Activities of Liadh NÍ RIADA related to 2017/2043(BUD)
Plenary speeches (1)
2018 Budget - Mandate for the trilogue GA
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the mandate for the trilogue on the 2018 draft budget PDF (975 KB) DOC (131 KB)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the mandate for the trilogue on the 2018 draft budget
Amendments (31)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that in its resolution of 15 March 2017, Parliament confirmed that growth, jobs, sustainability and secuolidarity are the core issues and main priorities for the 2018 EU budget;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes that in general terms the Commission proposal corresponds to Parliament’s view that the 2018 EU budget must enable the EU to continue to generate growth and jobs while ensuring the securitysocial integration of its citizens;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the decision of the Commission to already include in the draft budget the results of the mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-2020; is convinced that while the formal adoption is still blocked in the Council,notes its formal adoption by the Council and highlights that the proposal of the Commission sends a strong signal about the importance of thise MFF revision, and the need for increased flexibility in the EU budget that cshould enablimprove the Union to effectivelycapacityto respond to new emergencies and finance its political priorities; underlines that the European Parliament acted swiftly to grant its consent to the revised MFF Regulation, and expects that the Council will finalise without any further delay the adoption of the MFF revisfollowing the UK elections on 8 June 2017; furthermore, stresses the need for specific measures to ensure support for the regions, most notably Ireland, which will be particularly affected in the case of a negotiated exit from the Union, following the UK elections on 8 June 2017invocation by the United Kingdom of Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, in accordance with the expressed will of its citizens;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Reiterates its firm conviction that in order to achieve sustainable growth and, decent, quality and long-term job creation in the EU, boosting investments in research, innovation, infrastructure, education and SMEs are key; welcomes in this respect the proposed reinforcements to Horizon 2020, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and Erasmus+ as these programmes will contribute directly to reaching these goals; regrets, however, thatdeeply disagrees with the proposed allocation for COSME, is even lower in comparison with the 2017 budget and; points to the need to further reinforce SMEs, which are the main source of job creation in the EU and have a crucial role in; highlights that such measures if accompanied with a set of robust policies and investments to reinforce the public sector could be the trigger to finally reducinge the investment gap and, decrease disparities among regions and Member States and thus contributing to the prosperity of the EU;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recalls the decision taken by the Parliament within the 2017 Parliament budget procedure, which establishes the creation of an 'interpretation in International Sign Language' service, for all plenary debates and calls upon the administration to implement this decision with no further delay;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Recalls that the European Court of Auditors on its Special Reports n. 19/2016 and n. 5/2015 came to the conclusion that the Union financial instruments, EFSI included, under shared management were overcapitalised, struggled to control cost/fees, attract private capital and re-use financial support; furthermore, according to European Court of Auditors and on the basis of the EIB provided data and estimates, the current guarantee is sufficient for a further period of operation of the IIW, recommending instead to the sole consideration of an increase of the EU guarantee for the SMEW, as this would reduce the fragmentation between EFSI and other financial instruments;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. WelcomesTakes note of the fact that the draft budget 2018 includes an additional allocation for the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), responding thus to Parliament’s previous calls for the continuation of the programme; notes, in parallel, the proposal for draft amending budget 3/2017 that integrates the provision of EUR 500 million in commitments for YEI, as agreed upon by Parliament and the Council in the 2017 budgetary conciliation; is convinced that whilehighlights, however, that the proposed amounts alone willre by far not be sufficient to effectively tackle youth unemployment, YEI will continue and calls upon the Commission and the Council to significantly reinforce its appropriations; underlines that only a robust YEI has the potential to contribute to the Union’s priority objective of growth and jobsdecent, quality and long term job creation and qualification; underlines that YEI canshould be further reinforced, improved and in order for it to become more efficient;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Stresses that in 2018, cohesion policy programmes are expected to catch- up and reach cruising speed and; while emphasiseszing Parliament’s commitment to ensuring adequate appropriations for these programmes; is, however preoccupi, deeply concerned by the unacceptable delays in the implementation of operational programmes at national level; calls on Member States to ensure that the designation of managing, auditing and certifying authorities is concluded and implementation is accelerated;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Reiterates that whisustainable growth and jobs shoulddecent, quality and long-term job creation remain the underlying priority of the EU budget, obtaining sustainable progress in these fields will be impossible if the citizens feel unsafe or insecurecitizens and the EU budget should further enhance a sustainable progress in these fields; emphasises, moreover, that the unprecedented mobilisation of special instruments has shown that the EU budget was not initially designed to address the magnitude of the migration and refugee crisisunprecedented demands to try to tackle the successive financial, economic and social crises, and therefore to effectively and substantially overcome the investment gap, contribute to real convergence by reducing the development disparities between regions, Member States and existing economic, social and regional discrepancies', enhance territorial cohesion, ensure migration and refugees' integration while guaranteeing a solid humanitarian and development aid solidarity; believes that moving to a post- crisis approach is premature given the volatility of the situation in the EU Neighbourhood and the terrorist threatsafeguarding expectations within the EU; questions therefore the proposed cuts in Heading 3 compared to the 2017 Budget, in particular in AMIF, which do not seem to be in line with the EU pledge to deal in an efficient manner with the migration and refugee crisis, enforce security and tackle terrorism and radicalisationsolidarity and peace;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Welcomes the increase proposed for the eastern component of the European Neighbourhood Instrument responding to Parliament’s previous calls; is convinced that in order to counter the activities of an increasingly aggressive Russian Federation, the EU’s support, especially for the countries that have signed Association Agreements, is essential;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that the draft budget 2018 leaves very limited margins or no margin under the MFF ceilings throughout Headings 1a, 1b, 3, 4 and 5; considers this as a logical consequence of the significant new initiatives taken since 2014 (EFSI, migration-related proposals, and lately defence research and the European Solidarity Corps), which have been squeezed within the MFF ceilings agreed in 2013; recalls that the MFF, in particular, once its revision is finalised by the Council, provides for flexibility provisions which, albeit limited, should be used to their fullest in order to maintain the level of ambition of successful programmes and tackle the new challenges; expresses Parliament’s intention to further mobilise such flexibility provisions as part of the amending process;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Insists that the Union budget should not finance initiatives which could be to the detriment of existing Union social policies and programs, in particular, reiterates its commitment to financing initiatives which can actively promote peace, integration and cohesion objectives in the Union; recalls that, while respecting provisions enshrined in the Treaties, strengthened cooperation in the the EU and its Members States should by no means undermine the commitment to peace, to sustainable development and to neutrality;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Is surprised, however, that COSMEdismayed with the Commission's proposal to reduce commitment and payment appropriations have been reduced, respectively by 2.9 % and 31.3 %, althoughto COSME, despite support to SMEs isbeing identified as one of the top priorities of the EU; expresses its intention to further reinforce this programme in the 2018 budget;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Highlights that the social and solidarity economy (SSE) represents today over 2 million enterprises, 180 000 are cooperatives; underlines that the SSE sector employs over 4 and a half million people in the EU and generates over 10 % of the EU GNI; calls for further support and simplification of the access to financing to SSEs, in particular by widening the scope of existing programs and financial instruments at EU and Member States' level, while calling for concrete new measures to further promote and expand cooperatives and social enterprises model economy, as this remains under-represented and under- financed when compared to other enterprise models, despite its importance in terms of share of GNI and employment in the Union; reiterates the role of the SSEs in strengthening sustainable, smart growth, in the creation of decent and sustainable jobs, in cohesion and social integration, and that it should be further supported and made accessible, while underlining that the SSE sector remains an important provider of social, health, educational, environmental, energy production and distribution services.
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Reiterates, regarding the extension of the EFSI, that Parliament opposes any further cuts to the CEF, and takes the view that the additional EUR 1.1 billion allocated to the EU guarantee should be taken only from unallocated margins (for an amount of EUR 650 billion) and expected net positive income (for an amount of EUR 450 billion); recalls that the CEF envelope (ICT strand) also integrates the new Wifi4EU initiative; insists on keeping the commitment to invest EUR 120mio in Wifi4EU initiative between 2017 and 2019;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. WelcomeRejects the proposed scaling-up of the preparatory action on defence research and the presentation by the Commission of a legislative proposal for a defence industry development programme; recalls its earlier position that new initiatives in this area should be financed by additional funds and not beare of the strict competence of the Member States and should in no way be financed by the EU BUDG and at the expense or being detrimental to existing EU programmes;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Notes that the Commission has left a EUR 713.5 million margin under the ceilings of Heading 2; points to the fact that increased volatility of agricultural markets, as was the case with the dairy sector crisis in the past, might envisage recourse to this margin; calls on the Commission to ensure that the margin left under the ceilings is sufficient to address any crises that may arise; calls on the Commission to develop all efforts and come forward with permanent tools to counter price volatility, unfair trading practices and falling farm incomes, which would in turn mean less need and resources for crisis management;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Notes the proposed EUR 3 473.1 million in commitment appropriations for Heading 3; stresses the need to adopt a human rights-based approach on migration; condemns the increasing focus on returns, detention and externalisation of border control in EU policies, that are jeopardising human rights; reiterates its commitment to the principle of solidarity among Member States in financing the efforts needed to adequately provide for migrants and refugees; emphasises the need for joint, comprehensive and sustainable solutions to the current migration and refugeehumanitarian crisis, and to addressing safety and security concerocial integration concerns of all EU citizens; welcomes, therefore, the Commission’s proposal for an additional EUR 800 million dedicated to tackling these issues;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Is of the opinion that the importance and urgency of these issues is not in line with the significant decreases in commitment (-18.9 %) and payment appropriations (-21.7 %) proposed for Heading 3 compared with the 2017 budget, notably on the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), and the Internal Security Fund (ISF) and the Justice programme; considerJustice programme; welcomes the role played by instruments such as the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) in providing support to Member States to respond to the needs of migrants, asylum- seekers and refugees, and calls for adequate budgeting for these funds; insists that those cuts proposed by the Commission are not fully justifiable givendespite the delays in implementation of the agreed measures and the delays in the adoption of the new legal proposals bearing in mind the urgent demands for humanitarian aid; calls therefore on the Commission to ensure that adequate budgetary resources are provided for and that any additional needs will be swiftly addressed;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36 a. Insists that priority needs to be given to investment in the EU Neighbourhood in order to support efforts to tackle economic recovery, enhancing and stabilising the transition to democracy in countries in the Southern Neighbourhood, which need also financial and humanitarian support in coping with the numbers of migrants and refugees reaching these countries driven by the hope to reach the European Union; points out that many countries in the Eastern Neighbourhood continue to struggle with unfinished transformation processes and potential conflicts, and that the situation in the region continues to be fragile, which gives support for the immediate implementation of the Minsk agreement utmost importance for the EU's Eastern Neighbourhood; reiterates that those countries which are implementing association agreements with the EU will be bound to fail both economically and socially without adequate financial grants and technical EU support in facilitating political and economic reforms, but stresses that such support should apply as long as those countries meet the eligibility criteria, especially as regards the rule of law, the pursuit of an inclusive economic development, the fight against corruption, and strengthening of democratic institutions;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42 a (new)
Paragraph 42 a (new)
42 a. Recalls the decision taken by the Parliament within the 2017 EP budget procedure, which establishes the creation of an interpretation in International Sign language Service, for all plenary debates and calls upon the Administration to implement this decision without further delay;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 7 (a) new
Subheading 7 (a) new
Other Special Instruments
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 a (new)
Paragraph 43 a (new)
43 a. Recalls the commitment by Parliament, the Council and the Commission to ensure and be consistent with the principle of the unity of the Union budget also on what regards the future integration of all Other Special Instruments in the EU budget; it furthermore insists on the closing of all ad-hoc financial instruments which have been created above and outside the EU Budget, with respect to the prerogatives of the budgetary authority;
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 b (new)
Paragraph 43 b (new)
43 b. Stresses the need to further increase, in particular, the payment appropriations for the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGAF) for EUR 25 000 000 is insufficient; furthermore, insists that the current parameters of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund are unfairly prohibitive on smaller Member States; suggests that the criteria for eligibility be flexible in this regard as redundancies and closures have the ability to affect smaller regions to a greater extent than others;
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 c (new)
Paragraph 43 c (new)
43 c. Highlights the importance of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) which was set up to respond to major natural disasters and express European solidarity to disaster-stricken regions within Europe and takes note of the proposed increase in commitment and payment appropriations for the EUSF; calls upon the Commission to assess without delay if a further increase will be necessary bearing in mind, in particular, the earthquakes' in Italy and the fires in Portugal, which have had a dramatic and substantial impact on human life in particularly deprived regions; calls for the adaptation of the rules for mobilizing this fund, to allow a more flexible and timely mobilization, covering a wider range of disasters with significant impacts and reducing the time between the disaster and the availability of funds.
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)
Paragraph 44 a (new)
44 a. Opposes the proposal of the Commission to increase the Preparatory Action for Defence and Security, while underlining that the mentioned research window under the post-2020 MFF needs additional funding; insists this initiative should not be financed at the expense of the existing research funds and by the EU Budget.
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Reiterates its conviction that the European agencies active in the Justice and Home Affairs field must be provided with the necessary operational expenditure and staffing levels to allow them to achieve the additional tasks and responsibilities they have been given in recent years; welcomes, in this regard, the substantial staff increases proposed for the European Coast and Border Guard Agency (Frontex) and the European Asylum Support Office (EASO), which it considers a minimum to ensure that theseis agenciesy can effectively perform theirits operations; requests the Commission to reassess whether the proposed operational funding (-23.6 % compared to 2017) and staffing levels (-4) for Eurojust will indeed allow this agency to fulfil in an effective manner its key role in the promotion of judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters, including in the fields of drug policy and crime prevention;