32 Amendments of Jean-François JALKH related to 2016/0325(COD)
Amendment 47 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) According to a July 2008 report by the European Investment Bank, the Mediterranean region will be affected by substantial climate change requiring structural adjustments.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 4 b (new)
Recital 4 b (new)
(4b) As a result of global warming, it is anticipated that the Mediterranean region will experience an increase in air temperature in the range of 2.2°C to 5.1°C over the period 2080-2099 with respect to the period 1980-1999.
Amendment 49 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 4 c (new)
Recital 4 c (new)
(4c) Climate change in the Mediterranean region is also anticipated to lead to a significant decrease in rainfall, with the countries of southern Europe experiencing a reduction ranging between -4 and -27% over the 21st century. This decrease in rainfall will exacerbate the region’s water stress.
Amendment 50 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 4 d (new)
Recital 4 d (new)
(4d) Periods of drought, defined as a high frequency of days during which the average temperature exceeds 30°C, are also expected to become more common around the Mediterranean over the course of the 21st century.
Amendment 51 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 4 e (new)
Recital 4 e (new)
(4e) Climate change is predicted to lead to a sea level increase which, according to the above-mentioned report, could be 35 cm by the end of the 21st century.
Amendment 53 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) Nevertheless, international cooperation must be guided by the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of third countries, and this principle must govern the allocation of European funds to any entity.
Amendment 54 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) Water stress in the Mediterranean region could lead to an intensification of migration flows out of this region towards northern regions, particularly in Europe, as 180 million people around the Mediterranean are considered to have difficulty accessing water.
Amendment 55 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 6 b (new)
Recital 6 b (new)
(6b) Nevertheless, population flows resulting, in particular, from immigration and mass tourism are contributing to difficulties with access to, and supply of, water in the Mediterranean basin.
Amendment 63 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
(8a) All of the changes outlined above will have a substantial impact on farming, fishing and tourism, particularly in the countries bordering the Mediterranean. It is therefore urgent to consider a paradigm shift based on long-term investment, including in the energy sector.
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9a) These international agreements should not involve conditionality, including as regards reforms to the functioning of the political and economic institutions of the countries concerned, and the EU must refrain from all political interference in these countries’ internal affairs.
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) These international agreements should not involve conditionalities amounting to interference in the internal affairs of signatory third countries.
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 11 b (new)
Recital 11 b (new)
(11b) It is important for the competent EU authorities to ensure regular, comprehensive monitoring of financing and actions by third countries under the PRIMA programme.
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12a) The PRIMA-IS should be managed with complete transparency and regularly audited, in particular by the European Court of Auditors.
Amendment 74 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) A ceiling should be established for the Union’s contribution in PRIMA with funding from Horizon 2020. Within that ceiling, the Union contribution should be equal to the contribution of the Participating States to PRIMA in order to achieve a high leverage effect and ensure a stronger integration of the Participating States’ programmes. It should be possible to use a limited part of the Union contribution to cover administrative costs of the PRIMA-IS.
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In order to avoid a prolonged implementation of PRIMA, a deadline should be fixed for the launch of the last activities, including the last calls for proposals, setting out a firm timetable for implementation of those activities.
Amendment 77 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) PRIMA activities should be in line with the objectives and research and innovation priorities of Horizon 2020 and with the general principles and conditions laid down in Article 26 of Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013. PRIMA should take into account the OECD definitions regarding Technological Readiness Level and all other relevant legal definitions in the classification of technological research, product development and demonstration activities.
Amendment 78 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) It must be ensured that funding granted on the basis of calls for PRIMA projects is monitored closely, in particular by laying down financial transparency and regular reporting requirements for recipients of the funds.
Amendment 79 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Calls for proposals managed by the PRIMA-IS should also be published on the single portal for participants, as well as through other Horizon 2020 electronic means of dissemination managed by the Commission and on all other platforms and by all other relevant means.
Amendment 81 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) The Union’s financial contribution shouldmust be managed in accordance with the principle of sound financial management and with the rules on indirect management laid down in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012, as well as with a view to guaranteeing the utmost transparency. _________________ 5 Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (OJ L 298 of 26.10.2012, p. 1). 6 Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 of 29 October 2012 on the rules of application of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 (OJ L 362, 31.12.2012, p. 1).
Amendment 82 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) In order to protect the Union’s financial interests, the Commission, in consultation with Parliament, should have the right to reduce, suspend or terminate the Union’s financial contribution if PRIMA is implemented inadequately, partially or late, or if the Participating States do not contribute, or contribute partially or late, to the financing of PRIMA.
Amendment 83 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 23
Recital 23
Amendment 84 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) Audits of recipients of Union funds provided in accordance with this Decision should ensure a reduction of administrative burden, in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013be regular, impartial and exhaustive.
Amendment 85 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) The Union’s financial interests should be protected through proportionatestringent measures throughout the expenditure cycle, including the prevention, detection and investigation of irregularities, regular audits, the recovery of funds lost, wrongly paid or incorrectly used and, where appropriate, administrative sanctions in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012.
Amendment 86 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) The Commission should conduct ant least one interim evaluation assessing in particular the quality and efficiency of PRIMA and the progress made towards the objectives set, and a final evaluation, and should prepare reports on those evaluations.
Amendment 91 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) The objective of this Decision is to strengthen the integration and alignment ofcooperation between research and innovation systems and activities in the Mediterranean countries in the fields of water provision and food systems. The scale of the research and innovation necessary to address the challenges in the Mediterranean area is immense due to the systemic character of the major bottlenecks. The scope of research and innovation is complex, multidisciplinary and requires a multi-actor and cross-border approach. A collaborative approach with a wide set of Participating States can help to increase the required scale and scope, by pooling financial and intellectual resources. Since the objective can therefore be better achieved at Union level by integrating national efforts into a consistent Union approach, by bringing together compartmentalised national research programmes, by helping design common research and funding strategies across national borders, and by achieving the critical mass of actors and investments required, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Decision does not go beyond what is strictly necessary in order to achieve those objectives.
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Actions carried out under the PRIMA programme must be centred around improving water supplies, and in particular on using locally tried and tested techniques and innovative technologies.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. According to the European Investment Bank, some Mediterranean countries already have substantial seawater desalination capacity, and the total worldwide installed capacity currently stands at more than 40 million cubic metres per day. In Mediterranean countries, total seawater desalination capacity could increase sixfold by 2030 (document published in 2008).
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 c (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Nonetheless, the seawater desalination process calls for considerable financial investment, and the use of wind and solar energy to power desalination plants is a major technological challenge which should be made a priority for PRIMA investment.
Amendment 104 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 e (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 e (new)
2e. Action to combat pollution of the Mediterranean Sea is made all the more important by the fact that the Mediterranean Sea is home to 9% of maritime biodiversity, with 12 000 plant and animal species, even though the Mediterranean sea, which covers an area of 2.5 million square metres, accounts for no more than 0.8% of the total surface area of the world’s oceans.
Amendment 107 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission shall assess the fulfilment of commitments undertaken by the Participating States and their administration of the funding, in particular through the first two PRIMA annual work plans. Following that assessment the maximum Union contribution referred to in Article 3(1) shall be reviewed in accordance with Article 9.
Amendment 119 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 2 d (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. Pollution, in particular plastic pollution, is a major problem in the Mediterranean Sea, not least in connection with the desalination of seawater; according to the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER), there are 250 billion microplastics in the Mediterranean Sea, giving it, on average, the highest plastics densities of all the world’s seas and oceans;
Amendment 120 #
2a. The regular auditing of the PRIMA-IS and of all the programmes set up under PRIMA;