16 Amendments of Csaba MOLNÁR related to 2018/0213(COD)
Amendment 30 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Against that background, it is necessary to strengthen the current framework for the provision of support to Member States by offering direct financial support, alongside technical support. To that end, a new Reform Support Programme (‘the Programme’) should be established to provide effective incentives to step up the implementation of structural reforms in the Member States. The Programme should be comprehensive and should also benefit from the experience gained by the Commission and the Member States from the use of the other instruments and programmes. The Programme should also continue the actions and the mode of operation of the SRSP, since they have been proven very useful, and have been appreciated by Member States, for strengthening the administrative capacity of national authorities in various policy domains. The Programme should also include targeted support for reforms in Member States whose currency is not the euro and which have taken demonstrable steps towards adopting the single currency within a given time-frame. Where such steps are not taken by the responsible national authorities, the Programme should provide grants to stimulate a public debate on joining the euro area with the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders.
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Specific objectives should be set for each instrument of the Programme. With regard to the reform delivery tool, they should consist of fulfilling concrete milestones and targets set out in relation to the completion of reform commitments, which would trigger the release of the financial incentives. With regard to the technical support instrument, they should be to assist national authorities in their endeavours to design and implement reforms, by taking into account good practices and lessons learned from peers. Those objectives should be pursued in all Member States under those two instruments and, in the context of the convergence facility, by those Member States whose currency is not the euro and which have taken demonstrable steps towards adopting the single currency within a given time-frame. Where such steps are not taken by the national authorities, the specific objective of the convergence facility should be to stimulate research, information and an open social debate about the benefits of introducing the single currency, and the reforms necessary to do that in the specific context of the economic and social development of the Member State(s) in question.
Amendment 66 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 38
Recital 38
(38) The convergence facility should aim at providing both financial support and technical support to Member States (in addition to that already available under the two other instruments of the Programme), whose currency is not the euro and which have taken demonstrable steps towards adopting the single currency within a given time-frame, with a view to helping them prepare for membership in the euro area. To that effect, “demonstrable steps” should consist of a formal letter from the government of the Member State concerned to the Commission stating its clear commitment to join the euro area within a reasonable and defined timeframe and presenting a credible, time-bound roadmap, after consultation with the Commission, for implementing concrete measures to prepare for successful participation in the euro area, including steps to ensure full alignment of its national legislation with the requirements under Union law (including the Banking Union). Where such steps are not taken in a particular Member State, the support available under the convergence facility should be used to finance grants for research, information, networking, education and communication projects proposed by non-governmental stakeholders, selected via open competitive calls.
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 39
Recital 39
(39) The instrument should be made up of twohree different components, which. These should aim, first, to provide increased financial incentives for Member States that are embarking on and completing relevant structural reforms for joining the euro area, and should also aimsecond to offer additional and targeted technical support for the design and implementation of such reforms, and third, where the responsible national authorities have not yet devised such reforms, to support a deep and comprehensive public debate involving a wide range of stakeholders from academia, business and civil society.
Amendment 69 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 40
Recital 40
(40) In the interest of consistency and simplification, the financial and technical support components carried out under the convergence facility should follow the same rules and implementation process as the other instruments under the Programme. Therefore, relevant provisions relating to the reform delivery tool and the technical support instrument under the Programme should also apply to the relevant components of the convergence facility, complemented by certain specific rules. The selection and financial management rules regarding grants to projects devised by academia, business and civil society organisations in support of research, information and an open public debate on introducing the euro shall be based on the best practices for union instruments under centralised management, such as Horizon 2020.
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 45
Recital 45
(45) The reform commitments to be implemented by the Member States, the determination of the financial contribution from the budget of the Programme allocated to them, and the work programmes for the implementation of technical support – or, where relevant, under the convergence instrument, the implementation of projects proposed by non-governmental stakeholders, selected by open, competitive calls – should be established. In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission.
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6 a (new)
6a. ‘eligible non-governmental stakeholders’ shall mean academic institutions, business organisations, and civil society organisations with the intention of promoting European integration in general, and monetary union in particular, in a Member State whose currency is not yet the euro, whether as their primary organisational mission or in the framework of a particular project.
Amendment 78 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c – point ii
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c – point ii
(ii) support the efforts of national authorities of eligible Member States in improving their administrative capacity to design, develop and implement reforms relevant for preparation for euro-area participation, including through exchange of good practices, appropriate processes and methodologies, and more effective and efficient human resources management.
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c – point ii a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c – point ii a (new)
(iia) where demonstrable steps towards the introduction of the single currency have not yet been taken by a Member State whose currency is not yet the euro, support actions by eligible non- governmental stakeholders aimed at research, information and an open social debate about the benefits of introducing the single currency and the necessary reforms for that aim, in a manner that is sustainable and beneficial for the economic and social development of the Member State in question.
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Where, by the 31 December 2023, under the convergence facility, a non-euro-area Member State has not taken demonstrable steps to adopt the single currency within a given time-frame, the maximum amount available for that Member State under the financial support component of the convergence facility pursuant to Article 26 shall be reallocated to the reform delivery tool referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph of this paragraphmade available to eligible non- governmental stakeholders in the Member State in question, in compliance with the specific objective defined by Article 5(2)(c)(ii a), via an open call for projects managed by the Commission. The Commission shall adopt a decision to that effect after having given the Member State concerned the possibility to present its observations within a period of two months of the communication of its conclusions.
Amendment 137 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The convergence facility for euro- area membership is available to any eligible Member State as referred to in Article 2(6). Support shall consist of the following twohree components:
Amendment 138 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 24 – paragraph 1 – point b a (new)
(ba) grants to eligible non- governmental stakeholders.
Amendment 139 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 24 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 24 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The rules regarding grants to eligible non-governmental stakeholders are set out in Section 2a below.
Amendment 141 #
Proposal for a regulation
Chapter 4 – section 2 a (new)
Chapter 4 – section 2 a (new)
Section 2a - Grants to eligible non- governmental stakeholders Article 32a - Eligible actions 1. Pursuant to the objectives set out in point (b) of Article 4 and point (c)(ii a) of Article 5(2), in line with Article 25, the convergence facility may finance, in a Member State that is not yet the member of the euro area, grants to support actions by eligible non-governmental stakeholders to stimulate research and an open public debate about the benefits of introducing the single currency and the reforms necessary to achieve that objective, in a sustainable manner beneficial to the economic and social development of the Member State in question. 2. Eligible expenditure shall include, for example: (a) seminars, conferences and workshops; (b) studies, research, analyses and surveys, evaluations and impact assessments, reports, educational materials, and the publication of these; (c) communication projects for learning, cooperation, awareness raising, and dissemination activities, and exchange of good practices; organisation of awareness-raising and information campaigns, media campaigns and events, including corporate communication and communication, where appropriate through social networks; and (d) the compilation and publication of materials to disseminate information and the results of the Programme, including through the development, operation and maintenance of systems and tools using information and communication technologies. Article 32b - Rules for the selection of projects and the financial management of grants 1. The rules for the selection and award criteria for grants via open calls managed by the Commission, as well as the provisions regarding the financial management, control, audit and evaluation of such projects, and other elements required by the Financial Regulation, shall be laid down in a Commission decision. 2. The rules referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall guarantee the fair and transparent selection of proposals, minimise the administrative burden for beneficiaries, and guarantee the sound and efficient management of grants, based on the existing best practices for Union instruments under centralised management (such as Horizon 2020).
Amendment 144 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 35 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. In relation to the convergence facility, the annual report shall include summarised information on grants provided to eligible non-governmental stakeholders under the third component of the convergence facility as defined in Article 24 paragraph 1 (c) including an assessment of their results achieved. Detailed information about each of those projects, including their beneficiaries, objectives, budgets, and main activities and outputs, shall be published on the Commission’s website.
Amendment 145 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 38 – paragraph 2
Article 38 – paragraph 2
2. The financial envelope of the Programme referred to in point (b) and point (c)(ii) of Article 7(2) – as well as, where appropriate, the envelope made available for grants to eligible non- governmental stakeholders under the convergence facility – may also cover technical and administrative assistance expenses, including monitoring, communication and evaluation required pursuant to Regulation No (EU) 2017/825 and not completed by 31 December 2020.