51 Amendments of Jonás FERNÁNDEZ related to 2016/2032(INI)
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas SMEs and mid-caps play an important role for the European economy in terms of employment and growth;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas micro, SMEs and mid-caps play an important role for the European economy in terms of employment and growth;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas micro and SME financing suffered more from the crisis than the financing of large enterprises;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas European SMEs are very diverse and include a vast number of micro-enterprises, which often operate in traditional sectors and a growing number of new start-ups and fast-growing innovative enterprises; whereas these business models face different problems and, therefore, have different financing needs;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas 77% of outstanding SME funding in Europe is provided for by banks; __________________ 2bECB survey on the Access to Finance of Enterprises in the euro area – April to September 2015
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Acknowledges the diversity of SMEs and mid-caps in the Member States, which is reflected in their business models, size, stages of development, financial structure and legal form; regrets the lack of harmonisation in national SMEs-creation legislation;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Acknowledges the diversity of micro, SMEs and mid-caps in the Member States, which is reflected in their business models, size, geographical position, socioeconomic environment, stages of development, financial structure and legal form;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes differences in financing conditions and needs for SMEs between Member States, notably the quantity and cost of available funding, which are influenced by SME-specific and country- specific factors; highlights that capital markets are fragmented and regulated differently across the EU and that some of the integration achieved has been lost due to the crisis;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes differences in financing conditions for SMEs between Member States, notably the quantity and cost of available funding, which are influenced by SME-specific and country-specific factors, as well as by financial fragmentation and ‘country risk’;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Believes that in a comprehensive and well-designed Capital Markets Union all market participants with the same relevant characteristics should face a single set of rules, have equal access to a set of financial instruments or services and be treated equally when they are active in the market;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Notes that the low proportion of women running SMEs is partly due to a more difficult access to finance; regrets that the European Progress Microfinance Facility whose objective is to promote equal opportunities for women and men, had a 60:40 male-to-female ratio for microloans in 2013; calls therefore on the Commission to make sure that its programmes aiming at facilitating access to finance for SMEs do not disfavour women entrepreneurs;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Calls on the Commission to assess discrimination faced by SMEs run by other vulnerable groups of society;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that a diversified and stable financial services sector offering a wide range of cost-efficient tailor-made funding options serves the actual funding needs of SMEs best;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Encourages SMEs to consider the whole EU as their home market and to use the potential of the single market for their financing needsNotes that the Capital Markets Union represents an opportunity for filling both the regulatory gaps in the current framework and for harmonising cross- border regulation; welcomes the Commission’s initiatives supporting SMEs and start-ups in an upgraded Single Market; underlines, in this context, the importance of the implementation of the Small Business Act; calls on the Commission for a follow-up to the Small Business Act;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Encourages SMEs to consider the whole EU as their home market and to use the potential of the single market for their financing needs; welcomes the Commission’'s initiatives supporting SMEs and start-ups in an upgraded Single Market; underlines, in this context,emphasises that the Start-up initiative of the European Commission should favour not only the establishment of start-ups but also their development and growth; underlines the importance of the implementation of the Small Business Act; calls on the Commission for a follow- up to the Small Business Act which would further assist businesses to overcome both physical and regulatory barriers; recognises, in this context, that innovation is a key driver for sustainable growth and employment in the EU and that specific attention should be given to Innovative SMEs;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Underlines that overcoming information problems about SMEs will help to improve access to capital markets for those growing medium-sized firms that are most likely to benefit from easier access to finance; Supports the idea of creating a minimum, simple and shared set of data to build a credit scoring system available to SMEs interested in accessing capital markets, to be implemented through the creation of a common European platform, where SMEs looking for finance could voluntarily insert their data and keep them up to date; believes that such an instrument would allow companies to reach international pools of liquidity;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that start-ups in particular find it difficult to obtain appropriate funding and to identify and meet regulatory financial requirements, especially at development stage; encourages therefore Member States in their efforts to create one-stop shops as hubs for all regulatory requirements for entrepreneurs; welcomes the Commission’s plan to launch a European Pact for starts- ups to address these issues;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Notes that rules on bankruptcy, insolvency and second chance opportunities remain very fragmented across the EU, and that this also restricts cross border investments; Believes that simplified and harmonised rules in the area would support start-ups, micro, SMEs and improve the EU's business environment;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the Commission’'s initiative to identify undue barriers and obstacles to the financial sector providing funding to the real economy, in particular micro, SMEs; underlines the importance of simplifying or modifying rules which gave rise to unintended consequences;
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Acknowledges that bank lending is traditionallyhus far the most important external financing source for SMEs; underlines the important role of banks with specific regional and local knowledge and their long-term relationship with SME in Europe; stresses that, where there are well developed local banks, they have proven effective in lending to SMEs and avoiding losses; underlines therefore the importance of developing local banks;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Acknowledges that bank lending is traditionally the most important external financing source for SMEs; underlines the important role of banks with specific regional and local knowledge and their long-term relationship with SMEs; highlights that bank-based and capital- based financing models should be complementary;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Highlights that the financial crisis has led to the fragmentation of the EU savings and credit markets; emphasises that despite unconventional measures by the ECB and the creation, yet to be completed, of the Banking Union, credit conditions continue to vary across the euro area, reflecting differences in risk perception and economic conditions;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Encourages banks to consider the whole EU as their home market and to use the potential of the single market to provide financing to SMEs, including SMEs that are not based in the same Member State as the bank in question;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Believes that the fragmentation of the EU savings and credit markets can only be addressed through completion of the baking union; highlights the need to implement the European Deposit Insurance Scheme (EDIS), the third pillar of the Banking Union; invites the Commission to consider the introduction of a financial backstop to further enhance the stability and reduce systemic risk;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Reiterates that it is primordial to enhance the SME lending capacity of banks; points out that financing by capital markets alone will not succeed in providing sufficient funding and appropriate financing solutionssolutions relating to access to capital for SMEs;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Encourages the Commission to assess and introduce "funding for lending" programmes that would make ECB money available to banks with the sole purpose of lending to SMEs;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Underlines that while digitalisation is advancing and therefore new sources of financing are emerging, the local presence of traditional credit institutions especially in islands and archipelagos as well as rural, remote and peripheral areas remains essential for SMEs' access to finance;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Notes that a diversification of credit sources would lead to greater stability of the financial sector;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. ICalls concerned about multiple regulatory requirements for banks and possible negative effects on lending to SMEs; calls on the Commission to assess these effects on the Commission to assess the effects of regulatory requirements for banks with regards to SME lending, with the support of the EBA and SSM;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Is concerned about multiple regulatory requirements for banks and possible negative effects on lending to SMEs; cCalls on the Commission to assess these effects that regulatory requirements have on SME lending, with the support of the EBA and SSM;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Emphasises the importance ofCalls on the Commission to assess the SME Supporting Factor for maintaining and increasing bank lending to SMEs; calls on the Commission to examine the appropriate calibration of the factor, including size, threshold and possible interactions with other regulatory requirements; is concerned about the possible negative impact of its removal; calls on the Commission to explore the possibility of making this factor permanent should the findings indicate its usefulness;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Emphasises the importance of the SME Supporting Factor for maintaining and increasing bank lending to SMEs; calls on the Commission to examine the appropriate calibration of the factor, including size, threshold and possible interactions with other regulatory requirements; is concerned about the possible negative impact of its removal; calls on the Commission to explore the possibility of making this factor permanent; suggests that initiatives for improved SME funding should be expanded to start-ups, micro- enterprises and mid-cap companies;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Reminds banks that lending and risk- taking is part of their core business; sStresses that risk assessment and the evaluation of qualitative information is one of their banks' major strengths, in particular for complex SME lending; underlines the confidential nature of credit information that banks receive when assessing the creditworthiness of SMEs;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls on the Commission to develop public sector backed investments and government scheme loans to SMEs;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Recalls that credit institutions must, upon request, provide SMEs with an explanation of their rating decisions; calls onencourages the Commission to assess the implementation of this provisionstrengthen the provisions outlined in Article 431 (4) of the CRR and to make giving feedback to SMEs applying for loans mandatory;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on EBA and the Commission to provide more guidance on the implementation of the current forbearance regulation; recalls that non-performing loans on banks' balance sheet are hampering the delivery of new loans, hence, stronger measures are needed to overcome the problem; asks the Commission to conduct an impact assessment of the current forbearance regime for non-performing loans; stresses that the introduction of a de minimis limit for minor violations would help to prevent an unnecessary und unjustified drop in the creditworthiness of the SME;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Notes that limits to the purchase of government bonds by banks or the increase of weighting of these bonds would increase the credit costs and increase the competitive gap in EU;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Welcomes the measures adopted by the ECB on 10 March 2016 and, in particular, the new series of four targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTRO II), which will reinforce the ECB's accommodative monetary policy stance and incentivise bank lending to the real economy; underlines that monetary policies alone would not be sufficient to boost growth and investments and that they have to be accompanied by appropriate fiscal policies;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls on the Member States to foster a risk-taking and capital market culture; reiterates that financial education for SMEs is key to increasing the use and acceptance of capital market solutions, allowing for a better assessment of costs, benefits and the associated risks; calls on the Member States to enhance the financial literacy of SMEs and their access to information via the creation of regional one-stop-shops;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Points out that the ongoing development of the CMU must be accompanied by recurring efforts to evaluate the existing financial regulatory framework, in particular with regard to its effects on SMEs;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure enhanced coordination and consistency among all EU investment policies targeted at SMEs including the EFSI, EU regional funds, European Investment Fund (EIB), specific financial instruments foreseen by funding programmes such as COSME, Horizon 2020, EASI, Connecting Europe Facility;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Emphasises the potential of EU cohesion policy and the EU regional fund as a source for SME funding aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs, which is one of the goals of the EU cohesion policy; Underlines that more than 63 billion euro of ESI funds have been allocated in the 2014-2020 programming (plus almost 31 billion by national co-financing for a total of 94 billion euro);
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21c. Considers the EFSI as an important source of funding for SMEs and calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote the use of the European Investment Project Portal which aims at putting in contact project promoters and investors; calls on the Commission to evaluate the possible extension of the EFSI beyond its expiry date;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 d (new)
Paragraph 21 d (new)
21d. Calls on the Commission and Member States to promote a holistic approach to the dissemination of information on all EU funding opportunities (including Banking Union, Capital Markets Union and EU regional funds) at European, national, regional and local level;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Emphasises the importance of the transparency, standardisation and public availability of SME financing information for banks, investors, supervisors and other stakeholders in order to understand the risk profile and take informed decisions; welcomes the Commission’'s SME information strategy;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Highlights the need to foster innovation through lending platforms; encourages banks to regard the use of such innovative technologies as an opportunity; stresses that alternative funding sources like crowdfunding or peer-to-peer lending offer solutions for start-ups and innovative SMEs in particular; welcomes the Commission’s assessment of the existing framework for crowdfunding; calls on the Commission to explore the need for, and potential of, a harmonised EU framework for alternative funding sources;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Calls on the Commission to encourage safe lending to companies by private individuals through peer-to-peer lending or retail bonds;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b. Calls on the Commission to encourage new platforms for private equity financing such as mezzanine finance, public sector backed equity funds, business angels and fundraising; welcomes the Commission's assessment of the existing framework for crowdfunding and calls for a regulatory initiative to harmonise the European framework for crowdfunding and facilitate cross-border investment;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 c (new)
Paragraph 24 c (new)
24c. Emphasises the role that Member States could play to achieve innovation- led, sustainable and inclusive growth through mission-oriented agencies at European level;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Welcomes the Commission’'s proposals for a framework for simple, transparent and standardised (STS) securitisation and the calibration of the prudential requirements for banks; notes the possible effects of SME securitisation for bank lending to SMEs; stresses the fact that small banks would not be able to issue securitization/covered bonds with the sufficient size to be interesting enough to investors to buy; calls for the introduction of a "Small Bank Solution" regime within the framework for simple, transparent and standardized (STS) securitization whereby a pool of banks may release joint re-securitizations pools, made of simple transparent standardized small securitization, thus sufficiently large in size for interested investors to buy, thereby avoiding an unlevelled playing field among smaller and bigger banks;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Welcomes the Commission's decision to launch a public consultation on a "start-up initiative" which is aimed at collecting stakeholders' views on how to create favourable conditions for entrepreneurs to start up and scale up their business in the EU;