Activities of Ernest URTASUN related to 2022/2150(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
European Semester for economic policy coordination 2023 - European Semester for economic policy coordination: Employment and social priorities for 2023 (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the European Semester for economic policy coordination 2023
Amendments (11)
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
D a. whereas meeting the goals of the European Green Deal and Paris Agreement requires significant and targeted fiscal efforts;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Is concerned that the EU is one of the most exposed advanced economies to downward risks, given its geographical proximity to Ukraine and heavy reliance on gas imports from Russia; notes that the impact of high energy prices and inflation leads to the erosion of household purchasing power; highlights that a reduction in aggregate demand, combined with less favourable financing conditions, could lead to a sharp decline in investment and therefore in economic growth; worries that investments in renewables and energy efficiency could also suffer, though these are precisely the investments required to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and limit inflation driven by energy prices;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls the close link between the European Semester and the implementation of the RRF, whereby the national recovery and resilience plans (NRRPs) are expected to contribute effectively to addressing all or a significant subset of the challenges identified in the relevant country-specific recommendations addressed to each Member State in the context of the European Semester; stresses the importance that reforms and investments under the Recovery and Resilience Plans meet the climate targets of the regulation and are in full respect of the “do no significant harm” principle;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Highlights the key role being played by the NRRPs in driving the Member States’ reform and investment agendas; recalls the importance of reforms in bolstering recovery and future productivity growth and as enablers of investment; stresses the crucial role of investments in boosting growth and delivering the twin transition, in particular with regard to making the EU independent from imported fossil fuels;
Amendment 115 #
(a) the six-pillar structure, ensuring that Member States give adequate consideration in their reform and investment agendas to all the relevant dimensions for making EU economies and societies more prosperous, environmentally sustainable, inclusive, competitive and resilient;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Welcomes the publication of the Commission’s communication on orientations for a reform of the EU economic governance framework; expresses concern about its delay; stresses the need to adopt legislative proposals before time runs out and the general escape clause is removlifted and the current legislature comes to an end;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Agrees with the Commission’s orientations as regard the simplification of the framework, differences in Member States’ debt reductionfiscal paths, the use of a more comprehensive debt sustainability analysis and the general escape clauses; suggests the European Semester should mirror the medium-term nature of the future economic policy coordination framework;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes the aim to stimulate investment and reforms by allowing Member States to have different debt reductionfiscal paths, provided that these enhance growth, improve debt sustainability and are in line withdeliver the EU’s objectives, in particular those of the green and digital transition and social resilience; stresses the key role that national budgets will need to play in financing the green transition, in the absence of joint funding that would reduce the cost and align incentives as witnessed in the RRF process; highlights the need for a permanent fiscal capacity or EU Sovereignty Fund to ensure all Member States have the fiscal leeway to accelerate the transition while preserving fair competition in the single market;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that while monetary policy is conceived and designed as a single instrument, the overall fiscal policy is the result of aggregating 19 individual fiscal policies; underlines that, apart from the recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area, coordination of actions has thus far been limited and the situation and challenges of the euro area have not been easy to factor in; highlights that it is still largely random if the aggregation of national fiscal policies results in a euro area fiscal stance which is appropriate and consistent with monetary policy; regrets that the Commission’s communication does not encompass rules or instruments that allow for the management of the euro area fiscal stance, in particular where macroeconomic imbalances could usefully be addressed by adjustments to the fiscal stance, a possible synergy that should be facilitated by the medium term fiscal structural plans;
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes that lessons have been learned from the RRF process by promoting more ownership of ways of putting Member States in charge of designing their own national plans combining fiscal, reform and investment commitments within a common EU framework; greatly regrets that, unlike the RRF, the European Parliament is excluded from defining the overarching goals, guidance, criteria for the debt reduction path, investments, reforms and the underlying assumptions on which the comprehensive debt sustainability analysis is based; regrets that neither the involvement of national parliaments nor that of national stakeholders and civil society is mentioned under project design, implementation or subsequent scrutiny, which sets back ownership and democratic accountability; expects the Commission to strengthen the legal role of the European Parliament in the expected legislative proposals, and intends to redress these shortcomings in the legislative procedure;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recalls that the better law-making agreement reiterates that the European Parliament and the Council are to exercise their powers as co-legislators on an equal footing and that the Commission therefore needs to treat them equally; stresses the role and responsibility of national parliaments in scrutinising the collective actions of national government, in spite of the Council’s fragmented accountability;