7 Amendments of Fabio Massimo CASTALDO related to 2015/2353(INI)
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the EU is faced with an unprecedented number of crises, especially in its neighbourhood and most notably the refugee crisis, natural disasters, security threats and armed conflicts, which are threatening core values and require reinforced external action; underlines that these were unforeseen at the time the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-2020 was concluded; recalls that the total for Heading 4 was cut by some 16 % compared to the initial proposal, significantly debilitating the EU’s ability to respond to new situations and meet its political commitments; calls on the Commission to submit a proposal for a revision raising the ceilings of both payment and commitment appropriations under this heading, with particular attention to those concerning neighbour countries;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for a genuine revision of the MFF, encompassing the financial means made available under the current framework; notes the deployment of the special and flexibility tools in order to respond to the exceptional and unforeseen circumstances the Union is facing; draws attention in particular to the migration emergency and the difficulties facing Europen citizens as a result of the economic crisis; calls for even greater flexibility in order to deal adequately with such circumstances; stresses, however, that in tackling new challenges the EU must not prejudice the allocation of resources for cohesion purposes;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that addressing the migration and refugee crises, including the root causes of the phenomenon, is a key priority but that this should not come at the cost of policies in other areas, including those that are key to addressing long-term challenges; is convinced that responses to humanitarian distress must go in parallel with development processes and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals;
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that current flexibility mechanisms are insufficient in terms of volume and flexibility to adequately respond to the changed situation; recalls that, mainly owing to a lack of resources, the Commission has set up a number of ad hoc instruments, including the Trust Funds for Syria, Africa and the Central African Republic and the Refugee Facility for Turkey; welcomes their potential to increase the EU’s financial response, but is concerned, nevertheless, aboutthat these instruments bypass EU budgetary authorities, thus creating problems of transparency and, accountability and democratic control; notes Member States’ failure to deliver on funding pledges;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers it necessary to reform the system of financing of the MFF, particularly through the creation of new and genuine own resources related to corrective taxes on economic activities generating negative externalities, such as a Financial Transaction Tax and a Carbon Tax; urges the Council to commit to reflecting on this issue, without prejudice to the final report from the High- Level Group on Own Resources; also urges the Council to reflect on the establishment of a fiscal capacity within the eurozone in order to assist Member States in the implementation of agreed structural reforms; underlines that any new instrument should be placed within the EU budget, but above the ceilings of the MFF, and financed from real own resources;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses the importance of EU budgetary cohesion; notes that this is being jeopardised by the recent agreement between the EU and Turkey, under which the former undertakes to pay EUR 3 billion;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to propose a substantial reform of the flexibility mechanisms under the MFF, setting up a permanent system that allows for the mobilisation of additional resources when needed through agile procedures that allow rapid responses to urgent and volatile situations; stresses that any emergency funding for responding to crises and unforeseen situations should by its very nature be covered by special instruments and be counted outside the MFF ceilings; believes that the possibility to transfer funds between headings would increase the ability to respond to evolving challenges;