4 Amendments of Olivier CHASTEL related to 2022/2032(INI)
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the key role of cohesion policy in fostering economic, social and territorial convergence across the EU; expresses concern, however, about persistent inequalities, socio-economic disparities and uneven demographic decline, with many less developed regions falling behind and getting caught in a ‘development trap’ in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic; highlights that the current influx of Ukrainian refugees disproportionately affects the bordering Member States, leading to the risk of further deepening the divide in socio- economic disparities among Member States;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Regrets that the time-limited nature of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) has prompted Member States to prioritise the implementation of the national recovery and resilience plans; highlights the need to ensure complementarities and synergies between cohesion policy, the RRF and other policy instruments, to ensure maximum impact; underlines that technical assistance remains crucial for the implementation of cohesion funds; calls therefore on the Commission to increase its presence on the ground and prioritise technical assistance in cases where the project implementation is delayed;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Highlights that cohesion policy spending is still subject to irregular activities, linked to corruption and fraud; calls on the Commission to reinforce financial and personnel resources of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), in order to complete the investigations and the recovery of misused funds;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the flexibility introduced through the Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) proposals to help Member States deal with the impact of the war in Ukraine, following the model of the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiatives, CRII and CRII+; underlines, however, that cohesion policy funding must primarily serve its long-term policy objectives and not become a source of financing to make up for shortcomings in budgetary flexibility or crisis response mechanisms within the MFF.; calls therefore on the Commission to establish, as a matter of urgency, a dedicated new fund for the financial assistance to the responsible authorities and NGOs dealing with Ukrainian refugees in the EU Member States, with a specific focus on the Member States absorbing the biggest part of the refugees flow, such as Poland, Romania, Slovakia; highlights that a co- financing rate of 100% should be maintained for the support to the hosting entities and families, so as to alleviate the burden for the households hosting the refugees;