Activities of Barbara SPINELLI related to 2014/2248(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on possible evolutions of and adjustments to the current institutional set-up of the European Union PDF (524 KB) DOC (80 KB)
Amendments (102)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 (new)
Citation -1 (new)
-1 having regard to the Treaty on European Union, in particular the fourth and fifth recitals of the Preamble;
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
– having regard in particular to Articles 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 110, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 48 and 50 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU), and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) in particular Articles 119, 120-126, 127- 133, 136-138, 139-144, 145- 161, 194 and 352 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and the Protocols thereto,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
– having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2
Citation 2
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6
Citation 6
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8
Citation 8
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
Citation 9 a (new)
– having regard to the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in joined cases C-8/15 P to C-10/15 P, Ledra Advertising Ltd and Others v. European Commission and European Central Bank (ECB),
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 14 a (new)
Citation 14 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 28 October 2015 on the European Citizens’ Initiative,
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the ‘polyinability of the EU institutions to cope with the deep and multiple crisis’es currently faced by the Union, including its.e. the financial, economic, social, and migratory consequences, have all led to the rejection by a growing part of the population of the current European Union; rises, including the increasing democratic shortcomings of the Union as a whole and the progressive disempowerment of the EU citizens, has led to the rejection by a growing part of the citizens of the current European Union; whereas in order to address such criticism, regain legitimacy and rebuild the trust and confidence of the European citizens in the European project, the EU should redefine its priorities by giving primary consideration to the promotion of civil and social rights as enshrined in the Treaties and the EU Charter of fundamental rights, also providing for the involvement of civil society in decision- making and implementation processes;
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas progress towards a Union that can really deliver on and achieve its goals are impaired by a failure of the current governance owing pre-eminently to ill-conceived policies in the economic field as well as in the management of refugee and migrants issue and, only secondarily, to a continuous and systematic search for unanimity in the Council (which is still based on the so- called Luxembourg Compromise) ands well as to the lack of a credible single executive authority enjoying full democratic legitimacy and competence to take effectivecompetences only if based on full democratic legitimacy, taking solidarity-based action across a wide spectrum of policies; whereas recent examples such as the uncontrolledrelative increase of the migration flow, the slow clean-up of our banks after the outbreak of the financial crisis and the lack of an immediate common response to the internal and external threat of terrorism have aptly demonstrated the Union’s incapacity to respond effectively and quickly, quickly and in full respect of human rights, rule of law and social justice;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas this problem, coupled with a lack of a common visione lack of vision, ambition and solidarity on the part of our Member States as regards the future of our continent coupled with the absence of truly socially-oriented policies empowering citizens’ to fully participate and get back centrality, has given rise to unprecedented levels of ‘euroscepticism’ that risk a return to nationalism and the disintegration of the Union;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the austerity policies adopted and imposed by the EU institutions and the International Monetary Fund (‘Troika’) have increased this scepticism, produced destitution in the countries subject to readjustment programs and aggravated their debts; whereas these programs were the result of ‘overly optimistic growth projections’, as highlighted by several studies, including a report published on 8 July 2016 by the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the International Monetary Fund;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas, in the field of the euro and monetary policy, the United Kingdom obtained, before the ‘Brexit’ referendum, a permanent derogation from joining (Protocol No 15), Denmark has a constitutional exemption (Protocol No 16), Sweden has ceased to follow the euro convergence criteria and the possibility of Greece leaving the single currency has been openly discussed in the European Counciland used as an implicit threat against that Member State in the European Council, the Eurogroup and the ECB;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas, as regards Schengen, the free movement of people and the resulting abolition of internal border controls, all formally integrated into the Treaties, ‘opt- outs’ were given to the UK and Ireland; whereas four other Member States are also not taking part, but have the obligation to do so, while ‘opt-ins’ were accorded to three countries outside the European Union; whereas this fragmentation not onlye Hungarian referendum of 2 October 2016 did not reach the requested quorum but was considered valid by the Government and prevsents the total abolition of some remaining internal bordersed as a refusal, by the people, of the EU’s migrants relocation scheme; whereas this fragmentation not only reintroduces internal borders within the Schengen area, but also hinders the establishment of a true internal market and of a fully integrated area of freedom, security and justice; whereas the belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) encompasses obligations regarding the free movement of people;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas, last but not least, this ‘variable geometry’ is one of the elements which endangers the uniform application of EU law, leads to excessive complexity and deleterious democratic and social asymmetries in terms of governance, jeopardises the cohesion of the Union and undermines solidarity among its citizens;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas, since the Treaty of Lisbon, further accelerated by the economic, financial and, migration crisesand security crises and by the policies adopted to deal with them, the European Council has widened its role to include day-to-day management through the adoption of intergovernmental instruments outside the framework of the EU such as the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union (TSCG or the ‘Fiscal Compact’) and the deal with Turkey on migration which has been presented as a ‘statement’ in order to circumvent the obligation of consent of the European Parliament, as provided for in article 218 TFEU;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas, while Article 16 of the TSCG provides that within five years of the date of entry into force (before 1 January 2018) the necessary steps must have been taken to incorporate the Fiscal Compact into the legal framework of the Union, it is clear that the resilience of the euro area, including the completion of the banking union, cannot be achieved without further fiscal deepening steps togetherexisting economic mechanisms have proved themselves deeply ineffective to tackle the major challenges that are affecting Union citizens, such as increased inequalities, poverty and social exclusion, high-rate unemployment, work precariousness and unchanged debt unsustainability while not being able, at the same time, to generate new and different economic growth, sustainable development and social protection; whereas the resilience of the Union cannot be achieved without the establishment of a more reliable, effective and, democratic and socially equitable form of governance; whereas this will complete the current Stability and Growth Pact, which, eese wide-ranging flaws haver since it came into existence, even after its reform by the so-called six- hown the need to replace both the Fiscal Compackt and two-pack, has never been applied for any obvious political reasonshe current Stability and Growth Pact;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas this new system of governance implies a genuinedemocratic method of government equipped to formulate and implement thenew common monetary, fiscal and macro- economicsocial, macro- economic, fiscal and monetary policies that the euro areaUnion desperately needs and must be endowed with a treasury and budget commensurate with the scale of the tasks at hand but mostly it entails a real reform of the current EU policies, in line with the objectives set forth, in particular, in article 9 of the TFEU and with the view to avoid internal economic and social unbalances between Member States; whereas this could requires, in addition to measures within the existing primary law, a reform of the Lisbon Treaty, while stressing the need to overcome economic and social imbalances within the EU;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas the European Union is a con institutional system based on the rule of law; whereas the Treaties must be changed to give the European Court of Justice (ECJ) jurisdiction over all aspects of EU law, in particular common foreign and security policy (Article 24(1) TEU) and, monetary and economic policy (Article 126(10) TFEU) and the decisions adopted under article 7 TEU;
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas, according to Opinion 2/13 and the relevant case-law of the Court of Justice, fundamental rights recognised by the EU Charter of fundamental rights are at the heart of the legal structure of the Union and respect for those rights is a condition of the lawfulness of EU acts, so that measures incompatible with those rights are not acceptable in the EU; whereas article 6(1) TEU clearly states that the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union has the same legal value as the Treaties; whereas a proper implementation of this article requires a removal of all the restrictions on the full and substantial effectiveness of the Charter’s provisions;
Amendment 175 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas thisa review is also needed to rebalance and fundamentally renovate the functioning of the Union, with the aim of less bureaucratic regulation and more effective policymaking; whereas this exercise also concernsand socially just policymaking based on the methodical and scrupulous respect of the Charter of fundamental rights and of its provisions; whereas this requires also a specification of the competences conferred on the Union that impair the abiland of its capacity to make progress towards some of its stated objectives such as the energy union, a fair common migration managementd asylum policy and security policy; founded on the respect of fundamental rights and the obligations deriving from international law;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas over the past decade the security situation in Europe has deteriorated markedly, especially in our neighbourhood: no longer can a single Member State guarantee its internal and external security alonedue to ill-conceived and short-term military and migration policies especially in our neighbourhood: this has shown the need to move towards a different approach in the EU’s external relations, founded on the peaceful promotion of social, economic, environmental and human rights standards for the benefits of all the parties involved, while, at the same time, refraining from policies of regime-change and proxy wars, which only have expanded the phenomenon of failed States in the Greater Middle East;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
O. whereas the decline of Europe’s defence and diplomatic capabilities has limited its ability to project stability and peace beyond our immediate borders; whereas this goes hand in hand with the reluctance of our US allies to intervene if Europe is not ready to take its fair share of responsibility; whereas this leads inevitably to the need for more intense cooperation among the Member States and an integration of some of their defence capacities into a European defence community, both in line with a new European security strategy and especially in the accession countries; whereas this should lead to the need for more intense cooperation among the Member States and an integration of some of their defence capacities into a European defence community, considering that any security policy of the EU should have a defensive and not aggressive dimension, should be based on disarmament and arms control, focusing essentially on cooperation in the European continent;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital O a (new)
Recital O a (new)
Oa. whereas there is a need to review EU-NATO cooperation, taking into account the profoundly changed scenarios of the post-cold war era in Europe and the substantive failures of NATO policies in the US-led anti-terror war outside the NATO area and to put a definitive end to the NATO and US enlargement policies at the Eastern borders of the EU, while looking for and building new independent forms of cooperation with the Russian neighbour;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital P
Recital P
P. whereas these changes in the Union’s primary law have become unavoidable, as regrettably none of the ‘passerelle clauses’ provided for in the Lisbon Treaty with a view to facilitating the reformchange of the Union’s governance have been deployed, and are unlikely to be so in the present circumstances; whereas this is in sharp contrast with the attitude of the European Council in the matter of the envisaged reduction in the number of members of the European Commission, where the ‘let-out’ clause was used instantly;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Recital Q
Q. whereas clarifications are still needed as regards the European elections and on the matter of who leads the Union; whereas, despite the outcome of the 2014 European parliamentary elections having for the first time led indirectly to the nomination of the candidate for President of the Commission, a clear direct democratic link is still lacking, although the European Council has agreed to review the ‘Spitzenkandidat’ process in time for 201918 ; whereas, moreover, there is still confusion – not least among third parties – about the interrelationship of the Presidents of the Commission and the European Council; __________________ 18 EUCO conclusions of 27 June 2014.
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q a (new)
Recital Q a (new)
Qa. whereas in its follow up to the European Parliament resolution on the European Citizens’ Initiative, adopted on 2 February 2016, the Commission stated ‘that after only three years after its effective entry into application, it is at this point too early to launch a legislative revision of the Regulation’; whereas from the establishment of the ECI only three initiatives were deemed admissible and no one has received an appropriate follow- up; whereas there are deficiencies in relation to the functioning and implementation of the instrument of the European Citizens’ Initiative and therefore a need for improvement in order for it to function effectively and be a true instrument for participative democracy and active citizenship;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
Recital R
R. whereas, finally, the urgency for reform of the Union has been dramatically increased by the United Kingdom’s decision, through a referendum, to leave the European Union; whereas it is crystal clear that the negotiations to set out the arrangements for the UK’s withdrawal also need to take account of the framework for its future relationship with the Union; whereas this agreement must be negotiated in accordance with Article 218(3) TFEU and be concluded on behalf of the Union by the Council, acting by a qualified majority, after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament; whereas the European Parliament should be fully involved throughout the negotiation process;
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital S
Recital S
S. whereas the UK’s decision creates an opportunity to reduce and drastically simplify the ‘variable geometry’ and complexity of the Union; whereas itto leave the EU resulting from the referendum has shown, once more, the deep disaffection of the citizens vis-à-vis the current EU project; whereas this decision should represent a starting point for rethinking and innovating the EU framework by bringing back citizens’ needs centre stage in line with the Preamble of the Treaties and could offers, at least thethe same time, an opportunity to clarify what membership of the Union really meanentails and what could be a clear structure in the future for the EU’'s relationship with non- members in our periphery (the United Kingdom, Norway, Turkey, Ukraine, etc.); whereas the founding fathers of the Union had already envisaged a type of ‘associate status’;
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that the time of crisis management by means of ad hoc and incrementalill-conceived, non-transparent and socially unjust ad hoc decisions has passed, as it only leads to measures that are too little, too late, profoundly divisive and detrimental to the European project of ‘Unity in diversity’; is convinced that it is now time to address the shortcomings of the governancese failures of the European Union by undertaking a comprehensive, in-depth reform of the Lisbon Treatycurrent European framework;
Amendment 281 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the direction of the Union’s reform should lead towards its modernisation by establishinga unity based on diversity, solidarity, constitutional democracy and social justice by establishing, where necessary, new effective European capacities and instruments, rather than its renationalisation by means of greater intergovernmentalism;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Is convinced that a truly Union’s reform should be primary rooted on its founding principles as enshrined in article 2 of the TEU and the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union; therefore, considers it necessary to suppress all the limitations to the full application of the Charter starting with the abolition of its Article 51;
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Furthermore, calls on the Commission to present as soon as possible a new draft agreement for the accession of the Union to the ECHR in line with the obligations deriving from article 6 TEU, providing positive solutions to the objections raised by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in its Opinion 2/13 of 18 December 2014;
Amendment 292 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 305 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Observes with great concern the proliferation of subsets of Member States - especially in Eastern European countries - undermining the unity of the Union by causing a lack of transparency, as well as diminishing the trust of the people and solidarity among the Member States, as well as a widespread propensity to an increase request for ‘opt-outs’ and to a resurgence of the ‘balance of power’ system, magnified by the result of the UK referendum on Brexit;
Amendment 317 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that a comprehensive democratic reflectdecision on the reform of the Treaties can and must only be achieved through a Convention, which guarantees inclusiveness through its composition of representatives of national parliaments, governments of all the Member States, the Commission and the European Parliament, and also provides the proper platform for such reflecs well as representatives of the civil society in the Union and also provides the proper platform for such cooperation with European citizens; stresses that an institutional and engagement with European citizenswer to the citizens should be envisaged in the event that a new Treaties or amendments to the current ones proposed by the above-mentioned Convention are rejected in referenda, by permitting to change the proposals and avoiding the easy resort to ‘opt-out’ formulas;
Amendment 340 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. NotDeplores that the fracturing process of ‘variable geometry’ has found its way into the European decision-making process every time the European Council decides to apply intergovernmental methods and to bypass the ‘Union method’ as defined in the Treatiesarticle 294 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; this not only leads to less cohesive effective policy-making but also contributes to a growing lack of transparency, democratic accountability and control; and of well- reflected solidarity-based choices in the economic and political spheres;
Amendment 357 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that the ‘Union method’ is the only method for legislating which ensures that all interests, especially the common European interest, are formally taken into account; understands by ‘Union method’ that the Commission as the executive initiates legislation, Parliament and the Council representing respectively the citizens and the sMember States decide in co-decision by majority voting, and the Court of Justice oversees and provides ultimate judicial control;
Amendment 369 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Considers it essential in these circumstances not only to reaffirm the mission of an ‘ever-closer union among the peoples of Europe’ (Article 1 TEU) in order to mitigate any tendency towards disintegration and, but also to clarify once more the moral, polithe substantical and historical purpose, as well as the constitutional nature, of the European Unionmeaning of such formula, whose purpose should be that of providing the European Union of a real constitution underwritten by its peoples and not only by the heads of State and Government of the Member States;
Amendment 390 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Proposes that the next revision of the Treaties should rationaleorganise the current disorderly ‘variable geometry’, i.e. ‘l’Europe à la carte’, by ending the disruptive practice of opt-outs, opt-ins and exceptions;
Amendment 403 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recommends that, instead of these multiple derogations, a type of ‘associate status’ could be proposed to those states in the periphery that only want to participate on the sideline, i.e. in some specific Union policies; this status should be accompanied by obligations corresponding to the associated rights, first of all the adherence to the rule of law and free movement of people;
Amendment 422 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that this new type of ‘associate status’ could also be one of the possible outcomes to respect the will of the majority of the citizens of the United Kingdom to leave the EU; stresses that this wish must be respected, given that the withdrawal of the United Kingdom, as one of the larger Member States, and as the largest non-euro-area member, affects the strength and the institutional balance of the Union – a new situation that adds to the need for revision of the Treaties;
Amendment 425 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Notes and respects the fact that the people of the Northern Ireland and Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU; believes that an accommodation should be found whereby Northern Ireland maintains its membership of the European Union; calls on the EU to continue to proactively support the peace process in Ireland and to provide for its continuation in any negotiations on British withdrawal; stresses that an accommodation should also be found as far as Scotland is concerned if its citizens express a desire in this direction;
Amendment 440 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Underlines the fact that, until the Treaties cease to apply to the United Kingdom, it will continue to participate in all decision-making of the Union throughout its institutions, with the exception of the negotiations and the agreement concerning its own withdrawal; considers that intermediate arrangements will need to be madecould be foreseen concerning the UK’s participation in European decision-making, as it will be politically difficult to allow a Member State in the process of leaving to influence decisions affecting the Union of which it will soon cease to be a member;
Amendment 443 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Recalls that the construction of the European Union has been rooted on four freedoms namely the free movement of goods, the free movement of services and freedom of establishment, the free movement of persons (and citizenship), including free movement of workers and the free movement of capital; therefore, points out that the both the negotiations and the final agreement concerning the withdrawal of the UK from the Union as well as the future framework for the future relationships should respect their substantial indivisibility;
Amendment 452 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
New Economic Policy and Governance
Amendment 459 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Is greatly concerned by the lack of economic reform and convergence ininadequacy and flaws of the Eeconomic and Monetary Union (EMU) as well as the loss of competitiveness of the economies of mansocial policy of the Union as well as the loss of cohesion and solidarity of itsthe Member States;
Amendment 463 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Is convinced that the Union needs a legal shift on its economic policy based on the full application of Article 3 TEU and the principles provided for, in particular, in articles 9 to 12 TFEU; asks therefore for a real New Deal for Europe, consisting in common investments in a new environmentally sustainable growth and employment plan, financed by the European Bank of Investments and by own resources deriving from an EU wide coordinated wealth levy, a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) and a carbon tax, directly collected by the Union;
Amendment 469 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Recalls that social rights are fundamental rights, as recognised by international treaties, the ECHR, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Social Charter; in this respect, calls on the Commission to swiftly present a proposal for a concrete European Social Pillar aimed at improving living and working conditions, quality employment, fair wages, equal treatment, social dialogue, quality public services and effective social protection, in line with the relevant ILO Conventions, while respecting the prerogative of the Member States to introduce or retain more favourable provisions in this field; moreover, asks the Commission to take into consideration the idea of introducing, in that proposal, provisions establishing a fair and just minimum wage, minimum pensions and a minimum income, in line with the European Parliament resolution of 20 October 2010 on the role of minimum income in combating poverty and promoting an inclusive society in Europe and article 34(3) of the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union, while respecting the right to collective bargain, as enshrined in article 28 of the EU Charter;
Amendment 472 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13c. Calls on the Commission to start negotiations with the Council of Europe in order to launch the process for the accession of the EU to the European Social Charter; in the meantime, asks the Commission to use the Charter as guiding standard for the impact assessments carried out on the basis of article 12 of the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making and for drafting the explanatory memoranda foreseen in article 25 of the same, having regard to the fifth recital of the Preamble to the Treaties;
Amendment 479 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Considers that neither the Stability and Growth Pact nor the ‘no bail-out’ clause (Article 125 TFEU) and the "bail- in" rules of the European Central Bank provide the intended solutions, and that they have furthermore lost credibility in their current form, as the pact has been infringed by several Member States without political or legal consequences, while Greece has been bailed out on a large scale on three occasions;
Amendment 507 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Acknowledges the improvements brought byat the European Semester, the six- pack and the two-pack aimed at addressing these issues, but concludes that they have not solvhave not solved but aggravated the problems; believes, moreover, that they have contributed to making the system not only overly complex, are not binding with regard to country-specific recommendations and do not cover spill-over effects between one Member State and another, or to the euro area or the EU as a wholebut essentially unjust and ineffective, increasing the disgregation of the EU and the widespread mistrust of the EU citizens; believes, furthermore, that the current "convergence instruments" - in particular the European Semester - should be reformed to include binding social targets;
Amendment 508 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Deplores the emphasis put, in the 5 Presidents Report, on "flexible" economies capable to quickly adjust to shocks and on a "new convergence process", facilitated by the creation of national Competitiveness Boards; believes that such measures are based on the assumption that (downward) wage flexibility is the main ‘shock absorber’ and a key tool for assuring the cost competitiveness of national economies. The Competitiveness Boards may in fact institutionalise the pressure towards wage and cost reductions in the pursuit of greater cost competitiveness, especially in less technologically advanced countries; considers that the proposals contained in the "Five presidents’ report" claim to promote greater prosperity and solidarity in Europe while in fact further reinforcing the technocratic character of EU governance;
Amendment 515 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Is acutely aware of the need to review the efficacy of the many recent crisis-management measures taken by the EU, and to codify in primary law certain decision-making procedus well as the need to change course to the regulatory framework for the financial sector; at the same time, regrets – such as ‘reverse qualified majority voting’ – as well as the need to entrench the legal bases of the new regulatory framework for the financial sector; agrees with the Five Presidents’ Report that the ‘that the measures imposed by the Troika led to a substantial increase of social and economic inequalities to the detriment of the citizens of the countries in which those have been applied; in this regard, reminds that the Court of justice, in its recent judgment Ledra Advertising Ltd and Others v. European method of coordination’ as the basis for Europe’s economic strategy does not function and neCommission and European Central Bank (ECB) (joined cases C-8/15 P to C-10/15 P), has stated that whilst the Member States do not implement EU law in the context of the ESM Treaty, on the other hand the Charter is addresseds to be elevated into binding legal actsthe EU institutions, including when they act outside the EU legal framework;
Amendment 530 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 541 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls for the deduction of net public investment from public debt in an effort to implement the "golden rule for public investment" in order to allow for an optimal intergenerational allocation of public investment; believes that the definition of what qualifies as investment should be assessed; considers that in order to limit short term public debt a corresponding threshold for net investment could be implemented; considers that implementation of the rule could be done through annexing an "investment protocol" to the Treaties under the simplified revision procedure of Art. 48 TEU;
Amendment 558 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that, in order to reduce the still excessively high debt burden of Member States, such a common debt instrument needs to be established, inspired by the proposal by the German Council of Economic Experts of 9 November 2011, whereby euro-area members would undertake joint and several liability for a sinking fund, with strong individual commitments on structural reforms to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio to the required maximum of 60 %a common debt instrument needs to be established whereby euro-area members would undertake joint and several liability for an investment fund; insists that euro-area members wshould only be able to participate when they are in complianceparticipate to the instrument on the basis of the principle of cooperation and within the convergence code, as this will prevent moral hazardtext of common policies of investments, adopted with the purpose of overcoming the imbalances in the Eurozone;
Amendment 561 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Stresses that in the current economic environment of subdued demand, the monetary policy must be complemented by expansionary fiscal policies as well as by strengthening unions collective bargaining power in order to ensure wage growth in line with countries average productivity growth and the ECBs inflation target; deems it necessary, in this context, to revise the objectives of the ECB;
Amendment 564 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Calls for better use of the existing structural funds in the direction of fostering cohesion;
Amendment 570 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
Amendment 587 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for the integrationreplacement of the Fiscal Compact into the EU legal framework as well as the incorporation of the ESM and the Single Resolution Fund into EU law, with corresponding democratic oversight by Parliamentand the introduction of a really symmetric mechanism for macroeconomic policy coordination that addresses surpluses as well as deficits and does not place the burden of adjustment on deficit countries alone;
Amendment 612 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Is of the opinion that, in order to increase financial stabiland social cohesion and solidarity, mitigate cross- border asymmetric shocks and reduce the effects of recession, the euro area needs a fiscal capacity based on genuine own resources and a proper treasury facility equipped with a capacity to borrow; this treasury must be based in the Commission and be subject to democratic scrutiny and accountability through Parliament and the Council;
Amendment 620 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Points out that, because compliance with the new code is crucial to the functioning of the Economic and Monetary Union, stronger governmental institutions are required than those currently provided by the Commission and/or the Eurogroup the functioning of the Economic and Monetary Union requires democratic, transparent and accountable governmental institutions than those currently provided by the Commission and/or the Eurogroup, also introducing the co-decision procedure on the broad guidelines of the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union (article 121 TFEU); in this regard, expresses once again its deep concern for the lack of transparency and democratic accountability that characterises the decision-making and procedures of the Eurogroup; therefore, asks the Institutions to clarify the legal nature of this body vis- à-vis the EU Treaties;
Amendment 640 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls, therefore, for the executive authority to be concentrated in the Commission in the role of an EU Finance Minister, by endowing the Commission with the capacity to formulate andon the Commission to give effect to a common EU economic policy aimed at fostering social cohesion, combining macro- economic, fiscal and monetary instruments, backed up by a euro-area budget; the Finance Minister should be responsible for the operation of the ESM and other mutualised funds, and be the single external representative of the euro area in international organisations, especially in the financial sector;
Amendment 653 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
Amendment 664 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Disapproves any expansion of the power of European-level institutions, such as the envisaged EU Finance Minister, if not made conditional on the approval of a clear mandate in terms of employment and/or growth-related targets, namely specific numerical targets to be reached within a specified timeframe and not only "full employment" as a general and declamatory aim. This, in turn, would require the creation of, and commitment to, clear institutional arrangements that would make the attainment of such targets possible;
Amendment 670 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Considers it necessary to endow the European Central Bank with the status of non-conditional lender of last resort enjoying the full powers of a federal reserve bank; at the same time, considers it necessary that the ECB also commits to purchasing eurobonds as part of its standard QE policy, keeping borrowing costs down for the eurozone as a whole; calls for the democratic control of the ECB via the European Parliament;
Amendment 698 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls, finally, for the banking union to be completed as soon as possible on the basis of a fast-track timetable; nevertheless, calls for the strengthening of decentralised and bank-based finance by cleaning banks’ balance sheets from non-performing loans while putting an end to austerity, which dampens investment and credit demand;
Amendment 708 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Believes that before completing the Banking Union, it is necessary to address the critical flaws in its current architecture, such as the exclusion of any common deposit insurance scheme, the absence of an effective national veto over the use of common financial resources, the fact that the Single Resolution Fund’s (SRF) pre-funded financial means amount to ‘only’ €55 billion, meaning that, in the event of a serious banking crisis, the SRF’s resources are unlikely to be sufficient (especially during the fund’s transitional period), the fact that, where the ESM will be allowed to intervene through its new direct recapitalisation instrument (DRI), this will be conditional on the implementation of the troika’s dreaded conditionalities, including where appropriate those related to the general economic policies of the ESM Member concerned; asks, furthermore, for a thorough review of the bail-in rule;
Amendment 728 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Recognises the geopolitical, economic and environmental need for the creation of a genuine European energy union; notes that this will require the removal of the constraint that EU policy must not affect a state’s right to determine the conditions for exploiting its energy sources, its choice between different energy sources and the general structure of its energy supply (Article 194(2) TFEU)points out however that the Energy Union should be principally fostered through appropriate research and development investments in renewable energy sources, in line with the objectives of the EU as listed, for example, in article 3 TEU and 37 of the EU Charter of fundamental rights;
Amendment 729 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Welcomes the outcomes of 2015 Paris Climate Conference on setting out standards for reducing global emissions; stresses, however, that environmental protection shall become a short-term top priority for the EU in the light of the current environmental degradation, and shall be mainstreamed in all policies and actions of the Union; moreover suggests, in order to better attain the above- mentioned objectives, to modify the Treaties by introducing a specific reference to the Right of Nature, as developed, for instance, in the Constitution of Ecuador;
Amendment 732 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Notes that the Treaties provide ample means to set up a humane, well- functioning migration management system and compliant with human rights including a European Border and Coast Guard; believes, however, that the Treaties, particularly Article 79(5) TFEU, are too restrictive regarding other aspects of migration, especially on the establishment of a genuine European legal migration system; insists that democratic scrutiny by Parliament is needed on the implementation of border control, asylum and migration policies, and that the safeguarding of national security cannot be used as a pretext to circumvent European action; considers, however, that any intervention in this field must be preceded by a review of the Dublin system so as to achieve effective responsibility and equal distribution between Member States, giving full and concrete application of Article 80 TFEU and which also imposes a resettlement mechanism for the migration flow within the Union, so as not to further aggravate the situation of the Member States which are located on the borders of the migration flow;
Amendment 745 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Points out that further steps are necessary to ensure that the Common European Asylum System becomes a truly uniform system; calls on Member States to harmonize their legislation and practices with regards to the standards as to who qualifies as a beneficiary of international protection, guarantees on international protection procedures and reception conditions following the jurisprudence of the ECtHR and CJUE and established best practices in fellow Member States; stresses that a new asylum and migration framework should build upon fundamental rights of the migrant;
Amendment 749 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 b (new)
Paragraph 29 b (new)
29b. Reaffirms that the Union must adopt a long-term strategy to address the root causes of migration in third countries (persecution, conflict, generalised violence, climate change and natural disasters or extreme poverty) and create safe and regular channels to access the EU;
Amendment 750 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 c (new)
Paragraph 29 c (new)
29c. Furthermore, considers it necessary to proceed to a formal recognition of the environmental refugees, as those who are obliged to leave their home countries due to environmental causes, hence to guarantee them full access to EU asylum procedures;
Amendment 754 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Considers it necessary, in view of the intensity of the terrorist threat, to upgrade the EU’s capacities in the fight against terrorism and international organised crime; stresses that, beyond strengthening coordination between the competent authorities and agencies in the Member States, Europol and Eurojust must receive genuine investigation and prosecution competences and capabilities as well as give effect to the full functioning of the mechanisms for the exchange of information between Member States, which must fully comply with the principle of helpfulness;
Amendment 762 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Is of the opinion that external military interventions as well as war rhetoric are both counterproductive and dangerous in the fight against terrorism; emphasises, in this respect, the need to adopt an holistic approach by accompanying the necessary internal security measures with actions in the fields of education, social integration and urban-planning, especially in the suburbs;
Amendment 768 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Regrets, as stated in its resolution of XXXXX on the improvement of the functioning of the European Union building on the potential of the Lisbon Treaty, that the EU has not made more progress in developing its capacity to agree and to implement a common foreign and security policy (CFSP); notes that its efforts in initiating a common security and defence policy have not been particularly successful; also because of the gradual establishment of the subgroups of the Member States within the council which have policy priorities which often conflict, thereby preventing not only the pursuit, but also the identification of a genuinely common interest;
Amendment 781 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Is of the opinion, while reiterating that more progress could and should be made under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, including as regards the use of the provisions to act by qualified majority voting, that the Vice-President / High Representative should be named EU Foreign Minister and be supported in her efforts to become the main external representative of the European Union in international fora, not least at the level of the UN; considers it essential that, owing to the broad and heavy workload, the Foreign Minister should be able to appoint political deputies that are still fully subject to the law of code of conduct applicable to EU commissioners; proposes a review of the functionality of the current European External Action Service;
Amendment 790 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
Amendment 807 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Recalls that stability and security can be reached and guaranteed only by fair and equitable societal conditions and therefore any activity to promote stability and security should be brought forward by assuring the primacy of new forms of development which advantage local populations, especially in the field of agricultural production, and providing for economic and conflict-avoiding instruments and policies;
Amendment 810 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 b (new)
Paragraph 33 b (new)
33b. Recalls that, according to article 21 TEU, the Union’s action in the field of CFSP shall be guided by its founding principles namely democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law; is convinced therefore that CFSP should be developed along these lines, thus promoting peace and stability, the enforcement of the principles of the UN Charter and of the Helsinki Final Act and the development of mutual cooperation for the benefit of all the parties involved;
Amendment 815 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Believes, finally, that it is essential that the restrictions in Article 24(1) TEU on the authority of the European Court of Justice in the field of CFSP be removed; calls, in the same spirit, for Parliament to gain greater powers of scrutiny and accountability over CFSP, including full co-decision powers over the budget and policies of the CFSP;
Amendment 836 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Considers that the Union needs to further strengthen its democratic legitimacy by providing for the involvement of civil society in the decision-making process; to this end, stresses once again the need to revise Regulation 211/2011 in order to encourage the Commission to have a less restrictive approach on the legal admissibility of an ECI and to allow a successful initiative to have an appropriate and concrete follow-up;
Amendment 837 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
Paragraph 34 b (new)
34b. Believes, moreover, that citizens should be endowed with more instruments of participatory democracy at Union’s level; therefore, proposes to evaluate the introduction, within the Treaties, of the provision for a EU referendum on matters relevant to Union’s actions and policies;
Amendment 838 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 c (new)
Paragraph 34 c (new)
34c. Calls on the Commission to explore a citizens’ social veto as a mechanism that can prevent the entry into force of EU legislation that would increase poverty and inequality or decrease social rights; in this regard, suggests to take into consideration, as a point of reference, the provisions of Protocol (No. 2) on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality;
Amendment 843 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Proposes to explore the possibility of transforming the Commission into the principlean executive authority or government of the Unif the Union; nevertheless, considers that this cannot be done with the aim of strengthenout a prior redefinition of the overall political strategy of the Union, aiming at the ‘Union method’, increasing transparency and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of action taken at the level of the European Union; full realisation of its main principles and objectives as provided for, in particular, in articles 2 TEU and 9 to 13 TFEU; is convinced that such a change first requires a re-evaluation of the role and prerogatives of this Institution in terms of functions, composition and strengthening of democratic accountability and transparency as well as of the system of checks and balances in the Union as a whole;
Amendment 851 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Considers it necessary to enhance the political responsibility and accountability of the Commission to the European Parliament as far as the respect of the primary law, including the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union, is concerned; in this respect, proposes to revise article 234 TFEU in order to strengthening the prerogatives of the European Parliament by allowing it to table a motion of censure also against single Commissioners;
Amendment 865 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Reiterates its call for the size of the renewed Commission to be reduced substantially and for its vice-presidents to be reduced to two: the Finance Minister and the Foreign Minister; suggests that the same reduction be applied to the Court of Auditors;
Amendment 880 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Welcomes the successful new procedure whereby European political parties promote their top candidates for the President of the European executiveCommission, but believes that they should be able to stand during the next elections as official candidates in all Member States; proposes, therefore, following its legislative proposal on the reform of the electoral law of the European Union, empowering the electorate by giving them two votes, one for the national or regional lists and a second one for the European party lists; these European lists will be headed by the parties’ nominees to become President of the European executive or governmentCommission and will be composed of candidates drawn from at least one third of the Member States;
Amendment 902 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Reiterates its call for a single seat for the European Parliament; proposes that Parliament and the Council each decide the location of their own seat after having obtained the consent of the other; further proposes that the seats of all the other EU institutions, agencies and bodies be determined by Parliament and the Council on a proposal by the European executiveCommission, acting in accordance with a special legislative procedure;
Amendment 915 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Notes that, despite the prohibition in Article 15(1) TEU, the European Council has undertaken various legislative initiatives; proposesconsiders that the legitimacy of these initiatives should be assessed by the Court of justice following an action ex article 263 TFEU; proposes, furthermore, abolishing Article 15(1) and integrating the European Council into a Council of States that couldthe General Affairs Council configuration in order to allow it to engage legitimately in the law-making process and provide direction and coherence to the other specialised Council configurations;
Amendment 921 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Considers thit appropriate this Council and its specialised configurations, as the second chambero redefine the competences of the Council vis-à-vis those of the European Parliament with the aim of strengthening the co-decision procedure and increasing the transparency of the EUwhole legislature, shouldive process; calls, furthermore, ion the interest of specialism, professionalism and continuity, replace the practice of the rotating six-month presidency with a system of permanent chairs chosen from their midst; suggests that the idea of creatCouncil, Commission and European Parliament to strongly limit the recourse to Trilogues in the ordinary legislative procedure, while guaranteeing, a special Law Council should be favourably reconsideredt the same time, their full transparency;
Amendment 927 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
Amendment 936 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Stresses that, following the creafunctions of the role of EU Finance Minister, the Eurogroup should be considered as a specialised configuration of the Council with legislative and control functions but no executive tasksEurogroup should be taken over by the relevant specialised configuration of the Council;
Amendment 948 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
Amendment 961 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Believes that, in strengtheredefining the governancemental functions of the euro area, due respect should be paid to the interests of Member States that are not yet part of the euro (the ‘pre-ins’);
Amendment 970 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Recognises the significant role played by national parliaments in the courrent institutional order of the European Union, and in particular their role in transposing EU legislation into national law and the role they would play in both ex-ante and ex-post control of legislative decisions and policy choices made by their members of the new Council of States, including its specialised configurations; suggests therefore complementing and enhancing the powers of national parliaments by introducing a ‘green card’ procedure whereby national parliaments could submit legislative proposals to the Council for its consideration;
Amendment 982 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Proposes moreover that, in line with the common practice in a number of Member States, both chambers of the EU legislature, Parliament and the Council, should be given the right of legislative initiative, without prejudice to the basic legislative prerogative of the European executive or governmentCommission;
Amendment 991 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Insists that Parliament’s right of inquiry should be reinforced and be granted specific, genuine and clearly delimited powers which are more in line with its political stature and competences, including the right to summon witnesses, to have full access to documents, to conduct on-the- spot investigations and to impose sanctions for non-compliance; therefore, calls on the Commission to advance the negotiations on the Parliament’s proposal on a regulation on Parliament’s Right of Inquiry;
Amendment 1022 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Believes, finally, that the current Treaty ratification procedure is too rigid to befit such a supranational polity as the European Union; proposes allowing amendments to the Treaties to come into force if not by an EU-wide referendum then after being ratified by a qualified majority of four-fifths of the Member States, having obtained the consent of Parliament; notes that, once this threshold has been met, Member States which still declinefor governmental or popular reasons, decide not to ratify the amended Treaty should decide, in accordance with their own constitutional requirements, whether to start the process of secession or to opt for an associate status;
Amendment 1034 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54
Paragraph 54
54. Is of the opinion that the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome would be an appropriate moment to moderniserebuild the European Union and to start a Convention with the purpose of making the European Union ready for the decades ahead; in order to try to reconnect the European Union with its citizens and to draw a line under the current and persistent slide towards disaggregation, division and insignificance;