What changed between the plenary report and the adopted text

Added:18. Notes that the EEAS Secretary-General issued an instruction note to Heads of Union Delegations, requesting them notably to report in a timely way during crises (“more regular, direct and systematic reporting”); finds it concerning that the EEAS ambassadors were rather late to inform and react to the changes on the ground, especially in Ukraine and Afghanistan, leading to hasty evacuations of Union personnel; believes that the EEAS should review its risk management methodology, which is used to evaluate the security situation for members of staff in Union Delegations;

Changed:75.76. Notes that the EEAS had a total budget of EUR 15 35215,352 million for public communication and promotional activities and that public communication intensified significantly as a consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine;

Changed:77.78. Welcomes that the EEAS joined the open-source social media platform EU Voice pilot project by the EDPS and encourages it to also join the EU Video platform, taking into account the evolution of its popularity; also welcomes that the EEAS cooperates with other Union institutions in order to share experience and best practices;

Changed:78.79. Notes that the budget for combatting foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), including disinformation activities represented EUR 7 1507,150 million in total in 2022; welcomes strongly that the EEAS has invested significantly in strengthening and building resilience to counter disinformation and foreign interference in Union affairs; stresses that EEAS is the main Union institution responsible for countering foreign interference;

Removed:89. Welcomes that the HR/VP convened an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council on 10 October shortly after the horrific Hamas terror attack on Israel; further takes note that the European Council established a common position on the situation in Israel and Palestine at its extraordinary meeting on 17 October 2023 including an action plan with several work strands; is extremely concerned about reports that Union taxpayers’ money could be used by Hamas, instead of benefitting the Palestinian civilian population; is shocked about UN statements on UNRWA employees being involved in acts of terror; is deeply concerned that the EEAS did not act after multiple warnings by Parliament about Union funds being misused by terrorist organisations such as Hamas; urges the EEAS and Commission to insist on controls and audits of UNRWA conducted by ECA and Union-appointed independent external experts; asks the EEAS to use other trusted partners in Gaza and Palestinian territories for delivering funds and help to Palestinian civilians; asks the EEAS to keep Parliament informed about changes in cooperation between the EEAS and the Palestinian Authority to prevent terrorists operating from the territory under the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority;

Added:90. Deeply regrets all conflict-related sexual violence; emphasises that this targeted form of brutal sexual violence and torture against women is systematically used in war conflicts to terrorise and to humiliate the population; in this context, strongly deplores the devastating suffering of women during the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023 in which Hamas perpetrated rape and other forms of ferocious sexual torture against women, female teenagers and girls of Israeli and other nationalities, according to a UN mission report and a report of the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel; regrets the lack of leadership of the EEAS and the Commission and their delayed reactions to these cruel attacks; strongly calls on the EEAS to establish a better global strategy to prevent these kinds of attacks, to provide support to women living in areas of risk and conflict zones, and to continue to publicly condemn any kind of sexual violence and torture;

Added:91. Welcomes that the HR/VP convened an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council on 10 October 2023 shortly after the horrific Hamas terror attack on Israel; further takes note that the European Council established a common position on the situation in Israel and Palestine at its extraordinary meeting on 17 October 2023 including an action plan with several work strands; is extremely concerned about speculation that Union taxpayers’ money could be used by Hamas, instead of benefitting the Palestinian civilian population, and thus, notes with satisfaction that the review of the Union’s assistance for Palestine finalised in November 2023 has shown that no evidence has been found to date that money has been diverted for unintended purposes; is concerned by the serious allegations made by Israel that 12 UNRWA employees might have been involved in acts of terrorand notes that the Agency immediately terminated their contracts, launched a UN investigation and appointed an independent review group; notes the EEAS’ constant monitoring to prevent Union funds being misused by terrorist organisations such as Hamas; notes that the review has also shown that the Commission applies adequate ex-ante and ex-post controls and that the safeguards in place are effective; recalls the Agency's irreplaceable role in the humanitarian response in Gaza, and in ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of vital services to vulnerable Palestinian refugees throughout the Middle East; asks the EEAS to keep Parliament informed about changes in cooperation between the EEAS and the Palestinian Authority;