34 Amendments of Alfred SANT related to 2021/2061(INI)
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 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the latest Eurostat figures show that EU tourism went down by 61 % during the pandemic with the highest decreases recorded in Malta (-80%) and Spain (-78 %), followed by Greece (- 74 %), Portugal (-70 %) and Hungary (- 66 %);
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas the levels of poverty in Europe, particularly amongst pensioners and children, and those of unemployment especially in Southern euro countries, were already worrying before the commencement of the COVID-19 economic crisis;
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Recital E c (new)
Ec. whereas direct state intervention in the form of support to businesses and workers across the EU has been crucial to avoid the worst scenarios of an economic crisis;
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 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas both public and private sector investment were already clearly insufficient before the crisis, despite historically low interest rates; whereas to address the extensive public investment backlog in, inter alia, transport, education and science infrastructure and to vigorously tackle the challenges of digital transformation, green and just transition, additional annual public investment in the three digit billion range is needed which cannot be provided for under current fiscal policy;
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 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the European economy is slowly recovering from the devastating impact of the global pandemic; remains concerned about low growth potential compared to other regions in the post- pandemic recovery;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Believes that the apparent "symmetrical" effects of COVID-19 have actually widened the socioeconomic rift between EU member states and their regions; therefore emphasizes that this is not the time for one-size-fits-all strategies as regards structural reforms and competition policies, state aid policies in particular;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Recognises that the crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has been especially severe for enterprises, mostly SMEs, in tourism, hospitality and culture, not least those based in EU island regions;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Acknowledges that despite the progress with vaccination campaigns, substantial risks to the forecasts remain from an epidemiological and economic perspective, which in turn couldreate a high level of uncertainty and could further delay the transition to a more sustainable and future- proof economy;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Insists that the call by some for a quick return to the old economic regulations regime has no real-life logic to back it and is just based on dogma;
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 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Is pleased that, according to the Commission forecasts, economic activity in the EU is expected to pick up in all Member States, with acceleration as of the second half of 2021, asin the positive scenario that containment measures are gradually relaxed and vaccination progresses, reflecting the growth impulse stemming from the implementation of the national recovery and resilience plans; remains concerned, however, that the speed of the recovery will vary across Member States and regions;
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 114 #
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; notes, furthermore, that; supports the decision to deactivate the general escape clause should be taken asfollowing 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 quantitative criterion on a country-by- country basis; points out that country- specific situations will continue to be taken into account after the deactivation of the general escape clause;
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 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is convinced that coordination of national fiscal policies remains crucial in underpinning the recovery; notagrees that the overall fiscal stance, taking into account national budgets and the RRF, should remain supportive in 2021 and 2022;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Highlights that fiscal policy should remain agile and flexible to adjust to the evolving situation as warranted, and that a premature withdrawal of fiscal support should be avoided at all costs; further highlights the expectation that economic activity will gradually normalise in the second half of 2021 and agrees that Member States’ fiscal policies should become more differentiated in 2022, duly taking into account the state of the recovery, fiscal sustainability, geographic and demographic limitations, and the need to reduce economic, social and territorial divergences;
Amendment 166 #
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 policy; stresses the importance of the Member States using the potential of the RFF to support the necessary structural changes and the transformation to more globally competitive, future-proof, agile industries; agrees that the growth of nationally financed current expenditure should be kept under control and be limited for Member States with high debt, allowing fiscal measures to maximise support to the recovery without pre- empting future fiscal trajectories and creating a permanent burden on public finances;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Takes into consideration the systemic weakening of healthcare systems in many Member States of the EU also due to a reduction of public spending in the sector; proposes to exclude health related expenses from the calculation of the structural balance until a suitable upgrade of the European public health sector is achieved;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that environmental sustainability, productivity, social fairness and macroeconomic stability remain the guiding principles of the EU’s economic agenda; stresses, furthermore, that the digital 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 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Socially balanced, inclusive and sustainable structural reforms and, investment and public revenues
Amendment 199 #
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;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Points towards the Commission’s Communication on a Strong Social Europe for Just Transitions whereby it is claimed that the European Pillar of Social Rights is the European answer to the fundamental transitions of climate neutrality, digitalisation and demographic change; in this context affirms the essentiality of the European Pillar of Social Rights as an important parameter of the European Semester’s analysis;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the fact that the updated New European Industrial Strategy, the European Digital Strategy 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 and insists that within such strategy, SMEs should continue to be accorded privileged attention;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Highlights that tackling structural challenges is crucial for a sustainable recovery and continuedfighting poverty, and creating economic 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 socially fair manner;
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 261 #
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;
Amendment 279 #
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;