Activities of Philippe DE BACKER related to 2015/2132(BUD)
Plenary speeches (1)
General budget of the European Union for 2016 - all sections (A8-0298/2015 - José Manuel Fernandes, Gérard Deprez) NL
Amendments (9)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that, in order to optimise the European budget, the funding planned for the transport sector is justifiablyshould give rise to a transversal approach, as it is linked to other policies such as cohesion, competition and security, and, environment and research; notes that transport infrastructures are at the service of the overall development of the European Union; recommends using forward-looking economic measurefundamental to the freedom of movement of persons, goods and services on which the single market project is bas a contribution to a real structural evolution of the European economy; points out that all Member States recognised, during the discussion on the Juncker Plan, that investments in strategic infrastructure contribute to the growth and, thed, and that this freedom of movement is both a powerful catalyst for EU integration and a key factor in the perefore, cannot be slowed down by the Stability Pactmance of European trade and industry.
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses, given that the priority aim of European policies is to bring about a recovery in growth and jobs, that infrastructure projects contribute to that recovery both directly – through the jobs created on project sites – and indirectly, through the use and maintenance of this infrastructure and more widely by boosting the competitiveness of the regions concerned; welcomes the fact that, in the discussions on the Juncker plan, all the Member States supported this approach and took the view that investments in strategic infrastructure should not be penalised by the Stability Pact.
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Takes note that the agreement on European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) results in cuts in the Connected Europe Facility (CEF); reminds in this regard that there will be an inevitablwelcomes the initiative seeking to boost the involvement of the private dsecrease in investment in some specific areas, since they are less attractive for private investors, by their nature; reminds, for exampltor in funding transport projects by means of innovative financial instruments; notes, however, that some projects are less attractive for this type of operator as they yield too low or uncertain a return on investment; stresses, therefore, that though investments in railways and inland waterways produce substantial socio-economic and environmental benefits, they are rather less profitable and need grants for their implementation; emphasises that coordination is need, whatever the funding method adopted, to ensure that those projects of high European added value shall be reintroduced through the Juncker Plan or just EFSIhat the contribution from the EU budget must concentrate on projects of high European added value.
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the importance of TEN-T not only as nodal points of connection within Europe, but also as a chance to launch the individual domestic markets; underlines therefore that the CEF should be valued as a system of funding not only for infrastructures but for European policies as a wholein moving towards a safe, sustainable, modern and efficient single European transport area; notes that EUR 13 billion were granted by the CEF in the transport sector following the call for projects that closed last March, while some EUR 32 million in funding had been applied for; regrets that many high-quality projects that met the eligibility criteria could not be adopted owing to a lack of available funds; calls on the Commission and the Member States to fully exploit the opportunity offered by next year’s review of the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework to top up the budget allocated to the CEF.
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recommends putting greater attention to transport policies reStresses the vital role platyed toby ports and airports, as they in promoting the competitiveness through the opening of Europeof the European Union by linking it to the rest of the world; underlines the need for a rational European policy that enhances specificity of particularly portheir assets and their geographical location; believes that the improved intermodal connections and interconnectivity will prove enormous potential ofshould make it possible to facilitate trade with these hinvestmentsterland and make our transport system more sustainable.
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Draws attention to the forthcoming adoption of the fourth railway package which provides for greater coordination between national safetthe European Railway aAgencies and the European Railway Agency in order to make procedures, timing and resources more efficient; moreover, recalls the importance of investingy to have a greater role in terms of certification and marketing authorisation in order to make procedures, timing and resources more efficient; stresses the need to provide the Agency with adequate financial, human and logistical resources to carry out these new tasks; moreover, recalls that this package must form part of a more wide-ranging action plan to enhance the attractiveness of the railway sector; takes the view, therefore, that it is important to invest more in the development of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) with a single European and interoperable standard and to implement without delay the Shift2Rail Joint Undertaking.
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines the strategic importance of the Single European Sky as the main instrument to ensure safety, competitiveness and protection of the citizens’ rights; recommends in this regard that CEF shouboth for responding to users’ quality requirements and for enhancing the competitiveness of our airlines; recommends in this regard that the European Union should provide sufficient resources for its technology pillar SESAR, via CEF and the research programmes; believes that a number of proposals shortly to be adopted, seeking to enhance the position of European operators in relation to the rest of the world, provide sufficient resources for this programmefor additional tasks to be allocated to the European Air Security Agency; takes the view, therefore, that the share of its resources from the European budget should be at least maintained at present levels and not reduced, even though the private sector also participates in its funding.
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Suggests, bearing in mind that there is no direct budgetary line for tourism, using the EU budget for the transport sector as a factor in promoting the tourist attractiveness and competitiveness of the wholcontinuing to take maximum advantage of the opportunities offered by the COSME programme and by the pilot projects and preparatory measures seeking to enhance the tourist attractiveness of the ‘Old Continent’; stresses that an efficient cross- collaboration between the numerous sectors concerned is desirable in this field.
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recommends paying particular attention to transport policy and spending in order to promote accessibility and developmenurban nodal points in the context of Eurban and metropolitan areasopean transport policy; reminds that today more than half of the world population lives in cities, and the trend of this phenomenon is growing; therefore believes that the contribution to an efficient and sustainable urban transport sector is a solid contribution to global growth.