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 Draft amending budget No 1/2019: surplus from 2018 |
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The European Parliament, – having regard to Article 314 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, – having regard to Article 106a of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, – having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU, and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012(1), and in particular and in particular Articles 18(3) and 44 thereof, – having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2019, as definitively adopted on 12 December 2018(2), – having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020(3), – having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management(4), – having regard to Council Decision 2014/335/EU, Euratom of 26 May 2014 on the system of own resources of the European Union(5), – having regard to Draft amending budget No 1/2019, which the Commission adopted on 15 April 2019 (COM(2019)0300), – having regard to the position on Draft amending budget No 1/2019 which the Council adopted on 3 September 2019 and forwarded to Parliament on the same day (11730/2019 – C9‑0115/2019), – having regard to Rules 94 and 96 of its Rules of Procedure, – having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A9-0005/2019), A. whereas Draft amending budget No 1/2019 aims to enter in the 2019 budget the surplus from the 2018 financial year, amounting to EUR 1 802 million; B. whereas the main components of that surplus are a positive outturn on revenue of EUR 1 274,6 million and an under-spending in expenditure of EUR 527,8 million; C. whereas on the revenue side, the largest difference stems from default interest and fines (EUR 1 312,6 million), the outturn being composed of competition fines and default interest, other penalty payments and interest linked to fines and penalty payments; D. whereas on the expenditure side, under-implementation in payments by the Commission reaches EUR 322,2 million for 2018 (of which EUR 120 million from the Emergency Aid Reserve) and EUR 68 million for 2017 carryovers, and under-implementation by the other institutions EUR 75,9 million for 2018 and EUR 61,6 million for 2017 carryovers; 1. Takes note of Draft amending budget No 1/2019 as submitted by the Commission, which is devoted solely to the budgeting of the 2018 surplus, for an amount of EUR 1 803 million, in accordance with Article 18 of the Financial Regulation, and of the Council´s position thereon; 2. Notes that, according to the Commission, the competition fines in 2018 accounted for EUR 1 149 million; considers again that, besides any surplus resulting from under-implementation, the Union budget should be enabled to reuse any revenue resulting from fines or linked to late payments without a corresponding decrease in GNI contributions; recalls its position in favour of increasing the proposed Union reserve in the next Multiannual Financial Framework by an amount equivalent to the revenue resulting from fines and penalties; 3. Approves the Council position on Draft amending budget No 1/2019; 4. Instructs its President to declare that Amending budget No 1/2019 has been definitively adopted and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union; 5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the other institutions and bodies concerned and the national parliaments.
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| Draft amending budget No 2/2019: reinforcement of key programmes for EU competitiveness: Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ |
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The European Parliament, – having regard to Article 314 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, – having regard to Article 106a of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, – having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU, and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012(1), and in particular and in particular Articles 18(3) and 44 thereof, – having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2019, as definitively adopted on 12 December 2018(2), – having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020(3), – having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management(4), – having regard to Council Decision 2014/335/EU, Euratom of 26 May 2014 on the system of own resources of the European Union(5), – having regard to Draft amending budget No 2/2019, which the Commission adopted on 15 May 2019 (COM(2019)0320), – having regard to the position on Draft amending budget No 2/2019 which the Council adopted on 3 September 2019 and forwarded to Parliament on the same day (11731/2019 – C9‑0112/2019), – having regard to Rules 94 and 96 of its Rules of Procedure, – having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A9-0004/2019), A. whereas, at the insistence of Parliament, the European Parliament and the Council decided, within the context of the budgetary procedure 2019, to budget EUR 100 million in an amending budget in 2019 to reinforce Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+; Parliament and the Council invited the Commission to present this amending budget, which will not contain any other elements, as soon as the technical adjustment of the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2020 including the calculation of the Global margin for commitments is completed in the spring of 2019; B. whereas the Commission has accordingly proposed to amend the budget 2019 to reflect this agreement; C. whereas the Commission has proposed to allocate an additional EUR 80 million to reinforce Horizon 2020 and an additional EUR 20 million to Erasmus+ budget; whereas no indication on the share of each instrument in the global reinforcement was specified in the agreement on the budget 2019; D. whereas, within the Horizon 2020 reinforcement, the Commission has proposed to allocate an additional EUR 34,6 million to Horizon 2020 budget item 08 02 03 04 Achieving a European transport system that is resource-efficient, environmentally friendly, safe and seamless to reinforce the 2019 actions against climate change, in particular batteries, Green Vehicles and Greening Aviation, and additional EUR 45,4 million to Horizon 2020 budget item 08 02 01 02 Strengthening research in future and emerging technologies to increase the amount for the “Breakthrough zero-emissions energy generation for full decarbonisation" and “Energy and climate change related technologies” topics; E. whereas the Commission has proposed that the Erasmus+ be reinforced for its core mobility activities in particular in the field of higher education and vocational education and training, as well as for centres of vocational excellence; whereas it has also proposed that part of the reinforcement go to European Universities, a recent and fundamental action developed in the framework of the European Education Area by 2025 to foster excellence, innovation and inclusion in higher education across Europe; 1. Takes note of Draft amending budget No 2/2019 as submitted by the Commission, which is devoted to providing an additional EUR 100 million of commitment appropriations to Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+, to reflect the agreement reached between Parliament and the Council in the framework of the budget 2019 negotiations; notes that no reinforcement in payment appropriations has been proposed at this stage; 2. Notes that, given the programmes’ profiles, while there might be no need to reinforce payment appropriations for Horizon 2020 by the end of year 2019, the reinforced commitment appropriations for Erasmus+ will most probably need to be matched by increased payment appropriations still this year; asks the Commission to inform the budgetary authority about how it intends to cover these increased payment needs; 3. Approves the Council position on Draft amending budget No 2/2019; 4. Instructs its President to declare that Amending budget No 2/2019 has been definitively adopted and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union; 5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the other institutions and bodies concerned and the national parliaments.
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| Mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Romania, Italy and Austria |
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The European Parliament, – having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2019)0206 – C9‑0005/2019), – having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund(1), – having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020(2), and in particular Article 10 thereof, – having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management(3), and in particular point 11 thereof, – having regard to the letter from the Committee on Regional Development, – having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A9-0002/2019), 1. Welcomes the decision as a sign of the Union’s solidarity with the Union citizens and regions hit by the natural disasters; 2. Stresses the urgent need to release financial assistance through the European Union Solidarity Fund (the ‘Fund’) to the regions affected by natural disasters in the Union in 2018; 3. Welcomes the Commission proposal(4) of 7 March 2019 to amend the Union Civil Protection Mechanism as a key tool for strengthening the Union’s disaster risk management capacities, with a financial envelope for the 2021-2027 financing period that matches the level of ambition set in Decision (EU) 2019/420 of the European Parliament and of the Council(5) and in line with the European Parliament resolution of 14 November 2018 on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027(6); is convinced that the Fund and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism should go hand in hand in preventing, preparing for and responding to natural disasters in the Member States; 4. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution; 5. Instructs its President to sign the decision with the President of the Council and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union; 6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution, including its annex, to the Council and the Commission. ANNEX DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Austria, Italy and Romania (The text of this annex is not reproduced here since it corresponds to the final act, Decision (EU) 2019/1817).
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| Draft amending budget No 3/2019: proposal to mobilise the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Romania, Italy and Austria |
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The European Parliament, – having regard to Article 314 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, – having regard to Article 106a of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, – having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012(1), and in particular Article 44 thereof, – having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2019, as definitively adopted on 12 December 2018(2), – having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020(3), – having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management(4), – having regard to Council Decision 2014/335/EU, Euratom of 26 May 2014 on the system of own resources of the European Union(5), – having regard to Draft amending budget No 3/2019, which the Commission adopted on 22 May 2019 (COM(2019)0205), – having regard to the position on Draft amending budget No 3/2019 which the Council adopted on 3 September 2019 and forwarded to Parliament on the same day (11732/2019 – C9‑0113/2019), – having regard to Rules 94 and 96 of its Rules of Procedure, – having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A9-0006/2019), A. whereas Draft amending budget No 3/2019 covers the proposed mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund to provide assistance to Romania for the flooding in the North-East Region, to Italy for the flooding and landslides following heavy rainfall from the Alpine areas in the North down to Sicily, as well as to Austria for the same phenomenon in the Alpine/southern regions in the course of 2018; B. whereas the Commission consequently proposes to amend the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2019 and to increase budget line 13 06 01 'Assistance to Member States in the event of a major natural disaster with serious repercussions on living conditions, the natural environment or the economy' by EUR 293 551 794 both in commitment and payment appropriations; C. whereas the European Union Solidarity Fund is a special instrument as defined in the MFF Regulation, and the corresponding commitment and payments appropriations are to be budgeted over and above the MFF ceilings; 1. Approves the Council position on Draft amending budget No 3/2019; 2. Instructs its President to declare that Amending budget No 3/2019 has been definitively adopted and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union; 3. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Court of Auditors and the national parliaments.
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| Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund - EGF/2019/000 TA 2019 - Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission |
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The European Parliament, — having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2019)0290 – C9-0026/2019), — having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014-2020) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1927/2006(1) (EGF Regulation), — having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013 of 2 December 2013 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2014-2020(2), and in particular Article 12 thereof, — having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 2 December 2013 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management(3) (IIA of 2 December 2013), and in particular point 13 thereof, — having regard to its resolution of 30 May 2018 on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, (EGF/2018/000 TA 2018 – Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission)(4), — having regard to its first reading on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF)(5), — having regard to the trilogue procedure provided for in point 13 of the IIA of 2 December 2013, – having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A9-0001/2019), A. whereas the Union has set up legislative and budgetary instruments to provide additional support to workers who are suffering from the consequences of major structural changes in world trade patterns or of the global financial and economic crisis and to assist their necessary and prompt reintegration into the labour market; B. whereas the Union’s assistance to workers made redundant should be dynamic and made available as quickly and efficiently as possible, in accordance with the Joint Declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission adopted during the conciliation meeting on 17 July 2008, and having due regard to the IIA of 2 December 2013 in respect of the adoption of decisions to mobilise the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF); C. whereas the adoption of the EGF Regulation reflects the agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council to reintroduce the crisis mobilisation criterion, to increase the Union financial contribution to 60 % of the total estimated cost of proposed measures, to increase efficiency for the treatment of EGF applications in the Commission and by Parliament and the Council by shortening the time for assessment and approval, to widen eligible actions and beneficiaries by introducing self-employed persons and young people and to finance incentives for setting up own businesses; D. whereas the maximum annual budget available for the EGF is EUR 150 million in 2011 prices, that is EUR 175 748 000 in 2019 prices, and whereas Article 11(1) of the EGF Regulation states that up to 0,5 % of that amount can be made available for technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission in order to finance preparation, monitoring, data gathering and creation of a knowledge base, administrative and technical support, information and communication activities as well as audit, control and evaluation activities necessary to implement the EGF Regulation; E. whereas the proposed amount of EUR 610 000 corresponds to approximately 0,35 % of the maximum annual budget available for the EGF in 2019; 1. Agrees with the measures proposed by the Commission to be financed as technical assistance in accordance with Article 11(1) and (4) as well as with Article 12(2), (3) and (4) of the EGF Regulation; 2. Acknowledges the importance of monitoring and data gathering; recalls the importance on robust statistical series compiled in appropriate form to be easily accessible and understandable; 3. Recalls the importance of a dedicated website on the EGF to be accessible to all Union citizens; 4. Welcomes the continued work on the standardised procedures for EGF applications and management using the functionalities of the electronic data exchange system (SFC2014), which allows for the simplification and faster processing of applications, and better reporting; 5. Takes note that the Commission intends to invest EUR 190 000 of the available budget under the administrative and technical support in holding two meetings of the Expert Group of Contact Persons of the EGF (one member from each Member State) and two seminars with the participation of the implementing bodies of the EGF and social partners; 6. Calls on the Commission to continue to systematically invite Parliament to those meetings and seminars in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Framework Agreement on relations between Parliament and the Commission; 7. Underlines the need to further enhance the liaising between all those involved in EGF applications, including, in particular, the social partners and stakeholders at regional and local level, to create as many synergies as possible; stresses that interaction between the National Contact Person and regional or local case delivery partners should be strengthened and communication and support arrangements and information flows (internal divisions, tasks and responsibilities) made explicit and agreed on by all partners concerned; 8. Welcomes a timely start of the ex-post evaluation for which the Commission intends to invest EUR 300 000 of the available budget 9. Reminds applicant Member States of their key role in widely publicising the actions funded by EGF to the targeted beneficiaries, local and regional authorities, social partners, the media and the general public, as set out in Article 12 of the EGF Regulation; 10. Approves the decision annexed to this resolution; 11. Instructs its President to sign the decision with the President of the Council and arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union; 12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution, including its annex, to the Council and the Commission. ANNEX DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF/2019/000 TA 2019 – Technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission) (The text of this annex is not reproduced here since it corresponds to the final act, Decision (EU) 2019/1938).
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| The UK's withdrawal from the EU |
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The European Parliament, – having regard to the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), – having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union of 7 December 2000 (‘the Charter’), which was proclaimed on 12 December 2007 in Strasbourg and entered into force with the Treaty of Lisbon in December 2009, – having regard to the notification given by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to the European Council on 29 March 2017 in accordance with Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union, – having regard to its resolutions of 5 April 2017 on negotiations with the United Kingdom following its notification that it intends to withdraw from the European Union(1), of 3 October 2017 on the state of play of negotiations with the United Kingdom(2), of 13 December 2017 on the state of play of negotiations with the United Kingdom(3) and of 14 March 2018 on the framework of the future EU-UK relationship(4), – having regard to the European Council (Art. 50) Guidelines of 29 April 2017 following the United Kingdom’s notification under Article 50 TEU and to the Annex to the Council Decision of 22 May 2017 which lays down the directives for the negotiation of an agreement with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal from the European Union, – having regard to the European Council (Art. 50) Guidelines of 15 December 2017 and to the Annex to the Council Decision of 29 January 2018 supplementing the Council Decision of 22 May 2017 authorising the opening of negotiations with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for an agreement setting out arrangements for its withdrawal from the European Union, – having regard to the Joint Report from the negotiators of the European Union and the United Kingdom Government of 8 December 2017 on progress during phase 1 of negotiations under Article 50 TEU on the United Kingdom’s orderly withdrawal from the European Union, – having regard to the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, as endorsed by the European Council on 25 November 2018 (‘the Withdrawal Agreement’) and the statements entered in the minutes of the meeting of the European Council of that date, – having regard to the Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom, as approved by the European Council on 25 November 2018 (‘the Political Declaration’), – having regard to the conclusions of the European Council (Art. 50) of 13 December 2018, – having regard to the Joint Statement supplementing the Political Declaration and the Instrument relating to the Withdrawal Agreement of 11 March 2019, – having regard to European Council Decision (EU) 2019/476 taken in agreement with the United Kingdom of 22 March 2019 extending the period under Article 50(3) TEU(5), – having regard to European Council Decision (EU) 2019/584 taken in agreement with the United Kingdom of 11 April 2019 extending the period under Article 50(3) TEU(6), – having regard to Council Decision (EU) 2019/642 of 13 April 2019(7) amending Council Decision (EU) 2019/274 of 11 January 2019, whereby the signature, on behalf of the European Union and of the European Atomic Energy Community, of the Withdrawal Agreement was authorised subject to its conclusion, – having regard to Rule 132(2) of its Rules of Procedure, A. whereas ‘Brexit’ is an unprecedented and regrettable event whose negative consequences would be mitigated by an orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU); B. whereas the UK and the EU will remain close neighbours and will continue to have many interests in common; whereas the framework for such a close relationship is set out in the Political Declaration, pursuant to which those common interests can be protected and promoted, including by means of a new trade relationship; C. whereas the European Parliament represents EU citizens and will act throughout the whole process leading to the withdrawal of the UK to protect their interests; D. whereas there are currently around 3,2 million citizens of the remaining 27 Member States (EU-27) resident in the UK and 1,2 million citizens of the UK (‘British citizens’) resident in the EU-27; whereas those citizens took up residence in another Member State on the basis of rights they enjoy under EU law and on the understanding that they would continue to enjoy those rights throughout their lives; E. whereas in addition there are 1,8 million citizens born in Northern Ireland who, by virtue of the Good Friday Agreement, are entitled to Irish citizenship and are thereby entitled to EU citizenship and to EU citizenship rights where they reside; F. whereas the EU and the UK, as a departing Member State, have an overriding obligation to ensure a comprehensive and reciprocal approach to protecting the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and of British citizens living in the EU-27; G. whereas recent statements by the UK Government in favour of pursuing a policy of regulatory divergence from the EU calls into question how close the future EU-UK economic relationship can be; H. whereas the UK’s withdrawal from the EU must not in any way endanger the peace process in Northern Ireland nor harm the economy of the island of Ireland, which would occur with any hardening of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland and which the backstop agreed between the UK and EU in the Withdrawal Agreement was designed in all circumstances to prevent; I. whereas the Good Friday Agreement recognises ‘the legitimacy of whatever choice is freely exercised by a majority of the people of Northern Ireland with regard to its status’; J. whereas the UK Government insists that the backstop must be removed from the Withdrawal Agreement but has not until now put forward legally operative proposals that could replace it; K. whereas it appears that the UK Government has made planning for ‘no deal’ its main policy priority and that some of the members of the UK Government believe that a ‘no-deal exit’ would be the optimal outcome of the process of withdrawal by the UK from the EU; L. whereas the UK Prime Minster has said that a ‘no-deal Brexit’ would be a ‘failure of statecraft’; M. whereas, in accordance with the Joint Instrument relating to the Withdrawal Agreement agreed on 11 March 2019 at the UK’s insistence, joint work on alternative arrangements presupposes ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement; N. whereas the withdrawal of the UK from the EU without a deal would economically be highly damaging to both parties although, as official figures and UK Government reports demonstrate, such economic damage would fall disproportionately on the UK, including its overseas territories; O. whereas the unity of the EU institutions and the EU-27 continues to be crucial and will be maintained; The Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration 1. Believes that it is in the overwhelming interest of the UK, as well as of the EU, that the withdrawal of the UK from the EU takes place in an orderly way; 2. Continues to believe that the Withdrawal Agreement, as the means to allow for such an orderly exit of the UK from the EU, is fair and balanced, while fully respecting both the UK’s ‘red lines’ and the EU’s principles; 3. Notes that the value of the Withdrawal Agreement is that it provides legal certainty to all those affected by the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and that, to the fullest extent possible, it:
4. Notes that the fundamental options facing the UK in relation to the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland are and will remain the same, whatever its government; recalls that the UK Government rejected the first EU proposal for a Northern Ireland-only backstop and subsequently requested that it be redesigned in the form that is now to be found in the Withdrawal Agreement; expresses its readiness to revert to a Northern Ireland-only backstop but stresses that it will not give consent to a Withdrawal Agreement without a backstop; 5. Notes that the backstop is supported by an overwhelming majority of political parties represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly and, according to recent surveys, by a majority of citizens in Northern Ireland; 6. Recalls that the backstop is to be used only as a temporary measure of last resort and welcomes all measures that make that clear; welcomes in particular, as provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement itself, that work and investment be directed to explore how alternative arrangements for the border, based on new technologies, might eventually be used in the future to ensure the absence of a hard border on the island of Ireland; 7. Notes that those alternative arrangements are only acceptable if they make it possible to avoid physical infrastructure at the border or related checks and controls, to protect the all-island economy, to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement, including maintaining the necessary conditions for continued North-South cooperation, and to ensure the integrity of the EU’s internal market; 8. Believes that it is incumbent on the UK to come forward with written proposals for such alternative arrangements that are fully operational, that deal comprehensively with all checks and controls that are carried out at the EU’s external border, that are consistent with paragraphs 43 and 49 of the Joint Report of 8 December 2017 and that can take account of any future regulatory divergence between the UK and the EU; regrets that despite statements by some of its members on the availability of alternative arrangements, the UK Government has not until now put forward legally operative proposals that could replace the backstop; 9. Notes that the Political Declaration, setting out the framework for the future relationship between the EU and the UK, is in line with the European Parliament’s resolution of 14 March 2018 on the framework of the future EU-UK relationship, calling for an association agreement, as well as with the detailed input of its committees, and reflects the choices made by the UK regarding the scope and depth of its future relationship with the EU; 10. Expresses its willingness to transform the Political Declaration into a document with a more formal and legal character setting out the aim of establishing an association agreement between the EU and the UK of such a close nature that, even in the absence of viable alternative arrangements, the backstop would not need to be deployed; No deal 11. Recalls that, in accordance with Article 50 TEU, in the absence of an agreement or an extension of the period referred to in Article 50(3) TEU, the Treaties will cease to apply to the UK from 1 November 2019; 12. Stresses that should the UK withdraw from the EU without an agreement this would be entirely the responsibility of the UK Government; points out furthermore the implications such a ‘no-deal exit’ would have for the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland as well as for the operation and implementation of the Good Friday Agreement; 13. Notes the strong opposition in the House of Commons and beyond to the decision to prorogue the UK Parliament until 14 October 2019 which makes the possibility of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU without an agreement more likely; 14. Welcomes in the meanwhile the preparedness and contingency planning measures for a ‘no-deal’ scenario adopted by the EU institutions and the EU-27; notes that they are unilateral, in the interests of the EU and temporary in nature; stresses furthermore that they do not have the same effects as an agreement allowing for an orderly withdrawal or replicate the benefits of membership of the EU, or the terms of any transition period provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement; welcomes the latest proposals presented by the Commission on 4 September 2019 and commits itself to dealing with them as swiftly as possible and with a view, in particular with respect to providing financial assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises, to ensuring that the burdens arising from administrative procedures are kept to a minimum; 15. Notes that there can be no transition period in the absence of the Withdrawal Agreement nor any ‘mini-deals’ put in place to help mitigate the disruption of a disorderly withdrawal of the UK from the EU; 16. Stresses that further negotiations between the EU and the UK after the UK has withdrawn from the EU without a deal can only take place on condition that the UK honours its obligations and commitments in respect of citizens’ rights, the financial settlement and the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts; 17. Notes that in the case of a ‘no-deal exit’, the UK’s financial and other obligations will still exist; affirms that in such a case it will refuse to give consent to any agreement or agreements between the EU and the UK unless and until the UK honours its commitments; 18. Recalls that, once such commitments are met, future EU-UK relations negotiations will require strong safeguards and level playing field provisions with a view to safeguarding the EU’s internal market and avoiding placing EU firms at a potential unfair competitive disadvantage; reiterates in that respect the conditions set out in its resolution of 14 March 2018 not least as regards ensuring high levels of environmental, employment and consumer protection; notes that any free trade agreement that fails to respect such levels of protection would not be ratified by the European Parliament; 19. Recalls that safeguarding the rights and life choices, including the employment status and social entitlements, of EU citizens resident in the UK and British citizens resident in the EU-27 remains its first priority and that all endeavours should be undertaken to try to ensure that those citizens are not affected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU; 20. Expresses its concern at the implementation of the UK’s Settlement Scheme and the high levels of applicants, up to 42 % according to the latest UK official figures, who are only accorded pre-settled status; recalls that this can be avoided if the UK opts for an administrative procedure which is declaratory in nature and places the burden of proof on the UK authorities to challenge the declaration; urges therefore the UK to review its approach; 21. Encourages the UK and the EU-27 to adopt measures that provide legal certainty for EU citizens resident in the UK and British citizens resident in the EU-27; recalls its position that the EU-27 should pursue a consistent and generous approach in protecting the rights of British citizens resident in those Member States; 22. Expresses its grave concern that recent and conflicting announcements by the Home Office in relation to free movement after 31 October 2019 have generated very unhelpful uncertainty for EU citizens resident in the UK, with the risk that those announcements may exacerbate the hostile environment towards them as well as impacting negatively on their ability to enforce their rights; 23. Recalls that many British citizens have expressed strong opposition to losing the rights they currently enjoy pursuant to Article 20 TFEU; proposes that the EU-27 examine how to mitigate this within the limits of EU primary law whilst fully respecting the principles of reciprocity, equity, symmetry and non-discrimination; Extension of the Article 50 period 24. Notes that on 9 September 2019 an Act of the UK Parliament, obliging the UK Government to ask for an extension if an agreement has not been reached with the EU by 19 October 2019, was enacted; 25. Indicates that it would support an extension of the period provided for in Article 50 if there are reasons and a purpose for such an extension (such as to avoid a ‘no-deal exit’, to hold a general election or a referendum, to revoke Article 50, or to approve a withdrawal agreement) and that the work and functioning of the EU institutions are not adversely affected; 26. Recalls that it will not proceed with any consent vote until the UK Parliament has approved an agreement with the EU; 27. Takes note of the UK Government’s decision in the current circumstances not to appoint a candidate Commissioner to the next European Commission nor to send UK representatives to certain EU meetings from 1 September 2019; stresses that this will not affect the ability of the EU institutions to function smoothly, and reaffirms, as far as the European Parliament is concerned, that UK Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will continue, until the UK’s withdrawal, to be MEPs with all their rights and obligations intact; recalls that while it remains a Member State the UK will continue to enjoy its rights and be bound by its obligations under the Treaties, including the principle of sincere cooperation; o 28. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the European Council, the Council of the European Union, the Commission, the parliaments of the Member States and the Government of the United Kingdom.
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