57 Amendments of Pedro SILVA PEREIRA related to 2021/2061(INI)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
– having regard to the Commission Communication of 27 May 2020 entitled ‘Europe’s moment: Repair and Prepare for the Next Generation’ (COM(2020)456),
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)
Citation 2 b (new)
– having regard to the Commission Staff Working Document of 27 May 2020 entitled ‘Identifying Europe’s recovery needs’ (COM(2020)456),
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 6 June 2021 entitled ‘European Parliament’s Scrutiny on the ongoing assessment by the Commission and the Council of the national recovery and resilience plans’,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 a (new)
Citation 7 a (new)
– having regard to the Commission Communication of 4 March 2021 entitled ‘The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan’ (COM(2021)102),
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 b (new)
Citation 7 b (new)
– having regard to the Porto Social Commitment of 7 May 2021 of the Council, the Commission, the Parliament and social partners,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
– having regard to the Commission Communication of 17 September 2020 entitled ‘Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2021’ (COM(2020)0575),
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 b (new)
Citation 17 b (new)
– having regard to the interinstitutional agreement of 16 December 2020 on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources (P9_TA- PROV(2020)0358),
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the European Semester plays an essential role in coordinating economic, employment, social and budgetary policies in the Member States; notes that the Semester, has been expanded to include, among other aspects, issues related to the financial sector and taxation, as well as objectives of the UN SDGs; notes that in order to further strengthen economic and social resilience, the EU must deliver on the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas according to the Commission’s Summer forecasts, the GDP growth rate for 2021 stands at 4.38 % of GDP per capita in the euro area andand for 2022 at 4.25 % in both the EU 27, and is expected to rise to 4.4 % respectieuro area; whereas differences across countries in the pace of the recovelry in 2022from the crisis remain substantial;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas unemployment rates decreasedthe European Union overall lost more than 3 million jobs in 2020 and unemployment rates increased in all Member States during the crisis; whereas young people have experienced the sharpest decline in employment; whereas unemployment rates decreased since last summer to an average rate of 8.4 % in the euro area and 7.6 % in the EU 27 in May 2021, and; whereas a further decrease to unemployment rates are only expected to fall below 2019 levels in three Member States; whereas in April 2021, the youth unemployment rate was 17.81 % and 7 % respectively is expected in 2022in the EU and 17.2 % which is higher than the pre-crisis levels;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas in 2020, Member States provided total fiscal support estimated at more than 6.5 % of GDP, and as a result, the euro area and EU aggregate government deficit increased from historically low levels of around 0.5 % of GDP in 2019 to around 7 % in 2020, which will inevitably be reflected in the aggregate debt levels; whereas the increase in the deficit is mainly due to the adoption of new or extended emergency support measures in response to the need for new restrictions to economic activity in the first part of the year 2021;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the magnitude of COVID- 19-related emergency measures is sizeable, at an estimated 4 % of GDP in both 2020 and 2021 in the EU as a whole, including emergency spending for firms, workers and on health-care; the underlying fiscal stance for the EU is expected to be slightly expansionary in 2022, also thanks to the fiscal support from the expected acceleration in spending financed by RRF grants;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas reference values of up to 3 % of planned or actual government deficit and 60 % of debt to GDP are defined by the TFEU; whereas these reference values were established in the early 1990s under fundamentally different economic circumstances and they are not based on a scientific analysis of the debt sustainability of public budgets;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas aspects relating to the possible future of the EU economic governance framework were dealt with by the review of the macroeconomic legislative framework in the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary AffairsEuropean Parliament of 228 Junely 2021 dedicated to that issue;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
Ia. whereas the recovery and resilience plans adopted by the Member States will encompass their national agenda of reforms and investments designed in line with the EU policy objectives, centred on policy areas: green transition; digital transformation; smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; social and territorial cohesion; health, economic, social and institutional resilience; policies for the next generation, children and youth;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I b (new)
Recital I b (new)
Ib. whereas the crisis resulted in increasing social, territorial, and economic and gender based inequalities;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I c (new)
Recital I c (new)
Ic. whereas the Union and its Member States have committed to the Treaty-based fundamental values, the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda, the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) and the Paris Climate Agreement;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I d (new)
Recital I d (new)
Id. whereas during the Porto Social Summit held on 7 and 8 May 2021, the EU’s leaders recognised the European Pillar of Social Rights as a fundamental element of the recovery and whereas in the Porto declaration they underlined their determination to continue deepening its implementation at EU and national level;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Points out that the roll-out of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) will help to make EU economies and societies more sustainable, inclusive, resilient and better prepared for the just, green and digital transitions, foster economic, social and territorial cohesion, bring convergence and help the Member States to mitigate the economic and social impact of the crisis; notes that the facility, which is the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU, will provide large- scale financial support to Member States of up to EUR 672.5 billion in grants and loans to finance reforms and investments;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Responsible fiscal and sustainable policies
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that the general escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact will continue to be applied in 2022 and is expected to be deactivated as of 2023; expects however that the general escape clause will remain activated as long as the underlying justification of the activation exists in order to support the efforts of the Member States to recover from the pandemic crisis and strengthen their competitiveness, as well as economic and social resilience; notes, furthermore, that the decision to deactivate the general escape clause should be taken as an overall assessment of the state of the economy based on quantitative criteria, with the level of economic activity in the EU compared to pre-crisis levels as the key, social and employment situation based on quantitative and quantlitative criteriona; points out that country-specific situations will continuhave to be taken into account also after the deactivation of the general escape clause;
Amendment 120 #
5a. Is of the opinion that the review of the EU economic governance framework is necessary; agrees with the European Fiscal Board (EFB) on the importance of having a clear pathway towards a reviewed fiscal framework, preferably prior to the deactivation of the general escape clause;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concernedNotes that according to the baseline scenario of the Commission’s latest Debt Sustainability Monitor, the debt ratio in the euro area is to peak at 104.6 % in 2024 and 2025, while the debt ratio in the Union is to peak at 96.5 % in 2024, before declining once again;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Considers that debt targets must properly reflect the new economic reality as well as country-specific challenges; notes the importance of establishing a sustainable pace of sovereign debt reduction, particularly for Covid-linked debt, thus preventing fiscal consolidation from harming economic performance and output;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is convinced that coordination of national fiscal policies remains crucial in underpinning the recovery; notes that the overall fiscal stance, taking into account national budgets and the RRF, should remain supportive in 2021 and 2022as long as necessary;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Highlights that fiscal policy should remain agile and adjust to the evolving situation as warranted, and that a premature withdrawal of fiscal support should be avoided; further highlights the expectation that economic activity will gradually normalise in the second half of 2021, depending on the further evolution of the pandemic, and agrees that Member States’ fiscal policies should become more differentiated in 2022, duly taking into account the state of the recovery, fiscal sustainability and the need to reduce economic, social and territorial divergences;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that Member States with high debt should use the RRF to finance additional investment to support the recovery, while pursuing a prudent fiscal policyresponsible fiscal and sustainable policies without prejudice to social equity and Article 9 TFEU; stresses the importance of the Member States using the potential of the RFF to support the necessary structural changes in order to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable, resilient and socially inclusive EU and the transformation to more globally competitive, future-proof, agile industries; agrees that as the growth of nationally financed current expenditure should be kept under control and bpublic health situation normalises and restrictions affecting economic activity are limifted for, Member States with high debtcan start phasing out the underlying fiscal stance, allowing fiscal measures to maximise support to the recovery without pre- empting future fiscal trajectories and creating a permanent burden on public finances;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that environmental sustainability, productivity, fairness and macroeconomic stability remain the guiding principles of the EU’s economic agenda complemented through the six priorities of the RRF; stresses, furthermore, that the digital, green and just transformation of our societies, businesses and economies is crucial in order to increase Europe’s productivity and competitiveness for a robust recovery, in line with the Digital Decade;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Stresses that responsible fiscal and sustainable policies are a tool to achieve the overarching EU priorities as enshrined in the treaties: sustainable development based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a highly competitive social market economy aiming at full employment and social progress, a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Calls on the Commission and the Council to ensure that gender equality and equal opportunities for all, and the mainstreaming of those objectives, are addressed in the country-specific recommendations and taken into account and promoted throughout the preparation and implementation of recovery and resilience plans;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Socially balanced, inclusive and sustainable structural reforms and, investment and public revenues
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -13 (new)
Paragraph -13 (new)
-13. Considers that coordinating national investment and reform efforts will be crucial to increase convergence and resilience, to promote sustainable and inclusive growth and to improve institutional frameworks;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Highlights that the RRF is an unprecedented opportunity for all Member States to address key structural challenges and investment needs, while embracing the green and digital transitions; and welcomes that the recovery plans are based on priority criteria as set out in the Regulation on Establishing a Recovery and Resilience Facility, namely for the green transition, digital transformation, smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, social and territorial cohesion, health, economic, social and institutional resilience and policies for the next generation, children and the youth;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Highlights that the RRF is an unprecedented opportunity for all Member States to address key structural challenges and investment needs, while embracing the green and digital transitions; stresses that restoring the growth potential will be a key element for the structural transformations needed to adapt to the challenges;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses that the recovery efforts must go hand in hand with a lasting increase of public and private investment beyond the RRF in order to be able to address current and future challenges and to achieve the EU policy objectives; recalls the investment gap estimated by the Commission in 2020 for the EU of more than 600 billion annually; Is concerned about the assessment of the European Fiscal Board on the low level of investment pre-crisis and the consequently limited recovery of investment in some countries;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for a focus on fiscal structural reforms, including reforms enhancing efficient spending,structural reforms that enhance efficient government spending, including the quality and efficiency of the financial administration and acknowledges that high-quality public finance resource management is crucial;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Highlights that national fiscal policies, together with Union policies, will play a crucial role in delivering the climate transition, thus fulfilling the EU's commitments and responsibilities in addressing climate change; underlines that social sustainability must be safeguarded during both the climate and digital transitions through public policies that create jobs, provide reskilling opportunities and establish adequate social protection; stresses, therefore, the importance of enabling climate and social investments, notably by creating a golden rule based on the exclusion of some clearly delineated expenditure from the fiscal rules;
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Recalls in this context, that taxation is one of the key policies monitored through the European Semester towards fairer and more growth- friendly tax systems; calls on the Council and its Member States to implement the recommendations in terms of addressing national measures to fight aggressive tax planning, tax evasion and tax avoidance or ineffective anti-money laundering measures;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the fact that the updated New European Industrial Strategy, the European Digital Strategy, the European Green Deal and all the other relevant strategies set out the framework for speeding up Europe’s recovery and transition towards a cleaner, more digital, and more resilient economic and industrial model, as well as for building a stronger and more resilient single market;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Highlights that tackling structural challenges is crucial for a sustainable recovery and continued growth, and that implementing reforms to address structural vulnerabilities is key not only to improving the ability to withstand and cope with existing challenges but also to accomplishing the twin transitions in a sustainable and fair manner; and reduce social inequalities; notes that in order to further strengthen economic and social resilience, the EU must deliver on the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Is convinced that building a resilient economy calls for reinforcing the social dimension of European governance, aiming at providing adequate protection to all people as well as to promote efficient social and healthcare systems for everyone;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Is concerned that the Commission identified macroeconomic vulnerabilities related to imbalances and excessive imbalances in 12 Member States; is particularly worried that the nature and source of Member States’ imbalances remain largely the same as prior to the pandemic and that the pandemic could also be exacerbating economic divergences; notes the vulnerabilities in the financial sector as a result of the pandemic and calls on the Commission to pay close attention to national actions in relation to macro-financial stability, notably the risks of financial spillovers in the euro area; calls on the Member States to take advantage of the unprecedented opportunity provided by the RRF to significantly reduce existing macroeconomic imbalances;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
European Semester and Country-specific recommendations (CSRs)
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Recalls that Member States, in their recovery and resilience plans, are required to effectively address all or a significant subset of challenges identified in the relevant CSRs, including the fiscal aspects thereof, and that beyond the scope of the RRF, those recommendations that are not addressed remain valid and will continue to be monitored under the European Semester framework; will continue to be monitored under the European Semester framework; Underlines, however, that the 2019 pre- pandemic CSRs should be interpreted in the light of the current crisis and the new challenges to ensure coherence between them, the 2020 CSRs and the general and specific objectives of the RRF regulation, and that future CSRs should not contradict the objectives of the RRF;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Recognises the role that the Commission has allotted to the European Semester in the Recovery Plan and its importance for policy coordination at EU level; stresses, however, that the effectiveness and success of the alignment of Member States’ investment and reform programmes will depend on the review of the Semester and, according to the outcome, its adaptation as well as the increased ownership by the Member States of the implementation of the CSRs;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Highlights that the RFF exercise is also an unprecedented opportunity for the Commission and the Member States to learn from and improve the mechanisms driving the economic governance framework especially when it comes to the underlying political guidelines, cooperation between the institutions and increased ownership of the Member States developing the national reform programmes and implementing structural reforms;
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19c. Believes that the renewed and simplified EU Semester could profit from the lessons learned from the RRF process in regards to establish a more transparent and democratic coordination process when it comes to defining the guiding principles/policy objectives of the European Semester and the CSRs with full involvement of the European Parliament and the Member States as well as in regards to the reciprocal process between Commission and the Member States in developing the needed reforms and investment to achieve those policy objectives; therefore, calls on the Commission to closely assess the RRF exercise and draw conclusions for the review and adaptation of the European Semester cycle and the CSRs;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19c. Calls on the Commission to align the 2022 European Semester cycle with the monitoring and implementation of the Recovery and Resiliency Facility; notes that according to the RRF Regulation, Member States should report twice a year in the context of the European Semester on the progress made in the achievement of the recovery and resilience plan and the Commission shall provide an annual report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the Facility; calls on, in this regard, to assess how the current European Semester tools such as the Country-Reports and In-depth Reviews could be adapted in order to ensure a true value added in the Semester process;
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)
Paragraph 19 d (new)
19d. Reiterates the European Parliament’s call for strengthening its democratic role in the economic governance framework; calls therefore for an Interinstitutional Agreement on Sustainable European Economic Governance granting Parliament a right of consent on the policy recommendations presented in the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey, the Euro area fiscal stance and on the package of Country- specific Recommendations;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)
Paragraph 19 d (new)
19d. Recalls Member States on the possibility to request technical support under the Technical Support Instrument;
Amendment 275 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 e (new)
Paragraph 19 e (new)
19e. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to enhance the social dialogue;
Amendment 276 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 f (new)
Paragraph 19 f (new)
19f. Is concerned about the heavy administrative burden resulting from the twin processes of the RRF and the European Semester and asks the Commission to review the interlinkage and come forward with a streamlined approach; invites the Commission, moreover, to reassess if annually published CSRs fulfil the purpose to properly evaluate the need for and monitor structural reforms that are mostly implemented over a longer period of time;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 g (new)
Paragraph 19 g (new)
19g. Stresses the importance of the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure (MIP) in detecting, preventing and addressing macroeconomic imbalances in the EU, however, agrees to the findings of the European Court of Auditors* that its potential has not been fully exploited in such a way as to ensure the effective prevention and correction of imbalances; therefore, agrees that the surveillance under the Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure in the new EU Semester cycle will need to be adapted and simplified taking into consideration the outcome of the review of the economic framework; *Special Report No 03/2018: Audit of the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure (MIP), European Court of Auditors.
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Welcomes the DG ECFIN’s initiatives and ongoing reflection on the idea of an alternative set of indicators to measure economic, social and environmental progress, supplementing GDP as a welfare measure for inclusive and sustainable growth; is convinced that the EU policy objectives have to be reflected as well in terms of new measurements and granular performance indicators for progress; highlights in this respect the advanced statistical standards and the development of concepts and methods on international level, such as the beyond GDP framework of the OECD and the United Nations; urges the Commission to follow these international standards and integrate this approach in the EU economic governance framework;
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Calls for the Social Scoreboard of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) to be fully taken into account for the purposes of monitoring Member States´ performance in relation to the EPSR´s principles; takes note of the Commission initiative in confirming that the revised Social Scoreboard will be part of the policy coordination framework in the context of the European Semester; takes notes that the EU leaders welcomed the European Social Partners joint proposal for an alternative set of indicators to measure economic, social and environmental progress, supplementing GDP as welfare measure for inclusive and sustainable growth; calls for better reflecting scoreboards in policy recommendations;