Activities of Nils TORVALDS related to 2019/2028(BUD)
Plenary speeches (4)
General budget of the European Union for 2020 - all sections (debate)
General budget of the European Union for 2020 - all sections (debate)
General budget of the European Union for 2020 - all sections (debate)
2020 budgetary procedure: joint text (debate)
Amendments (19)
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates Parliament’s view that the 2020 Union budget should pave the way to the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and provide a solid starting point for the launch of the new generation of EU programmes and policies; recalls, moreover, that 2020 is the last year of the current MFF and, therefore, the last chance for the Union to come closer to meeting the political commitments set for this period, including towards reaching the EU climate target and implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); underlines that the budget 2020 should prepare the Union for an even more ambitious climate target in the 2021-2027 MFF in order to meet the expectations of the European citizens;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Strongly believes that it is imperative to rise to the climate challenge in a way that boosts employmentsustainable growth investing in R&D and innovation; is convicted of the need to support SMEs as a vector of jobs and to strengthens competitiveness; welcomes the powerful calls for action made by EU leaders at the recent UN climate change summit and the commitments made recently by several Member States to ramp up spending in areas such as energy efficiency and transport and energy infrastructure;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Proposes further targeted reinforcements to other budget lines related to Parliament’s priorities, in areas such as SMEs, digitalisation, cancer research, security and justice cooperation, migration and external policyartificial intelligence, cancer research, rare and orphan diseases, security and justice cooperation, migration and external policy including the financing of development aid and humanitarian aid in developing countries;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Points out that Horizon 2020 provides very strong European added value and makes a vital contribution to the development of green technology and climate- and environment-friendly innovation, supporting the shift towards a more circular economy so as to lay the foundations for a decarbonised future; stresses, moreover, the importance of the programme for other significant areas of European research such as digitalisation and cancer research; significantly increases, therefore, the allocation of Horizon 2020 over the level of the DB by EUR 737,8 million in commitment appropriations; furthermore, in accordance with Article 15(3) of the Financial Regulation, makes available the entire amount of EUR 280,7 million in commitment appropriations de-committed in 2018 as a result of non-implementation of research projects, for the budget lines of Horizon 2020 that are most relevant to climate-related research projects;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Points out that Horizon 2020 provides very strong European added value and makes a vital contribution to the development of green technology and climate- and environment-friendly innovation, so as to lay the foundations for a decarbonised future; stresses, moreover, the importance of the programme for other significant areas of European research such as digitalisation, artificial intelligence and cancer research; significantly increases, therefore, the allocation of Horizon 2020 over the level of the DB by EUR 737,8 million in commitment appropriations; furthermore, in accordance with Article 15(3) of the Financial Regulation, makes available the entire amount of EUR 280,7 million in commitment appropriations de- committed in 2018 as a result of non- implementation of research projects, for the budget lines of Horizon 2020 that are most relevant to climate-related research projects;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Steps up funding for technical assistance, to address the complexity of project management procedures, from the preparation of applications to financial management and impact monitoring, which is a major obstacle to a better absorption of 'Structural Funds' and thus help to reduce the divide between Member States in Europe;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Proposes necessary increases for selected budget lines, in particular for the financing of measures to address the impact of African swine fever in several Member States and for supporting the beekeeping sector;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Reinforces, against the background of an unrealistically low ceiling since the beginning of the current MFF, funding for Parliament’s priorities in the fields of internal security, migration and fundamental rights, respect of the rule of law and fundamental rights in order to promote non-discrimination, equity, equality, and to combat gender-based violence; strongly objects to Council’s cuts to the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and Internal Security Fund (ISF) and rejects the Council’s proposal to move EUR 400 million in commitment appropriations into a reserve awaiting a break-through on the reform of the Dublin III Regulation; underlines that it is of paramount importance for an effective work to invest in adequate funding and staffing levels for all agencies operating in the fields of migration, security and border control, in particular Europol, Eurojust, EPPO and Frontex; stresses that EPPO must have the means to investigate and prosecute cross-border terrorism;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Underlines the need for the EU budget to contribute more to climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in the countries covered by the Development Cooperation Instrument and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism; recalls the importance of mobilising innovative financial instruments, including the EU's external investment plan, to support the preparation and the financing of climate-related development projects in Africa;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Increases two lines above the DB, due to new elements impacting the transitional allowances for 2020 budget, which it was not possible to prevent: the higher non re-election rate following the European elections (63 %, whilst the average of 50 % served as the calculation base) and the postponement of Brexit until 31 October 2019; increases also the line on European political foundations, since their work is crucial in promoting democracy and fighting fake news and disinformation and on artificial intelligence in promoting a coordinated approach to the human and ethical dimension of artificial intelligence to create a sustainable business model;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 – indent 1 a (new)
Paragraph 37 – indent 1 a (new)
- on the basis of the principle of equal treatment in matter of purchasing power between EU officials irrespective of their place of employment, calls for a specific corrective coefficient to be put in place in Luxembourg city as is done for other European capitals such as London, Paris, Warsaw, Dublin;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 – indent 1 b (new)
Paragraph 37 – indent 1 b (new)
- reiterates its calls for a transparent decision-making process in the field of buildings policy; disagrees therefore, with the on-going practice of the year-end 'mopping up Transfer' to contribute to current building projects, which takes place systematically on the same chapters, titles and, often, exactly on the same budgetary lines; considers that the building policy should be financed in a transparent manner from budgetary lines dedicated to it;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 37 – subparagraph 1 (new)
- reiterates its request to the Secretary General for detailed estimations and coast breakdown of the preparatory technical works in the SPAAK building in view of renovation, projected at EUR 12,4 million;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 – indent 5 a (new)
Paragraph 37 – indent 5 a (new)
- reiterates its call, given that the 2020 budget includes final instalments of substantial investments started back in 2006 with a view to significantly improve Parliament security, for a detailed summery of all expenses linked to the buildings security since 2016;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 – indent 5 b (new)
Paragraph 37 – indent 5 b (new)
- reiterates its call on a greater use of videoconferences and other technologies in order to protect the environment and to save resources, in particular to reduce staff duty travel between the three places of works.
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 – indent 5 c (new)
Paragraph 37 – indent 5 c (new)
- reiterates its request to the Secretary General for detailed information on the budgetary envelope of five new Europa Experience centres in Liaison Offices, which would cover not only the exhibition infrastructure but also the exhibition areas, including rental charges and possible transformation works;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Notes that the 2020 DB reflects in the main the estimates of the various institutions falling within the other sections of the budget and therefore matches, with some exceptions, their financial requirements; considers that the cuts proposed by the Council would therefore have a deleterious effect on the working of the institutions concerned and consequently on the vital contribution they make to the functioning of the European Union; on that account, proposes to restore the levels of the 2020 DB in almost all cases, including with regard to the establishment plans of the European Data Protection Supervisor and the European External Action Service; decides not to restore the level of the 2020 DB concerning the Council and European Council, as they didn't submit a request;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 – point c a (new)
Paragraph 39 – point c a (new)
c a) d) in relation to the European Data protection Supervisor to cut one budget line (200 - Rents, charges and buildings expenditure);
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39 a. e) in relation to the EEAS to cut also one budget line (3001 - External staff and outside services);