38 Amendments of Joëlle MÉLIN related to 2020/0104(COD)
Amendment 18 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Currently, nNo instrument should foresees direct financial support linked to the achievement of results and to implementation of reforms and public investments of the Member States in response to challenges identified in the European Semester, and with a view to having a lasting impact on the productivity and resilience of the economy of the Member States.
Amendment 27 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Against this background, it is necessary to strengthenadapt the current framework for the provision of support to Member States and provide direct financial support to Member States through an innovative tool. To that end, a Recovery and Resilience Facility (the ‘Facility’) should be established under this Regulation to provide effective financial and significant support to step up the implementation of counter-cyclical reforms and related public investments in the Member States. The Facility 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.
Amendment 31 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
Amendment 43 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In order to implement these overall objectivesboost economical recovery, relevant actions will be identified during the Facility’s preparation and implementation, and reassessed in the context of the relevant evaluations and review processes. Also, due attention should be paid to the impact of the national plans submitted under this Regulation on fostering not only the green transition, but also the digital transformation. They will both play a priority role in relaunching and modernising our economy.
Amendment 45 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
Amendment 54 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The Facility’s general objective should be the promotion of economic, social and territorial cohesion. For that purpose, it should contribute to improving the resilience and adjustment capacity of the Member States, mitigating the social and economic impact of the crisis, and supporting the green and digital transitions aimed at achieving a climate neutral Europe by 2050, thereby restoring the growth potential of the economies of the Union in the aftermath of the crisis, fostering employment creation and to promoting sustainable growth.
Amendment 62 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) To ensure its contribution to the objectives of the Facility, the recovery and resilience plan should comprise measures for the implementation of reforms and public investment projects through a coherent recovery and resilience plan. The recovery and resilience plan should be consistent with the relevant country- specific challenges and priorities identified in the context of the European Semester, with the national reform programmes, the national energy and climate plans, the just transition plans, and the partnership agreements and operational programmes adopted under the Union funds. To boost actions that fall within the priorities of the European Green Deal and the Digital Agenda, the plan should also set out measures that are relevant for the green and digital transitions. The measures should enable a swift deliver of targets, objectives and contributions set out in national energy and climate plans and updates thereofby the Member States in the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak. All supported activities should be pursued in full respect of the climate and environmental prioritiestandards of the Union.
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
Amendment 74 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) In order to ensure a meaningful financial contribution commensurate to the actual needs of Member States to undertake and complete the reforms and investments included in the recovery and resilience plan, it is appropriate to establish a maximum financial contribution available to them under the Facility as far as the financial support (i.e. the non- repayable financial support) is concerned. That maximum contribution should be calculated on the basis of the demographic trend (taking into account the depopulation rate), the inversempact of the per capitaCOVID-19 outbreak on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the relative unemployment rate of each Member State.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to ensure the national ownership and a focus on relevant reforms and investments, Member States wishing to receive support should submit to the Commission a recovery and resilience plan that is duly reasoned and substantiated. The recovery and resilience plan should set out the detailed set of measures for its implementation, including targets and milestones, and the expected impact of the recovery and resilience plan on growth potential, job creation and economic and social resilience; it should also include measures that are relevant for the green and the digital transitions; it should also include an explanation of the consistency of the proposed recovery and resilience plan with the relevant country-specific challenges and priorities identified in the context of the European Semesterbe ecologically responsible. Close cooperation between the Commission and the Member States should be sought and achieved throughout the process.
Amendment 83 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) The Commission should assess the recovery and resilience plan proposed by the Member States and should act in close cooperation with the Member State concerned. The Commission will fully respect the national ownership of the process and will therefore take into account the justification and elements provided by the Member State concerned and assess whether the recovery and resilience plan proposed by the Member State is expected to contribute to effectively address challenges identified in the relevant country-specific recommendation addressed to the Member State concerned or in other relevant documents officially adopted by the Commission in the European Semester; whether the plan contains measures that effectively contribute to the green and the digital transitions and to addressing the challenges resulting from them; whether the plan is expected to have a lasting impact in the Member State concerned; whether the plan is expected to effectively contribute to strengthen the growth potential, job creation and economic and social resilience of the Member State, mitigate the economic and social impact of the crisis and contribute to enhancing economic, social and territorial cohesion; whether the justification provided by the Member State of the estimated total costs of the recovery and resilience plan submitted is reasonable and plausible and is commensurate to the expected impact on the economy and employment; whether the proposed recovery and resilience plan contains measures for the implementation of reforms and public investment projects that represent coherent actions; and whether the arrangement proposed by the Member State concerned are expected to ensure effective implementation of the recovery and resilience plan, including the proposed milestones and targets, and the related indicators.
Amendment 97 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) The request for a loan should be justified by the financial needs linked to additional countercyclical reforms and investments included in the recovery and resilience plan, notably relevant for the green and digital transitions, and by therefore, by a higher cost of the plan than the maximum financial contribution (to be) allocated via the non-repayable contribution. It should be possible to submit the request for a loan together with the submission of the plan. In case the request for loan is made at a different moment in time, it should be accompanied by a revised plan with additional milestones and targets. To ensure frontloading of resources, Member States should request a loan support at the latest by 31 August 2024. For the purposes of sound financial management, the total amount of all the loans granted under this Regulation should be capped. In addition, the maximum volume of the loan for each Member State should not exceed 4.7% of its Gross National Income. An increase of the capped amount should be possible in exceptional circumstances subject to available resources. For the same reasons of sound financial management, it should be possible to pay the loan in instalments against the fulfilment of results.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32
Recital 32
(32) For the purpose of sound financial management, specific rules should be laid down for budget commitments, payments, suspension, cancellation and recovery of funds. To ensure predictability, it should be possible for Member States to submit requests for payments on a biannual basis. Payments should be made in instalments and be based on a positive assessment by the Commission of the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan by the Member State. Suspension and cancellation of the financial contribution should be possible when the recovery and resilience plan has not been implemented in a satisfactory manner by the Member State. Appropriate contradictory procedures should be established to ensure that the decision by the Commission in relation to suspension, cancellation and recovery of amounts paid respects the right of Member States to provide observations.
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 40
Recital 40
(40) In accordance with the Financial Regulation, Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council14 , Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2988/9515and ,Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/9616 and Council Regulation (EU) 2017/193917 , the financial interests of the Union are to be protected through proportionate measures, including the prevention, detection, correction and investigation of irregularities and fraud, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, the imposition of administrative sanctions. In particular, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 and Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out administrative investigations, including on- the-spot checks and inspections, with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/1939, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) may investigate and prosecute fraud and other criminal offences affecting the financial interests of the Union as provided for in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council18 . In accordance with the Financial Regulation, any person or entity receiving Union funds is to fully cooperate in the protection of the Union’s financial interests, to grant the necessary rights and access to the Commission, OLAF, the EPPO and the European Court of Auditors and to ensure that any third parties involved in the implementation of Union funds grant equivalent rights to the Commission, OLAF, the EPPO and the European Court of Auditors. _________________ 14Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 September 2013 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999,(OJ L248, 18.9.2013, p. 1) 15 Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial interests (OJ L 312, 23.12.95, p.1) 16 Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities (OJ L292,15.11.96, p.2) 17 Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 of 12 October 2017 implementing enhanced cooperation on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (‘the EPPO’) (OJ L283, 31.10.2017,, p.1) 18 Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2017 on the fight against fraud to the Union's financial interests by means of criminal law (OJ L 198, 28.7.2017, p. 29)
Amendment 124 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
The scope of application of the Recovery and Resilience Facility established by this Regulation shall refer to policy areas related to economic, social and territorial cohesion, the green and digital transitions, health, competitiveness, resilience, productivity, education and skills, research and innovation, smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, jobs and investment, and the stability of the financial systems.
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. The general objective of the Recovery and Resilience Facility shall be to promote the Union’s economic, social and territorial cohesion by improving the resilience and adjustment capacity of the Member States, mitigating the social and economic impact of the crisis, and supporting the green and digital transitions, thereby contributing to restoring the growth potential of the economies of the Union, fostering employment creation in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, and promoting sustainable growth.
Amendment 148 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6
Article 6
Amendment 156 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
A maximum financial contribution shall be calculated for each Member State for the allocation of the amount referred to in Article 5(1)(a), using the methodology set out in Annex I, based on the demographic trend (taking into account the depopulation rate), the inverse of the per capitampact of COVID- 19 outbreak on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the relative unemployment rate of each Member State.
Amendment 158 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 2
2. For a period starting after 31 December 2022 until 31 December 2024, where financial resources are available, the Commission may organise calls in line with the calendar of the European Semester. To that effect, it shall publish an indicative calendar of the calls to be organised in that period, and shall indicate, at each call, the amount available for allocation. Each Member State may propose to receive up to a maximum amount corresponding to its allocation share of the available amount for allocation, as referred to in Annex I, to implement the recovery and resilience plan.
Amendment 175 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 2
Article 14 – paragraph 2
2. The recovery and resilience plans shall be consistent with the relevant country-specific challenges and priorities identified in the context of the European Semester, in particular those relevant for or resulting from the green and digital transitionby the Member States. The recovery and resilience plans shall also be consistent with the information included by the Member States in the national reform programmes under the European Semester, in their national energy and climate plans and updates thereof under the Regulation (EU)2018/199921 , in the territorial just transition plans under the Just Transition Fund22 , and in the partnership agreements and operational programmes under the Union funds. _________________ 21Regulation (EU)2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action. 22 […]
Amendment 195 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point c
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point c
Amendment 216 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point d
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point d
(d) envisaged milestones, targets and an indicative timetable for the implementation of the reforms over a maximum period of four years, and of the investments over a maximum period of seven yearand of the investments;
Amendment 230 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2
Article 16 – paragraph 2
2. When assessing the recovery and resilience plan and in the determination of the amount to be allocated to the Member State concerned, the Commission shall take into account the analytical information on the Member State concerned available in the context of the European Semester as well as the justification and the elements provided by the Member State concerned, as referred to in Article 15(3), and any other relevant information including, in particular, the one contained in the National Reform Programme and the National Energy and Climate Plan of the Member State concerned and, if relevant, information from technical support received via the Technical Support Instrument.
Amendment 239 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 16 – paragraph 3 – point b
Amendment 278 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 4 – point c – point 2
Article 17 – paragraph 4 – point c – point 2
Amendment 287 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 3
Article 18 – paragraph 3
Amendment 290 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
Article 19 – paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. Upon completion of the relevant agreed milestones and targets indicated in the recovery and resilience plan as approved in the implementing act of the Commission, the Member State concerned shall submit to the Commission a duly justified request for payment of the financial contribution and, where relevant, of the loan tranche. Such requests for payment may be submitted by the Member States to the Commission on a biannual basis. The Commission shall assess, within two months of receiving the request, whether the relevant milestones and targets set out in the decision referred to in Article 17(1) have been satisfactorily implemented. For the purpose of the assessment, the operational arrangement referred to in Article 17(6) shall also be taken into account. The Commission may be assisted by experts.
Amendment 295 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 6
Article 19 – paragraph 6
Amendment 298 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 7
Article 19 – paragraph 7
Amendment 304 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Article 21 – paragraph 2
Amendment 312 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 2
Article 25 – paragraph 2
2. The evaluation report shall, in particular, assess to which extent the objectives have been achieved, and the efficiency of the use of resources and the European added value. It shall also consider the continued relevance of all objectives and actions.
Amendment 315 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Amendment 317 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 2
Article 26 – paragraph 2
Amendment 318 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I – paragraph 2 – indent 1
Annex I – paragraph 2 – indent 1
— PopulationDemographic trend;
Amendment 324 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 2 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Annex II – point 2 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
In accordance with Article 16(3), the Commission shall assess the importance and coherence of the recovery and resilience plans, and its contribution to the green and digital transitions, and for that purpose, it shall take into account the following criteria:
Amendment 328 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 2 – paragraph 1 – point b
Annex II – point 2 – paragraph 1 – point b
Amendment 351 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 2 – paragraph 3 – point 2.2
Annex II – point 2 – paragraph 3 – point 2.2
Amendment 391 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex II – point 2 – paragraph 3 – point 2.5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – indent 1
Annex II – point 2 – paragraph 3 – point 2.5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 – indent 1
— the Member State provided sufficient information and evidence that the amount of the estimated total cost of the recovery and resilience plan is in line with the nature and the type of the envisaged reforms and investments (“plausible”).