Activities of Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO related to 2015/2210(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
European Semester for economic policy coordination: implementation of 2015 priorities (A8-0307/2015 - Dariusz Rosati) ES
European Semester for economic policy coordination: implementation of 2015 priorities - Steps towards completing the Economic and Monetary Union (debate) ES
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the European Semester for economic policy coordination: implementation of 2015 priorities
Amendments (17)
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the single market remains fragmented and the great potential for economic growth, innovation and jobs creation, is still largely untapped; considers it essential that this potential is exploited to the maximum through an holistic approach in order to boost smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and competitiveness; calls on the Commission and the Member States to honour their commitments and to safeguard the revival of the single market as one of the Union’´s main priorities;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Calls for the strengthening of the governance of the internal market through the European Semester by establishing a set of specific indicators measuring its performance, as well as more data; calls for a specific section to be included in the country reports showing barriers and progress in the internal market;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Requests the Commission to call upon the Member States to introduce in their annual National Reform Programmes a specific and detailed section on the single market where the evolution of its integration is specified at national level and the measures to be adopted the following year; calls on the European Commission to handle the same structure for its CSRs;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the importance and added value of the single market integration reports of previous years, given their contribution to the overall priorities set in the Commission’´s Annual Growth Survey and to the identification of CSRs as part of the European Semester; finds it most deplorable, therefore, that the single market integration report has been omitted for 2015 and that the Parliament's call has not been taken into account;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the Commission’´s new approach to streamlining the European Semester process; lauds, in this context, the Commission’´s work on defining CSRs relating to the single market, but is insufficient; calls for more determined efforts to guide and coordinate economic policies in order to ensure consistent and fair implementation of the economic governance framework across the Member States;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Notes that single market is one of the most important elements of the European project, and recognizes that for the European Semester process to be inclusive, the European Parliament (EP) should take an active role in the process; calls for Member States that have not implemented the CSRs as regards the internal market to explain the reasons at the competent Parliamentary Committee (IMCO); asks that the EP use such explanations as a basis to give input to the Commission in the development of new CSRs in time for publication in May;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Considers that the dialogue with national parliaments and civil society is essential to restore confidence in the European project and therefore calls for greater and earlier collaboration of social partners and national and regional parliaments in the European Semester process;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. UStresses that in most Member States public and private investment is insufficient, creating an investment backlog; urges the Commission to take additional measures to improve easy access to finance for SMEs (particularly those related to key sectors, including the emerging digital sector), and to ensure an improved business environment, simplify procedures and reduce administrative burdens in the single market and support investment; stresses the importance of sound business regulation for the success of the European Fund for Strategic Investments; asks the Commission to respect the timetable for the EFSI launch this fall, so that it has the intended effect stimulating the real economy and boosting recovery in the Member States; considers that these investments will serve to strengthen EU competitiveness in key growth sectors such as: services, energy, transport and digital single market;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers that a greater support to SMEs from the Commission and the Member States is needed in expanding their markets and fostering innovation, promoting their export capacity and stimulating job creation and helping businesses to compete more effectively, particularly in domestic markets, and improve the overall productivity; calls for the opportunities presented by the COSME 2014-2020 programme to be maximized in order to improve SMEs' access to financing in the domestic and international markets; and calls for other forms of financing to be promoted as an alternative to financing via banks;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5c. Calls upon the Member States to make use of the fiscal space that will allow them to invest in the potential for future growth of the economy and address the backlog of investment while ensuring adequate public investment at all levels of government;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that better and stronger tax coordination, with due respect for national competences, is needed in order to ensure a level playing field and to avoid unfair competition and detrimental distortions within the single market; therefore reiterates its recommendation for renewed efforts in the fight against fraud, tax evasion and tax avoidance;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Emphasises that the European Semester is a great opportunity to urge Member States to step up their efforts towards the digital single market (DSM); welcomes, in this context, the Commission’´s communication on the roadmap for completing the DSM; considers it essential to remedy the current fragmentation of national rules on digital services and to build a more innovative and transparent DSM based on sound competition and providing a high level of accessibility and consumer protection; calls on the Commission to comply with the planned schedule and launch the 16 initiatives to achieve a true digital single market for Europe to contribute to the economic recovery of the European Union, improve internal and external competitiveness of the EU and promote cohesion and social inclusion;
Amendment 43 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Considers that the insufficient level of digital skills, uneven coverage and high costs limit the benefits of information and communications technology (ICT); urges the Commission and the Member States to give priority in the CSRs and the NRP to the digital training of individuals and companies, securing access to network infrastructure for all citizens;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes that the Member States have to step up their efforts to modernise their public administrations, making legislative reforms in this area, by providing more, and better accessible, digital services for citizens and businesses; notes that in some Member States serious management weaknesses have as consequence significant delays in the implementation of the EU funding programmes, generating a negative impact on the business environment;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Recognizes that there are several constraints that hinder the proper functioning of markets for products and services; supports the work done by the Commission regarding regulated professions, but believes that policy action to stimulate competition in the services sector, especially in professional services has been very limited; believes that further action should be taken against the restrictions of the regulated professions such as professional qualification requirements, legal form and participation; considers that more ambitious measures should be taken in order to stimulate competition in the services sector, particularly in professional services as a driver of innovation and job creation, which constitute an important instrument for promoting economic and social recovery that many Member States need;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Notes that most Member States are below the EU 2020 targets for R&D; asks the Commission to comply with the intention of publishing the review of the EU 2020 Strategy at the end of this year at the latest to strengthen the role of the single market and the single digital market as key instruments for the revival of economic growth and quality job creation in the EU; calls on Member States to guide more decisively their economies to innovation and knowledge;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that the full and fast implementation of EU public procurement and concessions legislation would provide a great opportunity to enhance innovation and access for SMEs and to modernise public administration, by improving the quality, effectiveness and transparency of public spending and investment.