Activities of Philippe DE BACKER related to 2014/2221(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
European Semester for economic policy coordination: Annual Growth Survey 2015 (A8-0037/2015 - Dariusz Rosati)
Amendments (16)
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Believes that there should be a role foreseen for the European Court of Justice in EMU in case a Member State does not respect the rules, which would allow a Member State taking another Member State to court over the non- compliance with the rules;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Underlines that Member States must ringfence their investment funds in their national budgets in order to take part in the European Strategic Investment Fund. Stresses that it is important that the European funds will lead to additional investment, not just replacing national investment funds that would go to consumption;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Points out that the effectiveness of additional investment is dependent on the competitiveness and efficiency of a country's economy and on investors' confidence in the sustainability of a country's public finances, and therefore believes that a country should only be eligible to receive funds under the European Fund for Strategic Investment if the Commission in its assessment of Member States' Draft Budgetary Plans deems that: i. the country is in compliance with the Stability and Growth Pact or the Excessive Deficit Procedure recommendations; and ii. the country has made sufficient progress in the implementation of its Country-Specific Recommendations.
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Stresses that there should be a special regime for SME:s to the Investment Fund in order to create a level-playing field as SME:s easily are put into disadvantage due to their size and market position.
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Underlines the fact that the overall indebtedness of Member States in the euro area is not only an obstacle to growth but also puts a huge burden on future generations;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the ambitious structural reforms implemented by those Member States most affected by the crisis; welcomes as well the fact that those Member States that have successfully implemented adjustment programmes or financial sector programmes have been able to return to the capital markets, where they now access capital at low interest rates; finds it regrettable that the Member States in the rest of the euro area are less ambitious in modernising their economies;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the Member States to continue the process of deep and sustainable structural reforms to make their labour markets more efficient, to modernise social protection systems, including pensions, and to improve and streamline the legal and administrative environment for business investment; stresses that structural reforms need to be complemented by well-targeted, longer- term investments in education, research and development, innovation, infrastructure, ICT and, sustainable energy and human resources;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Underlines that the Member States should pay particular attention to youth unemployment when making reforms in order not to deprive young people of their opportunities from the start;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Points out that EU financial assistance to certain Member States, provided on terms combining solidarity with conditionality, has proved to be most successful when there was a strong ownership and commitment to reform; reminds the Commission and the Member States that they need to explore ways of bringing the financial assistance under the EU framework; calls therefore for the creation of a European Monetary Fund (EMF) on the basis of Union law, which would be subject to the Community method;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the Commission, as guardian of the Treaty, to make full use of all measures provided for in EU law to support the enforcement of the implementation of the European Semester;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Is concerned about protectionist tendencies in certain Member States; points out that the Treaty does not provide for the restriction of the free movement of people, services or capital, and recalls that the Commission must safeguard and enforce these freedoms;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Agrees with the Commission that most Member States need to continue to pursue growth-friendly fiscal consolidation; invites Member States with sufficient fiscal space to consider reducing taxes and social security contributions with a view to stimulating private investment; stresses the fact that special emphasis should be placed on growth-enhancing reforms and policies;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Notes the excessively high public debt levels, particularly in the euro area; urges Member States and the Commission to address the debt overhang by establishing a European debt redemption fund based on conditionality combining structural reforms with fiscal incentives; points out that such a debt redemption fund needs to go hand in hand with an insolvency procedure for sovereigns safeguarding market discipline;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4
Subheading 4
Strengthened coordination of national policiesand international policies, and improved democratic accountability
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Calls on the Commission to put forward a proposal on the single external representation of the euro area based on Article 138 TFEU;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. Reiterates its view that the current economic governance framework is lacking sufficient democratic accountability in the application of its rules and of the institutions and bodies involved; calls on the Commission to make the necessary proposals to address the lack of proper democratic accountability in EU economic governance;