Activities of Claudia SCHMIDT related to 2015/2324(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on an EU Strategy for the Alpine region PDF (435 KB) DOC (228 KB)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on an EU strategy for the Alpine Region
Amendments (50)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
- having regard to the stakeholder conference on the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region, held in Innsbruck on 17 September 2016,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 30 a (new)
Citation 30 a (new)
- having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 3 December 2014 on an Alpine macro-regional strategy for the European Union,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas macro-regional strategies are a fundamental tool for applying the principle of territorial cohesion; whereas macro-regional strategies are supported under the principle of the three no's, no new legislation, no new funding and no new institutions;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the objective of macro- regional strategies should be to better achieve common goals of different regions by a voluntary and coordinated approach without entailing the creation of additional regulation;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas climate change is happening at a faster rate in the Alpine region than the global average and is leading increasingly to natural disasters such as avalanches and floods;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas financial resources should mainly be invested in the core network corridors, the development of local connectivity, in promoting small town centres, and facilitating the accessibility of work and tourist facilities and ensuring essential health serviceis essential for the future development of the alpine regions;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the regional identities and the cultural heritage, notably the popular cultures and the customs, of the Alpine region deserve special protection;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas, 5 out of 9 TEN-T core corridors, which are crucial for the European and regional development as well as for achieving the goals set out in the Transport White Paper, extend through the Alps and their realisation requires joint and coordinated financial exertions of the Member States until 2030;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the alpine region is being adversely affected by a rural exodus and an ageing population; whereas an efficient public transport service could help make the region more attractive to young people and facilitate access to employment;
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas this region constitutes an interconnected macro-region with environmental, demographic, transport, tourism and energy-related issues, and whereas coordinated territorial planning could produce better results and added value for territorial cohesion of Alpine and peri-Alpine areas;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the Alpine region is criss- crossed by borders, and tackling these barriers is a prerequisite for cooperation in this area, for the free movement of persons, services, goods and capital and thus for economic, social and environmental interaction, and whereas the Alpine strategy also provides an opportunity to strengthen cross-border cooperation, to create links and networks of people and economic activities and thus to dismantle the borders and the barriers they create;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the EUSALP territory comprises the mountainous areas at its heart and the peri-Alpine areas, including metropolitan areas, which are linked together by close interactions and functional relationships, all of which influence economic, social and environmental development;
Amendment 44 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote, as a matter of priority, a policy to develop transport infrastructure that is sustainable, inclusive and non-invasive for the region, preserving the latter and promoting it in terms of regional development, economic advancement, tourism, and social cohesion and regional development;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the fact that the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIFs), in particular the Interreg Alpine- Space Programme offer potentially significant resources and a wide range of tools and options for the Strategy; notes the availability of other funds and instruments relevant to the Strategy pillars, notably Horizon 2020, the Connecting Europe Facility, the LIFE programme, and the COSME programme for SMEs, for which the Commission should investigate the possible added value of specific calls focused on the particular challenges of the Alpine region;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes the fact that the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIFs) offer potentially significant resources and a wide range of tools and options for the Strategy; notes the availability of other funds and instruments relevant to the Strategy pillars, notably the European Regional Development Fund, Horizon 2020, the Connecting Europe Facility, the LIFE programme, and the COSME programme for SMEs, for which the Commission should investigate the possible added value of specific calls focused on the particular challenges of the Alpine region;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Commission and national, regional and local bodies which are responsible for the preparation, management and implementation of ESIF programmes to stress the importance of macro-regional projects and actions;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Reiterates the importance of the three NOs principle of no new legislation, no new institutions, no new funding, as macro-regions are frameworks that build on the added value of cooperation initiatives and synergies between different EU funding instruments;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the connectivity and accessibility of the region should be improved and promoted by ensuring rtherefore, inevitably, financial resources have to be provided. Respect for the environment, the protection of water resources and the involvement of local populations, by fully engaging regional and local political actors and also by promoting referendums should be promoted;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Member States’ and the participating regions’ competent authorities to adapt their adopted operational programmes in order to ensure that future projects under the EUSALP strategy are promptly implemented and that managing authorities take due account of EUSALP priorities when implementing the operational programmes (e.g. by way of dedicated calls, bonus points or budget earmarking); calls further for the existing territorial cooperation instruments, such as that of the Alpine Space, to be coordinated with the Alpine strategy;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Encourages the Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the participating countries to fully exploit the possibilities available under the newly established European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) to finance projects in the region which would create added value, promote sustainable development and economic and social cohesion, spur growth and increase employment at the macro-regional level and contribute to achieving the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy;
Amendment 65 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Takes the view that the accessibility of ICTs should be increased by providing services more quickly and efficiently and by encouraging teleworking, in order to reduce the number of journeys and their polluting emissions;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Calls for the setting up of a supporting structure for the governing bodies of EUSALP, in cooperation with the Commission, Member States and the regions, to fully exploit the opportunities of EUSALP;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Points out that rural areas of the Alpine region provide a living space and economic activity for their inhabitants, and that action is needed to prevent abandonment of rural areas; notes that in rural areas in particular support must be given to maintenance and consolidation of the health infrastructure;
Amendment 81 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Considers that the Alpine region can increase its attractiveness for SMEs through better connections;
Amendment 86 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Considers that revenues from tolls and special tolls from the alpine regions for transport projects in the alpine regions should be earmarked. Firstly for the development of the TEN -T alpine corridors, secondly, for the regional access routes and, thirdly, for the local routes;
Amendment 89 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Determines that regional airports are of great importance for accessibility and for the economic development of regions, therefore a connection to the national railway network in terms of environmental compatibility is crucial;
Amendment 90 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5d. Requests a sufficient amount of rail- road terminals along the corridor in order to promote the goal of shifting freight traffic from road to rail;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls for a macro-regional Alpine strategy that will support the Alps as a location for business and hence allow an economic area and biosphere based on coexistence between nature and people, so as to avoid a further population exodus that would have a negative impact on the Alpine living space and on nature and landscape protection;
Amendment 91 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9b. Underlines that small and medium-sized businesses — very often family businesses — in tourism, agriculture, commerce, crafts and manufacturing form the core of economic activity in the Alpine region and thus constitute the backbone of the living, cultural and natural environment in the Alps;
Amendment 92 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 e (new)
Paragraph 5 e (new)
5e. Requests that the 5 Member States and their involved regions design a binding Alpine Transport Strategy 2050 pursuant to EUSALP. Effective implementation, goal achievements and the economical use of resources should be reviewed annually by the European Court of Auditors and the European Parliament;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that innovation and new technologies, driven by smart specialisation strategies and financed by existing EU funding sources (e.g. the ERDF, the ESF, COSME, Horizon 2020 or Erasmus +), could help generate quality jobs and catalyse the establishment, upscaling and clustering of SMEs, which could, in turn, reverse the depopulation trend in Alpine areasthat is happening in certain areas and territories of the Alpine region;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Encourages clustering and cooperation between public and private enterprises, universities, research institutes and other relevant stakeholders with the aim of promoting innovation and making it possible to benefit from synergies between Alpine and peri-Alpine areas; considers that envisaged actions should build on the national and regional Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Regional Specialisation with a view to securing more efficient and effective investment;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Emphasises that a macro-regional strategy for the Alps should secure the preservation of forms of traditional economic activity, such as agriculture and forestry, as well as fostering innovation and the development of new initiatives in this field;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Underlines that cooperation between regions, above all cross-border cooperation, is essential for the further development of tourism in the wider region; encourages the formulation of tourism strategies based on sustainability and innovation;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Supports the diversification of tourism supply by such means asthe development of new tourism amenities adapted to regional circumstances and exploiting regional resources, such as for example tourist theme parks and routes, food and wine tourism, health tourism and sporting tourism, in order to prolong the tourist season, and enhance the competitiveness of tourist destinations, and promotesupports the promotion of new tourist activities that are better adapted to climate change and take the sensitive ecosystems into account;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls the importance of promoting the development of sustainable touristic activities in peri-Alpine lake areas;
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls for a shift of freight and passenger traffic to the more environmentally friendly railways and also calls for an extension of the necessary infrastructure, including intermodal systems, in the transport chain of the Alpine region;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Encourages the deseasonalisation of tourist flows through better coordination of holidays in order to fully use transport and tourism infrastructures to avoid overbooking and congestions;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Calls for the mandatory implementation by Member States of the Eurovignette Directive in line with the true cost principle, so that external costs are internalised and the proceeds are set aside for the development of efficient and environmentally friendly infrastructure and for reducing environmental pollution;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Calls for the mandatory earmarking and cross-financing of revenue from infrastructure charges for the development of environmentally friendly and efficient passenger and freight rail transport, including intermodal systems, and calls for revenue to be set aside for investment in measures to reduce noise and CO2 emissions, such as the establishment of green corridors;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Underlines the importance of connecting transport routes with other parts of Europe and the relevance of interconnections with TEN-T corridors; calls on the participating countries to focus their efforts on implementing projects that are covered by the currentand planning complementary projects that link and develop the TEN-T network;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Encourages that Alpine crossing sections of the relevant core network corridors lead the way in making core network corridors "frontrunners" of a sustainable mobility system; that, to this end, due emphasis shall be placed on the broad range of potential projects in fields such as traffic management, technological innovation, interoperability, inter-modality, sustainable freight and innovative/integrated passengers services, efficient infrastructure management and safety; that, any transport policy measure suitable including the internalisation of external costs, to stimulate the shift of transport (in particular freight) to rail, should be particularly considered;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Draws attention to the lack of effective connections within mountain areas; urges the Commission and the Member States to facilitate better connection at local level in order to enhance cohesion and quality of life in these areas and, encourage resettlement and promote the Alpine region as a place for living and doing business in;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Supports the development of innovative forms of local transport on demand, including smart transport information, traffic management and telematics and multimodality, also considering the potential of the interregional sharing of activities in this field;
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Stresses the importance of regional airports in connecting rural areas of the Alpine region;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Stresses the importance of public investment in mountain areas in order to tackle the failure of the market to provide digital connectivity in these areas; emphasises the importance of complete and universal coverage with broadband internet, including in mountain regions, in order to ensure the long-term viability of remote settlements and economic areas; calls on the Commission to propose concrete solutions for this issue;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Underlines the importance of protecting biodiversity in the Alpine region, and calls for joint efforts to introduce innovative measures for preserving the environment and reducing pollution; stresses the importance to ensure that all measures are taken on a voluntary basis and to avoid duplication of already existing legislative initiatives, such as the Alpine Convention, the Zurich Process or Natura 2000;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls for renewable and alternative energy sources in the Alpine region to be tapped and for the model of decentralised energy production and energy supply to be expanded, inter alia through smart grid systems;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Calls on the participating countries to continue their efforts to diversify energy supply sources and to develop the renewable sources available, such as solar and wind energy and geothermal energy, within the energy production mix; underlines the sustainability and competitiveness of hydropower plants; calls on the participating countries to contribute to the setting-up of well- functioning electricity infrastructure networks in the macro- region and thus ensure sustainable security of supply;