39 Amendments of Milan BRGLEZ related to 2018/0213(COD)
Amendment 31 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) At Union level, the European Semester of economic policy coordination is the framework to identify national reform priorities and monitor their implementation. Member States develop their own national multiannual investment strategies in support of those reform priorities. Those strategies should be presented alongside the yearly National Reform Programmes following a wide- ranging consultation with relevant stakeholders including social partners as a way to outline and coordinate priority investment projects to be supported by national and/or Union funding. They should also serve to use Union funding in a coherent manner and to maximise the added value of the financial support to be received notably from the programmes supported by the Union under the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion fund, the European Social Fund, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, the European Investment Stabilisation Function and InvestEU, where relevant.
Amendment 32 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) As part of the goals of the European Semester, structural reforms should be based on solidarity, integration and social justice with a view to the creation of quality jobs and sustainable growth, thereby ensuring equality, inclusion and access to social protection for all in line with the key principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Amendment 36 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The economic and financial crisis has shown that developing sound and resilient economies and financial systems built on strong economic and social structures helps Member States to respond more efficiently to shocks and recover more swiftly from them. The implementation of structural reforms is among the Union’s policy priorities because such reforms seek to set the recovery on a sustainable path, unlock the growth potential, adapt to technological development, strengthen the adjustment capacity and social systems and support the process of upward convergence. Pursuing structural reforms can also contribute to strengthening economic and social cohesion, boosting productivity and investment and creating good conditions for sustainable growth and employment in the Union, and strengthening labour market resilience.
Amendment 42 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) There is a need for progressive reforms, which are socially responsible, smart, sustainable and inclusive, to meet the requirements laid down in Article 9 TFEU. The Union has identified the implementation of such structural reforms among its policy priorities to ensure sustainable growth, strengthen the adjustment capacity, create quality jobs, foster investment and support the process of upward economic and social convergence.
Amendment 45 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 a (new)
Recital 9 a (new)
(9a) The Union institutions and bodies have extensive experience with providing specific support to national and subnational authorities of Member States and social partners as regards capacity building and in relation to the implementation of cohesion policy. That experience should be used in order to enhance the capacity of the Union to provide support to Member States to help improve their growth potential and social cohesion through measures aiming to increase employment rates, combatting exclusion and poverty and increasing accessibility to services of general interest, including quality education and care and healthcare services.
Amendment 47 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Against that background, it is necessary to strengthen the current framework for the provision of support to Member States by offering direct financial support, alongside technical support. To that end, a new Reform Support Programme ('the Programme') should be established to provide effective incentives to step up the implementation of structural reforms in the Member States. The Programme should be comprehensive and should also benefit from the experience gained by the Commission and the Member States from the use of the other instruments and programmes. The Programme should also continue the actions and the mode of operation of the SRSP, since they have been proven very useful, and have been appreciated by Member States, for strengthening the administrative capacity of national authorities in various policy domains, and build upon the principles set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights and the objectives of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Programme should also include targeted support for reforms in Member States whose currency is not the euro and which have taken demonstrable steps towardsbut have the obligation to adopting the single currency within a given time-frame.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
(10a) Where steps to adopt the single currency are not pursued by the national authorities of the Member State, the Programme should provide part of the allocated funds available for the given Member State to other stakeholders in order to stimulate public debate on joining the euro area as well as to carry out preparatory studies and consultations.
Amendment 54 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The Programme's overall objective is the enhancement of economic, social and territorial cohesion, competitiveness, productivity, growth, and employment. For that purpose, it should provide financial incentives for addressing challenges of a structural nature, and should help to strengthen the administrative capacity of the Member States insofar as their institutions and economic and social sectors are concerned.
Amendment 56 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Specific objectives should be set for each instrument of the Programme. With regard to the reform delivery tool, they should consist of fulfilling concrete milestones and targets set out in relation to the completion of reform commitments, which would trigger the release of the financial incentives. With regard to the technical support instrument, they should be to assist national authorities in their endeavours to design and implement reforms, by taking into account good practices and lessons learned from peers. Those objectives should be pursued in all Member States under those two instruments and, in the context of the convergence facility, by those Member States whose currency is not the euro and which have taken demonstrable steps towards adopting the single currency within a given time-frameo are not subject to an opt-out.
Amendment 57 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) Where the European Semester, especially the Country Specific Recommendations, identify challenges that require urgent reforms but the Member State in question does not make use of the allocated funding and initiate reform, or such funding has been suspended by the Commission, part of the allocated fund should be available to local authorities and other stakeholders via a competitive mechanism operated by the Commission, in order to support regional and local level actions that contribute to addressing those challenges.
Amendment 60 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) In order to ensure that the reforms supported by the Programme address all the key economic and societal areas, both financial support and technical support under the Programme should be provided by the Commission, upon request from a Member State, in a broad range of policy domains, which include areas related to public financial and asset management, institutional and administrative reform, business environment, the financial sector, markets for products, services and labour, education and training, sustainable development, public health and social welfare.
Amendment 65 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) With regard to the reform delivery tool, it is necessary to identify the types of reforms that should be eligible for financial support. To ensure their contribution to the objectives of the Programme, the eligible reforms should be those addressing the challenges identified in the context of the European Semester of economic policy coordination, including those proposed to address the country-specific recommendations, taking into account the specific social situation in the Member States.
Amendment 69 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) In order to ensure a meaningful incentive for Member States to complete structural reforms, it is appropriate to establish a maximum financial contribution available for them under the instrument for each stage of allocation and under each call. That maximum contribution should be calculated on the basis of the population of Member States and their economic situation, such as on the basis of the GDP per capita indicator. To ensure that the financial incentives are spread throughout the whole period of application of the Programme, the allocation of funds to the Member States should be made in stages. In the first stage lasting twenty months, half (EUR 11 000 000 000) of the overall financial envelope of the reform delivery tool should be made available to Member States, during which they could receive up to their maximum allocation by submitting proposals for reform commitments.
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In the interest of transparency and efficiency, in the subsequent stage lasting until the end of the Programme, a system of periodic calls should be set out by the Commission to allocate the remaining half (EUR 11 000 000 000) of the overall financial envelope of the instrument, plus the amounts unused from the previous stage. Simple procedures should be organised to that effect. Under each call, all Member States should be invited to submit reform proposals concurrently, and could be awarded their maximum financial contribution on the basis of their reform proposals. Any proposal should be subject to a wide-ranging consultation with stakeholders prior to submission. In the interest of transparency, the first call organised by the Commission during the second stage should be for an amount corresponding to the remaining part (EUR 11 000 000 000) of the overall financial envelope of the instrument. Further calls should be organised by the Commission only where the overall financial envelope has not been fully used. The Commission should adopt and publish an indicative calendar of the further calls to be organised, and should indicate, at each call, the remaining amount of the overall envelope, which is available under that call.
Amendment 74 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) It is necessary to establish a process for the submission of proposals for reform commitments by the Member States, and the content thereof. With a view to ensuring the expediency ofAfter a wide-ranging and appropriately documented public consultation proceduress, a Member State should submit the proposal for reform commitments together with its national reform programme, but in the form of a separate annex, which may also be submitted at a different point in time. While participation in the Programme is voluntary, Member States experiencing excessive imbalances and those with urgent need for reforms as identified in the country specific recommendations should be particularly encouraged to come forward with reform proposals under the reform delivery tool, which address the problems that led to such excessive imbalancchallenges.
Amendment 90 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 33
Recital 33
(33) The technical support instrument under the Programme should continue to support, the implementation of reforms undertaken at the initiative of the Member States, reforms in the context of economic governance processes or actions related to the implementation of Union law, and reforms in that deal with boosting the Union's competitiveness, crelation to the implementation of economic adjue quality jobs, increase productivity, stimulate sustainable investment in the real economy, aim to guarantee high-quality care and healthcare services, education and training, tackle poverty and social exclusion, and stmrent programmes. It should also provide technical supportgthen economic, social and territorial cohesion in the Union. It should also provide technical support for reforms in relation to the implementation of economic adjustment programmes and for the preparation and implementation of reforms to be undertaken under the other Programme instruments.
Amendment 91 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 38
Recital 38
(38) The convergence facility should aim at providing both financial support and technical support to Member States (in addition to that already available under the two other instruments of the Programme), whose currency is not the euro and which have taken demonstrable steps towards adopting the single currency within a given time-frame, with a view to helping them prepare for membership in the euro area. To that effect, "demonstrable steps" should consist of a formal letter from the government of the Member State concerned to the Commission stating its clear commitment to join the euro area within a reasonable and defined timeframe and presenting a credio are not subject to an opt-out, with a view to helping them prepare for membership in the euro area. Where such steps are not initiated by the Member State, part of the allocated fund should be made available, time-bound roadmap, after consultation with the Commission, for implementing concrete measures to prepare for successful participation in the euro area, including shrough open calls by the Commission to support relevant stakeholders carry out preparatory actions such as studies and dissemination of information, which contributeps to ensure full alignment of its national legislation with the requirements under Union law (including the Banking Una wide-ranging, open debate that would inform citizens about the single currency and its effects for the Member State in question).
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 46
Recital 46
(46) Horizontal financial rules adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on the basis of Article 322 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union apply to this Regulation. These rules are laid down in the Financial Regulation and determine in particular the procedure for establishing and implementing the budget through grants, procurement, prizes, indirect implementation, and provide for checks on the responsibility of financial actors. Rules adopted on the basis of Article 322 TFEU also concern the protection of the Union's budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States, as the respect for the rule of law is an essential precondition for sound financial management and effective EU funding. In the case of generalised deficiencies as regards to the rule of law, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders should be able to apply for part of the affected financing in order to carry out activities supporting the objectives of the Programme.
Amendment 94 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 6
6. ‘eligible Member State’, under the convergence facility, means a Member State, whose currency is not the euro and which has taken demonstrable steps towards adopting the single currency within a given time-frame, in its preparation to join the euro area. Demonstrable steps shall consist of a formal letter from the government of the Member State concerned to the Commission stating its clear commitment to join the euro area within a reasonable and defined timeframe and presenting a credible time-bound roadmap, after consultation with the Commission, for implementing concrete measures to prepare for successful participation in the euro area, including steps to ensure full alignment of its national legislation with the requirements under Union law (including the Banking Union)ith a derogation within the meaning of Article 139(1) TFEU.
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) to contribute to addressing national reform challenges of a structural nature aimed at improving the performance of the national economies and at promoting resilient economic and social structures in the Member States, thereby contributing to economic, social and territorial cohesion, competitiveness, productivity, social inclusion, growth and employment, with an environmentally, socially sustainable and democratic Union based on the Sustainable Development Goals and the European Pillar of Social Rights; and
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
The general and the specific objectives set out in Articles 4 and 5 shall refer to policy areas related to economic, social and territorial cohesion, competitiveness, productivity, research and innovation, smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth, jobs and investment, and in particular to one or more of the following:
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) education and training, labour market policies, includstrengthening social dialogue, for the creation of jobs, digital skills, the fight against poverty, the promotion of social inclusion, social security and social welfare systems, public health and healthcare systems, as well as cohesion, asylum, migration and border policies;
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point e
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point e
(e) policies for implementing climate action, mobility, combatting energy poverty, promoting energy and resource efficiency, renewable energy sources, achieving energy diversification and ensuring energy security, and for the agricultural sector, fisheries and the sustainable development of rural areas; and
Amendment 115 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Where, by the 31 December 2023, under the convergence facility, a non-euro-area Member State has not taken demonstrable steps to adopt the single currency within a given time-frame, the maximum amount available for that Member State under the financial support component of the convergence facility pursuant to Article 26 shall be reallocated to the reform delivery tool referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph of this paragraphmade available via open calls to non-governmental organisations and local authorities in order to promote an open debate, as well as information campaigns, regarding the adoption of the single currency in that Member State. The Commission shall adopt a decision to that effect after having given the Member State concerned the possibility to present its observations within a period of two months of the communication of its conclusions.
Amendment 120 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Annex I lays down a maximum financial contribution available for each Member State out of the overall envelope of the reform delivery tool referred to in point (a) of Article 7(2). Such a maximum financial contribution is calculated for each Member State using the criteria and methodology set out in that Annex, based on the population of each Member State and on the basis of their GDP per capita indicator. Such a maximum financial contribution shall be available for allocation to each Member State, in part or in full, at each stage and call of the allocation process set out in Article 10.
Amendment 125 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. A Member State wishing to receive support under the reform delivery tool shall submit a proposal for reform commitments to the Commission after consulting the relevant stakeholders including social partners. That proposal shall set out a detailed set of measures for the implementation of structural reforms in response to challenges identified in the European Semester process and shall contain milestones, targets and a timetable for the implementation of the reforms over a maximum period of three years.
Amendment 127 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
(ba) the social indicators to be improved by the proposed reform reflecting the European Pillar of Social Rights and the UN Sustainable Development Goals;
Amendment 128 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – point e a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – point e a (new)
(ea) the extent of the consultation carried out prior to submission;
Amendment 129 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 7 – point a – point i – indent 1
Article 11 – paragraph 7 – point a – point i – indent 1
— in the country-specific recommendations and in other relevant European Semester documents officially adopted by the Commission, including the Country Reports; or
Amendment 130 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 7 – point a – point iii a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 7 – point a – point iii a (new)
(iiia) assess their social and environmental impact;
Amendment 133 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. Where the reform commitments, including relevant milestones and targets, are no longer achievable, either partially or totally, or when social and economic indicators change to affect significantly the initial commitment made by the Member State concerned because of objective circumstances, the Member State concerned may make a reasoned request to the Commission to amend or replace the decision referred to in Article 12(1). To that effect, the Member State may propose a modified set or a new set of reform commitments.
Amendment 136 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 7
Article 15 – paragraph 7
7. Where the Member State concerned has not taken the necessary measures within a period of six months from the suspension, the Commission shall cancel the amount of the financial contribution pursuant to Article 14(1) of the Financial Regulation after having given the Member State concerned the possibility to present its observations within a period of two months from the communication of its conclusions. Non-governmental organisations and local governments shall be able to apply for part of the suspended financial contribution in order to support actions that contribute to tackling the challenges identified.
Amendment 138 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point a
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point a
(a) the implementation of reforms by Member States, undertaken on their own initiative, in particular to achieve sustainable economic growth and, quality job creation and social convergence;
Amendment 140 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point e
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point e
(e) the implementation of reforms, which are relevant for preparation for euro- area membership for Member States, whose currency is not the euro and which have taken demonstrable steps towards adopting the single currency within a given time-frameith a derogation within the meaning of Article 139(1) TFEU.
Amendment 142 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 2 – point e a (new)
(ea) actions to implement the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Amendment 144 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Annex X lays down a maximum financial contribution available for each Member State out of the overall financial envelope referred to in point (c)(i) of Article 7(2). Such maximum financial contribution is calculated for each eligible Member State using the criteria and methodology set out in that Annex, based on population of each Member State and on the basis of their GDP per capita indicator, and applies for each of the allocation stages and calls set out in Article 10.
Amendment 146 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 1
Article 27 – paragraph 1
1. AFollowing a wide-ranging and well-documented public consultation process, an eligible Member State shall submit a proposal for reform commitments under the financial support component of this convergence facility, in accordance with Article 11.
Amendment 147 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 27 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Where a Member State with a derogation within the meaning of Article 139(1) TFEU does not make use of the allocated funding, that funding shall be made available to non-governmental organisations and local authorities via an open call by the Commission to support actions to stimulate research, public debate and disseminate information regarding the single currency and the reforms necessary to join the euro area. Eligible expenditure shall include: (a) seminars, conferences and workshops; (b) the carrying out and publication of studies, research, analyses and surveys, evaluations and impact assessments, reports, educational materials; (c) the organisation of communication projects for learning, cooperation, awareness raising, dissemination activities and exchange of good practices, awareness-raising and information campaigns, media campaigns and events, including corporate communication and communication, where appropriate, through social networks; and (d) the compilation and publication of materials to disseminate information and the results of the Programme, including through the development, operation and maintenance of systems and tools using information and communication technologies.
Amendment 148 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 28 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 28 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The rules for the selection and award criteria for grants via open calls managed by the Commission as referred to in Article 27, as well as the provisions regarding pre-financing, the financial management, control, audit and evaluation of such projects, and other elements required by the Financial Regulation, shall be laid down in a dedicated Commission decision. These rules shall guarantee a fair and transparent selection of proposals, minimize the administrative burden on beneficiaries, and guarantee a sound and efficient management of grants, based on existing best practices of Union instruments under centralized management.