17 Amendments of Stéphane BIJOUX related to 2020/1998(BUD)
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Acknowledges that the proposed 2021 draft budget is based on the new Commission 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposals of 27 May 2020 and; welcomes the historic recovery plan adopted by the European Council, but regrets that the Council proposal of 21 July 2020 on the MFF is below that revised Commission proposal (EUR-25 700 million);
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that the COVID-19 outbreak has claimed thousands of lives in Europe and has led to an unprecedented crisis with disastrous consequences for people, families, workers and businesses, and therefore requires an unprecedented response; highlights that 2021 will be a critical year for the budget, as the first year of the 2021-2027 MFF and the first “post- COVID-19 recovery” year; highlights in particular that the budget should help improving the situation in the social and employment area, in time of unprecedented crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic; highlights the fact that the 2021 budget not only must address the host of social and employment-related challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also must support workers and businesses in the move towards a more solidarity-based, more digital and greener economy;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Recalls that the COVID-19 outbreak has claimed thousands of lives in Europe and has led to an unprecedented crisis with disastrous consequences for people, families, workers and businesses, and therefore requires an unprecedented response; highlights that 2021 will be a critical year for the budget, as the first year of the 2021-2027 MFF and the first “post- COVID-19 recovery” year; highlights in particular that the budget should help improving the situation in the social and employment area, in time of unprecedented crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic; welcomes in this regard that the 2021 budget will be complemented by €211 billion in grants and approximately €133 billion in loans under Next Generation EU which must also help to address the social and economic impacts of the crisis;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that the budget for 2021 should primarily focus on mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting Member States' recovery, while also building on the European Green Deal and digital transformation; stresses that the Union and all Member States must show full solidarity with those most in need and ensure that no country is left on its own to fight the pandemic;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Recalls that the European Parliament, in its resolution of 17 April 2020 on EU coordinated action to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, called on the Commission and the Member States to prioritise aid and crisis-mitigation measures for the Overseas Countries and Territories and outermost regions by means of a dedicated exceptional support fund;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the recovery efforts should boost jobs and growth, the resilience of our societies and should be complemented by a strong social dimension, addressing social and economic inequalities within the EU and its Overseas Territories and Countries, and the needs of those hardest hit by the crisis, particularly potentially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, whose inclusion in the labour market must be supported and fostered;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on Member States and the Commission to make combating youth unemployment a priority, in particular as part of the European recovery effort, to make full use of financial instruments such as the Youth Guarantee, as well as European programmes such as Erasmus+, and to take tailored action to tackle youth unemployment and make young people more employable;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the enhanced flexibility in cohesion policy – increased co- financing, anti-crisis use of EU funds -– introduced in March and April 2020 and, believes that it - should also be maintained also in MFF 2021-2027 in line with core cohesion policy principles and goals;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recalls the commitment by the Commission to present a legislative proposal for a European Unemployment Benefit Reinsurance scheme as soon as possible;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that this forthcoming rationalisation should be based on evidence and impact assessment, and should be in line with the better regulation agenda, as well as with related recommendations of the European Court of Auditors; believes the rationalisation should also help to address the social impacts highlighted by the COVID-19 crisis; highlights, in this regard, that the activities implemented in the area of employment and social affairs should always result in strategic measures with clearly defined objectives and targets and that efficient and effective spending is as equally important as the total budget ceilings;
Amendment 60 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes, in light of the expected increase in demand in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Commission proposal to increase the annual funding available for EGF to EUR 386 million from 2021 onwards and is concerned that the Council proposal to limit this funding to EUR 197 million in 2021 could undermine its paramount role in offering assistance to workers who lost their job in restructuring events; points out accordingly that the Commission’s undertaking to mobilise the EGF, in response to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on employment, and extending the scope of the fund by way of support for the digital and green transitions call for sufficient funding, for 2021, beyond the ceiling laid down by the Council;
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Underlines that, in the context of ongoing budgetary constraints and of the post-COVID-19 recovery, it will be critical to make the best use of the 2021 general budget, including future skills policies and measures to support labour market transition and better adjustment to demographic change, automatisation and digitalisation, particularly by improved integration of potentially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in the labour market; further underlines the importance of addressing social inequalities pertaining to youth unemployment and young people's access to the labour market;
Amendment 67 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Strongly believes that gender responsive budgeting must be mainstreamed in the 2021 general budget to better align policies and activities that promote the equal participation of women in the labour market and to have comprehensive systems to monitor and measure gender budget allocations;
Amendment 68 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises the importance of budgetary accountability and prioritisation when delivering true value for money for EU citizens, including a stronger focus on evidence-based policymaking that is inclusive and special attention to social, regional and territorial disparities;
Amendment 73 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Highlights the important contribution of the agencies in dealing with a wide range of employment, social issues and data collection; stresses that their tasks are developing and hence they must be given the necessary resources to fulfil them; therefore calls for a thorough assessment of the new tasks assigned to the agencies and of their overall performance, with a view to ensuring appropriate and efficient budgetary allocations only and that they are equipped with the necessary funding to be able to collect the qualitative data necessary to better fulfil these obligations; insists, in particular, for a proper staffing and financing of the European Labour Authority;
Amendment 79 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Reiterates that pilot projects (PPs) and preparatory actions (PAs) are very valuable tools to test new activities and innovative solutions in the fields of employment and social inclusion; recalls that it is paramount for PPs/PAs to be assessed solely on the basis of their merit and EU added value. These tools should be efficient, low threshold and clear to be able to promote new and innovative ideas that reflect the needs of the current crisis and the future policies.
Amendment 82 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Emphasises the importance to include the Overseas Territories and Counties in its budgeting; urges the Commission to implement measures and funding to address the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the Overseas Territories and Countries.