22 Amendments of Maria ARENA related to 2015/0263(COD)
Amendment 72 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) Several Member States have been undergoing and continue to undergo adjustment processes to correct macroeconomic imbalances accumulated in the past and many are facing the challenge of low potential growth, in particular as a result of a lack of investment. The Union has identified the implementation of structural reforms among its policy priorities to set the recovery on a sustainable path, unlock the growth potential to strengthen the adjustment capacity, increase investment and support the process of convergence. To win back the confidence of its citizens, the EU must initiate adjustment processes whilst meeting the requirements laid down in Article 9 TFEU. In particular, that should involve a proactive public investment policy.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) Reforms are by their very nature complex processes that require a complete chain of highly-specialised knowledge and skills. Addressing structural reforms in a variety of public policy areas is challenging since their benefits often take time to materialise. Therefore, early and efficient design and implementation is crucial, be it for crisis-struck or structurally-weak economies. In this context, the provision of support by the Union in the form of technical assistance has been crucial in supporting the economic adjustment of Greece and Cyprus in the last yearsmust, in each Member State, be in keeping with the requirements laid down in Article 9 TFEU.
Amendment 89 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Member States may benefit from support in addressing challenges as regards the design and implementation of structural reforms. These challenges may be dependent on various factors, including limited administrative and institutional capacity or inadequate application and implementation of Union legislation designed to support growth.
Amendment 99 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) The Union has a long-lasting experience on providing specific support to national administrations and other authorities of Member States as regards capacity building and similar actions in certain sectors (e.g. taxation, customs, support to small and medium-sized enterprises) and in relation to the implementation of cohesion policy. The experience gained by the Union in assisting national authorities carrying out reforms should be used in order to enhance the capacity of the Union to provide support to Member States. Comprehensive and integrated action is indeed necessary in order to provide support to those Member States that are undertaking growth- enhancing reforms and request assistance from the Union in this respect. At all events, the purpose of assistance must be to improve social well-being by helping to increase employment rates, combating exclusion and poverty and promoting high levels of social protection and high- quality health and education services.
Amendment 106 #
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, and job creation, guaranteeing a high level of social protection and high-quality health and education services, combating poverty and social exclusion and boosting Europe's competitiveness and stimulating investment in the real economy.
Amendment 124 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Member States should be able to request support from the Commission under the Programme in relation to the implementation of reforms in the context of economic governance processes, in particularfor example in order to prioritise investment, growth, employment and socially progressive policies, in particular the implementation of Country Specific Recommendations in the context of the European Semester, which should take account of those priorities, to actions related to the implementation of Union law, as well as in relation to the implementation of economic adjustment programmes. They should also be able to request support in relation to reforms undertaken at their own initiative, in order to achieve sustainable investment, growth and job creation or social inclusion.
Amendment 133 #
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, which should prioritise investment, growth, employment and socially progressive policies, the Commission should analyse the request, taking into account the principles of transparency, respect for the role of the social partners, 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 138 #
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 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 truscitizens' trust in the European project 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 14COM(2010) 700 final, 19 October 2010. COM(2010) 700 final, 19 October 2010. 14 COM(2011) 500 final, 29 June 2011. COM(2011) 500 final, 29 June 2011.
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Member States that request support should be able to contribute to the financial envelope of the Programme with additional funds. Currently, Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 limits the possibility of a transfer of resources dedicated to technical assistance at the initiative of a Member State to those Member States which face temporary budgetary difficulties. Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 should therefore be amended in order to allow all Member States to participate financially to the Programme. The resources transferred to the Union budget should be used for supporting actions contributing to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth growth that leaves room for social inclusion, or for Fund- specific purposes in the Member States concerned.
Amendment 154 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) This Regulation should be implemented in compliance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council18 on the financial rules applicable to the annual budget of the European Union. The Commission should adopt multi-annual work programmes that set out the politicalsocial and economic objectives pursued, the expected results of the support and the funding priorities in the respective policy areas. Those elements should be further specified in annual work programmes adopted by implementing acts. __________________ 18 Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1).
Amendment 178 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to adapt the list of indicators measuring the achievement of the objectives of the Programme, in the light of experience during the implementation of the Programme, the power to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of the amendment of the list. It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The Commission, when preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council, in particular where investment, employment, education, health and the fight against poverty are concerned.
Amendment 206 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
The general objective of the Programme shall be to contribuhelp Member States to institutional, administrative and structural reforms in the Member States by providing support to national authorities forboost their growth, their investment and their policies for the creation of good jobs, social protection and the fight against poverty and social exclusion, as well as to become more competitive, by taking 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 investmentsocial well-being, in particular in the context of social economic governance processes, including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of the Union funds.
Amendment 213 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) to assist the initiatives of national authorities to design their reforms in such a way that they promote growth and social well-being according to priorities, taking into account initial conditions and expected socio- economic impacts;
Amendment 214 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) to support the national authorities to enhance their capacity to formulate, develop and implement reform policies and strategies connected with growth and social well-being and pursue an integrated approach ensuring consistency between goals and means across sectors;
Amendment 218 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) to assist the national authorities to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of social dialogue and human resources management, where appropriate, through definition of clear responsibilities and increase of professional knowledge and skills.
Amendment 222 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
These objectives shall be pursued in close cooperation with Beneficiary Member States and with due respect for Member States’ priorities and for dialogue with the social partners.
Amendment 225 #
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, social cohesion and investment, in particular to the following:
Amendment 227 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) institutional reform and efficient and high-quality public service-oriented functioning of public administration, effective rule of law, reform of the justice system and reinforcement of anti-fraud, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering;
Amendment 231 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point d
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point d
(d) education and training, labour market policies for the creation of good jobs, social inclusion, social security and social welfare systems, public health systems, the fight against poverty, and healthcare systems, and asylum, migration and borders policies;
Amendment 253 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. Taking into account the principles of transparency, equal treatment, respect for the role of the social partners 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 255 #
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; the main objectives of the reforms shall be growth, stimulation of investment, the creation of good jobs and the promotion of high- quality education and social protection, equal opportunities and action against poverty;
Amendment 256 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 7 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) the implementation of economic adjustment programmes for Member States that receive Union financial assistance under existing instruments, in particular in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 472/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council23 for the euro area Member States and Council Regulation (EC) No 332/200224 for non-euro area Member States; the main objectives shall be growth, stimulation of investment, the creation of good jobs and the promotion of high-quality education and social protection, equal opportunities and action against poverty; __________________ 23 Regulation (EU) No 472/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on the strengthening of economic and budgetary surveillance of Member States in the euro area experiencing or threatened with serious difficulties with respect to their financial stability (OJ L 140, 27.5.2013, p. 1). 24 Council Regulation (EC) No 332/2002 of 18 February 2002 establishing a facility providing medium-term financial assistance for Member States' balances of payments (OJ L 53, 23.2.2002, p. 1).