building allowed the saving of a significant financial amount , compared to the situation where parliament would have not acquired the building , underlines furthermore that it allowed to preserve the future of the investments made so far in the building.


### 24. recalls that once the plenary calls for different rules or measures to be implemented by parliament , such proposed rules or measures should be discussed and voted on by the bureau , pursuant to rule 25 of and annex v to the rules of procedure and articles 6 and 166 of the financial regulation; is deeply disappointed , however , that each year very concrete demands adopted by plenary in discharge resolutions are not reflected in the discussions of the bureau meetings despite the fact that both bureau members and the secretary-general are aware of the discharge resolutions and have the capacity to submit proposals under the aforementioned rule 25; is disappointed that the secretary-general's written replies to parliament’s committee on budgetary control are often limited to quoting the current rules without any dedicated discussion in the bureau and thus , lacking a genuine effort or intention to review those rules in accordance with parliament’s will; believes that this situation is detrimental to the exercise of democratic scrutiny which is carried out via the discharge procedure and for which parliament should be a role model for all union institutions and bodies; ### 24. recalls that once the plenary calls for different rules or measures to be implemented by parliament , such proposed rules or measures should be discussed and voted on by the bureau , pursuant to rule 25 of and annex v to the rules of procedure and articles 6 and 166 of the financial regulation notes that some concrete demands adopted by plenary in discharge resolutions are not always well reflected in the discussions of the bureau meetings despite the fact that both bureau members and the secretary-general are aware of the discharge resolutions and have the capacity to submit proposals under the aforementioned rule 25; recalls that the composition of the bureau consists of the president of the european parliament , the 14 vice-presidents and the five quaestors (non-voting members) elected by parliament; recalls that the exercise of democratic scrutiny is carried out via the discharge procedure and parliament should be a role model for all union institutions and bodies;


### 25. recalls that the bureau has been mandated by the plenary to decide all administrative , staff and organisational matters concerning members and is concerned that the decisions of the bureau often fail to respect the will expressed by the plenary in discharge resolutions; reiterates the importance of the discharge procedure as set in the financial regulation and the rules of procedure and demands that resolutions affecting the functioning of parliament be thoroughly taken into consideration and followed up in a legitimate , transparent manner; recommends that the committee on budgetary control should be systematically informed whenever a proposal arising from a discharge resolution is going to be discussed by the bureau and calls on the secretary-general to always include a clear list of the bureau discussions and votes when providing the replies to the discharge resolutions; ### 25. recalls that the bureau has been mandated by the plenary and it is responsible for all matters relating to the internal running of parliament; reiterates the importance of the discharge procedure as set in the financial regulation and the rules of procedure and demands a follow up of resolutions affecting the functioning of parliament in a transparent manner; recommends that the committee on budgetary control should be systematically informed whenever a proposal arising from a discharge resolution is going to be discussed by the bureau and calls on the secretary-general to always include a clear list of the bureau discussions and votes when providing the replies to the discharge resolutions;


### 29. notes that the impact of the continuance of the covid-19 pandemic in 2021 led to substantial transfers within parliament’s budget , and that a budgetary surplus became available in areas such as travel expenses , organisation and reception of groups of visitors , the operation of parliament visitors’ centres , in-person training , and lower energy consumption; notes that , at the same time , the pandemic created additional budgetary needs in other areas , notably health and prevention , as well as technical equipment and logistics for multilingual hybrid meetings and votes; observes that a substantial part of the savings were used to amortise the costs of the expansive building policy of the last few years; ### 29. notes that the impact of the continuance of the covid-19 pandemic in 2021 led to substantial transfers within parliament’s budget , and that a budgetary surplus became available in areas such as travel expenses , organisation and reception of groups of visitors , the operation of parliament visitors’ centres , in-person training , and lower energy consumption; notes that , at the same time , the pandemic created additional budgetary needs in other areas , notably health and prevention , as well as technical equipment and logistics for multilingual hybrid meetings and votes; observes that a substantial part of the savings were used to amortise the costs of the building policy of the last few years;


### 30. is concerned that the measures introduced as a result of the covid-19 pandemic resulted in modified working conditions in specific services within parliament which had a negative impact on staff , for example at the copy shop in brussels where members of staff had to work in isolation for a long period of time even after the safety measures were lifted; asks parliament’s administration to proactively re-evaluate the working conditions changed in possible similar situations; ### 30. is concerned that the measures introduced as a result of the covid-19 pandemic resulted in modified working conditions in specific services such as copy shops and printing units within parliament which had a negative impact on some members of staff , where members of staff had to work in isolation for a long period of time even after the safety measures were lifted; asks parliament’s administration to proactively re-evaluate the working conditions changed in possible similar situations;


### 31. praises the key role of parliament’s medical services at the forefront of the covid-19 pandemic response and acknowledges the enormous workload involved , which included treatment , testing and vaccination of staff , providing psychological support and advising on mitigation measures; regrets the fact that the staff annual medical check-up was cancelled in 2021 and recalls that is a statutory right laid down in article 59(6) of the staff regulations; welcomes the creation , in october 2021 , of the medical preparedness and crisis management unit (mpcmu) made up of staff from the medical services in brussels and luxembourg with the objective of enhancing parliament’s response capacity for future crisis; ### 31. praises the key role of parliament’s medical services at the forefront of the covid-19 pandemic response and acknowledges the enormous workload involved , which included treatment , testing and vaccination of staff , providing psychological support and advising on mitigation measures; notes that exceptionally , staff were invited to do their annual medical check-up externally , under the same conditions as those usually offered by the parliament , as stated in article 59(6) of the staff regulations; welcomes the creation , in october 2021 , of the medical preparedness and crisis management unit (mpcmu) made up of staff from the medical services in brussels and luxembourg with the objective of enhancing parliament’s response capacity for future crisis;


### 35. stresses the major negative impact of the covid-19 pandemic on parliament’s catering staff which led to worsening working conditions and even dismissals; welcomes the solidarity measures implemented from april 2020 to december 2021 , namely the provision of ‘charity meals’ and a business continuity fee in the three places of work , that at least helped to safeguard 37 jobs for catering staff; welcomes the fact that there 20 new jobs have been created since the restart of all catering activities in march 2022 , but regrets the fact that parliament’s administration has not communicated how many jobs were lost during the pandemic with the pretext that it is a concession contract; is of the opinion that the internalization of essential services such as catering and cleaning should be considered by the governing bodies , as parliament has recently done with security and it services , and it was also made with the cpe2 crèche in luxembourg; ### 35. recalls the negative impact of the covid-19 pandemic on parliament’s catering staff; welcomes the solidarity measures implemented from april 2020 to december 2021 , namely the provision of ‘charity meals’ and a business continuity fee in the three places of work , that at least helped to safeguard 37 jobs for catering staff; commends that the parliament was the first eu institution to launch a food donation program , and that during the covid 19 crisis , it was the only institution to take action to save employment; welcomes the fact that there 20 new jobs have been created since the restart of all catering activities in march 2022 , stresses that the internalization of essential services such as catering and cleaning would require massive recruitment of employees and lead to a significant increase in costs;


### 38. is concerned about the reported hearing problems that resulted from remote interpreting for long periods of time; is alarmed that 63 ,5% of respondents (127 out of 200) reported hearing problems in a survey on remote simultaneous interpreting conducted by the staff interpreters’ delegation at the beginning of 2021 and 54% of respondents (702 out of 1 602) mentioned in a survey conducted among staff and freelance interpreters in may 2022 that working under the conditions imposed as a result of the covid-19 pandemic had an impact on their health and well-being; recalls the duty of care owed by the european institutions to their employees , which must be taken into account when implementing preventive measures to avoid harm to the health of interpreters; ### 38. is concerned about the reported hearing problems that resulted from remote interpreting for long periods of time with speakers using low quality microphones; is alarmed that 63 ,5% of respondents (127 out of 200) reported hearing problems in a survey on remote simultaneous interpreting conducted by the staff interpreters’ delegation at the beginning of 2021 and 54% of respondents (702 out of 1 602) mentioned in a survey conducted among staff and freelance interpreters in may 2022 that working under the conditions imposed as a result of the covid-19 pandemic had an impact on their health and well-being; recalls the duty of care owed by the european institutions to their employees , which must be taken into account when implementing preventive measures to avoid harm to the health of interpreters;


### 40. notes that the services of the interactio platform were acquired in 2021 via an available framework contract that currently does not refer to the iso standard on conference interpreting; notes that the secretary-general states in his written replies to parliament’s committee on budgetary control that the interactio platform fulfils the iso sound quality requirements; ### deleted


### 41. observes that parliament’s interpreters held a strike from june to october 2022 with the aim of improving working conditions , primarily better sound quality and a limitation on the number and duration of interpreting hours of remote speakers as done during the covid-19 pandemic; regrets that parliament's administration resorted to external interpreting services , with a total cost of eur 47 324.80 , during this interpreters' strike as this decision jeopardised parliament’s quality standard for interpretation , damaged its image and more importantly obstructed workers' right to strike; welcomes the interim working arrangements for meetings with remote participation agreed between the trade union , interpreters’ representatives and parliament’s administration on 17 october 2022 and notes that negotiations on interpreters’ working conditions will be conducted to reflect on parliament’s post-pandemic working methods; ### 41. observes that parliament’s interpreters held a strike from june to october 2022 with the aim of improving working conditions , primarily better sound quality and a limitation on the number and duration of interpreting hours of remote speakers as done during the covid-19 pandemic; regrets that parliament's administration resorted to external interpreting services , with a total cost of eur 47 324 ,80 , during this interpreters' strike; welcomes the interim working arrangements for meetings with remote participation agreed between the trade union , interpreters’ representatives and parliament’s administration on 17 october 2022 and notes that negotiations on interpreters’ working conditions will be conducted to reflect on parliament’s post-pandemic working methods;


### 42. notes that 877 out of 6 621 posts (13 ,2%) were vacant at the end of 2021; acknowledges the general difficulties encountered by the union institutions , including parliament , in attracting and retaining talent , which has an impact on the diversity and geographical distribution of the workforce; notes that in 2021 two surveys were run by parliament’s directorate-general for personnel (dg pers) to find out the main reasons for applying for a job in parliament and that the results pointed to salaries , but also job significance and flexible working conditions; notes the opinion of parliament’s administration on the slowness of the competitions conducted by the european personnel selection office (epso) but recalls the current transformation process aiming to shorten the duration of competitions , to make them more efficient and to better target specialist profiles while keeping objectivity and equality of treatment at the core of the process; notes that in 2021 parliament started running internal competitions and is concerned about the internal criticisms which have stressed that fast-track recruitment procedures may lead to discrimination between professional categories; ### 42. notes that 877 out of 6 621 posts (13 ,2%) were vacant at the end of 2021; acknowledges the general difficulties encountered by the union institutions , including parliament , in attracting and retaining talent , which has an impact on the diversity and geographical distribution of the workforce; notes that in 2021 two surveys were run by parliament’s directorate-general for personnel (dg pers) to find out the main reasons for applying for a job in parliament and that the results pointed to salaries , but also job significance and flexible working conditions; notes the opinion of parliament’s administration on the slowness of the competitions conducted by the european personnel selection office (epso) but recalls the current transformation process aiming to shorten the duration of competitions , to make them more efficient and to better target specialist profiles while keeping objectivity and equality of treatment at the core of the process; notes that in 2021 parliament started running internal competitions and is concerned about fast-track recruitment procedures that may lead to discrimination between professional categories;


### 43. calls for a deep reflection on the new ways of working that can reconcile the needs of parliament’s administration (including team cohesion , internal communication , and on-boarding of newcomers) with the expectations and satisfaction of its staff , which would positively impact their performance as well as the attractiveness of parliament as an employer; highlights in this context the importance of a genuine social dialogue with the staff representatives on crucial points like a flexible work environment , health and welfare and training and career opportunites; also draws attention to the need to review the rules on harassment in relation to these new forms of work; suggests that a joint committee be established that assists dg pers in monitoring the effective implementation and compliance of clear guidelines on teleworking and the right to disconnect that can be adapted to the needs of the different services; ### 43. calls for a deep reflection on the new ways of working that can reconcile the needs of parliament’s administration (including team cohesion , internal communication , and on-boarding of newcomers) with the expectations and satisfaction of its staff , which would positively impact their performance as well as the attractiveness of parliament as an employer; highlights in this context the importance of a genuine social dialogue with the staff representatives on crucial points like a flexible work environment , health and welfare and training and career opportunities; also draws attention to the need to review the rules on harassment in relation to these new forms of work;


### 52. recalls parliament’s recommendation to the commission in its resolution of 18 april 2018 ‘to review its administrative procedure for the appointment of senior officials with the objective of fully ensuring that the best candidates are selected within a framework of maximum transparency and equal opportunities , thereby also setting an example for the other european institutions’; is of the opinion that an accelerated appointment procedure and an interview made up of only three questions to select its secretary-general falls short of what is expected of parliament in terms of transparency , accountability and good administration , and it is profoundly damaging to the institution’s reputation; recalls furthermore its own recommendation that officials from staff representatives bodies should sit on parliament’s senior management selection panels; calls therefore on the secretary-general to submit a proposal to the bureau to modify its decision of 16 may 2000 laying down the steps in the procedure for appointing senior officials , in order to enable staff representatives to participate as observers in the advisory committee , which is fully compatible with article 3(4) of annex iii of the staff regulations; ### 52. recalls parliament’s recommendation to the commission in its resolution of 18 april 2018 ‘to review its administrative procedure for the appointment of senior officials with the objective of fully ensuring that the best candidates are selected within a framework of maximum transparency and equal opportunities , thereby also setting an example for the other european institutions’; is of the opinion that the parliament , regarding appointment procedures , should always meet the highest standards in terms of transparency , accountability and good administration , recalls furthermore its own recommendation that officials from staff representatives bodies should sit on parliament’s senior management selection panels; calls therefore on the secretary-general to submit a proposal to the bureau to modify its decision of 16 may 2000 laying down the steps in the procedure for appointing senior officials , in order to enable staff representatives to participate as observers in the advisory committee , which is fully compatible with article 3(4) of annex iii of the staff regulations;


### 54. reiterates its demand for apas to receive the same subsistence allowance as the officials and other statutory staff for their missions to attend the part-sessions in strasbourg; is of the opinion that the current situation , aggravated by the accumulated increase in prices over the last few years , is unacceptable as apas have to travel to strasbourg to carry out their work in exactly the same way as parliament's officials and other statutory staff; fails to understand this discriminatory treatment regarding the missions to strasbourg while expenses incurred by apas in undertaking missions outside parliament’s three places of work are reimbursed , mutatis mutandis , in accordance with the rules applicable to officials’ missions; highlights that aligning the daily subsistence allowance with that of statutory staff would also put an end to the discriminatory existence of three levels of allowances to choose from , which is maintained without any administrative or financial justification; reiterates , therefore , its request to the bureau to modify its decision of 2 october 2017 with the aim of implementing such alignment; ### 54. reiterates its demand for apas to receive the same subsistence allowance as the officials and other statutory staff for their missions to attend the part-sessions in strasbourg; is of the opinion that the current situation , aggravated by the accumulated increase in prices over the last few years , is unacceptable as apas have to travel to strasbourg to carry out their work in exactly the same way as parliament's officials and other statutory staff; highlights that aligning the daily subsistence allowance with that of statutory staff would also put an end to the discriminatory existence of three levels of allowances to choose from , which is maintained without any administrative or financial justification; reiterates , therefore , its request to the bureau to modify its decision of 2 october 2017 with the aim of implementing such alignment;


### 55. regrets that the applicable rules currently prohibit apas to accompany members on official parliament delegations and committee missions; points out that the technical support that apas provide during missions is of key importance to the participating members , in particular when they are involved in the organisation or play a specific role; is concerned that this situation compels members to resort to financing apas’ travel with the general expenditure allowance and obliges apas to use their annual leave , thus jeopardising their insurance coverage , which represents a serious reputational risk for parliament; regrets that neither the bureau nor the conference of presidents have followed up on the long-standing request to allow apas , under certain conditions yet to be determined , to accompany members on official parliament delegations and missions , as reiterated by several discharge resolutions; urges the bureau and the conference of presidents to respond positively to this demand; ### 55. notes that the applicable rules currently prohibit apas to accompany members on official parliament delegations and committee missions; notes that neither the bureau nor the conference of presidents have followed up on the long-standing request to allow apas , under certain conditions yet to be determined , to accompany members on official parliament delegations and missions , as reiterated by several discharge resolutions;


### 56. welcomes the fact that the bureau’s last revision of the rules for visitors’ groups introduced the possibility for members to designate professionals to hold the financial responsibility , which has brought about a decrease of apas as heads of visitors’ groups to 28%; reiterates that apas should not be compelled to take on such financial responsibility , which can amount to substantial sums of money in some cases; insists , therefore , to the bureau that apas be eliminated from the list of permitted heads of groups , leaving only a member of the sponsored group or a professional , such as paying agents or travel agencies , to take up the role; ### 56. welcomes the fact that the bureau’s last revision of the rules for visitors’ groups introduced the possibility for members to designate professionals to hold the financial responsibility , which has brought about a decrease of apas as heads of visitors’ groups to 28%; reiterates that apas should be forbidden to take on any financial responsibility; calls therefore for the bureau to further revise the rules for visitors’ groups in order to differentiate between the role of organising the visit and financial responsibility for it; considers that apas may be responsible for organising the visit if requested but it must be forbidden that they are the one financially responsible;


### 59. notes the schuman recruitment and development programme launched for the first time by parliament’s administration during the march 2021 traineeship period; regrets that parliament’s administration failed to consult the staff committee on this initiative at an early stage and notes the negative opinion expressed in its resolution of 18 october 2021 , which calls into question the objectivity and fairness of this programme; is aware of the difficulties encountered by parliament’s administration in recruiting and retaining talent for the institution , in particular young professionals , but is concerned about the wide margin of subjectivity given to directorates-general for the selection of participants , which undermines the essential principles of transparency , objectivity and fairness of the union’s public service; draws attention to the discriminatory nature of this programme towards members of staff that cannot benefit from this privileged access to contract agent posts , particularly apas; stresses that recruitment procedures must be merit-based , competitive , fair and transparent , and calls on the secretary-general to involve both the staff committee and the apas committee in a revision of this programme to find an agreement on the model to follow in the future; ### 59. notes the schuman recruitment and development programme launched for the first time by parliament’s administration during the march 2021 traineeship period; regrets that parliament’s administration failed to consult the staff committee on this initiative at an early stage and notes the negative opinion expressed in its resolution of 18 october 2021 , which calls into question the objectivity and fairness of this programme; is aware of the difficulties encountered by parliament’s administration in recruiting and retaining talent for the institution , in particular young professionals , insists on a recruitment based on the essential principles of transparency , objectivity and fairness of the union’s public service; stresses that recruitment procedures must be merit-based , competitive , fair and transparent , and calls on the secretary-general to involve both the staff committee and the apas committee in a revision of this programme to find an agreement on the model to follow in the future;


### 61. stresses that transparency , accountability , and integrity are essential ethics principles within the union institutions and particularly parliament as house of the european democracy; recalls that unethical behaviours must be prevented , persecuted and condemned for significantly damage the credibility and legitimacy of the union and constitute a serious threat to democracy and public trust; recalls the court’s conclusions and recommendations in its special report 13/2019 on the ethnical frameworks of union institutions , as well as parliament’s resolution of 16 september 2021 on strengthening transparency and integrity in the union institutions by setting up an independentunion ethics body; ### 61. stresses that transparency , accountability , and integrity are essential ethics principles within the union institutions and particularly parliament as house of the european democracy; recalls that unethical behaviours must be prevented , persecuted and condemned for significantly damage the credibility and legitimacy of the union and constitute a serious threat to democracy and public trust; recalls the court’s conclusions and recommendations in its special report 13/2019 on the ethnical frameworks of union institutions , as well as parliament’s resolution of 16 september 2021 on strengthening transparency and integrity in the union institutions by setting up an independent union ethics body with , on the one hand , a preventive role via awareness-raising and ethical guidance , and , on the other hand , a compliance and advisory role with the ability to issue recommendations on ethical matters , including conflicts of interest;


### 62. calls for a thorough overhaul of parliament’s ethical framework that integrates lessons learned and strengthens the current rules to ensure that there are stronger deterrents to address effectively current and future threats and interferences , whether they affect members or staff; stresses that illegal activities funded by paid lobbying constitutes a profound attack on democracy and should be met with zero tolerance and heightened vigilance; calls in particular for a revision of the rules of procedure and the members’ code of conduct , as well as for an urgent upgrade of the current european parliament’s advisory committee on the conduct of members , in order to ensure that members act without any undue influence from interest representatives by means of a strict regulation of paid activities during the mandate , gifts or travel invitations , future employment expectations , and of undue use of information or contacts; ### 62. calls for a thorough overhaul of parliament’s ethical framework that integrates lessons learned and strengthens the current rules to ensure that there are stronger deterrents to address effectively current and future threats and interferences , whether they affect members or staff; stresses that illegal activities funded by paid lobbying constitutes a profound attack on democracy and should be met with zero tolerance and heightened vigilance; commends the current work initiated by the president of parliament regarding the revision of the rules of procedure and the members’ code of conduct , and calls for an urgent upgrade and reform of the current european parliament’s advisory committee on the conduct of members , making it more visible and prominent , consolidating its role and strengthening its powers in order to ensure that members act without any undue influence from interest representatives by means of a strict regulation of paid activities during the mandate , gifts or travel invitations , future employment expectations , and of undue use of information or contacts;


### 72. reiterates that apas are in a particularly vulnerable position in whistleblowing cases due to their particular employment situation; therefore calls on the secretary-general to modify the internal rules on whistleblowing adopted on 4 december 2015 to align them to directive (eu) 2019/1937 of the european parliament and of the council2 , as well as to provide whistleblower apas with a similar protection to that of victims of harassment , in particular with regard to provisional measures during the administrative investigation and protection measures concerning anonymity , pay until the end of the contract , transfer of post and protection from retaliation; ### 72. reiterates that apas are in a particularly vulnerable position in whistleblowing cases due to their particular employment situation; therefore calls on the secretary-general to modify the internal rules on whistleblowing adopted on 4 december 2015 to align them to directive (eu) 2019/1937 of the european parliament and of the council1a , as well as to provide whistleblower apas with a similar protection to that of victims of harassment , in particular with regard to provisional measures during the administrative investigation , protective measures concerning anonymity , and all other appropriate protection measures;