861 Amendments of Ernest MARAGALL
Amendment 5 #
2016/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Emphasises the huge innovation and employment potential of renewable energy sources, search for greater resource efficiency and energy efficiencies; calls on the Commission to integrate a specific energy and environmental strategy into the European Semester with a view also to education and employment;
Amendment 11 #
2016/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Highlights the potential of CCIs regarding youth employment; stresses that further promotion of and investment in the cultural and creative sector may contribute substantially to investment, growth, innovation and employment; calls on the Commission to consider therefore the special opportunities offered by the whole CCS, comprising NGOs and small associations, in the framework for example of the Youth Employment Initiative;
Amendment 13 #
2016/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Welcomes the Commission initiatives to launch consultation over setting up a European pillar of social rights; considers that this initiative should be able to trigger a more flexible skills and competences development, life-long learning actions and active support for quality employment;
Amendment 18 #
2016/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3 a. Regrets that austerity policies pushed by the European Semester did trigger heavy cuts in education and culture in those countries where education and lifelong learning are key to exit the crisis;
Amendment 19 #
2016/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3 b. Underlines the need for structural reforms of the education and training systems in the Member States and the need to foster better interaction between the EU and the Member States and to facilitate the exchange of best practices among the Member States;
Amendment 26 #
2016/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Considers that migration could play an important role, including education schemes, complemented with efficient public expenditure, with a view to high-quality social and environmentally sustainable investments to integrate workers into the labour market and reduce unemployment;
Amendment 35 #
2016/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Welcomes Erasmus+ contribution to foster mobility and cultural exchanges across the EU and with third countries; calls for better promotion and use of the European tools for transparency, mobility and recognition of skills and qualifications with a view to facilitating mobility as regards learning and working;
Amendment 45 #
2016/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Emphasises that further action is needed, in consultation with social partners and in accordance with national practices, to make labour markets more inclusive overall;
Amendment 47 #
2016/2307(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Express concerns on the fact the most of the new job created are low- quality jobs, characterised by low salary and precarious conditions, and are therefore unable to significantly stimulate consumption and internal demand;
Amendment 16 #
2016/2101(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Welcomes the Commission initiatives to launch consultation over setting up a European pillar of social rights; considers crucial that this initiative will be able to trigger a more flexible skills and competences development, life- long learning actions and active support for quality employment;
Amendment 19 #
2016/2101(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1 b. Emphasises the huge innovation and employment potential of renewable energy sources, search for greater resource efficiency and energy efficiencies; calls on the Commission to integrate a specific energy and environmental strategy into the European Semester with a view also to education and employment;
Amendment 26 #
2016/2101(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates that investments in education and culture reinforce employability and contribute to sustainable growth and job creation in the EU; regrets that austerity policies pushed by the European Semester did trigger heavy cuts in education and culture in those countries where education and lifelong learning are key to exit the crisis; underlines the need for structural reforms of the education and training systems in the Member States and the need to foster better interaction between the EU and the Member States and to facilitate the exchange of best practices among the Member States;
Amendment 32 #
2016/2101(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Underlines that the still-too-high unemployment rates show that the capacity to create jobs in most Member States is still limited; emphasises that further action is needed, in consultation with social partners and in accordance with national practices, to make labour markets more inclusive overall; expresses concerns on the fact that most of the new jobs created are low-quality jobs, characterised by low salary and precarious conditions, and are therefore unable to significantly stimulate consumption and internal demand;
Amendment 35 #
2016/2101(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. Emphasises the need to improve the EU's overall capacity to create and sustain quality jobs and thus to tackle high levels of unemployment, while considering that migration could play an important role, including education schemes, complemented with efficient public expenditure, with a view to high- quality social and environmentally sustainable investments to integrate workers into the labour market and reduce unemployment;
Amendment 44 #
2016/2101(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights thatWelcomes Erasmus+ contributesion to foster mobility and cultural exchanges across the EU and with third countries; calls for better promotion and use of the European tools for transparency, mobility and recognition of skills and qualifications with a view to facilitating mobility as regards learning and working;
Amendment 52 #
2016/2101(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises that the cultural and creative industries contribute significantly to youth employment, employing, on average, more young people than any other sector; stresses that further promotion of and investment in the cultural and creative industries will be beneficial in creating new jobs and combating youth unemployment.Highlights the potential of CCIs regarding youth employment; stresses that further promotion of and investment in the cultural and creative sector may contribute substantially to investment, growth, innovation and employment; calls on the Commission to consider therefore the special opportunities offered by the whole CCIs, comprising NGOs and small associations, in the framework for example of the Youth Employment Initiative;
Amendment 2 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)
Citation 9 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 6 July 2016 on ''Preparation of the post- electoral revision of the MFF 2014-2020: Parliament's input ahead of the Commission's proposal''1a, __________________ 1a Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0309.
Amendment 3 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that budget 2017 has to be considered in the wider context of the mid- term revision of the multiannual financial framework (MFF); stresses therefore that budget 2017 has to be in line with the EU2020 targets, especially the social and environmental ones;
Amendment 14 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights that the Union is currently facing a number of serious emergencies and is convinced that the necessary financial resources need to be deployed from the Union budget, in order to meet the political challenges and allow the Union to deliver answers and effectively respond to those crises as a matter of utmost urgency and priority; stresses that the Union ratified the COP 21 agreement and needs to dedicate part of its financial resources to respect its international commitments; considers therefore that climate-related spending must be significantly increased in order to reach, at least, 20% of the Union budget for the period 2014-2020; considers that a strong political commitment is needed to secure fresh appropriations in 2017 and until the end of the programming period for this purpose;
Amendment 31 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Reiterates its conviction that theStrongly rejects the plan to use EUR 80 million of Union budget shouldresources to fiund ways of financing new initiatives which are not to the detriment of existing Union programmes and policies and is disappointed that the Preparatory Action for defence research, which will amount to EUR 80 million in the next three years will be squeezed undera Preparatory Action for defence research which should lead, under the next MFF, to a multi-billion EUR EU defence research budget line; reminds that such a step will have many far reaching consequences for what is thus far a civilian Union budget and would represent a paradigm shift which will deeply affects the nature of the Union; stresses that important structural and political pre-conditions for such a decision are not fulfilled such as a change of the cpurrent budget of the MFF; is convinceely intergovernmental structure of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and thate with an already underfinanced Union budget, additional efforts for operations, administrative costs, preparatory actions and pilot projects in relation to the common security and defence policy also need additional financial means by thellingness of Member States to seriously pool and share national resources in the field of defence; recalls that national defence administrations in Member States dispose of around EUR 200 billion of combined defence budgets, but are since 2007 unable to meet a 20% target for collaborative research and development of national defence budgets which was agreed at Council level and is regularly monitored by the European Defence Agency (EDA); underlines that for Member States; considers that the current MFF mid-term review/revision should be used by the Member States in that respecllaborative defence research has no priority as the 2013 data generates a 8% instead of the 20% target according to a study commissioned by the European Parliament;
Amendment 56 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Delivering on the commitment taken in June 2015 to minimise to the maximum the budgetary impact of the creation of the EFSI on Horizon 2020 and CEF in the framework of the annual budgetary procedure, decides to fully restore the original pre-EFSI profile of the Horizon 2020 and CEF lines that were cut for the provisioning of the EFSI Guarantee Fund; demands the corresponding additional commitments appropriations of EUR 1,24 billion above DB to be made available in the framework of the MFF revision; points out that EFSI should be improved in order to be fully efficient and effective by ensuring that the additionality principle is respected, by improving the geographical and sectorial balances and by improving the transparency in the decision-making process;
Amendment 63 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Is concerned about possible further delays and additional costs of the ITER programme as well as the related potential repercussions on the Union budget, especially for other R&D programme funded by the Union; proposes to put appropriations into reserve, to be released only if the updated project plan provides sufficient evidence that Parliament's recommendations have been properly taken into account;
Amendment 64 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Underlines the huge discrepancy between funding for nuclear activities in the Union budget and support for future- oriented renewable energy; believes therefore that abandoning the ITER project would free up much needed resources, which could be used for investing into already working renewable energy technologies;
Amendment 65 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15 c. Believes that the Euratom budget line on Nuclear fission and radiation protection should be reoriented towards the decommissioning of nuclear power plants; in the same vein, considers that the appropriations for nuclear activities of the Joint Research Centre should be used only for activities necessary for implementing safeguards;
Amendment 77 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Recalls that the Commission has not proposed any commitment appropriations for the Youth Employment Initiative in 2017 as a result of its frontloading in the years 2014-2015; decides,reiterates its strong support to the continuation of the YEI and that it should receive at least the same level in commitment appropriations until the end of the current MFF as the one allocated annually to the programme during the first two years of this period (EUR 6 billion frontloaded in 2014-2015); decides as a first step and in line with the Regulation on the European Social Fund7 which foresees the possibility of such a continuation, to increase the Youth Employment Initiative with additional EUR 1 500 million in commitment appropriations and EUR 500 million in payment appropriations to provide an effective response to youth unemployment; notes that, in line with Parliament’s requests, these new appropriations should be financed by the use of all financial means available under the current MFF Regulation and through the MFF mid-term revision; urges the Member States to do their utmost to speed up the implementation of the Initiative on the ground, for the direct benefit of young Europeans; __________________ 7 Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Social Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1081/2006 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 470).
Amendment 94 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23 b. In line with its EU2020 targets and with its international commitments to tackle the climate change, decides to propose an increase above the level of the DB for LIFE + programme;
Amendment 126 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 d (new)
Paragraph 32 d (new)
32 d. Welcomes the creation of a budget line for supporting the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) which is a newly created instrument aiming at involving the citizens' role in the Union decision- making process and deepening our European democracy; is of the opinion that the level of commitment appropriations as proposed in the DB is too low; decides to increase the budget line;
Amendment 131 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Notes that, in the light of the ongoing refugee crisis, the Union’'s external action is faced with ever growing funding needs which largely exceed the current size of Heading 4; therefore, underlines that the Heading 4 ceilings are vastly insufficient to provide for appropriate funding for the external dimension of the migration and refugee crisis; is disappointed that the Commission did not use the opportunity to adjust the ceilings, particularly of Heading 4 accordingly; deplores, that in order to fund new initiatives such as the FRT, the Commission chose in its DB to cut other programmes such as the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) and the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) which is against the principle that humanitarian distress must go in parallel with the development processes,; rejects these decisions as they shift important financial resources from two instruments which amongst other things address root causes of migratory flows; recalls that the primary objective of the Union's development policy must remain poverty reduction; regrets also that appropriations for humanitarian aid and for the Mediterranean strand of the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) are below those approved in the 2016 budget, despite their obvious relevance in tackling the large number of external challenges; disapproves, finally, the irresponsible cuts made by the Council, in particular on DCI and support expenditure lines;
Amendment 141 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
Amendment 143 #
2016/2047(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Looks forward tois aware of the Commission’s budgetary proposals to finance the new Migration Partnership Framework and the External Investment Plan; expresses its concerns for the creation of potential new ''satellites'' outside the Union budget; reiterates the need to keep full parliamentary scrutiny over the Union budget; strongly insists on the respect for the principle of the unity of the budget; is convinced that the new priority should not be financed to the detriment of the Union projects; expects to have a favourable approach to mobilising further flexibility in order to endow them with fresh appropriations, but warns against undermining Parliament’s amendments;
Amendment 16 #
2016/2045(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes inNotes that the new regulation the possibility of making advance payments of up to 10 % of the likely amount of aid, capped at EUR 30 million; considers, however, that the time taken between the application and payment is rather long; recommends further improvements in the assessment phase and subsequent phases facilitating the execution of payments;
Amendment 2 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 9
Citation 9
– having regard to the ECOFIN conclusions on corpthe exchange of tax-related informate tax avoidanceion on the activities of multinational companies and on the code of conduct on business taxation of 8 March 2016, on corporate taxation, base erosion and profit shifting of 8 December 2015, on business taxation of 9 December 2014 and on taxation policy of 1 December 1997,
Amendment 4 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13
Citation 13
– having regard to the Commission’'s joint follow-up, as adopted by it on 16 March 2016, to the resolucommendations of Parliament with recommendations to the Commission's resolutions on bringing transparency, coordination and convergence to the corporate tax policies in the Union, and the resolution of Parliament on tax rulings and other measures similar in nature or effect,
Amendment 5 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17
Citation 17
– having regard to the resolution of the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of 1 December 1997 on a code of conduct for business taxation12 7a, and to the regular reports to the Council of the Code of Conduct Group on Business Taxation Group, __________________ 127a OJ C 2, 6.1.1998, p. 2.
Amendment 6 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19
Citation 19
– having regard to the agreement signed between the EU and the Principality of Andorra on 12 February 2016 aiming at improving tax compliance by private savers,
Amendment 7 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24
Citation 24
– having regard to the Guernsey-UK Double Taxation Arrangement as amended by the 2009 Arrangement, signed 20 January 20109 and in force as from 27 November 2009, relating to exchange of information,
Amendment 8 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 25
Citation 25
– having regard to the amendParliament's adopted by Parliamentlegislative position on 8 July 2015 to the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2007/36/EC as regards the encouragement of long-term shareholder engagement and Directive 2013/34/EU as regards certain elements of the corporate governance statement,
Amendment 9 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 29
Citation 29
– having regard to the various parliamentary hearings and consecutive reports on tax avoidance and tax evasion held in national parliaments and in particular in the UK House of Commons, the US Senate and the French Assemblée Natio, the Australian Senate and the French National Assembly and Senalte,
Amendment 10 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 32
Citation 32
– having regards to the state aid decisions of the Commission relating to Fiat16 , Starbucks17 , and the Belgian excess-profit rulings18 , and decisions to open state aid investigations on McDonalds, Apple and Amazon; __________________ 16 SA.38375 - State aid which Luxembourg granted to Fiat. 17 SA.38374 State aid implemented by the Netherlands to Starbucks. 18 C(2015)9837, Commission Decision of 11 January 2016 on the excess profit exemption state aid scheme SA.37667 (2015/C) (ex 2015/NN) implemented by Belgium.
Amendment 11 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Overall considerations and establishment of fact, facts and figures
Amendment 27 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the scale of tax evasion and avoidance is estimated by the Commission to be EUR 1 trillion19 a year, while the OECD estimates20 the revenue loss at global level to be between 4 % and 10 % of all corporate income tax revenue, representing between EUR 75 and EUR 180 billion annually, at 2014 levels; whereas these are only estimates and the actual figures might be even higher; whereas the costs to societynegative impacts of such practices on Member States' budgets and on citizens are evident; whereas tax fraud, tax evasion and aggressive tax planning erode the tax base of Member States and thereby lead to loss of tax revenues; __________________ 19 http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxati on/tax_fraud_evasion/a_huge_problem/ind ex_en.htm, European Commission, 10 May 2016. 20 Measuring and Monitoring BEPS, Action 11 - 2015 Final Report, OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Project.
Amendment 32 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the Panama Papers reminded us that the issue of tax avoidance goes beyond multi-national companies, is strongly liked to criminal activities and that offshore wealth is estimated to approximately $10 trillion; whereas more than two and a half trillion USD of offshore wealth is held in Switzerland;
Amendment 34 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas G20 Leaders took action in April 2009, especially requesting offshore jurisdictions to sign at least 12 information exchange treaties, with the objective to end the era of bank secrecy; whereas economists seriously questioned the effectiveness of these measures explaining that treaties have led to the relocation of bank deposits between tax havens but have not triggered significant repatriation of funds1a ; whereas there is no evidence that portfolio investments in offshore jurisdictions are on the decline at least until 2014 despite recent international efforts to increase financial transparency; whereas it is too early to assess whether the adoption of automatic exchange of tax information (Common Reporting Standard) will bring changes to this trend; __________________ 1ahttp://gabriel- zucman.eu/files/JohannesenZucman2014
Amendment 35 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas according to information provided by the Bank for International Settlements, cross-border deposits in offshore centres between 2008 and 2015 have on average grown by 2.81% annually while they have grown by 1.24% only in the rest of the world1a; whereas the most important financial offshore centres in terms of foreign deposits are the Cayman Islands ($663 bn), Luxembourg ($360 bn), Switzerland ($137 bn), Hong Kong ($125 bn), Singapore ($95 bn), Bermuda ($77 bn), Panama ($67 bn), Jersey ($58 bn) and Bahamas ($55 bn); whereas cross-border deposits in European havens such as Andorra, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein and Switzerland have been declining or stagnating in the past few years, leading to the supposition of a shift of the offshore activities to other jurisdictions and a restructuring of the offshore's industry as a consequence of an increasing number of bilateral tax information agreements; __________________ 1a BIS 2016 - locational banking statistics
Amendment 36 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B d (new)
Recital B d (new)
Amendment 37 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B e (new)
Recital B e (new)
Be. whereas the OECD has been mandated again in April 2016 to create a blacklist of non-cooperative jurisdictions; whereas criteria for identifying tax havens are being defined by the European Commission, which acknowledged the importance of not only looking at transparency and cooperation criteria but also to consider harmful tax regimes as well;
Amendment 41 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the primary job creators in Europe, having created around 85 % of all new jobs in Europe21 during the last five years; whereas the CommissionOECD has stated that SMEs pay on average 30 % more in tax than multinational enterprises (MNEs); whereas this seriously distorts competition, leads to loss of jobs in the Union and hinders sustainable growth; __________________ 21 http://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/, European Commission, 10 May 2016.
Amendment 42 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas aggressive tax planning is defined by the Commission as taking advantage of the technicalities of a tax system or of mismatches between two or more tax systems for the purpose of reducing tax liability; whereas the Commission recognises that aggressive tax planning can take a multitude of forms which leads to tax law not applied as intended by law makers; whereas the main forms of aggressive tax planning include debt shifting, location of intangible assets and intellectual property, strategic transfer pricing, hybrid mismatches and offshore loan structures; whereas companies heard by its Special Committee have mostly reiterated that they pay a lot of taxes and their behaviour is legal; whereas only a small percentage of companies have publicly admitted yet that corporate tax avoidance is a priority to be addressed;
Amendment 45 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas close to one third of allcross- border corporate investments are channelled through offshore financial constructions; whereas the Commission notes that 72% of profit shifting in the European Union makes use of transfer pricing and tax-effective location of intellectual property and that the remaining profit shifting schemes involve debt-shifting1a ; __________________ 1a https://polcms.secure.europarl.europa.eu/ cmsdata/upload/a0cf64ee-8e0d-4b5f- b145- 6ffbaa940e10/TheRoleFinancialSectorTa xPlanning_Draft_210316.pdf
Amendment 47 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas bilateral tax treaties allocate taxing rights between source and residence countries; whereas source countries often are allocated the right to tax active business income provided a permanent establishment exists in the source countries and residence countries obtain taxing rights over passive income such as dividends, royalties and interest; whereas such division of taxing rights is essential to understand aggressive tax planning schemes;
Amendment 49 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas accounting practices consist in portraying the corporation's financial state by matching revenues and expenses, and gains and losses to the calendar period in which they arise, rather than to the period in which the cash flows actually take place; whereas if taxable income passes from one jurisdiction to another, and both treat it in a different manner, the opportunity to exploit mismatches arises; whereas though royalty payments can be justified for business purposes, without proper fiscal coordination, they can receive favourable tax treatment in one country leading to an erosion of the tax base in other countries;
Amendment 51 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas convergence of tax policies should also be accompanied by greater controls and more investigations of harmful tax practices; whereas the Commission has started new formal investigations regarding tax treatment of MNEs; whereas a number of investigations by the Commission in matters of state aid were still ongoing at the time of adoption of this report; whereas certain Member States have initiated recovery procedures against some MNEs but at this stage and to our knowledge, despite three decisions by the Commission of recovery for illegal tax state aids, only Luxembourg has recovered the amount due and all of them have appealed the decisions of the Commission;
Amendment 64 #
Amendment 65 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital - F (new)
Recital - F (new)
-F. whereas the Parliament held meetings with representatives of the Governments of Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Guernsey and Jersey; whereas the Cayman Islands have only appeared at a coordinators' meeting and not at a formal hearing of the Special Committee; whereas the Isle of Man declined to appear before the Special Committee but sent a written contribution instead;
Amendment 67 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas some specific tax jurisdictions actively contribute to designing aggressive tax policies on behalf offor MNEs who thereby avoid taxation; whereas the corporate tax rate in some jurisdictions is close or equal to zero per cent; whereas the complexity of different tax systems create a lack of transparency which is globally harmfulcan use these opportunities to avoid taxation; whereas despite commitments by these jurisdictions to automatically exchange tax information with other countries, the statutory or effective corporate tax rate in some jurisdictions is close or equal to zero per cent; whereas some of these jurisdictions are included in blacklists of several Member States; whereas specific tax regimes of some jurisdictions have been assessed by the Code of Conduct Group on business taxation, leading to reforms in these countries;
Amendment 74 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas these jurisdictions have all committed to automatic information exchange by 2017, except Andorra and Monaco in 2018; whereas it is important to monitor whether effective legislative changes are already being introduced to ensure effective automatic information exchange as of 2017;
Amendment 81 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the lack of transparency and, more generally, non-compliance with control requirements, deficient knowledgelack of information ofn final beneficiaries and continued banking secrecy are obstacles to ending tax evasion and avoidance; whereas the opacity of such practices is used by some tax agents in the financial sector for aggressive tax practices; whereas there is no automatic exchange of information between countries, beyond the pre-existing bilateral tax conventions; whereas, without effective enforcement, the weaknesses of the systems will encourage tax evasion and avoidance;
Amendment 83 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas some specific tax jurisdictions are not willing to reform their tax systems, despite the ongoing global initiatives and despite the fact that some of them are involved in the work of the OECD; the "Panama Papers" clearly had an effect on some specific tax jurisdictions which were so far reluctant to commit to the OECD Common Reporting Standards for automatic information exchange and announced in May 2016 that they will commit to it; whereas the United States is therefore the only major economy not having committed yet to implement the OECD Common Reporting Standards and only applying its national legislation (FATCA);
Amendment 87 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the hearings organised with Andorra, Guernsey, Jersey, Liechtenstein and Monaco (see Annex 1) showed that the conditions for registration of offshore companies and the information to be provided in this regard vary from one jurisdiction to another; whereas full information on the final beneficiaries of trusts, foundations and companies by official tax authorities of some of these jurisdictions is not known to exist or collected nor is neverit made publicly available; whereas Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland have signed agreements for exchange of information with the EU; whereas the Channel Islands have signed agreements with the UK and have declared their readiness to enter into similar agreements with other Member States; whereas the Cayman Islands have only appeared at a coordinators’ meeting and not at a formal hearing of the Special Committee; whereas the Isle of Man declined to appear before the Special Committee but sent a written contribution instead;
Amendment 89 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas the existing legislation of some jurisdictions does not ensure good governance or respect of the highest international standards as regards final beneficiaries and, transparency and cooperation;
Amendment 90 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J a (new)
Recital J a (new)
Ja. whereas some of these jurisdictions are dependent or associate territories of Members States and therefore, even if self-governing, are partially subject to national and European laws; whereas Member States should therefore consider legislating to ensure that their associate and dependent territories comply with highest standards;
Amendment 93 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas some Member States have prepared their own lists of uncooperative jurisdictions and/or substantive definitions of "tax havens" or "privileged tax jurisdiction"; whereas there are bsignificant differences between these lists as to how uncooperative jurisdictions or tax havens are defined or assessed; whereas the OECD’'s list of uncooperative jurisdictions has not proved effective; whereas a common Union-wide list of uncooperative jurisdictions is still lacking; the Commission announced the creation of a common European list of tax havens accompanied with counter-measures and this proposal has received unanimous political support by the member States in April 2016;
Amendment 103 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas some financial institutions and accounting or law firms have played a role as intermediaries in setting up complex legal structures leading to aggressive tax planning schemes used by MNEs, as evidenced in ‘'LuxLeaks’' and the ‘'Panama Papers’'; whereas legal loopholes and lack of coordination, cooperation and transparency between countries create an environment that facilitates tax evasion and avoidance; whereas banks cshould have played a positive role in combating the erosion of national tax bases by, for instance, using the means of exchange of information at their disposal in a more cooperative spiritax evasion and avoidance by, for instance, applying strong due diligence rules and by collecting information for tax authorities about their clients;
Amendment 104 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L a (new)
Recital L a (new)
La. whereas several tax scandals involving banks became public during the timeframe of this investigation; whereas financial institutions can use several aggressive tax planning schemes to support their clients to evade or avoid taxes; whereas banks can act on the market on behalf of their clients and claim to be the beneficial owner of these transactions towards tax authorities, leading to clients unduly benefiting from tax advantages granted to banks by reason of their banking status or of their residence; whereas the role of banks (particularly those with investment banking operations) in designing and implementing aggressive tax planning should be considered as dual: first, in providing aggressive tax planning for use by clients - often using financial products such as loans, derivatives, repos or any equity-linked instruments - and second, in the use of aggressive tax planning themselves - through their own inter-bank and proprietary structured finance transactions;
Amendment 105 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital L b (new)
Recital L b (new)
Lb. whereas all banks appearing in front of the Special Committee officially denied advising their clients to evade or avoid taxes in any form whatsoever and denied having relations with accounting and law firms for that purpose; whereas however banks often seek legal opinions from accounting or consultancy firms to validate contracts they offer to their clients; whereas these paid legal opinions can be used to cover tax evasion operations and to avoid allegations of intentional fraud by the banks;
Amendment 106 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
Recital M
M. whereas major financial institutions have set up an important number of subsidiaries in special tax jurisdictions or in jurisdictions with low or very low corporate tax rates in order to avoid taxes on behalf of their corporate and private clients or for their own benefit; whereas some financial institutions have recently closed down some of their branches in those jurisdictions; whereas several financial institutions have been prosecuted for tax evasion, avoidance or money laundering in the United States, leading to the payments of substantial fines but very few prosecutions have been started in the European Union;
Amendment 108 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
Ma. whereas banks are operating in a competitive market and are incentivised to promote tax attractive schemes in order to attract new clients and serve existing ones; whereas bank employees are often under enormous pressure to validate clients' contracts allowing for tax evasion and avoidance at the risk of being fired if they do not; whereas there are conflicts of interest and revolving door cases between banks top employees, consultancy firms and representatives of tax administrations; whereas tax administrations do not always have sufficient access to information or means to investigate banks and detect cases of tax evasion;
Amendment 110 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital M b (new)
Recital M b (new)
Mb. whereas it is important to acknowledge that not all complex structured finance transactions (CSFTs) have a dominant tax motivation, and that predominantly tax-driven products are only a small part of overall CSFT business; whereas the amounts involved in aggressive tax planning transactions can however be very large, with single deals involving sometimes funding of €billions and tax advantages of €100s millions 1a ; whereas revenue authorities are concerned with the lack of transparency of CSFTs that are used for aggressive tax planning purposes, particularly where separate legs of these arrangements are executed in different jurisdictions; __________________ 1aOECD, 2008, "Study into the role of tax intermediaries"; OECD, 2008, "Study into the role of tax intermediaries"; http://www.oecd.org/tax/administration/39 882938.pdf
Amendment 112 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
Recital N
N. whereas the biggest European banks are already subject to public country-by-country reporting requirements; whereas none of the financial institutions which appeared in front of the Special Committee raised any significant objection with regard to the disclosure requirements; whereas some of them clearly said they were in favour of this requirement and would support it becoming a global standard; whereas the CRD IV reporting requirements for financial institutions leave room for improvement as the data reporting is inconsistent between various EU countries and the reporting requirements are differently interpreted by various financial institutions;
Amendment 119 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Recital Q
Q. whereas schemtax incentives linked to intellectual property, patents and research and development (R&D) are widely used across the Union and are multiplying; whereas these arecan be easily used by MNEs to artificially reduce their overall tax contribution; whereas the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) action plan (action No 5) refers to the ‘Modified Nexus Approach’; whereas the role of the Code of Conduct Group is also to analyse and effectively monitor such practices in Member States;
Amendment 120 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
Recital R
R. whereas Member States could still grthe Code of Conduct Group analysed Europeant patent boxes until June 2016; whereas they are obliged to implement the OECD BEPS proposal for the mregimes but did not conclude its analysis on specific regimes; whereas in the meantime, the OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) action plan (action No 5) refers to the 'Modified Nexus Approach' as the new standard for granting R&D incentives; whereas Member States agreed in the Code of Conduct Group to implement the Modified ‘Nexus Approach’ on patent boxes until 2021 as agreed at Code of Conduct Group in their national legislation as of 2015; whereas they also agree that existing patent box schemes should be phased out by 2021 only; whereas Member States are seriously delayed in the implementation of the Modified Nexus Approach at national level;
Amendment 121 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital S
Recital S
S. whereas several studies from the Commission have clearly shown that the link between the patent box and R&D is in most cases arbitrary and/or artificial; whereas this inconsistency may lead to the assumption that these schemes are in most cases set up for tax avoidance reasons; whereas tax incentives for incomes generated by R&D, chiefly patent boxes, often result in large decreases in tax revenue for all governments, including those engaging in such a policy; whereas the OECD and the IMF also confirmed several times that they do not believe patent boxes to be the right tool to promote R&D; whereas the IMF is calling for a rationalisation of tax incentives in advanced economies;
Amendment 127 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital T
Recital T
T. whereas the central role of patent boxes in harmful tax practices schemes was initially observed in the fact-finding missions of Parliament’'s previous Special Committee (TAXE 1) in the Netherlands and the UK, and subsequently confirmed in its mission to Cyprus; whereas similar systems exist in other Member Statesor have been announced in other Member States (Belgium, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal and Spain (including Basque country and the region of Navarra));
Amendment 132 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5
Subheading 5
Documents from the Code of Conduct Group documenton business taxation, the High Level Working Group on taxation and the Working Party on tax questions
Amendment 133 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital V
Recital V
V. whereas it was only five months after the beginning of the term of its Special Committee that some Rnon-redacted sensitive room documents and minutes of the Code of Conduct Group were made available to MEPs in camera on EP premises; whereas, while additional documents have been made available, some documents and minutes still remain undisclosed or missing; whereas the Commission stated at an informal meeting that it has made all the documents at its disposal available to the Special Committee and any further relevant meeting documents, should they ever have been in the Commission’s possession, must therefore have been lost;
Amendment 136 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital V a (new)
Recital V a (new)
Amendment 139 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital W
Recital W
W. whereas Member States have given unsatisfactory answers to Parliament’s repeated requests for full disclosure of the documents concerned; whereas this practice has been going on for several months; whereas these documents have nonetheless recently been made available; whereas transparency and access to information are essential elements of parliamentary work;
Amendment 140 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital W a (new)
Recital W a (new)
Wa. whereas specific issues have been examined within the Code of Conduct Group without leading to concrete reforms; whereas for example, discussions on rulings have been going one since 1999 at least and there are still difficulties in implementing recommendations agreed, even after the Luxleaks scandal; whereas examination of patent box regimes has never been fully concluded in 2014 and no other examination has started, despite member states being late in implementing the new Modified Nexus Approach;
Amendment 141 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital X
Recital X
X. whereas the OECD, the UN and other international organisations are interested parties in the fight against corporate tax base erosion; whereas there is a need to ensure global harmonisation of practices and implementation of common standards such as those proposed by the OECD vis-à-vis the BEPS package; whereas the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors held in Washington on 14 and 15 April 2016 concluded in favour of initiating implementation of the BEPS measures, and has called for full financial transparency, especially as regards beneficial ownershipreiterated its calls for all countries and jurisdictions to implement the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards on transparency and beneficial ownership of legal persons and legal arrangements; whereas some G20 members have called for automatic information exchange of beneficial ownership information and requested FATF and the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes to make initial proposals to that effect by October 2016;
Amendment 146 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Y
Recital Y
Amendment 149 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Z
Recital Z
Z. whereas the G20 members have reaffirmed their commitment to ensure that efforts are made to strengthen the capacities of developing countries’ economies and to encourage developed countries to abide by the principles of the Addis Tax Initiative as set out at the UN meeting of 27 July 2015; whereas developing countries’ views and priorities are essential to effective global coordination;
Amendment 159 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital AE
Recital AE
AE. whereas the work of the Special Committee was hindered to some extent by the fact that out of 7 MNCs invited, only 4 agreed on first invitation to appear before its members (see Annex 2);
Amendment 167 #
Amendment 168 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Regrets that thirteen countries do not have proper rules to counter aggressive tax planning based on tax-free- flow-through of dividends and thirteen member states did not apply any beneficial-owner test when accepting a claim for a reduction or exemption of withholding tax; Regrets that so far, fourteen member states still have no controlled foreign company rules to prevent aggressive tax planning and that twenty-five member states have no rules to counter the mismatching tax qualification of a local company by another state; condemns that no single member state has called for a ban on aggressive tax planning structures so far;
Amendment 170 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on Member States and the Commission to adopt further legislative proposals on corporate tax avoidance as scope exists for member states to tighten their anti-abuse rules to counter base erosion; strongly regrets that Member States did not discuss the Parliament's recommendations in any Council working group and did not reflect on the breach of their obligation of sincere cooperation under the Treaty through enabling aggressive tax avoidance and tax evasion in other member states;
Amendment 171 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Condemns that twenty-four Member States offer a general deductibility of interest costs without making it conditional on the creditor being taxed on the interest income and/or without imposing the full scale of thin- capitalisation or other interest-limitation rules, interest withholding tax or a beneficial-owner test as a condition for withholding tax exemptions in the context of group financing;
Amendment 175 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the Anti-tax Avoidance Package (ATAP) published by the Commission on 28 January 2016, as well as all legislative proposals and communications already undertaken afterwards; calls on the Council to reach a unanimous ambitious position on the ATAP and keep the Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive as one single directiventi- Tax Avoidance Directive; strongly regrets that the current Council draft position has been weakened, especially with a grand- fathering clause on interest deduction or a narrowed approach on controlled foreign company rule; regrets that several member states, including Ireland, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Cyprus and Malta have not supported the compromise on May 25th; welcomes the initiative to create a common Union list of uncooperative jurisdictions in the External Strategy for Effective Taxation;
Amendment 190 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Urges the Commission to come forward with a proposal for a common corporate consolidated tax base (CCCTB) which would provide a comprehensive solution to harmful tax practices within the Union; believes that the consolidation of the CCCTB is essential and is becoming increasingly urgent; calls on the Member States to promptly reach an agreement on this and to swiftly implement it; reminds the Member States that different corporate tax rates can create an unlevelled playing field and unfair tax competition within the EU as well;
Amendment 198 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. WelcomNotes the Commission’s adoption on 12 April 2016 of a proposal for a directive amending Directive 2013/34/EU as regards disclosure by companies, their subsidiaries and branches, of information relating to income tax and to increased transparency in company tax; regrets, however, that the proposed scope, criteria and thresholds are not in line with the previous positions adopted by Parliament; re-calls its support for the disclosure of full disaggregated data for third countries to ensure transparency on whether companies pay their taxes where their economic activity is taking place and its support for a lower threshold of EUR40 million annual turnover to be applied; welcomes the commitment by France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK to support public country by country reporting for large multinational enterprises;
Amendment 206 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the agreement in Council on 8 December 2015 on automatic exchange of information on tax rulings; stresseregrets that at the time of this report, several member states, despite the Luxleaks scandal, still have not put in place the necessary legislative framework to start automatically exchanging information on tax rulings; regrets that the Commission shoulddoesn't have full access to the new Union database of tax rulings; insists on the need for a comprehensive and efficient database of all rulings having potential cross-border effect; calls, therefore, on the Member States to grant the Commission full access to the new Union database of tax rulings in order to enable the Commission to effectively monitor the potentially harmful tax policy of Member States; strongly regrets that as of mid-2015, only eight member states (Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Slovakia) had completed the necessary administrative work to implement the guidance on the Model Instruction concerning rulings;
Amendment 213 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines that the automatic exchange of information will result in a large volume of data needing to be treated, and that the issues relating to computer processing of the data concerned must be coordinated, as must the necessary human resources for analysing the data; calls for the strengthening of the Commission’s role in this work; calls on the Commission and Member States to carefully monitor the implementation of the Directive on Administrative Cooperation at national level, especially with the objective to verify how many member states request tax information through bilateral tax treaties rather than under this legal basis; calls on Member States to reinforce their tax administrations with adequate staff capacity; calls on Member States to integrate the information exchanged with fiscal authorities and the information exchanged with financial supervisors and regulators;
Amendment 216 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Welcomes the announcement by France, the Netherlands and the UK on May 12 to put in place public registers of beneficial owners of companies; applauds France for committing to create a public register for trusts; supports UK's commitment to make any foreign company either buying property in the country, or entering into a contract with the state to declare its beneficial owner; calls on all Member States to adopt similar initiatives;
Amendment 220 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 222 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Insists that concrete legislative action needs to be takenCalls on the Commission to present a concrete legislative proposal on transfer pricing, since 70 % of profit shifting is done through transfer pricing; calls on Member States to grant tax rulings only if taxation of cross-border transactions is ensured;
Amendment 231 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the fact that the Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager, has categorised transfer pricing as a particular focus area for state aid cases, as it is reported to be a common tool used by MNEs for tax evasionavoidance schemes such as inter-group loans;
Amendment 234 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Regrets that many multinational companies heard have not strongly condemned tax avoidance practices and aggressive tax planning; stresses that MNEs can easily grant artificial inter- group loans for aggressive tax planning purposes; stresses that the preference for such debt financing is to the detriment of the taxpayers as well as financial stability; calls, therefore, on the Member States to eliminate the debt-equity bias in their respective tax laws;
Amendment 239 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Strongly emphasises that the work of whistleblowers is crucial for revealing scandals of tax evasion and avoidance, and that, therefore, protection for whistleblowers needs to be legally guaranteed and strengthened EU-wide; notes that the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe have undertaken work on this issue; considers that courts and Member States should ensure the protection of legitimate business secrets while in no way hindering, hampering or stiflinge the capacity of whistleblowers and journalists to document and reveal illegal, wrongful and harmful practices where this is clearly and overwhelmingly in the public interest; regrets that the Commission has no plans for prompt action on the matterin the public interest;
Amendment 250 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls on the Commission to issue clear legislation on the definition of economic substance, value creation and permanent establishment, with a view to tackling, in particular, the issue of letterbox companies; calls on Member States to revise the burden of proof when it comes to re- collection of assets obtained through crimes or recovery of unlawful profits;
Amendment 254 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Notes the Commission's answer to Parliament's recommendations on tax matters; Regrets that several initiatives recommended by the Parliament, such as mandatory notification of new tax schemes by tax advisory firms to tax authorities, proposal to change the EU state aid regime (as it relates to tax) or introducing withholding taxes to avoid profits leaving the EU untaxed, will not be followed up by the Commission; regrets that the Commission did not answer on some of the recommendations such as the issue of taxing royalty payments in the EU; calls again on the Commission to propose legislation in markets that are distorted through aggressive tax competition such as retail services and professional football;
Amendment 258 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that so far, the only concrete initiatives taken by the Commission regarding uncooperative jurisdictions, including overseas territories, has beenincluding the External Strategy for Effective Taxation; observes that until now the criteria for listing of uncooperative jurisdictions by the OECD have not proved efficientective in tackling this issue and have not served as a deterrent; reminds the shortcomings and difficulties of a blacklisting exercise, often based on political considerations rather than objective criteria;
Amendment 265 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission to come up as soon as possible with a common Union list of uncooperative jurisdictions (i.e. a ‘'blacklist of tax havens’'), based on sound and objective criteria, including full implementation of OECD recommendations, BEPS actions and Automatic Exchange of Information standards,level of secrecy and disclosure of legal and beneficial ownership information and structure of legal entities (companies, trusts, foundations, charity...), lack of commitment to implement the OECD common reporting standard on automatic information exchange, low or zero tax rates for non-residents; lack of requirement of economic substance; and welcomes the Commission’'s intention to reach an agreement on such a list within the next six months; calls on the Commission to assess Member States with the same established criteria; calls on the Member States to endorse that agreement by the end of 2016;
Amendment 279 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for a concrete Union regulatory framework for sanctions against the blacklisted non-cooperative jurisdictions, including, but not limited to, the possibility of reviewing and, in the last resort, suspending free trade agreements and prohibiting access to Union funds; calls for the sanctions also to apply to companies, banks, and accountancy and law firms, and to tax advisers proven to be involved with those jurisdictions; calls on the European Commission to propose and Member States to agree on a European version of FATCA to impose a sanction (such as a 30% withholding tax on all EU-sourced payments) against any financial institution that does not apply a look-through approach and concentrates only on account holders or refuses to automatically exchange information about EU residents holding accounts abroad;
Amendment 289 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Member States to renegotiate their bilateral tax treaties with third countries in order to introduce anti- abuse clauses and thus prevent ‘'treaty shopping’; stresses furthermore that this process would be expedited considerably if the Commission were mandated by Member States'; calls on Member States to revise their bilateral tax treaties with developing countries to redefine taxation rights and use the UN model treaty as the general standard; calls on Member States and the commission to dress a check list for free trade agreements of necessary criteria to protect the partner countries concerned against tax avoidance, evasion or money laundering activities; stresses furthermore that this process would be expedited considerably if the Commission were mandated by Member States to negotiate such tax treaties on behalf of the Union while fully respecting its obligation of policy coherence for development under the treaty; calls, therefore, on the Member States to mandate the Commission to negotiate such tax treaties on behalf of the Union;
Amendment 302 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Recommends introducingCalls on the Commission to present a legislative proposal for an EU- wide withholding tax, in order to ensure that profits generated within the Union no matter of their qualification are taxed at least once before leaving it; notes that such a proposal should include a refund system to prevent double taxation;
Amendment 309 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Regrets that Andorra and Monaco have committed to automatic information exchange by 2018 instead of 2017; points out that some non-cooperative jurisdiction such as Andorra comply with exchange of information standards but are moving towards becoming low-tax jurisdictions; is concerned that the double taxation agreement between Andorra and Spain does not currently ensure effective automatic exchange of information; calls on the Commission to closely monitor the effective application of the automatic exchange of information included in the Member States’ agreements signed with former or actual non-cooperative jurisdictions;
Amendment 315 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Notes that until now, patent, knowledge and R&D boxes have not proven effective in fostering innovation in the Union, but are, rather, used by MNEs for profit-shifting through aggressive tax planning schemes, such as the well-known ‘double Irish with a Dutch sandwich’; considers that patent boxes are an ill-suited tool for achieving economic objectivespromoting R&D; insists that R&D can be promoted through subsidies which should be given preference over patent boxes, as subsidies are less at risk of being abused by tax avoidance schemes; observes that the link between patent boxes and R&D activities is often arbitrary and that current models lead to a race to the bottom with regard to the effective tax contribution of MNEs; calls on Member States to phase out existing and prohibit new patent boxes by 2021 at the latest;
Amendment 320 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Observes that so far, Member States, in particular within the framework of the Code of Conduct Group, have been neglecting this issue and have yet to come up with a proper time-frame to tackle it; regrets that barely any progress has been made by Member States in implementing into national law the modified nexus approach agreed by Ministers in December 2014; calls on Member States to implement these changes as soon as possible as they are already behind schedule; calls on the Commission to do an assessment of these legislative changes by mid-2016 and to inform the European Parliament about progress;
Amendment 326 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Commission to put forward proposals for binding Union legislation on patent boxes that goes beyond the OECD Modified Nexus Approach and calls for prohibition of tax exemption on income from intellectual property, so as to prohibit the misuse of patent boxes for tax avoidance purposes and to ensure that if and when used they are linked to genuine economic activity; calls in the meantime on all Member States to publicly disclose which companies benefit from a patent box regime in their country;
Amendment 333 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Member States to integrate a Minimum Effective Taxation (MET) clause in the Interests and Royalties Directive and to ensure that no exemptions are granteds well as in the Parent- Subsidiary Directive and to ensure that no exemptions are granted; calls on Member States to consider greater harmonisation of tax rates at the European level in order to avoid competition on rate and a race to the bottom in the European Union;
Amendment 337 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. ObserveRegrets that some banks, tax advisers, law and accounting firms and other intermediaries have played a key role in designing aggressive tax planning schemes for their clients and also help national governments design their tax codes and laws, creating a significant conflict of interest;
Amendment 343 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Is concerned about the lack of transparency and adequate documentation within financial institutions and law firms pertaining to the specific models of company ownership and control recommended by tax and legal advisors, as confirmed by the recent ‘Panama Papers’ scandal; calls on the Commission to put forward a legislative proposal to ensure necessary complementary information should be provided by banks as part of their public country by country reporting obligation; calls on the Commission to ensure that accounting firms have to confirm in the Group Audit Report that the figures in respect of taxes, turnovers, number of employees and profit made are also in line with the "true and fair view" particularly allocated/shown per country;
Amendment 349 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Calls on the Commission to come forward with a Union Code of Conduct for legislative proposals for the separation of accounting firms and financial or tax service providers as well as for all advisory services, including a Union incompatibility regime for tax advisers, in order to prevent them from advising both public and private sectorevenue authorities and taxpayers and to prevent other conflicts of interest; calls on the Commission to launch an inquiry in order to assess the state of concentration in the sector and to suggest a cap of no one firm covering more than 10% of the market;
Amendment 363 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses again the importance of clear separation between tax advising services and auditing services within accountancy firms; askscalls on the Commission to study the possibility of revising the Accounting Directive and Regulationrevise relevant legislative texts to this effect;
Amendment 367 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses the need for concrete sanctions, includingCalls on Member States to adopt effective and dissuasive sanctions, including criminal sanctions on financial institutions and companies' managers involved in tax evasion and the possibility of revoking business licences for professionals and companies proved to be involved in designing, advising on the use of, or utilising aggressive tax planning and evasion schemes; requests that the Commission explore the feasibility of introducing proportional financial liability for tax advisers engaged in unlawful tax practices;
Amendment 373 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls on the Commission to strengthen the requirements on banks to report to the Member States’ tax authorities transfers to and from jurisdictions included on the common Union list of tax havens and uncooperative tax jurisdictions; calls on Member States to ensure that banks and other financial institutions provide similar information to regulating and tax authorities; calls on Member States to strengthen the capacity of their tax administrations to investigate cases of tax evasion and avoidance;
Amendment 376 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Calls on the Commission to conduct constant screening and monitoring of derivatives and securities financing transactions - using data held in trade repositories (TRs) in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 and Regulation (EU) 2015/2365 - with the aim of identifying transactions structured to potentially produce significant tax benefits; insists that the Commission automatically provides Member States tax authorities concerned with all information, including data1a; __________________ 1a See Article 18 (Professional secrecy), paragraph 3 of REGULATION (EU) 2015/2365 on transparency of securities financing transactions and of reuse and amending Regulation (EU) : http://eur- lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:3201 5R2365&from=FR
Amendment 377 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27b. Calls on the Commission to put forward a legislative proposal to ensure that both credit institutions established in a Member State and undertakings admitted to trading on a regulated market or on a multilateral trading facility within the Union include in their annual financial reports a description of their use of securities financing transactions (SFTs) and of their re-use of collateral, as well as comprehensive and detailed data on the contribution of SFTs to their earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and earnings after taxes (EAT);
Amendment 378 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 c (new)
Paragraph 27 c (new)
Amendment 379 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 d (new)
Paragraph 27 d (new)
27d. Calls on the Commission to explore the possibility of introducing common rules aimed at curbing tax avoidance on EU-source income achieved through interposition; stresses furthermore that such rules could be similar to those applied in the US1a; __________________ 1asee for example the « qualified intermediaries » (QI) and « qualified derivatives dealers » (QDD) regimes, as well as Section 871(m) regulations of the US Internal Revenue Code which impose US withholding tax on certain amounts arising in derivative transactions over US equities when those amounts are paid to a non-US person
Amendment 382 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Reiterates the crucial role of whistleblowers in revealing misconduct and illegal and wrongful practices; considers that such revelations, which shine a light on the magnitude of tax evasion and avoidance, are clearly in the public interest, as demonstrated in Luxleaks and the recent ‘'Panama papers’' leak; welcomes that Antoine Deltour, one of the whistleblowers at the origin of the Luxleaks received the European citizen price, honouring exceptional Europeans;
Amendment 390 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. ObserveRegrets that the Commission is limiting its action to monitoring developments in different areas of Union competences, without planning to take any concrete steps to tackle the issue; notesis concerned that this lack of ambition could endanger the publication of new revelations, thereby potentially leading to European tax authoritand other countries losing legitimate tax revenue; regrets that the Commission has not provided a satisfactory response to the demands contained in paragraphs 144 and 145 of Parliament’'s resolution of 25 November 2015;
Amendment 396 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. NoteRegrets, that despite the fact that its first and second Special Committees (TAXE 1 and TAXE 2) have both on repeated occasions requested full access to Code of Conduct Group documents and minutes, only a limited number of new documents have been made available for in camera consultation by MEPSs, and that this was only achieved five months after the beginning of the mandate of TAXE2; notes furthermore that the condemns the unwillingness of the Council to satisfy thisour request remains unsatisfactoryto access to documents;
Amendment 401 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Notes the continuing lack of transparency of the working methods of the Code of Conduct Group, which is preventing any concrete potential improvement in terms of tackling harmful tax practices; regrets not having received several room documents from the Code of Conduct Group emanating from the Council or the Member States which are critical to the good implementation of the Special committee's mandate;
Amendment 409 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Determines from public information that the Code of Conduct Group looked at 421 measures between 1998 and 2014 and considered 111 of them harmful (26%) but two-third of these measures were actually examined during the first five years of existence of the Group; notes that the scrutiny of measures by Member States has decreased over the years with only 5% of the total measures been examined in 2014 and regrets that no harmful tax measures have been found by the Group since November 2012; concludes that the Code of Conduct Group hasn't been fully working over the past decade and that its governance and mandate needs urgent revision;
Amendment 421 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. UrgesStresses that it has become clear that the self-notification of potentially harmful measures by Member States, the criteria for identifying harmful measures as well as the unanimity principle for reaching decisions on harmfulness are outdated; regrets that several Member States are opposing a needed reform of the Code of Conduct Group; urges therefore the Member States to reform, as soon as possible, the criteria and governance aspects of the Code of Conduct Group, in order to increase its transparency, effectiveness and accountability and ensure the strong involvement of Parliament;
Amendment 425 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Notes that a pattern of systematic obstruction by some Member States in achieving any progress on fighting tax avoidance became clear to the Special Committee; notes that discussions on administrative practices (rulings) were going on in the Code of Conduct for nearly two decades; condemns that several Member States were reluctant to agree on exchanging information about their ruling practices before Luxleaks and are still reluctant to implement in national law the model instruction developed in the Code of Conduct Group despite their commitments after the Luxleaks revelations;
Amendment 426 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
Paragraph 34 b (new)
34b. Concludes that, therefore, Member States violated their obligation for sincere cooperation enshrined in Article 4(3) of the Treaty on European Union and that the Commission was aware of the non- compliance of certain Member States with the principle of sincere cooperation; stresses that the violation of Union law by Member States as well as non-action of the Commission against the violation of Union law by Member States need a follow-up;
Amendment 427 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 c (new)
Paragraph 34 c (new)
34c. Calls on the Commission to grant Parliament permanent, timely and regular access to the room documents and minutes of the Council groups working on tax matters, including the Code of Conduct on Business Taxation, the High Level Working Group and the Working Party on Tax Questions; suggests to the Commission to use the agreement reached with the Parliament on access to SSM/ECB minutes as an example for that purpose;
Amendment 434 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Calls on the Commission, in case of an unsatisfactory response on the part of the Member States, to present a legislative proposal under Article 116 of TFEU to incorporate the Code of Conduct Group into the Community method;
Amendment 472 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Calls on the Union, the G20, the OECD and the UN to cooperate further to promote global guidelines that will also be beneficial to developing countries; calls on the Commission and Member States to support the creation of a Global Tax Body under the auspices of the UN, as recommended by the Parliament in a resolution in July 2015;
Amendment 480 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Calls on the Commission to include in all trade and partnership agreements good governance clauses, including an effective and comprehensive implementation of BEPS measures and global automatic exchange of information standardand ensure that trade and partnership agreements cannot be misused by companies or intermediaries to avoid and evade taxes or launder revenues from illegal activities;
Amendment 483 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Calls on the OECDinternational instances to start working on an ambitious BEPS II project, to be based primarily on minimum standards and concrete objectives for implementation; calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure that all countries interested in participating is granted participation on equal footing in all phases of the project;
Amendment 488 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
Amendment 496 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Calls for the establishment of a Union public register of both legal and beneficial ownership, which would form the basis of a global initiative in this regard; stresses the vital role of institutions such as the OECD and the UN in this connection;
Amendment 506 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Stresses the need for a comprehensive EU/US approach on the implementation of OECD standards and on beneficial ownership; stresses furthermore that good governance clauses and the full BEPS action plan should be included in the Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership (TTIP) in order to ensure a level playing field, create more value for society as a whole and combat tax fraud and avoidance;
Amendment 517 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Calls on all national parliaments to work together to ensure proper control and coherence of tax systems between Member States; calls for national parliaments to remain vigilant as to the decisions of their governments in this matter and to increase their own commitment to the work of interparliamentary forums on tax matters; regrets that its Special Committee could not invite former or current Ministers of Finance, as done for the Special Committee TAXE, especially Mr Juncker as former Minister of Finance of Luxembourg and Mr Dijsselbloem as current Minister of Finance of the Netherlands; calls on the Parliament to create a sub-committee on taxation within its economic and monetary affairs committee to ensure proper follow-up of TAXE and TAX2's recommendations;
Amendment 519 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47a. Calls on the Commission to investigate all cases of illegal state aid brought to its attention in order to ensure equality of treatment before the law in the Union; calls on the Commission to issue decision with recovery in all cases where the alleged tax advantage is considered illegal state aid; is concerned by allegations that Luxembourg could be granting oral rulings in order to circumvent its obligation to share information under the directive on administrative cooperation; calls on the Commission to carefully monitor and report whether Member States are replacing one harmful practice by another after legislative progress has been achieved in the Union; calls on the Commission to monitor and report any case of market distortion due to the granting of specific tax advantage;
Amendment 525 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Regrets deeply that the timeframe for the present report has not allowed for a thorough examination of the ‘'Panama Papers’' case; stresswelcomes the Eurgent need for a full and proper follow-up by Parliament in this regardopean Parliament decision to set-up an inquiry committee in this regard and to continue working on tax evasion, tax avoidance and money laundering; underlines the immense political importance of analysing the modus operandi of the companies and private citizens involved with the Panama papers scandal with a view to tackling legislative loopholes;
Amendment 528 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
49. Notes that the Panama Papers scandal has documented systematic use of shell companies by private citizens in order to conceal taxable assets, although this specific issue could not be dealt with sufficiently within the mandate or timeframe of the Special Committee; is of the firm conviction that this subject must be addressed swiftly by Parliamentthe upcoming inquiry committee; is concerned that some Member States have very low requirements for the establishment of companies and calls, therefore, on the Commission to make proposals for minimum standards for the establishment of companies; calls on the Commission to withdraw its proposal on single-member private limited liability companies;
Amendment 533 #
2016/2038(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Notes, that further work is needed on access to documents of the Member States, the Commission and the Code of Conduct Group; reiterates that further analysis of the documents already made available to Parliament is needed in order to adequately gauge the need for further political action and policy initiatives; calls on the upcoming inquiry committee to continue this work and adopt a different format to the Special Committee, which follows more closely an interrogative committee, such as the Public Accounts Committee in the UK;
Amendment 5 #
2016/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that, apart from the military mission against traffickersccording to the provisions of Article 43(1) TEU the tasks of civilian and military CSDP in the field of migration in the Mediterranean cand measures to reinforce the management of migration by EUCAP Sahel Niger, the contribution of the CSDP civilian missions to only focus on humanitarian and rescue tasks and not on the management of migration; notes that the European response to the migration crisis has been very limited and has not been part of a real strategy;
Amendment 7 #
2016/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls the need to ensure coherence between internal and external EU policies, and stresses that targeted cultural and educational policies can support key EU foreign and security policy objectives; reiterates the role of intercultural dialogue through intergovernmental collaboration, acting in close coordination with civil society and NGOs in the field of culture, as a tool for peace building and conflict prevention;
Amendment 9 #
2016/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is surprised that, at a time when some national budgets are tight and when military expenditure has until recently declined sharply in contrast with other regions of the world, the Member States do not see the urgent need to achieve economies of scale by means of ‘in depth cooperation, in particular 'permanent structural cooperation’', in other words the pooling and sharing of military resources by those countries that are willing and able to do this (Article 46 TEU); Welcomnotes the existence of EU battlegroups, but deplores the failure to make use of them owing to a political structure which is so complex that it does not work due to the lead nation concept and to a funding method that is flawed, which endanger the very idea of an effective European defence;response to crisis
Amendment 12 #
2016/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Regrets that the Member States have not sufficiently exploited the potential of cooperative projects proposed by the European Defence Agency and expresses concern at the freezing of the Agency's budget by the Member States since 2010; considers the pooling of defence research capacities to be indispensable in order to avoid duplication and to prepare for the future; welcomes the establishment of Parliament's pilot project in this field and supports iturgently reminds the 19 November 2007 decision of EU defence ministers on a framework for a joint Strategy on Defence Research and Technology which contained four benchmarks on collaborative spending, and in particular a benchmark on research and development aiming at increasing the percentage of collaborative research and development from 10 to 20 percent; notes that EU Member States areinforcement by the appropriate means from 2017. still unable to implement their own decisions in this respect since 9 years; is convinced that any EU budget contribution in this field would, under these circumstances, not be justifiable;
Amendment 22 #
2016/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Welcomes the work done by DG EAC on extending the cultural and education links to third countries like China, Korea and India; supports the cooperation between DG EAC and the EEAS, as stated in the recommendations of the Preparatory Action "on culture in the EU external relations", and the nomination of a cultural attaché in the EU Representation in China;
Amendment 31 #
2016/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the renewed European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), and calls for an increased profile of culture and education in the bilateral and regional cooperation programmes under the ENP, aiming at involving more citizens in cultural and educational offers and build up a resilient civil society;
Amendment 52 #
2016/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recognises the role of cultural and creative industries in fostering growth and economic development, and encourages further support to creative industries in the EU and in third countries, for example with the pilot project supporting networks of young creative entrepreneurs in EU and third countries which is due to start in 2016;
Amendment 54 #
2016/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Welcomes the work done by the Commission and the Communication on cultural diplomacy due to be published in 2016;
Amendment 66 #
2016/2036(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Encourages the participation of eligible third countries in the main EU programmes in the field of education and culture, such as Erasmus+, Creative Europe and Horizon 2020; supports all actions allowing youth to be in contact with third countries and vice-versa to learn better from one another, and open up to their neighbours, i.e. in the preparatory actions on youth exchanges between EU and Ukraine, EU and Russia.
Amendment 11 #
2016/2030(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the establishment of the East StratCom Team within the European External Action Service (EEAS) with the aim of countering anti-EU propaganda and disinformation; insists upon the difference between ‘propaganda’ and criticism;
Amendment 23 #
2016/2030(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines the need to strengthen independent media, especially in the EUmedia pluralism and independent media, in the European Union and its neighbourhood, inter alia through support for journalists and the development of capacity-building programmes for media actors, fostering information-exchange partnerships and networks, such as content- sharing platforms, media-related research, exchange and training opportunities for journalists, and placements with EU-based media to facilitate exchanges of best practices;
Amendment 29 #
2016/2030(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls for Member States to provide and ensure the necessary framework for quality journalism and variety of information, in fighting media concentrations, which have a negative impact on media pluralism;
Amendment 42 #
2016/2030(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights the importance of a coherent communication ong EU policies effectively, internally as well as externally, and of ensuring access to information in local languages; welcomes, in this context, the launch of the EEAS website in Russian;, underlines thate need to provide the same facilities for Arab and Turkish languages; calls for particular attention shouldto be paid to new technologies – including digital broadcasting, mobile communications, online media and social networks – which facilitate the dissemination of information about, and increased awareness of, the European values enshrined in the Treaties.
Amendment 5 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Expresses its continued strong support for the programmes in the field of education training, youth and culture, and calls for the allocation of sufficient commitment and payment appropriations to ensure their proper implementation;
Amendment 6 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that multiannual programmes such as COSME, CEF and Horizon 2020 constitute necessary investment in the EU’s globalsustainability and competitiveness and in the accomplishment of the goals of Europe 2020 strategy;
Amendment 6 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Asks Member States to comply with the decisions they themselves, as budgetary authorities, have taken with regards to payment appropriations;
Amendment 7 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates its firm belief that Erasmus+, as an emblematic mobility programme, must receive increased funding, and to allow for the provision of quality mobility for all; in this sense, recalls the urgent need to enhance the lines addressed to cover the mobility demand for VET students, centre and teachers; notes that the decentralisation of the Erasmus + Programme towards National Agencies, represents a significant obstacle to the action of the European civil society organizations especially impacting their involvement in strategic partnership (KA2); calls for the strengthening of the Creative Europe and Europe for Citizens programmes;
Amendment 10 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls that grants and loans do not finance the same type of activities and that those different instruments support different types of beneficiaries and projects; stresses the need of continuing with grants for financing European fundamental and collaborative research, in particular research performed by the academia; alerts against the tendency in the Commission of transforming grants into loans or equity, in particular when university research budgets are suffering cuts in many Member States; believes that this tendency works towards the loosing of the research basis, which in turn significantly reduces the innovation potential of the European Union in the future;
Amendment 12 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates its firm belief that Erasmus+, as an emblematic mobility and lifelong learning programme, must receive increased funding, and calls for the strengthening of the Creative Europe and Europe for Citizens programmes;
Amendment 15 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Calls for the significant extension of the SME instruments, in order to meet at minimum its legal budgetary commitments as negotiated under Horizon 2020 with the European Parliament; requests to the Commission improve the budgetary oversight and control, and ensure a genuine bottom-up approach to its implementation, by establishing a single budget line for this instrument in Horizon 2020;
Amendment 15 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Insists on a thorough simplification of the application forms and criteria, of reporting and reimbursement, especially for small-scale projects, both in Erasmus+ and in the Creative Europe and Europe for Citizens programmes;
Amendment 16 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Recommends the Commission to pay special attention to the implementation of the financial Guarantee facility tool which is delayed by more than a few months; is concerned that cultural NGOs and small associations will not be eligible for this tool, and only cultural and creative SMEs would be able to participate; recommends a thorough analysis of the experiences done throughout the whole process in order to check the pertinence and sustainability of such a tool, aside COSME;
Amendment 19 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Considers that Erasmus+ would reach its cruising speed only if it takes on board a growing number of smaller projects that allow a larger diffusion of the programme at schools or for youth, an increase of VET mobility, and therefore a better efficiency in realising its educative, social and humanitarian goals;
Amendment 20 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 d (new)
Paragraph 2 d (new)
2d. Notes that some of the budgetary lines within Erasmus+ have not been fully utilised, and, therefore, proposes flexibility in the management of such funds; this would allow their reallocation to other, insufficiently funded, categories within the programme that are currently struggling to meet demand within the allotted budget;
Amendment 21 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 e (new)
Paragraph 2 e (new)
2e. Highlights the need of strengthening a European approach to face common European challenges by supporting large scale innovation projects in the field of education, training and youth carried out by European Civil Society networks which should be done by allocating 5% of the overall KA2 Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices of Erasmus+ to centralised actions;
Amendment 24 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) must contribute substantially to investment in the areas of education, training, youth and research, and that the cultural and creative sectors must be given adequate support; recalls the urgency of fully offsetting the budgetary lines in Horizon 2020 Program affected by significant cuts to make possible the first EFSI guarantee funds;
Amendment 26 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls the importance of completing the Internal Energy Market in order to accomplish the goals of the Energy Union, especiallyi.e. energy security, sustainability and resilience to disruptions in energy supplies; highlights the necessity of providing adequate funds to projects of common interest aimed at ensuring the diversification of energy sources and supply routes and connectivity of power and gas networkthe five mutually supportive dimensions of the Energy Union: energy security, solidarity and trust; the internal energy market; energy efficiency as a contribution to the moderation of energy demand; decarbonisation of the economy; and research, innovation and competitiveness; recalls in this context the adopted ‘energy efficiency first’ principle as well as the target for the EU to become number one in renewables;
Amendment 31 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls for the continuation of the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI); calls for subsequent adjustments in regulation and resources to be proposed to overcome existing implementation impediments up to the end of the current financial framework;
Amendment 32 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses the importance of the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and the need to assign sufficient resources to ensure that it executes the tasks conferred on it by EU legislative authorities, in particular with respect to the completion of the Internal Energy Market, the development of infrastructure of European common interest and the monitoring of trading on wholesale eassisting the national regulatory authorities in the completion of the Internal Energy mMarkets; is concerned that persisting funding shortages may hamper the functioning, integrity and transparency of energy markets, heighten the risk of market abuse and prevent energy consumers and citizens from reaping the full benefits of market liberalisation;
Amendment 32 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Urges the Member States to implement fully the Youth Guarantee, based on a strong cooperation between employment services and the education system; the Youth Guarantee should be integrated in national employment plans, but also in youth plans and education plans;
Amendment 34 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Draws attention to the importancenew delay - by more than a decade - and the further increases of another 4 billion euros of cost overruns of the ITER programme a; reminds tohat the need to support itEuropean Parliament has voted to withhold appropriate financing and to eliminate delays in paymentsval of the 2014 accounts of ITER on ground of lack of coherence in the budgetary and financial management; calls to stop supporting ITER in the 2017 budget and to spend the EU research funds into development and deployment of sustainable energy solutions that are already available, or available in the foreseeable future to deliver the climate and energy 2020 goals;.
Amendment 35 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Urges the Commission and Council to review their position on the "Europe for Citizens" programme, the only programme which involves all citizens directly, and to provide it with a substantial additional budget allowing better implementation of the goals of the programme; indeed, having been cut beyond any reason, the programme can only accept a dramatically low percentage of projects, a situation that it is not sustainable and defendable towards the EU citizens, even more so in the present social and humanitarian situation in the EU;
Amendment 38 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls for developing better synergies between Horizon 2020 and smart specialisation initiatives (RIS3) to enable focusing investments in the sustainable energy transition, resource efficiency and circular economy, to deliver better R&D exploitation and support regional economic convergence;
Amendment 40 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes, in the context of the evolving migration and refugee crisis, the importance of the Paris Declaration of 17 March 2015, which calls for intercultural dialogue and EU-level cooperation to prevent and tackle marginalisation, intolerance, racism and ranew increasing challenges, including migration and diverse societies, more investments in education, training, youth and culture are very much needed to reinforce cohesive, equal and inclusive societies as well as intercultural dicalisation.ogue;
Amendment 43 #
2016/2024(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Strongly believes that programmes relating to culture, education, youth and sport play a crucial role when it comes to integration policies for migrants and refugees, and thus asks European institutions to respond to the migration crisis by providing for additional resources in both the directly managed programmes and the Structural Funds, in addition to dedicated budget lines;
Amendment 18 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
– having regard to the report of 22 July 2014 of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non- recurrence,
Amendment 94 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 44 a (new)
Citation 44 a (new)
– having regard to the procedure set out in the EU framework to strengthen the rule of law adopted by the Commission on 11 March 2014,
Amendment 578 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Deems it crucial that all EU Member States cooperate with national or international judicial investigations attempting to clarify responsibilities and endeavouring to ascertain the truth and secure justice and redress for the victims of crimes against humanity committed in the Union by totalitarian regimes. Calls on the Member States to provide the necessary training for legal practitioners in this area; urges the European Commission to conduct an objective assessment of the state of play in such processes to foster democratic remembrance in all Member States; Warns that failing to comply with international recommendations on democratic remembrance and the principles of universal jurisdiction is a breach of the basic principles of the rule of law;
Amendment 957 #
2016/2009(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)
Paragraph 46 a (new)
46a. Calls on the Commission to be more resolute in its use of the instruments at its disposal under the framework for the prevention of systemic threats to the rule of law in EU countries, by applying the prevention capacities provided for in the phases involving objective assessment and dialogue with the Member State concerned in cases of clear and serious breaches of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, even if those breaches are not strictly related to the implementation of EU law;
Amendment 3 #
2016/2008(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Acknowledges the continual and swift technological changes occurring in the information society, the deep transformations these changes have brought about, with particular regard to educational and citizenship aspects, and the challenges and opportunities related to the various ICT tools, new media and other new technologies; stresses that evaluation tools to assess what value-added online engagement has brought must be developed;
Amendment 6 #
2016/2008(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that e-engagement should be seen as just one route for participation and be supported by other off-line engagement activities. Off-line and online engagement activities need to be clearly integrated with one another;
Amendment 7 #
2016/2008(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that an increasing number of citizens use ICT tools and new media and technologies to engage and participate in political life at both national and EU level and that it is therefore crucial to increase digital inclusion and literacy, thus eradicating the existing digital divideBelieves it is crucial to develop tools for online engagement that provide all citizens with an opportunity both to participate in, and to understand, collective-decision making and develop the skills for active citizenship; considers, therefore, necessary to increase digital inclusion and literacy, thus eradicating the existing digital divide in an integrative way, in order to accompany everyone in this switch to the use of technology;
Amendment 31 #
2016/2008(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Believes that, in order to stimulate a proper and critical knowledge of the EU and its history, values and fundamental rights, its functioning and structured decision-making processes, ICT tools and new media and technologies are crucial and will increasingly play a fundamental role, without leaving aside all other ways to communicate and experience EU policies;
Amendment 40 #
2016/2008(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the EU and the Member States should support capacity- building among civil society organizations and promote ICT-based lifelong learning programmes on both digital literacy and civic engagement and participation, with particular regard to the most vulnerable and socially disadvantaged categories and people with disabilities; recommends that discussion channels are open for actors of civil society and civil servants, elected officials, MPs, professionals and experts – for anybody who wants to be involved in promoting people's involvement in society; asks these actors to reflect, as well, on the different aspects for the creation of a European Directive for the implementation of e-voting;
Amendment 61 #
2016/2008(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Notes that in order to ensure citizen´s equal accessibility to e- democracy tools, multi-lingual translation is important when information is to be disseminated and read by all citizens in countries with more than one official language or coming from different ethnic backgrounds;
Amendment 78 #
2016/2008(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to take an holistic view of the policy-making life cycle and explicitly incorporate procedures for ICT enabled citizen engagement with clear indications on informing, consulting, participating, analysing, providing feedback and evaluating.
Amendment 15 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
C a. Whereas the huge EU external trade surplus makes the EU economically dependent on global developments
Amendment 20 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that the Union budget has proven to be a crucial resource in tackling recent crises and responding to needs that had not been anticipated during the negotiation of the MFF 2014-2020, such as the migration and refugee crisis or geopolitical tensions in the European neighbourhood producing a number of serious emergencies, while in the Union a continuous lowering of consumption and investment levels has led to an investmentaggregate demand gap;
Amendment 37 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes the Commission’'s European Economic Forecast (Autumn 2015), which indicates a modest recovery; stresses, however, that this recovery remains worryingly weak, too dependent on exports and too slow for a prompt return to full employment to be achieved, with long- term and very long-term unemployment on the rise; notes, furthermore, the appearance of new challenges, such as the slowdown in emerging market economies and global trade, with particular pressure arising from volatility on Chinese markets, the need to tackle the refugee crisis, and persisting geopolitical tensions;
Amendment 48 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes, additionally, the Commission’s Annual Growth Survey for 2016; strongly believes that boosting investment, includingaggregate internal demand, as well as a coordinated increase in public investment with a focus on the Europe 2020 targets, is a proper policy response with a view to a more balanced economic policy; believes that those two elements should be taken into consideration in the preparation of the draft budget for 2017 insofar as this should help identify priorities within an economic context; calls, consequently, for more synergies between the Union dimension of the European semester for economic policy coordination and the Union budget;
Amendment 69 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Notes and regrets that corporate tax avoidance has caused huge losses of tax income for member states, and therefore a reduction of their contributions to the EU budget. Moreover, such unfair tax competition in some cases means GDP transfer from one to other MS and GNI transfer to non EU tax havens, thus reducing aggregate member state contributions to the EU budget.
Amendment 70 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Urges the High Level group on Own Resources to direct their proposals to increasing real EU own resources without decreasing member states' tax incomes, as would be the case with an EU element corporate taxation coupled with a common consolidated corporate tax base.
Amendment 85 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls that the Union budget provides the backbone of the investment plan by making available the EUR 8 billion required in commitment and payment appropriations for the provisioning of the guarantee fund of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), out of which a total of EUR 3.38 billion has already been mobilised in the 2015 and 2016 budgets; reiterates its commitment to reinforce Horizon 2020 and the Connecting Europe Facility through the annual budgetary procedure, in order to compensate the cuts agreed during the EFSI negotiations as much as possible; Insists on the need to properly apply the scoreboard.
Amendment 100 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers the European Youth Initiative (YEI), in particular, to be a fundamental contribution to the Union’s priority objective for jobs and growth, and therefore reiterates its commitment to continued funding for this programme with a view to scaling it up and thereby offering a greater number of young people the prospect of effectively entering the labour market by receiving a good quality offer of employment, continued education or apprenticeship; and enhancing workers mobility in connection with Erasmus+, recalls the commitment made by the three institutions to ‘ensure appropriate funding via an Amending Budget in 2016, by making use of all available means provided for in the MFF, and primarily of the Global Margin for Commitments’; notes that the figures for implementation indicate full success in terms of absorption capacity; calls on the Commission to present its evaluation of the YEI at the latest by the end of April 2016, and at all events in time for the inclusion of a prolongation of the programme in the EU budget 2017, while also laying the groundwork for the search for a permanent source of funding for the YEI as part of the revision of the MFF;
Amendment 109 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Is alarmed by increasing poverty, particularly among children; recalls its report advocating the establishment of a child guarantee in order to lift children out of poverty and avoid their being exploited and socially excluded7 ; considers education, childcare, health services, housing and security to be basic needs to which every European child has the right; including those travelling to and arriving in Europe amongst refugees and migrants. __________________ 7 Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0403.
Amendment 131 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes the setting-up of the Union Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis and of the Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing the root causes of irregular migration and displacement of people in Africa; urges theregrets the failure of Member States to stand by their promises and to make corresponding adequate contributeions to these funds; points out that lack of adequate funding for humanitarian aid, including for health and education measures in camps, has prompted more refugees to embark on the risky journey to the EU, underlines that the Member States have reconfirmed their commitment, at the informal meeting of EU Heads of State or Government held to discuss migration on 23 September 2015, the European Council of 15 October 2015, and the Valletta summit of 11-12 November 2015; stresses, however, that further financial efforts will be needed to provide humanitarian assistance along the transit routes and to manage the challenges posed by increasing numbers of refugees; reminds that the above funds were created in response to the lack of flexibility and funding in the EU budget; insists that the actions undertaken to tackle the migration and refugee problem should not come at the cost of the EU´s development policies in other areas;
Amendment 141 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes the principle and objectives of the envisaged EUR 3 billion Refugee Facility for Turkey, and calls on each Member State to take on its share, but raises the question of how the Union contribution should be made available within the respective ceilings of the Union budget for 2016 and 2017; deplores the fact that Parliament was not properly involved in eitherCriticises Council and Commission for deliberately excluding Parliament from the deliberations on the setting-up of the facility orand the mobilisation of the Union’'s contribution, as shown by the Commission’s 's announcement of its intention to finance the Union contribution by redeployment from the recently adopted Union budget for 2016 and by pre-empting the margins of the 2017 budget; considers these actions to be clear infringements of Parliament’'s rights as an arm of the budgetary authority;
Amendment 165 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. In this context, points out that the time is ripe to perform a comprehensive scan of the EU budget to identify budget lines that contribute to mitigation and adaptation, as well as spending that - as it is currently designed - directly or indirectly contributes to emitting GHG, and therefore should be phased out. Believe that such an assessment is indispensable given the need to "climate- fine-tuning" the EU budget.
Amendment 166 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18 b. Encourages the Commission to see to a swift implementation of the General Affairs Council conclusions from the 17th of November 2015 with regard to climate and cohesion policy funds.
Amendment 167 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18 c. Asks the Commission to boost and make more efficient spending on infrastructure that is necessary and conducive to - speedily - delivering the energy transition that the Paris agreement requires.
Amendment 168 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 d (new)
Paragraph 18 d (new)
18 d. Asks the Commission to boost and make more efficient spending on infrastructure that is necessary and conducive to - speedily - delivering the energy transition that the Paris agreement requires.
Amendment 169 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 e (new)
Paragraph 18 e (new)
18 e. Urges the re-concentration of EU spending on sustainable modes of transport.
Amendment 170 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 f (new)
Paragraph 18 f (new)
18 f. Urges the use of existing margins of manoeuvre to redirect CAP funding to make EU agriculture climate-proof while overall reducing agricultural GHG emissions.
Amendment 171 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 g (new)
Paragraph 18 g (new)
18 g. Recalls that the EU has agreed that at least 20% of its budget for 2014-2020 – as much as €180 billion − should be spent on climate change-related action.
Amendment 180 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 184 #
2016/2004(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Regarding ITER, is concerned that further delays and additional costs may arise regarding this programme, as well as at the related potential repercussions for the Union budget; regrets, therefore, that it was unable to assess the level of the 2016 ITER appropriations against the updated payment plan and schedule; expects this revised plan to be included in the preparation of the draft budget for 2017; calls for a proper accountability mechanism that will offer a clear overview of the amount in financial resources provided for the international project and will evaluate the efficiency of their use; believes it is time to propose the phasing out of EU funding for ITER and redirect the funding towards energy efficiency and renewables.
Amendment 249 #
2016/0131(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 35 – paragraph 6
Article 35 – paragraph 6
6. The Agency may benefit from Union fundingtake part in Union funded projects in accordance with the provisions of the relevant instruments supporting the external relations policy of the Union. It may launch and finance technical assistance projects in third countries regarding matters covered by this Regulation.
Amendment 251 #
2016/0131(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 48 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Article 48 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. The management board shall ensure that adequate human and financial resources are provided to the consultative forum
Amendment 252 #
2016/0131(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 52 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 52 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
By 31 March of the following financial year, the Agency shall send the report on the budgetary and financial management to the European Parliament, the Council and the Court of Auditors. The report shall provide details of expenditure for each of the individual tasks listed in Article 2.
Amendment 20 #
2016/0027(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Spectrum is a public good. It is, in the 470-790 MHz frequency band is, a valuable asset for the cost-efficient deployment of wireless networks with universal indoor and outdoor coverage. This spectrum is currently used across the Union for digital terrestrial television (DTT) and wireless audio PMSE equipment. It supports the development of the media, creative and cultural sectors, which extensively rely on this spectrum resource for the wireless provision of content to mass audiences.
Amendment 2 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the current multiannual financial framework (MFF) was adopted for the first time under the new provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon, according to which the Council, acting in accordance with a special legislative procedure, shall unanimously adopt the MFF regulation after having obtained the consent of the European Parliament, unless the Council decides to use the Passerelle clause, as provided for by Article 48(7) regarding the decision-making procedures for the MFF regulation, in order to switch from unanimity to QMV for its adoption;
Amendment 4 #
2015/2353(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that, while the MFF Regulation has to a large extent remained unchanged since its adoption, the framework conditions for its implementation have changed; highlights the fact that, following a genuine review, a legislative proposal should address these challenges; points out in this regard that the new instruments, such as EFSI, that have been set up since the adoption of the MFF Regulation should be duly incorporated into the EU budget without any negative financial impact on the agreed programmesfinancial enveloped of the research, innovation and investment programmes under Heading 1a, as agreed at the adoption of the MFF;
Amendment 5 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas, in order to ensure the democratic legitimacy of the new MFF and to give the opportunity to the new Commission and the newly elected Parliament of reconfirming and, reassessing or revising the EU’'s political and budgetary priorities by adjusting the MFF accordingly, a post-electoral revision clause was requested by Parliament;
Amendment 7 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the agreement on the MFF 2014-2020 was the outcome of a long and strenuous process of negotiations which took place in a very difficult social, economic and financial context; whereas as a consequence the overall level of the MFF was effectively reduced compared to the previous programming period; whereas the 2014-2020 MFF was reduced by 9% compared to the initial Commission proposal which came forward with a proposal representing a freeze at 2013 level;
Amendment 7 #
2015/2353(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes the considerable long-term impact of EFSI on the EU budget; believes that EFSI invests in projects that are not and should not be the same as those targeted by the H2020- affected budget lines and CEF; stresses therefore that, if the EU is to reach its research and innovation targets, the unanimously agreed level of financing of these programmes needs to be fully restored, and the right balance between grants and financial instruments to be maintained; recalls, in this context, that CEF in the area of energy and telecom has high political priority for the Energy Union and the Digital Union;
Amendment 8 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas, faced politically with the impossibility of changing the overall MFF figures decided by the European Council, Parliament successfully negotiated the inclusion of a specific article in the MFF regulation relating to a compulsory and comprehensive review/revision of the MFF, the establishment of new and enhanced flexibility provisions, and the setting-up of a High Level Group on Own Resources;
Amendment 10 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas the EU is presently facing its major crisis since its foundation, as a result of several episodes concatenated — the euro crisis, the cross credit-debt crisis, the Ukraine crisis, the refugee's crisis — all of them with budgetary impacts; whereas the budget cannot stand ignoring such situation but trying to fix it, anticipating instead of reacting when problems become almost unsolvable.
Amendment 10 #
2015/2353(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls to the Commission that grants and loans do not finance the same type of activities and that those different instruments support different types of beneficiaries and projects; stresses the need of continuing with grants for financing fundamental and collaborative research, in particular research performed by the academia; alerts against the tendency in the Commission of transforming grants into loans or equity, in particular when university research budgets are suffering cuts in many Member States; believes that this tendency works towards the losing of the research basis, which in turn significantly reduces the innovation potential of the European Union in the future;
Amendment 11 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Legal framework and scope of the mid- term review/post electoral revision
Amendment 12 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that in accordance with Article 2 of the MFF Regulation, the Commission shall present a compulsory review of the functioning of the MFF before the end of 2016, taking full account of the economic situation at that time as well as of the latest macroeconomic projections, and that this review shall, as appropriate, be accompanied by a legislative proposal for the revision of the MFF Regulation; Reiterates that a binding post-electoral revision clause was one of the key demand from the EP to grant its consent to the MFF regulation;
Amendment 16 #
2015/2353(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that new political priorities shouldmust not be proposed at the expense of the agreed programmes of the current MFF, in particularsuch as H2020, CEF, COSME, Galileo and Copernicus, and pre-allocated national envelopes;, that should be fully implemented; points however to the fact that the budget of ITER is larger than any other R&D investment in the field of energy; deeply regrets that some Member States are compelled to review their funding priorities for research, because of the surge of ITER costs; stresses that the European Parliament has voted to withhold approval of the 2014 accounts of ITER on ground of lack of coherence in the budgetary and financial management.
Amendment 20 #
2015/2353(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers that Erasmus+ would reach its cruising speed only if it takes on board a growing number of smaller projects that allow a larger diffusion of the programme at schools or for youth, an increase of VET mobility, and therefore a better efficiency in realising its educative, social and humanitarian goals; welcomes therefore all efforts made by the EACEA and national agencies to improve not only their financial transparency but the simplification procedures for the project leaders;
Amendment 21 #
2015/2353(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Firmly believes that ITER is the largest misallocated EU investment in energy R&D; calls for the investment dedicated to ITER to be halted and reallocated to the development and deployment of sustainable energy solutions that are already available, or available in the foreseeable future to deliver the climate and energy 2020 goals;
Amendment 23 #
2015/2353(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Recommends the Commission to pay special attention to the implementation of the financial Guarantee facility tool which is delayed by more than a few months; is concerned that cultural NGOs and small associations will not be eligible for this tool, and only cultural and creative SMEs would be able to participate; recommends a thorough analysis of the experiences done throughout the whole process in order to check the pertinence and sustainability of such a tool, aside COSME;
Amendment 24 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that Article 311 TFEU states that the Union shall provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies; considers, therefore, that should the review arrive at the conclusions that the current ceilings were too low, it would be a primary law requirement to increase the ceilings, especially the payment ceiling;
Amendment 24 #
2015/2353(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for a further strengthening of,aligning of objectives and a maximising of synergies between, ESIF funds and EU programmes such as Horizon 2020, COSME and CEF; deplores that despite sharing the same budgetary heading, competitiveness and cohesion policies are managed as isolated silos; believes that, without changing the established Member States envelopes, greater competitiveness convergence between European regions and a greater R&D exploitation rate could be achieved by better integrating both policies under a common industrial policy, driven towards full employment, and having the sustainable energy transition and digital union as main tools;
Amendment 24 #
2015/2353(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Urges the Commission and Council to review their position on the "Europe for Citizens" programme, the only programme which involves all citizens directly, and to provide it with a substantial additional budget allowing better implementation of the goals of the programme and avoiding further frustration among participants to the calls; indeed, having been cut beyond any reason, the programme can only accept a dramatically low percentage of projects, a situation that it is not sustainable and defendable towards the EU citizens, even more so in the present social and humanitarian situation in the EU;
Amendment 25 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses the key role that the EU budget must play in achieving the jointly agreed EU 2020 Strategy objectives and the EU's international commitments; strongly believes that EU funding, if well devised, can actually trigger and catalyse actions having clear Union added value which Member States are unable to carry out on their own, as well as creating synergies and complementarities with Member States' activities by helping them focus on key future-oriented investment;
Amendment 27 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that the scope of this report is to analyse the purely budgetary aspects of the functioning of the MFF and that it will not touch on the legal bases of sectoral legislation; notes, however, that many EU policies and programmes foresee their own review/revision requirements, mainly scheduled for 2017 and, furthermore, that the possibility exists for the Commission to conduct comprehensive Fitness checks of EU policies;
Amendment 28 #
2015/2353(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls for the substantial strengthening of the application of sustainability criteria to the EFSI investments as well as all EIB investments, in order to ensure additionality as well as impact towards the EU 2020 targets;
Amendment 30 #
2015/2353(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that Union programmes have significantly contributed to ensuring access to finance for SMEs; calls for further consideration to be given to ways of extendingresources to be allocated to the programme to even more SMEs and meeting the various needs of SMEs more adequately; calls in particular for the significant extension of the SME instruments under Horizon 2020, in order to meet at minimum its legal budgetary commitments; requests to the Commission to establish as of 2016, an unique budget line for the SME Instrument, in order to allow clearer budgetary oversight and control, and ensure a genuine bottom-up approach to its implementation.
Amendment 33 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – introductory part
Paragraph 5 – introductory part
5. Considers that a review of the MFF in 2016 should take stock of a number of serious crises and new political initiatives, together with their respective budgetary consequences, which were not anticipated at the time of the MFF’'s adoption or undermined by the Council; notes, inter alia, the migration and refugee crisis, external emergencies, internal security issues, the crisis in agriculture, the funding of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the persistent high level of unemployment, especially among young people, the unacceptable high levels of poverty, social exclusion and inequality, and the payment crisis in the EU budget; observes that, in order to finance the additional pressing needs, an unprecedented recourse to the MFF’'s flexibility mechanisms and special instruments was deemed necessary, as the MFF ceilings proved to be too tight in some headings; considers that, over the past two years, the MFF has essentially been pushed to its limits;
Amendment 37 #
2015/2353(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Believes that ambitious goals in sustainable energy policy, energy efficiency and resource efficiency policy can deliver cost-efficient benefits for European industry and the European economy as a whole; calls for the allocation of EU and Member State public and private resources to investments in those priority sectors; believes that further synergies between Horizon 2020 and smart specialisation initiatives (RIS3) should be fostered to ensure better R&D exploitation and support regional economic convergence;
Amendment 40 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Fully agrees with the European Court of Auditors which states in its first recommendation of its 2014 annual report that the EU strategy and the MFF need to be better aligned, in particular concerning the time period and priorities. This would help to ensure that adequate monitoring and reporting arrangements are in place, and so make it easier for the Commission to report effectively on the contribution of the EU budget to the EU strategy. The Commission should make appropriate proposals to the legislator to address this issue;
Amendment 55 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Concludes that the activities planned by the Commission to cope with the migrant and refugee crisis could not have been foreseen at the time of the conclusion of the MFF 2014-2020; highlights the fact that owing to the lack of sufficient resources the EU has had to set up ad hoc, ‘satellite’ instruments such as EU trust funds and the Refugee Facility for Turkey; stresses, however, that Member States have not yet delivered on their contribution pledges to the trust funds, thus undermining the success of those funds; calls on the Member states should take their responsibility in such situation, including in the reallocation of refugees; fears moreover that the extremely tense situation might lead to extra financial needs, especially in case of a non- agreement with the Turkish government;
Amendment 63 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4
Subheading 4
Amendment 64 #
Amendment 67 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recalls that, since the global economic and financial crisis, the EU has suffered from low levels of investment and a lack of aggregate internal demand; notes in particular that in 2014 total investment was 15 % below the 2007 level, which corresponds to an investment drop of EUR 430 billion; considers that weak investment and low aggregate internal demand slows economic recovery and has direct repercussions on growth, jobs and competitiveness;
Amendment 73 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Underlines that, in response to this pressing problem, the new Commission in 2014 proposed an investment plan for Europe and the establishment of EFSI, with the aim of mobilising EUR 315 billion in new private investment in the real economy; notes that the guarantee provided by the Union for EFSI is covered by a Guarantee Fund of EUR 8 billion constituted in the EU budget, based in the hope it will be enough to multiply private investment by a 21 factor.;
Amendment 77 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recalls that, in order to secure this additional funding due to the Guarantee Fund, the financial allocation for two significant EU programmes, Horizon 2020 and the Connecting European Facility (CEF), has had to be reduced by EUR 2.2 billion and EUR 2.8 billion respectively, while the remaining EUR 3 billion are covered by unallocated MFF margins; stresses Parliament’'s commitment during the EFSI negotiations to reduce as much as possible the impact on these two programmes, which were already severely cut by the Council during the MFF negotiation (12% and 52% respectively) and whose financial envelopes were decided only in 2013;
Amendment 85 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5
Subheading 5
Amendment 88 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Stresses that youth unemployment remains dramatically high and represents onthe MFF and the EU Budget should reflect all the EU 2020 goals, and not the of the most prr way round; Underliness ing and serious problems that the EU is currently facing; highlights that 4.4 million young person this context, that the EU Budget should be used in a way that improves the labour market access uander 25 were unemployed across the Union in February 2016 and that this corresponds to a proportion of over 40 % in several Member States combats unemployment, poverty and social exclusion and promotes equality, including gender equality;
Amendment 89 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Points out that the Europe 2020 poverty target is far from being achieved, which highlights that policies in this field have failed, in particular for people in vulnerable situations; Is worried about the worsening social situation caused by the financial and economic crisis is undermining the sustainability of social protection systems; stresses there is a need for increased financial aid to social policies measures, that promotes social investment, including in quality social services and social economy; considers the Commission should thoroughly monitor that the share of the ESF earmarked to fighting poverty and social exclusion, is effectively used for this purpose;
Amendment 91 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Underlines that the employment rate in the EU currently stands at 69.2 %, which is well below the Europe 2020 target, and considers there is a need for increased public investment in quality and sustainable job creation and skills, including green jobs and jobs in the social economy and the social, health and care sector;
Amendment 93 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Stresses that youth unemployment remains dramatically high and represents one of the most pressing and serious problems that the EU is currently facing; highlights that 4.4 million young persons under 25 were unemployed across the Union in February 2016 and that this corresponds to a proportion of over 40 % in several Member States and peaking at more than 50% in certain regions or areas;</Date>
Amendment 104 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Stresses that the resources of the European Social Fund (ESF), the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived and the Employment and Social Innovation Programme (EaSI) contribute to the achievement of the poverty and employment targets of the Europe 2020 strategy which is already in need of increased commitment and achievement; notes that competition for scarce funds may lead to social conflict; calls on the Commission to monitor and on the Member States to ensure that the ear- marked budget of 20% of the ESF for spending on social inclusion to be fully met; insists that the ESF share amounts to 25 % of the total cohesion budget, that the 20% earmarking for social inclusion be kept;
Amendment 114 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7
Subheading 7
Amendment 115 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recalls the various crisNotes that European farmers have been faced with various economic crises since the beginning of the current MFF, most notably the dairy and fruits and vegetables sectors crisis and the long- term negative effects on European farmers of the losses caused by the Russian embargo on agricultural products; highlights the budgetary impact of the emergency measures taken in response to these crises, involving EUR 500 million in the budget 2016 and EUR 300 million in 2015; underlines the persistent situation of crisis in the agricultural sector in several Member States; concludes that the CAP fails to creates the conditions for all farmers to make a decent living from their activity; and urges for the changes in the CAP in order to prioritize the Rural Development pillar as the only efficient strategy to fight against the chronical crisis in the rural areas;
Amendment 127 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Regrets that the CAP fails to support a number of farming systems that contribute to the EU biodiversity targets; deplores that public money is used inefficiently in pursuit of the Union's goals in the field of the environment; calls for better use of MFF heading 2 funds to the benefit of farmers, society and the environment;
Amendment 135 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8
Subheading 8
Amendment 136 #
Amendment 143 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 – introductory part
Paragraph 22 – introductory part
22. Regrets that the consequences of this payment crisis have been severe, affecting beneficiaries of the EU budget such as students, universities, SMEs and researchers, NGOs, as well as local and regional authorities; recalls, in particular, the dramatic shortage of payments in the field of humanitarian operations in 2014, which negatively affected the EU’s life- saving operations; recalls that the Commission had to resort to ‘mitigating measures’ such as reducing pre-financing percentages and postponing calls for proposals/tenders and related contracting; recalls that an artificial slowdown in the implementation of the new 2014-2020 programmes occurred owing to the general lack of payments, an example being an artificial delay relating to EUR 1 billion worth of calls for proposals under Horizon 2020 in 2014, which aimed at ensuring that payments would fall due in 2015 rather than in 2014; stresses, furthermore, that penalties for late payments have been charged to the EU budget, reaching some EUR 3 million in both 2014 and 2015;
Amendment 146 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses that, in order to secure the additional appropriations that have been needed to respond to crises or to finance new political priorities since 2014, the budgetary authority has approved a substantial mobilisation of the flexibility provisions and special instruments included in the MFF regulation, after exhausting all available margins; recalls that several of those provisions resulted directly from proposals of the European Parliament, which ranked the call for maximum possible flexibility as one of its key demands in the MFF negotiations; Points out that the Flexibility provisions were sharply reduced by the Council (- 48%) during the MFF negotiations;
Amendment 157 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Recalls that global warming represents an unprecedented challenge to the whole of mankind, bringing major threats as well as major opportunities of innovations if sufficient resources are dedicated to climate research;
Amendment 158 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26b. Underlines that the European Union successfully led international efforts to reach the ambitious climate agreement agreed in Paris in 2015; therefore considers that the Union should dedicate sufficient resources to fulfilling its own commitments and objectives in the field of climate action;
Amendment 161 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Is convinced, on the basis of the above analysis, that the review of the functioning of the current MFF entails the conclusion that a genuine mid-term revision of the MFF as provided for in the MFF Regulation is absolutely indispensable if the Union is to effectively confront a number of challenges while fulfilling its political objectives; recalls that delivering on the Europe 2020 strategy remains the main priority to be supported by the EU budget; challenges the Council, in case it does not share this approach, to clearly identify which of its political priorities or projects could be dropped altogether, despite their proven European added value;
Amendment 177 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Is convinced that, while fully confirming the notion of large-scale political and financial support for EFSI, the EU budget should not be financing new initiatives to the detriment of existing Union programmes and policies; intends to deliver on its commitment to fully offset the EFSI-related cuts affecting Horizon 2020 and CEF, in order to allow them to accomplish their objectives as agreed only two years agoStresses therefore that the maximalist approach of the revision of the MFF might lead to an upward revision of the MFF up to the own resources ceiling (1,29% of the EU GNI in commitments) which would lead to an approximate increase by € 150 bn investment within and outside the EU in order to reach the EU2020 strategy targets and to fulfil the EU's international commitments, such as the COP21 and the post MDG objectives;
Amendment 179 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Therefore reiterates its views that the Commission proposal, which was then cut by € 85 bn, was not sufficient to finance existing policy priorities linked to Europe's strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, the new tasks provided for by the Treaty of Lisbon, or unforeseen events, not to mention the political objectives and commitments set by the European Council itself; therefore considers that the outcome of the revision should logically end up between those two minimum and maximum limits;
Amendment 182 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 b (new)
Paragraph 29 b (new)
29b. Is convinced that, while fully confirming the notion of large-scale political and financial support for EFSI, the EU budget should not be financing new initiatives to the detriment of existing Union programmes and policies; intends to deliver on its commitment to fully offset the EFSI-related cuts affecting Horizon 2020 and CEF, in order to allow them to accomplish their objectives as agreed only two years ago; notes that this should entail an upwards revision of the ceilings of Subheading 1a, as no margins are available;
Amendment 184 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 c (new)
Paragraph 29 c (new)
29c. Asks for an increased financial support to the three European programmes concerning directly citizens: Creative Europe, Europe for citizens and Erasmus+, as those programmes develop new subvention lines to react to the present situation on refugees integration, education and are on the front of actions lead by the Union and Member States to improve the overall social situation, mutual understanding and the living together in our different societies;
Amendment 185 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 d (new)
Paragraph 29 d (new)
29d. Urges the Commission and Council to review their position on the "Europe for Citizens" programme, the only programme which involves all citizens directly, and to provide it with a substantial additional budget allowing better implementation of the goals of the programme and avoiding further frustration among participants to the calls; indeed, having been cut beyond any reason, the programme can only accept a dramatically low percentage of projects, a situation that it is not sustainable and defendable towards the EU citizens, even more so in the present social and humanitarian situation in the EU;
Amendment 186 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 e (new)
Paragraph 29 e (new)
29e. Considers that Erasmus+ would reach its cruising speed only if it takes on board a growing number of smaller projects that allow a larger diffusion of the programme at schools or for youth, an increase of VET mobility, and therefore a better efficiency in realising its educative, social and humanitarian goals; welcomes therefore all efforts made by the EACEA and national agencies to improve not only their financial transparency but the simplification procedures for the project leaders;
Amendment 187 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 f (new)
Paragraph 29 f (new)
29f. Recommends the Commission to pay special attention to the implementation of the financial Guarantee facility tool which is delayed by more than a few months; is concerned that cultural NGOs and small associations will not be eligible for this tool, and only cultural and creative SMEs would be able to participate; recommends a thorough analysis of the experiences done throughout the whole process in order to check the pertinence and sustainability of such a tool, aside COSME;
Amendment 188 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 g (new)
Paragraph 29 g (new)
29g. Notes that the revision of the MFF is a key point in the management of Union spending by ensuring that Union investment programmes remain efficient; insists on a thorough simplification of the application forms and criteria, of reporting and reimbursement, especially for small-scale projects, both in Erasmus+ and in the Creative Europe and Europe for Citizens programmes;
Amendment 190 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Strongly supports the continuation of the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), as a means of ensuring an urgent response in the fight against youth unemployment, following the necessary adjustments brought about by the ongoing evaluation; considers that this can only be achieved through the provision of, an adequatt least, the same level of commitment appropriations for the YEI for the remaining years of the current MFFthan the one agreed in 2013 (€ 6 billion for 2 years) for the YEI for the remaining years of the current MFF; concludes that at least, 12 billion should be available for the YEI programme for the period 2017- 2020; notes that this should entail an upwards revision of the ceilings of Subheading 1b, as no margins are available;
Amendment 208 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Recalls the Union's commitments of spending at least 20% of the EU budget on climate-related actions; regrets that currently, the Union does not respect this internal budget commitment since the Commission's own figures show only 12.5% allocated to climate change in the 2015 draft budget; underlines that a revision of the MFF would provide an opportunity to ensure that this target is met in the future; calls upon the Commission and Member States to increase immediately the climate spending in the EU budget from 20 to 30% and to improve the current method of tracking such spending In light of the Paris agreement on global action to combat climate change and to show European leadership in this regard;
Amendment 211 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 b (new)
Paragraph 32 b (new)
32b. Believes that new political priorities must not be proposed at the expense of the agreed programmes of the current MFF, such as H2020, CEF, COSME, Galileo and Copernicus, and pre-allocated national envelopes, that should be fully implemented; points however to the fact that the budget of ITER is larger than any other R&D investment in the field of energy; deeply regrets that some Member States are compelled to review their funding priorities for research, because of the surge of ITER costs; stresses that the European Parliament has voted to withhold approval of the 2014 accounts of ITER on ground of lack of coherence in the budgetary and financial management;
Amendment 212 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 c (new)
Paragraph 32 c (new)
32c. Firmly believes that ITER is the largest misallocated EU investment in energy R&D; calls for the investment dedicated to ITER to be halted and reallocated to the development and deployment of sustainable energy solutions that are already available, or available in the foreseeable future to deliver the climate and energy 2020 goals;
Amendment 213 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Considers that, as a matter of priority, it is necessary to act to prevent a new payment crisis occurring towards the end of the current MFF; firmly believes that every effort should be mStresses therefore that the maximalist approach of the revision of the MFF might leade to avoid building up a backlog of unpaid bills like the one that was observed during the previous period; stresses, however, the significant pn upward revision of the MFF up to the own ressoure on payments that can already be anticipated for the second half of the MFF, which is due, inter alia, to the offsetting of the Contingency Margin against the payments ceilings for 2018- 2020, the considerable delay in launching the new programmes under shared management, the payment profile of EFSI, and the additional payments corresponding to the recent increases in commitments in relation to the migration and refugee crisisces ceiling (1,23% of the EU GNI in payments) which would roughly lead to an additional € 120 bn;
Amendment 214 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Therefore reiterates its views that the Commission proposal, which was ten cut by € 91 bn in payments, was not sufficient to close the gap between the commitments and the payments and to reduce the RAL; therefore considers that the outcome of the revision should logically end up between those two minimum and maximum limits;
Amendment 215 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 b (new)
Paragraph 33 b (new)
33b. Considers that, as a matter of priority, it is necessary to act to prevent a new payment crisis occurring towards the end of the current MFF; firmly believes that every effort should be made to avoid building up a backlog of unpaid bills like the one that was observed during the previous period; stresses, however, the significant pressure on payments that can already be anticipated for the second half of the MFF, which is due, inter alia, to the offsetting of the Contingency Margin against the payments ceilings for 2018- 2020, the considerable delay in launching the new programmes under shared management, the payment profile of EFSI, and the additional payments corresponding to the recent increases in commitments in relation to the migration and refugee crisis;
Amendment 223 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Expects, therefore, that new reinforcements in commitment appropriations will be accompanied by a corresponding increase in payment appropriations, including an upward revision of the annual payments ceiling if necessary; considers, moreover, that the mid-term review/post electoral revision of the MFF provides an excellent opportunity to take stock of payment implementation and updated forecasts for the expected evolution of payments up to the end of the current MFF; believes that a joint payment plan for 2016-2020 should be developed and agreed between the three institutions;
Amendment 253 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 15
Subheading 15
Amendment 255 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 15 a (new)
Subheading 15 a (new)
Gender-responsive budgeting 42c. Recognises that gender equality is enshrined in the EU Treaty and should be included in all EU policies to deliver equality in practice; stresses that gender equality must become a policy objective in all budget titles and similarly, gender mainstreaming must be recognised as an implementation method in all budget titles; stresses that therefore, gender budgeting must become an integral part of the budgetary procedure at all its stages, and notes that progress on this front has been marginal; welcomes the MFF mid-term review as an opportunity to make significant progress, in light of the 'Budget for Results' agenda; expects the Commission, therefore, to present further measurable objectives in order to truly embed gender perspectives in the EU budget for the remainder of this programming period; 42d. Recalls the Parliament's crucial scrutiny role on gender-responsive budgeting; calls for all committees to take gender equality into consideration in the design and revision of budgets and of the financial framework in order to increase accountability and transparency regarding this Institution's commitment to gender equality; urges in this regard to systematically include specific gender indicators and gender-disaggregated data in the monitoring and evaluation of all actions that are funded by the EU budget. 42e. Stresses that the MFF should reflect the Commission's goal to achieve 40% of female senior and middle management in the Commission as set out in Jean-Claude Juncker's mission letter to Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva.
Amendment 256 #
Amendment 264 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Believes that the mid-term review/post electoral revision provides for an excellent opportunity for the first-time assessment of the functioning of the EU policies and programmes concerned, and expects the Commission to supply an analysis identifying the shortcomings of the current implementation system; invites the Commission to come up with concrete proposals to address the possible deficiencies and to improve the implementation environment for the remaining years of the current MFF, in order to ensure the best possible use of scarce financial resources;
Amendment 276 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Acknowledges the increased role of financial instruments in the Union budget as a complementary form of funding as compared to subsidies and grants; recognises the potential of these instruments in terms of increasingNotes however the lack of evidence on the outcomes and results achieved by financial instruments and the loose link of those financial, and therefore the political, impact of the Union budget; underlines, however, that a shift from traditional financing to more innovative instruments is not advisable in all policy areas, as not all policies are entirely market-driven; underline instruments to overarching objectives and priorities of the EU; Considers necessary to further strengthening the accountability, transparency and result-orientation of financial instruments; Is opposed to a shift from traditional financing to more innovative instruments especially in both the Cohesion policy and research policy which should remain the main EU's EU2020-compatible investment capacity ; highlights that any increasing use of financial instruments should not lead to a reduction in the Union budget; recalls Parliament’'s repeated calls for greater transparency and democratic scrutiny regarding the implementation of financial instruments supported by the Union budget;
Amendment 281 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)
Paragraph 44 a (new)
44a. Follows the debate about a new Eurozone budgetary capacity (EBC) and considers it must be included in the MFF revision, whether it could be funded by regular incomes and/or by EU debt issuance; calls for an integrated management and parliamentary control for the EU budget, the ESM and the EBC;
Amendment 283 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 b (new)
Paragraph 44 b (new)
44b. Recalls to the Commission that grants and loans do not finance the same type of activities and that those different instruments support different types of beneficiaries and projects; stresses the need of continuing with grants for financing fundamental and collaborative research, in particular research performed by the academia; alerts against the tendency in the Commission of transforming grants into loans or equity, in particular when university research budgets are suffering cuts in many Member States; believes that this tendency works towards the losing of the research basis, which in turn significantly reduces the innovation potential of the European Union in the future;
Amendment 288 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Considers that the key priorities to be addressed must include adjustments to the duration of the MFF, a thorough reform of the own resources system, a greater emphasis on the unity of the budget, and more budgetary flexibility and a debate on the own resources ceilings which has not been modified for the last two decades ; is furthermore convinced that the modalities of the decision-making process need to be reviewed in order to ensure democratic legitimacy and comply with the provisions of the Treaty;
Amendment 299 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48 a (new)
Paragraph 48 a (new)
48a. Calls on the Commission to draw conclusions on the limitations of the current allocation key for determining support from cohesion policy funds based on GDP per capita only;
Amendment 305 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51
Paragraph 51
51. Believes that, given the rapidly changing political environment and with a view to ensuring greater flexibility, some elements of the MFF should be agreed for five years while others, notably those related to programmes requiring longer- term programming and/or policies foreseeing complex procedures for the establishment of implementation systems, should be agreed for a period of 5+5 years with compulsory mid-term revision different legal bases should be set without any expiration dates, like the CAP regulations; is therefore of the opinion that the MFF negotiations should mainly focus on the financial envelopes of the different EU funds and should not be necessarily linked to a revision of all legal basis; is of the opinion that such disconnection between the MFF negotiation and the revision of the legal basis could faster and ease the budgetary negotiations while keeping the needed flexibility to adapt and/or revise the legal bases when needed;
Amendment 310 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Underlines the need for a fully- fledged reform of the own resources system, with simplicity, fairness and transparency as guiding principles; is therefore expecting an ambitious final report from the High Level Group on Own Resources by the end of 2016, as well as an equally ambitious legislative package on own resources as of 2021 from the Commission by the end of 2017; which should pave the way toward a rebate-free, genuine and fair own resource system wholly funded by own resources;
Amendment 314 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53
Paragraph 53
53. Stresses the need to reduce the share of the GNI contributions to the Union budget in order to exit the ‘'juste retour’' approach of Member States; underlines that this would reduce the burden on national treasuries and thus make the resources concerned available for Member States’' national budgets; recalls that the current VAT own resource is over-complex and is in essence a second GNI contribution, and therefore calls for this own resource either to be substantially reformed or to be scrapped altogether; considers it necessary, however, to keep the GNI contributions as an element of the budget, given the need for its function as a balancing contribution;
Amendment 319 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54
Paragraph 54
54. Calls for the introduction of one or several new own resources, ideally with a clear link to European policies that create added value; notes that a large number of possible new own resources have already been discussed by the High Level Group, and eagerly awaits its recommendations; reminds its position set out on March 13 2013 that it supports the Commission's legislative proposals on the own-resources package, and that revenues from the Financial Transaction Tax should be allocated at least partly to the EU budget as a genuine own resource; calls on the HLGOR to work on the possibility to introduce an EU-wide Carbon tax as a potential EU Own resources as of 2021 as well as an EU corporate tax when implementing a full CCCTB (Common Consolidate Corporate Tax base);
Amendment 325 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 54 a (new)
Paragraph 54 a (new)
54a. Calls for the immediate establishment of binding common accounting rules for the MS contributions to the EU own resources, stating clearly its EU nature;
Amendment 332 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 57
Paragraph 57
57. Reiterates its long-standing position that the European Development Fund should be integrated in the Union budget, as from 2021, while ensuring the financing of the African Peace Facility and security- related operations; stresses that the budgetisation of the EDF should led to an increase of the ceiling in H4 accordingly;
Amendment 345 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 22
Subheading 22
Follow up of the Parisinternational agreements on climate change and biodiversity
Amendment 349 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60
Paragraph 60
60. Notes that the agreement reached on 12 December 2015 in Paris by the 196 parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is a universal, binding, dynamic and differentiated agreement aimed at facing the challenge of climate change; calls on the Commission to present its first evaluation of the possible impact of the COP21 agreement on the EU budget in due time for the revision; calls upon the Commission and Member States to increase for the post 2020-MFF the climate-related spending in the EU budget to 50% and to improve the current method of tracking such spending In light of the Paris agreement on global action to combat climate change and to show European leadership in this regard;
Amendment 352 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 a (new)
Paragraph 60 a (new)
60a. Recalls that the Union is a party to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, and that as such it committed to implement the Convention's Strategic Plan for Biodiversity; notes that the above mentioned plan, which has guided the Union's policy in the field of biodiversity since 2010, will expire in 2020; therefore calls on the Commission to present an assessment of the budgetary implications of different replacement options in time for the revision;
Amendment 353 #
2015/2353(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
Paragraph 61
61. Recalls Parliament’'s critical stance as regards the manner in which the procedure leading to the adoption of the MFF Regulation for 2014-2020 was conducted; recalls that the adoption of the regulation requires Parliament’'s consent; stresses, therefore, that Parliament needs to be fully involved in the relevant negotiations from the outset; considers that the EU institutions should formalise the modalities for the next MFF procedure in an agreement reached at the time of the mid-term review/post electoral revision of the MFF, which should take account of the shortcomings of the previous negotiations and fully safeguard Parliament’'s role and prerogatives as set out in the Treaties; considers that these modalities should eventually be enshrined in the IIA, as is the case for the annual budgetary procedure;
Amendment 2 #
2015/2351(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution on Erasmus+ and other tools to foster mobility in VET - a lifelong learning approach,
Amendment 14 #
2015/2351(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas young people should be helped to tackle the challenges they face through a more coordinated and targeted use of resources at national and EU level;a more coordinated and targeted use of resources at national and EU level would prove a real support for young people to tackle the challenges they face,
Amendment 48 #
2015/2351(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the 2015 ‘Youth Report’ based on the Commission communication on the implementation of the renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018) of 15 September 2015 with the main results of the latest 3- year cycle of the EU Youth Strategy and proposing priorities for the next cycle (COM(2015)0492); recommends the EU, national, regional and local authorities to make sure that the different programmes at EU level dealing with youth policies are well communicated, implemented, coordinated, in order to respond to new needs in view of the social and educational challenges to come;
Amendment 53 #
2015/2351(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Views the Open Method of Coordination as an appropriate means for framing youth policies; reiterates its call for closer cooperation on youth issues at local, regional, national and EU level; calls especially on the Member States to agree on clear indicators and benchmarks in order to allow for monitoring of the progress made;
Amendment 62 #
2015/2351(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the importance of the Structured Dialogue as a means of listening to young people, both youth organisations and non- organised individuals, about their real needs in order to conduct the implementation and development of youth policies more effectively at all levels and to foster active citizenship among young people; calls for strengthening the Structured Dialogue as a quality participatory tool for young people in the next cooperation framework for youth;
Amendment 74 #
2015/2351(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the importance of the role of family and its cooperation with schools, local communities and churches to guide young people towards full integration in societyyouth workers, youth organisations, local communities and places of faith to support young people in their development, providing a safe place for growing and learning;
Amendment 86 #
2015/2351(INI)
7. Urges the Member States or regions to provide effective training in the national language, according to the principles of multilingualism and non-discrimination and based on national legislation and European principles, and to maintainlanguage trainings, taking into account the mother tongue of each person, according to the principles of multilingualism and non-discrimination, maintaining educational institutions that teach in the mother tongue of national or language minorities;
Amendment 94 #
2015/2351(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Member States to make the best use of available EU and national policies and financial frameworks in order to promote investment in young people and job creationtheir accessibility to equal opportunities in the creation of quality jobs; insists at all levels on the mobility schemes that result in improving skills and competences for young people, giving them self- confidence, developing curiosity and interest for other ways of learning and being involved in society; recommends strongly the recognition and assessment of those skills enhanced through mobility;
Amendment 100 #
2015/2351(INI)
8a. Urges the Member States to ensure a better implementation of the Youth Guarantee, based on a strong cooperation between national, regional and local authorities, education systems and employment services; points out that the Youth Guarantee should be integrated fully in national employment plans, in youth and education policy planning and largely communicated to all young persons; recalls that the involvement of youth organisations in the communication, and also in the evaluation and implementation of the Youth Guarantee tool is crucial for its success;
Amendment 112 #
2015/2351(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls for better coordination at all levels between education and training curricula and the needs of the changing labour markets;
Amendment 113 #
2015/2351(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls for measures to facilitate the transition of young people from education to work by ensuring quality internship and apprenticeship, giving young people clearly defined rights that include access to social protection, written and binding contracts and fair remuneration, in order to ensure that young people are not discriminated against when it comes to accessing the world of work;
Amendment 138 #
2015/2351(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses the importance of the mutual recognition and validation of skillcompetences that have been acquired through informal, non-formal and lifelong learning as their validation is crucial in making visible the diverse and rich learning of individuals and contributes to the development of values, aptitudes and skills for young people as well as for learning about citizenship and democratic involvementbetween Member States; reminds that validation throughout the Union is crucial in ensuring a flow of exchanges, in making visible the diverse and rich learning of individuals and contributes to enhancing access to formal education and to new professional opportunities, while reinforcing self-esteem and motivation to learn;
Amendment 156 #
2015/2351(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Encourages the Member States to establish dual education and vocational training systems following thedevelop further vocational training systems, one of which being the dual education, fostering thereby a regular exchange of best practices;
Amendment 183 #
2015/2351(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Encourages the Member States to make full use of the Erasmus+ programme in order to improve the employment prospects of young people, foster cross- border career and laboursupport young persons through cross-border experiences and intercultural learning in their personal development, also improving their employment prospects through their competences and skills developed through mobility;
Amendment 196 #
2015/2351(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls for stronger partnerships between youth organisations and public authorities; considers the role of youth and sports organisations in developing young people’s participatory skills and in improving the quality of theHighlights the unique role played by youth organisations in developing a sense of citizenship around the practice of democratic values and processes; considers in particular the role of youth and sports organisations in improving democratic processes and decision- making process especially important; calls for even stronger partnerships between youth organisations and public authorities;
Amendment 207 #
2015/2351(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses the vital importance of sports and social activities for encouraging youth participation and social cohesion;
Amendment 210 #
2015/2351(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses that young people’s voluntary activities should be supported and better recognised for their value as an important form of non-formal learning; stresses however that the readiness of young people to develop voluntary activities cannot be considered ultimately as a possible cheap replacement for services that the Member State should take care of; asks that voluntary activities be recognized and fully acknowledged or validated;
Amendment 218 #
2015/2351(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls on the Commission to take advantage of the dynamism of social media in education, training and youth participation; would however point out that there are limits and risks related to public authorities relying on social media tools to engage with young people; underlines that to foster quality of exchanges and personal involvement in meetings and activities the key is to establish a real encounter and the development of a long-term participation in political and social life;
Amendment 25 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)
Citation 15 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 13 March 2014 on the enquiry on the role and operations of the Troika (ECB, Commission and IMF) with regard to the euro area programme countries;
Amendment 37 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Treaty on European Union establishes the creation of the single market, whose currency is the euro; whereas the European Monetary Union currently consists of 19 members, two of whom have opt-out clauses, the remaining seven EU Member States having yet to join; whereas no financial liability willis expected to be incurred by the two countries with opt- outs from EMUnon-euro area Member States in the framework of any fiscal capacity for the euro area;
Amendment 53 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas contrary to the budgetary arrangements in all other federations, the EU budget is dependent on contributions from Member State level to EU level and has been maintained relatively constant (in % of the EU Gross National Income) despite the increasing number of objectives assigned to the Union by the Treaties;
Amendment 82 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas, following realative convergence in the run-up to the introduction of the common currency, the euro area witnessed structural divergence between 1999 and 2009, which made the euro area as a whole less resilient to shocks; whereas regulatory adjustments and structural reforms aimed at reducing risks and improving convergence have been introduced since 2009 at both European and national level, but some euro area Member States still require solidarity and sustainable reforms in their catching- up process;only addressed unsustainable high demand in some countries while lacking of demand in other Member States was not corrected leading to a lack of demand and deflation at the aggregate EMU level.
Amendment 90 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas progress has been achieved in addressing the flaws of EMU through legislation such as the Six-Pack and the Two-Pack regulations, as well as through the introduction of the European Semester and the creation of new instruments such as the ESMthe creation of new instruments such as the ESM, the establishment of a Banking Union and the enlargement of the surveillance scope as regards the economic governance framework; whereas this legislation has however failed to deliver a speedy and sustainable economic and social recovery in the Eurozone;
Amendment 107 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital H
Recital H
H. whereas the Community method was abandoundermined in favour of intergovernmental agreements in order to allow for rapid responses in the crisis; whereas this has made the European Councilgroup the leading actor in the crisis, while the European Parliament and its national counterparts have been sidelined;
Amendment 186 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that the EMU exposed its vulnerability in the context of the global financial and economic crisis when unsustainable imbalances, triggered by capital flows from core euro area nations to the periphery and a rising public spendingrivate and public debt ratio in some Member States, aggravated and led to a financial sector crisis across the EU as a whole and subsequently to a sovereign debt crisis, in which government borrowing costs dramatically increased in some Member States, jeopardising, in the absence of a proper fiscal backstop, the mere existence of the euro area;
Amendment 196 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Points out that the crisis has proved that a common monetary policy without a common fiscal policy cannot address a lead to economic divergences in the Eurozone and cannot address asymmetric and symmetric shocks to the euro area; reiterates that mere coordination of national fiscal policies without credible enforcement mechanisms has not prevented an investment gap,proper and democratic legitimated cooperation at Eurozone level including the absence of credible enforcement mechanisms has not prevented an investment gap and has not enhanced the national capacity to absorb economic shocks, Points out that the European Semester has proved insufficient to trigger growth-enhancing, sustainable and socially balanced structural reforms and has not enhanced the national capacity to absorb economic shocks;;
Amendment 217 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Observes that the stabilisation efforts of the economic cycle since the beginning of the crisis has relied almost exclusively on the ECB, while this responsibility should rather lie with democratically elected institutions, and that the reduced options available for monetary policy in a context of zero lower bound rates have led the ECB to implement unconventional monetary policy measures; recalls that the President of the ECB has called for integrated institutions, for a stronger and proactive fiscal policy on the euro area scale and for euro area Member States to deliver on structural reform; alerts that monetary policy by its own is unable to reignite the economy and risks to end with speculative bubbles;
Amendment 231 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Acknowledges the resultinstitutional reforms achieved since the crisis broke in terms of risk reduction and better coordination; points in particular to the many measures taken by the EU institutions to address the shortcomings revealed by the crisis by strengthening coordination of national fiscal policies, in particular via the adoption of the Six-Pack and the Two- Pack Regulations;and economic policies, regrets however that strengthened fiscal coordination has failed to deliver on a speedy economic recovery; deplores the asymmetry in the correction of imbalances between surplus and deficit countries welcomes further the fact that the EU institutions have set up frameworks for action in current and future crises, namely by creating the European Financial Stability Mechanism (EFSM), the temporary European Financial Stabilisation Facility (EFSF) and its permanent successor, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM); underlines, however, that these mechanisms dramatically lack democratic oversight and parliamentary control, and hence ownership; recalls its resolution on the role and operations of the Troika] and stresses the need to follow up on the recommendations made;
Amendment 246 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that in 2012 the Commission introduced in its ‘Blueprint for a deep and genuine EMU’ the idea of a Convergence and Competitiveness instrument for euro area Member States, whereby euro area Member States could get financial incentives support for ‘reform packages that are agreed and important both for the Member States and for the good functioning of the euro area’, and that this financial support ‘could be set up in principle as part of the EU budget’ and be established by secondary law on the basis of Article 352 TFEU and financed by either a commitment on the part of the euro area Member States or a legal obligation to that effect enshrined in the EU’s own resources legislation as ‘assigned revenues’; considers the review by the Commission of the European Semester, including the Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP), as a follow-up to this approach; the fiscal capacity should play a role in providing these financial incentives.
Amendment 253 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls the four pillars set out in the Five Presidents’ Report: completing the economic, financial and fiscal Union and strengthening democratic accountability, legitimacy and the institutional setting; emphasises that this report reiterates the view set out in the Blueprint of the Commission and the Four Presidents’ Report, coordinated by then President of the European Council Mr Herman van Rompuy, that a shock absorption capacity at euro area level is needed to complement automatic stabilisers at national level, whose functioning is limited, as was shownnd was further restricted as a result of the fiscal consolidation measures during the crisis;
Amendment 280 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Argues that Member States have to improve their own tax collection capacities and their cooperation, notably in terms of exchanges of information, transparency, and the gradual harmonisation of rates and tax bases; calls upon the Commission to come with proposals and, when appropriate, country-specific recommendations;
Amendment 290 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses the need for a truly symmetric Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure that effectively targets chronic current account surpluses; points out that balanced current accounts of Member States are necessary to mitigate the need for permanent transfers; underlines that Member States may finance government deficits primarily by domestic household savings without need for arbitrary fiscal rules such as the Stability and Growth Pact if external balance is effectively pursued.
Amendment 310 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Recalls the objective of full employment stipulated in Article 3.3 of the Treaty on the European Union; considers that a Eurozone budgetary capacity is an important instrument for achieving this goal, as well as for fostering convergence among EMU members, and for the stabilization and the sustainable development of the Eurozone economy.
Amendment 352 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Considers that three different functions have to be fulfilled; argues, first, that in order to foster economic and social convergence within the euro area and to improve the economic competitiveness and resilience of the euro area, Member States’ structural reforms should be incentivised in good economic timesthe implementation of sustainable structural reforms aimed at achieving the EU2020 targets as well as a genuine fiscal and macroeconomic policy coordination, should be incentivised; argues, secondly, that differences in the business cycles of euro area Member States stemming from structural differences create the need for an instrument to address asymmetric shocks; considers, thirdly, that symmetric shocks should be addressed at both the EMU and national level so as to increase the resilience of the euro area as a whole;
Amendment 372 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Argues in consequence that three pillars of a fiscal capacity should be distinguished, wherein action should be undertaken in the framework of a common toolbox to address the different functions, i.e. incentivising convergence and sustainablepromoting convergence and deeper coordination as regards fiscal, macroeconomic policies and sustainable and outcome-oriented structural reforms, absorbing asymmetric shocks, and absorbing symmetric shocks; takes note of the various proposals regarding designs put forward on this matter by politicians and academia;
Amendment 380 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Calls for the fiscal capacity to be financed by recurrent Member States contributions and a common borrowing capacity, while a roadmap to increase own resources at either the EU or the Euro Area level shall be established;
Amendment 381 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Stresses that a revision of the existing fiscal rules based on the introduction of simpler, countercyclical and transparent rules would complement this framework by enhancing its credibility and its consistency, by increasing national ownership and by reducing moral hazard;
Amendment 407 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for the ESM, whilst fulfilling its ongoing tasks, to be further developed and turned into a European Monetary Fund (EMF) with adequate lending and borrowing capacities and a clearly defined mandate, including its contribution to a euro area fiscal capacity; stresses that an EMF should bhave managed by the Commission an independent board held democratically accountable by the European Parliament and whose financial assistance programme should be submitted to a consent vote by this institution; emphasises that national parliaments would be involved in the process, given that their constitutional prerogatives regarding financial resources could be affected; argues that the EMF should include a debt restructuring settlement mechanism consistent with the recently adopted UN principles
Amendment 452 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
Amendment 468 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4
Subheading 4
Pillar 1: A convergence code to promote convergence and incentivise the implementation of outcome oriented structural reforms
Amendment 476 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Stresses that significant progress in convergence and sustainablegenuine fiscal and macroeconomic policy coordination and as regards overall social and economic convergence within the EMU as well as in the implementation of sustainable and democratically scrutinized structural reforms is needed in order to reconcile fiscal consolidation,sustainability, sustainable growth, jobs, productivity, competitiveness and the European social model so as to effectively prevent and tackle asymmetric shock; considers that financial supportincentives from the European level for the implementation of agreed outcome oriented structural reforms in the Member Statand recommendations in the area of fiscal and macroeconomic policies, while keeping the responsibility for implementation at the national level, is therefore indispensable;
Amendment 512 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – introductory part
Paragraph 26 – introductory part
26. Suggests that the convergence code define criteriaoutcomes to be reached within five years, building on the merits of the Maastricht criteria and focusing for the first period on convergence requirements regarding:
Amendment 553 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – indent 3 – paragraph 1
Paragraph 26 – indent 3 – paragraph 1
– investment, notably in research and development; and in the transition to a sustainable economy
Amendment 556 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – indent 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 26 – indent 3 – paragraph 1 a (new)
– social progress (the main indicators included in the social progress index)
Amendment 567 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 – indent 3 – paragraph 2
Paragraph 26 – indent 3 – paragraph 2
This five-year period should in exchange allow for a phasing-in of the new tasks attributed to the ESM/EMF;a fiscal capacity for the EMU
Amendment 582 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Considers that a financial instrument is needed to work as an incentive-based mechanism for convergence and sustainable structural reforms with clear counder the form of discounts of Member States contributions to a fiscally neutral budgetary capacity in the medium-term could be devised as an incentive-based mechanism for ensuring Member States compliance with the recommendiationality; believes that the Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP), which is designed to provide technical support to national authorities for measures aimed at reforming institutions, gos on the Euro area aggregate fiscal stance, outcome-based recommendations to reduce EU macroeconomic imbalances and progress towards outcome-based convernagence, administration, and economic and social sectors with a view to enhancing growth and jobs, can be further developed as a contribution to this function of the fiscal capacnd sustainable structural reforms; stresses that these recommendations should be characterised by full democratic accountability;
Amendment 595 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Is convinced that increased convergence and policy coordination within the euro area willmight significantly increase the capacity of its Member States to absorb asymmetric shocks and will reduce the need and the resources needed to cope with these shocks; believes, however, that no matter how great the efforts regarding policy coordination, convergence and sustainable structural reforms, asymmetric shocks with an impact on the stability of the euro area as a whole cannot be ruled out completely, given the strong integration of the euro area Member States; stresses, therefore, the need to have an instrument available for this emergency which provides an immediate stabilisation effectackling future shocks with significant spill-over effect which provides a stabilisation effect; underlines that that the high carbon intensity of current economic production and undertakings' balance sheets represents very large systemic risks which will inevitably trigger and intensify shocks of macroeconomic relevance;
Amendment 611 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Notes that the two models for the shock absorption function are featured most prominently in the academic literature: a Rainy Day Fund and a European Unemployment Benefit Scheme; Underlines that according to the IMF an effective shock absorbing budgetary capacity needs to be endowed with annual resources in a range of 1.5%-2.5% of EU GDP as a minimum, in order to ensure meaningful stabilisation. Emphasizes the need to define a roadmap towards a Fiscal and Budgetary Union including inter alia the establishment of an EMU-wide unemployment insurance scheme requiring in the medium to long term a Treaty change as well as a certain harmonisation on national labour market regulations and transfer to the EA level of part of the national resources earmarked for national unemployment benefits; Points out that this scheme would limit moral hazard by providing funds only to countries experiencing large increases in cyclical unemployment and should be balanced over the cycle; emphasizes the role of social partner in this process;
Amendment 629 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Points out that thea Rainy Day Fund should be funded by all could be established within the current Treaty as a first step of the roadmap towards a genuine Fiscal and Budgetary Union and should be funded by Euro Area Member States through national contributions composed of two parts: 1. A contribution aimed at ensuring other Members States on the basis of a cyclically sensitive economic indicator and used forfrom possible spill overs arising from lack of policy coordination and convergence 2. A countercyclical contribution on the basis of a cyclically sensitive economic indicator; Considers that in order to incentivise policy coordination and compliance, Member States should be offered discounts or full exemptions from paying the first contribution referred to above on the basis of their degree of compliance with the convergence code and the fiscal and macroeconomic recommendations; Stresses that these contributions should be used for automatic payments to all Euro Area Member States suffering from economic downturns;
Amendment 661 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Considers that the EMF should provide the financial resources for either of these models, which could require increasing the amount ofStresses that each of these models need a financial backstop which can be ensured either by developing a second arm of the EMF or by making the fiscal capacity able to borrow; considers that both instruments would require additional amount of paid-in and callable capital; points out that the fund should avoid long- term redistribution effects by ensuring that Member States’' contributions are balanced over the cycle; made on the basis of their cyclical position are balanced over the cycle; calls for an additional safeguard clause implying that Member States whose gap between all contributions and all payments received exceeds a pre-determined level over a certain period of time shall provide additional contributions to reduce the gap below the fixed threshold; considers that the parameters of the gap have to be chosen on the basis of a detailed technical analysis;
Amendment 682 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Warns that future symmetric shocks could destabilise the euro area as a whole since the currency area is not endowed with the instruments to cope with another crisis of the extent of the previous one; is convinced that the right instrument to deal with symmetric shocks depends on the nature of the shock; recalls that the EMF should be used as an appropriate financial resourceEU own resources would be the optimal solution to ensure appropriate financial resources together with common borrowing capacity;
Amendment 695 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Considers that in the case of symmetric shocks brought about by a lack of internal demand, monetary policy alone cannot reignite the economy, particularly in a context of zcharacterized by veroy lower bound nominal interest rates; is therefore convinced that public and private investment must be increased, themutualized fiscal tools and mechanism are in such context instrumental for effectively fostering future oriented and sustainable direct EU investment as well as public and private investments at national level; in combination with a reduced administrative burden reduced and a proper regulatory framework developed, with a view to stimulating potential growthsustainable growth and a swift transition towards a low-carbon economy;
Amendment 711 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Considers that symmetric shocks that are caused by a lack of supply must be diminished by improving thestructural factors affecting the 'supply side' of the economy must be tackled by improving energy and resource efficiency, productivity and overall cost and non-cost competitiveness of the euro area via appropriate financial incentives, including via the financing of professional training or financial incentives for R&D spending;
Amendment 731 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Considers that financial instability in the financial sector could also pose severe challenges for the euro area as a whole; urges the completion of the Banking Union in order to lessen these challenges; calls for the fiscal capacityEMF to operate as a fiscal backstop for the Banking Union, as agreed in the SRM;
Amendment 740 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Points out that this pillar of the fiscal capacity has to be of significant size in order to be able to address these euro- area-wide shocks and to finance its functions the optimal solution would be to rely on additional own resources such as a new carbon tax, the financial transaction tax, a share of the corporate tax based on the CCCTB approach, ECB and ESM profits; insists that in any case in order to providsecure sufficient financial resources, the euro area fiscal capacity, includingor the second arm of the EMF, should be able to increaseallow the issuance of common equities via a rise in guarantees; considers that these common issued equities should have the highest credit rate;
Amendment 749 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Stresses that the European Fund for Strategic Investment is in its current form is unable to fully address the structural Investment Gap of the European Economy; calls for additional measures to ensure sufficient levels of investment; underlines that investments to foster energy transition, meeting the COP21 goals and generating new quality jobs should be prioritised;
Amendment 752 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Stresses that the Community method should prevail in the development of economic governance for the euro area; urges that no reinforcement of intergovernmental structures should take place in parallel with existing structurese intergovernmental structures and mechanisms created over the crisis to be integrated in the community acquis as soon as possible; is of the opinion that genuine Fiscal and Budgetary Union requires a comprehensive and convention driven Treaty revision as a necessary condition for ensuring a appropriate level of democratic legitimacy and accountability;
Amendment 759 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Highlights that in case a budgetary capacity as developed in this report is established, the European Parliament needs to establish a specific committee composed of MEPs from participating Member States – mirrored in form of a specific plenary configuration - to act as budgetary and oversight authority.
Amendment 761 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Calls urgently for the European Parliament and national parliaments to be given a strengthened role in the renewed economic governance framework in order to reinforce democratic accountability; calls in this respect to subject the analysis and the recommendations on the Euro Area aggregate fiscal stance to consent in the EMU committee; considers that the Annual Growth Survey should include detailed policy guidelines which should underpin the formulation of outcome- oriented policy recommendations to address macroeconomic imbalances and foster the implementation of sustainable structural reforms, calls for the Commission to be fully accountable to the European Parliament regarding the Annual Growth Survey and for increased national ownership in the European Semester in order to improve compliance withthe democratic accountability of the CSRs;
Amendment 779 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Argues that national ownership could be improved by including national parliaments in the proceduresparliaments should endorse the National reform programme and the Stability Programme; insists, however, that the competences of the EP and the national parliaments conferred upon these institutions by the Treaties should be respected and that mixing of these competences be avoided;
Amendment 795 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
41. Considers that in order to provide for a genuine EMU, a euro area treasury should be created for collective decision- making, supervision and management of the budgetary capacity for the euro area; calls for the inclusion of this treasury within the European Commission with full macroeconomic, fiscal and financial competences; calls for a vice-president of the European Commission to head the treasury and simultaneously to act as president of the Eurogroup; urges full accountability of this treasury to the European Parliament;
Amendment 812 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Considers that those non-euro countries that do not have an opt-out will eventually become part of the EMUeuro area and therefore may join the governance framework on a voluntary basis with a special status;
Amendment 823 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43
Paragraph 43
43. Acknowledges that the current political climate characterised by deep inequality, mistrust and uncertainty is not conducive to proper reforms to achieve and complete EMU; believes, therefore, that a comprehensive roadmap, including clear milestones and a convention driven Treaty revision within an agreed timetable and taking into account the political situation, should be urgently adopted with a clear commitment by euro area Heads of State and Government to achieving a genuine and complete EMU;
Amendment 829 #
2015/2344(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
Paragraph 44
44. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President of the European Council, the Commission, the Council, the Eurogroup and, the ECB, and the national parliaments.
Amendment 8 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the European Commission has shown flexibility and took innovative steps to target new challenges, like a proposal for refugees, and to foster civic values within the incentives Erasmus+ develop towards a more active and participative intercultural dialogue;
Amendment 53 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that the 12.7% increase in the total budget in 2017 compared to 2016 and further annual increases in the remaining programme years will result in higher success rates and greater satisfaction among applicants; welcomes the Commission’s intention to allocate an additional EUR 200 million for the remaining programme period; encourages the European Commission to analyse the programme key actions and sectors that are underfunded, such as KA1 Youth Workers Mobility, KA2, school education, adult education, youth, and those that could benefit the most from the budgetary increase;
Amendment 61 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses also that a strong component for all participants in Erasmus+ is the development of their linguistic skills; welcomes therefore the on-line linguistic tools that are proposed by the Commission, but reminds that an accompanying (national, regional, local) framework has to be put into place to make their mobility a success, in particular for school-aged pupils, VET students, and also staff, to help their insertion into the different environments;
Amendment 65 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that the Student Loan Guarantee Facility was only launched in February 2015 after signature of the delegation agreement with the European Investment Fund (EIF) in December 2014, and that to date there are only three banks in France and Spain participating in this finnovative tool; ancial scheme; another bank in UK will join, but it is clear that this financial tool is far from reaching the expected results, to date only 130 Master students are participating; calls for critical assessment of the Loan Guarantee Facility, considering purpose and accessibility throughout Europe and urges the Commission, in consultation with the European Parliament, to propose a strategy to re-allocate part of the budget line that more likely will not be used by 2020;
Amendment 72 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Regrets that organisations representing amateur sportspeople at local level are highly underrepresented as project participants in the implementation of grassroots sports projects; welcomes the introduction of Small Collaborative Partnerships with reduced administrative requirements as an important step in enabling smaller grassroots sports organisations to take part in the programmeWelcomes the particular involvement of the Erasmus+ programme in cooperation and activities in grassroots sport; encourages the European Commission to improve the accessibility and participation in the programme of grassroots actors such as sports clubs; invites the European Commission to enhance a cross-sectoral approach on grassroots sport across all relevant actions of Erasmus+ and to coordinate actions in this field in order to ensure their effectiveness and desired impact;
Amendment 79 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Asks the Commission to fully exploit the potential tolifelong learning dimension of the programme by fostering and encourageing cross-sectoral cooperation under Erasmus+, which is much higher than under the predecessor programmes, and to evaluate cross-sectoral cooperation in the programme’s midterm evaluation presented at the end of 2017 as foreseen initially in the programme by extending the possibility to submit cross-sectoral strategic partnerships under KA2 to NGOs while ensuring the evaluators have a broad understanding of educational areas including non-formal education;
Amendment 110 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Encourages further fostering of cooperation between the NAs and EACEA in order to promote centralised actions of the Erasmus+ programme, provide additional information about them to potential applicants and exchange feedback on improving their implementation process;
Amendment 119 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Underlines the necessity of pursuing improvements in the programme, making it more user-friendly, taking into consideration the importance of differentiating among various sectors and groups of beneficiaries; encourages the European Commission to transform the programme guide and make it more user-orientated and sector-specific;
Amendment 121 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 c (new)
Paragraph 14 c (new)
14c. Encourages the European Commission to work on improving programme attractiveness by simplifying administrative procedures and requirements, especially for schools and smaller-scale organisations, VET school, adult education, the youth sector and newcomers who often find the programme challenging to participate in;
Amendment 124 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 d (new)
Paragraph 14 d (new)
14d. Welcomes the actions of the European Commission to simplify application procedures, project management, accounting and reporting; encourages further reduction of administrative burdens by streamlining forms, making them promptly available in all official languages, and providing clear indication regarding documents needed at each stage;
Amendment 133 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the European Commission to strengthen the school education dimension of the programme, allowing for more mobility for pupils, school staff, for more school class exchanges, as well as simplification of funding and administrative procedures for schools and non-formal education providers, whereby taking advantage of the general intention of Erasmus+ to foster cross-sectorial cooperation, and with a view to encourage youth organisations or activities to involve partnerships with schools;
Amendment 168 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Notes the importance of strengthening the local dimension of the EVS; suggests providing the EVS volunteers with stronger support not only before departure, but also upon their return to their local communities in the forms of post-orientated and post- integrated trainings in order to help them to share their European expertise by promoting volunteering at the local level;
Amendment 175 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Underlines that grants to support the mobility of individuals within the Erasmus+ programme should be exempted from taxation and social levies;
Amendment 177 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 d (new)
Paragraph 20 d (new)
20d. Suggests more flexibility in moving funds between KAs, and entrusts NAs in this process due to their familiarity with the potential funding gaps in their countries, thus allowing them to narrow these gaps;
Amendment 187 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Notes more demanding implementation work for NAs under the current programme; calls on the European Commission to provide NAs with sufficient resources and necessary assistance, thus enabling more efficient programme implementation and allowing NAs to tackle new challenges resulting from the budget increase;
Amendment 189 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Calls on the European Commission to monitor the quality criteria used by the National Agencies in project evaluations and exchange best practises in this regard; encourages trainings for evaluators in order to continue their development, especially in cross-sector projects, and to allow them to provide quality feedback to all applicants in order to encourage the accomplishment of goals in future projects and to improve the performance of future applicants;
Amendment 196 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21c. Calls on the National Agencies to provide full transparency while evaluating projects by publishing the list of selected projects together with their ongoing progress and designated financial support;
Amendment 197 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 d (new)
Paragraph 21 d (new)
21d. Stresses that although progress has been made in recognising study periods, credits, competences and skills through non-formal and informal learning gained abroad, these challenges remain; underlines that recognition of international qualifications is essential to mobility and forms the foundation for further cooperation in the European Higher Education Area; highlights the importance of making full use of all EU tools for the validation of knowledge, skills and competences essential to the recognition of qualifications;
Amendment 199 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 f (new)
Paragraph 21 f (new)
21f. Notes that despite the high quality of projects in KA2, many of them have been refused due to limited funding; encourages the European Commission to mark these projects in order to help them attract investments from other sources; encourages Member States to acknowledge “the marked projects” by giving them priority in accessing public funds for their realisation, if such funds are accessible;
Amendment 200 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 g (new)
Paragraph 21 g (new)
21g. Calls on the European Commission to continue efforts to resolve the funding challenge for European organisations based in Brussels in order to further their contribution to the development of European policies in the fields of education, training, youth and sport;
Amendment 202 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 i (new)
Paragraph 21 i (new)
21i. Encourages Member States to incorporate educational mobility as a part of higher or vocational education programmes in order to foster knowledge about learning, training, and youth work, improve the quality of higher education and the VET system, help individuals with upgrading their professional skills, competences and career development;
Amendment 203 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 j (new)
Paragraph 21 j (new)
21j. Encourages Member States, in order to foster the mobility of teachers, lecturers and non-academic staff, to acknowledge their participation in mobility programmes as an important part of their career progression, and if possible introduce a reward system linked to participation in mobility programmes; for example, in the form of financial benefits or reduction of workload;
Amendment 204 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 k (new)
Paragraph 21 k (new)
21k. Notes the decreasing number of individual mobility participants due to preferential treatment by European HEIs of an institutionalised mobility system; encourages the European Commission and national authorities to renew opportunities for individual candidates to participate in mobility;
Amendment 205 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 l (new)
Paragraph 21 l (new)
21l. Encourages the European Commission to bolster the VET system by promoting VET mobility programmes among its new organisations and smaller institutions, in addition to providing them with assistance in applying for appropriate funding by offering further guidance, on-line trainings, and personalised support in preparing high quality applications for funding through contact with national agencies for the Erasmus+ programme;
Amendment 206 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 m (new)
Paragraph 21 m (new)
21m. Urges the Commission to identify current unequal participation of VET institutions in the EU mobility programmes in countries and regions in order to diminish these differences through improved collaboration and exchange of information among national agencies for Erasmus+, supporting teamwork among VET institutions by connecting experienced VET institutions with other institutions, offering policy support measures and specific suggestions to VET institutions, and improving VET institution support systems already in place;
Amendment 216 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Recommends that Erasmus+ further develops cross-sector mobility of individuals within KA 1, so that learners, teachers, educators, trainers, apprentices, workers and youth may engage fully in cross-sector mobility;
Amendment 217 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Asks the Commission to introduce and support a structured learning component on educational mobility, that should become part of any higher or vocational education programme, in order to ease and strengthen awareness of mobility competences in all targeted sectors;
Amendment 218 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 c (new)
Paragraph 22 c (new)
22c. Suggests greater involvement of National Agencies in education, training, youth and sport policy developments by strengthening the links to and among the European Commission, Member States and the National Agencies' network;
Amendment 230 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Stays in a constant dialogue with the European Commission in order to monitor the practices of autocratic governments relative to the selection of individuals for mobility;
Amendment 235 #
2015/2327(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Indicates that disadvantaged groups are only specifically targeted in the youth sector; suggests the extension of the Inclusion and Diversity Strategy to all programme sectors in order to promote social inclusion and the participation of people with special needs or with fewer opportunities in the Erasmus+ programme;
Amendment 8 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that the ongoing energy transition ismust resulting in a move away from a centralised, inflexible, fossil fuel and nuclear-based energy system to, in order to guarantee one which is more decentralised, flexible and based on energy efficiency and renewables- based;
Amendment 19 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Reminds that the ultimate goal should be to accomplish an economy based on 100% renewables, which can only be achieved through reducing our energy consumption, making full use of the "energy efficiency first / first fuel" principle and prioritizing energy savings and demand side measures over the supply side, in order to meet our climate goals in line with the Paris Agreement 1,5° scenario, energy security, competitiveness and especially lower consumers´ bills;
Amendment 26 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – introductory part
Paragraph 3 – introductory part
3. Believes that, in this context, the Energy Union should have the interests of citizens at its core and shouldpresent and future generations of citizens at its core and should therefore streamline the perspective of households in all its energy legislation, such as the upcoming review of the energy market design, the energy efficiency directive and EPBD, renewable energy directive and the heating and cooling strategy, with the aim to:
Amendment 34 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point b
Paragraph 3 – point b
b. empower citizens to produce and store their own clean energy, take energy- saving measurestake energy-saving measures, to produce and consume, sell and/or store their own renewable energy, either individually or collectively, and become active participants in the energy market through consumer choice and the possibility of safely and confidently participating in demand response;
Amendment 43 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 – point c
Paragraph 3 – point c
c. eradicate the causes of energy poverty; and its linkage with energy inefficient building stocks;
Amendment 69 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that, as a general principle, the energy transition should result in a more sustainable decentralised and democratic energy system which benefits society as a whole, increases the involvement of citizens and local communities, and empowers them to own or share in the ownership of the production, distributionrenewable energy generation, to get access to the grid without any difficulty and the storage of renewable energy, while at the same time protecting the mostenergy efficiency measures and the benefits of renewable energy generation and consumption should be made available to vulnerable consumers;
Amendment 94 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. ConsiderRegrets that the aim of the Third Energy Package to provide a truly competitive and consumer-friendly retail energy market has not yet been realised, as evidenced by low levels of consumer switching and satisfaction across the EU, persistent high levels of market concentration by big cumbersome utilities while thwarting the empowerment of people to participate on equal footing in the energy market, and the failure to reflect falling wholesale costs in retail prices;
Amendment 126 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point a
Paragraph 6 – point a
a. Recommends improving the transparency and clarity of bills, which should include information on the final price, with an explanation of the different taxes, levies and tariffs, together with information on the different energy sourcesshares of the energy sources as well as the respective amounts of CO2 and nuclear waste produced, and complaint handling, clear indication of contact points, and information on switching and measures linked to improving energy efficiency measures; insists that clear language supported by relevant pictograms must be used, with technical terms either avoided or clearly explained; requests the Commission to identify minimum standards to improve the comparability of key billing information and encourage the exchange of best practice between national regulator, consumer organisations, ADR bodies and suppliers in this respect;
Amendment 163 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point d
Paragraph 6 – point d
d. Recommends that there should be a limited range of standardised tariffs, in order to facilitate comparison between different suppliers and tariffs and avoid a confusing array of different tariffs for the same producto further analyse ways how to establish and implement progressive and variable tariff systems, in order to incentivise energy savings, self- generation, demand-response and energy efficiency;
Amendment 180 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point e
Paragraph 6 – point e
e. Recommends that consideration be given to requiring energy suppliers to automatically placpro- actively notify vulnerable customers on the most advantageous tariff, based on historic consumption patterns; notes, given that switching rates are low throughout Europe, that many households, especially the most vulnerable, are not engaged in the energy market and are stuck on outdated expensive tariffs;
Amendment 189 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point f
Paragraph 6 – point f
f. Recommends to further analyse measures to enable retail prices to better reflect wholesale prices and thus reverse the trend of an increasing proportion of fixed elements in energy bills, in particular network charges, taxes and levies, which are often regressive elements; recommends that such elements be applied progressively or, where, possible funded from alternative sourcbearing in mind the frequently striking discrepancy between household and industry consumers, where the latter is massively exempted from levies and taxes;
Amendment 233 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Democratising the energy system by helping consumersitizen take ownership of the energy transition, to reduce their energy consumption, produce their own energy and become energy-efficient
Amendment 250 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Believes that local authorities, communities, households and individuals should form the backbone of the energy transition and should be actively supported to help them become energy producers and suppliers on an equal footing with other players;
Amendment 252 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Considers it of major importance to establish and define a basic right to self- generation and self-consumption and to set-up a common legal framework for the right to store and sell excess electricity at a fair price within a revised renewable energy directive (RED). Furthermore, priority access to the grid and priority dispatch for renewable energy sources as stipulated in the current RED should be maintained;
Amendment 253 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Member States shall on basis of public participation develop a Citizen and Community Energy strategy describing in their national action plants how they will promote small and medium-sized renewable energy projects and energy cooperatives and intend to factor them in in their legislative framework, their support policies and market accessibility.
Amendment 254 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Calls for the introduction of a new Citizen and Community Energy chapter under the revised RED to address the main market and administrative barriers and provide a more conducive investment environment for self-generation and self- consumption of renewable energy. This new chapter under the RED should form the legislative framework that empowers citizen and makes them active participants in the market as investors and stakeholders; points out that individual but also collective action by citizen in form of community energy/ energy cooperatives or association are fundamental to the energy transition. They contribute to the diversification of market participants and increased energy democracy, boost the local economy and employment in a sustainable manner and can address effectively serious social problems, such as energy poverty, at the local level. Overall, they are instrumental in meeting the EU´s energy and climate targets and foster local support of the energy transition;
Amendment 272 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers that access to capital, high upfront investment costs and long repayment periods represent barriers to the take-up of self-generation and energy efficiency measures; calls, therefore, for the development of new business models and innovative financial instruments to incentivise reduced energy consumption, self-generation, and -consumption, and energy efficiency for all conprosumers; suggests that this should become a priority for the EIB, EFSI and the Structural Funds;
Amendment 291 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls for stable and sufficient remuneration schemes to guarantee investor certainty and increase the take-up of small and medium-scale renewable energy projects; believes that grid tariffs and other fees should be non- discriminatory, transparent and should fairly reflect the impact of the consumer on the grid, while guaranteeing sufficient funding for the maintenance and development of distribution grids; regrets the recent abruptstresses that prosumers providing the grid with storage capacities should be rewarded and that prosumers should be encouraged to consume their own renewable electricity production without being imposed additional taxes or grid charges; strongly condemns the unacceptable abrupt retroactive changes to support schemes in certain Member States, as well as the introduction of unfair and punitive taxes or fees which are detrimental to the continued expansion of self-generation from renewables;
Amendment 297 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recommends reducing to an absolute minimum theCalls upon Member States to suppress administrative barriers to new self- generation capacity, and suggests replacing lengthy authorisation procedures with a simple notification requirement; suggests that the revision of the renewable energy directive could include specific provisions to remove barriers and promote community/cooperative energy schemetresses the need for putting in place efficient one- stop-shops for local RES projects dealing with project permits and providing financial and technical expertise, such as for grid connection, as well as guaranteeing prosumers´ access to ADR- mechanisms;
Amendment 307 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on Member States to make full use of De Minimis exemptions foreseen by the European Energy and Environment State Aid Guidelines 2014-2020, so that small and medium-sized projects continue benefiting from dynamic feed-in tariffs, exempting them from obstructive auctioning processes;
Amendment 308 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Calls upon the European Commission to challenge restrictive national policies designed to constrain the development of self-generation and - consumption and to secure grid access for smaller and medium sized renewable energy producers;
Amendment 314 #
2015/2323(INI)
15. Calls on the Commission to step up its support for the Covenant of Mayors, so as to expand and further develop it as a tool to promotemovements and bodies such as the Covenant of Mayors, Smart Cities and Communities and the 100% RES communities which allow sharing of knowledge and best practice between all cities, local authorities, regions and Member States on local bottom up planning of the energy transition, self- generation and energy efficiency measures, fight energy poverty, facilitate the exchange of best p and access to financial support; strongly recommends incorporactices between allng local authorities, regions and Member States, and ensure that all local authorities are aware of the financial support available to them in the decision-making process wherever possible, in order to strengthen the "think local first" principle when designing national climate and energy plans;
Amendment 330 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Believes that consumers should have easy and timely access to their consumption data in both volume and monetary terms, to help them make informed decisions; believes that where smart meters are rolled out thereMember States should bensure a solid legal framework to ensurguarantee an end to back-billing and a rollout that is efficient and affordable for consumers and is free of charge for energy- poor consumers; insists that the benefits of the efficiency savings from smart meters should be shared on a fair basis between grid operators and users;
Amendment 348 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Emphasises that the development of smart technologies must not leave the most vulnerable or less engaged consumers behind, nor see bills rise; where necessary special assistance must be ensured so that vulnerable households also benefit from the new technology;
Amendment 353 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Highlights the need to develop smart appliances which automate the management of energy demand in response to price signals; believes that the smart appliances need to be interoperable, designed to the benefit of the final consumer and equipped with functions enhancing energy savings and support the development of markets for energy services and demand management; the Commission should ensure the operability of smart appliances by providing adequate guidelines taking also into account the upgrade of outdated models;
Amendment 356 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Emphasises that consumers should be able to choose freely aggregators and energy service companies (ESCOs) independent from suppliers;
Amendment 358 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that the collection, processing and storage of citizens’ energy-related data should be managed by neutral entities and should comply with the existing EU legislation, which lays down that the ownership of all data lies with the citizen and that data should only be provided to third parties by explicit consent; considers that, in addition, citizens should be able to exercprivacy and data protection framework. Accordingly, the data should be stored in the smart meter in the consumer’s premises while the consumers shall remain the ultimate owners of their personal data; only with the explicit consent of the consumer can the data be transmitted to DSOs and other market operators; that data should be anonymised their rights to correct and erase informationo address potential privacy concerns;
Amendment 405 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Considers that the Energy Union governance framework should include objectives and reporting from Member States for energy poverty, and that common key indicators for energy poverty should be developed;
Amendment 424 #
2015/2323(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls for the revised EED to include a provision for a significant minimum percenthe Commission to assess the feasibility for the revised EED and the revised RED to oblige member states to include in their national schemes targe of measures in energy efficiency obligation schemes targeting low-incometed measures for low-income consumers to guarantee that they have access to a wide range of energy efficiency measures and to the benefits of renewable energy generation and consumers;ption.
Amendment 16 #
2015/2321(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Believes that expanding access to lifelong learning can open up new possibilities for the active inclusion of refugees, their enhanced social participation and integration into the labour market;
Amendment 17 #
2015/2321(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Deeply regrets the present disappearance of cultural networks due to the new orientation of Creative Europe, such as Banlieues d’Europe, as with them disappears a tremendous and essential experience on dealing with issues like segregation, exclusion in multicultural regions and areas;
Amendment 21 #
2015/2321(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Asks the Member States to work on the implementation of the country-specific recommendations set in the framework of the European Semester;
Amendment 22 #
2015/2321(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to create significant budgetary room and readiness in the annual budgets and multiannual financial framework (MFF) provisions, enabling more swift and substantial support to the Member States as regards their actions for reception and integration of refugees into their existing school systems;
Amendment 24 #
2015/2321(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that in the current humanitarian crisis, access to educational services and assistance for refugee children and youth is a precondition for their social inclusion, protection, long-term integration into the labour market and prevention of exploitation; underlines the need to ensure cultural and linguistic mediation as well as the learning of the host country’s language for refugees and asylum seekers, and to develop initiativduty to European, national, regional and local institutions and these should provide refugees and asylum seekers with education and training, developing their knowledge of the host country´s languages, cultural and social values, their employability and ultimately their integration ; calls for efforts to promote recognition of competences and qualifications across Europe, by strengthening the role of the European Qualification Framework and promoting the validation of non-formal and informal learning; advocates support at EU, national, regional and local level for non- profit institutions acting as intermediaries for the recognition of competenceskills and qualifications, including through platform of refugees;
Amendment 56 #
2015/2321(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Advocates that, in order to boost employability, comprehensive lifelong learning strategies are needed; calls on Member States, therefore, to enhance quality and broaden access to Early Childhood Education and Care, Vocational Education and Training and Adult Learning;
Amendment 62 #
2015/2321(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Calls on Member States to help those migrant teachers and professors find teaching jobs to both improve their situation and put their language and teaching skills and experience to good use in European schools systems;
Amendment 73 #
2015/2321(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the crucial role of education, culture, intercultural and interreligious dialogue, lifelong learning, youth and sports policy in fostering the integration and social inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers in Europe and in contributing to building a more cohesive and inclusive society based on cultural diversity and the promotion of common values;
Amendment 81 #
2015/2321(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Asks the Member States to promote initiatives to fosensure greater cooperation among public authorities, NGO, policy coherence, and dialogue among public authorities, NGOs, social partners, civil society organizations and refugee communities in order to enhance mutual knowledge and understanding;
Amendment 113 #
2015/2321(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Emphasises the need for Member States’ Education Ministries and the EU to cooperate in order to ensure equal access to high- quality education by reaching out newly arrived migrants and refugees, integrating them in a positive learning environment;
Amendment 116 #
2015/2321(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Calls on Member States to facilitate enrolment of refugee students at all educational level; notes that refugee children tend to be concentrated together in schools near refugee centres or in immigrant neighbourhoods and are, as a result, partially segregated and less likely to learn the host language; asks the Member States to make bigger efforts to distribute pupils throughout their school systems more effectively;
Amendment 2 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
– having regard to its Report on Erasmus+ and other tools to foster mobility in VET - a lifelong learning approach1,
Amendment 13 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas education and training should not be aimed only at meeting labour market needs, but should constitute a value in themselves, since education has an equally important role in developing ethical and civic virtues and honouring the democratic principles on which Europe is founded; whereas transversal competences such as civic, social competences and citizenship education should be particularly highlighted alongside language, digital and entrepreneurial skills;
Amendment 20 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas expanding access to lifelong learning can open up new possibilities for active inclusion and enhanced social participation, especially for the low skilled, the unemployed, people with special needs, the elderly and migrants;
Amendment 24 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas not all Member States are facing the same type and level of challenges, and this means that any recommendations proposed for education and training should be flexible and should be tailored to national economies, demographies and culturestake those national and regional factors into account;
Amendment 29 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas in the 2014 Annual Growth Survey the Commission considers that in terms of expenditure, Member States need to find ways to protect or promote longer term investment in education, research, innovation, energy and climate action and that it is essential to invest in the modernisation of education and training systems, including lifelong learning;
Amendment 31 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas effective investment in quality education and training is a source of sustainable growth;
Amendment 36 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas deteriorating teaching conditions and quality of learning, a decline in academic freedom and growing criticism of may deteriorate due to a general lack of investment by member States, a decline in academic freedom may be feared and a continuing scepticism towards the Bologna process areis reported across the European Higher Education Area (EHEA);
Amendment 41 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the comprehensive ET2020 stocktaking exercise, and underlines the need to take its conclusions into account in order to, and optimise the effectiveness of the framework upholding the principle of lifelong learning, including the role of education in promoting equity and inclusion and imparting intercultural competences and active citizenship, and strengthening country-specific relevance and mutual learning;
Amendment 49 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the proposed extension of the work cycle from 3 years to 5, aimed at reducing the reporting workload and enhancing implementation of the long- term strategic goalin order to better implement the long-term strategic goals and work on issues such as underachievement of pupils in some study fields, the low participation rates in adult learning, early school leaving, social inclusion, civic engagement, gender gaps and employability rates of graduates;
Amendment 53 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the narrowing of the number of ET2020 priority areas, but notes that the operational aspect of ET2020 needs to be enhanced and a work programme adopted; calls on Member States to consider education and training as an investment and agree that a minimum of expenditure on education should be off the fiscal balance sheet so that the current crisis does not have a negative impact on education and training;
Amendment 56 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the new generation of ET2020 Working Groups, and calls on the Commission to improve the representation of different stakeholders in those groups, notably by including more education experts; stresses the need for better dissemination of the groups’ deliverables, at bothlocal, regional, national and EU level;
Amendment 60 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the strengthening of the steering role of the informal bodies - in particular the High Level Group and the Director-General groupings - within ET2020, as well as the creation of feedback loops linking the High Level Group, the Director-General groupings and the Working Groups; acknowledges the role civil society organisations play reaching out to local, regional and national stakeholders and citizens on European cooperation in education and training and calls for their financial support under Erasmus+ (KA3) and the European Social Fund;
Amendment 64 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for the setting-up of an informal coordination body which would include the Director-General of the Commission’scomposed of representatives of the different DG for Education and Culture (DG EAC), units and other Directors responsible for education in other DGs, and stakeholder representatives, and would hold high-level meetings to ensure coordination of work, policy coherenceGs involved in Education matters, Member States and stakeholders to ensure greater coordination, policy coherence, mutual learning and dialogue between Member States, DGs, social partners and civil society organisations, and the follow-up of recommendations issued by formal and informal ET2020 bodies;
Amendment 69 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Reiterates that, notwithstanding the importance of acquiring employability skills, the value of knowledge and academic rigour should not be overlooked, and emphasises that blanket prescriptive approaches must be avoided; underlines that the forthcoming European Skills Agenda should not overstate employability skills at the expense of subject knowledge to enhance employability, innovation and active citizenship, basic skills must go hand in hand with other key competences and attitudes: creativity, entrepreneurship and sense of initiative, digital skills (including coding), foreign language competences, critical thinking including through e- literacy and media literacy, and skills reflecting growing sectors, such as the green economy;
Amendment 80 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Points out the value of a community- based approach to education and strong links between schools and families; calls for the wider participation of relevant actors (such as the European Parents Association) in the work of ET2020emphasises the need to foster participatory education governance by stimulating engagement of learners, educators, parents and the broader local community such as civil society groups, social partners and business;
Amendment 95 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Stresses the role of external associations and NGOs entering schools to provide children with other skills and social competences, like arts, manual activities, in helping integration, better understanding of their environment, solidarity in learning and living, and easing up the learning competences of whole classes;
Amendment 99 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Is concerned that the fact that the quality of teacher edstaff shortages and cuts in education hinder quality instrucation is lagging behind, in terms of range and complexity, with regard to competences that are necessary for teaching today, and welcomes the choice ofn many Member states; believes teachers should be trained to deal with the growing diversity of learners, use innovative pedagogies and ICT tools in an optimal manner, while enjoying induction support early in their careers, therefore welcomes the support for educators as a priority area for ET2020; encourages Member States to adapt their initial teacher training and in-service development programmes and to make better use of peer-learning activities between Member States;
Amendment 112 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Encourages the Commission and the Member States to review the existing rules for the evaluation of education and training programmes funded by the European financial instruments, putting greater focus on quality based impact assessment;
Amendment 121 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Points out that it is necessary to invest in instruments to measure quantitative and qualitative progress and to make sure that European projects providing qualitative analysis provided by all stakeholders are duly supported via the Erasmus+ programme;
Amendment 126 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses thate importance of attaining the benchmark goal of 40 % of the younger generation having a tertiary degree should not be fulfilled at the expense of quality in education; that boosts the knowledge economy and respond to society´s needs; advocates that, in order to boost employability though , comprehensive lifelong learning strategies are needed; calls on Member States, therefore, to enhance quality and broaden access to Early Childhood Education and Care, Vocational Education and Training and Adult Learning and to adopt measures aimed at reducing early school leaving;
Amendment 139 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Draws attention to the shortcomings offact that standardised tests and of quantitative approaches to educational accountability, such as narrowing theonly measure at best a narrow range of traditional competences, and may result in schools having to adapt teaching syllabus to test material and neglecting the intrinsic values of education;
Amendment 148 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes that the side-effects of the Bologna process and student mobility are largely ignored and are not being tackled head-on,bigger efforts are to be made to meet the objectives of the Bologna process and student mobility and advocates broader involvement of the university community in the ET2020 work cycle;
Amendment 153 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that although the Bologna process has spearheaded significant achievements, it has also led to the fragmenta standardisation of university programmes and the standardisation of inefficient processeswhich may be understood as counterproductive if quality is missing ; takes the view that, without prejudice to the concept of single-tier unified programmes, studying at a European university should be based on a two-tier model, with the initial phase lasting no less than three years, and that educational institutions should be given more flexibility in the use of modules and the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS);
Amendment 162 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Notes that stronger links between education, business and research, and involvement of social partners and civil society will strengthen the impact of ET 2020 and the relevance of learning systems to increase Europe's innovation capacity;
Amendment 167 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Advocates a shift to conceiving mobility programmes in terms of qualitative outcomes that respond to priorities and primarily serve learning objectives; calls for the proper implementation of the proposals of the European Quality Charter for Mobility and for better use of the tools of internationalisation at homeall educational tools available to prepare students to the right type of mobility they would need and to update their leaning competences;
Amendment 184 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Stresses that the challenges posed by migration to European educational systems should be addressed at both European and nat, national and regional level, since failureit is a duty to all institutions to provide migrants with education and training constitutes a risk to their employability, their development of knowledge of the host country’s cultural can, developing their knowledge of the host country's cultural and social values, their employability and ultimately their integration; calls on Member States to help those migrant teachers and professors find teaching jobs to both improve their situations and values, and their integration; put their language and teaching skills and experience to good use in European schools systems;
Amendment 192 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Emphasises the need to designate specific contact persfor Member States’ education ministries and the Commission’s for migrant and refugee education within Member States’ education ministries and the Commission’s DG EACDG EAC to cooperate in order to ensure equal access to high- quality education, in particular by reaching out the most disadvantaged and people with diverse backgrounds, including newly arrived migrants, integrating them into a positive learning environment;
Amendment 202 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for measures to integrate migrant children, both intra- and extra- European, into education systems by helping them adjust toing curricula and learning standards to their needs, providing them with language assistance, and enabling them to become familiar with the host country’s culture while preserving their own cultural heritage;
Amendment 208 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Supports the idea of setting up helpdesklong- term training programmes for teachers offering them timely support in handling various types of diversity in the classroom and guidance when they are confronted with students at risk of being radicalised; calls for the cdiffereantion ofated synergies between the ET2020 Wworking Ggroups and networks such as the Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) Working Group on Education;
Amendment 215 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Stresses the need for more language- based learning programmes; calls for efforts to develop validpromote recognition of qualifications and accreditation mechanisms for the qualifications of migrants, since many of those entering the EU come with no proof of their formal qualificationscross Europe, by strengthening the role of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and promoting the validation of non-formal and informal learning; adequate recognition and validation instruments for digitally acquired knowledge, skills and competences can support the uptake of open and innovative learning practices, particular attention should be given to simplifying and rationalising existing EU instruments on skills and qualifications directed to the wider public to strengthen outreach;
Amendment 230 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to facilitate measures for migrant students enrolling at university level; welcomes the initiatives adopted in this regard by a number of European universities; calls on Member States to facilitate enrolment of migrant students at all educational levels;
Amendment 233 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Considers that the Science4Refugees programme should be further developed as regards its efficiency evaluation; advocates support at EU and national level for non-profit institutions providing assistance to migrant academicAdvocates support at EU, national, regional and local level for non-profit institutions acting as intermediaries for the recognition of skills and qualifications of migrants;
Amendment 239 #
2015/2281(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Notes that the ‘brain drain’ effect linked to mobility poses risks for Member States, especially those in central/eastern and southern Europe, and expresses its concern at the failure of the ET 2020 Working Groups to adequately address the concept of unbalanced mobility; therefore, asks Member States in order to address unbalanced mobility, to put stronger emphasis on lifelong learning strategies by giving a political impulse on national and regional implementation, continue the work on the European Qualification Framework/National Qualification Frameworks (EQF/NQF) and on validation by implementing the roadmap and peer learning activities between the most and less advanced countries and work on the implementation of the country-specific recommendations set in the framework of the European Semester;
Amendment 1 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
- having regard to the Copenhagen Declaration of 30 November 2002 on enhanced cooperation in the European vocational education and training,
Amendment 2 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)
Citation 2 b (new)
- having regard to the Recommendations of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on the establishment of a European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training,
Amendment 3 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
- having regard to the report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council of 28 January 2014 on the implementation of the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on the establishment of a European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Education and Training,
Amendment 4 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 b (new)
Citation 13 b (new)
- having regard to the Council Conclusions of 20 May 2014 on quality assurance supporting education and training,
Amendment 5 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 c (new)
Citation 13 c (new)
- having regard to the Declaration of the Ministers in charge of Vocational education and training of 22 June 2015 on a new set of medium-term deliverables in the field of VET for the period 2015- 2020,
Amendment 21 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas language skills are lower in VET and need specific boosting
Amendment 23 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas it is of utter importance that Erasmus + and other programs target all citizens regardless of their education level;
Amendment 26 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the regional and local level is pivotal tocrucial to support initiatives exploring new paths for mobility and is crucial to establishing contact with entrepreneurs, all types of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the relevant trade unions, and engaging them in promoting the mobility of young people and apprentices;
Amendment 28 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas continuous financial support for mobility measures and activities in lifelong learning and in VET knowledge is crucial, especially in this period of economic crisis;
Amendment 30 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas it is necessary to reaffirm the political commitment to support EU action in lifelong learning and VET, notably through mobility activities that focus on developing transversal competences such as adaptability, curiosity and learning to learn, interpersonal and civic skills;
Amendment 32 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas entrepreneurs and trade unions must be part of the reflection on mobility structures and advantages, and prove to be a way out of unemployment by upgrading transversal skills, like adaptability, language, team spirit, communication and organisation competence, with a special view on gender equality;
Amendment 34 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas entrepreneurs and, trade unions must be part of the reflection on mobility structuresand other relevant social partners should be actively involved in design, organisation, delivery and financing VET and the mobility in it;
Amendment 41 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Acknowledges the important role and the results of existing programmes and initiatives for mobility; such as Key Action 1 in Erasmus+, Europass, the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF);
Amendment 44 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Commission, the Member States, involving EU agencies such as CEDEFOP to improve the VET mobility programmes so that they deliver added value for all participants as regards qualification, recognition and content, and to ensure that quality standards on apprenticeships are introduced;
Amendment 63 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Singles out certain problems inInsists on the necessity to ease up the implementation of mobility actions in Erasmus+, such as reduced funding, problems with the in taking action to raise funding, simplifying the design and use of electronic tools for mobility management, and insufficientproviding a better targeted information and training targeted ato school and colleges staff;
Amendment 64 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Asks the Commission to provide the Erasmus + programme related documents in all official and co-official EU- languages;
Amendment 65 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Asks the Commission to reduce the high amount of administrative burden for applicants as well as for sending and hosting companies and institutions involved in Erasmus + projects to facilitate both the registration process and projects;
Amendment 68 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the key aspects that need to be taken into account when assessing the success of the implementation of mobility actions: learners’ economic capacity to engage in mobility; recognition of studies between countries, whether via credits or certificates; level of language knowledge; organisation of the curricula or studies; legal aspects; lack of information or motivation to complete studies; personal situation of the students;
Amendment 72 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Strengthens the importance of reintroducing the former language classes as well as of the co-financing of the linguistic support for all participants without language restriction,
Amendment 73 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Encourages the European Union to define a statute of the ‘European Apprentice’Calls on the Commission to present and the Member States to endorse a proposal for an EU Apprenticeship status and scheme to guarantee a set of rights for those apprentices and VET learners who make use of their right to free movement, so as to ensure that their efforts are recognized and their rights are protected;
Amendment 81 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that early school leaving is one of the most distinct problems faced by mobility target groups, and that better vocational options lead to fewer dropouts from education and training; stresses therefore how important the results of educational systems may be in reducing the levels of early school leaving and in better equipping the students with transversal skills which eventually will help them matching the qualifications with the demands of the labour market;
Amendment 85 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that early school leaving is one of the most distinct problems faced by mobility target groups, and that betterdiverse and flexible vocational options lead to fewer dropouts from education and training;
Amendment 88 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses the need to support young people in vocational training to overcome their difficulties with some complementary and accompanying measures, such as reinforcing the group nature of the mobility schemes, considering stays abroad that are a prolongation of the training period, and better mentoring and accompaniment by the home and host institutions involved in mobility;
Amendment 92 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Emphasises the key role of learning and training mobility in tackling social and cultural challenges to give youth all its chances to develop own scheme of action in society; recalls that the European Union has focused its efforts, notably through the Europe 2020 strategy, on increasing the competitiveness of its economy, generate employment and ultimately strengthen its capacity to compete globally in the third decade of the century; emphasises, in this context, the important role of research, innovation, the digital society and energy sustainability, as instruments to provide higher added value;
Amendment 96 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses the role of educational systems in better equipping students with both academic and transversal skills, and thereby enhancing their aptitude to match labour market needs as well as increasing their participation in transnational mobility programmes;
Amendment 100 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses the role of educational systems in better equipping students with both academic and transversal skills, and thereby enhancing their aptitude to matchpositively influent their self- confidence and facilitate their sustainable integration to the labour market needs;
Amendment 102 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Notes the numerous benefits of transnational placement opportunities for VET institutions including making them more attractive for students, giving the possibility to increase cooperation among partners from different EU countries as well as helping to improve linguistic and intercultural skills of their staff and students;
Amendment 105 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Encourages a holistic approach to VET and apprenticeships, leading to enhanced personal development, and gaining employability skills and occupational competences, as well as encouraging the promotion of vocational education as an equivalent and valid option to academic education;
Amendment 106 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Encourages flexible pathways between VET, general education and higher education, as well as strengthening tertiary VET as a means to address social inclusion, increase participation in higher education, and promote student success;
Amendment 108 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 e (new)
Paragraph 8 e (new)
8e. Notes that improving the quality in VET, in cooperation with social partners and public employment services, through enhanced practical education and apprenticeships, is necessary to meet the labour market needs and societal demands and should facilitate mobility in the lifelong learning process;
Amendment 110 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 g (new)
Paragraph 8 g (new)
8g. Supports the development of modern technologies and infrastructures in strengthening and modernising national vocational education systems to improve the access and quality of mobility;
Amendment 115 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls to improve the access to high quality information on VET possibilities for young people and businesses via available and targeted specialised guidance and counselling services;
Amendment 128 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Asks the European Commission and the Member States to put in place schemes that reduce linguistic and cultural barriers in the organisation of mobility programmes; considers that those schemes should be able to assess implementation progress; stresses that action schemes should, in particular, support the learning of basic elements of the language of the host country, design a basic training model that informs about the key features of the business and working culture of the destination country, and promote and provide specific programmes for the training of teaching staff, concerning mobility management by the training centres;
Amendment 131 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Promotes the exchange of best practices and political guidelines involving the improvement and benefits of international mobility in VET and apprenticeships, which also contribute to advancing educational research for practical vocational application, as well as improving vocational training practices in companies;
Amendment 133 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Acknowledges the importance of European Alliance for Apprenticeships to improve the quality and availability of apprenticeships in the EU, and ask the European Commission to give its financial support and strategic priority to encourage all related stakeholders to improve conditions for apprenticeships;
Amendment 144 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Draws attention to the diversity and uneven development of validation and recognition systems between Member States, despite growing convergence in the last decade; stresses the need to facilitate the validation and recognition of skills and competences acquired in companies or training centres in different Member States; calls on Member States to improve the implementation of the European Qualifications Framework (2008/C111/01) and remove barriers; calls on the Commission, the Parliament and the Council to strengthen the instrument from currently a recommendation to a legally stronger basis as any non- recognition of competences negatively impacts on the EU2020 target of Employment Rates and hinders free movement as enshrined in the Treaties;
Amendment 145 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Draws attention to the diversity and uneven development of validation and recognition systems between Member States, despite growing convergence in the last decade; stresses the need to increase the compatibility between the different vocational education and training systems and to facilitate the validation and recognition of skills and competences acquired in companies or training centres in different Member States;
Amendment 147 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Enhances mobility in employment, education, apprenticeships and traineeships in national European Youth Guarantee Schemes in order to improve the skills of young people, as well as reduce the geographical skills mismatch in the EU;
Amendment 149 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Emphasises the contribution of traineeships and apprenticeships in equipping young people with the necessary skills to obtain and retain employment;
Amendment 166 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Emphasises that mobility actions and/ or services adapted to trainers, tutors and entrepreneurs' needs should be encouraged and highlighted within ERASMUS+;
Amendment 167 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Points out that coherent, complementary and well-coordinated co funding schemes at European, national, regional and local level are necessary in order to enable training centres to cover the total range of costs and to plan and implement permanent actions;
Amendment 170 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Encourages further measures to facilitate access by disadvantaged groups and people with special needs to Erasmus+ mobility actions; stresses therefore the need for a diversified and customized range of mobility options in training for people coming from immigrant backgrounds and economically disadvantaged families, or for learners from remote regions;
Amendment 172 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Encourages further measures to facilitate access by disadvantaged groups and people with special needs to Erasmus+ mobility actions and to create more flexible and individualised training and learning pathways adapted to people with disabilities;
Amendment 174 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Welcomes the fact that Erasmus + has significantly expanded the number of beneficiaries of Vocational Education and Training (VET) programmes to those young persons who do not go to university or college;
Amendment 180 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Notes it is of high importance to give the 'possibility to fund the mobility of at least one accompanying person for all group mobility;
Amendment 181 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Points out that learning outcomes of the apprenticeship should be designed and discussed with the apprenticeship in line with ECVET principles before the apprenticeship starts its training and these should be listed up in the Certificate Supplement after finishing the training;
Amendment 188 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Emphasises the quality of placements to enable students to acquire desirable professional skills, in addition to highlighting the need, at all levels, for good communication vis-à-vis entrepreneurs to have them on board for further recognition of the experienced acquired by the young people taking advantage of mobility schemes;
Amendment 194 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Supports all measures in line with Erasmus+ objectives taken by entrepreneurs to develop mobility schemes for young employees or apprentices either by branch of activity or in interaction with bodies representing the industries, such as chambers of commerce and industry and the relevant trade unions; calls for the recognition of the role of Skilled Craft Chambers and their training centres in supporting mobility and very small companies;
Amendment 206 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Encourages the Commission to examine existing geographic disparities among countries and regions in the participation of VET institutions in the EU mobility programmes, and to address these disparities by enhancing cooperation and the exchange of best practises among national agencies for Erasmus+, promoting team actions among VET institutions (linking experienced VET institutions with other institutions), providing policy support measures and tailor-made advice to VET institutions, and strengthening the existing support networks for VET institutions;
Amendment 211 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Encourages the Commission to promote VET mobility programmes to new bodies and smaller institutions within the VET system, as well as to help them apply for relevant funding by providing more guidance, on- line trainings, and individualised assistance via national agencies for the Erasmus+ programme on the preparation of high quality applications for funding;
Amendment 216 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 c (new)
Paragraph 22 c (new)
22c. Encourages the Commission to boost its efforts to promote the Erasmus+ programme to VET institutions and to increase its effectiveness and accessibility by making it more flexible and simplifying its application process;
Amendment 218 #
2015/2257(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 d (new)
Paragraph 22 d (new)
22d. Encourages improved promotion and visibility for young people and enterprises of such platforms as Drop'pin EURES the aim of which is to facilitate the mobility of young people for apprenticeships, internships, training programs, and e- learning language courses;
Amendment 3 #
2015/2252(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
G a. whereas it has become apparent that the Multiannual Financial Framework needs to be revised urgently to both boost the Union budget and make it more flexible;
Amendment 6 #
2015/2252(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Believes that EASO should be provided with more staff than what is currently proposed by the Commission as it is tasked to assume a key role in the implementation of the Common European Asylum System, such as assisting in the processing of asylum applications and relocation efforts;
Amendment 7 #
2015/2252(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Asks the Commission to clarify and report to the Parliament on the exact nature of the missions of FRONTEX liaison officers deployed to third countries;
Amendment 8 #
2015/2252(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11 c. Is concerned that the ever stronger emphasis on FRONTEX reinforcing accelerated return operations risks undermining the fundamental rights of migrants;
Amendment 9 #
2015/2252(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)
Paragraph 11 d (new)
11 d. Is worried about the new task entrusted to EUROPOL to remove internet content by traffickers, which would be both ineffective and open the door to random censorship;
Amendment 10 #
2015/2252(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 e (new)
Paragraph 11 e (new)
11 e. Urges the Commission to start preparing for a review and revision of the relevant legal provisions, especially the AMIF, as well as the Multiannual Financial Framework for the year 2014- 2020;
Amendment 2 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes with appreciation that in its first year the Erasmus+ programme has achieved its intended aim of creating closer links between Union programmes and policy developments inlinking education, training, sport and youth, and structu issues, and fostered Union action in such a way as to respond better to the lifelong learning paradigm; regrets however that the Erasmus+ programme did not take on board enough schools’ projects and did not communicate enough on the global changes in the new programme lines;
Amendment 10 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Looks forward to the coming years when the Erasmus+ programme will enter into a phase of greater stability compared to this first year of implementation; recommends that the Erasmus+ programme takes on board more small scale projects, which are the core of innovative experiences in all three domains: education, youth and sport;
Amendment 15 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recalls that delays in final payments by the EACEA directly affect the beneficiaries’ rights, thus jeopardising cultural associations and projects, creativity and the cultural civil society´s diversity; encourages the EACEA to further improve its control and payment systems;
Amendment 20 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that the upcoming mid-term review of the 2014-2020revision of the multiannual financial framework is a key point in the management of EU spending.; insists on a thorough simplification of the application forms and criteria, especially for small scale projects, both in Erasmus+ and Creative Europe;
Amendment 24 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Highlights that Europe for Citizens programme serves as a unique and direct link between the EU and its citizens in order to support actions, petitions and civil rights; considers the present funding level far too low and emphasises that the programme should be implemented within its content, becoming richer with initiatives empowering the values of European Citizenship; strongly opposes any further budget cuts or any payment delay for the Europe for Citizens programme 2014–2020;
Amendment 25 #
2015/2154(DEC)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Considers generally that the EU instruments to support the European Agenda for Culture – such as the Creative Europe and Horizon 2020 programmes, or the Europeana platform – must be financially strengthened in order to deliver and serve the objectives set for them;
Amendment 7 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)
Citation 10 a (new)
– having regard to the White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue 'Living Together As Equals in Dignity', by the Council of Europe of 7 May 2008
Amendment 9 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
– having regard to the outcomes and follow-up actions of the Preparatory Action for Culture in EU External Relations, 2014
Amendment 21 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas "intercultural dialogue" has been tentatively defined in different studies and conclusions around the European Intercultural Dialogue year of 2008, as a process that comprises an open and respectful exchange or interaction between individuals, groups and organisations with different cultural backgrounds or world views; whereas among its aims are: to develop a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives and practices; to increase participation and the freedom and ability to make choices; to foster equality; and to enhance creative processes;
Amendment 22 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas it is important to provide the means for intercultural dialogue and dialogue between citizens in order to strengthen respect for cultural diversity and to address the complex realities of our societies and the coexistence of different cultural identities and beliefs, as well as to highlight the contribution of different cultures to the European societies and heritage;
Amendment 26 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas aiming at this objective is not only a task for public authorities and decision-makers, but a shared responsibility of society as a whole, including a broad range of stakeholders such as media, educators, businesses, families, community and faith leaders, youth, health and social workers, NGOs and other civil society organisations;
Amendment 27 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas specific articles of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union are of particular importance to intercultural dialogue by promoting equality, non-discrimination, cultural, religious and linguistic diversity, freedom of expression and movement, citizenship rights to economic and political participation;
Amendment 34 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas it is important to provide the means for intercultural dialogue and for example the dialogue between citizens in order to strengthen mutual respect in a context of strong cultural diversity and to address the complex realities of our societies;
Amendment 36 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas in the context of intercultural dialogue, the application of both universal human rights (as individual rights) and cultural rights (recognising specific and multiple cultural identities) are essential;
Amendment 37 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)
Recital D c (new)
Dc. whereas the development of academic mobility for students and teachers as well as any other form of international exchange leads the world to be a better place: a space of mobile citizens and in turn a space for an open intercultural dialog;
Amendment 39 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Argues that a European Union approach should seek to promote a common understanding of the issues by bringing togethertake stock and resume the excellent work done around the 2008 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue and promote anew the organisation of a structured dialogue with all stakeholders in those questions in the light of all recent and dramatic events: European and national politicians, local and regional authorities, civil society organisations and academics, cultural and education platforms, academics and the media;
Amendment 45 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Encourages these stakeholders to establish an up-to-date, clear, policy related definition of intercultural dialogue, to implement or harmonise methods, quality criteria and indicators to evaluate the impact of intercultural dialogue programmes and projects, and to research methodologies for intercultural comparisons;
Amendment 49 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Advocates that fostering an intercultural and interfaith approach in the educational field is needed in order to address and promote multiculturalism, integration and social cohesionsocial inclusion and cohesion, including through exchange and mobility programmes for all;
Amendment 58 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Advocates that cultural diversity should also be addressed in the audio visual and cultural industries; encourages these industries to find creative ways to push for an agreement on national, regional and local action plans for the implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions;
Amendment 65 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Advocates that including cultureal values of respect and mutual understanding in EU external relations and development policy provides a tool for conflict resolution, peacemaking and crisis prevention;
Amendment 69 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Encourages therefore the EU to further expand its cooperation with other European and international bodies and strengthen intercultural dialogue in EU neighbourhood and foreign policies;
Amendment 75 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers thatReminds that, according to Article 167, paragraph 4 of the Treaty of Lisbon, cultural dialogue and diversity should be integrated in a transversal way in all EU policy areas that impact on EU fundamental values;
Amendment 81 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights the need to prepare future generations by giving them access to a true education to citizenship, ensuring that they have the motivation, commitment and skills to be audacious problem solvers;
Amendment 82 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recognises that intercultural dialogue is a tool for inclusive democratic participation and empowerment of citizens, in particular in relation to common goods and public spaces; argues that as such, intercultural dialogue may significantly contribute to the improvement of democracy and the development of greater and deeper inclusivity and sense of belonging;
Amendment 83 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Believes that in this view increasing public investment in inclusive, quality and accessible education is the first step to providing equal access and opportunities for all;
Amendment 89 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Encourages further measures to facilitate the access and integration of disadvantaged groups and people with special needs to Erasmus+ mobility actions;
Amendment 98 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Recognises the benefit of working at formal, non-formal and informal education levels and to build synergies and partnerships between all levels and forms of learning settings, including across generations;
Amendment 102 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Stresses the importance of building strong bridges between culture and education in order to develop transferable skills and increase employability, promote social inclusion and develop active citizenship; recalls the value of CONNECT, the only EU programme promoting culture and education projects and encourages the European Commission to consider a new pilot action line to test the present feasibility of such a scheme;
Amendment 110 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Encourages the Member States to develop training, empowering educators to address all forms of discrimination and racism, to diversify teaching staff, to re- examine educational resources, to foster multi-perspective and multi-language learning, and to avoid segregated schools which separate children on the basis of different social or cultural backgrounds;
Amendment 113 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Encourages the Member States to develop training, empowering educators to address all forms of discrimination and racism, to promote mobility especially for teachers from primary and secondary levels in order to share experiences and develop own tools to face and answer evolving societal challenges;
Amendment 126 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recognises the need to provide sustainable support to NGOs, youth organisations and training institutions to challenge extremism through active citizenship and empowerment of youth; deeply regrets the present disappearance of cultural networks due to the new orientation of Creative Europe, such as Banlieues d'Europe, as with them disappears a tremendous and essential experience on dealing with issues like segregation, exclusion in multicultural regions and areas;
Amendment 130 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Recognises the key role NGOs, cultural networks and platforms, as well as the institutions mentioned above, play and should continue to play where formal intercultural dialogue structures, policies or programmes are less developed; encourages further dialogue between the European Union and large cities, regions and local authorities, to develop a better analysis of the connection between the urban models in which citizens live and the success or failure of the school systems, of the benefit of formal and informal education to all, children and families, and of the coordination of education structures to promote an efficient intercultural dialogue;
Amendment 131 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Stresses the role a programme like Europe for Citizens could play with enough funding to fulfil its objectives of a coherent and more inclusive society, with a due implication of its citizens in the decision-making processes;
Amendment 138 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recognises the importance of both formal, non-formal and informal learning, as well as volunteering, to promote self- development focusing on cognitive and non-cognitive skills, critical thinking, media literacy and intercultural skills; capacity to deal with different opinions, media literacy, intercultural skills and language learning as well as social and civic competences including learning about cultural heritage as a tool to address contemporary challenges through sensitive interpretation;
Amendment 145 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Encourages the EU institutions to broaden their analysis of radicalisation and initiate new reflections on the nature and the processes of political violence; welcomes the Paris Declaration on promoting citizenship and the common values of freedom, tolerance and non- discrimination through education of 17 March 2015 as an effort to concentrate and focus attention on the importance of civic education, including raising awareness to the importance of cultural tools to foster mutual respect among pupils and students;
Amendment 155 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the Member States to ensure the full implementation of binding European versus international antidiscrimination standards into national law;
Amendment 157 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Member States to involve migrants, refugees and faith communities in respectful and empowering integration processes, ensuring their participation in civic and cultural life by designing permanent mechanisms in a human, respectful way in all situations, in particular in emergency situations;
Amendment 165 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the European External Action Service to further include culture as an integral element of external EU policy; calls on the Commission to mainstream cultural diplomacy and intercultural dialogue in all EU external relations instruments and in the EU development agenda;
Amendment 173 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure equal opportunities and combat all forms of discriminationthe economic and social causes of exclusion as well as all forms of discrimination; recalls the key role played by the media, including social media, both as a potential platform for extreme discourses and as a vehicle to counter xenophobic narratives, break down stereotypes and prejudices and to promote tolerance;
Amendment 174 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop strategies which recognise intercultural dialogue as a process of interactive communication within and between cultures to ensure equal opportunities and mutual respect, combat all forms of discrimination, and to develop a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives and practices;
Amendment 187 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls on the Commission and the Council to adopt intercultural dialogue as a EU strong and committed political objective and guarantee EU support through various policy measures, initiatives and funds;
Amendment 192 #
2015/2139(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Encourages the Member States to fully exploit EU financial instruments, programmes and initiatives for the promotion and support of intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity within Europe, with its neighbour countries and other world regions;
Amendment 40 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas the knowledge and skills of teachers and other educational staff need to be further developed and updated through initial and ongoing training;
Amendment 41 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas in some Member States EU topics are generally taught across the different education levels and across various subjects of compulsory education, they primarily constitute a small part of the curriculum that a given teacher has to deliver;
Amendment 42 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas schools and teachers require effective assistance that is tailored and relevant to their particular needs;
Amendment 43 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
Recital E c (new)
E c. whereas according to the "Learning Europe at school" study by ICF GHK for DG Education and Culture, it is primarily institutions and associations outside of higher education that are involved in delivering teacher education on EU issues;
Amendment 44 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)
Recital E d (new)
Amendment 45 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E e (new)
Recital E e (new)
Ee. whereas the basic facts about the EU have to be accompanied by a deeper reflection about why the EU exists, what it really does and how;
Amendment 59 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises that an EU dimension in education can help reconnect the EU with its citizens, deepen the role of the values set out in Article 2 TEU, and strengthen the voice of the Union in an interdependent world; highlights the need to prepare future generations by giving them access to citizenship education;
Amendment 68 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Commission to enhance the pedagogical aspects and responsiveness to schools' needs of projects funded via the Jean Monnet 'Learning Europe at School' action by making sure schools can directly apply and that projects receive funding for periods longer than the year they are funded for, which is a very short time to create and implement activities;
Amendment 83 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Draws attention to the fact that the EU has been shaped by its Member States with their unique histories and cultures, and that the development of the Union remains inextricably linked with its Member States; notes that the impact of the EU on Member States is considerable, and that learning about the EU at school should reflect both the role of Member States in the development of the EU and the influence of the EU on national developments; points out that Member States and the EU have to lead the example to all actors involved in teaching and learning EU at school by practicing core European values of social inclusion and European and international solidarity;
Amendment 88 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recalls the need to ensure, enhance and broaden initial and ongoing professional development opportunities for teachers and educators in order to enable them to incorporate an EU dimension into their teaching, in particular with regard to citizenship education, as well as to implement learner-centred strategies and to adapt their teaching methods to the needs of learners, and to provide them with appropriate support and resources;
Amendment 94 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the Commission to create and promote a "Euro Teacher" label award for teachers in recognition of their competence to teach EU topics, and that the label counts as a merit for teachers' mobility programme;
Amendment 113 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses the need to enhance teachers' and learners' motivation and opportunities to learn more about the EU through their own first-hand experience, such us visits to the European institutions, contacts with EU officials, traineeship opportunities for students within the EU institutions and through media education, such as the European Youth Portal, making full use of the new information and communication technologies and Open Educational Resources;
Amendment 115 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Underlines that learning of foreign languages can play a crucial role in increasing intercultural awareness and providing citizens with the skills needed to live and work in an increasingly complex and globalised world;
Amendment 136 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the Commission to promote and fund greater take up of teacher training institutions in the Jean Monnet sub-action and to allow primary and secondary schools to directly apply;
Amendment 139 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Asks the Commission to add a "Learning EU at school" element to the Erasmus Student mobility action;
Amendment 140 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Encourages further measures to facilitate the access of disadvantaged groups and people with special needs to Erasmus+ mobility actions;
Amendment 141 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 d (new)
Paragraph 10 d (new)
10d. Asks for a significant increase in the amount provided by the EU budget for mobility addressed to teachers from primary and secondary educational levels;
Amendment 142 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 e (new)
Paragraph 10 e (new)
10e. Stresses the role of education programmes like "Europe for Citizens" could play with enough funding to fulfil its objectives of coherent and more inclusive society, with a due implication of its citizens in the decision-making processes;
Amendment 145 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Welcomes the Commission’'s 2016 Work Programme for the implementation of the Erasmus+ Programme and its commitment to concrete actions following up on the Paris Declaration, in particular those aimed at increasing the impact of Erasmus+ on fostering active and democratic citizenship, intercultural dialogue, social inclusion and solidarity, including stronger support for civil society organisations in their key role in education to citizenship;
Amendment 151 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission to closely monitor the impact of EU programmes on developing participants’ sense of citizenship and civic participation; calls for an open and shared debate between the Commission and cities, as well as local and regional authorities regarding the connection between school system and urban models, as a way to understand the effects of different approaches to the intercultural relations in Europe today;
Amendment 157 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Encourages the Commission to continue its support for efforts to develop and promote an EU dimension in education, and to actively disseminate information – including information on relevant funding opportunities and available studies and reports – to key stakeholders; asks the Commission to ensure actions funded do reach out to schools in the end;
Amendment 163 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on the Commission to encourage, support and facilitate networks that promote, and are involved in, learning about the EU at national, regional and local level, as well as exchanges of best practice between these networks at Union level, and to identify areas of improvement;
Amendment 170 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Asks the Commission to further develop the eTwinning, EPALE and School Education Gateway virtual platforms, and to continue supporting and developing digital platforms such as Teachers’ Corner in order to facilitate access to EU-learning relevant, easy-to- use and up-to- date teaching materials;
Amendment 177 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Highlights the role information offices of the European Institutions play and welcomes their commitment in fostering relations with the Member States, with national regional and local educational institutions, youth organisations and media in order to bring them closer to each other and to ensure that young people understand the role the institutions play in their daily lives;
Amendment 182 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Encourages Member States to support, review and update their education systems and all forms of EU-related curricula content at all levels of education – including vocational education and training – with a view to strengthening the EU dimension in close collaboration with all relevant actors at EU, national, regional and local level; calls on Member States to fully exploit and complement EU financial instruments, programmes and initiatives for the promotion and support of intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity;
Amendment 190 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on Member States to ensure equal and inclusive access to innovative and high-quality formal and non-formal education for all learners; calls on Member States to increase public investment in inclusive, quality and accessible education as a means to tackle civic education and provide equal access and opportunities for all;
Amendment 198 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Asks Member States to take further action to promote multi-cultural, non- discriminatory and inclusive education and citizenship values in school and university curricula; encourages Member States to develop training, empowering educators to address all forms of discrimination and racism and to diversify teaching staff, to re-examine educational resources, foster multi-perspective and multi-language learning;
Amendment 210 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on Member States to increase investment in education and to provide the necessary support for schools and teachers to carry out and continuously develop an EU dimension in education; calls on Member States to promote mobility especially for teachers from primary and secondary levels in order to share experiences and develop own tools to face and answer evolving societal challenges;
Amendment 214 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Calls on Member States to encourage and facilitate high quality training on EU topics for teachers, other educational staff, youth leaders and trainers, and to ensure the recognition of such training;
Amendment 225 #
2015/2138(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Urges Member States to acknowledge and support social partners and civil society organisations in bridging the gap between the EU and its citizens; calls on Member States to involve migrants, refuges and faith communities in respectful and empowering citizenship building processes, ensuring their participation in civic and cultural life;
Amendment 1 #
2015/2074(BUD)
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas investments in education, training, cultural and creative industries should form part of the generalsecondary and higher education, formal and informal vocational training should be at the core of the objectives of the European Fund for Strategic Investments, as they are athe key factor foto a better social inclusion which at a later stage will translate into investment decisions and, and to sustainable economic growth;
Amendment 4 #
2015/2074(BUD)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the cultural and creative sectors at large must be prioritised in the European Fund for strategic investments, as they are part of a booming economic sector, able to create jobs and opportunities for further economic and social development in Europe, provided that the necessary investments are responding to their needs;
Amendment 5 #
2015/2074(BUD)
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the MFF enters in 2016 into its third year and needs to be reviewed at its mid-term as a means of putting an end toto alleviate the untenacceptable situation whereby programmesjects, which have already been approved, and which are thereforetherefore are already being implemented, arcould be compromised by a lack of resources and non-payment of funding by the Union, following up on a lack of payment by Member States;
Amendment 8 #
2015/2074(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recallsminds of the importance of programs in the field of education and culture and their need for sufficient commitment and payment appropriation in order toCreative Europe, Erasmus +, Europe for Citizens as well as research programmes, and therefore asks for a European Budget that ensures that programs reach the intended number of beneficiaries and thus impactbeneficiaries will be paid without delay and with the regularity they are entitled to;
Amendment 12 #
2015/2074(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Reminds also that Erasmus+, Creative Europe have the vocation to open up to smaller scale projects that are key to creativity, mobility and innovation in Europe; smaller projects in Erasmus + under key 2 actions at schools should be especially targeted from now on, as there has been a constant decline in the number of smaller projects selected in this area, which is in direct contradiction with the goals of the Union in terms of developing education and mobility at schools; furthermore, smaller projects in Creative Europe should be emphasised, as they are key to a very European distinctive characteristic, enabling artists and cultural workers to meet and develop laboratories of ideas, practices and innovation;
Amendment 13 #
2015/2074(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underscores that the Union communication policy must urgently be improved in order to better enter into a true dialogue with citizens, allowing them to make full use of their right to be informed and involved in European policy making, and in this regard highlights the positivecrucial role of pan- European networks made up of local and national media; like Euranet; appeals to the Commission to make sure that pan-European networks receive due funding in order to continue their information flow, as any disruption in this type of communication would make clear that the Union is not up to its citizens'expectations.
Amendment 18 #
2015/2074(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates the importance of cultural cooperation and diplomacy in relations with EU neighbours; therefore, calls for a coherent strategy to support the mobility of young people, artists and creators working in the cultural sector, in the context of joint cultural and educational projects through which the EU should promote its culture and valuand asks that funding is especially dedicated to this transversal goal in the different programmes and also in the use of Heading IV budget lines, especially in the case of Erasmus + and the cooperation with third countries;.
Amendment 25 #
2015/2074(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to urgently revise the current limitation set for small- scale infrastructure projects within the regional funds, which in the cultural sector risks to reduce the scope for investment in culture, which is of vital importance to the social and economic development in the EU;
Amendment 26 #
2015/2074(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the current high level of youth unemployment and asks for strong budget commitments to address this problem, as well as a reserve for training of employees and officials of local and national administrations, in order to ensure a better implementation and communication on the tools already proposed by the Union, like the Youth Guarantee, or the Youth Employment Initiative.
Amendment 2 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 31 a (new)
Citation 31 a (new)
– having regard to the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI)1b, __________________ 1bProposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Fund for Strategic Investments and amending Regulations (EU) No 1291/2013 and (EU) No 1316/2013 (COM(2015)0010).
Amendment 8 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas, as having been said by a philosopher, "the search for truth and beauty should be the hallmark for Universities", besides of its duty on preparing new professionals, scientists, engineers, teachers, doctors, politics, citizens... ;
Amendment 9 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas it is important to consider universities as the real main actors of the Bologna Process beyond the coordination, regulatory and resources support roles of regional and national institutions;
Amendment 13 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the real purpose of the Bologna Process is to support mobility and internationalisation, as well as to ensure compatibility and comparability in standards and quality of different higher educational systems while respecting the autonomy of universities;
Amendment 18 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the Bologna Process, owing to miscommunication and a lack of understanding of its true visionwhile in most countries has been guiding and motivating educational reforms, isn sometimes countries might be perceived as a bureaucratic burden which hampers necessary national reformsdue to miscommunication and a lack of understanding of its true vision;
Amendment 35 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that the Bologna reforms resulted in the launching of a European Higher Education Area (EHEA), and have allowed significant achievements in the past 15 years in making higher education structures more comparable, increasing mobility, adjusting educational systems to labour market needs, and improving overall employability and competitivenesimproving the quality of educational systems as well as the attractiveness of higher education in Europe;
Amendment 43 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the EHEA countries to implement the commonly agreed reforms aimed at hastening the achievement of the Bologna Process goals, and tostrengthening the credibility of the EHEA; encourages support thosefor countries encountering difficulties in implementing these reforms; supports, in this regard, the creation of broad partnerships between countries and relevant stakeholders;
Amendment 60 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the governments to improve efficiency of use of public funding in education and respect the EU headline target of 3% of the EU's GDP to be invested in R&D by 2020; stresses that ambitious funding in education and research is necessary as it is one of the key tools to ensure access to quality education for all, as well as to fight economic crisis and unemployment;
Amendment 61 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Highlights the potential funding opportunities for higher education, vocational education and training provided by the EFSI; expresses its strong concerns about the planned cutting of funds for Horizon 2020 in favour of the EFSI;
Amendment 62 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Notes that the EFSI in its initial terms is proposing cuts to Horizon 2020 budget commitments affecting programmes directly linked to research and education;
Amendment 63 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Warns that it would undoubtedly affect the full implementation of the Bologna Process and therefore urges the European Commission to change his mind on this subject;
Amendment 64 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Calls on the EU to establish a provision for allocations directly linked to education in the Juncker Investment Plan (EFSI) especially in high capacity telecom infrastructure, empowering universities and helping to build a really interconnected European Universities Network;
Amendment 67 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Encourages both top-down and bottom- up approaches, involving the whole academic community and social partners, and calls for the political engagement and cooperation of EHEA ministers in developing a common strategy for the achievement of the Bologna reforms;
Amendment 68 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls for the establishment of a system of common basic indicators based on pedagogical, organisational and economic criteria that would allow full comparability among all the European universities in order to know, follow and adjust, if necessary, the Bologna Process implementation in each one of them;
Amendment 71 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for the further development of study programmes with clearly defined objectives, providing the knowledge and mix of skills, both general and professional, needed to prepare graduates for the requirements of the labour market and to build their capacity for LLL;
Amendment 76 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Encourages national agencies to apply equivalent, and previously accepted, European evaluation standards; encourages the recognition of educational programme quality assessment carried out by national agencies;
Amendment 77 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Calls for the removal of ex ante formalist assessment of educational programmes and substitute them by a results-oriented approach evaluation action assumed and shared by a joint European and Member States effort;
Amendment 81 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Stresses the importance of guaranteeing the mutual recognition and compatibility of academic degrees for strengthening the system of quality assurance at European level, in line with the revised version of sthe Standards and gGuidelines for qQuality aAssurance (ESG) in the European Higher Education Area;
Amendment 87 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Notes that the mobility of students, teachers, researchers and staff is one of the main priorities of the Bologna Process, and highlights in this regard the crucial role of the Erasmus+ Programme; in this regard highlights the need to strengthen the implementation of the Mobility strategy 2020 for EHEA and the crucial role of the Erasmus+ Programme; stresses that learning grants pertaining to Erasmus+ should be exempt from taxation and social levies;
Amendment 101 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises both in programmes design and delivery the shift of the educational paradigm towards a more student-centred approach that includes the personal development of students; underlines the importance of students' participation in the higher education governance;
Amendment 109 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls for more flexible learning paths that promote joint degree programmes and interdisciplinary studies, and that support innovation, creativity, vocational education and training (VET), dual education, and entrepreneurship in higher education, and calls for the potential offered by new technologies and digitalisation to be explored in order to develop new models for learning, teaching, and assessment;
Amendment 113 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls on HEIs, public administrations, social partners and enterprises to lead an on-going dialogue facilitating and enhancing employability; in this regard stresses the need to focus the discussion on an unused potential of higher education in stimulating growth and employment; calls on EHEA countries and HEIs to enhance cooperation regarding traineeships and apprenticeships;
Amendment 121 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Stresses that the Member States, the Union and the HEIs are responsible for providing quality education that responds to societal challenges;
Amendment 126 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Calls for more involvement of secondary school teachers in the Bologna Process in terms of promoting quality in teacher training and professional mobility in order to meet the new educational and training demands of a knowledge-based society, and to contribute to increased student performance;
Amendment 127 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Emphasises the role of education, its quality and teaching mission in shaping future generations, contributing to wider social and economic cohesion as well as job creation, higher competitiveness and growth potential; calls in this regard for better recognition of the teaching profession;
Amendment 132 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Highlights the social dimension of the Bologna Process; calls for targeting the increased participation of under-represented and disadvantaged groups;
Amendment 133 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. Stresses the role of education mobility in intercultural learning, and that the Bologna Process should take active steps in fostering students' intercultural knowledge and respect;
Amendment 137 #
2015/2039(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Emphasises the need to enhance data collection among EHEA countries in order to better identify and address the Bologna Process challenges;
Amendment 135 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Determines to set a common minimum deadline of twelve weeks before election day for the establishment of lists at national levelelectoral lists, in order to enhance electoral equality by providing candidates and voters across the Union with the same period in which to prepare and reflect ahead of the vote;
Amendment 138 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Proposes that Member States in which there are regions vested with legislative powers should subdivide their electoral area in such a way as to reflect this fact, in order to better represent the political reality of each Member State;
Amendment 139 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Proposes that 25 Members of the European Parliament should be elected to represent a constituency formed of the whole territory of the European Union, on the basis that pan-European lists would be composed of candidates drawn from at least one third of the Member States, that no more than 25% of the candidates on each list would be residents of the same Member State, and that each group of five candidates would be composed of nationals of five different Member States; each elector would be permitted to cast one vote for the EU-wide list in addition to his or her vote for the national or regional list; and seats thus won would be allocated without a minimum threshold in accordance with the Sainte-Laguë method; further, proposes that an electoral authority be established at EU level in order to regulate the conduct, and to verify the result, of the election taking place from the pan-European list;
Amendment 146 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Suggests the introduction of an obligatory threshold, ranging between 3% and 5%, for the allocation of seats in single-constituency Member States and constituencies in which the list system is used and which comprise more than 26 seats; considers this measure important for safeguarding the functioning the European Parliament, since it will avoid further fragmentationat, where a threshold is set at national level, it should not exceed 3 % of the votes cast;
Amendment 152 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Proposes that elecpolling stations in all Member States end byclose at 21:00 hours CET on the Sunday of the European elections, as this would ensure the correct application of Article 10(2) of the Electoral Act and thus reduce the possibility of the outcome of the elections being influenced if the election results in some Member States are made public before the close of polling in all Member States;
Amendment 158 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Determines to set a common deadline for the nomination of lead candidates by European political parties 12 weeks in advance of European elections; considers that the process of nomination of lead candidates constitutes an important aspect of electoral campaigns due to the implicit link between the results of European elections and the selection of the Commission President as enshrined in the Treaty of LisbonSuggests that only European political parties and European candidatures that have registered a transnational list for the EU-wide constituency should nominate a candidate for the position of Commission President, and that those candidates should be placed in the first position on the corresponding list;
Amendment 162 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Points out the implicit link between the results of European elections and the selection of the Commission President enshrined in the Treaty of Lisbon; proposes, accordingly, that the newly elected Parliament should express, through a vote in plenary, its preference regarding the candidates for the position of Commission President;
Amendment 164 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Proposes that each elector be permitted to cast one vote for the EU-wide list and one additional vote for the national or regional list;
Amendment 178 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. As a future step, recommends to Member States that they should consider ways to harmoniseDetermines to set the minimum age of voters for elections to the European Parliament at 16, in order to further enhance electoral equality among Union citizens;
Amendment 208 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Encourages Member States to take measures to promote gender balance in every aspect of European electionsthe better representation of women and ethnic, linguistic and other minorities in every aspect of European elections; with a view to achieving an equal representation of men and women in terms of distribution of seats, proposes that, in the case of constituencies using the list system, the gap between the number of female and male candidates in each list should not be greater than one and that each list should alternate candidates by gender in every position on the list;
Amendment 214 #
2015/2035(INL)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Determines that the office of Member of the European Parliament should also be incompatible with that of member of a regional parliament or assembly vested with legislative powers;
Amendment 222 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 2
Amendment 224 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2a 1. There shall be one additional constituency formed of the entire territory of the Union. This constituency shall be represented by 25 Members of the European Parliament. 2. The European Parliament and the Council, acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, shall establish a European electoral authority to conduct and verify the electoral process of the European Union constituency referred to in paragraph 1. 3. Transnational lists of candidates for election in the European Union constituency shall be registered with the European electoral authority at least 12 weeks before the start of the elections to the European Parliament. 4. Without prejudice to Article 3a, the lists shall be admissible only if: – the candidates whose names appear on the lists in question are, in the aggregate, resident in at least one third of the Member States, – no more than 25% of those candidates are resident in the same Member State, – each group of five candidates is composed of nationals of five different Member States. 5. Each elector shall have two votes, one of which may be cast for the election of Members in his or her Member State and the other of which, being a supplementary vote, may be cast for the European Union-wide list. Seats shall be allocated from the European lists in accordance with the Sainte-Laguë method.
Amendment 226 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 3
Member States may set a minimum threshold for the allocation of seats. At national level this threshold may not exceed 53 per cent of votes cast. There shall be no minimum threshold for the allocation of seats from the European Union constituency referred to in Article 2a(1).
Amendment 233 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 3 a (new)
Article 3a In the case of constituencies using the list system, the gap between the number of female and male candidates in each list shall not be greater than one. Each list shall alternate candidates by gender in every position on the list.
Amendment 238 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 3 b (new)
Article 3b 1. Only European political parties and European candidatures that have registered a transnational list for the European Union-wide constituency shall nominate a candidate for the position of Commission President. 2. Those candidates shall be placed in the first position on the corresponding transnational list. 3. The newly elected European Parliament shall express, through a vote in plenary, its preference among the candidates for the position of Commission President.
Amendment 242 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 4 a (new)
Article 4a Member States may introduce electronic and internet voting for elections to the European Parliament and, where they do so, shall adopt measures sufficient to ensure the reliability of the result, the secrecy of the vote and data protection.
Amendment 248 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. From the European Parliament elections in 2004, tThe office of member of the European Parliament shall be incompatible with that of member of a national parliament. By way of derogation from that rule and without prejudice to paragraph 3: – members of the Irish Nat or of a regional Pparliament who are elected to the European Parliament at a subsequent poll may have a dual mandate until the next election to the Irish National Parliament, at which juncture the first subparagraph of this paragraph shall apply; – members of the United Kingdom Parliament who are also members of the European Parliament during the five-year term preceding election to the European Parliament in 2004 may have a dual mandate until the 2009 European Parliament elections, when the first subparagraph of this paragraph shall applyor assembly vested with legislative powers.
Amendment 249 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. In addition, each Member State may, in the circumstances provided for in Article 8, extend rules at national level relating to incompatibility in respect of members elected in one of its constituencies.
Amendment 250 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 7 – paragraph 4
4. Members of the European Parliament to whom paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 become applicable in the course of the five-year period referred to in Article 5 shall be replaced in accordance with Article 13a or Article 13b.
Amendment 254 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 9
Amendment 255 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 9 a (new)
Article 9a The minimum age of voters in elections to the European Parliament shall be 16.
Amendment 259 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. Elections to the European Parliament shall be held on the date or dates and at the times fixed by each Member State; f. For all Member States thise date or dates shall fall within the same period starting on a Thursday morning and ending on the following Sunday. The polling stations shall close in all Member States at 21:00 hours CET on that Sunday.
Amendment 261 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. Member States may not officially make public the results of their count until after the close of pollingFirst projections of the results shall be communicated simultaneously in theall Member State whose electors are the last to vote within the period referred tos at 21:00 hours CET on the Sunday marking the end of the electoral period specified in paragraph 1.
Amendment 269 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 12
The European Parliament shall verify the credentials of members of the European Parliament. For this purpose it shall take note of the results declared officially by the Member States and by the European electoral authority and shall rule on any disputes which may arise out of the provisions of this Act other than those arising out of the national provisions to which the Act refers.
Amendment 271 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 13
Amendment 275 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 13 a (new)
Article 13a 1. In the case of Members of the European Parliament elected in its constituencies, and subject to the other provisions of this Act, each Member State shall lay down appropriate procedures for filling any seat which falls vacant during the five-year term of office referred to in Article 5 for the remainder of that period. 2. Where the law of a Member State makes explicit provision for withdrawal of the mandate of a Member of the European Parliament elected in a constituency of that Member State, that mandate shall end pursuant to those legal provisions. The competent authorities of that Member State shall inform the European Parliament of those legal provisions . 3. Where a seat of a Member of the European Parliament elected in a Member State constituency falls vacant as a result of resignation or death, the President of the European Parliament shall immediately inform the competent authorities of the Member State concerned of that vacancy.
Amendment 277 #
2015/2035(INL)
Article 13 b (new)
Article 13b 1. In the case of Members of the European Parliament elected for the European Union constituency, and subject to the other provisions of this Act, appropriate procedures for the filling of any vacancy for the remainder of the five- year term of office referred to in Article 5 shall be laid down in accordance with the procedure established in Article 14. 2. Where the law of the Union makes explicit provision for the withdrawal of the mandate of a Member of the European Parliament elected on the European Union-wide list, that mandate shall end pursuant to those legal provisions. The electoral authority shall inform the European Parliament of those legal provisions. 3. Where a seat of a Member of the European Parliament elected for the European Union constituency falls vacant as a result of resignation or death, the President of the European Parliament shall immediately inform the electoral authority of that vacancy.
Amendment 3 #
2015/2011(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the dedication of all institutions to find an agreement on the EFSI in due time to allow for its launch as quickly as possible; while the outcome of the negotiations is better than the original Commission proposal, deplores the knock -on effects on research funding in particular;
Amendment 4 #
2015/2011(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Regrets, consequently, that no fresh money has been found to finance EFSI, which will be financed with redeployments from key Union programs; regrets the fact that the programs affected, such as CEF and Horizon 2020, are the most purely European, while those under Member State quotas such as CAP have been completely preserved;
Amendment 6 #
2015/2011(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Regrets also that the Horizon 2020 budget lines most affected are those for small and medium-sized enterprises (- 4,4%), while those driven mainly by large market players as the Joint Undertakings have been preserved; regrets the fact that the greater reductions have been applied to key societal challenges as Secure, Clean and efficient energy (-4,1%), Climate action (-4,1%), and the EU in an inclusive world (-3,9%);
Amendment 7 #
2015/2011(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Encourages the Commission to find a way to ensure that the EFSI investments will cover the most affected budget lines by including this as a criterion in the scoreboard;
Amendment 1 #
2015/2010(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the recent initiatives of the Commission and encourages Member States to tackle further tax fraud, tax evasion and tax avoidance, promoting clear and fair tax rulings, combatting aggressive tax planning andand to stop their fiscal competition in the form of fiscal privileges to multinational corporations as means to attract or retain them, as in addition to being unfair and harmful, such practices constitute a heavy market distortion and penalize the rest of companies, mainly the SME's; welcomes the re-launching of the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base scheme and urges its full implementation, stressing the importance to avoid anythe increase in administrative burdens and cost of compliance that would be implied by a new delay and a lengthy open-ended two-step procedure; believes CCCTB is a critical step towards a Europeanised corporate taxation system;
Amendment 21 #
2015/2010(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that fiscal policies and corporate taxation should be used as a tool to boost growth, jobs and developmentcan play an important role in boosting sustainable growth, permanent jobs and durable development; considers, therefore, that any positive fiscal discrimination must be applied to support training, innovation, circular economy, energy efficiency and R&D, while avoiding present patent boxes’ negative practices; believes that the Union must, by a more efficient, more transparent and fairer tax treatment for all companies, promote an attractive, competitive and balanced business environment that would allow businesses, including small and medium- sized enterprises, family businesses and self-employed people to operate simpler across the borders within the Union;
Amendment 32 #
2015/2010(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that taxes must be paid where profits are made or value is created and where public services and infrastructures are used; believes that situation of double non-taxation or very low taxation should be avoided and that tax profits should be taxed at least once in the market; believes that to overcome complexity in the present globalized economy and within an EU single market this means this principle should apply to the whole EU through a single EU corporate tax system;
Amendment 42 #
2015/2010(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Believes that fundamental corporate governance principles of transparency and accountability will contribute to a strong and stable economy by reducing market volatility and increasing trust in businesses; calls for public, country-by- country reporting on large enterprises in all sectors to increase transparency regarding their activities, in particular regarding profits made, taxes on profit paid and subsidies received; believes that mandatory reporting in this area is an important element of the corporate responsibility of companies to shareholders and society;
Amendment 51 #
2015/2010(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines the importance of guaranteeing personSupports the wide implementation of country-by-country reporting for multinational corporations including with regards to main fiscal data, protection, confidentiality of information exchanged and freedom to conduct a business; encourages the identification of solutions that strike a balance between transparency and confidentialityfits made and subsidies received; underlines the importance of ensuring the objective of tax transparency to be fulfilled while guaranteeing personal data protection and freedom to conduct a business; underscores the need to ensure that in no case SMEs must see an increase in their administrative burden;
Amendment 61 #
2015/2010(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Suggests the simplification of utilisation of the credit coming from taxes paid in a foreign country, along with consequent automatic exchange of information between tax authorities and its public disclosure;
Amendment 62 #
2015/2010(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls for efficient harmonised taxation of interest deduction in Europe and for an urgent revision of the Council Directive 2003/49/EC of 3 June 2003 on a common system of taxation applicable to interest and royalty payments made between associated companies of different Member States1 a regarding withholding taxes; ___________ 1a OJ L 157, 26.6.2003, p. 49
Amendment 67 #
2015/2010(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 74 #
2015/2010(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls on the Commission to thoroughly assess the impact of existing "tax free zones" in the EU; asks the Commission to evaluate whether the application of tax reductions for SMEs, in order to promote jobs and growth in certain disadvantaged regions, are in line with EU goals of greater tax transparency and tackling tax evasion; stresses that policies designed to provide tax benefits to disadvantaged regions must not undermine the existing EU legal framework for regional aid;
Amendment 80 #
2015/2010(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. While and until the full implementation of the CCCTB, underscores the need to support the work of the TAXE special committee investigating the misuse of patent boxes, letterbox companies, and other fiscal engineering practices designed to avoid or minimize taxes, since any tax avoidance ultimately translates into larger public debt and/or an increase of taxes on SME and citizens;
Amendment 86 #
2015/2010(INL)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Calls for the Commission not to refrain from making use of Article 116 TFEU which provides the necessary legal basis for Parliament and the Council to act according to the ordinary legislative procedure in order to eliminate practices that result in a distortion of competition in the internal market, such as fiscal competition as applied by the Member States through non-transparent and unfair tax rulings;
Amendment 12 #
2015/0310(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 34
Recital 34
(34) In order to guarantee the autonomy of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, it should be granted an autonomous budget whose revenue comes essentially from a contribution from the Union. The Union budgetary procedure should be applicable as far as the Union contribution and any other subsidies chargeable to the general budget of the European Union are concerned. The auditing of accounts should be undertaken by the Court of Auditors. The budget adopted by the Management Board should be balanced in terms of addressing different aspects of the Agency's activities, including ensuring fundamental rights.
Amendment 29 #
2015/0310(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 75 – paragraph 13 a (new)
Article 75 – paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. The budget, including the establishment plan, shall include sufficient financing of the Fundamental Rights Strategy and the Fundamental Rights Officer amounting to at least 5% of the overall budget.
Amendment 13 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) In accordance with Article 9 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union shall take into account requirements linked to the promotion of a high level of employment, the guarantee of adequate social protection, the fight against social exclusion, and a high level of education, training and protection of human health. In addition, as set out in Article 11 of the of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, environmental protection requirements must be integrated in the Union policies with a view to promoting sustainable development. In order to promote good governance and ensure the participation of civil society, Article 15 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union sets out that the Union's institutions, bodies, offices and agencies shall conduct their work as openly as possible.
Amendment 22 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) A single market cannot be reduced to the sum of its members as it makes the members' economies like communicating vessels, where policies made in one country can directly have positive or negative effects in the others, for example; tax or wage reductions in one country can increase its competitiveness and attract companies to that country at the expense of others; a demand push in one country can find its supply in other country, indebting the first with the second; a reduced demand in one country means that country exports its oversupply. Economic policy coordination is key to promoting the overall added value of policies, and to avoiding those where one member's gains are other members' loses. Therefore, structural reforms must avoid negative spillovers and promote positive ones.
Amendment 36 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Against this background, it is necessary to establish a Structural Reform Support Programme ('the Programme') with the objective of strengthening the capacity of Member States to prepare and implement growth-enhancing administrative and structural reforms, including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the Union funds. The Programme is intended to contribute to the achievement of common goals towards obtaining economic recovery, job creation, boosting Europe's competitiveness and stimulating sustainable investment in the real economy.
Amendment 39 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Support under the Programme should be provided by the Commission upon request by a Member State, in areas such as budget and taxation, public function, institutional and administrative reforms, the justice system, anti-fraud, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering, business environment, private sector development, investment, competition, public procurement, privatization processes, access to finance, investment, trade, sustainable development, innovation, education and training, labour policies, public health, asylum, migration policies, agriculture and rural development and financial sector policipolicy areas where specific needs have been identified by the Member State in consultation with regional authorities and civil society representatives.
Amendment 45 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Against this background, it is necessary to establish a Structural Reform Support Programme ('the Programme') with the objective of strengthening the capacity of Member Statnational and regional authorities to prepare and implement growth-enhancing administrative and structural reforms, including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the Union funds. The Programme is intended to contribute to the achievement of common goals towards obtaining economic recovery, job creation, boosting Europe's competitiveness and stimulating sustainable investment in the real economy.
Amendment 47 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Support under the Programme should be provided by the Commission upon request by a Member State, in areas such as budget and taxation, public function, institutional and administrative reforms, the justice system, anti-fraud, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering, business environment, private sector development, investment, competition, public procurement, privatization processes, access to finance, investment, trade, sustainable development, innovation, education and training, labour policies, public health, asylum, migration policies, agriculture and rural development and financial sector policpolicy areas with specific national and regional needs to be determined by the Member State in consultation with its regional authorities.
Amendment 50 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) The Commission Communications ‘The EU Budget Review’13 and ‘A budget for Europe 2020’14 underline the importance of focusing funding on activities with clear European added value, i.e. where the Union intervention can bring additional value compared to action of Member States alone. Against this background, the support actions carried out under the Programme should ensure complementarity and synergy with other programmes and policies at regional, national, Union and international level. The actions under the Programme should allow elaborating and implementing solutions that address national challenges which have impact on cross-border or Union-wide challenges and achieve a consistent and coherent implementation of Union law. In addition, they should contribute to further develop trust and promote cooperation with the Commission and among Member States. Moreover, the Union is in a better position than Member States to provide a platform for the provision and sharing of good practices from peers as well as to mobilise expertise. __________________ 13 COM(2010)700 of 19 October 2010. 14 COM(2011)500 final of 29 June 2011.
Amendment 54 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Further to a dialogue with the requesting Member State, including in the context of the European Semester, the Commission should analyse the request, taking into account the principles of subsidiarity, transparency, equal treatment and sound financial management and determine the support to be provided based on urgency, breadth and depth of the problems as identified, support needs in respect of the policy areas envisaged, analysis of socioeconomic indicators, and the general administrative capacity of the Member State. The Commission should also, in close cooperation with the Member State concerned, identify the priority areas, the scope of the support measures to be provided and the global financial contribution for such support, taking into account the existing actions and measures financed by Union funds or other Union programmes.
Amendment 78 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
2a. 'sustainable investment' means investment that reduces negative externalities or increases positive externalities in a measureable way whilst generating societal benefits;
Amendment 79 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)
(ea) the promotion of European values, in particular the solidarity which has been the base of all regional policies, including the empowerment of all citizens in regional and local decision-making processes.
Amendment 82 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
The general objective of the Programme shall be to contribute to institutional, administrative and structural reforms in the Member States by providing support to national and regional authorities for measures aimed at reforming institutions, governance, administration, economic and social sectors in response to economic and social challenges with a view to enhancing competitiveness, growth, jobs, and investment, in particular in the context of economic governance processes,sustainable investment including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the Union funds.
Amendment 85 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
(ca) the promotion of European values, in particular solidarity and respect for Fundamental Rights;
Amendment 88 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) to encourage the involvement of citizens in decision making through consultations and to strengthen citizenship through participatory elements.
Amendment 89 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
The general objective of the Programme shall be to contribute to institutional, administrative and structural reforms in the Member States at their own request by providing support to national and regional authorities for measures aimed at reforming institutions, governance, administration, economic and social sectors in response to economic and social challenges with a view to enhancing competitiveness, growth, jobs, and investment, in particular in the context of economic governance processessustainable investment, including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the Union funds.
Amendment 91 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The specific objectives set out in paragraph 1 shall refer to policy areas related to competitiveness, growth, jobs and investment, in particular to the following:Member State shall, in consultation with its regional authorities, where applicable, determine the policy areas it wishes to tackle in accordance with specific national and regional needs.
Amendment 93 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a
Amendment 94 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b
Amendment 96 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c
Amendment 97 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) to encourage the involvement of citizens in decision making through consultations and to strengthen citizenship through participatory processes;
Amendment 99 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point d
Amendment 102 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point e
Amendment 103 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – introductory part
2. The specific objectives set out in paragraph 1 shall refer to policy areas related to competitiveness, growth, jobs and investment, in particular to the following:Member State shall, in consultation with regional authorities and civil society representatives, identify the policy areas it wishes to tackle in accordance with specific needs.
Amendment 104 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point f
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point f
Amendment 105 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point a
Amendment 107 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b
Amendment 110 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point c
Amendment 112 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point d
Amendment 115 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point e
Amendment 116 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. A Member State wishing to receive support under the Programme shall submit a request for support to the Commission, identifying the policy areas and the priorities for support within the scope of the Programme as set out in Article 5(2). This request shall be submitted at the latest by 31 October of each calendar year.
Amendment 117 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point f
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point f
Amendment 118 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. Taking into account the principles of subsidiarity, transparency, equal treatment and sound financial management, further to a dialogue with the Member State, including in the context of the European Semester, the Commission shall analyse the request for support referred to in paragraph 1 based on the urgency, breadth and depth of the problems identified, support needs in respect of the policy areas concerned, analysis of socioeconomic indicators and general administrative capacity of the Member State. Taking into account the existing actions and measures financed by Union funds or other Union programmes, the Commission in close cooperation with the Member State concerned shall identify the priority areas for support, the scope of the support measures to be provided and the global financial contribution for such support.
Amendment 131 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) organisation of local operational support in areas such as asylum, migration, border controland bottom-up approaches in order to facilitate the ownership of the reforms considered;
Amendment 141 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Article 7 – paragraph 1
1. A Member State wishing to receive support under the Programme shall submit a request for support to the Commission, identifying the policy areas and the priorities for support within the scope of the Programme as set out in Article 5(2). This request shall be submitted at the latest by 31 October of each calendar year.
Amendment 142 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Member States shall agree with the Commission a set of policy guidelines steering the design and the content of the reform. They shall involve their parliaments and partners from regional and local authorities, economic and social partners and representatives of civil society before submitting a request for support.
Amendment 144 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. Taking into account the principles of subsidiarity, solidarity, transparency, equal treatment and sound financial management, further to a dialogue with the Member State, including in the context of the European Semester, the Commission shall analyse the request for support referred to in paragraph 1 based on the urgency, breadth and depth of the problems identified, support needs in respect of the policy areas concerned, analysis of socioeconomic indicators and general administrative capacity of the Member State. Taking into account the existing actions and measures financed by Union funds orand other Union programmes, the Commission in close cooperation with the Member State concerned shall identify and instruments and based on the specific needs identified by the Member State in consultation with regional authorities and civil society representatives, the Commission shall agree with the Member State concerned, in line with the agreed policy guidelines, the objectives, the priority areactions for support, the scope of the support measures to be provided and the global financial contribution for such support.
Amendment 150 #
2015/0263(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) the implementation of reforms in the context of economic governance processes, in particular of the relevant Country Specific Recommendations issued in the context of the European Semester or of relevant actions related to the implementation of Union law;
Amendment 97 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The economic and financial crisis has led to a lowering of the level of investments within the Union. Investment has fallen by approximately 15% since its peak in 2007 and has exhibited a downward trend since the nineteen eighties. The Union suffers in particular from a lack of investment as a consequence of market uncertainty regarding the economic future and the fiscal constraints on Member States. This lack of investment the imposition of severe and simultaneous fiscal constraints on a number of Member States as well as market uncertainty regarding the economic future. This lack of investment, which has been particularly severe in Member States most affected by the crisis ,slows economic recovery and negatively affects job creation, long-term growth prospects and competitiveness.
Amendment 175 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The purpose of the EFSI should be to help resolve the difficulties in financing and implementing productransformative investments in the Union and to ensure increased access to financing. It is intended that increased access to financing should be of particular benefit to small and medium enterprises with fewer than 250 employees, including for the creation of start-ups and spin-offs from universities. It is also appropriate to extend the benefit of such increased access to financing to small mid- cap companies, which are companies having up to 30500 employees, as well as non-profit organisations and social economy enterprises. Overcoming Europe's current investment difficulties should contribute to strengthening the Union's economic, social and territorial cohesion. competitiveness, research and innovation potential, economic, social and territorial cohesion and support an energy and resource efficiency transition towards a sustainable, renewable-based circular economy.
Amendment 192 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) The EFSI should support strategic investments with high economic value added contributing to achieving Union policy objectives in particular those related to EU2020 and Article 194 of the Treaty.
Amendment 205 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 a (new)
Recital 11 a (new)
(11a) In addition to reducing energy bills (and freeing up resources for consumers and businesses alike) and dependence on energy supply from volatile sources and advancing the EU towards its climate targets, investments in energy efficiency are acknowledged to have the potential to create up to 2 million jobs by 2020 and possibly another 2 million jobs by 2030. Energy efficiency also represents one of the few economic sectors where a leverage factor higher than 15 has been achieved in the past. It is therefore essential that projects in this area be identified as a matter of priority.
Amendment 210 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11 b (new)
Recital 11 b (new)
(11b) The EIB has developed highly successful debt and equity finance instruments in the frame of the Horizon 2020 funding line "Access to Risk Finance". These reputable and effective instruments should be the blueprint for research and innovation related projects in the frame of EFSI.
Amendment 253 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The EFSI should target projects delivering high societal, environmental and economic value. In particular, the EFSI should target projects that promote job creation,the achievement of the Union's objectives on climate and energy, quality job creation, environmentally sustainable long- term growth and competitiveness. The EFSI should support a wide range of financial products, including equity, debt or guarantees, to best accommodate the needs of the individual project. This wide range of products should allow the EFSI to adapt to market needs whilst encouraging private investment in the projects. The EFSI should not be a substitute for private market finance but should instead catalyse private finance by addressing market failures so as to ensure the most effective and strategic use of public money. The requirement for consistency with State aid principles should contribute to such effective and strategic use.
Amendment 432 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25 a (new)
Recital 25 a (new)
(25a) The Commission and the EIB shall ensure that equality between men and women and the integration of gender perspective are taken into account and promoted in the operations of the EFSI. They shall take appropriate steps to prevent any discrimination. In particular, accessibility for persons with disabilities shall be taken into account.
Amendment 440 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) Alongside the financing operations that will be conducted through the EFSI, a European Investment Advisory Hub ('EIAH') should be created. The EIAH should provide strengthened support for project development and preparation across the Union, by building on the expertise of the Commission, the EIB, national promotional banks and the managing authorities of the European Structural and Investment Funds. This should establish a single point of entry for questions related to technical assistance for investments within the Union, and should redirect as appropriate towards decentralised entities providing the technical assistance support.
Amendment 473 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) To partially finance the contribution from the Union budget, the available envelopes of the Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2014-2020, provided by Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of will be progressively authorised by the European Parliament and of the Council2 , and the Connecting Europe Facility, provided by Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council3 , should be reduced. Those programmes serve in the framework of the annual budgetary procedures up to 2020. For this purposes, that are not replicated by the EFSI. Howevere budgetary authority should make use, twhe reduction of both programmes to finance the guarantee fund is expected to ensure a greater investment in certain areas of appropriate, of all available flexibility mechanisms and otheir respective mandates than is possible through the existing programmes. The EFSI should be able to leverage the EU guarantee to multiply the financial effect within those areas of research, development and innovation and transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructure compared to if the resources had been spent via grants within the planned Horizon 2020 and Connecting Europe Facility programmes. It is, therefore, appropriate to redirect part of the funding presently envisaged for those programmes to the benefit of EFSI. __________________ 3Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, amending Regulation (EU) No 913/2010 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 680/2007 and (EC) No 67/2010 (OJ L 348, 20.12.2013, p. 129)levant provisions under Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013, of the annual budget surpluses and of redeployments. Primary sources for redeployments would be ITER, the Common Agricultural Policy, Joint Technology Initiatives and non-committed allocations from the 2006- 2013 cohesion policy envelopes.
Amendment 485 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29 a (new)
Recital 29 a (new)
(29a) It is essential, in order to support the EU investment policy and EFSI operations that other investment driven programmes such as Horizon 2020 and Connecting Europe Facility are fully implemented, according to the budget provided for in the MFF Regulation and Regulations (EU) No 1291/2013 and No 1316/2013. It is especially important to continue to build the scientific, research and technological base on which innovation can thrive in the future. This means that the foreseen programmes financing basic and applied research such as the Marie Curie Programme, the European Research Council, the Future and Emerging Technology Programme, the Research Infrastructure Programme, as well as the EU collaborative research benefitting universities and research organisation under the Industrial Leadership and Societal Challenges objectives of Horizon 2020 must be implemented fully until 2020.
Amendment 489 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29 b (new)
Recital 29 b (new)
(29b) Since EFSI should contribute to helping businesses by overcoming capital shortages, there is a risk that basic or early-stage scientific research will not benefit from this Regulation. The Commission should therefore ensure that any funds taken from the Horizon 2020 are withdrawn only from those programmes that fund activities that are close to market, in order to protect research activities that do not stand to benefit directly from this Regulation.
Amendment 542 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
The Commission shall conclude an negotiate a draft agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) on the establishment of a European Fund for Strategic Investments ('EFSI') in line with the requirements of this Regulation.
Amendment 563 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The purpose of the EFSI shall be to support investments in the Union andthat lead to sustainable growth and quality job creation in sectors with long term viability and significant societal and environmental returns and consistent with Union objectives as well as to ensure increased access to financing for companies having up to 3000 employees, with a particular focus on small and medium enterprises and small mid-cap companies, through the supply of risk bearing capacity to the EIB ('EFSI Agreement').
Amendment 590 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. The EFSI Agreement shall be open to accession by Member States, including national promotional banks or public agencies owned or controlled by Member States. Subject to the consent of existing contributors, the EFSI Agreement shall also be open to accession by other third parties, including national promotional banks or public agencies owned or controlled by Member States, and private sector entitieshowever, by way of derogation to the provisions in Article 3(3), they shall not be entitled to membership of the Steering Board.
Amendment 600 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Commission shall be empowered to enter into the EFSI Agreement on behalf of the Union by means of a delegated act in accordance with Article 17, provided that the EFSI Agreement meets the requirements of this Regulation.
Amendment 605 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. The Commission shall be empowered to accept later amendments of the EFSI Agreement by means of delegated acts in accordance with Article 17, provided that the amendments to the EFSI Agreement meet the requirements of this Regulation
Amendment 613 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 a (new)
Article 1 a (new)
Amendment 625 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) provisions governing the establishment of the EFSI as a distinct, clearly identifiable and transparent guarantee facility and separate account managed by the EIB in full compliance with the general and sectorial project eligibility criteria applied by the EIB;
Amendment 650 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) the procedure for project selection in conformity with Article 2a, including the role of the EIB in the initial assessment of project proposals and their transmission to the Investment Committee;
Amendment 667 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point i a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point i a (new)
(ia) provisions and procedures relating to the public consultation on the investment policy of projects guidelines.
Amendment 713 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
To meet that objective, the EIAH shall use the expertise of the EIB, the Commission, national promotional banks and the managing authorities and monitoring committees of the European Structural and Investment Funds and involve partners according to Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013.
Amendment 727 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Services provided by EIAH shall include: (a) providing a single point of entry for technical assistance for authorities and project promoters; (b) assisting project promoters, where appropriate, in maturing their projects to fulfil the project eligibility criteria under this Regulation; (c) leveraging local knowledge to facilitate EFSI support in the whole Union; (d) providing a platform for peer-to-peer exchange and sharing of know-how regarding project development; (e) Providing decentralised technical assistance platform for the aggregation of small projects notably driven by cities and SMEs in the field of energy efficiency into larger bankable projects; (f) Assisting the establishment of macro- regional, national or local energy efficiency funds; (g) Providing decentralised technical assistance platforms for supporting project development of SMEs, including start-ups and spin-offs, and their collaboration with universities and research organisations;
Amendment 740 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2 a (new)
Amendment 752 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 1
1. The EFSI Agreement shall provide that the EFSI shall be governed by a Steering Board, which shall determine the strategic orientation, the strategic asset allocation and operating policies and procedures, including the investment policy of projects that EFSI can support and the risk profile of the EFSI, in conformity with the assessment set out in Article 2a and the objectives under Article 5(2). The Steering Board shall elect one of its members to be Chairperson.
Amendment 798 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
When other parties accede to the EFSI Agreement in accordance with Article 1(2), where applicable, the number of members and votes within the Steering Board shall be allocated based on the respective size of contributions from contributors in the form of cash or guarantees. The number of members and votes of the Commission and the EIB, according to paragraph 2, shall be recalculated accordingly.
Amendment 817 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
The Managing Director shall report every quarter on the activities of the EFSI to the Steering Board and make its report public.
Amendment 823 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 836 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
The EFSI Agreement shall provide that the EFSI shall have an Investment Committee, which shall be responsible for examining potential operations in line with the EFSI investment policies and approving the support of the EU guarantee for operations in line with Article 5, irrespective of their geographic location. The Investment Committee shall be the competent body for approving the eligibility of investment platforms and national promotional banks and permitting them to use the designation of 'EFSI' or 'European Fund for Strategic Investments' as well as for ensuring continual compliance of such platforms with the conditions imposed on the use of EFSI funds.
Amendment 856 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
The Investment Committee shall be composed of sixthe Managing Director and a number of independent experts andsufficient to cover the Mranaging Directorge of potential projects eligible for investment under this Regulation. Independent experts shall have a high level of relevant market experience in project finance and. They shall ensure a multi- disciplinary approach and in particular include at least one expert in investment related to environmental objectives and one expert in investments in the social and solidarity economy and shall be fully independent of private sector interests. They shall be appointed by the Steering Board for a renewable fixed term of three years.
Amendment 890 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. The EFSI agreement shall provide for the creation of Civil Society Platform for Better Investment which shall mirror the structure of the Investment Committee. It shall be in charge of monitoring EFSI financing operations in particular regarding fulfilment with Article 1 and 5 of the Regulation and provide recommendations to the Investment Committee.
Amendment 894 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
The Union shall provide a guarantee to the EIB for financing or investment operations carried out within the Union covered by this Regulation ('EU guarantee'). The EU guarantee shall be granted as a guarantee on demand in respect of instruments referred to in Article 6. Such operations shall be managed in accordance with all EIB own rules and procedures, including horizontal and sectorial policies.
Amendment 917 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
The EU guarantee shall be granted for EIB financing and investment operations approved, in conformity with the assessment set out in Article 2a, by the Investment Committee referred to in Article 3(5) or funding to the EIF in order to conduct EIB financing and investment operations in accordance with Article 7(2). The operations concerned shall be consistent with Union policies and supportin any of the following general objectiveareas:
Amendment 966 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) investment in education and training, health, social welfare and social assistance, research and development, information and communications technology and innovation;
Amendment 978 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point c
(c) expansion of renewable energy and energy and resource efficiency; in compliance with article 194 of the Treaty, with a particular emphasis on upgrading the residential and commercial building stock, and covering the following sectors: - electricity interconnections in line with the Projects of Common Interest identified under Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013, including connection to the grid of off-shore wind ; - investment in energy efficiency aiming at implementing energy efficiency objectives under Directives 2012/27/EU and 2010/31/EU; - expansion of renewable energy, including projects resulting from the implementation of the renewables cooperation mechanisms established under Directive 2009/28/EC, notably in the field of off-shore wind. ;
Amendment 990 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) infrastructure projects in the field of environmental, natural resources, protection, environmental management infrastructure, protection of natural resources and strengthening of eco-system services, sustainable urban development and social fields;sector:
Amendment 1048 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The operations concerned shall not include: (a) the decommissioning or the construction of nuclear power stations; (b) investment in airport infrastructure unless related to environmental protection or accompanied by investment necessary to mitigate or reduce its negative environmental impact; (c) investments in coal and oil infrastructures; (d) investments in new motorway or new roads with four or more lanes.
Amendment 1057 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. The EIB and the Commission shall develop a gender policy for the EFSI interventions and proceed to preliminary gender assessments as part of initial project assessments.
Amendment 1215 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. Member States shall develop, update and disseminate, involving partners according to Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 on regional and local level, on a regular and structured basis, information on current and future investment projects in their territory.
Amendment 1240 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) an assessment, taking into account the criteria referred to in Article 2a, of the added value, the mobilisation of private sector resources, the ex-ante estimated and actualrealised outputs, outcomes and impact of EIB financing and investment operations aton an aggregated and project by project basis;
Amendment 1262 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point f a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – point f a (new)
(fa) an assessment of the use of the investment clause referred to in the Commission communication XXX(guidelines on flexibilities) in relation to the EFSI operations and as appropriate of these guidelines with a view of developing further a counter- cyclical approach to investments financing in the EU
Amendment 1292 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 2
2. The Managing Director shall reply orally or in writing to questions addressed to the EFSI by the European Parliament its competent committees or individual members, in any event within five weeks of receipt of a question.
Amendment 1295 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. All projects financed under the EFSI will be covered under the policies and procedures of the EIB complaints mechanism and memorandum of understanding with the European Ombudsman.
Amendment 1332 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
In accordance with its own transparency policies on access to documents and information and relevant EU legislation1 a , the EIB shall make publicly available on its website information relating to all EIB financing and investment operations, including those through financial intermediaries, and how they contribute to the general objectives referred to in Article 5(2). in conformity with the assessment in Article 2a. __________________ 1aRegulation 1049/2001 and Regulation 1367/2006
Amendment 1348 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 1
Article 14 – paragraph 1
The governance of the use of the EU guarantee and the payments and recoveries under it that are attributable to the general budget of the Union shall be audited by the Court of Auditors. The external audit of the activities undertaken in accordance with the EFSI Regulation is carried out by the European Court of Auditors in accordance with Article 287 TFEU. The Court of Auditors shall issue a special report covering these matters 18 months after the entry into force of this regulation. The Tripartite Agreement between the EC, the EIB and the ECA shall be revised in order to reflect this requirement.
Amendment 1393 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18
Article 18
Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013
Article 6
Article 6
Amendment 1436 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19
Article 19
Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013
Article 5 – para 1
Article 5 – para 1
Amendment 1446 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
In Article 511 of Regulation (EU) No 131607/2013, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: 1. The amount of direct payments to be granted to a farmer under this Regulation in a given calendar year shall be reduced as follows: – by 10 % for the tranche of more than EUR 25 000 and up to EUR 50 000; – by 20 % for the tranche of more than EUR 50 000 and up to EUR 75 000; – by 30 % for the tranche of more than EUR 75 000 and up to EUR 100 000; – by 100 % for the tranche of more than EUR 100 000.
Amendment 1448 #
2015/0009(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Article 19 – paragraph 1
Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013
Article 5
Article 5
Amendment 8 #
2014/2256(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights the need for a common definition of ‘public domain’ works, which are by definition not subject to copyright protection, so as to ensure the widespread dissemination of cultural content across the EU; Union; therefore urges the Commission to clarify that the digitisation of a work that is in the public domain will stay in the public domain; also calls on the Commission to recognise the freedom of authors to dedicate their works to the public domain;
Amendment 11 #
2014/2256(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Notes that the rules laid down by the Term Directive have been implemented in different ways by Member States leading to divergences in termination of copyright protection and when works fall into the public domain in different Member States; therefore calls on the Commission to harmonise the term of protection of copyright and the way it is calculated across the Union to ensure it does not exceed the current international standards set out in the Berne Convention;
Amendment 20 #
2014/2256(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Recommends that the EU legislator should, while protecting personal information, further lower the barriers for re-use of public sector information by exempting official works, which are produced by government employees as part of their official duty within the political, legal and administrative process, from copyright protection;
Amendment 47 #
2014/2256(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that embedding and linking shouldo not be consideredst in acts of communication to the public and thus should not be subject to Article 3 of the directive;
Amendment 58 #
2014/2256(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. UNotes that the ability to benefit from exceptions and limitations should be enjoyed in the digital environment without any unequal treatment compared to those granted in the analogue world; urges for the establishment of mandatory limitations and exceptions to copyright, at least with regard to the most important exceptions, such as those in the field of education, research and libraries, to allow for the more widespread dissemination of cultural content across the EUnion; stresses that the exception for research and education purposes should not only cover educational establishments but any kind of educational and research activities, including distant education; Emphasizes that the exception allowing public and research libraries to lend books to the public in digital formats for personal use, while not conflicting with the normal exploitation of the work should be irrespective of the place of access;
Amendment 66 #
2014/2256(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Urges the European legislator to ensure technological neutrality and future-compatibility of exceptions and limitations by taking due account of the effects of media convergence; therefore calls on the EU legislator to expressly include audio-visual quotations in the existing quotation exception in order to enable the use of quotations in new media formats; these quotations should be adequate in terms of length in relation to the type of source material;
Amendment 72 #
2014/2256(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Calls on the European legislator to ensure that the use of photographs, video footage or other images of works which are permanently located in public places are permitted;
Amendment 79 #
2014/2256(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Emphasizes that the exception for caricature, parody and pastiche should apply regardless of the purpose of the parodic use;
Amendment 86 #
2014/2256(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Stresses the need to enable automated analytical techniques for text and data ('text and data mining'), for all purposes, provided that the permission to read the work has been acquired;
Amendment 92 #
2014/2256(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 97 #
2014/2256(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls for a flexible interpretation of exceptions and limitations to exclusive rights, allowing to apply exceptions and limitations to uses that are similar to the ones in the original legal provisions, thereby ensuring that exceptions and limitations can be adapted to new forms of usage emerging due to technological change; such flexibility would be subject to the three-step-test, which grants limitations and exceptions in certain special cases that do not conflict with the normal exploitation of the work and do not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author or rightholder;
Amendment 104 #
2014/2256(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that digital levies should be modernised in light of the development of digital technologies to safeguard rightholder and consumer rights and by taking into account Directive 2014/26/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on collective management of copyright and related rights and multi-territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online use in the internal market; in particular calls for the adoption of harmonised criteria for the interpretation of the harm caused to rightholders in respect of reproductions made by a natural person for private use, and for harmonised transparency measures as regards the private copying levies put in place in some Member States;
Amendment 139 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas article 22 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union obliges the Union to "respect cultural, religious and linguistic diversity",
Amendment 148 #
2014/2254(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas fundamental freedoms, human rights and equal opportunities shall be provided for all citizens of the European Union including persons belonging to national and linguistic minorities;
Amendment 4 #
2014/2250(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on Member States to develop or reinforce national regulations with a view to counter the negative influence on stereotyped gender roles, coming from values transported through media and advertising, and which too often undermine the school work on these topics;
Amendment 10 #
2014/2250(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the importance of informal education when it comes to tackling the issue of beliefs and traditional practices imposing limitations on girls in education, and calls on the Member States to ensure equal access to education for boys and girls regardless of their ethnic, national, cultural or religious framework, in order to achieve real gender equality in education; stresses the need for a special focus on groups suffering from multiple forms of discrimination, including migrants, refugees, people with disabilities, young carers and others;
Amendment 11 #
2014/2250(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the importance of informal education when it comes to tackling the issue of beliefs and traditional practices imposing limitations on girls in education, and calls on the Member States to ensure equal access to education for boys and girls regardless of their ethnic, national, cultural or religious framework, in order to achieve real gender equality in education; highlights the utmost importance for girls not to be forced by a family decision to give up school before completing secondary level studies;
Amendment 13 #
2014/2250(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Considers that gender equality in education must include a range of issues, such as literacy including media-literacy, bullying including cyber-bullying, homophobic violence, hate speech, human rights and civic education;
Amendment 14 #
2014/2250(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Stresses the need to provide a rights- based and gender-sensitive learning environment for all learners both in terms of curriculum and pedagogy, where children (and girls in particular) can learn about their rights and experience democratic processes in schools as well as informal learning environments;
Amendment 23 #
2014/2250(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. EmphasisAcknowledges that teachers play a major role in the formation of educational identities and have a significant impact on aspects of gendered behaviour in school; recalls that much has still to be done to empower teachers on how towith regard to how they can best promote gender equality; insists, therefore, on the need to ensure comprehensive initial and ongoing equality training tofor teachers at all levels of formal and informal education, including peer- learning and cooperation with external organisations and agencies; stresses that girls need to have positive female role models in schools and universities;
Amendment 26 #
2014/2250(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Emphasises the importance of health and sexuality education which must include teaching boys and girls about relationships based on equality, consent, respect and reciprocity, as well as teaching about women’s and girls’ rights, including reproductive and sexual health and rights, as a tool to prevent stereotypes and violence against women and girls;
Amendment 33 #
2014/2250(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to remove barriers to access to formal and informal education, as well as to lifelong learning, by improving awareness and guidance, providing financial support as well as support such as childcare and care for the elderly to enable women and men to participate in lifelong learning, adopting an intergenerational approach and fostering the role played by European Institutions;
Amendment 35 #
2014/2250(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Considers that the EU structural funds and particularly the European Social Fund must support educational projects with a gender-specific nature as well as gender-sensitive educational structures;
Amendment 36 #
2014/2250(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4d. Recalls that educational strategies aiming at ensuring gender equality must actively include boys and men.
Amendment 40 #
2014/2250(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on Member States to integrate childcare and early childhood education in their educational systems to enable children to receive gender equality based education from an early age onwards and to enable parents to balance work and family life.
Amendment 1 #
2014/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines the fact that the economic crisis has seriously damaged economic, social and territorial cohesion, resulting in huge differences between Member States; recalls that since the onset of the crisis over 3.8 million jobs have been lost in manufacturing emphasises the need to reinforce the EU Cohesion policy with a clear statement of priorities, highlighting the EU1 ; __________________ 1Industrial Scoreboard 2013, Commission Staff Working Document, p.6.fact that reduction of regional disparities is the key to achieving the EU wide goals of growth and jobs;
Amendment 17 #
2014/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines the fact that the industrial sector constitutes one of the cornerstones of economic and social cohesion in Europe since nearly 80 % of European exports depend on the industrial sector and industry accounts for 80 % of expenditure on R&D in Europe2 ; recalls that since the onset of the crisis over 3.8 million jobs have been lost in manufacturing in the EU1a ; notes however that an estimated 594000 new jobs were created from 2007 to 2012 through the EU regional policy alone1b; __________________ 2 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, COM(2014)0014, For a European Industrial Renaissance, p.3. 1a Industrial Scoreboard 2013, Commission Staff Working Document, p.6. 1b Making Europe’s regions and cities more competitive, fostering growth and creating jobs. p.4 http://europa.eu/pol/pdf/flipbook/en/regio nal_policy_en.pdf
Amendment 30 #
2014/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Considers that austerity measures in several European countries are having a negative impact on industrial structures, resulting in a fall-off in investment and more difficult access to credit for manufacturers; underscores the need for a "mesoeconomic" (regions-centric) approach in order to achieve economic recovery;
Amendment 39 #
2014/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that all the new projects and investments promoted by EU funds should have an employment clause that includes the obligation to create new and non- precarious jobs; recalls that all investments and projects should enhance environmental protection, in particular, to promote the renewable sources of energy as well as energy efficiency measures; and recalls that the global market for eco - friendly products and services is projected to almost double by 2020 being around 2 trillion of euros a year1a __________________ 1a Report on The number of Jobs dependent on the Environment and Resource Efficiency improvements, p.9 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/enveco/jo bs/pdf/jobs.pdf
Amendment 59 #
2014/2245(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for more social and public investments, without which it will be impossible to reach the target of raising industry’s contribution to GDP to as much as 20 % by 2020; recalls that all investments and projects should enhance environmRecognising the crucial role of the research and development in achieving the Cohesion policy objectives, strongly supports the "relative innovation" approach to R&I, which prioritizes the reduction of the innovation gap within the Union; calls for further clarification of the Smart Specialisation concept, which has the potential protection.of boosting the competitiveness of the EU regions;
Amendment 5 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)
Citation 8 a (new)
- having regard to Directive 2014/89/EU of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning,
Amendment 13 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas growth based on finite resources is a forward flight to nowhere and whereas the oceans are plenty of renewable resources and sustainable potentialities;
Amendment 19 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas there is a great deal of ignorance about the seas and oceans, their resources, and the ways in which these interact with human activities and the environmental and cumulative impacts of the latter activities – whether taking place or still to be developed – and whereas inadequate knowledge on those points severely inhibits sustainable use of the resources concerned and poses an obstacle to innovation;
Amendment 29 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas sustainably developing the blue economy could greatly boost growth and economic development, as well as job creation, especially in coastal and island countries and regions and in the outermost regions; (This AM applies throughout the text)
Amendment 32 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas different adequate levels of competence are to be considered in Blue Economy activities, namely the international, European and Member States level;
Amendment 41 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas there is actually an international deep-sea mining rally ongoing, which the EU should not join with the motivation to grab its piece of the cake but rather as a proactive partner pushing for a smart, fair and sustainable approach, including the promotion of alternatives such as recycling and resource efficiency;
Amendment 44 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas the state of marine and coastal biodiversity is declining, jeopardising increasingly needed ecosystem services as affirmed by the recently presented State Of the Environment Report 1 a , notably that the EU is not on track meeting is marine and costal biodiversity targets and that there is only poor implementation of marine environmental legislation; __________________ 1aSOER 2015 — The European environment — state and outlook 2015, European Environment Agency
Amendment 54 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Takes note of the Commission communication entitled ‘'Innovation in the Blue Economy: realising the potential of our seas and oceans for jobs and growth’'; points out that the communication is of limited scope, confined as it is to relatively few sectors (deep-sea mining, energy, and biotechnology, for example); calls on the Commission to adopt an integrated and more comprehensive approach encompassing the challenges of innovation and job creation over the whole varied range of interacting sectors making up the blue economy;
Amendment 65 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission, in close coordination with Member States, to gauge the financing needs of the blue economy (at sectoral, national, and European level) with a view to realising its growthsustainable development and job- creating potential;
Amendment 74 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the sustainable development of the blue economy requires greater investment in knowledge and that, in order to improve understanding of the marine environment, the EU and the Member States must provide substantial funding under arrangements making for continuity and predictability over the long term;
Amendment 81 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for legal obligations, clear-cut objectives and time- frames to be laid down with a view to making data – whether relating to the sea- floor or to the water column and living resources – transparent and more accessible and more fully interoperable and; calls for information about seas and oceans to be supplied to the public;
Amendment 93 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls for the EMODnet project to explicitly include the survey of data relating to cumulative impacts, marine litter, marine noise and dissolvable endocrine disruptors in its human impact section;
Amendment 129 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Believes that investment in the blue economy should be focused on ‘'eco- innovation’' that is not relying on finite resources, resource efficiency, the circular economy, nature conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and sustainable use of resources (ensuring that their rates of use do not, in the long term, exceed their natural regeneration rates); urges the Commission to incorporate these principles into present and future support programmes;
Amendment 144 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Urges the Commission to support the efforts of Member States to promote smart specialisation strategies with a view to creating and exploiting value chains linked to the many and varied blue economy activities; considers that the development of clusters or ‘'hyperclusters’' implies that Member States must play an active role in fostering synergies between sectors;
Amendment 166 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Amendment 167 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 a (new)
Subheading 1 a (new)
Advocates the application of an integrated approach to all sectors of the Blue Economy based on an Ecosystem-based approach to human activities, which implies an understanding of the relationships between human society and the ecosystems that support it, including their carrying capacity and the concept of cumulative impacts, and how this can inform management decisions; (This paragraph is meant to be the first paragraph under the sub heading)
Amendment 174 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Considers that the sustainable development of European aquaculture requires stronger support for scientific research and technological development related to the breeding of new species, especially indigenous species, in order to enable production and the supply of foodstuffs to be diversified and their quality enhanced while raisensuring sustainable sourcing of feed, avoiding escapes by adopting technical standards, minimising biodiversity impacts and by reducing the impact of chemicals and medicine use; Calls for stronger support for scientific research and technological development related to the effects of aquaculture on wider ecosystems, including the development of measurable targets and indicators; Underlines the importance of early and effective public participation and redirection of public funding and trade towards environmentally responsible aquaculture; Advocates to integrate environmental - and wider sustainability criteria - in production standards and labelling, the level of environmental safety; o reward responsible producers and to better inform consumer choices as this sector expands ;
Amendment 179 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Believes that, for reasons to do with energy consumption, merchant shipping, compared with other ways of carrying goods, is increasingly assuming decisive importance; calls for resources to be channelled in order to support innovation and regulatory action in this sector with a view to improving energy efficiency, diversifying primary energy sources, and reducing noxious emissions; applying renewable fuels and energy sources (e.g. wind) , proper cross- enforcement of European legislation on ship source pollution and reducing noxious emissions, including black carbon, according the Clean Ship Concept 1 b ; __________________ 1bCommunication from the Commission - An Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union {COM(2007) 574 final)} {SEC(2007) 1278}
Amendment 191 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Considers that studies on coastal erosion andecosystem resilience and restoration as well as natural based solutions such as Green Infrastructures 1 c to prevent coastal erosion and - as a last resort for remediation - maritime works to protect the coastline are a key blue economy sectorareas that isare becoming more important in the light of climate change; calls for greater EU support for this sector;ese areas; __________________ 1cGreen Infrastructure (GI) (COM(2013) 249 final)
Amendment 195 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Points out that energy from the seas and oceans, be it in the form of fossil fuels and above all in the form of renewables, has great potential from the point of view of utilising sustainable domestic resources and diversifying energy source, meeting our climate and energy targets and diversifying energy sources; underlines that this emerging sector is in need of focussed innovation and demonstration financing programmes beyond ongoing projects; stresses that prospection for, and the exploitation of, these resources has to include data research on waves, currents and salinity and allow for technology transfer requirements, especially as regards the training of skilled and highly qualified workers, as well as meeting stringent environmental sustainability criteria; draws attention to the potential multiplier effect of these activities in terms of jobs and related activities, both upstream and downstream;
Amendment 206 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Underlines that there is a lack of a complete legal framework in the area for both marine mineral resources (lack of exploitation regulation) and marine biological resources (lack of any legal framework), together with significant knowledge gaps on the environmental impacts on marine ecosystems from deep- sea mining as well as bioprospecting; advocates that any activities in these sectors, weather in the exclusive economic zones of Member States or by European companies in international waters, have to be in line with existing European legislations to protect the marine environment, including the relevant Directives on environmental Impact Assessment, Birds and Habitat or public participation and transparency;
Amendment 207 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Considers that prospection and mining on the continental shelf require uninterrupted State involvement, especially as regards information, environmental impact assessment, analysing and minimising risks, and the exercise of sovereignty; points to the potential offered by these activities for embedding scientific knowledge and development and technology transfer; points to the challenges entailed in extracting minerals dissolved in sea water;the identification of areas off limits from mining, environmental impact assessment and the application of other EU environmental acquis, analysing and minimising risks, and the exercise of sovereignty; points to the European Parliament Scientific Bodies' recommended policy options 1 d in the relevant sector, notably to promote the reuse and recycling of minerals as preferred option to deep sea mining and the potential offered by these activities for embedding scientific knowledge and development and technology transfer; __________________ 1dTechnology options for deep-seabed exploitation - Tackling economic: STOA Options Brief 03-2015
Amendment 212 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Advocates a coordinated and strong EU involvement in the International Seabed Authority to ensure an effective and precautionary environmental regulatory framework to prevent adverse impacts of deep-sea mining exploration and exploitation, including Areas of Particular Environmental Interest (APEIs), as well as societal impacts of deep-sea mining and bioprospecting on local communities and to guarantee full data transparency;
Amendment 216 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
Amendment 222 #
2014/2240(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Strongly supports the EC initiative included in its Communication to promote a Skills Alliance and a Knowledge Innovation Center on Blue economy
Amendment 33 #
2014/2224(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Without prejudge the opinions of the High Level Group on Own Resources, it must be stated that "own resources" means that they are not Member States' resources but EU resources; the Member States collect them for the EU and therefore should not include them in their revenues, neither its transference to the EU account as expenses; the Member States are not contributors to the EU but collectors following the Treaties and they are net recipients through the EU programs that they implement;
Amendment 1 #
2014/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
– having regard to the Convention onfor the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural ExpressionsSafeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage adopted by UNESCO on 2017 October 20053,
Amendment 14 #
2014/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas cultural heritage and the historic environment reaches across several public policies beyond the cultural, such as those related to regional development, social cohesion, agriculture, maritime affairs, natural environment, tourism, education, the digital agenda, external relations, customs cooperation and research and innovation;
Amendment 23 #
2014/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas policies for the maintenance, restoration, accessibility and exploitation of cultural heritage are primarily national, regional or local responsibilities, but cultural heritage is nonetheless directlypreservation and promotion has nonetheless a clear European dimension, addressed in several EU policies, including those concerning agriculture and research and innovation;
Amendment 31 #
2014/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the Venice Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites and the Granada Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe and the Valletta Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage clearly define internationally recognised standards for cultural heritage restoration and archaeological works clearly define internationally recognised standards for cultural heritage restoration;10 __________________ 10 Venice Charter adopted by ICOMOS (International Council of Monuments and Sites) in 1965; Granada Convention adopted by the Council of Europe in 1985.
Amendment 37 #
2014/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers it of paramount importance to use the available resources for supporting, enhancing and promoting cultural heritage on the basis of an integrated and holistic approach, while taking into account the cultural, economic, social, educational, environmental and scientific components;
Amendment 42 #
2014/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 – point b
Paragraph 2 – point b
(b) communicate to potential beneficiaries, in an accessible way like a unique platform of information and exchange of best practices in the EU, the existing European funding lines for cultural heritage;
Amendment 48 #
2014/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. In line with Article 4 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), to set out a policy framework for the historic environment – known as immovable heritage – in the near future containing a regulatory framework for monuments, archaeology and historic landscapes;
Amendment 50 #
2014/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. NotWelcomes the Union’s commitment to preserving and enhancing Europe’s cultural heritage through various programmes (Creative Europe, Horizon 2020, Erasmus+, Europe for Citizens), funding sources (European Structural and Investment Funds), and actions such as the European Capitals of Culture, the European Heritage Days and the European Heritage Label;
Amendment 53 #
2014/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point a
Paragraph 4 – point a
(a) set up a single EU portal dedicated to tangible and intangible cultural heritage, bringing together information from all the EU programmes funding cultural heritage and structured intoaround three main sections - futopics: a database of the tangible and ing opportunities for cultural heritage; a database with examples of best practices and excellence from the field of cultural heritage and relevant references;tangible cultural objects, with examples of best practices of preservation and promotion with all relevant references, funding opportunities for cultural heritage, and news and links concerning cultural heritage-related policy developments, actions and events;
Amendment 62 #
2014/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 – point d
Paragraph 4 – point d
(d) reconsider the EUR 5 million benchmark in relation to cultural heritage projects submitted in the framework of the small-scale infrastructure action11; take into account the principle of proportionality and let Member States set the parameters for ‘small’ projects in national eligibility rules; take into account the additional cost associated with both the ERDF and the infrastructure spending and change the threshold to cover the ERDF contribution only; increase the total project costs threshold to a minimum of 10-15 million; __________________ 11 See: Article 3.1(e) of Regulation No 1301/2013 (Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Regional Development Fund and on specific provisions concerning the Investment for growth and jobs goal and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006).
Amendment 69 #
2014/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Urges the Member States to exchange best practices in fiscal policies in order to ensure maximum encouragement of private support for tangible and intangible cultureal heritage projects;
Amendment 93 #
2014/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that the field of cultural heritage has the capacity to create high-skilled jobs; urges the Member States to relay initiatives on developing management and conservation training for workers and researchers in the field of cultural heritage, welcomes in particular funding on long term perspective of networks of researchers like the Marie Sklodowska Curie grants;
Amendment 165 #
2014/2149(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Emphasises the role that cultural heritage plays in the Union’s external relations through policy dialogue and cooperation with third countries; urges the European Union to take its responsibilities in unifying forces with the UN and UNESCO to defend cultural heritage in danger;
Amendment 30 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Title 1
Title 1
Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing a programme on interoperability frameworks and solutions for European public administrations, businesses and citizens (ISA2) Interoperability as a means for modernising the public sector (Text with EEA relevance)
Amendment 32 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) At Union level, interoperability facilitates successful implementation of policies and has a great potential for avoidance of cross-border electronic barriers, further securing the emergence of non-existing, or the consolidation of still immature, common public services at the Union level. The following policies in particular rely on interoperability for their effective and efficient implementation:
Amendment 38 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 19 a (new)
Recital 19 a (new)
Amendment 40 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) With Decision No 922/2009/EC ceasing to apply on 31 December 2015, a new Union Programme on interoperability solutions for European public administrations, businesses and citizens (ISA2) is needed in order to map and analyse the overall interoperability landscape in Europe and avoid itselectronic barriers, public service incompatibilities and fragmentation. The Programme will enable, support and promote a holistic approach to the collection, assessment, development, establishment, industrialisation, operation, improvement and maintenance of interoperability solutions, including solutions that facilitate the re-use of data as well as its exchange, in support of European public administrations’' cross-border or cross- sector interactions with each other and with enterprises and citizens. Finally, the Programme will promote the re-usability, integration and convergence of existing solutions, including those derived from other Union policy areas. The ISA2 Programme should build upon the experience gained with the IDA, IDABC and ISA Programmes, and the progress of the Digital Agenda for Europe, in particular the advances for interoperability reached by the bundling of Large Scale Pilots (LSPs). As the scope of the ISA2 Programme is expanded to include interactions of public administration with businesses and citizens, high levels of security and privacy guarantees should be assured.
Amendment 43 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) SCommon frameworks and solutions established or operated under the present ISA2 Programme should, as far as possible, form part of a consistent environment of common frameworks and services facilitating interaction between European public administrations, enterprises and citizens, and ensuring, facilitating and enabling cross-border or cross-sector interoperability.
Amendment 49 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 25 a (new)
Recital 25 a (new)
(25a) The creation of common frameworks and interoperability specifications and standards allowing a viable interlink among public administrations and with other sectors will allow the strengthening of the global competitive capacity of the Union economy.
Amendment 56 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 29 a (new)
Recital 29 a (new)
(29a) Interaction with the private sector and other entities has already demonstrated its efficiency and added value. Therefore, synergies with those stakeholders should be sought in order, by their engagement, to explore jointly the implementation of the proposed common frameworks and components by the market. In this context, the existing practice of organising conferences, workshops, and other meetings in order to interact with these stakeholders should be continued. The continued use of electronic platforms should also be promoted further. Any other appropriate means of maintaining contact with these stakeholders should likewise be used.
Amendment 62 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Recital 33
Recital 33
(33) The ISA2 Programme should contribute to the implementation of any follow-on initiatives in the context of Europe 2020 and the DAE. In order to avoid any duplication of effort, it should take account of, and contribute to, other Union programmes in the field of ICT solutions, services and infrastructures, in particular the CEF laid down in Regulation 1316/2013/EU and Horizon 2020 laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013.
Amendment 66 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. Through the ISA2 Programme, the Union shall work together with the Member States to identify, create and operate interoperability solutions implementing Union policies. These solutions, best practices and guidelines shall subsequently be provided for unlimited use to other Union institutions and bodies, and to national, regional and local public administrations, thus facilitating cross- border or cross-sector interaction between them. In doing so, the Union shall also animate and support communities working around the relevant issues and reach out to industry and civil society to work with them on supporting interoperability and its relation to the better provision of public services.
Amendment 71 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)
(1a) 'interoperability framework' means a set of recommendations which specify how administrations, businesses and citizens communicate with each other across the Union, promote and support the delivery of European public services by fostering cross-border and cross- sectoral interoperability and support public administrations in their work to provide European public services to businesses and citizens;
Amendment 73 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) the assessment, improvement, establishment, industrialisation, operation and re-use of existing cross-border or cross-sector interoperability frameworks and solutions;
Amendment 74 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the development, establishment, industrialisation, operation and re-use of new cross-border or cross-sector interoperability frameworks and solutions;
Amendment 77 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) the establishment and maintenance of the EIC as an instrument to facilitate the re-use of existing interoperability frameworks and solutions and to identify the areas where such frameworks and solutions are still lacking;
Amendment 79 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h
(h) the development of mechanisms that will measure and quantify the benefits of interoperability frameworks and solutions.
Amendment 80 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h a (new)
(ha) maintenance and publicity joined by a virtual one-stop-shop that works as an access and discussion platform on benchmarking derived from the Programme, and as a means of reproduction of the safety common frameworks and solutions developed and already functioning, avoiding duplication of efforts.
Amendment 81 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point h b (new)
(hb) the creation of a common repository of reusable solutions that is accessible to public administrations willing to adopt or integrate them as components of upcoming projects or to private companies willing to implement them in their market offering, so that interoperability reaches its full extent in all specific sectors.
Amendment 84 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) be selected based on utility and priorities and driven by identified needs and programme objectives;
Amendment 89 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Actions in the form of projects shall, where appropriate, consist of the following phases:
Amendment 90 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – indent 1 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – indent 1 a (new)
- the eliciting of critical success factors,
Amendment 91 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – indent 3 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – indent 3 a (new)
- ongoing impact assessment,
Amendment 92 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – indent 4
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – indent 4
– closing; and,
Amendment 93 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – indent 4 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – indent 4 a (new)
- final impact assessment, and
Amendment 94 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – indent 5
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – indent 5
– – monitoring and control., control and ex-post impact evaluation,
Amendment 100 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. Involvement of the largest possible number of Member States in a project shall be encourageda selection priority. Member States shall be able, and encouraged, to join a project at any stage. Involvement of private companies and other organisations shall be encouraged.
Amendment 103 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. In order to ensure interoperability between national and Union information systems, interoperability frameworks and solutions shall be specified with reference to existing and new European standards or publicly available or open specifications for information exchange and service integration.
Amendment 105 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. The establishment or improvement of interoperability frameworks and solutions shall, where appropriate, build on or be accompanied by the sharing of experience and the exchange and promotion of good practices. The sharing of experience and good practices between all stakeholders and relevant public consultations shall be encouraged. Particular attention shall be paid to the engagement of Member States, securing the cooperation from national experts on interoperability.
Amendment 111 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 6 – paragraph 7
Article 6 – paragraph 7
7. Interoperability solutions and their updates shall be included in the EIC and made available, where appropriate, for re- use by Eurunder an opean public administrationslicence.
Amendment 114 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 6 – paragraph 8
Article 6 – paragraph 8
8. The Commission shall monitor periodicallyannually the adoption of common frameworks and the implementation and re-use of interoperability solutions across the Union, as part of the rolling work programme established pursuant to Article 7.
Amendment 119 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 6 – paragraph 10
Article 6 – paragraph 10
10. All actions and interoperability solutions funded under the ISA2 Programme shall be encouraged, where appropriate, to re-use available interoperability solutions.
Amendment 120 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 6 – paragraph 10 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. The Commission shall bring together relevant stakeholders for the purposes of exchanging views among themselves and with the Commission on issues addressed by the ISA2 Programme. To this end, the Commission shall organise conferences, workshops and other meetings, make use of electronic interactive platforms and may use any other means for interaction which it considers appropriate.
Amendment 124 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. The inclusion of actions in the rolling work programme shall be subject to compliance with a set of administrative procedures defining the applicable objectives, rules and admission criteria before being included in the rolling work programme. Those rules and criteriaadministrative procedures and any amendments thereof shall be an integral part of the rolling work programme.
Amendment 126 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission and the ISA2 Committee shall regularly monitor the implementation and impact of the ISA2 Programme and users’ satisfaction with it. They assessment shall be based on well- defined objective indicators that correlate with specific programme objectives, and shall include a thorough risk assessment. The Commission and the ISA2 Committee shall also explore synergies with complementary Union programmes.
Amendment 128 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 11 – paragraph 2
Article 11 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission shall report annually to the ISA2 Committee on the implementation of the Programme and on the evolution of its performance indicators.
Amendment 130 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 11 – paragraph 4
Article 11 – paragraph 4
4. The evaluations shall examine issues such as the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, utility, citizen and business satisfaction, sustainability and, coherence of Programme actions. The final, level of adoption and impact of Programme actions and a risk assessment. The evaluations shall, in addition, also examine the extent to which the Programme has achieved its objectives in accordance with well-defined critical success factors and indicators.
Amendment 133 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 11 – paragraph 5
Article 11 – paragraph 5
5. The performance of the Programme shall be assessed against the objective laid out in Article 1 and the actions of the rolling work programme. The objective shall be measured in particular through the number of key interoperability enablers and through the number of supporting instruments for public administrations delivered to and used by European public administrations. ICritical success factors and indicators for measuring the result and impact of the Programme with respect to specific programme objectives shall be defined in the rolling work programme.
Amendment 135 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 11 – paragraph 8 – introductory part
Article 11 – paragraph 8 – introductory part
8. The evaluation of the ISA2 Programme shall contain, where applicable, information regarding:
Amendment 137 #
2014/0185(COD)
Proposal for a decision
Article 11 – paragraph 8 – point b a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 8 – point b a (new)
(ba) a thorough risk assessment based upon the experience and feedback gathered from the adoption of interoperable ICT-based solutions.
Amendment 815 #
2014/0100(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Article 21 – paragraph 1
1. For the purposes of this Regulation, a product shall be regarded as bearing terms referring to organic production where, in the labelling, advertising material or commercial documents, such a product, its ingredients or feed materials are described in terms suggesting to the purchaser that the product, its ingredients or feed materials have been obtained in accordance with this Regulation. In particular, the terms listed in Annex IV, or their equivalents in other languages that, while not being official languages of the Union, their status is officially recognised by the constitution of a Member State; their derivatives or diminutives, such as ‘'bio' and 'eco', alone or combined, may be used throughout the Union [and in any language listed in that Annex] for the labelling and advertising of products referred to in Article 2(1) which comply with this Regulation.