12 Amendments of Nicola CAPUTO related to 2016/2024(BUD)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the importance of agriculture and rural development in delivering many key EU objectives and the important part it represents of the overall EU budget for 2017; insistcalls, given its importance, that the agriculture budget remain at least at its current levelthe serious crisis currently affecting the European agricultural sector, for the agriculture budget to be strenuously defended and to remain at least at its current level, bearing in mind that it has over time fallen in percentage terms in relation to the budget as a whole;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses that green job creation and economic growth among EU SMEs stem not least from the implementation of environmental legislation; observes once again that Member States should view environment- and climate-friendly policies, measures and projects as an opportunity to improve public health and promote growth;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Takes note of the cuts in rural development funding under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) in terms of commitments and payments for the 2016 budget; highlights that these cuts are detrimental to economic growth in rural areas; points out that the EAFRD, including the LEADER programmes, are a major driver of rural development by giving wider benefits to the EU at large, especially in generating growth and employment in rural areas; insists that careful consideration be given to the final level of commitments and payments appropriations in the 2017 budget; calls for efforts to focus on encouraging an injection of new blood into the agricultural sector and supporting young farmers;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Notes that European agriculture has been hit increasingly hard by the crises of recent years (Russian embargo, milk crisis, price volatility, etc.); calls, therefore, for a new approach to CAP contingency funding and for a sufficient volume of stable financial resources to be provided in anticipation of future crises, without affecting direct annual payments;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Urges the Member States to make steps against the slow rate of direct payment, therefore asks the national authorities to cooperate with the European Commission to speed up payments under pillar one in the Member States concerned, as cash flow is a major problem for the farmers hit by the agricultural crisis.
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recalls that the Union Civil Protection Mechanism is a cornerstone of Union solidarity; recalls that the primary responsibility for the protection of people, as well as the environment and property, including the cultural heritage, lies with Member States; underlines that the Union plays an 'enabling role' to support, coordinate or supplement the actions of Member States in the prevention of, preparedness for, and response to disasters; notes the importance of not reducing commitments for this programme;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that additional financial resources are needed for the milk, pig meat and fruit and vegetable sector in order to alleviate any potential impact arising from the crisis, and the resulting price volatility, or from the Russian embargo; insists further that some specific agricultural sub- sectors are in need of increased funding, e.g. bee keeping; highlights the importance of school milk and school fruit programmes; proposes a small increase in the appropriations for this program in line with Parliament’s objectives;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Points out that in the current European context agricultural innovation and the related policy-making are showing many weaknesses; notes that the scarcity of available resources is one of the main problems to be resolved if innovation is to be promoted; calls, therefore, for additional funding to be earmarked with a view to encouraging greater innovation in the agricultural sector so as to make it more competitive and reduce its environmental impact;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Highlights that the private storage scheme is a useful tool on short term, therefore stresses that longer term solutions should be find.
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Insists that sufficient funds be made available in order to implement all elements of the CAP reform, e.g. greening measures, environmental programmes, biodiversity, rural development programmes; points to the urgent need to simplify the CAP and lighten the administrative burdens imposed on farmers and national authorities so as to ensure that the agriculture budget is put effectively to use to achieve its aims;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Points out that simpler CAP administrative procedures should make for fewer errors in the use of European funds;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls for agri-food research funding, in particular under the Horizon 2020 budget, to remain fully available as such in order to stimulate innovation in the agricultural sector;