Activities of Stelios KYMPOUROPOULOS related to 2020/0101(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Additional resources in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: REACT-EU (debate)
Amendments (20)
Amendment 13 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Member States have been affected by the crisis due to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in an unprecedented manner. The crisis increases unemployment rate and inequalities, especially in vulnerable groups, and hampers growth in Member States, which in turn aggravates the serious liquidity shortages due to the sudden and important increase in public investments needed in their health systems and other sectors of their economies. This has created an exceptional situation which needs to be addressed with specific measures.
Amendment 37 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) For the ESF, Member States should primarily use the additional resources to support job maintenance, including through short-time work schemes and support to self-employed and seasonal workers, job creation, in particular for people in vulnerable situations, support to youth employment measures, education and training, skills development and to enhance access to inclusive and high-quality services including healthcare and social services of general interest, including for children. It should be clarified that in the present exceptional circumstances support to short-time work schemes for employees, seasonal workers and the self- employed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic can be provided even when that support is not combined with active labour market measures, unless the latter are imposed by national law. Nevertheless, job maintenance and job creation should be supported also by the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027. Union support to those short-time work schemes should be limited in time.
Amendment 38 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) Member States have been affected by the crisis due to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in an unprecedented manner. The crisis hampers growth in Member States, which in turn aggravates the serious liquidity shortages due to the sudden and important increase in public investments needed in their health systems and other sectors of their economies. In addition, there is a feasible concern that patients' access to health care services will be limited in the medium and longer term. It also needs to be acknowledged and seriously considered that profound health inequalities across and within EU will most likely be exacerbated, thus deepening unmet medical needs and reducing the overall social cohesion in Member States. This has created an exceptional situation which needs to be addressed with specific measures.
Amendment 48 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) In order to redress huge shocks to the economy stemming from the exceptional restrictions put in place by Member States to contain the COVID-19 spreadingspread of COVID-19 and the risks of an asymmetric recovery stemmarising from the different national means available in different Member States, which resultinged in serious impacts on the functioning of the Internal Market, the European Council endorsed on 23 April 2020 the “Roadmap for recovery” with a strong investment component, called for the establishment of the European Recovery Fund and mandated the Commission to analyse the needs so that the resources would be targeted towards the sectors and geographical parts of the Union most affected, while clarifying also the link with the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027.
Amendment 51 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) With a view to allow the targeting of these additional resources to the geographic areas where they are most needed, as an exceptional measure and without prejudice to the general rules for allocating Structural Funds resources, the additional resources allocated to the ERDF and the ESF are not to be broken down per category of region. However, Member States are expected to take into account the different regional needs and development levels in order to ensure that focus is maintained not only on less developed regions but also on insular and remote areas, in accordance with the objectives of economic, social and territorial cohesion set out in Article 173 TFEU. Member States should also involve local and regional authorities, as well as relevant bodies representing civil society, in accordance with the partnership principles.
Amendment 52 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) An additional exceptional amount of EUR 58 272 800 000 (in 2018 current prices) for budgetary commitment from the Structural Funds under the Investment for growth and jobs goal, for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 and where justified by a Member State, also for the years 2023 and 2024, should be made available to support Member States and regions most impacted in crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic or preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of health systems and the economy, with a view tothe intention of deploying resources quickly to the real economy through the existing operational programmes. Resources for 2020 stem from an increase in the resources available for economic, social and territorial cohesion in the multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020 whereas resources for 2021 and 2022 and, where applicable, for 2023 and 2024, stem from the European Union Recovery Instrument. Part of the additional resources should be allocated to technical assistance at the initiative of the Commission. The Commission should set out the breakdown of the remaining additional resources for each Member State in a delegated act on the basis of an allocation method based on the latest available objective statistical data concerning Member States’ relative prosperity and the extent of the effect of the current crisis on their economies and societies to ensure harmonious development according to the principles of cohesion policy by promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion. The allocation method should include a dedicated additional amount for the rural, insular, mountainous and outermost regions given the specific vulnerability of their economies and societies. In order to reflect the evolving nature of the effects of the crisis, the breakdown should be revised in 2021 on the basis of the same allocation method using the latest statistical data available by 19 October 2021 to distribute the 2022 tranche, and where relevant, 2023 and 2024 tranches, of the additional resources.
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) In order to allow maximum flexibility to Member States for tailoring crisis repair actions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic or preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of health systems and the economy, allocations should be established by the Commission at Member State level. Furthermore,, while taking into consideration those most impacted by the crisis. Furthermore, it should provide the possibility for usingof use of any additional resources to support aid for the most deprived should also be provided for. In addition, it is necessary to establish ceilings concerning the allocation to technical assistance at the initiative of the Member States while allowing maximum flexibility to the Member States as to its allocation within operational programmes supported by the ERDF or the ESF. It should be clarified that there is no need to respect the ESF minimum share for the additional resources. Nevertheless, the fact that the operational strength of the ESF should be maintained must not be disregarded. Taking account of the expected quick spending of the additional resources, the commitments linked to those additional resources should only be decommitted at the closure of the operational programmes.
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) In order to complement the actions already available under the scope of support of the ERDF, as extended by Regulations (EU) 2020/460 and (EU) 2020/558 of the European Parliament and of the Council5 , Member States should continue to be allowed to use the additional resources primarily for investments in products and services for health services, for providingincluding cross-border health services. Resources should be used to provide equal services for all citizens, as well as support in the form of working capital or investment support to SMEs, in operations contributing to the transition towards a digital and green economy, infrastructure providing basic services to citizens living in rural, insular, mountainous and outermost regions, or economic support measures for those regions most dependent on sectors most affected by the crisis, such as tourism which generates about 10% of the EU's GDP, employs about 13 million workers and is the fourth largest export industry. The data shows that it is necessary to revitalize this economic sector as soon as possible, and it is especially important for all Member States in which tourism is of strategic importance. Technical assistance should also be supported. It is appropriate that the additional resources are focused exclusively under the new thematic objective “"Fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy”", which should also constitute a single investment priority, to allow for simplified programming and implementation of the additional resources. _________________ 5 Regulation (EU) 2020/460 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 March 2020 amending Regulations (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013 and (EU) No 508/2014 as regards specific measures to mobilise investments in the healthcare systems of Member States and in other sectors of their economies in response to the COVID-19 outbreak (Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative) (OJ L99, 31.3.2020, p. 5); Regulation (EU) 2020/558 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2020 amending Regulations (EU) No 1301/2013 and (EU) No 1303/2013 as regards specific measures to provide exceptional flexibility for the use of the European Structural and Investments Funds in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, (OJ L 130, 23.4.2020, p. 1).
Amendment 80 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 4
Article 92b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 4
For the ESF, the additional resources shall primarily be used to support job maintenance, including through short-time work schemes and support to self- employed, even when that support is not combined with active labour market measures, unless the latter are imposed by national law. The additional resources shall also support job creation, in particular for people in vulnerable situations, youth employment measures, education and training, skills development, in particular to support the twin green and digital transitions, and to enhance access to inclusive and high-quality services including health care and social services of general interest, including for children.
Amendment 88 #
(9a) In order to enable equal access to health care, reduce unmet medical needs and increase resilience to future health crises, additional resources for the ERDF should also be used to develop centres of excellences for specific disease and health crises around the EU by providing financial support for the procurement of medicinal products and medical devices, as well as supporting the additional specialization of already established centres for complex diseases and virus research. Stronger health cooperation, coordination and resilience can be fostered by developing a network of centres of excellence around the EU, evenly deployed between Member States and its regions, each specialised in providing specific treatment for all European citizens that are in need of a such health service and treatment.
Amendment 89 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) For the ESF, Member States should primarily use the additional resources to support the modernisation of the labour market, health and social systems, as well as comprehensive lifelong learning strategies in order to negate long-term unemployment and support job maintenance, including through short-time work schemes and significant support to self-employed, job creation, in particular for people in vulnerable situations and those who are living in rural, insular, mountainous and outermost regions, support to youth employment measures, education and training, skills development and to enhance access to social services of general interest, including for children for all citizens, including children. Special attention should be given to measures supporting training and mobilisation of health and social care workers, particularly in the context of increasing resilience for potential future crises. It should be clarified that in the present exceptional circumstances support to short-time work schemes for employees and the self- employed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic can be provided even when that support is not combined with active labour market measures, unless the latter are imposed by the national law. Union support to those short-time work schemes should be limited in time.
Amendment 104 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In order to ensure that Member States have sufficient financial means to swiftly implement crisis repair actions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of health systems and the economy, it is necessary to provide a higher level of initial pre- financing payment or, where applicable, annual pre- financing, for the quick implementation of actions supported by the additional resources. This pre-financing rate will serve as a defence mechanism against the economic and social consequences, as the beneficiaries of the Funds need a strong momentum in ensuring the financial liquidity. The initial pre- financing to be paid should ensure that Member States have the means to arrange for advance payments to beneficiaries where necessary and to reimburse beneficiaries quickly following the submission of payment claims, as more current available resources mean more opportunities to react.
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) With a view to alleviating the burden on public budgets regarding crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of health systems and the economy, Member States should be given the exceptional possibility to request a co- financing rate of up to 100 % to be applied to the separate priority axes of operational programmes providing support from the additional resources.
Amendment 113 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) In order to enable Member States to deploy the additional resources for crisis repair quickly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of the health systems and economy within the current programming period, it is justified to exempt, on an exceptional basis, Member States from the need to comply with ex ante conditionalities and requirements on the performance reserve and application of the performance framework, on thematic concentration, also in relation to the thresholds established for sustainable urban development for the ERDF, and requirements on preparation of a communication strategy for the additional resources. It is nevertheless necessary that Member States carry out at least one evaluation by 31 December 2024, or by 31 December 2026 where additional resources are made available for budgetary commitment in 2023 and 2024, to assess the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of the additional resources as well as how they contributed to achieving the goals of the new dedicated thematic objective. To facilitate the availability of comparable information at Union level, Member States are encouraged to make use of the programme-specific indicators made available by the Commission. In addition, while carrying out their responsibilities linked to information, communication and visibility, Member States and managing authorities should enhance the visibility of the exceptional measures and resources introduced by the Union, in particular by ensuring that potential beneficiaries, beneficiaries, participants, final recipients of financial instruments and the general public are aware of the existence, volume and additional support stemming from the additional resources.
Amendment 135 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) In order to facilitate the transfers authorised by the changes introduced under this Regulation, the condition laid down in Article 30(1)(f) of the Financial Regulation regarding the use of appropriations for the same objective should not apply in respect ofto those transfers.
Amendment 162 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92 b – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 6
Article 92 b – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 6
Each Member State shall allocate the additional resources available for programming under the ERDF and the ESF to operational programmes involving public authorities as well as relevant bodies representing civil society, in accordance with the partnership principle, bearing in mind that this approach adds value to the implementation of European public policies. Up to 5 % of the additional resources shall be used for cross-border projects.
Amendment 174 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92 b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 1
Article 92 b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 1
8. The additional resources not allocated to technical assistance shall be used under the thematic objective set out in paragraph 10 to support operations fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic or, focusing for example on the revitalization of tourism, health and other hardest-hit sectors, as well as preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy.
Amendment 182 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92 b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 3
Article 92 b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 3
For the ERDF, the additional resources shall primarily be used to support investment in products and services for health infrastructure, systems and services, including cross-border health services, to provide support in the form of working capital or investment and advisory support to SMEs, investments contributing to the transition towards a digital and green economy, investments in infrastructure providing basic services to citizens living in rural, insular, mountainous and outermost regions, and economic measures in the regions which are most dependent on sectors most affected by the crisis such as tourism. Additional resources may also be used to develop centres of excellence for specific diseases and health crises around the EU by providing financial support for the procurement of medicinal products and medical devices, as well as supporting the additional specialization of already established centres for complex diseases and virus research, which will enable equal access to health care, reduce unmet medical needs and increase resilience to future health crises.
Amendment 194 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92 b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 4
Article 92 b – paragraph 8 – subparagraph 4
For the ESF, the additional resources shall primarily be used to support the modernisation of the labour market, health and social systems, as well as comprehensive lifelong learning strategies in order to negate long-term unemployment and support job maintenance, including through short-time work schemes and significant support to self- employed, even when that support is not combined with active labour market measures, unless the latter are imposed by national law. The additional resources shall also support job creation, in particular for people in vulnerable situations and for those living in rural, insular, mountainous and outermost regions, youth employment measures, education and training, skills development, in particular to support the twin green and digital transitions, and to enhance access to social services of general interest, including for children. Special attention shall be given to measures supporting training and the mobilisation of health and social care workers, particularly in the context of increasing resilience for potential future crises.
Amendment 217 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013
Article 92 b – paragraph 9 – subparagraph 6
Article 92 b – paragraph 9 – subparagraph 6
By way of derogation from Article 30(1), requests for the amendment of a programme submitted by a Member State shall be duly justified and shall in particular set out expected impact of the changes to the programme on fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID- 19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of health systems and the economy. They shall be accompanied by the revised programme.