26 Amendments of Ernest URTASUN related to 2019/2110(INI)
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas, in the light of the risks of trade tensions between the US and the China alongside the persistent uncertainty related to the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, the global outlook riskis bending towards the downside;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas according to Eurostat inequality of income distribution in the euro area has increased since the beginning of the financial crisis;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recognises that the average level of debt-to-GDP is projected to decline; notes, however, that the average level still remains significantly above the level required by the Stability and Growth Pact; points out the possibility of rising debt service costs; underlines, therefore, the importance of bringing down overall debt levels, in line with EU fiscal rules;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes, accordingly, with great concern that the average deficit levels appear to be increasing again and that in some Member States deficits above 3 % are projected; underlines that a significant part of the expected expansion originates in some countries with high government debt-to- GDP ratios;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Points out that the current flexibility in the implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact as proposed by the Commission in 2015 has not provided for an appropriate counter-cyclical framework and it does not allow sufficient fiscal space for the countries at risk of downturn; recognises and welcomes thereby that there is a growing consensus including within the Commission on the need to review the Stability and Growth Pact in order to simplify it, improve its implementation and avoid pro-cyclical effects;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Asks the Commission, in the context of the forthcoming revision of the 6-pack to take stock of such revision for proposing a reinforcement of the macroeconomic imbalances procedure in order to tackle more symmetrically, effectively and proactively the accumulation of excessive macroeconomic imbalances;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Recalls the urgent need to complete and reinforce the EMU architecture by, inter alia, ensuring the swift creation of a meaningful budgetary instrument including a macroeconomic stabilisation function for the euro area, integrating the ESM into the community acquis and providing for an effective ESM backstop for the Single Resolution Mechanism;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. RegretNotes that the aggregate fiscal stance appears to be mildly expansionary in 2019, while emphasisingnotes that the European Fiscal Board considersed a neutral stance as more appropriate; underlines nevertheless that the gradual materialization of downside macroeconomic risks should require a recalibration of the aggregate fiscal stance;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines that the fiscal stances at national and euro area level must balance the long-term sustainability of public finances in full compliance with the Stability and Growth Pact, respecting its provisions made for flexibility, with short- term macroeconom; uses all flexibility to increase the public investments including support to adequate unemployment benefit and minimum income and other forms of income support as automatic stabilisationers;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
New subtitle before paragraph 8
New subtitle before paragraph 8
Structuralocially balanced and sustainable reforms
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines that reforms whichsocially balanced and sustainable reforms which reduce inequality, increase fair competition in product markets, promote overall sustainability, resource efficiency and improve the business environment, as well as quality of institutions, including an effective justice system, andbetter education and skills, the business environment, as well as the quality and efficiency of tax collection, are essential for achieving greater economic resilience for the euro area and Member States; emphasises in this context the importance of the single market and the need for its further deepening;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Underlines that the environmental and social goals and commitments, including the Pillar of Social Rights, must be on equal footing and having the same importance as the EU economic goals, and concretely calls for binding social and environmental targets for Member States and the establishment of EU minimal social standards;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Supports shifting the tax burden away from labour and to penalize environmentally detrimental activities, and strengthening education and training systems and investment in skills; stresses the effectiveness of flexible labour market policies able to deliver quality jobs; highlights that the wage setting mechanism should also able to promoting quality job creation, real income increases and preserving the purchasing power of the low wages, also to fight the issue of working poor; calls on the Commission and Member States to promote decent wages and preserve collective bargaining; regrets the application of some of the CSR is undermining the collective bargaining in some Member States;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls on Member States to support and implement EU actions to combat Aggressive Tax Planning; supports the Commission’s initiatives to achieve increased transparency, a reformed VAT system and recognises the work that has been done on the common consolidated corporate tax base; welcomes efforts on the international level to fight tax fraud, tax evasion and tax avoidance; notes that improving effectiveness of national tax systems can increase government revenues significantly;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Underlines that the Union needs to adopt and implement as a matter of urgency the CCCTB, a digital tax and public country-by-country reporting for multi-nationals; points out in this context, the Commission should make progress in implementing its Communication to gradually migrate from unanimity to QMV by either calling on Council to revoke unanimity, or by using article 116 TFEU or by Treaty change;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Agrees that the economic upswing needs to be supported by public and private investment, particularly in the green economy and innovation, and notes that there is still an significant investment gap in the euro area; welcomes the fact that in some Member States investments already exceed the pre-crisis level, and regrets that in others investment is still lagging behind or is not picking up at the necessary speed;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Asks the Commission to introduce in the context of the revision of the fiscal rules an investment depreciation scheme accounting for sustainability geared public investments, which would allow a qualified treatment for certain public investments so as to spread the costs over the life-cycle of related public investments;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on Member States, while pursuing policies in full respect of the Stability and Growth Pact, to support public and private investment, improve the quality and composition of public finances, and rebuild fiscal buffers, especially in euro area countries with high levels of public debt;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Underlines that investment in tangibles and intangibles in order to increase productivity, skills and innovation, along with the growth- enhancing structuralocially balanced and sustainable reforms, will increase long- term growth potential;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
154. Agrees with the Council’s recommendations that Member States should increase their growth potential by modernising their economies and strengthening their resiliencesustainability resilience; underlines that there is an urgent need of greening the EU Semester and more broadly of an overall green transition of the EU economy;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Notes that more than two thirds of the CSRs issued until 2018 have been implemented with at least some progress; regrets, however, that there is evidence of backtracking on elements of major reforms adopted in the past, and is concerned about Member States’ commitment to the CSRs, given that progress on the current recommendations is worse than in previous years;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Points that the CSR have put in the last years too much focus on supply- side and socially harmful reforms;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Welcomes the particular progress that has been achieved on recommendations concerning financial services; legislation governing labour relations and employment protection;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Points out corruption remains an acute issue in several Member States with negative impacts on the potential for economic growth and the business environment; calls therefore for further ambition in the CSRs to address the corruption problems; regrets the lack of commitment of the Commission with the EU Anti-corruption report which was last published in 2014;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Regrets the Commission fails to address in the CSRs the consistency of the Member States energy policies with the Paris climate agreement;